Mrs. Sunrise, MinneapolisAge and Occupation: 27, Client Relations LiaisonFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Senior Technical Support AnalystEngagement Date: December 26, 2008Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: The Oaks banquet room at Eagan Community CenterAbout Me: I am a crafty and optimistic, laid back girly-girl who fell in love with a video game-playin', hip hop-lovin', Lego-buildin', computer-techie nerd. I get easily distracted by shiny objects (oohhh pretty..) and I have more shoes than I can count (but I still need more). I love to shake my booty to Lady Gaga’s music but she frightens the hell outta me. Mr. Sunrise and I could not be any more different, but you know what they say… opposites attract! We met over 9 years ago while working for a local grocery store. It was love at first “Clean-up in Aisle 5!” We are both Chicago-born and raised, but recently relocated to Minnesota for his career. I will always remain a Windy City gal through and through, but I cannot deny my love for the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Yes indeed I did. I finally buckled down and made the big purchase. It is actually on its way to me as I type this. I am so excited, yet a little nervous. Why nervous? Well… of all the bridal shops and boutiques that I could have bought my beautiful dress from, where did I decide to go?
That’s right. Good ol’ eBay! A bridal shop in San Francisco had my dream dress listed in one of their auctions for $300 cheaper than what the folks at my local wedding shop were trying to charge me. It’s guaranteed authentic (and not some knock-off sewn in China) and it’s brand-new with tags! I just couldn’t pass it up. That’s an extra $300 that I can use towards other wedding “must-haves” like a photobooth. Hehe. On top of the already super-reduced price, the seller offered FREE shipping. You can’t beat that! The nice lady at my local wedding shop told me that I would not find my dress anywhere for cheaper because they get it straight from the manufacturer. Boy was she wrong!
But I was still a little skeptical since it is eBay and all.
Mrs. Nachos, Chicago/St. ThomasAge and Occupation: 33, Commercial Real Estate & HairstylistFiance's Age and Occupation: 36, Radio ProducerEngagement Date: May 22, 2009Wedding Date: April 2010Venue: Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort, St. ThomasAbout Me: I'm a happy, laid back city girl that can find the silver lining in any situation. An optimist at heart, my motto is to turn your "what ifs?" into "so whats!". My fiance is a radio producer and the biggest Cubs fan you'll meet - our apartment decor definitely shows it. He and I grew up next door to each other and because of it, we have the best home videos and easiest holiday dinners. We are planning an intimate wedding in the Virgin Islands and a cocktail party in June for 150 of our closest friends.
OK everyone, I had been waiting for this moment for a while, pretty much ever since you all asked me if I was planning on jumping in the pool way back when. I present to you our trash the dress photos part 2 – my favorite pictures from the whole trip. All photos courtesy of Blair’s Eye View Photography…
Mrs. Ballet Flat, New OrleansAge and Occupation: 24, Geographic Information Systems AnalystFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, IT AnalystEngagement Date: March 16, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Blogging Since: September 25, 2008Venue: St. Charles Borromeo Church/Jefferson-Orleans NorthAbout Me: I absolutely love wedding planning, spending time with Mr. Ballet Flat, various crafts, watching football, baking, pop music, bargain hunting and ice cream. My idea of a great date night is dinner and clearance shopping with Mr. Ballet Flat! I currently live below sea level in the suburbs near New Orleans, where I make maps all day, everyday for my job. I'm slowly becoming more and more obsessed with anything New Orleans related for our wedding, and I can't wait for the big day!
This post is probably going to make some of you cringe, but where I’m from, money dances are a tradition. I’ve never been to a wedding in New Orleans that didn’t have a money dance, but I know to some, these are considered tacky. I learned this after being flamed on a wedding forum when I was looking for song suggestions. Ugh… why can’t we brides just get along?
Anywho, we chose “Mony Mony” (close enough to “money” right?) by Billy Idol as the song. We chose this song because we just wanted to have some fun and laugh with our guests over a dance. Sure, they didn’t have to put money in a Crown Royal bag that my MOH was holding, but wow, were we overwhelmed by the generosity of our guests. It took us 2 songs to dance with everyone who wanted to dance with us.
Yes, I know, Crown Royal bag. So, a bride forgot one thing to get, and the reception coordinator had to improvise. Big deal.
So, here are some shots from the money dance. We all had a blast!
This is me and our ring bearer. He is so stinkin’ cute!
Mrs. Argyle, St. LouisAge and Occupation: 24, Project CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, PilotEngagement Date: February 15, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Jewel Box in Forest Park and Windows on WashingtonAbout Me: I'm a true Midwestern girl (born and raised), lover of red wine, reality TV and the entire J.Crew catalog. I love to dance regardless of who is watching, and enjoy a good laugh with my girls. I have a soft spot in my heart for planet Earth, my two dogs and my fiance. Fall is my favorite season (which is why we are marrying in September), but I love a warm summer day and the Colorado mountains in the winter. We are planning a modern soiree downtown, with lots of bold colors, and fun, eco-friendly elements.
Minds out of the gutter people. I’m talking honeymoons here. No actual mooning.
Mr. A and I had one place, and one place only, on our minds when we started our search. Greece.
Why? I kid you not, I have loved the island of Santorini since 7th grade (just ask my Mom). I had to do a project for school, as part of our “school Olympics” in which my group represented the nation of Greece. Instantaneously I was over the moon for that island, and well, the entire country. There is seriously something so magical about those white buildings and blue roofs. No?
So, what was the problem? Greece is not cheap, in case you’re wondering. While Mr. A’s parents so graciously offered to pay, we couldn’t ask them to pay for a trip to Greece.
We did a bit of brainstorming and came up with three potential options. Read more…
Mrs. Cola, Mountain View, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Product Communications and PromotionsFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Managing Partner and Senior DesignerEngagement Date: March 5, 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: The Mountain Terrace, Woodside, CAAbout Me: I’m a Washington State native, enjoying life in Silicon Valley California with my fiancé, our three kitties and one leopard gecko. I like reading wedding blogs, Photoshopping wedding design mock ups, making lists, and planning, planning, planning! I’m a bit of an anomaly, on one side I’m a very girlie girl, I collect shoes, I lay out my outfits 4-6 weeks in advance, and I’d never leave the house without my hair curled and makeup on. But on the other side, I’m a total tomboy, I love to go camping and hiking, play drinking games (hey, I’m Irish!) and most of my closest friends are guys. My fiancé and I are planning a DIY-focused wedding with a balance between easygoing (what he wants) and chic and stylish (what I want), and are tying it all together with elements in lavender, sage, butter cream and chocolate.
Earlier this week I was bored and browsing Etsy, and decided to search the site to see what bee items I might find. Like Mrs. Lamb, I thought it might be nice to find something for myself to celebrate my time writing for Weddingbee.
And wow, did I find a lot of cute bee things! For all you other Weddingbee lovers out there, I thought I’d share some of my favorite finds (follow the links for the Etsy listing and image source).
Purple Flower with Bee Hair Pins (wish I’d found these before buying my hair pins, they would have been perfect for our wedding!)
Mrs. Veggie, Raglan, New Zealand/Scranton, PAAge and Occupation: 27, Director of Small Non-ProfitFiance's Age and Occupation: 42, PhD Student & FarmerEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: Indian Head Camp, Honesdale Pennsylvania
About Me: I am a tree-huggin' farmer turned enthusiastic wedding-planner. I live in a house truck and wear flip-flops more often than shoes. In my old life I was a high school Spanish teacher in love with a crazy guy who lived off-the grid on a farm in New Hampshire. But, we decided to mix things up a bit, quit our jobs and move to New Zealand. My southern hemisphere lifestyle involves growing veggies, teaching, running our small non-profit, and surfing. I love laughing, singing, playing, and the inspirational Mr. Veggie (of course!). For our wedding, I am committed to throwing a killer party that celebrates our values without breaking the bank. Look forward to an eco-thrifty summer-campy weekend-long extravaganza.
I know I mentioned a while ago that Future Mamma-In-Law Veggie is taking care of our flower girl and ring bearer outfits (isn’t she great?). This is no small task given the quantity and varying ages of the Veggie Sprouts. So, it seems like a good time to give you an update on how its going.
First off were vests and paperboy caps for the boys. In hopes of saving her sanity FMIL Veggie started keeping her eye out these months ago, thinking she would have her hands full with sewing three dresses. When these cute hats went on sale, she snatched them up. Then she found these great pin-striped vests, a set in size 6 and a set in size 12mos. Boys—done.
Ms Seahorse, BostonAge and Occupation: 25, Veterinary Jane-of-all-tradesFiancee's Age and Occupation: 36, former non-profit fundraiser in search of something betterEngagement Date: October 17, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Fort Pond LodgeAbout Me: By day I'm a cat-wrangler, vet tech assistant, pet-sitter, receptionist, and pre-vet student, but the rest of the time, I'm a former-roller-derby girl turned dedicated-wedding planner. I love reading, writing, bicycles, animals, roller skating, and antique-y things of all sorts. I'm a vegetarian who likes spicy foods, while Fiancee Seahorse is a meat eater who does not like spices. We live outside Boston with our menagerie: a fifty pound dog, a one-eyed, seventeen-toed, toothless cat, and a perfectly put together cat who has a penchant for pooping near rather than in her litter box. In addition to planning our small lake-side wedding, we enjoy running around with the puppy, playing board games (Scrabble, anyone?), having little adventures, talking about how we should really clean the house more, and maintaining our little garden of vegetables and wedding flowers.
To make up for my indecision and teasing, and the fact that I don’t have the time/patience to commit to a real art project, I bring you Pretty Collage of Wedding Inspiration!
Mrs. Frog, Phoenix, AZ/Chelan, WA
Age and Occupation: 29, Public Relations
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Online SalesEngagement Date: February 8, 2009Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: Amy's ManorAbout Me: I'm an opinionated Midwestern girl now living in the Valley of the Sun marrying a laid back Northwestern guy. I'm equal parts sass, silly and sweet. I'm fiercely loyal with a strong devotion to my family and friends. I have a not-so-secret obsession with apple juice, a new obsession with DIY projects and I love a really good cheese plate...with lots of wine. After 7 blissful years of dating, I'm having the time of my life planning the destination wedding of my dreams to my Mr. Frog-turned-Prince Charming.
This weekend Frogger and I were out on our back patio grilling for lunch and enjoying a lazy day when we started talking about the future. You know, the real future… like, hey – we’re getting married, what do we see for our future together? Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had this conversation many times in the past but this time, more realizations started to surface for me. We’re just a couple of months from our wedding, perhaps that has something to do with it?
And it hit me. I’m going to be 30 this year. THIRTY. Remembering back when I was a kid, 30 seemed so old. Time has somehow disappeared and shoved me into this unknown realm of “old” age. I started thinking about what I thought my life would be like when I was 30 – would I be married, what would I do for a living, would I have kids, where would I live?
Mrs. Lobster, BrooklynAge and Occupation: 29, Finance GirlFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Finance BoyEngagement Date: July 25, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: Stage 6 Steiner StudiosAbout Me: I'm a New York-born, Virginia-bred girl who's found her way back to the big city. Mr. Lobster and I met in grad school and have been together ever since. I'm clueless about DIY but am an avid online shopper and love all things polka dots, stripes, and ruffles! When I'm not making wedding lists, you can find me looking for snacks, watching Gilmore Girls, or hanging out with Mr. Lobster and our new puppy Buddy! We are planning a fancy-pantsy Brooklyn wedding for a hot New York summer night which is sure to be a misadventure in the making.
Here are real life pics in the dresses. Read more…
Mrs. Pencils, Washington DC/Frederick, MDAge and Occupation: 24, Program Director, Education Non ProfitFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Administrative Assistant, Ocean Conservation Non ProfitEngagement Date: July 26, 2008Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Morningside InnAbout Me: I'm a nerdy Northwestern girl who always knew she was meant to live in the East, harboring a deep love of ice cream, underwear, Diet Coke with a splash of Coca-Cola, pashminas, scrapbooking, stationery, wall calendars and books written for preteens. I think every day should include good thin crust pizza, chocolate, an obscure historical monument, lots of laughter, a dash of wedding planning and, of course, amazing Mr. Pencils! I'm loving the adventure of planning a Maryland wedding and Rocky Mountain reception, and most of all, I just love love!
I was the luckiest person ever the week before my wedding because of the amazing people who surrounded me and helped me in the days leading up to the BIG day. Tuesday night before the wedding day, one of my high school best friends, A, flew in to hang out and help.
The Wednesday before the wedding, the theme of the day was WAX. Yep, you heard me, wax. Bridesmaid CH, Bridesmaid AT, and HSBF (high school best friend) A joined me on the adventure.
Suffice it to say, yours truly got nearly everything waxed in preparation for my wedding day and honeymoon… and A got her eyebrows waxed in solidarity.
Mrs. Seashell, Chicago, IL / Providence, RIAge and Occupation: 28, Marriage and Family TherapistFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Electrical EngineerEngagement Date: September 3, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: The Glen Manor HouseAbout Me: Fonts and fashion, stationery and Sundays, photography and french toast... the beauty is in the details for this fun-loving Chicagoan who loves to plan plan plan! The soon-to-be hubs plays "Mr. Fix-It" in our new condo while I swoon over beautiful, personalized stationery and choose shades of aubergine for my bridesmaids' dresses... and thus begins my new fairy tale! Skirting to the East Coast for our September nuptials where my home state of Rhode Island awaits with fall foliage, I'm just a few dress fittings and bachelorette party away from saying "I Do" to a very happy ending!
“Talk, talk, talk,” says Eagan. Communication about everything from small things such as how you spent your day to big things such as how to spend your money is vital to a healthy marriage. It helps you get to know each other better, resolve issues, and stay connected to your spouse.
Mrs. Sunbeam, San Francisco/Grove City, PAAge and Occupation: 26, Grad Student & Office ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Motion DesignerEngagement Date: May 10, 2008Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Harbison Chapel & The Maple Lane FarmAbout Me: Mr. Sunbeam and I are high school sweethearts. We both come from a small town in PA but are growing to love the California lifestyle. He loves wine and I love cheese... the perfect combination! When I'm not drooling over wedding blogs, I'm attending grad school, out being a foodie, or attempting to "walk" our cat at the park. Two things guaranteed to excite me are wedding cakes and breaking out my suitcase to travel. Mr. Sunbeam and I are personalizing our hometown wedding to celebrate our high school sweetheart status and PA roots with a few CA touches. After ten years of dating we couldn't be more excited to call each other husband and wife!
Oh, the first dance. We’ve all seen the YouTube videos where the bride and groom and sometimes their bridal party break out choreography that makes you say, “I wanna do that at my wedding!” Well Mr. Sunbeam and I attempted. We took a few dance lessons and learned the two-step to My Lady’s House by Iron & Wine.
Let’s just say it went OK. We tried! Even though it makes us blush, I’ll share the video in case you are interested in our two-step attempt. Read more…
Mrs. Hot Dog, Cheyenne, WYAge and Occupation: 23, Health Information SpecialistFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Personal Trainer
Engagement Date: March 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: Family Ranch outside Glenrock, WYAbout Me: I'm a city girl by birth and rural girl by choice. I'm ready to take on the world with a big heart and a big smile! I love all things crafty and DIY. I live in Cheyenne, WY with Mr. HD and our 2 fur babies, our dachshunds, Ollie and Mia. I love travel, adventure, Finding Nemo, '90s music, animals, and laughing. He is the cheese to my macaroni and together we spend more time watching movies than we probably should! I'm an old soul who is super duper excited to pull off our down home-rustic-chic-country wedding (on the cheap)!
The first bridesmaid dress is in and Bridesmaid Star and I went down to get it for her a couple weeks ago. Are you ready to see it in all its glory??
Isn’t the color just gorgey porgey?! Star may or may not kill me for posting this of her in white socks… haha After she got home she sent me a photo of herself in the boots. Read more…
Mrs. Hermit Crab, New York, NYAge and Occupation: 24, Youth Director soon to be Grad StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Medical Student - soon to be Surgery ResidentEngagement Date: October 11, 2008Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: New York Botanical GardenAbout Me: I love all things food, books, our furbaby, Rashi, and adventures with my amazing fiance (oh, and saving the world!). This summer I will not only be a bride, but a bridesmaid, officiant, and attendee as well---it's all about weddings in my life right now, full of so many exciting moments and projects. We're planning a fab New York City wedding weekend full of family, love and lots of color!
As we began registering, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit like Roald Dahl’s famous character. What business did I have telling people what to get us? However, with 300 guests, we were inevitably going to be getting gifts, and quite a few of them, and I was quickly convinced that we should register so we received gifts that we liked, and not that we would have to return. Read more…
Mrs. Sunrise, MinneapolisAge and Occupation: 27, Client Relations LiaisonFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Senior Technical Support AnalystEngagement Date: December 26, 2008Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: The Oaks banquet room at Eagan Community CenterAbout Me: I am a crafty and optimistic, laid back girly-girl who fell in love with a video game-playin', hip hop-lovin', Lego-buildin', computer-techie nerd. I get easily distracted by shiny objects (oohhh pretty..) and I have more shoes than I can count (but I still need more). I love to shake my booty to Lady Gaga’s music but she frightens the hell outta me. Mr. Sunrise and I could not be any more different, but you know what they say… opposites attract! We met over 9 years ago while working for a local grocery store. It was love at first “Clean-up in Aisle 5!” We are both Chicago-born and raised, but recently relocated to Minnesota for his career. I will always remain a Windy City gal through and through, but I cannot deny my love for the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Over the Labor Day weekend, my sisters (Bridesmaid N & Maid of Honor C) drove 4 hours to visit me. I always have a blast when I am with them. We are very close in age so we all get along so well. If you wanna see me in my rawest, most comfortable state, catch me with my sisters. I can talk to them about anything from rainbows to butterflies to dildos, haha. And we always laugh it up. Best of all, they don’t really mind all my nonstop wedding jibberjabber… at least I don’t think they do. I’m sure it was a nice break for Mr. S since he still complains that I talk about the wedding too damn much. I really don’t know what he’s talking about!
I went to my dress appointment that Saturday with my ladies as scheduled. Bridesmaid S met us there. I had such a fun time trying on dresses and having my wonderful ladies there to zip me up and lace me in. It gave me a tiny glimpse of what the morning of the big day might be like, and I got a little giddy. I believe that it is really important to surround yourself with strong-minded women that you can really trust. Instead of inflating my head with fluff that they think I want to hear, they will tell me straight up if I look like a clown. And that’s why I love them so much! I wish that my two other bridesmaids and my mom could have been there too.
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
I wish that my two other bridesmaids and my mom could have been there too.
