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.
In case you didn’t already know, Mr. Cola is an engineer, which means he has a serious love for gadgets, electronics, machinery… and LED lights!
So when he came up with the idea to incorporate LEDs into our escort cards, I was all for it. He would be able to showcase one of his DIY talents at our wedding, and it meant one less project that I had to take the reins on!
This was a pretty complicated DIY though, and not something that would be easy to replicate unless you have the engineering know-how, so I won’t go into too many of the details on the process, just a quick overview.
Mr. Cola started by laying out the design of the circuit boards, and had them made in China. Once the circuit boards arrived, Mr. C attached three LEDs to each board. Then, we had to “stuff” the circuit boards with resistors. I helped while watching TV (the resistors are the little brown things on wires). Read more…
Mrs. Oyster, DallasAge and Occupation: 30, Music TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 46, Art TeacherEngagement Date: January 9, 2009Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: The Tower ClubAbout Me: I'm a Texa-Californian with a penchant for sparkly things and a tendency to think a lot. I've been known to sing random songs or dance when there is no music on. My fiance and I love world culture, we love to travel, and we have an incredibly eclectic taste in music. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate our marriage with our family & closest friends. We're planning an “urban black-tie” wedding and hope to incorporate our personalities and some of our own interests. We look forward to a life of love, laughter, good music, beautiful art, and to creating our home together with our four (!) cats.
Everything was going fine with the progress of my wedding dress. I drew up a design (based loosely on the Alfred Angelo 830 that I tried on), and when it came time for the first muslin fitting, I realized that I hated the dress. Panic ensued.
Every day on message boards, bridal resale outfits, wedding shows, etc., we see brides who simply cannot choose a dress. Some even purchase two or three. On television, a bride’s indecision is frequently edited to make her a spectacle to the audience, set up as another example of a “bridezilla” or to create some other ratings-friendly bridal drama. Sure, some of these brides are just indecisive, but I suspect that for some, the dress confusion is a symptom of some deeper, soul-stirring internal crisis, as it was for me.
When I imagined my wedding day, for a long time it was a blank spot in my mind. Read more…
Mrs. Paisley, Orange County, CAAge and Occupation: 25, JournalistFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Spanish ProfessorEngagement Date: September 2008Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: Family Lake HouseAbout Me: From my earliest days I attracted attention, as much for my intelligence as for beauty. I display an originality, a perspicacity, a certain je ne sais quoi that sets me apart. I posses a mysterious authority which compels people to do my bidding. I am a regal blonde with classic features and the daintiness of Dresden porcelain. I am poised, soft-spoken, and well educated... Okay, now that enough eyebrows have sufficiently shot through the roof, everybody can relax---I kid! I'm just a sarcastic NorCal-turned-SoCal girl who loves outdoor activities, books, letterpress printing and of course, Professor Paisley.
Professor Paisley and I knew we wanted some artsy-cool engagement photographs, but on our grad-student/freelance-writer budgets, we thought it’d be impossible. Then I learned, on the Weddingbee boards of course, about finding free sessions from photographers just starting out and building their portfolios.
A while back (like a year, haha) we found Ashley Rose and were lucky to snag her LAST free sesh.
We immediately began planning how to style our shoot, including wardrobe, hair accessories, setting, props and perhaps most importantly, gathering inspiration to help us pull off the look we wanted.
Keep on loading your inspirational wedding pics to the gallery to see them featured here on the blog! Remember, your images must be under 1MB in size, or they won’t load.
Ms. Potato Chips, Boston/Narragansett RIAge and Occupation: 29, PhD StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Personal Trainer/Business Owner/Physical Therapy AssistantEngagement Date: January 1, 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: The Narragansett TowersAbout Me: A semi-professional bookworm, if I could be a literary character I’d be a cross between Jo March and Jane Eyre, only better accessorized and much lazier. My hobbies include sleeping in, seasonal brews, running, Trader Joe’s, and watching Unwrapped and Good Eats with Mr. Potato Chips. I harbor an irrational fear of tulle, crafts, things that are fussy, and overuse of the phrase "Your Special Day". After a year or seven together, down the aisle we go, slouching toward adulthood and planning a Rhodie party with equal parts whimsy, cheer, and pizza.
I crafted. This is major. I even used a paint brush! And I wore a smock. A smock!
I ordered small canvas flags from Oriental Trading and a YAY stencil from Just Stencils. Then my mom had to teach me to stencil because I must have missed that day in third grade. Stenciling is no joke! But I got the hang of it.
Mrs. Octopus, Boston, MA/Pittsburgh, PAAge and Occupation: 25, Grad StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Graphics Operator for TV NewsEngagement Date: May 6th, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Heinz Chapel Ceremony, Museum Reception
About Me: When my best friend dragged me to a toga party in our freshmen year of college, I was not expecting to meet my future husband; but seven years later, here we are. I'm a crazy-organized planner at heart, and I am a great lover of random trivia, books, chocolate, blogs, new and exciting adventures, mockumentary-style television, and anything heavily flavored with bright orange fake cheese powder. We're planning a festive and fun mini-destination wedding in the place where we met: fabulous Pittsburgh, PA! I can't wait to marry the man I love!
Pittsburgh is a stronghold of a particular wedding tradition that I believe (and please correct me if I’m wrong) is exclusive to the southwestern Pennsylvania/eastern Ohio region: the cookie table.
I had never heard of this custom until I started planning my own Pittsburgh wedding, at which point I realized what a big deal it is; cookie tables are standard wedding operating procedure in good ol’ PGH. Read more…
Ms. Stripes, Los AngelesAge and Occupation: 29, Costume Designer/StylistFiancee's Age and Occupation: 29, ChefEngagement Date: June 23, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Heritage Square MuseumAbout Me: I’m a type A creative with a messy streak, a loud mouth, and an uncanny knack for combining clashing patterns. I can usually be found with my nose in a book, my feet (or at least my toes) on the ground, my head in the clouds, and my arm around the prettiest girl you ever saw- aka
Fiancee Stripes. Together we’re planning a FUN vintage/modern French carnival wedding extravaganza and rockin’ dance party on a dime. (Say that three times fast!) Good coffee, long lists, Uniball pens, and my iPhone keep me sane, and making art, making trouble, and making out keep me happy! I love urban adventures, bike rides that end with afternoon drinks, breakfast for dinner, beautiful light, photography, travel, my furry family, and of course, my beautiful fiancee! I’m super excited to be here and can’t wait to share all our adventures as we craft a joyful, budget-friendly, design-savvy and all-around AWESOME wedding!
This one’s cute (for a broom). Wait. Do you like this one? (Yup it’s still a broom.) Okay. Okay. I found it. The perfect one. Isn’t it pretty? (And yup, it’s still a broom.)
These are excerpts from a conversation you may have overheard in the Stripes’ house one grey Sunday morning.
Shortly thereafter I did the unthinkable and ordered our jumping broom. I ORDERED it. I decided that broom-making was one aspect of DIY that I really did not need delve into four months before our wedding (if ever), ya know? But oh how I considered it.
I did the research. I found plenty of helpful how-to guides (and a whole new world of eco-friendly house blogs to delve into post wedding). I sourced suppliers of broom corn, hemp cord and what most professional broom makers refer to as the “foot held apparatus.” Huh? I started looking for inspiration pics of what our perfect jumping broom would look like and I found some really beautiful (say it with me, “for a broom!”) options. So many options that would be so much more affordable to just order in fact, that I did just that.
Witness the wonderful world of brooms you never knew existed: 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)!
When it came to the favors, I wanted to make sure we were giving our guests something that wasn’t just going to get tossed in the garbage or sit on a shelf collecting dust.
Some sort of food item seemed the perfect solution. But what? Those sugary almonds seem very common at weddings. But that’s the problem. They’re common. What about chocolate of some kind? Well that would be fine and dandy, except that Mr. HD and I wouldn’t even get to eat any of it (we’re on STRICT nutrition plans, more on that later!).
So what is a budget- and nutrition-conscious bride to use? JAM!
It’s perfect! We could make our own jam! It’s all-natural, so it’s healthy. And we’d do it ourselves, so it’d be UBERcheap! I am a genius, if I do say so myself.
And it looks like I’m not the only one with this brilliant idea! Feast your eyes, lovelies.
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!
After deciding to use Banquet In The Woods as our invitation inspirational piece, Mama Seashell and my Aunt came across chandelier decorations and promptly texted me the following photo:
Mama Seashell then called me and asked what I thought about purchasing 21 (one for each table at the reception plus our sweetheart table). At that point I was thinking, ‘I have NO CLUE how we’ll incorporate these exactly, but I’m all for creativity.’ So, I told her to go for it.
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!
One of the first things that we had to talk about when after we got engaged was when. Many years ago, and kind of in passing, Mr. Hermit Crab had mentioned that he didn’t want to get married until after medical school. And this was before he even started! We got engaged during his third year of medical school, and after graduation still seemed to be a reasonable time. Graduation was set for mid-May 2010, and residency begins at the end of the June, so we decided to choose something late May or early June, so we would have time to move and take a vacation. The last weekend in May was going to be Memorial Day weekend, so we decided on a Sunday in early June and luckily for us, our venue was available.
Mrs. Hot Wings, Chicago/San DiegoAge and Occupation: 28, ProfessorFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, InstructorEngagement Date: December 20, 2008Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: Ocean View Villas/Jasmine Seafood RestaurantAbout Me: I am a psychology grad student living in Chicago and planning my wedding to a fellow psych grad student. I am a Sunny So-Cal bred gal who trudged across the country to follow her love of psychology and ended up finding a partner in the process. I am overly passionate about anything I involve myself with. I am an activist, a foodie, a reality TV watching junkie, an over-analyzer, a photography obsesser, and am utterly cheesy to the core. This is a story of what happens when a boy and a girl meet, fall in love over academic dorkiness, and a shared love for life. We (mostly I) are planning our semi-destination wedding in my hometown of San Diego. We are excited to bring our families and friends together from across our lifespans to celebrate our future in a grand 400+ person culturally blended affair!
Look what I got in the mail. Isn’t it weird how complaining and feeling overwhelmed can so quickly change into feeling so incredibly special and honored? Two of Mr. Hot Wings’ aunts are throwing me an “Around the Clock” themed shower. Read more…
Mrs. Lace, Pasadena, CAAge and Occupation: 29, Elementary school teacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, EngineerEngagement Date: September 6, 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: Orange County Performing Arts CenterAbout Me: Born and raised in Southern California, my fiance and I are marrying in Orange County. We're planning a vintage wedding with a modern twist. I am an elementary school teacher by day and a wedding planner by night. I love reading, blogging, scrapbooking, trying out new DIY projects, buying awesome finds at incredible deals and spending time with friends and family. Trying new restaurants, traveling and shopping also top my hobby list. I'm anxious to share my wedding ideas and planning with the hive!
Hey, hey, hey… get your mind out of the gutter. We’re not talking about that thing, that thing, tha-at thiiiinnng (Lauryn Hill, anyone?).
Anyway, although I’m an avid wedding blog reader and magazine reader, I hadn’t attended any wedding shows. I signed up for one way back when, but ended up not being able to make it so I gave my tickets away. I didn’t know what to expect and had a vague picture in my head of tables with vendors showcasing their services or goods.
Well, last week, only two months out from our wedding, I had the opportunity to attend my very first wedding show! I was really excited about seeing what these wedding shows were all about. I enlisted one of my engaged friends to come with me to The Wedding Salon so I wouldn’t be lonely.
First off, it was at a swanky West Hollywood hotel called The London that I’d normally never set foot in.
Mrs. Cheeseburger, Baltimore, MD/State College, PAAge and Occupation: 25, Medical StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Medical StudentEngagement Date: June 28, 2008Wedding Date: March 2010Venue: Catholic Church Ceremony & Hotel ReceptionAbout Me: I'm a passionate girl from Pittsburgh, currently living in Baltimore for school, who loves Penn State, seeing movies, football, thunderstorms, black and white photos, Christmas, good beer, my amazing friends and family, and of course, my mister! We met, fell in love, got engaged, and will be married at our alma mater (go lions!) in a traditional Catholic ceremony followed by a hotel reception with lots of DIY details. It means so much to have our families and friends meet at our favorite place on earth to celebrate our love for one another - I truly couldn't ask for anything more!
After such a crazy fun day and night, we were ready to chill out and relax during our last days in paradise.
We spent lots of time smiling for the camera…
and I spent lots of time gazing at the new addition on my left ring finger… Read more…
Mrs. Dolphin, Gainesville, FLAge and Occupation: 24, Graduate Architecture StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Interactive Interface DeveloperEngagement Date: February 14, 2008Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Plantation Bay Country ClubAbout Me: I’m currently a Graduate Student at the University of Florida studying Architecture. I enjoy playing Scrabble with my Fiance, rooting for the Florida Gators, making any drink that involves a blender, cleaning (yes... I’m crazy), design... GOOD design that is, the new Pepsi with natural sugar, taking pictures, discovering new places in the U.S., and obsessing over doing (and designing) everything myself for our upcoming wedding!
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
