Mrs. Husky, DenverAge and Occupation: 26, Systems AdministratorFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Mechanical Engineer, recently laid offEngagement Date: August 14, 2009Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: Rancho San CarlosAbout Me: I am planning a quirky-crafty wedding with my recently out-of-work fiancé for a (fingers crossed!) warm October afternoon. We are two self-professed nerds with an affinity for all things outdoors---be it rain, snow or shine. Recently relocated from the drizzly Northwest, we're enjoying the many sun-soaked days in the mile high city. Our day will be filled with both of our large families and friends, a self-served Cajun feast, and a Zydeco-style jazz band rocking beneath the beams of a historic red barn.
After a long day at work earlier this week, I came home to be greeted by a wonderful surprise:
(personal photo)
Mr. Husky built me an arbor to marry under! After the wedding, it will find a home in our back yard, keeping the tree branch from messing up my hair every time I walk under it.
We’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading real Weddingbee brides’ experiences with their vendors via the Weddingbee Vendors section! A while back, we launched Featured Reviews from the Hive, a new feature that allows you to share your favorite vendors right here on the front page! We’ve loved all of the great vendor reviews coming at us, so today we’re launching a weekly giveaway from Zazzle for those of you who create and submit vendor reviews to be featured right here on the blog.
Currently, we’re regularly featuring your favorite vendor reviews that you write and submit to us. Every Friday we’ll randomly select a featured reviewer that week to win a custom Avery binder on Zazzle.com!
After the wedding there may be a lot of little odds and ends that you’d like to retain as keepsakes (Wedding dress receipts? Bridesmaid dress color swatches? Sweet RSVP response cards?), and these binders make the perfect place to store it all. Keep the memories alive with a custom Avery binder on Zazzle.com, the world’s leading platform for quality custom products.
Mrs. Starfish, Boston/NewportAge and Occupation: 25, Operations AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, SalesEngagement Date: October 8, 2008Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: The Atlantic Beach ClubAbout Me: I'm a perfectionist who is a planner at heart. I don't do well with surprises. I love planning, crafting, Newport RI, family and friends, and most importantly, Mr. Starfish---all of which will be big components in our October wedding in our favorite little city by the sea.
I’ve been looking for the perfect outfits for our week in Newport. Then last night I stumbled upon the Lily Pultizer Endless Summer Sale. When I think Newport attire, I typically think preppy or nautical. You can’t really get more preppy than Lily Pulitzer.
Mrs. Cardigan, AustinAge and Occupation: 21, Student/Soon-to-be Special Education TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 20, Student/Soon-to-be Accounting Systems AnalystEngagement Date: August 16, 2009Wedding Date: January 2011Venue: Vintage VillasAbout Me: I'm a native Austinite who was raised as a die-hard Aggie. Luckily, I'm a pretty persuasive girl because I managed to convince my high school boyfriend (now fiance!), Mr. Cardigan, to ditch his hardcore Longhorn ways and join me up at A&M, where we currently reside with our adorable dogs, Cullen & Ranger. We're currently planning a bright, cheery wedding with a ridiculous amount of DIY projects that I can't wait to tackle! I love crafting in any form, reading, and margaritas (I think I love them the most!). Organization is what keeps me sane and I love helping others, which is probably why I ended up as an education major. It gets a little chaotic sometimes when you're planning a wedding among all of the papers, projects, finals, and certification exams, but we're having the time of our lives and we can't wait to get started on our journey as husband and wife - and we're so excited to share our wedding with the hive!
After weeks and weeks of waiting patiently (and having Mr. Cardy ask me every other day when it would get here), Mr. Cardigan’s wedding band finally came!
It came on Tuesday, which just happened to be my first day that I spent the whole day up at the school getting ready for student teaching. I came home exhausted, a little bit grumpy, and needing a nap. But when I walked in the door and saw a package sitting on the kitchen table and Mr. Cardy’s excitement at having finally received his ring, all the stress melted away!
He was a good fiance and waited until I got home to open it, because he said “you’re a blogger and you need to take pictures of me opening it!” He’s finally getting the hang of this whole blogging thing, huh?
So, naturally, I obliged!
I know he doesn’t look excited here, but trust me, he is. He was making ridiculous faces in all the other photos I took!
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.
My beach house dreams came true and the week before the wedding I set off for our little rented house in Narragansett, accompanied by my sister and two good friends with the patience and vacation time necessary to oblige this bride-to-be.
We spent the week running last-minute wedding errands: meetings with the florist, DJ, and photographer, adjusting the seating chart, buying extra tulle, and tying ribbons on things.
Haha, just kidding!
The only wedding activity we did involved some phone calls and logistics, as well as dropping off stuff at the caterer’s house. And then we went on a wine tour. The rest of the week involved my favorite things: sleeping in, jogs on the beach, reading books on the balcony, grilling stuff, eating ice cream, and spending rainy mornings at a cafe with bagels and internet access.
It’s important to diet the week before your big special day: Read more…
Mrs. Barrettes, Tumon, Guam/Napa, CAAge and Occupation: 29, DancerFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Licensed Building ContractorEngagement Date: November 16, 2008Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: V. Sattui WineryAbout Me: I'm an East Coast girl, living on a tiny little island in the Pacific, twirling, leaping, and shimmy-ing my way through life, and now, wedding planning! I'm equal parts nerdy and cool... okay, mostly nerdy. I love satin bows, red lipstick, black & white graphic anything, the shine of sequins and the sound of a champagne "pop". My favorite books are The Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James, and Tender is the Night, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I can also conjure a pretty good Patronus Charm. I started my appreciation for good red wine while traveling on the high seas, and it's only fitting that my passion for wine drinking led me to my Napa-bred honey. We bonded over bottles of Cabernet on my oceanfront porch and haven't looked back since. We're sealing the deal at a winery in the Napa Valley on a 'perfect ten' of a day!
Mrs. Glasses, Tokyo/Los Angeles, CAAge and Occupation: 24, English teacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, English teacherEngagement Date: September 2008Wedding Date: October 2010 Venue: Parents' backyardAbout Me: I’m an expat living in Tokyo. I’ve been in Japan for almost three years now, where I met my fantastic English fiance. It’s time to leave Japan, so we are planning a fun, intimate, backyard ceremony back home in the suburbs of L.A. in October. Our wedding will be a mix of my love for food, beer, my Japanese culture, and Mr. G’s Englishness. We are on a tiny budget and DIYing almost everything!
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!
So I never really had the thisismydress moment. And I didn’t shed any tears. But I do feel really content, happy, and even a little giddy about my wedding dress.
I LOVE the dress aesthetically, ethically, and emotionally.
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.
I’ve been married for several weeks now. According to the government, the bank, and my job, I’m Mrs. [New Name]. But I still have my old email address, and I sign my old name when I buy something because I don’t have my new ID yet. I’ve gotten a few pieces of mail with my new name on it. It’s so weird, I feel like I’m “in-between”. I’m sure the adjustment will become clearer in a week or so, when I start the new school year with my students and get to be called “Mrs. [New Name]” a few hundred times a day.
Anyway, while I adjust to marriage and wait for our professional photos, I’ll share with you some of my favorite images of our Hawaiian honeymoon.
It was wonderful to “escape” everything and run off to Kaua’i after we were married. The wedding and its accompanying celebrations were intense (in a good way), and some time to decompress was exactly what we needed. Mr. Oyster and I are kind of quiet by nature and I think we were looking for a beautiful place we could rest and relax, without feeling like it was so once-in-a-lifetime that we had to see everything (e.g., Europe, Brazil or any of the other “dream places” we want to go someday).
Upon arrival in Kaua’i, we picked up our car and headed to our rented condo, located on the north shore (in the suburb of Princeville). I was happy that we remembered our little friend… Read more…
DIYFeature Launched: October 8, 2008About: The best DIY projects from Bees and brides around the web.
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!
Mrs. Plaid, AustinAge and Occupation: 26, Pastry ChefFiance's Age and Occupation: 34, Cabinetry CarpenterEngagement Date: August 8, 2009Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: Kindred Oaks, GeorgetownAbout Me: I am a Jersey girl born and raised but have since migrated to Texas and embraced its twang and Tex-Mex. I could probably eat chips and queso every day but instead I eat popcorn. I use the word “awesome” way too much but I just can’t seem to stop myself. I am addicted to all things DIY and am planning what I call a Texas-Chic wedding. I love snuggling with my two adorable dogs and of course, my adorable fiance. I can’t wait 'til I can call him my husband some day! October 2010, here we come!
I realize I haven’t shown y’all my sad attempt at making my own veil, so here it is. Look real fast and then move on ’cause it’s uuuggggggllllyyyy!
Yeah that was one of my first DIY projects—my veil. Well after finishing it, I promptly decided that I hated it. Welcome to my indecisive world! Read more…
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.
Today is THE DAY. Thank you for spending the past few months with me. I’ve enjoyed our ups and downs and especially in the downs, I thank you for your encouragement. I hope you have found my posts to be honest, amusing, and maybe a touch useful for those newly planning weddings.
The last two weeks has been me stressing over menus, programs, favors, and wedding timelines, and all kinds of randomness. Finally, I’m excited. I think I’m ready. Today will be a day of craziness (I won’t get my way, let’s face it), emotions, food (FOOD!), dancing, music, being with friends and family, being with the one I chose and the one who chose me. Read more…
Mrs. Hippo, New York City/Dallas, TXAge and Occupation: 34, Event Planner for a Non-Profit Fiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Finance ITEngagement Date: August 8, 2009Wedding Date: March 2011Venue: Samuel Lynne Galleries and Marc EventsAbout Me: I’m a thirty-something bride living in New York City and planning a modern-ish wedding in Dallas, Texas. I love trashy reality television (Jersey Shore, anyone?), online shopping, Sunday brunch, Central Park, and random celebrity spottings on the streets of Manhattan. While I love NYC, I miss good Tex-Mex, my college friends, central A/C, and being in close proximity to a Target. I’m thrilled to finally be planning an event that’s not work-related and to be marrying my best friend in what I hope will be a unique and personal ceremony followed by a reception with plenty of good food, good drinks, and dancing (regardless if it’s good or not).
I think for some couples, the ceremony venue is a no-brainer. If you go to church regularly or have a childhood church you connect with, there’s not much to think about. But for us heathens, that’s just not the case, and we had so many things to consider—indoor, outdoor, hotel, historic site, museum, and on, and on…
Since I am a 30-something bride and have been to 30-something weddings (o.k., MAYBE I’m exaggerating a TEENY bit), I really want our wedding to be different. While the church wedding followed by the hotel or country club reception are perfect for some people, it’s just NOT us. And since all of my close friends have already tied the knot and also been to a million and two weddings, I just want ours to be unique. We have relatively modern taste as far as decorating goes, so for us, a very traditional, antique-furnished venue was not going to cut it. King Hippo was open to pretty much anything (I think he said getting married in the living room of our tiny New York apartment would be okay…ummmmm, not a chance), which basically meant it was totally on me to figure out.
Mrs. Sand Dollar, HoustonAge and Occupation: 24, Graphic DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 22, Electrical TechnicianEngagement Date: January 8, 2010Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: MacLean ParkAbout Me: I'm a domestic diva down to the core. I heart cooking, sewing, baking, decorating and making sure we have a hand-crafted home. The best part about the wedding is I get to incorporate it all! I make sure I put my art degree to good use by screen printing, craft knife cutting, and a whole lotta graphic design. We're having a big-time party on a small-time budget, and I promise to show you a boot-scootin', barbecue-eatin', finger-lickin' good time! Mr. Sand Dollar and I spend most of our time on DIY projects or traipsing around the outdoors with our two pooches Rory and Juno. I'm looking forward to sharing our journey with all of you!
As you now know, my attempt at decorating a lovely wedding cake was a complete flop. So now what do we do? Well, to recount what we already have, there’s:
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
