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!
You probably think this article is about our wedding rings. Yeah, they’re pretty special, but this story is about another whole ring. It’s about Mr. Dolphin’s Great-Grandmother’s wedding ring.
(click the image for a better look)
The 3 rings: On my left hand, my engagement ring. On my right hand, a silver promise ring given to me by Mr. Dolphin on Christmas Day 2006, and Mr. Dolphin’s Great-Grandmother’s pink gold wedding ring stacked on top.
When I was trying to come up with my “something old,” as the tradition goes, I couldn’t figure out what it would be.
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
After a lovely afternoon of sun and fun at our beach party, it was time to get pretty for our rehearsal dinner! I rushed to our hotel to jump in the shower and threw on my dress, and then it was time to head to the hotel lobby to start a caravan for our guests! Remember our rehearsal dinner nightmare? Our OOT bags/info featured directions on how to get to the restaurant. Well, since plans had changed, Mommy and Daddy Buttons organized a caravan for our friends and family to get to the NEW rehearsal dinner location. Thankfully, we all arrived in one piece!
Mrs. Socks, Southern NJ/Philadelphia, PAAge and Occupation: 23, Web Developer/Marketing SpecialistFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Systems EngineerEngagement Date: September 7, 2009
Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: Ladder 15 RestaurantAbout Me: I am originally from the Midwest, but I love being an East Coast transplant! Mr. Socks and I are foodies and winos to the core---give us a hunk of cheese, some charcuterie and a glass of wine and we could die happy. We have two mischievous Wire Fox Terriers with completely opposite personalities but with a shared love of uprooting anything in our garden. Our backyard garden includes everything from tomatoes and peppers to a fig tree, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries! I love cooking, indie music, and spending time in our wedding city of choice---Philly!
Pretty much the entire time we’ve been planning this wedding, I’ve asked myself, “what on earth will I do after the wedding??” It’s been a serious concern of mine that a lot of other people laugh at and dismiss when I wonder out loud what exactly I will do.
I love blogging, and I love having projects to plan and a goal in mind and staying busy with a “mission” after work. I’ve been terrified that Mr. Socks might have to put his new wife in some sort of withdrawal program after I don’t have the wedding to plan anymore.
“Doc, I just want it back…I want all of the stress of planning a wedding back! I don’t know what to do with myself without projects and endless emails to vendors!”
And then…a few weeks ago, I noticed a change. I could suddenly see life AFTER the wedding. I could finally start picturing the honeymoon, which seemed so ridiculous to think about before since the wedding was too huge to think around. 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).
The father of one of my BFFs is a Methodist minister, and on top of that, just a wonderful man. You know those people that you meet and just like right away but you can’t really explain why? That’s him. He always has a sense of calm about him and he’s just a genuinely caring, genuinely interested in other people kind of guy. After seeing him officiate the weddings for two of the women in my house party (including his daughter’s), I knew I wanted him to officiate mine.
Mr. K at his daughter’s (House Party Jessica) wedding
Mrs. Sewing, San Mateo, CA/Honolulu, HIAge and Occupation: 24, Electrical EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Electrical EngineerEngagement Date: June 27, 2009Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: Anela Garden Chapel & Japanese Cultural Center, HonoluluAbout Me: I'm an easily entertained, compulsive idea-scheming machine who loves good art, good food, and a good engineering challenge. I'm planning a half-destination wedding on the beautiful island of Oahu - imagine a plethora of movies, art and games; savory Hawaiian food; blended Chinese and Japanese cultural details; lush, fragrant tropical flowers and all the air conditioning a NorCal native could want! And once I marry the love of my life, we'll come back to the 'mainland' to party it up all over again in my hometown of Salinas, the salad-bowl capital of the world!
Finally, on the eve of our wedding day, it was beach brunch time!
Early that morning, Mr. Sew was left at Zippy’s to wait for our humongous order of breakfasts. My dad and I went to the local grocery store, FoodLand, to grab some fruit, and Sewing-Dad got sidetracked by the huge display of poke (marinated sashimi). He came back with a couple buckets of spicy and not-so-spicy varieties. Not on the original menu, but definitely no complaints here. Read more…
Mrs. Elephant, Dallas, TXAge and Occupation: 27, Financial Operations AnalystFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, IT Student/Store ManagerEngagement Date: March 29, 2009Wedding Date: April 2011Venue: The Tribute Golf ClubAbout Me: I'm a Philly native creating roots deep in the heart of Texas. I might be a little obsessed capturing those Kodak moments of anything and everything (mainly on vacations). I've become more of a gamer thanks to Mr. Elephant, who I met online and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with. We are planning a wedding based on our favorite colors, blue and green, with a travel theme for 150 of our closest friends and family. Hopefully our long (2-year) engagement won't kill me!
Well, we can’t leave all the cool cake inspiration to just the “bride’s” cake!
Down South, it’s pretty much tradition to have a groom’s cake, often shaped as an interest of the groom’s. From sports teams to colleges to hobbies, groom’s cakes can be a fun way to spotlight the groom.
Here are a couple of the awesome groom’s cakes my friends have showcased at their weddings:
Mrs. Ostrich, San Francisco/HawaiiAge and Occupation: 30, Fashion Buyer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 38, CopywriterEngagement Date: October 4, 2009Wedding Date: April 2011Venue: Sweet ceremony by the sea and sunset celebration on the North Shore of HawaiiAbout Me: Born in the city of angels and residing in the city by the bay, I’m a fearless fashion buyer by day, a passionate blog author by night and a dreamy bride-to-be in between. I thank my lucky stars to live in such a stunning city that gives me gifts like organic honey lavender ice cream, movie nights in the park, tucked away beaches, legendary record stores, '80s dance parties, awesome sports teams, stellar flea markets, and vintage bookshops. Oh, and I love to dance! We always find every excuse to escape to the beach, and decided a little seaside wedding in Hawaii is our idea of bliss. Full of our favorite people, music, food and sparkly lights, this is one sunset celebration we will always remember.
When a wedding comes along, we can’t avoid it. The dress, the photos, the video—we all want to look radiant, confident, and healthy on our special day, right?
Growing up, I was the most active, sporty girl you ever met. Always ambitious, Mama Ostrich had me in ballet slippers and jazz and tap shoes the moment I could walk, and sporty Papa O filled our days with tennis drills, batting practice, and interval sprints. The second the end-of-day school bell rang, the pirouettes, forehands, and races began. And I loved every second of it.
Now, to stay in shape, many of us head to stylish gyms with fancy Precor machines and treadmills. The more Zen-minded gals spend their mornings in a perfect standing bow pose. And me? Well, for many years, I was unsatisfied with my workout routine. I joined a too-expensive gym and was suckered into a few months with a personal trainer. I did the whole yoga thing, which I still do find incredibly soothing and gratifying. But I still felt like I was missing something. And after a little reflection, I figured it out. Working out had become a chore. And chores? They’re no fun! Read more…
ContestsFeature Launched: Oct 5, 2006About: Weddingbee contests and giveaways.
We’ve got an exciting giveaway today: the getaway experts over at Honeymoon Wishes are giving away a four day, three night stay in a deluxe, ocean view room at the breathtaking Pueblo Bonita Pacifica Resort in lovely Cabo San Lucas, Mexico!
Hivemember authentic wrote a heartfelt letter coming from a waiting woman. If you’re waiting for a proposal, or remember what it’s like waiting for a marriage proposal, this letter is so relatable!
~~~
Dear Friends, Family, Coworkers, and Acquaintances:
I’m just going to come right out and say it.
If you know of a lady in waiting, do not ask her any questions regarding engagement unless she has said something to you about it.
I know you mean well, but to put it frankly, you’re probably doing more harm than good in mentioning it. And especially, do not pull her aside IN FRONT OF her significant other and quietly ask if there have been any developments. On some level, I’m sure he would know what you’re referring to. And if he had no idea? He’d definitely have some idea when he hears his beloved say, “No, not yet…I’ll let you know when it happens.” Give the poor guy a break. Regardless where you feel they should be at in their relationship, he IS madly in love with her and wants to be with her forever.
Trust me, even if you’re someone she barely talks to… that doesn’t matter. Read more…
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
On a warm, sunny Labor Day Sunday evening, Mr. Jellyfish and I tied the knot in front of 221 of our dearest family and friends. I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since our wedding—time really does fly when you’re having fun. We took off on our Tahitian honeymoon shortly after the wedding, and ever since returning we’ve been busy, busy, busy!
We don’t have our pro pics back yet, but we’re very fortunate that we have a number of photographically talented friends who attended the wedding, so I have some Jellyfish wedding sneak peeks to share with you:
Papa Jelly walking me down the aisle. [Photo by J. Yiu]
Mrs. Lioness, AtlantaAge and Occupation: 25, Physical TherapistFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, AttorneyEngagement Date: August 29, 2009Wedding Date: April 2011Venue: Anthony’s Fine DiningAbout Me: I’m a Southern girl with New England roots. I say "wicked" and "y’all" in the same sentence and I like to drink sweet tea with my lobster. Mr. Lion and I are both former Floridians now living in Atlanta, which fortunately is still SEC country...Go Gators! We both love baseball, coffee, traveling, cooking, and playing Words with Friends with each other on our iPhones all day long. I’m very passionate about the things and the people I love, and I tend to plan things with all of my heart...our wedding, of course, is no different! Oh, and also Mr. Lion is a first generation American of Cuban descent. I may look more like Lucy than Ricky, but I’m doing my best to incorporate some Latin elements into our vintage-garden-Southern wedding!
Seriously, choose a nerdier title. What can I say? I dig the alliteration.
As I’ve mentioned before, we’re going for a certain look for our wedding: vintage garden with extra whimsy on top. Our wedding ceremony will be outside in a garden, and the reception will be inside the same venue’s ballroom. One of the best parts about a garden ceremony is that it requires very few additional decorations. Sure, you can add more if you want, but the scene would still look pretty complete without it. But I wanted our theme to be consistent throughout. How does one bring that same outdoor greenery inside to the reception?
Enter the topiary. Topiaries certainly have vintage appeal; personally, they remind me of something you’d see on a Victorian valentine. They also emit a sense of whimsy, especially because they can be sculpted into just about anything you could possibly imagine. What’s more whimsical than imagination?
Ms. Sloth, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 35, Account Manager and Fashion BloggerFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Design AdminEngagement Date: December 25, 2009Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Bartram's GardenAbout Me: I'm an internet junkie and music snob with a good eye for a bargain. I couldn't live without thrift store shopping, cheeseburgers, sushi, Coke Zero, websites devoted to silly photos of baby animals, Photoshop, and Mr. Sloth. Speaking of which, he and I are a pair of goofball homebody nerds who love our beagle (the most ridiculously adorable dog EVER) to an embarrassing degree. We're planning a low-key and intimate yet festive and quirky outdoor wedding with DIY details and deeply personal touches, and it's all taking place in the city where we fell in love and call home: Philadelphia.
I was really stoked when I found a dress for under $150. I know that I still haven’t decided that I’ll definitely wear it, but if I do, even with the significant alterations I’d like, it’ll still cost maybe $350, tops.
Since I’d originally budgeted about a grand for a dress, I’ll have some moolah left over. The smart thing to do would be to put it toward something else. There are always plenty of unexpected expenses that pop up during wedding planning, right?
Right?
But then a little devil wormed its way into my brain. And this devil is whispering to me “Buy some crazy-ass expensive shoes!”
And I really, really want to. I want a pair of Manolos.
I’m not a brand snob by nature. So it’s not about the label or about how these shoes would look in that ubiquitous bridal-shoe shot that all wedding photographers do. And it has nothing to do with Carrie Bradshaw. But their jeweled d’orsay pumps are just so, so, so, sooooooo pretty.
These two are in our wedding colors and are just gorgeous:
Mrs. Brooch, Arlington, VAAge and Occupation: 25, Writer/EditorFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Front Desk ManagerEngagement Date: October 3, 2009Wedding Date: April 2011Venue: Oxon Hill ManorAbout Me: I’m an indecisive girlie-girl with a motor mouth, can-do attitude, and knack for making others laugh. I dream of becoming a best selling novelist like Elizabeth Gilbert or Julie Powell (a girl can dream, right?), and love long road trips, a beautiful countryside, music, blogs, books, and all things vintage/thrift/antique/or homemade. I’m a Virgo, i.e. overly sensitive, emotional, and critical, and there’s no such thing as short and sweet in my world. I want to say and do it all. Mr. Brooch grounds me. I point where to go and he figures out the way. He’s a pragmatic fancy-pants who enjoys video games and movies. We both adore our mutt, Rocky, and spending time with our amazingly supportive family and friends. We’re planning a garden wedding with a formal reception with lots of whimsy and unique, Southern-inspired details.
Before revealing our save the dates, I thought would share the how-to story. That way you have to suffer with me through the process, just as I did (muahaha!). Remember when I explained the roadblocks and hiccups we experienced trying to put them together? Well, they did eventually come together, one step at a time!
Mrs. Knitting, TorontoAge and Occupation: 24, Student Recruitment Assistant
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Neuroscience PhD CandidateEngagement Date: October 2009Wedding Date: December 2010Venue: University of Toronto Faculty Club
About Me: I'm a pearl wearing, etiquette book reading Toronto girl who loves cooking and baking, museums, charm bracelets, and collecting books on Jackie Kennedy (a lot). I've been known to spend Sunday mornings at the antique market, Wednesday evenings at sister sushi dinners, and any bit of spare time reading. After six and a half years of many late night walks, watching DVDs together in bed, travelling to places like New York, and Tobermory, doing Sudokus together on the couch, lots of Indian food, the occasional yoga class, moving in together and so much more, Mr. Knitting and I are planning a cozy Christmasy (it's a word!), vintage wedding in Toronto complete with many DIY projects (eek!) and lots of help from our amazing group of family and friends.
