Mrs. Penguin, Northern CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 27, Weddingbee Editor in ChiefFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Doctor of Physical TherapyEngagement Date: January 29, 2007Wedding Date: June 7, 2008Blogging Since: September 14, 2007Venue: Winery in the Gold CountryAbout Me: I love the Spice Girls, dogs with underbites, bean burritos, making messes, high fives, avoiding showers, crossword puzzles, blogs, weddings, and blogs about weddings!
Adele Wechsler’s Spring 2011 collection was fresh and feminine. And I know a lot of you were less-than-thrilled by lots of the models you’ve seen on the runway this far. Adele featured a range of models with different body types, truly proving that there is something for everyone from her collection.
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.
I am completely in love with charms and charm bracelets. For me, the best jewelry is very much about sentiment, emotion, and memory and I think that’s what appeals so strongly to me about charm bracelets. They’re literally a record of memories and moments and I really love that.
I started making my first charm bracelet on my 19th birthday. Here’s a (blurry) look at it now:
Each charm on that bracelet represents something in my life, whether it’s a place, a moment, a trip, an achievement, a person…etc. Read more…
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.
With all of the big stuff booked and bought, Mr. Ostrich and I are now working on the little bits…which to us, mean just as much as the big ones.
What are we starting with first?
The favors!
I had mentioned that Mr. O and I are major music fans, right? 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).
Mrs. Zebra, Providence, RIAge and Occupation: 24 Marketing/Costume DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 26 Management/Firefighter Engagement Date: December 12, 2008Wedding Date: March 2011Venue: The Providence BiltmoreAbout Me: I'm a small town New England girl with an affinity for procrastination, crossing the proverbial line, and putting her foot in her mouth. I'm a lover of history, all seasons, sewing and Incubus. I design costumes on the side for my old high school's theatre department, which is where I met my sexy man. Our motto for our Big Fat Lebanese/Portuguese/Irish near-300 person wedding is "the more the merrier"! We are marrying in a Catholic ceremony and are hammering out the details of our Victorian-inspired reception.
Were any of you lucky enough to have a best friend you never fought with? Who you could tell your really ridiculous innermost secrets and know she’d laugh at you but never tell a soul? Have you made a pact to be Maid of Honor in each other’s wedding? A friend who you have been away from for years and can pick right back up again with? Read more…
Mrs. Giraffe, ChicagoAge and Occupation: 23, Graphic DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Music Student TeacherEngagement Date: October 23, 2008Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Trinity Lutheran Church & Idlewild Country ClubAbout Me: Coming from the suburbs of the Windy City, you'll often find me with my foot in my mouth while laughing for no reason or telling bad knock knock jokes. I've been crafty for as long as I can remember, and will DIY something twice over before I have someone do it for me. I'm a semi-awkward, typeface obsessed, design junkie and have been know to break out my dance moves for no reason as well as try my best to be ridiculous at all times. My love of pop culture, wordplay, and graph paper almost rivals my love of Mr. Giraffe (who is just the bee's knees). After a 2.5 year engagement, we're planning a modern-in-disguise traditional wedding, and cannot wait!
OK, OK, OK, I get it. I blogged about Mario cakes and cupcakes already, and I posted a photo of a cake because it had a giant Goomba on top…the truth is, I might be a little bit of a nerd. There. I said it. Secret’s out.
And now that the truth is out, I figured I could geek out just a teeny bit more. I have a good reason for it, I promise.
Ever play Little Big Planet? If you have, you know that it’s a super cute and super fun game. Mr. Giraffe and I have had quite a few Little Big Planet nights. It definitely makes for a good two-player game; it’s really enjoyable.
And, as I previously mentioned that I’m a Marvel girl, I’m even more pumped about Little Big Planet now that it’s added Marvel costume packs! Woohoo! I’m so excited!
Mrs. Penguin, Northern CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 27, Weddingbee Editor in ChiefFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Doctor of Physical TherapyEngagement Date: January 29, 2007Wedding Date: June 7, 2008Blogging Since: September 14, 2007Venue: Winery in the Gold CountryAbout Me: I love the Spice Girls, dogs with underbites, bean burritos, making messes, high fives, avoiding showers, crossword puzzles, blogs, weddings, and blogs about weddings!
Junko Yoshioka’s show was set on the top floor the Trump Soho. It was a thrill to check out her latest collection with New York City in the background! Subtle opulence and oversized flowers define Junko Yoshioka’s Fall/Winter 2011 Bridal Collection.
Mrs. Meerkat, Kalamazoo, MI/Riviera MayaAge and Occupation: 30, Application EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, IT ConsultantEngagement Date: July 26, 2008Wedding Date: December 2010Venue: Al Cielo / La LagunaAbout Me: I’m a tech-savvy tomboy with an affinity for hot tea and good sushi. Us Meerkats are just a couple fun lovin’ geeks from Michigan. We love anything having to do with movies, books, video games or technology and we hold a special place in our hearts for our two very spoiled shih-tzus, Wicket and Bravo. We also LOVE to travel. We love it so much it only took us 12 hours after we got engaged to decide to have a destination wedding. We are working our little Meerkat tails off planning a rustic-chic, travel themed destination wedding in the Riviera Maya with a semi-formal, vintage-turned-modern, outdoor at home reception back here in Michigan.
Mrs. Frozen Yogurt, DallasAge and Occupation: 28, Special Projects CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Equity TraderEngagement Date: March 19, 2009Wedding Date: April 2010Venue: Marie Gabrielle, DallasAbout Me: I was born and raised in Texas, and have lived in several of the cities across the state, but I currently reside in Austin. I went to college in Boston and have a special place in my heart for the Northeast. I love reading, shopping, wine, reuniting with college friends that are scattered across the country, reality TV, trying out new recipes, and attempting all the DIY projects that come along with wedding planning. I'm a "bleeding heart, save the world type" and thankfully my job allows me to work on legislation and policy to help out those in need. I met Mr. Frozen Yogurt in a bar, though he doesn't even drink! And now we are planning a modern yet vintage wedding in Dallas while dealing with the trials and tribulations of first time homeownership.
I know, I know. I bet you think I’ve lost it. I already talked about first look and I showed you all the wonderful photos. But, I didn’t think it was enough. The photos did a great job capturing the emotion we felt at that exact moment, but you don’t get a real visual of how all the emotions unfolded. Well, surprise surprise. I have a clip from our full-length video to share with you. Oh, and here’s a little secret: my big strapping sweet husband that never cries, cried. Here’s a piece of our video from Vanessa McKellar:
Keep on loading your inspirational wedding pics to the Weddingbee Gallery to see them featured here on the blog! Remember, your images must be under 1MB in size, or they won’t load.
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!
Mmmmm….this was a pretty day. The sun was setting, the shadows were long, and a rogue helper decided to carve a heart in our ceremony tree. I had no idea he’d done it until afterward, when people pointed it out. I have to admit, even though it’s not the most environmentally friendly thing to do, I love looking at pictures of it, and secretly wish I had thought of it. We all lined up, and the music began to play.
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!
We were having the time of our lives (minus a few hiccups) dancing the night away with our amazing friends and family. Song after song made me happier and happier—I was really soaking it in.
I was so full of pure amazement and joy, that at one point I realized what I had been doing all night wasn’t really dancing. It was more… jumping. I had literally been jumping for joy all. night. long.
When I saw this video (and if you haven’t yet, you’re in for a treat!), I said “OMG, that’s me on our wedding day!” Minus the falling (luckily there was none of that), I really think that I looked like this little girl all night:
As the clock drew nearer and nearer to midnight, I knew that the last song was coming up, and I started to feel sad.
That’s when I pulled out my Bride Card and played it—I was going to get my last song the way I wanted it.
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!
So we’re now two days away from gettin’ hitched. TWO freakin’ days! And I’m here to tell you that when people say the last week before the wedding is crazy, it really is. It’s not a lie. It cannot be overcome. At least I couldn’t do it.
I don’t mind the craziness. I actually thrive on chaos. But I did think this week would be a breeze. I’ve been checking things off my to do list since last August in hopes that this final week would be cake. Literally. I wanted to only have the cakes to worry about this week.
Yeeeaaahhh…not so much. So what exactly have I been doing all week? Running to eight million stores (some more than once), baking cakes, buying presents for ushers and parents, decorating cakes, cleaning, going out to dinner with family that has arrived early, oh, and trying not to go insane.
This week has been packed with weird wedding dreams, fear that it’s going to rain on our wedding day (currently there’s a 40% chance) and only one slight breakdown after a batch of icing didn’t work out. 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!
Before I dive into my recaps, I wanted to share with you an absolutely wonderful experience that I had recently. My very close friend asked if I would officiate her wedding in September. Honored beyond words, of course I said yes! I have to say, if you are considering asking a friend officiate, and you are willing to work together on a ceremony, it can truly be an amazing experience! Here’s what you need to know if you or a friend would like to officiate a wedding (please keep in mind that there are slight variances from state to state, and even city to city, so please look up your city—mine will focus on NYC and New York State).
Step 1: Visit www.themonastery.org and follow the steps to become ordained to perform weddings.
Step 2: Research the laws pertaining to the city where the wedding will be taking place. I live in New York City, and know that there are special rules that exist here, so I will talk about my experience with that. The website actually has a NYC packet that they will send you with everything you need (for a relatively small fee), so I went ahead and did that. Read more…
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.
A few weeks ago, I decided to head to the craft store to pick up supplies for my brooch bouquet. I bought green pipe cleaners, floral wire, wire cutters, and some extra hot-glue sticks. Forgive me—I tried to take a photo of my supplies, but I am a terrible, terrible photog, and the photos are embarrassing.
I also tried to take step-by-step photos, but again, terrible—so you’ll have to head over to the tutorial I followed at Oops I’m in Love. I did the same exact thing.
I expected that I’d spend several hellish, frustrating hours and end up with one or two brooches on stems. And then I’d give up, make and eat a whole box of Velveeta Shells and Cheese, and then be sullen for the rest of the evening.
Instead, you guys? It wasn’t that bad. I may have burned my fingers with hot glue once or twice, and I may have come thisclose to poking my eye out with floral wire, but all in all, it was a pretty positive experience.
I followed Oops’ tutorial to a T, and I got a significant chunk of the bouquet done.
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
