Mrs. Locket, Ithaca, NYAge and Occupation: 25, Research TechnicianFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, former Banker hoping to become an Officer of the LawEngagement Date: June 15, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Heron Hill WineryAbout Me: I am a little bit of everything all rolled into one: A girly gal with rough edges---I love to get dolled up just as much as I enjoy throwing on some sneaks to toss a ball with Mr. Locket. My love for crafting and creating is quite apparent and I've been referred to as a Wonder Woman/Martha Stewart/Stepford Wife hybrid (yup, I'll take that as a compliment). I adore sewing, photography, sculpture, good eats (mmm tapas), baking, snugging and oh, pretty much everything in between (there's not much I dislike). I am super excited to be planning our vineyard wedding and couldn't be happier to be marrying Mr. Locket. We are a quirky, fun-loving couple residing in our college town with our two pups Maple and Molly. We love to go on hikes, visit our local dog park and to bask in the beauty of many of the local falls and gorges. We are an indecisive pair, but together we somehow manage to make up our minds (it's the easy stuff that's tricky).
This was a really honest and heartfelt post and I know that a lot of other brides can relate to it. It wasn’t an easy one to write, but I love how well it captured my emotions on the whole matter.
We have another great giveaway courtesy of Jim Hunt Illustration! Jim Hunt Illustration creates adorable, one-of-a-kind “Save the Date” cartoon maps for brides and grooms who want to share something special with their guests. He can include any details the couple requests, from cities you’ve visited together to your childhood home to your wedding venue! His illustrations look great in black and white and in color, and today we’re giving away a custom black and white “Save the Date” map, comparable in detail to the black and white “Nicole and David” illustration below, from Jim Hunt Illustration!
You have two chances to enter this contest!
To enter, visit Jim Hunt Illustration and then come back here tell us a few things you’d include in your custom map if you won! For a second chance to win, follow Weddingbee on Twitter and retweet this contest (if you’re already a follower, simply retweet by clicking here!). Then come back here and let us know that you followed/retweeted. You have until Wednesday, November 24 2010 at 11:59 PM PST to enter. Good luck!
Mrs. Waffle, AustinAge and Occupation: 31, Costumer/ArtistFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, AnimatorEngagement Date: July 27, 2010Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Hummingbird HouseAbout Me: My life is pretty much spent in a sea of fabric, paint, sequins and drama. When I’m not working, I play on a trivia team, take Broadway dance classes, read, buy shoes, and occasionally geek out on video games. I am an American girl who loves all things British and Mr. Waffle is a Brit who loves all things American...I guess it was meant to be!
This pretty much sums up what happens whenever I start to talk wedding. I have started to realize that this kind of conversation needs to wait until after dinner…or else… Read more…
Weddingbee GalleryFeature Launched: April 10, 2009About: A collection of inspirational wedding pictures from readers and bees.
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. Jaguar, SydneyAge and Occupation: 27, Primary School TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, IT ConsultantEngagement Date: August 8, 2009Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Curzon HallAbout Me: I'm an Australian girl who is a self-proclaimed nerd, loves all things stationery and would be lost without books, music and the internet. Mr. Jaguar and I have been together for the past eight years and he finally popped the question last August. Hurrah! We currently live in Sydney, Australia with our adorable cat who thinks he's a person. We're a couple who likes to multi-task: we've been planning a wedding abroad, a permanent move from London to Sydney, and preparing to build our own home all at the same time. Travelling makes me giddy...as does Mr. Jaguar, of course!
I’ve never been a fan of cake toppers. I have no idea why—I think it’s because I’ve seen so many of them, and so many of them have been insanely cheesy. {I watch too much Bridezillas. I KNOW.} The thought of a bride and groom placed awkwardly on the cake either a) looking exactly like you or b) looking nothing like you, does nothing for me.
If we were going to choose cake topper, it would need to be either something quirky, something ‘us’ or something that matched the rest of our theme and looked awesome.
Unfortunately for us, we don’t really have a theme. I always thought I was leaning towards leaving the cake bare or alternatively, placing some simple flowers on the top layer for decoration purposes. I do have a dream cake in mind that would look great with or without a cake topper, and it’s probably going to be free of pearls, crystals, or over the top edible flowers. Just simple. Like me. Like the boy. Like our wedding.
But having said that, something always comes along that encourages me to keep my options open & stop being so close-minded. I fell completely and utterly head over heels for these little guys:
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’m in a bit of a mood today. Consider yourself warned!
Mr. Knitting and I were chatting with a new acquaintance the other day and, when discovering we were engaged, she inquired as to how long we’d been dating. When we replied six and a half years, she replied, “Yeah, I guess that’s long enough.” I had to hold myself back from saying, “Thank you for your approval,” in a snide tone.
To be fair, the woman making the comment didn’t mean it rudely. I think she was just trying to make small talk. However, this exchange got me thinking. I just don’t have patience for comments that imply there’s a right or wrong way to go about relationships and marriage.
Here’s a few examples of what I mean:
Length of Relationship
I firmly do not believe that a couple needs to be together for a certain length of time before getting married. Read more…
Mrs. Cinnamon Bun, Calgary, AlbertaAge and Occupation: 26, Stage ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Theatre TechnicianEngagement Date: June 22, 2010Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Calgary Opera CentreAbout Me: I'm a life-long crafter and bookworm living in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Some of my loves include Lord of the Rings, Sherlock Holmes, knitting, opera, musicals, Etsy, baking, and of course, Mr. Cinnamon Buns. We're keeping our wedding close to home---the venue isn't very far from our house, and we live within walking distance of 6 bridal salons. I'm using the wedding as an excuse to try out every craft project I possibly can, with the endless help and support of my fiance.
Something I’d never wondered about before getting engaged was how couples choose a date.
After getting engaged, we both said that planning a wedding sounded big and scary, so we thought about putting it off until 2012. We knew we’d be married in the summer, not because it is high wedding season, but because most theatres shut down for the summer. This meant we, and a lot of our guests, could actually attend. Then we started looking at things on the internet, and we realised which venue would be perfect for us. Once we’d made that huge decision, it seemed much less scary, so we started thinking, “Maybe we can do this in 2011!” We thought about what our schedules generally are. I’m usually working by the last week of August, Calgary Stampede is the first couple weeks of July, and no.way. was I getting married during Stampede. We thought August 13th sounded like a nice Saturday.
Our venue is a rehearsal hall/office space that actually has a ‘no weddings’ rule.
Mrs. Panther, Atlanta GA/Westport CTAge and Occupation: 24, Web WriterFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Music Recording EngineerEngagement Date: March 13, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: The Inn at LongshoreAbout Me: I'm a total goofball who goes through life at a breakneck pace, trying not to knock anything over. I tend to fall in love with everything I encounter, but more than anything, I love my two little kitties, Bela and Josie, and my big kitty, Mr. Panther! As a wannabe crafter, I'm still waiting for my artistic talents to emerge. (Any day now, really.) In the meantime, I spend my days eating anything put in front of me, buying every pair of shoes I see and absorbing wedding inspiration from every inch of my surroundings. Mr. Panther and I are hardcore New Englanders planning Connecticut nuptials from our new home in the Dirty South, and can't wait to mix our newfound love of classic Southern charm with some modern city touches.
When I first bought my dress back in March, the sample was just visiting the store because of a trunk show. I was sad that I wouldn’t be able to see my dress again until it came in, but accepted it. HOWEVER, a few months later, when I was at Bridals by Lori picking up a swatch, I spotted a familiar skirt peeking out from the Amsale rack. HEY! It was my dress! Apparently, they ordered a sample because it was so popular during the trunk show.
So, when MOH Mellow visited Mr. Panther and me, I took her into the store to meet Dahlia. Bridesmaid J-Dawg joined us, and I brought all my jewelry and my hair flower to try with the dress. On Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, when brides or their families are having trouble making a dress decision, Monte will often “jack the bride up”—i.e. get her all gussied up with her hair done, a veil and coordinating jewelry. Seeing the whole picture often helps seal the deal. I didn’t need any help sealing the deal when I bought my dress, but I was excited to see everything together, so for this visit, I jacked myself up.
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.
The last time I was a bridesmaid (almost fifteen years ago), I remember being just a little bit bummed that the rest of the bridal party and I had to stay after the ceremony for photos while the rest of the wedding guests enjoyed cocktail hour. I thought it would’ve been so much fun to join the other guests for drinks and hors d’oeuvres, but I knew that it was par for the course for bridal party photos to be taken during that time. No big whoop, just a little bit of disappointment.
Fast forward to last year, when I got engaged and started reading wedding blogs. I was so stoked to find out that there was another option to missing out on cocktail hour: Photos before the ceremony. Of course, this goes hand in hand with a concept I’d never heard of before—the first look.
I think the first look is effing genius. Sure, that means that Mr. S and I won’t see each other for the first time at the beginning of the ceremony, but it doesn’t matter, since we’re planning on entering the ceremony by walking down the aisle together. We’ll have seen each other beforehand anyway! Then we’ll have a photo marathon with our couple photos, our bridal party photos, and our family photos.
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!
It has been 7 1/2 years since I graduated from high school. Wow…time flies, right?
Truth be told, the high school Mrs. Buttons was very different from the current one. But, then again…I’m still quite the same. Confusing much? I’ll explain…
Academics:
Then -
Nerd alert! Yeah…I was a big bookworm in high school. I graduated with a perfect 4.0 unweighted GPA. The thought of receiving a grade other than an A was absolutely terrifying to me. Yeah…I was special.
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.
Mrs. Lovebird, New York/CancunAge and Occupation: 25, AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Medical StudentEngagement Date: September 22, 2006Wedding Date: July, 2008Venue: Dreams Cancun Resort & SpaAbout Me: Born and raised New Yorker planning a destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico. Got proposed to in Cancun, so it’s only fitting we are going back to get married. I love trivia, board games, bargain shopping, asian dramas and eating yummy food!
One can plan almost every aspect of one’s wedding day, except when it comes to speech time!
Sometime during the reception, I overheard our BM Ernie asking our MOH Tina whether she preferred to give her speech first or second. Oh man, you should have seen the look of horror/anxiety on her face. She was nervous enough, worrying about not messing up her speech, but now she was faced with the decision of going first or second. Read more…
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.
For the last few months we have been wrestling with trying to get a wedding band made for me. While that’s a story for another whole post, let’s just say it has been painful. So when it came to Mr. Meerkat’s ring, my first thought was, “please, no, not another jewelry store.” We only have a little less than a month until we get married and it was high time we went to get Mr. Meerkat his ring. So, this past weekend, that is exactly what we did.
Luckily, Mr. Meerkat already knew what he basically wanted. He wanted a lightweight, scratch resistant ring. He wanted a tungsten ring. I thought tungsten was going to be hard to find but was pleasantly surprised that every jewelry store in our local mall carried tungsten rings made by either Art Carved or Triton.
We shopped for less than 1/2 an hour and Mr. Meerkat found four rings he liked:
Mrs. Waffle, AustinAge and Occupation: 31, Costumer/ArtistFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, AnimatorEngagement Date: July 27, 2010Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Hummingbird HouseAbout Me: My life is pretty much spent in a sea of fabric, paint, sequins and drama. When I’m not working, I play on a trivia team, take Broadway dance classes, read, buy shoes, and occasionally geek out on video games. I am an American girl who loves all things British and Mr. Waffle is a Brit who loves all things American...I guess it was meant to be!
I am continuously amazed at what some men do and do not know when it comes to wedding planning. I am also intrigued by what they will and will not understand. Here is a recent example…
On one of our grocery store excursions I saw antique blue hydrangeas. I think I melted a little bit and cooed, ”Awww, I love these.”
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.
The time has come to share one of my favorite places in the whole world with you.
Introducing Page Valley Flea Market (also known as a trash scavenger’s haven!):
At first glance, this flea market looks like nothing but garages on the side of the road, but beware, looks can be deceiving! Dig a little deeper (literally), and you’ll find lots—and I mean lots—of wedding day goodies. You’ve got to be willing to hunt, though! They don’t call this place “Digger’s Paradise” for nothin’! Read more…
