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.
After my first make-up trial left me wanting more, I started contacting local makeup artists to get some information. What I found out shocked me. Maybe I’m naive, but I can’t believe that these people were charging an average of $200 for wedding day makeup (especially when, if I’d liked the first MUA I’d had a trial with, she’d have charged only $50).
Furthermore, everyone I spoke to had a 3 person minimum, which meant that they wouldn’t travel to our site just to do my makeup. I could have them do my bridesmaids’ makeup, but I really can’t afford to pay for everyone, and I don’t want to ask the girls to pay for it themselves.
Feeling frustrated, I decided to see if I could do my makeup myself. Armed with my giant arsenal of rarely-used products and Miss Rainbow’s kick-asstutorials, I set out to see if I could, as Rainbow says, ace my face. I knew that I probably wouldn’t get professional-caliber results, but I figured that I could look at least as good if not better than I did in my first trial, which, as a reminder, looked like this:
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!
This friend has been with me from the beginning of my wedding DIY adventures but unfortunately will not be there to see them through.
My printer has seen its last printing job. I purchased this way back in 2007 (amazing how fast technology changes) with my first work bonus. I have used this to print out more than one mock-up for invites, table names, escort cards, and more. Both Mr. E and I tried to figure out what was wrong, but to no avail. I knew that I couldn’t be without a printer, but instead of going all Office Space on it…
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!
I’ve absolutely loved reading all the favorite posts! While I think this post certainly explains how much our wedding ceremony meant to Burger and me, I couldn’t resist re-running this post about this fabulous shower gift I received from my bridesmaids.
This easy DIY project was gifted to me by my amazing bridesmaids, and was well received the first time around on the ’Bee. Many have gone on to tackle this themselves, with lots of positive results to speak of! My friend who championed this idea has said over and over that she should go into business making these for people. Give it a read and see what you think? What bride wouldn’t love this? I know I did!
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Last weekend during my shower in Pittsburgh I was given some amazing gifts. We really cleaned up and were reminded how insanely generous our families and friends are! And while I could swoon over the registry gifts we received all day, I wanted to share a little something different with you all.
Ladies, meet the Panty Parfait.
(please notice that there is even a “cherry” on top!)
Mrs. Trail Mix, New YorkAge and Occupation: 26, PE TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, MBA StudentEngagement Date: March 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: Tannery Pond at the Darrow SchoolAbout Me: I'm a country girl who somehow found herself living in the Big Apple and loving every minute of it. I'm planning a rustic, country-chic wedding in my hometown in upstate New York and it's going to be a Party with a capital P. White wine, flea markets and running keep me happy and my friends, family and fiance are my world. I'm a little bit crafty, a little bit crazy but mostly just crazy in love.
When I was in high school, I expressed my teenage angst through my hair. True story. Want proof? OK, I’ll show you exactly one photo and then the memories are going back into the deeply-buried vault, where I never have to relive the awkwardness that was high school again…
Can you believe that was me? Now stop laughing and focus, please.
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.
Our venue doesn’t have any no-throw rules. We could get our guests to pelt us with anything we want (except maybe puppies. Definitely not puppies). The thing is, I imagine this happening when we’re walking back down the aisle (is that when this usually happens? I’ve been to 3 weddings in my life!) after being pronounced husband and wife. We walk down the aisle, and guests throw things from their seats. I have seen photos of this happening outside of churches. What are the logistics on that? The couple recesses, hides somewhere, guests go outside, then the newlyweds leave for realsies?
Anyway, logistics aside, we could have stuff thrown if we want. But, our ceremony area will become the dance floor later in the night, and home of the photobooth. Our day-of coordinator is going to have 65+ chairs to rearrange, and we don’t want to add sweeping to that. It’s a big room! So, I’ve been trying to think of other options. I’m currently obsessed with ribbon wands!
Mrs. Trail Mix, New YorkAge and Occupation: 26, PE TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, MBA StudentEngagement Date: March 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: Tannery Pond at the Darrow SchoolAbout Me: I'm a country girl who somehow found herself living in the Big Apple and loving every minute of it. I'm planning a rustic, country-chic wedding in my hometown in upstate New York and it's going to be a Party with a capital P. White wine, flea markets and running keep me happy and my friends, family and fiance are my world. I'm a little bit crafty, a little bit crazy but mostly just crazy in love.
I last left off with our joyful recessional, set to The Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love.”
As we finished our walk down the aisle and came to the entryway of the Tannery, we stopped short. Much to our dismay, it was raining. (I know, I can’t shut up about the rain. Sorry.) And not just a light sprinkle, either, but full-on raining.
Before the ceremony, our photographer had instructed us to book it out of the Tannery as soon as we walked down the aisle; otherwise we’d be mobbed by well-wishing guests, and an impromptu receiving line would form (something we were looking to avoid).
So with Kelly’s advice still in our heads, the sound of raindrops ringing in our ears, and the realization that our bridal party was quickly moving down the aisle, we made a panicked, split-second decision to grab an umbrella and get outta there!
Now, here’s the funny coda to this story: During the cocktail hour, Mr. Trail Mix was talking with a few buddies from college and one of them exclaimed,
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!
I’ve loved reading all of the quirky and embarrassing and fabulous stories that other bees have shared throughout this series. When I decided to jump on the bandwagon, I had trouble deciding what to write about, and not because I couldn’t think of a quirk…I’ve just kinda been sharing them all along! I’ve been totally honest about my Disney obsession. I haven’t hidden my Gators or Red Sox fanaticisms. I’ve even talked about how I wear nothing but J.Crew but listen to nothing but reggae! So, instead of talking about my abnormalities, I thought I’d talk about my normal side. Let’s discuss something I rarely talk about on here: my job.
I’m very passionate about being a physical therapist. During my final year of school, I had the incredible opportunity to take that passion abroad. My program sent 10 of us (along with 3 instructors) to Las Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro, a long-term acute care hospital in Antigua, Guatemala. This hospital not only treats patients with acute illnesses and injuries, it serves as a home to many residents. Many of these residents are children who have been abandoned or orphaned. Read more…
Ms. Cheetah, Los Angeles/Palm Springs
Age and Occupation: 31, Artist, EducatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, TV FinanceEngagement Date: April 2010Wedding Date: March 2011Venue: The ViceroyAbout Me: I’m a silly, sassy lady with a compulsion to create. I love to sing and dance, despite the fact that I lack any talent doing either. I somehow manage to be messy and organized at the same time. I like to spend my days road tripping, watching '80s movies, reading true crime books, buying things on sale, sending postcards, playing board games, dining at food trucks, snuggling, and drinking ginger ale. I have a weak spot for all things sweet, especially Mr. Cheetah! I’m a Chicago girl and he’s a Nor Cal boy but we love living in the City of Angels. After 10 years as a couple we are planning a fun-filled semi-destination wedding in Palm Springs. Hope you enjoy the ride!
LA has so much to offer (including the sunny weather!) it would make an amazing honeymoon-or minimoon for those of you within easy driving distance!
Mr. Cheetah and I love to play hosts to guests from near and far, so here’s a sample of some of the things we might take you to do if you came to visit LaLa land for a week.
When in LA you have to see Hollywood and experience some of the entertainment industry. Read more…
Mrs. Peep Toe, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, Policy AnalystFiance's Age and Occupation: 36, Olive Oil Production ManagerEngagement Date: December 16, 2007Wedding Date: May, 2009Blogging Since: November 26, 2008Venue: Hotel VitaleAbout Me: I am a west coast lady who loves the San Francisco Bay Area. I love living with Mr. Peep and our animals: Huck the Dog and Ferris the Cat. I work to save the environment in San Francisco, while Mr. Peep makes ridiculously delicious Olive Oil. On any day you can find me reading the latest book I have gotten my hands on, eating Swedish Fish, and perusing wedding blogs! We are both champagne drinking foodies on a Bud Light budget. We are planning an eco-chic, intimate, and interfaith San Francisco City wedding.
Making our wedding a bit green was really important to both Mr. Peep and me (hence the green peep toe shoes). While we reduced the impact of our wedding by having the ceremony and reception all in one location, the majority of our guests came in from around the country (and Norway). Offsetting our wedding was something small that we may have done just for us, but it’s something I can look at and say that we made a difference. Plus, I LOVED our chocolate treats that we served with this quote:
Reduce what you can.
Offset what you can’t.*
In honor of our time together,
we have offset the weekend
through a donation to carbonfund.org.
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Hi Hive, Happy Earth Day!!
You all know that Mr. PT and are trying our best to incorporate a few eco-chic elements into our wedding, so for us, Earth Day for us is a great reminder that we could be doing better.
One thing that is really important to the two of us is carbon offsetting our wedding! What does that mean? Let’s go straight to the experts on this subject. This is what Terrapass has to say about potential carbon emissions of your wedding:
What’s included in my wedding’s carbon footprint? Read more…
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!
For our guestbook, we have decided to do a “yearbook” style book on Shutterfly or Snapfish using pictures of us from diapers to “I do” that our guests can sign like a yearbook. I have used both companies for photo albums in the past and have yet to decide on which one to use. I’m sure it will all come down to who offers the best price.
Anyhoo…in preparation for this grand guestbook and our memory jars, I have started unearthing boxes from our garage and closets to search for treasures of our pasts, and yes, they are indeed treasures. The pictures of Mr Waffle as a mini Waffle are soooooo adorable. I squealed, oohed and awwwwwed my way through his photo albums whilst he blushed and looked at me suspiciously out of the corner of his eye.
How excited am I about putting this together? Super extremely excited!!! I have already scanned the majority of our childhoods that has made it past the preliminary round of cuts. We are also asking our parents and close friends to send us copies of their favorite photos of us so we can add them. The Waffs is slightly scared to see what will arrive.
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!
The hunt is still on for floral centrepieces that I can create myself. I’ve been busy bookmarking any and all viable options, especially if they’re sticking with green and white/ivory colour combinations. It’s amazing how once you have a colour scheme in your mind, images seem to jump right out at you, wherever you go!
Here are just a few more inspiration pictures that have made the cut so far this month. You’ll have to imagine quite a lot of them to be surrounded by candles, since I’m planning on going just a little overboard with the dim lighting in our reception venue.
Loving: low-lying vases and uniform white flowers.
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!
I was engaged for about 5 minutes before I started doing research for our wedding. Weddingbee came up several times during my initial research - Mrs. Bee’s posts about some of the venues we were also considering turned out to be extremely helpful. Weddingbee would come up over and over as I looked things up, and slowly slowly, I became totally, and hopelessly, addicted. I read the blog every day and eventually became active on the boards. Weddingbee provided some invaluable inspiration to me throughout our engagement, and the boards became a great community for me to talk wedding.
My application story:
I was not an avid user of the internet before I started wedding planning. I mean, I could do a mean “search” but words like “blog” and “twitter” were totally foreign to me. Read more…
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.
Since my brain is a bit obsessed with wedding details at the moment, I’ve recently been spending some time thinking about our first kiss. I suspect this is something most people don’t actually plan (or, um, make their fiances rehearse—I may or may not be kidding), but come on, I don’t want us to have an awkward first kiss.
Mrs. Corn, Newport, RIAge and Occupation in '07: 31, HR for public accounting firmFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Consultant for public accounting firmEngagement Date: October 7, 2006Wedding Date: September, 2007Blogging Since: June 1, 2007Venue: North Lawn of Fort Adams State ParkAbout Me: I am a lazy scrapbooker who loves the instant gratification of making cards and I am very easily distracted by all things shiny. In honor of my childhood nights spent hibachi BBQing on the beach with my family, we are hosting a traditional New England Clambake for our reception.
But the most valuable post I have written has to do with something quite sentimental. Specifically, a post I wrote about how my father was able to participate in our wedding as he and I had always imagined, even though he was disabled.
My father, a man I loved deeply, passed away last December. We were incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity for him to meet our son, to reminisce about the joy in our lives and to say goodbye. As I look back on the wedding we held so very long ago…I mean seriously…back when photo booths were up-and-coming…I find myself eternally grateful to have been able to give my father an experience he always dreamed of instead of holding both of ourselves back with his disability.
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This installment of my ‘Looking Back’ series* focuses on one of the details about my big day that I am very, very grateful for: I was able to work out a way for my dad to participate.
My father is a wonderful, amazing man. I am so incredibly fortunate to be loved by someone with such a big heart. As ridiculously sentimental as this sounds, two of the things I was most looking forward to the day of our wedding were 1) walking down the aisle with my dad and 2) dancing with him at the reception.
As many of you know, my father is handicapped; he walks with a walker and can handle a cane, but only for short bouts and definitely only if the ground is flat. Read more…
