Mrs. Mouse, AustinAge and Occupation: 25, Weddingbee Editor/AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Civil EngineerEngagement Date: December 19, 2007Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Barr MansionAbout Me: I just graduated from law school and will be taking the bar, getting married, going on a honeymoon with my guy, and then trying to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I was born and raised in a small East Texas town, but I'm no country girl! I'm obsessed with British accents, fantasy (including Harry Potter, of course), and classic rock. My fiance and I consider ourselves both music and beer snobs--but every once in awhile we love to hear a crappy band and drink a cheap brew or two. We're planning an eco-friendly, casual, English garden affair for the end of summer, and we can't wait for it to get here!
OK, so a lot of you are probably wondering why I chose this post as my “best of.” After all, it’s not mind blowing, or even particularly eloquent. But this is one of my favorite posts because I think it really shows how someone who isn’t super gifted in the crafting department (that would be moi) can still create some simple, handmade details that can really bring out you and your spouse’s personality on your wedding day. This post is also a testament to the fact that, even though not everything went exactly the way I had hoped, I am so lucky to have amazing and patient family and friends, who stepped in at the last minute and helped bring a lot of my pie-in-the-sky DIY dreams to life.
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One week before the wedding my MOH, my mom, and I decided to tackle the honey favors. It was a total assembly line, and the process went very smoothly.
My mom filled the test tubes with honey and corked them.
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!
So, I know things sounded a bit dramatic when I left you last in the tale of booking our dream caterer. Fear not, bees. Miss Waffle and Royal Fig worked it out! Mrs. Royal Fig (Kristen) was so accommodating and worked with me to get everything all nice and squared away budget-wise so as not to result in me having a panic attack during the oh-so-lovely tasting we were scheduled to have.
That’s the adventure I take you on today! Our amazing tasting…
I was extremely giddy leading up to tasting day. Read more…
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 always found it difficult to use budgeting websites and tips that I’ve found online from other brides because our own budget is worked out in quite a different way. I don’t know whether this is an Australian thing or whether there are bees out there who have come across it in their own weddings, but nearly every venue we encountered worked in this way: our wedding reception costs were bundled up in a package deal.
Pros:
Well, er, I’m kind of lazy. If it means that we are technically having some inclusions organised and paid for without having to lift a finger ourselves, that’s good to me!
We have a fairly stock idea of what our total cost is going to be already, depending on the final numbers—so we can work our guest list around what (and who!) we can afford. We don’t have to tally up individual things like room hire, food, drinks, etc.—it’s all done for us.
Mrs. Prairie Dog, Cincinnati
Age and Occupation: 24, Program CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, PhD/Biomedical EngineerEngagement Date: December 18, 2009Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Glendale LyceumAbout Me: I'm a pilgrim soul of a girl with a house full of books and a coffee addiction that could slay Juan Valdez. My life is a whirl of grammar correction, good music, glue-gunning, and two pets named Hazel and Winston Churchill. I'm marrying my high school boyfriend in a formal-ish spring affair, roughly themed: "Elizabeth Bennet crashes a party co-hosted by Jay Gatsby and Cath Kidston, and loves it."
You know those sitcoms where the where the wife is gorgeous and clever, and the husband is awkward and only attractive in a cute-if-you’re-into-that kind of way? But at least he’s funny?
That’s Mr. PD and me. Only he is the gorgeous wife, and I am the awkward husband who is always getting into sit-com-y situations.
It’s lucky for me that modern pop psychology says you shouldn’t keep score in relationships. Because I would be LOSING. If I were to call Mr. PD “my better half,” it would not be cutesie. It is to be factual. 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.
Are you ready for it?! The secret side of Miss Meerkat? Here goes nothin’!
1. I am an adrenaline junkie!
If it goes fast, count me in. I think Sister Meerkat and I must have got it from Father Meerkat, because Mama Meerkat likes to keep both of her feet on the ground. During my junior year of college, Sister Meerkat got me hooked on skydiving. I did it for a couple summers until it just got too expensive, but OMG the adrenaline rush is awesome! This photo is of Sister Meerkat and I in our skydiving rigs going up for my first jump. Look how happy I was:
Photo by Father Meerkat
2. I coach a kids’ robotics team called the Blue Cheesy Flamingos. 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.
And we wanted to make sure that our wedding food was fabulous without breaking our budget. Bartram’s Garden only has five preferred caterers, so after we decided on our venue, we started contacting caterers right away.
The first caterer never even called me back, after two voice mails and an email. I didn’t continue trying. If you’re not going to be responsive, you’ve just made our decision easier. One down, four to go. Read more…
Mrs. Lamb, NorfolkAge and Occupation: 25, Homeland Security ConsultantFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Graduate StudentEngagement Date: January 2009Wedding Date: January 2010Venue: Trinity Presbyterian Church/Harrison Opera HouseAbout Me: I’m a Homeland Security Consultant with a tendency towards pulling office pranks, taking lunch breaks, and drinking Wawa shakes. I’m also an English major with a serious obsession with alliteration and rhymes. While I’m not keeping America safe, I’m training for half marathons and the Escape from Alcatraz swim. Or moving for the third time this year. Or baking. Or wedding crafting. Or crying about wedding planning. All the while, I’m getting myself into Lucille Ball-esque scrapes and making Jim Carey-esque faces. Our big fat Czech/Baptist/Jewish/Italian wedding is a combination of vintage eclectic, DIY, and little spoonful of sugar from our Event Coordinator. It’s going to be a Norfolk flavored wedding with the verve of an only-daughter-blow-out bash!
Our collection of heritage photos meant the world to me at our wedding. While I had physical copies of all the photos, I made sure that I scanned them and eventually ordered prints for myself. I had a vision for how to display them, so I began collecting frames as I saw them on sale at Michaels, Home Goods, and Target.
I love how each picture dates the couple and expressions. Let’s meet the family:
Mrs. Gloss, Boston/MaineAge and Occupation: 24, Designer/soon-to-be ArchitectFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Systems EngineerEngagement Date: May 23, 2008Wedding Date: August 2009Venue: SS Katahdin/Lakeside TentAbout Me: I don't like nickels or the skin that forms on pudding when it's in the fridge for too long. I couldn't live without Pantone markers, fountain soda (3/4 diet, ¼ regular Coke), run-on sentences, or ridiculously oversized sunglasses. I will try to DIY almost anything and am just OCD enough to make most of it work. I am truly excited about having all my family and friends together, becoming Mrs. Gloss, and having amazing photos to prove it!
I have a hard time dropping the f-bomb (and obviously I mean fiancé)!I always thought I would relish in the days of fiancé-ness, but now that I’m here, I feel pretentious whenever I say it. Usually I can avoid it by simply saying ‘Mr. Gloss’ rather than ‘my fiance’, but for people who don’t know his name, it is hard to avoid!Mostly this happens in work/elevator conversations, when discussing weekend plans, etc. with coworkers who may not know my fiancé’s name.
Before, I would say, “Oh, my boyfriend and I are going to do so and so this weekend,” and now I have to replace that word with fiancé. Read more…
ClassifiedsFeature Launched: April 30, 2008About: A roundup of the best Weddingbee Classified listings.
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.
Having a reputation as a crafty person can be good and bad. Sometimes people will ask you to work on fun projects, compliment you on what you made, or ask for advice, but when there isn’t a home-baked birthday cake for a co-worker, or when all I can manage for a potluck is store-bought lasagna, people notice that, too. One of my co-workers expressed surprise that I wasn’t going to knit my wedding dress (luckily my fear of the sewing machine is fairly well known. Had anyone suggested that, I would have run away screaming)! Not that there aren’t some perfectly lovely knitted wedding dresses out there (click the photos for more info!):
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!
There are some things I would say I’m above average at, like y’know, making goofy faces, telling jokes, or sleeping. I would also say that there are some things I’m average at, like, ummm…not being angry in Chicago rush-hour traffic, doing the electric slide, and getting stains out of laundry.
And, believe it or not, there are some things that this Giraffe is below average at. I can think of two things, for example. Number one, competitive eating, and number two…kissing guys before I get married?
Oh, I’m not saying I’m a bad kisser (and I’m sure that a certain Mr. Giraffe would agree hehe), but I’m talking about the number of people I have kissed.
I’m not sure I can 100% vouch for this statistic, seeing as I only heard it on the Mix’s Eric and Kathy morning show, but I’m going with it nonetheless.
Are you read for this? OK! The average woman kisses 79 different men before she says “I do.”
Mrs. Bunny, ColumbusAge and Occupation: 24, Associate Editor/ReporterFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, ReporterEngagement Date: September 23, 2008Wedding Date: July 2009Venue: Everal Barn, WestervilleAbout Me: Organized, but messy. I love art (all kinds). I don't have any secrets. I talk a lot and listen even more. I show love by baking. I'm timid by nature, but brave when it counts.
Mr. Bunny and I work at competing weekly newspapers, which makes it a little interesting trying to describe our work joys and frustrations without giving away too much before the paper comes out. In spite of that little hurdle, we've managed to build a pretty solid relationship in the short one-and-a-half years we will have been together when we tie the knot. I can't wait!
I think this one is my favorite because I feel like it was my most important contribution to the hive out of my posts:
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With less than three weeks until the wedding, the stress of everything is really starting to wear on me.
I really don’t have that much wedding-related stuff to do (at least, stuff that’s very important), but I do have to move out of my apartment by June 30 — which includes slapping a layer of paint on the walls because the roomie and I decided to get creative with color about a year ago.
On top of that, I really want to have everything done by next Friday so that I have a full week to take care of any last-minute details that pop up.
Everything really got to me last night, and I ended up crying on the phone with Mr. Bunny.
“There’s not enough time!” I wailed. “I’m not ready to get married!” Read more…
Mrs. Pretzel, SeattleAge and Occupation: 32 Learning, Training, and Development SpecialistFiance's Age and Occupation: 28 Manufacturing EngineerEngagement Date: September 2, 2009Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: Catholic Church & The Engine Room at Georgetown StudiosAbout Me: I’m just a thirty-something girl who never dreamed of weddings, poofy dresses, or ritzy receptions. I am a rabid knitter, except recently, wedding projects have replaced my yarn and needles. I’ve been fiercely independent since the age of 2 and 30 years later I think my family and friends had given up on me settling down and getting married.
Ironically, I had to go all the way to Seattle to find a boy from Purdue. We fell in love over Seattle Beers and cooking together. I love NASCAR, he loves Legos. I can talk like a Muppet and he can fit a whole McDonald’s cheeseburger in his mouth. We are a two reception couple, currently planning a brewery inspired bash.
When it comes to decorating our hometown reception, it feels like I keep hitting the same wall: Art Deco inspired styling versus the rustic autumn vibe we are striving for. Lounge furniture was high on my list and the price was reasonable, so we went with it. What can we do to rustic-ify this?
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.
You think you know, but you have no idea. (Come on! You remember that show!)
Then & Now, okay, oh boy, here goes nothing. I was a 2004 high school graduate. I jacked that picture up above from my yearbook but seeing as how I was the editor (along with Britt) I think it’s okay. Despite what you are about to see, I didn’t like high school very much. Actually, I hated it. If you ask most of the people I went to school with they would tell you I was a snob. Now I don’t mean to brush aside all that flattery but I think the correct way to describe me was a bitch who didn’t care. (Seriously, I saw you 40 minutes ago, I’m not saying hello again!) I may have held onto some hostility from junior high when the girls wrote nasty stuff about me on the bathroom walls and the boys used to corner me and give me titty twisters to make sure I wasn’t stuffing my bra.
Mrs. Earrings, Fresno, CA/ Nelson, New ZealandAge and Occupation: 20, Student, Wannabe Writer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 19, Photography StudentEngagement Date: February 14, 2010Wedding Date: January 2011Venue: Gardens of the WorldAbout Me: I'm a girl from down under who grew up in Indonesia and I'm marrying a California boy. I'm addicted to all things sweet, have never met a chocolate silk pie than can get the better of me, and have dreams of one day being a fulltime novelist. I go weak in the knees for lace, tea cups, and a beautifully crafted sentence. When I get excited about something (whether it is historical linguistics or the Beatles) I tend to go overboard in research, and planning this wedding is no different. Mr. Earrings is my high school sweetheart, my best friend, and somehow we combine all our quirks into one big happy mess.
Nelson is located at the top of New Zealand’s South Island. While I grew up in Papua, Nelson is the town where I was born, the place where my family would always come during breaks from Indonesia, where I have many relatives, and where our wedding will be. So if I have to pick a place where I “come from” I say it is Nelson. Read more…
hehe), but I’m talking about the number of people I have kissed.
