Weddingbee Blog

This weekend, I was a plus-one at a wedding, otherwise known as the I-don’t-know-anyone-except-the-wedding-party-so-I’m-hanging-out-alone-until-the-reception girl. Have you been there? It’s a little lonely. Especially when, five seconds before walking into the church, you discover you’ve been accepted to join the hive and you have to keep it a secret during the hour-long ceremony.

I may have looked relaxed and composed and happy at our friends’ stellar wedding, but it was really just well-hidden, stealth turmoil.

I couldn’t sit still. I tapped my rings together in a hot mess of twitches. I stared at groomsman Mr. Jam on the altar, trying to telepathically send him a message or raise my eyebrows in a series of Morse code, and major internal frustration ensued when he did not get the hint.

But you know what? It felt sort of familiar. Like when Mr. Jam and I kept our engagement a secret for a full 24 hours until we could tell our family and friends in person, which was simultaneously the best and worst 24 hours of my life because, seriously, who wants to keep something like that to themselves?!

Whew. Let it be known that I hate keeping secrets. Whatever you do, don’t invite me to a surprise party.

We decided on becoming the Jam Fam when he crooned “MIZZ JAM” in a soulful tone reminiscent of a late-night radio DJ and we laughed hysterically about it for a solid five minutes. It’s short, sweet, and to the point. Plus, Mr. Jam won me over whilst jamming air guitar to a Led Zeppelin solo the first night I met him. Three words: True college love.

I was introduced to Weddingbee over the phone by a best friend and college roommate, as she scream-assaulted my ear: “GIRL-I-GOT-ENGAGED-WANT-TO-BE-A-BRIDESMAID-WE-HAVE-SO-MUCH-PLANNING-TO-DO-YOU-NEED-TO-START-READING-WEDDINGBEE-RIGHT-NOW-IT’S-THE-BEST-I-LOVE-MY-RING-I’M-IN-SHOCK!”

And as soon as I got home, that’s exactly what I did. And although I’ve wanted to join this group ever since, I was a tad hesitant to apply. That is, until I met my boss at Sweetchic Events, Mrs. Emerald! She hired me on as an associate coordinator earlier this year, and she always delivers the delicious goods when I beg her to tell me about being a bee. I knew that if other bloggers were even half as fabulous as Emerald, I would be in epic company.

Mr. Jam and I are planning a casual, rural Illinois Valley wedding near our hometowns for $10,000 tops, because we’re responsible for a mortgage, bills, pet spoiling, and each-other spoiling. We’re trying desperately to incorporate our favorite things into the big day: Our best friends, our families, themed parties, BFF sleepovers, real barn dances, sandwiches that include the word “salad,” and ’90s sing-alongs.

We’re about 7 months away from the love-fest shindig, and we can’t wait to share our precious wedding deets with the hive. Thanks so much for having us!