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.
When my phone rings, if I don’t recognize the number, I don’t pick up.
I hate asking people for directions or asking for help in a store.
If someone knocks on our front door unexpectedly and Mr. S isn’t home, I will literally sit silently until the visitor finally gives up, clasping the dog to my chest with one hand over his mouth so that he won’t bark and give me away.
Mrs. Pashmina, NYC/Catalina Island, CAAge and Occupation: 28, Arts EducationFiance's Age and Occupation: 34, IT AdministratorEngagement Date: April 26th, 2009Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: Catalina Country Club, Catalina Island, CaliforniaAbout Me: I'm a laid-back Cali girl who moved to NYC for school, and ended up staying for love. My fiance is a quick-witted Jersey boy, a self-proclaimed Foodie and the funniest man I've ever met. Together we love exploring the city streets embarking on our next misadventure---and yes, this often involves eating off food carts and trying "the next big thing". I'm the girl in the sundress, snapping photos and collecting trinkets of memorabilia along the way. As a girly girl at heart, I am excited about our romantic natural island wedding incorporating our American & Filipino traditions.
My work went above and beyond for my bridal shower. I had no clue anything was in the works, and then the mysterious Microsoft Outlook calendar appointment appeared titled “Your Bridal Shower.” I went into the office of my co-workers and was dumbfounded—I never imagined that my work was going to throw me a bridal shower. If anything, I thought that I would be asking them to attend mine!
The best part was that it was scheduled for the very next week!
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!
My apologies for that horrible title. I’m freaking freezing, so ice is just on my mind!
Hive, we’re four months out. After a long engagement, the big day is finally creeping up on us. I don’t know how it happened, but all of a sudden it feels like we’re in wedding crunch time! As busy as I’ve been trying to wrap up some DIY projects (oh don’t you worry, they’ll be up here soon!), it still didn’t feel real. Maybe it sounds silly, but it was just hard to believe that we were really getting married, and soon. It finally hit me the other day while looking at my little countdown to-do list on WeddingWire. While so many important items were crossed off the list: the dress, the venue, the flowers, etc., there was one item that remained unchecked…and it was a biggie! Something very important. Something very precious to us. Read more…
Mrs. Jam, ChicagoAge and Occupation: 25, Writer/Associate Wedding CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Structural EngineerEngagement Date: December 23, 2009Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Hunter’s Ridge, Princeton, ILAbout Me: I’m a penny-pinching cat lady getting ready to marry the frugal dog lover of my dreams. Our ideal Saturday morning includes rummaging around people’s junk at garage and estate sales followed by an afternoon date to our favorite café, where we only eat sandwiches that include the word “salad.” We actually love it so much, it’s sort of our unofficial wedding theme: Look at our delicious finds, eat homemade ham salad, and celebrate our love…barndance style. When we’re not obsessing over our love-fest shindig, we’re planning themed parties for our best friends and jamming to '90s music.
Look no further for unique accessories, Chicago dwellers. Have I got a hot spot for you!
I went thrifting a few months ago with a fellow bride-to-be who I’ve known forever and just happens to be getting married two weeks before Mr. Jam and me. We share an obsession for all things vintage and, since our engagements, all things wedding related. Luckily, we are just a train ride away from the most uh-mazing vintage shop in the city.
If you’re strolling by their location outside of store hours, you might not even know it’s there. All that can be seen from the street is a basement window filled with a few vintage goodies, but once you get inside (and like the name says, go underground), you find yourself in a freaking treasure trove.
Mrs. Pancakes, New York/Costa RicaAge and Occupation: 26, Law School StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Latin American Policy AnalystEngagement Date: March 12, 2010Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Casa Punto de VistaAbout Me: I’m a perfectionist with a big heart. I love a good laugh and firmly believe no one has ever regretted being prepared! My motto is “go big or go home.” I am incapable of doing anything in moderation, especially when it comes to shopping, TV, food and travel, and some would say wedding planning! The other half of this nearlywed team is a laid-back, adventure-loving, accident prone, sweetie from LA. He makes me laugh, is always down for an impromptu dance party, and totally indulges most of my hare-brained schemes. Now, in my final year of law school, we’ll be spending the spring abroad in Amsterdam and planning a DIY, whimsical, detail-filled destination wedding in Costa Rica!
While sitting through a presentation on the human-rights responsibilities of companies in extractive industries, I decided to start looking for save-the-date ideas. (No, I did not know when we were getting married, but it never hurts to be prepared.)
While searching for inspiration, I found these amazing groomsmen invites! I did not use them because my FF (fabulous fiance) had already invited all his groomsmen (via e-mail…sigh).
Mrs. Husky, DenverAge and Occupation: 26, Systems AdministratorFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Mechanical Engineer, recently laid offEngagement Date: August 14, 2009Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: Rancho San CarlosAbout Me: I am planning a quirky-crafty wedding with my recently out-of-work fiancé for a (fingers crossed!) warm October afternoon. We are two self-professed nerds with an affinity for all things outdoors---be it rain, snow or shine. Recently relocated from the drizzly Northwest, we're enjoying the many sun-soaked days in the mile high city. Our day will be filled with both of our large families and friends, a self-served Cajun feast, and a Zydeco-style jazz band rocking beneath the beams of a historic red barn.
Choosing my old-new-borrowed-blue items was one of the easiest decisions I made throughout the entire wedding planning process. There were too many new things to count (but I would count my dress), and the old, borrowed, and blue were all rolled up into one beautiful piece of jewelry:
(personal photo – I am obviously not nearly as skilled at ring photography as many of you are!)
My grandmother’s sapphire ring is one of the few pieces of jewelry that my mother and aunt have of their mother’s.
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!
We actually bought the shoes from Shoe Carnival! Read more…
Mrs. Octopus, Boston, MA/Pittsburgh, PAAge and Occupation: 25, Grad StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Graphics Operator for TV NewsEngagement Date: May 6th, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Heinz Chapel Ceremony, Museum Reception
About Me: When my best friend dragged me to a toga party in our freshmen year of college, I was not expecting to meet my future husband; but seven years later, here we are. I'm a crazy-organized planner at heart, and I am a great lover of random trivia, books, chocolate, blogs, new and exciting adventures, mockumentary-style television, and anything heavily flavored with bright orange fake cheese powder. We're planning a festive and fun mini-destination wedding in the place where we met: fabulous Pittsburgh, PA! I can't wait to marry the man I love!
“Dearly beloved, we are assembled here in the presence of God and these witnesses to celebrate the joining of this man and this woman in the unity of marriage. There are no obligations on earth sweeter or tender than those you are about to assume. There are no vows more solemn than those you are about to make. There is no human institution more sacred than that of the home you are about to form. True marriage is the holiest of all earthly relationships. The state of matrimony is based this deep, invisible union of two souls who seek to find completion in one another. Do you understand this?”
“We do.”
After our short and sweet welcome and declaration of intent, Mr. Octo’s sister Kristine stepped up to deliver our first reading.
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.
After I’d had the revelation of being able to use book pages as decor, Cinnamon Buns said he had an idea he wanted to try. We went to home Home Depot, and he looked at mysterious things like small lightbulbs and power cords and wires. He is a lighting technician, so this is fairly normal. I wasn’t sure why he was measuring them, though, and muttering about size and watts. When we got home, he pulled up this instructable on how to make a lamp out of a fanned-open book!
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!
Since our ceremony and reception will be at the same location, it cuts down on our (as in Mr. E’s and my, as we are paying for the shuttle for our guests that are staying in our hotel blocks) transportation costs. Since our wedding package includes a free night stay at the Tribute, that drops down our required transportation cost to zero!
We’ll drive ourselves (separately) to the venue the day of the wedding and then use my car to drive to our send off brunch the next morning.
I do want to have a “send off” where the guests wave goodbye and our photographer gets some good shots of us leaving. When talking to our planner about the possible rental of a golf cart just to ride down the street and come back, she let us know that the Tribute will let us use one for free. Wow! That’s one word you don’t get to hear too often (if at all) during wedding planning so we are thrilled to take them up on their offer. Our planner also let us know that in order to max out our floral arrangements from the ceremony, that she will reuse it to decorate the golf cart while we are dancing the night away.
I can picture it now, Mr. E and me driving off in a decorated one of these! Read more…
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 know, I know, you thought these recaps were over. There’s just one more thing that I wanted to share: our highlight film from Open Iris by Quanti Studios!
We chose to use “Tonight, Tonight” by The Smashing Pumpkins as it is one of Burger’s favorite songs and has such amazing lyrics. My favorite are the lyrics at the end: 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.
I know from reading an excessive amount of wedding blogs that what guests wear to a wedding can be a sensitive issue. Wearing white is a huge no-no, tight and revealing clothes that draw attention seem to be problematic as well. I’ve even heard that wearing the same colour as the bridesmaids isn’t the best idea.
I have to say, I really do not care what guests wear to our wedding. From my understanding, brides are often concerned about what others are wearing because they don’t want attention to be drawn away from them or, in the case of the white dress, they don’t want others to be mistaken for the bride. Here’s the thing: I’m the bride, almost everyone at our wedding is very familiar with what I look like, and if not, they’ll probably clue in during my walk down the aisle. No matter what, it’s pretty hard to take the attention away from a bride.
I also don’t particularly mind if people’s attention is drawn away from me every so often. 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.
I originally found my dress in September. David’s Bridal offered to sell me the sample I tried on at a discount, but it was way too snug. Instead of buying it with the hopes that I’d lose weight, I ordered it a size bigger.
They told me it should arrive in four to six months.
Three months later, I got a call. The dress was in! Early! Score!
But in the meantime, I’d lost weight. And the dress was now huge on me. I tried on the original sample, and it fit like a glove. Once again, they offered to sell me the sample and credit me for a discount, but I’d noticed a pull in the skirt of the sample dress, and I wanted a pristine one. Not an issue, they said. They’d exchange my too-large dress for a size down, no problemo.
The store manager told me that exchanges usually take less time to come in. But I wasn’t in a rush—the wedding isn’t until May. 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. French Toast, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 29, Marketing & PRFiance's Age and Occupation: IT geek by day, self-proclaimed handyman by nightEngagement Date: October 2009Wedding Date: March 2011Venue: Palm Event CenterAbout Me: I’m a city girl at heart who moved to the suburbs a year ago. Now I’m adjusting to life with a front lawn, nosy neighbors, cooking attempts, and making sure the garbage pail is pulled out on time every week! When I’m not traveling, Mr. FT and I enjoy marathon sessions of Law & Order: SVU, snowboarding, photography, spoiling our 3-year old yorkie-poodle Mokka and disagreeing over what music to listen to in the car. We’re planning a small winery wedding while incorporating some cultural elements into the day as a nod to our Chinese backgrounds.
Hello hive! I’m so excited to be here that I woke up at 4 AM to think about how to make my grand entrance. (Err…*blush*…also maybe because I was jetlagged.)
That’s because I literally received the acceptance email from Pengy before I hopped on a flight from Hong Kong to San Francisco after a week-long stay. Imagine trying to contain your excitement for 14 hours when all you want to do is grab the passenger next to you and scream, “I’M A BEE!!”
I’ve been a fan of Weddingbee for way too long. You know the obsessive type who talks about fruits, safari animals and accessories like they are actual people? *Raises hand* That’s me. And the guy who doesn’t raise an eyebrow when his fiancé tells him that Mrs. Seahorse just tied the knot or Mrs. Pin Cushion built a really cool photobooth? That’s Mr. French Toast.
And together we’re Mr. and Miss French Toast:
The morning that I received the e-mail from Pengy, I actually had my favorite HK style french toast for breakfast. Was it a sign? Read more…
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
