Mrs. Lox, BaltimoreAge and Occupation: 33, Government WorkerFiance's Age and Occupation: 35. IT ConsultantEngagement Date: May 8, 2010Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Vandiver InnAbout Me: I’m an East Coast gal born and bred and a suburban brat turned city rat for the last year. Now Mr. Lox and I enjoy walking all kinds of places, having the coolest things around in our backyard, and especially our garage parking. I love gadgets, toys, Ben & Jerry’s Chubby Hubby ice cream, monkeys, and our insane cats. I’m a blonde by birth and a redhead by choice. I’m that girl in the cubicle farm with all the cool toys and the file cabinet covered in magnetic poetry. I still use smiley faces in my emails, whether people like it or not. This is not the first rodeo for Mr. Lox nor me. And together, we are planning an intimate afternoon wedding on a budget we can afford by ourselves.
Let’s get real here for a minute. I really thought I wasn’t going to disclose this, but as it turns out I feel dishonest by not sharing. You will soon see the reason I choose not to tell people this. I am afraid of being judged, and overall I’m simply ashamed by the bare facts. That being said, dear hive, I’m like Abe Lincoln over here. I cannot tell a lie. Or at least, I really suck at it.
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.
I have received so many kind compliments on my dress—Breanna, by Caroline DeVillo—that I was inspired to take a break from recaps and talk about its journey from this:
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!
Despite Mr. Pancakes’s strongly held belief that all things lace are “grandma-y,” I adore lace. I think there is something timelessly bridal about lace. Although I understand that some things have to be done in moderation, I don’t believe blogging/posting images is one of those things, so…here are some of my favorite lace (and lace-inspired) items (this week):
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!
I’ve seen it on the boards, I know there are other people as obsessed with fonts as I am. Although, I feel like obsessed is an understatement. As a graphic designer and typographer, my whole life revolves around letter forms. To this day, I swear my font design class in college still ranks in one one my top ten favorite things ever. I mean, if I wake up on the Cooper Black side of the bed, you know it’s going to be a good day.
That is all background information, but I swear its important. Now that you know all that, you guys can understand how excited I get about receiving my MyFonts Newsletter in my email.
Yesterday I got the Best Fonts of 2010 newsletter. Now, I’m sure you all are as on edge as I was to find out who the winners are. There are some good ones, I promise, and a few Script Typefaces that really made me stop and think “Man, this would like great on a wedding invitation.” Of course, by “a wedding invitation,” I meant “our wedding invitation,” but I’m sure they would work for yours, too!
Ready for some font eye candy? I’m already drooling over these babies! Read more…
Mrs. Rainbow, TampaAge and Occupation: 22, Makeup ArtistFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Electrical Engineer/ProgrammerEngagement Date: November 27, 2008Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: The Gamble PlantationAbout Me: I'm a quirky (and slightly Type-A) freelance makeup artist who was born in Washington State, raised in Alabama, and now living with my one and only in sunny Florida. I'm fashion and beauty obsessed, and have recently discovered my inner domestic diva extraordinaire. I'm a wannabe chef, decorating addict, and trying desperately to be as crafty as possible---albeit only with a glue gun. I'm hopelessly in love with my fiance, and all things sparkly and feathery. Despite the glittery exterior, I'm a total hippie on the inside. When I'm not making up pretty faces, I love doing what I can to help people, animals, and the environment. Someday the FI and I will change the world, but first we're tackling our modern-vintage-Marie-Antoinette-meets-Alice-in-Wonderland inspired wedding. I just can't wait to be Mrs. Rainbow!
You may recall our big Marie Antoinette meets Alice in Wonderland wedding, no? It was a pink and purple French inspired confection. Well, if you don’t, here is my inspiration board:
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!
Sticking with the theme of photography for a moment, there’s still one fairly epic decision that needs to be made: how do we see each other for the first time on the big day?
The plan was always to stick with the traditional entrance, where the first time Mr. Jaguar would see me would be as I entered the church and walked down the aisle. We were both fine with this, until I started seeing more and more first looks happening – and yep, I became fascinated with the idea of having one. Mr. Jaguar preferred the traditional aspect at first, but he’s definitely come around a little more as I’ve shown him what I’ve discovered.
Andrew, one of our photographers, is constantly blogging about how much he loves shooting first look sessions, and honestly? I don’t blame him. The pictures and the expressions he captures are just perfect…you can’t fake those emotions! And since we’re both pretty quiet people, especially my shy groom, it could be a really nice start to our wedding day, something special for just the two of us.
Check out some of these priceless shots, captured by the Follans, of course:
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.
I’ve been thinking more and more about the way I’m going to look on our wedding day. Probably because my dress will be arriving next month and with each passing day, I’m remembering there are beauty maintenance things I want to be working on, including teeth whiting, hair coloring, and those sorts of things.
As a part of my thought process, I decided to phone my hairdresser for the day of the wedding and set up a hair trial. My mom (who I mentioned is a stylist) isn’t going to do my hair on our wedding day because it would be too stressful. We want her to be able to relax and hang out with the girls—not work!
My hairdresser asked me to collect a few pictures of ideas I had for how I wanted to wear my hair, and remember I thought I wanted a side pony? Well, I may have changed my mind!
I’m overwhelmed by all of the choices out there and all I know is that I want it to be at least partially up. I think if it’s all up, it will look really good with my dress, but anywho, here’s what I’ve come up with so far.
I love this woman’s hair…In all pictures, but especially this one:
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!
I’ve had my engagement ring for about 8 months and I’m currently shopping for a wedding band, but I’ve been wearing rings on my left hand ring finger for years. Some people may have assumed that I was wearing a promise/engagement/wedding ring, but that wasn’t the case until recently. Since I’m right handed I prefer wearing my rings on my opposite hand and I don’t subscribe to the idea that the left ring finger is reserved only for engagement and wedding rings.
Here is my collection of rings. All are vintage except for my engagement ring (the blue sapphire) and the rose ring, which once belonged to Tori Spelling. I guess you can say that Donna Martin graduated that ring to me. (Please tell me someone out there gets that lame attempt at a joke. Please.)
Miss Oatmeal, Fresno, CAAge and Occupation: 25, Medical Device Sales RepresentativeFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Police Officer/Captain in the US ArmyEngagement Date: February 16, 2010Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Private Residence, FresnoAbout Me: I am a toast-loving, list-making, occasionally crazy California girl getting dangerously close to marrying her crime-fighting, patient, man's man fiancé. I’ve never left our hometown of Clovis, CA, I love Anthropologie so much it almost hurts, appreciate promptness, love that our 4lb. Chihuahua, Murphy, smells like Fritos, am irritated by windshield wipers that move too fast for the amount of rain, love me some cold weather, have an unhealthy obsession with boots, and wholeheartedly think that my family is everything. Mr. Oatmeal is, oddly enough, my brother's best friend. He's also the best thing that's ever happened to me, and together we are planning a vintage chic, backyard, spring wedding with a few nontraditional touches while trying to keep up with our crazy lives.
So I figured my first post would be to give the bees some insider secrets about who I’m marrying. Here are a few things about Mr. Oatmeal, as told by the Miss.
Mrs. Eggs Benedict, SeattleAge and Occupation: 29, AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 35, AttorneyEngagement Date: December 5, 2009Wedding Date: February 2011Venue: IslandWoodAbout Me: I'm a Northwest girl who spends my time goofing around with Mr. Eggs Benedict and our dog, hiking, traveling, drinking wine and planning a wedding that will showcase the best of what the Pacific Northwest has to offer. I also love photography, beating Mr. Eggs Bene at Mario Kart, and watching the most ridiculous natural disaster flicks you can think of (seriously, how can you deny the awesomeness that is The Core or 2012?? That's right, you can't). We are planning our weekend wedding adventure at an environmental educational center, and I can't wait for the fun to begin!
I have to admit, I was kind of dreading shopping for a dress. To be honest, I’m not really happy with the way that I look right now (though I am finally doing something to change that), and I was afraid that every store I walked into would only have size 8 sample gowns and I would look like a moron who couldn’t get them over my hips. Luckily, that was not the case at all—at least not at most of the places that I went to. (However, apparently I managed to go to the three stores that are super picky about photos, so I have no pictures of me trying on dresses, except for some randomly snapped iPhone pictures that my best friend took which I don’t have and which I’m telling her to delete!).
The first place I went was a tiny little place up in Seattle. And frankly, it wasn’t that great. It was small, I wasn’t super impressed with the selection of dresses, and the consultant who was helping me spent more time paying attention to her daughter than to me (though I think my best friend and bridesmaid extraordinaire had fun playing with the little girl while they were waiting for me to try on dresses. Which is hard when you’re by yourself and the consultant forgets to come in and help you). But, my mom got to be there for the first “trying on of the dress” experience, so I’m really glad for that. But needless to say, we did not find my dress at that store. Read more…
Mrs. Lobster, BrooklynAge and Occupation: 29, Finance GirlFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Finance BoyEngagement Date: July 25, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: Stage 6 Steiner StudiosAbout Me: I'm a New York-born, Virginia-bred girl who's found her way back to the big city. Mr. Lobster and I met in grad school and have been together ever since. I'm clueless about DIY but am an avid online shopper and love all things polka dots, stripes, and ruffles! When I'm not making wedding lists, you can find me looking for snacks, watching Gilmore Girls, or hanging out with Mr. Lobster and our new puppy Buddy! We are planning a fancy-pantsy Brooklyn wedding for a hot New York summer night which is sure to be a misadventure in the making.
I scheduled some “down time” between the photo shoot and ceremony for a second rehearsal, family portraits, and general relaxation. When we got to the venue, the security guard looked at us in the bus skeptically. The venue is part of a large studio lot with just one building that had only *one* wedding on the day we were there. I’m wearing a big poofy white dress. Let me in already. We finally got in and I felt like a kid in a candy store (OK it wasn’t *that* exciting) randomly roaming around the venue knowing I could go anywhere with the big white dress.
in flippity flops, sipping on some water
Funnily enough, this is the part of the day I felt most out of control.
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!
I have already mentioned our table names for the reception, but I couldn’t just stop there. I loved this inspiration picture shared by Mrs. Stripes as well as her reception set up with the milk glass vases.
Mrs. Lox, BaltimoreAge and Occupation: 33, Government WorkerFiance's Age and Occupation: 35. IT ConsultantEngagement Date: May 8, 2010Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Vandiver InnAbout Me: I’m an East Coast gal born and bred and a suburban brat turned city rat for the last year. Now Mr. Lox and I enjoy walking all kinds of places, having the coolest things around in our backyard, and especially our garage parking. I love gadgets, toys, Ben & Jerry’s Chubby Hubby ice cream, monkeys, and our insane cats. I’m a blonde by birth and a redhead by choice. I’m that girl in the cubicle farm with all the cool toys and the file cabinet covered in magnetic poetry. I still use smiley faces in my emails, whether people like it or not. This is not the first rodeo for Mr. Lox nor me. And together, we are planning an intimate afternoon wedding on a budget we can afford by ourselves.
So right, onto a vendor we booked easily. Our officiant.
Now, I know so far this blog has been about paper flowers, craft supplies, and having an aisle to walk down. In fact, when I put it that way, I’m not at all proud of myself. Not even a little. I mean, yes…I want our wedding and subsequent party to be beautiful and memorable. But my single biggest priority, the one thing I’ve cared about above all others? Is the ceremony. Read more…
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.
After giving my poor bride brain a break from obsessing during December, I’ve kicked off the new year with a fresh batch of crazy. You’ve already heard my psycho rants about seeing my dress on other brides (and you were SO nice about it!), and I’m sorry to say that’s not the end. Have I mentioned that I’m a Gemini? We’re nuts! The nuttiness never ends.
Today, I’m obsessing about boutonnieres. And look what I found!
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!
Now that we finally have a date, I figure we should probably let people know. So what do you want to hear first, the good news or the bad news? The good news is that a good friend of mine has offered to help design and print all our invites for me. She was actually my roommate in college for a semester before she transferred to design school and is now a fabulous product designer.
The bad news is that I am SO indecisive.
The first step is to find inspiration, but there are A LOT of options out there. One of my major problems is that I like things that don’t even make sense for our wedding. When I see any idea that is particularly unique I have a hard time letting it go. I want to believe I can incorporate everything into ourwedding.
After hours and hours and HOURS of searching I finally realized that the elements I like seem to fall into three general categories:
