Mrs. Barrettes, Tumon, Guam/Napa, CA
Age and Occupation: 29, Dancer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Licensed Building Contractor
Engagement Date: November 16, 2008
Wedding Date: October 2010
Venue: V. Sattui Winery
About Me: I'm an East Coast girl, living on a tiny little island in the Pacific, twirling, leaping, and shimmy-ing my way through life, and now, wedding planning! I'm equal parts nerdy and cool... okay, mostly nerdy. I love satin bows, red lipstick, black & white graphic anything, the shine of sequins and the sound of a champagne "pop". My favorite books are The Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James, and Tender is the Night, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I can also conjure a pretty good Patronus Charm. I started my appreciation for good red wine while traveling on the high seas, and it's only fitting that my passion for wine drinking led me to my Napa-bred honey. We bonded over bottles of Cabernet on my oceanfront porch and haven't looked back since. We're sealing the deal at a winery in the Napa Valley on a 'perfect ten' of a day!
Even if you don’t necessarily want a cocktail hour, it happens anyway because after sitting through a ceremony, guests are ready to stand up and socialize for a bit. They aren’t quite ready to go and sit back down for dinner.
While our cocktail hour didn’t really last an hour, it was the perfect time for my costume change and for everyone to mingle around the winery. We offered three wines in the lower tasting room (directly behind where we stood for the ceremony): 2009 Early Harvest White Riesling, 2008 Gamay Rouge, and 2008 Amador Ridge Zinfandel. Each wine an easy favorite of ours.
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Mrs. Cinnamon Bun, Calgary, Alberta
Age and Occupation: 26, Stage Manager
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Theatre Technician
Engagement Date: June 22, 2010
Wedding Date: June 2011
Venue: Calgary Opera Centre
About 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.
The first part of this tutorial can be found here.
Step 10: Make it small! I don’t need a book half the size of an 8.5″x11″ sheet, so I grabbed one of the group’s little corner squares and dragged to make it smaller.
Step 11: Make it safe! To know where I could place it on my page, as I’m printing and cutting, I clicked on the ‘Registration Marks’ button (second in from the right on the top) and checked the ‘show Registration Marks’ box. Don’t place anything over the red lines, or in the greyed-out areas.
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DIY
Feature Launched: October 8, 2008
About: The best DIY projects from Bees and brides around the web.
February 11th, 2011 @ 5:21 pm by DIY
Check out these great projects hive members have uploaded to Weddingbee’s DIY section! Click on the title of each project for tutorials.
If your project is featured in DIY Friday, you’re eligible for a special Weddingbee badge for your blog or website! See instructions on how to grab the badge here!
Wine Bottle Centerpieces by Bubu82
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Mrs. Pretzel, Seattle
Age and Occupation: 32 Learning, Training, and Development Specialist
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28 Manufacturing Engineer
Engagement Date: September 2, 2009
Wedding Date: July 2010
Venue: Catholic Church & The Engine Room at Georgetown Studios
About 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.
A couple of years ago I met some of my knitting pals for brunch at the Queen Mary tea room in Seattle. I remember thinking that it would be fun to do a “women’s tea” there sometime. When I started to plan activities with my bridesmaids for the day before our wedding, the Queen Mary instantly came back to mind and I began to plan my own tea-themed bridal brunch for the moms and my ‘maids. I know that some schools of thought are that you shouldn’t plan your own party, but that’s not how I roll. I also figured that afterwards my bridesmaids and I could get mani-pedis.
The invites featured different tea cup shapes
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Featured on Weddingbee
“Make an elegant invitation statement without the fuss. Stylish invitation sets with matching envelopes, reception and response cards included.”
Featured Product: Laura Ashley Delicate Damask Invitation
Mrs. Trail Mix, New York
Age and Occupation: 26, PE Teacher
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, MBA Student
Engagement Date: March 2009
Wedding Date: June 2010
Venue: Tannery Pond at the Darrow School
About 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.
After all the scheduled dances were done, we just kept dancing! The band played a great first set for about 45 minutes, which I think allowed everyone to digest all the cocktail food and get ready for, well, more food (I mean, this was a Jewish wedding after all, which means no one, and I mean no one, goes hungry!)
First, my grandfather said a blessing over the Challah and our dads said a blessing over the wine.
Closed Circle Photography
Then, it was time for dinner.
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Mrs. Tartlet, Rochester, MI
Age and Occupation: Age & Occupation: 27, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Medical Student
Engagement Date: May 2, 2009
Wedding Date: May 2011
Venue: The Royal Park Hotel
About Me: I'm an exuberant gal from the Midwest with a penchant for Neuroscience and anything sparkly. I'm not afraid to poke fun at myself, and I'm a believer that given the right pair of shoes, a girl can conquer the world. While an interest in the sciences threw Mr. Tartlet and me together (again, and again, until it finally stuck), we share a love for many things---food, video games, car dancing, food, bad puns, travel, did I mention food?---that ultimately led us to where we are now, less than five months from becoming Mr. and Mrs. We're planning a laid-back, romantic, garden-inspired affair with organic and quirky touches that reflect our love for the unexpected!
“Funny that a pair of really nice shoes make us feel good in our heads—at the extreme opposite end of our bodies.”
- Levende Waters
(source)
Slipping on the right pair of shoes makes me feel FIERCE. And ladies, self confidence is priceless. I love brides who sneak in that pop of color. It’s fun, sassy, and makes for great pictures! The sunny color of this bride’s shoes totally matches her color palette:
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Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
Mrs. Penguin, Northern California
Age and Occupation: 27, Weddingbee Editor in Chief
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Engagement Date: January 29, 2007
Wedding Date: June 7, 2008
Blogging Since: September 14, 2007
Venue: Winery in the Gold Country
About Me: I love the Spice Girls, dogs with underbites, bean burritos, making messes, high fives, avoiding showers, crossword puzzles, blogs, weddings, and blogs about weddings!
We’ve teamed up with Verve to give you some perfect tunes for V-day!
Happy Valentine’s Day from the groovy folks at Verve Music—and us! From now until February 14 at midnight PST, we are giving you some incredible, romantic free music downloads from R&B star Avant, pop/jazz stars Melody Gardot and Jamie Cullum and breakout star Trombone Shorty!
The deets: Simply click HERE, enter your info and press the Submit button to get to the download page - and some amazing tunes. The goods: You can download up to six tracks of your choice from artists including Melody Gardot, Jamie Cullum, Elizabeth and the Catapult, Trombone Shorty, Teddy Thompson and Avant.
The catch: There is none—except a possible new obsession to these incredible singers! 
Giveaway rules
Mrs. Lox, Baltimore
Age and Occupation: 33, Government Worker
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 35. IT Consultant
Engagement Date: May 8, 2010
Wedding Date: May 2011
Venue: Vandiver Inn
About 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.
February 11th, 2011 @ 3:29 pm by Mrs. Lox
Let’s take a walk on the serious side today. And talk about…well…walking. Specifically who will walk me down the aisle.
First, a history lesson. In wedding #1, my father walked me down the aisle. He wore a tux, and we did it all the traditional way. For wedding #2, we had a “weddingmoon” at Sandals, so it was just the two of us. I walked on the beach to meet my groom alone. Which was no big deal since no one was watching.
So it would seem that this time, I have my choice of whatever I’d like to do, right? Well, sort of. Except not really. Between wedding #1 and here in the present day, my father and I have become estranged. I know the hive isn’t really interested in all my drama-llama family issues.
And no, my name is NOT Alex. (source)
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Mrs. Brooch, Arlington, VA
Age and Occupation: 25, Writer/Editor
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Front Desk Manager
Engagement Date: October 3, 2009
Wedding Date: April 2011
Venue: Oxon Hill Manor
About 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 at a loss trying to figure out the music for our ceremony. I love Pachelbel’s Cannon D, but I’ve heard it so many times and I’d really like something different for our wedding. I’ve never been a big fan of Wagner’s Bridal Chorus either, and it’s pretty common, too. I don’t have anything against these songs, but I always knew w’d be walking to the beat of our own tune.
Just like Miss. Ostrich’s song choices, we want music that is going to reflect the mood and meaning of our wedding. Hers were a perfect for a beach ceremony, and I need ours to go well with a garden ceremony. I haven’t discussed this yet, but Mr. B’s dad is a minister and he’ll be marrying us! I mentioned my dad was making a large cross as the focal point and we intend on making God a major focus during this part of the day. Since we have this very religious undertone, we’re going to have mostly gospel music for our ceremony.
Here are some of the considerations.
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Mrs. Pain au Chocolat, Wilmington, DE
Age and Occupation: 29, Realtor
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 34, Realtor
Engagement Date: November 21, 2009
Wedding Date: June 2011
Venue: Greenville Country Club
About Me: An ENFJ with an artistic streak who loves backgammon, sailing, graphic design, and sleeping in. Travel (near or far), good wine, and tasty food makes my heart sing. I'm a compulsive list-maker who lives to plan and organize. Mr. P and I have lived together for 4 years, all the while renovating our city townhome bit by bit. We're planning a whimsical, Anthropologie-inspired garden wedding in June 2011.
Every time we’re in north Jersey visiting family, we drive past so many stores I’d love to go into. But they’re always closed! WTH?! Because of the county’s blue laws, retail establishments selling non-perishables are not permitted open on Sundays. Well, that is really inconvenient for this out-of-town shopper! I’ll look forlornly at my favorite furniture and home-goods stores, parking lots empty. But recently I’ve noticed bridal stores whizzing past. Let’s stop there instead!
Source
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Mrs. Hermit Crab, New York, NY
Age and Occupation: 24, Youth Director soon to be Grad Student
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Medical Student - soon to be Surgery Resident
Engagement Date: October 11, 2008
Wedding Date: June 2010
Venue: New York Botanical Garden
About 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!
We finished taking family photos and our guests had already started arriving. Mr. Hermit Crab ran over to his Tish, while I snuck away for some last minute touch ups and my big entrance!
My sister (my lifesaver!) recurled my hair
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Contests
Feature Launched: Oct 5, 2006
About: Weddingbee contests and giveaways.
February 11th, 2011 @ 2:00 pm by Contests
Congratulations to our winner, spinningstars!
~~~
We have a romantic giveaway for you today, just in time for Valentine’s Day! Waterford carries an extensive range of crystal stemware, barware and giftware, many pieces perfect for your wedding registry. Their classic designs transcend time, and are perfect for entertaining and home decor for years to come. Today they’re giving away a pair of their Waterford Crystal’s Love & Romance Toasting Flutes to one lucky Weddingbee reader! Raise a toast this Valentine’s Day to the one you love with glasses that feature the characteristic weight of Waterford’s hand-crafted, fine crystal.
To enter this contest, visit Waterford’s website and let us know what your favorite product is! You have until Valentine’s Day (Monday, February 14th) at 11:59 PM PST to enter. Good luck!
Mrs. Crepe, Queens, NY/Nashville, TN
Age and Occupation: 28, Jewelry Designer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Animation Director
Engagement Date: September 28, 2010
Wedding Date: May 2011
Venue: A church in downtown Nashville
About Me: I'm a native New Yorker who has always been a DIY kind of girl and loves tackling creative projects while getting the most out of a dollar. I'm marrying my college sweetheart and we love frequenting antique stores, exploring together, and playing with kittens. We're planning a fun, "us" wedding in his hometown---with as many handmade touches as we can pack into a day!
I still can’t believe I’m writing to you as a bee. I came across this blog years ago and, like many of you reading, began following all the mysterious ladies who posted as exotic fruits and cuddly creatures. Way before I was engaged.
Um.
OK, let me explain. Mr. Crepe and I met first semester of our freshman year at art school—he was a bookish and seemingly shy boy who wore wool sweaters. I was a girl who, within the first week of school, had gotten three additional piercings and dyed her hair red. We were not an obvious match, to say the least.
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Classifieds
Feature Launched: April 30, 2008
About: A roundup of the best Weddingbee Classified listings.
volley632 is selling an assortment of votive candle bars. She is asking between $2 and $6 for each piece.
Have a wedding item for sale? Post it with pictures in the Weddingbee Classifieds, and you might see it featured on the blog!
Other great items for sale:
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Mrs. Waffle, Austin
Age and Occupation: 31, Costumer/Artist
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Animator
Engagement Date: July 27, 2010
Wedding Date: June 2011
Venue: Hummingbird House
About 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!
Awww, so sorry Mr Waffle. Two posts in a row that you’re not allowed to read. You’ll thank me later!
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