Mrs. Penguin, Northern CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 27, Weddingbee Editor in ChiefFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Doctor of Physical TherapyEngagement Date: January 29, 2007Wedding Date: June 7, 2008Blogging Since: September 14, 2007Venue: Winery in the Gold CountryAbout 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!
It’s a little known (or maybe well known?) fact that when we schedule the bees’ posts, we like to stagger the colors of the icons. So, for instance, Miss French Toast (brown) will never come before or after Miss Pancakes (also brown). Our last generation, brunch items, made this task virtually impossible!!! Naturally, this time around we had to come up with a generation that featured colors galore, and so the Carnival generation was born! We hope you love our newest bee icons! As usual, our artist Irene hit it out of the park!
If you’re interested in becoming a bee, check out our application guidelines! We’re currently accepting applications from bloggers getting married through September 2011. And if you’re looking for some guidance about what it takes to be a bee and what it’s like to be one, check out the bees’ advice for blogging… they’re the experts!
Which icon from this generation is your favorite? And, can you spot what’s unusual about one of the icons in this generation (hint: it’s never happened before in the history of Weddingbee icons)?
Mrs. Plaid, AustinAge and Occupation: 26, Pastry ChefFiance's Age and Occupation: 34, Cabinetry CarpenterEngagement Date: August 8, 2009Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: Kindred Oaks, GeorgetownAbout Me: I am a Jersey girl born and raised but have since migrated to Texas and embraced its twang and Tex-Mex. I could probably eat chips and queso every day but instead I eat popcorn. I use the word “awesome” way too much but I just can’t seem to stop myself. I am addicted to all things DIY and am planning what I call a Texas-Chic wedding. I love snuggling with my two adorable dogs and of course, my adorable fiance. I can’t wait 'til I can call him my husband some day! October 2010, here we come!
It was time to take some photos with all the people that love us and were there to celebrate our special day with us.
Let’s start with my awesome bridesmaids! And more specifically, my two lovely maids of honor!
We started off with a simple stand-in-a-line photo and it’s a great pic of all the ladies’ different dresses. Read more…
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.
I know quite a few of you are interested in how our honeymoon in Bali went, so this is for you. And what I have to say is too long for a single post, so I thought I would start off with a basic recap of our experience, and then follow-up another day with some tips and tricks for those who might be interested in having their own honeymoon in Bali. Sound good? Okay, let’s get started then!
After spending our first night after the wedding in Nelson, we had a simple farewell lunch with friends and family, and then set off to Auckland and spent a (short) night there before departing to Bali, via Brisbane, at the *lovely* hour of 5AM.
Slightly bleary-eyed but smiley in Auckland Airport at dawn
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.
Awhile back (OK, OK—a loooooong while back) I talked about a new toy that I was inspired to get. That was the Xyron Creatopia. Here’s a picture to jog your memory a bit:
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.
As you saw previously, I had a last minute practice with my dad. Initially, I wanted to just wing it. But he wouldn’t have it. My dad has taken some ballroom dancing with my mom so a few days before the wedding, he came over and choreographed a whole dance. He even taught me how to ballroom dance using a 1970s dancing DVD (which was pretty hilarious). In the end, I’m glad we did this because it involved my dad in the wedding process as well as allowed us to have that one special memory together.
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!
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 know we’ve all seen it before: the wedding tree guest book. It’s been used by manybeesbefore me, and will probably be used by many after me. We already have our postcard guest book in place for the reception, but I couldn’t get this tree out of my head.
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.
One of the things that I love going to out of town weddings is getting to see a new city. I especially enjoy when the bride and groom plan an event for the early arrivals, when everyone is relaxed and enjoying themselves. Mr P and I love Seattle and we were very excited to share our city with our many friends and relatives who were visiting for our wedding. We created a large list of activities around town so our guests could explore on their own and Thursday night we coordinated a night at the ball park.
Fun fact: did you know that Nintendo of America owns the Seattle Mariners? The stadium has a network for the Nintendo DS where you can watch replays, browse stats, and order food from your seat. Read more…
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!
So we’ve talked, and you guys might have thought that I gave you all the inspiration I had, but you all are wrong! There is even more invitation inspiration to share! I already mentioned traditional, floral, and ampersand themed invitations, and today we’re on to something always cool and fun: the striped invites.
These suckers are surprisingly fresh, with a little touch of prep, wrapped up in a whole lot of awesome.
Now, I know you’re not all here to listen to me talk about how nice these look; you’re here to see the photos! So here you go—enjoy!
I feel like this wedding should rent an ice cream truck for the big day. (Love those summer colors!)
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!
A few months ago I discovered Ouma’s Etsy shop and fell in love. It doesn’t hurt that her styling is crazy amazing. It’s so ethereal and romantic…almost bridal, even.
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
During your wedding planning process, have you ever had an incredible epiphany that is absolutely impossible to get out of your mind? For me, it was the song that we used for our first dance. I remember the moment like it happened yesterday: I was busy cooking dinner in the kitchen and my iTunes were on shuffle. All of a sudden, a song by Joshua Radin came on. I had downloaded his album a few months prior, but hadn’t really listened to the songs very closely. However, when the song Lovely Tonight started playing, I remember stopping dead in my tracks. My spatula was suspended in mid-air and I was completely entranced with the song. It was perfect. I knew from that moment that it HAD to be featured in our wedding in some way. Initially, I wanted it as a processional song. However, after much consideration, I realized that it would be the perfect first dance song for Mr. Buttons and me. The words, the melody, everything.
Mrs. Pain au Chocolat, Wilmington, DEAge and Occupation: 29, RealtorFiance's Age and Occupation: 34, RealtorEngagement Date: November 21, 2009Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Greenville Country ClubAbout 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.
I’m a green girl. Celadon, moss, jade, kelly, verdigris…the largest sections of my closet and my jewelry collection are devoted to this color. The emerald is my favorite gemstone and diamond cut. British racing green on an old Jag—be still my heart.
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.
This will be a lot easier if you know how to sew. You should probably take that into consideration when debating what is more precious, your money or your mind. Actually, you should always take that in consideration with every wedding project.
To start, you must measure the circumference of your thigh where you would feel comfortable keeping your garter. Subtract an inch from that total and cut the elastic to that measurement. I find 1/4 elastic works best.
Next you will be cutting your fabric. Whatever your design, make sure the length is 5+ inches from your original thigh measurement. I find that old newspapers work best when making a pattern. In this case, your pattern will be a long rectangle.
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!
First, let me begin with an update on our cake situation. Y’all are AMAZING and I LOVED reading through all of your ideas and advice! We decided on the family-style option. We’re going to have our servers bring platters to each table of eight. Each platter will include two cupcakes of each of the three flavors, as well as two slices of groom’s cake. This way, there is one serving per guest (that is, we’re not buying 300 pieces of cake for 150 people!) but people still have options.
Until the cupcakes and groom’s cake are served, they will be situated on a little table in the ballroom. I plan to arrange the cupcakes on a tree like this:
