Mrs. Starfish, Boston/NewportAge and Occupation: 25, Operations AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, SalesEngagement Date: October 8, 2008Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: The Atlantic Beach ClubAbout Me: I'm a perfectionist who is a planner at heart. I don't do well with surprises. I love planning, crafting, Newport RI, family and friends, and most importantly, Mr. Starfish---all of which will be big components in our October wedding in our favorite little city by the sea.
As the Starfish Guys and my soon to be in-laws took some photos on the beach, the Starfish Girls and my parents had a little photo session of our own. We wanted lots of variety in our photos, so we took advantage of as many locations as possible. Aafter we finished getting ready, we headed back to the deck and got some photos in our party dresses.
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!
I bet you all thought I was done talking about wedding shoes, didn’t you? I had my heels and I had my flats—what more could a girl want?
*pause for giant tumbleweed to roll on by*
Apparently, a different pair of shoes.
I was out shopping with my Maid of Honour, Miss K, when we decided to hit the shoe stores. We have a bit of a thing where we’ll go into shoe departments and try on the most obnoxious and hideous shoes in the place and then attempt to walk in them. It’s been going on for months—we’ve done it in so many different stores (and countries!) that it’s hard to remember how it all began. It’s mighty fun though; I do recommend it.
Anyway, amidst all the terrifying shoes and dizzying heel heights, I pulled out a pair of heels in black that caught my eye. Peep-toe, walkable heel, simple yet cute detail…looking good! I tried the shoe on in a 9 (too big) and an 8 (too small) before finding out that they stocked an 8.5 (just right!). It was cute, it looked good, but it was black. I didn’t need black shoes. That was that—until I realised that the shoes also came in charcoal grey.
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!
Sometimes, you find a vendor that you just click with. They get you, they get what you’re about as a couple, and they get what your wedding is about. I’ve felt that way about my florist for a while now, and I decided recently that I also feel this way about our videographer.
Our videographer creates “love stories” out of their wedding videos. They try to learn as much as they can about the couple so that their wedding video really captures their personalities. They accomplish this by interviewing couples a couple of months before their wedding. This provides footage of the couple talking about their relationship and their future, but it also gives the videographers the opportunity to get to know their clients’ style.
Our videographers recently contacted us to schedule such an interview. They told us to choose a location that represented us well. The baseball fans that we are, we immediately thought of Turner Field.
With Sister Lioness at the ballpark…and we’re all wearing Polo…weird.
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!
And this is why Mr. EB is no longer letting me look at any type of weather forecast for our wedding day.
Are you freaking kidding me with this after we’ve had so many days of gorgeous blue sky in the past couple of weeks (or at the very least, cloudy days but no rain)?
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!
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. 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.
Hive, I have had a revelation! Ummm…but before we get to that, let me set it up for you.
Lately, in my inbox, I’ve been getting these contest announcements for a free wedding. Awesome, right? Right. I remember when I used to enter every single one of these. I would have taken a free wedding anywhere from anyone. And especially with how tight our budget is, a free wedding is kind of like a gift from above, right? Read more…
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.
I’ve stumbled upon, quite possibly, the greatest idea ever to have been invented in the history of wedding guest books. You may be thinking, “Hey Oatmeal, what gives? You’re already having two guest books at your wedding. Why are you still talking about this?” Honestly, I had no intention whatsoever of adding to the list. Buuuuuuut, something changed when I came across Thrilled For You. Check this out.
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!
Since we will be having a brunch reception instead of a seated dinner, I’m always keeping my eyes out for appropriate table-setting ideas. The traditional tall flower centerpieces and candle-strewn tabletops are just not our style. I also have this “new” obsession with burlap. I particularly like it because it reminds me of those large coffee bags, which in turn make me think of Costa Rica, which makes it obviously perfect for our wedding! Now that I’ve lead you down a tiny trail of obsession, here are some of my favorite table settings:
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!
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.
More dress shopping! Future mother-in-law (FMIL, not FML) hadn’t done anything wedding related with us yet; I thought she’d be interested. Mr. P had barely gotten out, “Miss P was thinking of visiting some bridal…” before she let out excited squeaks. I think that’s a yes. The night before the bridal appointment, the girls sat up until 2 AM pouring over the wedding binder. As a mother of two boys, she was happy to be included AND excited about the styles of dresses the next day.
Per the instructions from just about every bridal salon, I wore no makeup. After all, they don’t want your makeup rubbing off on the white dresses. Jewelry, aside from my engagement ring, was left at home. My hair was pulled back to expedite matters and keep the static to a minimum. Compounding the ugly was my “winter tan,” weight I didn’t know I’d gained, and a decision to wear glasses instead of contacts.
Ladies, a word of advice: You wouldn’t shop for bathing suits and jeans when you look like crap, at least not with positive results…So don’t do it when wedding-dress shopping. Your self-esteem will thank you.
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.
Speech! Speech! I have to admit, it makes me uncomfortable being the center of attention and especially having people talk about me when I have no idea what they’re going to say. This can be a problem on say, your wedding day! Still, I was touched by the thoughts our parents, my sisters, and Mr. Lobster’s best man shared with us that night. It made us feel so loved and cared for by our family and friends.
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.
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.
Go ahead, gasp. I said it! I asked the question: has marriage become a thing of the past? Obviously there’s no shortage of committed guys and girls around here on the Weddingbee, but according to this article, the Census Bureau reports that the proportion of married adults of all ages was only 52 percent in 2009—the lowest percentage since the U.S. began tracking statistics in 1880!
Am I surprised? Not really. Not at all, actually. Mr. B and I are the first and only of our friends to get married. We don’t mind being the first and we don’t doubt we’re supposed to be married, but when none of your friends are thinking about marriage, you feel sort of gypped.
It feels kind of like when you realize you and your best friend from high school have grown apart. You were inseparable when you met and thought that would never change. Then you went off to college and they’re really into science and you’re really into sports. You’re still close, but you realize things have changed. You’re on different wave lengths. You have different interests. It’s kind of bittersweet, isn’t it? You love your new interests (in my case those interests are Mr. B, our wedding, Weddingbee, our apartment, our future, our family), but you’re a little sad your friend isn’t as into those same things.
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.
So we’ve talked about what is going to be on our jam favour labels. It’s time to show you a few test labels I made! I’m all about testing and prototypes, and I’m so glad I didn’t dive into this with my first idea! You’ll see why soon.
I bought something I’d been coveting for a while back on Black Friday. I’ve never really made scrapbook layouts like Miss Lox does, but I have always been a huge fan of scrapbook supplies. I finally gave myself an excuse to start buying them by making greeting cards. You should see my stash! No wait, you shouldn’t, it’s a mess. Anyway, I’d been wanting a Cricut for a long time until I heard a card-making blog mention the Silhouette SD. It is similar to the Cricut in that it is a digital cutting machine, but unlike the Cricut, you don’t need cartridges to get new shapes! It comes with software, and once you’ve installed it you can use any font on your computer. They also sell shapes for about $0.99 in the Silhouette online store, which I think is way more convenient than any cartridge. So on Black Friday I found the best deal I could, and the Silhouette SD became mine. I’ve tested it out a few times, but this is the first project I’ve started.
The other great thing about the Silhouette is that you can set things to print or cut.
