Mrs. Crepe, Queens, NY/Nashville, TNAge and Occupation: 28, Jewelry DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Animation DirectorEngagement Date: September 28, 2010Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: A church in downtown NashvilleAbout 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 wasn’t always like this. When I went shopping for prom, my accessories were last-minute decisions. Like, “Oh right, I need a bag to put my keys in.” My earrings were from Claire’s. It was just the most convenient place to find some earrings on the fly. No premeditated thought required.
Now that I’m a jewelry designer, I spend all day staring at accessories. Every little detail on each accessory is pored over and scrutinized. It is now, officially, an obsession. Which I’m actually OK with because it sort of has to do with my job, right?
Anyway, I realize that I’m probably not going to be toting around much on my wedding day, but after I saw Mrs. Cowboy Boots’s post about her vintage-clutch score, I was a woman obsessed. I became completely fixated on this one specific detail, and the only way to relieve it was to obtain THE PERFECT vintage clutch so that I could move on. Yes, I understand that this is an illness.
I let my fingers do the walking and searched high and low until I had a folder full of beautiful clutches. There is a happy ending to my search, but in the meantime, for those of you shopping around, let me share the ones I didn’t end up getting—and only because I do not have unlimited resources. I can’t tell you how much I would love to have purchased every last one of these beauties.
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!
When I finally got the email from Bliss letting me know that my dress had arrived at the bridal salon, I was so happy I actually squealed. Mr. P came running into the room and asked, “Good news or bad?” When I told him my dress had arrived, he gave me a hug and said, “I am so proud of you!” (Is it possible to over-train a man?? Hehehe.)
Back to the news at hand. I immediately emailed my seamstress Susan to set up an alteration date. Susan is a-MAZing! She was not only able to travel to my house for the fitting, which was so crucial since I was right in the middle of finals, but she also volunteered to store my dress for me while I’m in Amsterdam. Did I mention she is a-MAZing!?!
Within hours of receiving the email, I was plagued with second thoughts! They washed over me and consumed my every thought. I couldn’t study. I could barely even think straight. What if it wasn’t THE dress!?!?
My three doubts about the dress were:
The neckline isn’t a true sweetheart neckline, which I knew when I bought the dress, so I was just hoping it would be a pretty easy alteration.
I wanted an all-lace dress, but Mr. P and Momma P hated all-lace dresses. (No, Mr. P did not go wedding-dress shopping with me, but we did look at a few dresses in magazines together so I could get an idea of what he liked.)
Most importantly, the bottom of the dress isn’t very full. The reality is, I don’t really remember how full it is and it was like five sizes too big, so I can’t really get a sense from the pictures of how the bottom will sit.
Mrs. Magic, Chapel Hill, NCAge and Occupation: 30, Licensed Clinical Social WorkerFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, ResearcherEngagement Date: December 1, 2009Wedding Date: October 2011Venue: Barn at ValhallaAbout Me: I’m a tall drink of water (5’10”!) and a Southern bride with an enormous appetite for Mexican food, good deals, anything French, and all things wedding! By day I am lucky enough to work with individuals with autism and their families. By night, I’m even luckier to be able to spend time hanging out with awesome friends, crafting, shopping, thinking about exercising, and kicking it with Mr. Magic and our two cats. I tend to have sudden, intense cravings that will not be denied (seafood enchiladas! new jeans!) and I’m prone to being a disorganized mess of anxiety and stress. After waiting (and waiting!) to get engaged, I am finally planning the colorful, fun, fabulously awesome Fall wedding of our dreams. In an effort to share the fun and craziness that is wedding planning, I’m gonna blog about it for y’all---the good, the bad, and the pretty!
I wrote this post in March of 2010, about one year ago and roughly TWENTY MONTHS before the wedding. Yes, I am that girl, the one who looks for her dress before doing anything else. What can I say? I have my priorities straight.
The first time I went dress shopping, I went with my much younger sis. (She’s 18, and I’m practically 30. *gulp*) I had been stalking Jim Hjelm and his designs for years—wayyyyyyyy before my FH was hearing wedding bells. I went and tried on a bunch of gowns, including some of his designs. Nothing was really giving me The Feeling. I had just asked my consultant, “Aren’t I supposed to have, like, a reaction or something?” and she told me “Some brides don’t…it’s OK.” “Hmph” I thought, and tried on this dress.
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!
Ooooooooh, it’s so exciting to be at the “100 days to go” mark! This is the point where things really start coming together and the vision starts to come alive and you see where the design fails and where it shines. When I’m designing and working on costumes for shows this part always makes me crazy excited and sickeningly nervous at the same time.
I was definitely feeling this way about the paper I bought for our invitation suite and how the final product would look. After ordering my paper goods a few weeks ago, I left The Paper Place with a slight tinge of “I’m not sure this is going to work,” even though the lady who was assisting me told me my choices were going to look so nice together.
Well, hive, the paper is here and it’s sooooooo wonderful! If I could lay it out on the floor like a pile of money and swim in it, I would.
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.
Ms. Stripes, Los AngelesAge and Occupation: 29, Costume Designer/StylistFiancee's Age and Occupation: 29, ChefEngagement Date: June 23, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Heritage Square MuseumAbout Me: I’m a type A creative with a messy streak, a loud mouth, and an uncanny knack for combining clashing patterns. I can usually be found with my nose in a book, my feet (or at least my toes) on the ground, my head in the clouds, and my arm around the prettiest girl you ever saw- aka
Fiancee Stripes. Together we’re planning a FUN vintage/modern French carnival wedding extravaganza and rockin’ dance party on a dime. (Say that three times fast!) Good coffee, long lists, Uniball pens, and my iPhone keep me sane, and making art, making trouble, and making out keep me happy! I love urban adventures, bike rides that end with afternoon drinks, breakfast for dinner, beautiful light, photography, travel, my furry family, and of course, my beautiful fiancee! I’m super excited to be here and can’t wait to share all our adventures as we craft a joyful, budget-friendly, design-savvy and all-around AWESOME wedding!
Whoa. I can’t believe another week has gone by so quickly!
And I don’t know about you guys, but Tuesday’s recap made me want to escape to a light & beautiful crafty world where craptastic wedding vendors don’t exist.
A world strung with mini-pennant flags in pale delicious golden colors. I’ve actually gotten quite a few inquiries about where to buy the (bright) mini-pennant flags I used in our STD’s photo shoot, so I figured I’d show you guys how to make them today. A quick and easy DIY for your Oscar Party and/or wedding.
It’s super easy! The perfect mindless American Idol watching activity (if you do such things!). Ready?
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.
The bridesmaids’ dresses arrived a few weeks ago, and I am just now getting around to picking them up. To explain, the shop is 45 minutes away and the weeks leading up to the holidays were a bit, ahem, hectic. I also wanted my local bridesmaid, BM R, to join me. She’s a wedding expert and my advocate when I’m being too polite…so if the dress, color, or something else was not as ordered, all would be fixed.
*Tangent Warning*
While the dresses were retrieved from the lower level, BM R and I browsed the bridal gowns. (You won’t mind the distraction, will you?)
Mrs. Cotton Candy, Riverside, CAAge and Occupation: 29, Field CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 34, Process ServerEngagement Date: July 5, 2007Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Riverside Art MuseumAbout Me: I’m a girl in love with her best friend planning a small mid-century modern inspired wedding that’s been a long time coming. I love all things design, sewing, flea markets, and a good book. I’ve been known to swoon over a well-designed chair and often find myself craving a new addition to my chair collection regardless of the lack square footage in our home. I’m Mexican American girl who hates all things spicy but loves her rowdy Mexican family and her Latin roots. My wedding muses may not be your typical wedding superstars, but with a lot of DIY, a dash of offbeat style, and lots of love and laughs, Mr. Cotton and I plan to create a day that is unmistakably us.
Holy Jesus! I am deep into making our save the dates, and I am ridiculously happy with what we got so far! Wanna see? I’m not ready to reveal the final results, but what kind of person would I be if I didn’t give you a little taste?
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.
Last week I received an email from our DJ informing us that he’ll be spinning at a local lounge on the weekend and asked us to swing by if we had a chance.
Mr. French Toast was on his boys getaway weekend and I figured …well… since the boys are away, the girls will come out and play. So a few girlfriends and I went out for a night on the town for some dancing.
We initially found DJ Quantum through Yelp. Mr. French Toast and I took a leap of faith by booking him because I exhausted my referral list from other couples and couldn’t find a DJ who met our criteria. We went with DJ Quantum is because he was quick to respond, personable, attentive and I liked the music tracks that he shared on his website. When we met in person, it was like we were old friends and hit it off instantly. He also sent me a workout mix he created, which was really the icing on the cake for us. Read more…
WatercoolerFeature Launched: July 1, 2007About: The most discussed posts of the week.
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!
One of the hardest things about being a DW bride-to-be is that I don’t get to see every single detail beforehand and I really have to trust our wedding planner to understand my vision and make executive decisions. This is insanely difficult for a Type-A, control freak, perfectionist like me!
While we were in LA for Thanksgiving, we were trying to think of a wedding related activity we could do that was (1)low stress and (2)low pressure. Read more…
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!
As the countdown continues, I beginning to find myself trying to save more and more on the DIY projects. Case in point, our rehearsal dinner invites.
I was all set to just order cute ones off of Vista Print, but even with a coupon code ordering 30 still would have cost something. It’s not that expensive in the scheme of things, but I decided I could just use left over pieces of cardstock I’ve saved from other projects and print them at home.
I found the poem online from another bride a while ago and saved it because it was too cute.
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!
After finally finding a black slim fit suit at a reasonable price for our groomsmen (Many, many thanks to awesome hive member kirabee for directing me to LA’s fashion district for affordable suits!), we moved onto the ties.
Mrs. Ostrich, San Francisco/HawaiiAge and Occupation: 30, Fashion Buyer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 38, CopywriterEngagement Date: October 4, 2009Wedding Date: April 2011Venue: Sweet ceremony by the sea and sunset celebration on the North Shore of HawaiiAbout Me: Born in the city of angels and residing in the city by the bay, I’m a fearless fashion buyer by day, a passionate blog author by night and a dreamy bride-to-be in between. I thank my lucky stars to live in such a stunning city that gives me gifts like organic honey lavender ice cream, movie nights in the park, tucked away beaches, legendary record stores, '80s dance parties, awesome sports teams, stellar flea markets, and vintage bookshops. Oh, and I love to dance! We always find every excuse to escape to the beach, and decided a little seaside wedding in Hawaii is our idea of bliss. Full of our favorite people, music, food and sparkly lights, this is one sunset celebration we will always remember.
Mr. Ostrich and I had been together almost 3 years before we decided to shack up. And since we’d spend most of our days and nights together…and lived 2 blocks from each other, we were sure there’d be no surprises when we made our roommate status official.
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!
Though not as exclusive to the region as the groom’s cake, it is a Southern tradition to thank your bridesmaids with a luncheon. This is usually held the morning of the wedding, or during the afternoon the day before. Unfortunately, our wedding is at 11AM, so this ruled out “morning of.” Our rehearsal will be at 5PM the day before, so that made it a little too tight to squeeze in during the afternoon. This lead me to my favorite meal of the day, brunch!
Sure, there are a lot of great brunch places around here. You’d think it’d be tough to choose between all of these delicious locations, but it wasn’t. I wanted my bridesmaids to feel celebrated. Read more…
Unique Wedding Favors
