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!
So with Europe out of the way, it’s time to go into a bit more detail about our Pre-Wedding-Moon: Mr Jaguar’s and my big trip away. It worked out to be a month total that we were on holidays, and it was fantastic to have that time to relax and enjoy each other’s company, especially since I have a super hard-working fiance who didn’t take a single sick day in the entire time we spent living abroad in London. He really deserved this trip!
I’m really excited about recapping our time away with you—maybe you’ll be able to pick up a few ideas about things to do and places to see along the way. Since we were travelling for four straight weeks, our trip and our hotels were by no means luxury ones, but they were comfortable, centrally located, they did the job. I hope you’ll enjoy them and find them useful, and if not, just enjoy some pretty pictures.
Our first stop: Orlando, Florida.
All personal photographs
I’ll be honest: the first week of our vacation was essentially a week-long Disney extravaganza. (Three guesses as to whose idea this was?)
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.
Ms Seahorse, BostonAge and Occupation: 25, Veterinary Jane-of-all-tradesFiancee's Age and Occupation: 36, former non-profit fundraiser in search of something betterEngagement Date: October 17, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Fort Pond LodgeAbout Me: By day I'm a cat-wrangler, vet tech assistant, pet-sitter, receptionist, and pre-vet student, but the rest of the time, I'm a former-roller-derby girl turned dedicated-wedding planner. I love reading, writing, bicycles, animals, roller skating, and antique-y things of all sorts. I'm a vegetarian who likes spicy foods, while Fiancee Seahorse is a meat eater who does not like spices. We live outside Boston with our menagerie: a fifty pound dog, a one-eyed, seventeen-toed, toothless cat, and a perfectly put together cat who has a penchant for pooping near rather than in her litter box. In addition to planning our small lake-side wedding, we enjoy running around with the puppy, playing board games (Scrabble, anyone?), having little adventures, talking about how we should really clean the house more, and maintaining our little garden of vegetables and wedding flowers.
After our pictures were taken, we waited anxiously outside the doors until amazing bridal brigadier/wedding coordinator extraordinaire Laurie told us we could come in, and we were announced “Seahorse and Fancee TheNewLastName!”
The tables were gorgeous, with all of the beauty and simplicity we wanted:
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.
Mr Pretzel and I had a lot of fun infusing fun little beer and brewery themes into our wedding. For us, our favors were the icing on the cake. Yesterday I shared with you a peek into how we bottled the beer bread mix but I wanted to give you some more details.
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 found some more pictures of our venue from the first time that Mr. EB and I saw it with my parents. (I can’t believe how short my hair was back in March! Crazy how quickly it grows.)
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!
About six months ago, Mr. Pancakes went to a wedding and was OBSESSED with the homemade dark chocolate chip cookies with infused milk shooters. He talked about them FOR WEEKS! While I am not sure it’s something that we’ll do, I can certainly see the appeal. The only reason we wouldn’t do it is because I don’t like chocolate chip cookies or milk. I didn’t grow up in the States, so they’re not really comfort foods for me…but there are so many great ways to do milk and cookies at a wedding.
Milk & Cookie Bar: You could have all sorts of cookies and flavors of milk for your guests to choose from. You could do peanut butter, oatmeal, Oreos, etc., and then have jugs of strawberry, chocolate, skim, and whole milk! It would be so easy to do and really budget friendly.
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!
And I thought I left all of the snow behind when I moved from Philly to Texas. If you have been watching the news (or anything related to the Super Bowl, congrats to the Packers), you may have heard that Dallas was hit with some very unusual winter weather. The snow wasn’t too bad, it was the thick layer of ice underneath it that made driving horrible.
My Escape out in the snow, lucky Mr. E had the garage
Mrs. Tartlet, Rochester, MIAge and Occupation: Age & Occupation: 27, Post-Doctoral Research FellowFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Medical StudentEngagement Date: May 2, 2009Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: The Royal Park HotelAbout 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!
I love giving used items a second life, especially when it comes to amassing decor items for our wedding. From eBay to thrift stores, we’ve been trying to work every discount source. “Something borrowed,” is another angle I’m taking, saving us money while simultaneously bringing a little good luck our way from the lender. Here’s a sampling of deals we’ve gotten so far for our big day:
1. Glass cylinders from eBay and Bravo Bride. I admit that luck had a lot to do with the price of the 36 glass cylinders I landed from eBay (~$70). A seller was going out of business, liquidating inventory, and had unusually low shipping charges for the heavy glasses. I contacted him about my concern that they would shatter in transit, and he assured me they would be carefully packaged to arrive in one piece. Fortunately he ended up being true to his word:
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.
Mr E and I are married! I can’t believe that it has been about a month since our wedding day—a month filled with an awesome honeymoon in Bali, moving to a new house, and starting two new part-time jobs. It has been a crazy but great time and I have been so looking forward to getting back to the hive and sharing our wedding day with you. We don’t have our pro pics back yet but I thought I would give you a little taste of the action with a couple of my favourite guest photos.
It was a wonderful, wonderful day. The days leading up to it were waaaay too stressful but the day itself turned out so much better than I could have hoped for. It was a day filled with sunshine, relaxed and smiling people, and many happy memories.
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.
Mr. P and I decided to head up to Philly to cross some Christmas shopping off our list. While there, we planned to check out a few of our favorite places around RittenhouseSquare. It was a beautiful Saturday—warm and bright after so many dreary November days. Everyone else was out, too. The city was filled with moms with strollers, city dogs out for a walk, and families shopping.
We laid out a casual plan of attack for the day. Hit a few stores, grab a bite, then load up on gelato before leaving the city. My perfect city day!
First stop was Hello World, a boutique where Mr. P sneakily found a birthday handbag years ago. I explored with purpose while he meandered. While we were stopped in front of the jewelry cases, I took it upon myself to point out all the different cuts of the costume jewelry, explaining with emphasis that the emerald cut is my favorite. He feigned ignorance.
Mrs. Dolphin, Gainesville, FLAge and Occupation: 24, Graduate Architecture StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Interactive Interface DeveloperEngagement Date: February 14, 2008Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Plantation Bay Country ClubAbout Me: I’m currently a Graduate Student at the University of Florida studying Architecture. I enjoy playing Scrabble with my Fiance, rooting for the Florida Gators, making any drink that involves a blender, cleaning (yes... I’m crazy), design... GOOD design that is, the new Pepsi with natural sugar, taking pictures, discovering new places in the U.S., and obsessing over doing (and designing) everything myself for our upcoming wedding!
Looking back on our wedding day, there is one moment in my eyes (and heart) that stands out as the best moment. During this moment we weren’t surrounded by bridesmaids, parents, guests…not even our wedding photographers and videographers were there to capture it, nor do I think they could capture such a perfect moment (corny, I know).
Let me set the scene:
It’s 6:30PM. We’ve just come in to the men’s locker room of the clubhouse after spending time out in the hot Florida weather (hello, MAY) taking all our family and bridal party shots at the ceremony site. We’re sweaty, a little tired, nervous for the next part of our wedding (the first dance), and ready to sit down and take a breather. Sunny MOH and Seminole bridesmaid are there to help me take off my dress (to use the bathroom and air out), put me back in my dress and bustle me up for the reception. After they leave, it’s just me and Mr. Dolphin in the men’s locker room. Just the two of us. And so began my favorite moment ever. Read more…
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.
Yep, it’s time to get real here. Let’s talk about hair.
By this point, I have shared more than a few pictures of me with all of you. From them you can see that I have medium to longish straight red hair. What you can’t see is that the only part of that description that is actually mine in nature is the length. And I’ve been growing it out for an insane amount of time. The rest of it? I either pay for or work quite hard for. In the case of the color, I know to leave it to the professionals. However, I have spent 33 years learning how to make my hair straight. Unfortunately, the fact you might believe it’s straight at all is just that experience tricking your eyes.
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. 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.
I didn’t grow up in the States, so they’re not really comfort foods for me…but there are so many great ways to do milk and cookies at a wedding.
