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.
Before engagement and before blogging, the Brooches would have thought anyone considering a first look were crazy. We were of the mind that a first look would take away from the emotion of seeing each other at the ceremony.
Nothing was worth that look on his face, right?
Well, fast forward a few months and lots of blog posts later, I’m all about the first look! I’ve heard raving reviews about it: less strain logistically, more time to connect, and all the other reasons people advocate for it. Mr. B, on the other hand, was still stuck in traditionalist land. He was hell-bent on having our first look happen at our ceremony. That is, until he saw first look photos by Meredith of & Unlimited, our photographer.
The proof is in the pictures y’all! Meredith’s pictures are gorgeous and she has a special talent for producing the most picturesque first look photos. Mr. B caught on right away, and he had what we like to call a change of heart. It’s no wonder:
Ms. Sloth, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 35, Account Manager and Fashion BloggerFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Design AdminEngagement Date: December 25, 2009Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Bartram's GardenAbout Me: I'm an internet junkie and music snob with a good eye for a bargain. I couldn't live without thrift store shopping, cheeseburgers, sushi, Coke Zero, websites devoted to silly photos of baby animals, Photoshop, and Mr. Sloth. Speaking of which, he and I are a pair of goofball homebody nerds who love our beagle (the most ridiculously adorable dog EVER) to an embarrassing degree. We're planning a low-key and intimate yet festive and quirky outdoor wedding with DIY details and deeply personal touches, and it's all taking place in the city where we fell in love and call home: Philadelphia.
Now that I’ve decided on my tea-length dress, I’m so excited to be a short-dress bride! I’m joining the ranks of some very stylish Weddingbee bloggers…
Mrs. Barrettes, Tumon, Guam/Napa, CAAge and Occupation: 29, DancerFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Licensed Building ContractorEngagement Date: November 16, 2008Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: V. Sattui WineryAbout 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!
After the best man cheers’ed to a long marriage and lots of babies, the groom took the mic and delivered his speech. He had been preparing for awhile and he personally thanked almost everyone in the room. I don’t know why I was so nervous for him to speak, but I felt like I was holding my breath the whole time. I was finally able to exhale when he raised his glass and toasted our guests.
Then suddenly everyone was looking at me! What? I hadn’t prepared to speak! I didn’t think brides did that! But there was an odd silence and a weird anticipation in the room so I stood as my mom gave me that look, as if to say, “your turn.” Well, I thought, I’m good at winging it!
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.
I started out thinking/knowing that I wanted coloured shoes to go under my wedding dress. I wanted a pop of colour, plus, where would I wear white shoes again? I want my wedding shoes to be flat, or a 2″ heel, tops. One reason for that is comfort, and another reason is that Cinnamon Buns is only 4″ taller than I am, and I like being shorter than he is. It’d be weird to be his height in all those photos. And even 6″ heels wouldn’t make me nearly the same height as our 6’1″ and 6’3″ bridal party members. I was also fairly sure I wanted a peep toe, and I knew that anything that had that thing between your big toe and the next one was out. I hate that feeling.
I even started browsing online for shoes before I found my dress! These were a couple of my favourites way back in the day:
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.
I shared with you in my first post the mister’s and my desire to infuse our wedding with some mid-century style, but until now I haven’t shared any of our decor plans. One of my favorite ways that we are incorporating our mid-century aesthetic into our wedding is with some of our current home-décor accessories.Our house is sprinkled with a large number of thrifted and inherited collections—pieces that I hope to cart with us for our reception and cocktail décor.
First is Mr. CC’s collection of vintage cameras. I’m thinking of using these to decorate our cocktail tables instead of fresh flowers.
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!
Mr. Jaguar and I have been struggling with the gifts part of our wedding. I know that talking about presents can sometimes be a bit taboo, but it’s something that we never realised would be so difficult to figure out. I thought it might be beneficial to post about it on the ‘Bee, in case other brides find themselves having similar obstacles, too. (Though of course, this could just be me.)
I always thought gifts were supposed to be the fun side of the wedding. You do all this planning, you spend all this time, energy and money to throw a party that both you and your guests will love, and the gifts are just the icing on top of the proverbial wedding cake. And that’s true, for the most part—it really is. Picking and choosing a wedding gift is one of my favourite parts of going to other people’s big day; it means I get to set them up with something that I’ve chosen for them, even if it is out of a list of items. It’s fun!
Now here’s where I add in a little disclaimer: I am lucky to be marrying into a wonderful family who have always, always been amazing.
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!
Hi Hive! I’m so excited to bee here! I was checking my emails incessantly to get the email from Pengy, and just when I decided to go to bed, that magical email popped up. I had to read it about twenty times before it finally sank in, and then like Miss Cotton Candy, I was (and still am!) an excited bundle of buzzing nerves!
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.
It was with a little apprehension that we reached out to a new cake vendor, the Hotel du Pont. Our venue encouraged us to call the bakery department and let us know how it worked out, since they wanted to create a partnership with a new cake vendor. But we were still cautious. Our friends assured us the quality was there (no rotten cherries). So I left a message and waited to hear back. A patient week passed. I grew anxious, especially after my last interaction with Baker #1, and shot them a follow-up email. I confirmed our tasting meeting as soon as I heard back, also asking questions about what to bring (Mr. P said glass of milk) and where to meet. I never heard back.
Mrs. Hermit Crab, New York, NYAge and Occupation: 24, Youth Director soon to be Grad StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Medical Student - soon to be Surgery ResidentEngagement Date: October 11, 2008Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: New York Botanical GardenAbout 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!
After a few minutes together we mostly just looked at each other and said, “Oh my gosh, we’re married!” We scarfed down some hors d’oeuvres (thank you caterers!), fixed my bustle, and we were ready to join our guests for the reception.
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 had a very laissez faire attitude when it came to my bridesmaids’ attire. Short or long, taffeta or cotton jersey, it truly made no difference to me. My requirements? To wear something they feel comfortable and fabulous in! That being said, it became clear after a few inquiries for criteria that perhaps complete freedom didn’t sit comfortably with them. Eventually, my awesome sister (and MOH) scheduled a trip to Michigan so the four of us could go dress shopping together. We started the day off right by filling our tummies at my favorite brunch place in Ann Arbor: Cafe Zola.
Our shopping expedition was a “do-or-die” sort of affair with my sister coming in from out of town, so I picked a place (that shall remain nameless) because they carried a wide variety of dresses. At first, they didn’t disappoint and a few favorites moved to the front of the line: Read more…
ClassifiedsFeature Launched: April 30, 2008About: A roundup of the best Weddingbee Classified listings.
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.
So, it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, right? I mean, don’t panic. I’m still keeping my dress, my shoes, and, well…one of my hair flowers. But I’m starting to rethink my hairstyle. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, so hear me out. If I’m uncomfortable with my curls, then why would I want to wear a curly style on my wedding day?
The problem is that, to me, soft romantic hairstyles mean curls. So I began to think that maybe, just maybe, the problem is in my head. Straight hair can be soft and romantic, too! So I did what any bride in my situation would have done…I took to the internet to find some pictures.
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.
It is finally time for me to show y’all our amazingly wonderful engagement pictures shot by none other than Brother Oatmeal. We drove on over to San Francisco for a quick weekend trip, complete with incrediblefood and great entertainment. All in all, it was a fantastic weekend spent with two of my most favorite people. I don’t really need to explain much, so I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves.
Mrs. Prairie Dog, Cincinnati
Age and Occupation: 24, Program CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, PhD/Biomedical EngineerEngagement Date: December 18, 2009Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Glendale LyceumAbout Me: I'm a pilgrim soul of a girl with a house full of books and a coffee addiction that could slay Juan Valdez. My life is a whirl of grammar correction, good music, glue-gunning, and two pets named Hazel and Winston Churchill. I'm marrying my high school boyfriend in a formal-ish spring affair, roughly themed: "Elizabeth Bennet crashes a party co-hosted by Jay Gatsby and Cath Kidston, and loves it."
So, my dress is what they call ’diamond white.’ But my teeth? Um, let’s just say if they were diamonds, they’d be like Grade N. (That would be the least of my problems though, because I’d have a fly diamond grill.)
My teeth aren’t bad either, but I mean…everything looks less white next to bright-white, you know?
Girlfriends, I am a “coffee drinker” in the way that humans are “breathers.” For me, the caffeine is incidental—it’s the taste that I care about. So I drink the blackest, richest coffees I can find, relishing every sip. The way some people are with wine, I am with coffee—I savor every flavorful note and have strong, snobby preferences. (At Starbucks, French Roast, and Gold Coast and Casi Cielo are literally the siren’s call.) I have to maintain a respectful distance from my LDS friends for fear of involuntary contact high. And the “drink it through a straw” thing? Um, no thanks. Not the same experience.
I’ve cut back over the years, on doctor’s orders. (At which I wept into the examining room napkin dress and begged her to take it back, TAKE IT BACK.) But the enamel damage is done, my friends. Read more…
BeehiveFeature Launched: Aug 31, 2006About: A forum for readers to post questions and get feedback from the hive, aka the weddingbee community.
Catch up on the entire After “I Do” series here! And if you have a burning question you’d like to see discussed, submit it here!
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How has your marriage affected your other relationships (with family, friends, coworkers, etc.)? Have you noticed a change in any of your other relationships now that you’re married?
For us, there wasn’t a change, really. Since we had lived together for three years before the wedding, and had been together for four years total, it seemed everyone was used to us being “us.” I had lost one friend early on in our relationship—she was a toxic friend who couldn’t stand seeing me happy and refused to be around me. I think of that as a good change, definitely. Other friends still saw us, and we made more couple friends, which was nice.
I’d have to say the bigger change came from having children, though. Our friends without kids (married or single) are less likely to invite us to things, while family seems more likely to invite us places, even for the smallest things—because they want to see the baby. I can’t blame them, though! Read more…
For us, there wasn’t a change, really. Since we had lived together for three years before the wedding, and had been together for four years total, it seemed everyone was used to us being “us.” I had lost one friend early on in our relationship—she was a toxic friend who couldn’t stand seeing me happy and refused to be around me. I think of that as a good change, definitely. Other friends still saw us, and we made more couple friends, which was nice.
