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!
It’s been too long of a wait for another tech tutorial! We’ve already learned about dotted lines, glyphs, zig zag lines, black & white effects, and thank you masks. Today, we’re taking our first stab at InDesign. I personally prefer ID, but if you don’t, have no worries. This will be easy!
Have you ever seen invitations that include a photo? Of course you have! Mama Giraffe and Daddy G once received one that included a wallet size photo of the couple and I mentally filed the idea away. I love it. Mr. G and I will be doing this for sure - many of my family members haven’t met him yet so I would love for them to get to know “us” a little bit better for the big day.
Here’s the thing, Hive, which I find totally strange. Wallet sized photos cost more than your average 4″x6″ photo. I’ll break it down for you. (Although, keep in mind, wallets come 4 per sheet).
Winkflash: 4×6 = ¢.08, Wallets = ¢.39 (I order from here all the time, they’re great!)
Okay, you guys get the point. Here’s the thing, though, you can make your own wallets on one 4×6″ page, and the pay the 4×6 price. That’s what I’ll be doing! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is! Read more…
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 plugged my phone into my computer recently (I have an iPhone, and I’m terrible about updating it!) and transferred some photos to my computer. Way back in the day, I remember wondering why you’d want a camera in your phone. What use is that? I’ve since learned the error of thinking that way—having a camera in your phone means you’ll almost always have a camera with you! For taking pictures of wedding-inspiring things! Or other stuff I guess, but I’ve got a bit of a one-track mind right now.
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 must thank Weddingbee and Mrs. Starfish for the Elephant endeavor into chocolate making. I saw Mrs. Starfish’s post on making chocolates for her OOT bags and I loved the idea! These would be great favors. How hard could it be?
The answer is pretty hard! Well I take that back—not hard enough to scrap the idea, but there were some major fails on the way to success.
After ordering candy molds in the shape of Texas and Pennsylvania (representing the states Mr. E and I were born in), I searched online for tips/instructions on chocolate melting. They say to use the chocolate that you like to eat…well stupid me thought of actual chocolate, not baking chocolate.
Big fail. I spent the time to unwrap Hershey’s milk chocolate Kisses and then found out that they don’t really melt.
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.
Today is day one of my crash course in traditional screen printing! This series of posts is for all the brides/crafters out there who have ever considered investing in a Gocco or YUDU but could never justify the cost. Traditional screen printing may seem intimidating, but with a few tools you’ll be able to produce prints similar to if not better in quality than those produced on a Gocco or YUDU system. Oh, and the cost is about a third of that associated with a YUDU!
For starters, please don’t be intimidated by the list of tools below. All of the tools listed can be purchased online or through your local art or screen-print supply shop and none, with the exception of the laser printer, are over 25 bucks.
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 appear to have reached a bit of a wedding stalemate.
We’ve got to the stage where we’ve booked a whole lot of things already. I’ve paid deposits out the wazoo for a whole lot of stuff, like flowers and music and stationery. I’ve got the big bases covered. I’ve done a tiny bit of crafty stuff, mainly my ribbon wands & card-box…but now what? The invitations have been ordered, so I won’t be doing those myself as originally thought. The honeymoon has been settled & booked, and my wedding band is sitting quietly in a drawer in our bedroom.
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 think my wedding-dress search has jumped the shark. Yes, I realize that that is not proper use of the term. I don’t really understand the phrase but still use it all the time, much to Mr. Magic’s chagrin.
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.
One of the easiest decisions we’ve had to make is wedding favors. Because we’ve got a guy—a Swiss chocolatier, to be more precise! Mr. P’s mom worked with Neuchatel years ago. But the confection connection doesn’t end there. His brother, a New York chef and caterer, orders custom truffles infused with a favorite spirit, usually Scotch. Whooo—those things are potent!
GreenOrchid’s something blue peeks out from under her dress.
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. 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!
…or to speak plainly, how did I not know about Antiquaria before? Maybe I’m just toddling in the dust of the bandwagon, but just tonight I discovered this amazing place dedicated to selling vintage housewares with a focus on mix and match china sets. Feast your eyes on these:
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!
Hive, thank you so much for being a part of this journey. I am forever grateful for all the comments, suggestions, advice, and PMs. I can’t imagine planning this wedding without the glory that is Weddingbee. Blogging bees: you guys are the best! Mr. Cheetah calls you my bridal sorority—I had no idea being in a sorority was so fun! And so helpful. Read more…
Mrs. Sparkler, ChicagoAge and Occupation: 27, Communications AficionadoFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, PublisherEngagement Date: July 21, 2010Wedding Date: September 2011Venue: Chicago Illuminating CompanyAbout Me: I’m a Southern lady living in the big city of Chicago. Well, lady may be a stretch, but I’m working hard to keep some Virginia charm in our sleek, urban, wedding-palooza! I’m addicted to marathons, not-so-famous bands, Chicago restaurants, and Mark Twain. I cry during SPCA commercials, and I think LOST was the best show to ever hit television. Mr. S and I met at a classy college mixer and, 7 years later, he’s still by my side. He’s the only child, laid back, free spirit... I’m the oldest of five kids, type-A, organizer. It doesn’t work on paper, but we’ve never paid attention to that stuff anyway. Somehow it works. And like they say, sometimes when you know…you just know.
This is the post in which I get to introduce you to our marvelous, amazing, super talented, super adorable, effortlessly cool photographers. I could go on and on with the compliments. I mean, look at them:
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.
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!
My mouth is watering as I sit to write this post! Our cake was delish! The bottom layer was red velvet, the middle, fruit basket, and the top tier was German chocolate.
I almost didn’t want to cut into it, it was so pretty! It was a surprise to both of us, as Mr. Barrettes’ mom took the cake’s care into her own from the beginning of our planning. I sent her some inspirational photos and she took care of the rest. Read more…
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 want to talk now about where my DIY ideas cross over into the land of crazy. Here’s something you should know about me: I knit. I don’t just knit simple scarves that take me two years to complete, I knit sweaters, socks, lace shawls. I can even spin my own yarn. I started knitting about 6 or 7 years ago, and I just love it—I’ve tried so many different crafty hobbies, but I’d always lose interest a few months after buying all the supplies. Knitting has stuck! You might even start to say I’m good at it:
Second place in the knitting section at the 2010 Calgary Stampede Western Showcase.
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
