Miss Sweet Cream, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 26, Public Relations Account ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Outside SalesEngagement Date: July 4, 2010Wedding Date: October 2011Venue: Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church / Rosebank WineryAbout Me: Born in the ‘burbs of Philly, it took some time living in the Big Apple to realize that I’m a girl who likes her roots. That’s why the mister and I bought a 1950s house on a charming street not too far from our childhood stompin’ grounds. This could also be the reason why our hometown is the scene where we are planning our super sweet, totally charming, BBQ-for-supper wedding that I never knew I always wanted. I DIE over DIY projects and live for vintage, heartfelt inspiration. I obsess over all things mid-century (from forks to furniture). Love is… cartoons and flea markets, and I am known to whip up a mean banana cream pie. I met the Mr. in grade school and after that boy took me for a spin on the handle bars of his BMX, I knew that things would never be the same again. Besides lovin’ my Mr., I also love to plan, sew and create, and that’s just what I’m doing as I navigate through the details, creating a laid-back day that oozes charm; one that will go down in (at least our) history as the Best. Day. Of all time.
Fiction sometimes has a way of weaving into reality. Culturally speaking, the fake world of movies has kick-started major trends in the real world. A young Sweet Cream vaguely remembers what Flashdance did to the ’80s. After Alicia Silverstone jumped off that cliff with her navel pierced, she had girlseverywhere running to get a pair of knee highs and holding up their fingers telling their parents, “Whatever!” after Clueless hit the big screen. And then there’s Sex and the City. I realize that the small-screen version was first (and better?), but starting trends? Inspiration? Need I say more?
I have always been a sucker for romance, fashion, and the gorgeous cinematic enjoyment of the silver screen. And while I wasn’t a girl who dreamed of her big day since she was a little girl, for one reason or another, before there was a ring on my finger, there were some big-screen brides who made my non-wedding-swooner self, well…swoon.
Their Scottish vows: I will love you my whole life. You and no other. Short. Sweet. So So Perfect. / Image via Home Videos (from Braveheart)
Mrs. Macarons, TampaAge and Occupation: 26, Graphic DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 34, Renaissance ManEngagement Date: September 12, 2009Wedding Date: September 2011Venue: Lange FarmAbout Me: I'm creative at heart and a graphic designer with an unhealthy obsession with type. I love roller coasters, spicy foods, and a good glass of Crianza. We’re planning a soft and lovely vintage-meets-modern wedding in a state that’s known for its beaches, glitz and glam. I have a ton of DIY projects and lots of little details I’m dying to share and can't wait to celebrate with our closest friends and family.
Let me start by saying family is very important to me, especially my grandparents. So many of my childhood memories are filled with them; bedtime was always special with Nana, and Papa made me a hardcore Steelers fan by the ripe old age of five. When I was twelve, my entire family went on a cruise to celebrate their 50th anniversary. I remember thinking to myself that I wanted to be just like them, and that I’d celebrate my 50th anniversary on a cruise, too.
Mrs. Funnel Cake, Zürich, Switzerland/Columbus, OhioAge and Occupation: 24, Visual Communication DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Application EngineerEngagement Date: May 30, 2010Wedding Date: October 2011Venue: Catholic church followed by a botanical conservatoryAbout Me: I'm an American designer who moved to Switzerland for love after a fairytale beginning at the top of the Eiffel Tower. I love travel, photography, museums, learning German so I can speak with my mother-in-law, cooking (eating), cuddling, and I'm not afraid to try something new even if it terrifies me. My Swiss/Brazilian man and I are both down to earth people planning a traditional Catholic wedding in my hometown with some quirky cultural exceptions to reflect our different backgrounds. We look forward to celebrating with friends and family from all over the world in a classic, sophisticated fusion of heritage and love.
I was easily lured into dress search obsession and it didn’t take long before visions of lace, beads, chiffon and all things tulle were burned into my eyelids keeping me awake at night. I needed to try wedding dresses on… badly.
With the general ludicrous price of anything in Switzerland, I was making tentative plans to find a dress in Zürich and buy it online in the US, but first I needed to see what the darn things looked like on me.
Still favouring the Maggie Sottero designs, I found one boutique that carries MS in Zürich and I made plans with my girlfriends to make the rounds at the bridal shops. I patiently waited for the girls’ day to arrive, twitching with excitement by the time it fiiiiinally came. Friends A and B met me at my flat for a fabulous homemade waffle brunch before started what can only be described as a day of pure JOY for me.
Ms. Ferris Wheel, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, PsychologistFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, PsychologistEngagement Date: May 23 and 28, 2010 (one for each of us!)Wedding Date: November 2011Venue: Parc55 Hotel (city lights ceremony, ballroom reception)About Me: Born in the Southeast, educated in the Northeast, and over-educated on the West Coast, I finally earned my city-girl credentials and have put down roots in gorgeous San Francisco. I’m a raging perfectionist with a lightning quick wit and a terrible sense of both time and direction. Our wedding task list is endlessly growing because of my predilection to think that DIY projects I can make = DIY projects I should make (so not true!). I always go to bed wishing there were more hours in the day to enjoy all the things I adore, whether that be hobbies, friends, my career, our two dogs, or Mr. Ferris Wheel. Ours is a story of a non-traditional couple living an oddly traditional life planning a not-so-traditional wedding in this city we adore. Together we are bustin’ out all of our best skills (and some of our worst ones) to plan a laid-back-chic DIY-craftastic love-alicious affair!
Back in November of 2009 I came across the most amazing post on Design*Sponge, and I have been ridiculously excited about one particular DIY project ever since.
Mrs. Snow Cone, Pittsburgh/Johnstown, PAAge and Occupation: 23, Public Health Graduate StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, EngineerEngagement Date: April 9, 2010Wedding Date: August 2011Venue: OMOS Church ceremony/Sunnehanna Country Club receptionAbout Me: I’m one of the lucky ones---I met my future husband at the ripe old age of 13, started dating him as a mature woman of 15, and have been enjoying the ride ever since. Here we are, 8 years later, living in Pittsburgh, planning a "homestination" wedding in the place our school romance began---Johnstown, PA. I thrive on talking a mile a minute, eating my weight in chocolate, and internet shopping. I love a lengthy to-do list almost as much as I love a healthy amount of chaos in my life. Mr. Snow Cone and I watch countless episodes of Friends and The West Wing on repeat, root for rival college sports teams, and make each other laugh each and every day. We’re putting together a small-town wedding with a big personality and a classically modern (or modernly classic?) look for 250 of our closest family and friends. It’s been 8+ years in the making, and sometimes I still can’t believe I’m finally getting to marry my high school sweetheart!
I’m not going to lie. I had every intention of buying as many cans of spray paint as needed to get letters that were 100% ivory. Until some good sense kicked in, courtesy of my mother. She praised the cool pastel look and then suggested, brilliantly, that we run over to the church to see how the letters looked against the building. Once over there, we determined the size was right, but the coloring was a bit incorrect. The church is made of light tan stone with dark stained glass doors. Against the walls, the light letters barely showed up. Against the doors, the letters clashed and competed with the glass design. Therefore, ivory vs. pastel took a back seat to pondering what to do to get these letters to show up PERIOD. We brainstormed some solutions before my mom suggested getting some big poster frames and backing the letters in a dark color, so the light letter would pop against the light walls. The woman’s a lifesaver.
I immediately ran to my computer to look for frames. Thankfully, Michaels decided to run a 40% off poster frame sale PLUS a 20% off entire purchase coupon a mere 12 hours after this issue presented itself. I grabbed two pewter frames and two sheets of purple textured cardboard for under $20. After about 15 minutes of labor, here’s what we emerged with: 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.
So, aside from relaxing, we did actually do some cool stuff on our honeymoon. I mean, we were in Costa Rica after all!
Our second day there we went on a hiking and ziplining tour. When we showed up for the early tour there was only one other couple going with us… our friends from the resort! (Psssst! Hi there guys!) Instead of telling you about it, let me just show you.
Mrs. Hyena, College Station, TXAge and Occupation: 23, Marketing SpecialistFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Aerospace Engineering Grad StudentEngagement Date: January 8, 2010Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Downtown 202About Me: I'm a Texas girl who met my future hubby in high school, then headed up to Oklahoma for a college education (BOOMER SOONER!) before moving back to the Lone Star State to be with him. I love reading and recycling, Photoshop and reality TV, making lame jokes and then laughing at them, quoting movies, and Mr. Hyena most of all. I'm perpetually early and I like to get things accomplished. When my cat meows at me, I meow back. We're planning a laid-back, unintentionally DIY wedding with a cocktail-party vibe, and can't wait to celebrate our nuptials with our nearest and dearest!
We never intended to save the top tier of our wedding cake. We had decided if we wanted cake on our one-year anniversary, we would go back to the bakery and get a new cake. We didn’t think we had ordered THAT much cake, but somehow we wound up with the top tier of both the wedding cake AND the groom’s cake after the reception.
Well, we thought while snacking on the groom’s cake topper, we’ll freeze (what’s left of) them before our honeymoon and do the traditional thing and eat them on our anniversary. But in the days before the honeymoon, we couldn’t get those delicious cakes out of our heads. One year was too far away! We agreed instead to pick one for celebrating one month of marriage, and the second for six months.
Pardon the messy stovetop. We’re still unpacking and getting organized!
Yeahhh…we had both of those toppers devoured within a week of getting back from our honeymoon.
I promise it looked fancier at the wedding. Here it was smushed and at a weird angle, and half-eaten of course.
They were calling us! And now that they’re gone, Mr. Hyena and I keep asking each other, “So there’s more cake, right?”
Unfortunately no. But we are for sure going back to get our one-year anniversary cake!
Are you planning to save your top tier(s)? Or, if you’re already married, did you manage to save your cake for a whole year?
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. Hive. Let’s talk about that crazy plan of mine to make all the pies for our wedding. All the pies consist of of seven different flavours, two of each pie. I like baking, so I thought it made sense. Cinnamon Buns was as supportive as ever, and let me fill our freezer full of tasty in-season fruit over the summer. My original plan was to have all the pies done and frozen before the end of May, for our late-June wedding. That, I am not ashamed to tell you, did not happen. Nor did I do anything about pies (apart from stock up on butter) in the first week of June. It was the middle of June when I thought to myself, “OK Cinnamon Bun, you better do something about those pies.”
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. Hippo, New York City/Dallas, TXAge and Occupation: 34, Event Planner for a Non-Profit Fiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Finance ITEngagement Date: August 8, 2009Wedding Date: March 2011Venue: Samuel Lynne Galleries and Marc EventsAbout Me: I’m a thirty-something bride living in New York City and planning a modern-ish wedding in Dallas, Texas. I love trashy reality television (Jersey Shore, anyone?), online shopping, Sunday brunch, Central Park, and random celebrity spottings on the streets of Manhattan. While I love NYC, I miss good Tex-Mex, my college friends, central A/C, and being in close proximity to a Target. I’m thrilled to finally be planning an event that’s not work-related and to be marrying my best friend in what I hope will be a unique and personal ceremony followed by a reception with plenty of good food, good drinks, and dancing (regardless if it’s good or not).
Mama Hippo outdid herself (once again!) when she hosted a ladies’ luncheon the day before the wedding. With four bridesmaids, five house party ladies, Mama Hippo, mother-in-law Hippo, grandmother Hippo, three Hippo aunts, three Hippo cousins, Hippo niece, King Hippo’s niece and two special Hippo family friends in attendance, it was an awesome way to celebrate the women in my life prior to the big day.
Mrs. Bacon, ChicagoAge and Occupation: 26, Digital Advertising ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, IT Client ServicesEngagement Date: June 17, 2010Wedding Date: September 2011Venue: Ravenswood Billboard FactoryAbout Me: I'm a Midwestern girl that can't seem to commit to staying in one place for too long and is constantly daydreaming about my next adventure. I am an aspiring foodie with a weak spot for the unusual and I love semi-reality food television. My other loves easily include laughing as a form of exercise, a book that I can't put down, summer baseball games, espresso with whipped cream, couch potato days and nights with the ridiculous Mr. Bacon, and our two kitties, Lincoln and Sawyer. We're planning a faux-destination wedding for 150 of our closest friends and family in the city we've both adopted as home that has a modern, yet whimsical twist and as many personal touches as we can manage.
I’ve been keeping something from you. It’s silly, really, but I’ve been a bit embarrassed so I didn’t want to bring it up until I knew that there was a pretty good chance that it was really gonna happen. I didn’t want to jinx it by letting the cat out of the bag too early, but I also didn’t want to get swayed out of it if it wasn’t going to be an option in the first place.
The Bacons have applied and are now in the final stages of casting for Four Weddings!
Mama Bacon got sucked into wedding reality TV along with the rest of us, and mentioned one evening that we should apply. “Honey, why not? It’s a free honeymoon if you win, and if you don’t win, you still get to have your guests’ experience captured on film. Really, it’s a win-win.” Read more…
Mrs. Cannon, Toledo, OHAge and Occupation: 27, Financial AnalystFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, AssemblerEngagement Date: February 28, 2011Wedding Date: September 2011Venue: Epworth UMC & Ward PavilionAbout Me: I'm the curious combination of being a go-with-the-flow, laid back, obsessive planner. I try desperately to stay as busy as possible at all times (and am succeeding big time right now!) My biggest loves in life are Law & Order: SVU, Community (the show, not the concept, although I like that, too), ice cream, white cheddar popcorn, beer, hiking, knitting, decorating, writing, being outside, spending time with friends and family and musical theater. Mr. Cannon is pretty sweet, too. We've had a lot of fun traveling and having adventures all over the country, but have finally moved back near our hometown to settle down. We're planning a low-key, colorful, fun wedding and an awesome-to-the-max reception.
I’ve mentioned before that Mr. Cannon and I have wanted to get married for a long time now. I also mentioned that we were pretty set on getting married in 2011. What I haven’t mentioned yet is the reason—we want to have another baby sometime soon and want to get married before I get pregnant again.
How is this relevant to finding my bridesmaids? Timing! See, my maid of honor (AKA MOH Bombshell) is my sister. She’s four years younger than me and also planning her own wedding. She got engaged in July 2010 and is getting married in October 2012 (one of you long-engagement brides!). This is totally awesome. I love my sister and am so excited for her. I am going to be her matron of honor. I love her fiance and am so glad he is going to be a part of our family.
Miss Marmalade, Norwalk, CT/Raleigh, NCAge and Occupation: 27, Administrative AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Army OfficerEngagement Date: December 31, 2009Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Old Cadet Chapel/Highlands Country ClubAbout Me: I'm a Tri-State area "lady," through and through. A big chunk of my life has been split between NYC and Connecticut, and I'm finally heading down south to live with Mr. Marmalade. Our long distance relationship has been one adventure after the next, we've spent time in Texas, Louisiana, Florida,and Georgia, thanks to his military career. Next to Mr. Marmalade, my loves include live music, useless trivia, shoes, design, and my crazy half-tiger kitty, Oliver. I have a passion for food and wine, and I've been known to travel long distances to get my hands on the best meals. I come from a tight-knit big fat Greek Ecuadorian family---we're loud, we talk with our hands, and we spend hours talking loudly with our hands over large meals. I'm going to miss them so much as I pack up and begin my life, far away from home. But with Mr. Marmalade by my side, I'm ready to take on whatever may come. Next up: our wedding!
Bit by bit, piece by piece, I’ve started collecting items for our decor. This is a little tricky since I only have a loose idea of what I want everything to look like in the end. But I can’t help myself. I am slowly turning into a bridal hoarder.
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!
I figure we’ll start off with the special dances and then move into the dancing free-for-all that ensued.
I knew I wanted to do something special for my dad, but I also knew that I didn’t want our dance to be a traditional father-daughter slow dance. Growing up my dad, big sis and I always listened to oldies and one oldie in particular: Do Wah Diddy by Manfred Mann. We even had individual singing parts for the song. I decided this was the perfect father-daughters dance. I invited my sister to join us on the dance floor.
Miss Sweet Cream, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 26, Public Relations Account ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Outside SalesEngagement Date: July 4, 2010Wedding Date: October 2011Venue: Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church / Rosebank WineryAbout Me: Born in the ‘burbs of Philly, it took some time living in the Big Apple to realize that I’m a girl who likes her roots. That’s why the mister and I bought a 1950s house on a charming street not too far from our childhood stompin’ grounds. This could also be the reason why our hometown is the scene where we are planning our super sweet, totally charming, BBQ-for-supper wedding that I never knew I always wanted. I DIE over DIY projects and live for vintage, heartfelt inspiration. I obsess over all things mid-century (from forks to furniture). Love is… cartoons and flea markets, and I am known to whip up a mean banana cream pie. I met the Mr. in grade school and after that boy took me for a spin on the handle bars of his BMX, I knew that things would never be the same again. Besides lovin’ my Mr., I also love to plan, sew and create, and that’s just what I’m doing as I navigate through the details, creating a laid-back day that oozes charm; one that will go down in (at least our) history as the Best. Day. Of all time.
As I had previously mentioned, an October wedding had us connecting to TripAdvisor, Frommer’s, and The Travel Channel a heck of a lot more than normal to do digging about where we’d enjoy each other’s company and frolic in the surf on our honeymoon…during hurricane season.
We crossed off options due to cost, travel time, and the desire for something uber “tropical.”
After Cabo was nixed, I plead my case to Mr. Sweet Cream for a location that I just knew he would love. Thanks to some handy research, pictures of beautiful water (and fishing!), and some fellow bees on the message boards, we picked our ’moon locale.
For those bees out there who like a little bit of guessing, here are some clues for you: Dutch is the official language, the currency is the florin, and the average temperature is 81 degrees…
