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.
Back when our wedding was just a glimmer in Mr CCandy’s and my eyes, we never envisioned our final month before the wedding to be so hectic, stressful, and downright heartbreaking. The past two weeks have been an emotional one for the Cotton Candy family. On Thursday June 2nd, Mr CC received a phone call from his step dad informing him that his mother had been complaining of severe pain and was taken to the ER but was stable. Since his step dad had assured him his mother was stable, Mr CC wasn’t too concerned when he took off for the hospital and declined my offer to tag along. About an hour later as I was on my way to work, I received a phone call from Mr CC: his mother had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and due to its location in her brain stem, she would most likely not survive.
The next few days were a blur of hospital waiting rooms, bad cafeteria food, and lots and lots of tears. On Saturday June 4th, Mr CC’s mom passed peacefully surrounded by those who loved her and was laid to rest this past weekend. Read more…
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.
In the very early stages of planning our wedding, I was all about chandeliers. I liked the contrast of something so formal in a natural setting. While our wedding isn’t as formal as a black-tie affair, it’s not a backyard barbecue either. I thought a chandelier would be unexpected and really set the tone for our guests; besides, how could you not love the thought of pictures under this?
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!
Mrs. Bunting, Grand Rapids, MIAge and Occupation: 24, freelance illustrator & print productionFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, graduate of historyEngagement Date: December 3, 2009Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Spring Grove Park & St. George Banquet CenterAbout Me: I am a freelance illustrator and designer with a love of nature and a taste for adventure. Textures and color fuel my world, along with apple cider and noodles. I'll try anything once, especially if it involves heights or food. I've hiked the Grand Canyon, gone sky diving, cuddled a baby wolf, and now my latest venture consists of designing and planning a large wedding involving color, DIY details, love, and marrying my best friend.
It took months of ups and downs (mainly downs) and searching and phone calls and emails and more phone calls and waiting and even more phone calls and finally…we have it. We had contacted everyone we possibly could that was involved with his adoption and called the passport agency on a daily basis for help, all to no avail.
So how did we finally get it? Well that’s the real kicker. Read more…
Mrs. Seashell, Chicago, IL / Providence, RIAge and Occupation: 28, Marriage and Family TherapistFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Electrical EngineerEngagement Date: September 3, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: The Glen Manor HouseAbout Me: Fonts and fashion, stationery and Sundays, photography and french toast... the beauty is in the details for this fun-loving Chicagoan who loves to plan plan plan! The soon-to-be hubs plays "Mr. Fix-It" in our new condo while I swoon over beautiful, personalized stationery and choose shades of aubergine for my bridesmaids' dresses... and thus begins my new fairy tale! Skirting to the East Coast for our September nuptials where my home state of Rhode Island awaits with fall foliage, I'm just a few dress fittings and bachelorette party away from saying "I Do" to a very happy ending!
I’ve held off on writing this post because I’ve thought a lot about capturing this part of our wedding day perfectly. Then I realized that it’s already all here—in photos and video—and that my words are superfluous. But that’s not entirely true. There’s a reason we write words with recaps, after all.
Two days before our wedding I wrote a post titled “Time After Time.” It was about what the song Time After Time meant to me and my Dad. It was something I had felt all my life, but never put into words. When the post went live on Weddingbee I emailed it to him (I was retrieving bridesmaids from the airport) and by the time I made it home I found my dad and my mom crying by their computer screens.
Then, in December Weddingbee ran a “Best of the Bee” series of bees’ favorite posts. I chose “Time After Time” and mentioned that there was an additional story that I’d share during my recaps. So… Read more…
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!
Well, Hive. It’s official. We’re hitched! You know how everyone says to take time to slow down and enjoy your wedding day, because it will be over before you know it? They are not lying. I think someone hit the fast forward button, because our day flew by!
It was awesome. It was hilarious. It was full of moments that you can’t possibly prepare for. (Bride falling off her chair a the beginning of the reception, anyone?) <– Oh yes, that happened! But wow. The feelings we have had over the past few days are unlike any I’ve ever had before.
We are married. Huzzah!
Here’s one of my favourite pictures to tide you over while the wait for professional ones begins, taken on Hipstamatic by my beautiful maid of honour, Miss K.
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!
That’s right, after months and months of threatening to shave my head, I was so excited to finally get my post-wedding chop! I tried to hold out, but the Tuesday after the wedding I had had enough, and scheduled an appointment at the salon.
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.
After announcing the date, it wasn’t long before people started asking the typical wedding questions: Have you picked your colors? Do you have a theme? Have you hired a florist? Did you pick a dress?
Whoa, hypothetical folks, settle down! I obviously had a lot of thinking and planning to do in a short amount of time. The one thing we both knew we wanted was a casual atmosphere. Not in an “everybody show up in your jean shorts and baseball caps” type of way, but a laid-back “let’s have fun and not be stuffy” type of way. My quote? “I don’t care if anyone says it was tacky, but I will be pissed if anyone says they didn’t have fun!”
Unfortunately, “fun” isn’t really a theme. Thinking of our expectations and what we really wanted, we settled on the idea of a family barbecue. Outdoorsy, happy, loving—Mr. Cannon and I love hosting barbeques! Some of my happiest memories are parties we threw centered around getting friends together to eat barbecue. The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. Everyone loves barbecues—except maybe vegetarians. Although, one of our good veggie friends came to nearly all of our barbecues and enjoyed a grilled cheese or portabella burger, so I stand by my assertion that everyone loves barbecues.
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. High Wire, DallasAge and Occupation: 23, Legal AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Director of CommunicationsEngagement Date: October 9, 2010Wedding Date: September 2011Venue: Clark GardensAbout Me: My loves include yoga, anything spicy, our eccentric cat, our rambunctious dog, and Mr. High Wire, of course! Like the steadiness act of the tightrope walker, this gal is busy balancing life while planning a wedding to the man of her dreams. We’re hosting a laid-back, vintage-inspired, bird themed wedding with heavy doses of love, good eats (did someone say tacos and margaritas?), and endless Texas charm. Mr. High Wire and I are so happy to have you along for the walk across the tight rope.
An outdoor wedding was something I always envisioned for our wedding day. We spend a lot of our free time outdoors, and my inspiration folders were filled with photos like this:
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!
Sooo, this past weekend I was chillin’ with the Magic Fam in Wilmington, North Carolina, enjoying the beach, walking The Loop, and eating the best hot dogs ever at The Trolley Stop and also eating some shrimp (I was hungry).
personal photo
Magic Mom, Mini Magic, Magic Bro [ yes, I have a brother!], Roxie Ann (the dog), and I all decided to go for a walk. Then things got hairy.
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.
When I first started my quest to find the one piece of clothing that will (hopefully) be cherished and remembered (by me at least!) for years to come, I had no clue what I had in mind.
I tried on dresses of all shapes, fabrics, and details, falling in love with everything from mermaid gowns to empire-waist dresses.
Here were some of my faves—but for one reason or another, they didn’t make it to the end.
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.
Running away. Yes, the very first time I met Mr. Macarons in person I tried to run away.
You see, he and I first met online, pre-Facebook. I was a part of a small, one-college website started by a friend during freshman year. The boards were an easy way to plan outings, tailgates, and anything else amongst our group of friends. Over time it began to grow and new users would pop up. The majority would only make a few posts (mostly selling things like textbooks or furniture) before disappearing.
Fast-forward two years when Mr. Macarons joined. I didn’t like him at first. Well, I liked him, but I didn’t want to admit it. He made me…angry. He was (is) smart and opinionated, and I found that frustrating. Because I was supposed to be the smart and opinionated one. If I were watching this in a romantic comedy, it would be obvious that these two kids would get together, but at the time it was just annoying.
Annoying. Cute and tall. Annoying. Cute and tall and funny. Annoying. Cute and tall and funny and interesting and suddenly a lot less annoying. But still, he was an online presence. An avatar. A ghost.
Until we were introduced while turning in football tickets. Read more…
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!
My family loves a good episode of Everybody Loves Raymond; I mean, what’s not to love about awkward family dynamics and situations that everyone can relate to? Anyhow, my absolute most favorite episode is the one in which Robert is tasked with composing the wording for his own wedding invitations. Here’s the synopsis: Robert’s brother, Raymond, convinces Robert to botch the wording so badly that he’ll never be asked to do a wedding task again. Of course, as you would expect in sitcom world, the purposefully pitiful proof never gets examined and accidentally gets distributed to the entire guest list. If you’re stressed about your invitations (or any part of your wedding planning, for that matter), do yourself a favor and indulge in a 4-minute chuckle by watching the video below.
For years, the simple phrase of “Hank ’n’ Pat” was enough to put a smile on my face. Now that I’m on the other side of my invitation world, I can say that that episode has a heightened significance to me, courtesy of my own first-hand invitation boo-boo.
As I explained in my last post, I picked our invitation design MONTHS before I needed to; I felt on top of the bridal world for my impressive advanced planning. However, I was so relaxed with all the invitation stuff that I forgot to actually determine how long production would take. I assumed 2-3 weeks, so you can imagine my shock when I was told 6-8 weeks. Angry at myself for not getting the order placed sooner, I quickly pulled together our wording, proofread it a couple dozen times, and sent it off to our invitation vendor, relieved to be done with that chapter.
Fast-forward a few weeks, when Mr. Snow Cone and I returned from our retreat, eager to tear into our awaiting invitation packages and get these babies into USPS’s trustworthy hands. We opened the first set of inserts and I was dismayed to see that “regretfully” had been spelled as “regretfulley.”
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!
The search for a reception venue was frustrating, to say the least. Looking back on it, I spent a week or so sending out emails and looking through magazines. I narrowed it down to a few sites around locations we were interested in, but nothing that suited us seemed to fit in our budget. And then one Sunday morning I picked up a magazine and thought to myself, “I’ve got some time to kill. Might as well look through this thing before I toss it.” And that’s how I stumbled across this venue.
