Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
As we get closer and closer to wedding day my instinct to start making lists kicks in. During times like these I have those moments of “I must remember this!” but my brain is going in a million different directions so I promptly forget.
Enter Google Docs. It is awesome for creating spreadsheets that I can then access on my home or work computer or on my phone. Plus I can share them with other people which helps get around people having a different version of Excel (or perhaps no Excel at all). I’ve created a timeline and shared it with our day of coordinator and photographer for feedback. I’ve created a list of DIY projects left to do and ranked them by importance and ease of the project (so if anything is less important and too difficult it can fall off the list). I’ve even started creating a list of things to pack. The last time I went on a trip without making a list I packed way too many tops (that didn’t actually go with anything) and I did not pack enough underwear. Enough said.
Yesterday I was driving home listening to some tunes and thinking about whether this song would be a good one to play at the reception, and oh my gosh… Read more…
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!
Candles are gorgeous—at least when they are lit. They are not inherently gorgeous. I’ve never found myself looking at an unlit and unscented candle and thought to myself, “This. is. ba-nanas. I must buy it.”
But I am getting off topic here. Candles, when lit ablaze, are in fact a beautiful way to add romantic ambiance to an otherwise blah setting. They are also a whole lot cheaper than flowers. So, hello new friends! And when candles become luminaries, magic happens. Just look:
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’m writing this post a mere day before our wedding.
Today is going to be pretty busy. There are nails to be done, airport pick-ups to be arranged, missing sparkler packages to be hunted down, and hotels to be checked in to. I’ve got everything packed for my trip to the hotel tonight, and I’m really, really freaking excited. The amount of stuff I have packed ‘just in case’ is probably slightly ridiculous, but it’s better safe than sorry, right?
This past week I’ve had three ‘problems’ weighing me down about our wedding.
Mrs. Mary Jane, Grand Forks, NDAge and Occupation: 26, Instructional DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Lead ProgrammerEngagement Date: February 28, 2009Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: City HallAbout Me: I'm a career woman on the surface and a homemaker at heart. I love fast cars and high heels, and my favorite food is cake. Mr. Mary Jane and I are both full-time employees and students, and we just bought our first house. We love to curl up on the couch with buttery popcorn, Sour Patch Kids, and the latest Netflix arrival -- whenever we can get a break from everyday life.
Hey hive, just dropping in to share what I think is an OMG-so-cool moment. Let me set the scene. It’s a half-past-the-crack-of-dawn this Friday AM and I’m barely awake. I’m churning away on our stationary bike as I do most mornings before work, and flipping through my Google Reader app on my phone. Almost 2 years after our wedding, I still follow our wedding photographer’s blog…and this morning when I reached her lastest post, I was so shocked I nearly stopped peddling.
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.
Here is my idea for displaying our two digital slideshow photo frames: our venue has 3 (three!!) pianos, which will have to be somewhere in one room or the other during our wedding. They ain’t moving a grand piano downstairs for our wee unofficial party, and while one piano could be tucked away somewhere unobtrusive, three is a lot. Then my brilliant flash of inspiration came: put the two digital frames on top of a piano, surrounded by old family wedding photos in regular photo frames!
I’ve set my mum to gathering photos from her and dad’s families, and Cinnamon Buns’ mum is sourcing most of the ones from his side. I also decided that these photos would need labels so interested guests would know who is whom, and see if they can spot some of the people who are at the wedding. I made mock-ups today out of printer paper and some leftover ribbon. When I print them for realsies I will use card stock and cut them with a ruler and a knife, instead of printer paper and scissors.
I decided to kinda-continue the H <3 P theme we have going by using the same font we used when addressing our envelopes, with the little heart in between the names.
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.
Mr. Bunting and I were at the mall the other day trying to find him some dress pants for another friend’s wedding, and as we approached the jewelry arena (seriously, the way they’re all facing one another in an open square makes it a fighting arena for the sparkly), I suggested we stop by to see if Mr. Bunting’s wedding band was in. It had been several weeks since we’d ordered it, so even though they hadn’t called yet, I speculated that it may have come in that day. I’ve had that happen to me before, on several occasions actually. (That just makes me look impatient, I know.)
So we strolled on in, and this is what followed:
Clerk: Hello! May I help you with something?
Mr. Bunting: Yes, I got a call today that my ring was in.
Me: Wait. What?
Mr. Bunting simply nods.
Me: Wait. Really? Like for serious? They called you? (I think he’s lying just to get the clerk to check, which is a very odd way to have them check.) 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.
Now, I don’t want to overwhelm you with too much romance after the story of our ultra-romantic non-proposal, but I’ve decided to give you all a peek into my world with our equally romantic “how we met” story.
The actual first time we met is a bit hazy for both of us since we didn’t really talk to each other. My college roommate played bass in a band that frequently played shows with another band. That band featured one Mr. Cannon as their bass player! My roommate (AKA Bridesmaid K) became friends with Mr. Cannon, and he started showing up at parties thrown at our apartment. So, I believe the first time we met was at an out-of-control Christmas party at my old apartment, but I could be wrong. (Luckily, I do not have any pictures of said party.) Regardless, the first time I actually remember talking to him at any length was at Bridesmaid K’s 21st birthday party. I was engaged to my ex at the time, so the conversation was light and silly and I didn’t really think much of it.
Fast forward a year or so, and I had recently broken things off with my ex. I was very conflicted about my feelings over the whole thing and was trying to overcome the loss and loneliness brought about by the situation. A different old roommate (AKA Bridesmaid N) threw a party and encouraged me to come. I was determined to go and have fun, meet new people, and flirt shamelessly. Mr. Cannon had just moved back to the area after a year of traveling and was looking to reconnect with old friends and have some fun. He heard about Bridesmaid N’s party and decided to go with one of his friends.
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. Balloons, Aspen, COAge and Occupation: 24, Mass Communications graduate, Web Design student, & winery workerFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, EngineerEngagement Date: July 10, 2009Wedding Date: August 2011Venue: The Sundeck at The Little NellAbout Me: I'm a small-town Midwest girl planning an intimate mountaintop destination wedding complete with a huge DIY at-home reception. As an honors graduate fallen victim to the worst job market in history in my area, we're doing everything we can to still have the wedding of our dreams on a tighter budget. I currently enjoy working at a winery, but I'm lonnng overdue for a day job! I am: a big-time daydreamer, one of the pickiest eaters you'll ever meet, and a lover of pretty paper and awesome fonts. I'm a girly girl who loves to get dolled up, but also a country girl who loves to get muddy and go 4-wheeler riding. I also enjoy singing in the car, boating, going to concerts, the History Channel, carnival food, and going to watch St. Louis Cardinals baseball with my handsome engineer.
OKK, just sticks. Well twigs. Err sticks and twigs…whatever you want to call them, here is a tutorial on how I turned an ugly vase into a cute, rustic one.
First meet said ugly vase:
So it’s not like its that ugly. It just has some rust type of stains in some spots so I wouldn’t have used it as is.
I started by hot gluing some burlap around the vase. I figured the twigs would stick better to it than the glass itself. Read more…
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.
We took our annual Easter trip to Mr. High Wire’s hometown to celebrate with the family a few weeks ago. One of the perks of being in an interfaith relationship is that we don’t have to split our time during the holidays throughout the year. His family gets us for Easter, and we celebrate Passover with my family earlier in the week. Win-win for all!
Our two little flower girls for the wedding spent some time frolicking in the grass. They look like sisters, don’t they? Well, they are actually first cousins!
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.
But after driving up the grass to a neighborhood mansion that was part of our old stompin’ grounds, and seeing a picnic laid under the tree where we shared one of our first (but certainly not last) kisses as young and innocent teens, and Mr. Sweet Cream getting down on bended knee and declaring his love, I had completely dry eyes.
There were shrieks and excitement and jumping up and down. There was also spilt champagne after Mr. Sweet Cream called me his “fiance” and I threw the glass in the air and jumped on him in pure, excitement-spilling-out-of-my-heart emotion. But alas, my mascara remained fully intact.
Months later, after trying on hundreds of dresses and finding THE ONE—still nothing. I think that Mama Sweet Cream and I disappointed the saleslady who—I am sure—was just hoping that we would need one of the tissues that sat next to the pink-patterned couch outside of the dressing room. (In the car I told Mama Sweets, “You’re my mom! Aren’t YOU supposed to cry?!?”) There was excitement, joy, and all sorts of emotions. But tears weren’t shed. Read more…
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!
In the weeks before our wedding, I was a blubbering mess. I felt so stressed out, and EVERYTHING set me off. I felt like I didn’t have time to take care of myself. More than anything, I wanted to go to the gym, and veg out and watch my DVRed shows, and make dinner at home instead of picking up McDonald’s for the umpteenth time.
At the same time, I felt like those needs took a backseat to the greater need of making-this-wedding-happen-dammit. So I rushed around and didn’t allow myself downtime and I continued to sob at least once a day over the poor freaked-out guy marrying me.
Then, on the Tuesday before the wedding, I had planned to meet up with a few girls from church. I stopped by Mr. Hyena’s house to go over a few things before going to meet the girls, cried on him some more and made us both miserable, then blew my nose and headed off to the coffee shop where we were meeting.
And I still wanted to cry for the first 20 minutes or so, but then something miraculous happened. 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.
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!
When it came to the decision of whether or not to have a military wedding, I was on the fence. Frankly, I’d never imagined the possibility of a military wedding would ever be in the cards for me—that was until I fell in love with Mr. M. Funny how things like that work out…
Suddenly, the sensible suits and sleek ties I admired on wedding blogs became Army Blues with all their regalia. What to do, what to do?
Mrs. Cardigan, AustinAge and Occupation: 21, Student/Soon-to-be Special Education TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 20, Student/Soon-to-be Accounting Systems AnalystEngagement Date: August 16, 2009Wedding Date: January 2011Venue: Vintage VillasAbout Me: I'm a native Austinite who was raised as a die-hard Aggie. Luckily, I'm a pretty persuasive girl because I managed to convince my high school boyfriend (now fiance!), Mr. Cardigan, to ditch his hardcore Longhorn ways and join me up at A&M, where we currently reside with our adorable dogs, Cullen & Ranger. We're currently planning a bright, cheery wedding with a ridiculous amount of DIY projects that I can't wait to tackle! I love crafting in any form, reading, and margaritas (I think I love them the most!). Organization is what keeps me sane and I love helping others, which is probably why I ended up as an education major. It gets a little chaotic sometimes when you're planning a wedding among all of the papers, projects, finals, and certification exams, but we're having the time of our lives and we can't wait to get started on our journey as husband and wife - and we're so excited to share our wedding with the hive!
I could have stood on that dance floor all night and danced my heart out with my best friends, but sadly it was time to go. Our guests went outside, gathered their bubbles, and waited for us to come out.
We ran outside to a shower of bubbles, cheers, and love, and it was one of the most wonderful moments I have ever experienced. I caught quick glimpses of the faces of the people I love smiling at me as I left for my honeymoon with my husband.
