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!
A good wedding day look requires a good number of facets to be working together flawlessly. The hair, the makeup, the dress, the jewelry, the veil, the shoes. All brides want these pieces to come together effortlessly and beautifully, creating a vision in bridal beauty, no doubt. One piece of the puzzle that doesn’t get its moment in the spotlight but is still hugely responsible for the overall look coming together is the undergarmentry. Without the proper underwear, it’s easy for a beautiful dress to drape awkwardly over any one person’s body, a rather unsightly smudge on the otherwise ideal look.
In order to avoid any lumps or bumps in my mid-section, I decided to invest in my first piece of shapewear for w-day. I decided to go with Spanx Super Power Panties, as seen here:
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.
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.
After Mr. Sweet Cream proposed and the sparkly new accessory grazed my ring finger, I didn’t get a manicure!
I know.
And it’s almost been a full year, and I have yet to get one(!!!).
Don’t get me wrong—I love painting my nails and making them look like shiny and kempt. And I am the person who gets that feeling you get when you’re five on Christmas day when Sally Hansen comes out with a new color.
But for some reason I’m not one for shades the color of roses, and going to a nail salon is a rarity for me. I do love painting my nails, though!
This is the laquer color that made me let out a little shriek in the drugstore that made heads turn.
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. Eggs Benedict, SeattleAge and Occupation: 29, AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 35, AttorneyEngagement Date: December 5, 2009Wedding Date: February 2011Venue: IslandWoodAbout Me: I'm a Northwest girl who spends my time goofing around with Mr. Eggs Benedict and our dog, hiking, traveling, drinking wine and planning a wedding that will showcase the best of what the Pacific Northwest has to offer. I also love photography, beating Mr. Eggs Bene at Mario Kart, and watching the most ridiculous natural disaster flicks you can think of (seriously, how can you deny the awesomeness that is The Core or 2012?? That's right, you can't). We are planning our weekend wedding adventure at an environmental educational center, and I can't wait for the fun to begin!
After my more dramatic-than-intended morning, I headed to my parents’ house where we were hosting our extended family during the in-between time when people were arriving from the airport or after spending the morning in Seattle, but before we could head over to IslandWood.
My dad had the wine flowing, my mom had lots of food spread out and everyone was remarking on the fact that in the middle of February in the Northwest there wasn’t a drop of rain in sight! Read more…
Mrs. Candy Apple, Princeton Junction, NJ/ Seattle, WAAge and Occupation: 26, Project EditorFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, AttorneyEngagement Date: May 9, 2010Wedding Date: August 2011Venue: St. Joseph's Parish, Seattle Tennis ClubAbout Me: I am a Pacific Northwesterner, born and bred. I have lived in many cities---Santa Clara, Durham (England); Florence; Boston; Princeton Junction---but my heart will always be nestled up near the Cascades and Olympics, which is why we are holding our wedding there. I am a bookworm and a History nerd: I love that my life consists of books, books, and more books, since I work in Publishing! Recently, all waking time not consumed by work and my daily commute has been overtaken by wedding planning. Well, that, and watching Premier-League soccer. There is nothing I love more than a good Tana French mystery, traveling to new places, Anthropologie shopping sprees, Iittala dishware, Kate Spade shoes, impeccable typefaces (think: Archer), and a nice English ale (hellooo, Old Speckled Hen!). Oh, and did I mention my obsession with wedding blogs? Yeah, there’s that too. Join Mr. Candy Apple and me as we prep for our wedding, and, more importantly, our marriage!
First, I wanted to start this post by saying that we women (okay, and I suppose men too) need to give ourselves a big, ol’ pat on the back, and we need to raise a glass of something to the women who came before us. Why? Well, because we are at the point (at least in America) where there actually are name change debates, discussions, questions, thoughts, concerns, considerations. 100 years ago, it would have been very rare for an American woman to keep her last name after she was married, and I am incredibly appreciative that it is socially acceptable now for me to either keep my last name or take the last name of Mr. Candy Apple. Or, for him to take mine. Or, for us to merge our names via hyphen. Or, for us to form a completely new last name. There are so many options! It makes my feminist self leap with joy and happiness, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I am so glad I live in a time when we are making such big strides. (And yes, I say strides. Because I don’t think we’re actually there yet. But, we don’t need to get into that right now.) I don’t want to make this a post about feminism (what it is, etc. etc.)—I merely want to state my thoughts and feelings on the issue.
Anyway, yes, the Name Change Game (aka NCG). You know the one—lots of bees have hashed this out before their weddings. I know that for many people this is a touchy subject, causing large amounts of stress, heartbreak, annoyance, grief. I am sure it can also be somewhat of a make-or-break issue in relationships.
To me, the whole NCG mainly boils down to one issue. Read more…
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.
Sometimes I wish I had a man with an acoustic guitar follow me around all day, playing songs that fit the mood of the moment. Life would be so much cooler with a daily theme song, wouldn’t it?
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.
Since I decided to let my fabulously fashionable bridesmaids choose their own dresses, I promised I would send them a color swatch as a guide that they can take with them to go shopping. Last weekend I picked up a yard of yummy dark green fabric from JoAnn that was on sale for $5.40. Then I borrowed a pair of scissors and their cutting board to cut out four neat squares of fabric.
The graphic designer we are working with to develop all of our wedding stationery put together this awesome letterhead for us.
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.
Please excuse the seemingly random title. I assure you it will make sense.
Like other bees, I too sent out a few early invitations to our friends in high places. Less than two weeks later, I received our first piece of mail. I carefully opened the first-class envelope from Disneyland (What the eff, Disney World? I see how it is.) and kept my fingers crossed I wouldn’t have a situation like Mrs. Lioness.
The Good: Mickey and Minnie spelled our names right!
The Bad: They hastily stuffed and sealed the envelope before the Sharpie dried.
The Ugly: The only part that was smudged to hell was the mister’s name.
I was bummed. How was I going to fix this? I can’t frame it the way it is: I’m not marrying Pfmndl!
Then I remembered a trick from my design-school days. Run don’t walk to your nearest art-supply or craft store and buy the following:
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.
After I let my Fiorenza crush go, I continued to peruse scour the Maggie Sottero collection and developed crushes on several dresses. I couldn’t really bring myself to wade through all the other designers out there when there was eye candy like this.
Mrs. Penguin, Northern CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 27, Weddingbee Editor in ChiefFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Doctor of Physical TherapyEngagement Date: January 29, 2007Wedding Date: June 7, 2008Blogging Since: September 14, 2007Venue: Winery in the Gold CountryAbout Me: I love the Spice Girls, dogs with underbites, bean burritos, making messes, high fives, avoiding showers, crossword puzzles, blogs, weddings, and blogs about weddings!
Ka-BOOM! I’m so excited to welcome our newest bee to the hive. Say hello to Miss Cannon!
Miss Cannon, Toledo, OH
Age & Occupation: 27, Financial Analyst Fiance’s Age & Occupation: 28, Assembler Engagement Date: February 28, 2011 Wedding Date: September 2011 Venue: Epworth UMC & Ward Pavilion About 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.
Mrs. Poodle, Santiago, Chile/San Bernardino, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Industrial & Web DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Firefighter & Mountain PatrolEngagement Date: February 25, 2009Wedding Date: January 2010Venue: Mr. P's Grandparents’ RanchAbout Me: I’m a Chilean girl who's crazy about nature and swimming. I enjoy carving, drawing, reading and sewing; I drool over computers, fabric, pretty paper, purple and patterns. To me, chocolate should be one of the seven wonders, right next to lemon pie. I never thought an exchange work experience program was going to change my life forever, but while working in California, I met Mr. Poodle, and ever since my days are better and brighter. We are two goofy souls that, after finding each other, couldn’t help but want to be together forever. It has being a long and sometimes hard road, since we have to deal with such a long distance between us, but we are now facing the last stage of our Fiancé Visa, and soon we will be together. You know the best part? We will be married! So I’ll be blogging from Chile until just a few months before our “green and purple” wedding.
All of our guest were in the chapel, Mr. Poodle and the groomsmen were on their way there, and I got to spend some alone time with Momma Poodle right before the ceremony. I was so excited, I could not stop smiling. Then I saw my mom’s beautiful eyes—she was glowing like I’d never seen her glow before. She was smiling so wide while telling me how happy she was to be the one to walk me down the aisle. I could have not been happier holding her arm. She hugged me so tightly and whispered in my ear how even though I was going to be a married woman, I would always be her little girl. Our eyes watered, but out of happiness.
We held hands and walked over to our ride, and the groomsmen escorted a very important woman into the chapel:
Mr. Poodle’s mom—our major support in all of our wedding preparations. Read more…
Mrs. Pony, Bloomington, ILAge and Occupation: 25, AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 34, AttorneyEngagement Date: March 22, 2010Wedding Date: September 2011Venue: Mackinaw Valley Vineyard; Bloomington Center for the Performing ArtsAbout Me: I found my Southern counterpart in law school and since he popped the question last March, we have been busy graduating, job searching, bar taking, and wedding planning. My loves include must see TV, magnets, quotes, anything green, my car, fun socks, the Cubs, and my Mr. Together we love wine, playing outside, and exploring the world together. Stay tuned to see our Midwest wedding full of Southern charm, vintage flair, lots of DIY details, and a whole lot o’ wine.
You might remember that I posted last week about my difficulties in finding the perfect pair of shoes for the wedding. I mentioned that I the Stuart Weitzman Turalu was at the top of the list since the first pair I loved were discontinued.
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!
With David’s Bridal and a smaller boutique crossed off the list of possibilities, it was back to the drawing board once more. By this point, the infinity dress had been mailed back and forth across the country for everyone to try on, and the consensus was that it needed to be nixed as well. Everyone thought it was a fabulous dress, and several people said they wanted to buy one even if we didn’t use it for the wedding. But there were concerns that it would look too casual in gray, even with a fancier fabric, and that it might be more “high maintenance” than people would prefer. So it’s a no-go for the wedding, but I’m seriously considering getting one for the honeymoon.
[By the way, if you’re thinking about getting an infinity dress for yourself or your wedding party, I would highly recommend Etsy seller katesy. She was wonderfully communicative, was flexible and patient in getting me a loaner dress to send around to everyone, she will customize the dresses both to your wedding color(s) and the specific measurements of your wedding party members (including plus sizes), and she offers matching tube tops for additional coverage. And FYI: this is not a paid endorsement of any kind, trust me! I was just really impressed when I was in contact with her.] Now, back to the story—because this is the really good part, I promise.
Mrs. Penguin, Northern CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 27, Weddingbee Editor in ChiefFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Doctor of Physical TherapyEngagement Date: January 29, 2007Wedding Date: June 7, 2008Blogging Since: September 14, 2007Venue: Winery in the Gold CountryAbout Me: I love the Spice Girls, dogs with underbites, bean burritos, making messes, high fives, avoiding showers, crossword puzzles, blogs, weddings, and blogs about weddings!
I left a little bit of unsolicited advice for marriage at the end of my anniversary post yesterday, and in turn called for our married hive members’ advice on Weddingbee’s Twitter and Facebook as well. The response was fantastic—we got so many juicy nuggets of advice from you all that we couldn’t help but archive them here for eternity on the blog!
ambergontrail_ : I have two pieces of advice: Separate bathrooms and a King Sized Bed!!
blifestyles : I only give one piece of advice to newlyweds: Don’t put fabric softener in with your towels. (Ed. note: fabric softener makes towels less absorbant!)
AmyC83 : Be silly. Make each other laugh every day.
TweetMyWedding : A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. Mignon McLaughlin
BeccaBooJones: always pick your battles, at the end of the day, does it really matter?
ZazzBridal: never stop working on improving your communication together! really listen and never judge your spouse. Read more…
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
