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!
I’m finished with my recaps, but I’m not quite ready to sign off yet. I still have things to say!
After our wedding, I began the long, arduous journey of changing my name. Only it wasn’t really that long or arduous. I went to MissNowMrs.com, paid the $29 to use the service and filled out all the paperwork easy squeezy. Instead of having you fill out every single form individually, MissNowMrs provides one big form where you put in your maiden name/married name/address/other pertinent information, and then autofills all the other forms for you. GENIUS! Sure there are a few things to double-check on each form, and you still have to send out each form and the required IDs and licenses and moneys with ’em, but it was seriously not that difficult. Definitely recommend this, especially if you’re lazy like me.
Which leads me to the next part. I’ve talked here (and again, here) about my feelings on changing my name. I completely dropped my maiden name and took his, leaving my middle name intact. I do not regret my decision in the slightest. However, the day that I went to the DMV to get my driver’s license changed, I was convinced this whole name thing was a huge mistake. Read more…
Mrs. Cola, Mountain View, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Product Communications and PromotionsFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Managing Partner and Senior DesignerEngagement Date: March 5, 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: The Mountain Terrace, Woodside, CAAbout Me: I’m a Washington State native, enjoying life in Silicon Valley California with my fiancé, our three kitties and one leopard gecko. I like reading wedding blogs, Photoshopping wedding design mock ups, making lists, and planning, planning, planning! I’m a bit of an anomaly, on one side I’m a very girlie girl, I collect shoes, I lay out my outfits 4-6 weeks in advance, and I’d never leave the house without my hair curled and makeup on. But on the other side, I’m a total tomboy, I love to go camping and hiking, play drinking games (hey, I’m Irish!) and most of my closest friends are guys. My fiancé and I are planning a DIY-focused wedding with a balance between easygoing (what he wants) and chic and stylish (what I want), and are tying it all together with elements in lavender, sage, butter cream and chocolate.
Mrs. Starfish, Boston/NewportAge and Occupation: 25, Operations AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, SalesEngagement Date: October 8, 2008Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: The Atlantic Beach ClubAbout Me: I'm a perfectionist who is a planner at heart. I don't do well with surprises. I love planning, crafting, Newport RI, family and friends, and most importantly, Mr. Starfish---all of which will be big components in our October wedding in our favorite little city by the sea.
The Starfish Honeymoon was perfect. Not perfect in the way you look at photos of a couple at a 5-star resort in some exotic locale and think that honeymoon looks absolutely perfect, but more perfect in the way that Robin Williams explains love to Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting.
“You’re not perfect, sport. And let me save you the suspense. This girl you met, she isn’t perfect either. But the question is whether or not you’re perfect for each other.” Read more…
Mrs. Ladyfingers, Saint Petersburg, FLAge and Occupation: 30, Marketing ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Sports WriterEngagement Date: December 24, 2010Wedding Date: November 2011Venue: Palma Sola Botanical ParkAbout Me: I hail from Oklahoma, he was born and raised in Long Island. Fate brought us together, and now we live in a cute little rental house with our nutty dog, and our aloof cat. We both love to read, watch movies, explore our town, and laugh like hyenas. When I’m not obsessively wedding crafting, I enjoy stalking style and decorating blogs, making collages and painting, napping, thrifting, rearranging our bookshelves, and being a total weirdo with my friends. Hi!
I turned 31 this past weekend—and I can’t imagine a better time to get married.
There was always a stigma in my family for those who were deemed “too young to marry.” When my cousin B got married at 28, that was all anybody in the family talked about—he’s so young. Why now? Can’t he wait? That seems to have been the prevailing wisdom in the late ’80s and throughout the ’90s, at least. Most people I knew (and basically, the only people I “knew” back then were family members) were waiting until their 30s to get married. When my other cousin, M, got married in her late 30s, she seems to have crossed that barrier between “just right” and “come on, all ready”—but even her path was more well-taken than B’s.
I don’t know precisely when the tides shifted. Maybe they never did—maybe my view of marriage has been skewed, nonexistent. But skimming the bios on Weddingbee, it seems that 30-something brides such as myself are in the minority.
For the record, I don’t believe there’s a “too soon” or a “too late.” Read more…
Mrs. Turtle, Central CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 21, Art Student/TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 22, English StudentEngagement Date: August 16, 2008Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: Mr. Turtle's Grandparents' backyard, Arroyo Grande, CAAbout Me: I am a California girl who loves the beach and the mountains, but is quite satisfied living right in the middle where I can enjoy the best of both worlds. I am happiest when traveling to faraway places, wandering through museums, watching old movies, or baking up a storm. Mr. Turtle and I are high school sweethearts and fellow book nerds who both drive Mini Coopers and are most likely to be found browsing in antique stores. We're having so much fun planning our European garden wedding with a vintage twist and can't wait to share more of life's adventures together!
Okay, I know you’re probably wondering if I’m ever going to leave this place, but there is just one more wedding related item I want to share with you! Just one… I promise! When planning our wedding, Mr. Turtle and I wanted everything to look classy and elegant, but we really didn’t want any of the elements to seem extravagant or showy. I felt like we accomplished this pretty well with our wedding itself, but one over-the-top item we just couldn’t pass up was a quality album from our photographer. Mike Larson, Inc. works with KISS Wedding Books for their albums. In my opinion, KISS books manage to achieve the perfect balance between luxury and simplicity. Rather than gushing about the lusciousness of the 12″x12″ leather cover, the adorable cloth dust-cover it comes in, and the vibrancy of the images on Fuji Crystal Archival paper, I’ll let our album speak for itself:
Miss Petit Four, San Antonio/Isla MujeresAge and Occupation: 25, Technology teacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Math Teacher and Football CoachEngagement Date: Feb 13, 2010Wedding Date: March 2012Venue: Zama Beach Club, Isla Mujeres, MexicoAbout Me: I am a polka-dot obsessed, destination wedding diva living and loving in the great state of Texas. I am an island girl at heart and I visit the beach as often as I can. I am a wannabe DIY goddess, but that doesn’t mean I won’t give it my best shot. I love pearl earrings, the color pink, and ruffles are a part of my everyday wardrobe. My wonderful fiance and I are planning a destination wedding with our closest family and friends and we’re leaving a trail of glitter in our path!
Mrs. Hot Wings, Chicago/San DiegoAge and Occupation: 28, ProfessorFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, InstructorEngagement Date: December 20, 2008Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: Ocean View Villas/Jasmine Seafood RestaurantAbout Me: I am a psychology grad student living in Chicago and planning my wedding to a fellow psych grad student. I am a Sunny So-Cal bred gal who trudged across the country to follow her love of psychology and ended up finding a partner in the process. I am overly passionate about anything I involve myself with. I am an activist, a foodie, a reality TV watching junkie, an over-analyzer, a photography obsesser, and am utterly cheesy to the core. This is a story of what happens when a boy and a girl meet, fall in love over academic dorkiness, and a shared love for life. We (mostly I) are planning our semi-destination wedding in my hometown of San Diego. We are excited to bring our families and friends together from across our lifespans to celebrate our future in a grand 400+ person culturally blended affair!
Our brideswoman R snapped this photo. She’s a budding new photographer. It’s one of those photos that give me goose bumps. I know the moment. I can very easily BE transported back there. I can see his face. I can feel my heart race. He had me at “I do.” I swear he had tears in his eyes, but even that doesn’t matter. I knew I was the only person in that world that mattered to him in that moment. He held me close. The wedding day was almost over. The stress was gone. It didn’t matter who was around us. The moment was ours. This is THE photo of our wedding day, and I didn’t have to pay a dime to get it. Read more…
Mrs. Sunhat, Dyer, IN Age and Occupation: 32, Tax AccountantFiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Landscape ForemanEngagement Date: September 25, 2010Wedding Date: December 2011Venues: St. Andrew the Apostle, Fiesta PalaceAbout Me: I'm a Midwest girl who grew up in the country and now works in the big city! I love cooking, entertaining, reading (addicted to my Kindle) and going to the movies. I don't miss an episode of Hoarders and I start cleaning every time I watch! My profession doesn't call for much creativity so wedding planning has been a great outlet. Mr. Sunhat and I met online three years ago, cheer for rival MLB teams and share a home with our dog, Wrigley. We are planning a traditional, Polish, Catholic wedding with lots of DIY elements and some fun surprises. I'm so excited to be married on New Year's Eve and we can't wait to ring in the new year as husband and wife!
The cake has always been one of the more important things for me during the planning process. I love beautifully decorated cakes and the artistry behind them. I’ve been known to watch marathon sessions of Food Network Challenge! However, choosing the right vendor who could pull of the look and taste we wanted was causing me a bit of stress.
At the various bridal expos I attended early on in the planning stages, I kept running across a bakery that had recently opened in the Northwest Indiana region. (Names will not be mentioned to protect the innocent or not-so-innocent.) Their display booths were bright and fun and the photos of their cakes blew my mind. This place definitely had some talent. I took their business card and brochure and was certain I’d be meeting with them in the future.
MOB did a little legwork on her own and mentioned this bakery to a lady she works with. The verdict? Two big thumbs down! I was in shock! My mom’s coworker had attended two weddings that used this bakery for their cakes, and while the cakes looked stunning, they tasted awful! The flavors were not good and the cake was dry. My heart sank at the news.
However, said coworker had attended other weddings with amazing cake results—taste and good looks! She recommended a woman named Linda who has been making wedding cakes out of her home for years. Her prices are reasonable, the cakes are beautiful, and the taste is fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for a better review!
I called Linda and made an appointment to do a little tasting—yum! With the appointment set, I needed to gather up my inspiration photos to take along, but that wasn’t as easy as I thought. I wasn’t sure what direction we should go in!
Mrs. Teacup, Santa CruzAge and Occupation: 34, Pharmaceutical SalesFiance's Age and Occupation: 41, Ditto! (For a different company)Engagement Date: October 1, 2010Wedding Date: October 2011Venue: ceremony in our family's Catholic church in Watsonville; reception at the Santa Cruz Beach BoardwalkAbout Me: I’m learning to embrace my true spirit as GIRLY GIRL after previous careers in the Navy and consulting for the government. My favorite hobby is SLEEP, with dancing HULA a close second. An INTROVERT in extrovert clothing, I’m questing to UNDO 34 years of TYPE A conditioning. Constantly processing the details of our upcoming nuptials, peek into this late blooming bride & groom's roller coaster ride to the altar. Giant Dipper required, sold separately.
If you remember our proposal story, I shared Mr. Hot Tea’s health scare with a benign tumor requiring a craniotomy and neurosurgery. The procedure was scheduled for January 2011 and it was highly likely that his facial nerve would be severed to remove the tumor, causing full paralysis on one side of his face. Rehab would take between 6 months to several years.
Why do I tell you all this? Because more than anything, Mr. Hot Tea wants his smile back for our wedding. Imagine losing function in half your face, eye bulging and lip sagging. Here’s how it progressed.
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!
(This is a Harry Potter reference laden post. Just thought I’d warn you, in case that’s not your thing.)
10. Ask your house elf to do the invitations. House elves are super competent and love to be helpful. I’m not insinuating you should get a slave to do it, though. Everyone knows you’re supposed to pay your house elves nowadays, duh.
9. Use those magical office assistants that Professor Umbridge had assembling that Anti Muggle Propaganda. They were super efficient and would probably prefer working for you anyways. Read more…
Miss Ticket, Riverside, CAAge and Occupation: 25, Executive AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, HVAC TechnicianEngagement Date: November 14, 2010Wedding Date: October 2011Venue: Crestmore ManorAbout Me: I'm a lifelong So Cal gal, a chocoholic, a closet gamer, and a television enthusiast (love me some Vampire Diaries!) who adores playing in the kitchen and lives in flip flops. Mr. Ticket and I are best known for singing and dancing in the car, our World of Warcraft addiction, adoring food, crane game playing, and our general homebody ways. Oh, and GO STEELERS!
Another four weeks or so down the line when my IVORY dress had arrived, we had a new challenge ahead of us. I had some problems with my health and my doctor informed me I had to lose weight ASAP. So I went on a hardcore diet of Jenny Craig and working out, and I started losing weight (FYI I am well on the road to healthy again and my doctor is pleased). In fact, when I went in for my dress fitting I found the dress was already a bit loose on me.
Mrs. D'orsay, Baltimore/Lancaster UKAge and Occupation: 24, nonprofit communications Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Web site developer and designer; co-owner of men's skincare shopEngagement Date: August 10, 2008Wedding Date: August, 2009Venue: Oakland ManorAbout Me: I'm a Maryland raised environmental policy wonk/activist/organizer and communications aficionado. In the past year I've lived in Baltimore, MD, Tucson, AZ, Miami, FL and Lancaster, England. In my not so spare time I enjoy planning trips with Mr. D' Orsay, visiting friends and family and crafting like a mo-fo. I also enjoy modern dance classes, rugby and soccer but have been banned by my mother, MOHs, and Mr. D' Orsay from playing till after the wedding. I have an unnatural addiction to cheese and shoes, but love Mr. D' Orsay more than either and can't wait to become Mrs. D' Orsay!
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.
Bees, it is time to show you our invites. Every single piece of our invitation suite was designed, printed (except the main invite, which I’ll explain), and assembled by yours truly. Most of the time I hated this process, but looking back, I can truly say they were a labor of love. So, excuse me while I share entirely too many pictures of our invites.
First up, the front of the envelope:
I was so excited when I found out that we could use the Love stamps! Not only because they are only 44 cents, but because I love the designs, especially this one: Read more…
Miss Doily, Cedar Rapids, IowaAge and Occupation: 25, Autism Paraeducator/ StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Freelance Writer/ PublisherEngagement Date: August 27th, 2010Wedding Date: March 2012Venue: Father’s Vineyard Church/ A Touch of Class Banquet CenterAbout Me: I’m an Iowan girl with a deep love of Harry Potter, classic movies, cardigans, and Post-Its. My type-A Virgo tendencies often cause me to drive my laid-back college sweetheart fiance batty with lists and PowerPoint presentations. I love to be crafty and do things myself, which explains why my two crazy kittens often will prance around the house covered in glitter and ribbons. When I am not bogged down with work, school, or wedding planning, I like to travel to visit my expansive family and have wild adventures with my best friends. After a rollercoaster ride of a love story, I’m ready to take that final plunge, marry the love of my life, and become a Mrs.!
At first glance I seem like a very traditional person. I like the white dress, the classic touches, the white flowers, the wedding in a church, yada yada. I wear a pretty simple and classic style of dress (jeans, cardigans, and ballet flats). I prefer old movies over brand-new blockbusters. Are you following where I’m going with this?
When it came to the music we wanted to play at the ceremony I wanted traditional music. Mr. D did not want the classical music that is played at most weddings. He wanted it to sound more like “us.” He very much wanted to incorporate the song “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley. For those of you not familiar with the song:
As you can see, it’s a beautiful song but the lyrics are not exactly what you think of when you think wedding. Honestly, it’s a very depressing song. Despite the darkness of the songs, Mr. D desperately wanted it.
I even had a song that I wanted to walk down the aisle to that is not traditional in the slightest: Read more…
Weddingbee GalleryFeature Launched: April 10, 2009About: A collection of inspirational wedding pictures from readers and bees.
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.
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
