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’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t worried about people having a good time at our wedding. We had an eclectic mix of young and old guests, some I knew well and some I didn’t. How was I to choose the right kind of party music to get people dancing?
The best advice I can give you is to be random. We had classic jazz followed by top 40 followed by rock and roll followed by the occasional ballad. Sometimes people danced, sometimes they didn’t, but the floor was hardly ever empty.
And there was shuffling. Oh yes, we Party Rocked it up, my friends. (Although I’m pretty sure we were all doing the running man rather than the shuffle.)
Mrs. Teaspoon, Sydney, AustraliaAge and Occupation: 27, Medical ScientistFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, BankerEngagement Date: June 4, 2010Wedding Date: September 2011Venue: St Aloysius' College, Milson's PointAbout Me: I am a mad scientist who enjoys swimming at the beach in summer and skiing powder in winter. Our favourite times together are spent with the sand between our toes, cooking up a storm, re-watching and re-reading every Harry Potter ever made, and spending time with our dear friends and family! We have travelled the world together in our 6 years of dating, from Paris, to Thailand, to Las Vegas, and we are tackling the many challenges of planning our special day the best way we know how---together!
I was sitting in Adelaide Airport and Googled something along the lines of “How do you know if your boyfriend is going to propose?”—because Google has the answer to everything, of course! Originally I didn’t really get into the blog because I wasn’t engaged yet, so I wasn’t really very excited about guestbooks and engagement pictures and things, but I really got into reading the boards, namely the waiting, fitness, and general chit-chat boards. The longer I lurked on the boards the more I started to read the blogs; after all, they are the first thing you see when you log in! I started to enjoy reading the likes of Mrs. Frozen Yogurt, Mrs. Cardigan, Mrs. Jellyfish, and Mrs. Trail Mix and had really started to ignore the boards and focus more on devouring every inch of the blog. Soon, as you know it—I was engaged!! So the very next day I cracked open Blogger and got started!
My Application Story
I originally applied right to the day of eight months before our wedding. I put hours of time and effort into my application, rewriting and revising. I even printed it out and got out the red pen. Unfortunately during this time I probably put less effort into my blogging, so—rejection.
Mrs. Frog, Phoenix, AZ/Chelan, WA
Age and Occupation: 29, Public Relations
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Online SalesEngagement Date: February 8, 2009Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: Amy's ManorAbout Me: I'm an opinionated Midwestern girl now living in the Valley of the Sun marrying a laid back Northwestern guy. I'm equal parts sass, silly and sweet. I'm fiercely loyal with a strong devotion to my family and friends. I have a not-so-secret obsession with apple juice, a new obsession with DIY projects and I love a really good cheese plate...with lots of wine. After 7 blissful years of dating, I'm having the time of my life planning the destination wedding of my dreams to my Mr. Frog-turned-Prince Charming.
Miss Doe, Northern CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 24, Real Estate AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Recycling ManagerEngagement Date: December 25, 2010Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: Monte Verde InnAbout Me: I’m a Rat Pack fan and a Christmas nut that loves to read, good wine, cheesy ’80s movies and ’90s sitcoms. My wiener dog with an attitude problem and lazy basset hound are my constant source of entertainment. He's a hunter and I like cooking so it's not rare to see wild game on our dinner menu. Both of us were born and raised in a small historic farming town where our feet are still firmly planted. We have been together for nearly a decade and have shared many life experiences together, including birthdays that are only one day apart. We are two old souls that are creating our long-awaited wedding with loads of tradition that blends our two styles into rustic elegance in the foothills of Northern California.
We majorly scored with our photographer. He is a friend of the family as well as practically family to one of my bridesmaids. He gave us a sweet deal, plus he is super fun and easy to work with. When we were preparing for our engagement session I had to really think about where we wanted to take them. I wanted something unique that meant something to us. One of our groomsmen comes from a farming family and has lots of property out near the Capay Valley hills. Mr. Buck does quite a bit of hunting out on that property and to top it off, it is absolutely gorgeous. Luckily for us, they let us have free reign of their property to use for our photos.
We arrived at near dusk and began taking photos in front of the barn, in the almond orchard and in the wheat fields. We may have potentially ruined a few cents worth of wheat while we were trampling through it. Whoops.
What I loved most about our photographer is that he had no restrictions. He took photos for as long as we wanted and ventured off into all the obscure places that we desired. There were no boundaries for him, and this resulted in over 400 photos that he placed on a disc for us to use as we please.
AnonymousFeature Launched: September 23, 2011About: Bees explore issues related to wedding planning that they do not want to have tied to their real names/monikers.
As a little girl growing up, we think about all-things-fairytale surrounding weddings. Engagement parties, oohing and ahhing over diamonds, and giggling with our girlfriends about all the details. We go dress shopping and twirl around in a big princess dress with all our friends and mom watching. We dream of having this amazing time preparing for such a big day and everyone helping create that day with us.
Then when you get to that point in your life and you get asked that question by your love. All those dreams come whooshing back. You have this preconceived notion of what it’s supposed to be like because the media hypes it up that way and you grew up on that fantasy.
Then reality sets in, family dynamics get in the way, financial struggles come along, and you feel like all your fairytale dreams were just crushed in front of you.
You feel entitled to have that dream, because it’s your dream. As brides, we feel entitled to this fantasy that we have created for ourselves and we feel betrayed when others don’t help us achieve that. Read more…
Miss Fox, Washington DC/Havre de Grace, MDAge and Occupation: 26, Massage TherapistFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Field Support EngineerEngagement Date: April 18, 2010Wedding Date: June 2012Venue: Vandiver InnAbout Me: I’m a dancer turned massage therapist who was born and raised in New York. Alas, true love has brought me “south” where I still maintain my penchants for pretty shoes, wine, crossword puzzles, cherry blossoms, and the Mets. I own more sunglasses than a normal person should and don’t eat red meat (though I make up for it by eating my weight in sushi). I tend to be a big planner who likes to get things started early, but generally end up being indecisive and procrastinating when it comes down to it. I have a (not so) secret crush on Chris Carrabba, but my loyalty and love ultimately goes to the future hubs, of course! Together, my Foxy man and I love to discuss (read: debate) politics and current events, have Mario Kart and Scrabble duels, and just laugh. A lot. We’re hoping and planning for a laid back, fun, summery, rustic vibe to our June wedding that will be genuinely “us” – that is, if we finally make some decisions. Huzzah!
I bought a wedding dress! Already!! Well, technically my mom did, but it’s officially mine!
First, a recap:
I tried on several dresses in a relatively short time frame. I went shopping a total of four different times, with each one having something that I decided I could live with if I needed to.
The first option, if you recall, was Demetrios style GR181.
It fit fantastically and hugged me in all the right places and made me look sassy. The downfall, for me, was that it wasn’t really on par with the vibe we were going for with our wedding. If I were getting married in a church, maybe, but not for an outdoor wedding (which we’re having, BTW). So, while I still kept option one in the back of my mind, I knew it wasn’t the dress.
The second option was my favorite for a long time: 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!
We’re rounding the bend on our two-month anniversary and, so far, there’s not a wedding recap in sight. I wish I could tell you that they’re in the works, but that would be a big ol’ lie. Here’s the facts. I’d love to get started on my recaps yesterday. We have our professional pictures back and, minus our thank you notes, our wedding has officially come to a close. However, wanting to do recaps in the very near future and doing recaps in the very near future are two clearly different concepts.
Truthfully speaking, I’m getting clobbered by my current schedule. I’m struggling with my simultaneous transition into a new semester (my last semester!) and a new job. When I’m not feverishly trying to catch up on some homework or sleep, I’m trying my best to transition into that third new frontier—the whole marriage thing. Unfortunately, all of this newness consumes a hearty portion of my schedule. At this point, I don’t feel like I have the blocks of time necessary to outline, write, and add photos to all the recaps I would hope to produce while maintaining a quality that I desire. This tug-of-war between wanting and being able to is what has landed me in recap purgatory.
All of this, “Woe is me, how on earth could I possibly be expected to handle school and a job and a voluntary hobby all at once?!” actually has a purpose, I swear. The way I see it, there’s two options for recapping the Snow Cone wedding.
Miss Aardvark, Beaver Dam, WIAge and Occupation: 23, Assistant Product ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Business Analyst Engagement Date: May 28th, 2011Wedding Date: April 2012Venue: St. Philip Catholic Church/Arcadia Brewing Co.About Me: I am a resourceful lady who love surprises and adventure. At the same time, I value traditions, family and friends. I like to make crafty messes, sometimes, clean them up, and do pretty much anything outdoors. The Mister and I are pretty avid cyclists---we have nine bikes in our home right now...and one motorcycle! We both enjoy eating food we can't pronounce (language doesn't really matter) and going places we've never been. We currently reside in rural Wisconsin, enjoying the cheese and beer it has to offer, and getting outside whenever we can!
Perhaps I should answer the question, “What is the W.I.C.?” before I launch into an explanation of how and why it should/can be avoided.
The W.I.C. refers to the Wedding Industrial Complex. The W.I.C. has gotten bigger and badder in the last 20-ish years, and I blame the media! (Why not? It seems like everyone else does…) The W.I.C. is a monster that brides are bombarded with daily from the time they become engaged until they come back from the honeymoon. It creates a HUGE focus on a wedding with hardly any mention of a marriage! It can be is so easy to get sucked into and so hard to climb out of. It encourages a sense of entitlement and need for things and services that are totally superfluous (I love that word) to the marriage itself.
Original illustration of W.I.C. monster by yours truly
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that a wedding is not a beautiful thing that should be enjoyed and celebrated. Read more…
Mrs. Skunk, AtlantaAge and Occupation: 23, Post baccalaureate studentFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Mechanical DesignerEngagement Date: February 13, 2011Wedding Date: November 2011Venue: Neverland Farms About Me: I’m a Georgia peach born and raised in the dirty dirty. I love reading, baking lots of sweets and forcing them on my friends, and most of all, rock climbing. I am in the process of applying to graduate school in physical therapy and I work at farmers’ markets around town selling bread for a local bakery. The mister and I met while rock climbing just over two years ago and have been inseparable ever since. Our climbing friends mean the world to us and have played an integral role in our relationship. We’re planning a barnyard shindig filled with good food, good friends, and lots of love.
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!
Mrs. Honey, Durango, COAge and Occupation: 28, Financial AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Lab Tech/PhlebotomistEngagement Date: August 1, 2010Wedding Date: January 2012Venue: Vallecito LakeAbout Me: I am a Colorado girl through and through, marrying an adrenaline-fueled Alabama boy. We love the outdoors just about as much as we love spoiling our dog and three cats. On any given weekend you can find us being adventurous, doing anything from rafting to snowboarding, and everything in between. We live in an outdoor mecca and truly believe in "Work Hard, Play Harder." I'm an optimist to the core, a crafter wannabe, a Southern food cook-in-training and a big time believer in girls nights. We met, fell in love and got engaged in eight short months and are now knee-deep in planning what we hope to be a super-fun, very us wedding celebration. Join us as we plan a rustic meets whimsical, Colorado winter wedding with loads of personal touches and good food!
When we first announced that we would be marrying outside, in January, it seemed the first piece of unsolicited advice thrown my way was what to wear with my wedding dress. “You have GOT to wear a fur stole!” was (and still is) the most common. I didn’t even know what a stole was:
Miss Porcupine, NYC/Lancaster, PAAge and Occupation: 26, Sales Coordinator/PublishingFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Assistant Manager/SalesEngagement Date: August 8, 2010Wedding Date: March 2012Venue: Riverdale ManorAbout Me: I'm a born and bred New Yorker with a love/hate relationship for the city I have always called home. Although I may seem quiet from afar, I have a loud personality once you get to know me. I am a book nerd at heart, but love a night out in the city with good friends. I have a serious addiction to all things cheese, chocolate, cardigans, Mexican food, and reality TV. The future hubs and I met in college, settled in New York, and decided to go with a rustic/peacock infused wedding in Lancaster, PA, right near his hometown. Come the big day, we will be together 5 years, and we're looking forward to making it official!
Hive, I think I owe you a lot of updates on some things I left hanging that took place in a short span of time.
For one, I babbled on about the story of how Mr. Porcupine got my engagement ring, but I didn’t show you all some pertinent picture evidence that it even exists. Also, my wedding band came in fairly quickly, so here are both of those babies.
Miss Warbler, Long Beach/MalibuAge and Occupation: 24, Quality Assurance EditorFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Handheld AdministratorEngagement Date: December 7, 2010Wedding Date: April 2012Venue: Calamigos Ranch MalibuAbout Me: I’m a Korean BBQ loving, cheesecake enthusiast bride living in the LBC! By day I write and edit for an online search engine marketing company. By night I am a volunteer food taster of all that is delicious. I am fortunate to be marrying an amazing man who loves me and my quirky ways. I love food, books, indie music, and Harry Potter. We are planning a small, intimate wedding up in the Malibu Hills with our closest family and friends. With the help of my wonderful fiance, our loved ones, and red velvet cheesecake, our wedding will be glorious!
After going back and forth for a while, I’m finally ready to share my wedding shoes. Honestly, I’ve had them for a while, but I had my doubts.
In my last shoe post, I talked about my desire to rock red shoes. I found the Stuart Weitzman Turalu available online and figured I would buy it if nothing else sparked my interest. Unfortunately, most of the shoes that I wanted were discontinued in red or out of stock in general. I tried holding out until the holiday season in hopes that more red shoes would come out. But I had a feeling in my gut that if I waited too long my “safety” shoe would become unavailable too. The day after I bought them I checked the website again and they were no longer available in my size. Phew!
Mrs. Waffle, AustinAge and Occupation: 31, Costumer/ArtistFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, AnimatorEngagement Date: July 27, 2010Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Hummingbird HouseAbout Me: My life is pretty much spent in a sea of fabric, paint, sequins and drama. When I’m not working, I play on a trivia team, take Broadway dance classes, read, buy shoes, and occasionally geek out on video games. I am an American girl who loves all things British and Mr. Waffle is a Brit who loves all things American...I guess it was meant to be!
Our officiant Captain Toes / Photo by Steve Twigger
Hooray! We were finally at ceremony time! Let’s see…where did we leave off? Oh, yes! I had just met Grammy Waffle at the entrance of the tent and had changed from my jellies into my fancy heels.
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!
Anyone recognize this magazine? Yep…that’s the October 2011 issue of Brides magazine!
Spring Wedding Favors
