Miss Kettle, Chicago, ILAge and Occupation: 26, Non-Profit Donor Resource CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Musician & TeacherEngagement Date: May 29, 2011Wedding Date: February 2012Venue: Patrick C. Haley Mansion, Joliet, ILAbout Me: I'm a city girl who loves a good escape, so I'm planning a Chicago wedding outside of the city. I've been described as a quirky yet down-to-earth drama queen who loves fiercely. I used to be a scientist, but now I'm learning to navigate the world of non-profit organizations. I love cooking, blogging, shopping, and music, and movies (Hans Zimmer is my favorite movie composer). Mr. Kettle and I had a short courtship and now we have a happy home with our cat-who-thinks-she's-people, Belle. We spend our days and nights with good food, live music, video games, family, and friends. Our wedding has become this wonderful excuse to bring together hundreds of people we can't bear to be without.
A small handful of us Chicagoans met this past Sunday. I only took one picture, and that was on my Blackberry. I’m still trying to find my camera.
We went to Panera. I walked in, late as I always seem to be, and looked around with no idea of how to find the other women. Luckily, they spotted me. I’m so glad I have my picture up on Weddingbee because I’m not very comfortable approaching people I don’t know.
We had lunch and chatted about Ms. Snax’s honeymoon. She already had her wedding photos up. While we were looking at them, we noticed the next pictures right after hers were the engagement photos for Anne, who was also at the meet!
I must admit that, most days, I feel incredibly jaded about this whole wedding-planning thing. I just want it to be over. I want the big decisions finally hammered out so I can spend all my time on my DIY projects. I will get it together, hive, I promise.
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.
So after we danced our way back down the aisle, we gathered our families and the wedding party for some quick formals.
Typically I’m not a big fan of posed shots but, looking back, I’m really glad we have them. Usually formals aren’t too exciting, but there were some moments that I just had to highlight.
Miss Raccoon, IndianapolisAge and Occupation: 22, StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Graduate StudentEngagement Date: Christmas 2010Wedding Date: January 2012Venue: Catholic Church, Chateau Thomas WineryAbout Me: I'm a wholesome Midwestern girl, TV series junkie, professional shower singer, and Anglophile. I love my fiance, crock pot cooking, my cat Heepo, going for the gusto, and all things wedding. Mr. Raccoon is pretty sweet, too! He’s a mad scientist that loves to travel. We met my first night on campus and have been inseparable since.
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. 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!
Hi all! Just an update to let you know that we’re still covering the shows thru Monday on Twitter and Facebook! Stop in on social media and say hi, and check out all the eye candy!
Mrs. Sand Dollar, HoustonAge and Occupation: 24, Graphic DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 22, Electrical TechnicianEngagement Date: January 8, 2010Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: MacLean ParkAbout Me: I'm a domestic diva down to the core. I heart cooking, sewing, baking, decorating and making sure we have a hand-crafted home. The best part about the wedding is I get to incorporate it all! I make sure I put my art degree to good use by screen printing, craft knife cutting, and a whole lotta graphic design. We're having a big-time party on a small-time budget, and I promise to show you a boot-scootin', barbecue-eatin', finger-lickin' good time! Mr. Sand Dollar and I spend most of our time on DIY projects or traipsing around the outdoors with our two pooches Rory and Juno. I'm looking forward to sharing our journey with all of you!
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.
I last left off at eagerly awaiting Florist A’s quote. I was really hoping that she would be within reason, because she was definitely my favorite florist between the two. Well I am happy to say that her prices were within our budget and we booked her. My chosen florist is Blooms by Martha Andrews. Let me give you a little peek into some of the incredible work she has done.
Miss Dalmatian, Nashville, TNAge and Occupation: 23, Pediatric NurseFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Computer Engineer and Entrepreneur Engagement Date: April 13, 2011Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: Historic CedarwoodAbout Me: I am a Northern girl from Chicago who is planning a wedding filled with Southern charm in Nashville, Tennessee. I love dogs, the White Sox, Full House reruns, and anything with ruffles on it. Mr. Dalmatian is my computer-genius problem-solving fiance who is constantly teaching me new things and making me a better person. We live with our adopted pup Echo, who is very excited that his parents are getting married!
Let me start by explaining that I have the two most wonderful sisters. They are my best friends, and I can’t imagine my wedding (or any other significant moment in my life) without them standing next to me.
Shopping - it’s what we do best.
Sister A was the first of us to get married. We briefly tossed around the idea of rotating maid-of-honor duties but we all agreed that we didn’t want to be maid-of-honor for just one our sisters, and we didn’t want just one of our sisters to be our maid-of-honor. So the decision was made that we would each have two co-maids-of-honor. After all, double the maids of honor, double the fun! 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 will tell you this about my dress: it’s relatively simple. It has just a bit of bling, but the cut and fabric make up for the lack of “stuff” going on. That being said, one of it’s selling points to me was the fact that it had buttons. Buttons that went from top of the back of the dress alllll the way down to the end of the train. Simply gorgeous, and as I said, pretty much the deciding factor in declaring this dress the one.
So.
I went into my initial try-on at RK Bridal incredibly excited.. I mean, who wouldn’t be?! There it was, hanging in the dressing room, my beauty in all its glory. I slipped that baby on (and actually remembered to bring a strapless bra this time, woo hoo!) and was thrilled that the top and bodice fit me to a T. Porkfect. I could tell that even with the one pair of 4″ heels I’d be wearing during the wedding that I would still need to get the dress hemmed a bit—no biggie. I also need to get cups or something sewn into the top, but I already figured that would be the case regardless of the dress I bought.
Foxy Mama and I taking pictures of each other taking pictures of my dress
So far, so good.
While I was admiring myself from the front, side, and back (narcissistic much?).. I noticed that those buttons I mentioned? Stopped midway down my butt, where the zipper stopped (yes they are faux-buttons, whatevs). Um…where were my buttons??? Read more…
WatercoolerFeature Launched: July 1, 2007About: The most discussed posts of the week.
Mrs. Parasol, San Ramon, CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 25, Non-profit writer, editor, and bloggerFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Law school studentEngagement Date: December 19th, 2010Wedding Date: September 2011Venue: Bent Creek Winery (Livermore, California); Reception: Family Residence (San Ramon, California) About Me: I am a California girl at heart. I love the outdoors, sunny days at the beach, and hiking in the woods and mountains. I also love good books and am fresh from completing my Master's degree in English and Comparative Literature in New York City. Living in NYC was an amazing experience, and while I'm glad to be back on the West Coast, I'm also thankful that my two years back East gave me an opportunity to explore new places, make new friends, and indulge my passion for Broadway shows. Oh, and I received a pretty awesome proposal from Mr. Parasol in Central Park. Above all else, Mr. Parasol is my biggest cheerleader and my best friend. But even though I'm thrilled to be marrying him, I wasn't always totally on board with this whole wedding thing and at first, I wanted to run off and elope. I've finally been convinced to throw the wedding I never thought I wanted, and so now I'm busy planning an intimate September wedding filled with DIY details. Along the way, I'm slowly learning to appreciate, perhaps even love the wedding planning process.
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!
More detail shots comin’ at ya! I never really showed you lovelies the desserts, decor, and flowers. Here they are…
Cake and Dessert Table
All of these amazing sweet treats and our six-inch cutting cake were done by Blue Note Bakery. The trays and cake stand were borrowed from friends. I stamped takeout boxes so guests could take the sweets home. We only had a handful left over at the end of the night because they were soooooo good!
Tray with assorted mini desserts: pecan pies, key lime blackberry bars, eclairs, s’mores, and custard tarts.
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 opened up to the idea of looking at photographers outside of my area, I was searching left, right, up, and down all over America for the right person for us. I wished someone would just hand me the perfect choice on a platter, because searching for photographers under rocks (also known as “flash websites”) was so time consuming and vexing! There are so many amazing talented photographers in the world, and I just wanted to find someone to love and trust!*
*Am I talking about a photographer here or a lover??
It only took a few weeks of crazy photographer searching before I was absolutely sick of flash websites with their godforsaken automatic music players interrupting my tunes. There’s not really a quick way to go through a myriad of flash portfolios, but when you open up a dozen portfolios in separate tabs and they ALL start playing their lame “heartfelt” music simultaneously, it’s enough to make a bride scream. I was already annoyed that it was taking me ages to flip through flash galleries with images loading at a snail’s pace, but the stereotypical mandatory music just pushed me over the edge. Sometimes if the song was bad enough, I would just close the portfolio and cross that photographer off the list like a stubborn baby.
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!
My friend and I were talking the other day about a book she has been reading about relationships called The 5 Love Languages. In the book, the concept of a “love tank” is brought up and how to keep that tank full.
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!
We’ve been flip-flopping on the wedding lately. Mostly because I haven’t been able to get the idea of a wedding video out of my mind. Everywhere I look, I see awesome wedding videos around the web and, of course, from the bees. Who doesn’t want their wedding day immortalized with a sentimental indie song playing in the background? Mrs. Giraffe’s awesome post about why you need a videographer finally convinced me. Good job, Mrs. G!
The most random shirt ever. Please don’t buy this. / Image via Zazzle.com
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
