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.
Hello hive! Mr. Funnel Cake and I are finally back from our fabulous Hawaiian honeymoon. (OK, it wasn’t super fabulous, but it was still a pretty good trip. It may or may not have had to do with the tropical storms circling the islands while we were there…)
Miss Elk, City: Syracuse/Long IslandAge and Occupation: 25, Medical StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Computer EngineerEngagement Date: November 22, 2010Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: The Old Field Club About Me: I’m a Long Island girl finishing my last year of medical school in western NY, on the road to becoming a pediatrician. When I’m not studying or sleeping at the hospital, I spend my free time watching bad TV (Vampire Diaries anyone?), playing with my pooch, singing incredibly off-key (to the annoyance of Mr. Elk ), and reading Harry Potter for the zillionth time. Mr. Elk and I are planning a secular wedding infused with both Irish and cultural Jewish traditions. Only a week after I become an M.D., I will get my Mrs. degree, too!
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!
Remember the frustration I felt shopping with my mom for her dress? Well, it was all for naught because she found her dress! Without me. I guess shopping with me put too much pressure on her shoulders. Sometimes it’s better to just step back and trust the woman who brought you into this world. I received an excited phone call from her over the weekend. Not only did she find her dress, she also found dresses for my Special Ops Flower Girls (shhh, we’re working on something). Sweet. Now that all of my ladies have their dresses, it’s the guys’ turn! Good luck Mr. Warbs!
I have no idea which store she purchased these dresses from. When I asked she could only say, “Um…it was a store next to Target.” Only my mother. Here are the dresses! Sorry about the photo quality.
Flower Girl Apple, Mama Warbs and Flower Girl Lala
Miss Mink, Charlottesville, VirginiaAge and Occupation: 34, College AdministratorFiance's Age and Occupation: 40, Craft Beer ConsultantEngagement Date: November 26, 2010Wedding Date: June 2012Venue: Pippin Hill Farm & VineyardsAbout Me: I left a pre-war brownstone in Boston six years ago to live in a funky, Southern city where Thomas Jefferson, Dave Matthews, and urban chicken keepers enjoy equal social standing. I still love my Patriots and Red Sox, but have fallen in love with Virginia. I work in education and specialize in integrating technology into my work to improve the student experience. I’m a diehard blogger, animal lover, jamband follower, and DIYer. I paint to relax and have transferred by energy from home projects to wedding projects in recent months. When Mr. Mink and I started talking about marriage, we knew our wedding would be outdoors, that my golden retriever would be part of the day, and that the music would be fantastic. We’ve taken a few risks during our planning process and we’ve been enjoying the process immensely!
When Mr. Mink and I started talking about getting married, we thought we wanted a vineyard wedding. Our area of Virginia is home to many wonderful vineyards, some owned by some well known celebrities. We started visiting a different vineyard each Sunday for a tasting and a cheese plate as an informal way to assess the options. A few felt like possible matches, and when we went to a wedding at one of our favorites, we were almost certain it was the right place for us.
Once we were engaged, we revisited some of those vineyards, exploring a few other options and collecting fee schedules and menus in hopes of making a decision before those who got engaged over the holidays started their planning. Nothing like the prospect of a little competition to get you out of your newly engaged haze!
The Inn was the closest venue to downtown Charlottesville, and it was beautiful. It had a very “old Virginia” feel to it, and our small-ish wedding wouldn’t be dwarfed by the spaces on the property. The inn is known for its fantastic food, so we knew our guests would be fed well. The rental fee was higher than any other venue we visited, but it included exclusive use of the grounds for the weekend. The catch: we also had to rent all 17 guest rooms for two nights. That was not included in the rental fee.
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!
Between my spheres and the pom poms I’m (still) making, yarn is ending up with quite the presence in our big day. We aren’t doing a monogram on our cake, so when I came across yarn wrapped letters, I knew it was the perfect way to incorporate our initials, and yes, more yarn.
Miss Hawk, Richmond, VAAge and Occupation: 26, FinanceFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, District SupervisorEngagement Date: March 13, 2011Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: The Chapel of the Sir Christopher Wren Building, 2007 Legacy HallAbout Me: I’m an Arizona-born girl who has spent the majority of my life living below the Mason-Dixon line. The South has definitely earned a special place in my heart (alongside my Virginia born and bred fiance, of course!). We are planning a traditional Christian ceremony at my alma mater in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, followed by a rocking reception filled with Southern cooking and vintage/shabby chic details. When we’re not wedding planning, we enjoy spending time with our three dogs, going for runs together, watching plenty of football (or baseball depending on the season), and sampling new wine.
One reason I think Mr. Hawk and I work together is our shared common beliefs when it comes to religion. Both of us grew up in families where faith and Christianity were an integral part of our upbringing. So having a traditional Christian ceremony in a church was a no-brainer. The difficulty was who would officiate?
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 had been talking about registering for quite some time now, but the wedding always seemed so far off that we didn’t feel it was necessary quite yet. Well, now that we are at that six-month mark, we decided it was as good of a time as ever. So we set out to the first place on our list, Bed Bath and Beyond.
You guys, you always imagine the scanning gun would be fun…right? I am here to tell you that yes, it is in fact one of the most fun things EVER. You get to walk around and scan anything you want. The problem with that is you can scan anything you want. It is dangerous, and you feel powerful. That is not a joke, it is true.
We really did try and be smart when choosing things that we wanted on our registry. Like usual, they did try and push the china. We had no interest in china, so we left it off. We added some big ticket items like our cooking set and a Keurig coffeemaker, but also added a ton of smaller items like utensils and drinking glasses.
At one point I did start to get frustrated when I would scan something and then realize the price was astronomical. I scanned an accent pillow that turned out to be $60. AN ACCENT PILLOW. Not even a full size pillow, a small little pillow that was $60. Is it stuffed with gold dipped goose feathers? Read more…
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!
We had one of the most successful wedding task weekends ever, and it’s kinda weird that everything is starting to come together. First up, I’ll start with the most delicious part of the weekend: the EATZ.
Like most brides I worry about people bitchin’ about the wedding food. Overall, when I go to weddings I never expect some type of insane 5-star quality food. I just expect SOMETHING of substance to put in my belly so that I can have some cocktails without baby necking (when you start to fall asleep and your head hits your shoulder).
Our tasting slot was early—10 AM. So, yes, we had dinner for breakfast, and luckily it was all so good that I didn’t mind eating soup with my Dunkin’ coffee. Read more…
Miss Unicycle, Chicago, ILAge and Occupation: 23, Editor for a Web Publishing CompanyFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, MD/PhD StudentEngagement Date: March 26, 2011Wedding Date: June 2012Venue: Bridges of Poplar CreekAbout Me: I’m a writer by trade who likes analyzing pop culture, making fun of celebrities, and laughing until I cry. I’m the queen of half-assed crafts, and there’s nothing I won’t try to DIY. You can usually find me reading blogs on my laptop in front of a good Lifetime movie, wine in hand. I’m planning a polka-dotted summertime wedding to my physics geek college sweetheart, and when I’m not making stupid puns I’m freaking out about my wedding timeline.
One thing I forgot to mention that I crafted in preparation for the engagement session was our date banner!
Personal pic
So now that you’ve seen all the junk I made for the pics, it’s time to show you the actual pics themselves! We decided to have the engagement session in Milwaukee, since that’s where Mr. Unicycle and I met, fell in love, and spent the first three and a half years of our relationship. Jenn said she would love to do a shoot there—score! There were a few locations I knew I wanted to hit up:
Marquette’s campus: It’s picturesque, as most college campuses are, it’s where we met, and it’s what people expect from an engagement session.
The lakefront: it’s also picturesque, and it’s where Mr. Unicycle proposed!
The Milwaukee Art Museum: It’s basically a photographer’s dream, as it’s filled with tons of natural light, features beautiful architecture, and is basically all white.
The 3rd/5th Ward: I’m a sucker for urban shots of decrepit storefronts, peeling paint, and brick walls with oozing mortar, and I think Jenn is, too.
Jenn actually researched photo ops online beforehand and sent me these inspiration pics:
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!
I actually wasn’t sure I was going to have a shower for the wedding. My amazing aunt threw me a family shower (complete with ornaments and undies for the gifts!) while I was home last Christmas, which was a lot of fun! I would have called it a day at that. But apparently my mom and BMs had other plans.
As you may have gathered from my bacheloretteparty in Victoria, BC, I like tea. A lot. And I like tea parties even more. So, of course, my lovely BMs and aunt decided to throw a beautiful tea-themed shower in my honor. They seriously rock. Have I mentioned how much I love my family and friends?
First, let’s look at this cake that BM L made. She made it. For real. It is a tea pot. A tea pot cake. Yes, she is ridiculously talented.
And not only did it look ridiculously cool, it also tasted delicious. Read more…
Miss Elk, City: Syracuse/Long IslandAge and Occupation: 25, Medical StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Computer EngineerEngagement Date: November 22, 2010Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: The Old Field Club About Me: I’m a Long Island girl finishing my last year of medical school in western NY, on the road to becoming a pediatrician. When I’m not studying or sleeping at the hospital, I spend my free time watching bad TV (Vampire Diaries anyone?), playing with my pooch, singing incredibly off-key (to the annoyance of Mr. Elk ), and reading Harry Potter for the zillionth time. Mr. Elk and I are planning a secular wedding infused with both Irish and cultural Jewish traditions. Only a week after I become an M.D., I will get my Mrs. degree, too!
Do you see the problem? She is having a really hard time raising her arms above her head!! Those straps are surprisingly restricting, making it near impossible to raise your arms above shoulder height. Obviously, I don’t really care all that much, seeing as I bought the dress, but it does present somewhat of a problem when it comes to one main part of the wedding: The first dance. You see, Mr. Elk is about a foot taller than me, and so it is imperative that I be able to actually reach his shoulders, a feat that may not be possible with those straps!
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.
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.
Wedding morning dawned. I’m normally a pretty early riser and today was no different. I enjoyed some quiet time in the room by myself as Mr. Gazelle was checked in to a hotel. I took the opportunity to read through my vows and to finish putting pen to paper, expressing what I wanted to say. Soon it was time to emerge, say good morning to my family and friends all staying at the house, and then to make my way to the salon to get my hair done.
My maid of honor, bridesmaid, flower girl, and I all had hair appointments at Suki’s Salon on West Georgia in Vancouver. I picked this particular salon because they were open on Sundays and they had plenty of stylists on hand Sunday morning who specialized in updos. It is also where I have had the most amazing shampoo experience ever! I was pretty excited when my stylist suggested that they wash my hair at the salon in the morning so she could dry it exactly as she needed it for my style.
I had originally thought that I would go for a low side bun, as per my hair trial. The week of the wedding I found new inspiration while watching the Top Chef Canada finale. I love the host’s lost centered bun and the way her hair looked from the front. My biggest issue with my hair trial was that I wasn’t a fan of how my hair looked from the front (that I sadly never got a picture of). Here is my new inspiration, courtesy of Thea Andrews on Top Chef Canada: Read more…
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.
I love purple statice. I thought I was getting purple status, but after looking at the picture from before (and a quick Google search to confirm), I was actually getting purple statice. This is an amazing flower. They’re so bright and vibrant. And it’s a sturdy flower, which is great because I really like to run my hand over it again and again. I can’t help it because it feels like a lei.
Dresses via Bari Jay/ Poor Photoshopping by moi
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
Image via Style Me Pretty / Photo by Katy Gray
