BrideofHugo and her husband share a handfasting ceremony at their wedding
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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.
Please pardon the pause in our wedding day recaps.
Hive, I’ve got to get this out in the open. I have been less than stellar in terms of our thank you notes lately.
Writing thank you notes was of utmost importance to me. If someone is going to go out of their way to spend money and give us a gift, they deserve our most sincere thanks. Bottom line. I can’t even express how disappointed I am in myself considering how poorly this situation has turned out.
We ordered a massive amount of thank you cards right at the beginning of planning, to make sure we always had some on hand for any gifts we received.
Things started off strong. For the gifts we got at our engagement party, I made sure that every single person got a thank you note immediately after the party. It was so exciting to get our first few wedding-related gifts, and it was so easy to get those few cards into the mail in no time. Done and done
Our Dallas area shower went off famously. My mom helped me make a really neatly detailed list of gifts, and again, thank you notes were out in the mail less than a week later. Read more…
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!
My first foray into dress shopping was prompted by a friend who was writing an article for a regional magazine’s wedding issue. I wasn’t really looking for my dress. I was just there to give my friend some photographs of a bride shopping at a local bridal shop.
That experience got me more excited to find my dress, so I selected three salons in the general region that carried the designers I had liked when I did my internet research. At the two salons in Washington, DC, I made weekday appointments and took the first appointment available each day. Without an entourage, I was hoping to try on as many dresses as possible to zero in on a few that would work for me. I wasn’t fixated on “the one” because I was pretty sure I’d see plenty of dresses that I would love.
My three shopping destinations / Photo by Miss Mink
At Hitched in Georgetown, I was hoping to try on some Amsale and Anne Barge dresses. Read more…
Miss Turkey, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 29, Brand ManagementFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, ConsultantEngagement Date: February 2011Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: The Rittenhouse HotelAbout Me: I'm a marketer who loves a good glass of wine, anything pumpkin-flavored, every crime drama on TV and, of course, Mr. Turkey. It's funny to say out loud, but we're former coworkers turned betrothed---now planning a wedding in the city of Brotherly Love. For three years, we've been eating our way through Philadelphia, playing tourist at home, and cheering for every sports team in the 215. Although we've hit some unplanned snags along the way, we're determined to have a rocking party this spring with our loud, fun families and friends.
We were very excited about our venue and the fact that we were working with empty space. However, we quickly discovered that with the plusses…also come minuses. For those of you brides considering a similar path, let me break out the yellow legal pad (HIMYM, anyone?) for some pros and cons.
PRO: Make it your own.
Everyone wants their wedding to be their own and to never hear things like: “Oh—so and so did that, too” or “That looks just like so and so’s centerpieces.” Especially if you share a venue.
Our hope was to reduce the chances of hearing those dreaded words about our reception. As you can see from these two photos below, despite sharing a space, these two weddings have very different feels—one simple and elegant, one fresh and rustic.
A nighttime wedding at the Hamilton Garden at the Kimmel CenterPhoto from Faith West Photography
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!
The other day I stopped into my hairdresser’s for a quick trim and a hair trial! If you remember, I already bought some fake hair to extend my ponytail and give the illusion of thick hair. Therefore, I knew going into my trial that I wanted a side ponytail hairstyle. I also thought I’d really like to include some sort of braid into my hair. I’m not big on super intricate updos, but wanted to keep my hair out of my face so I wasn’t tempted to touch it all night long. Now I forgot my fake hair, so you will have to picture it with a long, thick, curly ponytail, but here is what we came up with:
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 know talking about centerpieces and table type things isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but it’s definitely one of those little details that help make the general feel of a wedding come together in the end.
Now, I’m not one for big centerpieces. I still ooh and aah over them in pictures and at other people’s weddings, but they just aren’t my cup of tea, nor would they really look right at our wedding.
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.
No dancing on table tops or maxing out credit cards, but I’m sure at least one person woke up wondering if they had a hickey or a bruise. This post is all about partying without having a truly good reason to do so.
The one benefit of having such a large wedding party that’s comprised of people I spend a ton of time with already is all the extra hanging out that takes on a wedding theme. We already have five official wedding-related events, but this post is about the unofficial events. We had a bridezilla pizza party, we’re coming up on part two of our three part makeup-for-the-chicks party. And last Friday night, we had a signature drink party.
Our venue has a number of drink packages to choose from for the reception. The one we went with includes a signature drink. They had several options we could choose from or we could develop our own. Mr. Kettle and I quickly decided to develop our own. Read more…
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 know I mentioned here that my first wedding purchase was shoes. Technically that is not true. It was my first big purchase, but truth be told my first purchase for the wedding was actually a piggy bank.
Yes, a piggy bank. Two days after our engagement I was at the Hallmark store and I found this:
You know that phase you go through soon after your engagement where you buy ANYTHING that might say “wedding,” “bride,” or “groom” on it? Yeah, I was definitely in that phase. I bought everything. (Because apparently I really needed that Bride key chain? I know. Lame.)
Mrs. Hippo, New York City/Dallas, TXAge and Occupation: 34, Event Planner for a Non-Profit Fiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Finance ITEngagement Date: August 8, 2009Wedding Date: March 2011Venue: Samuel Lynne Galleries and Marc EventsAbout Me: I’m a thirty-something bride living in New York City and planning a modern-ish wedding in Dallas, Texas. I love trashy reality television (Jersey Shore, anyone?), online shopping, Sunday brunch, Central Park, and random celebrity spottings on the streets of Manhattan. While I love NYC, I miss good Tex-Mex, my college friends, central A/C, and being in close proximity to a Target. I’m thrilled to finally be planning an event that’s not work-related and to be marrying my best friend in what I hope will be a unique and personal ceremony followed by a reception with plenty of good food, good drinks, and dancing (regardless if it’s good or not).
Well hello there, hive! I’m popping back in to let all my Dallas and Fort Worth area peeps know that we will be having a local meet-up right after the holidays! Several of us have been chatting on the local boards about getting together, and we would love to have anyone and everyone join us. Whether you are newly engaged, in the middle of your wedding planning, or have already gotten married and are still on the Weddingbee bandwagon (like me!), come join us to chat and relax over a glass of wine. It will be right after the holidays so you’ll probably need a glass of wine, and it’s before any New Year’s resolutions will have kicked in!
Miss Mole, Los Angeles/Las VegasAge and Occupation: 29, Test Prep InstructorFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, User Experience ArchitectEngagement Date: April 2011Wedding Date: January 2012Venue: Wynn Las Vegas/Bouchon BistroAbout Me: I’m a Wisconsinite-turned-Angeleno who is planning a destination wedding in Las Vegas. I am passionate about education: I spent 23 (!) consecutive years in school, and now I work to help other people get into graduate programs. I love running on the treadmill, buying bath products from Lush, learning new moves in step aerobics, and exploring my neighborhood on foot. I am sometimes snobby about food, but I am rarely snobby about books. I read everything from Geoffrey Chaucer to Iris Murdoch to Chuck Klosterman to Candace Bushnell. My fiance and I are getting married on our third anniversary!
It’s hard to shop for swimsuits in December. A lot of retailers, online or otherwise, are still stocking heavy Fair Isle sweaters and fleece-lined jeans instead of bikinis and cover-ups. When I do find suits for sale, I also find that my blinding white skin tends to distract me from the cuteness of the pattern or style.
I did, however, have some luck finding a very important swim suit accessory on Amazon. I even picked up an extra one for Mr. Mole.
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!
Last Saturday, bridesmaids, family, and friends helped to throw me the coolest bachelorette party.
How cool you ask? Take a look at this!
This is NOT a Photoshopped picture! I will get to the details behind this in a minute.
The evening started at my home where I was greeted by a house full of ladies after my makeup trial. We gathered in the den where I opened a few belated shower gifts and was presented with some attire for the night—including the best hat ever!! Read more…
ClassifiedsFeature Launched: April 30, 2008About: A roundup of the best Weddingbee Classified listings.
Mrs. Cinnamon Bun, Calgary, AlbertaAge and Occupation: 26, Stage ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Theatre TechnicianEngagement Date: June 22, 2010Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Calgary Opera CentreAbout Me: I'm a life-long crafter and bookworm living in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Some of my loves include Lord of the Rings, Sherlock Holmes, knitting, opera, musicals, Etsy, baking, and of course, Mr. Cinnamon Buns. We're keeping our wedding close to home---the venue isn't very far from our house, and we live within walking distance of 6 bridal salons. I'm using the wedding as an excuse to try out every craft project I possibly can, with the endless help and support of my fiance.
The random number generator seemed to have a thing for family, which really, is what a wedding is all about. Here are 10 of our wedding photos chosen by the RNG.
I love this photo because my beloved bouquets are in the front, and we look so relaxed. In actuality, we weren’t relaxed at all because we’d just taken off our shoes (quite a production for me) and were doing our best not to get our dresses dirty. I’m actually boosting myself off the ground with my hands! Read more…
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!
Hi hive! Whew, am I glad this last week is over. It was a busy one; from jury duty to decorating our Christmas tree…clearly life doesn’t stop when you are planning a wedding and anxiously trying to write a post to reveal your invites to an important online community! We have had RSVPs rolling in since last week and I think it’s safe to say that our invitations have reached our guests and I can finally share them with you!
Having designed, created, and assembled every part of these, they were certainly a labor of love but I’m also relieved to have them completed. You remember my mailbox reaction? That has dissipated and has been replaced with giddiness each time I check our mailbox and see it filled with RSVPs. Without further ado, the Honey invitations!
Starting with the envelope, that I’m oddly in love with:
Mrs. Lioness, AtlantaAge and Occupation: 25, Physical TherapistFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, AttorneyEngagement Date: August 29, 2009Wedding Date: April 2011Venue: Anthony’s Fine DiningAbout Me: I’m a Southern girl with New England roots. I say "wicked" and "y’all" in the same sentence and I like to drink sweet tea with my lobster. Mr. Lion and I are both former Floridians now living in Atlanta, which fortunately is still SEC country...Go Gators! We both love baseball, coffee, traveling, cooking, and playing Words with Friends with each other on our iPhones all day long. I’m very passionate about the things and the people I love, and I tend to plan things with all of my heart...our wedding, of course, is no different! Oh, and also Mr. Lion is a first generation American of Cuban descent. I may look more like Lucy than Ricky, but I’m doing my best to incorporate some Latin elements into our vintage-garden-Southern wedding!
This post is hardly a recap. I’m not telling the story of an important wedding memory. I’m not revisiting a DIY project that you saw before our wedding. I’m not providing insight or advice that could pertain to your wedding. But these photos are some of my favorites from the entire day, and I just thought they deserved their very own post.
We put together Atlanta-themed OOT bags for our guests. Needless to say, these included glass bottles of Coca Cola. Our photographer (who was an OOT guest himself) was clever enough to bring his bottle with him to use as a prop. The resulting photos were pure Atlanta pride.
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
