Mrs. Wallaby, Houston
Age and Occupation: 24, Environmental EngineerEngagement Date: January 1, 2012Wedding Date: November 2012Venue: Oak Tree ManorAbout Me: I'm a free-spirited, adventurous girl who loves anything active, reading, traveling, cooking up new dishes for my fiancé, and working on my budding garden. My fiancé is an athletic, intellectual, animal-loving guy with an obsession with basketball and who treats me with the deepest compassion and respect. We are both engineers, and we met at our workplace. Together we complement one another and make a great team, and we are excitedly counting down the days until our outdoor wedding in Houston in November. We're planning a green wedding with lots of Persian cultural touches, and I can't wait to share all of the before-and-after details of our special day
Hive, remember when I shared my ceremony decor inspiration? The focal point of our ceremony site is an enormous old oak tree, so I contemplated draping the tree with white or ivory cloth to create an “altar.”
Well, I finally got around to sourcing a long piece of ivory fabric to drape from the branches of our own ceremony tree!
My little quest began at Jo-Ann Fabric. I arrived armed with a 40% off coupon and determined to keep the purchase below $40—or even cheaper, if possible. I confess that I do not know very much about fabric—I’m much more experienced with painting, sketching, and building than sewing and quilting. I added a lot of new terms to my vocabulary when I went dress shopping: tulle, taffeta, organza, charmeuse…embarrassing, I know! So when I entered Jo-Ann Fabric, I had no idea what type of fabric to search for. I made my way up and down the aisles, pulling bolts of all different types of white and ivory cloth off the shelf. Soon I was struggling under the weight of at least 20 bolts of fabric, so I lugged them all to the fabric-cutting counter and laid them side-by-side to compare.
There was a really friendly lady waiting in front of me in line, and she was curious about my project. I showed her my inspiration pic on my phone, and she studied my fabric choices with a quizzical look. She immediately nixed the muslin. (Oops!) She pointed out that satin would be pretty shiny in photos, and tulle is too sheer to achieve the same look as my inspiration pic. She helped me find a few different fabrics that were much better for the job. But when we checked the prices, my stomach dropped, because I realized I wouldn’t be able to walk out of there without spending more than $50. I needed at least 12 yards of fabric, and all of the fabrics we were looking at cost at least $8 a yard. My 40%-off coupon wouldn’t even help enough to stay within budget.
But then this kind lady leaned over and whispered something in my ear:
Mrs. Toadstool, Obregon, MexicoAge and Occupation: 23, Research AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Sales ManagerEngagement Date: October 1, 2011Wedding Date: December 2012Venue: Hacienda los AgavesAbout Me: I’m a born and bred Mexican girl with a severe coffee addiction, an obsession for books and an aversion for exercise. I like to plan things, so this wedding’s my dream project---I just need to remind myself from time to time that I’m the bride and not just the planner. I recently realized brown’s my favorite color as I was trying to incorporate it in every aspect of our wedding and I'm dreaming of an autumn vibe since we don’t have that around here. I’m marrying my best friend and partner in crime on the day of our nine-year anniversary! He’s an awesome, smart, fun guy who is patient, and crazy enough to spend the rest of his life with me. We’re planning our not-so-dreamy dream wedding in December in a non-traditional way and making it our own.
I had no idea it was called a boutonniere before Weddingbee. I used to call it “the groom’s chest thing,” and I still call it that in Spanish because I have no idea what it’s called.
I wanted Mr. Toadstool’s bout to somehow connect with my bouquet, and that means wooden flowers.
I decided to add some dried baby’s breath, so I cut a small bunch, taped it, and wrapped some ribbon around it.
Next I glued three flowers to a little branch from the baby’s breath and glued everything together. Oh and remember how Mr. Toadstool’s job involves bumble bees? I added one of the bee charms I got from 900 Jewelry a while ago.
I did the same for the rest of the guys but with a smaller bunch of baby’s breath and just one flower. Natural wood for the groomsmen, and orange for the dads and my brother.
Mrs. Gray Wolf, Washington DCAge and Occupation: 26, Business Development ExecutiveFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Research ScientistEngagement Date: November 11, 2011Wedding Date: February 2013Venue: Whittemore HouseAbout Me: I'm an ultra-organized, pun-loving, list-making, cheese-enthusiast bride-to-be. Although my day job is in cubicle land, I'm happiest in the modern art wing of a museum, having recently earned my Masters in Museum Studies. Shortly after a chance meeting five years ago, I moved in with Wolfman and haven't looked back since. We love music, movies, TV, and all things pop culture; we have an unspoken competition to be the first to share the latest YouTube sensation or indie song. Together, we've filled quite a few pages in our passports, but also love quiet nights in with a Game of Thrones marathon and our French Bulldog, Tonks (Harry Potter, anyone?). I'm planning a small, cozy winter wedding---think mercury glass and candle light---in the heart of DC. Our venue is a historic home with a lot of political charm, but needs a bit of work to be wedding-ready.
OK! Man, I sure have stretched out this thing, haven’t I? Sorry.
The wording was the easiest part of the invitation process. I fiddled with it a little, but I really liked this phrasing:
Together with their families
Bride & Groom
Invite you to celebrate as they become husband and wife
Something about having “husband and wife” printed out was neat. I figured we’d keep it relatively simple with an invitation, accommodations card, and an RSVP card. I laid everything out in Word, used my fonts and stuff…but man, was it boring. I thought we might watercolor on the paper a la my save the date, but I didn’t want to do the same thing over, and I think what worked on a flat card wouldn’t be as awesome inside the invitation.
Enter my MOH. I sent her my documents with the missive to “add SOMETHING.” A border, a graphic, something that would fill the space and not look so boring. I included a few inspiration pieces:
Miss Cauldron, New York City/AustinAge and Occupation: 33, Human ResourcesFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, TechnologyEngagement Date: October 8, 2011Wedding Date: September 2012Venue: Pecan Grove at the Salt LickAbout Me: I grew up in the Lone Star State, but moved to NYC after college to get a taste of the Big Apple, and never left. I love baking, yoga, Mr. C, and sunshine (not necessarily in that order)! Mr. C and I met on Match.com back in 2007, and our second date was at a Texas barbecue restaurant in Manhattan. It’s only fitting that after almost five years together, we are getting married at an iconic Texas barbecue joint. (Shiner Bock and brisket, anyone?) I’m proud of the life we have built together around our love for each other, Mr. C’s crazy dog Bosley, and fun sailing adventures on our boat, and I’m looking forward to celebrating our marriage at one seriously awesome party in September.
We received our amazing wedding photos from Lindsey & Beto Photography just after Thanksgiving, and it’s been so much fun reliving the big day through all of their images. Our wedding day truly came together just as I had hoped, and after two months of marriage, I still think fondly about all the love we felt and all the fun we had. Lindsey and Beto’s photos captured so much of that love, fun, and celebration, that I know their images will keep all those moments fresh in our memories for many years to come.
Mrs. 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!
Although the weather cleared up for our wedding day, some of the ground was still muddy, so we didn’t get to venture too far for our couple portraits. As much as I was looking forward to an awesome photo shoot next to the venue’s ferris wheel, I didn’t even care the day of the wedding. Maybe it had something to do with my new-found calm.
Or else, I didn’t want to get my kick ass shoes all muddy.
Priorities!
The rain did make everything look more green and fresh for the photos. We took advantage of all the greenery around us.
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winners: lovemyolive, cowpoke06, and Sakura99!
~~~
Hooray for the holidays! They’re finally here, and we know you’re searching for the perfect gifts for your nearest and dearest this month, so we’re super excited to be teaming up with Blue Nile to bring you a few sweet gift ideas for your favorite people. Not only that, but we’re putting YOU at the top of our gifting list this month by giving away a little Blue Nile bling to THREE lucky hive members!
Blue Nile is the largest online retailer of certified diamonds, engagement rings, and fine jewelry, with over 80,000 diamonds to choose from! From wedding rings, to gemstone jewelry, and even keepsakes for your girls (pearls or mini-diamonds make fab gifts for your bridesmaids and mom!), shopping for the perfect-little-something for the holidays or as a thank you for being a special part of your wedding has never been more convenient.
With so many options to choose from, we wanted to see where you stand on some crucial wedding-related jewelry by taking a quick Weddingbee survey! Do you think your jewelry style falls in line with the majority of the hive’s preferences? There’s only one way to find out: vote in the polls below. We’ll be selecting three lucky poll participants who will each receive one of the following: the Horseshoe Diamond Mini, the Agate Statement Necklace, or these lovely Amethyst Earrings.
We’re so excited to see what jewelry styles rule the hive! No matter your style, with a huge selection of both women’s and men’s jewelry at all price points, finding a perfect gift from Blue Nile for everyone on your gift list will be a total breeze this holiday season. Even if you’re down to the wire, you can shop anytime, with 24/7 live and commission-free customer service, free shipping on all orders, and a comprehensive education and guidance section helping you with your purchasing decisions every step of the way, day or night.
To win either the Horseshoe Diamond Mini, the Agate Statement Necklace, or the Amethyst Earrings all featured above, be sure to vote in the polls, then comment below letting us know you voted to make your entry count! This contest ends December 17, 2012 at 11:59 PM PST. Good luck!
jade8312 shares a photo of her getting ready with her bridesmaids on her wedding day.
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. Sword, ChicagoAge and Occupation: 28, Nanny/ActressFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Software EngineerEngagement Date: February 19, 2012Wedding Date: March 2013Venue: Embassy Suites Bloomington West in Bloomington, MNAbout Me: I am a true girly-girl originally from the great state of Minnesota and my fiancé hails from the beautiful country of Scotland. We met and fell in love in our favorite city, Chicago, and are having a blast blending our cultures for "A Highland Fairy Tale" wedding! We are truly a case of opposites attract in that he’s a world traveling introvert and I’m a social butterfly who is never too far from home. We both love hanging out with family and friends, fine dining, and laughing at ourselves. He drinks a lot of beer and I talk too much. We wouldn’t have it any other way!
I am so happy to report that I have found my bridal earrings and THREE options for bridal bracelets! And you’re not gonna believe the deal I got on them!
To back track a bit, Mr. Sword and I spent the entire Thanksgiving holiday weekend alone, just the two of us, making a turkey and a few side dishes, assembling and addressing our wedding invites, decorating our apartment for Christmas, and basically just relaxing together (before he had to leave again for workshops in England-boo!!). It was the perfect long weekend that also included the terror that is Black Friday Shopping.
Yes, I know, excessive consumerism = bad, and Black Friday can be a waste of time, and a bit crazy. But guess what? I actually enjoy shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I’ve been doing it with the women in my family since I was little and it gives me sweet memories of all us out shopping in Fargo, ND. Sigh. Or maybe it’s the awesome deals? Because deals = good. And I love buying anything 50-60 percent off! Or more!
Since I couldn’t find another more shopping-inclined friend to go with me on Black Friday, the always awesome and easy-going Mr. Sword accompanied me instead. And he gets a shout-out for being the BEST GUY EVER and keeping up with me all day. He says it gets a bit boring at times, but he was really helpful in spite of that and since we both got new winter coats this year, originally $300.00 and we both got ours for around $100.00, I know it wasn’t the worst experience of his life.
Miss Camel, Athens, GAAge and Occupation: 29, high school teacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 35, high school teacherEngagement Date: March 2012Wedding Date: May 2013Venue: Cloverleaf FarmAbout Me: I'm a high school social studies teacher who started her career teaching English in Japan with the JET Program. I love photography and history. I also like to travel and take naps---two things that you would think contradict each other, but somehow they don't. My heroes are Dwight Schrute, Liz Lemon, the Dude, and T.E. Lawrence. I traveled the world throughout my 20s only to fall in love with the social studies teacher in the classroom next door to mine. He just happened to be the kindest, most compassionate, and selfless person I had ever met and each day I'm so thankful to have him in my life. We are planning a whimsical, relaxed countryside wedding with a little Marie Antoinette flair thrown in for good measure. Please join us on our wedding planning adventures!
I love the soft, romantic color palette and I thought the concept would work well in our Marie Antoinette inspired wedding. I dashed off to the craft store and returned with the supplies I needed to complete this project. I bought the letters, the scrapbook paper, and the spray adhesive at Michaels. I love their teacher discount! I bought the self-healing mat on Amazon.com. Click HERE for a link to the same product that I purchased. This project is super easy and would be great for a DIY beginner!
Miss Blue Whale, College Park, MDAge and Occupation: 27, Graduate StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Graduate StudentEngagement Date: March 10, 2012Wedding Date: May 2013Venue: Southern Tree Plantation in Blairsville, GAAbout Me: I love bright colors, glitter, sugar, cheese, tiny animals, talking in silly accents, dancing, and all things music. I love to plan things, but when it comes time to execute the plans, I tend to panic. My friends tell me that I remind them of a mix between a cartoon character and a Disney Princess. Mr. Blue Whale and I are Southerners at heart, but we’ve been transplanted to the East Coast for school. We both love barbecues, star-gazing, bonfires, music, making up nonsense words, and generally being silly. Our wedding will be a fun-filled destination wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It will most certainly feature bright colors, '80s music, and glitter.
I’ve been drawing out my dress posts because…well, it’s my favorite part of wedding planning. I could probably have an entire blog dedicated entirely to wedding dresses. And as much as I’ve talked about how I could try on wedding dresses for eternity, even I will admit that eventually you’ve got to pull the trigger.
I made five dress-shopping trips over the course of three months. This was not because I was indecisive. Mostly, it was because I really wanted both my mom and my aunt to be a part of the process, and she couldn’t be there until the very last trip. And I’m so grateful that the very last shop we visited was where I found the perfect dress. But before we get there, I’d like to recap the dresses that were almost “the one.”
First, there was a gorgeous Vera Wang dress from David’s Bridal. It wasn’t until I put on this dress that I truly felt like a bride.
There were also two dress that I knew I would never buy, because they’re not my style AT ALL (the skirts aren’t big enough!!!). But they were so gorgeous that I had to post them. (Pardon any weird poses. I’m not going to be America’s Next Top Model anytime soon.)
Mrs. 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!
As I scrolled the folder on my desktop that contains the photos from our reception, I was amused to find that the further down in the folder I got, the more out of hand the photos became. They slowly moved from beautiful smiles and structured poses to fist-pumping, lyric-belting madness. Before we sink too far into the craziness, let me share a few of the classier pics from our reception. From a shot of the beautiful Mama Dalmatian:
