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!
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, hive…. I think it’s time. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been blogging on Weddingbee for a full year now, but seeing as how I’ve told my wedding story from beginning to end, I suppose it’s time for me to go enjoy married life and leave the Weddingbee main page for the planning and recapping bees. I’m actually really sad to go ’cause this has been such a fun and amazing experience from day one. I can’t thank you all enough for welcoming me into this incredible community!
When I first contemplated applying to blog on Weddingbee, I simply thought it would be fun. I thought that my modern art gallery ceremony and lounge-y reception would be a welcome addition to the hive. I thought that with my event planning background, I might be able to help other brides as I posted about my own wedding planning journey. And to be perfectly honest, I thought the hive needed a splash of 30-something color. But all of those things were what I was going to bring to the hive. I never oncethought about what Weddingbee was going to do for me and that’s because, at the time, I had absolutely no clue that Weddingbee would have such a substantial impact on my life. OK…I realize that sounds overly dramatic, but stick with me here.
Through this journey, I’ve learned that sometimes the advice of a stranger is just as good, if not better (and sometimes more honest) than advice from a close friend. Read more…
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).
It’s hard to believe that I’m about to bid farewell to the hive. But before I go, there are some moments and photos from our wedding that didn’t make it into my recaps that I thought would still be fun to share. First, a few detail shots:
My beautiful bouquet from the folks at Mockingbird Florist
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).
With the vowsspoken, photos taken, first dance completed, glasses lifted and dessertsdevoured, it was clear that the night was coming to an end. A lot of our older guests had exited by this point, so it was our closest friends and family members that were on the dance floor for the last dance. We thought we’d bring a little New York City to the state of Texas, so we chose Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys for the last song of the evening.
Somehow, the last dance ended up as less of a “Yay! We all had so much fun let’s get out and bust a move one last time!” and more of a “Yay! Let’s stand around in a circle and watch the bride and groom dance together one more time while we sing along!” I’m not sure how that happened, to be honest, and I remember thinking, “Huh. This is kind of awkward.” Luckily, King Hippo and I love to dance so we just went with it. Read more…
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).
With 45 minutes left of our reception, it was time for second dessert. I mean, who doesn’t love second dessert??!? I had been looking forward to second dessert for months, and our fresh, hot donuts from The Snack Box did not disappoint.
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).
With our dance floor in full effect, our DOC let us know that it was time to cut the cake. The cake was so pretty I almost hated to cut it…but my love for buttercream frosting took over within a few seconds. When we met with the baker, we decided to add a fake bottom layer to give the cake a little more presence in the room, and I’m so glad that we did. It ended up looking so good that I had to remind King Hippo that the bottom layer wasn’t real just moments before cutting into it.
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).
There’s not much I need to talk about here ’cause the pictures really are worth a thousand words… I do think it’s fair to say that at the Hippo reception, the dance floor was the place to be! Crazy dance faces were in full effect:
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).
With our first dance out of the way, our guests were able to get cozy at the reception. The variety of seating allowed everyone to choose a place where they felt most comfortable. As you might guess, our friends mostly chose the lounge furniture, while our older guests and family members gravitated toward the more traditional tables and chairs.
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).
Now, before I can show you our first dance with music and pictures, I have to give you a bit of a back story.
King Hippo and I had decided long ago that we didn’t want to do the 7th grade sway for our first dance. I’ve danced my entire life, and King Hippo is super coordinated and not afraid to cut a rug, so we figured we could do way better than rocking back and forth like a couple of awkward teenagers. I’ve studied the dance basics (ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary… a little tap only ’cause my instructors made me) and even taught, choreographed, and danced professionally in Dallas for several years, but I have zero experience in ballroom. In order to pull this off, we needed some guidance so we signed up for a series of private dance lessons before the wedding. But… they didn’t go exactly as I imagined.
See, what I’m used to is learning choreography. Read more…
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).
As soon as we arrived at the reception, our day-of coordinator had a plate of hors d’oeuvres and drinks waiting for us in the back. (I’ve said it before, but if you’re contemplating whether or not you should have a DOC, do it! It was definitely one of the best wedding decisions we made.) Bridesmaid Angela helped me take off my veil and did a little magic to get my updo, which had become a little disheveled from the veil, back in order. After just a few precious minutes relaxing with our wedding party, it was time for the introductions. Now, we had no idea what song we wanted to use for the intros. We knew we wanted something upbeat, but after picking our pre-ceremony music, processional, ceremony and recessional music, I was pretty tapped out in the music department. Our DJ made a couple of suggestions a few weeks before the wedding, and I loved this one by Michael Franti so we went with it.
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).
Immediately after the ceremony, we headed outdoors to catch the remaining sunlight for photos. Luckily, daylight savings time began the week before our wedding, so we had a little extra time to spend outside before it started to get dark. The manager of the art gallery thought I was insane when I told her we were going to take photos in the alley behind the gallery, but I absolutely love how they turned out. The combination of the urban setting with the formal clothing was just what I was looking for.
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).
As the ceremony continued, King Hippo and I listened intently to what the minister was saying:
“Marriage is not just about finding the right person; it’s about being the right person. In a moment you will exchange your vows, making promises to each other intended to be for a lifetime. Keeping those promises requires being the right person, no matter what. Some of the best advise there is about what it means to be the right person in a marriage can be found in the best selling book of all time, the Bible, where it says, ’Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity.’
There will be plenty of opportunities ahead for you to exercise compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And it will not be easy. But if you are willing to forgive each other in love, these virtues will give you the very best chance at a lifetime together that is mutually satisfying and fulfilling.”
OK, King Hippo was listening intently. I was apparently checking out King Hippo!
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).
With all the wedding party waiting for us at the front of the gallery and our guests on their feet, it was time for Mama Hippo and I to start our journey down the aisle, accompanied by the soulful sound and amazing lyrics of Tyrone Wells. I was definitely more excited than nervous. After months of planning, it was finally here, and I was just so flippin’ happy!
That’s our DOC on the left fluffing my train and our DJ on the right trying to duck out of the shot… I guess he didn’t realize there was a camera behind him.
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).
As soon as the ring warming was complete, it was time for the procession to begin. The guys were lined up in the back of the gallery and made their way to the front, with King Hippo and our officiant pulling up the rear.
The Old 97’s song Question played as the wedding party processed. Play the song… you’ll feel like you were there!
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).
As soon as all the guests were seated for the ceremony, our officiant came out to explain the ring warming ceremony. Two members of the house party were designated as pseudo ring bearers, and they helped orchestrate the passing of the rings from row to row—my rings were passed on one side of the aisle; King Hippo’s ring was passed on the other—while Ryan Adams’ version of “Wonderwall” played over the gallery’s awesome sound system.
Go ahead and play it while you read…. C’mon. You know you want to!
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).
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
