Weddingbee

These are wedding fonts I am quite fond of using. I downloaded them for free by googling them. I won’t link them here in case it’s illegal to do that or you get a virus and sue me. We live in a litigious society after all.

I could not figure out a way to upload up the actual Illustrator files for the wedding programs I made. I suspect it is not possible to do so. The layouts are below - you can either retype everything yourself OR email me and I’ll send you a copy of the files so you can play around with it.

(double click images to enlarge)

I used Adobe Illustrator to make my cousin Florence’s wedding programs. I created a design with their first names for the cover and used the couple’s initials to make a background monogram for the inside pages. The pink metallic paper is called Stardream Rose - I got two packs of 50 for $12.90 at Paper Presentation. I found the burgundy ribbon on sale for 44 cents a roll at Michael’s.

Miss Spider says:

We had long decided to take that day off. The last weekday of the year. Of course, the night before I went out with the girls and didn’t crawl home until the wee hours of the morning. Mr. Spider had spent the better part of the night hanging out with my parents. Despite waking up hungover, Mr. Spider insisted we go out and complete a list of activities he had pre-planned. I pulled on some random clothes but I noticed Mr. Spider getting all dressed up. “I just wanna look spiffy today,” he said. When we left the house, he ran back in to “get something” and I almost caught him because, of course, after waiting 20 seconds I got impatient and went back into the house after him. You’d think I knew something was up but I didn’t.

Months earlier Mr. Spider told me that he needed more time. Another year he said. Unbeknownst to me, he and my mom had already started the search for the perfect ring. Looking back, I kind of suspected something was up several times that day but each time I told myself to drop it because I didn’t want to be disappointed.

Because the next day was New Years Eve and I still didn’t have an outfit, I dragged Mr. Spider around SoHo after our wonderful brunch at Balthazar. Mr. Spider set off the alarm at Scoop and since he didn’t have any bags on him the security guard said he must have a tag attached to his clothes. Immediately I frisked him and he squirmed away and said he’d wait out on the street. Turns out the ring was in his coat pocket and he freaked out thinking that I might find it. I was so distracted by the pretty clothes I didn’t give it much thought.

After shopping we went to Mr. Spider’s office so he could pick up his gym bag. Despite my protest, he claimed he “needed it”. As I stood in his office lobby for 10 minutes waiting for him to come back down, he was actually upstairs going over his plans and showing the ring to his coworkers. Meanwhile, I was singing along to the Christmas carols the pianist was playing in the lobby.

When we got to Central Park, the line for Wollman Rink went all the way up the hill. Of course, since the next day was New Years Eve, Central Park was tourist city. I took one look at the line and I was like okay, Plan B. But Mr. Spider insisted we wait. Because of our coats and his gym bag, we needed two lockers. Mr. Spider sent me to get our skates while he unpacked the contents of his gym bag into the tiny lockers. Still, I had no clue he was hiding anything.

Mr. Spider seemed distracted the entire 2.5 hours we skated but I attributed it to the fact that he sucks at ice skating. Several times I asked if we could go and each time he said “one more round, one more round.” Finally he said he wanted to go up to the overlook above the rink to see the sun set. Great, I thought, we’ve been skating for almost 3 hours, now we’re going to go watch people skate?

We get up there and I’m emailing the girls on his Sidekick while he’s fidgeting left and right. Somehow he talks me into standing towards the middle of the overlook. I watch the people skating and I make some comment about how crowded it still is down there. I turn to Mr. Spider and that’s when I see that he’s shaking like a leaf.

He asks me a serious of ridiculous questions that made no sense and immediately I’m like WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!?!? He tells me how on the ice he said that he always wants me to skate along side him and says that he wants me to be at his side for his whole life as well. He says other things too but I don’t hear him because I’m sobbing and screaming “oh my god, oh my god, what are you doing?”

He gets down on one knee, pulls out the ring box, flips it open and says “Will you marry me?” I’m crying, my hands are covering my face and a crowd has formed a circle around us. It seems like time is suspended. Finally Mr. Spider mumbles “You have to say yes”. And I do. Again and again and again.

Eventually we make our way to a nearby bench and the crowd follows us. Wishing us well, taking pictures and smiling like happy clams. Mr. Spider whips out two glasses and champagne from his gym bag and I sob into some old tissues I dig out of my bag. We toast to life, the life we’ve shared so far and the life we will share forever.

Mr. Spider says:

Um, Miss Spider is much better at telling stories than I am. In fact, I am not allowed to tell the story about how we met. And if you know us at all, you’ll know I’m not even really writing this myself.

I was nervous all day. Thank god I had planted the seed of doubt into Miss Spider’s brain otherwise she would have figured it out and ruined everything. She’s crazy and relentless like that. The three months I spent designing, selecting and building her ring were exhausting. I was however, able to spent a lot of quality time with Miss Spider’s mom. I had wanted to propose on our 5 and a half year anniversary December 26, 2005 but I didn’t get the ring on time. In the end, everything worked out anyway. Miss Spider was surprised. I don’t know which was better, the look of shock on her face or the look of happiness when I put the ring on. With her, no matter where or how, everything just turns out perfect.

Tuesday, May 23rd through Friday, May 26th

including:
Badgley Mischka
Carolina Herrera
Melissa Sweet
Kenneth Pool
Ulla Maija
and more

Bergdorf Goodman Bridal Salon
58th Street on 5th Avenue, Seventh Floor.
Please call for an appointment 212-872-8957.

85% off~!?? Perhaps I can find a second bridal gown to wear for my engagement photos~! YAY SALES~!

My cousin Flo, for whom we recently threw that bridal shower for, got married this Saturday, May 20, 2006. It was a looong day. When people say that the day goes by in a flash, they must have meant only for the Bride and Groom because for the rest of us, it felt like a neverending day. We got up at 7am and I didn’t peel off the fake eyelashes and wash the industrial strength hairspray out of my hair until near 3am. Indeed, it was a physically and emotionally exhausting day. As a prelude to a proper recap with photos, I leave you with an explanation of one of the traditions from that day:

It is Chinese tradition that the Groom and his entourage come to the house of the Bride to “pick her up.” It is the duty of the Bridesmaids to put the Groom through a serious of tests as a last ditch effort to evaluate his worthiness as a potential husband. I came up with the following tests:

Test of strength - Are you strong enough to be Flo’s husband?

Groom has to do 99 pushups, if he cannot do them all himself, he may divide the remaining amount amongst his groomsmen.

Test of delicacy - Are you sensitive enough to be Flo’s husband?

Groom and his groomsmen have to pass a square of tissue around using only their lips, starting and ending with the Groom (with lipstick on). After this has been completed, the men must create a toilet paper bridal gown for one of them and together with the Groom, they must sing a love song together.

Test of flexibility or tenacity - Are you flexible enough to be Flo’s husband?

The groom and his groomsmen have to eat something in each of the categories (to symbolize the situations they will face in life together):

• Sweet - candy
• Sour - dried salted plums
• Bitter - coffee grinds
• Spicy - hot sauce

Test of Intellect - Are you smart enough to be Flo’s husband?

We ask the Groom, which member of Flo’s family will she miss most? He must then bring us back an item belonging to that member.

The answer is Cody, the family Doberman. The groom has to figure out to bring us one of his collars.

and lastly,

Test of financial ability - Are you financially stable enough to be Flo’s husband?

Must give us $999.99.

Nine is a lucky number in Chinese symbolizing longevity.

If you are a fan of Origami, in addition to the Origami Beer Bottle previously mentioned, you may want to consider incorporating paper cranes into your wedding day decor. Check out Stacie Tamaki’s creations:

Spring Cranes
One Thousand Cranes

Summer Cranes
One Thousand Cranes

Autumn Cranes
One Thousand Cranes

Red Parasol
One Thousand Cranes

Tiny Gestures
250 cranes

You can also make your own origami placecards. Check out these Thousand Fold Origami Creations:

I’m sure you could also figure out how to print your guest names on the paper before folding them so that the names appear across the body of the crane, flower or butterfly you fold.

EDIT: Mr. Spider just called and volunteered to fold a thousand cranes for me. Awww, he has no idea what he’s signing up for. What a fool haha. He thinks he can fold 200 a night. I’m like dude, I’d like to see you try to fold 20 a night.

Mr. Spider and I opted out of the traditional Chinese banquet despite my father’s brief but firm declaration that Chinese people should get to eat Chinese food at a Chinese wedding banquet; to which I simply replied “not at my wedding.” The issue was never brought up again.

Since we are going forward with our American style wedding, I have been looking for ways to incorporate old Chinese traditions into the day’s events. Surprisingly, my parents have been responding with routine horror. My mom’s favorite line is “OMG, even I didn’t want that at MY wedding” while my dad shakes his head and laughs. Here are some things I have requested for my wedding:

Ok I don’t need an army dressed up in costumes but I would love to enter the tea ceremony part of the reception in a red carriage (sedan chair). Guests can then take pictures with the carriage all night. My mom was horrified. She said there is no such thing here in the States so I asked my dad to make me one. He said no.

In addition to the sexier sleeveless Chi Pao, I will also be wearing a two piece Kwun Qua during the tea ceremony. My mom thinks one is plenty but I said no mom, gotta do both. I’m forcing her to wear one too.

I couldn’t find a better picture but I want the tradtional Dragon and Phoenix bedspread for our bed at home even though we will be staying at a hotel for our wedding night. Mr. Spider asked me, “When the hell are we gonna use this again?” Hello, Chinese News Years? Come on.

Now you see why my dad can only shake his head and laugh?

For a complete run-down of Chinese Wedding Customs, please consult this website: Gotta Love the Chinese.

These will be available in June - JUST in time for my bridal shower YAY~!

Wow, I can’t stop looking at these little shakers - Sweet Talker Salt & Pepper Shakers, I muchos heart you~!

A classy way to enjoy beer at your wedding:

Now this is beer you can hold in your wedding photos.

Origami beer bottles = pure genius. Even Martha would approve. Maybe.

(source: notcot)

My cousin Judith and I threw a bridal shower for Judith’s sister Florence. We spent the better part of 2 weeks preparing for her shower. Below are pictures of some of the DIY projects we accomplished:

Judith designed and printed the text and images and we used rubber cement to paste it on blue metallic cardstock. The two invitations (with different info) were then held together with a thin cloth paper sleeve.

We made these tissue paper flowers a la Martha Stewart. We folded sheets of tissue paper accordian style, secured the middle with floral wire and then delicately unfolded each layer. We made different sizes and different styles (round edges, sharp edges, full edges).

The winning team in the toilet paper bridal gown game won these floral mugs. We made the tags with gold cardstock and stamps (Judith has an amazing stamp collection).

Judith works at a fragrance company so she custom made these candles and roll on fragrances as favors for the guests. You did not read wrong, she MADE THESE - the fragrance, the labels, the candles EVERYTHING.

Judith also made this candle for the winner of Who Knows the Bride Best.

Cupcakes from Magnolia. We made these personalized flags and the sign.

Custom made water bottle labels.

Pina colada and Sangria YUMMM.

Flowers arranged by Judith. (that’s my sister, she was the only person who showed up NOT wearing something floral.)

Signs for the door knobs around the apartment. Images were printed out and then pasted on the same metallic cardstock. Notice my trusty paper cutter.

Front door.

I made this wrapping paper with thin white cloth paper and pink tissue paper underneath and the flower with the same Martha Stewart tissue paper technique.

The lovely sisters Judith and Florence.

We had an hour long scrapbooking session that everyone LOVED. This is the cover photo.

This is my page and below is my drawing of Flo on the day of and night of her wedding. Hahaha.

The shower was so much fun to plan, organize AND attend. You tell me Judith and I aren’t Chinese Martha Stewarts~!!