Weddingbee - Part 40

Miss Elk, City: Syracuse/Long Island Age and Occupation: 25, Medical Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Computer Engineer Engagement Date: November 22, 2010 Wedding Date: May 2012 Venue: 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!

Costa Rica Dreaming

January 18th, 2012 @ 7:12 am by Miss Elk

As the weather in Syracuse seems to have finally decided that it is in fact winter, I can’t help but dream wildly about the amazing time that awaits us on our warm honeymoon! Since I’m dreaming about it all day and night, I figured I should let you in on the details.

So last we talked about the honeymoon, I explained that while we had always thought we’d go to Greece, we just didn’t think it could reasonably happen. After many back and forth conversations that didn’t lead anywhere, we FINALLY agreed on Costa Rica! The decision was helped by a number of bees before me who have gone and only had amazing things to say.

Originally I was dead set on staying at Oxygen Jungle Villas—the place where Mrs. Brooch and Mrs. Lox both honeymooned. Their recaps looked out of this world, and the resort looks to die for!

Photo by Mrs. Lox on Weddingbee

While researching OJV, I came across another little resort in the same area of Costa Rica. TikiVillas Rainforest lodge is a small resort with just five Balinese-style raised bungalows in the heart of the jungle overlooking the ocean. It has been open for just over a year and has gotten some great reviews on TripAdvisor.

Tags: honeymoon, long-island | 11 Comments

Miss Boa Constrictor, Isabela, Puerto Rico Age and Occupation: 22, Undergraduate Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Soon-to-be Civil Engineer Engagement Date: May 19, 2011 Wedding Date: May 2012 Venue: El Faro Convention Center About Me: I’m a Caribbean gal, born and bred on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, finishing her last year as an undergrad. I describe myself as a “closet nerd” as I secretly enjoy reading research papers, playing video games, and geeking out on Lord of the Rings movie marathons. I will marry my college sweetheart, a soon-to-be civil engineer, who loves Legos and old-school Puerto Rican cooking. This is sure to be a fast-paced year with our wedding, honeymoon, college graduation, new jobs, and a cross-country move all within less than 30 days of each other!

Making the Invite: Words

January 18th, 2012 @ 6:29 am by Miss Boa Constrictor

Wording my invitations was a challenge, the kind of challenge that takes four adults hours to accomplish.

I was dead set on not using the traditional wedding lettering:

Mr. and Mrs. Whoever

Request the honour of your presence

At the marriage of their daughter

Blank However to Him No One

Son of Mr. and Mrs. No One

This day, in this month

This year

At this time

HERE

Though beautiful in its own way, it was too formal for our laid-back morning wedding. I wanted something cute, informal, and short.

Tags: invitations, isabela-puerto-rico | 13 Comments

Miss Aardvark, Beaver Dam, WI Age and Occupation: 23, Assistant Product Manager Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Business Analyst Engagement Date: May 28th, 2011 Wedding Date: April 2012 Venue: St. Philip Catholic Church/Arcadia Brewing Co. About Me: I am a resourceful lady who love surprises and adventure. At the same time, I value traditions, family and friends. I like to make crafty messes, sometimes, clean them up, and do pretty much anything outdoors. The Mister and I are pretty avid cyclists---we have nine bikes in our home right now...and one motorcycle! We both enjoy eating food we can't pronounce (language doesn't really matter) and going places we've never been. We currently reside in rural Wisconsin, enjoying the cheese and beer it has to offer, and getting outside whenever we can!

Sisterly Love

January 18th, 2012 @ 5:50 am by Miss Aardvark

Bridesmaid Sis, AKA Little Sister Aardvark, will most likely kill me for this post. But what are big sisters for if not to antagonize/love/guide/learn from their little sisters.

The first thing you should know is that I am 11 years older than BM Sis. Technically we are half siblings, but the technical business doesn’t mean much to us. In my big complicated family we are siblings. Period.

Growing up in a house with a baby, right as I was hitting the difficult-anyway pre-teen years, did a lot to develop my patience, my people skills, and my ability to sleep through anything. I will forever be grateful to my siblings for that.

How could being 11–14 be easy with a haircut like that?

The above picture includes me, my sister, Step-mama Aardvark, and my brother. The strangest part about this photo for me is that Sis is about as old now as I was when it was taken. I remember how it was being right in between grownup and kid, and sort of jerking back and forth between the two. I loved both of my siblings but was convinced they would be eating/napping poop machines with the occasional cute moment forever.

Tags: beaver-dam, family | 4 Comments

Mrs. Lox, Baltimore Age and Occupation: 33, Government Worker Fiance's Age and Occupation: 35. IT Consultant Engagement Date: May 8, 2010 Wedding Date: May 2011 Venue: Vandiver Inn About Me: I’m an East Coast gal born and bred and a suburban brat turned city rat for the last year. Now Mr. Lox and I enjoy walking all kinds of places, having the coolest things around in our backyard, and especially our garage parking. I love gadgets, toys, Ben & Jerry’s Chubby Hubby ice cream, monkeys, and our insane cats. I’m a blonde by birth and a redhead by choice. I’m that girl in the cubicle farm with all the cool toys and the file cabinet covered in magnetic poetry. I still use smiley faces in my emails, whether people like it or not. This is not the first rodeo for Mr. Lox nor me. And together, we are planning an intimate afternoon wedding on a budget we can afford by ourselves.

Loxed and Loaded: It’s a Beautiful Day!

January 18th, 2012 @ 5:07 am by Mrs. Lox

After all the picture taking, we made our way back to the pavilion and waited for the magic signal. The event coordinator gave it to us (okay, she just told us to go) and we entered our reception to this.

(Cue that video to 55 seconds in and that’ll be exactly what we walked into.)

And it was a beautiful day indeed as we entered our reception.
Read more…

Tags: baltimore, pictures, pro pics, recap | 7 Comments

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Miss Coyote, Westchester, NY Age and Occupation: 26, Administrative Assistant Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Computer Programmer Engagement Date: August 2010 Wedding Date: June 2012 Venue: Franklin Plaza About Me: I am an overly-caffeinated, sports-obsessed history nerd who loves a good book and hates bananas. Originally from a small town in Upstate NY, I made the move to Westchester County and never looked back! My loves include NBC Thursdays, red wine, fleece pajamas, and my amazing fiancé. Together we are planning a formal evening affair for 175 guests with a mix of new and old traditions and plenty of personal touches.

Goldilocks and the Three Photographers

January 17th, 2012 @ 1:46 pm by Miss Coyote

So here’s a glimpse of my crazy-ass spreadsheet:

I know it’s hard to see, but I scribbled in some ridiculous notes in some of these cells. Can you find our photographer? The only note I wrote next to their name was “I like these.” Nice.

Tags: photography, westchester | 12 Comments

Miss Unicycle, Chicago, IL Age and Occupation: 23, Editor for a Web Publishing Company Fiance's Age and Occupation: 23, MD/PhD Student Engagement Date: March 26, 2011 Wedding Date: June 2012 Venue: Bridges of Poplar Creek About 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.

Proposals: The Dark Side

January 17th, 2012 @ 1:13 pm by Miss Unicycle

I’m gonna get real again. But this time I’m not going to complain about my weight as I shove chocolate chips into my gaping mouf. This time, I’m talking about The Dark Side of Proposals. Sounds scary, right?

I read this post about weird feelings that come with the proposal on Glamour’s wedding blog a few weeks ago, and it struck a chord for me. The gist of the post is that proposals can be kind of awkward, even if you’re overjoyed by the proposal, the person asking, and the prospect of marrying them. Even if the proposal is well thought out, romantic, and beautiful (like mine totally was!), it can feel kind of awkward.

When I pictured Mr. Unicycle putting a ring on it, I think I imagined everything moving in slow motion while something composed by John Williams played in the background. I pictured Mr. Unicyle saying something inaudible to me (the music would play over the audio so the screenwriter wouldn’t have to come up with something actually heartwarming to have him say) while tears welled up in my eyes (sans running mascara). I’d hold my hand over my mouth while he whispered sweet nothings, he’d ask, I’d nod yes, he’d slip the ring on my finger (without any struggle at the knuckle area), and we’d embrace. The scene would fade out while the music swelled. Roll credits.

Tags: chicago, proposal | 37 Comments

Create the honeymoon of your dreams.

Miss Opossum, Tallahassee Age and Occupation: 23, Aspiring Interior Architect Fiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Soon to be Firefighter Engagement Date: October 30, 2011 Wedding Date: April 2012 Venue: The Retreat at Bradley's Pond About Me: I am a recent design graduate and aspiring interior architect that is a compulsive list maker, a Christmas light fanatic, and an avid nap-taker. This freckle-faced Southern girl loves being on the back of a horse, hanging out at the gym, and watching SVU with her rugby-playing fiance. It is a dream come true to finally be planning a wedding (in five months) to my high school sweetheart (of seven years). While preparing to tie the knot we're also balancing Fire College, grad school applications, jobs, and precious time with our supportive family and friends. We're moving fast...but are excited about enjoying every moment of this time in our lives!

Cry Me a River

January 17th, 2012 @ 12:41 pm by Miss Opossum

I’ve mentioned before that Mr. O only has very strong opinions about a few parts of the wedding. One of the strongest opinions he has is on the issue of the “first look.”

He isn’t a fan. He says that it is definitely NOT for us. For him, the moment that is the most important is when he sees his future wife walking down the aisle toward him. I understand where he is coming from…

But even some of the most traditional couples make the decision to do a first look. It enables the couple to enjoy their cocktail hour and helps to calm the nerves before the ceremony. So many smart bees have chosen to do it (Mrs. Brooch, Mrs. Knitting, Mrs. High Wire, Mrs. Eggs Benedict…I seriously could probably fill the rest of the post with bees who have done this, but you get the idea).

The reason I want to do a first look is a pretty silly one. You see, I’m a crier. Mr. O and I have turned it into a running joke between us, but really it is just a sad truth. I cry during commercials and sad songs, and when I see homeless people. Weird, I know. I’m going to cry now just thinking about it…just kidding.

I can’t help it, though. When commercials like this come on I instantly turn on the waterworks. Full on, ugly-cry style. I do it EVERY time (and I’ve probably seen this commercial about 8,763,123 times). Eventually I got smart and started changing the channel so I wouldn’t be a smeared-mascara mess every time I turned on the TV.

Video via YouTube

Tags: tallahassee, traditions | 23 Comments

Miss Doe, Northern California Age and Occupation: 24, Real Estate Assistant Fiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Recycling Manager Engagement Date: December 25, 2010 Wedding Date: May 2012 Venue: Monte Verde Inn About 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.

An Open House Invite

January 17th, 2012 @ 12:03 pm by Miss Doe

Last Friday I got home from work to find a beautiful envelope in my mailbox. I quickly opened it to find the most adorable little storybook invitation sent to us from our venue. The invitation is to their open house they are having in just a few short weeks. Invited to this open house are all of the couples getting married there in 2012. At this open house we will be able to taste all of our menu options, hours d’oeuvres, and of course, my favorite part, the cake. We also get to view linen and floral vase options.

In this story book is love quotes, information on the open house, history of the venue…and it is all customized with our names.

Tags: northern-california, Venues | 8 Comments

Miss Mink, Charlottesville, Virginia Age and Occupation: 34, College Administrator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 40, Craft Beer Consultant Engagement Date: November 26, 2010 Wedding Date: June 2012 Venue: Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards About 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!

Everything’s Coming Up…Peonies!

January 17th, 2012 @ 10:42 am by Miss Mink

It’s been a little while since I talked about flowers. Last I mentioned them, I was just gathering inspiration and taking note of all the fantastic florists in the Charlottesville area.

This is when I actually started to collaborate with another bride who was also getting married at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards. She found me through blogging and we chatted now and then by email about the planning process. We even met up at the vineyard for lunch one afternoon. Does that make us venue twins?

We’re both busy with time intensive jobs and were able to “divide and conquer” a little bit when it come to vendor research. For example, she had already spoken to one florist on my list and knew that she only took jobs where the flower budget was over a certain amount. That amount was a little over my budget, so I crossed her off my list. There were a few cases where we had both met with the same vendor (floral and otherwise) and it was helpful to compare notes after those meetings.