Mrs. Sea Breeze, Vancouver/Dominican RepublicAge in 2008 and Occupation: 30, Communications ManagerFiance's Age in 2008 and Occupation: 29, Experiential Marketing DirectorEngagement Date: October 6, 2007Wedding Date: November, 2008Blogging Since: July 17, 2008Venue: Majestic Colonial Resort, Punta CanaAbout Me: Planning a destination wedding by the sea should be (oh no she di-in't…) a breeze (…*sigh* yep, she did) but when you've never been to the Caribbean, your powers of imagination are really put to the test. Luckily, I'm 90% resourceful, creative optimist (and kooky, neurotic practicalist-if-that's-a-word for the other ten). Other than writing about our week-long celebration of family, friends, laughter and love, I adore books, shoes and… you guessed it… long walks on the beach.
Well I almost did it – finished my recaps before our one year anniversary, that is. Turns out I’m only a couple posts shy but the day is here and I can’t help but stop everything and revel in the joy of it.
Miss Chick, HoustonAge and Occupation: 28, Rights and Reproduction ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Computer ProgrammerEngagement Date: November 15, 2008Wedding Date: April 2010Venue: A farm outside of HoustonAbout Me: Mr. Chick and I met almost ten years ago at Baker Blues, a college jazz party. He was attracted to my intensity, and I was mesmerized by his trivia pursuit skills and his dorm furniture adorned with his initials. We've grown more sophisticated through the years, with our love of wine, owning a house together, and parenthood (of a cat), but we have not lost our silliness or childish sense of humor!
As Mr. Chick and I celebrated our tenth anniversary last week, I find myself reminiscing on how we met, and the ways we’ve grown together. I thought I would dedicate a post to our story and Mr. Chick’s proposal. What do you say?
Mr. Chick and I met one magical night in 1999. It was muggy and humid down in the courtyard where people were dancing…
Mrs. Daffodil, San Francisco/Los AngelesAge and Occupation: 26, Nonprofit Strategy ConsultantFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Resident PhysicianEngagement Date: December 29, 2006Wedding Date: May, 2008Blogging Since: August, 2007Venue: Church w/ floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Valley; Westin in downtown LAAbout Me: I moved around a lot growing up, but consider myself a Southerner at heart. I love scrapbooking, dancing, doggies, and diet coke. I am all about personalizing everything and hence, I'm a DIY bride who is just loving the entire wedding planning process! Mr. Daffodil and I met in our college fellowship group and were "just friends" for three years before we started dating. We've been together for four years now and can't wait to get married in sunny SoCal, Mr. Daffodil's hometown.
Why, hello hive! Yes, it’s really me - I know, long time no blog! I guess I sort of missed doing a “one-year” post, but better late than never, right? Much has happened since I last posted, including many wedding/marriage-related things that I plan to write about… so I thought I’d give a preview of what’s to come in the form of a Daffodil update…
Mrs. Eggplant, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 28, Human ResourcesFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Associate Marketing ManagerEngagement Date: January 19, 2007Wedding Date: October 20, 2007Blogging Since: May 31, 2007Venue: Ceremony at a cement and stained glass cathedral and reception at a boutique hotel ballroomAbout Me: I'm a shopping junkie who lives to discover great deals and a craft addict that loves to scrapbook and knit. My profile picture was taken on the day I got engaged which is why my smile is so huge!
… Minutes, that is, since we’ve been married. What’s changed in the last two years?
1. We bought our first home! Thanks to Obama and Schwarzenegger, we were able to take advantage of some first time home buyer tax credits to purchase a 2BR/2BA condo in downtown SF. Nevermind that we are too broke to furnish it. Ignore our ghetto “drapes”, i.e. the faded bed sheet we…
Mrs. Gummi Bear, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 25, Japanese Importer/IllustratorFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Game Developer/ProgrammerEngagement Date: April 15, 2006Wedding Date: October 13, 2007Blogging Since: June 19, 2007Venue: Organic farm an hour from San FranciscoAbout Me: I live for anthropologie, design blogs, sweets, japanese zakka, and vintage goods. We just bought our first home together and live with our two puppies and cat - it's a strange mixture of vintage, high-tech (we have 7 computers and 21 video game systems in all), and a whole lot of fur. Our wedding tries to embody the Japanese idea of "slow life", which is truly taking the time to enjoy food, company, and your environment!
So, it has been two years since Mr. GB and I said our ridiculous vows and got married. So how have things changed?
We look so sweet!
Well, Mr. GB still lives in constant fear of being kanchoed when going up stairs, so I can safely say our relationship is pretty much the same. We did move from our cute place in Lake Merritt to a larger,…
Mrs. Avocado, SeattleAge and Occupation: 23, StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, ConsultantEngagement Date: July 27, 2008Wedding Date: October, 2008Blogging Since: June 30, 2008Venue: LDS Seattle Temple & Hotel 1000About Me: Somehow this little farm girl found herself a genuine Pole to fall in love and eventually move away to Poland with. I am an LDS bride attempting to plan a private religious ceremony, ring ceremony, seated reception for 100, and an open house while coordinating for guests flying in from across the United States and as far away as Poland. I try to avoid fads, excess waste, and saturated fat. I strongly endorse photography, DDR, calorie counting, rss feeds, cooking, and utilizing your resources.
Today marks the first of what I know will be many wedding anniversaries for us. How do I know? Because we aren’t going to make it happen. We aren’t soul mates. We were never “meant to be”. We chose this, and we are going to continue to choose to make it work for the rest of our lives and beyond.
Mrs. Meatball, HollywoodAge and Occupation: 30, Actor/Writer/Office MavenFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Actor/WriterEngagement Date: October 7, 2007Wedding Date: May, 2009Blogging Since: September 16, 2008Venue: Private Garden/The Bungalow ClubAbout Me: I love melty cheese and diet coke almost as much as I love my man. I'm from Chicago, he's from NYC, and we both miss public transit and great pizza. We have an adorable muppet dog called Paco. I'm part hippie with a healthy dash of hip hop superstar, have excessive empathy for animals, and have not one, but two bionic eyes (long story). We're broke and it ain't no joke. It can't stop us from planning the bold and whimsical wedding of our dreams, but we've had to get pretty creative to make it work, yo!
... It was a cold and drizzly autumn day in Milwaukee, WI. I got all gussied up for a very special night, butterflies flipping around in my belly like so many Mexican jumping beans. I waited, anxious, excited and nervous; sitting, standing, fidgeting, checking and rechecking my hair and makeup. A knock at the door sent thrills through my body. It was the man who would become my future husband, come to pick me up for our very first official date.
Mrs. Caramel, Los AngelesAge and Occupation: 24, Art Gallery/MuseumsFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, EngineerEngagement Date: January 8, 2007Wedding Date: October 6, 2007Venue: a beautiful church and hotel receptionAbout Me: I love dancing, singing, eating out, eating in, surfing on the net, and brainstorming fantastic ideas. I also love cats, coffee, and know every quote written on Sex & the City. I'm known to laugh really loud and have really crazy hand gestures while I talk. My fiance writes songs and I take pictures. What else? We're just a crazy young couple in love, trying to make a fabulous wedding!
Today is our 2 year wedding anniversary. I can’t believe it’s been 2 years already!
Marriage used to scare me… and it STILL scares me! In my fickle, free-spirited lifestyle, marriage is the most serious thing I’ve ever committed to. Of course, some things about our marriage aren’t what I had pictured —I don’t cook every night (or cook EVER), our place is a mess most…
Mrs. Hydrangea, DallasAge and Occupation: 26, Administrative AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Network AnalystEngagement Date: June 2007Wedding Date: September 2008Blogging Since: January 14, 2008Venue: Catholic Church and Reception at The W HotelAbout Me: Mr. H and I come from very different cultures and backgrounds so I'm excited to plan our wedding with a balance of both traditions. My mom has always been a DIY queen, and I'm just now starting to get into it with a new house and a wedding to plan!
Mr. H and I said I do. Time really does fly - it still seems like yesterday. I can’t believe that a year ago, I was about to rehearse, walk down the aisle, and party with Mr. H.
I must tell you - the first year has not been the easiest for the Hydrangeas - there really is something to that saying, “the first year…
Mrs. Cookie, DenverAge and Occupation: 25, Nonprofit Fundraiser/Theatre DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Financial AnalystEngagement Date: September 2007Wedding Date: September 2008Blogging Since: May 8, 2008Venue: Ten Mile StationAbout Me: With a degree in Theatre I never realized that planning a wedding was a lot like Theatre Management, until I started planning my own. I am a coffee addict, especially Starbucks' Grande Mochas, yummy! I love to cook (especially chocolate chip cookies for my honey), travel to exotic places, and be creative. As a couple, Mr. Cookie and I are extremely practical, down to earth, and children at heart. We live in a cozy abode with our adorable Pomeranian, and love to play board games and watch movies into the evening.
Over the weekend, Mr. Cookie and I celebrated our first anniversary! I can’t believe that a year has come and gone. It’s crazy how time flies when you are having fun. In honor of our anniversary, we decided to trek up to the Colorado high-country to see the amazing fall foliage.
Mrs. Cupcake, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 27, Graphic DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Construction Project ManagerEngagement Date: February 10, 2007Wedding Date: September, 2008Blogging Since: December 7, 2007Venue: The Desmond Hotel in Malvern, PAAbout Me: Mr. Cupcake and I hit it off at a Halloween party and immediately began a long-distance relationship. After two years, he moved to my neck of the woods, and a year and a half after that, he proposed at the “place we fell in love.” I am a true perfectionist who enjoys designing and creating more work for myself, so wedding planning is my perfect outlet. Mr. Cupcake and I are both old souls, and we hope to weave that aspect of our personalities into our wedding day.
Mrs. Toucan, BostonAge and Occupation: 25, Full-time Research Assistant, Part-time Graduate StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, ActuaryEngagement Date: February 18, 2007Wedding Date: June 7, 2008Blogging Since: November 07, 2007Venue: St. Catherine of Genoa, Jin Asian Cuisine RestaurantAbout Me: I’m a Gemini to the extreme. On one side, I’m a girly girl. I read countless bridal and fashion magazines, and have an obsession with keeping up with the latest Hollywood gossip. On the other side, I’m a sports fanatic. Despite being a full-time bride-to be, full-time research assistant, and part-time student, I’m also a full-time Red Sox fan from spring training to October, and a full-time Patriots fan from mini-camp to February. I devote almost as much time researching my for fantasy football team as researching for our wedding!
Sometimes I get so excited about a gift to hubby that I give it to him early.
Mr. Toucan once mentioned that he wishes he had some cuff links for his work shirts, as opposed to the little rope knots that he usually uses. I knew of the perfect place to get him some cuff links, and planned to give these babies to him in…
Miss Onion, NYC/Burlington, VTAge and Occupation: 27, PR & Marketing and Jazz SingerFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Data AnalystEngagement Date: April 2, 2006Wedding Date: September 2007Blogging Since: July 11, 2007Venue: Restaurant in BurlingtonAbout Me: I didn't think I'd be "that girl," but I am having so much fun planning our wedding (mostly by myself). I'm a PR and Marketing Director for a major jazz festival and camp by day, and by night, a romantic jazz singer and bride-to-be! I hope all my research can help other brides in their planning.
When you’re planning your wedding, the anticipation is hard to imagine. Some days the wedding can’t come soon enough, and some days you think, ‘wait, I have one more project!’ When the sun sets and the party comes to a close, you find yourself happily married. You giggle when you say “my husband” or he introduces you as “his wife” (that still hasn’t gotten old).…
Mrs. Green Tea, SacramentoAge and Occupation: 30, Tea AnalystFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Coffee CriticEngagement Date: November 17, 2006Wedding Date: August 23, 2008Blogging Since: June 10, 2008Venue: Vineyard on the DeltaAbout Me: I'm just your average obsessive compulsive, arts & crafts loving, funky-on-the-inside/boring-on-the-outside girl, who dares to say 'Hey! I can make that!' Nerdy professional by day, goofy won-ton by night. The won-ton sometimes comes out during the day when I'm fed the dollar breakfast at Ikea. Since our engagement, wedding planning has put me on high alert for bargains and I've been pushing my nimble fingers through callous building experiments!
A year ago today I put on a silly poofy dress, high fived a stud, did my own stunt, lip synced to Neil, got smashed with cake, and danced like no one was watching.
It was off the hook! But contrary to what people tell me, it was not the best time of my life, by far.
You see, ol’ Miss Independent here was a non believer…
Mrs. Sunbeam, San Francisco/Grove City, PAAge and Occupation: 26, Grad Student & Office ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Motion DesignerEngagement Date: May 10, 2008Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Harbison Chapel & The Maple Lane FarmAbout Me: Mr. Sunbeam and I are high school sweethearts. We both come from a small town in PA but are growing to love the California lifestyle. He loves wine and I love cheese... the perfect combination! When I'm not drooling over wedding blogs, I'm attending grad school, out being a foodie, or attempting to "walk" our cat at the park. Two things guaranteed to excite me are wedding cakes and breaking out my suitcase to travel. Mr. Sunbeam and I are personalizing our hometown wedding to celebrate our high school sweetheart status and PA roots with a few CA touches. After ten years of dating we couldn't be more excited to call each other husband and wife!
Well gang, it’s a big day for the Sunbeams! Today we will celebrate 10 years of dating. I know, we can hardly believe it too. It’s a great number to end our years of dating as we move on to wedding anniversaries. Thanks to all our friends and family for supporting us as we struggled with love, long distance and just plain growing up. Here’s a real quick look back at the many years of us.