Ms. Sloth, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 35, Account Manager and Fashion BloggerFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Design AdminEngagement Date: December 25, 2009Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Bartram's GardenAbout Me: I'm an internet junkie and music snob with a good eye for a bargain. I couldn't live without thrift store shopping, cheeseburgers, sushi, Coke Zero, websites devoted to silly photos of baby animals, Photoshop, and Mr. Sloth. Speaking of which, he and I are a pair of goofball homebody nerds who love our beagle (the most ridiculously adorable dog EVER) to an embarrassing degree. We're planning a low-key and intimate yet festive and quirky outdoor wedding with DIY details and deeply personal touches, and it's all taking place in the city where we fell in love and call home: Philadelphia.
Months and months ago, Mr. S and I used a nifty party calculator to determine how much booze we need to buy for the wedding. We knew how much to buy, but we weren’t sure which brands to buy. Eventually, we decided that for the hard liquor we’d purchase premium brands, but not brands that were the absolute top of the line. That means Absolut instead of Grey Goose. Cuervo instead of Herradura. Dewars instead of 50-year-old Glenfiddich. Easy peasy.
As far as wine goes, we were considering just heading to Trader Joe’s and picking up some Two Buck Chuck. Then I actually tried Two Buck Chuck. I personally am not a fan. It would’ve been back to the drawing board until Mr. S’s brother, a wine and liquor rep down in Florida, volunteered to provide our wine as our wedding gift. We sent him our menu, and he said he’d pick out something great. We totally trust him. Done and done.
Ms. Sloth, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 35, Account Manager and Fashion BloggerFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Design AdminEngagement Date: December 25, 2009Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Bartram's GardenAbout Me: I'm an internet junkie and music snob with a good eye for a bargain. I couldn't live without thrift store shopping, cheeseburgers, sushi, Coke Zero, websites devoted to silly photos of baby animals, Photoshop, and Mr. Sloth. Speaking of which, he and I are a pair of goofball homebody nerds who love our beagle (the most ridiculously adorable dog EVER) to an embarrassing degree. We're planning a low-key and intimate yet festive and quirky outdoor wedding with DIY details and deeply personal touches, and it's all taking place in the city where we fell in love and call home: Philadelphia.
Mr. S and I are finally trying to nail down our wedding budget. We’re trying to figure out how much everything is going to cost, who is responsible for paying it, and when it needs to be paid.
Our caterer won’t be providing alcoholic beverages. And that’s fine; I know it’s cheaper to provide it ourselves. But we’re trying to figure out exactly how much we’ll need and how much it’ll cost. Some websites say that you need to budget for one drink per guest per hour. To which I give a mighty snort. They’ve obviously never met our friends or Mr. S’s family.
But then I found Real Simple’s Wedding Wine and Liquor Calculator. It’s pretty rad. Enter in how many guests you’re expecting, what kind of booze you’ll be serving (full bar vs. wine and beer only), and if it’s a daytime or nighttime affair, and it tells you how much you need.
Mrs. Brooch, Arlington, VAAge and Occupation: 25, Writer/EditorFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Front Desk ManagerEngagement Date: October 3, 2009Wedding Date: April 2011Venue: Oxon Hill ManorAbout Me: I’m an indecisive girlie-girl with a motor mouth, can-do attitude, and knack for making others laugh. I dream of becoming a best selling novelist like Elizabeth Gilbert or Julie Powell (a girl can dream, right?), and love long road trips, a beautiful countryside, music, blogs, books, and all things vintage/thrift/antique/or homemade. I’m a Virgo, i.e. overly sensitive, emotional, and critical, and there’s no such thing as short and sweet in my world. I want to say and do it all. Mr. Brooch grounds me. I point where to go and he figures out the way. He’s a pragmatic fancy-pants who enjoys video games and movies. We both adore our mutt, Rocky, and spending time with our amazingly supportive family and friends. We’re planning a garden wedding with a formal reception with lots of whimsy and unique, Southern-inspired details.
We drink it at midnight. We love it after dinner. And, of course, we have to have it first thing in the morning. Why not have it at our wedding? I don’t think this is an unusual request. Of course there’ll be coffee at the reception, but what kind of coffee? We want something top notch…something unique…something like a Starbucks kiosk and barista on duty!
Mrs. Glasses, Tokyo/Los Angeles, CAAge and Occupation: 24, English teacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, English teacherEngagement Date: September 2008Wedding Date: October 2010 Venue: Parents' backyardAbout Me: I’m an expat living in Tokyo. I’ve been in Japan for almost three years now, where I met my fantastic English fiance. It’s time to leave Japan, so we are planning a fun, intimate, backyard ceremony back home in the suburbs of L.A. in October. Our wedding will be a mix of my love for food, beer, my Japanese culture, and Mr. G’s Englishness. We are on a tiny budget and DIYing almost everything!
…is what I said when I got the original quote from the only prospective caterer that will e-mail me back.
Since they are the only caterer with fingers for typing (apparently), I guess we are going with $45 a head total for appetizers, salads, a buffet, and a small dessert. Uuuuugly. Here I was thinking we could keep everything under $30 a head.
One caterer also included a quote for rentals through him. Tables, chairs, linens, silverware, glassware, and all that. Here’s the lovely quote we got for just glassware:
Champagne flutes, beer glasses, wine glasses, and soda/fruit juice glasses:
Mrs. Sand Dollar, HoustonAge and Occupation: 24, Graphic DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 22, Electrical TechnicianEngagement Date: January 8, 2010Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: MacLean ParkAbout Me: I'm a domestic diva down to the core. I heart cooking, sewing, baking, decorating and making sure we have a hand-crafted home. The best part about the wedding is I get to incorporate it all! I make sure I put my art degree to good use by screen printing, craft knife cutting, and a whole lotta graphic design. We're having a big-time party on a small-time budget, and I promise to show you a boot-scootin', barbecue-eatin', finger-lickin' good time! Mr. Sand Dollar and I spend most of our time on DIY projects or traipsing around the outdoors with our two pooches Rory and Juno. I'm looking forward to sharing our journey with all of you!
Mr. SD and I love the outdoors. The first joint purchase we made was a canoe, and we’ve trekked it around to lakes and rivers all over central Texas. After seeing images like this, I’m dreaming up ways of incorporating our canoe into the wedding reception.
Mrs. Poodle, Santiago, Chile/San Bernardino, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Industrial & Web DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Firefighter & Mountain PatrolEngagement Date: February 25, 2009Wedding Date: January 2010Venue: Mr. P's Grandparents’ RanchAbout Me: I’m a Chilean girl who's crazy about nature and swimming. I enjoy carving, drawing, reading and sewing; I drool over computers, fabric, pretty paper, purple and patterns. To me, chocolate should be one of the seven wonders, right next to lemon pie. I never thought an exchange work experience program was going to change my life forever, but while working in California, I met Mr. Poodle, and ever since my days are better and brighter. We are two goofy souls that, after finding each other, couldn’t help but want to be together forever. It has being a long and sometimes hard road, since we have to deal with such a long distance between us, but we are now facing the last stage of our Fiancé Visa, and soon we will be together. You know the best part? We will be married! So I’ll be blogging from Chile until just a few months before our “green and purple” wedding.
I’ve always loved lemonade, but it wasn’t until my first trip to the USA that I first tried strawberry lemonade. I thought it was awesome, so I drank it nonstop on every trip, and now I just can’t get enough. So when I first saw all these pictures, I fell in love with the idea. Mr. Poodle is a huge fan of iced tea, so it would be cool to have that, too. Read more…
Mrs. Labrador Retriever, Athens/SavannahAge and Occupation: 24, Student/Sports ReporterFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Physical Therapy Assistant Student/Future Dr. of PT
Engagement Date: December 31, 2008Wedding Date: November 2009Venue: Whitfield Square/Savannah StationAbout Me: I'm working on my second degree from UGA (Go Dawgs!). I'm a self-proclaimed attention-w****. If it involves a camera, I'm in front of it! You'll never meet a girlier tomboy than me. I can go toe to toe with any guy on the subject of college football, and lift more than any girl in my gym, all without chipping a nail. I hope to someday be the only person you want delivering your sports news. My FI and I are the loving parents of three Labrador Retrievers (one of each color) and are planning a "Southern Romantic Charm" wedding in the beautiful, historic city of Savannah. I'm not extreme in anything except moderation... and wedding planning.
Beverages will be a big part of our wedding. Because our ceremony will be outside in the Georgia heat (but hopefully not scorching heat come November), we are setting up a refreshment table with drinks for our guests to enjoy before the ceremony begins. This will also come in handy while they are waiting on the trolley to take them back to the reception.
So I’ve been collecting ideas on how to present the drinks and quickly fell in love with infusion jars.
Aren’t these super cute? I love the way they add so much “punch” (*chuckle*) to any table. So I began keeping an eye out for deals on infusion jars. Read more…
Miss Candy Corn, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 27, Freelance Writer, Photographer and IllustratorFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Front End Web DeveloperBlogging Since: May 6, 2008Engagement Date: November 10, 2011Wedding Date: September 2012Venue: Our backyard!About Me: I’m a 27-year-old photographer, writer and illustrator who enjoys shooting weddings, catching typos in magazines, geeking out with Google Reader, watching Wonder Years marathons with my fiancé, and hanging out with our menagerie of pets. I’m an encore bride planning an intimate, offbeat backyard wedding with my fiancé (known around these parts as “The Ginger”), as we explore our adventures of homeownership.
Since neither of us drink alcohol, Mr. Candy Corn and I decided to order personalized Jones Soda as a favor, as well as something guests can toast with during the speeches. Don’t get me wrong, we’re still having an open bar, but who really drinks more than a sip of the champagne anyway? I’ll take any excuse I can get to drink orange & cream soda, so October couldn’t come soon enough!
Miss Cherry Pie, Seattle/Polebridge, MontanaAge and Occupation: 25, Marketing Communications SpecialistFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Nurse PractitionerEngagement Date: August 26, 2006Wedding Date: September 2008Blogging Since: April 1, 2008Venue: A tiny town just outside of Glacier National ParkAbout Me: I think of life as a journey and I love the places it's taking me! I went to school to study Magazine Journalism, ended up with a second major in Japanese language, and now work at a company that makes software for libraries. I love writing, computers, photography, and the great outdoors. I spend most of my time playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band or geeking out online with Mr. Cherry Pie. I'm happiest when I'm on the road, especially traveling abroad, or just nesting quietly at home with my sweetie, who is a fabulous cook and bakes a delicious rendition of a certain cherry-filled dessert!
I don’t want to turn our wedding into some kind of endorsement for Coca-Cola, but found another brand-name something that I just had to have. It’s a hand-painted and weathered replica of an original Coca-Cola sign… I got it at the Fremont Antique Market a few weeks ago! Read more…
Miss Cherry Pie, Seattle/Polebridge, MontanaAge and Occupation: 25, Marketing Communications SpecialistFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Nurse PractitionerEngagement Date: August 26, 2006Wedding Date: September 2008Blogging Since: April 1, 2008Venue: A tiny town just outside of Glacier National ParkAbout Me: I think of life as a journey and I love the places it's taking me! I went to school to study Magazine Journalism, ended up with a second major in Japanese language, and now work at a company that makes software for libraries. I love writing, computers, photography, and the great outdoors. I spend most of my time playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band or geeking out online with Mr. Cherry Pie. I'm happiest when I'm on the road, especially traveling abroad, or just nesting quietly at home with my sweetie, who is a fabulous cook and bakes a delicious rendition of a certain cherry-filled dessert!
I have become obsessed with Mexican coke. No, not the drug, though I suppose the beverage could also be construed as a drug in certain circumstances. I am talking about classic glass-bottled, cane-sugar-sweetened, cola from our neighbors to the south!
Why am I obsessed? Because I must have it at our wedding! I might be crazy, but I think glass-bottled coke plays delightfully into our “rustic” theme, while being classically tasteful. Read more…
Mrs. Lime, Los AngelesAge and Occupation in 06: 25, DesignFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, ITEngagement Date: July 7, 2006Wedding Date: August 5, 2007Venue: An historic estateAbout Me: Between work and wedding planning, I try to squeeze in napping, drawing, random spurts of craftiness, tennis, and eating lots of Sprinkles cupcakes, dark chocolate, and noodles of all kinds. Mr. Lime and I have spent our adult lives growing up together, and we're very excited to finally be getting married!
request the pleasure of your company at their marriage on Sunnyday, the unshaded day of August two thousand and seven at sweat o’clock
An All Outdoor Venue Hothothot, California
We [me, Mr. Lime, and the wedding party], will be under the cool shade of some enormously tall bamboo. Unforutnately, about four-fifths of our guests will bear the full brunt of Southern California, August sun beating down on their [mostly dark-haired] heads.
Mrs. Strawberry, SeattleAge and Occupation: 25, Radio DJ, Advertising Sales, Day of Wedding CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, EngineerEngagement Date: 07/04/2006Wedding Date: September 1, 2007Venue: Lake Union Cafe, SeattleAbout Me: I'm a Navy brat that has lived all over the world. I love reality shows that are in poor taste, going to new restaurants, and trying to be crafty. Emphasis on trying!
That I stole. There I said it. I’m an idea thief. You caught me. As a matter of fact, I’ve stolen most of my wedding ideas. My confetti poppers come from the brilliant mind of my florist, my bouquet right off the pages of Martha Stewart Weddings, and my lantern centerpieces were the brainchild of knottie NetterB.
My latest idea comes in the form of soda-pop. I’m not a big drinker, so this is right up my alley. Knotties Mrs. Donkey and PDXDFWbride both had mini soda bars and one of my clients/weddingbee reader, wsukarebear, tossed around the idea of having one as well.
Mrs. Bee, New YorkAge and Occupation: 29, Weddingbee PublisherFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, InternetEngagement Date: May 7, 2004Wedding Date: March 5, 2005Venue: Westside Loft, New YorkAbout Me: Yes, my name really is Bee! I love my blogging, wikis, and tabasco sauce!
To help your guests beat the heat at a summer wedding, especially if it’s outdoors, you may want to serve them cold refreshments as they arrive. Nothing cools you off better than a nice cold glass of iced tea or lemonade, so I’m sure your guests will appreciate this thoughtful, inexpensive touch.
Real Simple has several great recipes that put a twist on these classic summer beverages: Iced teas from top left: ginger & honey, pomegranate & lime, watermelon & basil, peach & mint; Lemonades: classic, ginger zinger, tropical, farmer’s lemon-mint cooler
Of course pre-ceremony beverages aren’t reserved only for summer weddings - you can do apple cider in the fall or hot chocolate in the winter. And you can never go wrong with water and alcohol.
Are you planning on serving any pre-ceremony beverages?
Mrs. Pumpkin, Saskatchewan, CanadaBlogger Since: April 10, 2007Age and Occupation: 28, LawyerFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, FarmerEngagement Date: July 14, 2006Wedding Date: June, 2007About Me: I love movies, music and I am addicted to TV. When I have some spare time I also love scrapbooking and making personalized greeting cards and above all playing Hide & Seek or Duck, Duck, Goose with my two adorable nieces!
Okay, maybe they aren’t exactly tied up with string but getting packages in the mail is definitely one of my favourite things! Our apothecary jars for the refreshment table at the ceremony finally came yesterday. One thing that I don’t like about our ceremony site is that because the ferry can only take 20 people at a time and it takes about 12 minutes per trip to take people to the island, we have to ask some of our guests to arrive very early for the wedding. So, we are trying to make the island as comfortable as possible while those guests wait. One of the things that we are doing to make it a nicer wait is a refreshment table with juice and maybe some appetizers.
We ordered these jars on ebay (a great seller who runs the following store), and since they are so heavy we had to go with the slowest shipping option to keep it as cheap as possible. So I have been waiting a LONG time for these babies. Consequently, the day after I ordered them I found some similar jars at Home Outfitters (isn’t that always the way?), but these were worth the wait - they are exactly what I wanted. Here are some pictures:
Mrs. Blueberry, Kansas CityAge and Occupation in 06: 21, Full-time StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Full-time StudentEngagement Date: September 10, 2005Wedding Date: May 25, 2007Venue: Wynbrick Center - a historic mansion in my hometown.About Me: We're having an intimate, 125-ish person wedding with a full-blown dessert reception. When I'm not obsessing over wedding stuff or studying for my BA in English, I'm usually playing with our two kitty cats, blogging, doing crafty things, or hanging out with Mr. Blueberry!
Since we’re not hiring a caterer, and our site isn’t one that has any pre-approved arrangements regarding alcohol, it’s up to us to provide for our guests. This is really great for us, since we get to avoid the over-inflated costs charged by many vendors–we can order our wine by the case from Aldi (a grocery store owned by the Trader Joe’s people, which has a great selection of alcohol at *really* cheap prices) and choose our own favorite beers. Plus, no $3 sodas.
To cut costs, we decided to just offer wine and beer to drink. We’ll have plenty of it there, so guests can still have a good time, but we won’t have to rent an entire bar set-up. Plus, since many of our guests are older (very few are under 21), we don’t anticipate them all drinking–so our alcohol expenses should be relatively low.
I was aided greatly by this handy-dandy guide offered by BC Liquor Stores (pdf).
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
As a matter of fact, I’ve stolen most of my wedding ideas. My confetti poppers come from the brilliant mind of my florist, my bouquet right off the pages of Martha Stewart Weddings, and my lantern centerpieces were the brainchild of knottie NetterB.
