Mrs. Veggie, Raglan, New Zealand/Scranton, PAAge and Occupation: 27, Director of Small Non-ProfitFiance's Age and Occupation: 42, PhD Student & FarmerEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: Indian Head Camp, Honesdale Pennsylvania
About Me: I am a tree-huggin' farmer turned enthusiastic wedding-planner. I live in a house truck and wear flip-flops more often than shoes. In my old life I was a high school Spanish teacher in love with a crazy guy who lived off-the grid on a farm in New Hampshire. But, we decided to mix things up a bit, quit our jobs and move to New Zealand. My southern hemisphere lifestyle involves growing veggies, teaching, running our small non-profit, and surfing. I love laughing, singing, playing, and the inspirational Mr. Veggie (of course!). For our wedding, I am committed to throwing a killer party that celebrates our values without breaking the bank. Look forward to an eco-thrifty summer-campy weekend-long extravaganza.
Looking for a no-fuss way to drop some pounds before your big day? Why bother with exercise and a healthy diet when, with this fabulous product, you can simply absorb the fat away! Also available in blonde, brunette, prematurely grey, and receding hairline formulas.
OK, that last part was a lie. There are no other formulas. Now you all know our secret for staying so darned sexy.
Don’t worry Redheads, I wont be trying to ingest your product. Although a product that is all natural and also promises to reduce odour (with a “u”) is pretty tempting. And I’m sure Mr. Veggie wouldn’t mind the reduced risk of flare-ups. They’ve been happening more and more frequently as the wedding approaches. Read more…
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
A little while back, I had hit a lull in the planning process when Bridesmaid E surprised me with this hilarious book: Porn for the Bride. It currently graces our coffee table, inspiring perturbed glances (mainly from my dad) and uncontrolled giggles (from my girlfriends). The book is part of a series of “Porn for Women” books, created by The Cambridge Women’s Pornography Cooperative. According to Amazon.com, “The Cambridge Women’s Pornography Cooperative is a secret society of women working to redefine the way we look at pornography. They understand that sometimes a clean kitchen is hotter than a guy in a muscle shirt.”
Mrs. Thimble, NYC/PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 26, Actress & Costume Designer (+ day job)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Lawyer & Techie WizEngagement Date: August 22, 2008Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: The Pearl S. Buck HouseAbout Me: I’m an easily inspired over-thinker delighted with the process of designing, building, directing and {dare I say} co-starring in the early-autumn affair I’ve been dreaming up. I’m a sucker for trendied-up comfort foods and old family anecdotes; I have an affinity for adjectives, alliteration, eyelet and earl grey; and I live for quality time with family and friends. I never guessed I’d marry my “high school sweetheart", but when it turned out to be my funny, techie, loyal Mr. Thimble I was committed for life. We’re both mid-career transition and ready to move back to small-townish TBD, PA in a pre-wedding flurry of all-good life changes.
Perusing the internet one morning for an eCard for my mother’s birthday brought me to a lovely little tongue-in-cheek, off-color resource for ANY eCard worthy occasion. And, some occasions you would really never consider sending an eCard for. Like weddings. I realize some bees have shared Some eCards in their posts, but here are some (more) of my faves from Some eCards:
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
Two of my most cuddly and adorable interests are search results and internet behavior. (Yawn) I’ll sometimes Google-image a word or a phrase, usually related to what I’m working on or thinking about, just to see what comes up and why.
For example, a search for feathers wedding returned a lot of inspiration for decor. But it also returned the image below. There are no words for this, except WTF and hmm, could I pull that off?
Mrs. Dumpling, Las VegasAge and Occupation: 27, FinanceFiance's Age and Occupation: 34, Real EstateEngagement Date: March, 2008Wedding Date: March, 2009Blogging Since: August 26, 2008Venue: Catholic church ceremony & golf course receptionAbout Me: I grew up in the Deep South, and while most people say I have a thick southern accent, I tend to think it only comes out when I need to use it. Living in Las Vegas has definitely been an adventure and Mr. Dumpling and I are loving every minute of it! We are planning a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony and a reception with lots of DIY! We might even get Elvis to show up! I'm a HUGE Beatles fan, love The Office and can't wait to become a Mrs.!
When you think of vow renewal, you’re probably like me and think of boring, old people kissing in public. Gross. I think Avery (Ramona’s daughter on Real Housewives of NYC…do you watch that? I’m obsessed.) said it right when she said, “there’s a dress… there’s a cake… this is ridiculous.”
I know that makes me sound like a hater, but maybe I haven’t been to any good vow renewals. Well, until now. Remember that YouTube wedding entrance with the Chris Brown song? And then The Office recreated it for Jim & Pam’s wedding? Well, one night my friend Kristin, Director of Operations for Chippendales Las Vegas, decided that if she and her husband were going to do one of those vow renewals, that they better do something out of the ordinary. After a few brainstorming sessions (and quiet possibly a few drinks!) this is what she came up with.
This is how you do your vow renewal, Vegas Style. Check out these crazies: Read more…
Mrs. Veggie, Raglan, New Zealand/Scranton, PAAge and Occupation: 27, Director of Small Non-ProfitFiance's Age and Occupation: 42, PhD Student & FarmerEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: Indian Head Camp, Honesdale Pennsylvania
About Me: I am a tree-huggin' farmer turned enthusiastic wedding-planner. I live in a house truck and wear flip-flops more often than shoes. In my old life I was a high school Spanish teacher in love with a crazy guy who lived off-the grid on a farm in New Hampshire. But, we decided to mix things up a bit, quit our jobs and move to New Zealand. My southern hemisphere lifestyle involves growing veggies, teaching, running our small non-profit, and surfing. I love laughing, singing, playing, and the inspirational Mr. Veggie (of course!). For our wedding, I am committed to throwing a killer party that celebrates our values without breaking the bank. Look forward to an eco-thrifty summer-campy weekend-long extravaganza.
We had a Halloween Party here this weekend to coincide more closely to our autumnal transition into winter. (October 31st is spring here, and Halloween then always feels a bit funny.0
Anyhow, I dressed as Wonder Woman.
Me practicing my moves:
Confused Wonder Woman. Angry Wonder Woman. I-just-knocked-you out Wonder Woman.
Mrs. Seashell, Chicago, IL / Providence, RIAge and Occupation: 28, Marriage and Family TherapistFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Electrical EngineerEngagement Date: September 3, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: The Glen Manor HouseAbout Me: Fonts and fashion, stationery and Sundays, photography and french toast... the beauty is in the details for this fun-loving Chicagoan who loves to plan plan plan! The soon-to-be hubs plays "Mr. Fix-It" in our new condo while I swoon over beautiful, personalized stationery and choose shades of aubergine for my bridesmaids' dresses... and thus begins my new fairy tale! Skirting to the East Coast for our September nuptials where my home state of Rhode Island awaits with fall foliage, I'm just a few dress fittings and bachelorette party away from saying "I Do" to a very happy ending!
Upon entering a serious relationship (or perhaps even after a half-decent first date) it’s just oh-so-tempting to play the name game. C’mon, admit it, you’ve totally doodled a potential married name once or twice…
At some point, I came to realize my name lends itself to a few funnier options. My first and middle name is Amanda Rose, so I could be Amanda Rose Bush, or Amanda Rose Bud, and probably a few others. And indeed, it does get better: my first boyfriend’s last name was Hiscock. You read that correctly H-I-S-C-O-C-K.
No joke. My name literally could have been Amanda Rose Hiscock. Like a statement, “They were late because Amanda rose his cock”. Of course, back in high school this was the most hilarious thing EVER. When I told my mother she turned red as a beet and said, “That’s actually inappropriate.”
Mrs. Guinea Pig, Baltimore, MD Age and Occupation: 26, PhD student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Operations Director at a non-profit Engagement Date: December 25, 2008 Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: The Chesapeake Bay Beach Club About Me: I'm a tomboy science nerd whose girly side has made a startling appearance thanks to wedding planning! I love to bake, knit and sew but I also ride a motorcycle (that Mr. Guinea Pig wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole). We live with our three crazy cats and love to read, travel, watch movies, and do home improvement projects together! My parents/family are Canadian but I'm definitely American, although I've lived in 5 different countries, 6 different states, and speak Russian fluently. Mr. GP and I met online (did I mention I'm a scientist?) and had a whirlwind romance - now we can't wait to get married & celebrate with all our friends and family in a blue and yellow waterfront affair!
Last week I innocently checked my Google calendar: first I looked through April, making note of commitments and generally estimating free time vs. wedding to-do list length (not lookin’ good, folks). Then, I hit ’next month’, and WHAT?! Our wedding! Oh man is that thing speeding towards us.
After I got over the initial shock of ohmigoditsalmosthere, I took a closer look at the date. See, Mr. Guinea Pig and I share our Google calendars with each other (which we only recently started, and has been immensely helpful), and I laughed out loud at the different ways we’d entered our wedding into our calendars. I even took a screen shot so I could show you all
(My entry is in green, Mr. Guinea Pig’s is in blue)
What did I notice? My calendar entry about our wedding required ALL CAPS and several exclamation marks - not only that, but it’s noted as an ALL-DAY affair! Read more…
Mrs. Nachos, Chicago/St. ThomasAge and Occupation: 33, Commercial Real Estate & HairstylistFiance's Age and Occupation: 36, Radio ProducerEngagement Date: May 22, 2009Wedding Date: April 2010Venue: Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort, St. ThomasAbout Me: I'm a happy, laid back city girl that can find the silver lining in any situation. An optimist at heart, my motto is to turn your "what ifs?" into "so whats!". My fiance is a radio producer and the biggest Cubs fan you'll meet - our apartment decor definitely shows it. He and I grew up next door to each other and because of it, we have the best home videos and easiest holiday dinners. We are planning an intimate wedding in the Virgin Islands and a cocktail party in June for 150 of our closest friends.
So I mentioned that we decided to buy a house. ‘Member?
Well, we just put in an offer on one today! I have to say, I don’t know if this would have been possible had we not planned the wedding we did. Leaving all the little details in the hands of the hotel’s wedding coordinator has bought us a ton of free-time to see things like this…
Yes, my friends, that is me looking through a window. Hmmmm… or… is it?
In the basement of another, we found this… Read more…
Mrs. Pug, New York City/Half Moon Bay, CAAge and Occupation: 33, LawyerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, dittoEngagement Date: July 2008Wedding Date: March 2010Venue: Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon BayAbout Me: The Mr. and I are two 30-somethings who enjoy tasty sweets of all kinds, our neighborhood wine store, and cuddling with our pug. NYC is where we live and the city we love, but we’re doing the deed out in Northern California. We are trying to keep the affair small, intimate, and manageable. Our motto is: the less people, the better! (I’m kidding.)
Having read countless posts from fellow bees regarding their amazing weddings and looking at photos from other weddings on the internet, I kinda feel like I could be putting more effort into my wedding, like DIY-ing more stuff and doing my own flowers. But I can’t complain, because to a certain extent, it’s all my fault! And I own it! It’s all due to my modus operandi: Laziness (and DIY inability). Folks, I won’t lie—excited as I have been about planning this wedding, I am a lazy ass.
If I could do this for a living, I would:
I am so pretty.
There are several components from this wedding that I decided from the get-go not to include, or dropped along the way. Read more…
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
One of my good law school friends sent me a link to this article the other day:
Engagement rings took off in the U.S. when the courts refused to hear “breach of promise” lawsuits. These suits were brought by women who had slept with their fiancés and then been abandoned. These women were then less attractive marriage prospects for anyone else.
Naturally, such lawsuits were sensational fun for the newspapers, and eventually the courts put a stop to the whole thing. The problem then became: how could a young affianced couple have sex with each other when she had no recourse to the law if he changed his mind? Both of them might well want to, but for the lady the risks were pretty high. And so the institution of the engagement ring came about. Such rings are non-returnable, meaning that if the man breaks off the engagement he doesn’t get the ring back. The system discourages him from running off and provides automatic compensation if he does. Very clever.
Do you know of any other wedding traditions that have not-so-romantic stories behind them? I’d love to hear them!
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
So… have you heard of the newest beauty craze sweeping the nation???
Hive… it is called VAJAZZLING… aka bedazzling your… well… um… va-jay-jay. Apparently even the celebs are doing it; Jennifer Love Hewitt raved about it on the George Lopez show back in January…
Do you want to see the process in action???
Here is the “tame version” for those of you who just want to hear about it…
Ms. Potato Chips, Boston/Narragansett RIAge and Occupation: 29, PhD StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Personal Trainer/Business Owner/Physical Therapy AssistantEngagement Date: January 1, 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: The Narragansett TowersAbout Me: A semi-professional bookworm, if I could be a literary character I’d be a cross between Jo March and Jane Eyre, only better accessorized and much lazier. My hobbies include sleeping in, seasonal brews, running, Trader Joe’s, and watching Unwrapped and Good Eats with Mr. Potato Chips. I harbor an irrational fear of tulle, crafts, things that are fussy, and overuse of the phrase "Your Special Day". After a year or seven together, down the aisle we go, slouching toward adulthood and planning a Rhodie party with equal parts whimsy, cheer, and pizza.
Potato Chipz Management seeks energetic go-getter to perform a broad range of tasks related to making wedding-related decisions and communicating results to lazy, slightly apathetic bride who doesn’t get why people keep asking her questions as if she knows the answers. Candidate will apply knowledge of wedding to-dos, tasks, and best practices to build and manage vendor and familial relationships through proactive communication.
Responsibilities:
Fielding and answering wedding-related questions and making decisions including but not limited to:
How should the groomsmen and bridesmaids be matched to walk down the aisle together?
Does this bridesmaid’s dress make my butt look big?
What are you serving at the rehearsal dinner?
Do you want the flower girl to carry a basket or a posy?
White outer envelopes or blue ones?
Calligrapher or home printer?
Do you like this ribbon or that ribbon for the favor boxes?
Mrs. Argyle, St. LouisAge and Occupation: 24, Project CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, PilotEngagement Date: February 15, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Jewel Box in Forest Park and Windows on WashingtonAbout Me: I'm a true Midwestern girl (born and raised), lover of red wine, reality TV and the entire J.Crew catalog. I love to dance regardless of who is watching, and enjoy a good laugh with my girls. I have a soft spot in my heart for planet Earth, my two dogs and my fiance. Fall is my favorite season (which is why we are marrying in September), but I love a warm summer day and the Colorado mountains in the winter. We are planning a modern soiree downtown, with lots of bold colors, and fun, eco-friendly elements.
If you could please show up to our wedding rehearsal in this or something like this, Mr. Argyle and I would love you forever. We’re not even kidding. This goes you for you too, Mom and Dad Argyle. (And, I know they would totally take part in this.) I love it.
Mrs. Hot Dog, Cheyenne, WYAge and Occupation: 23, Health Information SpecialistFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Personal Trainer
Engagement Date: March 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: Family Ranch outside Glenrock, WYAbout Me: I'm a city girl by birth and rural girl by choice. I'm ready to take on the world with a big heart and a big smile! I love all things crafty and DIY. I live in Cheyenne, WY with Mr. HD and our 2 fur babies, our dachshunds, Ollie and Mia. I love travel, adventure, Finding Nemo, '90s music, animals, and laughing. He is the cheese to my macaroni and together we spend more time watching movies than we probably should! I'm an old soul who is super duper excited to pull off our down home-rustic-chic-country wedding (on the cheap)!
I wish H.Dawg was as excited about all this planning business as I am. It’s not that he’s apathetic, at all. He gives me his honest opinions of my ideas. And he keeps telling me how great it will be to just be married. But I can’t get him to give any real input.
His one suggestion so far consisted of a yellow aisle runner and “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” as the processional. I hope to God he was kidding. But who really knows? I didn’t DARE ask about the shoes… Ruby slippers wouldn’t go too well with our theme…
And, to give you another example, this conversation just took place at lunch:
ME: “So, are there any flowers that you really don’t like, and wouldn’t want to be used in your boutonniere?” HIM: “Well, just don’t pick anything ugly.” (le sigh) ME: “How do I know what you think is ugly? We have VERY different ideas of what’s pretty, so why don’t you just come with me to the florist?” HIM: “UH, no. How about when you’re there, and you see something that you like, pick the exact opposite, since you know that’s what I would do.” (cue hysterical-hyena cackle) Read more…
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
