Weddingbee

The view of Saint Patrick’s from the solarium.

Our other flower girl kept asking me why I was changing my dress.

The music was playing.

Guests were really intrigued by the coasters.

Our groomsman’s baby girl.

Attack of the baby.

Mrs. Bee attended our wedding and just got done telling me to get ready because this is going to be “the most photographed day of your life!” Mr. Snow Pea and I were just talking and then suddenly everyone began snapping photos. I said, “Wow, now I know what Britney Spears must feel like…except I’m wearing underwear.”

Our paparazzi

The lambchops were soooooooo good.

Hey, are you going to finish that?

We went back to my room and I changed back into my wedding gown.

I laid on my side so that I wouldn’t wrinkle my bustle, but doesn’t it look like I was just relaxin’ and calling out orders to my bridesmaids? kekeke

The guests began to assemble into the Grand Ballroom for the reception.

to bee continued…
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Mr. Canary and me before the last leg of the tour… bracing ourselves for the final stretch– the Verazzano Bridge.

Mr. Canary and I are really passionate about our hobbies (me: art and design; Mr. Canary: music and film). Bicycling is something that we’re both very enthusiastic about. Though we’re not even close to the intermediate level, it’s the one recreational thing that we love to do together. Not that we don’t like doing things together, but usually one of us is more interested in the activity than the other. For example, there could be a really cool exhibition at a museum that I would love to go to and Mr. Canary would come along with me and enjoy it as well, but not be as excited as I would to attend.

The Five Boro also got us really excited for our honeymoon, which of course includes lots of biking (and eating!) It was nice to take a break from our massive wedding to-do list and do something completely non-wedding related instead.

Do you and your significant other have a lot of shared interests or just one? Please share!
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…to “Huh, wha dat bitch say?”

I looked in the mirror for the first time and thought, “Wow, I look hot in this.”

Running up the stairs to the rooftop solarium.

Alright everybody, the party is here! I was so excited to see everyone.

Mah, quit badgering me! (She was fixing my collar in her “loving” asian mom way.)

Walking by our guest book and place cards - I just loved it!

All our guests really enjoyed the book.

Seeing Mr. Snow Pea - What do you think, hon? Do I look hot? Muahaha

I was so distracted at this point. Everyone wanted to talk to me and before I could finish a sentence, another guest came up. All I wanted was a glass of water. Mr. Snow Pea was so sweet and got me a drink and my bridesmaids fed me. Immediately we went into the tea ceremony.

My mom taught my mother-in-law how to say “Have lots of babies” in Cantonese. It was so awkward, but enjoyable.

And then it was my mom’s turn and she got way emo. I have never seen her like that before.

Gold dragon and pheonix bangles

Even Mr. Snow Pea got some bling.

My mom gave me a ruler and explained it was something to do with “never let your husband be farther than this from you in bed…” Mr. Snow Pea looks like he’s thinking, “Mmm hmmm.”

This is my favorite picture. I think it sums it all up.

Did your parents or future in-laws surprise you in some way during your wedding planning?
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I’ll definitely be including these in my out-of-town gift bags or bridesmaid packages.

Check out Ez’s other tutorials here.

Does anyone else have other budget friendly gift suggestions for the wedding guests or wedding party?
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Look at those pleats and the tiny ruffles on the sweetheart neckline.
{Image from here}

I love the composition of this photo. The pink train and the pink couch. Perfecto!
{Image from here}

Chrissy hard at work!
{Image from here}

If you’re not in the Seattle area, but are interested in Chrissy’s dresses, just drop her an email and she can help you come up with some custom ideas over the phone or email. Chrissy has been one of the best vendors to work with because she really loves what she does and she is just so friendly and easy-going.

Are any of you wearing alternative wedding dresses? If so, do share!

*All images from One Love Photo (Heather Gilson)

ed. note: please see our editorial policy.

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Mini leather suitcases. These come in three sizes and three colors (green, red, and purple) so I bought one of each size in each color for all the girls for a total of three suitcase per bridesmaid. The suitcases can be stacked or nested…too cute!

Gift #3: So we’ll always keep in touch

Stitch Letterbox. These come in 4 colors (red, green, brown, light blue) which was perfect for my 4 bridesmaids. Each box folds out to reveal a pen, cards, and envelopes. I personalized each card with the girls’ names.

The night before the wedding was spent at the Affinia Manhattan, where we girls had a sleepover. I presented the gifts then, and explained the meaning behind each gift. They loved it!

As for my maid of honor, I wanted to give her something in addition to the gifts above. So I outright asked her what she wanted. (”Look, either you can get a gift I think you’ll like, or you can get one you want or need.”) Although my little sister was resistant at first, she confessed that she’s always wanted a pair of pearl stud earrings, so I bought her a pair of 7.5mm Akoya pearl earrings. She wore them on the day of the wedding and I couldn’t help but smile every time I looked at her ears.
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There were five rooms and each was dedicated to a specific theme. The first room was Wedding in White, which you may have guessed was mostly about the power of the white wedding gown and all the culture and tradition associated with it. I just loved walking into the room and seeing it like this.

The other pieces I loved in this room was a paper dress called Dada Poem Wedding Dress by Lesley Dill. The dress was sculpted in paper and screen printed with an Emily Dickinson poem.

The second room was titled, Artful Negotiations, and displayed pieces associated with dowries and various items gifted during courtship. I loved these Japanese clam shells for a game called kai-awase (shell matching game) which shows images in pairs from The Tale of Genji and was part of the bridal trousseau of aristocratic/affluent families.

My favorite room was Color and Symbolism in Wedding Attire. I always knew that red was an important color in Asian weddings, but didn’t know that its significance was primarily because the color is associated with blood, life giving energy, love, happiness, fertility, good fortune, beauty, and wealth. The room was filled with beautiful wedding attire from many different cultures as well as accompanying explanations about each piece. Mr. Canary and I also spent about 30 minutes watching various videos on traditional wedding customs from various countries. The Chinese one was pretty interesting because it was about a small country wedding and most of it highlighted the sadness of a daughter leaving her family to be with her husband’s family, which is something that is rarely considered in Western weddings. I also loved this example of a traditional Chinese costume. I told Mr. Canary that oftentimes, the bride’s face was covered by a silk cloth the entire wedding day and grooms did not see their brides until the night of the wedding after they were married. He found that pretty amusing.

Chinese wedding gown, late 19th century, silk, gold metallic thread, China, Dennis Helmar photographer, Peabody Essex Museum, gift of the estate of Julia C. Deane, 2001. {Image from here}

The fourth room, Art and Ceremony, had many examples of headpieces traditionally worn by brides as well as other examples of ceremonial decoration and necessities like a ketuba and chuppa. This amazing crown caught my eye and I stood mesmerized for a few minutes noting all the detail and handiwork (who am I kidding… I was staring at the bling!)

Nuptial Crown, 1884, Russia: St. Petersburg, Silver, diamonds, velvet, height: 5 3/4 inches, diameter: 4 inches, Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens; bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973 (ACC. No. 17.36) Photograph by Edward Owen.  {Image from here}

This was the crown worn by the last Russian empress, Alexandra on her wedding day. It was pretty spectacular in person!The final room, Remembrance, featured random pieces that commemorated weddings and also items that addressed the trials and tribulations of marriage. I was particularly interested in this fanciful quilt made from vintage fabrics and images. I thought the main quilted piece of two wedding bands inscribed with “With this ring I thee wed, Until I changed my mind” was pretty hysterical.

Fractured Wedding Ring: Divorce Attorney’s Quilt, 2005, Teddy McMahon Pruett, vintage and recycled fabrics, Lake City, Florida, Walter Silver photographer, courtesy of the artist. {Image from here}

All in all, it was a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon observing wedding traditions and seeing everything from a bird’s eye view for once and ignoring my massive wedding to-do list. If you’re in the area, definitely stop by and check it out. It took Mr. Canary and me about 1.5 hours to look and interact with everything. The exhibition will be up through September 14. Also if you’re interested, the museum is hosting some really fun workshops and talks that include a letterpress class and a panel discussion on gay marriage.

To visit:
Peabody Essex Museum
East India Square
161 Essex Street
Salem, MA 01970-3783 USA
Phone: 978-745-9500, 866-745-1876

Open daily 10 A.M.-5 P.M.

Have any of you seen the exhibition or visited the PEM before? I personally think it’d be pretty awesome to have a wedding there!

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The details:
New York
Madison and 61st Street
Thursday, May 1st, 3PM-7PM
Fourth Floor
Phone: 212.826.8900 x2142

Beverly Hills
9570 Wilshire Boulevard
Wednesday, May 7th, 2PM-6PM
Main Floor
Phone: 310.276.4400

And he’ll also *gasp* be signing shoes! So for any of you ladies planning on buying Louboutins for your big day, now’s the time! I won’t be going because I think Mr. Canary will behead me if I bring another pair of shoes home, even if they are signed by Monsieur Louboutin. Mr. Canary will hear lobotomy instead of Louboutin.

Any Louboutin brides out there?

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We got all the necessaries including fine china (who knew that I’d ever care about bone china), flatware, and bed/bath linens, but the big gap was cookware. Mr. Canary and I really enjoy cooking, but we don’t get much of a chance to do it since we have been living at Mama and Papa Canary’s. We’re spoiled. Mama Canary doesn’t let us near the kitchen. And previously, I lived in a tiny NYC studio apartment (under 300 square feet!) so my cookware was limited to items that were specifically for cooking for one person. My “kitchen” consisted of a very small area that contained a sink, two range tops, a mini-fridge beneath it.

But we love food and entertaining. One of the first furniture pieces we got for our new apartment was an extend-able dining table. We have grand hopes of entertaining and throwing dinner parties. Hence, the need for more things for the kitchen and cookware.

To help with your registry list, all the store guides suggest imagining that you are planning for a dinner party and think of your menu and the number of people attending. This is always distracting, because all I can imagine are the cute little place cards I’d make or the beautiful centerpieces. Plus, all the store guides have ulterior motives to get you to buy stuff that you don’t need, but subconsciously think you’ll need: egg cups, pancake warmers, condiment spoons…

That’s when I found Epicurious’ handy guide to kitchen essentials. It’s a great overview of things you would need to entertain and be a good hostess. Now if they’ll just magically make the food appear as well!

How did you decide on what to register for? What were your guidelines? Did you imagine hosting a dinner party?

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