Miss Airplane, Plymouth, MichiganAge and Occupation: 26, Fundraising Project CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Food & Beverage ManagerEngagement Date: March 31, 2012Wedding Date: September 2013Venue: Fox Hills Golf Club & Banquet CenterAbout Me: I'm a true Michigander (born and raised) and a die-hard Wolverine. I am the definition of a multi-tasker and like to believe I am also a perfectionist, but my horrible short-term memory likes to prove otherwise. I'm an English major and a pretty punny girl, so get ready for some really horrible plays on words! When I'm not consumed with wedding planning, I enjoy copious amounts of television and an equally unhealthy addiction to bacon.
For a long time I was certain of what everyone would be wearing for the engagement photos.
Yes, everyone. Me, Mr. Plane…and Lil Wingman. Our dog LW will, indeed, be making an appearance in our first photo shoot as an engaged couple. I have some very dog-specific photos in mind.
Mr. Plane is probably the easiest. He’ll wear jeans or slacks, a button down, and one of the nice sport coats he recently purchased for a work trip.
I thought I had most of my outfit figured out, until I found an amazing one-sleeved beauty that is now in competition for the more formal shots downtown. I think I am pretty close to making a decision, though.
Who would have thought the toughest one to dress would be the dog?!
We’re not normally “dress up your pets” type of people, but since he won’t be at the wedding, when else would he have the chance to get all spiffy? Some options…
Mrs. Gloves, Columbus, OhioAge and Occupation: 25, Executive AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, FirefighterEngagement Date: December 29, 2011Wedding Date: January 2013Venue: Cathedral ceremony, reception in a converted hardware warehouseAbout Me: I’m a blond-haired, blue-eyed Midwestern girl, who had grand plans of an international career, before the economy came crashing down right as I graduated college. I love travel, exploring other cultures, cooking for friends and family, and relaxing in a pedicure chair. My fiancé is the perfect, level-headed and logical counterpart for my impulsive tendencies, and the nicest person I’ve ever met. Lately, we like to spend our time renovating our new home, planning our wedding, and fitting in date night with friends. We are so looking forward to a wedding weekend jam-packed with all of our favorite people, plenty of food, and flowing champagne!
So my organization is in two forms—online and also on paper. I was always a person that preferred to take notes by hand in class, rather than on a laptop, and I thought wedding planning would be the same. What proved to be the single most helpful part of my life, though, was my online organization. It’s excessive, so be prepared for a wordy post, interspersed with unrelated photos of Howie.
Doesn’t he look like such a old man here? Or is that just me?
Right, so as soon as I wrapped my mind around being engaged, I went online and reserved two Gmail accounts—one with my married name (I knew I was going to need it in the future) and one that would serve as a wedding account. McGlovin and I both use and love our Droids, so I thought that Google would really be the most convenient source for us, and I was right. Here are just a few of the many awesome ways that Google was helpful:
Mrs. Gloves, Columbus, OhioAge and Occupation: 25, Executive AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, FirefighterEngagement Date: December 29, 2011Wedding Date: January 2013Venue: Cathedral ceremony, reception in a converted hardware warehouseAbout Me: I’m a blond-haired, blue-eyed Midwestern girl, who had grand plans of an international career, before the economy came crashing down right as I graduated college. I love travel, exploring other cultures, cooking for friends and family, and relaxing in a pedicure chair. My fiancé is the perfect, level-headed and logical counterpart for my impulsive tendencies, and the nicest person I’ve ever met. Lately, we like to spend our time renovating our new home, planning our wedding, and fitting in date night with friends. We are so looking forward to a wedding weekend jam-packed with all of our favorite people, plenty of food, and flowing champagne!
Exciting news, hive…McGlovin and I have a new addition to the family! Meet Howard Winston III:
Isn’t he adorable?? We’ve been considering getting a dog for a while, and had pretty much decided to wait until after the wedding because housebreaking a dog in the last few months of planning seemed ridiculous. Well…my dad called on Friday and knew someone that was trying to get rid of a puppy before they left for vacation on Monday. My sister and I drove up Friday night, and…now we have a Howie!
Miss Cauldron, New York City/AustinAge and Occupation: 33, Human ResourcesFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, TechnologyEngagement Date: October 8, 2011Wedding Date: September 2012Venue: Pecan Grove at the Salt LickAbout Me: I grew up in the Lone Star State, but moved to NYC after college to get a taste of the Big Apple, and never left. I love baking, yoga, Mr. C, and sunshine (not necessarily in that order)! Mr. C and I met on Match.com back in 2007, and our second date was at a Texas barbecue restaurant in Manhattan. It’s only fitting that after almost five years together, we are getting married at an iconic Texas barbecue joint. (Shiner Bock and brisket, anyone?) I’m proud of the life we have built together around our love for each other, Mr. C’s crazy dog Bosley, and fun sailing adventures on our boat, and I’m looking forward to celebrating our marriage at one seriously awesome party in September.
The teasing drives me crazy, as he’s kind of half-serious. But I just can’t see myself managing to deal with the dog on our wedding day, to be completely honest. Just one more thing to worry about. Bosley might be Mr. C’s best friend, but I had to put my foot down—no doggie ring bearers. Or random aisle-walking dogs:
Mrs. Unicorn, Atlanta, GeorgiaAge and Occupation: 22, Retail Sales ConsultantFiance's Age and Occupation: 22, Graphic DesignerEngagement Date: November 27, 2011Wedding Date: September 2012Venue: The FarmAbout Me: I’m an impatient, impulsive person with a creative side and a flair for the dramatic. I’m very much a DIY sort of girl, and I have the messy craft table to prove it. I worked at a veterinary clinic for the better part of seven years before diving headfirst into the totally different world of sales. I must say, the change has been one for the better; I no longer have clients that bite or scratch, nor does my workplace smell of kitty litter. My true passion, however, is aerial acrobatics and dance, and I hope to open my own studio one day. Mr. Unicorn doesn’t bat an eye when he comes home from work to find his fiancée hanging upside down from a pole. Together, we enjoy shooting things (with a camera), playing Xbox games (my strategy consists primarily of button-mashing), and enjoying the company of our spoiled pit bull named Leeloo. We are planning a fall wedding with lots of DIY details and a rustic-chic vibe. Our budget is tight, but we know we can work around it to plan the wedding we want.
She’s just turned two, and she’s a stubborn, spoiled brat. Isn’t she adorable?
We think so, too. Which is why, originally, we wanted to have her at our wedding. We saw so many cute pictures of dogs at weddings. What’s cuter than a pug in a bow tie or a golden retriever carrying a bouquet??? Inspired, we told Miss Leeloo our plan. She was ecstatic to hear that she would have a role in the wedding, and she celebrated by taking a nap in her favorite bean bag chair.
Mrs. Mink, Charlottesville, VirginiaAge and Occupation: 34, College AdministratorFiance's Age and Occupation: 40, Craft Beer ConsultantEngagement Date: November 26, 2010Wedding Date: June 2012Venue: Pippin Hill Farm & VineyardsAbout 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!
Remember Junior Mink? He’s my little golden retriever, who has been my sidekick for the last five years. Very early in our wedding planning, I debated having Junior Mink in our wedding. I feared that he’d be uncomfortable or the logistics of getting him to and from our venue would prove too difficult. Almost every comment from my original post about this encouraged me to include Junior Mink in our big day. One bee even Photoshop’ed an image of Junior Mink with a bride and groom to encourage me.
We settled on including Junior Mink pretty soon after that. Mr. Mink and I weren’t exactly in agreement about what Junior Mink should wear, though. Mr. Mink thought the bow-tie collar we have was the perfect outfit for Junior Mink. I put it on him for holidays and special occasions.
Photo by Miss Mink
I had a slightly different idea. I had seen floral wreaths that my florists, Pat and Sherry Spencer of Pat’s Floral Designs, had made for dogs on a few wedding blogs. I thought Junior Mink would look adorable with a floral wreath around his neck.
In the end, I was a bit more passionate about the floral wreath than Mr. Mink was about the bow tie, so the wreath wins. I bought Junior Mink a black collar, lead, and Gentle Leader harness to be the foundation for his look, and I think he looks very sharp.
Mrs. Dalmatian, Nashville, TNAge and Occupation: 23, Pediatric NurseFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Computer Engineer and Entrepreneur Engagement Date: April 13, 2011Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: Historic CedarwoodAbout Me: I am a Northern girl from Chicago who is planning a wedding filled with Southern charm in Nashville, Tennessee. I love dogs, the White Sox, Full House reruns, and anything with ruffles on it. Mr. Dalmatian is my computer-genius problem-solving fiance who is constantly teaching me new things and making me a better person. We live with our adopted pup Echo, who is very excited that his parents are getting married!
I am a little dog obsessed. Okay okay, that is not an entirely accurate statement… I am a lot dog obsessed. I did choose to be Miss Dalmatian after all! You may recall when I introduced you to the two most important pups in my life. Bailey lives up in Chicago with my parents and is my family’s dog, so while I love her infinitely, she will not be included in the wedding festivities. Echo, on the other hand, lives here in Nashville and belongs to Mr. Dalmatian and me. He is a huge part of our life as a couple (I don’t know what we would do all day if we couldn’t sit around and admire his cuteness). So I knew from the beginning I wanted him to somehow be involved in this crazy process of getting married.
Miss Woodpecker, Branford, CT Age and Occupation: 27, Graduate Student/School Psych InternFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, GlazierEngagement Date: Christmas Eve 2010Wedding Date: September 2012Venue: Owenego Beach ClubAbout Me: I’m a Connecticut native planning a coastal beach wedding in our hometown. My loves in life include: food, family and the fiance. I’m a planner/organization fiend, by nature and by addiction, and am obsessed with all things wedding and design. We're trying to put personal touches on everything we can in our wedding, to really make it personal to us, our family, and friends. In the middle of wedding planning, I’m also finishing up grad school, and will be starting a brand new career within weeks of our wedding. It’s going to be an adventure!
This post might seem crazy to you if you don’t have a pet, and I totally understand that. But I know some of you can relate. You see, I have neglected to mention that Mr. Woodpecker and I have a 5 year old…
Pup and Mr. Woodpecker the week we met!!
PUP! Meet Cooper. He is a crazy, energetic rescue dog, who is very lovable, and whom I humiliate on a daily basis:
Mrs. Scone, Napa/Kansas CityAge and Occupation: 31, RecruiterFiancee's Age and Occupation: 33, Motorcycle MechanicEngagement Date: April 15, 2010Wedding Date: July 2012Venue: Boulevard BreweryAbout Me: I am a West Coast girl that fell for a Midwestern girl. I can’t get enough of baking, projecting, family and our fluffy dog child Darby. I bake by smell, haven’t used a timer in years and years. Having a major project on the horizon and a busy schedule keep me sane. I love beer even though I live in Napa (but I like wine too, just not as much as beer). We are planning a family friendly convivial affair in Kansas City and can’t wait to share the adventures.
After the engagement was “official” and we had moved into a bigger place and life had started to settle in a bit more, we decided to “think” about getting a dog. Sweetie Scone and I both missed having a dog, and she wanted some company. (She works from home/her mobile mechanic’s van.)
We talked about what kind of dog would be a good fit—not too big, not too small, just right (ah, Goldilocks). A small/medium-sized dog that liked people would be perfect. So one Sunday in August 2010 we walked into a Petco during an adoption event. We hadn’t even finished walking through the doors when I spotted a white fluffy dog that looked to be the perfect size. When we approached him he was friendly; they offered to let us take him on a walk so off we went. It seemed like he had no issue with other dogs. He was sweet, and we decided we could love him. WE HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH WE COULD LOVE HIM, aaaaaahhhh. Oh, and my parents love him. (Like, they threaten to keep him when he comes to stay with them.)
He is our dog-child, and my parents call him their granddog. He went from the streets to an unhappy foster situation to being overly loved by everyone—seriously, the dog trainer, the vet, the family, our workplaces. He is loved, not sure if you can tell.
Mrs. Elk, City: Syracuse/Long IslandAge and Occupation: 25, Medical StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Computer EngineerEngagement Date: November 22, 2010Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: 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!
Mrs. Honey, Durango, COAge and Occupation: 28, Financial AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Lab Tech/PhlebotomistEngagement Date: August 1, 2010Wedding Date: January 2012Venue: Vallecito LakeAbout Me: I am a Colorado girl through and through, marrying an adrenaline-fueled Alabama boy. We love the outdoors just about as much as we love spoiling our dog and three cats. On any given weekend you can find us being adventurous, doing anything from rafting to snowboarding, and everything in between. We live in an outdoor mecca and truly believe in "Work Hard, Play Harder." I'm an optimist to the core, a crafter wannabe, a Southern food cook-in-training and a big time believer in girls nights. We met, fell in love and got engaged in eight short months and are now knee-deep in planning what we hope to be a super-fun, very us wedding celebration. Join us as we plan a rustic meets whimsical, Colorado winter wedding with loads of personal touches and good food!
Last Christmas Mr. Honey bought me one of those flip-a-day calendars—365 days of cat tips, advice and quotes. There was one recently that said this: “If you plan on having your cat play a role in your wedding, make sure you take her to the site so that she becomes familiar with the space”. HA, yeah right. If you have ever travelled in a car with your cat, you know that they don’t do well under stress. Needless to say, our kitties won’t be with us on our wedding day. As you may or may not remember, our doggy Zeus, will be. We just bought a handsome new leash and his tie should be in any day. I first told you about all four of our furbabies a long time ago, but in light of this post, I will just say again that in addition to Zeus, our three kitties are super dooper special to us. They make us smile and laugh a thousand times a day. Since they can’t be there physically, I wanted to represent them in some way. Enter the adorable phenomenon that is custom cake toppers. Normally couples have themselves customized, but I skipped us and went straight for our pets.
I searched the holy grail of custom toppers, Etsy, and fell in love with too many shops. Most of them came with a high price tag to match, but I finally stumbled upon IttyBittyWoodShoppe and commissioned a topper of just animals for $40. I sent the owner pictures and placed my order. They arrived last week and I put some finishing touches on it and am ready to share! Read more…
Mrs. Hawk, Richmond, VAAge and Occupation: 26, FinanceFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, District SupervisorEngagement Date: March 13, 2011Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: The Chapel of the Sir Christopher Wren Building, 2007 Legacy HallAbout Me: I’m an Arizona-born girl who has spent the majority of my life living below the Mason-Dixon line. The South has definitely earned a special place in my heart (alongside my Virginia born and bred fiance, of course!). We are planning a traditional Christian ceremony at my alma mater in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, followed by a rocking reception filled with Southern cooking and vintage/shabby chic details. When we’re not wedding planning, we enjoy spending time with our three dogs, going for runs together, watching plenty of football (or baseball depending on the season), and sampling new wine.
I am probably not going in the direction that you think…I am talking about my furbabies: Bella, Jetta, and Tug. Some of you may think that I have a screw or two loose, but in my eyes the Hawk pups are a legitimate part of our family. In fact, they are our family. When we first moved in together, the joining together of my Bella and Tug with Mr. Hawk’s Jetta under one household was the first real step in creating our own little family unit. In my head I’m picturing the intro from The Brady Bunch with dogs. (I probably lost a few of y’all with that statement, right? Yes, I’m the crazy dog lady.)
Mrs. Elk, City: Syracuse/Long IslandAge and Occupation: 25, Medical StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Computer EngineerEngagement Date: November 22, 2010Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: 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!
Mrs. Mole, Los Angeles/Las VegasAge and Occupation: 29, Test Prep InstructorFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, User Experience ArchitectEngagement Date: April 2011Wedding Date: January 2012Venue: Wynn Las Vegas/Bouchon BistroAbout Me: I’m a Wisconsinite-turned-Angeleno who is planning a destination wedding in Las Vegas. I am passionate about education: I spent 23 (!) consecutive years in school, and now I work to help other people get into graduate programs. I love running on the treadmill, buying bath products from Lush, learning new moves in step aerobics, and exploring my neighborhood on foot. I am sometimes snobby about food, but I am rarely snobby about books. I read everything from Geoffrey Chaucer to Iris Murdoch to Chuck Klosterman to Candace Bushnell. My fiance and I are getting married on our third anniversary!
On an episode of HBO’s Sex and the City, Charlotte York says, “Everyone knows you only get two great loves in your life.” Like Carrie Bradshaw (the one time where I can honestly make this comparison) I don’t necessarily believe that this is true or even a valid way of conceptualizing the vast possibilities of love in a person’s life. That being said, though, I do have two great loves in my life right now. The first is obviously Mr. Mole. He is first by a long, long shot. The second, though, is our dog, Tom Boonen.
Such a handsome face?
In November 2009, Mr. Mole and I started to talk about adopting a dog. I quickly put my vote in for a dachshund. Mr. Mole suggested that we think about getting a greyhound. I had never thought about having such a large dog, but Mr. Mole talked me into looking into the possibility.
(Mr. Mole says that he was influenced by his friend, who adopted a greyhound the year before. I blame The Simpsons.)
Mrs. Cucumber Sandwich, Washington, DC/Cape May, NJAge and Occupation: 28, School CounselorFiance's Age and Occupation: 40, Collegiate AthleticsEngagement Date: March 27, 2010Wedding Date: October 2011Venue: Congress Hall HotelAbout Me: I am a school counselor who spends my day wrangling children and my nights attempting to be creative with wedding projects. My enthusiasm for each of these activities far surpasses my skill. Thank goodness Mr. Cucumber Sandwich is there to pick up the pieces and be the voice of reason about my DIY tries. I have an obsession with terrible romantic comedies (‘From Justin to Kelly’ anyone?, anyone?!?), competitive Scrabble play, and hot dogs. I could eat astronaut ice cream for every meal and can’t seem to resist buying more shoes. Our wedding is going to be a true hodge podge of semi-destination, tradition, Yuengling, New England charm, with just a dash of ‘Jersey Shore’ thrown in. It has been six years in the making and I can’t wait to marry my best friend.
Alternative title: A Ploy to Post Tons of Pictures of my Furbaby
Mr. Cucumber Sammie and I love our furbaby (most days). However, she is a complete menace and is not invited to the wedding. This makes Mr. CS sad. But we have been searching for ways to include her in the wedding.
There are so many cute options for including furbabies. Some brides have done doggie cake toppers.
via Style Me Pretty/Photo by Shutterbird Photography
