

I had gone back and forth as to whether or not to have a Polaroid guestbook at our wedding. While I loved the idea, I just felt like film was so expensive, and I didn’t know if I could find/borrow/buy Polaroid cameras because the Polaroid company has ceased manufacturing them. We lucked out though: my mother-in-law bought us two Adesso Polaroid Guestbook Albums, so all I had to do was buy film and round up some cameras. I ended up borrowing the cameras from my super schweet girlfriend Jane (thank you Janie!) so the cost issue didn’t hit as hard as I originally thought it would.

Front cover of one of the two albums

Our reception includes many elements that are not common in weddings. To make sure our guests don’t miss a beat, they will be given this piece of stationery that shows the location and times of all the ‘events and attractions’. It’s a trifold that opens up to a map of the venue, with the ceremony program and menus on the back. (Note: pictures are of drafts, work is still in progress)


“It’s once in a lifetime…”
I hear this a lot. It’s what people tell me when I hesitate about making a wedding purchase due to cost. Sometimes people feel so passionately about what they think I deserve that I end up having to defend myself. These good intentioned debates usually halt completely when someone suggests involvement of my plastic buddy. I guess that’s where I draw the line.

Image courtesy of Southern Style Weddings, photographed by Woodward+Rick Photographers
Southern Style Weddings recently posted a really awesome Real Wedding photographed by Woodward+Rick Photographers featuring Alexandra & Jeremy who were recently married in the mountains of North Carolina. The image above is simply a snippet of the entire board chock full of amazingly gorgeous images. Of course you can get the full details of their fabulous barn encased soirée over at SSW, but I wanted to highlight an idea from the bride that was simply adorable: the Kissing Menu.
Excellence Playa Mujeres is a fairly new, all-inclusive hotel located approximately half way between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The resort is completely flawless, boasting eight different restaurants, several outdoor and indoor bars, free entertainment, unlimited drinks, 24 hour room-service, fully stocked inclusive in-room mini-bars, a private beach, and scheduled day and nighttime activities, all secluded in a fairly remote and undeveloped stretch of beach. We had to travel through two large security gates to get into the resort, both fully staffed with security double checking our names and room numbers every time we entered and exited, so there was a pretty decent feeling of security.

The hotel lobby leading downstairs to the Martini Bar
It’s back to reality here at work. Sad face. Just as Mr. Penguin and I were getting used to the slow and steady seep of alcohol into our bloodstream, we’re both back home.
But ahh, the memories! We spent our honeymoon at the less-than-one-year-old Excellence Playa Mujeres Resort, 15 minutes north of Cancun, Mexico. It was all kinds of excellence, all over the place.
We headed out to the airport on Monday morning after the wedding. I use the term “morning” loosely, as there is no good reason to call 4AM anything other than the hour of the dead. But we were 50% awake and 100% excited to get our booties to the airport!

Weeeeeeee! $1 flip flops @ Old Navy! Today (6/28) only, limit 5 per customer. Go get yours!