Mrs. Husky, DenverAge and Occupation: 26, Systems AdministratorFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Mechanical Engineer, recently laid offEngagement Date: August 14, 2009Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: Rancho San CarlosAbout Me: I am planning a quirky-crafty wedding with my recently out-of-work fiancé for a (fingers crossed!) warm October afternoon. We are two self-professed nerds with an affinity for all things outdoors---be it rain, snow or shine. Recently relocated from the drizzly Northwest, we're enjoying the many sun-soaked days in the mile high city. Our day will be filled with both of our large families and friends, a self-served Cajun feast, and a Zydeco-style jazz band rocking beneath the beams of a historic red barn.
My family is not know for their punctuality. Some have taken to scheduling a get-together for 30 minutes after the time they tell my family it begins. We are notoriously late.
It’s not intentional—I think every member of my family really does try to adhere to a schedule. And their running-late habits generally don’t bother me much. But on our wedding day? The story may be a little bit different.
Mrs. Husky, DenverAge and Occupation: 26, Systems AdministratorFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Mechanical Engineer, recently laid offEngagement Date: August 14, 2009Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: Rancho San CarlosAbout Me: I am planning a quirky-crafty wedding with my recently out-of-work fiancé for a (fingers crossed!) warm October afternoon. We are two self-professed nerds with an affinity for all things outdoors---be it rain, snow or shine. Recently relocated from the drizzly Northwest, we're enjoying the many sun-soaked days in the mile high city. Our day will be filled with both of our large families and friends, a self-served Cajun feast, and a Zydeco-style jazz band rocking beneath the beams of a historic red barn.
From the beginning of this whole planning process, I was determined to make our wedding reflect the unique personalities of Mr. Husky and me. We decided on a DEY (do everything yourself) budget and set out to craft a wonderful day. Hours were spent making buttons to be attached to linen flower petals that were glued to burlap napkin rings. Many evenings were spent at the kitchen table, carefully gluing delicate lace paper to the invitations. Soil was turned, and flower seedlings were nurtured in our garden.
And then it dawned on me: I haven’t done any of the big things! Like rent tables and chairs. Or find a bartender. You know, those things that we actually need for the wedding. After a minor panic attack, Mr. Husky updated my checklist into a weighted priority list. We copied all of the items from my checklist and assigned both a deadline and a priority of 1-5. Items assigned a priority one are non-negotiable requirements for the wedding—such as the marriage license and invitations. Priority fives are items that aren’t really all that important and can fall off the list if we run out of time. The weighted priority list that Mr. Husky created contains a column that multiplies the difference between the current date and the due date (number of months) by the priority level. If the due date has passed, the number will appear negative and red. Approaching deadlines are in yellow: Read more…
Ms Seahorse, BostonAge and Occupation: 25, Veterinary Jane-of-all-tradesFiancee's Age and Occupation: 36, former non-profit fundraiser in search of something betterEngagement Date: October 17, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Fort Pond LodgeAbout Me: By day I'm a cat-wrangler, vet tech assistant, pet-sitter, receptionist, and pre-vet student, but the rest of the time, I'm a former-roller-derby girl turned dedicated-wedding planner. I love reading, writing, bicycles, animals, roller skating, and antique-y things of all sorts. I'm a vegetarian who likes spicy foods, while Fiancee Seahorse is a meat eater who does not like spices. We live outside Boston with our menagerie: a fifty pound dog, a one-eyed, seventeen-toed, toothless cat, and a perfectly put together cat who has a penchant for pooping near rather than in her litter box. In addition to planning our small lake-side wedding, we enjoy running around with the puppy, playing board games (Scrabble, anyone?), having little adventures, talking about how we should really clean the house more, and maintaining our little garden of vegetables and wedding flowers.
We did this cah-razy thing and went on vacation. Some people might consider it “a weekend” but I say if you leave early Friday and don’t come back ’til mid-day Monday, you leave the computer at home and sleep a lot, it probably counts as vacation. Plus I want to pretend I’m all luxurious and can do things like take vacation. So we went up to my family’s cabin, spent some time with neighbors, spent some time with my mom and brother, slept, and read books. And napped. Did I mention we slept? I was apparently suffering greatly from being awake for too long, but don’t worry! Problem solved!
Mrs. Cardigan, AustinAge and Occupation: 21, Student/Soon-to-be Special Education TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 20, Student/Soon-to-be Accounting Systems AnalystEngagement Date: August 16, 2009Wedding Date: January 2011Venue: Vintage VillasAbout Me: I'm a native Austinite who was raised as a die-hard Aggie. Luckily, I'm a pretty persuasive girl because I managed to convince my high school boyfriend (now fiance!), Mr. Cardigan, to ditch his hardcore Longhorn ways and join me up at A&M, where we currently reside with our adorable dogs, Cullen & Ranger. We're currently planning a bright, cheery wedding with a ridiculous amount of DIY projects that I can't wait to tackle! I love crafting in any form, reading, and margaritas (I think I love them the most!). Organization is what keeps me sane and I love helping others, which is probably why I ended up as an education major. It gets a little chaotic sometimes when you're planning a wedding among all of the papers, projects, finals, and certification exams, but we're having the time of our lives and we can't wait to get started on our journey as husband and wife - and we're so excited to share our wedding with the hive!
I woke up this morning, and was leisurely going through my morning routine. Check Weddingbee… check my email… read some blogs… hmm, I wonder how many days left until the wedding… check our countdown on the Knot… oh look! Less than 200 days. Cool.
WAIT, WHAT?! Less than 200 days?! How did that happen? When Mr. C and I first got engaged, we had over 500 days until the wedding, and now we’re in the 100s?!
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.)
As I’m waiting to start my recaps, I just wanted to share a few things…
Chances are at some point you will create a day-of timeline for the wedding, which may expand into a larger timeline for the overall weekend, and include important information like important cellphone numbers that will be distributed to key people.
But I’m talking about something more hardcore than the above, with minute timing and tons of details, like that of Mrs. Daffodil. Read more…
Mrs. Ribbons, Washington D.C./Bloomington, INAge and Occupation: 23, Research Associate for an international development firmFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Proposal Coordinator for contractor
Engagement Date: May 2, 2008Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: Indiana Memorial UnionAbout Me: I'm an Indiana transplant living in DC with my fiance and our pretty kitty. I enjoy the color pink, I'm obsessed with the Dior New Look and tulle, and I heart my level 80 paladin. I'm a sucker for bad TV, literary theory, and cakes of all persuasion. I also happen to be marrying the cutest closet nerd around! It's all about Bloomington for us because it's where we met -- on the college paper. If there's a theme for our small summertime wedding, it's Dior meets Dorothy Draper on a lark in Bloomington; think poofy, plus graphic prints, bold colors, and a whole lot of prettiness.
I have a little confession: every time I see a post on the boards about wedding to-do lists or countdowns, I feel physically ill. My heart starts racing, I feel woozy and light-headed, and I look for a happier, less stressful post. I am in denial about our wedding date, people.
I have to-do lists scattered throughout my email inbox. Do I look at them anymore? No. I can’t handle the reality of this impending date, where so many different variables have to come together—very expensive variables, I might add.
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 hit the 5 month countdown last week and it prompted me to get my butt in gear. So far my planning has mostly been inspiration boards, venue-ing, and more inspiration boards, but this week I’ve been a veggie with a mission (like a secular version of one of those Veggie-Tales characters).
Actually, in all honesty, it wasn’t the 5 month mark that prompted me into action, it was my first visit to an anonymous wedding site that offers a “wedding checklist”. After 8 months of wedding planning I had heard much about this site, but never logged on. 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.
We’re getting down to crunch time! The marriage license application has been sent, the final payment has been made, the home party invites have been mailed, and now we wait. In 3 weeks, we’ll be in paradise!
Last week, I received an email from the hotel’s wedding department with our wedding day itinerary. Being left in the dark about the big day until now hasn’t really bothered me except for when people asked me how the planning is going. Uh, we’re done. We have been for a while. We’ve left most of the actual planning in the hands of the hotel… just the way we wanted it.
So when I read the wedding day plan…
5:00: Groom comes to lobby for 1st set of pictures
5:15: Bride escorted from her room for pictures in lobby
5:30: Ceremony begins. Photographer takes pics during and after ceremony at wedding site
6:30: Ceremony and pictures conclude
… I thought it was perfectly simple and sweet. Normally, a reception immediately following the ceremony is expected but we didn’t want to do the expected, we wanted to do things our way and the island way—laid back and low stress. I’m starting to think we’re already on ‘island time’! We don’t have anything planned after the ceremony and the home party has taken on a life of it’s own. We both agree, that is our ’something after the wedding’, it’s just going to happen a month later.
Someone actually said to me, “Isn’t that going to be kind of anti-climactic for you? ‘I do’, then you’re done?” Read more…
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.
Since I’m pretty Type A, I love to be prepared for everything, with a timeline and all the details mapped out. I can’t help it – I just really hate to be unprepared.
And, with bridal parties, most of your bridesmaids will care about the details as much as you, so they appreciate your schedule and timeline. Your groomsmen, however, will not. You’ll hand them a lovely little schedule of the activities and where they need to be and when, and they think, ‘Great.’ And, the second you turn around, in the trash goes that lovely little schedule you worked so diligently on.
Heartbreaking right? Well, I found this great idea: a pocket schedule. You can give it to the guys to keep in their pockets. Heck, you can even give it to your bridesmaids and close family members who need to know what is going on during your wedding day. The guys can put them in their pants pockets or suit coats, and the ladies can drop them in their clutches. Read more…
Mrs. Trail Mix, New YorkAge and Occupation: 26, PE TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, MBA StudentEngagement Date: March 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: Tannery Pond at the Darrow SchoolAbout Me: I'm a country girl who somehow found herself living in the Big Apple and loving every minute of it. I'm planning a rustic, country-chic wedding in my hometown in upstate New York and it's going to be a Party with a capital P. White wine, flea markets and running keep me happy and my friends, family and fiance are my world. I'm a little bit crafty, a little bit crazy but mostly just crazy in love.
I’ve been feeling a little antsies in my pantsies lately about the wedding. Truthfully, this has been a frustrating week where I’ve accomplished almost nothing, wedding-wise (or really other-wise, for that matter). I’m kind of just wishing the wedding were here already!
Don’t misunderstand, I have really enjoyed the planning process thus far and deep in my soul know that I am glad the wedding is still 6 months away since I will be sad when it’s all over and done with (and there’s still so much to do!). Read more…
Mrs. French Fries, MilwaukeeAge and Occupation: 27, ParalegalFiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Investments AdvisorEngagement Date: September 20, 2008Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: Ceremony: Catholic Church, Reception: Hotel BallroomAbout Me: I'm a Midwestern girl who longs to live in a warmer climate (my feet would be happy in flip flops any day!). I love travel, impromptu napping, grilled cheese sandwiches, my iPhone, singing with reckless abandon in my car, and Mr. French Fries.
Without fail, I get sick every fall. And then for good measure, I get sick again every January/February. It’s not that I don’t take care of myself; rather, I work in close quarters with other people (shout out to my fellow cube-dwelling bees). Getting sick usually isn’t a problem, just more of a seasonal annoyance. I know that by next June, most of the ickyness of cold and flu season will be long gone (thankfully!) so I won’t have to worry about sniffling my way down the aisle because of a cold (because I’m crying is a totes different reason!). But there is the small issue of using up my precious paid time off at work when I do get sick this winter. It’s inevitable.
You see, the wedding is cutting into a large chunk of our PTO time next year. Read more…
Mrs. Parfait, ChicagoAge and Occupation: 26, TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Senior Online ConsultantEngagement Date: February 14, 2009Wedding Date: April 2010Venue: Signature EventsAbout Me: I have a soft spot for all things sweet and romantic. Desserts, love songs, sappy movies? Yes, yes, and ohh yes. My fiance and I enjoy singing to our dogs, creating crazy ice cream sundaes, and generally being lovey dovey cuddle bunnies. We also do socially acceptable things like dancing, throwing Frisbees, playing high stakes board games, and taking unreasonably fun road-trips. We're planning a Korean/Serbian wedding with plenty of playful, personal touches!
HOORAY! We have a wedding photographer! More on that exciting news soon!
Our photographer will be with us for 8 hours, which led me to wonder if that is enough time for everything. Since we won’t have our reception at a place with lush gardens and outdoor wonders, I want to set aside time for taking pictures in a scenic park. I tried creating a general timeline for the wedding day to see how much 8 hours would cover, but I really have no idea where to start. Thankfully, there are other fabulous wedding websites out there with plenty of advice!
Our own hive has a timeline wiki with links to bees’ wedding day schedules. Also, Weddingchicks has a detailed wedding day schedule that I adore, because it’s broken down into small increments—down to 5 minutes at some points! And it includes nuggets of wisdom like these: Read more…
Mrs. Apple Cider, New York/CharlotteAge and Occupation: 27, Corporate Communications ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Grad Student – Clinical Mental Health Engagement Date: September 13, 2008Wedding Date: October 2009Venue: Banner Elk Winery & Blueberry VillaAbout Me: I am a North Carolina girl with a New York City spirit. I love crafting, blogging, laughing and dreaming. I know every word to the Anne of Green Gables and Little Women movies. I own every single Martha Stewart Wedding Magazine and have been dreaming of weddings since I was little. I believe life is about doing what makes you happy. If you aren't happy re-evaluate what you are doing. You should never look back on your life and not be proud of what you are doing. If you want to travel - travel. If you want to sing - sing. If you want to start a company - start a company. If you want to blog – blog!
This project started as a necessary project to keep everyone informed, and turned into something “too cute” not to include! I have been to weddings where people are confused about the schedule, don’t have important phone numbers, and don’t have addresses. I wanted to make sure that the wedding party and immediate family have all of the information. I thought a cute little pocket schedule might help!
Mrs. Sunbeam, San Francisco/Grove City, PAAge and Occupation: 26, Grad Student & Office ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Motion DesignerEngagement Date: May 10, 2008Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Harbison Chapel & The Maple Lane FarmAbout Me: Mr. Sunbeam and I are high school sweethearts. We both come from a small town in PA but are growing to love the California lifestyle. He loves wine and I love cheese... the perfect combination! When I'm not drooling over wedding blogs, I'm attending grad school, out being a foodie, or attempting to "walk" our cat at the park. Two things guaranteed to excite me are wedding cakes and breaking out my suitcase to travel. Mr. Sunbeam and I are personalizing our hometown wedding to celebrate our high school sweetheart status and PA roots with a few CA touches. After ten years of dating we couldn't be more excited to call each other husband and wife!
I’m there. I’ve hit the point where I look at my to do list and think, ‘yikes!’ I turned my back on you for one second and you tripled in size! My finals ended Saturday and so my brain power can now be 100% unleashed on to the wedding (outside of work hours, of course!).
Suddenly all the things I planned to do are now must-dos. No excuses. I must decide on the veil. I must order those darn flowers. In the evenings, I no longer have to study so I must work on my DIY projects and stop dreaming up new ones. Read more…
Mrs. Mascara, Chicago/Upper MichiganAge and Occupation: 25, Biomedical EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Process EngineerEngagement Date: July 27, 2008Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Catholic ceremony, reception at local armoryAbout Me: A lover of Mr. Mascara, crafting, baking, Gossip Girl, diet soda, and all things wedding. A Yooper girl somehow displaced in the Chicago suburbs, planning a wedding from a distance, and counting down the days until I marry my best friend.
This weekend, we’re off to the first of four weddings (not counting our own) that we have to go to in the next nine weeks. Yes, that means 5 out of 9 weekends will be spent celebrating marriage. Talk about a wedding marathon! And to top it off, 2 of the additional weekends (or weeks, actually) will be spent on our honeymoon (to be blogged about soon, I swear!). It’s going to be a busy two months in the Mascara household!
This weekend, one of our groomsmen will be getting married in the Traverse City, MI area. It’s a barn wedding, so I am very excited! I’ve never been to a barn wedding but if it’s anything like Mrs. Cherry Pie’s, it should be amazing! I have a new appreciation for all of the little details at weddings after I’ve been planning our own. I’ll be sure to take some pictures and share them with you when I get back!
Has anyone else had a wedding marathon? How many weddings in how many weeks? Let’s see what the record is!
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
