Yes, that is a Dr. Suess book. I couldn’t resist after last week.
So I travelled 2/3 of the way cross country to be a bridesmaid in a fabulous wedding in Boulder, CO. What a picturesque setting. The mountains create a beautiful backdrop for a wedding. Or a simple trip to Target. Which I managed to do the morning of the wedding in order to stock the bathroom basket. As I stepped out of Target and saw the grandiose skyline in front of me, I had to catch my breath. These Coloradoans sure have it figured out!
The wedding was story book. Princess meets her prince charming. They fall in love. Travel to exotic places. Kiss and live happily ever after. Really. That’s the kind of couple they are. They literally rode off into the night in a sleek, white Rolls Royce. Who are these charming people? My family. Lucky me.
As it turns out, I have a large family. At the exact moment this story book event was taking place out west, another cousin was being proposed to back east. Yup, at the very same moment. How is that possible? The charming groom-to-be carved “will you marry me” into a pumpkin! That is one jack-o-lantern to remember. Well played.
You think I’m finished? Within hours of the wedding and proposal, another engagement took place. This one was half way around the world! No joke. One of my friends travelled to Greece with her beau. Little did she know, she would leave a boyfriend behind and come back with a fiancé.
Oh the timing of all of these couples’ milestones! Could it have been the 10.10.10 love bug?
-The perennial bridesmaid
Showing posts with label engagement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label engagement. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
lovebirds
I sure am behind schedule this week as round 2 of wedding season picks up in full swing. Today a bachelorette party. Next week a wedding. Yesterday bridesmaid dress shopping. Here we go again! Stay tuned for details.
The surface of my refrigerator is beginning to fill up with more wedding & shower invitations, save the dates, thank yous and other cute announcements for this season’s events. Today I wanted to feature a DIY save the date.
It is a 5x7 brushed gold one sided card. The personalization is 2-fold. First, actual engagement photos of the couple are centered up top. Real pictures! From my understanding, different photos were used on each card. The photographs were taken by Lorraine Daley and her sidekick Greg. The engaged couple chose Ridley Creek State Park in Delaware County, PA. They were lucky enough to get a rare low humidity, cool summer day which as we know ladies, leads to a good hair day!
The couple is working the lovebird theme with the birdcage stamp. In addition, they had a custom stamp made with their deets by Love To Create Stamps. Good choice. I can imagine the endless possibilities on future DIY projects for that stamp.
For a girl’s first wedding DIY project, she did a-okay! I like the lack of mass-produced feel this save the date evokes. Judge for yourself…
-The perennial bridesmaid
The surface of my refrigerator is beginning to fill up with more wedding & shower invitations, save the dates, thank yous and other cute announcements for this season’s events. Today I wanted to feature a DIY save the date.
It is a 5x7 brushed gold one sided card. The personalization is 2-fold. First, actual engagement photos of the couple are centered up top. Real pictures! From my understanding, different photos were used on each card. The photographs were taken by Lorraine Daley and her sidekick Greg. The engaged couple chose Ridley Creek State Park in Delaware County, PA. They were lucky enough to get a rare low humidity, cool summer day which as we know ladies, leads to a good hair day!
The couple is working the lovebird theme with the birdcage stamp. In addition, they had a custom stamp made with their deets by Love To Create Stamps. Good choice. I can imagine the endless possibilities on future DIY projects for that stamp.
For a girl’s first wedding DIY project, she did a-okay! I like the lack of mass-produced feel this save the date evokes. Judge for yourself…
-The perennial bridesmaid
Thursday, July 29, 2010
say it isn’t so
I started this blog as a fun way to track wedding related activities, stories and live countdowns. Along the way I’ve accumulated DIY projects, lists of vendors and wedding faux pas. I’ve danced around the idea of what comes after the wedding…although I am no expert (or amateur for that matter). What I didn’t expect was to write about the truly un-fun.
I delayed this post for days because it fits in the un-fun category.
I had to remove a count down from the right column with just 60 days to go. One of the 2010 couples didn’t make it to the finish line. There will be no 00 days left blinking on their countdown.
Although it is sad, it is probably better than the alternative. Do I dare say the D word? If one half of the couple isn’t ready to commit that is enough reason not to go through with it. ‘Nuff said.
-The perennial bridesmaid
I delayed this post for days because it fits in the un-fun category.
I had to remove a count down from the right column with just 60 days to go. One of the 2010 couples didn’t make it to the finish line. There will be no 00 days left blinking on their countdown.
Although it is sad, it is probably better than the alternative. Do I dare say the D word? If one half of the couple isn’t ready to commit that is enough reason not to go through with it. ‘Nuff said.
-The perennial bridesmaid
Thursday, May 20, 2010
phan-tastic
Went to the Phillies game last night. Saw a chick get proposed to by her boyfriend on the jumbotron. It was the only eventful part of the game since the boys lost and only scored one run.
I digress.
This is about the 5th time I’ve seen this very public proposal. It is quite sweet. They play some wedding-esque bells, the camera leans in on the couple, guy gets down on one knee and asks his Phillies-geared-up girlfriend to marry him. She says yes, the crowd cheers, their names are blinking on the screen and we go back to our regularly scheduled game.
It’s what happens next that they don’t show on the big screen. The girl definitely runs out to the breezeway and calls everyone she knows starting with her parents who want to hear the whole story, her sister who wants to hear the whole story, brother, friends, who ever. Before you know it, it’s the top of the 9th and she hasn’t been back to her $75 seat. Nor does she care.
And what happens before the proposal? The guy checks his pocket 42 times on the way into the ballpark to make sure the ring is still there. Then he walks through the gates with his girl. The security guard does a pat down of his pockets like they always do. The guy with the ring nearly faints because he knows what’s in his pocket. What if they make him take it out and he has to propose at the ticket turnstile amongst large crowds walking into the stadium? Ohmygosh, how anti-climatic would that be?
Anyway, he makes it into the stadium with the ring and without blowing the surprise and the girl is still clueless. He does not eat, drink, cheer or talk for the first 4 innings because he is just waiting for the moment that he has orchestrated. He definitely is not watching the game and has no idea who’s pitching. Finally his jumbotron proposal plan comes alive! Fantastic.
-The perennial bridesmaid
I digress.
This is about the 5th time I’ve seen this very public proposal. It is quite sweet. They play some wedding-esque bells, the camera leans in on the couple, guy gets down on one knee and asks his Phillies-geared-up girlfriend to marry him. She says yes, the crowd cheers, their names are blinking on the screen and we go back to our regularly scheduled game.
It’s what happens next that they don’t show on the big screen. The girl definitely runs out to the breezeway and calls everyone she knows starting with her parents who want to hear the whole story, her sister who wants to hear the whole story, brother, friends, who ever. Before you know it, it’s the top of the 9th and she hasn’t been back to her $75 seat. Nor does she care.
And what happens before the proposal? The guy checks his pocket 42 times on the way into the ballpark to make sure the ring is still there. Then he walks through the gates with his girl. The security guard does a pat down of his pockets like they always do. The guy with the ring nearly faints because he knows what’s in his pocket. What if they make him take it out and he has to propose at the ticket turnstile amongst large crowds walking into the stadium? Ohmygosh, how anti-climatic would that be?
Anyway, he makes it into the stadium with the ring and without blowing the surprise and the girl is still clueless. He does not eat, drink, cheer or talk for the first 4 innings because he is just waiting for the moment that he has orchestrated. He definitely is not watching the game and has no idea who’s pitching. Finally his jumbotron proposal plan comes alive! Fantastic.
-The perennial bridesmaid
Monday, May 17, 2010
perennial groomsman
This past weekend was wedding-free and sure to be quiet amongst all of my current bride-friends. This seems to be rare considering it was a perfect, sunny weekend in the middle of May. How did no one I know scoop this date up for their own?
Well, someone did! Maybe not for their wedding but for a memorable picnic proposal.
Congratulations to one of my favorite people for popping the question to his fabulous girlfriend. She said yes and they are both off the market!
Always a groomsman, never a groom…?
For some reason, that phrase just doesn’t work the same for groomsmen as it does for bridesmaids. This guy is the only "perennial groomsman" that I know. He's been involved in nearly as many weddings as me. Now he’ll be the groom. I can’t wait to see what my cousin and his new fiancé come up with for their special day!
Will it be 2011?
-The perennial bridesmaid
Well, someone did! Maybe not for their wedding but for a memorable picnic proposal.
Congratulations to one of my favorite people for popping the question to his fabulous girlfriend. She said yes and they are both off the market!
Always a groomsman, never a groom…?
For some reason, that phrase just doesn’t work the same for groomsmen as it does for bridesmaids. This guy is the only "perennial groomsman" that I know. He's been involved in nearly as many weddings as me. Now he’ll be the groom. I can’t wait to see what my cousin and his new fiancé come up with for their special day!
Will it be 2011?
-The perennial bridesmaid
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
say cheese
Last weekend alone, 3 couples I know got their engagement photos taken. Do you really need these pictures taken?
YES!
Think of it as a dry run for your wedding day. Of course you won’t be wearing the big white dress for engagement photos but it will give you the opportunity to get to know your photographer. More importantly, it will give you the opportunity to get to know your photographer’s order giving abilities. After all, he or she will be directing you to smile. Don’t smile. Look this way. Head up. Look down. Kiss. Don’t kiss. Look at each other. Smile. Now don’t smile. Hand over here. Look away. Kiss…you get the idea!
Most photographers offer engagement photos as part of their wedding package. Even if you don’t plan to order these pics, do it for the dry run aspect.
Other reasons to go for the engagement photos…
YES!
Think of it as a dry run for your wedding day. Of course you won’t be wearing the big white dress for engagement photos but it will give you the opportunity to get to know your photographer. More importantly, it will give you the opportunity to get to know your photographer’s order giving abilities. After all, he or she will be directing you to smile. Don’t smile. Look this way. Head up. Look down. Kiss. Don’t kiss. Look at each other. Smile. Now don’t smile. Hand over here. Look away. Kiss…you get the idea!
Most photographers offer engagement photos as part of their wedding package. Even if you don’t plan to order these pics, do it for the dry run aspect.
Other reasons to go for the engagement photos…
- You’re getting a make-up trial done, aren’t you? Why let that pretty done up face go to waste? Consider scheduling your professional make-up trial and your engagement photo shoot on the same day.
- Save-the-dates – if you decided yes on sending these out you can use your professional engagement photos for the magnet or whatever it is you’re sending to your guests to the save the coveted date.
- Are you having a destination wedding? Or simply a wedding that is not in your own neighborhood. Engagement photo shoots broaden the scenery more than your wedding venue may allow. For example, if you live in the city but you’re getting married at the beach, you’ll probably never have professional pictures as a couple that represent your everyday lifestyle. So venture out in your own ‘hood with the photog in toe capturing your “normal” selves. Sometimes these can be the best pictures!
- Get to know yourself. When was the last time you were professionally photographed anyway? Senior portraits…just as I suspected. You think you know your “good side”? It may have changed since 1997!
- Find out if your face really does get sore from all that smiling.
Friday, April 9, 2010
you’re a gem
It seems like engagement season stretched beyond Valentine’s Day and over to Spring this year because the bling just keeps on blinging. I open an email or text almost weekly with the subject line “THE RING”. It usually consists of a forwarded picture of an aerial view of someone’s glimmering left hand. You know what I am talking about. I’m sure you sent it too.
One ring is more unique than the next. We’ve come a long way from the diamond solitaire on the gold band. The options are pretty much endless.
Sapphires and Rubies and Emeralds. Oh my!
That’s right. Many couples have been opting for gemstones other than just diamonds. This a logical concept considering many of these stones are actually more valuable than a diamond. The other stones are typically selected due to preference.
I’ve seen the sapphire as the focal point accented by diamonds and I’ve seen the diamond as the main event with rubies to complement. And that's just this week! Get on the ring fwd email chain and you will too.
While we’re talking engagement rings, let’s talk salary. Ahem, too personal?
Did you ever hear that the guy has to spend 2-3 months of his salary on his future wife’s engagement ring? I have and I was curious who wrote that rule. Guess who? This answer seems so obvious that I can’t believe I didn’t realize it before. A jeweler spread this piece of “etiquette” around literally 100 years ago. It was simply a marketing ploy for the diamond industry that stuck. Let’s toss that rule out the window.
Spend what you will on whatever gem you want just make sure it suits your lady.
-The perennial bridesmaid
One ring is more unique than the next. We’ve come a long way from the diamond solitaire on the gold band. The options are pretty much endless.
Sapphires and Rubies and Emeralds. Oh my!
That’s right. Many couples have been opting for gemstones other than just diamonds. This a logical concept considering many of these stones are actually more valuable than a diamond. The other stones are typically selected due to preference.
I’ve seen the sapphire as the focal point accented by diamonds and I’ve seen the diamond as the main event with rubies to complement. And that's just this week! Get on the ring fwd email chain and you will too.
While we’re talking engagement rings, let’s talk salary. Ahem, too personal?
Did you ever hear that the guy has to spend 2-3 months of his salary on his future wife’s engagement ring? I have and I was curious who wrote that rule. Guess who? This answer seems so obvious that I can’t believe I didn’t realize it before. A jeweler spread this piece of “etiquette” around literally 100 years ago. It was simply a marketing ploy for the diamond industry that stuck. Let’s toss that rule out the window.
Spend what you will on whatever gem you want just make sure it suits your lady.
-The perennial bridesmaid
Monday, February 15, 2010
the beans
...don’t spill ‘em!
There tend to be secrets and surprises that need to be kept around weddings and engagements…all in good fun, of course. Bridal showers have traditionally been a surprise and often still are. Of course, proposals are also traditionally surprises. As hard as it might be, we should keep these secrets at the request of those planning the surprise.
If you are a parent and your daughter’s boyfriend has the coveted can-I-marry-your-daughter conversation with you or your spouse, don’t tell her about this conversation! How frustrating is it for the dude that is trying to surprise her? The guy does the traditional thing by asking for the girl’s hand in marriage before proposing and then you turn around and tell her? Of course it’s killing you but you’ve gotta keep this secret. Don’t blow what could be the surprise of her lifetime.
On a lighter note, I walk into work today and see my best good coworker friend. What’s the first thing she says? “Did you get an invitation to my bridal shower?” Hmm. If a got an invitation, the last thing I’d do is tell her! She goes on to tell me that she KNOWS her “surprise” shower is in March and she KNOWS that invitations went out.
What did I do? Considered running away but faced the demon instead and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about do you want to go to lunch.”
She followed up by asking if I could attend the shower. She’s going to be a tough one.
-The perennial bridesmaid
There tend to be secrets and surprises that need to be kept around weddings and engagements…all in good fun, of course. Bridal showers have traditionally been a surprise and often still are. Of course, proposals are also traditionally surprises. As hard as it might be, we should keep these secrets at the request of those planning the surprise.
If you are a parent and your daughter’s boyfriend has the coveted can-I-marry-your-daughter conversation with you or your spouse, don’t tell her about this conversation! How frustrating is it for the dude that is trying to surprise her? The guy does the traditional thing by asking for the girl’s hand in marriage before proposing and then you turn around and tell her? Of course it’s killing you but you’ve gotta keep this secret. Don’t blow what could be the surprise of her lifetime.
On a lighter note, I walk into work today and see my best good coworker friend. What’s the first thing she says? “Did you get an invitation to my bridal shower?” Hmm. If a got an invitation, the last thing I’d do is tell her! She goes on to tell me that she KNOWS her “surprise” shower is in March and she KNOWS that invitations went out.
What did I do? Considered running away but faced the demon instead and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about do you want to go to lunch.”
She followed up by asking if I could attend the shower. She’s going to be a tough one.
-The perennial bridesmaid
Friday, January 1, 2010
happy engagement season!
It's official. 2010 has arrived...the year of the weddings among other things. 10,000 weddings look out!
We are in the midst of engagement season as we know it. Running from Thanksgiving to Valentine's Day, engagement season is that time of year when the question is popped most frequently. I can attest to this fact as I've already witnessed 4 proposals in this time frame. Yes, in the last 6 weeks I've seen four couples close to me get engaged...a brother, 2 cousins & a college friend.
Guess what! We're only half way through engagement season. Can you believe it? There are officially 6 weeks remaining. I have my eye on one more potential couple who may join the majority this season. No, I'm not saying who. Let's wait and see. I am usually right about these things. Let the planning begin!
Happy New Year!
-The perennial bridesmaid
We are in the midst of engagement season as we know it. Running from Thanksgiving to Valentine's Day, engagement season is that time of year when the question is popped most frequently. I can attest to this fact as I've already witnessed 4 proposals in this time frame. Yes, in the last 6 weeks I've seen four couples close to me get engaged...a brother, 2 cousins & a college friend.
Guess what! We're only half way through engagement season. Can you believe it? There are officially 6 weeks remaining. I have my eye on one more potential couple who may join the majority this season. No, I'm not saying who. Let's wait and see. I am usually right about these things. Let the planning begin!
Happy New Year!
-The perennial bridesmaid
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