A Holiday Toast

(source)

Warm wishes to all for safe and happy holidays! It's hard to believe 2010 is almost over. This has been an amazing year filled with happy endings and new beginnings, none of which would be possible without the support of family and friends. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Now, go stuff your face full of cake--I'll be back with more wedding goodness in the new year!

Things I Heart: Candlelight

"Side by side with your loved one

You will find enchantment here

The night will weave its magic spell

When the one you love is near, oh

This is the night

And the heavens all rise

On this lovely bella notte"

(source)

Lady and the Tramp is one of my all-time favorite Disney films. This adorable scene is the source of: A) my fondness for dogs, B) my appetite for spaghetti and meatballs (I still consider it a romantic meal for two), and C) my love for romantic candlelight.

The Contenders, Part II

In my previous post, we got acquainted with three lovely dresses. BM Tanya recommended from experience that I try on at least one dress that was totally different from what I thought I wanted. I've learned over the years to heed her advice, and as such pulled Sabine from ML's Fall 2010 collection off the rack:

(source)

The model above really doesn't do the dress justice:

The Contenders, Part I

On a blustery winter day, I made the trek to the Monique Lhuillier trunk show at Roma Sposa Atelier. I had a wonderful experience with the ladies at this chic bridal boutique, and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a very personal, friendly, no-pressure experience. Since this was no ordinary shopping day, I came prepared not only with women whose opinion I valued and trusted, but also neutral colored underwear and a strapless bra. In retrospect, I also wish I had brought a pair of heels (even though the boutique had some in the dressing room, my size 6 feet were swimming in them).

Although I came in specifically to look at the Monet, it only made sense to take advantage of the trunk show and keep an open mind. Together with BM Laura, BM Tanya, and my mom, I picked a few different styles of gowns, and the runway show began! Unfortunately, Roma Sposa has a no photo policy, so we'll have to use our imagination and the internet to recreate this adventure.

I tried on the fabulous Scarlet that Mrs. Gummi Bear wore for her wedding:

Finding an Image: TinEye

As a blogger, it's an ill-fated day when I come across an inspirational picture that I failed to catalog correctly. I blithely named the image below "CakeTable." Terribly useful when I need to credit a photo, no? Now, I'm in luck if I happened to save the image on my MacBook. I can Ctrl + Click on the file, click on "Get Info," click on "More Info," and most of the time the URL where I acquired the photo is conveniently listed under the "Where From" heading. If I saved the image to my PC desktop, however, I found myself stuck. Enter the TinEye reverse image search.

(source)

I uploaded the image from my computer, and in 2 seconds I had my source (the eye-candy packed Style Me Pretty, and photographer Suthi Picotte). The search engine isn't fool-proof; it has to periodically "crawl" the web to add images to its library. There are still a number of sourceless photos sitting abandoned in a folder on my Desktop, but TinEye has rescued a great deal more.

Any tech-savvy Bees out there know how to trace an image to its source once it's been saved to your PC? Has anyone else been saved by TinEye?

Dreams of Lace

After my unexpected eureka moment at the Bridal Expo, I went home and did what any dress-crazed woman would do. I conducted a massive Google search. I expected the pages and pages of dresses. What I did not expect was to fall irrevocably in love with her:

(source)

Hello, my lovely Monique Lhuillier Monet. Will you show us your moves?

Alternatives to the Awkward Turtle

Awkward turtle: the animal mascot of the awkward moment. How to do the awkward turtle:

1. Place both hands palms down in front of you.
2. Put one hand on top of the other.
3. Stick your thumbs out sideways.
4. Rotate your thumbs in a circular motion to simulate turtle legs.

(source)

As much as I love turtle power, some situations require a bit more to cut the tension. When you have to answer questions like: "Why didn't you pick me to be a bridesmaid?" or "Am I going to make the cut for your guest list?" or "You should make me a bridesmaid so I can go to your wedding!" (Believe it or not, I was asked all three questions by the same person. Awk-ward!)

Color Splash

Yes, I totally yoinked the title of this post from David Bromstad's show on HGTV. I'm so geeked, though, that the wedding industry is deviating away from the traditional white wedding dress and allowing girls to rock some color. The shade could be subtle, like this blush pink ballgown that Portia De Rossi wore for her wedding to Ellen (aren't they adorable?):

(source, source)

The ruffled pink dress and the giant balloons (oh, my unrequited love for balloons) from this wedding make me giddy:

The Dress that Started it All

In case you missed it, I let it slip that I tried my first dress on while attending a Bridal Expo with my bridesmaids. Towards the end of the event, we attended a bridal fashion show where beautiful wedding dresses came out on rather disconsolate looking models (why is that?). Dress after dress went by, but nothing that stood out to me. And then, this gorgeous, lacy number came down the runway:

(source)

Bridal Expo Extravaganza

The first bridal event I went to with BMs Laura and Tanya was the annual Bridal Expo in Novi, MI. There were gorgeous tablescapes, fabulous flowers, nommy cakes, and chiavari chairs to sit on at every turn.

Laura and Tanya came prepared; both are happily married and have "been there, done that" with regards to wedding planning. It showed! They were pros at not only talking to vendors, but also asking the right questions. We made a fantastic team: Laura wrote down numbers, Tanya had handfuls of pamphlets, and I just stood there grinning like a dork because I was getting married. Yippee!

There were a few key lessons I learned that day about attending a wedding bonanza:

Vows to my Girls

"Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity."

-Kahlil Gibran

(source)

Initially, I didn't want a bridal party because I had read so many sad stories of women whose friendships were strained beyond repair after being in a wedding together. It's like the whole "don't room with your best friend" mantra when you go off to college. However, as time went on I couldn't shake the feeling that the day wouldn't be complete without these girls by my side. Our wedding is a celebration, and part of that celebration is honoring those who have enriched our lives together!

DiY Project: Bridesmaid Cards

After perusing various blogs filled with crafty, creative people, I came across this post on Once Wed. I knew I wanted to ask my bridesmaids to stand up for me in a special way, and this project hit all the right notes. You may also recognize these darlings from one of Miss Cardigan's earlier entries! I'll leave the instructive detail to the original post, but here are some pictures of how the cards turned out in my hands!

1. Trimming, 2. Scoring, 3. Folding and tracing, 4. Cutting

Battling our Budget

The wedding budget is my #1 archenemy. She's a demonic, merciless, vile, and downright ghastly creature hiding behind a prim, pink petticoat.

(source)

Despite carefully considering each element of the wedding and prioritizing them, the budget still hexed me in the back. Complete with that high-pitched titter. ::shudder::

Happy Hunting Hints

Before Mr. Tartlet and I visited our venue, we compiled a list of questions to ask the event coordinator. Most of these were answered during the meeting itself as we toured the building, but we still found it a handy checklist as we evaluated the fit of the Royal Park for our big day.

• Is the date available? OK, so this one is pretty obvious. But, Mr. Tartlet and I were working on a beyond tight schedule (literally one specific day or bust).
• How many people can the space accommodate? On a similar token, do they have a minimum person requirement? Some venues I spoke to wouldn't even consider hosting our wedding unless we had a certain number of guests (regardless of whether we would meet the minimum food/beverage bill).

There She Is! There Is My Venue!

"I do have a venue," said the bride-to-be. "I know I do. I have to find it. I will. I WILL!"

"There she is!" she said. "There is my venue!" She ran up to it.

(source)

Hello, lovely: The Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, MI. This venue had all the pros of the previous venues we considered. English manor-style architecture? Check.

Are You My Venue?

"I do have a venue," said the bride-to-be. "I know I do. I have to find it. I will. I WILL!"

"There she is!" she said. "There is my venue!" She ran up to it.*

(source)

The Michigan Union, a building with history

Halls singing of maize and blue glory

Floor-to-ceiling windows and marble tiles

Chandeliers, hardwood floors, old-world style

However, with students milling around

And beginning our union at a Union

Where I used to study began to compound:

All of a sudden this doesn't seem so grand.

"I do have a venue," said the bride-to-be. "I know I do. I have to find it. I will. I WILL!"

"There she is!" she said. "There is my venue!" She ran up to it.

Things I Heart: Balloons

"Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon."

- Winnie the Pooh

(source)

Before venturing into the world of wedding planning, I always thought of balloons as decor items--not props. Mostly, I had flashbacks to the 80's (balloon arches, anyone?). However, I've learned they're a creative way of adding just the right touch of whimsy. Whether one or many--they're so effin' cute!

(source)

Engagement Photo Tips

I'm a Planner, and as such I did a fair amount of internet research before our engagement shoot. Stalking Viewing other people's photos gave me ideas about outfits, accessories, and poses. There's a plethora of advice out there on how to prepare for your session, but here's a few tips that we found really helpful:

1.  Be true to yourself. If you normally wear flip-flops, it probably isn't a good idea to use this as an opportunity to wear 4-inch stilettos. Wear clothes, shoes, and accessories that scream "you." If you're comfortable in your own skin, that confidence will translate to the photos. For example, these were our "casual" outfits:

You might be going "Whaaaaaa? That's super dressy!" But, these clothes reflected our personal styles and I love how they turned out!

E-sesh with Aruna B.

"Often while traveling with a camera we arrive just as the sun slips over the horizon of a moment, too late to expose film, only time enough to expose our hearts."

- Minor White

Planning a successful wedding without breaking the bank requires a fair amount of compromise. However, Mr. Tartlet and I both agreed that photography was at the tippy-top of our priority list, and we were willing to invest for the best. Aruna B. Hall is a-a-a-mazing, and every time I look at her photos I turn into a giddy pile of bridal mush. In addition to being a phenomenal photographer, Aruna also has a great personality and was an absolute pleasure to work with. She put us at ease right away, and throughout the session guided instead of instructed us. This resulted in a number of candid photos, which I adore:

Madame Budget

Dear Future Me,

I can't believe it--I'm engaged! This is going to be fan-frickin'-tastic. I'm going to invite everyone I know. There are going to be flowers absolutely EVERYWHERE. We're going to serve filet with lobster tails, have a live band, I'm going to wear Vera Wang, let's not forget the letterpress invitations, oh, oh, oh...

Dear Past Me,

Whoa, whoa. Sweetie, you've got to slow. down. Let me introduce you to someone. Past Me, meet Madame Budget. She can be one mean bitch, but you'll need her with you throughout this process to keep you grounded in reality. The dangers of the internet already have you wanting your wedding to look like this:

 (source)

But from this particular wedding, you could probably afford about this:

Wedding Visions, or Tales of a Besotted Bride-To-Be

I confess, I've been dreaming of my wedding since the ripe age of six. Being a native of Kalamazoo and having gone to undergrad at Kalamazoo College, it was only natural that I'd be attached to the idea of getting married at Stetson Chapel.

(source)

Gorgeous, no? Located right on Kalamazoo College campus, this location has sentimental value not only to me and my family, but also to Mr. Tartlet. To go with the stately white pillars and elegant architecture, I had envisioned a chic, black and white affair. Something very Cary Grant and Grace Kelly-esque:

Things I Heart: Family & Friends

"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature."

- Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

(source)



One result of a long engagement (two years and change by the time the big day arrives!) is that our wedding has had ample time to evolve. However, the constant has been to plan an event that will be hopelessly romantic and thoughtfully personalized, where every person feels like the guest of the hour.

The Proposal

The year was 2009. About three months before Mr. Tartlet and I went on vacation, we had a conversation that went something like this:

Me: "...so...we're going to the Caribbean!"

Mr. Tartlet: "Uh-huh."

Me: "Are you going to propose to me?" *bouncing follows*

Mr. Tartlet: "Um..."

(source)

My Tiffany's

"Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot."

- Holly Golightly, Breakfast at Tiffany's

Audrey Hepburn's character in Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my all time favorites: Holly Golightly is excruciatingly chic and sophisticated, accessorized with a devil-may-care attitude. She's wild and free-spirited, but her eccentric behavior only serves to mask the vulnerable woman underneath.

Let the Wild Rumpus sTart!

*peeks around the corner*

*does a happy dance*

Hello, lovelies! A shocked and ridiculously excited Miss Tartlet here, still in disbelief that I’ve been given the privilege of being the newest Bee. I’ve been an avid Weddingbee reader since getting engaged back in May of 2009: I’ve wistfully watched many Bees come and go, and drooled over many an image and DiY project that you've posted to the community boards. I’m normally a more “behind-the-scenes” kind of gal, but all of that changed on a chilly Michigan morning when I received my acceptance e-mail from Mrs. Penguin!

(source)

Naturally, my first reaction was to scream. At work. Very loudly. After composing myself (who am I kidding), I made it through the rest of the day and scurried home to make a critically important decision. At first, I considered the alias "Miss Pain au Chocolat."