Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Long Shot

Have you guys heard of OneWed?  Well.  OneWed is a fantastic resource for brides and grooms planning a wedding.  I have admired their site ever since I started my wed-planning journey, so I was honored - and quite honestly a tad shocked - to see that they nominated this blog for Favorite Non-Traditional wedding blog.  Other nominees include : Anti-Bride, Rock n' Roll Bride, Broke-Ass Bride, Offbeat Bride, Big Mouth Bride, and Bridal Snob - these are my favorite wedding blogs, so I was extra honored to be in such prestigious company.  I honestly don't think I have a shot in hell at winning, hence the title of this post.  But it's an honor just to be recognized.  Thanks, OneWed! Oh, and if you want to vote for Bowie Bride, head here.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Groom Gives Rad Gift to Bride

Remember the Vegas pirate ship wedding I went to back in September?  The bride Marisa told me the sweetest story behind the wedding gift her groom Steve gave her.  It is a custom-made piece of artwork. I will show it to you first, then give the backstory.

From Marisa:

When Steve and I were driving cross country, we stopped for lunch at a little restaurant in Knoxville that had this amazing/weird/funky/trippy artwork in it.  It really stood out in our minds, and when we were in Asheville months later we happened to see the artwork at a festival, and we met the artist.  We bought a couple small paintings and she gave us really cool back-stories to the inspiration behind them.  

Well, fast forward to months later...  Steve commissioned Julie (the artist) to make me a custom painting of our very own... Of us!  He gave her a picture of us (one from  an 80's prom party we went to years ago) and a picture of our cat Bosco.  Since we got married in Vegas, of course that had to be the backdrop.  It's got all sorts of inside jokes in it which makes it that much cooler! I am in love with it :)

Want to commission Julie Armbruster for your wedding art needs? Here's her website:  http://www.juliearmbruster.net/

She did the coolest series of paintings for a couple named Sarah and Keith.  She made a total of ten paintings for them, each representing a moment in their relationship, leading up to their engagement on election night.  Check it out:
Thanks so much to Marisa and Steve for sharing their beautiful artwork!

Monday, January 24, 2011

When the cat's away...


Many thanks to everyone who joined Team Titfield by commenting on the Why did you want to get married? post.  We got some really great research from the comments you all left and will definitely be using it for the project we are working on. Today, Titfield is back with a new research question for you all... 



When the cat's away... what does your single self secretly play? 

I’ve been single going on three years and have lived alone for about that long too. And in that time I’ve gotten quite comfortable with myself and only have my own judgment to fear when dinner consists of melted cheese sticks. I take for granted I’m the only one who knows how many times I clog the toilet or how often I watch Ghost Whisperer reruns. And if I put Heart's Alone on repeat while eating my melted cheese, well I can do that too, in peace. But it wasn’t until Bowie Bride mentioned her own private behavior that she let out when her husband wasn’t around that I realized I was living in my own luxury palace of personal space. But this got me thinking, “What am I going to have to give up, or hide, when I do find someone I want to literally share my life with.” Not my stories about ghost-communicating Jennifer Love Hewitt I’ll you that much.


Now I know that the ideal partnership is someone you share everything with. And Bowie Bride assured me that there wasn’t anything she does by herself she wouldn’t do in front of her husband. But I think there are just certain behaviors you would prefer not do showcase in front of another human being. Or maybe behaviors THEY prefer not to be around. Do any of you have something you just can’t wait to do until your partner leaves? And if you are truly “for better or for worse” with each other now, there had to be something that you kept under wraps during the beginning stages of the courtship when you had your best foot forward.  Can anyone honestly tell me they weren't afraid to fart on their first few dates?

Friday, January 14, 2011

ATTN: To-Be-Weds & Newlyweds! Bridal Portrait Giveaway!

CORRECTION:  The winner of the contest can choose from THREE LOCATIONS for their shoot: The Helsinki Metro area, OR the Phoenix Metro Area (in March-April 2011) OR the Milwaukee Metro Area (in April 2011).

Sarah Frechette, a dear friend of mine from way back in the day, is a fabulous photographer based in Helsinki, Finland and is offering up her services for FREE to a lucky couple.  The prize is a bridal portrait session shot in a location (or locations!) of your choosing in the Helsinki metro area. I realize that Helsinki is pretty far away from Southern California and many of my readers reside here in the US.... BUT because this is such a fantastic opportunity to shoot with a hugely talented photagrapher, I just had to share.  So if you know anyone who would be interested in this once in a lifetime offer, and can be in Helsinki, Phoenix, or Milwaukee for one day in the coming months, please pass this post along to them.  Sarah is a special talent with great attention to detail; anyone would be lucky to get to shoot with her. Check out her gorgeous portfolio to see for yourself!

To enter the contest, please head to the Pikku Arkki Photography Blog for entry instructions. Thanks, friends!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Why did you want to get married? (need your help for script research!)

Hey guys-- Remember Titfield Thunderbolt? My writing partner, bridesmaid, resident Bowie Bride contributor and funny lady?  Well, Titfield and I are working on a script that needs your help in the research department. Please read the following, and it you wouldn't mind, leave a comment detailing why and when you decided you were the marrying kind. And if you're not the marrying kind, tell us why too!  Thanks so much, friends. We really appreciate all the research help we can get. And we'll be sure to thank you in the credits of the movie!  (For reals) ;)
 
Now Recruiting for Team Titfield!

It’s been a recent decision of mine that I want to get married.  Not that I’ve been proposed to.  The closest I am to dating someone is seeing my doctor once a month for my high blood pressure.  That’s also the closest I get to even being partially nude in the same room as a man.  But there was a time when I didn’t think I wanted to get married. And now that I have this new found desire, I’ve started to think WHY. Short answer is: I want a teammate for life.

So I’m wondering now for all you soon-to-be’s and have been for a while brides/grooms, was marriage always in your blueprints?  Undoubtedly your views on marriage itself have evolved over time, but has it always been something you knew you wanted to have happen? Did any of you at anytime feel like it was never going to happen and/or “time was running out?”  How many of you actively pursued a marriage verses how many had everything fall into place with little effort?  And if marriage wasn’t always a life must, what made you change your mind? 


Please indulge Miss Thunderbolt with your personal, innermost feelings.  Her ears are as open as her top two blouse buttons.  And she never judges. Thank you, friends! Britt and I really appreciate it.  P.S. Titfield and I may be asking you guys more questions about this in future posts.... as we are currently deep into brainstorming this project and since we have all of you amazing women (and men!) to get intelligent, well-thought out opinions from, we may just be taking advantage of that in the coming months.. hope you don't mind!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

I'm listed in Urban Dictionary! (Not under anything pertaining to crack. Don't worry).

Ok. This is too cool I just had to share it with you all. One of my readers recently told me that she submitted a word "Bridol" to Urban Dictionary and they accepted it!  The sweet gal who came up with it said I was the person who inspired the word. Can you believe that?! Here's what it means:

I am beyond honored and touched by this.  I never thought I'd be a "bridol", let alone inspire its inception. Ha! Thanks so much, love. You are in turn a "bridol" of mine as well ;)

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Bride Tide's Top in 2011

Last year I was blown away to find out that my lil blog made Bride Tide's Top in 2010 list.  Apparently, I have continued to keep the Bowie Bride dream alive because Bride Tide picked me again this year! 
Bride Tide is a fabulous resource for brides of all kinds. They compile wedding related news from all around the web into one site. So there's something for everyone. The site was a huge help during my planning, and I totally recommend you check it out.

Thanks so much, Bride Tide! It's a real honor :)

My DIY Bouquets... IN PRINT, YO

Rock n Roll Bride is just too damn good to me, I tell ya. Not only has she uber-featured our wedding on her site, asked me to guest blog, and made us the subjects of her most recent article in Pro Photo Magazine, but she has also featured a photo from our wedding in an article she wrote for Wedding Magazine in the UK called "Quirky Bouquets"! Check it out:
Close-up on my gorgeous sisters:

Remember the article I posted on Broke-Ass Bride where some people called my bouquets, "ugly"? Well, haters. They're in a magazine now. For being awesome. Suck on that shit.

Mucho thanks to Kat of Rock n Roll Bride and to Wedding Magazine (UK)! The article is fabulous and every bouquet featured is gorgeous. I love that us quirky brides are getting a voice not just on the blogs, but also in print. It's awesome.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Ring Shots




Groom's wedding band: Tinahdee
Bride's engagement ring: heirloom
Bride's wedding band: Bario-Neal

*Photos by Nicole Polk Photography

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The DIY Details: The Tables

Flowers: Ralphs Grocery Store. Bought the day of.
Vases: Recycled bottles. Mason Jars. Jelly jars.
Table cloths: Muslin. Bought in LA's Fashion District.
Table runners: Burlap. Bought in LA's Fashion District.
Misc. Centerpiece Materials: Record Sleeves. Felt hearts. Twine. Tea lights.





















*All photos by Nicole Polk Photography

Monday, January 3, 2011

A Redemption Honeymoon

I'm interrupting recaps to talk a bit about the concept of a "redemption honeymoon".  Because the husband and I are currently on one.  Because our first honeymoon blew harder than releasing a trapped fart.
Hour 9 waiting for our flight at the Mexico City airport.  I was beyond exhausted and annoyed.
It sucked. Like, "I can't believe this is actually happening" kinda sucked. Let's just say it would have been much better had it not rained everyday, had it not been jungle-style, can't-dry-my-hair humid, had our condo had working electricity, had our airline not lied to us and made us wait in the Mexico City Airport for 9 hours on our way there, and had we not gotten flu/virus/nasty sick for two weeks after our honeymoon,we would have had a much, much better time.
Mike filling out 6 pages worth of complaints.
This woman made me cry.
Me about to shoot myself.
Everything was great between Mike and I.  We were able to make the best of it.  Certain times were more difficult than others. Namely, getting the electricity turned back on.  Mike had to take a taxi to Puerto Vallarta's La Officina de la electricidad to get it turned back on. Thankfully his high school Spanish was good enough to actually communicate that we had been without electricity for 5 days. Hooray for small victories.  I won't go into every single detail, but here is a small example of what other couples experience on their honeymoon's in comparison to what we experienced.

You: "We lounged on a private beach all day and sipped delicious tropical drinks while we rubbed each other down with sun tan oil."
Us: "We stood on a wet sand beach being pelted with pouring rain while we sipped watered down cans of Sol we just bought at the gas station."

I know. Boohoo on us. 

There were good times. Like the night it was clear enough to have a nice dinner outside:

And then we got really drunk and went dancing. That was fun. But I think we were looking forward to having relaxation fun, rather than college bar hopping fun.
Oh, and how could I forget the other great part of the trip: the time we got to leave!
We had to walk out on the tarmac in the rain. But hey, at least we got the Disney plane!
We said goodbye to Puerto Vallarta and said hello to the emergency room back home in Los Angeles. Basically what happened is I got a 104 degree fever the day after we got back from PV. We went to the ER. I had to get some painful tests. Thankfully I was OK. But I was flu sick for two weeks. And Mike got sick a couple days after me. At this point we are thinking, "Seriously? When are we going to get to relax!?!?!"  And we didn't get to.  Mike started teaching at a new school.  I was finishing up the fifth season of Psych. Then Mike broke his arm. And we've thus gotten a much slower start on the actual life stuff I wanted to get done after the wedding.

Oh well, right?  Yes, oh well is right because Mike and I decided that since we've been through some shit since the wedding and had a shit honeymoon... we're taking a second honeymoon. A redemption honeymoon. We found a great deal on a hotel in Lake Tahoe from the discount travel site Jetsetter.

I'm going to snowboard for the first time. We're going to an MC Hammer concert at Harrah's (I KNOW). And every night will be spent sipping wine in a hot tub at our eco friendly hotel (we only paid $55 a night for!). YAY!

What do you guys think of a "redemption honeymoon"? Have you taken one?