The Bowie Bride

Chillest Engagement Ring Ever

2012-01-16T10:14:00.000-08:00

via MIRTAjewelry

"The Brittany" Wedding Gown by Deborah Lindquist

2012-01-06T09:47:00.000-08:00

My fabulous wedding gown designer, Deborah Lindquist, named a gown was named after me. How freaking cool is that?

I felt so beautiful wearing this dress on my wedding day. Well Both wedding days to exact.

photo by Nicole Polk Photography

Photo by Nick Radford

Thanks so much, Deb. You're my favorite wedding gown designer ever. I feel so cool right now.

The Unofficial Official Psych Season 6 Trailer

2011-09-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

Leaked! From the Psych Writer's Room! The Unofficial Official Psych Season 6 Trailer!

Househubby

2011-08-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

I sincerely wish Mike was my househubby year round and didn't have to go back to teaching high school in September... because this was me today:

"Sweetheart, could you drop off my UPS packages, pick up my prescription, get my car registration renewed, cancel the cable, sign our accounts up for autopay, change my address with the DMV, and find me a new doctor? K, thanks!"

And, yes. He did all those sweet things for me today. And did I mention he makes me dinner pretty much every night? Yeah, my husband rocks. Perhaps my handyhubby deserves a 'handy' for all his 'hard' work*. I think so.

*Come on. It ain't a Bowie Bride post if it ain't dirrrty.

Just a bride. Grabbin her balls.

2011-07-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

And that bride, of course, was me.

Remember that wedding I planned and blogged about where I was the bride n shit? Yeah that happened a YEAR AGO. Happy first anniversary to us! Woohooo! We're celebrating in style with Les Miserables tickets on Friday, an overnight excursion to the Stone Brewery in North San Diego on Saturday and dinner and dancing (yes, like real dancing!) on Sunday for the actual anniversary.

I was going to write this big long thing about what it's been like over the last year but all I could come up with was this: being married rocks. PERIOD.

[Guest Post] Etsy Your Heart Out

2011-07-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, lovers. Happy Wednesday to you. Today I have a treat coming to you from Kait Hunter, founder of my favorite fashion blog Hunter Style. Kait has impeccable taste and is a master at dishing the best fashion deals the Interweb has to offer. If she lived in LA, I would ask her to be my stylist. But since she is based in Chicago, I just stalk her blog. Hourly. Erm. Daily. But I'm her cousin, so technically that's not creepy, right? I asked Kait to give us her picks for budget bridal fashion, and lucky for all of us, she came back with the motherload. In today's post, Kait is showing us that actually buying a wedding gown on Etsy is actually a really awesome idea. Sure it can be a scary prospect, but there are too many amazing deals to be had on too many amazing dresses. Show us the loot, Kait!

Annie Wedding Gown, $950 find it here.

I'm so excited to be asked by Brit to guest for Bowie Bride. She conveys a mentality about the wedding process that we all need to appreciate - sarcasm! While I haven't been married myself (maybe one day?) I have plenty of friends who have taken the plunge and I've been privy to their tales of woe, especially regarding the wedding dress search. And while I'm always inspired by high fashion - isn't everyone.. On Hunter Style I try to find items that the normal girl can afford (or save up for in less than a lifetime) which is why I'm so excited to be asked by Brit to do a bridal post. There are some amazing resources out there now to find a dress but today I wanted to highlight just one site you may not have considered: Etsy.

To begin, the worst thing a bride can do is sabotage her image before even getting married. Unless you are Princess Poo Poo and live in TheWorldRevolvesAroundMe Land, then... well thank God you don't live there. We inhabit a pretty disgusting Bridezilla society right now and just because you enjoy watching psychotic women on T.V., doesn't mean you need to be one! Alright, just needed to clear the air. I like to start fresh with a good ol' verbal douching.

Modern brides can look to the old saying (with a new twist): Something old, something new, something Etsy and something blue. Well, something old is easily amazing vintage jewelry. Something new is always fun for your lingerie. You'll want to check my picks below for something Etsy and something blue will most definitely be your future husband's balls when he sees how much you spent on a wedding dress. Sticker shock anyone? Let's avoid that...

Weddings are expensive. That's no secret. Women used to be able to validate paying thousands of dollars for a wedding dress they will only wear once but the modern bride? Puuuhlease. She's a smart cookie that one. Not only is she going to scout down something unique and beautiful that won't max out her credit card, but I'm guessing she's going to wear this dress multiple times in her life after a good altering.

I'd like to open your eyes to a world you may not have considered yet for your dress. Etsy. I know, it's risky, but this is where you get creative. You spend less money on the dress and more money on the alterations (which will need to be done anyway). The end result is that you look amazing and everyone wonders how much money you must have dropped on that gorgeous gown. Blue balls be gone- your husband will thank his lucky stars to have found a woman as resourceful as you!

Check out my picks below and happy hunting!

Elegant Wedding Dress, $890 find it here.

Spring Wedding Gown, $850 find it here.

Country Love Wedding Gown, $299 find it here.

Reese Wedding Gown, $599 find it here.

Vintage Inspired Lace Dress, $699 find it here.

Silk Taffeta Nad Lace Dress, $193 (yes you read that right) find it here.

Vera Wang Inspired Wedding Dress, $688 find it here.

Swan Lake Bride

2011-07-12T10:41:00.001-07:00

Swan Lake Bride by bhilgers featuring chain jewelry

Hot Looks For Summer Brides

2011-07-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

1. Woodland Scholar Bride

Woodland Scholar Bride by bhilgers featuring brogue shoes

2. Summa Time Bride

Summa Time Bride by bhilgers featuring a diamond necklace

3. 80's Fembot Bride

80's Fembot Bride by bhilgers featuring beige stockings

Buddy Holly Bride

2011-07-08T10:22:00.001-07:00

Buddy Holly Bride by bhilgers featuring irregular choice boots

Unicorn Bride

2011-07-07T10:41:00.001-07:00

Unicorn Bride by bhilgers featuring draped dresses

Carven draped dress
£160 - farfetch.com

Sam Edelman platform booties
£215 - my-wardrobe.com

Python handbag
alexandermcqueen.co.uk

Earrings
$21 - maruione.jp

Headbands hair accessory
£5.99 - arkclothing.com

Roseark - Shop by Product: Karma - Rutilated Unicorn Ring, RG
$2,125 - roseark.com

New Beginnings (Almost A Full Year Late)

2011-07-05T06:21:00.000-07:00

Welcome to DTLA.

Uh, hi. My name is Britt, and I have been married for nearly a year. Everyone says the first year goes by so fast, but hot damn, I feel like it was just yesterday.

Immediately after the wedding, Mike and I had plans to move to the Downtown area of Los Angeles. But then we went on our terrible honeymoon. And we got terribly sick. And then some other bullshit went down. And then even more bullshit decided to pile on top of that bullshit.

Cut to married us months later: still living in the same apartment with no concrete plans to move downtown.

We just couldn't get our shit together. It happens. Shit, I mean.

But cut to married us now: we have finally taken the plunge and are now living in beautiful, vibrant, metro-friendly DTLA and couldn't be happier. So far the best thing about living downtown? We live in the same hood we got married in! And did I mention our Walkscore is "100"? And did I mention that I will be spending my summer weekends lounging by our rooftop pool? Oh, yes. DTLA living is in full effect for Hollenbrau Haus, and we couldn't be more excited. Here are a few shots from inside and from the rooftop:

It only took us an entire year to make the move. But I'm learning this type of post-wedding behavior is the trend among many brides and grooms.

Did you hit the post-wedding slump like we did?

Our Wedding Videographers Need Your Help!

2011-07-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July, lovers. Hopefully by now you have polished off at least 4 hot dogs and are at the very least 4 beers deep. 'Cause I'm about to ask for some help and the drunker you are, the more generous you may be.

Our wedding videographers, Brock Wilbur & Jocelyn Kelvin -- remember the rad video they put together of our wedding? -- are making a feature film, and they need your help to get the project off the ground. The film is called "Your Friends Close", and it centers around a husband and wife team who are headed off to Paris to develop a groundbreaking video game, a new MMO game that questions our relationship to reality, personality, and how well we can truly know one another. However, things take a turn for the worse during a going away party for them when they learn that one of them may not be going to Paris. From there the party devolves into a game for the newly vacant “throne.” Brock penned the screenplay, and it will be helmed by Jocelyn (a female director! yay!).

They are currently trying to raise funds through "kickstarter", the largest fundraising platform in the world for creative projects. They have 46 hours left to raise funds, so please, if you believe in the project, head over to their kickstarter page and throw a buck their way. Every little bit helps.

Below is a video of Brock and Jocelyn talking about the project. From the bottom of my "support the indie arts" heart, thank you for taking the time to read this (and to donate!)

Fashion Passion & The Cure For Bridal Gown Swamp Ass

2011-06-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

(Yes, that is the weirdest post title in Bowie Bride history, but I promise it will all make sense once you start reading. So start reading, yo!)

I have never formally come out and said it... but I am total fashion whore. I am constantly on the hunt for amazing deals and unique pieces. Well, mostly amazing deals on unique pieces, but whatever. I was reading Fashion Under $100 before I even became a bride or even knew who the site's founder Dana was (she's Mrs. Sloth on Weddingbee and a blogger for Broke-Ass Bride). And when I did become a bride, wedding gown and accessory hunting only made my fashion obsession worse.

Kait Hunter, Author & Founder of "Hunter Style"

I am constantly on the hunt for resources to feed my fashion passion, so when my cousin Kait Hunter started her own fashion blog, I about blew a gasket. Her blog is called "Hunter Style", and ladies (and gents -- she post about mens fashion too!), it is full of amazing finds. In fact, Hunter Style's motto is "Quit looking; I found it". Readers send Kait requests for specific clothing and design items they can't find but can't stop lusting after. For example, she answered a reader request for a bright green purse recently that got me wanting a bright green purse. Kait has got taste and her site wreaks of it.

She also posts pictures of all the fabulous outfits that she personally styles and wears in real life, along with prices and links to where you can find every piece. She also posts super secret discounts that she finds hidden in the nooks, crannies, and crevices of the Internet. Did I mention she's a really funny writer too? So if you like your fashion with a side of laughs, I highly suggest you head to Hunter Style and GET SOME.

Oh, and I have another reason for you to visit her blog... I am guest posting today! Yup. Hunter Style: Bridal Edition is in full-effect now, son. I'm dishing out tips for avoiding swamp-ass in a bridal gown... and summer brides, you know I be talkin' to you. So check it out.

How Pinteresting!

2011-06-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

I wish I had known about Pinterest when I was planning my wedding because I would have been a helluva lot more organized. Instead of collecting pages full of links (wedding dresses, decor ideas, list goes on!), Pinterest allows you to display images in an inspiration board format. Like so:

What you see above is a board I created called "Bowie Bride Style Guide". It's basically a mix of eclectic suggestions for your eclectic wedding. This board in particular is pretty broad. If I were a bride planning my wedding, I would have a board for every aspect I needed to make a decision on: table decor, venues, bridesmaids dresses, bridal gowns, etc. In fact, I would be frightened to see what my bridal gown board alone would look like. Inspiration overload indeed. And if your own inspiration board collection wasn't enough, Pinterest allows you to follow other user's boards, giving you access to an enormous variety of pretty compiled by the Internet's most savvy style and design hounds.

I totally urge you to check it out even if you are not planning a wedding. I have an apartment style board, a personal style board, and even a board dedicated to images and products that make me laugh.

Here's a link to my Pinterest. And as the makers of the brand would say, Happy Pinning!

How to Kick Off a Kickin Dance Party

2011-06-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite wedding moments was when we kicked off the dance party with a group shot of tequila. It was actually a dream come true, as I had been planning this momentous and rapid group down-age of liquor for quite some time. It was perfect. And it set the tone for the dance party instantly. And yes, that "tone" can be described as Soul Train meets Wedding Crashers.

I highly recommend doing something fun and crazy to get everyone in the mood to dance. Sometimes at weddings, I find that people are more inclined to dance when they are encouraged to participate in something other than the act of dancing. Of course, the dancing will eventually follow, but there needs to be some sort of enticing element that gets the non-dancers on the d-floor right away, instead of waiting for everyone to get drunk enough to bust a move 10 songs in.

I realize "shots" won't be everyone's go-to for exciting their guests to get up and dance, so I thought of a few other ways to rock it. I once attended a wedding where guests were encouraged to hold sparklers around the couple while they did their first dance. And from there, since we were already all out on the dance floor, everyone just stayed and jammed out.

Or you can trick your guests into dancing by putting the bar directly next to the dance floor. I went to a wedding at my alma mater recently that did just that. And let me tell ya, there was barely any room to groove because people were all over the bar and therefore all over the dance floor. It was awesome. The second you put the bar in another room, away from the dance floor, you risk dance party death. Even the most hardcore dancers will have to leave the d-floor to get a booze refill, and it's very likely they will get distracted and not make it back. I have been this wedding guest too many times, kids. And I am the ultimate dancehound at weddings. If even I can be enticed to leave the dance floor, so can your guests. So put the bar next to the dance floor. End of story. Oh, and putting the dessert table near the dance floor would help as well.

What are your tips for keeping the dance party going hard (even if the music is good)?

*All Photos by Nicole Polk Photography

New Blog: More Profanity! More Private Parts!

2011-06-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to create an outlet for myself to write about anything and everything that pisses me off/intrigues me, and today my friends, I am here to tell you that by jove I have done it.

The new blog is called "The Dainty Grenadier" and we write about all things pertaining to boobs & bombs.

Sexbombs. Dramabombs. And everything that is THE bomb.

The blog is co-founded by me and my writing partner Kate (you all know her as Titfield Thunderbolt). And for our blog launch, we decided to showcase a series called, "Kate Dates" - a series in which Kate signs up for eHarmony and I pick the men she will date based on the matches eHarmony has suggested for her. Pretty damn brave of Kate, huh? But think about it -- it kind of makes sense to do it this way. eHarmony has already told Kate that these men are compatible with her (on some level), so it is my job as the girlfriend to give her advice on who to follow through with. And since Kate is a self-proclaimed "lazy dater", and we are writing a movie about dating, this experiment is perfect for us.

So head over to The Dainty Grenadier now to read all about our KATE DATES venture, and if you like what you see, please give us a follow. Oh, and if you want... check us on Twitter: @DaintyGrenadier

And on a personal note, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has followed Bowie Bride for the last two years. Don't worry, this isn't 'goodbye'. I am still going to write for Bowie Bride. But since this is a transitional period in my "blogging career", I felt it was only right to stop for a spell to say, 'thank you'. Your love, support and kindness has meant the world to me. You guys have supported me during some of the most frustrating times in my adult life and have encouraged me at every turn to be brave. So much so that without you, I would have never had the balls to even write a blog like Bowie Bride or The Dainty Grenadier. Blogging has brought such an unexpected joy to my life. So thank you for allowing me this platform. It has been one of the most fulfilling journeys of my life.

XOXO,

Britt

Dick Suit Bachelorette Party

2011-06-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm sure about 75% of you only came to this page because you read the words "Dick Suit" and wanted to see just what the fuck I was alluding to. Don't worry. You won't be disappointed. You wanted a dick suit, you will get a dick suit. But first, the back story.

My long time friend Jessica is getting married soon and for her bachelorette party, her rad as hell mom got us gals a limo to cart our drunk asses all over Los Angeles for an evening of utter debauchery.

When I arrived at Jessica's house at the start of the party, I saw a plastic package sitting on the couch that showcased a picture of a life-sized, fully erect fabric penis with a man's shit-eating grin peaking through the head (literally the head of the penis).

In reaction to this odd package, I said to Jessica, "So, uh, what's with the flesh suit over there, eh?" And Jessica coyly replied with, "Oh, I'll be wearing that tonight." To which I replied with, "HOLYSHITYOUAREAWESOME and HOLYSHITAREYOUSERIOUS?"

To which she replied, "Not only am I serious about wearing this dick suit to the bar tonight, but I am also 100% serious that all of YOU will be wearing this same dick suit to the bar too."

To which I replied, without hesitation, "You're fuckin right I'm wearing that dick suit to the bar tonight!"

You see, some brides ask their girlfriends to wear matching bridesmaids outfits for their weddings. And other brides ask them to wear dicksuits. Having someone tell me that I am to wear a dick suit to a bar, no exception is a dream come true. No joke. When I was in that dick suit, I felt more empowered than I had felt in a long time. I was on fire. Unstoppable.

Basically the plan was that every girl in attendance would have to wear the suit to one bar each. And being a person who always adheres to the theme of the party (and the requests of the host, naturally) I was in like motherfucking flynn.

Jessica, the bachelorette, was the first in the suit. Keep in mind that we were in the middle of Hollywood for this, so everyone's attention was pointed at us.

Getting out of the limo.

The dick suit has entered the building... Beauty Bar, to be exact.

The Dick Suit Crew

Then it was my turn in the dick suit. And since we were at a karaoke bar, I ended up singing "Don't Stop Believin'" IN THE DICK SUIT.

You guys, I am telling you that there is something strangely empowering about wearing a penis costume in public and fucking owning it. Everyone was laughing at me, sure, but it was out of complete respect for being silly and not caring AT ALL. We were the stars at every place we went to.

Liz is literally fighting with the karaoke host, trying to get him to let her sing a song. He wasn't having it. I asked Liz, "What was that guy's fucking problem?" To which Liz replied, "I was in a fucking dick suit..." After my perforance in the dick suit, the MC wasn't allowing any more of it. It was hilarious.

The last bar we went to was a fucking blast. The second we walked in there and one of us was wearing the dick suit, a group of about 10 chicks spent a solid 20 minutes taking pictures with us and the suit. Then it was onto the dance floor for some serious shake-age. And we ended the night with a slow dance between the bachelorette and the dick... it was beautiful...

Thank you for being a radder than rad bride, Jess. Your bachelorette party blew every other bachelorette party out of the water. Like an Olympics-caliber cum-shot.

In It For The Long Haul

2011-06-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with bride Ashley of Snaggle Toothed, with a Triple Step while planning my wedding. She married the love of her life, Sean, on July 31st 2010 (the same day as us!) at the uber chic and cool Smog Shoppe in Culver City, CA. Ashley wore a short dress, a gorgeous pink hair flower, Oscar de la Renta pumps and basically crafted the whole affair with her own two hands -- felt dot garlands, dinner napkins, ribbon flags, homemade apple pie, and more! Please, if you get a second, check out their wedding photos... Shot by Max Wanger. 'Nuf said, right?

Sean and Ashley loved planning their wedding so much that they decided to start a wedding photography/crafting business of their own called The Long Haul Photo. Sean has a background in camera & lighting for film and TV, and Ashley is part of team crafty over at Bash, Please. So put those two talents together and what do you get?! An unstoppable powerhouse duo here to make your wedding day sing with beauty and creativity, that's what.

A couple months ago, I came up with a great gift idea for my Mom's 60th birthday: a family photoshoot, laid back Cali-style. I put the word out on Twitter that I was looking for a photographer to shoot us and when Ashley said that Sean would love to do it, I was over the moon excited and booked them immediately!

We met Sean on a gorgeous sunny day at the canals in Venice, CA. We basically acted like giggling dorks for a couple hours. It was a blast. And the images we got back from Sean are nothing short of stunning. He truly captured the love and spirit of our family. See for yourself.

**All photos by Sean Haeseler of The Long Haul Photo

Updates. Sexy ones.

2011-06-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

I am not one to apologize for blogger absence, but I will say that I have missed you all and I am hoping to get back into posting on Bowie Bride daily soon. I am working on a bunch of new projects, and writing about weddings has unfortunately taken a backseat. But have no fear, I am still here. Just had to take a wee little hiatus :)

And just to show you how busy I have been, here is a host of updates!

1. Mike is a high school teacher so he and I attended Hamilton High School Prom as chaperones! It was a magical night filled with cheesy decor and horny teenagers. I wore a vintage powder blue 1950s ball gown (that was only 30 bucks!) and Mike wore a suit we bought cheap in the Fashion District the weekend before. I handmade the corsage and bout -- using my crafty wedding skills of course! I went to the store and was about to buy pre-made ones, but then I realized I had all the supplies to make them at home by myself: lace, hot glue, pins, flower tape, wire, etc. It was SO easy. And only cost me 5 bucks total. Here are a few shots from the prom:

the bout I made

nursing a beer... BEFORE the prom ;)

The California Science Center. Pretty swank for a high school prom, eh?

And the best photo of all time... the professional shot:

2. I have been working on a new blog called "The Dainty Grenadier." Basically it is Bowie Bride minus weddings plus more F-bombs and talk of private parts. I have only done a handful of posts and am very much in the beginning stages, so I wouldn't call this announcement a 'soft-launch' or even an announcement really. I just wanted to put the link out there for anyone interested in seeing the new blog slowly develop. I am working on a segment with my writing partner (you know her as Titfield Thunderbolt) in which I chose men off of her eHarmony profile for her to go on dates with. And we write about it. I think it will make for a great read. So I'll be sure to let everyone know when The Dainty Grenadier goes wide. Should be within the month.

3. I have a new portfolio site called "How Now Hollenbrau". Read all about my experience in the Film/TV biz and see a few things I have worked on in the past.

4. My writing partner and I finished the first draft of our screenplay. I really really badly want to share details with you all. It's a movie that would be *right* up everyone's alley. Think Bridesmaids, but about dating. I will keep everyone up to date as this all develops.

5. I threw a 60th birthday party for my Mom. As a birthday gift, we took pro pictures with Sean Haeseler of The Long Haul Photo. The Long Haul Photo is a husband/wife team that shoots weddings and portraits. The are LA-based, new and are mega talented. I will do a whole post on their work soon (along with showing you the images from our family shoot!). Here are a few teasers from that shoot:

I think that's enough updates for the time being. How have you all been?

My Favorite Wedding Accessory...

2011-05-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

...Was a last-minute purchase that only cost me $29. A simple fabric flower that I ended up wearing three times.

The first time, I wore it pinned to the back of my dress.

Photos by Nicole Polk Photography

The second time, I wore it in my hair for our day after shoot.

Photos by Nicole Polk Photography

The third time, I attached it to a white headband and wore it for our Re-do Vegas wedding.

Photos by Nick Radford Photography

I purchased the flower from Etsy seller 2 the 9's. I'd say I got my money's worth.

What is/was your favorite wedding accessory and why? And do you ever re-wear it?

Vegas Wedding Teaser Shot

2011-04-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

I'll try not to put the Royal Wedding to shame with this one, but here you go... a teaser shot of our Vegas Wedding ... shot by photography genius Nick Radford. (Yes, if you didn't know already, we had to get married again. Read the whole story here).

We took this shot after the ceremony at the insanely posh hotel we stayed at, The Cosmopolitan. There were so many stunning backdrops at this hotel. We felt so lucky to get to shoot here. As you can see from the photo above, Nick is an artistic photographer through and through. There are more artsy ones just like this that I am dying for you all to see. We couldn't have been more thrilled with how this whole scenario played out.

Wanna see the rest? Rock n Roll Bride has awesomely offered to post the whole lot of pics next week (!). Have I mentioned how in love I am with Rock n Roll Bride? She and I are going to party one day together and it's going to be epic and fabulous and booze-filled. I will also be posting the story behind the second wedding, along with tips on getting married in Vegas on The Broke-Ass Bride (!). That will all go down Tuesday, May 3rd. Can't wait for everyone to see!

First Dances

2011-04-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

Mike and I totally winged our first dance. We had planned on practicing in our living room, but time got away with us. Luckily, our lack of practice ended up not mattering one bit. The joy of finally being married overtook our first dance jitters and we just went for it and had a blast. We danced to "Heroes" by David Bowie.

Then my dad and I danced to "Heart of Gold" by Neil Young.

Then Mike and his mom, and Mike's sister and dad, danced to "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan.

All photos by Nicole Polk Photography

Prince William Absent From Wedding Rehearsal; Wax Figure to Replace

2011-04-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

Well, not quite.

Prince William's life-size wax figure would have been of great use to fiancee Catherine Middleton at their wedding rehearsal on April 15th, as the "real deal" William decided to honor his obligation to the Royal Air Force instead of his bride-to-be.

Apparently, getting married in front of 2 billion people doesn't phase the Prince. But then again, why would it? William has been in the public eye ever since that enormous noggin of his emerged from Diana's loins 28 years ago. Yet, his absence from his wedding rehearsal is making headlines around the world.

Most engaged couples rehearse their wedding ceremonies to ensure they don't muck it up on the big day. And considering the Prince's big day will be far bigger than any big day you or I will ever experience, one has to wonder why The Royals couldn't host the rehearsal on a day when the groom would actually show up. Further details as to why his obligation to The Royal Air Force (RAF) superseded his priority to rehearsing his impending nuptials were not released. So for all we know, his "duties" could have meant not missing the The RAF's Intramural Basketball scrimmage (after all, Prince William has a mean lay-up). But for now, the world will give William the benefit of the doubt.

As for those who actually made it to the rehearsal? William's brother and Best Man, Prince Harry was in attendance, as well as Catherine's sister and Maid of Honour Pippa. The Royal Wedding, rehearsal or no rehearsal, is set to take place on April 29th, 2011 at exactly 11:00 AM sharp. Let's hope William remember what side of the aisle to stand on.

"Big Bliss" Question

2011-04-14T06:16:00.000-07:00

Do the women featured on "Say Yes to the Dress: Big Bliss" know they are being taped for a spin-off version called "Big Bliss" instead of being taped for "Say Yes to the Dress," the original "skinny bitches" edition?

If so, how would you feel about that? Personally, I would not be havin it.

Oh, and if you missed me ripping this show a new asshole, click here.

Redemption Honeymoon Rocked My Face Off

2011-04-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Snow. Sunny skies. Fresh air. Trees. Nature. Hot tubs. A ski resort across the street from hotel. Free shuttles to other ski resorts. Snowboarding. Breweries. Good eats. Cheap movie tickets. No stress.

Emphasis on NO STRESS.

I highly recommend taking a second honeymoon if your first honeymoon sucked ass. You've been through way too much in the last year of planning to have to endure a shitty honeymoon. So make it a good one. And if it's not a good one for whatever reason, take another one. And tell your bank accounts to blame me. The enabler.

And instead of having honeymoon pictures that look like this:

You'll have honeymoon pictures that look like this:

Much better!!

Our Wedding Video

2011-04-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

We weren't even going to have a videographer to begin with. We so wanted one but our budget was spread way too thin already. But then something magical happened. Our friends Jason and Becca of A Los Angeles Love fame recruited their friends Jocelyn Kelvin and Brock Wilbur of Inevitable Productions, to shoot and edit a wedding video for us.

It felt so right having our wedding video shot by Inevitable Productions because they truly embraced Mike and I as a couple and really spent time getting to know us as people. And not only did we get an amazing video of our wedding (which we have watched about 20 times, and cried during every viewing), but we also made some amazing friends. Brock and Jocelyn rock as human beings. They are lovers of love. Please hire them to shoot your wedding. They are a talented duo, fun but very professional, easy to work with and they get the job done right. In fact, they are just fresh off of filming Becca & Jason's wedding. So snag Brock & Jocelyn before they blow up on the wedding blogs, yo.

Every couple that gets their wedding shot by Inevitable Productions gets the "music video" version of their wedding (set to your song, or a song of your choosing) and the whole enchilada long version of their wedding.

Without further ado, here is the 6 minute "music video" version of our wedding video, set to the tune of our song: "Heroes" by (who else?) David Bowie.

HEROES - HITCHFEST 2010! from Jocelyn Kelvin on Vimeo.

Didn't that look like the greatest night ever?! Well, I ain't gonna lie. IT WAS. And I am so happy that we will have this for ever and ever and get to look back and say, "Whoa, we were like, cool n stuff."

Please visit Inevitable Productions for more info. Or you can just go ahead and contact Jocelyn and Brock by emailing them here: inevitablepros [at] gmail [dot] com

Uber thanks to Becca & Jason for hooking this all up. I can't wait to see the magic Brock & Jocelyn did on your y'all's wedding vid!

Subverting the Subversive Wedding Trends

2011-04-11T06:10:00.000-07:00

The once subversive use of cupcakes, Chuck Taylors, bunting, cranes, chalkboards, photobooths, jars of homemade jam and parasols has become mainstream. To the point where brides and grooms are turning to sub-subversive ideas just to have their wedding stand out on the blogs*. I mean, is the Toms wedding line the new 'hip' footwear for brides and grooms? Here's a wedding that took the sub-subversive plunge and rocked Toms instead of Chucks or (the occasional) Vans.

So I decided to have a little fun with this notion of subverting the subversive trends of wedding blog yore. I came up with a list of 'trends' that I would pay to see happen. Just to prove my point. Andsimply to amuse me. Whether or not you really think the following suggestions are "serious" ones, is your call. So have some fun with this.

1. The "After the Reception & Wedding" Dress

1a. The "After the After Party, Reception, & Wedding" Dress. Or, "The Bridal Toga"

1b. The "After, After the After the After Party, Reception & Wedding" Dress

2. Cauliflower Bouquets. No assembly required.

3. Accessories made of actual hair.

4. Custom Condom Wedding Favors

5. Martinelli's Apple Juice Glass Bottles used as vases.

source

6. Dessert: Jello. I bet you could be even more subversive by making a "Jello Bar" - all types of flavors and shapes!

*Yes, I realize this statement has absolutely nothing to do with the actual important 'marriage' part of a wedding.

[WTF Friday] Condom Wedding Dresses...

2011-04-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

...Actually Exist. I changed my mind: There is a God.

source

Red Kegger Cups

2011-04-07T09:57:00.000-07:00

I put Mike in charge of the last minute shopping for the wedding -- cups, utensils, cocktail hour snacks, etc. One of the big items he was supposed to get at Costco was clear plastic cups. Clear. See-through. Colorless. C-L-E-A-R. So that when they are shown in the wedding photos, the cups won't make us look like we were at a frat party.

Well guess what? Mike made our wedding into just that. By simply purchasing cups of the red college kegger variety. As shown here:

I said that I didn't care about the cups. Well I lied. I hated those red kegger cups. Hated them. And I hate them even more whenever I see an image of one ruining the rest of the shot, making it look like a Theta Chi rager as opposed to a wedding*.

But there was no time to get new cups. There was no money to get more cups. And I couldn't justify letting all that plastic go to waste. And I was already way too exhausted from everything else that was going on. So we used them. And they have since become the bane of my wedding picture's existence. Thankfully our amazing photographer Nicole Polk was able to get shots that didn't heavily showcase the frat cups, but still. Those cups make me feel icky whenever I look at them in our photos**.

Why the hell am I still so goddamn hung up on this? Do you still have hang ups from your wedding even though it's over and done with?

*A Theta Chi rager would be a perfectly lovely wedding don't get me wrong - I just didn't want that for our wedding.
**Watch. Red kegger cups will be the "it" thing to use at weddings in a couple years. "So college kitsch!"

Bridal Footwear Craze 2011: My Predictions

2011-04-06T06:02:00.000-07:00

Last year, we had the Vivienne Westwood Heart Pumps craze. Pics of those puppies got passed around the wed web like the town whore. But rightfully so. I mean, they're really freaking cute. And they spell love. On your feet. And add an extra sweetness to the requisite under the bridal gown shoe shot.

Naturally, brides will be on the hunt for something just as cute, or girlie, or fun, or photogenic as the Vivienne's for their 2011 wedding.

So below are my Top 5 Bridal Footwear predictions. Any brides rock a pair of these yet? Anyone planning on it?

1. Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats

2. Melissa Butterfly Jelly Sandals

3. Irregular Choice Scotty Dog Pumps

4. Poetic Licence Polka Dot Pumps

5. Unlisted Gingham Pumps

[Please Read] The Broke-Ass Bride Needs Our Help.

2011-04-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know who Dana LaRue is, you are truly missing out on a whole lot of awesome. Dana is the founder of The Broke-Ass Bride, the first source I fell in love with and read religiously while planning my own wedding.

Dana has been such a huge inspiration to me. I hated planning my wedding until I read The Broke-Ass Bride, and I contend to this day that our wedding would not have been the success that it was and the true expression of us that it was if it weren't for Dana, her blog, her humor, her amazing tips and her candid tales. I owe her so much.

When she found my little blog back in 2010 and she started following it, I about shit my pants. I remember I was in the car driving to work when I checked my email on my phone. I saw that The Broke-Ass Bride had left a blog comment on one of my posts, and I practically screamed with excitement. And ever since then, we have been dear friends and allies in the wedding industry and in our personal lives. She is one of the most strong women I have ever had the pleasure knowing. And I even get to blog for her every Tuesday! How lucky did I get? In fact, I find it utterly insane that I get to call her my friend after having idolized her and her blog for all those months. I'm such a fan girl, I know. But who wouldn't be a fan of Dana?

So why am I talking to you all about this amazing woman? Well, Dana has so bravely come forth to ask for our help... to ask for the powers of the Internet Blogging Community to join forces to raise money for a very worthy cause. What cause, you ask?

When Dana was 19, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Uveitis. Which means her immune system doggedly attacks her eyes causing dangerous inflammation, visual disturbances and blurriness. It is incurable and will cause blindness if left untreated.

She also has a very rare deep-tissue form of a disease called Granuloma Annulare, causing a different type of inflammation in her foot, for which she had surgery last year. It is so rare, she is unable to find a doctor who knows how to treat it moving forward.

She has endured 11 surgeries, at least one, each year, for the past 5 years, to control her diseases and their side effects.

And sadly, just last month her left eye came out of remission and she learned the devastating news that she will need a 12th surgery to manage the inflammation.

Her surgeries and ongoing care (even with health insurance) have left piles of bills in their wake, and she is now at a point where, without help, she cannot pay for her medical care.

And without the ability to pay for her health-related bills, Dana cannot run The Broke-Ass Bride full-time, which would be totally and utterly shitty for the rest of us. So what's the solution, you ask?

Dana and her amazing husband Hunter have received loads of encouragement to hold an online fundraiser, but receiving without giving isn’t really their bag... so this is the plan:

The Fundraiser

♥ We’re compiling beloved comfort food recipes and the stories behind them from the most bad-ass bloggers and beyond… available in varying forms, in exchange for donations to Dana's medical care.

♥ There are incentives for varying levels of donation, which you can learn about here.

♥ The recipes, photos and stories will be teased on our Dishing for Dana blog, and once a donation is processed, a password to access the full recipes will be released to each donor.

The Goal

♥ $13,000 to cover current medical bills

♥ $6,032 to cover health insurance premiums for the remainder of 2011

♥ $2,000 to donate to the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association toward helping others with autoimmune disease

For a minimum total of $22,000.

The Details

♥ People can donate any amount they choose, no minimum, no rules. Because every quarter is a quarter more than we had yesterday. It all adds up.

♥ We will donate 10% of all proceeds up to our goal, to the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association, so that every dollar contributed not only goes toward my medical care, but also to benefit everyone with autoimmune disease.

♥ Anything raised in excess of the goal will be split 50/50 with the AARDA – our portion of which will be saved in a dedicated, interest-bearing account toward future surgeries and ongoing medical care.

A message from Dana:

"Having this autoimmune disease has formed me into the creative, ambitious and irrepressible woman I am today, and it inspired the birth of The Broke-Ass Bride (and thus, is probably how we came into each other's lives). While no one can yet cure me, the idea that my online community could rally up to ease my condition’s painful and limiting financial side effects… well that gives me hope beyond expression."

If you're able and willing to help, please email dana@brokeassbride.com, or bowiebride@gmail.com for more information.

Ready to donate a recipe or $$$? Then visit Dana's fundraising site: Dishing For Dana for more details.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Your generosity is very much appreciated.

Mike + Britt: Year 8

2011-04-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrate 8 years together. Well, more like, "acknowledge" 8 years together. We realize that since we are now married, our anniversary becomes our wedding anniversary. July 31st, 2010.

But actually, no, I say fuck that. We're gonna celebrate. We earned those 7.5 years before we were married. We have been through the relationship ringer and have essentially become adults together and somehow in between the madness of our twenties and moving to California together, finishing our Masters, surviving Teach for America, etc., ad nauseum, ohmygod, we managed to stay strong through all of it.

So today we celebrate. Nothing fancy. Just us two. Bein' us two. Happy "Date-aversary" indeed.

M + B Throughout the Years:

To my marrieds: Do you still celebrate (or acknowledge) your "date-iversary"?

Stop Apologizing For Your Wedding

2011-04-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's just me, but more times than not, when a bride or groom describes their wedding to me, (yes, me in particular) they preface it with, "Our wedding was more low key...." or "Our wedding will be more traditional..."

This has confused me for quite some time. Why do these couples feel the need to "preface" the description of their wedding? Is it because they think I hate all weddings that aren't "rock n roll" or "non-traditional" or "cracked out and crazy"? Or is it not just me, and couples are describing their wedding to everyone in these terms?

I thought more about this and discovered that I do the same exact thing when describing my wedding to other brides and grooms, but in reverse. I preface my wedding descriptions with phrases like, "Our wedding was a bit 'out there'..." or "We decided to do things 'differently'..." And I would make myself and Mike seem like we were very self aware of our craziness, to the point where I felt the need to "apologize" for said craziness. And why, you ask, would I do this? Because our wedding was starkly a non-traditional, no-rules kind of affair. And I didn't want more traditional brides and grooms to think I was nuts and/or hated and frowned upon anyone who was more traditional than I. Because contrary to the vibe you may have gotten while reading this blog, I in fact, am a lover of all weddings. Sure, you may think of me as the poster wife for non-traditional weddings and that I tend to gravitate towards the stranger side of the wedding aisle, but that in no way makes me a hater of weddings that don't take my same approach. I love all weddings because I love love. And I believe in love. No matter how you choose to express it.

So, GO. Go be you. Plan the wedding you want. And don't preface its description to anyone. Not even to your grandma. Don't let anyone or anything make you NOT proud of the wedding you are pouring your heart into planning. Otherwise we are merely perpetuating the notion that weddings have to be one way or the highway. And that shit needs to stop, yo.

Agreed?

*Photo by Nicole Polk Photography

[Venue Idea] College Campus

2011-03-24T06:47:00.000-07:00

This Friday, my husband and I are attending the wedding of an old friend from college whom Mike was roommates with way back when he and I first met -- about 8 years ago, almost to the date. She and I became fast friends and quickly became known as the hardcore girls who could go toe-to-toe in beer pong against our ferocious, beer-guzzling, male-dominated group of friends. I still contend to this day, that I have never in my life seen anyone do a beer bong faster than this chick. Girl is the Jedi Master of The Beer Funnel. No joke. So when she told us that her wedding reception was going to be held on our former college campus at Arizona State University, I thought, "This is just too perfect." Don't get me wrong: this is not to say that she'll be slamming down Bud Lights College-style in a wedding gown... but I will, however, make the claim that things will have come "full circle" getting to celebrate her marriage on our old college campus. And I have a feeling she shares that sentiment as well... as does our entire ASU crew of friends.

So. Out of curiosity, I asked her if renting out a venue at ASU was expensive and she was like, "hell no!" Of course this number is entirely dependent on how long you will need to use the space and what for, etc., but the number she quoted me was lower than what we paid for our venue, which was $2500. So you decide for yourself if that's a good price or not...

But here's the thing: hosting your wedding at your alma mater could carry tons of special meaning for you, or you and your future husband, if you both met there, and/or graduated from there. I know it would have had special meaning for my husband and I, as we met in Astronomy 101 on ASU's campus.

Also, many college campuses have been around for quite some time and have maintained their historic buildings. And what better backdrop for your wedding photographer than a gorgeous, fully preserved historic building? In ASU's case, they rent out one ASU's first-ever constructed buildings called "Old Main" shown below:

ASU's "Old Main" Building available for weddings and events.

Actual wedding held at Old Main

The inside isn't too shabby either

Actual Wedding

Another perk to hosting your wedding on a college campus is getting to use "on-campus" art and architecture as backdrops for your wedding pictures. ASU has tons of beautiful back-drop opps:

And guess where the party train will be headed to after the college campus wedding reception? Why, to the college campus bars, of course! Oh, the nostalgia... it's making me so excited for Friday.

Have you guys attended a wedding on a college campus? How was it?

The Smile You've Been Waiting A Whole Effing Year For

2011-03-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

And that smile, my friends, is the smile of pure, no-chemical-added joy. It's a special, unique kind of joy that is felt by two people who have poured their hearts, souls, guts, puss, sweat, tears, and semen, yes semen, into planning a wedding for roughly 365 days straight. Without any breaks. With a mind constantly occupied by planning, crafting, cutting, pasting, painting, writing, re-writing, managing, delegating, charting, graphing, balancing, researching, calling, crying, arguing, LOSING YOUR FUCKING MIND, because you are in the midst--err-trenches--of planning and executing a wedding.

And for those of you who find this portrait of wedding planning to be a tad over-dramatic, please leave this conversation, and/or go fuck yourself. Because guess what: the act of planning a big city wedding on a budget not only occupied over 50% of my time for an entire year, but it changed my life in ways I never thought possible. It made me a better person and a better partner to Mike; it made me into a person who could finally be proud of who she was, and once and for all, a person who was capable of promising herself never to apologize for being said self -- no matter how crazy or weird or frightening or hard shit got. It was an experience that I will forever look back on as a "monumental transition" in my life: physically, mentally, professionally; name any 'ally, and I bet you I felt it. So it's not just the planning and all the wedding bullshit one is forced to rifle through; it's the emotion and the change in oneself that goes along with all that, and obviously-hello the whole part about becoming a lifelong partner to the love of your life is, of course, at the head of all that. And that is what makes us all smile like we've never smiled before when that day finally comes -- it's not even the day; it's the moment. And that moment will be different for everyone, but for me it was the second Mike and I joined hands at the very start of the ceremony. It was at that moment when The Smile hit me. It's a smile that makes even the most cynical of brides and grooms say, "this is the best day of my life." Because, hands-fucking-down-YES it was the best day of my life (so far). It wasn't the "best" because of the attention and the pretty dresses and the pampering -- no -- that was all just sexy extras. It was the "best" day of my life so far because it effected my husband and I on exponential levels to the enth degree. I know, real specific, eh? I'm sorry, but seriously, guys. The feeling is almost indescribable. Get married. You'll see what I mean.

You wanna see what that smile looks like? 'Cause keep in mind that when I show you this glorious smile, you might, but just for a moment, experience an uncontrollable excited feeling that encompasses the fact that soon (oh so soon!) you will be done with everything endlessly stated above, and finally, just finally, be able to walk down that damn aisle and marry the love of your effing life...

Without further ado, I present to you, The Smile:

This is what that smile says: "Finally. Yes! Finally! We are here. And our family and friends busted their asses to get here. And it's all for us. Because they love us. And ohmygosh I think I might start floating from the sheer elation of it all!"

The smile I had been waiting so long for had finally come. And it truly was an out-of-body experience. I was smiling so damn hard that I had cheek wrinkles, and the veins in my neck were protruding out!

On a personal note, in the the next week and a half, 3 special couples, all friends of mine, are getting married. Have the best day of your lives, my loves... I double dog dare you to. Experience The Smile. Let yourself. Cause after all you've been through in the last year of planning, you fucking deserve it. Love you guys... you know who you are :)

*photo by Nicole Polk Photography

[Please Observe] For Japan With Love

2011-03-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

Utterly Engaged and Ever Ours have joined forces to create "For Japan With Love", a site dedicated to help raise money for the devastation going on in Japan. In conjunction with raising funds, members of the blogging community, including Bowie Bride, will observe a day silence this Friday, March 18th for the disasters in Japan. So far, "For Japan With Love" has raised over $2500. Imagine what that number could be by the end of the week. So please spread the word about this site, and if you can, make a donation. Even if it's $1. Every bit counts. And if you are a blogger, and you want to participate in observing a day of blogger silence for "For Japan With Love", please e-mail lydia@ever-ours.com or info@utterlyengaged.com for more information. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Everyone's help is needed.

You can read more about the efforts here.

You can donate here.

Lawn Seating

2011-03-11T06:51:00.000-08:00

Who needs chairs?

Susan Sabo Photography. Via OneWed Blog.

[Bowie Bargain] $109.99 Wedding Dress

2011-03-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Currently listed as "Buy it now" on ebay. Betsey Johnson. $109.99. I would have worn this dress is a fucking heartbeat. And if you're in the market for a fun reception dress, 100 bones ain't bad, ladies. GET SOME:

Buy it now, here.

Shoe Lovers & Winter Brides: Enter to Win a Pair of Whooga Ugg Boots!

2011-03-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

ATTN: Shoe lovers and Winter Brides! I've got a treat for your feet. Up for grabs is the most comfy pair of sheepskin boots your tootsies will ever step foot in. If you are fan of comfort and warmth, these boots are your jam, kids. They come from the makers of Whooga Ugg Boots, and their sheepskin stunners are constantly being rated as the most comfortable Ugg-type boot on the market. They have five different styles and over five different colors to choose from. My personal favorites are the tall black boots. Where 'em up, or fold 'em down:

My feet feel comfortable just looking at these things.

If I were getting married in cold weather, I'd fo sho want to rock a pair. Look at this cutey bride rockin the sheepskins:

To enter for your chance to win a pair of these ~~clouds~~ boots, sign up for Whooga's Newsletter, or simply follow @WhoogaBoots on Twitter.

And! If you just can't wait to win your own pair, the badasses at Whooga also created an exclusive discount code for Bowie Bride readers! To receive 10% off, simply enter 1548BOWIE upon checkout.

My Vows. "Balls" & "Sugar Tits" Included.

2011-03-02T08:05:00.000-08:00

Me after Mike's vows: "I can't do this without crying!"

I contemplated sharing these... as they are very personal to me. But I figure I've shared everything else with you guys, including pictures of me in gold lamé leggings and a hot green leotard, that I thought, what's the big deal about sharing my heart too? So here they are. My vows.

"I will never forget the night we met. It was in Astronomy 101 lab, and you were the first genuine person I had encountered as a freshman at Arizona State University... which admittedly, is kinda not saying much, considering it’s Arizona State... but truly, in all the years we have been together, I can still say, to this day, that you have remained the most genuine person I have ever known, and will undoubtedly be that person to me, and to all you encounter, for the rest of our lives. There isn’t anything you wouldn’t do for the people you love, and I couldn’t love you more for it.

Over the years, you have given me many, many nicknames -- most of them silly and ridiculous and no, I will not be sharing any of them with the group (*cough* SUGAR TITS), but my favorite one you have given me over the years will forever be the nickname, “bird”.

You supposedly gave me that name because of the squawk sound I make when I laugh... Which, I will neither confirm nor deny that I make any such squawking sound when I laugh, but I will most-certainly say that it was you, and only you, who gave this bird her wings to fly.

Before you came into my life, I was not nearly as brave as I am now. I had these big goals I wanted to accomplish and adventures I wanted to take, but I was nowhere near confident enough to follow through on any of it. Which was sad and frustrating and heartbreaking, because that wasn’t the person I wanted to be. But you came along and changed all that. You believed in me.

You saw my talent as extraordinary and my opportunities as limitless. You never once told me to shy away from something solely because it was too hard. You understood my fears on a level that no one ever had before. And you encouraged me to face those fears head on and to take on a challenge even if it resulted in failure in the end. You helped me embrace life’s difficulties, and you lifted me up in times of stress, self doubt, and sadness. Your friends have become my friends. Your family has become my family. We’ve built a whole life together and have made Los Angeles our home.

I love you because you bring joy to my day everyday. I love you because you empower me. You light a fire under my ass. You make me want grab life by the balls and never give up on anything no matter what life throws at us. I love you because you approach everything with equal parts heart and rationality. I love you because you are a survivor. I love you because you see learning as one of life’s greatest priorities. You live your life with the understanding that we are here to learn with an open mind and to teach others what we have learned.

You understand that not only is knowledge power, but that obtaining new knowledge and teaching others is necessary to our future, our well-being, our marriage, and our desire to live our best lives possible.

And because I love you for all these reasons and more, I promise to always be my best for you."

If you missed Mike's Vows, head here.

"I Re-do": The Story of Why We Had to Get Married Again. In Vegas.

2011-02-24T09:01:00.000-08:00

Boy have I got a story to share with all of you... Let me first preface this post by saying that Mike and I went back and forth with the decision to either keep this story a secret or to share it with people. But after much encouragement and support, Mike and I decided that this story is too rad to not share with our family, friends, and readers. It's too silly, too crazy awesome and too 'us' to not share - especially in this forum. So sit back and get a load of this:

Remember how Mike and I got married on July 31st, 2010? Well. Two weeks ago, we realized that we are legally not married. Yep. I bolded that shit. That's how nuts that news was for us. For the last six months we have been going about our lives as husband and wife, but it turns out that was not technically true.

This is what happened... we think: Our officiant was supposed to mail our marriage paperwork back after everyone put down all the appropriate signatures. For whatever reason, this step did not occur. So when we went to go order a copy of the marriage certificate, the state told us that we are not legally married and that it was too late to send them the original paperwork from our July 31st nuptials.

We both let out a collective, "fuck." What were we supposed to do now? Take a day off of work and head down to the courthouse and do it that way? Or hit up the little chapel on Wilshire that we pass on our way to work everyday? We thought it over for the next week or so until I came up with the plan that would not only get us married, but would be a total blast for us in the process.

And that idea, my friends, was to get married in Vegas, cheesy chapel stylie. We literally booked the trip three days before we left, but everything just sort of fell into place with the greatest of ease... something that was completely foreign to me whilst planning our "first" wedding.

We got to Vegas on Saturday, drove straight to the courthouse, got our marriage license, walked two steps out of the courthouse and were greeted by a lovely man named Carlos who owned the Heavenly Bliss Chapel. He gave us an offer we couldn't refuse: A chapel wedding, including 10 photos, as many guests as we would like, AND a free limo ride to and from our hotel all for the bargain price of $100. And once we saw the picture on the Heavenly Bliss brochure, we knew this was the place for us:

Guys, they make it so damn easy for you to get you married in Vegas it is insane. I did a bunch of research on chapels and what we would need etc... but we didn't end up using any of it. All we needed was our bodies (sober or not) and a driver's license. They basically do everything else for you. Vegas is all about convenience, and the ease of getting married there is certainly no exception.

After our courthouse adventure, we checked into the Hard Rock Hotel (aka Ed Hardy/Affliction/Rockhead/Douche Central), then proceeded to get really bombed and didn't get back to the room until 4:00 AM. Twas a successful evening indeed.

We woke up the next morning, "our wedding day" morning, if you will, feeling a tad hungover. But since we were in Vegas, hangovers cease to exist the second you take your first sip of coffee and your first bite of buffet and take a stroll through the energy-filled casino. Feeling refreshed, we checked out of douche central and headed to PIMP CENTRAL, also known as The Cosmopolitan Hotel, the newest 5 star hotel on the strip. I found a smokin' deal on the room through OneTravel.com. For a studio suite, with a full kitchen, a huge whirlpool tub, an enormous terrace, two flat screen TV's, a wrap-around couch, free wi-fi, and the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in all for the bargain price of $99. Oh, and did I mention the room was the 58th floor? And that the view was kind of out of this world? Yeah, we kind of lucked out. This was the honeymoon suite we never had for our "first" wedding, and we were loving it.

So the best part about all of this Vegas wedding craziness, is that not only were our friends Dave and Morgan in town randomly the same weekend were able to attend, but two of our other dear friends were there too... Dana and Hunter of The Broke-Ass Bride! Knowing they were going to be in town that weekend, I told Dana about the secret wedding first. She was so on board with the whole thing, and Mike and I were thrilled when they said they could attend the ceremony! Then Dana had a fabulous idea: Since the Wedding and Portrait Photographers Convention was in town at the same time, Dana found a photographer that was willing to shoot the wedding for free! His name is Nick Radford and the second I got a look at his portfolio, I died, and said, "Are you kidding me?! This guy is amazing! And he wants to shoot our Vegas wedding for FREE?!" I was blown away by this. We just planned on popping out to Vegas all quick and dirty-like, but it ended up being something so much more involved and so much more awesome. We couldn't be more thankful for the way everything just came together.

Our ten person limo picked us up from PIMP CENTRAL around 9 PM. We were all pretty loaded already at this point, keep in mind. And things were only going to get crazier. The limo was white and gaudy and had the words "Heavenly Bliss Wedding Chapel" pasted across the heavily tinted windows. And the inside was decked out with a starry night rooftop and pleather seats. It was baller. We arrived at the chapel and almost immediately got shuffled into the chapel to say our "I do's."

All of the following images were taken by the house photographer at Heavenly Bliss Chapel. I had Dave walk me down the aisle (I love that he was wearing a Guinness T-shirt):

Dave was a groomsman in our original wedding, so this was extra hilarious.

Here are Dana and Hunter at the ceremony. Hunter was my Maid of Honor and Dana was Mike's Best Man. They were the ones that signed the certificate as witnesses. Dana and I were chatting after about how surreal this whole thing is, considering we met each other because of our wedding blogs... and now she and her husband were standing up at our second wedding! Insanity!

Hunter held my DIY "Jungle of Love" bouquet at the altar and Dana's "bouquet" was a bottle of Moet Chandon. And yes, we took swigs out of it at will during the ceremony. After Dave walked me down the aisle, I gave him a hug and said, "Thanks, Dad!"

Our officiant started the ceremony, and we were immediately mortified because we forgot to tell her that we wanted a civil ceremony as opposed to a religious one. So after the officiant told Mike to repeat the vows she told him to say, he said this, "I do. Except for all the God stuff." Then I laughed and said to her, "Sorry, I should have mentioned that we are not religious." She laughed, and quickly changed the wording to fit a civil ceremony instead.

Snagging some champers...

Then we said our own impromptu vows, (which we still managed to cry during, btw...) and then it was time to exchange the rings:

Hunter had Mike's ring cleverly hidden in his 'fro!

And with a swig of champers, you may now kiss the groom!

An with that, we were married.... again... all legally n shit!

Mike and I call this whole experience our "happy accident." We got to have the big wedding and the cheesy fun Vegas wedding. We couldn't be more thrilled with the way this all turned out. So. Much. Fun. And yes, it feels fantastic to be legally married... even though we have felt married since July 31st :) Legal, schmegal (except when tax time comes around, of course).

AND we have a whole set of professional images shot by the incomparable Nick Radford to share with you all... he shot us in the limo on the way to the chapel, the entire ceremony, and then we took some artsy shots in The Cosmopolitan. A blog post on The Broke-Ass Bride Blog will feature them along with my tips for throwing an impromptu, FUN, cheap Vegas wedding. I will let you guys know when to expect that post. Stay tuned!

Vows

2011-02-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

Brittany, you are so dynamic and smart, I am constantly in awe of the things you can do that I find impossible. All the clothes I wear, you bought for me, and I look the best I've ever looked. You constantly think of ways to make other people happy, whereas I'm constantly being reminded other people are in the room. People meet you, and they love you immediately - the charm, the looks, the sailor-like cursing, the infectious laugh and caring heart. Whereas I'm more of an acquired taste. You can meet anyone and be friends, whereas I'm really only competent at making friends with like-minded weirdos and misanthropes like these guys on stage - and I suspect they like you better than me!

Brittany, you are the love of my life. When I look at you and you smile at me, I feel the most happiness in my life. When I see you cry, it hurts. I forget every other concern but to make you happy again. I love you because you give my life a purpose it did not have before we met. I have problems living for myself. I don't often spend time trying to make myself happy. It doesn't often occur to me to try. Not with you. You give me more to live for than I had before, because living to make you happy makes me far happier than living for myself.

Brittany, you've stuck with me through thick and thin, through craziness and nonsense, and we've both been made stronger for it. You have helped me to understand the world and my place in it. I could not be as good of a man without your influence. I recoil with fear when I imagine my life without you in it. Please continue making me happier than I've ever been, and be my wife.

*All photos by Nicole Polk Photography

Before Brides Wore Chucks...

2011-02-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

They wore high-heeled Bridal Sneakers.

Yikes...

G-Rated Prince William Fantasy Doll

2011-02-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

Saw this on the news yesterday morning.... a life-size Prince William that women (or men) can link arms with, and in doing so, can also slip their ring finger into a copy of Kate Middleton's iconic engagement ring. Finally! Now "regular" women can feel like princesses for a few creepy seconds!

Gross.

Fun Head-to-toe Bridal Looks

2011-02-07T11:30:00.000-08:00

Bride is Shining Armor

Bride in Shining Armor by bhilgers featuring sterling silver chain bracelets

LISKA BY THOMAS KIRCHGRABNER NA WHITE/BEIGE CREPE DE CHINE -, 1,479 GBP
Lorissa Peeptoe Spiked Stud Heels by Sam Edelman at AKIRA |..., $184
Pewter Coin Charm Earrings, 16 GBP
Melissa Joy Manning for Doo.Ri / Draped-Chains Cuff, $525
Tasha Chiffon Flower Clip, $38
Louis Mariette Hematite and Swarovski crystal hairclip, $245

Linen Meets Leather / The Hamptons Goes Hardcore Bride

leather and linen whimsy Bride by bhilgers featuring vintage style jewelry

Chloé Leather and linen-blend dress, $2,075
Knotted Metallic-Linen Pump, $875
Alexander McQueen New Box knuckle-duster leather clutch, $1,760
Servane Gaxotte Gold pig pendant necklace, 230 GBP
Juicy Couture - S/4 Love Bobby Pins (Multi) - Accessories, $30

Princess Nerd Bride

Princess Nerd Bride by bhilgers featuring white gloves

Rachel Gilbert Ava tiered silk-organza and silk-satin gown, $1,820
VW Lady Dragon Skull - Vivienne Westwood - designers, 185 AUD
Women's White Flowered Lace Gloves, $75
Tiara - Scroll Small Pearls, 395 GBP
All by Cutler and Gross | NET-A-PORTER.COM, 196 GBP

Jungle Hippie Bride

Jungle Hippy Bride by bhilgers featuring leather pumps

Ramila Lace Dress by Sretsis at Maximillia, $781
KITTY Nude Embellished Heart Pumps, $90
Glitter Cheetah Hinged Wallet, $12
Betsey Johnson - Lovely Leopard Heart Two Row Necklace (Multi/Antique..., $56
Kate Leopard Headband | SEND THE TREND

Easy Like Sunday Morning Bride

Untitled by bhilgers featuring white dresses

Preen dresses WHITE, 995 GBP
Michael Antonio Women's Love Me Pump, $50
the journal newspaper clutch, $125
Lanvin Ribbon & Drop Pearl Necklace, $450
Evington Floral Head Band, $24

Marilyn Monroe for 2011 Bride

Untitled by bhilgers featuring leather peep toe pumps

Christian Dior Halter neck dress with frilled bust, 2,075 GBP
Lady Peep, $895
Christian Louboutin Eden Peony satin clutch, $1,325
Vintage Double Drop Pearl Earrings, 116 EUR

Mixes Business with Pleasure (and Sass) Bride

Untitled by bhilgers featuring retro handbags

Blazer, $1,290
Carven Pleated silk-bourette pants, $545
Lady Dragon Pearl White Heart Shoes, 120 GBP
SEQUINED PRINT CLUTCH, $88
Alvina Abramova Beige Crystal-Drop Reese Earrings - Max and Chloe, $98
Beige Satin Edge Bow, 10 GBP

The 'Let's Get This Thing Over So We Can Go Fuck' Bride

Untitled by bhilgers featuring hair bows accessories

Rise Fashion :: Dresses :: Viola bandeau (1611)
Christian Louboutin Open Lips 120 snakeskin pumps, $995
Lulu Guinness Studded Padded Lips Clutch Bag, $807
Juicy Couture - OMG Necklace (Gold) - Jewelry, $58
Red velvet bow clips, 5 GBP
Rouge Pur Couture - 18: Noir Laque, $30

Mary Poppins 'n Pearls Bride

Untitled by bhilgers featuring black heels

Jason Wu Bow-embellished silk-faille dress, $2,600
NINA RICCI 10HSDEC BLACK SUEDE 3162101, 899 GBP
Natural Pastel Colour Freshwater Pearl Earrings, in 18kt White Gold, $200
Parasols of Battenburg Lace, Black - Parasol Umbrellas, Sun Shade..., $55
Duck Egg Blue Suede Bow Gloves, $36

Butter-FLY Bride

Untitled by bhilgers featuring ivory flower dresses

Ivory floella flower dress, 150 GBP
COAT WITH FLORAL ILLUSTRATION, 1.275 EUR
Madame Butterfly Platform Pumps, $1,195
Gold Crystal Studded Double Bow Bracelet Cuff - BAGS OF SPARKLE -..., 16 GBP
Cutie Pie Jewellery Butterfly charm necklace - Cutie Pie Jewellery, 13 GBP

Alternative Short Gown Looks

2011-01-31T05:51:00.000-08:00

1.Vintage Space-Age Bride

Aqua Wendy One Shoulder Peplum Dress With Structured Frill, $233
In For The Thrill, 48 GBP
Badgley Mischka Women's BA1133BKBK Silver-Tone CZ Flower Shaped Bezel..., $195
Tasha 'Birdcage Feather Flower' Headband, $48

2. Sequin Sassified Bride

ASOS Sequin And Jewel Dress, $147
Vintage Necklace, 60.3, $225
Charlotte Russe - Hats & Hair, $5.50
Christian Louboutin Ecotrash 140mm_Christian...

3. City Meets Beach Bride

Camilla and Marc Ruffled silk-satin and organza dress, $790
BIANCA-140 - TYE-DYE PLATFORM PUMP FOOTWEAR, $795
Vintage Earrings, 50.11 by Charm & Chain Vintage Collection | Charm &..., $140
Lanvin Ivory glass pearl-embellished tulle veil, $1,070

4. Courthouse Vampire Bride (ha ha)

Lela Rose Wrap-effect cotton-crepe dress, $995
Amazon.com: G by GUESS Lace Tights: Clothing, $11
Boulima Exclusive d'Orsay, $995
Black Harem Earrings, 108 EUR
La Reine - Party Head Band, 96 GBP

5. Funky Garden Bride

Brian Atwood Wagner lace peep-toe pumps, $550
Long Faceted Amber Earrings in Rose Gold, $2,680
Lanvin Ostrich feather-trimmed veil, $860
Women's White Flowered Lace Gloves, $75
Vivienne Westwood Gold Label Fiona Tiered Organza Rose-Print Dress

Long Shot

2011-01-26T11:04:00.000-08:00

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.

Groom Gives Rad Gift to Bride

2011-01-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

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!

When the cat's away...

2011-01-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

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?

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

2011-01-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

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!

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

2011-01-13T06:17:00.000-08:00

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!

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

2011-01-12T06:20:00.000-08:00

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 ;)

Bride Tide's Top in 2011

2011-01-11T18:01:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-11T08:20:00.000-08:00

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.

Ring Shots

2011-01-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

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

*Photos by Nicole Polk Photography

The DIY Details: The Tables

2011-01-05T05:51:00.000-08:00

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

Bowie Bride's Honeymoon "Essentials": Winter Edition

2011-01-04T06:21:00.000-08:00

Clockwise from left:

A Redemption Honeymoon

2011-01-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

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?

The DIY Details: Bouts, Bouquets & the Toss

2010-12-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

Our bouquets and bouts were a personal labour of love for me. I decided from the very beginning that we were going to make them by hand using everything but real flowers. The bouquets in particular went through many evolutions, as described in my weekly post on Broke-Ass Bride. The bouts I made, on the other hand, were a snap. I got them done on the first try. Check out their hotness:

Lace, foam flower, dried baby flowers, velvet ribbon, flower wire and paint.

I paid special attention to Mike's butt, errm, bout. While crafting it, I mean.

I also made bouts for our fathers.

Mike's dad. Sportin' my DIY bout.

I used feathers instead of big foam roses on the dads' bouts.


My Popilo (dad) (lol). Sportin' my bout.

Here's a few more shots of the bouts:

Dave and Felix. Ladies, they are both single. Dave is Canadian. Felix is Burmese. (I think). Both live in Southern California. Email me at bowiebride@gmail.com for inquiries.

The bouquets were an intense project. I spent countless hours on them. They were the most difficult DIY project I took on. Which is funny, considering I the bouquets were the first thing I decided to DIY. Fortunately, they turned out great.

Awwww, I see tears! To be fair, I cried at Laura's wedding. And I'm sure I'll bawl my ass off at Titfield's. I'm a big crier at weddings.

My sister's bouquet.


I love the bouquets in this shot. They are so vibrant. Like the smiles on Team Zissou's faces.


Subway bouquets!

CATZ!

Once the ladies (and gentlemen) were done carrying them, we used them for decor:

This one has a giant red lion jumping through the fake flower part of the bouquet. I'm weird. I know.

One of the many art pieces our venue had in-house. This one makes me laugh because it reads, "Bumps Ahead." Ironic for a wedding, no?

I had no real set plans for the bouquet toss. Basically after we did the first dances, I grabbed a random bouquet from one of the tables, then screamed this to the crowd: "Ok I'm gonna toss this thing! Anyone can catch it! Not just chicks! Who wants it?!" Everyone screamed, and I tossed that sucker hard.


The toss!

All the ladies were up front ready to catch the bouquet... but one man would steal the prize and the glory from them all...

I could not have asked for a more perfect person to catch the bouquet at my wedding. His name is Berger, and we used to work together. He's awesome. And has an even more awesome girlfriend. So... we should be pressuring her to pop the question, right?

*All photos by Nicole Polk Photography

Shoe Shots

2010-12-13T09:42:00.000-08:00

Remember my endless posts asking you all to help me choose the perfect wedding shoes? Thank you for bearing with me on that, by the way. I couldn't have been happier with the Pour La Victoire shoes I ended up with. Gaze at their beauty...

*All photos by Nicole Polk Photography

Lil Wayne First Dance: Moonlight and Candles and Shit

2010-12-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: THIS POST IS NOT SARCASM. I FUCKING LOVE LIL WAYNE AND THIS SONG.

Listen to this song by Lil Wayne right now:

I dare you... DOUBLE DAWG DARE YOU to play this song at your wedding... or better yet, dance to it for your first dance! You would be my hero. Forreeals.

Nothing says, "I love you" more than these lyrics:

Smoke a lot of weed but I could never forget ya
Then I told her to her face,
If everyone was like you the World would be a better place

Am I right? But my favorite part of this song goes to the chorus:

God Damn, you the shit.
And I'll rip my heart out and hand you the shit.
And I don't really know how to handle this shit,
but tonight it's moonlight and candles and shit

What person doesn't want to share moonlight and candles and shit with the one they love?!?!

And then there's this part. It cracks.my.shit.up. Oh, Lil Wayne, you are a rap genius.

See you with your girls, they probably telling that he ain't right.

Bet they be the same bitches at the wedding throwing rice

So who's got the balls to dance to this song?

The Epic Processional!

2010-12-09T08:12:00.000-08:00

After we lined up, my little sister Cassidy got into position... meaning she picked up her axe and got ready to jam to some Bowie, 'cause girl was playing our processional song: Soul Love by David Bowie. Cass named her axe "Steg". No reason other than the fact that it sounds badass.

Cass in action:

Here's the song just in case you want to relive the processional as it was...

I love her badass ring...

Then the parents and fam started to walk out. Grandma Grace and Uncle Larry:

Mike's Mom and Dad:

My Mom and Dad:

Then Felix and Steve walked out... arm in arm... it was beautiful... Steve (in the suspenders) was looking at his wife sitting in the crowd while he was walking with Felix, no doubt sharing a laugh:

Then the Flower Boys came out... I had made them an actual flower basket that said, "The Flower Boys" on it, but I forgot it at the hotel. Sadface. BUT! Jon and Chris picked some random flowers from the tables and threw those instead. It was impromptu perfection.

Chris can't help but laugh:

See the flowers! Wheeeeeeee!

Then Alexis and Dave made their way down the aisle.

Then Titfield and Joe walked out.

Then our favorite married couple walked out... Steve and Laura.

Then our best friends Andrea and Adrian walked out.

A + A are big pimpin in this pic:

Then all that was left was Me, my sister Kim, Mike and his sister Amanda... Cass kept jamming on the guitar...

And I took my last deep breaths.

Then it was time for Mike and his sister Amanda to walk out.

Then I took some more last minute deep breaths. Kim was able to calm me, which was awesome...

Amanda and Mike continued to walk...

Then it was finally our turn!

I was so nervous!

But once we were in the light, all the nerves melted away...

It was time to get married... like, finally!

Then Mike and I took each other's hands...see the smile on my face... I was so excited!

Next up: my absolute favorite part of the day... the ceremony! I'm going to share the vows with you all, so get those tissues ready...

*All photos by Nicole Polk Photography

The Calm Before the Processional

2010-12-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

After portraits, we barely had any time at all til the ceremony was supposed to begin. Guests started to trickle in...

I would have liked to have a little more chill time, i.e. time to get at least one full drink in me before I walked out, but alas, the guests were waiting, and it was time to get married.

Everyone had made their way to their seats... with red keg cups full of booze of course. I love the way the beer bottle chandeliers look in the daylight. They look like flying spider things. Or something...

We did get a little time to sit and relax. This was my personal reflection time.

I was very nervous as you can see... I feel my heartbeat when this happens...

But Mike stopped by and made it all better... as always :)

And of course my momma stopped by to make sure her baby was ok too.

Our officiant was about ready to get things going...

So we started to line up... eeeeeeek!!

Next up: the actual processional! I cannot wait to share the details on this one... we did things a lil differently... you'll see!

*All photos by Nicole Polk Photography

PSA: Leanne Marshall's Online Shop is Live!

2010-12-07T18:01:00.000-08:00

OMG I love Leanne Marshall. Holy crap. I was *this* close to purchasing a wedding gown from her collection. This one to be exact:

I loved her work on Project Runway, and like every other bride in America I coveted the wedding gown she made on the show. Remember it?

Gah! I love it. Leanne just announced on her blog that her online shop is now open, so I urge you to go check out the gorgeous gowns she has for sale. I would wear every single one! She has one called the "Betty White". Too funny. AND she's having a sale that lasts the rest of today and ends tomorrow night, so get your asses over there!

Our Wedding in Print!

2010-12-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

Thanks to uber fab Rock n Roll Bride, we get to see our faces in print! This shit is bananas, yo! Rock n Roll Bride writes a monthly article for Photo Pro Magazine called "Best of Blogs." Kat asked us and our photog Nicole Polk if we'd like to be her subjects, as she was focusing her newest article on engaged couples winning their wedding photography through a blog contest. Remember way back when I announced that we won Nicole's contest? Well, now you can read all about it... in a friggin magazine! So rad. A huge thanks to Kat of Rock n Roll Bride, and to our photog Nicole Polk for submitting such gorgeous images to the mag.

Portraits & Pimping Out Team Zissou

2010-12-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

I present to you our wedding party, Team Zissou...

Don't they look fly? From the very beginning, I knew I wanted the wedding party to choose their own outfits. I tried desperately to coordinate as best I could with everyone being on opposite ends of the country n all. There was definitely some worry over finding the perfect dress... not on my end; it was the ladies that had trouble finding dresses. I gave them free reign, so I think a lot of second guessing came into play. But that was the only downside to letting everyone pick their own outfit. I think everyone was able to find dresses and pieces that they would definitely wear again. Well, I'm hoping at least. I would wear their dresses again. I love the pops of bright green, purple and blue against the pale pinks, blacks, and beiges. Everyone looked so damn good. I was very proud. Look at the shot below... Mike is giving the thumbs up. "We got everyone dressed and to the venue! Holy Shit!"

The ladies took their shots first. Personally, I think this photo is really striking. The girls are standing perfectly. Everyone is smiling and holding their bouquets all cool-like n shit. And aren't the dresses they picked gorgeous? The mash-up of colors came together wonderfully. My dreams of having a mismatched wedding party came true! Who knew purple, green, black, gray and pink would look so good together! Fellow brides, I highly recommend allowing your ladies to choose their own dress. Give them a color palette, or some kind of direction, and let them find something that will flatter their own body. They will thank you in the end. Just don't be surprised if you get some panicked emails from your maids making sure you, the bride, like their picks.

I got to take individual pictures with each of the ladies.

Then the boys took their turn.

Then Mike and I rocked a few more pics.

Some candids taken during the portrait session...

Don't you just love Laura's fishtail side braid with feather fascinator accent?!?! I friggin loved it.

Then our fams got into the mix. The Hess/Stromwalls:

The Hilgers's:

Then the whole Hilgers/Hess/Stromwall/Hollenbrau too-many-last-names-family got together for one big shot...

And then.. the guest started to arrive! Up next on the blog! Holy crap!

*All photos by Nicole Polk Photography