OBT member Cassie has written a great advice post that I thought I'd share with the masses.

I've been an old married lady for just under a week now, and I thought I'd offer some handy-dandy advice for those of you still gearing up to walk down the aisle! So without further adieu, here are my top 10 pieces of advice for brides to be:

10. For the love of God, don't leave everything to the last minute. Just don't!
I am a huge procrastinator, but I regret leaving so much to the last minute. Granted, there are some things you just can't do in advance, like frosting the cake, etc. However, there were plenty of things I could have done in advance but didn't. I was up until nearly 2am doing last-minute wedding things when I should have been in bed. Trust me, when you get down to the wire, you will want to hanging out with your out-of-town guests and not putting the finishing touches on your wedding programs.

Photo by Sarah Maren.

9. Eat something. And not just on the wedding day.
The old "make sure you eat something!" advice is pretty tried and true for brides. But, in my experience, this is super important for the days leading up to the wedding, as well. A few days before my wedding, I was so nervous and excited that I lost my appetite completely. And I am a chick who ALWAYS has a big appetite. So have a plan, keep some easy-to-prepare meals at home, enlist friends or your FH to ensure you've had something to eat, or do whatever it takes to make sure you don't go without.

Continue reading "My Top 10 Wedding Lessons, by Cassie" →

The Offbeat Bride: Ilze, Social Worker (and OBT member "ilize")

Her Offbeat Partner: Tycho, Computer Nerd

Location & date of wedding: Ceremony at the city counsel and reception in a Pub in Vlaardingen and party at a campingfarm in Geldrop, Netherlands — 22th of August 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: We always wanted a wedding party at a camping farm, where every guest could stay overnight in big bedrooms and tents. So that was the first thing we've planned. The ceremony was normal, except for the part where Tycho got the black rings out of his pocket.

Continue reading "Ilze & Tycho's from City Council to Camping Farm Wedding in the Netherlands" →

You know Turtle Love Committee from our past introductions. We LURVE that they specialize in affordable and eco-friendly non-diamond engagement rings and wedding bands. But now there’s even more reason to lurve them… TLC now has a whole slew of really unique necklaces and earrings. We'll be featuring our favesies from their new jewelry lines that would make perfect (and AFFORDABLE!) wedding party gifts.

Check these beautiful and moody silver lithograph pendants. Each piece is hand-inked and hand cranked on an antique printing press and then strung on super subtle gray cord. They're like cool tiny art pieces!

They also do double duty of conveying complicated sentiments without being cheese-tastic. Like, the house and the nest are perfect for celebrating, well, housing and nesting. My personal favorites, the bridge and the railroad tracks are a great way to symbolize the journey and connections that weddings have a crazy way of bringing about. And the adorable little girl on the swing just makes me smile all goofy-like.

Head over to Turtle Love Committee get your own goofy-like smile going.

The offbeat bride: De Anne, Artist and Data Analyst (and OBT member "Deanderthal")

Her offbeat partner: Warren, Video Game Tech Support

Location & date of wedding: Grandma's house, Mt. Bonnell, Austin Texas — 9/18/2009

What made our wedding offbeat: We decided that good food, photography and celebrating with our loved ones were more important that any tradition. So we had a big party that at which we just happened to get married.

There was no aisle, no ceremony seating, friends rang a gong to signal that Things Were Happening for five minutes, then it was back to the par-tay.

Continue reading "De Anne & Warren's "The Hitchening: The Party with a Wedding Inside!"" →

The Offbeat Bride: Jen, Graphic Designer (and OBT member "Jensensi")

Her Offbeat Partner: Brynley, Musician

Location & date of wedding: The Country Cottage, Nottingham, UK — 27-06-09

What made this wedding offbeat: We decided from the get-go that we wanted it to be as cheap as possible without compromising too much on a nice venue. We didn’t want a church and I have a huge dislike for registry offices, so that left us with stately homes and hotels.

Continue reading "Jen & Brynley's red & white, 50's inspired wedding" →