"How to plan a wedding from afar: part 2"… GO!!! Here are even more tips and tricks to planning a wedding from a location far far away (and not freaking out in the process)! If you missed it last week, here's Part 1!

3) Venue!
Your venue should be among the first things you consider. Planning our Texas wedding from Seattle definitely had it's challenges venue-wise. I had to be dogged about internet research and on the ball with my organizational tools (see "Tools!" section) in order to keep my sanity. I did have to fly to Texas for the venue search, but before I left I scoured the Internet, contacted venues (including rock clubs, outdoor gardens, parks, theatres, sports stadiums, museums, private farms etc.) and started a spreadsheet with possible options broken down into categories.

Because I was only going to be viewing the venues once before choosing the right one, it was imperative to start a list of questions about each venue: capacity, rehearsal times, cleanup rules, parking situation, decorating stipulations, extra costs, kitchen availability…

Continue reading "How to plan a wedding from afar: part 2 (by Shrie)" →

I'm by no means a wedding planner. I had never even planned a large event before I got engaged… but in planning our wedding from over 2,000 miles away I found that there ain't jack shit for resources on this topic.

So here it is, "Shrie's Humble Guide to Planning A Wedding from Afar: Or How to Get Hitched Without Pulling Your Hair Out." I hope my teeny tidbits of advice will help at least one crazed, "I don't know where to start!" bride-to-be looking for a little relief.

Getting married and putting the whole shebang together can be awesome fun. Getting married and putting the whole shebang together at a location 2,100 miles away from where you live can be awesome fun AND a little stressful. Lucky for you, I've been through all that and will graciously divulge all my time-saving, stress-free secrets…

Continue reading "How to plan a wedding from afar: part I (by Shrie)" →

The offbeat bride: Naomi Graham-Hormozi – Manager/Researcher/Kimono Addict/Textile Artist

Her offbeat partner: Arian Hormozi

Location & date of wedding: Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, California on September 26th, 2008

What made our wedding offbeat: Our wedding was very private and serene. We are both big no-fuss people, and the thought of a large wedding just didn't appeal. It also didn't help we had many couples just married telling us NOT to have a large wedding as they were nothing but stressed during theirs!

Continue reading "Naomi & Arian's Serene and Personal Japanese Garden Wedding" →

The offbeat bride: Gina Lee, Dress Designer/Maker & Illustrator

Her offbeat partner: Wayne, Residential Caretaker & Landscape Gardener

Location & date of wedding: Southwark Registry Office (ceremony) & Le Piaf (reception) on September 5th, 2008 in London, England

What made our wedding offbeat: The one single thing that really made our wedding offbeat (aside from the bride and groom) was the guests. We were very particular about who we invited. We only invited people who we were very fond of and who primarily (regardless of how they look) think outside of the box.

Continue reading "Gina Lee & Wayne's 1950s London Love-Fest Wedding" →

Here's a really neat venue option… a theater! Lots of stage space, seating and a funky atmosphere to boot! Take a look at some other offbeat venues like cave weddings or movie theater weddings or even zoo weddings!

The offbeat bride: Julee, Theatre Education Director

Her offbeat partner: Ross, Actor/Director/Playwright

Location & date of wedding: Nashville Children's Theatre in Nashville, TN on May 17, 2008

What made our wedding offbeat: We made a conscious effort for our wedding to be simple, DIY and to rebel against the industry.

Continue reading "Julee & Ross' Casual Quirky Children's Theatre Wedding" →