Delinquent Bridal Blogger - Bridal Edict Part 1

Hello, my name is City Bride and I'm officially a delinquent bridal blogger.

I know I have been absent for some time, but I promise to update you on what I've been up to during my hiatus. Part of this time has been spent navigating the highly-charged, emotion-filled last-minute details - getting people to actually say yes or no, figuring out where to sit everyone, convincing my planner that I really can't wake up before prior to the double-digit morning hours.

In this time I've discovered that every person's concept of what is and is not acceptable when considering a wedding (or anything) is completely different, and is almost always completely different from yours.

Here are some misconceptions that I've observed in preparing for my own wedding and from participating behind the scenes in a number of others. I call this my bridal edict or City Bride's 9 Theses:

A Wedding Is Not a Family Reunion
While I am sure it would be nice to see Cousin Pookie after all these years, a wedding is not the place for this reunion because (1) if you haven't seen Pookie since your family's Cosby Show finale party you won't really miss him at this event and (2) you won't be able to pick Pookie out of the crowd, let alone have any time to catch up on what's been going on in your lives. You're probably more up to date on Rudy and Theo, and should wait until a more opportune time to reconnect

A Wedding Is Not a Class Reunion
Just like the case of Cousin Pookie, you won't miss your 6th grade violin teacher Ms. Fuller or your 11th grade biology lab partner if you haven't been in contact all this time. Again, this day is meant for people that have been and will continue to be instrumental in your lives - not people that would be "nice to see." Catch up with Ms. Fuller and your lab partner over coffee next time you have some free time.

A Wedding Is Not a Prom
I was never one that assumed I could bring a date to a house party or BBQ (see below) out of consideration for the host - call me crazy. Why people assume they can bring their latest fling to your WEDDING is really beyond me. Clearly, spouses, fiances and long-term / established relationships are an exception. But if you are single leading up to someone else's big day, please don't confuse the wedding invitation as a challenge for you to find a date - any date - by the time the event rolls around. And if you do genuinely find a special someone after you get your invite, check in with the bride and groom and see if it's okay if they tag along.

A Wedding Is Not a BBQ
Now, before I continue let me be clear: there is nothing wrong with a BBQ or a wedding that is a BBQ. I only mean that no, you can't just pop up at your leisure with whomever you please whenever you please like you might in the case of the July 4th BBQ when you are dealing with someone's wedding.

You know how it can be on those summer holiday weekends - Oh, I have three different BBQ's to get to. I'll just get to Stacy's an hour or so late since I have to go to the other two, pick up my dry cleaning and stop by the mall. This sort of casual approach may be okay for an unchoreographed, free flowing event. A wedding is not that event. Again, even a casual, BBQ wedding is orchestrated with lots of thought and care - you can't just show up willy-nilly, an hour late. Either come and enjoy the day with the bride or send your regrets.

Stay tuned for more...

DIY Weekend

This weekend my mom, aunt and cousins came up for a visit to find a mother of the bride dress, bridesmaid shoes for my little cousin and to CRAFT ourselves silly. Mission accomplished on all fronts!



I thought I'd share some of the DIY crafts we completed so far:

Here are our out-of-town guest bags for guests staying in one of our hotels

The pomanders turned out so nice! These little ones will be part of our altar decorations.

These larger flower pomanders will decorate our pews.

Headbands for our flower girls - that's my knee not a bald head like my mom thought in the photo.

Flower girl headband propped on a Kleenex box.

Not only did my family get all of this done, they took more stuff with them. I have the best family in the world and I'm so glad they are going to be a part of our special day.

Wedding Wednesday - Coming to America

Does this really need an explanation?

I guess this is sorta cheating because it's not really a wedding, but this is the part of Coming to America when Eddie Murphy's Prince Akeem first meets his bride (Vanessa Bell Calloway). Who among us has not belted out She's Your Queen to Be?



We all know he eventually marries his true love, Lisa McDowell, in spite of his adventures in Queens, their parents and the rats. If you didn't already know that, shame on you.

Invitations Update

Those invite reply cards are trickling in!!! Thanks, everyone!

People are even using our website - how 'bout that? Keep up the good work.

Invitations - Check!

Invitation by Bella Figura

We finally got our invites out the door!

These invites have so many parts - maps, travel info, reply cards - and they are tied together with pale aqua belly bands.

Belly Band - a thin paper strip that holds all of the invitation components together. This is another term I didn't know before this wedding.

Our wedding colors were solidified after I saw the invitation set by Bella Figure pictured above. It is printed in letter pressed red ink and wrapped with a bright aqua band. I loved it, but I didn't love the price.

Our invites - pardon the weird lighting, but you get the idea.

Many thanks to Reaves Engraving in Laurinburg, NC (featured in every bride's must-have book Bridal Bargains and close to my hometown) for the amazing and FAST job.

Wedding Wednesday - Muppets Take Manhattan

FI's favorite wedding scene is from The Muppets Take Manhattan. Before you judge (and I judged at first), hear him out:

It's an emotional rollercoaster for a little kid. They all go their separate ways and then when they all come back together, Kermit has amnesia. Then at the wedding Kermit remembers - well, Miss Piggy beat it into him - and everything worked out.

"Somebody's getting maaaaaarried!"

"Because you share a love so big, I now pronounce you frog and pig."

If you don't know what this means, check the clips below.

And right now, FI is giggling because he's so tickled with that scene. This is one of the many, many reasons I love him so. He's so not too cool for school. Or the Muppets.

DIY – Paper Pomanders

First Photo: oncewed.com, Laurie Canotto

Second and Third Photo: vintageglamblog.com, Amanda

FI and I have been affected by the economy like so many others – we got notice that his work term will end in November after 8 years on his job. We still have a wedding budget and are doing better than many others, but we’re looking for ways to cut dollars.

Our plan is to cut our wedding spending overall to make sure we still have funds after the ceremony. One idea is for me – crafty me – to handle the ceremony décor. And since I’m allergic to everything, including flowers, I’m looking at making some version of a paper / ribbon pomander to hang on the pews.

What’s a pomander? A flower ball. Don’t worry, I didn’t know what that was before this wedding.

Tell me what you think?