tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59283187558047413382024-03-16T02:17:58.671-07:00Wedded Bliss or BustFrom "Yes, Please" to "I Do!"Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-20800962952008793472015-01-30T16:03:00.001-08:002015-01-30T16:03:24.640-08:00Stuck on You: Wedding Budget<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The title of this post is a misnomer. The Pin Cushions didn't actual budget for our wedding.</div>
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That's not to say we were throwing money around willy nilly. We tried to keep costs down and had a general "around $20 thousand" goal, but we did not budget out every item from the get go. I admire couples who sit down with a notebook, or a google doc, and chart out what they think each purchase will cost, plan accordingly, and change their future habits based on past purchases. Truly, truly impressive. </div>
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We couldn't do that. 1) We've never been budgeters. I think my "being cheap" gene has helped me to not need to budget too much (plus I'm lazy!). And 2) We had no idea about the cost of ANYTHING related to a wedding, so trying to guess numbers would have been fairly pointless. </div>
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So, we had a general goal of $20,000 (when it's written out, it sure sounds like a whole lot of cash). We tried to make money conscious decisions but weren't ever sticklers about one item being 'over budget'. If something seemed too expensive, we didn't use it. Though Mr. Pin Cushion may be a scientist, we didn't go about the process too scientifically.</div>
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Enough with the gabbing, here is the Pin Cushion Wedding Cost Breakdown:</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0459/1072050985_Ytz2D-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0459/1072050985_Ytz2D-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 399px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 600px;" /></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0471/1071126277_Aa285-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0471/1071126277_Aa285-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0473/1071122319_ACc8R-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0473/1071122319_ACc8R-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Venue</span>: Radonich Ranch with coordination from <a href="http://www.vignetteevents.com/">Vignette Events</a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Cost: </span>$10,142.00<br />
Our venue included a whole slew of goodies. Not only did it include the site, but they provided food, non alcoholic beverages, rentals (tables, chairs, silverware etc), flowers for the ceremony site and the reception, plus the venue coordinator, Marky, was creative and great to work with.<br />
The venue fee was $3,000.<br />
Food cost per person was $72 ($36 for children and vendors)<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1558/1066130885_T2zFn-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1558/1066130885_T2zFn-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0118/1067672526_q2MNp-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Photography</span>: <a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">The Weaver House</a> (Formerly Steep Street Photography)<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Cost</span>: $4,114.80 (includes travel fees from Portland to San Francisco and tip)<br />
We had our photographer, Kelty, and her second shooter, for the entire day. We received more than 800 edited photos. She sent us all of our images on CDs, plus we have full access and rights to our photos.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1319/1065018507_ZFb4f-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1319/1065018507_ZFb4f-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 200px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1899/1068037324_5CVsF-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1899/1068037324_5CVsF-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 200px; width: 299px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1142/1064881837_TdT4v-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1142/1064881837_TdT4v-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 399px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 600px;" /></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1188/1064892361_JJeqS-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1188/1064892361_JJeqS-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 399px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bride's Attire and Beauty</span>:</div>
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<b>Cost: $2307.35</b><br />
Wedding Dress: $1,698.35</div>
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<style>table { }td { padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Verdana; vertical-align: bottom; border: medium none; white-space: nowrap; }.xl24 { font-size: 12pt; font-family: "American Typewriter"; border: 0.5pt solid windowtext; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(153, 204, </style>Birdcage veil and hair flower: $70<br />
Alterations (including tip): $225<br />
Shoes: $154<br />
Hair and Makeup (including trial and tip): $160<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Groom's Attire</span> (no beautification necessary)</div>
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<b>Cost:</b> $245<br />
3 Piece Suit from Express Men: $215<br />
Custom made Gingham Tie: $30</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1742/1068738523_V6kdS-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1742/1068738523_V6kdS-L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 600px; width: 399px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Cookie Table</span></div>
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<b>Cost: </b>$116.22<br />
Cookie Jars from Crate and Barrel: $53.80<br />
Table Runner (Ikea fabric): $15.98<br />
Glass Milk Bottles (Ikea): $11.97<br />
Red and White Napkins: $4.47<br />
Ingredients (a guesstimate since I did not keep receipts or keep track of ingredient cost): $30</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0061/1071811505_pUdiu-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0061/1071811505_pUdiu-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Band</span>: Full Tilt Band</div>
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<b>Cost: </b>$2000.00 (including tips)</div>
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4 man band (well, 3 men and 1 woman<b>). </b>They played for 3 hours during our dinner and for boogeying down. The singer also did the announcements (of us as a couple, time for cake etc)<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0270/1068624528_D9Li4-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0270/1068624528_D9Li4-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Reception Tables</span>:<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Cost: </span>$187.21<br />
Table Numbers (stands, paper and ric rac): $50.69<br />
Green Burlap Runners: $56.62<br />
Striped Napkins (made from Ikea fabric): $79.90</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1408/1065184659_MPRbC-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1408/1065184659_MPRbC-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1361/1065071770_4TUca-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1361/1065071770_4TUca-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Flowers</span>: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.linafloral.com">Lina Floral</a></div>
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<b>Cost</b>: $539.00<br />
As I mentioned, our venue coordinator did the flowers for our ceremony and reception, so we just needed the flowers for "our people"<br />
Bridal Bouquet: $95<br />
6 Bridesmaid Bouquets: $270<br />
7 Boutonnieres: $84<br />
6 Wristlets (instead of pinned corsages): $90</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1611/1065087890_kpC4H-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1611/1065087890_kpC4H-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Rings</span></div>
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<b>Cost: </b>$59.94 (does not include my engagement ring)<br />
Groom's Ring (includes shipping): $59.94<br />
Bride's Ring: none. I ended up not finding a ring that I liked enough to fit with my engagement ring, so I took off my ring before the ceremony and he gave it back when we exchanged rings.</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1744/1068746461_MKdrc-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1744/1068746461_MKdrc-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Fauxto Booth</span>: DIYed</div>
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<b>Cost</b>: $24.97<br />
Fabic and PVC Pipe: $19.98<br />
Props (chalkboard, fake flowers, handmade mustaches): $4.99</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1527/1065529192_peeUD-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1527/1065529192_peeUD-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1626/1068658983_EqJ6z-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1626/1068658983_EqJ6z-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1733/1068722999_FXdLW-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1733/1068722999_FXdLW-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Miscellaneous Costs</span> (including things that were too cute not to buy):<br />
<b>Cost: </b>$220.58<br />
Stripey Straws: $10.25<br />
Ikea Frames (to hold instructions for guestbook, fauxtobooth): $7.98<br />
Croquet Set and Picnic Basket (Craigslist): $40<br />
Ribbon (used for a whole slew of things): $53.75<br />
HUGE balloons for photoshoot: $36.95<br />
Ribbon Wands (DIYed) and tin holder: $22.95</div>
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Assorted fabrics and baker's twine: $48.70</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0258/1068896681_uvgQL-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0258/1068896681_uvgQL-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 399px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 600px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span>: The Buttery<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Cost</span>: $400<br />
This was for the simple, 3 tiered cake. It did not include delivery, which ended up being more than a bit of a headache on the day of (it was questionable whether my parents, who were picking up the cake [one of which was the officiant]) were going to make it in time for the wedding).</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1819/1068860014_9LQ7Q-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1819/1068860014_9LQ7Q-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 200px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1795/1068839990_YfWJP-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1795/1068839990_YfWJP-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 200px; width: 299px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Guestbook</span>: Components all bought at PaperSource</div>
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<b>Cost</b>: $94.05<br />
Envelopes and cards: $54.10<br />
Blank scrapbook: $39.95</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1714/1068693496_iSuo3-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1714/1068693496_iSuo3-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1724/1068713156_gnFHm-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1724/1068713156_gnFHm-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Favors</span>: </div>
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<b>Cost</b>: $30</div>
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60 strawberry plants (we had some casualties). We also used leftover twine and fabric from other projects.</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1694/1068662637_GJtxy-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1694/1068662637_GJtxy-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Paper Products</span>: All DIYed</div>
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<b>Cost</b>: $327.53<br />
Save the Dates (envelopes, paper, Moo cards): $88.65<br />
Invitations (envelopes, paper, printing, cutting): $93.90<br />
Thank You Cards (fabric, envelopes, cards, stamp and ink pad): $42.18<br />
Postage for everything: $102.80</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1757/1068783299_8CFyE-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1757/1068783299_8CFyE-L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 600px; width: 399px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Alcoholic Beverages</span>: Bought at Costco</div>
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<b>Cost: </b>$1095.00<br />
Hard alcohol was not allowed at our venue, so we just provided beer and wine.<br />
White Wine (3 cases, $16 a bottle): $567.00<br />
Red Wine (2 cases, $11 a bottle): $264.00<br />
Beer (3 cases Stella Artois and 4 cases Fat Tire): $154.00<br />
Champagne (10 bottles, about $11 each): $110</div>
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<b>Total cost: $21,985.78</b><br />
<b>$21,658.65</b></div>
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Are you and your partner stringent about budgeting? Do you have a strict budget, or are you looser with your purchases? Also, feel free to ask me any questions about the Pin Cushion Budget. </div>
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<i>All photos by the aforementioned and fabulous </i><a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">The Weaver House</a> </div>
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Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-74509264891461863042015-01-30T15:45:00.000-08:002015-01-30T15:45:56.249-08:00Stuck on You: The End of the Night<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0465-1/1072045292_k86hB-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0465-1/1072045292_k86hB-M.jpg" style="height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Before we realized it, the end of our wedding day had arrived. We had an early start to our wedding (3pm) and the party ended at 9pm. While we were planning, I was super concerned that it would feel as though we were shutting the fun down early. But on the actual day, I was so exhausted, mentally, emotionally and physically, I can't imagine wanting to keep partying. I was more than ready to hit the hay come nine o'clock. </div>
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We gathered everyone and took one huge guest photo. </div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0477-1/1072759509_ccWfR-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0477-1/1072759509_ccWfR-M.jpg" style="height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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And then we made our getaway to a nearby hotel in my pom-pom'ed out Honda Civic.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2614/1073066342_GUbBT-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2614/1073066342_GUbBT-M.jpg" style="height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2615/1073063311_BYYDz-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2615/1073063311_BYYDz-L.jpg" style="height: 600px; width: 399px;" /></a></div>
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Are you planning an all-night rager for your wedding? Or are you going to have a reasonable bedtime after your I Dos? I would have fallen asleep on the dance floor if we had tried to party any longer!<br />
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<i>All photos by </i><i>the fabulous <a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">Weaver House</a> </i><br />
<br />
<strong>Pin Cushion Flashback:</strong><br />
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/">wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/">hold balloons</a>.<br />
The cermony site <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/02/ceremony-set-up-programs/">gets pimped out</a>. I have an <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/07/bride-walks-down-aisle/">emotional breakdown</a> before walking down the aisle. The Pin Cushions get married. We're happy at happy hour. We have an unconventional guest book and give guests strawberry plant favors. We strand our guests without a table. Speech, Speech! Our guests enjoy cookies and wedding cake. Everyone busts a move on the dance floor. And busts a gut laughing. </div>
Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-31309506860066138732015-01-30T15:37:00.003-08:002015-01-30T15:37:55.419-08:00Stuck on You: Laughing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If our wedding photos had a theme, I think it would be laughing. Which ain't too shabby if you ask me. We got some awesome eyes-closed, mouth-wide-open, leaning-over, cover-your-mouth laughing photos. <br />
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Everyone got involved:<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC03831/1069678378_b5WUm-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC03831/1069678378_b5WUm-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0709/1069753412_8fEGC-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0709/1069753412_8fEGC-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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Fab sisters in laws</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2039/1068299888_MqVyU-M-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2039/1068299888_MqVyU-M-1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Our officiant (my dad)</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1889/1068071373_EQsPY-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
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The groom and his groupies</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0380/1069442164_eZVLo-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0380/1069442164_eZVLo-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Pin Cushion Aunt</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0173/1071891601_KTLY7-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0173/1071891601_KTLY7-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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My cousin Kaitlyn (that is a real good laugh there!)</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1540/1066108958_9ipkK-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1540/1066108958_9ipkK-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Friends being dorks</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0431/1072028786_PhWMi-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
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Mr. Pin Cushion's Grandma</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0704/1071475541_nEpSX-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0704/1071475541_nEpSX-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: nnnpx; width: 299px;" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0656/1071432328_cYA73-S.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: nnnpx; width: 299px;" /><br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0690/1071451008_PEFn6-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0690/1071451008_PEFn6-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Laughing while sitting at tables</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2249/1069808087_b8vgX-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2249/1069808087_b8vgX-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Laughing while catching up</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0625/1071380857_VRTns-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
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Full on clapping to emphasize the funniness laughing!</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0301/1069377186_PjAiA-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0301/1069377186_PjAiA-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0451/1069769380_npkvP-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0451/1069769380_npkvP-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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My grandma and I </div>
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(Good thing I didn't strain any neck muscles from laughing on my wedding day, which it looks like I'm at risk of doing in that photo)</div>
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If you could fill your wedding day with one thing, what would you choose? Love? Laughter? Chocolate? Sunshine? Family? <br />
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<i>All photos by </i><i>the fabulous <a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">Weaver House</a> </i><br />
<br />
<strong>Pin Cushion Flashback:</strong><br />
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/">wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/">hold balloons</a>.<br />
The cermony site <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/02/ceremony-set-up-programs/">gets pimped out</a>. I have an <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/07/bride-walks-down-aisle/">emotional breakdown</a> before walking down the aisle. The Pin Cushions get married. We're happy at happy hour. We have an unconventional guest book and give guests strawberry plant favors. We strand our guests without a table. Speech, Speech! Our guests enjoy cookies and wedding cake. Everyone busts a move on the dance floor. </div>
</div>
Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-74466026901041239452015-01-30T15:35:00.001-08:002015-01-30T15:35:45.699-08:00Stuck on You: Dance the Night Away<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I applaud couples who are organized enough to start dance lessons months before the wedding. The Pin Cushions were not nearly this with-it. In fact, not only did we not take any dance lessons, we 1) didn't even rehearse once, 2) didn't pick our first dance song until a few days before the wedding.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0739/1072213251_Y5pGP-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0739/1072213251_Y5pGP-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
Perhaps that lack of preparation led to us looking a bit bewildered on the dance floor.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0758/1072914671_4QCWU-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0758/1072914671_4QCWU-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0748/1072205958_zxv2E-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0748/1072205958_zxv2E-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a><br />
But once the band started playing the song we (finally) picked ("I Got You, Babe" by Sonny and Cher), we started to get in the groove.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2359/1072914153_QmMsz-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2359/1072914153_QmMsz-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
And before long, we were having a rip roaring good time.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2377/1072912150_bzTTf-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2377/1072912150_bzTTf-L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 600px; width: 399px;" /></a></div>
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Mr. PC wowed everyone (including me) at the end of the song with a very suave dip-and-kiss move.<br />
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The father-daughter dance was next, and I was scared my dad and I would become a blubbering mess together. But I needn't have worried! My dad brought the dance moves (the spin, the pseudo-dip, the arms over your head, the promenade [are you impressed with my made up dance move names?]), leaving us no time for tears!</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2406/1072916742_isxy2-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2406/1072916742_isxy2-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0013/1071808193_3pVou-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0013/1071808193_3pVou-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0021/1071835248_CgbSd-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0021/1071835248_CgbSd-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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In the span of about 3 minutes, my dad managed to spin me 28 times. That is an impressive statistic. Watch the video to witness the spinning action. Also not to be missed in the video: me putting my heel through my hoop skirt and getting stuck, requiring assistance from my maid of honor. That can be spotted at 0:48 (the spinning needs no time stamp, as it's occurring every three seconds or so).</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GlNzs2kKdWE" width="560"></iframe></div>
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After the wild father-daughter dance, Mr. Pin Cushion slowed it down a bit with his mom. I think he was more nervous about dancing with his mom than he had been for our first dance song! His mom was a professional ballerina, so he knew if they stumbled, it could only be pinned on him (where as when he was dancing with me, I have the combo of: no rhythm and two left feet, so a fall could easily be blamed on me).<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0065/1071819235_Ni5bv-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0065/1071819235_Ni5bv-M.jpg" style="height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2450/1072962404_xQXHZ-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2450/1072962404_xQXHZ-L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 600px; width: 399px;" /></a></div>
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Despite the nerves, they danced fabulously to James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend".</div>
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At this point, the rest of our friends and family had a move. So they went on the dance floor to bust it!<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2528/1073004706_Hx9T4-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2528/1073004706_Hx9T4-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2468/1072944509_XWAJL-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2468/1072944509_XWAJL-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0162/1071900347_Lk3zj-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0162/1071900347_Lk3zj-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0115/1071846441_KiSJ8-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0115/1071846441_KiSJ8-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2533/1073033111_4mYHt-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2533/1073033111_4mYHt-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px;" /></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2587/1073020735_yRNfm-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2587/1073020735_yRNfm-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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We'd had concerns with having an early-ish wedding that it would still be light out and people wouldn't dance. And while some people didn't, I think those people wouldn't have wanted to dance no matter the circumstances.<br />
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Looking back, I think 2 things helped get people on the dance floor. 1) The bride and groom having a good time (which we did-trust me, I danced with <span style="font-style: italic;">everybody!</span>). And 2) A live band. Our band was a splurge for us (<a href="http://www.thefulltiltband.org/">The Full Tilt Band</a>- [they were reasonably priced, but anything is expensive compared to a free i-pod]), but I think the energy they brought to the wedding day was priceless!<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0221/1071906951_4u5H2-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0221/1071906951_4u5H2-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2542/1073011720_QTYce-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2542/1073011720_QTYce-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0127/1071848972_5dYKd-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0127/1071848972_5dYKd-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2569/1073077852_MBUws-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2569/1073077852_MBUws-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2517/1073056156_Ygd6H-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2517/1073056156_Ygd6H-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0104/1071824281_5Vmbc-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0104/1071824281_5Vmbc-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2490/1072927686_UC7v7-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2490/1072927686_UC7v7-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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We had such a great time, and probably lost a collective 20 pounds of sweat (it was so hot in the barn and people were really getting their groove on).</div>
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<i>All photos by </i><i>the fabulous <a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">Weaver House</a> </i><br />
<br />
<strong>Pin Cushion Flashback:</strong><br />
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/">wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/">hold balloons</a>.<br />
The cermony site <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/02/ceremony-set-up-programs/">gets pimped out</a>. I have an <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/07/bride-walks-down-aisle/">emotional breakdown</a> before walking down the aisle. The Pin Cushions get married. We're happy at happy hour. We have an unconventional guest book and give guests strawberry plant favors. We strand our guests without a table. Speech, Speech! Our guests enjoy cookies and wedding cake. </div>
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Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-2134450362814213702015-01-30T15:35:00.000-08:002015-01-30T15:35:22.324-08:00Stuck on You: Cake in the Face or Not to Cake in the Face<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0262/1068890726_YJ4t4-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0262/1068890726_YJ4t4-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Despite making a lot of <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/09/29/wedding-cake-hearts/" style="text-align: left;">crazy cakes</a> with Mr. Pin Cushion<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left;">, I wanted a not-too-crazy cake for our wedding. After gazing at hundreds of cakes online (why are cakes so beautiful?), I started digging the rustic buttercream look.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left;">At our cake tasting, the bakery consultant seemed perplexed by what I wanted. She bewilderedly asked, </span>"You mean, you don't want the icing to be smooth? You want it to look . . . messy?" Even the cake base befuddled her (which I wanted to just be white) How could I not want the base covered with their gold or silver foil?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIAIhYdWtjj3jmmzWuNZqk-YH8O9SFnMvrVDeLZvzeCjNak3vtu40KnVzG-Ydopmv-1LUU4CFIbwkw9oQR8twME_jbGwFoQwzeAedZcWNGw7XNh-TAtNGSW_9GoOdB3gk-X1aHTjwOLBr/s1600/_DSC0266.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIAIhYdWtjj3jmmzWuNZqk-YH8O9SFnMvrVDeLZvzeCjNak3vtu40KnVzG-Ydopmv-1LUU4CFIbwkw9oQR8twME_jbGwFoQwzeAedZcWNGw7XNh-TAtNGSW_9GoOdB3gk-X1aHTjwOLBr/s1600/_DSC0266.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545110993648827682" style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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After finally conveying the look we wanted, <a href="http://www.butterybakery.com/">The Buttery</a> made the cake while we did the rest. Literally. I made the heart cookies and affixed them to the cake and my parents picked the cake up and delivered it to the site on our wedding day. </div>
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That delivery part almost delayed our wedding. We found out after we ordered the cake that the bakery wouldn't deliver it to our site because it was too far. So my parents said, "Heck! No worries, we'll just swing by and get it before the ceremony."<br />
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But on the wedding day, when Mr. Pin Cushion and I are almost at the ceremony site, we get a call from the best man telling us my parents have yet to leave the house and he doesn't know them well enough to start bossing them around. So we have to call them and tell them to <i>get a move on</i>. It wouldn't be such an issue for our cake to be late, but 1) it was my parents and it was fairly important for them to be at the ceremony and 2) my dad was our officiant, so it was really important for <i>him </i>to be there.</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0268/1068889501_tWiqn-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0268/1068889501_tWiqn-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0256/1068902888_dTp8W-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0256/1068902888_dTp8W-M.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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Thankfully, my parents and the cake arrived minutes before we were scheduled to begin.<br />
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We had not discussed our strategy for cake cutting. But according to Mr. Pin Cushion, when we were being called over to cut the cake, I whispered in his ear, "We're not going to do the cake in the face thing, right?"</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0274/1071940665_drme9-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0274/1071940665_drme9-M.jpg" height="399" width="600" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0278/1071943423_6M5tX-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0278/1071943423_6M5tX-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0281/1071948895_uBb4B-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0281/1071948895_uBb4B-M.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a><br />
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But you can tell that despite this question, I'm already starting to look a little feisty when we're cutting our slice. Mr. Pin Cushion feeds his bite to me very sweetly. But he's looking at me with such a pleading look. It's as though his eyes are saying, "See, isn't it nice when we're civilized and don't put food in our loved one's face?"</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0290/1071945675_5V9wC-M.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0290/1071945675_5V9wC-M.jpg" style="height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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The photo above is the only evidence that I did not think it was so nice to be civilized. If you notice, my thumb is covered in icing. And that icing wound up on Mr. Pin Cushions face. </div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0312-1/1071960730_rGKsX-L.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0312-1/1071960730_rGKsX-L.jpg" style="height: 600px; width: 399px;" /></a></div>
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Whether on a plate or on a face, our cake was delicious. We had carrot cake (without the offending raisins or nuts) and chocolate cake. We didn't save the top tier for our anniversary because we ate every last crumb on our wedding day.</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0318/1071958065_BvnVz-M.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0318/1071958065_BvnVz-M.jpg" style="height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Are you planning on "caking" your new spouse in the face?</div>
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<i>All photos by </i><i>the fabulous <a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">Weaver House</a> </i><br />
<br />
<strong>Pin Cushion Flashback:</strong><br />
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/">wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/">hold balloons</a>.<br />
The cermony site <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/02/ceremony-set-up-programs/">gets pimped out</a>. I have an <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/07/bride-walks-down-aisle/">emotional breakdown</a> before walking down the aisle. The Pin Cushions get married. We're happy at happy hour. We have an unconventional guest book and give guests strawberry plant favors. We strand our guests without a table. Speech, Speech! Our guests enjoy cookies. </div>
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Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-17253510704237771132015-01-30T15:24:00.001-08:002015-01-30T15:24:31.563-08:00Stuck on You: Milk and Cookies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Pin Cushions are cookie freaks. Freaky for cookies. To satisfy our freakiness, we had a cookie table at our wedding. You guys (or WeddingBee peeps many years ago . . .) helped me pick the <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/23/wedding-desserts-cookies/#more-149048">cookie flavors</a>. </div>
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Our guests could choose between: chocolate chip cookies, brownies, Russian teacakes, Nutella blondies and chewy gingersnaps. </div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0728/1071506227_pMXjU-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0728/1071506227_pMXjU-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Some people chose to eat one (or more) of each option.</div>
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Sadly, I only have one photo of the entire table. I've looked through all of my professional photos, all of the photos sent to me from friends and family, and this is the only one that I can find. Which is a bummer, consider we spent a LOT of hours baking those cookies. But people definitely enjoyed them, and (I suppose) the point is not to have great photos, but to give people a good experience. </div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1742/1068738523_V6kdS-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1742/1068738523_V6kdS-L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 600px; width: 399px;" /></a></div>
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Now for some beauty shots of the treats. </div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1740/1068742489_7GeKn-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1740/1068742489_7GeKn-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0687/1068640634_PdRjA-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0687/1068640634_PdRjA-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 276px; width: 184px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0686/1068639373_bEqoL-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0686/1068639373_bEqoL-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 276px; width: 415px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1735/1068727113_gvXcF-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1735/1068727113_gvXcF-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1736/1068730895_s8Fgb-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1736/1068730895_s8Fgb-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1739/1068734889_vxkd8-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1739/1068734889_vxkd8-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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Our young guests (and maybe some not young guests [like me]) enjoyed the chocolate milk set up at the cookie table. </div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2330/1069844568_eWBQS-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2330/1069844568_eWBQS-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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If you could have only one type of cookie for the rest of your life, what kind would it be? (If you have a recipe,<b> please</b> share it!) Mine would definitely be the chocolate chip cookies we made for the wedding (recipe from the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/dining/091crex.html">NY Times</a> and Jacque Torres).</div>
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<i>All photos by </i><i>the fabulous <a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">Weaver House</a> </i><br />
<br />
<strong>Pin Cushion Flashback:</strong><br />
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/">wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/">hold balloons</a>.<br />
The cermony site <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/02/ceremony-set-up-programs/">gets pimped out</a>. I have an <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/07/bride-walks-down-aisle/">emotional breakdown</a> before walking down the aisle. The Pin Cushions get married. We're happy at happy hour. We have an unconventional guest book and give guests strawberry plant favors. We strand our guests without a table. Speech, Speech!</div>
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Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-60800328617303410502015-01-30T15:22:00.001-08:002015-01-30T15:22:14.785-08:00Stuck on You: Food and Words<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After the drinks and snacks and catching up had concluded (much too fast), it was time to sit down to eat. Mr. Pin Cushion and I chose to have a buffet style dinner and it was mighty tasty.</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1810/1068845448_tiw5g-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1810/1068845448_tiw5g-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a>f<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0516/1071288169_GqmVs-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0516/1071288169_GqmVs-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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I piled my plate high with food. And wasn't able to eat any of it. </div>
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Other people say that they aren't able to eat a bit of dinner because they are too busy visiting with guests, and making their way from table to table. But that wasn't my problem (<i>tip: if you want to be able to eat at your own wedding, have a sweetheart table so you are by yourself</i>). My problem was, I was too nervous to eat. I felt like I was the hostess at the biggest party I would ever have. Too many butterflies in my stomach, not enough room for food!</div>
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<a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1378/5137427154_a71272ac02_z.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1378/5137427154_a71272ac02_z.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Though I didn't have any room, the food truly was amazing. The menu included:<br />
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Salads: </div>
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*Mixed greens with cranberries, spiced pecans, pear and gorgonzola tossed with an orange muscat vinaigrette</div>
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*Fresh fruit salad </div>
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Sides: </div>
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*Mediterranean orze with artichokes, tomatoes, olives, basil and toasted pine nuts</div>
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*Garlic and herb roasted potatoes (nothing like the smell of garlic on your breath at a wedding!)</div>
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Mains: </div>
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*Charcoal grilled chicken with honey chipotle glaze</div>
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*Beef rubbed with smoky herbs and spices, grilled and served with gorgonzola butter</div>
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While everyone ate dinner (and I pushed food around on my plate), we were graced with some wonderful toasters and speech makers.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0633/1071369076_qiTS6-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0633/1071369076_qiTS6-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Our best man Virat and maid of honor Ratha both made toasts about what it has been like watching Chris and I in a relationship (Virat has been 'privileged' to live with Mr. Pin Cushion and I for 4 years, and has seen us in our 'natural environment' [things along the lines of: "I have smelled Mrs. PC's morning breath and all I know is, Mr. PC must really love her to still kiss her in that condition!]).</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0618/1071389846_SzAKC-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0618/1071389846_SzAKC-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0638/1071366820_CdaEb-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0638/1071366820_CdaEb-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0595/1071363364_qRsCM-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0595/1071363364_qRsCM-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Here here!!</div>
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We also had a wonderful speech from Mr. Pin Cushion's sweet uncle, and a toast written by a sorority sister who was in Morocco with the Peace Corp was read.</div>
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My parents finished off the toasts, which was a total surprise to us (though, with my dad being such a ham, I should have expected it). </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0582/1071350548_mu74s-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0658/1071466026_RYHBv-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
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With each toast, Mr. Pin Cushion and I drank from silver goblets that my parents used at their wedding 35 years before.</div>
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Perhaps our guests were expecting us to speak, but we didn't. I haven't been to many weddings, so I wasn't sure if the wedding couple usually stands up to say a few words. Mr. PC is a bit shy, and while I'm loud, I don't exactly have a way with words, and probably would have ended up looking like a mime, trying to gesture my way through a thank you speech. </div>
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Are you planning on giving a toast or a speech at your wedding? Is that standard? (4+ years later, I still don't know if it is or not!)</div>
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<i>All photos by </i><i>the fabulous <a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">Weaver House</a> </i><br />
<br />
<strong>Pin Cushion Flashback:</strong><br />
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/">wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/">hold balloons</a>.<br />
The cermony site <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/02/ceremony-set-up-programs/">gets pimped out</a>. I have an <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/07/bride-walks-down-aisle/">emotional breakdown</a> before walking down the aisle. The Pin Cushions get married. We're happy at happy hour. We have an unconventional guest book and give guests strawberry plant favors. We strand our guests without a table. </div>
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Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-68765666208273580852015-01-30T15:15:00.004-08:002015-01-30T15:15:47.448-08:00Stuck on You: Tables, Numbers & Our Big Mistake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As people were being seated after the extra-happy hour ended, the cafe lights above us started to glow.</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0375/1071097005_Brytx-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0375/1071097005_Brytx-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Our tables were set up just like I had pictured. No huge view obstructing centerpieces here (which I didn't want and would have looked ridiculous at our venue).<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0399/1069682815_EPERV-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0399/1069682815_EPERV-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0283/1068628366_6g9n6-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></div>
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Our centerpieces were put together by our venue coordinator (who was a superwoman of a lady-not only coordinating at the venue, but supervising the cooking and doing all the flowers for the location). </div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0280/1068626944_HerGR-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0280/1068626944_HerGR-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 394px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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The tables also featured the fabric napkins my mom and I had sewed, and the green burlap table runners that Mr. Pin Cushion had cut. </div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0270/1068624528_D9Li4-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0270/1068624528_D9Li4-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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When everyone was being seated, Mr. Pin Cushion and I became aware of a BIG mistake. See those lovely table numbers? The ones I painstakingly made with ric-rac and a hot glue gun? Well somehow, there were not enough tables or table numbers for our guests. </div>
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I still am a little perplexed about how it happened (and don't try to think about it too hard, or my face starts to burn with shame), but we were short a table. Meaning that 6 of our guests were wandering around knowing that they were at table 17, but there. was. no. table. 17. </div>
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We had left our guests stranded. When the coordinator came over to tell us, I was so embarrassed and a small ball of rage formed in my chest (you know that feeling?). I instinctually blamed Mr. Pin Cushion. It was not a pretty five minutes. Thankfully, someone grabbed extra chairs and shoved them into other tables and everyone eventually found a seat, but not before I didn't feel like an awful bride and an awful hostess. </div>
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How the proper number of tables got by myself, Mr. Pin Cushion and our coordinator is a mystery, but it still is the one major problem that pops into my mind every time I think of the wedding. My parents didn't get to sit together at the same table at my wedding, for goodness sake! But (hopefully), it is a detail that most of our misplaced guests have forgotten by now. </div>
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Have you seen any big mistakes happen at any weddings? Have you had any near misses in your own wedding planning? (Please console me with stories, friends.)<br />
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<i>All photos, unless otherwise noted, by </i><i>the fabulous <a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">Weaver House</a> </i><br />
<br />
<strong>Pin Cushion Flashback:</strong><br />
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/">wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/">hold balloons</a>.<br />
The cermony site <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/02/ceremony-set-up-programs/">gets pimped out</a>. I have an <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/07/bride-walks-down-aisle/">emotional breakdown</a> before walking down the aisle. The Pin Cushions get married. We're happy at happy hour. We have an unconventional guest book and give guests strawberry plant favors. </div>
</div>
Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-27325932701954548962015-01-30T15:11:00.001-08:002015-01-30T15:11:57.802-08:00Stuck On You: Strawberry Favors Forever<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1714/1068693496_iSuo3-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1714/1068693496_iSuo3-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1724/1068713156_gnFHm-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1724/1068713156_gnFHm-M.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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Mr. Pin Cushion and I couldn't have discussed wedding favors more than once or twice during our entire planning process. They were never a high priority and very easily could have gone the way of out of town guest bags (as in, never thought to make them and never did). With that sentiment, when we did finally discuss what our favors should be, neither of us wanted to spend much of our budget on them.<br />
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I wanted something edible, and Mr. PC wanted something more long lasting. We found something that fit both our criteria when my mom suggested strawberry plants.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1821/1068866925_ZLA9H-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1821/1068866925_ZLA9H-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a> </div>
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The strawberry plants were quite the budget favors. We bought strawberry plants from a local garden store (we tried to only pick the pretty ones with green leaves, but the heat in the days leading up to the wedding resulted in some browning and shriveling [we gave the uglier plants to people we knew wouldn't care]).</div>
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Each 6-pack of strawberry plants cost about $4.99, so that's less than a dollar per plant.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1716/1068698679_kJ7wo-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1716/1068698679_kJ7wo-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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The rest of the project involved items I already had from prior projects: red and white twine, card stock, wood skewers, rubber "Thanks" stamp, fabric scraps and colored tissue paper.<br />
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<a href="http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/productcart/pc/catalog/Potted_Strawberry_Plant.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/productcart/pc/catalog/Potted_Strawberry_Plant.jpg" style="height: 247px; width: 211px;" /></a><a href="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0046/8352/products/RedTwine_large.jpg?60"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0046/8352/products/RedTwine_large.jpg?60" style="height: 195px; width: 195px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbR8n1Qw6uRJjv0GKTP4uY_KYik4igCLT7cxpb0bKrTqWY8gdk5dRtCmIQg05hq0OSoA3EXyFFXYZm7l6Z4HR71HVrmIHDnbY5uxepJ70cqIM5ndqgBtzFxQ_qT2HyH5pqhf-Ty6zzKKp/s1600/Hygloss+tissue+paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbR8n1Qw6uRJjv0GKTP4uY_KYik4igCLT7cxpb0bKrTqWY8gdk5dRtCmIQg05hq0OSoA3EXyFFXYZm7l6Z4HR71HVrmIHDnbY5uxepJ70cqIM5ndqgBtzFxQ_qT2HyH5pqhf-Ty6zzKKp/s1600/Hygloss+tissue+paper.jpg" height="247" width="211" /></a></div>
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Photos from <a href="http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/productcart/pc/Buy-Potted-Strawberry-Plants-for-Fall-Planting-c181.htm">Garden Harvest Supply</a> //<a href="http://www.museumofusefulthings.com/products/bakers-twine-2">Museum of Useful Things</a> //<a href="http://www.hyglossproducts.com/Tissue-Assortments-p/88528-1.htm">Hygloss Products</a><br />
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A few days before the wedding, we spent a couple of hour in an assembly line of plant preparation. There was a lot of watering, clipping and tying as well as debating who would get the ugly plants.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7twtoSrSNDW4N7Ci1PhSnp-iy4SU26NhS_9bpwKJMgkz-MN8ivH9mkfqaHiPYYaYgshgGeR1dpNBBjJJcDStWtn74OiFwCTVuZPudhIO4MnQ8n1M9FQH1pDdEkqpAayP_9_oWn1MAJMi/s1600/IMG_0058.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7twtoSrSNDW4N7Ci1PhSnp-iy4SU26NhS_9bpwKJMgkz-MN8ivH9mkfqaHiPYYaYgshgGeR1dpNBBjJJcDStWtn74OiFwCTVuZPudhIO4MnQ8n1M9FQH1pDdEkqpAayP_9_oWn1MAJMi/s1600/IMG_0058.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584471172057432914" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDcbg4sLvyN9XUrZvC5FtM7sWHb7QYge3uKxKfrSQSZP1nAK3drft8IzBDMYb2K1Mp8aZCHKzMFw09Cob6Nkjp4vi0wFy0gJ-ad2jrMI3RG0fUloLCtUvNs363egqBHmib-4thbIIulNi/s1600/IMG_0057.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDcbg4sLvyN9XUrZvC5FtM7sWHb7QYge3uKxKfrSQSZP1nAK3drft8IzBDMYb2K1Mp8aZCHKzMFw09Cob6Nkjp4vi0wFy0gJ-ad2jrMI3RG0fUloLCtUvNs363egqBHmib-4thbIIulNi/s1600/IMG_0057.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584470864534082466" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px;" /></a></div>
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(personal photos)</div>
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Around each plant was a tag thanking the guests for coming, as well as instructions on the back on how to care for the strawberry plant.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2pcdjQ06w9nwCUJ6AL_Scufx5DkRqZ0MCWA2IWOoyGtlqlpVrI-11CPgcunHGeZ4sASTLTi4VxAnCk78vrInslv7nKex5zD7JYhWrTHahyV2nqp0s3vRZyoQOhLi8Y6Rj0muVEy-HG0b/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2pcdjQ06w9nwCUJ6AL_Scufx5DkRqZ0MCWA2IWOoyGtlqlpVrI-11CPgcunHGeZ4sASTLTi4VxAnCk78vrInslv7nKex5zD7JYhWrTHahyV2nqp0s3vRZyoQOhLi8Y6Rj0muVEy-HG0b/s1200/IMG_0007.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584468395327278658" style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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(personal photos)</div>
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Our plants also doubled as place cards for guests.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0271/1068622698_quiMt-L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0271/1068622698_quiMt-L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 600px; width: 399px;" /></a><br />
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Only after we had bought all of the plants and were labeling them with guests' names did I realize that it would be near impossible for out of town guests to bring home their strawberry favors. Oops. Minor oversight. I suppose they could have carried them onto a plane and baby sat them for the duration of the flight, but I doubt anyone was that dedicated. It resulted in locals guests each being able to take home a few plants.</div>
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Besides our traveling guests being overlooked, our favors turned out well. A lot of sweet friends have emailed me photos of their strawberries in bloom a year later. (Let's ignore the fact that the Pin Cushion strawberry plants died almost immediately. Fingers crossed it has not correlation to the health of our marriage.)<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1714/1068693496_iSuo3-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1714/1068693496_iSuo3-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0513/1068632180_iLkhn-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0513/1068632180_iLkhn-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a><br />
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What are your favors going to be? Try to think about your out of town guests so yours aren't ripped off like mine were!</div>
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<i>All photos, unless otherwise noted, by </i><i>the fabulous <a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">Weaver House</a> </i><br />
<br />
<strong>Pin Cushion Flashback:</strong><br />
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/">wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/">hold balloons</a>.<br />
The cermony site <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/02/ceremony-set-up-programs/">gets pimped out</a>. I have an <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/07/bride-walks-down-aisle/">emotional breakdown</a> before walking down the aisle. The Pin Cushions get married. We're happy at happy hour. Our unconventional guest book. </div>
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Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-8056468536777863762015-01-30T14:55:00.000-08:002015-01-30T15:47:24.502-08:00Stuck on You: Our Guestbook<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We wanted our guestbook to be fun, and filled with more than just people's signatures (25% of which we probably wouldn't be able to read anyway). So we asked people to be a bit more artistic, poetic and imaginative than would have been required by a normal guestbook. Or wise. Being wise was an option too.</div>
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We asked our guests to write, draw, rap, sketch, or use a pencil in a way yet unknown to us on a card and to place that card in an envelope. (The envelope portion of our guest book was inspired by a favorite kid's of mine, <i>The Jolly Postman</i><i> </i>[does anyone else remember that book?].)</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1819/1068860014_9LQ7Q-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1795/1068839990_YfWJP-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
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Since we had an unconventional guest book, we did provide our guests with a (cheeky) instruction sheet, as well as some colored pencils to get their creative juices flowing.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1817/1068858118_4xxsA-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1817/1068858118_4xxsA-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1719/1068702839_vT2Jj-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1719/1068702839_vT2Jj-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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Our guests gave us such fabulous advice on life and on marriage. We're trying to take them all to heart (which is hard since a few contradict each other [but we love a good challenge]).<br />
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Here are a few of the true gems. . .</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLkHxqIziybs1Gl-xuw9euhx95OyOit9eVHRg_YpeWXJ_E_TXtWkeiSW_jRKn06RSaJMhwxehcC1mLzvxh132KxHsJ44KfCNPdXTe3IwoabtZTaRbK64NKAqRpnmxyU07OIgXIbro7NnO/s400/CIMG1295.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659709013362883426" style="height: 225px; width: 300px;" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVgXBQXESjNjz3_dc6f7h220sUAztY5IAV6zovjKYNrDJbCsha0KF0b3YJA_HqfuQ3U5Nyzt4K2P2V5KOxyOeY4EDxNzQ_O3L9Hx5hb6FYNCcthIdsKOppNzEJjWd0b-pnVrvwR3Vmllr/s1600/CIMG1296.JPG" style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVgXBQXESjNjz3_dc6f7h220sUAztY5IAV6zovjKYNrDJbCsha0KF0b3YJA_HqfuQ3U5Nyzt4K2P2V5KOxyOeY4EDxNzQ_O3L9Hx5hb6FYNCcthIdsKOppNzEJjWd0b-pnVrvwR3Vmllr/s640/CIMG1296.JPG" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659709599471209314" style="height: 225px; width: 300px;" width="640" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></div>
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1. "My only advice - don't go to bed mad at each other. It makes getting up the next morning awful." Hard advice to follow when you're in a fight and really ticked off, but also really tired!</div>
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2. "Chris is handsome, Kendra voluptual; the signs bode well, for a prosperous nuptial." Proverb or not, I am impressed someone was able to whip that out on the spot!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-x4eYMeYsGoUm34QrO5tBrRlFqxzYVnO5Rsr7a4RuDaNV_kTZyGIuqaAZNjdZJ9v2cCIO1YLhShuUazStH_B2k-CZ2sfMJ2Jsi8NyCDftq1RAOQoqylBXfL1c_S7rFWm9vcVZpJgV44j/s1600/CIMG1297.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-x4eYMeYsGoUm34QrO5tBrRlFqxzYVnO5Rsr7a4RuDaNV_kTZyGIuqaAZNjdZJ9v2cCIO1YLhShuUazStH_B2k-CZ2sfMJ2Jsi8NyCDftq1RAOQoqylBXfL1c_S7rFWm9vcVZpJgV44j/s400/CIMG1297.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659707608336321106" style="height: nnnpx; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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3. Now this one is <i>very</i> important. "If your wife is happy, everyone is happy." Hear, hear!</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqzDWrBAR42cwm_Z2hRSlzuVLYVvAyfRVJBwU31re_fSQ8a1hJ8mJ33rl2J5TdODeHSQy-OGxH2wmQ-MPrZrXHryPNNEPJmKkHZ-tyd-TzQp__0WzLqyLOiVVQosVrNZ69AOXmnLVxWwv/s400/CIMG1294.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659706302251258482" style="width: 300px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhudB7T9w2Qr5ZLeEm4yd1dxszgDnq-U1yVatU99ZzHnp9leCd4tLTdiSUP_wE9fXP-lX9RUOkrSODnLCQALcb3BMIVvJ9C-W0NoI5l4u4Y94PncVqaacBQjmb3BGFFV915C4wFy-KAlz/s400/CIMG1292.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659707599034351746" style="width: 300px;" /></div>
4. "Enjoy the journey." We're trying! (Also, I just like the rainbow.)</div>
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5. I particularly like the "P.S. eat cake!" And despite the simplicity of the "Be nice!" card, it is surprisingly difficult at times (much harder than eating cake).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8QbQ7mMVAjmfX9jad8sj1NQb-piDsO4Yl-bR3n9Nk-jdsYjI6SwIs16umSDd1NQqUXQWCbmeaUbgXmej83hRRNcObZ1n61k4sZVnQTlRk5v17ISZI6Z3xALak8QNoeOjGO1VQXmPj2jZ/s1600/CIMG1298.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8QbQ7mMVAjmfX9jad8sj1NQb-piDsO4Yl-bR3n9Nk-jdsYjI6SwIs16umSDd1NQqUXQWCbmeaUbgXmej83hRRNcObZ1n61k4sZVnQTlRk5v17ISZI6Z3xALak8QNoeOjGO1VQXmPj2jZ/s400/CIMG1298.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659707604071422802" style="width: 600px;" /></a></div>
6. Now this one has a whole wealth of great advice!! "King beds make great marriages!" "No accounting!" And, "Do not buy a tandem bike!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfHsiyg0ZdFhjVI0TmcEuPCLwqpXrcxPReEIX4yX1cSLblpSP3YI_eD6Nvz74g1jfgLQoEPNdnS8ZiWAVkN71o05pVppnMm5akioANRz55yN4A7uXvHBTz98DuiCWAkVe9bSqF3mePbAz/s1600/CIMG1291.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfHsiyg0ZdFhjVI0TmcEuPCLwqpXrcxPReEIX4yX1cSLblpSP3YI_eD6Nvz74g1jfgLQoEPNdnS8ZiWAVkN71o05pVppnMm5akioANRz55yN4A7uXvHBTz98DuiCWAkVe9bSqF3mePbAz/s1600/CIMG1291.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659705561760488194" style="height: 225px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11CalET2AyfM_XIqmy516hF0_BGjAySf0-sTGT_IBDLHSSHprn6-40Iy94U1cEMJ2C-5gjidqyMHXRzQ91knncq_VUJKqFmfXGdjbaBKxE5gOGmvTOQhuU8Lkr8K1BkbIbdNL_nwq3zHd/s1600/CIMG1299.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11CalET2AyfM_XIqmy516hF0_BGjAySf0-sTGT_IBDLHSSHprn6-40Iy94U1cEMJ2C-5gjidqyMHXRzQ91knncq_VUJKqFmfXGdjbaBKxE5gOGmvTOQhuU8Lkr8K1BkbIbdNL_nwq3zHd/s1600/CIMG1299.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659705557732817842" style="height: 225px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
7 and 8. But then we're told to throw out all of that advice and only listen to each other. We've spent the first few years of our marriage trying to reconcile the differing advice from our guests . . . </div>
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Are you having a guest book? Are you doing something unconventional?</div>
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<i>Good </i><i>photos by the fabulous <a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">Weaver House</a>.</i><i> (Cruddy photos [ie close ups on black and white fabric] done by me.)</i><br />
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<strong>Pin Cushion Flashback:</strong><br />
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/">wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/">hold balloons</a>.<br />
The cermony site <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/02/ceremony-set-up-programs/">gets pimped out</a>. I have an <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/07/bride-walks-down-aisle/">emotional breakdown</a> before walking down the aisle. The Pin Cushions get married. We're happy at happy hour. </div>
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Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-19308735629211248692015-01-30T14:53:00.001-08:002015-01-30T14:53:27.289-08:00Stuck on You: (Extra) Happy Hour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After the ceremony, we didn't waste any time with taking photos. We had done all of our group and family photography earlier in the day, which meant we were free to play!</div>
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We told awesome stories.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0389/1069684975_pgJRv-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0389/1069684975_pgJRv-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0380/1069442164_eZVLo-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0380/1069442164_eZVLo-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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We hung out by the water. One of these people might have fallen (jumped) into the pond later. I don't want to point any fingers (but it was totally that little boy!).</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2141/1069788933_teeGj-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2141/1069788933_teeGj-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 276px; width: 184px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0341/1069417120_6xNKd-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0341/1069417120_6xNKd-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 276px; width: 415px;" /></a></div>
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We played croquet.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1756/1068779075_xQw4V-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1756/1068779075_xQw4V-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2250/1069813744_EEUJc-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2250/1069813744_EEUJc-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 276px; width: 415px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0392/1069679795_uAGQx-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0392/1069679795_uAGQx-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 276px; width: 184px;" /></a></div>
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We imbibed refreshments (Fat Tire and Stella Artois along with red and white wines which we debated over for weeks [seriously, weeks] and now I can't even remember what they were).<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1774/1068823760_VHGt2-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1774/1068823760_VHGt2-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1771/1068816541_LvXzZ-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1771/1068816541_LvXzZ-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 415px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1772/1068818809_TFaDg-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1772/1068818809_TFaDg-L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 184px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1733/1068722999_FXdLW-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1733/1068722999_FXdLW-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1811/1068849525_VH2gf-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1811/1068849525_VH2gf-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1754/1068768900_zZzS8-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1754/1068768900_zZzS8-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1759/1068788621_hAsCt-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1759/1068788621_hAsCt-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1755/1068773216_sTy56-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1755/1068773216_sTy56-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2111/1069731823_R42mG-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2111/1069731823_R42mG-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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And we ate delicious food (or like Iris, the girl below, we tried to steal other people's food).</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0209/1069279525_S2AxM-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0209/1069279525_S2AxM-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/5137422882_9dfa2f22e6_z.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" /></div>
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Taking photos before the ceremony was one of the best decisions we made about the wedding. It allowed us to spend an extra hour and a half with our guests that would be have otherwise been spent posing in the same position with different people filtering in and out of the periphery. Plus, this way, we got to indulge in sausages and baked brie!</div>
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Are you planning on attending your own happy hour?</div>
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<i>All photos by the fabulous <a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">Weaver House</a> </i><br />
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<strong>Pin Cushion Flashback:</strong><br />
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/">wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/">hold balloons</a>.<br />
The cermony site <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/02/ceremony-set-up-programs/">gets pimped out</a>. I have an <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/07/bride-walks-down-aisle/">emotional breakdown</a> before walking down the aisle. The Pin Cushions get married. </div>
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Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-29356578917753194582015-01-30T14:48:00.000-08:002015-01-30T14:52:03.080-08:00Stuck on You: We Get Married<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This has been the hardest post to write (like, so hard, it took me 4+ years after my wedding to post it!). </div>
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The wedding ceremony is the most emotional, special, and important part of the day for the people involved and it is impossible to convey those emotions through a blog post. </div>
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Plus, the photos are pretty monotonous. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0123/1067674477_NShQx-M-1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
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See? It's me and that guy again! Told you it was monotonous!</div>
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In terms of conveying the emotion that I felt during the ceremony, I know I won't truly be able to. On a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_to_eleven">Spinal Tap Scale</a>, my emotions were at a 13. Suffice it to say, all the kleenex tissues that my Maid of Honor had stuffed in her dress pocket and down the top of her dress were completely soaked with my tears. </div>
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I'd like to just share some tidbits about the ceremony, from my favorite part, to funny things that happened during those 20 minutes.</div>
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1) If you want ideas for writing your own ceremony or vows, see my prior posts <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/10/08/crafting-the-wedding-ceremony-wording/">here</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/10/18/wedding-vows-6/#more-167419">here</a>. If you're considering doing this, I would absolutely recommend it! It took a lot of work, but it was so amazing having our ceremony be 100% personal.</div>
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2) The best part of the ceremony (for me) was our "family and friends vow". I <i>loved</i> our vows, but I was crying so hard that I could hardly breath during them. On the other hand, when our guests recited the vows that they took, promising to do what they could to keep us strong, that was a chance to take a deep breath. And it was incredibly special, to turn around and see our family and friends all assembled, and to feel that sense of community and support.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0138/1067682074_WAbUs-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
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Listening, raptly, to our guests.</div>
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3) At one point in the ceremony, I became a bee keeper. The bottom of my dress was made of hoop skirts and tulle, and apparently, a bee decided it looked cozy in there and decided to fly between the layers and get stuck. My brother, in the middle of the ceremony, walked over and started shuffling my dress around to get rid of the bee! He said afterwards that he had stared at it for a few minutes and couldn't focus on anything else until he got rid of it!</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1917/1068054008_QhjP4-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1917/1068054008_QhjP4-M.jpg" style="height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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There's my brother on the left, undoubtedly staring down at the bee in my dress.</div>
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4) We had written our vows before the wedding. We didn't read each other's before hand but we did have a friend read them both to make sure they were compatible. Now, on our anniversary each year, we bring out our vows and re-read them to each other. Makes us both cry, and laugh, each year.<br />
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I had the hardest time getting through our vows. I sounded like an old lady with the deepest, raspiest voice, trying to speak and hold back my tears. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2073/1068241349_nAVHE-S.jpg" style="height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
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5) We had friends and family partake in our ceremony, which was so special. They spoke about love; what marriage means and hopes and advice for us.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1986/1068148485_utuDb-M.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 299px;" /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1976/1068124400_wvHgE-M.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></div>
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My best friend's mom and Mr. Pin Cushion's older sister. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2029/1068227288_Mm5JG-L.jpg" style="height: 600px; width: 399px;" /><br />
Mr. Pin Cushion's mom read a Khalil Gibran poem.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1944/1068040285_MQNtT-S-1.jpg" height="399" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 399px; height: nnnpx;" width="600px" /></div>
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Mr. Pin Cushion's grandfather leading us in prayer. This was perfect because we had a non-religious ceremony, but still wanted to include a prayer, and Mr. PC's grandfather was so honored to lead.</div>
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My mom speaking about marriage. That sent me over the crying edge. <br />
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We were so happy and excited when my dad finally announced us as husband and wife!</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2071/1068306163_ZWvzt-M-1.jpg" style="height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0187/1067776495_zwbhC-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
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Pure happiness right there!!</div>
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Are any of you planning on writing your own vows? Are you nervous or excited about being the center of attention during your wedding ceremony?<br />
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<strong>Pin Cushion Flashback:</strong><br />
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/">wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/">hold balloons</a>.<br />
The cermony site <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/02/ceremony-set-up-programs/">gets pimped out</a>. I have an <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/07/bride-walks-down-aisle/">emotional breakdown</a> before walking down the aisle.</div>
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Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-17264993781274246982015-01-30T14:44:00.001-08:002015-01-30T14:44:42.759-08:00A Geriatric Bee Returns<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Mrs. Pin Cushion here, returning to the hive approximately 83 years after my wedding (ok, only 4 and a half, but in internet years, that's, like, forever). I'm back to finally allow everyone to breath deeply again, as I'm sure you all were just holding your breath waiting for me to finish my recaps!<br />
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As you gasp for breath, let me provide a crash course on the Pin Cushion wedding so it will be a bit more fun to follow along.<br />
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We decided on a<a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/author/pincushion/page/6/"> summer time, picnic theme</a> for our big day.<br />
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<img alt="" src="file:///Users/Kendra/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.png" /><img alt="" src="file:///Users/Kendra/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot-1.png" /><img height="799" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=6deab1a1f5&view=att&th=12885b8d98f8404b&attid=0.1.1&disp=emb&zw" width="600" /><br />
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I had the <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/02/nicole-miller-wedding-dresses/">darndest time</a> <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/05/rouching-and-poufs-and-trains-oh-my-attempt-2/">picking</a> a wedding dress, but <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/08/san-francisco-wedding-dresses/">finally found my dress </a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5s8Om8nUvICgqOnP7z3UUnQN00tFTqM_JXoM8w694TXXfDH26idc5X82UN37avJbXSLHuwdf0DfjJ0PSMUt6HWyzwiiG81gfUQBpk7ZXEpOeu1IuzdVqwCSp7B__F10cXcu-qBrBBcxA/s1600-h/Screen+shot+2010-03-11+at+9.25.47+PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5s8Om8nUvICgqOnP7z3UUnQN00tFTqM_JXoM8w694TXXfDH26idc5X82UN37avJbXSLHuwdf0DfjJ0PSMUt6HWyzwiiG81gfUQBpk7ZXEpOeu1IuzdVqwCSp7B__F10cXcu-qBrBBcxA/s400/Screen+shot+2010-03-11+at+9.25.47+PM.png" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447615008259006098" style="height: 536px; width: 310px;" />
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Mr. Pin Cushion and I labored over computers and crafting mats to make our <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/screenprinted-invitations/">Save the Dates</a> and our <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/06/heart-wedding-invitation/#more-151006">pop-up wedding invites</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7SRpv5hrM6ujQmLoPQJgeUZZTUeuZb68a7lpDgj58GnWPeS7c6d4asR1d2cQtc4YNYJ4aalaM-s685n9Cf3ILPBBpgt88GtPIyuGsF21OA3qgh0Ba9c5UhjG55rGyqhCn381pooQBZou/s1600/CIMG0326.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7SRpv5hrM6ujQmLoPQJgeUZZTUeuZb68a7lpDgj58GnWPeS7c6d4asR1d2cQtc4YNYJ4aalaM-s685n9Cf3ILPBBpgt88GtPIyuGsF21OA3qgh0Ba9c5UhjG55rGyqhCn381pooQBZou/s1600/CIMG0326.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490660372964363506" style="height: 600px;" /></a></div>
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We built a <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/08/23/build-your-own-photo-booth/">DIY Photo Booth</a>.<br />
Our big day finally arrived (July 17, 2010) and we <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">got</a> <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">ready</a> and had a sob-fest of a <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0039/1064870523_wf59Z-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0039/1064870523_wf59Z-L.jpg" style="height: 600px; width: 399px;" /></a></div>
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That's a photo of me hyperventilating from crying so hard.</div>
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We took photos in <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">front of murals</a> painted by famous artists (ie random elementary school kids).<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1398/1065129553_c65tq-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1398/1065129553_c65tq-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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And finally, I made it <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/07/bride-walks-down-aisle/">down the aisle</a> to Mr. Pin Cushion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2wNUc1MW4fNirxrq_to9CXdGAs6vwb3kLwF_gjqthzo3gjPnv2xpt5DNBAqSOAxFGoquKK8Z2H_v9QriGAMEWPz-Vq3wwa8ubn37RX6kaRx97bYPm3xPUNERu5NQqseZbq413yhKmriV/s1600/_DSC0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2wNUc1MW4fNirxrq_to9CXdGAs6vwb3kLwF_gjqthzo3gjPnv2xpt5DNBAqSOAxFGoquKK8Z2H_v9QriGAMEWPz-Vq3wwa8ubn37RX6kaRx97bYPm3xPUNERu5NQqseZbq413yhKmriV/s1600/_DSC0125.jpg" height="399px" width="600px" /></a></div>
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Last 3 photos by Steep Street Photography (now <a href="http://www.theweaverhouse.com/">The Weaver House</a>). </div>
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That brings us up to date on my last blog post. <span style="text-align: left;">I hope you'll join this old Bee for a walk down memory lane as I finish my wedding day recaps!</span></div>
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Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-22678739234071345882012-05-04T02:59:00.002-07:002012-05-04T02:59:45.771-07:00Stuck on You: We're Walking<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is me right before the ceremony began.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0075/1067650146_2yNbQ-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0075/1067650146_2yNbQ-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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I'm crying. Actually, I take that back. I wasn't crying, I was sobbing. Sobbing so hard that I could hardly breath (for the second time that day).<br />
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I felt as though I had so much emotion, that my body couldn't help but express it somehow-and it just happened to be in the form of tears the size of chocolate chips, and giant chest heaves.<br />
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I was overwhelmed. Not by wedding details, or thoughts of seating charts, or wanting to make sure my hair was perfect, but overwhelmed because this was a life changing moment. I was experiencing the moment that I had thought about for so many years-marrying Mr. Pin Cushion.<br />
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Despite my brain and body being completely overcome by the magnitude of the moment, I would not be able to walk down the aisle if I was a blubbering mess. Thankfully, my mom saved me by singing "Going to the Chapel", until my sobs changed to laughter.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0079/1067663639_qXG65-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0079/1067663639_qXG65-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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My dad snuck in a quick hug (which threatened to derail my emotions again), and we began sending our friends and family down the aisle.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0072/1067645922_mVsQk-M-1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0072/1067645922_mVsQk-M-1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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Our grandmothers were lead down the aisle by grandchildren.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1854/1067938372_rqJVJ-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1854/1067938372_rqJVJ-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1864/1067964927_U3j46-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1864/1067964927_U3j46-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a><br />
(I find both of these photos hilarious. 1) On the left, my brother looks like he's thinking "Heeey ladies". And 2) On the right, Alexis, Mr. Pin Cushion's sister, is probably saying, "Hurry up, grandma. Quit dilly-dallying.")<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1866/1067973255_oJ7Je-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1866/1067973255_oJ7Je-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Our bridal party walked down the aisle in twos (while I practice my hee-hee-ho breathing to try to remain calm).<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1884/1068020083_5Qd88-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1884/1068020083_5Qd88-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1881/1068016598_kEMMx-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1881/1068016598_kEMMx-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1876/1068008120_PTrk6-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1876/1068008120_PTrk6-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1873/1068002468_EmfHr-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1873/1068002468_EmfHr-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
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And finally. The moment arrived.<br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0086/1067655085_uh3FS-L-1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0086/1067655085_uh3FS-L-1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 600px; width: 399px;" /></a><br />
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<br />
The venue staff that were busy barbecuing our reception food nearby stopped to watch us begin our walk and to wonder why the bride appeared to be hyperventilating.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0091/1067657494_qpAFe-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0091/1067657494_qpAFe-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1898/1068056804_fm7pd-M-1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1898/1068056804_fm7pd-M-1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Oh no. You can see my eyes beginning to water again.<br />
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1897/1068059067_9guaN-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1897/1068059067_9guaN-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Thank goodness I knew my groom wouldn't mind, since his eyes were just as teary as my own.<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1899/1068037324_5CVsF-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1899/1068037324_5CVsF-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
During my aisle walk, my eyes were glued to Mr. Pin Cushion. The last two photos show us gazing at one another (if I were better at technology, I would draw a nice laser beam between our eyes to demonstrate [a la football commentators]). I was completely unaware of the guests (sorry guests) and could not wait to get the show on the road and call that guy my hubby.<br />
<br />
How do you think your emotions will react when you go to meet your fiance at the altar? Do you think they will overwhelm you, or do you think you'll be able to keep them under control?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>All photos by the fabulous <a href="http://steepstreet.com/">Steep Street Photography</a></i><br />
<br />
<strong>Pin Cushion Flashback:</strong><br />
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.<br />
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/">wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/">hold balloons</a>.<br />
The cermony site <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/05/02/ceremony-set-up-programs/">gets pimped out</a>. </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-16447335071068924052012-05-01T21:57:00.003-07:002012-05-01T21:57:46.167-07:00Stuck on You: Ceremony Set Up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
While we were getting ready and taking photos, our ceremony site was primped and ready for the show to begin.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Looking at the photo below, it amazes me that Mr. Pin Cushion and I almost didn't choose our venue because I felt that this arch was too 'dated'. Now, rather than dated, I see the arch as being 'classic'. Whether that is post-wedding 'it don't mean no thing' attitude, or I actually changed by opinion, I'm not sure, but I sure am happy we chose our venue-because arch and all, it was a beautiful setting. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1804/1068183951_wJJCB-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1804/1068183951_wJJCB-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Our venue coordinator lined the seats in the back and the aisle with ribbons and dahlias. We hadn't asked her to, and weren't planning on having anything on the chairs or aisle, but Marky, the coordinator, said she had extra flowers from the bouquets, so she went to town.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Perhaps some people wouldn't have wanted something done that wasn't part of their 'vision', but I had had no vision for our ceremony site, so I was more than happy for Marky to spiffy it up without consulting me. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1803/1067806411_B9x9E-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1803/1067806411_B9x9E-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1802/1067865359_eeWvS-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0206/1067791850_eEkX9-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></div>
<br />
Before guests arrived at the site, they were greeted with ribbon streamers and a basket with our programs.<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1623/1068654887_xceDM-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1623/1068654887_xceDM-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1626/1068658983_EqJ6z-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1619/1068652407_KZTC5-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1619/1068652407_KZTC5-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But here's the thing. Our ceremony site was outside, and people were mingling and meandering around and not too great at noticing our programs and actually picking them up. So, I'll share them here to feel a bit more vindicated in making them!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1761/1068794608_VhYyp-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1761/1068794608_VhYyp-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1764/1068799097_YrZN8-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1764/1068799097_YrZN8-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1766/1068803445_Sr7uf-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1766/1068803445_Sr7uf-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Here's what I like to think all of our guests were doing: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2105/1069743457_ckCLZ-M.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2105/1069743457_ckCLZ-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC2105/1069743457_ckCLZ-M.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Pouring over every detail of the program. Gather together to ooh and ahh. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At least I know 4 people did that.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Are you making programs? Do you have any tactics to actual get them into guest's hands? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>All photos by the fabulous <a href="http://steepstreet.com/">Steep Street Photography</a>'</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<b>Pin Cushion Flashback:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.</b><br />
<b>Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them<a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/"> wear fake noses</a> and <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/26/bridal-party-portraits-in-field/#more-236425">hold balloons</a>.</b></div>
</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-67500591452166196072012-04-25T21:00:00.000-07:002012-04-25T21:27:42.420-07:00Stuck on You: Field Fun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1479/1065388575_KiUP5-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1479/1065388575_KiUP5-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
Oh hi!<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The last stop on our elementary school photo tour was the grass field. And we brought giant balloons.</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1492/1065365532_KW82k-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1492/1065365532_KW82k-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
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The photo above makes me smile. Hidden amongst our bridal party are my parents. They came with us for our photo shot (part chauffeurs, part prop masters, part cheerleaders), but they managed to sneak into some of our group shots. I love that we have photos of them with us, since they felt like part of the gang, and helped so much with the wedding.<br />
<br />
But after a couple of minutes, I had to awkwardly raise my eyebrows at my parents and scooch them along their way.</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1499/1065318860_cXRvD-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1499/1065318860_cXRvD-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1532/1065516898_xCVaS-L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1532/1065516898_xCVaS-L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 600px; width: 399px;" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1520/1065493375_5GLiD-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1520/1065493375_5GLiD-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1509/1065395811_uFioK-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1509/1065395811_uFioK-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
Come along, my minions. I mean friends and loved ones . . .<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1494/1065337190_gPC24-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1494/1065337190_gPC24-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1491/1065359796_C3J32-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1491/1065359796_C3J32-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
Hey, how did my parent's sneak back in there (note the purple dress on the left) . . .<br />
<br />
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1527/1065529192_peeUD-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1527/1065529192_peeUD-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1529/1065522397_HnXVS-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1529/1065522397_HnXVS-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 450px; width: 299px;" /></a></div>
<br />
A note to people using helium balloons for their wedding. Word on the street is that it's a bit tricky to drive safely when helium balloons are floating in the your face. (Thank you for picking our balloons up and for not crashing your car, best man Virat!). So, if you are going somewhere to fill your balloons, bring along a buddy to hold them in place and prevent any wedding day injuries (balloon, human, or otherwise).<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>All photos by the fabulous <a href="http://steepstreet.com/">Steep Street Photography</a></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Pin Cushion Flashback</b>:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>. And we make them <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/23/silly-bridal-party-portraits/#comment-2338070">wear fake noses</a>.</div>
</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-30085046798116315292012-04-22T19:19:00.000-07:002012-04-22T19:19:31.817-07:00Stuck on You: I Love You! And I Don't Care Who Nose It!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
In case <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">posing in front of murals</a> painted by elementary school kids wasn't kooky enough, we decided to up the "fun ante" by bringing back a prop that we used in the Pin Cushion <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/11/engagement-shoot-love-the-fun/#more-142438">engagement photos</a>.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1257/1064956445_xs3QD-XL.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1257/1064956445_xs3QD-XL.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 768px; width: 510px;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's right. We used fake noses and mustaches in our wedding portraits.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1558/1066130885_T2zFn-L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1558/1066130885_T2zFn-L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 600px; width: 399px;" /></a><br />
Trying to keep it classy.<br />
(I sure hope my ears aren't as crooked as those glasses suggest they are.)<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1562/1066142771_yYGUa-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1562/1066142771_yYGUa-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a><br />
It's impossible to keep a straight face for long when you're wearing these things.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Time for some close ups (which were shot against the side of a portable classroom [shows the magic of <a href="http://steepstreet.com/index.htm">good photographers</a>]):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5aphmbup0V5qRdYu9N81F3MlUf6UACM9H6jHzZfSfnUW4ORmugE2SfGtj80mIPD1E68mwXQM1fXjlxLqsflEwg1oZ5JLJN5XhkZaO6WAlP58bQBSsf3oRG1PbLzpF4YczvrMqgi4lcB-/s1600/DSC_1461.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545121088646713378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5aphmbup0V5qRdYu9N81F3MlUf6UACM9H6jHzZfSfnUW4ORmugE2SfGtj80mIPD1E68mwXQM1fXjlxLqsflEwg1oZ5JLJN5XhkZaO6WAlP58bQBSsf3oRG1PbLzpF4YczvrMqgi4lcB-/s400/DSC_1461.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 295px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxql93UttGAMDfU2cBxMJrp5e2eu5afxb9vegf1hrrqQUiC1eFk6Kc0uc_lXcEn13S7Qtk2-ttaFzxdGnaNvQSzTMoWUuYjoB-2hEt0duQ-SWK1tvNEwHV80i_bMo7LpQsymijiC8zH98/s1600/DSC_1462.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545118185347563682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxql93UttGAMDfU2cBxMJrp5e2eu5afxb9vegf1hrrqQUiC1eFk6Kc0uc_lXcEn13S7Qtk2-ttaFzxdGnaNvQSzTMoWUuYjoB-2hEt0duQ-SWK1tvNEwHV80i_bMo7LpQsymijiC8zH98/s400/DSC_1462.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 295px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kXtTkOBk4fKgNZDzRmISaNVHnx2z3aWxYCAJ5dK4Hj5mlGsIjkAfsDsV-BHOF0P6p9YCydEjvl_Q51CjxVbHSfzIb_5U4hbIMlMEpwsKMQ1sab__073NI2TM-CnJLBxfXNrlHeZMl8Z3/s1600/DSC_1459.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545122193879966738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kXtTkOBk4fKgNZDzRmISaNVHnx2z3aWxYCAJ5dK4Hj5mlGsIjkAfsDsV-BHOF0P6p9YCydEjvl_Q51CjxVbHSfzIb_5U4hbIMlMEpwsKMQ1sab__073NI2TM-CnJLBxfXNrlHeZMl8Z3/s400/DSC_1459.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 295px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0TfyTi6zYT2EfnaBot8ep7kyj7B0_rDPXdhAZNVcV2iWX7YXOXCXNWoY1MojQ05Of5DNz1GfyRXdHOParwkhiunOKmsJCS0M_D2tfOVmrecGJmq73u8cpsO-nXUbNcEJBSF7awhs_DtW/s1600/DSC_1464.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545118763535414002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0TfyTi6zYT2EfnaBot8ep7kyj7B0_rDPXdhAZNVcV2iWX7YXOXCXNWoY1MojQ05Of5DNz1GfyRXdHOParwkhiunOKmsJCS0M_D2tfOVmrecGJmq73u8cpsO-nXUbNcEJBSF7awhs_DtW/s400/DSC_1464.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 295px;" /></a><br />
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The Pin Cushions didn't want to be the only ones allowed to have fake mustache fun. We got everyone involved. First, we lured them in by taking normal close ups . . .</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1442/1065234410_GMyrM-S.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1442/1065234410_GMyrM-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1454/1065283886_ydtXJ-S.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1454/1065283886_ydtXJ-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1444/1065239352_CSDkZ-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1444/1065239352_CSDkZ-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKg9DJAuDFcGENgNydHyf8Menh8k3_IJ9HQV3zcyeEu0i87hdOobKx6DnO5J4pVI6X33dhpC52q_3NjPQKQbHd1ckYcLP0j5KISsduQ1Z3KYraMpXowioxZTntJYcjDVnddWh7BYv8Qpn/s1600/DSC_1431.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545867950032680018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKg9DJAuDFcGENgNydHyf8Menh8k3_IJ9HQV3zcyeEu0i87hdOobKx6DnO5J4pVI6X33dhpC52q_3NjPQKQbHd1ckYcLP0j5KISsduQ1Z3KYraMpXowioxZTntJYcjDVnddWh7BYv8Qpn/s1600/DSC_1431.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><br />
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. . . then, before they could move from their spots, we threw on a pair of fake glasses!</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1439/1065270684_B4ujB-S.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1439/1065270684_B4ujB-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1456/1065301849_LkHYb-S.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1456/1065301849_LkHYb-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1446/1065257757_XfGyZ-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1446/1065257757_XfGyZ-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqZv6lcwcOu_rfpokG2il94Bg40SlXTvSB5PODtX_oouHyLsHrBwH_HirmKXSHcuDXdbIWMaxhDp4FDJTs2imCWKgqxzF6EHXO4orRmX7uy1YCSFdNeoGzwang3aWJW5dsPjfnO4wcdUn/s1600/DSC_1432.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545867959494408610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqZv6lcwcOu_rfpokG2il94Bg40SlXTvSB5PODtX_oouHyLsHrBwH_HirmKXSHcuDXdbIWMaxhDp4FDJTs2imCWKgqxzF6EHXO4orRmX7uy1YCSFdNeoGzwang3aWJW5dsPjfnO4wcdUn/s1600/DSC_1432.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><br />
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I love that everyone's photo shows off a bit of their personality. (And how bridesmaid Jessica [far left] has eyebrows that look windswept!)<br />
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The groomswomen and man:</div>
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1438/1065248461_LbWTH-S.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1438/1065248461_LbWTH-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1447/1065274127_tYXqw-S.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1447/1065274127_tYXqw-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1434/1065279161_fxR8m-S.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1434/1065279161_fxR8m-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1451/1065261292_vxrDD-S.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1451/1065261292_vxrDD-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1437/1065224403_SwrKt-S.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1437/1065224403_SwrKt-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1448/1065252497_gX9qW-S.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1448/1065252497_gX9qW-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNzBxsb2rKPTNImqVr6FRVnQWuadyeY3K8wr18RlngGepEtt7Sln0lbQ-oQPHeEmhmFPBwFaINZaDsPRHTKLQQT6z5fpy7tX2waYufHMJrCL4cEF7KGunt1_Es5v8KiHsGYev9JMePbEX/s1600/DSC_1436.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545867970415295058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNzBxsb2rKPTNImqVr6FRVnQWuadyeY3K8wr18RlngGepEtt7Sln0lbQ-oQPHeEmhmFPBwFaINZaDsPRHTKLQQT6z5fpy7tX2waYufHMJrCL4cEF7KGunt1_Es5v8KiHsGYev9JMePbEX/s1600/DSC_1436.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1452/1065264554_fgiE9-S.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1452/1065264554_fgiE9-S.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" /></a></div>
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Best man Virat (far right) is cheating! It doesn't look like he's wearing a disguise, since his eyebrows and mustache already look like that. It just makes him look like he has really big nostrils!</div>
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All together now!</div>
<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1556/1066125661_Pm3v7-M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1556/1066125661_Pm3v7-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
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Do not try this at home! It's very hard to kiss with fake mustaches and noses on!</div>
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Are you using any props in your wedding photos? I highly recommend it-they're super fun!<br />
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<i>All photos by the fabulous <a href="http://steepstreet.com/">Steep Street Photography</a></i></div>
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<b>Pin Cushion Flashback</b>:</div>
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<div>
The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/">first look</a>.</div>
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Our wedding party <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/19/wedding-portraits-kids-murals/">poses with kids' murals</a>.</div>
</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-61572406431921377312012-04-18T22:40:00.000-07:002012-04-18T22:42:06.872-07:00Stuck on You: Fun with Kids' Murals<div style="text-align: left;">Mr. Pin Cushion and I didn't want to be too serious with our wedding party portraits. I debated for weeks about where we should take our photos. Getting married in Santa Cruz meant I could choose from beautiful beaches, redwood forests or rolling hills. After considering each of these places, I was left thinking, "Well, that's not very <span style="font-style: italic;">fun</span>."<br /><br />Which is how we ended up taking our photos at my elementary school. In front of murals that were painted by seven and eight year olds. Because seven and eight year olds know how to have fun (and how to use color!).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1409/1065166663_6zZMD-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1409/1065166663_6zZMD-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1398/1065129553_c65tq-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1398/1065129553_c65tq-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br />We jumped around from mural to mural taking photos. Ceramic birds stuck into stucco walls? Check. The wind incarnate blowing above our heads? Got it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1384/1065206567_FAtpj-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1384/1065206567_FAtpj-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1394/1065177909_uA7DM-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1394/1065177909_uA7DM-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br />Our goal of being "non serious" and "fun" lead to more casual photos. I was not preoccupied (or even aware) of who was standing where or next to whom. Which means that in photos like the one above, our wedding party is completely mixed up (best man over yonder to the right, on 'my side', maid of honor being the nice lady with the killer calves on the left, you get the picture). Looking back, I'm tickled that it worked out like this because we both loved everyone in the wedding party, and with the co-mingling, it felt more like "our wedding party", rather than "his people" and "my people."<br /><br />It's all about the co-mingling people. And the love. Oh yeah, and the fun too.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1536/1066102817_qYhij-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1536/1066102817_qYhij-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Onward and upward. Literally. To a space mural. With flying ballerinas and apes.<br /></div><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1540/1066108958_9ipkK-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1540/1066108958_9ipkK-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And even though I didn't end up taking photos in an actual redwood forest, I got the awesome alternative of a painted redwood forest.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1589/1066204231_pSxsT-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 600px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1589/1066204231_pSxsT-L.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This is the most serious face I could muster.<br />You can see my right cheek pulling into a smile. Too much happiness to contain.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1572/1066180747_xAjQZ-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1572/1066180747_xAjQZ-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1576/1066186798_Twv7o-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1576/1066186798_Twv7o-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1569/1066177304_TBKib-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1569/1066177304_TBKib-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think that hawk is trying to attack Mr. Pin Cushion's head.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1582/1066196080_nciwL-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1582/1066196080_nciwL-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />We had such a great time with all the murals. Kids' art is the best! There are more non-serious photos coming up, this time with fun props.<br /><br />There are limitless options for photo shoot locations. I'd love to hear yours! Are you taking your photos somewhere out-of-the box? Are you choosing a beautiful, romantic setting? A movie theater? An In-N-Out burger joint?<br /><br /><div><i>All photos taken by the fabulous <a href="http://steepstreet.com/index.htm">Steep Street Photography</a></i><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Pin Cushion Flashback</b>:</div><div>The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. The, the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. We have a sob-filled <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/16/first-look-photos-2/#more-235397">first look</a>.</div></div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-30234780021153478052012-04-15T19:30:00.000-07:002012-04-15T19:31:27.628-07:00Stuck on You: First Sob, I Mean, First Look<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Mr. Pin Cushion and I chose to do a first look because: </div><div style="text-align: left;">1) we would have had nervous break-downs going nearly all day without seeing each other; and </div><div style="text-align: left;">2) we had things to do before the ceremony that we couldn't have done had we needed a blinder set up between us the whole time.<br /><br />Well, it turns out that while I might have prevented a nervous break-down, the first look did lead me to have a crying break-down.<br /><br />It seemed that initially I would be able to hold it together. I started walking towards Mr. PC. . .<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><img alt="" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1327/1065026227_37bAo-S.jpg" style="width: 300px;" border="0" /> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0042/1064873160_SqqBD-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1328/1065031295_tBusd-S.jpg" style="width: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br />But as I drew near, I was so overcome with emotions that I started to cry. Not sweet, trickling tears. These were overwhelming, gasping for breath type sobs. I was making such funny noises that my poor fiance had to turn around to see if I needed some sort of medical assistance.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0039/1064870523_wf59Z-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0039/1064870523_wf59Z-L.jpg" style="height: 600px; width: 399px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He probably was thinking, "Dear God! I'm marrying a crying fool!" Also going through his head, "What has happened to my fiance's arm. It looks like a broken chicken leg."<br />(And just to clarify, that photo is of me crying. Not laughing.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1334/1065042040_5NPGt-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1334/1065042040_5NPGt-L.jpg" style="height: 600px; width: 399px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The crying just would not stop<br /><br />.<a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0055/1064877938_eJ6TH-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 600px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0055/1064877938_eJ6TH-L.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />His smirk is saying, "This is <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> typical!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1339/1065046169_msnPu-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1339/1065046169_msnPu-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hug me, you fool, before I lose all of my water stores.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0042/1064873160_SqqBD-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0042/1064873160_SqqBD-M.jpg" style="height: 399px; width: 600px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br />It is amazing how easy it is to forget that you are being watched and photographed when you are so overcome with emotion. My brain was short circuiting on happiness and excitement and nervousness, there was no room to think about being self-conscious or embarrassed about the fact that I was not able to control my emotions.<br /><br /></div> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1340/1065053546_mvhfs-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1340/1065053546_mvhfs-L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 600px; width: 399px;" border="0" /></a><br />My blubbering turned into maniacal laughter. . .<br /><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1342/1065057421_mGw5C-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1342/1065057421_mGw5C-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />. . . and then into my I'm-so-happy-my-gums-are-showing smile.<br /><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1344/1065063304_3zqt8-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1344/1065063304_3zqt8-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" border="0" /></a><br />And I couldn't help hitting the ubiquitous first-look pose. It seems to say, "Admire my tear soaked dress. Check out my running make up. Soak it all in!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">With each hug I got from Mr. PC, my tightly wound stomach began to relax a bit more. My crying-turned-laughing breakdown subsided and I was able to revel in the moment, and appreciate that today was our wedding day.<br /><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1347/1065066763_72Wcf-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1347/1065066763_72Wcf-M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 399px; width: 600px;" border="0" /></a></div></div><div><br />Little did I know, we were not the only ones reveling in the moment. Our sneaky bridal party had gathered in my parents' dining room, and was peering through the window, watching us the whole time!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSSj4JrFYpgGpAePEtCrQMuD1pMgXdwlATP2bSa40Sg4qTXRHw-JXBPXwMS0ystKxnhXVSO7Y47Lx9zPZs8yOTs0wohwQUcYoXVyS-dtblzd_RfPvgJgTeYe29-1TQwNFjrdbA95NpnvW/s1600/1064879604__dsc0059.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536180439741460642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSSj4JrFYpgGpAePEtCrQMuD1pMgXdwlATP2bSa40Sg4qTXRHw-JXBPXwMS0ystKxnhXVSO7Y47Lx9zPZs8yOTs0wohwQUcYoXVyS-dtblzd_RfPvgJgTeYe29-1TQwNFjrdbA95NpnvW/s1600/1064879604__dsc0059.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" border="0" /></a></div><br />Are you doing a first look? I hope you enjoy the moment as Mr. PC and I did!<br /><br /><i>All photos taken by the fabulous <a href="http://www.steepstreet.com/">Steep Street Photography</a></i><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Pin Cushion Flashback</b>:</div><div>The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/">hit up the salon</a>. Then the gang <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/13/stuck-on-you-wedding-dressing/">gets dressed</a>. </div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-54510338138959488032012-04-10T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-18T22:35:09.851-07:00Stuck on You: Wedding DressingThe writing of the vows continued when I got home from the salon . . .<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1252/1064943014_Sz393-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1252/1064943014_Sz393-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /> </a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I'm pretty sure that everyone around me, if they hadn't already thought so, began to think I was a little wacky. I was kneeling in my high school bedroom, power writing vows that should have been written weeks ago. Thankfully, at this point, I just needed to copy my chicken scratch into legible vows I could read at the altar.<br /><br />My photography, <a href="http://steepstreet.com/index.htm">Kelty</a>, took my scribbling as a sign to leave me alone and go take some detail shots.<br /></div><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1596/1065081875_oRi8a-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1596/1065081875_oRi8a-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />(My ring's Weddingbee debut!)<br /><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1256/1064952579_exd4t-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1256/1064952579_exd4t-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My grandmother's pearl necklace that I wore for my wedding day.<br /><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1249/1064937218_EcdoV-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1249/1064937218_EcdoV-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My wedding day shoes. Vivienne Westwood. Cute. Sweaty. Plastic-y smelling.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a dilemma that I think most brides deal with: how do you put on your wedding dress without showing your undies to your photographer, your bridesmaids and your mom?<br /><br />I chose the method of: put on your undies and bra (or very sticky Nu-Bra if you're me) in the bathroom, then giggle like mad as you realize you are basically nude and your dress is very much not within reach.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1260/1064963375_BeCw5-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 600px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1260/1064963375_BeCw5-L.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Oh my. I think the ladies in that room got a bit of a shock when I stepped out from behind the door. Ta-da! I am grateful that there are no pictures of either their faces nor my Nu-bra'ed body.<br /><br />I made a beeline to my dress and gave my mom a look that conveyed, "Please zip me up and help your poor, nearly nude daughter get out of this debacle!"<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1264/1064965870_KjTgy-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 450px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1264/1064965870_KjTgy-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1266/1064970015_jaPik-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 450px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1266/1064970015_jaPik-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1272/1064973175_qNfaH-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 600px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1272/1064973175_qNfaH-L.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1294/1064986368_zADVt-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1294/1064986368_zADVt-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My dear friends are still speechless at seeing more of Pin Cushion than they signed up for.<br /><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1282/1064977049_fD76k-L.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 600px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1282/1064977049_fD76k-L.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1319/1065018507_ZFb4f-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1319/1065018507_ZFb4f-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My hoop skirts get their 30 seconds of fame.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The men (Mr. Pin Cushion and his best man) got ready downstairs. And by that, I mean in the backyard. I am not sure exactly how they ended up there.<br /></div><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0008/1064861525_TewMC-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0008/1064861525_TewMC-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0005/1065089769_T9dkz-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0005/1065089769_T9dkz-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I know that look. Mr. PC is saying, "Uh . . . so how does this thing work?" That question has led him to single handedly add 123 hits to the YouTube instructional video "How to Tie A Tie".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And when a tie needs tying and there is no YouTube in sight? Call in the ladies. Mr. Pin Cushion's two sisters gave him a hand (4 hands, actually).<br /></div><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0019/1064864526_VaKk7-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0019/1064864526_VaKk7-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0027/1064867785_4PX5f-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC0027/1064867785_4PX5f-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">How will you (or how did you) deal with getting into your wedding dress? Buck up and show everyone the goods? Have all those present avert their eyes? Slip into your dress in the privacy of a bathroom? (If only I had known the answer to how to do this before my wedding, I could have saved my bridesmaids' eyeballs [or at least warned them in advance].)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i>All photos by the fabulous <a href="http://steepstreet.com/">Steep Street Photography</a></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Pin Cushion Flashback</b>:</div><div style="text-align: left;">The gals <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/04/11/bride-getting-ready-4/#more-234706">hit up the salon</a>.</div></div></div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-92230264626468213242012-04-07T19:26:00.000-07:002012-04-07T19:26:58.892-07:00Stuck on You: Salon TimeAfter staying up much too late the night before (vow writing, cookie baking, itunes playlist composing), I woke up on the morning of the wedding with a knot in my stomach. I was a ball of nerves. It felt like the precious (awful) minutes before a big test, where you just want the test to begin because you know you'll feel better once it does.<br /><br />I drove to meet my bridesmaids (and a groomswoman) at the salon in the morning. But with bridal brain in full force, I forgot to get directions. And I got lost. Even though I'd been to the salon before. After a frantic phone call, more than one U-turn and some emotional tears (if you'd like to start counting, that's cry #1 for the day), I finally arrived at the salon.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1232/1064927141_MZEmA-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1232/1064927141_MZEmA-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br />My hair and make-up maven (Sara Purtscher at<a href="http://www.tranquillespa.com/"> Tranquille</a>) got right to work.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1142/1064881837_TdT4v-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1142/1064881837_TdT4v-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1154/1064885548_WKxC9-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1154/1064885548_WKxC9-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br />My reflection looks pleased. I had a case of bouffant-induced giggles. It looked like my brain had increased in size by 400 IQ points. Sara, the stylist, assured me it would settle down with time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1160/1064887818_CYpHK-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1160/1064887818_CYpHK-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1204/1064903945_GyfNH-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1204/1064903945_GyfNH-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br />While my 'maids got their hair done, I hopped right over into the make-up chair. It was so nice to just sit back relax. Plus, getting your make up done feels a bit like a face massage.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1186/1064889544_LBqas-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1186/1064889544_LBqas-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was nice to have my ladies looking on and supporting me. With words, but more importantly, with delicious muffins and champagne (just kidding. Mostly.)<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1229/1064922287_ixDSh-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1229/1064922287_ixDSh-S.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1224/1064919905_3xHtc-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1224/1064919905_3xHtc-S.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />While most of the salon experience was relaxing, I unfortunately was devoting 6% of my brain to a less-than-relaxing matter: finishing my vows. These things would just not go away!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1147/1064883656_HqthW-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1147/1064883656_HqthW-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">With a little bit of liquid courage (mimosas), and my cheat sheet (notes I had written about Mr. Pin Cushion while I was living in DC [in case I needed reminders of why I loved him while we were long distance, which thankfully I didn't need]), I was able to <span style="font-style: italic;">nearly </span>finish my vows.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1202/1064901726_8vmrL-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 450px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1202/1064901726_8vmrL-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1200/1064898229_JbKLZ-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 450px;" src="http://steepstreet.smugmug.com/Other/Kendra-and-Chris/DSC1200/1064898229_JbKLZ-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br />How do you expect to feel on the morning of your wedding? Nervous? Excited? Like you might puke a little bit? Super stressed about finishing your vows (don't be like me, finish yours early [at least the night before!])?<div><br /></div><div><i>All photos by the fabulous <a href="http://steepstreet.com/">Steep Street Photography</a></i></div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-31346677903997324042012-04-07T18:41:00.004-07:002012-04-07T19:23:47.073-07:00Stuck on You: Inspiration Vs Reality<div style="text-align: left;">It's showdown time! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In one corner, it's "The OG": Original Pin Cushion Inspiration Board!</div><div style="text-align: left;">And battling it out in the other corner is "Reality Bites": Real Pin Cushion Wedding Board!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First up, OG (created 3 years ago, in the Mesolithic era, via Style Me Pretty):</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vN0Jm5Nhj-czRMohvHtZkXIyt3io5wwF3-f8liS2IATLRRQbKK7rzWFTMsdBSC1tKNQvw6UEjxo4dR9CBkXvCIfgV4AtLNhUDF70AeFn9Pd5Ph4kbM8Qfq_43Z9TAzAfhaBe9rktQlvu/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-07+at+6.47.11+PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vN0Jm5Nhj-czRMohvHtZkXIyt3io5wwF3-f8liS2IATLRRQbKK7rzWFTMsdBSC1tKNQvw6UEjxo4dR9CBkXvCIfgV4AtLNhUDF70AeFn9Pd5Ph4kbM8Qfq_43Z9TAzAfhaBe9rktQlvu/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-07+at+6.47.11+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728840799003006722" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{Sources available from original<a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/13/rustic-wedding-inspiration/"> inspiration board post</a>}</div><div><br /></div><div>Next up, to woo you is Reality Bites (created via Project Wedding with our very own wedding photos):<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xozqlVaBRo8CprBkVf6QxVdDrQoZJWxlkHJ96IDRqbv8z414u2vwAa8O2_yZInN0K0sklQUDcKJb5sWflT9suEkOJ_uDP1V9-VZCHze6KAzUSp4gMBt_TPlB5RPLTXFhQF3F_i-NrCX_/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-07+at+6.39.26+PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xozqlVaBRo8CprBkVf6QxVdDrQoZJWxlkHJ96IDRqbv8z414u2vwAa8O2_yZInN0K0sklQUDcKJb5sWflT9suEkOJ_uDP1V9-VZCHze6KAzUSp4gMBt_TPlB5RPLTXFhQF3F_i-NrCX_/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-07+at+6.39.26+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728839963730869298" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">{All shots from <a href="http://www.steepstreet.com/">Steep Street Photography</a>}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now, as a totally <i>partial</i> judge (nobody could get more partial than me, the bride), I would say it's a WIN. As in, our wedding photos pretty much hit the colors and vibe of our OG inspiration board. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What do you think Hive, did the Pin Cushion wedding board live up to the inspiration board? Are you using an inspiration board to guide your wedding decisions?</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-91975938788027315412012-04-04T21:00:00.001-07:002012-04-04T21:24:50.894-07:00Relationships: Sharing<div>A while back, I heard an interview with the author Joyce Carol Oates on my local <a href="http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/31/44-public-radio/">NPR radio station</a>. Afterwards, I couldn't stop thinking about her take on sharing her feelings with her spouse.</div><div><br /></div><div>A snippet of the interview (full interview available <a href="http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201104061000">here</a>):</div><div><br /></div><b>Joyce</b>: He would be helpful if I needed help, but I would not come to him with problems that would upset him. If I got a terrible review . . . I would never tell him about it. . . I don't believe in upsetting people, unless I really, really had to.<br /><br /><b>NPR</b>: But then you're upset and don't you at least want to get some commiseration?<br /><br /><b>Joyce</b>: No. No. No, I don't think it works that way. If I had gotten a devastating review or something terrible had happened to me and I went to (my husband) he would be sympathetic, but then he'd be upset. And then he'd feel like he'd need to talk to me about it.<br /><br /><b>NPR</b>: So you want to protect him from getting upset?<br /><br /><b>Joyce</b>: Yeah. And then you talk about it for an hour. Whereas when you're all alone, you might have forgotten about it in five minutes. As soon as you share something with somebody, it's gonna come back, someone will always bring it up, or you'll remember it together. Better to move on and forget about these things.<br /><br /><div><br /><div>This is such a foreign idea to me. Perhaps I am an over-sharer, but I can't imagine having a crappy day or having something happen to me, either good or bad, and no sharing that with my partner. Not sharing how your feeling seems to take the whole "we're a team", "we're in this together" concept out of a relationship. And really, that's the best part about a relationship! Knowing you have someone to commiserate with, someone to talk over what happened and figure out what to do, that's what's so great about being married!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Am I the strange one? Or is Joyce Carol Oates? Am I wrong in thinking that most people in a relationship share everything? Well, nearly everything.</div><div><br /></div><div>What is your relationship sharing like?</div><div>1) I agree with Mrs. Pin Cushion. Me and my partner are big sharers. Sharing is caring. </div><div>2) I agree with Joyce Carol Oates. There is no need to share everything, some things are better kept to myself.</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-32807448175352928672012-03-26T15:01:00.001-07:002012-03-26T15:01:56.631-07:00Relationships: Arguing<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.morenewmath.com/img/equations/211.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 524px; height: 339px;" src="http://www.morenewmath.com/img/equations/211.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">[From <a href="http://www.morenewmath.com/211/argument/">More New Math</a>]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I wanted to talk about something that I normally only talk about with close friends who are in relationships. Arguing. I usually reserve this for partnered-up friends because at least that way I know that they have fights (well, at least I assume they have fights), and thus, will not judge me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mr. Pin Cushion and I don't fight very often. But when we do, it makes up for lost time. We are BAD at fighting. As in, it is very hard for us to get over our fights. One argument turns into another and we usually tire ourselves out and give in without ever actually coming to a true solution (which also might have to do with the fact that after fighting for days, we can't even remember what we started fighting about).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, we yell (as I mentioned in the <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2012/03/20/relationship-behavior-quiz/#more-232775">Relationship Behaviors</a> post). Most people who know me in 'real life' say that they are surprised to learn that I yell. But in the heat of the arguing, I usually am so angry that I can't contain it, or express my emotions with a quiet or calm voice. I might have a rage problem. My face gets hot, my chest gets tight. Scary. Also, I swear. Which I do NOT do any other time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Do you and your partner fight "well", or do you fight "bad"? Do you yell or swear? What are your secrets to having good, productive fight? I would REALLY love to know. Books? Counseling? </div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928318755804741338.post-33549184307893997872012-03-26T14:50:00.000-07:002012-03-26T14:51:49.474-07:00Relationship Types<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtToaWCFuXcIqQBUgdgCwr_UIZeeaT5O3i_9mMdKLO_4SefO9PZZxtQzZDmWbsm0dI3eeRHMGBXUUcYrAi2GsjS19DpVG1brF56D7fBQJuLfzAk1Ldh-g_6Pa4hEphzwghePdOGFo55zM/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-15+at+10.56.45+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtToaWCFuXcIqQBUgdgCwr_UIZeeaT5O3i_9mMdKLO_4SefO9PZZxtQzZDmWbsm0dI3eeRHMGBXUUcYrAi2GsjS19DpVG1brF56D7fBQJuLfzAk1Ldh-g_6Pa4hEphzwghePdOGFo55zM/s400/Screen+shot+2011-03-15+at+10.56.45+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584367440448894866" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(From etsy store<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/62602691/oh-darling-lets-be-adventurers"> Fifi du Vie</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Would you describe your relationship as 'sustainable'?</div><div><br /></div><div>Presumably since you are either planning a wedding or are married, you'd say YES. I would answer the same. But a quiz in the NY Times about sustainable marriages (based on true research, no less) abruptly told me that in fact, no, the Pin Cushions do not currently have a sustainable relationship.</div><div><br /></div><div>The<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/weekinreview/02parkerpope.html?_r=1"> interesting NY Times</a> article from 2010 states, "research shows that the more self-expansion people experience from their partner, the more committed and satisfied they are in the relationship." In other words, does your partner increase your chance of trying new things, learning new skills and being adventurers? </div><div><br /></div><div>When I think about that question, I would say that no, Mr. Pin Cushion and I are not galavanting around doing new things every weekend, learning karate and Thai cooking. But I do think that grocery shopping and going to the laundromat are way more fun when I'm with Mr. PC. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was struck with the sentiment of a statement in the book <i>American Wife </i>that I read a while back: </div><div><br /></div><div>What greater happiness is there than the privilege of being bored together?</div><div><br /></div><div>This is more in line with the Pin Cushion relationship. Not that we are always bored together, but when I am bored, I'm happy to be bored with him. To feel comfortable enough to just stare into space with each other, or spend hours reading side by side, or doing whatever is part of your daily life and being thrilled with it, to me, that demonstrates a sustainable relationship.</div><div><br /></div><div>Take the quiz to find out your 'sustainability' <a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/31/the-sustainable-marriage-quiz/">here</a>, or answer the questions below.</div><div><b>Instructions</b>: On a scale of 1 (not very much) to 7 (very much), how would you answer each question?</div><div><br /></div><div>1. How much does being with your partner result in having new experiences?</div><div>2. When you are with your partner, do you feel a greater awareness of things because of him or her?</div><div>3. How much does your partner increase your ability to accomplish new things?</div><div>4. How much does your partner help to expand your sense of the kind of person you are?</div><div>5. How much do you see your partner as a way to expand your own capabilities?</div><div>6. How much do your partner's strengths as a person (skills, abilities, etc) compensate for some of your own weaknesses as a person?</div><div>7. How much do you believe that you have a larger perspective on things because of your partner?</div><div>8. How much has being with your partner resulted in your learning new things?</div><div>9. How much has knowing your partner made you a better person?</div><div>10. How much does your partner increase your knowledge?</div><div><br /></div><div>The scores can be explained in the quiz link, but in short, if you are below 45, you have a low connection. 45 to 60 is moderately exciting. And above 60 is highly expansive.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mr. Pin Cushion's answers gave our relationship a 45 - that means we are <i>barely </i>moderately exciting (His answers: 6 2 5 4 2 6 5 3 7 5 = 45). My answers ranked us with a 43, meaning we have a low connection!! (My answers: 4 3 6 4 2 5 2 4 7 6 = 43). </div><div><br /></div><div>Well that's just embarrassing! </div><div><br /></div><div>What was your score? Would you say that your relationship is based on being "adventurers"? Or are you comfortable and happy in your daily routine with your partner?</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998392450980440848noreply@blogger.com0