Okay, we've probably all been to The Knot, Brides.com, and who knows how many other wedding websites targeted at women, but have you ever seen a wedding website targeted at the groom-to-be?
I have always thought it would be wonderful to have a website with a listing of all the wonderful proposal ideas that I've thought of in my life - with others contributed by, more than likely, a whole bunch of other lovestruck girls. Then, all the guys who are a little less than truly creative could have a resource.
Unfortunately, I never got around to it, but DudeImGettingMarried.com takes it one step further. Not only do they have a page on the proposal, tips on choosing the ring, and forums where real dudes can discuss their proposals and weddings, but they also have pages of information about all other aspects of a wedding, budget management software, and wedding checklists that your dude can use to keep track of his new honey-do list. According to the About Us page, "DudeImGettingMarried.com is a social networking wedding website focused on providing men with the tools needed in order to successfully fulfill their role in the wedding planning process."
The best part? Not a single part of this website makes itself out to be lame, or a stupid obligation. These dudes understand that the groom has a role in the wedding planning process. It isn't targeted at men who want to sit back because they think the whole wedding thing is lame. No, this website is targeted at real dudes who are just as interested in being a part of their weddings as their brides are.
So, if you know a dude or wish your man was a dude, pass this website along.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Happy Hour Wedding Video
Every once in awhile, you find out something awesome that a fellow high school graduate has done. That happened to me the other day as I was looking at my facebook news feed. Here I am, loving weddings SO much, and Charles Phillips (who used to wear a big poofy green coat in middle school...) posts a wedding video that he shot. And the best part is... IT'S WONDERFUL! Seriously, from the bridesmaids singing to the Happy Hour drive-thru - well, just watch it!
Contact Charles at daybreakcinema@gmail.com if you would like to have the next AWESOME wedding video! :)
HAPPY HOUR - suzanna & chris from daybreak on Vimeo.
Contact Charles at daybreakcinema@gmail.com if you would like to have the next AWESOME wedding video! :)
Friday, June 11, 2010
Wedding Cookbook: Step by Step
What better way to celebrate the union of "his" and "hers" than by putting all of your beloved recipes (from family and friends) in one family cookbook? With today's technology and web-savvy wedding guests, this process can be easy and fun - and leave you with a lasting - not to mention, practical - reminder of how much everyone loves the two of you.
Step 1: Make a plan. It's always a good idea to create a plan for any project, and the good news is that I've already done most of it for you. Still, it will help if you adapt this plan to your own specification and guidelines in order to ensure smooth sailing throughout the project. Today's brides are busy - especially if you are one of those extra-amazing d.i.y. brides so having a clear plan will help keep you sane. If your maid of honor, super-organized bridesmaid, mother, or mother-in-law is looking for a way to help, get her involved and hand off this project to keep your hands free to enjoy the other details.
Step 2: Determine how people will submit recipes. There are loads of ways to do this. First of all, you could always use a website that is specifically for creating family cookbooks using the power of the internet. (I suggest familycookbookproject because that's their specialty) If you are looking for a more customized feel for your cookbook and feel comfortable designing and laying it out yourself (there's an easy option for this too... read on) then consider placing a submit a recipe form on your wedding website, having people email recipes, or handwriting recipes at the bridal shower and/or reception. You can encourage people to submit pictures with their recipes as well - pictures of the food, pictures of them, pictures of you and/or your groom, OR you could just use party pics from the wedding reception and wedding along with the recipes. It's up to you, but decide what you want people to submit and encourage them to do it! The best part is that once you have your cookbook all set up, you can offer those who contributed the opportunity to buy it too (only if they want, of course... but who wouldn't since it's gonna be amazing! and full of yummy recipes to boot!) so make sure to collect email addresses for your contributers.
Step 3: Hassle people! Okay, so I don't really mean that - but how can your Great Aunt Edna know that you want her timeless Coconut Cream Pie recipe if you haven't asked in some way? And how will you ever get your groom's Grandma Ruth's meatloaf recipe if she doesn't know you are collecting? If you have a form on your wedding website, this is easy, but you still might want to include a small insert in your invitations and announcements that plug your cookbook. Oh, and since Great Aunt Edna and Grandma Ruth probably aren't going to be looking at the computer any time soon... you might want to give them a call or talk to them in person about your plan. Some of the most important family recipes come from those who are quite un-tech-savvy... so be prepared to ask in a more direct way to get the recipes that mean the most to you and your groom.
Step 4: Collect, collect, collect!!! This process may or may not include typing up handwritten recipes from Great Aunt Edna and the ladies at your bridal shower so enlist some help from your bridesmaids, your mom... and maybe even your groom. You want to feel like he's involved... and he probably would rather type things up than help pick out the color of napkins or the type of daisies to include in the bridesmaids' bouquets anyway.
Step 5: Put it all together! I definitely 110% recommend http://www.blurb.com/ for this. Blurb.com is an amazing website that allows you to download their design software and design your own book. They offer books of differing sizes at reasonable prices. A standard portrait size 160-page book (8x10) hardcover with the image wrapped is under $50 and the best part is that you only have to order ONE copy to get that price. Did I mention that the design possibilities are endless but as easy to use as Microsoft Word and Publisher and you can share your book (with a preview) to anyone you want by embedding the link in emails, your facebook, or your weddings website. Just for fun, consider using different colored borders for recipes submitted by "his" "hers" and "theirs" and don't forget to use all the pictures that were submitted or taken at the reception and wedding.
Step 6: Share with your friends and family! Let your contributers see what you created. With Blurb.com you can do it easily, so take advantage of it!
Step 7: Make wonderful meals and treats with and/or for your groom that will remind you both of your childhood and all the people who loved you. Forget peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Your first year of marriage is going to be filled with tried and true culinary delights.
They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but if you've already got his heart... that doesn't mean you should leave his stomach lacking!
Step 1: Make a plan. It's always a good idea to create a plan for any project, and the good news is that I've already done most of it for you. Still, it will help if you adapt this plan to your own specification and guidelines in order to ensure smooth sailing throughout the project. Today's brides are busy - especially if you are one of those extra-amazing d.i.y. brides so having a clear plan will help keep you sane. If your maid of honor, super-organized bridesmaid, mother, or mother-in-law is looking for a way to help, get her involved and hand off this project to keep your hands free to enjoy the other details.
Step 2: Determine how people will submit recipes. There are loads of ways to do this. First of all, you could always use a website that is specifically for creating family cookbooks using the power of the internet. (I suggest familycookbookproject because that's their specialty) If you are looking for a more customized feel for your cookbook and feel comfortable designing and laying it out yourself (there's an easy option for this too... read on) then consider placing a submit a recipe form on your wedding website, having people email recipes, or handwriting recipes at the bridal shower and/or reception. You can encourage people to submit pictures with their recipes as well - pictures of the food, pictures of them, pictures of you and/or your groom, OR you could just use party pics from the wedding reception and wedding along with the recipes. It's up to you, but decide what you want people to submit and encourage them to do it! The best part is that once you have your cookbook all set up, you can offer those who contributed the opportunity to buy it too (only if they want, of course... but who wouldn't since it's gonna be amazing! and full of yummy recipes to boot!) so make sure to collect email addresses for your contributers.
Step 3: Hassle people! Okay, so I don't really mean that - but how can your Great Aunt Edna know that you want her timeless Coconut Cream Pie recipe if you haven't asked in some way? And how will you ever get your groom's Grandma Ruth's meatloaf recipe if she doesn't know you are collecting? If you have a form on your wedding website, this is easy, but you still might want to include a small insert in your invitations and announcements that plug your cookbook. Oh, and since Great Aunt Edna and Grandma Ruth probably aren't going to be looking at the computer any time soon... you might want to give them a call or talk to them in person about your plan. Some of the most important family recipes come from those who are quite un-tech-savvy... so be prepared to ask in a more direct way to get the recipes that mean the most to you and your groom.
Step 4: Collect, collect, collect!!! This process may or may not include typing up handwritten recipes from Great Aunt Edna and the ladies at your bridal shower so enlist some help from your bridesmaids, your mom... and maybe even your groom. You want to feel like he's involved... and he probably would rather type things up than help pick out the color of napkins or the type of daisies to include in the bridesmaids' bouquets anyway.
Step 5: Put it all together! I definitely 110% recommend http://www.blurb.com/ for this. Blurb.com is an amazing website that allows you to download their design software and design your own book. They offer books of differing sizes at reasonable prices. A standard portrait size 160-page book (8x10) hardcover with the image wrapped is under $50 and the best part is that you only have to order ONE copy to get that price. Did I mention that the design possibilities are endless but as easy to use as Microsoft Word and Publisher and you can share your book (with a preview) to anyone you want by embedding the link in emails, your facebook, or your weddings website. Just for fun, consider using different colored borders for recipes submitted by "his" "hers" and "theirs" and don't forget to use all the pictures that were submitted or taken at the reception and wedding.
Step 6: Share with your friends and family! Let your contributers see what you created. With Blurb.com you can do it easily, so take advantage of it!
Step 7: Make wonderful meals and treats with and/or for your groom that will remind you both of your childhood and all the people who loved you. Forget peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Your first year of marriage is going to be filled with tried and true culinary delights.
They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but if you've already got his heart... that doesn't mean you should leave his stomach lacking!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Why weddings? Why Bobbie?
Maybe it's normal. Maybe I'm just like every other girl in the world - dreaming of the perfect day where I'll wear the perfect dress, take perfect pictures, and start my perfect life with my perfect prince charming - while everyone I've ever met ooh's and ahh's at how perfectly the food, the dancing, the decorations, and all the tiny details add to the perfect atmosphere to celebrate this, my perfect wedding.
Okay... so maybe the obsession is a little less normal than I'd like to admit. Honestly, it's something I worked on for a long time, and to be entirely truthful - I'm not as crazy about that whole "perfection" thing anymore. Actually, I tend to like the little bumps and wrong turns that happen on any day - and why should a wedding be any different? Embrace the uncertainty - expect set-backs, and approach the day with a smile and a sense of adventure. After all, the most important thing is not having the perfect day - or even the perfect husband and marriage - it's beginning an imperfect life with an imperfect man who is willing to accept all of your imperfections, and THAT is something to celebrate!
So, I love fairytales, happy moments, and happily ever after's - especially in a world that is a little crazed with dead-ends, divorce, and overall depression. Weddings are days when everyone comes together and leaves their cynicism at home to celebrate a new beginning with optimism. The love is evident in all the tiny moments - recreated across so many generations, cultural barriers, and socio-economic lines. The father-daughter dance can take place in a K.C. Hall or at the Hilton's ballroom, and Brides and Grooms from 2010 don't kiss any differently than their grandparents did in 1950 - although they might be a little more open with it in front of their guests.
I've loved weddings for as long as I can remember, and I've finally decided it's time to stop storing files all over my computer of my favorite decorations, dresses, engagement photos, announcements, flowers, songs, and CAPTURED MOMENTS (those are my favorite) and share them with the world. I've always dreamed of being a wedding planner, and this is the next best thing. I'll share my creativity and ideas and you can steal them at whim. I get an outlet and you get free stuff to use. All in all, it's a win-win.
Welcome to Weddings by Bobbie. Trust me; more posts coming soon!
Okay... so maybe the obsession is a little less normal than I'd like to admit. Honestly, it's something I worked on for a long time, and to be entirely truthful - I'm not as crazy about that whole "perfection" thing anymore. Actually, I tend to like the little bumps and wrong turns that happen on any day - and why should a wedding be any different? Embrace the uncertainty - expect set-backs, and approach the day with a smile and a sense of adventure. After all, the most important thing is not having the perfect day - or even the perfect husband and marriage - it's beginning an imperfect life with an imperfect man who is willing to accept all of your imperfections, and THAT is something to celebrate!
So, I love fairytales, happy moments, and happily ever after's - especially in a world that is a little crazed with dead-ends, divorce, and overall depression. Weddings are days when everyone comes together and leaves their cynicism at home to celebrate a new beginning with optimism. The love is evident in all the tiny moments - recreated across so many generations, cultural barriers, and socio-economic lines. The father-daughter dance can take place in a K.C. Hall or at the Hilton's ballroom, and Brides and Grooms from 2010 don't kiss any differently than their grandparents did in 1950 - although they might be a little more open with it in front of their guests.
I've loved weddings for as long as I can remember, and I've finally decided it's time to stop storing files all over my computer of my favorite decorations, dresses, engagement photos, announcements, flowers, songs, and CAPTURED MOMENTS (those are my favorite) and share them with the world. I've always dreamed of being a wedding planner, and this is the next best thing. I'll share my creativity and ideas and you can steal them at whim. I get an outlet and you get free stuff to use. All in all, it's a win-win.
Welcome to Weddings by Bobbie. Trust me; more posts coming soon!
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