How the Cupcakes Met

The story of how Mr. Cupcake and I met is a good one, so I thought I'd share it with you Weddingbee readers to help you get to know us :-)

On Friday, October 31, 2003, the last thing I wanted to do was go to a Halloween party. I had had a long day at work, fell asleep on the couch for a few hours, and woke up cranky (yes, I'm like a toddler — don't expect me to be nice for the first hour after I've awoken from a nap!). I called Mama Cupcake and was complaining that I didn't want to go to the two costume parties I had committed to, but she gave me a typical mom pep talk and told me that if I told my friends I'd be at their parties, then I really should go. Plus, I had another friend that was planning to come to the second party with me, and it would be rude to cancel on her. If we weren't having fun, we could always make an early exit, but I had to at least show my face.

So, I got into my homemade Violet Beauregard costume (you know, the blueberry girl from Willy Wonka... but I was the cute version of her, pre-blueberry-blowup!), and went with my roommate (dressed as Veruca Salt) to her boyfriend's party (he was — you guessed it! — a rather tall Oompa Loompa). I pepped up a little bit and was feeling better, so I started to look forward to party #2. I went home to meet up with my other friend, and we made our way to the second party that was just a few blocks away from my apartment in the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Aside from the hostesses (one of whom I had worked with at my last job) and the friend I brought with me, I knew no one at this second party. I knew I had to make my own fun and strike up conversations with new people, which is sometimes hard for me, but on this particular night I turned into Little Miss Social. I had noticed my hostess friend's beer pong partner (yes, there was beer pong — cut me some slack, we were 23!); I thought he was cute, but didn't give too much thought to him at the time. I always get some laughs when I tell people what he was wearing: a mullet wig, bright orange Nascar hat, a beer logo t-shirt, pegged jeans, and work boots. That's right, ladies — I was able to look past the costume and still somehow find this man attractive!

A little while into the party, I found myself standing next to this same party guest while waiting in line for the bathroom. I had seen another partygoer dressed as Garth from the SNL skit “Wayne’s World,” so I asked if he was supposed to be Garth’s best friend, Wayne. He misheard and thought I asked if he was “waiting.”

“Yes, I’m waiting,” he responded. (Probably thinking, why else would I be in line for the bathroom, genius?)

“No, are you WAYNE — from Wayne’s World?” I asked.

“Oh, no,” he said. “I’m just your basic white trash.”

And with that, the Cupcake romance began!

We crossed paths a little while later at the party, and after talking and laughing for quite a while, we decided to walk down to a local bar, Flatrock, to get drinks with some other people. After being impressed by my request for a Newcastle Brown Ale, Mr. Cupcake assured me that his mullet hairdo was just a wig, and we continued to talk the night away. I found out that he went to college with the hostesses of the party, and was visiting from out of town for the night.

At the end of the evening, Mr. Cupcake told me he would like to come down to take me out the next Friday night; we exchanged phone numbers, and I made my way home, text messaging him a goodnight message when I got home. Apparently not able to wait a whole week, he called me the following night to let me know he had decided to stay in town for the weekend, and we made plans to meet on Main Street in Manayunk the next day, Sunday. We sat outside of a local restaurant/bar, Thomas’, on a beautiful fall day, talking and laughing, before he drove me home on his way out of town. He promised to call me mid-week to talk about our date plans for the following weekend.

Mr. Cupcake stayed true to his word and called later in the week to finalize plans to go out the next Friday; our first “official” date was dinner at Le Bus in Manayunk, followed by another stop at Flatrock where Mr. Cupcake told me he couldn’t “do this every weekend” (meaning drive down to see me). But I guess he liked me enough that he changed his mind, because without prodding, he traveled four boring hours round trip on the Pennsylvania Turnpike almost every weekend to see me for the next two years, before he moved to be closer to me. Those first two years were sometimes difficult and frustrating, but it was a true test of our feelings for each other, and it taught us how much we really loved each other and how much we wanted to build a future together.

The moral of the story is: listen to your mother, and follow-through on plans you committed to even if you feel too tired to go. I sure am glad I went to that Halloween party!!!! ;-)

the icing on the cupcake!

Hello, hive!

I am beyond excited to be joining the Weddingbee world as Miss Cupcake. I was introduced to this amazing website/community several months ago by my sister-in-law, and I have since acquired so much creative inspiration, insight, and warm fuzzies from you all (not to mention a severe addiction). I've been fairly active on the boards under the name MissBlushing for the last several months, but now I'm proud to officially be Miss Cupcake! My newly instated bee-dom truly is the icing on the (cup)cake of a wonderful year for me; I hope that my experiences and adventures in wedding planning will help to contribute to the greatness that is Weddingbee!

A little about me: I have been labeled as an "old soul" by many people, and I definitely don't deny this title. I am a softy at heart, often getting teary-eyed at a commercial or magazine article, and I don't think I've ever been to a wedding where I didn't need a tissue. I was a pretty shy kid and have since grown out of my shyness for the most part, but sometimes the introvert in me comes out when I'm feeling insecure (and that's when I hide behind Mr. Cupcake, an outspoken extrovert). I am a graphic designer by trade with a love for all things designy. However, the biggest challenge for any designer is to design something for themselves.... so having a whole wedding to design has become quite the daunting task! There is so much beauty and inspiration out there that I want to incorporate, but sometimes I have to remind myself to keep things cohesive and pick things that set the tone that I want to infuse into our wedding, not just the latest adorable thing I see or think up. So, needless to say, I will be asking for lots of opinions from you out in Weddingbee land :-)

A little about the Cupcakes: Mr. Cupcake and I met four years ago at a Halloween party (both in full costume), and have been together ever since. We were long-distance for the first two years of our relationship, and we have been through a lot together. We joke that we are the opposite of each other's type, but somehow we found each other and our relationship just works. I've always been a little bit uptight and a bit of a worrier; Mr. Cupcake is laid back to a fault and doesn't worry about much, so we balance each other out nicely. We love to eat out and people-watch, we both enjoy good beer and discovering new brews, and we are a dynamic duo at Quizzo. We laugh a lot and love to bicker about silly things, but at the end of the day we're always smiling and having a good time together.

Why "Miss Cupcake"? Well... who doesn't love cupcakes? ;-)

I can't wait to share with you all the fun and experiences of planning our wedding over the next several months.... Here we go!

I'm alive! (plus adventures in bridesmaid's dresses)

Hello blog world! (Er, like, the two of you that might actually read this ;-) I know it has been wayyyyy too long since I have written on this here blog. The new job has been keeping me super busy, but it has also been keeping me super happy. To actually come home after a 10 or 11 hour workday and still be smiling -- well it's certainly something new for me, to say the least.

One thing I'm learning to balance with the new job is keeping up with wedding planning. I'm not going to lie: anywhere from 15%-85% of my day at my last job was often spent daydreaming and researching for the wedding! I had lots of time to pore over wedding blogs, dress websites, etc. etc. I certainly can't do this anymore, but luckily those months that I was able to do lots of research helped me to come up with pretty clear ideas of what I want/don't want, so now I have an easier time making decisions.

One big decision that I am super excited about: bridesmaid's dresses! I had seen this photo on the Alfred Sung website a few months ago, and immediately loved it. Although I am normally not a fan of halter styles, there was something about this one that was less trendy and more vintage that I really liked. It seems to go quite well with the vibe of my dress and the "vintage charm meets modern whimsy" motif, and it meets three of my other requirements: not strapless, not satin (it's a nice blend that isn't too shiny like satin, nor is it too slinky like chiffon), and it is t-length.

MatOH and I went to check out the dress in person a few weeks ago, and we both immediately loved it. She tried on a few other dresses that day, but we both kept coming back to this one. I took my mom to see the dress a few weeks later, and emailed a photo to the rest of the 'maids, and the decision was unanimous: it's perfect!

I know this is straying from my color scheme somewhat, but the teal color kept drawing me in so that is what I decided to go with. I am still going to keep chartreuse and plum as accent colors, but I have always loved teal and I am very happy to keep this as the main signature color. Through the magic of Photoshop, I took the photo of the dress from the Alfred Sung website and made it teal, for your viewing pleasure:



Did anyone else have such an easy time deciding on bridesmaid's gowns?

Keeping on track

For the first time since the wedding planning began, I suddenly feel dangerously close to getting off track with my timeline!

My life has become complete chaos in the last few weeks (albeit wonderful, welcomed chaos), but I am trying my best to stay on target with the things I need to get done for the wedding each month. I am finally realizing that it's time to really get down to business and start making lots and lots of decisions -- it's not all about looking through pretty magazines and browsing the web anymore! Apparently, I have to actually do stuff? Hmph.

During my "wedding coma" of this weekend (ie, two weddings in one weekend in two different states, involving lots of driving, one lipstick stain, and two very tired feet that had to get up bright and early for work this morning), I decided that I can't be this exhausted, burnt out person for the next eleven months!!! I asked Mr. Blushing if he would mind if I gave him a "to-do" list every month to help me out with some wedding details, and he happily obliged. October is already halfway over but my list isn't quite crossed off yet, so I need to pick up the pace and I need his help. We decided that he will do all the research for the honeymoon, narrow down his favorite locations, and then we can decide on a place together. This will be one less thing for me to do, and I think it will be fun for him to be in charge of this big detail.

I haven't always been the best at delegating (stupid perfectionism!), but I trust Mr. Blushing enough to marry him, so why not trust him to make decisions for our day???

My Inspiration Board

Amidst all of the chaos and changes going on over the last several weeks, I have really been wanting to create an inspiration board for my wedding. I have been collecting photos since day one (well, er, before day one!), and I was ready to put everything together to see if I like the direction things are going in. I felt like if I didn't do it now, I'd just end up getting caught up in my new job and putting it off for another few months.

With my few days off before my new job begins, I spent some time getting all the images together in a QuarkXPress layout. I have been worried that the colors won't be vivid enough, or that they'll be too vivid and not classy enough, or everything won't represent my "vintage charm meets modern whimsy" theme quite enough, but now that I have my inspiration board together I'm confident that I'm happy with where things are going!

Click on image to enlarge

I'll be honest -- a lot of the images were collected before I thought about crediting sources; I'm going to try to get as many as I can at some point!

A few things I'll point out:

• The ring towards the top left is my ring from A. Jaffe. I don't have to worry about what band to choose to go with it, because A. Jaffe already makes one! Check!
• The blue dress towards the bottom left is the latest bridesmaid's dress that I found; it is an Alfred Sung creation. I normally don't like halters, but something about this halter is done in a more retro/vintage way, and I think the dress is just charming. It would go perfectly with everything else that I am imagining. It is a new 2007 style, and the style number/color options are not yet listed on the website. It is shown online in an icy blue color, but with the magic of photoshop I made it a lovely peacock blue. If I'm lucky, they'll offer something similar to this, or perhaps a nice purple jewel-tone?
• The photobooth at the top right represents an extra that I'd reeeaaaaaaalllly like to have at the reception; I am still working on talking my mom into that one!
  

What do you think about my board? Is there anything you've seen out there in wedding world that you think would be an excellent addition to it?

Do you believe in signs?

Today is a big day -- today marks exactly ONE YEAR until our wedding day!

I woke up this morning excited at the thought that at the same time in 365 days, I'll be waking up as a single woman for the very last time. It seems like a sort of long time away, but when I think about the fact that we've already been engaged for 7 months, it doesn't seem that far away after all. Time really does fly, and I want to savor this next year and enjoy it as much as possible.

When I got into work today (still at my "old" job for another week), I settled in, and then put on my headphones so I could concentrate and get down to business. As I do just about every other day, I opened my iTunes and pressed "play" -- I have it set to shuffle my music, so I'm never sure what tune in my library of 3,909 songs will play. Wouldn't you know it that the first song that came on is the very song that Mr. Blushing and I plan to dance to for our first dance at our wedding. It's a lovely song by Billy Joel called "You're My Home." There is both a studio and a live version, and the live version is the one I like best; that is the version we will be dancing to, and the same version that delighted my ears this morning. Here are the lyrics:

When you look into my eyes
and you see the crazy gypsy in my soul
it always comes as a surprise
when I feel my withered roots begin to grow.

Well I never had a place
that I could call my very own
but that's alright my love
'cause you're my home.

When you touch my weary head
and you tell me everything will be all right.
You say use my body for your bed
and my love will keep you warm throughout the night.

Well I'll never be a stranger
and I'll never be alone
wherever we're together
that's my home.

Home could be the Pennsylvania turnpike*
Indiana's early morning dew
high up in the hills of California
home is just another word for you.

Well I never had a place that I could call my very own
but that's all right my love
'cause you're my home.

If I travel all my life
and I never get stop and settle down
long as I have you by my side
there's a roof above and good walls all around.
You're my castle, you're my cabin
and my instant pleasure dome.
I need you in my house
'cause you're my home...
you're my home.

Now, I'm not sure that I believe in signs, but I believe that if ever there were one, hearing this song today would be it. :-)

* The first two years of our relationship were long distance, and just about every single weekend (I think we missed a total of two), one of us would drive two long, boring hours on the Pennsylvania Turnpike to see the other. That's not the reason we chose the song, but it sure makes it seem all that much more personal!

Button up!

I had a "case of the Mondays" yesterday, so on my way home from work I stopped at the grocery store and got two things sure to lift my spirits: a roll of Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough, and the new issue of InStyle Weddings. (You can feel my day getting better already, can't you?)

While chowing down on some raw cookie dough (I know, Mom, I shouldn't do that!) and reading my magazine, I came across this adorable table number idea using buttons:

photo via Brooklyn Bride, via InStyle Weddings

I started thinking about my new vintage theme that is slowly falling into place, and I realized that incorporating vintage-looking buttons would be the perfect flair that I am looking for!

With the help of a Weddingbee member who pointed me in the direction of these cute napkin rings from Martha, I searched a little further and found this cake that made my heart literally skip a beat:

photo via Martha Stewart Weddings

Is that not the. cutest. thing. you've ever seen????? I must have it!!!!!

It's so exciting when things actually start to come together.... Between this and my cut glass/eclectic candle holder idea for the centerpieces, I feel like I'm well on my way to a cohesive look and feel for our wedding, after a while of wandering aimlessly through this overwhelming (and sometimes frightening) wedding world.

Was there a moment or idea that suddenly pulled everything together for you?

A pretty big week for Miss Blushing

The last week has been pretty big/exciting for me, for two reasons:

1.) I got the job! I received an offer on Monday evening, and handed in my resignation at my current job on Tuesday. I was a nervous wreck before doing so, because it's just such a difficult thing to do, but once it was over I felt liberated and nothing but excited for the next chapter in my career. I will wrap things up in two weeks, have a few days off to get myself situated, and then begin my new adventure on October 3!

2.) I got "the" dress! Last Saturday Mama Blushing, MIL Blushing, and my MatOH came along when I went to try on the Casablanca dress one more time at The Wedding Touch. As MatOH said, it was a "no brainer" and the troops were unanimous -- I HAD to get this dress! I kept it on for maybe 15 or 20 minutes, loving every second of it and loving the dress more and more the longer I kept it on. So, I got measured, and wonderful Mama Blushing (who does so much for me and is doing so much for our wedding that I could never thank her enough) put down the deposit. DONE! Such a great feeling!

Without further ado, here is the dress, once again, but with yours truly wearing it! (Mr. Blushing, I know you are really not into this blog thing, but if for some reason you are reading this.... STOP NOW!!!!!!! Thankyouverymuch :-) )

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That's me! In MY wedding dress! Teehee.

The back.... we didn't take a lot of time to lay out the train all pretty, but you get the gist.



Aside from the few clips, the sample was very close to my normal size, so this is the size we ordered. For an extra $85, we will also have it custom cut to my height (which will probably save us a few hundred dollars in the alterations that would have otherwise been needed removing and re-stitching all of the detailed lace along the bottom hem). It is hard to tell, but the sample is champagne and that is the same color I ended up ordering. It's basically a more pink ivory that is flattering to my Italian skin tone (where as regular ivory has more yellow, which brings out the olive tone of my skin, which I am not a fan of!).

Also, you can't see in pictures, but each button on the back is beaded with the same detail as the rest of the dress. Truly spectacular!!!

I really like the veil that I am wearing, too. I didn't see the need to order that right away, but I might end up buying this one. I like how the subtle scalloped edge picks up the detail of the dropped waist, and the beading along the edge frames my face while picking up the beading on the dress. I'm also not a fan of "poof" so I like that this veil is a single layer -- no blusher for me (just not my thing and I swear I feel claustrophobic when I wear a blusher.... yes, I'm weird like that!). I would get it a bit longer (I honestly forget the length I want.... 50-something inches? They wrote it down!) because I liked the way another longer veil looked with the dress.

I am so ecstatic about this purchase; I feel like I really found the dress that suits my body, style, and personality to a T. I also like that it will help to set the tone for a somewhat vintage-meets-modern/eclectic style wedding, in terms of decor, flowers, and stationery.

Now I can start diving into the world of shoes, jewelry, and bridesmaid dresses!!!! :-)

Gocco, I love you so

The time has come.... I finally own my very own Gocco!


My wonderful brother and new sister-in-law got me this most fabulous device as a (belated) birthday present. With all of the chaos that this time of year brings to my life, I have not yet been able to break in my cute new screen-printing friend, but I am chomping at the bit to start! I used to L-O-V-E spending hours on end in the screen printing studio during my senior year at the University of Delaware, but continuing the art of printmaking beyond college became difficult with a lack of a studio space to get messy. I can't wait to (sort of) experience that again.... it may be on a smaller scale, but I have a feeling that I will love it just as much!

Wedding DIY projects: here I COME!

ch-ch-ch-changes...

What a hectic time the last several weeks have been! I realize I haven't written much, but I have good reason -- there is a good possibility that tomorrow, I will be getting a job offer with a company that I have been pursuing for a year now. Yes -- a YEAR! It's all a little overwhelming, and a little scary with the big change of becoming a wife also on the horizon (we are almost at the one-year mark!), but I think it's a change that I need.

Mr. Blushing is 100% supportive of the change, as he has witnessed first-hand how miserable I have been at my job for a little while now... this new job will be a challenge, but I think it will ultimately make me much happier, and that means I will be able to focus my free time on planning for our big day and enjoying Mr. Blushing's company, instead of complaining about work all the time.

Has anyone out there had a career change greatly impact their personal relationships in a positive way?

Or, has starting a new job while planning a wedding been overwhelming for anyone? In the end, was it worth it?