Posted Wednesday, September 02, 2009 5:00 PM
Knot Name: Codi-Bailey
Wedding Date: To be determined, but we're hoping for spring/fall 2010.
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
Codi-Bailey: I mainly post on the Getting in Shape board, and all of the Knotties that board are wonderful. Everyone is so supportive of each other and is very willing to help other Knotties meet their goals. I’ve met one fellow Knottie when I made a trip out to Massachusetts for a friend's wedding.
KA: Describe your wedding.
Codi-Bailey: My fiance and I have always talked about getting married on the beach, but since we live in a landlocked state, that may be a little difficult. However, we decided that this is important to us, so we're going to have a destination wedding. We want something simple yet beautiful. The ceremony will be held on a beach near a lighthouse, and we’ll have our reception at a nearby reception hall or something similar.
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
Codi-Bailey: Since the GIS board is mainly to talk about fitness, I haven't really spoken to them too much about my wedding. However, I get a lot of ideas and tips from P&E. They’re very helpful, and if it weren't for them, I’d be pretty much clueless about a lot of this wedding planning. I’ve also become fairly close with the Knottie I was able to meet in person, and we talk pretty much all day every day while "working" via instant messaging. We help each other out and give each other ideas and opinions about all aspects of our weddings.
KA: Favorite bio on The Knot and why?
Codi-Bailey: My favorite bio on The Knot is probably Sarah and Steve's. I love how many pictures she added and all of the descriptions that she gave. It's actually her bio that really let me see how the plum color would look on a beach, and I absolutely loved it. I’ll be using that color for one of my wedding colors.
KA: Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
Codi-Bailey: The best vendor that I’ve worked with so far is Amanda's Bridal. They’ve been so helpful to me and have put up with me coming in to try on multiple dresses, multiple times. All of the staff there is so friendly and very eager to help in any way possible.
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
Codi-Bailey: Our wedding is going to stand out merely because of the location. All of my family and my fiance's family live in states where the ocean isn't very accessible. Everyone will be able to enjoy a beautiful beach ceremony as well as a few extra days being beach bums. Our inspiration came just from knowing what we want. My fiance went to college in a beach town and absolutely loved it, and I’ve always thought a beach wedding would be a lot of fun.
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
Codi-Bailey: I’m most looking forward to seeing my fiance waiting for me to meet him to become husband and wife. We’ve been waiting for this for so long, and I truly can’t wait for this to happen.
Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2009 4:59 PM
Knottie Name: bunchybuncher
Wedding Date: October 23, 2009
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
bunchybuncher: The South Jersey Knotties are the best!!! They’re very helpful and honest with opinions, whether they’re good or bad. Yes, I’ve met a handful of SJ Knotties for GTGs and had a blast. When you get a bunch of brides together, it's impossible not to have fun! It's nice to be around girls who understand what you’re going through and who aren't sick of wedding talk.
KA: Describe your wedding.
bunchybuncher: We’re having a fall wedding because we both love the time of year. We’re incorporating rich fall tones such as burnt orange, copper, and red. We tried to keep us and what we like in mind in everything we’ve done instead of doing what’s traditional or expected. We want our guests to walk in and know that we planned this wedding and why it represents us.
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
bunchybuncher: I’ve gotten so much great advice from them regarding everything from flowers and DJs to just dealing with everyday life while planning a wedding. Whenever someone asked where I got an idea or the name of a vendor, my answer is always the same...the South Jersey Knotties!
KA: Favorite bio on The Knot and why?
bunchybuncher: This one is tough because I’ve seriously looked at hundreds, but I love EL13109's. I saw her post on the DIY board and looked at her bio and loved her pictures. Her hair looked gorgeous, which is why her pictures serve as inspiration for my hairdo!
KA: Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
bunchybuncher: I’d have to say my seamstress Yeon at the Fashion Stitch in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. I had fallen out of love with my dress and she was able to rekindle the feeling I first had! I, of course, never would’ve known of her if it weren't for the recommendations of the SJ Knotties!
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
bunchybuncher: As I mentioned above, our wedding will stand out because it reflects me and my fiance and what we enjoy in so many way. For example, my fiance is a chef and enjoys going out to eat, so we’re naming our tables after the restaurants we’ve gone to for special occasions during in our relationship. Our table is named after the restaurant where we first met! I’ve found inspiration from looking at so many Knotties’ bios and reading posts. I’d see an idea someone else had and try to think how I could do something similar that would mean something to us.
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
bunchybuncher: Saying our vows in front of our family and friends and that feeling of knowing we’re finally married!
Thank you bunchybuncher! Your fall wedding sound awesome. Every foodie will love your table name idea.
Link to bio: http://emilysplanningbio.weebly.com/
Posted Monday, August 17, 2009 5:30 PM
Knot Name: STBS NYE09
Wedding Date: December 31, 2009
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
STBS NYE09: I post most often on the Philly and the Getting in Shape boards. The Philly board is great because there are both engaged and married Knotties, and each brings a unique perspective to the board. I love talking with other soon-to-be-brides that are going through the same things as I am during this process while also being able to learn from the experiences of recently married Knotties too.
I also post on the Getting in Shape board, which is filled with motivating and supportive Knotties who enjoy helping others reach their goals. In the past few months, I’ve lost almost 20 pounds and learned many things from the ladies on the board who’ve helped me reach that goal. Now I try to go back and help others who are trying to lose weight and get in shape.
I’ve gotten together with several Philly Knotties, and I attended the recent Philly GTG at the Chestnut Club. I’ve met some amazing women that I never would’ve met without The Knot, and that has been the biggest benefit of being a part of the boards for me so far!
KA: Describe your wedding.
STBS NYE09: We’re having a New Year’s Eve wedding. Our main goal in planning was to make sure that our friends and family have an outstanding time, so we’ve put a lot of time and effort into choosing the best food and entertainment that we can. We’ll have a 10-piece live band from CTO Entertainment, a six-course meal, top-shelf drinks, and some special surprises for our guests at midnight.
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
STBS NYE09: The Knotties on the Philly board have actually helped me pick several of my vendors. Being able to ask about the experiences and recommendations from other brides is such a valuable resource that I’ll continue to utilize up until my wedding. I’ve also gotten so much inspiration from looking at the bios of other Knotties.
KA: Favorite bio on The Knot and why?
STBS NYE09: My favorite bio on The Knot is Mrs. Christine’s. She had such a beautiful wedding, and what I love the most is the thought that she put into the details of the wedding and how personalized it was. I especially love her table numbers and candy buffet and would love to have something similar at my wedding.
KA: Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
STBS NYE09: I’m extremely lucky that my sister-in-law Jen is a wedding planner and the owner of Bud to Blossoms events. She has helped me every step of the way with vendor selection, choosing a dress, picking out invitations, etc., and she’s always very honest with me and willing to share her opinion, which I appreciate so much. Most brides are so stressed during the planning phase of their wedding, but having a wedding planner that I really trust has taken so much of that weight off my shoulders. Even if I wasn’t related to one, I highly recommend a planner for anyone who can afford it because it’s allowed me to enjoy this process and feel less stressed and overwhelmed by my massive to-do list.
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
STBS NYE09: I think the events that we’ve planned at midnight will make our wedding stand out, and I can’t take credit for any of them since all of the ideas came straight from my wedding planner. We’ll be ringing in the New Year together with our guests with champagne in our hands and special musical guests who will come in after hundreds of balloons fall from the ceiling. It should be a New Year’s Eve that no one will ever forget!
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
STBS NYE09: I’m most looking forward to marrying the love of my life while being surrounded by our amazing family and friends. We’re fortunate to have so many special people in our lives, and I can’t wait to share this day with all of them.
Thank you STBS NYE09! I love a New Year's Eve wedding. Thanks for the interview and it was awesome to actually meet you in person at the Philly GTG!
Posted Tuesday, August 04, 2009 4:57 PM
Knot Name: mudpuddlestomper
Wedding Date: 12/9/10 (wedding) & 12/24/09 (reception)
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
mudpuddlestomper: The Seattle board is AMAZING! A few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to meet some of them for lunch and drinks. Such a fun group of people! I love how close-knit our board is. Everyone there is always so helpful and friendly.
KA: Describe your wedding.
mudpuddlestomper: Seeing as Las Vegas is our favorite place and Christmas is our favorite holiday, it only seemed fitting for our “Have Yourself a Married Little Christmas” wedding to be in Vegas! According to my fiance, it’s like gathering all the villains from all the Marvel comics combined and giving them an open bar!
All things Christmas will be incorporated into our wedding…even down to the elf boots that I’ll be wearing down the aisle! Santa will make an appearance, taking last-minute requests from the kids. Now that I think about it, I better make sure I behave during my bachelorette party so I’m not on the “naughty” list (or would it be “Knottie” list?)!
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
mudpuddlestomper: How HAVEN’T they helped?! Their vendor reviews are so helpful. I love the fact that I can bounce wedding ideas off of them, saving the sanity of my bridesmaids.
KA: Favorite bio on The Knot and why?
mudpuddlestomper: Champagne Supernova hands down. Her DIY is the best I’ve ever seen and is really inspiring! She’s incredibly talented. I’m jealous!
KA: Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
mudpuddlestomper: Both of our venues have been incredible! Even though we booked our wedding almost two years in advance, both have been great in communicating with us and making sure all of our questions have been answered.
LittleChapel.com -- The Chapel of the Flowers, Las Vegas, NV (wedding)
TracyCastle.com -- The Tracy Castle, Buckley, WA (reception)
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
mudpuddlestomper: My fiance and I both love Christmas and everything about it, so I guess that was the inspiration of our wedding. Our friends and family mean everything to us, and being able to spend the holidays with all of them at once is just so important to us. I can’t wait to see the look on all the kids’ faces when Santa comes in!
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
mudpuddlestomper: Finally marring my fiance! We’ve been together for almost nine years. We’ve been planning this wedding for almost two years and I can’t wait to see all the hard work we’ve done be all put together.
Link to bio: www.mywedding.com/marriedlittlechristmas
Posted Tuesday, July 28, 2009 6:06 PM
Knot Name: Threemarie24
Wedding Date: March 4, 2010
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
Threemarie24: I’ve been active on the MN board since our engagement in September 2008. I posted every once in a while, mostly just looking for great ideas, and oh boy did the MN Knotties have them. I was a little shy about actually getting out and meeting fellow Knotties, but over the last few months, I’ve became really active online. When Knot Annie posted that she was hosting a GTG locally, I had to jump on the bandwagon! Thankfully I did because everyone is just as nice in person as they are online. I’ll cohost another local event, a DIY/wine event mid-August!
KA: Describe your wedding.
Threemarie24: After a few months of loving one idea then changing my mind every other day about a completely different vision, JJ, my fiance, and I sat down and had a heart to heart about what we wanted. We both decided Las Vegas was perfect for us. The ceremony is taking place at The Terraza in MGM Grand; it’ll be an outside ceremony. The location is what we both envisioned: tropical and intimate. After a classy ceremony, we’ll be kicking up our feet and heading to the APEX Suite in Planet Hollywood. This 2,300-square-foot suite has a breathtaking view of the Bellagio fountains. We still wanted to be introduced as a couple and have the first dance and speeches. Las Vegas is exactly what we needed to have a beautiful ceremony and a party atmosphere reception…Elvis might even make an appearance!
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
Threemarie24: After deciding on Las Vegas I knew exactly where to look…the Las Vegas board! The amazing Knotties that have been married as well as the upcoming brides have already researched everything a bride would ever need. One item in general, our reception location, the APEX suite in Planet Hollywood, isn’t advertised. I would never have found it if it wasn’t for 6to8. Thanks to her, we now have a perfect location for our Vegas reception.
KA: Favorite bio on The Knot and why?
Threemarie24: Ha! I kind of rolled this question into the last question.
KA: Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
Threemarie24: Since all of my vendors are long-distance, all I can judge them on would be their customer service, and they’re all amazing! As of right now, the top two vendors that stick out to me are my wedding coordinator and my photographer. Wedding coordinator: Julie Lyford (FabulousFunctions.com). She’s hands-down the easiest person to get along with. Thankfully she was able to let me change my mind a handful of times; she researched whatever it was and never let her frustration show when I told her I had already changed my mind. When I was able to cement Las Vegas, she went there to scout everything out, make sure the places lived up to their pictures, as well as check out a few extra ideas I never would have thought of (Elvis singing at our reception).
Las Vegas Photographer: Todd (WilsonPhoto.20m.com). Todd is a photographer GOD down in Vegas; he’s amazingly cheap with outstanding quality. His motto is: “Exceptional photography doesn't have to be exceptionally expensive.” Thankfully the Las Vegas Knotties were able to let me know about his artistic ability and breathtaking work. I’m one lucky girl to have Todd take our wedding pictures!!
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
Threemarie24: Well standing out in Vegas is fairly hard to do, but that’s what I love about it: You can show off your personality! Every single wedding reflects exactly WHO the couple getting married is. While we might not make the cover of a wedding magazine, we’ll have our friends and family at our side when we say the vows that will reflect our unbinding love for each other, and that’s our inspiration.
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
Threemarie24: I’m really excited to be a Mrs. It’s not just our wedding day, but it’s the marriage I look forward to the most. It’s the day I marry the man of my dreams, the next chapter in my life. I look forward to letting my dad give me away, letting go of my maiden name, and becoming a wife. (Yup, I am crying!)
Thank you so much Threemarie24! You wedding sounds so fun and I love that Elvis might make a guest appearance. It was great to meeting you in person at the Knottie GTG, btw!
Link to bio: http://www.mywedding.com/jamieandjj/
Posted Tuesday, July 21, 2009 11:30 AM
Knot Name: spower5
Wedding Date: 11/7/09
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
spower5: Some of the most wonderful girls are on the CFL board. A few have even become my really close friends. I have made it to a few GTGs and have always had a blast! Our board tries to do them monthly.
Knot Annie: Describe your wedding.
spower5: My wedding will have around 100 guests (I feel like every day I’m adding someone else to the guest list!) and will have a fun, intimate, elegant feel with lots of family and close friends. I really want my wedding to be fun so I was very picky about the DJ that I booked. Before I even secured my venue, I had booked Jay Edwards (Liquid Entertainment). That was one of my best decisions!
Knot Annie: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
spower5: Words cannot express how much the Knotties on here have helped me. Seriously! I owe everything to the girls on the CFL board and could not have imagined what kind of wedding I would’ve had had I not stumbled upon the message boards.
Knot Annie: Favorite bio on The Knot and why?
spower5: I have a few. I really found Ejack’s Bio helpful (as she is my venue twin): http://lisa.c.jacks.googlepages.com/lisaandfernando%27sweddingbio
Also, our two mods, Charisma and Sarah, have created a CFL Knottie Bio which is incredibly helpful! http://cflknottiebio.weebly.com/knottie-bios.html
Knot Annie: Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
spower5: My photographer, Tabitha McCausland, is AMAZING. Not only is her work incredible, but she is a great person and throughout this planning process has become a friend. She’s always there and has so many good ideas.
Knot Annie: What will make your wedding stand out to your guest and where did you find the inspiration?
spower5: My goal was to have lots of extra little touches and surprises for both my FI and the guests. One of the CFL Knotties (Emerlyn) gave me the idea for a gelato bar and I cannot wait to surprise my FI with that!
Knot Annie: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
spower5: Having everyone I know and love in one place.
Link to bio: http://sarahandtom11709.weebly.com/index.html
Posted Wednesday, July 15, 2009 6:34 PM
Knot Name: JenniJenni
Wedding Date: December 19, 2009
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
JenniJenni: I read and post on three main boards: December 09, Winter Weddings, and Twin Cities/Minneapolis. I really like the ladies on all the boards but find that I get the most ideas from the Winter Weddings board. There are a lot of talented women posting DIY projects, stories, concepts, and visions. Since I’m a December bride, I was hoping to join TheKnot.com and discuss amazing, unique design ideas. I had great ideas for a summer wedding, but what could I do for a winter wedding that wouldn’t be so cliche? Some of the bios that I’ve looked at and gotten some great ideas are NYgirl07, derekandtori, CM1206, Mrs.Luebke, rhodesign, linzlars, katiek200, JessandTrav (and many more!). I haven’t been to a GTG mainly because the “local” board that I post on is where my wedding will be, not where I’m currently living.
KA: Describe your wedding.
JenniJenni: The main colors are black and white -- but there will also be garland with lights and some red accents with poinsettias. The theme is sort of a formal/classy Christmas party.
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
JenniJenni: There are so many DIY projects that other Knotties have created by trial and error. I’m very grateful for them working so hard on these projects and giving tips along with photos of the process. I also love when a thread is started about something you must have or must skip at the wedding. It’s a great sounding board for ideas and things that you might not have thought of before someone else mentioned it!
KA: Favorite bio on The Knot and why?
JenniJenni: Even though I’m not doing a blue or snowflake-themed wedding, I love Mrs. Luebke’s bio. She’s spent a lot of time uploading photos and detailing her ideas for other brides to use. (http://community.theknot.com/cs/ks/user/default.aspx?UserName=Soon2BeMrs.Luebke&m=1)
KA: Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
JenniJenni: My photographer is the best vendor out of the group. She’s a start-up wedding photographer who began shooting weddings on her own this spring. She’s had a successful business taking other types of photos like families, babies, and engagements and decided to venture into the wedding business. She shadowed a great Minneapolis photographer to learn tips and tricks, and is ready to rock! She is Melissa Mlejnek from LaDeDa photography in Minnesota (LaDeDaphotography.com).
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
JenniJenni: I think having a winter wedding in Minneapolis the weekend before Christmas is going to stand out on its own! I’m actually hoping that I can pull off a fantastic candy buffet that people will be discussing all night!
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
JenniJenni: I’m excited to walk down the aisle in the church I grew up in, to see my husband-to-be waiting for me!
Link to bio: http://www.cochranwedding2009.weebly.com/
Posted Tuesday, July 07, 2009 4:17 PM
Knot Name: jarmstrong23
Wedding Date: 10/24/09
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
jarmstrong23: The Knotties on the Cincinnati board are the best! They’re always willing to give you support, advice, ideas, and "Knottie-vibes" whenever someone needs it. There have been several GTGs since I’ve been posting on the Cincinnati board -- I’ve only attended one, but wished I could’ve attended all of them! The first GTG I went to was at the Cheesecake Factory, and we had a blast! We swapped email addresses and have contacted each other off-board for everything from random vents about coworkers to impromptu celebrations of a birthday. After the last several months of planning our weddings, many of the Cincinnati Knotties have developed great friendships.
KA: Describe your wedding.
jarmstrong23: We’re planning a beautiful, simple celebration of our love and commitment to each other without being extravagant. We’ll be married at a Presbyterian church near our reception site by a reverend within the family. Currently, we're expecting approximately 200 guests. My fiance will have five groomsmen (his brother and his best friend will be the two best men), and I’ll have five bridesmaids (two of my best friends will be the matrons of honor). My fiance's two nieces, ages 9 and 11, will be our junior bridesmaids.
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
jarmstrong23: More than anything, the Cincinnati Knotties have been key to helping me find budget-friendly vendors and ideas to make our wedding day the best it can be. We have a smaller budget than most would expect for a 200-guest wedding, which has been difficult to maintain at times. The Cincinnati board is ripe with creative and bargain-hungry brides, so whenever I need a less expensive idea or a review of an inexpensive vendor, I can always count on honest answers from my local board.
KA: Favorite bio on The Knot and why?
jarmstrong23: Jamielynn627's "Yet Another Fall Bio." It's a compilation of beautiful ideas for a fall wedding -- and has truly served as an inspiration for ceremony, reception, and decor ideas for our own wedding.
KA: Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
jarmstrong23: Our photographer, Greg Christopfel. He works for Christopher Lowry.Greg has been easily accessible when I have questions and always has thorough responses. He's professional without being stuffy. While we haven’t yet had our engagement photo shoot, it’s coming up soon, and I'm positive the experience will be great!
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
jarmstrong23: Hmm...well, I have this idea...
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the "Blessing of the Hands" reading I’ve seen on several brides' bios, but I want to do something a little different. For each sentence of the reading, I want a member of our bridal party to read it. For instance, matron of honor #1 reads the first line, best man #1 reads the second line, etc. I've never been to a wedding where the bridesmaids and groomsmen are involved in the ceremony, and since those people are the ones we’re closest to, it only makes sense to have them "give their blessings" on our special day. Now I just have clear this with the reverend!
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
jarmstrong23: This seems obvious, but I'll go ahead and say it. I'm most excited to share our love and commitment to each other in front of all our friends and family -- simply, I can't wait to marry my best friend.
Thank you jarmstrong23! I love hearing a new and unique idea.
Link to bio: http://jennyandmattsbigday.weebly.com