I didn't want to get out of bed this morning. And H got out of bed CRANKY. And I was ready to be all, fuck Valentine's day.

But then he made me my coffee and stirred the sugar in so thoroughly (like he always does) and heated the milk to just the right temperature and smiled at me and said "Good morning."

And that will do.





Photo by our own Peonies

A non-froofy Disneyworld wedding

Okay, ESB! Our beyond awesometastic photographer finally blogged our DisneyWorld, non-princess-and-puffy-tulle-dress wedding.

It was thanks to you that I had a last minute, beyond awesome coverup for my dress (a brown leather jacket from Fossil). My purple dress was also last minute; I'd had a cream-colored, floorlength JCrew (ahem) dress in the closet for several months. I woke up one day and realized that I hated it. So, with the help of my fiance (who did not actually see me in the dress until the wedding day), I found a purple dress online at Nordstrom. It was totally me. And yes, I wore tights. It's my thing in real life (dress, tights, and boots), so I thought, why the hell not? And I wore my great-grandmother's pearls with a hair clip from Etsy. My glasses were on my face because I can't see without them. No contact lenses for me in real life, so again, glasses it was on the wedding day.

We went about planning our wedding as a "let's just pick individual elements that we love and hope it comes together" way. At one point I had an idea board, and then I realized that our wedding was not a photo shoot (thanks again to you), and just started to roll with single decisions. The folks at DisneyWorld made it all happen. We aren't cool, indie, hippie people who look like they walked out of a Todd Selby photo. We are just us. So we went with that.

We had a billion colorful balloons because Casey proposed to me on a trip to the International Hot Air Balloon Festival, donuts instead of a cake after we realized we don't even like cake, confetti cannons just because they are fun, and we drove away in a bicycle rickshaw that we pedaled ourselves because I hate limos and paying a thousand bucks for a vintage car that would take us around the parking lot was beyond ridiculous. Oh, and we were married on a Monday morning, which just happened to be Valentine's Day. Note the stark lack of lace and red hearts. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Our reception was outdoors, with a guitarist playing in the background, and we had a silhouette artist make silhouettes of our guests. Those were the favors. No DJ, no dancing. Just talking and beautiful weather and awesomely awkward family interaction and Jonathan Canlas, my favorite photographer in the world, capturing it all. [See more photos here.]

Our wedding day was better than I could have imagined. It was us, in every single way. It wasn't diy, or indie (does it get less indie than DisneyWorld?), but fuck that. My only advice to anyone getting married is to go with your instincts. Do what you want. Just because it's tradition doesn't mean it has to be in your wedding. And if you want to wear a colorful dress or even pants, then do that. I felt like a bride because I was *getting married* to my favorite person in the world, not because of my dress.

My husband and I both love your blog and irreverence. Keep it up, ESB.

-Jessica (one half of chesapeake and caseyfriday, aka the irritating Couple Who Comment on your blog)

I have just one thing to add: Jessica, you so ARE cool.

A lady proposes

Dear ESB-

My partner and I have a deal that I have to be the one to propose. (When he brought it up the first time, he claims I almost fell off a bar stool trying to get away. I think this is an exaggeration.) We've looked at rings already and I decided I only want to wear a single band in the long term, probably one of these.

But I'd like to have something with which to propose. I'm not a diamond solitaire kind of girl, so I've been looking mostly at non-wedding jewelry. I liked the idea of the dior oui ring, but it is a little too expensive for what is essentially a placeholder. My partner has an incredible sense of style so I want it to be awesome... sleek, modern, and awesome. Any ideas?

*****

Wait. If you're the one doing the proposing, shouldn't you be picking out a ring for HIM??






(That said, my old favorite melting love ring has the oui ring beat by a mile. Maybe you should get his + hers.)

p.s. happy valentine's, you guys.

How to propose to your boyfriend

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I am getting the urge to propose to my long time boyfriend. We have talked about getting married, and are sure we are to each other. It's just that time. How did you propose to H-town? What made you take the initiative, instead of waiting for him to do so?

*****

Um. First of all, F*CK VALENTINE'S DAY. Saccharine, rose-petal strewn proposal stories always make me barf. (I know what you're thinking: What doesn't make her barf?) But February? February is a terrific time to propose. Peonies's thoroughly unsentimental, utterly adorable story about the "unremarkable day" in February when she proposed to The Boy gets me every time.

My story is a little less adorable. I wasn't actually planning to propose. But, you see, H-town had proposed a month earlier and I failed to give him a proper answer.

He said, "Will you marry me?" Out of the blue, mind you. The man wasn't holding a ring. Thank god.

And I said, "Don't make fun of me."

So he said it again. "Will you marry me?"

And I said, "The next time you say that you better mean it." And I waited for him to say it again. I waited a whole month.

And then... I dunno, I just blurted it out one night. "Will you marry me?" I wasn't holding a ring, or a bracelet, or even a fucking card. But he said yes. Thank god.

(Photo of none other than The Boy himself by Peonies.)

Scosha, forgive me for badmouthing you

This wee heart necklace is rad. And, surprisingly, a lot more affordable than the bracelet(s).*

I think a guy could propose with a necklace, don't you? If he was smart and he knew you were fussy and he was pretty sure it was a good idea to let you pick out your own ring.... Let's be honest. Who doesn't want to pick out her own ring??

*Which I still want, don't get me wrong. Let me know if you need my address or whatever.

a heart necklace I can get behind

I have a confession to make. I hate the ubiquitous Tiffany heart necklace almost as much as I hate the ubiquitous Tiffany engagement ring. I guess I hate anything that's everywhere. But you knew that about me.

Anyhoo, this Dainty Heart Necklace by Bittersweets NY, this I can get behind. At catbird. Where else?

You might also enjoy the Tree Trunk Ring by Digby & Iona, which can be customized with an engraved heart. Featured today on Refinery 29.

terrific news for non-traditional girls everywhere

Catbird (my fave Brooklyn jewelry store) has finally launched their new site. I've been waiting for this shit for months. I am not exaggerating.

May I suggest the above pop-art-meets-carrie-bradshaw Melting Love Ring for an engagement?

The Yayoi Forest Lucky Seven Diamond Ring would also be a stellar choice.

But go browse all the rad options for engagement rings and wedding bands.

Just don't blame me if you end up in the Wood Nymph section buying a crystal necklace. (Leave it to catbird to make crystals look cool.) Or in Intrepid Explorer buying a Tsuyumi Hunter's Cap for your faux hunting trip.



p.s. Damn you all for updating the furry hat with plaid. I want it.

F* valentine's day

What I really wish is that we were heading off on the next leg of our honeymoon road trip.*

*I cried on the last night of our honeymoon. I didn't want it to be over. H-town told me that the honeymoon will never be over. We just have to make a few long stopovers here and there, y'know, to work and go to school and stuff.

(kparrish via Double Takes via Bliss)

the joy of....

Inspired by this book review, I bought an old copy of The Joy of Sex on ebay to give H-town for Valentine's Day.*

Purely as an anthropological artifact you understand.

*I really wanted a first edition, but what I got was "Completely Revised and Updated for the 1980's." She: still shag haircut + gogo boots. He: still bearded neanderthal. Looks pretty seventies to me.

ART: TOM WESSELMANN, “BEDROOM PAINTING NO. 6” (1968)/ESTATE OF TOM WESSELMANN/Courtesy of The New Yorker

rats, you worked hard all year.

You deserve a break.

Plus I think I'm developing a crush on porcupines.*

Woodland Creatures Letterpress Valentines by delphine STUDIO. Via What Possessed Me

*It's a passing thing, I swear. You will always have my heart.

and if you're planning to propose on valentine's day....

I think this yellow gold heart by Beth Coiner (available at auto) would make a slammin engagement ring.

Diamonds are so over.

for your bohemian valentine

This necklace by I. Ronni Kappos is made with vintage glass "from the famed, but long defunct, German glassworks in the Sudentenland region of Bohemia."

I want it. I really really want it. But a homemade Valentine will be even better.

Right?

Online at the ever-awesome auto

Laura Lobdell for Valentines

If you are shopping that is. We are def trying to cut down on shopping.

(Okay I'm trying to cut down on shopping. I'm the one with a problem. Rachel led me to this inspiring post on Simple Lovely, but once I saw the photo of Joslyn's striped shirts it was all over. I was on ebay bidding on another Velvet tee in black & white before I could remember my own name.)

Anyhoo, doesn't this candy heart necklace by Laura Lobdell rock?

pretty.pretty.paper has also scouted some pretty rad little presents in candy heart colors.

For bridesmaids who don't fit the mold

Coffee Bean and Match Necklaces by OathNYC. Heart & Dagger Necklace by Bittersweets New York.

I'd be thrilled to get any of these for Valentine's day. (But a handmade card will be even better.)