Weddingbee bios

A couple of swanky cats, who don't mind embracing their inner geek. I'm a Mid-Westerner and he's an East coast big city boy who both migrated south. We enjoy entertaining and all that entails: cooking, baking, laughing, decorating, friends, music, cocktails, and great memories. We love our dog and two cats, the ocean, and each other.

We met at a party in 2007. Neither of us was actually invited to the party mind you. He lived at the complex where the party was held and just happened by, I had come with a friend. Being the sociable sporty girl that I am, I was awaiting my turn at a game of cornhole  (I am a true mid-westerner!), when a tall-dark-and-handsome decided to chat me up. It's a good thing he is persistent, it took me a full 20 minutes of small talk to realize that he might just be interested in me. I have never claimed to be a whiz with the fellas. We talked about our jobs, our interests, and what we did with what little time off we got, and discovered we had quite a bit in common. We talked until our beers ran out. Then it sounded something like this:

Mr. Moon: "Would you like me to get you another beer?"

Ms. Palmetto: "That would be great, thank you. I brought a six-pack of Guinness, you are more than welcome to have one."

...Pause, with the dramatic, slow, Hollywood turn-around to catch my gaze... (hey, that's the way it played out in my head okay? Just go with it).

Mr. Moon: "What did you just say?"

Ms. Palmetto: "I said you can help yourself to one of the Guinness I brought. I'm the only one here drinking it."

Mr. Moon: (Turned to look me full in the face now) "Will you marry me?"

Ms. Palmetto: "What? Um, no. Why would you say that?"

Mr. Moon: "Well, you can cook, you like Super Troopers, and you drink Guinness. I can't really ask for much more than that."

Ms. Palmetto: "No. I will not marry you...but I will go on a date with you."

Mr. Moon: "Really?! Are you serious?"

Ms. Palmetto: "Sure. I mean, you don't seem like an ax murderer or anything. Tell you what- if you can remember to ask for my number by the end of the night. I'll go on a date with you. Now how about that beer?"

I know crow is best served warm, but if I must eat my words can I at least wash them down with a Guinness?

I had just hosted my family for their 2 week vacation, all 7 of them. Perks of living at the beach- you ARE the vacation! They had come down for a visit just before my birthday. We had a great time, but I was ready to chill for a few days. Mr. Moon suggested that we escape to Hilton Head Island for a quiet b-day celebration that weekend and I was all in- mojitos and sunning myself? Yes please! The family left by 9am, and by noon we had luggage packed and the car loaded ready to go. The first day of our mini-holiday it did nothing but rain, which was fine by us we ordered in and watched movies and relaxed on the couch. The second day (my official b-day) was gorgeous! We spent most of the day at the beach, and came back to freshen up for a nice dinner at  Marley's which is my favorite restaurant. (Amazing food, best mojitos ever! If you are ever on the island, make sure you stop there!) He made the point that we would probably be out late and should take the dog for a walk now, and hey why don't we take him down to the beach? Duh. I had no clue what he had up his sleeve, "Sounds like a plan honey!" So out we go...

It's about 8 at night, it's late summer so the sun has just set and the moon is peeking it's face around. Most folks had left the beach for the day. We walked, and walked, and walked, until we were the only ones around and I began to think "Hmmm, we are getting pretty far away from where we started and it's getting dark- we may want to turn back." (Since I am blind as a bat once it's dark.) He must have sensed I didn't want to go any further, because he stopped and said, "You know I love you." Not a question, but a statement. Odd. He doesn't usually have outbursts of mushy-lovey-ness. But hey, who was I to argue? "I love you too sweetie." Awww. No warning bells are going off in my head yet- still clueless as to what he was about to do. "I got you something for your birthday." Sweet! Gifts! But again, odd that he would trapse all the way out to the beach in the near-dark to give it to me. He reached into his pocket and produced the most beautiful carved wooden box I have ever seen.

It was so intricate, and elegent I was totally consumed by the celtic carving of a heart on the top of the box that I completely missed him dropping to one knee until he softly said, "Open it."  Holy Crap! I know what this means! ALL warning bells were going off now, ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I just stood there, mouth hanging open like a cod fish, stuned into silence (no small feat, if you know me!). He repeated himself a few times before my trance was broken and with trembling hands I was able to open the box. What a ring! It was nearly dark, and I could see that sucker plain as day! He's still down on one knee, much calmer than I am at this point, "Will you marry me?" What do you think? "Yes! Yes! Yes! Of course!" That was one of the best hugs of my life, I was no longer hugging my boyfriend, I was hugging my future husband!

The story goes the diamond in the middle is actually one of a pair of diamond solitaire earrings that some great-great-very-dead relative had made into engagement rings for her two boys. They in turn gave them to their first born sons, who gave them to their first born sons, all the way down to Mr. Moon. His mom actually took this ring OFF HER FINGER and gave it to him when he announced that he was going to ask me to marry him! Talk about heirloom. It's so full of meaning and memory, I love it and could never have picked out a better ring if I had tried.

Full length shot during the ceremony

back of the dress. during our first dance, but you can't really see the buttons down the back.

before the wedding, you can see the buttons, and the "train"

front of the dress during our first dance- the "train" was all over the place but it's exactly what I wanted!

We did a traditional exchange of rings, and also did a handfaasting as a nod to our combinded Celtic heritage. We wrote the ceremony ourselves and involved our guests by asking them to bless and nurture us. The MOH and bestman did the honors of "fastening" us. It was the most intimate part of the whole ceremony- we are glad we did it!

Mr. Moon's parent's threw us a spectacular swanky engagement party at their home in Maryland this past Jan.  

1. The happy couple!

2. One big happy family! Mr. Moon's grandmother who is pushing 90 was able to make it. My family traveled from Ohio to Maryland for the party. Thank goodness that GIANT snow storm waited until the next weekend to dump 3 feet of snow on Momma and Papa Moon's house! This was the first time our parents had met!

3. Good friends- Our friends from Charleston, SC

 

4. Good food- we did all the prep work for the appetizers, and main courses. Mama Moon made ALL the desserts and food. Mr. Moon's brother's girlfriend made a killer banana cream pie, I made buffalo chicken dip, and Mr. Moon made his famous salt-crusted-beef loin. Yum! The only thing we ordered out was the tray of sushi.

5. Delicious meringues made by Mama Moon

6. Our dog Slammer helping Mr. Moon with the Salt-crusted beef loins!

7. Frou-frou chocolate cake with sparklers! We were also celebrating Papa Moon's birthday.

8. The house was full of red and white tulips and Gerber daisies.

9. My dress matched my drink! A Guinness dress for a Guinness girl!

9. Mr. Moon manning the bar! What's that I see? Guinness!

 

 

 

My bridesmaids threw me a fantastic bridal shower this past weekend! My family traveled from Ohio, Mr. Moon's mom came down from Maryland, and my Charleston friends were all there. It was so much fun, I wanted to share some highlights with ya'll

Good Food. My bridesmaid Heather decorating- I think she's trying to get the table cloth to stay!

Gift table

Drink station- this photo was taken before we put out the wine and yummy Sangria that Mr. Moon made especially for the party!

Cake pops! We made these the day before to pass out as favors.

A spectacular bridal shower gift- it's a photo of the night sky on the night we were engaged, as viewed from the spot where Mr. Moon proposed. Crazy good gift idea!

Yep, this is the one that made me cry. This is an exact duplicate of my great-grandparents wedding certificate. I have childhood memories of it hanging in their bedroom. When they died, my Aunt got it. My Aunt (in the left of the photo) took it to Staples and had it replicated with mine and Mr. Moon's info. This will be our wedding certificate to hang in our home! Aw! *tears of joy*

Bridal shower fun! They had a contest to  make a bride out of toilet paper, there were lots of crazy pics but my niece here was on the winning design team. They even made a toilet paper bouquet!