Bejeweled Wedding Photos

Yesterday's post about Bernie Peng and Tammy Li's Bejeweled engagement promised wedding pictures, and here they are.

The two were married at the Madison Hotel in Morristown, NJ in August 2008. It doesn't say if the bride's father married them, but he is Pastor of a church.






Aw, they look so happy. She looks really lovely, and that dress fits her so well. The ceremony looks really traditional, but they did incorporate their geek proposal into the wedding...






My favorite part of any wedding is the cake - especially when it's a geek cake! The cake is shaped like a NintendoDS with a rough version of Bejeweled on the screen.



-Kay

Geeky wedding proposal

Bernie Peng had an idea for a different type of proposal - he reprogrammed his girlfriend's favorite puzzle game. Tammy Li, like so many others, is addicted to Bejeweled. He spent about a month reprogramming her NintendoDS game to issue a marriage proposal when she hit a certain score. At that number the game popped up with a wedding ring and The Big Question.



When news of the proposal hit The Tubes, PopCap Games (maker of Bejeweled) offered 200 copies of the game to give out as wedding favors, and $1000 toward jewel-themed decorations. They also offered the couple a Seattle honeymoon to visit PopCap Headquarters.

Says Bernie "I thought it was pretty cool, in a nerdy way"

The couple was married Labor Day 2008 - look for that tomorrow.

-Kay

"Viral" wedding video

I'm going to start out by saying that this video REALLY sets off my BS detector, but I am a cynic. The focal point is a video of a perfectly lovely poolside wedding. Suddenly - oh noes! - the groomsman comes up to give the priest the rings and he trips and the priest and the bride end up in the drink.

Here's their site, and the link that's called "Dealing with the doubters" (currently down). They were on the news this morning looking rehearsed, yet uncomfortable and talking about their wedding. She describes "being shocked" but she never really gets excited or sounds like she's emotional about it in the least. To top it all off, she's on the cheesy local news. I've never seen an internet meme on TV before, well, the internet. The fact that the video only has 300 hits, confirms that this is NOT an internet meme.

Their website says the "Full Video!" will be released September 28. Why? On TV they claimed this happened last year.



I am firmly convinced that this is fake, or a promotion for something. Now that you've seen it, do you believe it?

Nudist wedding

Cherie Taylor and Shane Carson of New Zealand have won a radio contest, and the chance to get married in the nude.

They are one of five couples that will get married from a luxury catamaran. The wedding will be broadcast live on the radio station and on a TV station. There are plans for 48 wedding guests and clothing is optional, but nudity is not required.

Says the bride "I think my bridesmaids might go nude as well."

Well, at least they can't complain about the dress.

-Kay

There's one more picture on the Nothing to do with Arbroath blog. Have a look! Butts and boots!

Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett's wedding

Several weeks ago I had a request for more geek weddings, and I'm happy to oblige. This isn't a wedding by geeks, it's a wedding for geeks.

When I found a photo of Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett's wedding I knew there had to be a back story. Gene Roddenberry is the father of Star Trek and his wife Majel Barrett has been involved in every Star Trek incarnation to date. Roddenberry was married when he met Barrett on the set of a show he was producing called the Lieutenant. Barrett was dropped from the show, but Roddenberry remembered her when he needed to cast someone for his new show Star Trek. The two had been friends since they first met, but Roddenberry was married with two children. They wanted to be married, but his divorce was not yet finalized - what to do?


Their wedding photo tickles me for some reason. I think it's the look on her face. She has a sassy look about her that reminds me so much of her man-eater role on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett married in Japan on August 6, 1969 in a Buddhist-Shinto ceremony. They considered it to be their "real" wedding, but it wasn't their legal wedding since his first marriage wasn't dissolved. Their legal wedding was on December 29 of the same year, and five years later they welcomed their first child.

Roddenberry and Barrett stayed married until his death in 1991, and you probably already know that some of his ashes were sent into space. Majel Barrett died last year in 2008.




-Kay

Note: This isn't a gossip blog, it's a wedding blog, but I would be remiss in my reporting duties if I didn't mention that Roddenberry had two affairs during his first marriage. One was with Majel Barrett and the other was with Nichelle Nichols. Gasp!

Royal wedding cakes

After Monday's royal cake snark, I thought I would take a look at some royal wedding cake photos. My knowledge of royals is limited to the UK, so if you want to take a look at some other wedding cakes have a peek here and here.


From the wedding of Prince Andrew and "Fergie"



Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly with their wedding cake

More detail of the cake. The bottom tier looks like little shops on a cobbled European street. Or maybe that's just my vivid imagination.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding cake with the baker David Avery. According to this article two identical wedding cakes were made in case of an accident, and the cakes took 14 weeks from start to finish. Wow!

If you're really curious about that old piece of Charles and Diana's wedding cake that sold for $1600, here it is.



It's nice, I guess. I can only imagine the work that went in to each piece of cake.

I'm not as impressed by these royal cakes as I thought I'd be. They're all too much; none of them looks particularly beautiful or appetizing, they just look ornate for the sake of being ornate. Oh well, as long as the royals liked them...

-Kay

ICU wedding

I couldn't get through this story without getting a little teary, so get out your tissues...

Janette Villalobos and Michael Arroyo had an urgent need to get married quickly - Michael is in the Navy and scheduled to ship to Afghanistan next month. They planned a backyard wedding and BBQ, but changed plans when they realized that Janette's father Johnny wouldn't be able to attend. Johnny is in the ICU at UCLA Medical Center waiting for a liver transplant.

Since Johnny's health is so fragile, everyone had to wear hospital gowns, masks, and gloves. Real flowers were not allowed so the bride carried faux flowers and the men had boutonnières cut from construction paper.

From Dad: "My daughter means the world to me...She's funny and smart and beautiful. Mike is the right one for her. I hope her life will be as blessed as she has made mine...Today I'm the proudest dad in the world."


This picture is like a vice-grip to my heart. Look at the Dad's face, and his little paper flowers.


The bride wore two gowns


I love military uniforms - so cute

When Michael returns from duty in 18 months the couple hopes to have a bigger, more traditional wedding, and Janette hopes her father will walk her down the aisle.

Me too, Janette! Good luck to all of you.

Kay

From the LA Times

Monday morning snark

Really, England? REALLY?

A slice of Prince Charles and Camilla's wedding cake is to be auctioned today [last Monday] - but could fetch 15 times less than a piece from his marriage to Diana.

The cake, still in its unique presentation box from the big day in 2005, is valued at £60 to £80. [$90-$130] A piece of wedding cake from Charles' marriage to Diana sold at auction last year for £1,000. [$1600]

The 28-year-old square piece [of cake from the Lady Diana wedding] was snapped up by an anonymous buyer even though only the marzipan and icing remained. [meaning it was half-eaten?!]

Who in their right mind would pay $1600, or even $100 for old cake? Gross and wasteful. How do you even store that? How do you (ew!) display your prized piece of half-eaten cake?

Kay

Dear Prince Charles and Lady Camilla,

I am very sorry about the picture above. I know it goes beyond snark and into the category of mean, but it really made me laugh when I saw it. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me, and I really hope that you have a sense of humor.

Sincerely and apologetically,

Kay Banks.

99 Cent store wedding photos

Remember the 99 Cents Only wedding contest that I wrote about last month? The big day for 9 lucky couples was 9/9/09 and the photos are up!

The 9 frugal couples were married separately on 9/9, and they each paid $0.99 for almost everything a wedding needs. The store provided hair and makeup, flowers, photography, hotel accommodations, a limo ride, and gifts for the guests. Couples were even reimbursed for the CA state marriage license.



The 9 diverse couples with their orange flowers



Of course, they're at register 9



$2,599 wedding for 99 cents only



Lots of different gown styles



Congratulations!

If you go to this link you can see more of the decor for the reception. I have a massive hatred for florescent lighting, so that bothers me, but it looks like fun. I especially like the refreshment table made of food from the 99 cent store. The orange and white color scheme looks modern, and you won't see a sad face in the crowd.

Kay

Photo source

Twilight wedding gowns

Since I've had two theme weeks, I'm still catching up on my wedding news, so if you've already seen this, I apologize. Twilight is still foreign to me. I understand the basic concepts, but I don't understand why vampires don't kill people anymore. Kids today. Anyway, some movie is coming out called Eclipse and in it, someone gets married. Look if I have to explain a cultural phenomenon to you, I... Let's just get on with the dresses, shall we?

In Eclipse [a Twilight book], Bella's [the protagonist, I assume] dress is described as an early 1900s design (which complements her antique engagement ring) with friend and Maid of Honor Alice Cullen's modern tweaks to the train and veil. "You look like you just stepped out of an Austen movie," Bella's mother says to the bride-to-be when she spies her in the gown in the final book, Breaking Dawn. "It's gorgeous! So graceful, so elegant." [Is that how the books are written?]

So, want to sneak a look at these wedding dress designs? You don't have to be a Twilight fan to enjoy them.


Monique Lhuillier
Lhuillier's creation is a mermaid-style dress with lace detailing. The reworked take on a gown from the 1920s features a silk sash and high neck with cap sleeves.

This is gorgeous, but as we've seen, dresses pre-1960 cover ever inch of the bride's skin. I guess I'm going to have to ignore the description if I want to enjoy the illustrations - I do the same thing for any screen adaptation of a book. It's the only way to enjoy them.


Erin Fetherston
This interpretation has a high-neck, puff sleeves and lace bustier. Fetherston put her signature ethereal touch on the two-tiered body with a tulle and lace underlayer.

This is pretty. It's not my style, but it fits the description better. I love the high neck, and mutton chop sleeves. Reminds me of the advice column wedding post a while back.


Brian Reyes
Reyes envisions the fabric as a slightly tarnished bone color. The silhouette is a long skirt with a ruffled blouse and lace diamond inserts. The inspiration is a youthful spin on early 20th century Edwardian era elegance.

What is this? I don't mean to be rude, but is this even a person? Did the person become a candle stick vampire? Abstract is great for fine art, but it confuses me here.


Max Azria
Azria focused on the vintage lace detail for his Victorian inspired gown. The dress is complete with lace peaked shoulders, full sleeves and a high neck.

This is beautiful! I loved the pointy shoulders, and I'm picturing a cascade of tiny silk blooms draped down the side of the dress.


Prabal Gurung
Gurung had the most modern interpretation. The dress has a dramatic train, low-cut back and features a unique neckline with red embellishments for a touch of color.

I did work like this in school My concepts were interesting, but they came back with a note from the teacher "Did not follow instructions"


Lela Rose
Rose focused on the rear view of her off-white, handcrafted dress. The simple body gathers at back into a sweet lace bustle.

I love the lace top and lace at the train and...hold the phone, is she pooping fabric?


Christian Siriano
Siriano's three-tiered dress has a lace bustier and high ruffle neckline with off-the-shoulder sleeves and a full body.

This is my favorite. The bare shoulders are clearly an artistic license, but the silhouette really works with the little fan at the front and the tiered skirt.


Badgley Mischka
Badgley Mischka's vision is a strong silhouette with vintage details like full-length lace sleeves and bodice, and a high-buttoned neck.

I know thismuch about fashion, but isn't the bodice way too modern for the 1900s? The sleeves fit the theme, but I personally don't like sleeves that are puffy at the forearm. Mostly because I end up getting them really dirty.


Zac Posen
This pink gown features a turn-of-the-century corset, bustle, full skirt, high-neck and dramatic detailed sleeves. Posen keeps to the vintage theme by finishing with lace-up boots.

This would be great for Moulin Rouge, or my own personal closet, but my understanding is that the main character is kind of demure and passive? This seems like the wrong direction for her gown, but it's so flouncy and fun!

What do you think? Or, rather, what did you think when you first saw these drawings almost a month ago?

-Kay

Bedrock wedding

This story is kind of wordy, so I am going to summarize: Two couples had a charitable double wedding with a Flintstones theme. It started off as a drunken joke, but soon enough they were planning their stone age wedding.

Fred and Wilma were really Andrea and Simon Bean, while Barney and Betty Rubble were Richard and Jill Noble. They had their wedding at a golf club, and then went to a "dinosaur park" to take wedding photos.


The women look perfect! The men have something going on with their hair, but the cuffs are a nice touch.

Their guests were really supportive of their wedding theme choice - 165 guests dressed as cavepeople, the two best men were dinosaurs, and they had a tiered cake that looked like rocks. The brides entered the ceremony to the traditional wedding march, but it quickly changed to the Flinstones theme (on the organ!).


Awesome! The raised clubs make them look like an angry mob, but I love that most people turned up in costume. I can't spot the dinosaur groomsmen that the article mentions, but I hope one was Dino and the other was Hoppy.

The idea came from a group visit to Alton Towers (a theme park in England; it's no Disneyland) when one of the men started laughing like Barney Rubble. They started calling each other by the character names and it just stuck.

Their wedding was charitable as well - they asked for donations to the Children's Liver Disease foundation and raised roughly $2000 for the charity. Andrea Bean aka Wilma holds the cause close to her heart since her own son had a liver transplant as a baby. She says “My son wouldn't be here today if somebody hadn't donated their liver to him, so I'm always urging people to sign up for organ donation too.”

-Kay

Patrick Swayze's wedding

Patrick Swayze died yesterday, so I thought I look up his marital situation. I read that he was married, but I didn't realize how married he was! Got your tissues ready?

Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi married when they were just 22 and 19 years old. They were never previously married, and they never divorced. The two met when Lisa was taking dance classes under Patrick's mother; she was only 16.


Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi were married on June 12, 1975. He wore a blue suit and she wore a simple white dress. They look adorable and so young! Cute!


I think her look is pretty elegant and timeless. He looks cute, and his hair is so very seventies!

The two stayed together throughout his battle with alcohol and drugs, and through her two miscarriages. They never had any children.

In 2008, after Patrick's cancer diagnosis, the two renewed their vows in a fairytale ceremony on their ranch in New Mexico.

"We did it very Prince Charming and Snow White," said Patrick who rode to the ceremony on a white stallion. "It was like a fairytale," added Lisa. "One of the happiest days ever."



I love reading stories about people that stay together - they're never shy to say how hard it is, but they always seem so happy.

Patrick Swayze died September 14, 2009 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. The two were married for 34 years.

Sniffsniff,
Kay

If you like to read about lifelong couples, you might also like Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward

Source and source; photo source

Searching for the Precious

A New Zealand man has been dubbed the Lord of the Ring after he searched and found his wedding ring more than a year after it slipped off his finger and sank to the sea floor," Reuters writes.

As New Zealand's Dominion Post reports, Aleki Taumoepeau was on a boat in Wellington Harbor in March 2008 when his wedding ring slipped from his finger and sank to the bottom, about 10 feet down. He marked the spot with an old anchor and promised his wife Rachel that one day he would get it back. On a dive last year, he failed. His GPS coordinates weren't correct.


This is not Aleki Taumoepeau

But, Taumoepeau told the Post, he came back a few weeks ago with better coordinates and dove again. After an hour, he stopped to catch his breath and, while doing so, asked for some divine intervention. "I was getting cold and tired so I said to God it would be really good to find the ring about now." He then looked down, spied the anchor and just centimeters away from it the ring. Says Rachel: "I couldn't believe it. It was the power of prayer."

As Mr. Kay banks is fond of telling me "It's always in the last place you look...'cause then you stop looking" I'm glad that all of Taumoepeau's hard work paid off.

-Kay

Elizabeth Taylor - Wedding #8

Elizabeth Taylor met her 8th and final (for now) husband at the Betty Ford clinic. Gossip magazines exploded when they found out that her new beau Larry Fortenski was 20 years younger, and -gasp!- a working man.

The two were married on October 6, 1991 at the Neverland Ranch (Michael Jackson's infamous former home).



For some reason, Michael Jackson graced the cover of her magazine spread.

Also, Larry, you have the first mullet to ever grace the Blogger of the Bride. Sigh.

She definitely has a more mature look, but she's a beautiful woman no matter how old she is. I'll be honest, I don't like this dress. It looks a little too country kitsch to me. But again, when you marry eight times, you're free to play with the look.



The wedding cost an estimated 2 million dollars. Jackson gave away the bride, who wore a pale yellow gown by Valentino. Fortensky's best man was Liz's hairdresser, Jose Eber. Among the 150 guests were Liza Minnelli, Eddie Murphy and former first lady Nancy Reagan. All strained to hear the nuptials as a beehive of paparazzi helicopters swarmed overhead.

The two were married for almost 5 years exactly - they divorced on Halloween 1996. He later went on to spend time in prison for assaulting his girlfriend. Classy.

Elizabeth Taylor is still in the public eye, though only occasionally. She is sadly confined to a wheelchair these days due to scoliosis and other physical maladies, but she's still a lovely lady. Recently she is most notable for being BFF with Michael Jackson. The two had a fast friendship since they were both in the public eye from a very early age, and had enormous amounts of gossip written about them in tabloids. Apparently they used to wear disguises and go to the movies together.

I hope you've enjoyed Elizabeth Taylor week as much as I have! She's a really interesting woman, and I admire her gutsy spirit.

-Kay

Elizabeth Taylor - Wedding #7

in 1976 Elizabeth Taylor married a man named John Warner - her first non-show business marriage. Warner is a veteran of the US Navy and Marines, and had a thirty year career as a Virgina state senator.

The two were set-up on a blind date and married shortly after that. When they announced their wedding, the press mocked her, but friends (including his ex Barbara Walters) supported their union. Friends said he was dull, but just what she needed.



I can't find a wedding picture of the two, so you're going to have to settle for gossip. Apparently, being the wife of a public political figure. She was told to cut back on all the frank talk about her personal life, sexy dress, and ostentatious jewelry. At first she embraced the position, but eventually it became to restrictive to be the good, quiet wife of a politician. She cursed at photographers, drank, and spoke freely.

From Elizabeth Taylor, The Last Star By Kitty Kelley

In 1982 the two divorced.




After her divorce was finalized, she admitted herself to the Betty Ford clinic for alcohol abuse treatment. Again, she was a trend-setting woman; she was the first celebrity to publicly admit a drug problem.

-Kay

Elizabeth Taylor - Wedding #5 & #6

Elizabeth Taylor married Richard Burton twice - once in 1964, and again in 1975. The two met while she was filming Cleopatra (did you know that Elizabeth Taylor was the first person to make a million dollars for a movie?). The first marriage took place in Montreal. Their second marriage occurred sixteen months after their divorce, in the Chobe National Park, Kasane, Botswana. They were married for a total of 12 years.


Taylor wore a yellow gown to her fourth wedding. This must be the influence from her 4 year long filming of Cleopatra. She's looking quite exotic again.

For some side reading, learn about the Taylor-Burton diamond. I'm not super interested in diamonds (I like them because they're sparkly, but I don't lust after giant rocks), but if you are, you will like that link.



Here you can see the short length of her dress, and the crazy-long hair she is sporting. There are tons of little flowers woven around her impossibly long ponytail.



Here's a bit more detail of her hair and the dress. She looks very interesting! I guess when you marry that many times, you can play with your look a bit.


All photo credits from Getty Images.

This is a photo from their short-lived second marriage in Botswana. The two started the adoption process of a little girl, but divorced (for good this time). Burton took care of the 3-year-old German girl.


-Kay

P.S. If you want to read some really salacious gossip, search for information about Burton's early theater days and his alleged affair with Lawrence Olivier.

Elizabeth Taylor - Wedding #4

Yesterday, I told you about the tragic end to Elizabeth Taylor's third marriage to Mike Todd. After his untimely death, Taylor took comfort in Todd's best friend, Eddie Fisher. Fisher was a singer and television star who later turned to acting.

The two married in May of 1959 - after he divorced his wife Debbie Reynolds. Elizabeth Taylor was vilified in the press for being a home wrecker.


All photo credits to MPTV

They wed in a private ceremony in Las Vegas. She wore black! I love it! She looks so dramatic and exotic. He's wearing a simple black suit and tie - pretty casual for those days since that's what people wore every day.



It seems Liz (can I call you Liz, Ms. Taylor?) is also a fan of the trailing bouquets. She's used them in all of her weddings now. I love the guts it takes to wear black as a wedding gown, but she looks a little like Agnes Moorehead in Bewitched. Too much layering and gauze for me.



Here they are cutting the cake at their wedding.

Their marriage lasted 5 years - one of her longer marriages, and about average for him. Fisher was also a serial monogamist - he was married five times, and you might have heard of his daughter Carrie Fisher.

Don't worry too much about Debbie Reynolds. She eventually forgave former BFF Elizabeth Taylor and said publicly that she could understand being dumped for the world's most beautiful woman. The two even mocked their ex-husband on a joint project. Sisters before misters, ladies.

-Kay

Elizabeth Taylor - Wedding #3

When Elizabeth Taylor married Michael Todd, they had four failed marriages between them.

Only days after her divorce from Michael Wilding, Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd were married. February 2, 1957 they exchanged their vows in Acapulco, Mexico.

The engagement ring that was given to Taylor caused quite a stir - it was a 30 carat emerald-cut diamond. I don't even know how she could wear something that large without walking like Neanderthal man.


Source

Here's Elizabeth Taylor with her husband, Mike Todd, his best friend (and best man) Eddie Fisher and his wife Debbie Reynolds. More on why that's important tomorrow.





Here's the happy couple with their families. You can't tell, but Taylor is a few months pregnant in these photos. This isn't my favorite of Taylor's wedding looks. She looks lovely, of course, and compare her face to her mom's! They look so similar. I am fond of trailing bouquets, so I love the flowers.


Thanks to Flickr user likeabalalaika

During their marraige, Taylor gave birth to her third child - Elizabeth "Liza" Frances Todd in August of the same year.

Taylor was busy filming Cat On A Hot Tin Roof with Paul Newman when her marriage ended tragically. On March 22 1958, Todd's private plane, Lucky Liz, crashed in New Mexico. The plane had a failed engine from being flown while severely overladed. The crash killed everyone on board.



-Kay