What about you? Where have you taken a Tee Party recently?

Naturally, our wedding was heavy on the personalization and DIY, low on the budget, and like most weddings, a true family affair. My sister Sophie, a graphic designer, designed the save-the-dates (we sent out a romance novel to each guest with a personalized book plate and “mark your calendar” book mark — the particular gem featured below stars a cave-dwelling gentleman protagonist-from-another-time named Thor). (You’ll notice many of the details are literary-themed — that’s what happens when a writer/editor marries an English teacher!)

The invitations were letterpressed (our big splurge) by Coeur Noir in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (can’t DIY everything–sometimes it’s better to delegate!) and also designed by Sophie.

They were envelope-free with a tear-off rsvp postcard with the prompt “What’s your story?” that allowed guests to get a little creative in their replies. (My sister Ariana’s colorful reply below.)

To answer the big question, no, I didn’t wear the T-shirt wedding dress (I had already spent a lot of time in it for the Generation T photo shoot, plus I wanted it to be a surprise!). I wore a simple on-sale J. Crew dress that I had my friend Diana Rupp help me adjust one day in her workshop while I was wearing it! She introduced me to Michelle Courtois who took me on a whirlwind trip through the garment district to purchase the materials for my birdcage veil and detachable silk flower–which she hand-crafted and made to fit. But lest you think the occasion was T-shirt free, we commissioned a special T-shirt hand silk-screened by our friends at Campfire Goods to give to the members of our wedding party…no word as to whether anyone’s done any T-shirt surgery on them! (Come to think of it, my sister-in-law and mother-in-law made 1″ punk pins for the rehearsal dinner that would be perfect to complete the Pin-up Girl halter top from Generation T: Beyond Fashion.)

And though I saved corks for a year to use as place card holders, we ended up having a buffet (no assigned seating) in the beautiful old two-story barn where we had the reception.

The buffet-style dinner was catered by Marie Gerli Catering (who I used to work for during the summers in high school!) with local fresh vegetables from the family farm up the road.

We floated the beer and wine in a pile of ice my family’s canoe, propped up on some hay bales in the barn.

I made and distributed a “Wedding Activity Book” to guests young and old so they could entertain themselves if the toasts went on too long.

I spent way too much time on it, but had a ton of fun personalizing the workbook with coloring pages, connect the dots, mazes, matching games, trivia (in the form of a GSAT, or Granite State Aptitude Test, in honor of the state I grew up in), and a homemade Mad Libs describing the proposal.

The welcome bags, decorated with a reproduction of a vintage postcard from the town where I grew up, included the activity books, packets of crayons, bottles of NH spring water, some locally made maple candies, and directions to all the fun hikes, swimming holes, and the 24-hour ice cream spot, of course.

My father-in-law, an interior decorator with a real green thumb, created simple bouquets of dahlias for me and my bridesmaids and groom’s lady.

He was also the mastermind behind the beautiful flower arrangements at the ceremony site. He found a bunch of bamboo tiki torches that he brilliantly repurposed into flower containers to line the aisle in the field. (Mr. T and I got married under that big oak tree.)

My mom and I saved and collected tins and mason jars for months to use for the flower arrangements on the tables.

My brother Franz, a musician, composed the processional (the recessional was The Clash’s London Calling, which he arranged for string quartet). Our friends from the Anti-Social Music collective made up the quartet who played at the ceremony and at the reception at the barn.

Our guest book, a scroll of paper fed through the Hermes 3000 portable typewriter my dad received as a gift for his high school graduation, was an homage to my Oma and Opa, who ran a typewriter and office machinery business out of their home for all the decades I knew them!

Mr. T spent hours creating the ultimate playlist (we went DIY iPod-style and borrowed speakers from a friend). And we did opt for the ubiquitous wedding CD (yes, those are hand-stamped labels) — we love music and wanted to share some of our favorite tunes so people could take the dance party home.

Our photographer, the incredibly talented Brooke Mayo, whose photographs you see here, submitted the photos to Brides Magazine, where selected shots and details appeared in May 2009!

My ladies wore brown cowboy boots and red dresses! I strung a necklace of natural pearls for each of them to accessorize with.

Here are the details the Brides thought were most notable: The flowers! The tree! The lights! The barn! The cupcakes! The invites! Our friend Pat, who often sports a mohawk and plays a mean cello!

It was an amazing day, filled with wonderful handmade details–so  thanks for indulging me, and giving me the opportunity to reminisce!

And even though I’m well past planning my own wedding, I love attending others’ events so I can take note of my favorite DIY details! What about you? Any tips or favorite party details to share with the Generation T community?

How, might you ask, can you score a tee quilt like Bella’s mom made for her? You can gather up all the T-shirts from your recent travels, athletic feats, summer camps, bar/bat mitzvahs, tropical vacations–or vampire encounters–and make it yourself, of course! Just flip to page 220 in your copy of Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt to project #88 “Patchwork Punk.”

Presenting Mr. Tee: a Mona Lisa portrait of everybody’s favorite bodyguard-turned-motivational-speaker carved out of a pile of three T-shirts, and printed on a T-shirt that you can actually own. Beautiful and brilliant. And though Mr. T is clearly the perfect muse, I like the idea of softie T-shirt sculpture becoming a new genre of creative expression — who’s portrait will be next?

I pity the fool.

Simply add markers, paints, or iron-ons  (and maybe some scrap cardboard to make stencils) to your otherwise slim list of materials (scissors!), and you’re moments away from claiming and designing your own superhero identity (need inspiration from the experts?). My sister’s superhero identity is, of course, Super Awesome (I’m developing her nemesis, Wicked Awesome, to lurk menacingly in the shadows in a constant quest to steal some of the remarkable awesomeness for herself).

Super Awesome travels both alone and with the Sunday Recess League of Extraordinary Superheroes to spread the awesome. Here, she’s flanked by other members of her mysterious superhero posse as they disappear into the night to save the world!

And then, of course, the whole renegade crew powers on ’til dawn and beyond to attend actual Sunday Recess games several days later (note the daytime pictures!). They really don’t stop spreading the fun! (And the Hello Kitty cape is a total WIN!)

And, I would be terribly remiss not to mention that you can host your very own Tee Party (superhero-themed or not) at home! What are you waiting for? Grab your scissors and get the party started.

Sweet:  “I like crafty family time” (Group crafting = awesome.)

Sentimental: “I like our home, Earth” (Amen to that.)

Irreverent: “I like finger puppets and pie” (Both great things!)

Enthusiastic: “I like penguins!!!!” (‘Nuff said.)

Funny: “I like long walks on the beach and bubble baths” (You had me at ‘I like’.)

More funny: “I like reading. It makes me samrt” (Wicked smaht!)

Celebratory: “I like my new haircut” (Congrats, Dana, on a new ‘do!)

Adventurous: “I like finding tees at Goodwill!” (The thrill of the hunt!)

Playful: “I like pretending to be a T-Rex *roarrrrrrr*” (That’s actually a game my sister and I used to play — T-Rex on bikes!)

Mischievous:  “I like cutting up my boyfriend’s t-shirts to make them mine” (“Oh, that T-shirt?…haven’t seen it.”)

And more! Judging from the chocolate, cookies, and cheesecake you like, you have a sweet tooth. And you’re also into exercise: from kickboxing, to dance,  to soccer, to Zumba. You also like pets: there’s a gerbil named Richard Gere among you as well as a cat named Pickles. You like both peace and quiet and metal music. And you’re crafty, too. You know what? You guys sound like FUN!

What you don’t like is following directions (five words or less, people! ) but I forgive you this minor rebellion because your collective enthusiasm is just so darn charming.

Well, that was a long drum-roll, but our winner, chosen at random from a hat (literally, a hat) is…HEATHER DIODATI! Congratulations, Heather (stay tuned for a separate email from me soon so we can arrange the delivery of your prize).

Thanks again, friends — more giveaways to come! In the meantime, let’s aim for 2,000 likes! Cheers, and have a great weekend.

So if you’re in the Grand Rapids area, reserve your spot for this Saturday!

To celebrate, I’m giving away one Generation T “A T-shirt is a Terrible Thing to Waste” T-shirt (size L) along with a pair of Generation T scissors to a lucky fan. Just leave a comment telling me in 5 words or less (short and sweet!) what else you like. Your dog? Your new shoes? The weather today? Your newest “I made it myself!” moment? We’ll choose a winner at random end of day Thursday.

In the meantime, here’s to you all, and thanks to each one of you for being a liker, not a fighter. Keep spreading the T-shirt love like!

cheers,

Megan & Generation T