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Always curious by the little-understood “mystic forces” of the universe, I was driven to dig deeper into the Cosmic Wedding Planner, presented by in Brides.com’s Astrology Guide.

Being a Gemini, it can be hard to nail down one type of style - especially since my sign is known for being full of variety and flightiness (a trait I’m very guilty of). So, do I live up to Brides.com’s idea of what works for a Gemini wedding? Let’s find out!

Your Bridal Style: Funky, eclectic, edgy, fun

Verdict: YES!

What’s Important to You

• Fast-paced action and excitement
• Cutting-edge style with dabs of tradition
• An awesome music mix by the best DJ
• Lots of variety and crafty touches

Verdict: Yes, except for the “fast-paced” part; I used to be that way, but now prefer things a bit more mellow, but still fun.

Wedding Dress: Let’s start with rule number one: Gaudy and girlie gowns must be “eliminated”. You’re a sporty sign that looks great in basics like tank tops and cargo pants, so why veer from what works? Gemini rules the arms, torso and waist, so choose a gown that flatters these areas.

With your biceps, you’ve got the right to bare arms, so go strapless or wear a simple, spaghetti-strap style with a jeweled sash at the waist. Avoid boxy shifts and overly structured styles and go for soft and fitted instead.

Striking a balance between masculine and feminine and structured and flowy is key. A unique or avant-garde gown, even a short dress, might suit your personality well.

Gemini rules the hands, and if you’re good with yours, you might even pick up needle and thread to make your own one-of-a-kind creation. A splash of color goes far, so don’t feel trapped in “bridal white”—let yourself dip into the rainbow for a dress you truly love.

Verdict: All 100% true. I plan on wearing a strapless, sightly fitted gown, so it sounds like I’m headed in the right direction already.

I’m still not sure about venturing out of the white-ivory-cream color family though; I am still a bit traditional in that aspect.

I have been having a hard time choosing between a full-length dress and a tea/ankle/calf length dress (very 1950s style).

Accessories: Emphasize your Gemini-ruled areas – arms, hands and torso. Adorn your wrists, even your upper arms, in cocktail rings, jeweled cuffs and intricate bracelets.

Or if you wear a super-girlie dress, create the striking contrast your sign loves with a tough leather wrist cuff. Gloves look sharp and unexpected on you, especially with a strapless dress.

You love to surprise people, so skip the dyed-to-match shoes and throw on some heels in shocking pink, neon green or electric blue.

Tuck a flower behind your ear or put on a fun headband—wear your hair loosely or flowing freely. A few hair gems and sparkly touches keep you feeling fun.

You get bored easily, so you might even wear your hair one way for the ceremony and in another style for the reception. Come prepared!

Verdict: I am certainly all about the hands and arms, though I don’t want to wear too much that would take away from the wedding ring. I love the leather cuff idea, but will skip the gloves.

No way will I be wearing dyed-t0-match shoes! I will be wearing flats, since I am already 2 inches taller than my fiance, but I plan to wear some nice yellow ones.

I always wear my hair down, so it would be nice to do something else with it. Of course, that also depends on how long my hair will be at that point. Nothing fancy, though – just some nice curls or a modest braided bun. I’m quite keen on the idea of wearing flowers in my hair.

Ring: Gemini rules the hands, so your ring should be a great fit, since it’s sure to be noticed. As the sign of duality, try a double ring or a contrast of masculine and feminine styles.

Jeweler Isaac Gottesman of Chicago’s Dimend Scaasi (dimendscassi.com) recommends a tension-set ring with a funky modern metal band that’s also curvy and feminine. The tension setting makes the diamond look like it’s floating magically.

Choose a princess-cut stone, which is square and ultra-sparkly and has lots of facets.

Verdict: Picking a ring is very hard because my own personal style morphs so often. Do I want something with stones or not? Should it match my engagement ring?

The one thing I do know is NO GOLD! I am very interested in palladium though. My fiance doesn’t wear jewelry at all, but he has found wedding bands made by Scott Kay that he really likes. The company offers palladium as an option, but I won’t about the sustainability of their creations and as a company.

Party: You put the “party” in bridal party, Gemini. Pack a limo with your loudest friends and hit the drive-through window en route to the chapel. As for dresses, there will be nothing stiff and formal for your maids! More like short, sexy and racy—or at least above the knee.

You might even put your bridesmaids in costume—they can dress as hula girls, for example, and put leis on guests’ necks as they arrive. You’re not big on having your bridal party look like clones (even if you are the sign of the twins).

To mix it up but keep some coordination, send your maids to a place like David’s Bridal, where they can choose from a range of tops and bottoms in the same color and fabric.

Verdict: This does sound a bit like me, though my bridal party will be quite small. I’m not doing any overtly-themed wedding, so the costumes are out, but I am going with the final idea of giving the bridesmaids a color and fabric, then letting them chose their own style.

Reception: Originality and diversity are the keys to your special day, Gemini. To satisfy your need for variety, think in contrasts. An indoor-outdoor wedding keeps things exciting and surprising. Find a caterer that specializes in “dinner by the bite,” where your guests feast on portion-size tastes of many fun dishes.

Since your mate is probably quite different from you, consider adding a unity candle to your ceremony, and have family members from each side light it to symbolically bring you together.

Aim for funky decor, like a chocolate-brown aisle runner with sky-blue or hot-pink variegated stripes. Bright, patterned tablecloths and chair covers can carry the color scheme onward.

As an air sign, you love to feel the wind on your face, so stage your wedding on a cliff or in front of dramatic windows. With your love of adventure, you could even skydive into your own reception and recite your vows while airborne—why not?

Theme weddings are great for Geminis too. Hire a mariachi band and go south of the border, or round up your favorite fiddlers for a hoedown barbecue celebration.

The key is fun, fun, fun. You are the kind of bride who jumps into the pool in full bridal regalia, getting the whole wild night started!

Verdict: Hooray for the indoor-outdoor wedding! That is exactly what my fiance and I are doing.

We aren’t quite sure exactly what we are going to do for the ceremony, though we both plan on writing our own vows and exchanging rings. I like the idea of a candle ceremony, but still need to share the idea with my fiance.

Bright colors and aisle runners are out – we do plan on using blue and yellow for our wedding, but it will be subtle while we let the beauty and nature of the Spring season shine through. We’re having the ceremony outside and won’t be using an aisle runner – not our style and yet another way to save money.

And I totally would jump in a swimming pool or ocean in a full wedding dress, haha – they got me there!

Flowers: It’s all about the best of both worlds for you, Gemini. The flloral and event designers of Martin Jobes Design (martinjobesdesign.com) advise you to pair full blooms with delicate buds of the same flower.

Lisianthus, anemone or freesia are great choices to showcase open blooms with the promise of buds. Or “mix in a surprise with the addition of a small grouping of colored blooms to one side of a white bouquet, or add a tailored cuff studded with ‘cuff links’ to hold your bouquet,” they suggest.

Customize each table at your reception with a slightly different mix of blooms and vessels at each table, suggests the Martin-Jobes team, or use a single color palette with a mix of flowers for a “unified look.”

Verdict: I’ll be designing all the floral arrangements myself, and I really like the “full blooms mixed with delicate buds” idea. As far as flower types, I am really drawn to ranunculus the more I see them, but that’s the only flower I’m already set on.

I’m not sure if I’ll be using flowers, candles, or both for the table centerpieces … only time (ad the budget) will tell. The single color palate concept is a great idea!

Cake: Variety is your middle name, Gemini, and you’re always willing to try something different. Rather than serve just cake, place yours on a table surrounded by matching cupcakes, ice cream sandwiches and cookies.

With your impulsive nature, you know how fun it can be to grab a quick sugar fix! You love funky, mod color combos like chocolate brown mixed with aqua, hot pink or apple green. Karen Rivera-Gorski of The Painted Cake (thepaintedcake.com) recommends a “bold color contrast, clean lines and modern motifs.”

For your sign, she suggests a square dark-chocolate fondant cake wrapped in a hot-pink sugar ribbon and bow and adorned with hand-sculpted chocolate roses. If flowers are too girlie for your sometimes tomboyish sign, choose graphic symbols like polka dots and stripes or use cute retro piping. Gemini rules the hands, and you can be crafty in the kitchen.

You might even make your own cake or at least advise on the decor. As the sign of the twins, you like to mix and match. Alternate flavors between each cake tier and give your guests an unexpected, delicious surprise.

Verdict: There won’t be any pink, but there will be a variety! I love cake, cooking and cupcakes, but I’m not much of a fan of pies, so there won’t be any of those. My fiance and I already decided on a chocolate cake, though we keep debating over a traditional cake and a cupcake tower.

Invitations: Fashion your wedding invitations with the spirit of originality and fun. With your hands-on nature, you might even design your own layout or create a cool motif. Modern, graphic and colorful stationery is more interesting to you than a solemn engraved set.

Many Geminis are eco-friendly types, so explore the range of beautiful recycled papers and print with soy-based ink. Include crafty touches like stitching and fabric or make your own paper from herbs and flowers. You could even send a CD, a DVD or something other than a printed paper invitation.

“Gemini is the sign of the twins,” says invitation designer Karalee Serra of Simply Serra (simplyserra.com), “so the Gemini bride might use her wedding invitation to express a completely different side of her personality from what she shows the world day to day.”

Verdict: Making my own invitations has crossed my mind many times, but I’m already hired good friend and eco-designer Tara Hogan to do the deed. “Many Geminis are eco-friendly types” – too cool (Of course my invites will be eco-friendly!)

I am thinking about adding some machine stitching in a unique thread color along one side of the invitations, or maybe some rubber stamping on the envelopes …

Special Touches:

• You love gossip, and your ruling planet Mercury makes sure you’re the first to hear it. Instead of a wedding program, make a tabloid-style “magazine” that tells the story of how you two met, written in sensationalized prose.
• Appeal to both sides of Gemini and do a dramatic costume change, suggests wedding planner Danielle Bobish of Curtain Up Events (curtainupevents.com). Wear a traditional ballroom gown for the ceremony and change into a sexy mini or even a sassy suit for the reception to dance the night away.
• Bobish also says to consider making an unexpected and creative getaway: If you’re near water, use a motorboat or matching Jet Skis! Land bound? Nothing screams adventure like leaving (or arriving at) your event on a motorcycle or a funky Vespa.

Verdict: The first idea is hilarious – and tempting. The second idea has crossed my mind many times, but for budget reasons, I doubt it will happen. The third idea rocks my socks and will depend a lot on the venue location we end up with; a swank Vespa would be my dream!

Honeymoon: Geminis are adventurous and active, so there won’t be too much lazing on the beach in store for you! Jet Skis, deep-sea diving, parasailing or some other extreme adventure is more your speed. You need lots of variety to keep from getting stir-crazy.

Wedding planner Danielle Bobish of Curtain Up Events (curtainupevents.com) suggests Thailand, where you can stay at a high-end luxury resort one night, then rent a beach bungalow for $10 and enjoy a campfire the next. It’s truly the best of both worlds.

Bobish recommends a full schedule of “fishing in the rivers with the locals, playing with monkeys, hiking the gorgeous beaches, riding elephants and indulging at amazing mountaintop spas.”

You love bright colors and tons of action, so head to Brazil for the Rio Carnaval, suggests Bobish. Get swept up in the floats and costumes, learn to samba from the locals and enjoy the sexy Brazilian beaches. A cruise can be fun too, since the variety and activities will keep your restless sign entertained.

Verdict:  Our dream would be to go to Italy, but we just can’t afford it. Instead we will be having a honeymoon that is a nice mix of active and indulgent relaxation at a spa resort in either New York state or Pennsylvania.

Final Verdict: They got a lot of it right and only a little bit of it wrong, but hey, astrology isn’t a perfect “science“!

Don’t get me wrong – I love the blue and yellow color combination that my fiance and I have picked out for our wedding. While researching yellow options, I quickly found a lot of yellow and gray/slate combos and became enchanted the more I saw them.

Though we have no plans to change our wedding colors, we just might choose to integrate some gray into our designs. Think about it: my fiance and I are often seen as a yin-yang symbol, balancing each other out. What better way to express that they with a gray shade that combines both the black and white sides of the yin-yang symbol?

On another note, combining yellow and gray is a wonderful balance of vibrant and mellow; warm and modern; creative and centered;  exciting and enlightened.

Here is a menagerie of all the yellow and gray ideas I’ve found on the web so far – how could you not be inspired!?

Handwoven Cashmere Silk Scarf Pashmina – want want want! Would be the perfect accessory for my wedding ensemble! (Yes, it is a Spring wedding, but I’ll be in a strapless dress and you know how windy it can be …)

Snippet & Ink’s Inspiration Board #293 – speaks for itself <3

Martha Stewart’s Perfect Palettes: Marigold and Pewter – this yellow is more “golden” that we’re going for, but still a nifty selection of ideas.

Old Gold and Silver Handspun Cashmere/Baby Camel Yarn – downright gorgeous; not sure what I would knit, but I’m sure that would be easily solved.

Set of 5 Peonie Thank You Cards – love the design and faded inks.

Grey Leather Bag with Ruffles and Removable Straps – a shining example of how yellow & gray combine the feelings of cozy and modern.

White, Yellow, and Grey Fern Pillow – an eco-friendly reminder that would remind us of our wedding day for many years to come.

Rain Clouds: Cloud number 17 – too cute for words! Since it is a rain cloud, it might be a bit too gloomy for wedding decorations, but adorable all the same.

Betsy White’s Lemon, Slate and Mint Color Pallete – more proof that our choice of yellow is going to go great with our list of possible wedding locations (all of which are rustic, more details and pictures coming soon!).

You might have noticed a lull in posting – let me assure you, it is not for lack of ideas! My fiance and I just finished moving from San Francisco, California back to Connecticut.  We are delighted to be back amongst the snow and will be working on our wedding budget starting in February.

In the mean time, I just had to share this email with you. Lenny Williams, owner of Garden Party (NYC’s “freshest green-minded events”), took the time to create a few custom inspiration boards for me. I had no idea he was doing this and was overwhelmed with excitement when I found out!

I’m sure like any excited bride-to-be, you are overloading your brain
with possibilities, so here are some more to keep you occupied!

My biggest advice to green brides — figure out what is most important to both of you, first. Everything else will follow. After that, it’s simply filling in the blanks! If you focus too hard on green, green, green you’ll feel totally defeated & never get any traction.

I hope you are inspired by the boards I made for you. [They are] not exactly blue & green, but I was inspired by the sense I get from you from your blog.

You mentioned pinwheels as placecards—very cute. That was my starting point.

• S’mores are a fun activity (as is croquet, horseshoes) for your guests—have small brown bags filled with all the essentials—fair trade chocolate, organic marshmallows.
• Lanterns are great, but tissue paper balls can be made of recycled paper & be recycled themselves.
• Pennant banners made from flea market sheets or like these, old magazines, add whimsy & hide ugly ceilings.
• Make jams as take-home favors or remind folks about eating in-season and jar some okra, pickles, tomatoes.
• Use elements from nature, like the monogrammed leaves (looks cool in corsages, or napkin rings as well).
• Gocco or hand stamp your own invites & other materials or consider a webpage for info.
• A wedding dress made completely of cotton t-shirt scraps…LOVE IT!
• Serve organic wines from vineyards in the Finger Lakes or check out some of the newbies in Brooklyn.
• Make your man’s tie from vintage fabric used in the wedding—awesome heirloom.
• Throw a quilt or fun tablecloth up as a background for fun pictures!
• Bamboo compostable utensils.

For this one, I drew upon you being a writer.

• Use old books to create vases, garland, streamers.
• Wear an ensemble piece in soft blue—you can find more occasions to wear each individual piece.
• Romantic organic/local flowers.
• Hearty local cheeses & breads add rustic qualities.
• Hand stamp or Gocco muslin bags (that can be used again) for your lavender toss.
• Rent generic white linens, then tie them with beautiful ribbons for an inexpensive yet rich decoration–save the ribbons for future craft projects.
• Print your invitations on vintage hankies—with copies of your favorite sonnet.

I’m a big fan of this inspiration board that Lenny posted on Grand Party’s blog – a perfect blend of fresh and casual.

Taken by our then-San Francisco-neighbor, Lisa Sze, the session started out as a fun lifestyle photo shoot. We ended up getting a number of fantastic pictures together, so Lisa was nice enough to let us use them as our engagement portraits.

We were pretty up in the air about whether or not to bother doing an engagement photo shoot at all. In the end, it is fun to see these pictures now and I can bet the feeling will be the same in 10 years.

When you start a new blog, the first thing’s first – say hello!

You’ve probably found this blog via my website, Victoria-E.com. If so, then you know a fair amount about me already. If not, here’s a snippet of my bio (and welcome!):

I think of myself as a creatively versatile eco-powerhouse. Freelance writer, life-long model, on-camera personality, public speaker, official U.S. spokesperson for Twice Shy Clothing – I’m a classic Renaissance woman and mistress-of-all-trades.

Perpetually looking for fresh ways to share my unquenchable green knowledge, I blog about everything eco on my own website and select others. My diverse articles have been published in variety of reputable magazines, such as: Yoga Journal, CRAFT, Venus, ReadyMade, Yogi Times and Office Solutions.

In my spare time, you can find me knitting, reading, singing, taking pictures, practicing yoga, taking long walks, and working on my first non-fiction book. Other random facts about me: I’m a Buddhist, latex fan, have four tattoos, and an attempting locavore.

On Sunday, December 14th, 2008, my boyfriend of 4 and a half years proposed to me in San Francisco’s Union Square – in the middle of their Holdiay Ice Rink. It was a truly magical night !

Soon, I’ll have an edited video to show you of the event. Until then, feel free to check out the pictures from that night. That day also happened to be the one-month mark before we move back to Connecticut on Wednesday, January 14th, 2009.

When is the big day? Saturday, May 15th, 2010. We wanted to make sure that we gave ourselves enough time to explore all of our options, as well as save some extra money.

Why start a new blog? I wanted to try and save the sanity of my current readers and wedding guests by having a single outlet for all the ideas, planning, and choices made for the wedding. I will still be updating Victoria-E.com regularly – consider this blog an extension of Victoria-E.com

What can readers expect? Lots! I’ll be posting a plethora of beautiful images and ideas, as well as chronicling the trials and tribulations of planning an affordable, sustainable, small business-supportive wedding (what a mouthful). Last but not least, I’ll be sharing the final decisions that we make along the way – you will get to see a full wedding come together right in front of your eyes!

[Image courtesy of FancifulForm.Etsy.com]

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