She Says: Return of the Cubicle
Hello Everyone, The other day on twitter we were talking about some of our favorite retired bloggers. One of my favorite retired bloggers is Ari from Couch Cubicle. She was a funny blogger who always told stories about the crazies at her gym and watched Seinfeld every night. She retired about a year ago and since then, she got hitched. She agreed to post about it here! Enjoy and leave her lots of nice comments … maybe she’ll make a comeback.
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So, I used to write a little blog called Couch Cubicle. It was about working from home and eating Z Bars. At one point during my year-long writing journey, I got engaged. And then I dropped off the face of the earth, and apparently left a few folks hanging. Like Heather. (But probably not Mark. Boys don’t care about weddings.)
She very kindly asked me to guest post about the event, and I was more than down. Hangry Pants is still one of my favorite blogs, and, seriously, what girl doesn’t like talking about her wedding?
I got married on September 12, in a little town in West Virginia called Shepherdstown, where I’m originally from. I’m going to skip over the part right after I got my hair done, when I felt like I was going to puke, and get right down to the fun stuff. Here’s what I looked like:
No. That was at my bachelorette party, after I tried to crush a beer can on my head. This is what I looked like:
My dress was too big in the top – I’m not afraid to tell you that I sweat a lot, which apparently makes fabric stretch, which in turn makes you ask your sister-in-law to help you pull your dress up approximately 238 times in a seven-hour time span. If you are getting married now or in the future, I highly suggest remedying this problem with some sort of sticky tape contraption.
And these were my lovely bridesmaids, walking from my mom’s house to the garden where we had the ceremony and reception:
Aren’t they beautiful? I love them. Also, those dresses had pockets, which were very handy for things like tissues and flasks. I was a nice and very selfish bride.
Chris, my fiance-now-husband, and I wrote our own vows, and they were what you might call non-traditional. I’m pretty sure this is what I did when he started talking about how I sometimes do a hearty fist-pump when the subway comes in a timely fashion:
It’s true. I do. I also give the thumbs up a lot. But that doesn’t mean I want 150 of my closest friends and family to know about it.
Moving on. Here is a picture of us walking out as husband and wife:
That picture was taken by the awesome Betsy, of Betsy Cooks Healthy fame, and it is my all-time favorite. We have an 8 X 10 of it on our wall. It’s weird having a large picture of yourself in your living room. Sometimes I see it out of the corner of my eye and it makes me jump.
Anyway. I spent months agonizing over a million décor ideas, things like flowers, and decorations, and chairs, and napkins, and tables. This is not really like me – my apartment is not what you would call decorated, and not only because there isn’t any room for that crap – but it is, apparently, what happens when you get engaged. None of these things seem at all important the moment you step on the aisle, but for some reason they are all encompassing beforehand. So here’s a shot, also by Betsy, that gives you an idea of what we ended up with:
I was going for natural and casual. Also, I wasn’t a fan of the environmental impact of shipping flowers from South America, so we got all of ours from a nearby farm and I thought they were awesome.
And lest you think I forgot that this is a food blog, here is a sort of bad picture of our cake:
That topper looks like it might fall apart any second because it might. It was from my grandparent’s wedding cake. It wasn’t exactly my style, but it made my mom cry, and that’s all that really matters, right?
I don’t have any other food pictures, but we had, among other things I don’t remember, mini falafel sandwiches, lots of cheeses, corn cakes with ratatouille, shrimp and grits, vegetable lasagna, grilled vegetables, a tomato-zucchini tart, and roasted potatoes. Almost everything was local – also important to me – and really, really good.
There was also a lot of wine, and beer, and tequila shots. Which means I did this:
And this:
That’s the cupid shuffle. Don’t be jealous of my pink 99 cent store flip flops.
At some point, the cops came, and told our DJ that we didn’t have the right permit or something. I don’t know what that was about because I’m pretty sure we didn’t even have a permit. Maybe that was the problem.
When the reception was over, we moved the party to a bar, and my brother bought out the hot dog stand across the street. I don’t normally eat hot dogs, or any meat, for that matter, but I definitely did that night. And then at around two or three in the morning, Chris and I left:
Typical.
And that’s that. Thanks Heather and Mark for letting me take over your blog! It was fun. I don’t plan on starting my own again any time soon, but if I ever do, I will make a grand, dramatic announcement on Twitter, so everyone should follow me there. Also because as of now, most of my followers are spam and that’s depressing.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
This was a great post. What a fun looking wedding! I loved your blog so much, and miss it everyday
You were hilarious!
November 16th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Loved the fact that you got flowers from a local farmer and how you used your grandmother’s cake top for your own. You wedding looked like a sweet intimate wedding – looks like you had a great one.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Your wedding looks like a blast! Those are the best kind.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
ah!!! I totally miss your blog and was super excited to see this guest post. Your dress is beautiful- I love the top (despite it being too big
. Glad you guys had an amazing day- you looked INCREDIBLE! Come backkkkkkk
November 16th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
what a fun post!!! I remember couch cubicle – it was always hilarious.
Congrats on the wedding!
November 16th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
i miss you too! oh wait, i just saw you on friday
betsy is the best wedding photographer ever!
November 16th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I miss your blog! And your dog pictures! And your funny stories. But thank you for coming back to recap your wedding…love your dress.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Omg, this girl is hilarious! I’m now wishing Ari’s blog was still in existence!
November 16th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Hilarious! I wish I kept up with Couch Cubicle better while it still existed.
November 16th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
i am the best wedding photographer ever.
and that was the most fun wedding ever. (EVER!!!)
November 16th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Loved this recap! Hilarious. The wedding looks like a blast. Loved the dress. But I especially love the trader joes bag.
November 16th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
hahahahahahaha, that looks like the most fantastic wedding.
November 16th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
I miss couch cubicle!!! I remember the post when you got engaged! So glad to hear the wedding was perfect!
November 16th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I miss Couch Cubicle too. I’m really glad to get an update. But I’m wondering: are Z-bars still consumed in large quantities?
November 16th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Furthermore – were there any z-bars at the wedding?
November 16th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
NO WAY! I’m so psyched about this guest post. Couch Cubicle was one one of favorite blogs EVER! Bring it backkk!!!
That wedding looks like so much fun. Especially the pink flip flops. Those are key when dancing while drinking, for extra comfort.
Also, you win for not putting your bridesmaids in hideous dresses. Everyone looks beautiful!
November 16th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I MISS COUCH CUBICLE!!!
November 16th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
That was awesome!! I used to read Couch Cubicle and also Chris’ blog. I was so happy when they were engaged. Ari always cracked me up. The wedding looks like a blast. Thanks, Ari, for sharing it with us… and thanks, Heather, for arranging it
November 16th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Also, I would like to emphasize the awesomeness that was the food at that wedding. That lasagna!? I still dream about it.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Gorgeous bride! And that dancing is just amazing take that show on the road sista.
I love the dress!
November 16th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Most beautiful dress i’ve ever seen ever! I love the simplicity of your wedding, no fuss, it looks amazing!
I also adore the bridesmaids dresses and i’m pretty sure those are exactly what i want my girls to wear when i someday get married! 
November 16th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS COUCH CUBICLE!! love her. miss her greatly! i used to waste a lot of my employer’s time reading her blog.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love that me and Caitlin’s conversation on Twitter started this! Oh, Couch Cubicle. How I miss you! I still remember the engagement post. You were saying how Chris bought you a candy bar, and it was really romantic. But not nearly as romantic as when he proposed. Lol!
November 16th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
I used to be such a Couch Cubicle lurker…COME BACK! I need somewhere to lurk! : )
November 16th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Ari, I hear you on the sweating and duly noted! Best tip of the post
I also love the casual/classy factor and the local flavor of the wedding. So cool. That girl is hilariousssss. Thanks for bringing her back Heather!
November 16th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Flasks – haha! So considerate
I have to say, before I had my own blog, I used to read your blog all the time! It always brought a smile to my face. I agree with the others that you should come back! Congrats on getting married!!
November 16th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I adored this guest post, weddings are fun! We wrote our own vows and I felt the need to talk about pizza and Scrubs in mine.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
This was great!! I LOVED Couch Cubicle and even lurked on Chris’s blog awhile. I wish I could have been one of the lucky 150 attendees!
That sounded so stalkerish…
We miss you Ari!
November 16th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Despite the wardrobe malfunction, that dress still looks fabulous! So unique!
November 17th, 2009 at 12:20 am
OH MY GOD! THE ORIGINAL GANGSTER HERSELF! Ari, you make a beautiful bride – obviously. I’ll never forget your blog. It was so original and funny. Everything you ate BETWEEN meals. Your pup. That mug shot picture that was actually your driver license. Your trail mix post. UNFORGETTABLE! Congratulations. You look beautiful
November 17th, 2009 at 12:37 am
Haha, it’s really too bad you won’t starting a blog again, because you’re hysterical.
November 17th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Thanks for all the nice comments!! Rose, I actually don’t eat Z Bars anymore. They started making my stomach hurt. Does this happen to anyone else? Anyone? No? Maybe I ate too many?
November 17th, 2009 at 11:47 am
HI ARIELLE! PLEASE COME BACKKKKK! I MISS COUCH CUBICLE AND ALL THE Z BARS
You looked absolutely GORGEOUS! Also, I am so proud of you for going so local on everything. I am pretty sure my wedding was then anti-green wedding, even though I usually try to be as conscious as possible.
Anyway, I am so happy for you and Chris and I hope that you consider taking up blogging again, even if it’s just once a week!
November 17th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Arielle- I eat a Z bar about once a week and don’t have a problem.. and I am really sad to hear you don’t eat them anymore haha!
Also, for the record, I miss Betsy’s blog too.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Great post. It was hysterical and what a beatiful bride and wedding! I loved it all.
Congratulations to the new Mr & Mrs!!
Heather – make sure Mark reads it (hint! hint! to Mark)
November 17th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Hahahah this was hilarious! You know I love wedding recaps
November 17th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
id be lying if i said i didnt miss couch cubicle every day of my life.
more so i just missed jack. a whole lot lot lot. please come back!
November 17th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
*miss
November 17th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
CC: I love your dress.
Everyone: I read Chris’s blog too. Not so secretly either. Was so sad when he left us too.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Fun post! I was a big fan of the blog and really glad to have Arielle back
November 18th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I loved you blog Arielle! Congrats on getting married, thanks for posting
November 19th, 2009 at 11:39 am
I used to follow your now husband’s blog regularly! Glad to see you guys got hitched and are doing well!
November 20th, 2009 at 8:47 am
ARI! I miss your blog so much – I actually have visited couchcubicle.com a couple of times and since the domain isn’t owned anymore, thought all your content was deleted. I’m so thrilled it’s still on Wordpress.com because you never failed to make me smile with your wit and good humor.
Your wedding looked absolutely beautiful, as did you! I’m actually in the process of planning mine and am thinking my bridesmaids may be wearing a very similar dress in a deep purple color. Love that they have pockets!
Congratulations to the happy couple – and thanks for showing us your day
November 20th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I MISS COUCH CUBICLE. I laughed my ass off! Congrats on getting hitched, beautiful bride!
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
yay WV!!!
November 26th, 2009 at 12:09 am
Couch Cubicle used to be one of my daily reads. I loved this wedding recap- so fun!!
December 12th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I just read this post again. Still funny!
December 21st, 2009 at 8:00 pm
ah! forgot about couch cubicle but so loved that daily dose of dry wit. thanks for this.