My name is Vera D. and I’m excited to join the Weddzilla Blog Team and represent the West Coast, especially Oakland, CA! By day, I’m an account executive for an online fund raising and advocacy nonprofit consultancy. I’m obsessed with watching the Food Network (and even appeared on an episode of Bobby Flay’s Throwdown!), playing tennis, bargain hunting, and throwing secret, underground dinner parties with the Ghetto Gourmet. I am definitely one to work for food…and wine!

I’ve been proposed to 3 times before and friends joke that I’m the runaway bride. I know this 4th time is IT. When I met my fiance, I had sworn off dating artists, until my friend, Jeremy, introduced me to his childhood friend, Fred, at Love Farms in Healdsburg. I was smitten at first sight, but my heart sank when I learned Fred was an artist — a classical guitarist. Nonetheless, a couple days later, I asked Fred to join me to watch my friend, Axel, perform in the opera, Carmen, so that he could network with other musicians. As I drove us home at the end of a fabulous night, Fred asked, “Were we on a date, or just networking?” To which I replied, “A date…” We’ve been together ever since!

Four months into our relationship, Fred told me the “L” word on Main Street in Disneyland on Valentine’s Day 2006. Fast forward three years to April 2009 — Fred proposed to me on Tom Sawyer’s Island at Disney on my 31st birthday! I happily accepted. My “Guitar Fred” is the kindest, most patient, funny and foxy guy I know. I can’t imagine my life without him.

My Myer-Briggs type is ENFJ, so naturally I’ve begun to plan well in advance. Our wedding is set for 10/10/10 in the seaside town of Sausalito, CA and we are aiming to stay under a $10,000 budget. Elements of our wedding have already begun to percolate via my blog, My $10,000 Wedding, such as: vintage white milk glass compotes for centerpieces, a mini-carnival for the cocktail hour, a bluegrass band for the reception, peacock blue satin wedding shoes, DIY peony and dahlia bouquets, and guitar pick boutonnieres. As I mentioned before, I love discovering good deals and ways to cut costs, so I am excited to blog for Weddzilla.com. I look forward to sharing with you ideas, inspiration and tips for having a recession wedding without sacrificing style and quality! Cheers!