MRSTER ::{pronounced :: miss + ter} is an online magazine for same sex and hetero couples who are planning their wedding day. Yes, wedding day! Our goal is to provide smart ideas, valuable resources, allied vendors, real life experiences and true stories for couples of all backgrounds.
With our unique line up of contributors our posts will be filled with lots of personality and passion. So grab a blanket and your laptop and snuggle up to some blog-talk with Mrster.
Our Contributors
Cicely Rocha Miller :: Editor :: So, I am Cicely. {Yes, like the island off the coast of Italy, just spelled differently}. I am the owner of Life Design Event Planning and co-founder of Mrster. When I started Life Design, I knew that very soon our country would be changing and wanted intensely to be a part of it. I joined the Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and have been a proud member ever since with a goal to connect with like-minded individuals researching the need for same-sex wedding planning services and plainly get my feelers out for the reaction to such a concept. I must tell you, it has taken off, hence our brain child: Mrster. I am so excited to be a part of its ever-growing success and being a part of history in the making.
Contributing Writers + Advisory Board Member
Alejandro Cadavid :: Let me begin by saying how privileged I feel to be a part of Mrster. I am a student at Arizona State University and am working towards my degree in Global Management. I am so excited to be alive in this daunting yet exhilarating time of change in not only our country, but in the world. I truly feel that I was put here to make a difference and it thrills me to think of what is waiting for me in the future. I hope to use Mrster as a platform to expose you to what inspires me: art and architecture, music, design and fashion, politics and policy. I can’t wait to share those things and so many others with all of you and hopefully give you a different perspective and insight on this thing that we call life.
Dusty Fuller :: I am 25 years old, originally from a small town in Nebraska called Grand Island. It was a bit too slow-paced for me so I moved to Phoenix about 3 1/2 years ago. It wasn’t long after I moved here, I slowly began coming “out” to my family and friends. I met a great guy named Joey and we lived together for about 6 months before he proposed to me. About a year later, we had a wonderful ceremony in Gold Canyon. We now reside in Gilbert with our 3 dogs and 2 cats. Joey and I love to travel, and love to entertain friends. I work in Tempe for a pharmacutical distribution company. I love watching American Idol and Family Guy. I also love lifting weights, being active, love music and dancing. I can never sit in one spot for too long! It is an honor to be part of Mrster and I hope that my insight will be helpful to others.
Drew Coleman :: Born in Dixon, Illinois and raised all over the midwest, I landed in Phoenix by way of Minneapolis in 1999 to attend ASU. Two things happened there; I met the man of my dreams and I found a true passion for events. The latter developed from the serving job I took at Heidi’s Events and Catering for some extra cash. The former was a gorgeous blonde that I occasionally ran into at school. Although straight, he was always so incredibly polite and a pleasure to chat with. I graduated in 2004 and after a year-long hiatus in Chicago, I returned to the Valley and rejoined Heidi’s team as an event planner. Shortly after, I ran into my college crush Andy who revealed that the feeling was mutual. The next night we had dinner and today we are engaged and planning our union for next spring. Andy is the love of my life, my best friend, and my ultimate team mate. Having planned a number of modern unions and now my own, I am honored and excited to be a part of Mrster. I am committed to offering advice from both a professional and a very personal perspective.
Erika D. Cardenas :: My name is Erika. One of my favorite philosophies does not come from Aristotle or Pluto, it comes from the movie The Lion King. “Hakuna matata, what a wonderful phrase, it means NO worries for the rest of your days!”. I try my hardest every day to live up to that, and though not easy, it is amazing what you can accomplish with a deep breath and a “hakuna matata” attitude. May I be able to share with everyone who encounters Mrster, the smallest point of view of the way I see the world. At the end of the day, every person on this planet has one thing in common, we are all human. Live well, love well, be well!
Gina Niemiec :: Associate Editor :: I stumbled my way in to the wedding business almost ten years ago. While working at a hair salon in town (booking appointments and client relations), I started arranging flowers for the reception desk. After salon clients started asking me to design flowers for their parties and weddings, I jumped in and never looked back. Fiori Floral Design was born. I love creating memorable events that are unique and imaginative, and discussing ideas with all who will listen. I have a part-time gig as a freelance writer for azcentral.com, where I get to write about everything from restaurants to dog-friendly happy hours. I will be adding my two cents to Mrster every week, with topics ranging from the political to the practical.
Joey Konecek :: I am Joey–a huge fan of the Beatles, a part-time interior designer, and a full-time travel guru. Being a designer by nature I see almost all things as beautiful, useful, and necessary, but what really drives me are things that are unique. I get so tired of the cookie cutter way of life and take great pride in my unconventional ways. To me Mrster is unique, refreshing and fits my “mold.” That’s why I’m here. In planning my own ceremony, I remember all the choices…colors, vendors, photographers, cakes, venues and so on, its enough to make a crazy person go crazier! My advice is this…take your time with the details, don’t compromise on your vision, and be comfortable with every choice that is made, this will help make your day as special as it should be!
Jorge Nido :: I’m a crazy Leo that loves to throw parties. Entertaining is something I do quite often, whether it’s birthday parties for my family or sit down dinners with friends. Getting family and friends together for a good time makes all the hard work worth it. I love kids and can’t wait to have a couple of my own. Right now I have my nieces and nephews to keep my desire alive. I was in the Marine Corps for four years and was in the first Gulf War. It was a great experience and it opened my eyes to different cultures. I am really excited to be a part of Mrster and I look forward to contributing to the site. I hope to keep you entertained and informed. We appreciate your support and input.
Rhonda Lewis :: As a lover of the arts I tend to dabble in all things creative, but my most fulfilling moments are photographing weddings. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege to be a part of hundreds of weddings and through that have met some amazing individuals, couples and families. My favorite ceremonies and celebrations are always ones that don’t rely solely on tradition. Ditching the status quo and writing our own rules are to me what truly define the modern union…add in your own personalities and that, my friend, is the perfect union. I’m not saying you should rule out centuries of veils, bridesmaids, bouquets and cakes, but I do think it’s important to examine the rituals and make sure they are a good fit for YOUR occasion. Through Mrster, I hope to share with you my experiences, tips, ideas and of course, images. You can learn more about Rhonda’s work by clicking here :: Rhonda Lewis Photography.
Shannon E. Williams :: …but you can call me Shan! My fiancée, family and friends are my number ones. I’m a team leader working with 14 to 21-year-old CPS/foster care youth and truly enjoy supporting their very unique situations. I love living in AZ, although I can never get used to the summers. I think it’s important to return unwanted items back to the correct aisle/bin at the grocery store (especially refrigerated or frozen foods). I love to sing, play the piano, and I can even still do the splits…seriously, I can but only with my left leg in front. Although it’s hard, I try to live by a set of rules my big brother shared with me in 7th grade: #1. Don’t Care What Other People Think, #2. Be Nice, #3. Smile. In our community, people struggle every day with sharing smiles and accepting them…I hope we can ALL smile at each other one day but first, I will share mine with Mrster.
If you’re interested in writing for MRSTER, click on the “Contact Us” tab, and tell us about yourself!
