Hello New Visitors!

Welcome to Brandi & Brady’s Wedding Blog! You probably stumbled across our little site after receiving a Save-the-Date card in the mail. We started this blog this past June and we do our best to update it on a regular basis with info about our wedding, bridal party, family and everyday adventures.

If you are visiting the site for the first time, we encourage you to catch up on previous posts by clicking on one of the "labels" on the right side of the web page. Here are some good frequently asked wedding-related questions you might want to know the answers to:

• What is this Web site and why should I visit it?

• So, where are you getting married?

• How did you guys meet?

• Who is this chick Brady is marrying?

• Brandi found a guy to put up with her non-stop talking? Who is this guy?



• Can I get more details on the hotel, ceremony and reception?
o The Sheraton Station Square is the official hotel of the Bonkowski/Smith Wedding. This is the site of our wedding reception and it's a stone's throw from the Gateway Clipper, the boat where our ceremony will take place on. We encourage you to book your hotel room as soon as possible to get our special wedding rate. In fact, the hotel created a handy little Web site for people to easily book rooms, here (we've also added a link on the right side of our blog). More travel tips and a listing of alternate to come in future blog posts.

o The most important thing to remember is if you plan on attending the ceremony, boarding begins at 2 p.m. sharp - so don't be late! The boat sets sail at 2:20 p.m., and we'll begin our voyage over to the point where Pittsburgh's infamous Three Rivers merge and exchange vowels with the skyline in the background.

• By the way, what's the deal with that oversized mirror you are staring at on the Save-the-Date?
o If you’ve been to Chicago and received the full Brandi & Brady tour, then you know all about The Bean - inexplicably one of the top tourist attractions in the Windy City.


o The Bean, which is formally known as “Cloud Gate,” is located in Millennium Park and has become a landmark in its few short years of existence. Designed by artist Anish Kapoor and constructed from 2004-06, the Bean is made from 168 stainless steel plates welded together, yet has no visible seams. Tourists love it because of the creative photos you can take (or at least, attempt to), with the sterling reflection of the Chicago Skyline in the background of each shot.

o We felt The Bean was the perfect way to show a little Chicago flair in our Save-the-Date. Brandi & Brady would also like to give a very special shout out to groomsman and photographer extraordinaire Jason Sacks for taking not one, but two rounds of our S.T.D. pictures. Mr. Sacks is now available for hire to photograph your save-the-dates, senior portraits, pets, and bah mitzvahs.

Ramy Nammour – Groomsman and Friend of the Groom

Hello folks … today we bring you the second entry in our ongoing series to help you get to know the bridal party a little better.

The first strapping young male we’re going to profile is the one, the only … Mr. Ramy Nammour.

About Ramy

* Ramy and Brady have been close friends since high school, where Ramy was a shooting specialist for the EHT hoops team and sported arguably the greatest mustache in the history of high school ‘staches (more on that below).

* Mr. Nammour is a man of many fine qualities, but one of his most obvious attributes is his penchant for having a “friggen unbelievable” time at drinking establishments across the nation. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Atlantic City, Chicago, Vegas, or Pittsburgh … you’re bound to have a blast with Ram and his partner-in-crime, Pat Rone, wherever you are (Pat is our own pseudonym for Patron tequila, for those of you who don't know already).

* Ramy is an avid sports fan and likes most of the New York teams, like the Giants, the Mets and the Knicks. No really, I’m serious … he likes the Knicks. Stop laughing.

Q&A with the Ramdog

Who would play the lead role in a movie about your life? Carrot Top...We have similar hair

When you make a toast, what do you drink to? The only thing that really matters.... HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

Favorite memory with Brady? A memorable $5 dry cleaning donation. I'm not sure how much more in depth I can get than that.

** Editors note: Let’s just say it involved Brady feeling a little bad after he used Ram’s shoes/jeans for target practice in the middle of a Philly bar after one too many shots of tequila.

Favorite thing about Brandi? Her personality and of those brown cowboy boots....really hot!

What’s your favorite beverage? Unfortunately Red Bull Vodka and a cold refreshing bud light

On a scale of 1-10, how bad are the New York Knickerbockers? Define "bad"?

What town has the better cheesesteak – Philly or A.C.? Pleasantville

What was your first job? Tunnels of Fun … selling tokens on the side to little kids without the bosses knowing.

What did you want to be when you were 12 years old? A back up dancer for Vanilla Ice

Favorite Vegas hotel? The Green Monster

Which one of your fellow groomsman has the best chance of falling off the riverboat at Brandi & Brady’s wedding? That’s easy … Miiiiiiister P

What song do you hope to hear at Brandi & Brady’s wedding? Shout! If you look it up in the Guinness Book of World Records, I hold the record for getting the lowest. It’s something I take a lot of pride in.

What was the coolest thing you did in high school? Would have to be that I somehow was able to rock a solid mustache yet was still socially accepted. Kind of an impressive feat.

Jillian Bonkowski - The Maid of Honor

Today we begin the first in a series of posts where we will introduce our loyal readers to our bridal party. First, we will write a few words about our dear friends and then have each person answer a few questions.

Miss Jillian Catherine Bonkowski, Brandi's made of honor, has the honor of going first.

About Jillian

* Brandi*'s one and only sibling, Jillian is 21-years-old and resides in Pittsburgh where she works at a local spa. Jillian is a certified esthetician - give her a ring if you need a facial, wax or an amazing make-up job.

* Jillian has a series of nicknames. The family calls her Jin Jin, thanks to cousin Tyler who couldn't say Jillian. I call her J Bo, thanks to Jennifer Lopez. My mom also started the mash-up name thing before the celebrity tabloids back in 1995 when The Bonkowski Family joined AOL. Our family screen name was Branjill - which still exists today!

* J Bo was born with amazing strength. When she was 2, she would hang from the neighbor's tree and could do pull ups. She also can curl her toes under and walk on them. Ask her to show you - she can still do it!

Q&A With The MOH

Who would play the lead role in a movie about your life? Megan Fox, Kim Kardashian or Eva Mendes

Favorite memory with Brady? When he imitates the sad dogs in the Human Society commercial (it's always on VH1 with the Sarah McLachlan)

What's your favorite beverage? Pinot Grigio

What do you order at Chipotle? Burrito Bowl – no beans, peppers, onions, shredded beef, hot sauce, sour cream, cheese, chips and two hot salsas

What are you most excited for about Brandi & Brady's wedding? The boat

What was your first job? Robinson Township Summer Recreation

If you were an animal, what would you be? A liger

What's your worst fashion mistake? A pink Arden B skirt that was super short and had ruffle-like things hanging off of it. A piece of it fell off in class and my teacher hung it on his bulletin board. I also got in trouble by the principal for it being too short.

Name three things that you must have in your refrigerator? Franks Red Hot Sauce, Ranch dressing and Cheese

What did you want to be when you were 12 years old? A mom

What is something people would be surprised to know about you? I broke my nose twice. The first time I fell face first on to the ground while rollerblading. The second, I got hit directly in the nose by a softball.

What reality TV show would you most want to be a contestant on? So You Think You Can Dance

What song do you hope to hear at Brandi & Brady's wedding? Lean Like a Cholo

What's your most embarrassing moment? Falling/rolling down the hill at a Toby Keith concert

Trick or Treat

Brady was Joaquin Phoenix from his appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman earlier this year, and Brandi was a cupcake!