Blog for the sake of blogging

I have nothing further to add to this blog, but I'm afraid if I don't post something they might delete it as inactive! The wedding was three years ago and I enjoy looking back at this blog from time to time. We're still happily married and we have a 1-year-old now.

We're married!

At about 9:00, my MOH arrived and she, my BM (my sister) and I went out to for breakfast. We got back to my house around 10:00, and my BM and her BF left to drop off my car to the mystery hotel my soon-to-be husband and I would be staying at that night, our gift from my BM.

We were expecting the ladies from the mobile spa (for manicures, pedicures and massages) to arrive around 10:30, and the hair/makeup artist about 11:15. The spa ladies (Daydream Mobile Spa) were later than expected, and the hair/makeup artist (Tara Bird) was early, so I think Tara arrived around 10:50 and Daydream just after 11:00. At some point, my Mom & Dad also arrived to get ready, and Martine (Fisheye Photography) and her assistant arrived to photograph everything.


While we were getting ready, I was half-aware of Martine coming in and out of the various rooms and taking pictures of things. For instance, my MOH’s dress was hanging off the coat-closet door, and Martine brought it to the large window in the living room and took some pictures of it, and later did the same with my dress. I also saw them go through at one point with my shoes and at another time with a handful of the favours. I haven’t seen the photos yet at the time I’m writing this, but I am really looking forward to seeing how they turned out.

By the time my massage was done, we were quite far behind schedule. Tara had planned to start my hair around 12:45, allowing an hour for herself, and then a half-hour for me to get dressed, and we would have been ready to leave the house at about 2:25 in order to get to the church on time for the 3:00 ceremony. Tara worked at the speed of light to put my hair up, and she nearly managed to get us back on schedule – I was really impressed. I did my best to help by remembering not to look up while the glue securing my false eyelashes dried – it’s much harder to remember to do that than it sounds! She attached my veil very securely and had me shake my head around to see if it would come loose – it didn’t even budge.



At 2:30 I was just ready to begin getting dressed. I had Mom phone the best man to let him know that we were coming, but that we were definitely going to be late. We laid the crinoline on the floor and the dress over top of it and I stepped into both, already wearing my shoes. Then I attempted to pull them up and get rid of my housecoat without flashing everyone. I don’t think I was very successful at the not-flashing part.

We were finally ready to go – I think it was about 2:50. I didn’t want to know the exact time! When we arrived at the chapel, the driver came around to open my door, but I wanted to wait in the car until the guests that were still milling about went inside.

We entered the chapel and proceeded down the aisle directly from outside rather than coming in and waiting in the hall. We walked down the aisle to Karel Roessingh playing his own jazzy rendition of the Bridal March on the piano. I remember being almost surprised to see some of the guests, which was silly because we had invited them and knew they had accepted and would be there, but it seemed strange seeing all of the various groups of people together in the same room – my co-workers with my DH’s friends with my relatives, etc.

When we got to the front, I discovered that it is awkward to switch around from holding someone’s arm with your left hand to holding someone else’s arm with your right hand while holding a bouquet of flowers, but I managed!

I was afraid previously that I would cry at the wedding, and in anticipation of that, Mom asked a friend to embroider some handkerchiefs with her embroidery machine. We three girls each had one of them hidden in our hands under our bouquets. I never needed mine at all. At one point, my DH’s eyes looked a little bit strange and I thought that maybe HE was going to cry! He didn’t, but when I asked him later about it, he very deftly avoided the question, so I think I might have been correct. Mom later said that she and my MOH caught each other’s eye at one point – they had made a “I won’t cry if you don’t” pact, and they were able to get through it, too.

While we signed the register, Karel played a special arrangement of When You Say Nothing At All that he wrote for us from listening to a copy of the song I sent him.

We had previously discussed where we would have the receiving line and wanted to have it outside if it was a nice day, which it was, so when the ceremony was finished, we went outside and stood on the grass and waited. And waited. Everyone came out of the chapel, but they stayed on the cement. I did a little “come here” gesture with my index finger. No one came. So I did a bigger “come here” with my whole hand. Nothing. I called out “We’re ready to receive you now!” but still nothing! Apparently everyone thought that we were posing for pictures, since our two photographers were standing there, ready to take pictures of the receiving line. Eventually, Mom realized what was going on and came through herself to get it started, and it proceeded smoothly after that.

The wedding party and immediate family then went into the gardens for photos. I put together entirely too many different groupings, so it took quite a long time, and we did them all at the same location. At one point, my DH’s nieces (OUR nieces!) got bored and climbed a tree in their nice dresses – my DH noticed and had Martine take a picture of them. Then when we went to where my grandparents were sitting to get pictures with them, someone pointed out the Best Man practicing his speech to the back wall of the chapel, complete with gestures. We pretended we were getting lined up for a photo so he wouldn’t notice us, and Martine took a picture of him, too.

We went down to the legislature for more photos, and were almost ready to leave when someone mentioned the “veil flip kiss” picture that we’d forgotten to ask for, so we did a couple more on the stairs like that. That was the only time my blusher was actually over my head. I like the look of the double veil, but I didn’t want to wear it over my face for the ceremony.

When we got to the reception, our other photographer, Rob, met us outside and said there was a problem with the cake – we didn’t have one. The person who was supposed to get it forgot until they arrived at the reception, and by that time the cake place was closed. I checked my voicemail in case they’d left an after-hours contact number, but there was no message at all. Someone had already gone to Thrifty’s to see if they had anything suitable and had a replacement standing by, so the caterer ran back to pick it up once we knew for sure we needed it, and everything worked out fine. At the end of the evening we had about 8 slices left over, so it was the perfect amount of cake. Not much wasted, but enough left over that anyone who wanted a piece probably had one.

I barely ate anything at all that night. The wait staff left my food at my place for hours in case I did want it, but I just wasn’t interested in eating. During dinner, we asked people to write us a poem for our kissing game. We supplied small whiteboards to compose them on, and index cards to immortalize them on.



These are pictures of me reacting to the best man's speech and my DH's speech, respectively. When I'm laughing, apparently I can't sit up straight.





Our first dance was When You Say Nothing At All by Allison Krause. Mom had warned me that sometimes the first dance can feel very long and that it’s a good idea to have the wedding party ready to join in if necessary, but we didn’t need them. At one point during our first dance, we were talking about how the next dance, the parents’ dance, was going to work and I wondered if that’s the kind of terribly romantic thing people normally talk about during their first dance as husband and wife! We managed to look romantic, anyway.







The parents’ dance was to Rise Again by the Rankin Family. I hadn’t really thought about the beat of it – it’s quite slow. It was a bit difficult for Dad and I to find the right speed to dance at first.

For the bouquet toss, my sister had said it would be funny if I acted like I was going to throw it, and then just come over and hand it to her instead. I might as well have done so – I didn’t aim for anywhere except “behind me” and it went straight to her.



Some people left pretty early – even a few directly after supper. I managed to talk to most people, but there were several that I never spoke to at all and felt badly about that. By last call at 1:00 it was down to mostly just my immediate family. I was happy it went that way – I’d rather that people leave when they’ve had enough, rather than still be having fun and want to keep going, but get kicked out by the venue.

Mom drove my DH and me to our hotel for the night, the Delta Ocean Point, which was a gift from my sister and her boyfriend. They had gone earlier in the day and checked us in and decorated the room with gerbera daisies on the bed, a heart-shaped pillow, and candles everywhere, and left a pair of champagne flutes, and champagne, orange juice, and fruit in the fridge. I was happy to have the fruit, because by then I was finally starting to feel hungry.

We had breakfast in the restaurant in the hotel, and it was amazing. I decided to order the West Coast Eggs Benedict even though I’d just had them the day before and should have had my fill. It was like no other Eggs Benedict I’d ever had before. I forgot to ask for my eggs to be cooked medium, and they came half-raw (jiggly, clear whites – ewww!) but I managed to ignore that because it was so incredibly flavourful. There was smoked salmon, cut into tiny pieces and caramelized onions and cheese – feta, I think – and it was on herbed focaccia bread squares and topped with Béchamel sauce. I realized part-way through the meal that my tongue was almost tingling and I realized it was because all of my taste buds were being stimulated at once. I feel a tradition coming on – I think we’ll have to go their for breakfast on all of our anniversaries. Our one-week anniversary… one month… six weeks… etc. Not to mention other special occasions, like weekends. Or weekdays.

Our wedding was beautiful, wonderful, fun, and perfect. The weather was gorgeous. The only thing that went wrong was very minor and didn’t make any difference to anyone’s enjoyment of the day. The pictures I’ve seen so far are lovely, and I’m looking forward to seeing the rest.

My To-Do List (12 days)

We're getting close now -- the wedding is just 12 days away.

I've accomplished a lot in the past couple of days. I have finalized plans with the florist, bought the rest of the vases I needed for centrepieces, bought one of the two fabrics I need for the cake table, and dropped off my shoes to be dyed, and asked one person to be our MC and another to sing at the ceremony.

I still need to find the other fabric for the cake table, finish writing the ceremony, choose a song with the soloist, ask someone to take pictures of each guest, make a hotel reservation for the wedding night, and all the other stuff below...

To do 2 - 4 Months Before

• Meet with Officiant and confirm details of ceremony. Meeting on May 8
• Book any equipment required for wedding reception. Pretty sure there isn't anything needed.
• Buy guest book & pen. Not done.

To do 1-2 Months Before

• Have final bridesmaid's dresses fitting. Dresses are in - going with MOH tonight for her first fitting.
• Make appointment with hair stylist to plan your wedding hairdo. Appointment changed to May 2.
• Make appointment with hair stylist / esthetician for wedding day. Time not set. Will do at hair trial.
• Buy wedding gift for groom/bride.
• Confirm site for photographs. Trying to think of a back-up indoor location in case of really bad weather.
• Make arrangement for bridesmaid's luncheon or dinner.

To do 1- 2 Weeks Before

• Consult and discuss final details with caterer, photographers, pianist, DJ, Officiant, limo driver.
• Discuss attire with those hired for service at your wedding.
• Bridesmaid's luncheon, present attendants with gifts.
• Draw up seating plan. In progress.
• Send wedding announcement to newspaper. Mom will do.
• Inform caterer of number of confirmed guests at the reception.

My To-Do List (1 month)

Here's an update to the status of my to-do list I last posted on March 6. The wedding is currently one month plus a week away.

To do 4 - 6 Months Before

• Choose gifts for attendants. I have an idea for the girls and another one for the guys.

To do 2 - 4 Months Before

• Meet with Officiant and confirm details of ceremony. Not done.
• Book any equipment required for wedding reception. Not sure if there is anything I'll need.
• Buy guest book & pen. Not done.

To do 1-2 Months Before

• Have final bridesmaid's dresses fitting. Dresses are due at the end of April.
• Make appointment with hair stylist to plan your wedding hairdo. Appointment Apr 24.
• Make appointment with hair stylist / esthetician for wedding day. Time not set.
• Buy wedding gift for groom/bride.
• Select MC. We have a couple of people in mind, but haven't asked either one.
• Confirm site for photographs. Trying to think of a back-up indoor location in case of really bad weather.
• Arrange to change name on legal documents. I don't think I can do this in advance.
• Make arrangement for bridesmaid's luncheon or dinner.
• Book date & time for rehearsal. Done, although we may need to change it to as late in the day as possible since Brooke will be out of town that day.
• Make plans for rehearsal dinner. In progress

To do 1- 2 Weeks Before

• Consult and discuss final details with florist, caterer, photographer, videographer, musicians, DJ, Officiant etc...
• Discuss attire with those hired for service at your wedding.
• Bridesmaid's luncheon, present attendants with gifts.
• Draw up seating plan.
• Send wedding announcement to newspaper.
• Inform caterer of number of confirmed guests at the reception.

7 weeks and counting

That's all I have to say about that.

To do next (March)

We made good progress this weekend. Favours are now assembled, and the cakes have been ordered! I still need to arrange for a stand for them, but will do that later.

I found a neat idea for the guys yesterday for a thank-you, but I haven't seen Brooke except in passing since I found it, but if he likes it then that's done.

What I'm working on now is finalizing the ceremony details, and making the guestbook. I'm also anxiously awaiting seeing my dress -- I was told it would be about a week and a half, so I emailed her after about two weeks (on a Monday) to ask how it was going and she said she'd call me in a couple of days. So then on Saturday I gave her a call and she said she keeps getting interrupted by other things but I'm at the top of the list (and it's mostly done already)… so any day now! Can't wait!

[Update - she phoned later in the day I posted this to make an appointment for me to come in for my final fitting, but anytime she's available I'm not and vice versa until April 1. So I have to wait almost two weeks but at least I know it's done!]

I guess another thing I should be arranging now is my hair & makeup -- choose a stylist/artist, and book them.

My To-Do List (2 months)

Here's an update to the status of my to-do list I last posted on February 12. The wedding is currently 2 months away.

To do 8 - 10 Months Before

• Shop for your wedding dress and accessories. Done, at last.

To do 6 - 8 Months Before

• Select table favours. Have now done up a few sample favours and decided on the way I'm going to do it. Now to buy the rest of the materials to make them, and then assemble them all!

To do 4 - 6 Months Before

• Choose gifts for attendants. I have an idea for the girls. I don't think Brooke has any ideas for the guys.
• Buy wedding rings. Done.
• Arrange transportation for wedding day. Now we are looking into a limo after all.
• Order cake. We have decided on a bakery (Cakes Etc) and we're pretty sure we've decided on the flavours, but haven't ordered yet.

To do 2 - 4 Months Before

• Meet with Officiant and confirm details of ceremony. Not done.
• Make hotel reservations for out-of-town guests. Done, and information included in invitations.
• Book any equipment required for wedding reception. Not sure if there is anything I'll need.
• Buy guest book & pen. Not done.

To do 1-2 Months Before

• Pick up marriage license.
• Have final gown/bridesmaid's dresses fitting.
• Make appointment with hair stylist to plan your wedding hairdo
• Make appointment with hair stylist / esthetician for wedding day.
• Buy wedding gift for groom/bride.
• Select MC. We have a couple of people in mind, but haven't asked either one.
• Confirm site for photographs. Emailed our photographer, she will book the location.
• Arrange to change name on legal documents. I don't think I can do this in advance.
• Make arrangement for bridesmaid's luncheon or dinner.
• Book date & time for rehearsal. Done, although we may need to change it to as late in the day as possible since Brooke will be out of town that day.
• Make plans for rehearsal dinner.
• Address wedding announcements - to be mailed after wedding. I don't think we'll be doing announcements.

To do 1- 2 Weeks Before

• Consult and discuss final details with florist, caterer, photographer, videographer, musicians, DJ, Officiant etc...
• Discuss attire with those hired for service at your wedding.
• Bridesmaid's luncheon, present attendants with gifts.
• Draw up seating plan.
• Send wedding announcement to newspaper.
• Inform caterer of number of confirmed guests at the reception.

Cake update

We went to Cakes Etc today and had a quick meeting with one of the bakers. They don't do traditional (read: customized to bits) cakes, and they don't do fondant at all (fine by me). So what it is, is you just select whatever cake you want from their list (there's about 10, and they sound yummmmmy) and they decorate it. You can pay extra to have them make it look more wedding-cakey with swirls of icing or whatever, but they look pretty the way they are with chocolate shavings or sliced almonds or other similar things pressed into the sides. If you want flowers or anything on top, you provide them and they'll arrange them.

She sent us home with samples of four different cakes, so we'll try them tonight and see which flavour(s) we want. Brooke likes the spread-out look that we've seen in a bunch of pictures (rather than stacked one above the other) so we might go that way.

I think I can, I think I can

Or should this be titled "Slow and steady wins the race"?  Yesterday I made some progress in a few different areas.

I had previously purchased a necklace from Claire's that turned out to be too chunky, so on Sunday I returned it, along with the matching earrings.  About an hour later, I was in a store that had the exact same beads only less chunky, and way cheaper than buying it as a pre-assembled necklace.  They had tulle, and ribbon that matches celadon quite well.

So then yesterday, Brooke & I stopped in at a decorator and picked up their price list.  I think we might have them decorate the chapel a little bit, and we're going to go back out to the reception location again and see what we want for decorations there.

Then we went back to Claire's and I bought the matching earrings again.

Then we went downtown and I picked up my wedding band while Brooke circled the block.  And circled, and circled…. It took quite a while.  :)

Late last night I assembled my necklace.  I think it'll work out much better this way, having made it myself, because it is exactly the length I want, and not a single bead longer.  Then I was feeling crafty so I brought out the tulle and ribbon and made up a couple of sample favours and decided on what I think is the best balance of number of truffles and length of ribbon, etc.  I'll look at them again in a day or two and make sure I still think the one I decided on is the best, and then see if I can wrangle any volunteers to help me make them all!  It wasn't too difficult making them, but it took me quite a long time to make five myself, so it would be nice to have some help.  (Once the tulle, plastic wrap and ribbon are all cut to the right size, they assemble quite quickly.)

We have an appointment on Friday to talk to a lady about a cake -- they don't do "wedding" cakes, just fancy cakes.  I'm not sure exactly what they'll look like, but I will know in a couple of days.  It means the price is less than half of what you have to pay as soon as you stick the label "wedding" on it, so that sounds good to me!  (I cannot justify spending $400 or more on a cake.  It's just a dessert!  And for that price, it's usually not even big enough to be the only dessert - you still need to get a "real" dessert besides!  Yikes!)

To do next (February, part 2)

I'm not completely done the previous list, but I thought I'd carry the ones not finished forward and get started on the next things. I have my shoes now and seamstress chosen (and dress is now in her possession and being altered this week!) I'm waiting for a call back from one jewellery store as I mentioned in my 3-month to-do list, and that'll be done. So the only thing not done is the Great Cake Decision.

• Figure out what to do about the cake. (Go full-out traditional, multi-layer? Just get a slab cake? Have a small traditional cake for photos and a slab cake for eating?) Also decide on a bakery.
• Finalize groups we want to have photographs of, so we can give a list to the photographer.
• Decide what to do about attendants' gifts. I have a couple of ideas, but I don't want to post them here in case any of the attendants are looking at this blog!
• Start figuring out what we want to have happen in the actual ceremony. (Vows, readings, etc)

RSVPs

The invitations were mailed three weeks ago, on Monday, January 23. I set the RSVP deadline two months before the wedding: March 13th. I sent out 52 invitations, and have heard back from 19 people already, for a total of 32 people attending (including us) so far.

If everyone we invited was to come, there would be 124 people. We're expecting it'll be more like 95. (80 adults, 15 children)

My To-Do List (3 months)

Here's an update to the status of my to-do list I last posted on January 8. The wedding is currently 3 months away.

To do 8 - 10 Months Before

• Shop for your wedding dress and accessories. I have my shoes now. I bought a necklace and earring set from Claire's but it turned out the necklace was too chunky. I'm going to return it and see if they have one with smaller "pearls" but if not, my seamstress also sells necklaces and she has one I quite like.
• Shop for bridesmaids' dresses. Dresses are ordered, and will arrive around April 21.
• Pick a Honeymoon destination. Check if any inoculations are required. No decision yet.

To do 6 - 8 Months Before

• Order formal wear for groomsmen. Done!
• Order Invitations. Done
• Select table favours. No change, still don't have anything to put them in yet.

To do 4 - 6 Months Before

• Address wedding invitations. Done
• Mail invitations to out-of-town guests. Done
• Choose gifts for attendants. Have started thinking about this, so that's a start.
• Buy wedding rings. We now have his ring. I checked into mine yesterday. I'm waiting for the store my e-ring is from to get back to me (probably Monday) about whether the matching band can be ordered without the diamonds, and what that would look like. I can't imagine it looking good though (although I'm sure they wouldn't sell it that way if it looks ugly) so I have a plain band picked out that will look fine if that one doesn't work out. So either way, I'm nearly done this one!
• Arrange rehearsal dinner. Haven't made any specific plans, other than location.
• Arrange transportation for wedding day. Still not started. Will likely rent a couple of nice cars, but not a limo.
• Order cake. Haven't decided on one, but I am meeting a lady who makes cakes later today, so I'm finally starting on this.

To do 2 - 4 Months Before

• Meet with Officiant and confirm details of ceremony. Not done.
• Make hotel reservations for out-of-town guests. Done, and information included in invitations.
• Book any equipment required for wedding reception. Not sure if there is anything I'll need.
• Buy guest book & pen. Not done.

These are the things that are coming up in my to-do list. It's getting close enough now that I might as well list them, too.

To do 1-2 Months Before

• Pick up marriage license.
• Have final gown/bridesmaid's dresses fitting
• Make appointment with hair stylist to plan your wedding hairdo
• Make appointment with hair stylist / esthetician for wedding day
• Buy wedding gift for groom/bride
• Mail invitations to in-town guests. Done (at same time as out-of-town ones were sent)
• Select MC
• Confirm site for photographs
• Arrange to change name on legal document
• Make arrangement for bridesmaid's luncheon or dinner.
• Book date & time for rehearsal Done, although we may need to change it to as late in the day as possible since Brooke will probably be out of town that day.
• Make plans for rehearsal dinner.
• Address wedding announcements - to be mailed after wedding

To do 1- 2 Weeks Before

• Consult and discuss final details with florist, caterer, photographer, videographer, musicians, DJ, Officiant etc...
• Discuss attire with those hired for service at your wedding
• Bridesmaid's luncheon, present attendants with gifts.
• Draw up seating plan
• Send wedding announcement to newspaper
• Inform caterer of number of confirmed guests at the reception