Happy Holidays

So with Christmas fast approaching I have had little to nothing getting accomplished for the wedding. The only thing remotely wedding related is the chatting I've been doing with the girls on the Canadian Bride website. Always a please to hear what others have done and been through not just wedding related but also in life.

Lately time has been spent trying to get Christmas in order. It's going to be a busy one this year but I think we managed to not only squeeze everyone in but also make everyone happy. We start off with Christmas Eve dinner at future father in law's family, then onto my mom & dad's for presents. Christmas morning is with future father in law, then my Grandma's & Grandpa's for lunch followed by dinner at future mother in law's family. Boxing day is at future mother in law's place then dinner with my family. Then on the 27 I rest! Eh that's what Christmas is about though...family and no sleep!

But the tree is up, baking is almost done, most presents have been bought (just a few more to go) and just need to get wrapped. I think things are looking good so I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and will report more next year!

At Least It Will Be Official Now

Woo hoo we have double checked with our minister and she has agreed to marry us. It's so nice to know that our officiant is out of the way. I'm not sure why but this was one area that I was not looking forward to interviewing for. I really like the idea that she's someone we both know and get along with. I think I'll be a bit more comfortable knowing the person who is performing our ceremony rather than having some stranger standing up there marrying us.

We got the engagement photos back and I'm really happy with the way they turned out. I love the location that we shot at. There were actually so many to choose it was really hard for us to narrow them all down. In the end we have 28 really good shots that we're going to try and make into an album for our guest book. I'm impressed though at how well the shots turned out since we were giggling through out the whole shoot. Didn't think he would get anything decent.

Found the limos we wanted and in the price range we like so I went to go book them but they won't take bookings until the new year. Sigh looks like it's going to be a busy January since we'll have the limos, caterers and meeting the minister all squeezed into one month. Oh well at least January won't be a boring month.

The next thing on the chopping block is the girls dresses, decorators and chair rentals. It looks like we might be making the girls dresses since most of the ones in stores don't quite look right (think lingerie). Next week we're going to go try on a couple of separates and I'm going to try on the wedding dress at Everything But the Groom. I'm thinking that that dress could be "the one!"

Bringing It All Together

We'll I'm very happy with the work I've gotten done wedding wise over the weekend. I just hope I can keep this vibe going. On Saturday I dragged my fiance out (willing though I might add) to the Tartan store and finally buckled down and bought the material to make my sash for. It is the Cameron tartan (modern) in scarf weight which you think would be heavy but is actually very, very light weight. I'm just hoping it comes in soon because it will make looking for dresses a lot easier (I hope).

Also went to a wedding show on Sunday and was very impressed with the limo company I had read about. Originally I wanted to book them but they did not have the cars I needed but they were highly recommended. After talking to them and finding out that they actually have sedan cars as well as a new 10 person seater limo (not SUV) I think I'm going to get a quote and book them if they are free. Limo's are one of those things that seem to be hit or miss with people. You can get great rates but crappy cars and drivers or pay through the nose for good service.

The last thing on my plate this week will be going shopping with the girls. I realize that if I want them to wear either black or red dresses then they should go shopping before New Years as those are the colours that are out right now. Shopping around the mall with 4 girls and at least 1-2 little ones could be entertaining but I just hope we can even narrow down a few ideas. If the girls find their dresses maybe it will inspire me to find mine!

10 more to go

So we're at the 10 month mark now and still plugging away. Things are going a little bit better now. Still looking for a dress as I love a certain style but just can't justify the price. When did a white dress become so expensive. It's just a dress people. But I'm weighing my options and I'm not done looking yet so we'll see what happens.

Otherwise not too much in the way of progress is going on right now. The catering has been put on hold until Jan as the 2 companies that got back to us, and are in our price range would prefer that we wait until after Christmas as it is their busy season right now.

I suppose I should really be looking at limos and I have sent out a few quotes but with Christmas coming up I must say my mind is leaning towards that rather than wedding related material. I am getting together though with the girls to go shopping. Most of the stores have their Christmas dresses out right now an they're in the colours I'm looking at so hopefully in the next few weeks we might be able to find something that works and is in everyone's price range.

Mainly it's just keeping my head wrapped around all the things going on. We were suppose to look at engagement photos but that keeps getting postponed. Can't seem to find time to get out to the tartan store to look at material for the dress. Need to schedule shopping times not only for the girls but also for me to try dresses. There's upcoming wedding shows, baby showers, dinners, hockey games, etc, etc, etc that is making my poor little calendar fill up like crazy. Here's hoping that after Christmas things get a little quieter...if not here's hoping it's after the wedding. 10 months is going to come so fast yet so slowly!

Shop 'til you drop!

So many dresses...so little time. Well I started the search and I must say it's really fun going into a store and looking through all those dresses and trying them on. I started with an old fashion, book an appointment, pick 5 or so dresses and try them on. Very formal setting, you have a lady who comes and helps you, etc. All very nice and she actually managed to figure out what I liked right away which was very helpful. I tried on this wonderful dress she found for me in the clearance section and I tell you I'm seriously thinking about it. It would have to have major work done to it which I don't like the thought of but I really did love the cut of it.

We walked down the street and went to the next store which was the complete opposite of the previous one. This one you basically walk right in, pick a dress off of the rack and go try it on. Never mind the sales people just chose what you like. No contenders there but did find out that they are decorators so I might go back and talk to them about that.

The third store was somewhere in the middle (I feel like I'm describing the three bears here). It allowed you to go in and pick what you'd like, then the sales girl would give you the options one at a time and help you try them on. Very casual, could even take photos if you want. Found 2 more contenders at this store so now I'm really confused what to do. I think I'll head back out to a couple of stores I still want to see but as much as I love the one at the first store I can't justify the alterations and cost and therefore will probably go with the last store. I'm curious to see what else I find out there!

Oh so exciting

So went to my first wedding show this weekend. Well scratch that; first wedding show as a bride. It's a lot different as a bride then as a bridesmaid. You actually have to think about a lot more ideas and keep track of prices and detail. As a bridesmaid I just had to worry about shoes and a dress and sit back and enjoy the cake. Well no there is a little more to it then that is there. But anyways what fun the show was. My Matron of Honour was so sweet. She carried my bag around so I wouldn't have to carry anything and therefor just concentrate on talking to the vendors and getting ideas and prices. Apparently we offered this treat to her so who am I to argue.

I think the best part of these shows though is the cakes. I don't think I've seen so many different types of wonderful cakes in one place. And best of all you get samples! I think I must have eaten about 5 different types plus a strawberry dipped in the chocolate fountain. Mmmm was that ever good though. Don't think we need that at the wedding but they do look cool. My only thought was though after eating all this "where's that wedding crunch boot camp booth. I think I need to sign up for a session now.

So this upcoming weekend is going to be interesting. I booked a time to go try on dresses. Not sure how I'm going to react when trying them on but I guess we'll find out now won't we. I just hope it doesn't hit me like a ton of bricks. Don't need to go soaking up the dress before the big day. But I'm looking forward to it so who knows what will happen. It's very exciting but kinda nerve racking at the same time!

Can I Relax Now?

Well I'm finally feeling like things are going our way. We've got a ceremony location and now we've also got our reception location booked. Yes that's right the Scottish Cultural Centre got back to me and the dates are all confirmed now. Feels so good to know that things are finally progressing after so many months of waiting and not being able to do anything.

We went and took a look at Van Dusen on Friday and were very happy with it. I think we're going to go back though and see what other options we have for ceremony layouts if the weather is good. She only showed us the area where a tent could be set up if it rains so we want to see what our other options are. We're also going to try to scope out photography locations as well since they claim they can be quite a popular location for wedding photos during high wedding season.

We go on Thursday to sign the contract with the Cultural centre and have a walk through. It will be nice to see what we can work with so I can start getting ideas for decorations and layouts. We were suppose to have done our engagement shots today but the weather didn't agree with us so they've been put off another week now. Everything just seems to be coming along either fast or nicely. I haven't decided what. With photo shots, venue walk through's and upcoming wedding shows I just hope I can keep up with it all and stay on track!

Two steps forward, one back

So we thought everything was moving along swimmingly when we got a taste (again) of a minor set back. Turns out that FCYC is booked for a venue already on September 13 so looks like we're back to the drawing board on finding a reception venue. Going to start calling around at the Scottish Cultural Centre and Shaunessy Restaurant at Van Dusen. The SCC would be well in our budget and allow us our own food and beverages, but the restaurant is right on site and could be a nice place for people to go to get drinks and food right away if they want. If neither one of those work then I guess you'll be finding me next to the phone calling up every hotel, community centre and hall in the Vancouver area!

Let the planning begin

Hooray! We FINALLY have a date. So I'm a little miffed though that Van Dusen was taking bookings during the strike and did not inform me of this when I first contacted them. It just means though that we didn't get our first choice of dates but we did get our second so September 13, 2008 it is! Oh it feels so good to actually have something secured now. However poor dear fiance of mine will now get the joy of hearing me plan and sort out all the other details to come. He's a very good sport though and I think secretly deep down he likes it. However there still comes the fact that we have not viewed the actual location we picked to be married in so I will still have to contact them sometime next week and set up a viewing. Also we do not have a contract drawn up since that has to be done with the booking coordinator who doesn't know when she will be back to work. The lovely strike...um strikes again? The inside workers have made an agreement but the outside workers have not so until everyone is happy, no one works at Van Dusen yet. Oh well the most important thing is we've reserved the date, it's more than 11 months away and now we can start planning all the rest of the fun stuff. YEH!

Home sweet home

So we're back after an amazing trip. Ireland and Scotland are two very beautiful countries and it was very tough to come home. Can't believe though that when we did come home the strike was still on. I wouldn't have thought it could go this long. I thought for sure everyone was going to want to be back to work before Thanksgiving. Oh well. Not much we can do now but still sit back and wait.

So I didn't end up getting my tartan like I had hoped in Scotland. It turns out there are many different dye lots and patterns to choose from that we decided to do a bit more research at home here and then just go to our local Celtic heritage store and talk to them and have them order it in for us instead. Not quite the same I know but at least this way we know we get what we want.

Otherwise planning is still at a standstill right now. May start picking up the stuff for the invitations soon (paper, embellishments, etc.) but until the strike is over I don't really have much enthusiasm to want to plan anything right now. It's not exactly fun yet so I hope that changes real soon!

Trying to be oh so good

So I was shopping at the Bay downtown and I'm trying to be very good about not looking too much at dress until we come back from Ireland and Scotland. However the Bay has a Bridal store so I couldn't help but go in and see what they have. I was impressed that they weren't very busy at all and apparently weekends are the best time to come in.

So I walked around and found a couple of dresses that would be nice to try on sometime but I'm still determined to bring back a tartan from Scotland so the dresses will have to wait!

I'm hoping to get some inspiration today on reception ideas as a good friend of mine get's married today. She's moving to New Zealand soon too so I can only imagine how much fun organizing everything has been for her. Makes my organization seem like nothing.

Still no word yet either on the strike so I'll just have to cross my fingers that it will end soon. Thank goodness future mother in law is ready and willing to head down and book our date as soon as the strike is over. Hopefully when we get back we'll have the ability to go down, take a look and start booking everything else!

Changing Gears

So I've decided to change the blog over from a design blog to a wedding blog. There are so many things I want/need to keep track of that I'm running out of paper and patience.

So we've done it...we've gotten engaged. The congratulations are over, the planning has begun and sure enough the spot we've picked out is closed due to strike. Vancouver CUPE workers have walked off the job and are now 2 months in with no end in site yet. How's a girl suppose to start planning and booking things like photographer, DJ, reception, etc when the ceremony site isn't even open? I tell you I'm about to march down to city all and go all bridezilla over someone.

Plus it doesn't help that the fiance and I are heading off to Ireland and Scotland next week. Watch...the strike will end while we're gone I guarantee it. It's always my luck that things like that happen. But thankfully my future mother in law will be down there first thing if the strike ends while we're gone.

It's really hard though not to get too carried away with thoughts and ideas. Mom and I have already scoped out paper for the invitations, I've got ideas up the wazoo for the center pieces and tons of pictures for dress ideas.

I'm waiting on the dress until I get back from Scotland though. I'm determined to find my family tartan over there to wear on my dress. There's no real sense trying on dresses only to find out the tartan doesn't go. But when I get back I'll start shopping around. Just hope we have a date ready by then!