More wedding posts to come, but tonight was fully of errands, so I didn't have time to put a post together. Still, I wanted to give you something...
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Wedding - Part Six
I'm taking a big step backward in my wedding blogging, but I never promised to be linear! Besides, this early detail is still one of my favourite parts. Our invitations really set the mood for the entire event. Now, I can't take very much credit for these! First there was the original inspiration. Awesome, right!? And then my then Fiancé and I wrote up our own story and turned it over to a colleague of mine who designed and tweaked and perfected our masterpieces:
(If you want to make it bigger, so you can read it easier, just click on the photo.)
You know, originally I vowed that I would have a small, uncomplicated wedding. And the first thing on my uncomplicated list was to order some simple invitations on the internet. We even picked some out (the one called Swept Away). But then I saw the inspiration on one of the many blogs that I read. And it was so US! (Even though it was about other people...) And suddenly I really wanted to complicate things by having someone design it and finding paper and figuring out how to print them. Like many of the little details of the day, it took way more time than it should have, but in hindsight, I could not be happier about the result.
(If you want to make it bigger, so you can read it easier, just click on the photo.)
You know, originally I vowed that I would have a small, uncomplicated wedding. And the first thing on my uncomplicated list was to order some simple invitations on the internet. We even picked some out (the one called Swept Away). But then I saw the inspiration on one of the many blogs that I read. And it was so US! (Even though it was about other people...) And suddenly I really wanted to complicate things by having someone design it and finding paper and figuring out how to print them. Like many of the little details of the day, it took way more time than it should have, but in hindsight, I could not be happier about the result.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
The Wedding - Part Five
I know I already mentioned them, but I loved them so much that I feel compelled to write a whole post about them: the flowers! I gave my dear friend one inspiration picture, a list of what we needed and a cheque back in the summer. Being the amazing designer that he is, he asked us what we didn't want. (I didn't even think of that!) And then, I went about my life. I checked "flowers" off my list of things to worry about, because I know him and what he's capable of. I knew that I would walk into the room on the day and be blown away. If flowers did come to my mind during the last few months of planning, they were only thought of with anticipation and excitement.
It's so handy to have talented friends! (I should know, because I have A LOT!)
Anyway, I already posted some before and after pics of his house full of flowers and the large arrangements. But this one was my favourite. My bouquet:
A perfect mix of jewel tones - just like I asked for. I never did choose a colour scheme for my wedding. I'm not sure why I ignored this basic step. Maybe because I wasn't planning on having a row of bridesmaids in matching dresses. I told our Best Man and Best Woman to wear whatever they wanted. And originally my Groom was going to wear a white satin tie, to look more weddingy, but the purple tie made his eyes light up at the store, so we went with that. It just so happened that our flower girl and my mom also wore purple, although different shades. And that was okay! Besides, there's something about a multi-coloured, multi-flowered bouquet that just seems more...me.
Ooooo...the close up.
Isn't it ridiculously gorgeous. I'm still trying to keep it alive, although I'm slowly losing the battle.
And the talented designer himself.
We've been friends for almost 15 years now. We've done many shows together, shared countless holidays, lived together, teased each other mercilessly, encouraged each other and grown up together. He's a permanent part of my chosen family in that awesome way that when we see each other, it's like no time has passed. Having him do the flowers meant so much more to me than hiring some strange florist.
So thank you, my friend! I truly loved them.
It's so handy to have talented friends! (I should know, because I have A LOT!)
Anyway, I already posted some before and after pics of his house full of flowers and the large arrangements. But this one was my favourite. My bouquet:
A perfect mix of jewel tones - just like I asked for. I never did choose a colour scheme for my wedding. I'm not sure why I ignored this basic step. Maybe because I wasn't planning on having a row of bridesmaids in matching dresses. I told our Best Man and Best Woman to wear whatever they wanted. And originally my Groom was going to wear a white satin tie, to look more weddingy, but the purple tie made his eyes light up at the store, so we went with that. It just so happened that our flower girl and my mom also wore purple, although different shades. And that was okay! Besides, there's something about a multi-coloured, multi-flowered bouquet that just seems more...me.
Ooooo...the close up.
Isn't it ridiculously gorgeous. I'm still trying to keep it alive, although I'm slowly losing the battle.
And the talented designer himself.
We've been friends for almost 15 years now. We've done many shows together, shared countless holidays, lived together, teased each other mercilessly, encouraged each other and grown up together. He's a permanent part of my chosen family in that awesome way that when we see each other, it's like no time has passed. Having him do the flowers meant so much more to me than hiring some strange florist.
So thank you, my friend! I truly loved them.
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Wedding - Part Four
Warning! Super sentimental post ahead!
As mentioned, we really wanted to make the ceremony about us, rather than just have a generic, cookie-cutter service. Don't get me wrong - there are plenty of beautiful ceremonies out there and I love a good Kahlil Gibran poem just as much as the next person. But we wanted something a little more personal. So in addition to having four friends speak, we also wrote our own vows. For posterity (and the Internet at large) here they are:
Jamie,
It's fitting that our first date involved tea and baked goods. What started out sweet has only become sweeter for me. I didn't arrive that March afternoon with a checklist of attributes that I needed you to have. After several years of being single, I knew there was only one elusive thing that you had to be able to do - you had to make my heart skip a beat. And you accomplished that the moment we said hello.
Almost five years later, I feel confident that I'm standing here with the person I was waiting for. You are smart and funny, while also asking for my opinions and laughing at my jokes. You are strong and sentimental, yet will still lean on my shoulder when you need to.
On my happy days, you laugh with and at me and put up with the crazy ways I express my joy. And on my rare gloomy days, you know how to find a little spot to allow the sun to shine back in. With you I am 100% myself and feel loved for *almost* all of my quirks and questionable attributes.
Jamie, I love and trust you with all of my heart. You have become the keeper of my stories and my ultimate cheerleader. Besides my own, the vision of myself that matters most to me is the one that I see reflected in your eyes.
I am so excited about the future that stretches out ahead of us. From the family we will create to the accomplishments that we will celebrate. We're partners in crime and in cookie-eating. We can take turns keeping each other's feet on the ground, so that our creative whims can take flight.
Thank you for loving me. May the sweetness continue for the rest of our lives.
Tammy, from the first day I saw you staring back at me from that Internet dating website, the butterflies in my stomach told me that meeting you was going to change my life.
And of all the people I’ve encountered in my now-changed life, you are unique among them. An example, and as I told you early on, I think you are the living embodiment of musical theatre, which at once makes me wonder what I’m getting into, but also makes me so glad to have met someone who can be so passionate about something. Even if it’s musical theatre.
Your perpetually sunny demeanor makes the world a better place, and when a storm blows up in your eyes, it’s a wrong that I feel compelled to right. It makes me want to “fix you” as that band sings…
Your grumpy old lady of a cat, Daphne, seems to have adopted me, so as of today I officially adopt her and I vow to at least think about cleaning the litter box.
I also vow to:
- Notice (and comment positively) when you get a haircut;
- Tell you that you’ve “hit pretty” as you’re on your way to work in the morning;
- I vow to try to keep pace with you in your role as unofficial “celebrant” to all of our friends and family. You still send Christmas cards, you call people on their birthdays, and you never pass up an opportunity to partake in cake. Maybe that’s what it’s all about…
I vow to be better, to try harder, to make the world a better place, even if only in small ways, just like you do.
In one of the many greeting cards that you’ve given me over the last few years, all with thoughtfully written messages and expressions of your feelings, you wrote: “Thank you for letting me love you in ‘my way.’”At first I wondered a little what that meant, but now I think I know: It means that you love constantly and with determination. You love attentively and thoughtfully. Deeply and warmly. Unapologetically and perhaps a little crazily. I vow to follow your example.
And our first dance...
Give me a kiss to build a dream on
And my imagination
Will thrive upon that kiss
Sweetheart, I ask no more than this
A Kiss to build a dream on
Give me a kiss before you leave me
and my imagination
will feed my hungry heart
Leave me one thing before we part
A kiss to build a dream on
When I'm alone with my fancies
I'll be with you
Weaving romances
Making believe they're true
Oh, gimme your lips for just a moment
and my imagination
will make that moment live
Give me what you alone can give
A kiss to build a dream on
As mentioned, we really wanted to make the ceremony about us, rather than just have a generic, cookie-cutter service. Don't get me wrong - there are plenty of beautiful ceremonies out there and I love a good Kahlil Gibran poem just as much as the next person. But we wanted something a little more personal. So in addition to having four friends speak, we also wrote our own vows. For posterity (and the Internet at large) here they are:
Jamie,
It's fitting that our first date involved tea and baked goods. What started out sweet has only become sweeter for me. I didn't arrive that March afternoon with a checklist of attributes that I needed you to have. After several years of being single, I knew there was only one elusive thing that you had to be able to do - you had to make my heart skip a beat. And you accomplished that the moment we said hello.
Almost five years later, I feel confident that I'm standing here with the person I was waiting for. You are smart and funny, while also asking for my opinions and laughing at my jokes. You are strong and sentimental, yet will still lean on my shoulder when you need to.
On my happy days, you laugh with and at me and put up with the crazy ways I express my joy. And on my rare gloomy days, you know how to find a little spot to allow the sun to shine back in. With you I am 100% myself and feel loved for *almost* all of my quirks and questionable attributes.
Jamie, I love and trust you with all of my heart. You have become the keeper of my stories and my ultimate cheerleader. Besides my own, the vision of myself that matters most to me is the one that I see reflected in your eyes.
I am so excited about the future that stretches out ahead of us. From the family we will create to the accomplishments that we will celebrate. We're partners in crime and in cookie-eating. We can take turns keeping each other's feet on the ground, so that our creative whims can take flight.
Thank you for loving me. May the sweetness continue for the rest of our lives.
Tammy, from the first day I saw you staring back at me from that Internet dating website, the butterflies in my stomach told me that meeting you was going to change my life.
And of all the people I’ve encountered in my now-changed life, you are unique among them. An example, and as I told you early on, I think you are the living embodiment of musical theatre, which at once makes me wonder what I’m getting into, but also makes me so glad to have met someone who can be so passionate about something. Even if it’s musical theatre.
Your perpetually sunny demeanor makes the world a better place, and when a storm blows up in your eyes, it’s a wrong that I feel compelled to right. It makes me want to “fix you” as that band sings…
Your grumpy old lady of a cat, Daphne, seems to have adopted me, so as of today I officially adopt her and I vow to at least think about cleaning the litter box.
I also vow to:
- Notice (and comment positively) when you get a haircut;
- Tell you that you’ve “hit pretty” as you’re on your way to work in the morning;
- I vow to try to keep pace with you in your role as unofficial “celebrant” to all of our friends and family. You still send Christmas cards, you call people on their birthdays, and you never pass up an opportunity to partake in cake. Maybe that’s what it’s all about…
I vow to be better, to try harder, to make the world a better place, even if only in small ways, just like you do.
In one of the many greeting cards that you’ve given me over the last few years, all with thoughtfully written messages and expressions of your feelings, you wrote: “Thank you for letting me love you in ‘my way.’”At first I wondered a little what that meant, but now I think I know: It means that you love constantly and with determination. You love attentively and thoughtfully. Deeply and warmly. Unapologetically and perhaps a little crazily. I vow to follow your example.
And our first dance...
Give me a kiss to build a dream on
And my imagination
Will thrive upon that kiss
Sweetheart, I ask no more than this
A Kiss to build a dream on
Give me a kiss before you leave me
and my imagination
will feed my hungry heart
Leave me one thing before we part
A kiss to build a dream on
When I'm alone with my fancies
I'll be with you
Weaving romances
Making believe they're true
Oh, gimme your lips for just a moment
and my imagination
will make that moment live
Give me what you alone can give
A kiss to build a dream on
Saturday, November 14, 2009
The Wedding - Part Three
So once we were all beautified, our incredible photographers arrived and there was a three hour photo shoot first with my Best Woman and I, then with my Groom and the Best Man. (Yes, we saw each other before the ceremony. I am not superstitious and preferred being able to leisurely take pics rather than worrying that my guests are totally bored during lag time between the ceremony and the reception.) It was tons of fun and I CAN'T WAIT to share all the pics with all of you, but wait I must. Patience is apparently a virtue!
For now, we will proceed with the story, pilfering from photos taken by a few great friends and family members.
The Best Man and my Groom were the first to walk down the aisle, followed closely by our gorgeous ring-bearer and flower girl.
These are my Best Woman's amazing kids and they were so, so, SO good all night.
Of course, my Best Woman followed them and then I arrived with my Mom and Dad on either side of me.
And then the ceremony began. There are many ceremony pics, but I've chosen just two. I like the first one, because you can see some of the joy and also our excellent accordion player! She gave the event the hint of uniqueness that I wanted. Also, I LOVE accordions!
The ceremony was a bit unconventional, to say the least. While we did have our fantastic officiant for all the official, legal stuff, we also included friends, so that it really felt like it was OUR ceremony. Therefore, we had one friend on each side ask us scripted questions, such as "Do you promise to love her, even if her nickname of Lordy Lorderson is frequently earned, if not entirely accurate?" and "Do you promise to love him, even though he may from hereon in refer to his wedding ring as 'The one ring to rule them all?'" You can imagine the laughter! In addition, we had one friend on either side write something they wanted to present during the ceremony, which we didn't hear until the day. One talented friend wrote a literary montage of our relationship, in which she managed to include all the song titles from "Guys and Dolls." Clever girl. And another talented friend told the story of my Groom emailing him in Tokyo and including my online profile. The friend emailed back that he had a feeling about me and suggested that my Groom respond and make a mention of "Family Ties," in the response, since I mentioned it in my profile. At the end of the story, our friend recited the lyrics to the "Family Ties" theme song.
Without Us by Jeff Barry and Tom Scott - Family Ties Lyrics
I bet we been together for a million years,
And I bet we'll be together for a million more.
Oh, It's like I started breathing on the night we kissed,
And I can't remember what I ever did before.
What would we do baby, Without Us?
What would we do baby, Without Us?
And there ain't no nothing we can't love each other through.
What would we do baby, Without Us?
Sha la la la. (The whole crowd spontaneously sang the "Sha la la la" at the end. It was awesome.)
Stay tuned for more...
For now, we will proceed with the story, pilfering from photos taken by a few great friends and family members.
The Best Man and my Groom were the first to walk down the aisle, followed closely by our gorgeous ring-bearer and flower girl.
These are my Best Woman's amazing kids and they were so, so, SO good all night.
Of course, my Best Woman followed them and then I arrived with my Mom and Dad on either side of me.
And then the ceremony began. There are many ceremony pics, but I've chosen just two. I like the first one, because you can see some of the joy and also our excellent accordion player! She gave the event the hint of uniqueness that I wanted. Also, I LOVE accordions!
The ceremony was a bit unconventional, to say the least. While we did have our fantastic officiant for all the official, legal stuff, we also included friends, so that it really felt like it was OUR ceremony. Therefore, we had one friend on each side ask us scripted questions, such as "Do you promise to love her, even if her nickname of Lordy Lorderson is frequently earned, if not entirely accurate?" and "Do you promise to love him, even though he may from hereon in refer to his wedding ring as 'The one ring to rule them all?'" You can imagine the laughter! In addition, we had one friend on either side write something they wanted to present during the ceremony, which we didn't hear until the day. One talented friend wrote a literary montage of our relationship, in which she managed to include all the song titles from "Guys and Dolls." Clever girl. And another talented friend told the story of my Groom emailing him in Tokyo and including my online profile. The friend emailed back that he had a feeling about me and suggested that my Groom respond and make a mention of "Family Ties," in the response, since I mentioned it in my profile. At the end of the story, our friend recited the lyrics to the "Family Ties" theme song.
Without Us by Jeff Barry and Tom Scott - Family Ties Lyrics
I bet we been together for a million years,
And I bet we'll be together for a million more.
Oh, It's like I started breathing on the night we kissed,
And I can't remember what I ever did before.
What would we do baby, Without Us?
What would we do baby, Without Us?
And there ain't no nothing we can't love each other through.
What would we do baby, Without Us?
Sha la la la. (The whole crowd spontaneously sang the "Sha la la la" at the end. It was awesome.)
Stay tuned for more...
The Wedding - Part Two
The morning of November 8th arrived and it was sunny and unbelievably warm. The high for the day ended up being 18 degrees. It wasn't even best case scenario, it was MIRACLE scenario! Considering the stretch of cold, grey, rainy weather that we had a few weeks before the wedding, I was ready for the worst. But now I owe Mother Nature so much. I'm not allowed to complain about the weather for the next two years, AT LEAST!
Anyway, my Best Woman and I were up bright and early after a solid 8 hours of sleep. (Gravol was my friend the night before! Best idea ever.) We hung out all morning in our hotel robes and then popped open some champagne for mimosas when my mom arrived just prior to the hair and makeup artists. Here we are enjoying our drinks:
And the close-up. Can you believe this woman has two children AND is doing her Masters part-time, while also working part-time!? Plus she looks gorgeous before the professionals even get a hold of her.
Oh, and the Fiancé (now Husband!) and I also exchanged gifts! I don't know if this is a regular practice among people, but it became normal to me one long winter in my early 20s when I was unemployed, recently single and addicted to watching "The Wedding Story" on TLC. (My old roommates will groan in remembrance if they read this. It was a dark time...) Anyway, I had hidden his present at home, so I sent him an email to let him know where to look, and my Best Woman had my present. Here's what I got for him:
They are one-of-a-kind cuff links made by jewellery designer Anne Holman. I chose two different locations for them: Owen Sound, which is where he's from, and New York City, which is where he proposed and, therefore, where our future began.
I also made a book on iPhoto, full of pictures of our adventures and everyday life together.
Instead of captions, I used the English translation of the lyrics to "La Vie en Rose," which is what played while I walked down the aisle. (Apparently he got a little chocked up looking at this!)
Any my gift from him:
This is also one-of-a-kind. It's an incredible paper cut made by a U.K. artist named Julene Harrison. He had it made with one of my favourite music theatre quotes, from a show called "Sunday in the Park with George." It's a good reminder to live in each moment.
Here's a close-up shot of one of the details, which is taken from the show itself. Judging from all the little extras within the piece, the artist took her time researching the show before creating this.
I think it's a good sign that we both bought each other gifts that will never be duplicated. It's symbolic of the one-of-a-kind nature of our love. (Awful and cheesy, I know! But I'm sort of on my unofficial honeymoon at the moment, so cut me some slack!)
Stay tuned for more...
Anyway, my Best Woman and I were up bright and early after a solid 8 hours of sleep. (Gravol was my friend the night before! Best idea ever.) We hung out all morning in our hotel robes and then popped open some champagne for mimosas when my mom arrived just prior to the hair and makeup artists. Here we are enjoying our drinks:
And the close-up. Can you believe this woman has two children AND is doing her Masters part-time, while also working part-time!? Plus she looks gorgeous before the professionals even get a hold of her.
Oh, and the Fiancé (now Husband!) and I also exchanged gifts! I don't know if this is a regular practice among people, but it became normal to me one long winter in my early 20s when I was unemployed, recently single and addicted to watching "The Wedding Story" on TLC. (My old roommates will groan in remembrance if they read this. It was a dark time...) Anyway, I had hidden his present at home, so I sent him an email to let him know where to look, and my Best Woman had my present. Here's what I got for him:
They are one-of-a-kind cuff links made by jewellery designer Anne Holman. I chose two different locations for them: Owen Sound, which is where he's from, and New York City, which is where he proposed and, therefore, where our future began.
I also made a book on iPhoto, full of pictures of our adventures and everyday life together.
Instead of captions, I used the English translation of the lyrics to "La Vie en Rose," which is what played while I walked down the aisle. (Apparently he got a little chocked up looking at this!)
Any my gift from him:
This is also one-of-a-kind. It's an incredible paper cut made by a U.K. artist named Julene Harrison. He had it made with one of my favourite music theatre quotes, from a show called "Sunday in the Park with George." It's a good reminder to live in each moment.
Here's a close-up shot of one of the details, which is taken from the show itself. Judging from all the little extras within the piece, the artist took her time researching the show before creating this.
I think it's a good sign that we both bought each other gifts that will never be duplicated. It's symbolic of the one-of-a-kind nature of our love. (Awful and cheesy, I know! But I'm sort of on my unofficial honeymoon at the moment, so cut me some slack!)
Stay tuned for more...
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Wedding - Part One
After months of planning and waiting and worrying and anticipating, it was finally time for our big day. I tell you, I don't know how people manage being engaged for really long periods of time! Our entire engagement was just over six months long and I'm not sure I could have handled waiting any longer. I was more than ready to not only be married, but also to be finished the planning. It's truly like having a second job! No wonder people hire planners.
But this was almost a D.I.Y. wedding. I say almost, because in the end we did have a whole team of people to help us pull it off. Officially our wedding party only consisted of a Best Man and a Best Woman, but our unofficial wedding party was this amazing group of people pictured here (minus a couple who weren't available for this planning meeting the night before the big day). We owe them all so, so much.
So we all met and I had handouts and floorplans for each of them. They made fun of me mercilessly, but with lots of love.
This is a pic of what my old roommate affectionately (?) calls "crazy eyes." Doesn't my HUSBAND (still Fiancé in this pic) look thrilled? I admit that I may have been a tad bit focused, shall we say, at this point in the game.
And then, while the Fiancé and I headed off for dinner with our families and Best People, my dear friend went home to his house, which was filled with flowers he'd purchased for the wedding. He turned all of this:
Into this:
So, so beautiful. Stay tuned for Part Two...
**Special thanks to Mer for the pictures!!
But this was almost a D.I.Y. wedding. I say almost, because in the end we did have a whole team of people to help us pull it off. Officially our wedding party only consisted of a Best Man and a Best Woman, but our unofficial wedding party was this amazing group of people pictured here (minus a couple who weren't available for this planning meeting the night before the big day). We owe them all so, so much.
So we all met and I had handouts and floorplans for each of them. They made fun of me mercilessly, but with lots of love.
This is a pic of what my old roommate affectionately (?) calls "crazy eyes." Doesn't my HUSBAND (still Fiancé in this pic) look thrilled? I admit that I may have been a tad bit focused, shall we say, at this point in the game.
And then, while the Fiancé and I headed off for dinner with our families and Best People, my dear friend went home to his house, which was filled with flowers he'd purchased for the wedding. He turned all of this:
Into this:
So, so beautiful. Stay tuned for Part Two...
**Special thanks to Mer for the pictures!!
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