Browsing Tag

wedding

A Big Sigh of Relief!

Uncategorized February 10, 2011

Ahh… the craziness of the end of January/Early February is over… everything is shipped (or ready to be shipped), I’ve made some major wedding progress – dress, hall rented, bridesmaids dresses, etc – and am looking forward to life being a little more… stable!

I got quite a bit done over my two days off – ordered the last of the bridesmaids dresses, which look like this:

I sewed myself a big plaid shirt, with a yummy placket running down the front which I was very excited about sewing, as I haven’t sewn a placket since college. I finished the item for my Give Away, completed an alteration, shipped orders, and made two delicious, homemade dinners. I am hoping that this weekend Dan and I can get out and register for gifts for our wedding. We keep putting it off because we need to drive to the next largest town, as there are no large department stores where we live… Yep, it’s that small!

I completely forgot that Monday is Valentines Day (I’m suspecting Dan did too)… I think we will stay in (which is no surprise) and maybe do a chocolage fondu and continue our Oscar Movie Marathon. Unfortunatly we are at The Godfather II which is not so romantic… Does anyone else have plans for Valentines Day?

More sad news and wedding progress…

Uncategorized January 30, 2011

I received, what I hope is, the last of the bad news I will hear in a while. Yesterday morning we lost my Grandmother. It shouldn’t have come as a shock, as she has been slipping away for a while now, but I certainly wasn’t expecting that phone call. We already miss her smile and her warmth. She really was one of those people who made this world a little nicer to be a part of. We will get to say our final “Goodbye’s” on Friday, but she will live on forever in the books she published, such as Outhouses and Apple Pies, in her detailed ink drawings, and in the lives of the many people she touched.

Yesterday, despite the bad news in the morning, my cousin and best friend and my mom and I went out to do some wedding shopping, and purchased my wedding dress and the bridesmaids dresses. Somehow it felt right to embark on this venture (for real), to start something new with the passing of my grandmother. I know she would have wanted it and I am so sad I won’t be able to share one of the most important days of my life with her.
Today, Dan and I purchased our invitations, and started (and completed!) one of the many crafty projects I have planned for the wedding:


Our table numbers! We will still need to get a large frame to do the names and numbers on it, but these will sit on each of the tables. I think they are so pretty and they were so fun to do; my fingers are black with ink from our stamp pad.

This whole week has been extremely exhausting. Between the thought of losing my father, actually losing my grandmother, temporarily losing my sewing machine, and maybe getting laid off from my job, I’m not sure how much more bad I can take! I am glad we were able to take time to focus on the wedding to even out all the bad with the good. I even found a photographer who totally gets the look we are going for and is very, very reasonably priced.I am going to work tomorrow, then will need to take the rest of the week off, as I am helping my aunt prepare some things for the funeral… I also just need time to catch up on sewing – I have one more order to fill plus my giveaway, then I will be caught up and hopefully in store for a week of good after this week of bad.

Wedding…

Uncategorized January 11, 2011

I’ve done a lot of wedding thinking over this last week. I’ve decided on flowers – simple carnations in a tall glass vase, with candles around it. For bouquets – carnations and roses in not quite pink-not quite purple… or maybe purple. That hasn’t been decided yet.

I am trying to be very budget conscious with this whole ordeal – I recently read that the average couple spends $20,000 on their wedding. That is insane – I don’t even bring that home after taxes in a year! We going to stay far, far, far under that.

Our Venue for the ceremony is free and I just can’t get over how perfect it is – there are rocks forming two rows of seating. We just need a few chairs for a few of our guests and nature does the rest! We have already found our officiant and basically chosen our vows (which nearly made me cry just reading them, they are quite non-traditional but beautiful).

I don’t know what to do for music… for me, it isn’t that important, but others have said it is important. I’d be happy to hear opinions. I would love to have a live musician… I am also still trying to figure out how we are all going to arrive, and where I can stand so I am slightly out of sight before the ceremony. There is an area of tree’s off to the left, I suppose I could hide out in the forest!

We are going to go final dress shopping on the 29th. I was so surprised by what I ended up liking. I went in thinking I would like something like this: ball gown, simple, maybe some lace….

And wound up liking exactly what I told everyone I didn’t want. I didn’t want rouching, beading, didn’t want fitted… and I ended up liking something similar to this style. I think because I am so petite (maybe 5’1″?) the ball gown was way too much fabric. I have never felt so… va-va-va-voom in my life! I am curvy, I might as well show it off while I can.

I was super stressed about shoes, but I found these Pour La Victoire shoes, with the blue underneath, which will work perfect. I will have blue (shoes), old (an antique pearl necklace of my mothers), borrowed (my cousins veil), and new (my dress)!

I found this Alfred sung bridesmaids dress that we all like. I don’t know whether to do it in black or in a colour… the black is just so classic. I kind of want this dress too.

I believe I have found a photographer, and will meet with her soon. She takes very simple, vintage feeling photos, not cheesy and overly posed. I never thought I would get married so this whole process seemed very overwhelming at the start. I will be the first to admit, I know nothing about weddings or getting married, but I think maybe… it makes it a bit more exciting.
Dan and I have agreed on a few fun things for the reception, like buying vintage frames to put the table numbers in, and using things on sticks as name cards at the tables. Instead of doing a formal cake, we are going to do a help-yourself desert table with cupcakes. I am a little afraid of all the attention, but excited at the same time (I am a wallflower). I think we will do a slide show of pictures of us and friends and family. It is also the day after my Mom’s birthday, so I would like to do something for her as well…
I am still mulling over ideas for favors. I love the idea of something handmade or edible, like a pot of honey or jam… We still need to finalize the guest list. At last count we had 100 guests… that may be a terrible amount of cookies to make.

Polka dots Forever!

Uncategorized January 4, 2011

I am finally getting some sewing done after a most wonderful Holiday break. Dan and I spent New Years in – I cooked a terribly dry turkey and some gravy that would have better passed for Flubber – but it was wonderful, and we stuffed ourselves and had the best New Years (in my opinion) ever!

I finished up this romper this morning, after a quick run out to the post office to send out goodies and do some other errands. I was afraid, half way through this project, that it was turning out a little clownish, but I think it’s turned out pretty cute!

I have high hopes for Ohhh Lulu this year and am really hoping I can make it my full time job.
Also, lets not forget, I am getting married this year! I am at a standstill with the planning… we have booked a venue, caterer, picked our bridal party, chosen the person to marry us… now I don’t know what to do! I haven’t even thought about the wedding in a couple of months and I’m afraid I’m going to get super behind… I’m finding this whole process way too easy which makes me think that I must be doing something wrong!

Sigh…

Uncategorized November 18, 2010

Sigh… back to my day job today. Just a Measly 11 hour shift! Trying to find ways to fill the time…

Dan and I went out last night and had dinner and drinks and great conversation. I feel so lucky to have re-met him. I often think about how random it was, which makes me think that maybe, just maybe it was written in the stars. I was living in Toronto, quite happily, he was living in this small town (I’ll never get him out of here!). Randomly, I decided to meet up with an old friend at go out to a bar here, which is something I had never done (I hated the idea of running into old highschool “friends“) But I went, and we ordered a pitcher of beer, when: Surprise, Surprise! Who walks in but the guy I had a huge crush on in high school. I think I turned to a pile of mushy, lovey goo at that very instant.

And here I am today, marrying that guy with the leather jacket that I figured would never be interested in a nerdy, stay at home, girl like me. I really can’t wait ’til the big day! I sent out Thank You cards for the Engagement Party last night. It made me even more excited, though I have realized I am going to have a serious hand cramp when I write all the Thank You’s for the Actual Big Day!

Dan has been one of the biggest supporters of my little business venture, and I’m really greatful for all of his understanding and help. He is the one that made me realize I really suck at working for other people but and great at working for myself! I did some early morning Etsy posting (just two items), and will be shipping out my first sale this afternoon! Last night I cut a size run of brushed cotton, plaid panties (Ever so warm for these cold, Canadian Winters!) to present to a local shop owner. I have the highest of hopes, but no expectations!

Speaking of Winter, I am going to curse myself for saying this… but I really hope we get a Traditional “Canadian” Winter this year, with lots of Snow, and snow days… I want to go snow shoeing or skiing.

Pre-Wedding Celebrations have started…

Uncategorized November 8, 2010
We had our engagement party on Saturday evening. It was a total blast, we are so lucky to have such great people supporting us.
We practiced the cake cutting, opened presents, introduced parents and friends, it was really great. I am getting even more excited about getting married and having everyone together again.

We were totally spoiled with gifts and help from our friends. My maid of honour got us this amazing picture puzzle of my favourite picture of us! From my parents we received a beautiful frame, with pages like a book, that we can put our wedding photos in. Dan’s mom matted and framed one of his drawings, I can’t even believe how amazing it looks (they are both so talented). I got a wedding organizer from my cousins (and brides maids), which made the wedding look a little daunting to Dan, but will help us out so much as we get more and more busy.

The best thing though, was just having everyone together. I am so, so very lucky.

Today I start my evil, 52 hour work week. It’s already off to a terrible start, but I’ll survive and hopefully have a whole wack of time off to re-cover.

Dan is off but got up to warm the car up for me. He’s a keeper.

Gettin’ ‘er done…

Uncategorized October 19, 2010


I wish I had gotten more done today than I ended up getting done… I returned a 4 year old modem to Rogers to close an account that had apparently gone to collections (eep!!!), which fixed that whole mess. I listed three items on Etsy, and finished the soft bra as shown below. I also printed a bunch of Ohhh Lulu labels, and finished a black and leopard print pair of panties (which I’ve decided I don’t like as much as I had thought I would) based off of a 1960’s pattern. Left on the “to do” list is a cape (for myself for winter), and some more photos of a couple of other things. I hope the Etsy thing goes well… I used to sell on Ebay when I was in college and actually did really well… I know I could use the extra money.

Yesterday Dan called around to find and officiant for our wedding. We are meeting with a “secular humanist officiant” on Halloween day. In my mind, I’m already sold! I think that we have all of the most major Wedding decisions made: wedding parties are chosen, venues are booked, and we soon will have someone to marry us. Now it’ll just be fun stuff, like flowers and dresses!

To end the day, I think I must have somehow glutened myself and am feeling like I will soon be in extreme pain. Oh… why me?

Wedding planning progressing…

Uncategorized October 17, 2010
Today Dan decide on his final Groomsman. I think he made a great choice for all three. Tomorrow he is finalizing our officiant and then all the major decisions are made!

I have changed my colour scheme completely, after falling in love with black bridesmaids dresses and am thinking of these things

At first we thought we wanted to have lavender and peach, and a more rustic country theme… but then I found these really wonderful Alfred Sung dresses…
So, our wedding is quickly becoming less country and more classy. I’m okay with that. I had originally thought I would wear a tea length dress but instead found a gown with a long trail, lots of details, really 1930’s Hollywood and it’s’ much more fancy than I had originally thought I wanted.However, you only get to do it once so I want to do it the best I can!I am getting more and more excited everyday. When we first got engaged I was really scared about the wedding and all of the planning. I had no idea what I wanted, I was not one of those girls who ever, I repeat ever dreamed about her wedding so I had a lot of thinking to do. Also, I had no idea what was expected. I really didn’t even know where to start. Now, just over a month later I’ve got the date, venue, and so much planned already! I’m totally loving every minute of it and can’t wait for our engagement party, to get our whole wedding party together (a lot of them will be meeting for the first time, including our parents!). It’s really been wonderful, and Dan has been really helpful. I couldn’t ask for more!Today was a super nice day, beautiful weather… we kicked around the house for a while, and went out for coffees with one of the groomsmen. Last night Dan and I went out for dinner, then stayed in and watched the rest of Tom Jones, then My Fair Lady, and ended our evening with a romantic game of Scrabble. Now I am about to relax on the couch and finish my second knit sock! Pictures soon, I’m terribly proud, it’s the first knitting project I have ever finished!

Wedding Dresses…

Uncategorized October 12, 2010

How on earth do you decide on a wedding dress?

I tried on dozens today… and I LOVED every single one.

This was one of the best experiences of my life. The dresses were gorgeous and I felt like a movie star. I’ve narrowed down the search to 3, and they are nothing like I had imagined. I felt like a movie star, even though I’m pretty sure I have the flu.

I wish I could wear a wedding dress everyday.

Back To Work… Sadly…

Uncategorized September 23, 2010

My day off always goes far too fast.

I’m so looking forward to the weekend. I have great plans for a date night with Dan, Farmers Market in the morning, a Wedding in the afternoon, and a walk through the forest on Sunday morning… and of course a Sunday afternoon Sewing Session as well. I really can’t think of a better way to spend the weekend.

I didn’t get nearly as much sewing done as possible, but got a couple of things cut out. I need to make a trip to Toronto soon to find fabric for my Wedding Dress and Bridesmaids Dresses.

On that subject, I have found the perfect dress, that will be made with some minor alterations… I am going to try some on as well, but this is really what I have in mind… but tea length! I foresee a lot of applique in my future.