Ohh Snap...I'm back!

So I got married and I disappeared. Oopsies! My list of excuses includes...

1. I was adjusting to married life?
2. I got busy?!
3. I got lazy?!
4. I got a puppy?!
5. I was learning how to cook for a man?!
6. I got a new job?!
AND
7. My computer took a turn for the worst!

A combination of all of the above occurred, but here I am! Brand new Mac and Mrs. Jones is back in action!

I guess I owe an update on the last year and 3 months. When I was looking over my blog the other day I realized I really did do a good job of updating it for a while - I hope to get back to that. Not that anyone reads this, but for my own sake.

I guess I will start with our wedding. It was a magical winter wonderland, surrounded by friends and family, and I got to marry the man of my dreams and - Thank God Its Over! #anyonelse? JK...no I'm not.

As an event planner that reaction may make no sense, but let's cut the shit on the whole wedding spectacle. It's an overwhelming shit load of decisions on things that don't really matter. The man matters, your friends and family matter and sharing your unity with them is wonderful - it is the hours of choosing the perfect invite and font and days I won't get back from pinning DIY projects that I don't have the time or talent to complete I have a problem with. I am not a patient person and wedding decisions are not quickly made. I drank a lot of wine during my year of planning haha seriously though it all paid off.

The best decisions I made regarding our wedding:

1. Doing a first look (as recommended by our photographers). It allowed Jeff and I to share our first moment seeing each other privately (minus the photographers, videographers, my hair dresser and my mother and 15 of our closest friends hiding the background haha). The pictures from our first look are some of my favourite and I treasured that moment of seeing him. For us the pressure left at this moment and when we reunited an hour later at the church it was STILL magical but without the nerves of seeing each other while 200 other people looked at us. I recommend this for everyone!

2. Doing a winter wedding. I always dreamed of a winter wedding and it could not have turned out more beautiful  - the weather even held up lightly snowing.

3. Getting a wedding cape. It was like being 5 and playing dress up - only better! I almost loved it more then my dress, and that is saying a lot!

4. Going on a honeymoon 5 days post wedding. This allowed us time to hang out with our family and friends (some of whom travelled from Australia), celebrate new years with everyone, have time to relax and pack and then leave winter in the dust for Antigua - so amazing!

5. Hiring 2 photographers. Ours were a young husband wife team(Ilo Photography) that were the perfect people to have around all day. Dana felt like another bridesmaid and was such a calming influence on our long crazy day. They got so many amazing pictures - captured everything we wanted  and more. Having them both there helped speed up picture taking time and get more in. I cannot say enough good things about them!

6. Hiring a videographer. I have heard not getting one is the #1 regret of brides and I can see why. The day passes in a flash and in watching our video I got to see so many moments I missed or forgot about during the day and it is a timeless keepsake with our friends and family included. Our video was magical I watch the highlight reel often, like just now haha. Gino Mancusa from Zoom HD is a wedding video wizard.   Here is a link to our highlight reel: https://vimeo.com/91397317

7. My bridesmaids. I was surrounded by the most amazing woman I know, I felt so lucky to have them by side (all year and always but on our special day day). Getting ready with them and my mom in the morning was such a fun part of the day!

Bad decisions I made regarding our wedding:

1. Ordering my cake decorations (beautiful edible snowflakes) from someone on Etsy. I ordered them a month before our wedding after speaking with the lady an ensuring she could make them and ship them on time. Day before our wedding they had not arrived and the lady was a total so-and-so about it. They ended up arriving a week after our wedding. I was not impressed, her business is cake decorations all of which have deadlines. This was upsetting although our decorator decorated the cake and looked just fine to me! so it all worked out

2. Not getting a wedding planner (not that they exist in our city but still). Being the bride is awesome... having staff run up to you in a panic about where so-and-so is sitting is not. It would have been amazing to dedicate someone to being in charge of everything all night including things like getting your great-grandmothers wedding cake cutting knife back and ensuring your wedding envelopes are packed away safely. I found being the planner took away from the enjoyment of being the bride.

3. Not having enough time for family photos. *cue the stress* You want mama to get her photos (trust me) but you have to corral your father and brother-law-in and uncles and people loose their shoes and forget their jackets and go to the bathroom lol so allow more time then needed and if you can do these before wedding party photos...do it!

That's it really, no real complaints. Your wedding is just a day, (a day you plan for a whole friggin' year lol) so don't worry too much about it and enjoy it...but most importantly remember the day after the wedding that's when it all really begins!

Okay enough of the blabbing...here are some pictures from the day from our photographer's website http://ilophoto.ca/blog/http:/ilophoto.ca/blog/alexandra-jeff/

Some of my favourites...

At our first look

Be back real soon...so much to cover!

I am getting married tomorrow!

December has flown by! Christmas came and went and now its wedding eve...

On Christmas Eve we picked up our friends from Australia at the airport. The poor things travelled 3 days to make it for Christmas eve and it has been so wonderful having them here. On Christmas day we slept in, opened stockings and played in the snow! It is fun to play outside with Aussie's who are soaking in all things winter, they shoveled, had a snow ball fight,  went snowshoing and walking on the frozen lake.

On Boxing Day we made another return to the airport to pick up another bridesmaid and dear friend, Vikki!! We were all so tired after  a pancake breakfast and a dress fitting we spent the day drinking hot toddy's and watching the Godfather marathon on TV. It was the perfect relaxing day!

Today we have our bridesmaid lunch and rehearsal! Everything feels very surreal but I am so excited.

In 24 hours we are taking the plunge, and I will be Mrs. Jones....

Pictures and stories to follow....

xoxo

Wedding Shower

Hello friends, Happy Monday (no this week its not an oxymoran!) I had a fantastic weekend! On Thursday night my aunts, cousin, mother, mother in law to be and sister hosted a cocktail wedding shower for me. It was so much fun, it was amazing to have all my friends, family and family to be all together.

My Aunt decorated her house in Christmas theme as that is the theme for our wedding (well winter wonderland) but anyways it was just stunning, definitely a good jump start into the Christmas season!

Everyone's generosity was overwhelming, Jeff and I receieved so many beautiful things for the house...soon to be "our" house! Side note: after we brought all the presents into the house and it looked like we just moved in Jeff turns to me and says "wow a wedding shower really prepares a woman to be a housewife." With all kitchen cooking and baking stuff it would certainly seem that way...and I am totally good with that (you should see all my fun new baking tools!)

Croquembouche

The Amazing ladies that hosted the shower

My Mom and I

Some of my BM's

Grandma and granddaughters :)

Family

After a fun game where they read me the 1955 rules for being a good wife...let's just say I am sure glad I wasn't getting married then!

Jeff registered for this and was so excited we got it. It was from our beautiful flower girl Claire.

Instead of giving cards everyone was asked to give an ornament it was so nice! I am very excited as we don't have any special ornaments and now we have ones chosen by our closest friends that are so beautiful!!

Thank you again to all these wonderful ladies!! Tomorrow I will post about the bachelorette party. All I can say is that it was amazing and as a teaser the theme was Bride is the New Black (based off of Orange is the New Black)

xoxo

Wedding Wednesday Update + Engagement Session Preview

It is so satisfying to cross items off my list and realize things are actually getting done. Here is where things stand currently, the ones in yellow are recent. 

Set a date Dec. 28 2013

Book Church
Book reception venue

Book photographer

Book videographer

Book music (Jeff's list)
Ask wedding party

                                                              Create wedding website see it here 

Register 

Book florist

Buy wedding dress

Book ceremony musician

                                                                    Engagement Photos See pics below
                                                         Engagement Party Invitations

Select & Order bridesmaid dresses
Select and order groom & groomsmen attire
Select and order flower girl dresses * need to get on this*
Purchase veil and accessories for dress

Book cake baker

Cake Tasting - can't wait!
Buy cake knife & server Borrowing from my sister
Order save the dates 
Finalize guest list

Send save the dates

Book officiant

Pre-marital counseling

Order guest book
Hotel room blocks

Hire calligrapher

Wedding  announcement

Find wedding shoes - cant wait to wear em!!

Find wedding jewelry - need earrings!

Find garter (apparently Jeff is totally against this)

Book makeup artist & hair stylist

Menu tasting

Hair & make up trial

1st dress fitting
2^nd dress fitting

Create/Order  ceremony programs

Order invitations (found them!)

Mail invitations
Rehearsal dinner? - not sure if we are doing one
Book Bridesmaids Lunch
Wedding Favours - Going to do a donation

Book transportation (done, Jeff's List)

Buy bridal party gifts
Order gifts for parents
Gifts for flower girls and ring bearer

Bachelorette party

Bridal shower

Purchase wedding bands

Put together picture list for photographer

Get marriage license

Book honeymoon (Jeff's List) So excited! We are going to Sandels in Antigua!

Music selections to band and ceremony artist

Order thank you notes

Wedding announcement
Seating Chart
Evening timeline for M/C
Write thank you speech

Walk down the aisle & say I do!

Here are some of the pictures from our photo session with our wedding photographers - Ilo Photography.

If I could go back and do something differently, would I? Yes, different hair and outfits haha but whatcanyoudo? We ended up with a grey day so all things considered I am quiet happy with them!

Updates & Surprise!!!!

Sorry I have been neglecting posting this past week..its been crazy!

Wednesday - WINE WEDNESDAY which involves good girl friends, a beautiful sunny evening, and wine on the patio at the marina. Its heaven! I highly recommend starting one up! Although it can make for a rough Thursday.

Thursday: Wedding Food tasting! It was as good and as much fun as it sounds! We ate until we were stuffed. I think we have figured out the menu (but I will keep that a surprise). Here are a few pictures

The After Photo

My dad says "and one year we better not be back for..."lol

Friday night we went to a benefit for a local young guy who recently developed a brain tumor. An awful story, but the benefit and turn out was unbelievable! So amazing to see so many people out to support him and his family. Wishing them all the best.

The attendance prize for the event was a classic Harley Davidson Motorcycle....and yours truly won. That's right... I WON A HARLEY!  I am still in shock about it. Jeff and I think we will get our motorcycle license now (much to my mother's dismay). I will post a picture when I get the bike but in the mean time Jeff's parents outfitted us with some new gear....now all we need is a helmet and some chaps, maybe a vest, maybe a jacket, oh and some goggles - ohh  boy :)

Dyna Convertible

Saturday my parents hosted a Hawaiian Luau Engagement Part for us. It was so wonderful to be surround by all our family and wedding party and close friends. It was rainy and threatening thunderstorms but the clouds parted and the sun came out and it turned out to be one of the nicest evenings of the summer. We were so lucky.

My mom and I

I have come a long way from my vegetarian days!

My beautiful sister-in-law and niece to be!

Elise chasing Joey

The girls

Everyone here from our wedding party!

The boys

Jeff and I asked for donations to the local food bank instead of gifts and we got a truck full of food and monetary donations. Our friends and family were so generous! I am so happy we did this and so thankful for their generosity. We feel so blessed to have so many amazing people in our lives. I cannot wait for our wedding to celebrate with everyone again. However, if Saturday was any indication of the party it will be, we are in for an amazing time!

Have a great week!

xoxo

Heather's Wedding

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Daigle!!

Sorry for my delay in following up. We had a blast last week!  I am still catching up. Heather was the most stunning bride! Thursday night all the bridesmaids slept over at Heather's parents house, we had a nice dinner, played some Heads Up (hilarious iphone game designed by Ellen...d/l it NOW!) and tried to get a good night sleep. The mother of the bride, bride, maid of honour and I didn't sleep a wink, but we were all so excited Friday morning it didn't matter.

You know what's fun? Being a girl and your job for the wedding day is to get your hair and makeup done by professionals while drinking mimosas..ahhhh it was fabulous!

Heather getting her hair did

Nikey's turn for beautification!

 The weather was overcast and a bit rainy, but it totally held out! I cannot wait to see her professional pictures, taken in the country on gorgeous green rolling hills. In the mean time here are some of the pictures me (and Jeff) snapped during the day.

Beautiful bride on our way to the church

Maids

Saying I DO!

The Newlyweds Celebrating on the bus!

Amazing group of girls!! SO much fun!

My fiance and Bff Cupcake Fight

 The Newlyweds are currently in Jamaica, likely drinking pina coladas! I hope they are having an amazing time!  Experiencing in all the fun for Heather's day made me even more excited for our wedding! Time is ticking!

Happy Friday! TGIF!