My two cents on weddings.

FYI - Weddings suck up all of your money. Don't worry about getting things for your wedding that wont matter in the end anyways. Do add special touches of YOU through out you wedding. DIY as much as possible. Ask people (and yes offer to pay them) with talent to help create or do something for your wedding. Buy reasonably priced items from Etsy. Especially from the incredible Michelle S and her shop Sweet Peas and Seashells.  

But if you only remember one thing, remember that this is the day that you marry your best friend. The day that you will remember for ever, but will go by in the blink of an eye.

No one will remember what color your napkins were. Nor will they remember the little favors. They will remember the most beautiful day they saw their family/friends get married (and they will also remember the food/drink/dancing).  And remember the people who helped you along your journey down the aisle. And STOP worrying about everything. Things that are out of your control will happen, and you just have to be calm and collected to deal with those things in the right way by finding alternate solutions or possibly even just letting go. 

Your day will be beautiful because YOU are beautiful. So sit back, and don't forget to HAVE FUN!

Wedding Band Has Arrived!

FINALLY got my wedding band from the FedEx man this morning! LOVE IT!

8 Week Count Down!

WOW, only 8 more weeks to go until I step foot on the paradise that is Punta Cana, Dominican Republic! I will be sitting on the beach with my fruity tropical beverage in hand, waiting for it to be Friday so that we can finally be MARRIED!! I am so beyond excited to be going away, it's been almost 3 years since my last vacation.

I think I deserve it after everything we have gone through in the last 2 years.



Graduating from College (Me)

 (Source)

 Switching careers (Josh)
Josh got his license to drive a transport truck! Which lead to him getting a sweet job!


Working while going to college (Me)
 If you click here , you can see an article I wrote for my college paper. When you get to that page there is another link that says click here to view more articles written by the author. It was awesome to be able to do something that I love and get paid for it. 


Moving across the country (Both of us)

(Source)

Finding my first real after-college-related job (Me)

(Source)

Planning a wedding (Us)
As most of you know, planning a wedding can be quite the stressful affair. We tried to keep it as low stress as possible, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. This has been our "baby" for the last year and a half, and we are so incredibly happy with what we have done. Thank you to everyone who helped us out too, because without you our wedding wouldn't have been the same.

Going to University (Me)
After I graduated from College, I wanted more! Since we moved to another province right after, I decided I would go to University to get my bachelors degree. I have slowly been working at it, since I can not afford to go full time since I work full time.

Starting up my photography business (Us)
This has been an exciting journey for us. I say us because I would never have been able to do this without the support and encouragement from Josh. :)

 (Source)

It has been an exciting journey through life, and I hope the next 8 weeks are as awesome as the last 4 years in our relationship have been.

Wedding Dress Collection Complete

So I am that mythical creature in the bride world that is known as a dress whore. I have a problem, and I love them all so what did I do? I AM A 3 DRESS BRIDE. Well technically for the big day I just have two dresses (my wedding dress and a dress for the reception), and then my 3rd dress will be used for my trash-the-dress session. Personally I don't care what anyone thinks about it because my 3 dresses still cost less than most peoples single dress.

My Sottero & Midgley JSM1103 was bought second hand at a very discounted rate. Perfect for me because I could never see myself (this is just my personal choice, but there is nothing wrong with it if you chose to) spending more than $1,000 on one dress.

Here she is on the model:

And on me:

Next is my reception dress. I had this made by a company called Milly Bridal.

I ordered my dress back at the end of January (the 31st actually). I was told of the time line, and then figured with the Chinese New Years that it would tack on a little extra time.

I got pictures of my test dress mid to late March. I made some changes and had little communication with them in the mean time, which made me a little anxious because I had no idea what was going on or when it was going to be finished. Seeing some of the negative feedback and people who had to ask for refunds on the boards in the Milly Brides Group was making me even more nervous! But I thought, there hasn't been a reason for me to freak out, so I wont let it get to me.

I recieved my dress on Tuesday (but was out of town, so I couldn't pick it up until today). I want to tell you all how relieved I am, because really my expectations were starting to get a little low. I think the craftsmanship of the dress is excellent. There are some areas that will need to be taken in (around my "girls" for example). Over all, for the price I really couldn't ask for more. They turned a dress I would never be able to afford, into an affordable version of my dream reception dress.

I just need to find a bra that holds my girls in place now. ;)

(Excuse the no makeup/hair and all the CRAP in the background)
Inspiration (Oscar De La Renta 2008 Collection):

Me in my Milly Dress:
 

And now for the TTD Dress!

Inspiration (Maggie Sottero - Allison Marie):

Me in my Milly Dress:

 Over all, very happy with my experience with this company. With all 3 of my dresses the total spent was still under $1,000 for all three dresses. So really I couldn't ask for more! Now what? On to shoes perhaps?

Gifts for Your Husband on the Wedding Day

There are tons of gifts that you can give your Husband on the day of the wedding, and they don't have to cost an arm and a leg. I was working on my gifts for Josh this weekend, so I just thought I would post some of the ideas that I thought of while racking my brain for the perfect gift. Please feel free to post more!

*Guitar (Electric or Acoustic) - Perfect if he wants to pick up a new instrument, or just really enjoys music. Tons of articles and books to help you out. Also, don't be afraid to browse in stores, and ask a sales associate. I find that if you go into a small business music store, they are much more personalized and knowledgeable. Acoustic guitars can range anywhere from $50 (used) to $200 (brand new). Electric guitars can range from $100 - $20,000 (depending on the brand, quality, etc.).

*Sterling Silver Guitar Pick (Personalized) - I'm getting this for my fiancee, will post pictures and a review of the vendor when I get it in! $27 plus shipping.

Source

* Boudoir Album - This is more on the sexual side of things, but can be an incredible gift that he can keep forever. The side of you that only he will get to see, captured in sultry photographs and all wrapped up in a pretty little package. These can range from $100 - $700, all depending on the photographer, outfits, hair, makeup, etc. Very well worth it though, because you also get to see and feel how gorgeous you are!

* Digital picture frame - I think this is a great gift for anyone, because you can take it anywhere and have your pictures with you! These have dropped in price and can range from $50 - $200.

* Concert/Sporting Events tickets - What better gift than something that he watches on TV anyways?! You can get tickets to events for super cheap, or you could go as far as to order season tickets to his favorite sports team (which is actually cheaper than I thought it would be).

* Gaming Console - This could be for a beginner or an avid gamer. The beauty of it is that sometimes games will come out that I like to play, so we both use it quite often. It also doubles as a DVD player because our PS3 comes with a Blu-Ray player in it! Here is a guide to all of the systems and what they do.

* Stocks/Savings Bonds - You are investing in your future together, but you could do it in a fun way! A friend of mine got her husband a share of Marvel (comic books) stocks. There are stocks for almost everything imaginable. Go to a broker to find out more information about your options.

Other items: Watch, iPod, mini-moon, slide show for the wedding, custom cuff links, custom Converse Shoes, etc.

DIY Photobooth!

I love the idea behind the photobooth's at weddings, but I dislike the price tag that comes along with them. Some rental units can cost an average of $1,000 and up! Why would I want to spend $1,000 on a photobooth alone?!

DO IT YOURSELF! It can save you hundreds! If this is something that sounds of interest to you, I dug up a couple of websites that might help you in your quest for a fun item at you wedding, that won't break the bank. Most of them have suggestions on which softwear to use, what kind of set up you'll need in terms of a camera (you can go polaroid or DSLR), ideas for props, etc.

Life With Leo - Do It Yourself Photobooth

DIY Photobooth Using MacBook & Ikea Curtains

Instructables - DIY Photobooth

Breeze Systems - DSLR Remote Softwear

The Wedding Lens - Photobooth at the Wedding Reception

The Things We Think But Do Not Say - How to Make a Photobooth

Happy DIY-ing!

Enagement Pictures

Here are our first set of E-Pics. Thank you to Stellar Imaging Event & Wedding Photography for our session in Bower Ponds (Red Deer, AB).

Things to buy for the wedding.

There are plenty of things that we need to buy or save money for before we get married. I just thought I would share a few of those, not for any other reason so that I don't forget what I have to buy cause I have a terrible memory.

• Olympus E-620. http://www.olympuscanada.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1452 It's a digital SLR from Olympus. BEAUTIFUL! Comes with 6 art filters, which is great because when you are trying to make cool pictures but don't know how the hell to use photoshop... then it makes my life WAY easier.

• The Dress. It's absolutely gorgeous! I can' wait to see how it looks on. http://www.alfredangelo.com/Collections/ProductDisplay.aspx?productID=1796a142-d4c0-4e7f-8829-bc0213df001b&categoryID=54246401-6ad2-4745-894e-d0dc006d72c8&pg=2 Hopefully it looks as nice on me as it does on her.
  

• Guest Book. http://www.adessoalbums.com/begin-now-kit-for-polaroids.html I thought this would be the perfect thing for a guest book because it's fun and different.
  
  • 1 - Adesso Instant Photo Guestbook for Polaroids®
  • Holds 30 Polaroid photos in archival (acid and lignen free) pages which mat out the white border of the Polaroid
    
    
  • Accommodates up to 75 guests (think couples and groups)
    
    
  • Covered in custom dyed Japanese fabric
    
    
  • 8" x 10" x 1.5"
    
    
  • 3" x 3" die cut opening in the cover to slide a photo in
    
    
  • Album opens perfectly flat to write in it and closes perfectly flat when filled with photos
    
    
  • 1 – Polaroid Job Pro 600 Camera
    
    
  • 4 – Polaroid 600 Single Pack (40 exposures)
  
  
• Earings. http://www.swarovski.com/Web_CA/en/995370/product/Chandelier_Pierced_Earrings.html?CatalogCategoryName=0110 These are hot

• Rings. Mine is very cute and girly. Josh's is very plain, bu that's the only kind of thing that he'll wear. I really love these rings though, it's too bad we can't afford to go Platinum with them though.
  

• Wedding box. I need one of these to carry my dress and possibly Josh's tux.. if it fits... haha. Just kidding. That way in case anything happens to my luggage, nothing can happen to the wedding dress because it will be my carry on item.