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I finally bought something for the wedding and we are writing the deposit cheque for the caterer tomorrow. Its really starting to come together!! Now I’m actually looking into decoration ideas and all the other fun minute details and its begining to feel a little exciting!!

So I was looking up some centerpiece ideas and as much as I detest Martha Stewart I do have to hand it to her for creativity. Here some ideas I am toying around with..

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/candleholder-centerpiece-how-to?backto=true

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/striped-candle-centerpiece-how-to

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/50-great-centerpieces?lpgStart=1&currentslide=15&currentChapter=1

What do you think ?!

It might just be because I am over tired, or maybe because winter is here and Christmas is coming. Maybe it has something to do with our trip to Vancouver and re-starting all the wedding stuff but Im feeling mildly overwhelmed.

Every time I sit down to do some more work on this bad boy I get wrapped up in a little whirlwind and get over m head and stop, and shortly thereafter begin to worry because our timeline for planning is shrinking. I start to think about the stuff we still need to get- decorations, dresses, rings, flowers etc.

Then I think about the stuff I still need to decide on- flower girl/ring bearer outfits, cake/bakers, kids favours, decorations/decorators!

And then a small part of me says, ” Sarah, its October… planning all this stuff now is pointless because you are leaving to much of a margin for error and changing plans.”

I got the big stuff out of the way which is awesome- and I know now there isn’t much I can do but theorize, and fine tune idea-wise until spring. But I am looking at how  busy Sean and I are right now, and how impossible it is for either of us to take any amount of time off let a lone a few days to go down to Vancouver to plan, and set up etc.

When all of this started I vowed to avoid the bridezilla phenomenon. I promised myself I wouldn’t stress out about it- I was never a little girl who fantasized about her wedding day so I have no pre-conceived notions about its perfection. I am, however, realizing what a big undertaking it is to plan a party for 125 people from a town 4 hours away from the event-especially when you, your fiancée, and your best friends are the busiest people you have EVER met. I know how stressful this can become and I want to avoid that for everyone- but I honestly am in waaay over my head and have no idea where to start. Plus I am terrible at delegating jobs which creates problems too….

I need more caffeine and a lot more sleep- then maybe the stressful parts will have clearer solutions.

Feel free to leave any and all feedback, suggestions- anything really. I open to it!!!

Had a FANTASTIC week wedding wise. I am so excited about everything!! We went down to Vancouver very briefly at the beginning of the week ( 26 hours in total I think) and managed to accomplish SO much in such a short time.

Not only was Sean able to brush up on his admin skills ( forwarding calls left right and centre to his business partner) but he got some supplies for the company and the house, and we got to do wedding stuff together for the first time in a while.

One Tuesday we drove to Port Moody to go see the Inlet Theatre and Galleria! WOW its soo pretty. It was so nice to be inside the building and be able to see where the buffet will be, where people would be sitting, and start developing  a plan with blue prints in my head.  There are even some great spots for photos there!!

From there we took the route to our hotel- didn’t stop in just checked traffic and time etc ( around 15 minutes in normal daytime traffic) and the other hotel in town is about 5 minutes past that. I will post links below for both of them.

We are staying at the Executive Inn and Suites- so if other people are wanting to stay there let us know and I will try to set up a group rate!

Then we went to meet our caterer! What an awesome guy. I went to school with his wife who is a SUPER and her husband makes a stunning sidekick. What a pair!!
Had a great time talking with him. He had candy for Aiden, and they chatted about Spiderman for a minute, he had the perfect answers to all my question ( almost like he has done this once or twice before), was willing to concede to one of my menu changes which is a HARD thing to do for a chef sometimes, and we even got to eat and the food is mouthwateringly good. I am soo excited for the food.  Relaxed, Casual, BBQ style exactly what I wanted.

So I have signed the contract for that and will be sending it off tomorrow night!

So we have the big two taken care of, had a chat about what we want to do about the wedding cake and have some ideas forming there, we have a place to sleep, and invitation mock ups finished.

Now we need some clothes to wear, something to drink, and the lottery winnings to pay for it all

I have some more pictures of the theatre on my phone but I seem to be having some technical difficulties so I will put them up later!

PLEASE- if you are in the Burnaby area ( connected to Metro Town on Bolson I think) do yourself the favor and grab a bite at the Firefighters Club Lounge- such amazing food. French friess that taste like they have been made from potatoes!

DO IT!!

…next time- the great debate about ordering my dress from China- should I or shouldn’t I? Is it worth the risk…?

http://www.firefightersclub.com/

 Havent done much in the way of planning over the last few days. The only thing we have accomplished wedding wise has been the design of the wedding invites. SUPER pretty! Im excited to order them!

Ive picked up a second part time job doing banquets and weddings at the South Thompson Inn near Rivershore. What a beautiful place! Wow!!! Hopefully I can pick up some pointers froma few of the weddings I do.  I am also waiting to hear back about a third casual position and hoping for a nother two more. I would think with enough casual positions I could get close to full time hours- my taxes however will most likely be a nightmare.

 We are winterizing the house right now, replacing and resealing windows, hooking up the dishwasher and re- arranging the upstairs. One of our roomies moved out on friday and the other couple downstairs are leaving at the end of the month. So hopefully with some major attention the downstairs will be a suite and rentable by Nov 15. Here is hoping anyway.

Now its a matter of paying the catering deposit that I keep putting off ( i hope his still has the date available) and waiting till after Christmas to finish all the rest of the shennagins ( invites, clothing, gifts, etc) Mayhem I tell you!!!

I haven’t updated in what seems like forever. Its strange this has been both the longest and the shortest summer I have ever experienced. As Sean mentioned I am no longer working 24 hour shifts ( HOORAY) and am now working part time/ on call at an Emergency Womens Shelter. I have also just received an email saying I have a phone interview Friday with an AMAZING program, working with parents of Deaf children! I am really really hoping that works out because it would be such a rewarding opportunity. On top of that I am waiting for a call back on what would be a third job! Hooray possibly starting to pay down some debt and student loans- and oh wait- pay for a wedding.

As it stands now I don’t think I am going to be able to do a tasting with my cater, which as much as it is a friend, still makes me really nervous.  Any one with a really great palate willing to try out some food in the Vancouver area? My original plan was to bring my mom ( she’s a chef) but as the roads are already pretty crappy I don’t want to drive down with out Sean and our schedules are in massive conflict currently so- thats not happening.  Oy!

I still also want to go to Vancouver to go wedding dress shopping, just for the experience of it all but I also highly doubt that will be happening. All my friends have told me I need to have my dress at least 6 months in advance which pops me right smack dab in the middle of winter which = no driving to Vancouver. The Coquihalla and my car are not friends to begin with, with snow and ice those two are arch enemies.

Thank god every thing else can be done by phone, or in the spring.

Its amazing, my days off I have ‘nothing to do’ and yet no time to accomplish any of it!  I don’t understand.

Untill next time… same bat time, same bat channel

Well its been a while. Sorry..

I was trying to not blog until Sean did, and then I realized that my attempts were futile and it just wasn’t going to happen. He just doesn’t have the time lately; work has him running around like a blind chicken with its head cut off.. Just Thursday he put around 150km on the car, and din’t leave town. CRAZY!!!

I am looking for a job, and still trying to figure out some health issues while planning the wedding and organizing a community event. Unfortunately the job hunting and health has taken precedence,  so my planning is a little behind. Ahh well what can you do!!

Looks like I have found a caterer. Quote looks great, menu looks phenomenal, and they want to cook onsite BBQ style It took me some time to find out if we would be allowed to BBQ onsite and I just got the email back with a yes so now its deposit paying and tasting. HOORAY

http://www.firefightersclub.com/ I went to school with the head chefs wife, I was under the impression for the year that he was a fire fighter. Silly me!

I also went and tried on wedding dresses the other day and it looks like I may have found the one!! I still want to go down to Vancouver and try on a few more.. but I have a funny feeling its the one. Its an Alfred Angelo and its sooooo pretty. I want to post pictures but I suppose that is against the rules!!

Lastly I will post some engagement photos that we took the other day, for your enjoyment. It was so much fun!!

Enjoy your weekend you guys!!

Today..? Not as successful. Tried so hard to do the ‘Suzy Homemaker’ thing when I got home from work this morning. Started doing dishes, made breakfast for everyone, put on coffee, started to work out…. then I got tired and had a nap. Now dishes aren’t finished, still have to work out, still have to grocery shop and I have company coming from Vancouver in a little under 3 hours. Booo!!! So what am I doing?Sitting in front of the Food Network and blogging.

Why? Because I am super cranky about this wedding thing.. AGAIN. (Thank God for Roya and her margarita’s tonight!!)

I have asked for probably around 8 different quotes from catering companies all around the GVRD. The average price back so far for 125 people is $8,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who are you people kidding!! The one.. ONE place I have found that doesn’t want my next born child is charging around $4,000 not including grat’s or taxes ( so add another 30% on top of that) and I have been asking  for references for around 3 weeks, she didn’t get back to me then went on vacation. I am fine with waiting, but if I loose my date because she SUCKS. ( I am trying really hard not to be bitter, think I am failing) So unless this shapes up, the wedding will be a BBQ with hotdogs, veggie dogs and BYOB!

So I am going to phone the planner. Phone another cater who happens to be my friends husband. Please please please Wish ME LUCK!

Its 11:00 and so far I have finalized wedding colours, though of some great decorations for the venue, though of some gifts for my maid of honor and enlisted the help of friends to get names for caterers, photographers, and bakers. HOORAY. I still need to find a good spot for hair and make up thats reasonably priced. Then I need to confirm where we are actually having the ceremony and go from there. My friend Taqueesha showed me a few phenomenal websites: weddingbells.com and etsy.com which has started to give me some good ideas. Plus I have been googling all morning for decoration, cake and flower ideas. Hopefully things will start coming together even more once I talk to our wedding planner this week. Its all sooo exciting!!!

Oh for any family or friends in the Vancouver area, curious if you or anyone you know has a Serving It Right ticket, we are going to need a bartender for the big day!!

Some colour scheme ideas What do you think? Gun metal grey and yellow accents!

Sean’s been bugging me to post something because its been a while, but man oh man have we been busy. Nothing new on the wedding front, but Sean has re-painted the living room, been working like a madman. I have been working, and been sick for a few days so I’ve been lazy! Next week I am hoping to get started on my Deaf Awareness breakfast, find a caterer, and continue working. Plus potty training has begun ( OY!!) so we will be doing that. A friend of mine from VCC  is coming to visit this week so we are going to catch up, and I will pick her brain about some deaf Awareness stuff. Im really hoping everything clears up health wise for Tuesday. I already lost one shift at work much to my boss disapproval so, a second lost shift if not recommended for me in any way.

I still have a ton to figure out about the wedding and hopefully I get to meet with the planner this week or next. there is catering, hotels, hair/makeup. Not to mention set up, decorations, gifts, favors, invites, dresses, and tuxes. AHHHH

My Maid of Honour asked me a little while ago what exactly was in the job description and I read this really cute thing yesterday: “this gal offers an assist to the bride- addressing invites, shopping for favors, and mixing margaritas when wedding stress runs high.” That part of it should be coming soon…

My mom has mentioned something about wedding insurance. Something where is the wedding is postponed or canceled for any reason  we get our money back on our vendors. I have never heard of this.. Any one know anything?

Ugg.. I am so tired Im not to sure what to write. If this job doesn’t kill me at least everyday I am there it makes me realize how much I can’t wait to see Sean, and how sure I am that marrying him with be the the best thing ever. As long as I can make it through the planning stages !!

Next on the agenda wedding wise is a possible re evaluation of the colours, and invites!! Again coming into play my total lack of understanding as to the rules for all this mayhem. We started with an idea of silver, navy, and dark green colours to mesh with the formal atmosphere, but now I am realizing that it is a SUMMER wedding, and I think that it will all be a little too dark. I suggested Silver and Yellow ( I love that scheme) but then I realised it will be really hard to find flower arrangement to match that.

As for invites, Sean is telling me we need Save the Date cards, which doesn’t make sense.. if we send the invites out around 5 months before the wedding and ask for an RSVP 3 months before the day.. that should be enough no?

As I have now been up for 3 hours and it is only 8am I am realizing I am not to sure all that I have written :/

More to come later!