ROCKSTEADY...& LOVIN' IT!

Hey ladies!!  *waves*

Guess what?  

I'M MARRIED!!!

Santosha's Wedding Pro-Pics Slideshow

On June 16, 2012, I married my beloved and I can honestly say that it was the most beautiful day of our lives!!!
I can't even express how AMAZING it feels to wake up every morning feeling soul-rubbed, knowing that I get to spend this lifetime with my beautiful husband.  Man, what a blessing!

Our 20-month long engagement was so much fun!  Yes, FUN!  Despite all the stressful/anxious/mind-numbing moments, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to indulge in all things pretty and that I did!  Thank you all so much for the infinite love vibes during my wedding planning days - you've all added something extra special to this gal's journey down the aisle.

In the spirit of reciprocity, I hope that my bio is just as inspiring as all the ones that sparked my imagination!

★ If you use any photos, please credit me and/or JAG Photography - Thanks a bunch!  ★

Much love and light,

- Santosha (aka Mica) 

"ONE LOVELY DAY", INDEED!

I'm truly touched and honoured that our wedding was featured on PW's own "One Lovely Day" blog!  
It's such a great feeling to think that our wedding could be a source of inspiration for future brides and it makes all the crazy wedding planning and endless DIY'ing that much more worthwhile!

Much love to PW's Senior Editor, Kate Gallagher, for writing such a lovely narrative! ❤

Noir et Blush: Santosha's Boudoir-Inspired Real Wedding

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JAG PHOTOGRAPHY

Last week, our wedding photog, Jasser, emailed us to let us know he was moving to Toronto at the beginning of November.  DH and I were a bit saddened by this news only because over the past 2 years, Jasser shot our e-pics, as well as our wedding pics.  In a way, he became more intimately woven into our wedding planning than any of our other vendors!  For this reason, we love him to bits. 

Anyway, he finally blogged our wedding, but I was especially touched by what he wrote:

"Between roaring laughter and tearjerker moments, I experienced one of the most beautiful weddings I have been to. This was really an incredible experience. Thank you Marc and Mica for choosing me as your photographer."

Well, if anyone's in Toronto, you've got one helluva photographer coming your way!  ;)

http://www.jagphotography.ca/blog/
 

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SEPTEMBER 2012 ISSUE

Thank you to my Auntie who wrote this beautiful article on our wedding that was published in the September 2012 issue of Filipino Journal in Alberta, which also gets distributed in Vancouver and Toronto!  SO humbled that she took the time to write such a heartfelt narrative of what she experienced on our wedding day!

"BIO OF THE WEEK" AKA "BOTW"!

This is one of the biggest treats on here and I'm so honoured to have my bio chosen to join the ranks of all the other ridiculously gorgeous and inspiring weddings featured on Project Wedding!!  For me, getting BOTW is an extra-special soul rub because it highlights all the behind-the-scenes planning, DIY'ing and creativity that goes into creating a really special love-filled wedding day.  

I waited 36 years for this day and I have to say I have never planned anything like this!  Thank goodness for PW because this site is where I learned all about table cloth sizes, DIY-anything tricks and how to become one with the glue glun - that ferocious beast of the inferno!  LOL  Everything you see on my bio is a bi-product of the inspiration and encouragement that you get on this site - there is something truly special about planning your wedding alongside other brides who are able to provide so much knowledge and faith that everything will fall into place on the big day! 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my bio as much as I enjoyed putting it together during my wedding planning days!

Beautiful Weddings Feature

09.21.11 = MY SEXY PINK HEART!

I'm so honoured to have been chosen to be a part the Pink Heart Team and I'm hoping to bring tonnes of positive vibes, wholehearted encouragement and maybe an ounce or two of inspiration to our PW community!

If you have any questions or help with anything, I'll try my best to help you out - all you have to do is ask!  :)

"FOREVER" HAS THIS MANY DAYS...

"I'M ON THE LIST!"

It was so exciting/surreal to be able to finally say that I was on "the list'!
I posted this on June 11, 2012 - 5 days before our wedding!!
 

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THE PW "SIGN OFF"

Yet another one of PW's traditions and wedding planning milestones - the "Sign Off"!
I posted this on June 12, 2012 - 4 days before the wedding, amidst all the pre-wedding week chaos! 

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My dearest PW ladies,

I'm sitting here, enveloped by this surreal moment of signing off and my heart can't help but ache a little...the good kind of ache, though.

I stumbled upon PW in August of 2010 whilst perusing ideas for centrepieces.  Little did I know that Google would lead me to this magical land of endless wedding inspiration and infinite support from fellow brides from all over the world.  I would have never guessed what an impact this place would have on my wedding planning, my motivation, my inspiration, and most importantly, my sanity during these 20 long months of planning.

Whether you frequent the boards so much that you've earned 36 "Top Poster" badges or are one of the more shy PW brides who have planned/are planning your wedding in quiet solitude, you have all had a phenomenal impact on my journey down the aisle.

I have been humbled and inspired by the incredible support, generosity and kindness that this community of women exudes, regardless of differing points of view, styles and backgrounds.  In fact, I am certain that this coven of brides-to-be and "marrieds" yields many of the most amazing women I have ever "met".  Each and every single one of you brings a love story to this place and what an honour it has been to share but a moment of it with all of you.

In less than 4 days, I'll be marrying my beloved and what a milestone it truly is in life.  I adore all of you beautiful and glorious lady souls - far too many to name, but you all know who you are.  For any PW brides who are still amidst the planning and have yet to venture onto the boards, I encourage you to do so - you'll be amazed by how much you can accomplish with a troop of PW ladies cheering you on.  ;)

MUCH LOVE AND LIGHT,

Santosha (aka Mica)  ❤

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THE "WEDDING RECAP"

I was a bit late writing my wedding recap due to our beloved OOT guests who stayed an extra 2 weeks after our wedding, but I finally managed to squeeze in enough time to post my recap on June 30, 2012!  

❤  Santosha's Wedding Recap - Part 1  ❤

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❤  Santosha's Wedding Recap - Part 2  ❤

PUTTING ON THE 'PRETTY'

Photography: Jasser Abu-Giemi from JAG Photography 
Hair: Cristina from Ponytails and Horseshoes
Makeup: Ruth from MAC (Personal Friend)

 ★ If you use any photos, please credit me and/or JAG Photography - Thanks a bunch!  ★

BUTTONING UP THE "HANDSOME"

Photography: Jasser from JAG Photography 

A VOW AND A KISS

Photography: Jasser from JAG Photography
Venue: St. Joachim Catholic Church

 ★ If you use any photos, please credit me and/or JAG Photography - Thanks a bunch!  ★

ANGELS, PINK PEONIES AND BLACK LACE

Photography: Jasser Abu-Giemi from JAG Photography
Day-of-Coordination: Sofia from Awespiring Weddings 
Venue: The Art Gallery of Alberta
Catering: Zinc Restaurant (Art Gallery of Alberta)
Wedding Cake & Cupcakes: Crave Cupcakes 
Table Linens (Custom Order): Special Event Rentals
Escort Card Display: Elegant Touches 

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 ★ If you use any photos, please credit me and/or JAG Photography - Thanks a bunch!  ★

MY GIRLS

Photography: Jasser Abu-Giemi - JAG Photography

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 ★ If you use any photos, please credit me and/or JAG Photography - Thanks a bunch!  ★

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Formals and not-so formals!  Every time I look at these photos, I'm either smiling or laughing because I remember so clearly how awesome it was to spend this time with my girls!!!  These pictures were taken after the ceremony and before the reception, so we were all pretty relaxed by the time we had these pictures taken by our photographer!  Jasser did such an amazing, AMAZING job finding ways to make us laugh, like really laugh and it was so much fun taking photos with each of my girls!  

Jasser did formals and then asked us to do something "fun" with each other and that was exactly what we did!!  These are some of my favourite photos!

HIS BOYS

Photography: Jasser Abu-Giemi - JAG Photography 

THE MR. & MRS.

Photography: Jasser Abu-Giemi - JAG Photography 

AS THE SAYING GOES, "GOD IS IN THE DETAILS"...

Photography: Jasser Abu-Giemi - JAG Photography

 ★ If you use any photos, please credit me and/or JAG Photography - Thanks a bunch!  ★

DIY HEAVEN

Photography: Jasser from JAG Photography 
(Except for Non-Professional Photo of Escort Card Display)

FLEETING MOMENTS OF LOVE & FRIENDSHIP

One of my dearest friends, Mariusz, took these gorgeous photos of our wedding invites when he first received them - they happened to match his bottles of Lanson Champagne he had in his house!  
He also took photos of our wedding favours!

The Big Day!!!!!

Marc and his boys!!

And some of my girls!!

Random reception shots!!

These photos mean the world to me...
This is my dear friend and former M.A. program and thesis advisor, Dr. Don Carmichael and his wife, Holly.  :)   

❤

On August 14, 2011, we had our engagement pictures session with our photographer, Jasser (www.jagphotography.ca) and it was so much fun!!  Jasser managed to capture the best parts of "us" and we're so blessed to have him as our photographer and for helping make an already magical moment even more magical. 

These are our top three favourites.  
As always, please credit any photos you might borrow with our photographer's website - thanks!  :)

    

The groom has a funny accent and his name is Marc...                                                               
★  He grew up in East London, England, UK and lived there for almost his entire life.                                
★  He is a music producer who has worked with Warner Music Germany, Sony and other indie labels.
★  He LOVES F1 and MotoGP racing.  He also became an avid Oilers hockey fan after meeting his fiancée.
★  He is an amazing cook.
★  He hums when he's inspired.
★  His favourite colour is baby blue.
★  He loves taking trips to the mountains and bought his fiancée her first pair of hiking boots.
★  He loves a good bottle of wine and his favourite beer is La Fin du Monde.

The bride talks to ladybugs when nobody is around and her name is Micaela...
★  She grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
★  "Micaela" is pronounced Meeka-ella (like 2 separate words!), not Muh-kayla.  OR just call me Mica.  :)
★  She LOVES classical ballet and had a chance to study at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg,
     Russia.
★  She graduated from the University of Alberta with a BA in Political Science (International Relations) in 1999
     and an MA in Political Science (Political Philosophy) in 2004. 
★  She loves yoga and is hoping to get her certification to teach sometime after the wedding.
★  She loves to laugh to the point where she drools.
★  She loves anything and everything about the Cuban Revolution and Che Guevara.
★  She believes in angels wholeheartedly.

MY ENGAGEMENT RING

My Twinkle's name is Venus and I adore her because Marc gave her to me. 
I had no idea I was a heart-shaped diamond kind of chick, but she's perfect for me.

Venus makes me feel ridiculously special and soooo loved!!! 
She makes me feel like I have pogo-sticks for shoes...

BRIDAL SHOWER - 05.12.12

This past weekend, my Mama and my BFF/MOH hosted my Bridal Shower at my parents' house and it was absolutely amazing!!  2 days later and I'm still looking at all the pictures with a big, silly grin on my face!  It was such a wonderful and touching moment for me and the perfect remedy for a ridiculously hectic week at work! 

It was pretty overwhelming at first to know that all these lady souls had gathered to celebrate my "bride-hood" - I guess when there's that much love and excitement in the room for you, it's pretty surreal and really drives home the reality of an upcoming wedding.  It was a giagntic stress relief from all the wedding planning and a welcome reassurance that all the planning was worth doing for that one magical day!!

My Mama nailed the decor perfectly - light pink and black with feathers and lots and lots and lots of candles and music from the golden era of yesteryear - Sinatra, Martin, Armstrong and vintage Afro-Cuban melodies!  My BFF/MOH did an incredible job hosting the games with prizes to be won and just made everyone feel comfortable and welcomed into my parents' home.  My Pops was the only male party-crasher, but after being away for a 3-month vacation, I didn't mind one bit and having him there was really special!  ❤

The only thing that could've made that evening more perfect was having my Bridesmaid, Desiree, complete my lady soul crew.  Unfortunately, she lives in Mexico and won't be flying in until after the May long weekend.  She did, however, send me words of love in an e-mail that my BFF/MOH read aloud to me and I have to say, it was a bit of a tear-jerker!  That aside, it was a beautiful and love-filled evening that made me really appreciate all the amazing lady souls I have in my life.  

Estrogen is a potent thing when it comes to love and I loved every moment of it!

WEARING OUR BLUSH PINK HEARTS ON OUR BLACK LACE SLEEVES

From the get-go, I knew that our wedding colours would be black and blush pink.

I REALLY love this colour combination because it combines the intensity of our modern, edgy style with the softness of our lovey-dovey-ness.

★  Update - 05.21.11  ★
Okay, I've decided to throw in another "colour", which will be black lace, mostly in the form of lace ribbon accents throughout the tablescape and other decor.  I think the lace adds a romantic, vintage feel to overall scheme and ties in the Parisian feel that I'm going for.  Other accent patterns will be black and white striped ribbon, which I think adds to the Parisian feel.  :)

in(t)-spə-ˈrā-shən

I'm also drawing inspiration from non-wedding stuff that I really love and thought I'd throw these in as well.

Inspiration can come from anything - a song, an old photograph, a favourite painting - so why not draw inspiration from some of your favourite things as well, right?!  Right.  :)

Adrian & Banton - 1930s Hollywood Costume Designers
Life Magazine + Classic 1930s
Marie Antoinette
Pink Staircase
Ruffled Garters
Chandeliers
Rococo Chair
Pink Laduree Box"Dirtyland II" - Pencil Sketch by Brian M. Viveros
Black Lace Oufit
Mirror
Amelia Arsenic Lace Mask
Cameos
Jewel Frame
Rococo Angel
Rococo Building Facade
All Other Images

ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC CHURCH

During an online search, I came across a church that I had never seen or heard of before. 
It looked so beautiful in pictures, like an old Romanesque church with its dark, intricate woodwork and an altar that looked like a true sanctuary for prayers, that I didn't think it was even possible we could have a church like it in our city.

We're getting married at St. Joachim Catholic Church - it was built in 1899 and is gloriously old and perfect.  It's a Francophone church, but luckily they're able to hold masses in english. 
It's also our city's oldest Catholic church and here's the bonus, we even get to ring the church bells after the ceremony!  :)  

Left & Right

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INSPIRATION FOR CHURCH DECOR

St. Joachim is beautifully ornate as is, so I'm keeping the decors to a bare minimum.  I'm thinking pillar candles at each row of pews at the very most...something like this. 

Left + Right

 ★  Update - 11.29.11  ★
I just confirmed with our church that decorating the aisles with pillar candles in vases is a go!  

I just thought I'd double-check as some churches can get pretty picky about the kind of decor they allow, so I'm stoked that we're alllowed to do this!  Yay!!  :)

★  Update - 05.06.12  ★
I started working on my DIY aisle decors and here are the first five that I finished!  I actually re-used the bases from the centrepieces I made for my BFF/MOH's wedding last year, which she was kind enough to let me have.   I spray painted them a glossy black, added some black satin ribbon, black lace and a single peonie bloom.  The other half of the vases don't have the black base, but are decorated with a black satin ribbon and beautiful lace heart appliques that I'm absolutely in love with!!  

★  Update - 04.21.12  ★
Today, I finished our "Reserved" signs for the front two pews of the church!  They look a tad crooked in the photos because they're hanging on the door handle weird, but you get the picture!  ;)

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WEDDING BANDS

 I had a really hard time finding a wedding band that would match my engagement ring, so I decided to keep it simple - a single band that would balance out the split shank.   

FI's ring is a stand-in ring and it looks really good on him.  BUT I can't wait to get his custom ring done after the wedding because the one I found couldn't be more perfect for him!  

EEP!  *happy*

THE ART GALLERY OF ALBERTA

The only condition that Marc and I placed on finding our reception was this: no hotel ballrooms. 
We wanted a venue that was unique and a little bit...well, quirky!

The Art Gallery of Alberta was actually the first venue we looked at. 
My MOH was actually the one who suggested we have a peek at it and so we did. 

With its gloopy metallic contours and bold stainless steel facade, I thought it was weird-looking. 
Like a crude silver flower busting out of a giant river rock. 
As we walked up to it, I was almost certain I'd hate it. 
Marc, on the other hand, was impressed. 
BUT once we stepped into the actual lobby space and stood in the middle of it, the gloopiness of its contours became organic...and beautiful. 
The more we wandered around, the more we fell in love with it.

We booked the AGA that same day!

Our catering will be provided by Zinc Restaurant, which is actually tucked into the lobby of the AGA. 
You can't see it in the pictures, but it's a pretty snazzy fine-dining joint with amazingly yummy food. 

I managed to find some pretty cool pictures online that shows all the neat twists and turns of the ceiling and staircase in the lobby area. 

We're really hoping that our venue will add some extra magic to a really special evening!  :)

This is our reception space - Ernest C. Manning Hall and the atrium, which is essentially the whole lobby of the Art Gallery with its floor-to-ceiling windows facing our city's downtown core of Churchill Square...

All Photos From AGA Website (Exlcuding Reception Photos)
Reception Photo (Left) + Reception Photo (Right)

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ROOM SET-UP

We weren't diggin' the room set-up that our venue normally did for weddings, so when our venue coordinator said we could totally change it, we did, sooooo I geeked out on InDesign and came up with this floor plan to show our DOC and reception vendor coordinator the set-up we came up with.  :)

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LOVE SONGS

Here are the most important songs for our wedding day and why we chose them...

The Entrance Song
Bridal Party Entrance:
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Listen Here

We truly believe that our love will always, always, always triumph, no matter what life throws at us and this song reminds us of that!  It helps that we both LOVE Marvin Gaye!

Bride & Groom Entrance:
"In Between Days" by The Cure - Listen Here

This is our "happy song".  Simply that.  :) 

The First Dance
"Evangeline" by the Cocteau Twins - Listen Here

Marc and I love this song and I mean LOVE this song.  There's something so enchanting, soothing, whimsical and romantic about it.  It's the one song that always speaks to the core of us...like the most perfect love lullaby.

The Father-Daughter Dance
"You Light Up My Life" by Debbie Boone  - Listen Here

My Pops used to sing this to me all the time when I was a little girl and I used to sing it back to him.  That's the only reason I needed for picking this song. 
 

The Mother-Son Dance
"Like An Old Fashioned Waltz" by Sandy Denny - Listen Here 

This is a song that Marc's mom used to play all the time during his childhood - he's convinced she'll be 100% surprised that he even remembers this song!

The Cake-Cutting Song
"I Love The Way She Loves Me" by Jimmy Ruffin - Listen Here
 

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TABLESCAPE

Our DIY Centrepieces: Angels & Birdcages
I've picked out our centrepieces!!  Half of the tables will have the birdcage with spiral votives and the other half will have statues of angels (I adore angels)!  Both are taller centrepieces with the birdcage being 22" and the angels at 16 1/4".  I'm going to add pale pink peonies, black lace, and ivory pearls to the both centrepieces and surround them with tonnes of tealight votives.  :)

The birdcages are already bought and have been spraypainted in black.

★ Update - 04.14.12 ★
I finally had a chance to add some embellishments to our birdcage centrepieces - it took a while to figure out what to add and how to add it, but I'm bonkers-happy with how they turned out!!

★ Partial Angel Centrepiece Mock-Up: 04.14.12 ★
I started playing around with the mock-up for the Angel centrepieces and I LOVE it to pieces!!!  
I'll do a proper mock-up with the votives and rose petals soon to get a more complete visual.  :)

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TABLE LINENS

Stripes, Stripes, Stripes! 
I was going to go with black rosette linens, but kept getting pulled back to the satin stripes even though I was having a hard time finding the right ones in our city.  Luckily, our rentals vendor will be able to special order them so that they arrive in time for our wedding!  These are some photos from one of their displays at a recent bridal fair.  I can't wait to try a mock-up with one of our centrepieces!

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OUR DIY FRAMED TABLE NAMES & PLACECARDS

I've always loved Angels and believe in them wholeheartedly, which is why our guest tables are named after the different choirs of angels.  :)  There's nine levels to the hierarchy of Angels, which leaves me with one (possibly two) nameless tables that I'm going to name after my our Archangels.

★  Update - 02.19.12  ★

My Mama and I spent the evening gluing the print-outs of the table names to black cardstock to attach to the frames I bought - I absolutely LOVE how they turned out!!!  The pictures washed out the colour of the table names, but they're actually a pretty blush pink colour with black text.  They'll be propped up against the centrepieces and tied in place with a black satin ribbon.  :)

★  Update - 05.28.12  ★

I'm just about done making all of the placecards - just a few more left and I'm done!  They look ivory, but they're actually the same blush pink that matches our DIY framed table names.  :)

SUGAR RUSH

We decided to have a cupcake tower with a one-tier wedding cake on top, partly because cupcakes nowadays are so damn adorable and partly because our venue charges a "cake cutting fee" of almost $5.00/slice, which I think is utterly ridiculous.  *shaking my head*  We have hands - we can cut my own cake, thanks.  lol  Better yet, let's have cupcakes and make life a little bit easier for the both of us.  ;)

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Inspiration
I can't remember where I got these photos from!
Sooo, if either of them belong to you, let me know so I can source them properly.  :)

 ★  Update - 11.26.11  ★
Ugh. 
A word of advice ladies:
Read your venue contract over and over - you might come across something you missed. 
Apparently, our venue doesn't allow wedding cakes (and cupcakes) to be brought in by a cake vendor that doesn't have "Capital Health Certification" (i.e. a professional bakery).  In other words, my friend who was supposed to make our wedding cake as her wedding gift to us (and who also doesn't own her own professional bakery) won't be able to make our wedding cake and ditto for my cupcake-making friend.  :/  

So bummed.  Back to square one.  Wish me luck!

 ★  Update - 12.01.11  ★
We booked our wedding cake/cupcake vendor today!  *hi-5!*  

And we're going ALL pink beeeeeecause our vendor, Crave Cupcake, offers a ridiculously girly ruffled pink cake that I fell in love with yesterday!  I'm going to top it off with black flowers and maybe plunge some cute little flags in the cupcakes - maybe striped heart flags?  We'll see!  The important thing is that the cake vendor is booked!  

Here's what the "Pretty in Pink" topper cake and "Princess Chocolate" cupcakes look like...

 ★  Update - 02.28.12  ★
I ordered our cake topper today!  I had started DIY heart-shaped caketoppers, but I gave up when I couldn't figure out what to do with them after spray painting them pink.  *shrugs*   

And then I found this...

...and it totally matches our "theme"!  I added a single, large black rose to the middle since our topper cake and cupcakes are both pink.  I'll try playing around with some ribbon to see if I can add more whimsy to it, but I asbolutely love it so far!

★  Update - 04.15.12  ★
I bought our striped cupcake wrappers last week (yay!) and this weekend, I started working on our little DIY black heart cupcake toppers.  65 tiny bows later...I think they turned out super cute and should be a nice contrast against the pink icing of our cupcakes.

★ Hiya ladies! ★
★ Kindly credit me if you borrow any photos - I spent a lot of time creating these bits and bobs.  Thanks! ★

RING AND ARRAS (COIN) BOXES
I was originally going to use pillows, but came across a photo of a ring bearer box with glass sides and thought it'd make a funky alternative to the little pillows.  I still had leftover supplies from my DIY MOH/BM bouquets and DIY boutonnieres, so the boxes totally match!  I added some black lace and absolutely LOVE how they turned out!

MINI-EIFFEL TOWER
I finished my first DIY for one of the decorations for the "Playlist DJ" table, which will sit on one side of the table surrounded by votive candles.

This DIY project was inspired by one of PW's hostesses, nicoleleblanc, who not only did fantastic job on her DIY centrepieces for her gorgeous Parisian-inspired wedding, but who was also so gracious in letting me borrow one of her ideas.  Thanks again, Nikki - big love to you!!!!  :)

OUR DIY CARD BOX
Okay, I can honestly say that so far this is the one DIY projects that I'm most proud of!  I worked on this for a good part of a day (and night!) and I'm absolutely thrilled with how it turned out!  I was initially going to go with an all-black satin card box with the ivory ribbon, but I decided to break the monotony a bit and throw in a pattern that matches our overall look.  FI also suggested that I add a single blush-pink rose to tie it in with the Eiffel Tower, which turned out to be the perfect final detail! 

     

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OUR DIY FRAMES & SIGNS
Last year, Black's Photography had a huge clearance sale on their picture frames and guess what I found?  8x10 Baroque-inspired plastic frames that they were selling for...wait for it.  $2.00 each!!!  Man, do I ever love a good sale!!  2 of them were already black, but the other 5 were either a lemon-yellow or a lime-green, which I spraypainted black.  They needed quite a few coats to completely cover the yellow and green, but they turned out great!

I used the 2 to frame the "Guest Book" and "In Loving Memory" signs that I designed myself and I'll be using the others to frame pictures of FI and I!

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 COLLAGE FRAME
Okay, this next one isn't a DIY, but it was an awesome deal - $7.99 for this adorable frame at Winners!!  
This one will hold pictures of FI and I, including some of our favourite e-pics!

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OUR DIY GUEST BOOK
It took me ages to figure out what to do for our guest book, but I finally found one that I could totally personalize and make our own.  It's actually a chipboard scrapbook that I found on Etsy, but with the word "Love" it's perfect for a wedding!  

I painted it with high-gloss acrylic paint, added some wooden heart embellishments,  as well as a tassle and ribbon and ta-daaaaaaaaa!  Guest book.  I think it turned out pretty darn cute!  :)

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OUR DIY ESCORT CARDS

Thank goodness for Cricut and thank goodness for crafty bridesmaids who own their own Cricut!  My BM, Rebecca, made these awesome escort tags for me and I decorated them with ribbon and mini-skeleton keys that I spraypainted black.  The cards are black on one side, with black and white stripes on the other.

I have yet to add the names of the tables where each of the guests will be seated, but I'm loving how they look with the guests' names handwritten in white gel pen.  I can't wait to finish these off!! 

★  ★  ★

OUR DIY CORSAGES AND BOUTONNIERES

In the last week before our wedding, I realized I forgot to make the corsages and boutonnieres for our parents and Godparents, so I bought these from Afloral.com and made a few tweaks to make them look more realistic and less fussy in terms of extra foliage.  They turned out much prettier than I anticipated!

My Mama always told me that "it's all about presentation", so I decorated a black basket to hold all the corsages and boutonnieres that I made!  The blush pink rose matches the ones on our ring bearer/coin bearer boxes and our card box and of course, I added black satin ribbon for that final touch!  :)

★  ★  ★

OUR DIY "JINGLE BELLS" & BASKET

I came across the idea of using jingle bells as a "kissing game" alternative after our DOC suggested we find one if we didn't want guests smashing their glasses with their cutlery for the sake of having us indulge in a kiss!  For anyone who wants to avoid the 'clinking' sound of glasses during the reception, this turned out to be a great idea - our guests really loved using them and the jingle bells sounded so sweet!!

The jingle bells I bought were medium-sized and I tied the tops with black satin ribbon so that they could be easily picked up and held while our guests were ringing them!  It was a bit time-consuming to add the ribbon, but totally worth the cute factor after they were done!  And once again, I made a basket to hold the kingle bells that the guests helped themselves to upon their arrival at the reception venue.  Now that I think about it, I could've used this for our ceremony exit at the church!

★  ★  ★

PAPER GOODIES

Now that our invitations are all done (yay!!!), I'm working on the design of our DIY signs! 
These will either be framed or mounted on 105lb black metallic cardstock with the vintage-style trimmed corners and will be about 5"x7".  

Here's what I've done so far - I really love how they're turning out...  :)

★  ★  ★

Church Pew Signs

★  ★  ★

Guest Book Sign & Memorial Table Sign

      

★  ★  ★

Placecards for Guest Tables
These will be folded in half as tent-cards on the guest and head tables...

★  ★  ★

Labels for Memorial Candles

★  ★  ★

Print-outs For Our Table Names

I've always loved Angels and believe in them wholeheartedly, which is why our guest tables are named after the different choirs of angels.  :)  There's nine levels to the hierarchy of Angels, which leaves me with one (possibly two) nameless tables that I'm going to name after my two favourite Archangels.

These are 5"x7" and will be framed in pretty Baroque-style picture frames.

06.16.2012!

Marc and I finally got around to finalizing our Save-the-Date!  The card is blush pink on the front and black on the back.  The envelopes are metallic black as well.  I love how they turned out and added little black rhinestones to a few of the "eyes" of the peacock feathers to jazz them up even more.  :) 

The front has the usual Save-the-Date information, but the back is an excerpt from my favourite love poem, "Soneto XVII" by Pablo Neruda.

★  Update - 11.19.11  ★

Our STDs are mailed, mailed and mailed!  
I LOVED crossing this one off the list!  
Now, onto the formal invites!

OUR WEDDING INVITATION SUITE

We've finalized the design of our invitation suite and I can't wait until they arrive!!  The frontside of each card has stripes, while the backside consists of the text.  All of the cards are different sizes, so the stripes will all be the same width and the RSVP cards will have the same black metallic envelopes as our Save-the-Dates.

★  Update - 01.28.12  ★

Our invites arrived and they turned out beautifully - I can't wait to send these out next month!!!

OUR DIY WEDDING INVITATION BOXES

I've always wanted to DIY our invitations because I wanted something that was uniquely our own.  This DIY project turned out to be waaaaay more tedious and time-consuming than I thought!  I'm just glad I started them early and I'm totally harnessing the positive vibes from all the PW ladies to trudge on and finish this project.  My target date for sending out our invitations is the end of January/beginning of February.

The outside of the lid matches our Save-the-Dates and actual invitations.  
The quote is an excerpt from Sonnet LXXXII by my favourite poet, Pablo Neruda...

"Then love knew it was called love. 
And when I lifted my eyes to your name,
suddenly your heart showed me my way".  

★  Update - 02.14.12  ★
ALL ASSEMBLED, PACKAGED & MAILED OUT!!!!!

Our dear friend, Mariusz, took a photo of our invitation when he got them in the mail because they matched the two bottles of Lanson Champagne he had perfectly!!  So cool!!

BLACK PEARLS

When I first started thinking about wedding favours, I wanted to give our guests something that they'd be sure to keep.  I didn't want to see any favours left behind, which I had seen on more than one occasion at the weddings I've been to and it always seemed so inconsiderate of guests to do that considering how much work had gone into them.  My solution?  Give them something they wouldn't dare leave behind and give only 1 per couple based on the broad generalization that women are more inclined to keep wedding favours, especially trinkets they could wear.  And of course, our single guests will get one as well.  :)

I've always been fascinated by black pearls.  Equally as elegant as the white pearl, I like to think of them as "rogue" pearls - mysterious, exquisite and somewhat rebellious.  The most wonderful thing about all this is that my aunt, who is also my Godmother, decided to give these as her wedding gift to us.  I'm so touched by this gesture because it's such a generous and unexpected gift. 

I seriously can't wait to see how they turn out!

Inspiration Pendants

Black Pearl Drop & Black Pearl Heart

 ★ Update:  04.17.11 ★
Here are the final wedding favours!  My Aunt handpicked each black pearl and had them custom-mounted from one side in order to showcase the entire pearl.  In total, we have 65, which will be more than enough for our 100 guests - 1 pendant per couple and single guests.  I think they turned out beautifully and I think our guests will really love them!!  :)  Now, I just have to find the favour boxes...

★ Update:  07.14.11 ★
I found my favour boxes!  Well, kind of...I found the ones I wanted on Etsy, but for $15/box?  Nu-uh.  So, this has become one of my DIY projects and I can't wait to get started!! 

Here are the ones available on Etsy that have inspired me to take on the glue-gun challenge!  Beautiful, right?

The best thing about this DIY is that almost everything I bought to make these favour boxes was either on sale or wholesale priced, so I'm pretty stoked I was able to save some coin on this project!  Here are some of my vital supplies...the boxes and decorative goodies!

★ Update:  09.16.11 ★
The favour boxes are DONE!  *hi-5's all around!*  All I have left to do are the little gift tags that will be included in each box.  Luckily, one of my BMs owns a Cricut, so she'll be helping me with the labels.  :)

PEONIES, SATIN & FEATHERS

I had fallen in love with so many bouquets from Emici Bridal, but $1300 for a bouquet?  I think FI would lay an egg if I dropped mad money like that on one accessory.  Besides, whether it's made by Emici Bridal or not was never the point for me.  I am a staunch believer that the key to making something look elegant, regal and classic lies in the quality of the presentation and in the finer details.  
At least, that's what my Mama taught me.  ;) 

After having a go at my bridal bouquet, I decided to DIY the rest of the bouquets.  I'm making 4 in total and so far, 2 of them are done!  I love how they've turned out and I think they tie in much better with the new bouts I just finished making.  :)

★  Update - 11.24.11  ★
I finally finished the last 2 bouquets!!  One more DIY crossed off the list.  *happy bum wiggle*

*Gals, kindly credit me if you borrow any photos - I spent a lot of time creating these bouquets.  Thanks!*

★     ★     ★ 

STRIPES, A SKELETON KEY AND TWO FEATHERS

I wanted to do something non-floral for the boutonnieres, so when I came across photos of boutonnieres with feathers and skeleton keys I knew I found my inspiration!  
I've been obsessed with those ornate skeleton keys for a while - they're just so...beautiful. 

I scoured Etsy for them and finally found a seller that had a wonderful variety of skeleton keys at an awesome price.  *sigh*  I freakin' love Etsy. 

Anyway, I initially went with black satin ribbon as the "backing", but then changed it to ivory satin ribbon instead when I decided to spray paint the keys black.  (Note to self:  black on black = black.)     

★  Update - 10.30.11  ★
I scrapped the bouts I initially made and re-did them this weekend.  The more I thought about it, the more they seemed...too plain. I needed a tad bit more "edge" to them, so I decided to use some of the striped ribbon I'm  using for the girls' bouquets.

It didn't take as long to re-do them and I'm waaaaaay happier with the new ones and they toally match the MOH/BM bouquets I'm DIYing! 

HEAD-TO-TOE IN IVORY

Nope, I'm not wearing black.  Thought about it, but no.
I found her in the same way that I found love with Marc - by complete surprise.  
She was the first wedding gown I tried on and after Marc proposed, I returned to the salon a few more times to show my parents.  My Mama swooned and my Pops just nodded with a huge smile on his face. 

As of December 18, 2010, she officially became my wedding gown and I am madly in love with her!!!

She's from the Val Stefani Haute Couture line and comes with an optional ruffled bolero jacket, which I chose not to order since our wedding will be held in the middle of June and I don't think I need another reason to sweat!  ;)

Val Stefani Haute Couture

★  Update - 09.03.11  ★
I finally picked up my gown today AND I brought my camera AND I brought my veil!!!  My Mama and Pops came with me and wow, what a wonderful moment that was.  As soon as I saw her come out of her pink garment bag, I fell in love all over again - especially when I put my very own birdcage veil on!! 

Ladies, this is exactly what I want to look like on my wedding day and I feel so...happy.  :) 

As I stood there on the little podium staring at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but get a little choked up - I wasn't wearing a sample anymore, I was actually wearing my gown. 
And as much as I loved being able to bring her home, I think my favourite part of the day was seeing my Pops wrestling with the garment bag as he proudly carried it to their car. 

She's a tiny bit snug right now, so I'll definitely be bumping up the yoga vibes until she fits like a glove! 
I'm hoping that the only alterations I'll need will be to shorten the strap and the length, as well as have the bustle done.  Soooooo, here are the pics!!!! 
Don't mind some of the pics with the funny faces - I was trying to hold it together.  ;) 
Oh, and did I mention that I picked up my dress on the our 1-year anniversary for our engagement? 
Totally unintentional, but kinda cool nonetheless!

FIRST FITTING - 05.02.12

I had my official first fitting on May 2 and it went wonderfully!  It was really exciting to slip back into my dress and to know that I was one step closer to the big day!  My seamstress, Melody, is amazing and it was so wonderful to have a glimpse of what my gown would look like after the alterations!  *SO excited!!*  Melody was also my MOH/BFF's seamstress when she got married last year, so I know she'll do an amazing job!  Oh, and the bustle she's putting on my gown is freakin' amazing - it's a 7-point bustle and when it's pinned up, you can't even tell that the dress had a train to begin with!  I can't wait to go in for my last fitting!!!

I forgot my camera (again!), but my BFF mamanged to take some pics with her cell before it ran out of juice!  I know, I look so intense (LOL!), but I was actually pretty relaxed and totally happy!  ;)

SECOND & FINAL FITTING - 05.31.12

 I can't even believe that I've already had my final fitting.  It's crazy how time seems to speed up the closer we get to our wedding day!!  Okay, so back to the second and final fitting...

The verdict?  She fit like a glove.  Luckily, the alterations only consisted of shortening the length, reinforcing the snap on the shoulder strap and adding the bustle.  Melody ended up doing a 9-point bustle instead of 7 and I'm head-over-heels in love with how it looks with the train tucked away - you can't even tell it's there!  I couldn't stop hugging Melody and telling her how freakin' awesome she was for working her magic yet again!!

I LOVE MY GOWN.  I  REALLY LOVE MY GOWN.

I can't wait to see Marc's face when he sees me for the first time.  

I think it's time for me to cut off the tag, hey?  lol  ;)

BRIDAL GLAMOURIZATION

My Veil
Okay, so I've been scouring the internet for the perfect bird cage veil since last October, but I still haven't been able to find one that is an exact match for what I'm picturing in my head.  

Until I find the one that makes my eyes grow round like giant plates and my heart pitter-patter with child-like delight...

★  Update - 07.12.11  ★
I found her!!!  I found the veil after nine months of scouring the universe for her!! 
This birdcage veil is everything I was looking for and the minute I saw her, I was madly in love. 
I think I love her just as much as my gown and I can't wait to wear her on the big day!! 
The fascinator is detachable so I can find the perfect spot for it.  :) 

I love her.  ALOT. 

My Shoes
Well, it looks like I'm going to have a harder time picking the perfect pair of shoes than I did picking the perfect wedding gown!  How is that even possible?!!  I guess that's what happens when a self-proclaimed shoe junkie is actually given a reason to buy a pair as opposed to buying them on a whim!

★  Update - 12.01.11  ★
I bought my shoes on Heels.com and I freakin' adore them!!  
They're the Paris Hilton's "Destiny" heels in ivory! 

My Trinkets
All of my accessories have arrived, except for my earrings!  Thank you ebay.ca!! 

HAIR & MAKEUP TRIAL - 06.03.12

Yesterday, I had my hair and makeup trial at my friend, Cristina's salon.  Her salon is usually closed on Sundays, so it was treat to have the whole place to ourselves, complete with some yummy Mango bubbletea drinks as a treat!

Cristina did a fantastic job on my updo and she nailed the placement of the veil and fascinator!  Ruth also did an awesome job on my makeup, but after having a peek at the pictures when I got home, I think the makeup is much too light and "safe".  I definitely want a full-blown glamazon look, so I managed to find some inspiration pics that'll bump up the vixen vibes to a whole new level and I'm confident that she'll be able to nail it on the day of! 

Hair

Makeup

PEONIES, SATIN & PEARLS

Okay, I know I said that my card box DIY was my favourite project so far, but this is officially my new favourite DIY.  :)

So, I had this mish-mash of ideas in my brain and decided that if I was going to dive head-first into this DIY project that I would at least take my time with it.
Initially, I was set on having the creme anemones with the black centres in my bouquet, but then changed my mind to an all-ivory bouquet (partially because FI is so sure that I'll be wearing something black on our wedding day and I want to prove him wrong!  LOL)

Anyway, I'm incredibly happy with how it turned out and I've decided to go ahead and DIY my MOH/BM bouquets because it'll probably be easier for me to make them myself than to try and find exactly what I'm picturing in my wacky brain. 

*Gals, kindly credit me if you borrow any photos - I spent a lot of time creating this bouquet.  Thanks!*

MAKEUP

I love being a girl. 
I love hot rollers. 
I love perfume. 
I love nail polish. 
I love high heels. 
I love ruffles. 
I love lace. 
I love ribbons. 
But most of all, I LOVE make-up and wear it every day! 

I've been in love with the smokey-eyed look with nude lips for as long as I can remember, but I also love the classic look of fire-engine red lips with a softer eye.  So pretty!!

Here are my make-up inspirations for the big day (minus Kim K's fuschia lip colour)! 
I'm definitely going for a high-glam look...lush lips, subtle cheeks, sultry eyes and BIG eyelashes. 
I'm getting excited just thinking about the make-up!

HAIR
As much as I'd love to wear my hair down, I think it'll be too much with everything that's going on with my gown and accessories. 
Instead, I'm going to keep it relatively simply and clean, wearing my hair up in some kind of classic up-do.

GIRLY-GIRL VIBES

I found my rehearsal dinner dress when I wasn't even looking for it!  
AND it was 25% off during Costa Blanca's Boxing Week sale.  AND it's not black.
Even I'm surprised.  HA.

The Paris Hilton wedges are from Heels.com and my bracelet is from ebay.ca.

My niece, Elizabeth, is going to be my flower girl.  Aside from being my one and only niece, I love this pollywog like there's no tomorrow because she's super sassy and she can hold her own with her 3 older brothers.  She's so magical and amazing, which is why her flowergirl dress has to be just as pretty as mine!

This is the dress I found for Elizabeth on Etsy, except hers will be floor-length with 3 tiers instead of 2.  

I seriously can't wait to see her in it!!!

★     ★     ★ 

Flower Girl Accessories
I found this adorable headband on ebay.ca - it's going to look sooooo sweet on her!
I've also decided to have her hold an ivory mini-bouquet, instead of a flower girl basket.  
As with all the other bouquets, I'm DIY'ing Elizabeth's as well.  :)

★     ★     ★ 

My DIY Flower Girl Bouquet
It's a miniature version of mine, but less elaborate! 
Thought I'd add a pic of Elizabeth's bouquet next to mine to show the difference in size - isn't it cute?!!

FEATHERS, PEARLS & TONNES OF SASS!

So, you can probably already tell that I really, really, really L-O-V-E black.  Had to have it.  

And my recipe for style when it came to my girls?  Well, that would be 2 cups of elegance, 3 packets of sophistication, 5 1/2 tablespoons of class, 15 sprigs of sass and a pinch of va-va-va-voom!  Luckily, all of my girls gave their nods of approval to wear black dresses and crazy feather fascinators in their hair!  Yay!  :)

★  Update - 10.20.11  ★
Okay, I totally cheated.  I've changed the dresses AGAIN, but this time I am 5000% sure about my choices!! So, how do I know I won't changed my mind again?  Because this time, I am madly in love with the dresses I picked!!!!  *pinky swear*  :)

★  Update - 12.14.11  ★
My BFF and I ordered the dresses today!!!  SO excited!!

★  Update - 03.15.12  ★
The dresses are here!!!  And they're absolutely beautiful and I swear, the pictures do not do them justice!  I tried on one of my BM's gowns to see how the fabric fell and I'm so happy with the way the dress looks.  Mind you, my BM, Eileen, is tad smaller than me, but you get the overall picture.
I LOVE them.  :) 

Matron-of-Honour Dress
Jim Hjelm Style #5935 in Black Tissue Taffeta

Bridesmaids Dresses
Jim Hjelm Style #5887 in Black Matte Taffeta

★     ★     ★ 

INSPIRATION FOR THE GIRLS' MAKE-UP & HAIR

The girls will more or less reflect the same style of hair and makeup that I'm going for, but slightly different.  I want them to look regal, elegant and 100% editorial!  Here's the inspiration I found for their hair and makeup...

★     ★     ★ 

Feather Fascinators

★  Update - 05.21.11  ★
I bought the girls' fascinators this weekend!!!  I've always wanted to find ones that were classy, regal and bit "couture" without the crazy factor - "Wow!" instead of "What the heck is that??" 

I picked different pieces for each of my girls - ones that I think reflect their different personalities.  Of course, my MOH, Liza, had to have the largest and most flamboyant piece!  It looks amazing on her!! 

All of these fascinators, except for Eileen's, are attached to headbands.  I'm going to turn hers into a headband as well so that she matches the other girls.  I'm so excited and the best thing is that they're all really excited too!!  :)

        

★     ★     ★ 

Shoes + Accessories

The girls are choosing their own shoes.  I requested that they be black, satin and open-toed, just like these pretty Luichiny heels from Heels.com!  All of the girls, except one have already bought their heels!  They've been so awesome with getting things done.  :)

★  Update - 12.28.11  ★
And here are the girls' bracelets and earrings I bought for them from ebay.ca!

WHAT THE HECK IS A "PRINCE EDWARD" SUIT?

Marc told me what kind suit he wanted to wear even before I had a chance to ask. 
He was adamant about wearing a "Prince Edward" suit and specifically, one with a brocade fabric jacket. 
I was stoked that he had absolutely no qualms about wearing a suit, but finding this specific style has been a bit tricky.  None of the regular tuxedo/suit rental places even knew what a Prince Edward suit was, let alone have one with a brocade fabric jacket. 

Apparently, the Prince Edward is a really old school military-inspired cut made popular by King Edward VII. 
In other words, it's a totally English thing.

Anyway, we finally stumbled upon a men's formal wear shop that had suits similar to the Prince Edward, so Marc was pretty happy about the find!  Still no brocade in sight, but that's okay.  :) 

This is the type of suit that Marc and the guys will be wearing - I think the boys are going to look amazing.

Source

★  Update - 03.10.12  ★
FI finally found the perfect suit for himself and his GMs!!  And even though I'm obviously biased, I have to say that the bugger looked absolutely handsome and debonair when he tried it on this past weekend!!  I seriously can't wait to see him for the first time on our wedding day!!  *cue emo sigh*  lol

Marc's tie and vest are both ivory with a very subtle paisley pattern on the tie.  His GMs are wearing the exact same suit, but with a light grey tie and suit (their ties also have a subtle paisley pattern).  I really didn't want to have the GMs in blush pink, so I'm glad we were able to find an awesome alternative!  :)

MORE BLACK PEARLS!

During her trip to Asia, my mama found the gifts for my Matron of Honour, Bridesmaids and our Godparents.  She did a fantastic job finding these gifts, which match our wedding favours!  She also managed to find beautiful black Thai silk gift boxes with satin ivory lining.  Mad props to my mama for these awesome finds!  :)

We still have to find gifts for the rest of our wedding party, but I think we're off to a great start!

Gifts for Matron of Honour and Bridesmaids:  Black Pearl Bracelets

Gifts for Godparents:  Black Pearl Necklace and Bracelet

Prologue:  YES.  I'm a gigantic, hyper-organized wedding planning nerd.

★ UPDATED:  06.14.12 ★

Booked Vendors
✔  Day of Wedding Coordinator - Aweinspiring Weddings and Design
✔  Ceremony - St. Joachim Catholic Church
✔  Music for Ceremony - Family Friend
✔  Reception Venue (Including AV Rentals) - Art Gallery of Alberta
✔  Caterer - Zinc Restaurant (Art Gallery of Alberta)
✔  Photographer - JAG Photography
✔  Wedding Gown - Val Stefani Haute Couture
✔  Groom & Groomsmen Attire - Derk's Formal Wear
✔  Bridal Party Dresses (Jim Hjelm)
✔  Flower girl Dress (Etsy)
✔  Bridal Party Hair - Ponytails + Horseshoes (Cristina)
✔  Bridal Party Makeup - Personal Friend
✔  Ring Bearer & Coin Bearer Attire - Family Friend
✔  Wedding Favours - Wedding Gift from Godmother
✔  Wedding Cake & Cupcakes - Crave Cupcakes (Booked 12.01.11)
✔  Escort Card Display - Elegant Touches
✔  Table Linens - Special Event Rentals

Do-It-Yourself Projects To Be Completed
✔  Card Box
✔  Memorial Frames
✔  Favour Boxes
✔  Bridal Bouquet
✔  Save-the-Dates 
✔  Boutonnieres
✔  MOH & BM Bouquets
✔  Centrepieces (5 Birdcage Centrepieces Ordered 11.20.11; Delivered 11.30.11)
✔  Wedding Invitation Boxes (Target Date Mid-January; Completed 01.02.12)
✔  Finalize Design of Wedding Invitations (Target Date: Mid-January; Completed 01.14.12)
✔  Assemble Wedding Invitations (Target Date: End-January; Completed 01.29.12)  
✔  FG Bouquet & Ring/Coin Bearer Boxes
✔  Design Signs for Church Pews, Guest Book Table, Memorial Table & Candle Labels, Placecards 
✔  Framed Table Names
✔  Centrepieces (6 Angel Centrepieces Ordered 02.29.12; Delivered 03.07.12)
✔  Cupcake Topper Picks 
✔  Detail/Paint Guest Book
✔  "Reserved" Signs for Church Pews
✔  Church Aisle Decor
✔  Wedding Favour Tags
✔  Placecards
✔  Corsages for Godparents & MOB/FMIL
✔  Menu Belly Bands for Napkins
✔  Kissing Bells & Basket
✔  Ceremony Programs (Design Done: 05.27.12)
✔  Seating Chart   

Other Wedding To-Do-Deeee-Doooo's
✔  Purchase Veil and Fascinator
✔  Purchase MOH & BM Fascinators
✔  Purchase Wedding Favours & Gift Boxes
✔  Purchase Gifts for Godparents & Gift Boxes
✔  Purchase Gifts for Matron of Honour / Bridesmaids & Gift Boxes
✔  Purchase Wedding Invitation Boxes
✔  Engagement Photos (Taken 08.14.11)
✔  Order Save-the-Dates & Envelopes (Ordered 10.15.11)
✔  Mail Save-the-Dates (Mailed 11.19.11)
✔  Book Vacation Time at Work for Wedding (11.25.11)
✔  Purchase Bridal Shoes (Ordered 11.28.11; Delivered 12.01.11)
✔  Confirm Rehearsal Dinner Time & Dinner Space at Church (11.29.11)
✔  Purchase MOH & BM Dresses (Delivered 03.15.12)
✔  Purchase Bridal Accessories (Clutch, Bracelet & Earrings Bought)
✔  Purchase Rehearsal Dinner Dress
✔  Purchase MOH & BM Accessories (Bracelet & Earrings Bought)
✔  Menu Review #1 (01.04.12)
✔  Finalize Design & Order Invitations/Envelopes (Ordered 01.15.12; Arrived 01.26.12; Assembled 01.28.12)
✔  Purchase FG Accessories (Headband Bought 01.02.12)
✔  Register for Marriage Preparation Course in March (Register in February; Registered 01.30.12)
✔  Mail Invitations (Target Date: Beginning-Mid February)
✔  Order Cake Topper (Delivered 03.05.12)
✔  Order Guest Book (Delivered 03.20.12)
✔  Order Silk Rose Petals (Delivered 04.16.12)
✔  Buy Peonies for Reception & Ceremony (Delivered 03.12.12)
✔  Order Extra Frosted Tealights (Delivered 03.12.12)
✔  Order Laser-Cut Frames for Ceremony Signs (Delivered 03.12.12)
✔  Book Groom and GMs Suits
✔  Purchase Marc's Wedding Band (Picked up 04.16.12)
✔  Purchase My Wedding Band (Picked up 04.16.12)
✔  Order Striped Cupcake Wrappers (Delivered 04.16.12)
✔  Menu Review #2 (March); Finalize Menu (April)
✔  Buy & Decorate Cylinder Vases (24 of 24 Completed 04.29.12)
✔  Buy Groom's Gift
✔  Book Hotel Room with BFF for Night Before Wedding
✔  Buy Flower Girl Dress (05.03.12)
✔  Compile Ceremony Music (Delegated to Mama)
✔  Purchase Gifts for Best Man & Groomsmen
✔  Book Spa Time
✔  Purchase Gifts for Parents (FMIL Gift Bought)
X  Write "Love Letters" to Parents (UGH - I ran out of time for this!!!)

MOH/BM To-Do List
Purchase Gowns (Order Deadline: 12.15.11; All Payments Received on 12.13.11)

✔  Liza
✔  Rebecca
✔  Desiree
✔  Eileen 

Buy Shoes
✔  Liza
✔  Rebecca
✔  Desiree
✔  Eileen 

Tags for Wedding Favours and Escort Cards
✔  Rebecca (Cardstock Mailed 02.29.12; Received 03.08.12; Finished 04.23.12)

★   ★   ★   
Post-Wedding
✔  Thank-You Cards
✔  Finish Wedding Website for Family and Friends Abroad 

★ UPDATED:  06.15.12 ★

Important Dates & Timelines 

January
✔  Finalize and Order Invitations (mid-Month)
✔  Book Block Hotel Rooms for Out-of-Town Guests
✔  Speak With Father Felix (St. Joachim) & Father Jader (St. Matthew)
✔  Send Updated Vendor Contacts to DOC
✔  Book Bridal Suite

February
✔  Mail Invitations (Mid-February)
✔  Register for Marriage Preparation Course (For March Course)

March
✔  Ordered Remaining Angel Centrepieces (To Arrive Between March 12-20)
✔  Book Groom and Groomsmen Suits 
✔  Enriched Marriage Preparation Course (March 16-18)
✔  MOH/BM Gowns Shipped (Delivered 03.15.12)
✔  Order Marc's Wedding Band 
✔  Order My Wedding Band

April
✔  AGA - Taste Test & Payment of 50% Payment Due (Tuesday, April 3 - 5pm with Elisa)
✔  1st Fitting for Wedding Gown - Part 1 (April 7 - 11 am)
✔  Order New RSVP Cards for B-List Invitations
✔  Confirm Father Jader as Officiant
✔  2nd Interview with Father Jader - Bring Marriage Docs (April 12 - 5:30pm)
✔  Choose Readings for Ceremony
✔  Book Linens & Pay 50% Deposit (Special Event Rentals)
✔  A-List RSVP Deadline (April 16); Mail B-List Invitations (If Needed)
✔  Pick Up Wedding Bands

May
✔  Book Hotel Room with BFF for Night Before Wedding
✔  Mail Wedding Rehearsal Invites
✔  1st Fitting for Wedding Gown - Part 2 (May 2 - 6 pm)
✔  Meet with DOCs (May 7th - 7pm)
✔  Get Marriage License (Done 05.26.12) 
✔  Send Art Gallery Wine Selection & Final Room Layout (Mid-May)
✔  Finalize Ceremony Music Selection (Mama)
✔  Bridal Shower & Bachelorette Party (May 12)
✔  B-List RSVP Deadline (May 23)
✔  Design Wedding Programs & Menu Belly Bands for Napkins
✔  Wedding Gift Registry
✔  Last Fitting for Wedding Gown (May 31 - 6 pm)

June
✔  Give Father Jader Marriage License, Baptismal Certificates, Copy of Music and Ceremony Readings
✔  Hair & Make-up Trial (June 3 - 3:30 pm)
✔  Book Car or SUV Rental 
✔  Book Mountain Retreat House
✔  Print & Fold Ceremony Programs
✔  Print Menu Belly Bands for Napkins
✔  Finalize Playlist
✔  Remaining 50% Payment Due for Crave Cupcakes Order (June 16 - Delivery at 1 pm)
✔  AGA Final Head Count Due (June 11)
✔  Full Payment for Church & Officiant Due (June 16)
✔  AGA Final Payment Due (June 13)
✔  Spa Day & Pick Up Escort Card Display (June 14)
✔  Drop off Cheque for Organist
✔  Marc & GMs - Pick Up Suits/Final Alterations (June 14)
✔  Pick Up Linens from Special Event Rentals (June 14 - Open at 8:30am)
✔  Wedding Rehearsal & Dinner (June 15 - 7:30 pm)
✔  Remaining 50% Payment Due for JAG Photography (June 16)
 

Confirmed Head Count To Date (As of June 11)
Attending = 96
Available Seats = 4 

Post-Wedding
✔  Thank-You Cards
✔  Finish Wedding Website for Family and Friends Abroad