I started looking at pictures and saving them on my computer a while ago so now that I have decided to share my bio, there a lot of pictures I don't remember what were the sources.

So, if anything belongs to you, please tell me and I'll be more than happy to give you the credit you deserve!

***Credit for all the pictures goes to my amazing photographer: Tania Lemieux Photographe ***

First of all, let me say I'm sorry for my English. I'm a French Canadian and even thought I understand english very well, I'm not that good to write or speak with it. This forum will be a great place for me to practice!

So, FI and I had some friends in common. Actually, he was a friend (not a close friend, but still...) of my ex-boyfriend. So, at this time, we met each other at a party and talked a lot together. But I was with someone else. However, after I broke up with my ex, we happened to meet, by chance, in a bar. Then we started to frequent each other and the rest is history...

Actually, it's kind of more complicated than that. My FI was sort of a troublemaker when he was younger and he never seriously get involved with any girl he was dating. Actually, he never presented any girlfriend to his parents, cheated a lot on them and never got heartbroken. I was the totally the opposite. I was a really serious girl, had two serious relationship before I met him and was heartbroken and still fragile after a complicated story with my ex (the friend!!!) when we met. But, he was really honest with me so I knew what I was going for and at this time, I just wanted something smooth in which I wouldn't get involved. Ahah!

After a couple of months, it appeared really clear to me that FI was really getting involved in this relationship. Everybody around us were telling me they had never seen him so in love, serious, and that I totally changed him. I could see myself that he was really nice and that he puts a lot of efforts for this relationship to work. So I kind of let myself get involved in this too.

Six months after our first date, we went out with some friends of him and when we came back home, we were both a little drunk and started arguing about something that happened during the evening (can't remember what we were fighting about...). Then I started to cry (since I always cry when we fight!) and somehow, in the middle of all this, he said to me: "What if, to prove you that I love you more than anything in my life, I propose to you, right now!". And me, still sobbing: "Are you seriously proposing to me?". And him to answer: "Of course!" Euh....YESSSS! It may seems weird, but it was very romantic.

But, at this time, I was only 18 and he was 21. Engagement had always been really important in my family so we decided to wait until christmas (we were then november) to tell our families and were really anxious about their reactions. FI bought my ring to give it to me as a christmas present. Then, when Christmas came, we started by telling his family since we were more confident they would be happy for us...My FMIL started crying while my FFIL hugged me. Then, we went to see my parents. When I think about it, the way I announced them was sooooo funny! I was really nervous but really sure about our decision so I told them: "Mom, dad, we have something really important to tell you. Maybe you won't be happy, but our decision is taken and we won't change our mind whatever you say about it"...They totally thought I was pregnant! Ahaha. Then, we told them we got engaged and the first thing I saw was my father who got tears in his eyes and my mom who was smiling at me. I was so relieved and they totally approuved our decision.

Obviously, we couldn't get married within the next few years since we were both living at our parents house and had no money for this. Then, five year later (last summer), just after we bought and move in our first house together, I've got a big scholarship and we decided it was time to get this wedding done, before starting our own little family. So now, I'm 23 and he is 26 and we're getting married on July 14th 2012. Can't wait to be there!

Here are some of our e-pics. Such a great work from our photog, Tania Lemieux. Can't wait to have some of them on my wall!!

And we're so glad we had Zac with us this day...What a wounderful picture of him:

E-ring:

Here she is, my precious! It actually a wedding band more than a e-ring because back in time, when FI bought it, I wanted something small and that wouldn't get in the way when I was working. We decided to go with this and decided we would bought a ring with a big rock for the wedding.

Wedding band:

Here is my brand new band!!!! Can't wait to wear it!

***On wedding day***:

Let me introduce to you my three beautiful and handsome bridemaids! I truly love those girls and so far, they are amazing and such a great support for me during the planning process.

We all met the first day of highschool and hold together since this day! We are 4 BFF and I hope this will last for many years to come (I'm confident about it!). Funnily (not that much for my sisters) I didn't even consider my sisters to be my BMs (however I truly love my sisters and I'll find a way to involve them in the wedding, of course!). It was out of question that anybody else than those girls would be my BMs. Of course, they aggreded!

:::AMÉLIE:::

Amé is definitly the dynamic girl in our group! She is the one that is always organizing activities and suppers and ...! She's the one that hold us together and make sure we all keep in touch.

:::Stéphanie:::

Steph is like our mom! She the oldest one (only by 5 months!!) but she always have the words to cheer or confort us. She's a real sweetheart!

:::Audrey:::

Audrey is definitly the Princess of the group! But such a cuteeeeeeeeee princess. She is kind of naive and candid so it's always a pleasure to be around her. She's full of life and dreams. She actually is an ice skater and she's really good. She'll probably go to the 2014 (and for sure the 2018) winter olympics! I'm so proud of her!

And here they are, my amazing ladies, all together!

For our venue, we were very lucky because it's was the first place I visited but even though it was love at first sight, I doubted about it because there was no place to stay for the night. Then, I went to see 12 or 15 other places but could'nt help to think about the first one. So, I asked FI if he would like to come with me and take a look at both place I hesitated. I first bring him to an hotel which he loved. However, when he saw le "Manoir Montmorency", he told me: "Ok, forget about the hotel, we want to have our reception right here. Book it now!". But unfortunatly, it was already "pre-reserved" for our date and there was no way we could change it. Two days later, the woman who worked the place call me and said it was our, since the other couple weren't ready to sign the contract. Yay!

So first, here is the church were the ceremony will take place. Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité is an historic church in Québec. Very elegant!

And our reception will take place at "le Manoir Montmorency" which is at the top of a wonderful fall. We'll have the salon on the floor which has windows all over the room and has the view on water. Really excited about it:

***Update: 19/02/2012***

We went to our venue on Friday night since it was our degustation supper (food was deliciousssssssss!). The dinner was in the same room where we are going to have our reception. I am so thrilled with my choice. It's gonna be amazing!!!!Exacly what I had always dream of! Here are some crapy pics I took with my phone:

The view of the falls from the terrace of the room (almost making me regret not having a winter wedding...)

Until a month ago, I was totally obsessed with centerpieces! More than with the choice of my gown,hehe! I guess I thought (and I'm still thinking...) that decorations, including centerpieces, rellay influence the tone of the wedding...Anyway, here are some of my inspirations:

And here is what we ordered...(pictures doesn't show how beautiful those centerpieces are!!...There is LED light in it and too much leaves on roses but the ladies at the shop was just showing me what it could look like):

And since the tables are rectangular, we are thinking about having those centerpieces in the middle of it, with two other at the ends of the table. We were thinking about doing something with candles...may be like this:

Would it be to much????

*** Update 16.05.2012***

Here are my "low" (ok...they're not that low but stil...) DIY centerpieces. There will be one at each end of the table, with the big centerpiece (above) in the middle.

***What it looked like in reality***:

Table of honor:

Guests tables (sorry we don't see the centerpieces well):

The Bride:

There will be only red roses in my bouquet. There will also have ivroy pearls in some roses (not all) and some beargrass at the bottom of the roses (like on the second picture, but without the leaves).

Bridesmaids:

Since their dresses are going to be satin red, red flowers would have been too much. So, there will be mostly white roses with 3-4 red roses.

***What it looked like in reality***:

Inspiration:

In reality:

I changed my mind a lot about the kind of gown I wanted to wear....

Here's the first style I was pretty sure I was going to wear:

Then, I set my mind on the "mermaid" style:

And finally chose something completely different. It was the second gown I try on and I knew it was the one, even though it wasn't at all what I was going for. Funnily, instead of tearing or screaming when I tried it on, I looked at me and started being soooooooo nervous! I was telling me "It's impossible you have already found your gown after only 2...you HAVE to try more dresses". Which I did...and never felt in love with anyother one. Then, I tried it back and knew it was really mine. At the same time, a counselor came and asked me if I was taking this dress because there was another bride who was waiting to try it and it was the only sample left because the designer wasn't doing this dress anymore...OF COURSE I TAKE IT!

So from now one, she is MINE! She needs little alterations (it's a size 8 but I think a size 6 may have fit me better) that will be done in april! I only have picture of the model but I promise I'll take some when I'll go for my first fitting in May.

Update ***08.06.2012***

First and final fitting:

Just came back from my first and only fitting :)! Here are some pics. We took them before they make the final adjustment on the corset to make it tighter. Not sure about the necklace....I purchased it when I first bought my dress but I kind of feel like it too heavy for the look. I might go and look for something else during the weekend...

***The whole look on wedding day***:

I'm actually obsessed with shoes. But not anykind of shoes.....very high heels shoes! I'm a short person, 5'2'' (well not THAT short but still!) so I had always wore shoes with heels. Of course, my wedding shoes need to have high heels. Then, I went shopping for something else and I just happened to see those shoes. They were just perfect! I didn't really thought about what exact shoes I wanted for my wedding but when I saw those...I had to bought them and I was saying myself that even if I changed my mind, I needed those in my collection and I would find another occasion to wear them. Until now, those are still my first choice!

I know I don't want my hair totally down. I also want volume! I think I'll go for a low updo or something like these:

So after speaking with my wedding day hairdresser, we agreeded to do two different looks on my wedding day! Yay! At first, I'll have a low updo as planned for the ceremony and a first set of pictures. Then, he'll put my hair down for the reception and a second set of pictures :). So here are inspiration pics for the second look!

***What it lookes like on the wedding day***:

1rst look:

2nd look:

So yesterday we went shoping for my Bm's dresses. We first went to a bridal salon because we wanted to try as much styles as we could. Let me say that the counselor SUCKKKKKs! She was so rude and bring us only 2 samples and didn't want my girls to try more....WTH??? Fine...we'll command on Internet!

However, it's really funny because we were almost 100% sure that it would be a short (knee lenght) dress. But, one of the 2 samples the "crazy" counselor bring us was a floor lenght dress and my BMs loved it! It's so elegant and it fits very well the "chic ambiance" we want for our wedding. So we decided to have something long!! Here is our choice:

It's a david bridal modele. We wanted to buy it directly from DB but they don't have one of my BM's size anymore. So I guess we'll have the 3 dresses made in China to make sure it's the same fabric. Can't wait to order it! Since the vendor says it's about 1 month to produce it and send it in Canada, I think will buy one first, make sure it's alright and then command the other 2. So exciting!

***Update 06/03/2012***

We recieved one of my BM's dresse! Yay! It fits very well (actually we were really afraid it wouldn't zip since it soooo tight but it turns out that it's ok!). Just have to order the other ones!

***Update 23.06.2012****

Ok so change of plan. Back in April, we received the last two dress and they were HORRIBLE!! Seriously they didn't look at all like the first one and they weren't even finish (do not EVER buy from Afanda888 on DhGate.com)!!! So we had to find a new dress that would fit the 3 girls. I was really discouraged but as always, my BMs were fantastic and proactives so they went shopping in MTL (3h away from where we live) and found an amazing dress to wear...and bought it even though it was quite expensive for them. We received the three of them last week. Here they are:

Here is Noémie, FI's & I niece. She's 4 and adorable!

And here is what she'll be wearing. At first the flowers were white but I change them myslef to make it fits with my BM's dresses:

All handmade! Very long...but worth all this work!

Pomanders for the church:

Inspiration

What is done so far (have 3 of them done):

***Update 27.06.2012***

Table number frames:

***Update 16.05.2012***

Finished Table numbers:

Ring bearer box:

***Update 27.05.2012***

Cardbox:

***Update 27.06.2012***

Programs:

Menu:

BMs & I bouquets holders for the reception:

Seating chart:

Various signs:

 (Trad: Do not enter...My dress is breathing)

Hangers for BMs and I:

Getting ready vest:

Groomsmen:

- A personnalized flask with their name and the wedding date

- What they need to do their favorite drink (ex: a bottle of rhum & a bottle of coke)

- Cuban Cigares

- Red socks

Bridesmaids:

- Paying for their hairs and makeup the day of the wedding

- A tote with this in it:

- Pearls necklace and earings

- BM's survival kit (mints, gums, bobbypins, kleenex, tide to go, sewing kit, etc...)

- A small champagn bottle

- DIY hanger with their name

- DIY BM's top

- Manicure kit

-Personnalized letter for each one

***Forgot to take a picture of the whole package, but here are some items***

For our parents:

- Personnalized letter from me to my parents and from DH to his

- A stay with a nice hotel, with full access to all accomodations (bike, spas, lake, kayac, etc.)and a 5 courses meal.

For the kids attending:

- Bags withs treads (crowns, color books, pencils, lite sticks, magician kit, playcards, dolls, etc.)

Religious Ceremony:

Groom, groomsmens & parents entrance: Allegro Concertino - Küchler

Bride procession: Canon in D - Pachelbel

First kiss: Liebeslied - Kreisler

Communion: Arioso - Bach

Registers's signing: To love you more - Celine Dion (only musical)

First walk as husband & Wife: Ode to Joy - Bethoveen

Reception:

Bride & groom entrance: To love you more - Celine Dion (original version)

Father-daugther/ Mother-son dance: What a wonderful world - Katie Melua & Eva Cassidy

First dance: Can't help falling in love - Andrea Boccelli & Katharina McPhee

Bouquet toss: None since it was outside

Garter toss: Take me out to the ball game (since DH is a huge baseball player)

Last dance: Wish you were here - Pink Floyd

I was just reading about a post earlier and it made me think about the fact I didn't post my "Save the Date"! So here they are! Obviously, they are in French....!

I can't wait to fly on our honeymoon! The original plan was for FI and I to choose a Sun Destination (Jamaïca, Cuba, Mexico, etc.) and to spend the first week in a very luxurious resort. Then we were supposed to change resort for the second week and invite all our family members and friends who'd like to come and celebrate with us.

We kind of stick to this plan, but right before we booked it, FI's bestfriend asked him if it would make him angry if he asked his girlfriend to marry him and if they celebrated their wedding on the second week of our honeymoon...on the beach where we would be! We were so trilled by this new! What a great opportunity since we have a lot of common friends that were already supposed to join us for this week. So we aggreeded and I let his girlfriend (which is actually one of my friend!) chose the destination since it seems the best thing to do because I wanted her to have her perfect wedding too.

So, we're going in Mexico and we're spending the first week (FI and I alone) at Secret Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun Resort:

Then, we're moving to Gran Caribe Real for the second week, where we're gonna meet all our friends, families, and FI's BF's families either! At this moment, the count is 80 persons...and there are more to come...It will be soooo fun!:

I had the best time ever at my Bachelorette. My BMs (best friends) did an amazing job in planning it and it couldn't be more perfect than what it was for me. We first start the day at Steph's condo, then we had lunch at restaurant, receive texts from "gossip girl" and had to find where to pick up people who where coming to the party (crazy places lol), had drinks and played games in a hotel room, had a sushi dinner, had an erotic selling demonstration and then went clubbing! Best day ever (...well until the wedding!!). Here are some pics of the day:

Let me start by telling you again how much our wedding day was AMAZING! It's seriously the best day of our life and when DH and I think about it, there's nothing that went wrong! We planned this event for two years and we had a lot of time to make expectations about it but everything was way beyond ours! So, without further delay, here is how it went:

Friday:

I had a lot to do during the day so I was very busy until 3:00 p.m. time at which I picked up Steph (BM) to go at my parents where we spent the night with Amé & Audrey (BMs). When we arrived, my oncle frome Texas was there with his childs swimming in my parents' pool so we sat there for a couple of hours, chatting and having wine with them. Amé & Audrey finally arrived and we headed to "Le Soba" which is a nice restaurant where we had dinner just the four of us. It was so great to have a quiet time with my BMs to relax and be excited for what was coming the following day. At 8:30pm, we went back at my parents and I gave them theirs gifts and jewelery. After, we started watching the movie "Bridesmaid". OMG!! That was hilarious..especially when you watch it the day before your own wedding with your own BMs. At 12:30 am we stopped it and went to bed. We all slept like babies until the alarm the next morning.

Saturday:

At 7:00 am, I woke up with the alarm. I was so calm and so happy to finally be on my wedding day! I looked outside and there was the most amazing sun and blue sky (seriously, last saturday was one of the most beautiful summer day in Qc!!). We took our time and stayed in bed for 1h, chatting like when we were in highschool and even watching a bit more of the BM movie. Then we had breakfeast on my parents' terrasse and it was the perfect way to start the day.

At 9:00 am, Marcus (hairdresser) arrived and after a quick coffee, started doing hair while Catherine (MUA & friend...the one with the black cam on the picture) was doing makeup with some Celine Dion songs in the background (I'm a serious fan!). The ambiance was perfect! Everything went smoothly and everybody was calm even though really excited. My parents keep telling me how much fun they had while the "getting ready time" and how they are happy we decided to do this at their place. I think it will be one of their favorite part of the day.

Then somewhere during the morning my photog arrived and started taking pictures of us getting ready. Then at 12:00, everybody hair were done so we ate something while the photog was heading to DH's parents to take pictures of the guys. We wait until she came back (watching the end of the movie, ahahah!) to do my makeup and put my dress on.

Then my dad who hadn't see my dress at all had a 1rst look. We both started crying when he saw me. One of my favorite moment of the day!

In no time, the limo was there and just before we left for the church, I read the letter DH wrote me for our "wedding day". It is at this exact moment that I realized I was really getting married and started feeling a bit anxious.

When the limo entered the parking lot of the church, people went inside. It was so fun because 3 of DH's friend had a tailgate with hot dogs in the parking lot. Ahah! Then, just before I headed out from the limo, I saw DH for the first time at the back of the church and totally lost it! He was so beautiful! I couldn't wait to be his wife!

And before I knew it, I was walking down the aisle with my dad, searching for DH. When I saw him, all my nervosity disapeared and I was just soooooooo happy. The ceremony was perfect. The priest was a close friend of our family so it was really personnalized and the musicians were so good! My grandpa did a reading and it was really touching. I don't have pictures of the ceremony yet because there was only the photog who was allowed to take some.

After the congratulations, we headed to "Le manoir Montmorency" for our reception. We were welcome by the Maître d'Hotel and our DJ who guided us to our room. I was the first one to entered and Ohhhhhh! This was amazing!!!!!!!! My vision finally becoming reality and Gosh! It was even more beautiful than what I had envisionned! I trully hope someone had the chance to take a picture of the room before everybody get their seat to show you what it looked like! And all this thanks to your advices and encouragements, PW ladies!

We had cocktail with the guests, took pictures with our photog, Marcus did my second hairdressing, we made our entrance as newlyweds and had dinner. The food was exquisite and the DJ did such a great job of entertainment.

There was beautiful, funny and touching speeches. More pictures. More fun. Then there were more people (everybody we invited only for the evening came!) and we did the daughter/father & mother/son dance, followed by our first dance. It was magical!

Then we danced until our feets hurts and we finished the evening at 2:00am. The rest of the night is only between DH & I ;).

We finished this festivities the morning after by a brunch with our close friends and family:

So all in all...it was a day full of love, magic and happiness. My head is full of memories and even though I wouldn't chage a thing of this day, I wish I could live it again & again & again. The look in the eyes of DH when he was looking at me during the evening...humph...it makes my heart melt each time I think about it! Now, I just can't wait to leave for our honeymoon this saturday anb spend some quality time with DH!!!

Here is Zac, our little baby dog...! Alright...he is not that much a baby anymore since he is now one-year old. He's a black lab, really sweet and with a lot of affection to give. We love him so much. Can't wait to get him a sister or a brother!