Yes, we are woefully behind on updating this blog with honeymoon posts. Don't worry -- we've got plenty to show you and tell you about. We'll get to it... soon-ish.
In the meantime, we have a link to the online photobooth gallery. Whee! It's only available for 80 more days, so if you came to the wedding and you'd like to see it, email one or both of us (either at our personal email addresses or the one listed in the sidebar here --->) and we'll send you the link and the password.
It's worth shooting us a note -- they're great.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Montreal treats
When we checked in to our hotel in Montreal, I suggested to Bill that we start "dropping the H bomb." Of course, he knew just what I meant -- not "Hydrogen," but "Honeymoon" -- and we did just that.
It paid off when the staff dropped chocolate covered strawberries off at our room later (as well as a card that apparently said "Best Warshes" -- ooookay.)
Mmmm!
Today we went to find the delicacy everyone recommends in Montreal: Poutine. (For non-Canadians, that's fries with gravy and cheese curds on top. Really. Read more about it here.)
We have never had poutine before and we looked online for the best in Montreal. There are many favorites, but the one that caught our interest is called Frites Alors! -- mostly because the name is funny.
It was really good. Even, surprisingly, to me.
Not sure I'd eat it all the time, but it was certainly a tasty treat. Also, a great way to kick off my claim that I am going to eat my way across Canada!
-kelly
It paid off when the staff dropped chocolate covered strawberries off at our room later (as well as a card that apparently said "Best Warshes" -- ooookay.)
Mmmm!
Today we went to find the delicacy everyone recommends in Montreal: Poutine. (For non-Canadians, that's fries with gravy and cheese curds on top. Really. Read more about it here.)
We have never had poutine before and we looked online for the best in Montreal. There are many favorites, but the one that caught our interest is called Frites Alors! -- mostly because the name is funny.
It was really good. Even, surprisingly, to me.
Not sure I'd eat it all the time, but it was certainly a tasty treat. Also, a great way to kick off my claim that I am going to eat my way across Canada!
-kelly
Sunday, July 19, 2009
YAY! We are MARRIED!
Everyone probably says this about their own wedding, but... that was the Best. Wedding. Ever.
We had such a great time at our wedding! The Hockey Hall of Fame was fantastic, the food was amazing, everything went perfectly... but the key ingredient was all of our friends and family joining us and the love we felt.
Thank you so much to everyone who attended and also to everyone who was there in spirit -- we felt you there too.
We are on a train right now to Montreal (isn't the Internet amazing?) and we are going to do our best to blog along the way as we honeymoon. We'll be in Montreal until Tuesday, then it's off to Calgary. Stay tuned!
We had such a great time at our wedding! The Hockey Hall of Fame was fantastic, the food was amazing, everything went perfectly... but the key ingredient was all of our friends and family joining us and the love we felt.
Thank you so much to everyone who attended and also to everyone who was there in spirit -- we felt you there too.
We are on a train right now to Montreal (isn't the Internet amazing?) and we are going to do our best to blog along the way as we honeymoon. We'll be in Montreal until Tuesday, then it's off to Calgary. Stay tuned!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Live from Toronto!
We arrived last night in Toronto. Whee! We haven't done too much exploring yet, but so far the area downtown near the Hockey Hall of Fame is looking pretty clean -- there is some garbage around and the bins are all full, but it's not too bad. It's mostly noticeable that you see any garbage on the street at all here because usually Toronto is just the cleanest city.
Today, we are off to run errands -- grab some last minute items that we did not want to drag from home. Also, get the dress pressed and, um... maybe do some last minute crafting (that's Bill, of course.)
We'll be married in 5 days! Super exciting!
Today, we are off to run errands -- grab some last minute items that we did not want to drag from home. Also, get the dress pressed and, um... maybe do some last minute crafting (that's Bill, of course.)
We'll be married in 5 days! Super exciting!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Oh, garbage.
As you may have heard, Toronto is experiencing a city workers' strike right now. This means no garbage pickup. Whee.
According to our officiant, the city is doing a good job of keeping the downtown area clean (right where we will be getting married), but as they are now passing the two week mark, I'm sure things will get worse.
I have read several articles about this and it sounds like some of the popular shopping/touristy destinations are suffering some garbage pileup (the Distillery district, Queen Street West, etc.) Businesses are open, but if the strike continues, we will not be seeing Toronto at its finest.
The strike story apparently "tops of the list of travel warnings" this week, but I think the most important part of that article comes at the end: "Going to Toronto? There's a garbage strike, so you might see signs of uncollected garbage, a smell in the air in certain neighbourhoods. Not a big deal, just a simple awareness.''
In the Lemons-into-lemonade category: if you haven't yet booked a hotel (or you are not locked into your rate), this may be a good opportunity to get a deal.
In addition to the garbage pickup issue, parks and recreation services are currently suspended, as well as ferry service. So if your vacation included those things, it may be time to reconsider your plans.
They're supposed to be negotiating again tomorrow (Wednesday), so fingers crossed this will all be behind us in 11 days!
According to our officiant, the city is doing a good job of keeping the downtown area clean (right where we will be getting married), but as they are now passing the two week mark, I'm sure things will get worse.
I have read several articles about this and it sounds like some of the popular shopping/touristy destinations are suffering some garbage pileup (the Distillery district, Queen Street West, etc.) Businesses are open, but if the strike continues, we will not be seeing Toronto at its finest.
The strike story apparently "tops of the list of travel warnings" this week, but I think the most important part of that article comes at the end: "Going to Toronto? There's a garbage strike, so you might see signs of uncollected garbage, a smell in the air in certain neighbourhoods. Not a big deal, just a simple awareness.''
In the Lemons-into-lemonade category: if you haven't yet booked a hotel (or you are not locked into your rate), this may be a good opportunity to get a deal.
In addition to the garbage pickup issue, parks and recreation services are currently suspended, as well as ferry service. So if your vacation included those things, it may be time to reconsider your plans.
They're supposed to be negotiating again tomorrow (Wednesday), so fingers crossed this will all be behind us in 11 days!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
No -- it's not formal
We never realized that having a 7pm wedding automatically made it "formal." Oops. The only reason we are having it that late is because we cannot have it at the Hockey Hall of Fame until they close at 6pm. They need an hour to get set up and then we descend upon the place.
If you would like to dress formally, you may. But if you don't want to, that's fine by us. And if you want to wear a hockey jersey, then YAY!
So come as you are. We love you wearing whatever you want to wear. Seriously.
If you would like to dress formally, you may. But if you don't want to, that's fine by us. And if you want to wear a hockey jersey, then YAY!
So come as you are. We love you wearing whatever you want to wear. Seriously.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
French Fry Bar!
After my last post about my seamstress trying to kill me, I want to focus on something positive and happy:
FRENCH FRY BAR!!
We will have several food stations at our wedding, but the one I am looking forward to most of all is the French Fry Bar. We will have both Yukon gold and sweet potato fries (they are so good -- I took that photo at our tasting), plus all kinds of dippin' sauces: American ketchup, vinegar, fancy aiolis, and something else I cannot recall because my mouth is watering and making my brain not work.
Don't worry -- there will be "real" food there, as well. Would you like to hear about the menu? Of course you would!
Immediately following the ceremony, Bill and I run out for photos and you all get to enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres:
- Tiger Shrimp with cocktail sauce
- Caprese Skewers with tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil
- Potato Skins with bacon, cheese, and chives (we requested potato skins and they sort of "reinvented" them -- they're gooood)
- Bacon wrapped scallops
- Roasted lamb chops (I love lamb chops -- I wish Americans ate more lamb)
Just look at this beautiful lamb chop:
Don't get too full on appetizers, because then we move on to the food stations...
Carving station
Certified Angus Beef sliced in front of you and served onto onion dinner rolls with condiments (caramelized onion aioli, horseradish, and prepared mustard) accompanied with mixed vegetable slaw.
Here's a photo of them before you pile a bunch of stuff on top:
Pasta Station
Spinach & ricotta cannelloni served with hearts of romaine salad with caesar horseradish dressing, focaccia croutons, and grated parmesan. Accompanied by assorted dinner rolls, whipped butter, and extra virgin olive oil. (Even though we are big carnivores, a few guests will be happy to know that these are vegetarian.)
I don't even like spinach and I thought this was delicious:
Tex-Mex: Build your own fajitas
Cajun chicken with sautéed mixed peppers and red onions cooked in front of you and served on soft flour tortillas, accompanied with condiments of guacamole, sour cream, black bean puree, shredded lettuce, and cheddar cheese. (This one is also vegetarian friendly, if you don't get the chicken.)
and, as I mentioned before...
French Fry Bar (!!!)
Yukon gold and sweet potato frites, served in small takeout boxes with assorted condiments: roasted red pepper mayo, basil aioli, rosemary aioli, American ketchup, and vinegar.
If can't find the bride, be sure to check the french fry bar!
-kelly
FRENCH FRY BAR!!
We will have several food stations at our wedding, but the one I am looking forward to most of all is the French Fry Bar. We will have both Yukon gold and sweet potato fries (they are so good -- I took that photo at our tasting), plus all kinds of dippin' sauces: American ketchup, vinegar, fancy aiolis, and something else I cannot recall because my mouth is watering and making my brain not work.
Don't worry -- there will be "real" food there, as well. Would you like to hear about the menu? Of course you would!
Immediately following the ceremony, Bill and I run out for photos and you all get to enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres:
- Tiger Shrimp with cocktail sauce
- Caprese Skewers with tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil
- Potato Skins with bacon, cheese, and chives (we requested potato skins and they sort of "reinvented" them -- they're gooood)
- Bacon wrapped scallops
- Roasted lamb chops (I love lamb chops -- I wish Americans ate more lamb)
Just look at this beautiful lamb chop:
Don't get too full on appetizers, because then we move on to the food stations...
Carving station
Certified Angus Beef sliced in front of you and served onto onion dinner rolls with condiments (caramelized onion aioli, horseradish, and prepared mustard) accompanied with mixed vegetable slaw.
Here's a photo of them before you pile a bunch of stuff on top:
Pasta Station
Spinach & ricotta cannelloni served with hearts of romaine salad with caesar horseradish dressing, focaccia croutons, and grated parmesan. Accompanied by assorted dinner rolls, whipped butter, and extra virgin olive oil. (Even though we are big carnivores, a few guests will be happy to know that these are vegetarian.)
I don't even like spinach and I thought this was delicious:
Tex-Mex: Build your own fajitas
Cajun chicken with sautéed mixed peppers and red onions cooked in front of you and served on soft flour tortillas, accompanied with condiments of guacamole, sour cream, black bean puree, shredded lettuce, and cheddar cheese. (This one is also vegetarian friendly, if you don't get the chicken.)
and, as I mentioned before...
French Fry Bar (!!!)
Yukon gold and sweet potato frites, served in small takeout boxes with assorted condiments: roasted red pepper mayo, basil aioli, rosemary aioli, American ketchup, and vinegar.
If can't find the bride, be sure to check the french fry bar!
-kelly
Is my seamstress trying to kill me?
For the most part, I think I have been a pretty calm bride. Honestly, we have been so distracted for the past few months taking care of Kaesea (details on that here) that the wedding planning has sort of been happening in the background.
But I now understand why perfectly normal women become "Bridezilla" -- and, you know, it's not always their fault. For instance, my seamstress is trying to give me a heart attack. My last fitting was supposed to be yesterday, but she had to postpone it until today. Fine, fine. Sure. Today. A week before I leave. Okay. No problem.
When I got there today, the dress was still not done and the shrug (yes, for anyone wondering, I abandoned one of my early plans of knitting my own shrug. I tried a few times, but it just didn't work out -- it looked awful) is giving her trouble. The fabric is not behaving correctly. She just showed me this today and said, "So, do you have a backup fabric?"
I looked at her and said that no, I didn't have a backup fabric (thinking: Why couldn't you have told me I should be looking for a backup fabric when you saw this coming... like, before I came in today) and she said, "Well, I'm pretty sure I can make it work..." So I tried it on and it was too big, so she put pins in it to take it in, but the question still remains: Is it going to work? And, more importantly: Will I find out if it's going to work more than one day before I'm leaving for my wedding?
So I said, "When can I come back for another fitting?" and she suggested Thursday. I am leaving Sunday. I said, "That seems like it's cutting it a little close..." so we made it Wednesday.
As a person who works well under pressure, I do understand that maybe that is how she works as well. But as a bride who is trying to get everything finished before I leave, I wish I felt more confident about the state of my dress and my shrug. Whee!
-kelly
But I now understand why perfectly normal women become "Bridezilla" -- and, you know, it's not always their fault. For instance, my seamstress is trying to give me a heart attack. My last fitting was supposed to be yesterday, but she had to postpone it until today. Fine, fine. Sure. Today. A week before I leave. Okay. No problem.
When I got there today, the dress was still not done and the shrug (yes, for anyone wondering, I abandoned one of my early plans of knitting my own shrug. I tried a few times, but it just didn't work out -- it looked awful) is giving her trouble. The fabric is not behaving correctly. She just showed me this today and said, "So, do you have a backup fabric?"
I looked at her and said that no, I didn't have a backup fabric (thinking: Why couldn't you have told me I should be looking for a backup fabric when you saw this coming... like, before I came in today) and she said, "Well, I'm pretty sure I can make it work..." So I tried it on and it was too big, so she put pins in it to take it in, but the question still remains: Is it going to work? And, more importantly: Will I find out if it's going to work more than one day before I'm leaving for my wedding?
So I said, "When can I come back for another fitting?" and she suggested Thursday. I am leaving Sunday. I said, "That seems like it's cutting it a little close..." so we made it Wednesday.
As a person who works well under pressure, I do understand that maybe that is how she works as well. But as a bride who is trying to get everything finished before I leave, I wish I felt more confident about the state of my dress and my shrug. Whee!
-kelly
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