Planning a Destination Wedding...

When my fiance and I started planning our destination wedding in 2011, the amount of support and 'Oh yes we will be there' responses was somewhat overwhelming. 

Had we have known that 90% of those people would end up pulling out after our plans were contracted, I think our wedding would have been a completely different affair - it's safe to say that we possibly would have just eloped - and told people if they wanted to be there that we'd give them the information.

We know it is damned expensive to take a trip overseas. We know all too well.  We did not expect any of our friends or family to go into great debt to come to our wedding - which is why we gave pretty much two years notice with our save the dates, had a very detailed wedding website with options for all budgets and we both vowed that whoever came across to Canada to celebrate our special day, would be well taken care of. 

It is extremely discouraging that as our date gets closer - as contracts are paid for etc, that more and more people who were solidified in the beginning, are now not attending. When you have things like a minimum spend of $4000 on food and beverage at your reception venue, and it only looks like you're going to have a very small number of attendees - it can be somewhat frustrating, to the point of why are we even bothering?

We're bothering because we want to get married in this place. We both love it. We are super excited that we even have the numbers coming along that we do - it's just, had we have known so many people were going to pull out - we would have made other arrangements I think.

Healthy Changes

I wouldn't normally blog about this sort of thing, but in the last week I have rapidly changed my eating habits.

My body is somewhat in shock right now. 

Prompted by the fact that I'm getting married in twelve months time, I decided that I wanted to look as best I could in my gorgeous vintage wedding dress, that is strapless.

I don't need to lose weight, I just need to get healthy and eliminate unnecessary sugars from my diet.

So, that being said... I have eliminated a lot of starchy carbohydrates from my diet and replacing them with lean proteins and lots and lots of greens. Although, I have to say, I am getting incredibly bored already.

If you have some nice recipes that fit the above description - feel free to send them my way. 

Yesterday I wanted nothing more than to go to Red Rooster and grab a quarter chicken and chips. I walked out of there with a quarter chicken, salad, and a water.  Pretty big deal for me. 

Have also cut out Coca Cola, and have replaced with the occasional Coke Zero. Although truth be told, I'd rather drink water than Coke Zero... it tastes like crap.

New Year. 2013. What's in store?

Haven't blogged since Mid December. Doesn't mean that I've been sitting around doing nothing. Quite the opposite! Christmas and New Year was a flutter activity, and I'm now back at work.

Very excited to take on a new role in 2013 (because I haven't got enough on my plate, I thought I'd challenge myself further!!).

I'm very excited to write that I have been appointed features editor for the amazing Moviehole.Net - one of Australia's longest running, and most popular, movie and entertainment websites. This role is going to be exciting, and challenging. I've already been assigned an article that I've been working hard on. A topic that is very well known by me personally, so it is going to be possibly the toughest assignment of my life (being that I will be the most critical). That being said, I am thrilled to be working for someone that I am so thankful I can call a friend. CM. He is one who truly strives to take any situation to the next level. He is someone that I draw a lot of inspiration from, and I am excited to see what this role has in store for me.

In other news, we spent a week at Tamborine Mountain, camping with some of our friends and getting out of our heads to ring in the new year. I took a lot of photos, including our friends saddling up and going on a horse ride. I am yet to have a chance to even look at them on my computer, but I will put some of those up soon.

My sister and her fiance are here until the end of the month. We have their engagement party this weekend! I am thrilled to be asked to be her maid of honour.

'Limited Edition' Wristbands for SA-YES are still coming... although they seem to be somewhat held up by a customs issue. Dealing with that. Hoping to have information for everyone shortly about that.

The wedding planning is still coming along. Official invites will be put into photoshop and printed within the month. Must start bringing things forward that I have had on the backburner for some time.

I hope to attend many more Buddhist classes throughout the year.

And finally, really hoping that 20th Century Fox greenlight X-Files 3 sometime soon.

Dreams do come true

Months ago I put out a tweet with a bit of a dream.

Today, I saw my dream as a reality.

I cried.

I consider myself a very lucky girl.

The ceremony venue we want for the wedding is available, and looks like it will be ours.

For the right price of course, but that's just money. It's the reason we work. Right?

I am so excited.

Also, this time next month, my mum and sister will have visited a very special vintage store in London and will have their hands on my dream dress.

I feel like I am the luckiest girl in the world.

Half prompted by the fact that we are getting married in just over a year - and half prompted by turning 30 and starting to notice more and more wrinkles (eeek) - I have started a new skincare routine.

After doing a little bit of research I thought I'd go with the Q10 products to see if I could trick my skin into aging backwards. ; )

I have had to go for affordability... and during my research learned that Aldi had a Lacura range of 'anti-aging' skincare products - so I bought them and decided to give them a go.

It's been two weeks and I'm really happy with the results. My skintone has improved out of sight - my skin feels soft and smooth. To me, it's noticeably different. 

 

Have also started using Bio Oil on my arms and decolletage.  Because I'm wearing a strapless wedding dress I really want to have nice even skin, without having to get a fake tan. : )

Slapped in the face by reality today.

Got a few facebook messages from my friends on the opposite side of the world, saying that they are starting to receive their Save The Date cards.

Watching the days tick by. 9 whole months have passed since C and I started on this planning adventure.

Realising that while we have made a lot of decisions, we haven't actually set anything in stone. We have a maybe for the venue, we have a maybe for our celebrant, we have a maybe for our reception. The only actual thing that is set in stone is my dress - and I know this because the appointment has been set to go and collect it. At least this is something. And I am SO excited about this something.

Oh, and the date. We have set the date.

How expensive are wedding accessories?! My dress is cheap by comparison. I cannot believe it. $300 for a bouquet, $250 for a headband, $250 for a necklace? Just WHAT!? The moment you attach wedding the cost of everything goes up by an exuberant amount.

Shoes. I thought I found what shoes I want. I need to get my dress home so I can go shopping for those fun things like shoes and accessories. I will find what I like, and then go on the hunt for something that is at least half the price.

Except for maybe the bouquet - that brooch bouquet is just stunning.

I am so excited about my new camera.

The photo that it's taken for our 'Save the Date' is just fantastic.

Obviously the date is not shown here because I'm not ready to announce it to the world just yet, but I LOVE the photo. Taken down at the BGS Boat Shed on the Brisbane River, the focus on the 'date' with us slightly blurred. Just love it. I'm so happy with how the vision became reality.

The moment you attach 'Wedding' to anything, expect to pay more.

This is something that many of my friends who have been married have expressed to me.

I didn't realise just how much more though.

I have found a venue in Whistler that to me, is nothing short of perfection. It's gorgeous, it's intimate, it's warm, it's the right colour scheme. All important things to a Bride planning their special day. However, it comes at a cost. $1600 just to rent the space. Oh - and if you don't have a wedding planner in place, don't even bother applying.

That's a bit rich isn't it? Especially since all I need to "plan" is around 20 candles, a music track for walking down the aisle, a celebrant (which we have already picked), some chairs, and a signing table.

How did I go from wanting a really small intimate wedding in an outdoor location, taking advantage of Whistler's amazing scenery, to wanting pretty much what is commonly refered to as the 'high end' scale of Wedding Ceremony? It is after all, something that is going to be over in about 15 minutes.

I think I need to get my priorities in order. I also think I need to start seeking out alternative locations, but that are in a similar style/space.

Let the fun begin.

In a very quick and informal post - I got an email on my 30th birthday on my way to the convention about my Wedding Dress.

It looks like dreams do come true.

[ Wedding ] Whoops!

I vowed I wouldn't do this. But my gorgeous bridesmaid Naomi gave me a magazine with a great planner/checklist in it.

Never say never.

[ Wedding ] Tough Selection

I have selected my bridal party.

Craig has selected his groomsmen.

That is all. : )

[ Wedding ] Productive Week!

I know Craig doesn't read my blog, so I'm going to post that this is GORGEOUS. A coat to cover a dress during winter. This is my mission. Gonna need something to cover up when I'm moving from place to place for photos. DEVINE. Love it.

I've also made the decision that I want to have some photos taken in Vancouver. Stanley Park, Prospect Point, Pendrell Street, Overlooking downtown from Granville Island and somewhere along the seawall. Since the daylight doesn't last very long in Canada during Winter, we may have to dress twice to get the shots that we want.

I've put in the request with the Whistler Municipal Council to book the park!

I'm in contact with Vogue's Vintage King. ; )



Ladies and gentlemen, it's all systems go! Hooray! What a productive week!

[ Wedding ] Dreams Do Come True

I never thought I'd be lucky enough to say that I'm going to be talking to William of WilliamVintage about the possibility of getting a gown for my Wedding in 2014.

You know when you have a dream, you should put it out there to the universe. You never know what will unfold to make it come true.

I tweeted that my dream dress for my wedding would come from WilliamVintage, making sure that I included his Twitter handle... But, it's hard to have Champagne tastes when you have a cheap sparking wine budget.

Imagine my surprise when William tweeted back, saying he had a dress for under £400.

That is still quite expensive considering I'm only going to be wearing it for pictures. BUT, if I can get my hands on a gorgeous vintage gown - I'd be an idiot to turn down the opportunity. 

Here's hoping it will fit me.

[ Wedding ] Planning commences

At times, I wish we lived in Canada.

Planning has commenced for our 'Winter Wonderland' Wedding that we are hoping to have in Whistler in 2014. Somewhere in the months of January and February.

Why those months? 

Because the buzz and peak period of Christmas have ended, there is a heap of snowfall during that time, and it's still school holidays here in Australia so hopefully friends and family can make the journey with us.

For those who can't make the journey - we would set up a remote viewing location with the wedding beamed via skype. I hope. I believe this is possible. Need to discuss with my tech nerd friends.

We've picked the locations!

I'm not going to go into specifics because I want them to be special to the day. Let's just say that the ceremony location will be magical (I hope) and the reception venue will be cozy. No big flamboyant wedding for us... just what we love, in a place that we love, with (hopefully) the people that we love.

What's next?

Well... hopefully our gorgeous friends who live in B.C. can help us out with who to contact in the Whistler Municipal Council about booking our Ceremony Location. Then once that's done, we book the Reception location.

Then after that, it's all about officials and aesthetics.

If anyone has a good recommendation for a Celebrant, Photographer and Cake Company (in B.C.) - help an Aussie Girl out. Heck, I may even jump on a plane and go and do some investigating, if the price is right.

Otherwise I will do like Dana Scully does, and just Google it.

[ Wedding ] Getting ready