The wedding: it’s in the details

13.07.2010 (1:07 pm) – Filed under: Cakes,Centerpieces,DIY,Decor,Fashion,Flowers,Real Wedding,Vendor,Weddings ::

In a few days I will be married for two months! Can you believe it?

A lot of work went into our wedding when it came to the small things. We wanted the event to be spectacular in the grand scheme of things, but also down to the little details. It’s strange to plan something for so long, yet you have no idea of what it will all look like until the big day. By that time, you’ll be so busy you can hardly take it all in. I really did try, to enjoy every single moment, but thank goodness for photos!

Photography: Tara McMullen Photography

Venue: The Westin Prince in Toronto

Stationery: Papertalk Press

Fresh flowers: Kay & Young

Floral arrangement & centerpieces: bride’s mother

Décor: Special Event Draping

Music: True Jazz & DJ Triple J

Wedding cake: Kuppycakes

Bride’s dress / birdcage veil: bride’s mother

Tuxedos: Tuxedo Royale

Hair & make-up: Esthetically Yours

Co-ordinator: Jason Chow

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The wedding: a photo story

01.07.2010 (5:10 pm) – Filed under: Weddings ::

I have been just as anxious to write this post as some of you may be to read it, but yes – after 47 days of marital bliss, I have found the time to blog The Big Day. It also helps that we got our wedding photos a few nights ago, as there was no way I could talk about the wedding without showing some pictures!

To sum it up, J and I were very, very happy with everything. The day was relatively stress-free, it was beautiful, and it was FUN!

All photos except noted are by Tara McMullen.

The boys met up at J’s house in the morning to get ready.



The girls and I stayed the night at our hotel, and started with wake up calls for hair and make-up at 6AM.

My parents and siblings arrived a little later, and helped set up for the tea ceremony for my side of the family, that started at 11.

I went back upstairs after the tea ceremony and got ready to get into my wedding gown. The guys were downstairs having lunch, and J and I were going to be set up for a “first look” somewhere at the hotel. A “first look” (or whatever you want to call it) is when you artificially set up the first time the groom sees the bride – we had this because we were taking our portraits in the afternoon before the ceremony, meaning that J would have seen me in my dress before walking down the aisle.

After that, the entire wedding party headed over to Buttonville Airport in Markham, where super Dave let us do our wedding portraits! We went around to a few hangars and got to hang out on the apron.

After the portrait session, we all headed back for the hotel and had some downtime before the ceremony. J and I always laugh about this, because at one point, we lost everyone and were the only ones in our suite. J and I hung out by ourselves 30 minutes before the ceremony started. I’m sure wedding traditionalist’s heads were spinning right then.

After the ceremony, we headed to the Duncan room to start the tea ceremony for the groom’s side of the family.

Making my way to the elevator from the Duncan Room during cocktails was insane. It took me about 40 minutes just to hit the elevator button! I had guests wanting to talk to us left, right and center – and I’m glad I posed for some pictures with my friends and family since it was the only time I did not have my own camera.

Cocktails ended around 7, and the wedding party gathered to prepare for our grand entrance.

The rest of the night went off without a hitch – it was the perfect combination of laughter, tears and interaction with our guests. We couldn’t have asked for a better time!


Our first dance

My aunt from Tahiti, performing a surprise Tahitian dance


Guests singing their hearts out to win the centerpiece


Our father daughter dance – photo by Vicky Brahos

I hope you enjoyed the glimpse into our special day. I will post all the decor and details soon!

Happy Canada Day!

30.06.2010 (6:40 pm) – Filed under: Off topic... ::

In the spirit of Canada Day, it’s all about the red!

A quick hello.

02.06.2010 (7:08 am) – Filed under: Planning ::

Just taking a small moment to say hello from my honeymoon!! We are on Santorini, waiting to take the bus to go to the port to take the ferry back to Athens tonight.

Ok, the husband is rushing us to leave. Until next time!

I’m a missus!!

18.05.2010 (10:16 am) – Filed under: Weddings ::

It’s all over! Everything went smoothly and I have so much love for all the people who helped out. Reviews and photos to come!!!

Flippin’ the page.

14.05.2010 (1:18 am) – Filed under: Off topic... ::

In the few minutes I get to spare before I head to bed, I just want to say goodbye to my single self, forever written in cyberspace. I can’t believe ALL THIS boils down to one day!!!

License to get married.

03.05.2010 (2:17 pm) – Filed under: Advice,Legal Stuff,Weddings ::

J and I went to pick up our marriage license today and it was a breeze! We hopped down to the North York Civic Centre (by Mel Lastman Square) and contrary to prior warning, there was no line and the whole process took no longer than 15 minutes.

A marriage license is required in Ontario if you want to get married, so you don’t want to forget to do this little thing before your big day. It’s the thing you sign during your ceremony, along with 2 witnesses (usually best man and maid of honour) and the person who performed the ceremony. It’s pretty easy, download this form and fill it out with your fiancé. One thing to note is that you must bring ID to the office that shows the full name that you put on your application. For example, if your name is John Michael Smith, but all your ID says “John M Smith”, then you can only apply as John M Smith on your marriage license.

Only one of you needs to go (but you both can if you want); just make sure to bring the other’s ID with you.

The cost in Toronto is $130 flat, in Markham $129.50 and in Richmond Hill $125. Best place to go? Pickering, where it’s only $100. Don’t ask me why the prices are different, but I wish I knew this before we went. We could have saved on lots of time and a bit of money (including parking). Grrrr! At least Toronto is better than Mississauga, where it’s a whopping $140.

City of Toronto marriage licenses
Town of Markham marriage licenses
Town of Richmond Hill marriage licenses
City of Pickering marriage licenses

Shower Games.

29.04.2010 (11:19 am) – Filed under: Advice,Bridesmaids,Showers,Weddings ::

My bridal party, with the help of some friends, threw an awesome shower for me 2 weeks ago. It was a mix of friends, my family and J’s family, and contrary to what you may think, we had a riot.

The girls planned out some fun games for the afternoon, and I know you bridesmaids and maids of honours are always looking for shower games to play – so here are a few of my selections, from my own shower and ones I’ve been to.

What’s In Your Purse

What you need: something to keep track of points (a tally, or as my BP did: a bunch of little Ikia pencils), a list of items
Set up: this is best played in a big circle, with the bride sitting in the middle

How to play: Each guest grabs their purse. The host of the game has a list of items that the guests need to have in their purse. Each item has a point value. The more common the item, the fewer the points. The rarer the item, the more points it’s worth! To start, the host will name out the point value for the item she’s about to call out, and then she’ll name the item. The first guest who has the item in their purse and hands it to the bride in the middle, gets the points.

Suggestions for items to name: American Express credit card, tampon, MAC lip gloss, ballpoint pen, a receipt with the value of over $100, used tissue/napkin, iPod, USB key, Starbucks gift card, a photo of the bride

Ball Buster

What you need: water bottles, pantyhose, oranges
Set up: you need a bigger space, enough to form 2 lines of people with bottles on the ground between them

How to play: Playing against one other person, the aim of the game is to be the first to knock down the water bottle on the floor, using your “ball”.  Pairs stand across from each other, in 2 lines. The bottles are lined up on the floor, with one bottle between each pair.Each player has a pantyhose with an orange inside the foot, and the pantyhose is tied around the waist. Using the orange (or ball), you have to swing it until it knocks the bottle down.

This is played by elimination; the winners from each pair move on to play each other, until the last ball buster is standing.

Two Truths and A Lie

What you need: just people
Setup: Sitting in a circle would probably be best

How to play: This is more of an ice breaker than a game, great for the beginning of the party. Each guest takes a turn introducing themselves, and has to tell two true facts about themselves, and one lie. Everyone has to vote for which fact was the lie. The guest who faked out the most people wins a prize.

Granny panties

What you need: people who wear underwear (and bras)
Set up: no set up required, this can be played at any point in the shower

How to play: The person with the least sexiest panties wins a prize! Basically the host asks the guests who are wearing granny panties to come up and show their underwear. The bride is the judge, and picks the worst dressed. This can be played throughout the party, also with the sexiest panties, the sexiest bra, and the least sexiest bra (I’ve been at a party where a guest was wearing a nursing bra! She won that category.).

Let the countdown begin!

15.04.2010 (4:36 pm) – Filed under: Weddings ::

I seriously wonder how 16 months went by, just like that. It didn’t seem that long again when 2 of my bridesmaids, before they were bridesmaids, came over with magazines to celebrate.

This is going to be the most intense month ever!

Shoe, glorious shoe!

29.03.2010 (10:23 pm) – Filed under: Fashion ::

I had been looking for a while now for my wedding shoes, and it seems that it’s come down to an art. Your wedding shoes are special; they have a certain criteria to meet unlike any other shoe you will purchase. Mama Tai Shoes can vouch for this I know, as she went through 3 pairs until she found her perfect Shoes. I mean, Choos.

For me, the criteria was as follows. My wedding shoes had to be:

  • fashawn
  • sexy
  • affordable
  • wearable again
  • not any shade of white

Boy. This task was harder than it appeared to be at first. One day in January, I went to Town Shoes and came across a few pairs of heels that seemed to have potential. First were the cutest pairs of Steve Madden platform peep toes. The fact that they were Steve Maddens made me cringe (blister city) but they were hot!

Too bad I almost twisted my ankle taking my first step in the store. It was like putting my foot in a wooden clog with a heel.

Next up was a pair of David Dixon’s for Town Shoes. How awesome! They weren’t what I was initially thinking of, but they were Something Blue and pretty cute and classy. I especially liked how they had low heels (sort of), and they were actually comfy!

They didn’t carry my size in blue, so I had to get one transferred in and wait to try them on again. Sadly, the next time I tried them, things just weren’t the same. They were hurting and they weren’t fitting right. Next!

A couple of months later, I thought I’d give it another go. I somehow ended up in Town Shoes AGAIN! I immediately saw a pair of Enzo Angiolini gold snakeskin ankle wraps which seemed more appropriate for clubbing than a wedding, but I thought I’d try them on anyway. I fell in love with them the moment I put them on! J absolutely loves them, too.

They meet each one my criteria, and best of all, my feet will be having a party of their own underneath my big ass wedding dress.