Caterer Debate - Your Feedback

Officially, we're at the 1/2 way point until we're Mr. and Mrs. YEAH!

We've decided to hire Charlotte's Catering for the reception. They have 2 basic meal choices: turkey dinner or roast beef. We still need to decide which people would like better. We'd really appreciate some feedback to help us with our decision. Leave a comment and let us know which you'd prefer.
Thanks!

Dresses and flowers and Dave... oh my!

Every week-end has become an opportunity to tackle a new project. Trevor's ingenius sleuthing helped us track down an awesome caterer and a very creative photographer (for a really great read, check out our photographer's bio at http://business.accesscomm.ca/oktoberrevolution/main.html).
This past week-end, I went material shopping for the girls' very elegant dresses. I think that a nice shade of periwinkle is divine. We're making the dresses in hopes to save our girls some moolah.
Mom and I checked out a flower shoppe. We wandered in on "bride-day". Yikes! Weddings can either be really elegant or really, really cheesy. My goodness! After sifting through some pictures of the "cheese", we had an idea of what would work.
Pastor Dave has been real swell to take pre-marital counselling from. He's so down to earth and practical and wise. We've really appreciated our sessions with him. We've learned our "love languages" (to find out more about your's, see http://www.fivelovelanguages.com/). We've also talked through some potential "issues" like family planning, individual time and couple time, finances and household chores. All in all, it's been very good.
We'd love to get any suggestions you have about cool invitation ideas.

Bridal Convention in Mexico

Due to the serious stress caused by all the wedding plans, I have decided to attend a relaxing Bridal convention in Mexico. No gentlemen allowed (sorry Trev) so, my best friend (and maid of honour) Shiya and I will have to go. We'll attend such sessions like:
1) lay on a beach and read novels
2) work on tans (remember those tan lines need to match wedding dresses)
3) plan the girly stagette
4) snorkel (to see if any of the tropical fish would make good centerpieces... or guests)
5) giggle
6) check out the local market in case I find the china pattern of my dreams and,
7) eat fresh fruit.

Ah, it is a rough life for this bride-to-be on her winter break. I hope that Shiya and I can survive our Mexican Bridal Convention.
Adios...

Bridezilla

Yesterday, I went to a Wedding Expo with my mom and my lovely bridesmaid Tif. It was a really good experience. I got some good ideas, picked up a few freebies and ate all the cake samples I could.
I also met my nemesis: Bridezilla. I knew that she was out there lurking. I just didn't know when or how I'd meet her.
In university, I worked in a floral store and I dealt with a lot of brides. Some were a little high-strung and others were down-right nutty. I made a promise to myself that when the time came for my wedding, I would be calm and focused on my marriage, not just the wedding day. No Bridezilla-Jill! However, walking through the bridal expo, I came up to a photography booth and she appeared in my head: Bridezilla. I was looking at this fabulous wedding book. It was a digitally produced album that was gorgeous. My scrapbooker's heart was in love with it. All these beautiful pictures done up as the story of Jill and Trevor.... and only for $3000. I didn't even choke at the price, I just ooohed and aaahhed. Sure sign of Bridezilla taking over. I realized what was happening and ate another wedding cake sample, took a deep breath and went over to a cheesy invitation printing booth to clear my head. Slowly, Bridezilla disappeared and my frugal self came back.
Of course, there will be no $3000 wedding book in my future and I am good with that (although, it was gorgeous). I'd love to think that that was my one-time meeting with Bridezilla but, I have this sad feeling she may be back... around the time of invitation creation or flower selection. Erg...

Christmas 2005

We had a busy Christmas. We managed to fit in 4 Christmas feasts as well as a trip to "Menno"toba to visit Trevor's family.
We're excited for what 2006 has for us! Next Christmas we'll be married!

Planning... and still planning...

As a teacher, I spend much of my life planning. However, a wedding is a little absurd in the amount of little details that need attention.
This Christmas, Trevor and I spent some time (while we were not feasting) getting some details organized. The guest list is a scary thing. 353 people on it? AHHH! I feel like I need a scalpel and a lot of morphine to make some painful cuts.
I also found a dress. My mom and I spent a few days shopping in town and then we were off to MJ with my Aunt Leone and we found the perfect one. It's really simple and elegant (yes Trevor, with poofy sleeves and a high collar and a hoop skirt).
As the six month mark draws closer, we're getting more and more excited. :)

Reception Site and Date

Nobody ever told me that planning a wedding would be such work. Some things are going to be a lot of fun because I really like creative things. However, finding a reception site was more of a challenge then I had anticipated.
It's my fault really. I want a really fun reception. I didn't want a classy hotel. I wanted something outside. Now, we have booked the Sherwood Forest Golf and Country Club's picnic site: Nottingham. We're renting a great big tent and we're dreaming of bonfires and fireworks and a big starry sky. If the weather cooperates, it should be gorgeous.
We finally have a date. We're to be married on July 15th. YEAH! Only 7 months away and counting.
So, if you have any "planning" advice, let us know in a comment. We'd love ways to hear how you avoided stress during your engagement.

Sherwood Forest website link:
http://www.sherwoodforestcc.com/

On Marriage

Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"And he answered saying:You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.But let there be spaces in your togetherness,And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.Love one another but make not a bond of love:Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.And stand together, yet not too near together:For the pillars of the temple stand apart,And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

We are in love...

The Proposal

Trevor called me in the middle of the week to suggest that we have a winter adventure. I was secretly hoping that we'd go Geocacheing (scavenger hunt using GPS unit). I had no idea what I was in store for. I was so excited when, on Saturday, that we were going Geocacheing.
Trevor's instructions were that this was a night Geocache and we had to look for hints that were red.
The first location we went to was at the U of R. I commented that it was really cool that our Geocache was starting out at the glass building where Trevor and I hung out a lot in university (still no clue). I looked around for red objects. When the leftover fry box and garbage can yielded no messages, I kept looking. Then, I saw a red rose with a letter wrapped around it. The letter talked about our friendship and how we really got to know each other every other day, eating lunch together at the U of R. I decided that this was a romantic Geocache and was ready to continue on. (Still no clue... Trevor can be a pretty romantic guy...)
The second location we went to was the fountain near the Legislature Building in Wascana park that we had jumped in on our first date. Once again, there was a rose and a letter. This time, the letter was about how we became romantically interested.
The third set of GPS coordinates took us to Kiwanis Park bridge where we had our first kiss. Once again, there was another letter and rose. Ah... the romance continues still.
The last set of coordinates took us to the pumping station that overlooks Wascana. As we approached I could see the glow of candles. My heart beat faster and I think I knew but, I didn't really want to guess. Trevor had asked friends of ours to place roses and candles all over the balcony area over-looking Wascana. Again, there was a letter and rose. This time, Trevor read the letter to me, got down on one knee and proposed. :) Of course I said yes!

Being newly engaged is a little overwhelming... and fun. I'm really looking forward to being married.

Trevor and I love to tell our engagement story. It's fun and it helps us relive it. Since Saturday, we've had tons of well-wishers tell us their engagement stories and we've really enjoyed that too. This BLOG gives people a chance to interact. We would LOVE to hear your engagement story. If you have some time, write it out for us and others in the comments section. Thanks, Jill and Trevor :)

Welcome here

I'd like to welcome you to a blog about Trevor and Jill's wedding plans. We'll see how regularly we can update this site. You'll hopefully be able to read all about our adventures planning a wedding and a life together. If you get a chance, please drop a comment so that Jill and I can know that you've been here.