Time Flies

The big day went off with only one hitch :P  I am busy getting life back to 'the new normal' and working on a huge batch of thank-you cards!  When I get a few photos I will plunk them up here and then sign off on this project.  A few final thoughts:

1. Lots of people means lots of planning and stress, but also lots of fun.
2. We really lucked out getting Earl out of the way in the a.m.!
3. Riding in a red convertible in your wedding dress is really fun :)
4. We have a nice looking bunch of brothers, sisters, parents, family and friends
5. Receiving lines take forever but they're worth it.

My two personal highlights were: the friend choir (thanks everyone!!) and the popcorn and birdseed throwing.  Seeing people lined up and giddy was something I'll never forge, especially with the sun nearly down.

Thanks again to my mom and Dianne for being such great helpers.  It absolutely couldn't have happened without them.  Thanks to the dads for doing all the background lifting and for being such patient guys.  Thanks to all the friends who came from afar and pitched in at the last minute when the rest of us were exhausted. Thanks to the brothers and sisters for bringing the fun.

Okay, Earl!

SO, it looks like a hurricane will pass within 300kms of our wedding party.  Oops, no planning for that!  We've moved the reception inside as a precaution, all other plans will proceed as normal.  We've had a great week visiting with brothers, sisters and friend, and plenty more are on their way. 

See you all tomorrow, bring your umbrella!!

Ready or not, here it comes

The intensity of a large wedding is unbelievable.  So many people and details.  But I keep reminding myself that people are coming to celebrate and have a good time, and it will be okay.  The to-do list is as long as my arm right now but everyday sees a few more things crossed off.

Nick is working his final week in Fredericton this week, then home for next week to visit with his brothers.  As I write, Jonathan is driving across Canada, towing a trailer.  I will be very glad to see him back in Carleton County, and I know his family will be too.  I have not seen my sister Morgan in almost two years so it will be awesome to have her home too.  She is bringing her longtime boyfriend Dave, but leaving her moose-of-a-dog, Titan, in Alberta.

Looking at the guest list, I get the sense that this is going to be a farm-family wedding - lotsa food and big extended families.  My only sad note is that three of my grandparents have passed on and will miss the festivities.  But there are people flying across the world to make it and others giving up vacation days and many more hitting the road to see us married. I think the city kids are going to see a real Carleton County get-together and it will be a good time.

We had a fabulous wedding shower in Debec on Monday evening and we have one final shower Sunday after church.  Then it will be visits, haircuts, thank-you cards, hugs and parties.  Finally! It is hard to say whether I have time to do anymore updates - my computer quit this week too.  But eventually I will put a few photos up here, for people not on facebook.  Thanks for reading.  See you soon :)

Calling all friends!

I have no clue how many people are reading this, BUT....

We are going to have a "friend choir" at our wedding.  Adam Sandler was unavailable so what better way to include our musical friends than by having them provide free entertainment at our nuptuals?  The song is going to be "When I'm 64" by the Beatles and rumour has it my fantabulous music-everything sister Tracy is arranging a real band with real instruments played by real musicians to accompany the singing.  Excited yet?  I am!

So, we'll have one brief rehearsal next Friday afternoon, Sept. 3rd, time TBA.  We welcome anyone and everyone who likes to sing to participate.  The goal is to sing well in unison - no fancy parts, no solos.  Just some friendly friends adding their special touch to a great song. Just think of it as singing along to the radio in your car - the more people who join in, the better we all sound!

If you're interested (family members too!), leave a comment or send me a message.  Please spread the word to anyone you know that sings in the shower.  C'mon, why pass up a chance to be in the most unconventional wedding Carleton County will see this year?? Besides, it's the Beatles!

100 % chance of showers

Sorry for the bad pun, but it's true. The kind ladies in Debec are holding a shower tomorrow night, Monday, at 7:30pm at the United Church in Debec.  Come and bring best wishes and have a snack.


And Saint James United is celebrating with Nick and me after church next Sunday.  Presents are not necessary - just nice to do some introductions and have a chat.

Kindness

Well, we got the Dooryard all looked after, it was a blast.  Now back for the final countdown.  Here's where we stand today:

Wedding Musicians: almost ready
Wood-fired pizza oven: ready
Food: ordered
Reception Band: prepared
Dress: hemmed
Wine: bottled
Bridesmaids: Stunning
Groomsmen: on their way home
Tents: rented
Photographers: ready
Courthouse: newly painted
RSVP's: if you haven't done this you're on my 'naughty' list.  But if you haven't done that, you're probably not reading this, either!

So, pretty good.  Just a few details (like flowers and transportation) left to go.  I have tons of great help so hopefully we'll have time to visit with all of the family and friends headed this way.  That's the best part of all this, knowing that so many thoughtful and kind people will be there to share the day with us.  And especially with having just brothers and sisters at the front.  Feels very old-fashioned, I like it.

Received a card today from a special lady who goes 'way back' with our family.  Love seeing that proper cursive writing - I'm pretty sure they won't let you into a WI group without it....the card says "Best wishes for a long and happy life together from your Grade Four teacher, Mrs. Sanders."  Thanks, Mrs. Sanders, Grade Four doesn't seem that long ago but I guess it was.

Also had the privilege of picking out a handmade afghan from Nick's grammie Joan's collection.  I'm ashamed to admit this is the first year I've seen her garden, but what a thrill!! Vegetables of all kinds and the most beautiful flowers I've ever seen live in the ground.  Truly.  If you have time when you're home for the wedding and want to see something beautiful, ask for a tour.  Beautiful.  Here's the afghan, promise me you won't look too closely at the junk in the background :)

Hard to believe after nearly a year of talking about it, we're going to be hitched soon.  We're ready, I think, and the details will be done by the time guests arrive.  Remember, if you're coming, you need flat shoes for the reception (it's outside) and probably a sweater.  Nights are cooling down quickly and we wouldn't want you to catch a chill!  

You Can't Serve Two Masters

not forever, anyway... 

But as I've been planning a wedding, I've also been part of a great team of people getting the second annual Dooryard Arts Festival ship-shape.  We've got tons of cool stuff going on, and I thought I'd be totally nuts right now trying to get everything wedding and Dooryard looked after.  

As it turns out, they've been very yin-yang for me.  When I get sick of one, I plan the other, taking occasional breaks for beer, laundry, sleep and visiting.  Pretty good, really.

We have nearly all the RSVP's now.  Looks like a crowd of approximately 150 celebrators-in-chief.  Thanks everyone for all your well wishes - it's been a huge encouragement when the planning and emails don't show any sign of stopping.

The countdown is on!

Four weeks today when I wake up I will be married :)  I'm excited about that, especially after spending the better part of a year preparing.  Most of the plans are in place, now we just have to look after the devilish details. 


Our Pampered Chef order arrived last week - we are going to have one of the most well-equipped kitchens in town.  It has really made us think about that kitchen reno we keep putting off.  Right now our kitchen is too awkward for us both to cook simultaneously, which is a bummer since we both love food.


But now we've got the right tools for the job, as they say, and we can look forward to a new design sometime next year or maybe in 2012 (assuming the world doesn't end, of course).  Some photos of the kitchen goods:

Lots of possibilities for meals and treats now! Thanks everyone who helped us replace some of our old junk with beautiful cookware.  We really appreciate it :)

International Guests of Mystery

Just received word this morning that my Japanese friend from university with be trekking from Tokyo to attend the wedding.  Add to this list people originally from Denmark, Jamaica, Namibia and India . . . it's going to be a great party! Let's hope our Canadian men are up to the task of entertaining these well-traveled and beautiful women.  Get ready :)

From the wedding shower

We had a good turn-out for the shower last night, it was great to see everyone and enjoy the food.  Thanks for the recipes, we got some good ones that I've always wanted and some of Nick's family favourites too.  Thanks to the MOMS for organizing!  A few photos:

For all you shower junkies out there, another shower will be held in Debec on August 23rd at 7:30pm and there are rumblings about one at Saint James United Church (where I work) on August 30th. 

Details, details

Preparations are coming along nicely now, everyone seems to have a good idea of what needs to be done.  In the meantime, people are slowly sharing their wedding horror stories with me.  As in "the three hours of games and appetizers between the wedding and reception were ruined by pouring rain."  Uh-oh.  So the little worries are always in the background.


In the meantime I am getting really excited to see people I haven't seen in years.  Friends from university, friends from other countries, relatives "from away," people from Nick's family I haven't even met before.  We're hoping everyone will do a good job of mingling and getting to know a few new people.  We're going to make everyone wear a name tag, so be prepared!


I'm also looking forward to having a lot of friends participate musically in the service.  Obviously we know a lot of musicians and one in particular is building a career as an opera singer.  She's gonna sound amazing in that beautiful old court house!  A preview, for those who've never been inside.

Me and 'the Moms'

Yesterday was a big day, travelled to Bangor to bring home my dress (fits very well but needs hemmed) and spent an entire day looking at decorations with Mom and Dianne.  My bridesmaid sisters are currently 2000+ kms away so without the girls the MOMS have been picking up the slack and keeping me on track.  And you know MOMS, when they want it done, it gets done!

We don't always agree on everything but we're having a great time making the Marden's staff unroll and respool 125 yards of ribbon and 109 and 5/8ths yards of tulle.  True story.  I held up the cash register line for the first time in my life.

It's pretty special to see my Mom and my future mother in law road-tripping together.  Very excited to see our families grow together as the wedding date approaches.  Nick is doing his best to keep the house organized while we run around and work on the details.  It all adds up in the end and I'm thankful for the good help.

The wedding events are starting to take shape in my mind. The MOMS picked out two beautiful dresses for themselves too, they are going to be lovely. We haven't had a family portrait in over 20 years so the wedding will be a chance to get that done too.

Zero to Sixty

Wow, lots is happening now!  Invitations have been sent, a few eager RSVP's are trickling in (thanks guys) and yesterday I bought my wedding ring.  Very simple, gold band with braided inset.  I am a little nervous about wearing a ring as I tried to wear one as a teenager and found it awkward.  Hopefully I can manage! 

In a sleepy haze this morning, I realized that the wedding invite doesn't mention that the reception will be under tents outside at the Richmond Corner Rec Centre.  Word to the ladies: spike heels will be your undoing there . . . . so, it's best to wear the spiffy shoes to the courthouse and wear flats (and bring a sweater) to the reception.

On a special note, a woodfired pizza oven will be making a late-night appearance at the reception to refuel the hungry partiers.  I am very excited about this and we are doing our best to plan a fun event for everyone. 

A wedding shower is planned for Wednesday, July 21st at 7:30pm at St. Gertrude's church hall in Woodstock.  This will be a Pampered Chef shower, so if you'd like to a contribution, you're welcome to do that.  You're also welcome to bring only your best wishes, come and have a chat and a snack and see what is in the works for the big day. 

Less like a wedding, more like a party

Nick and I took a drive out to Richmond Corner last night to look for places to put the wedding tent.  Looks like it's going to be at the back by the playground, which will be fun for any kids in attendance.  It's great to have him involved, we started looking at the site and thinking about the band set up there, people dancing and eating, and the fresh night air. Very exciting!


I've been starting to realize I want this event to be less "wedding-y" and more like a big party.  I don't think you'll see any power point slideshows or long presentations.  Our goal is to get people we care about to come and celebrate with us and have a good time.  Sometimes life is short on "joy" and when you only see extended family at funerals, there's something wrong with that. 

Invitations are being prepared and menus worked out.  There will be food starting at 8pm, with some kind of late night tasties for the dancing crowd.  Mmmm, parties :)

The Material Girl

I have to admit, this wedding thing makes me a little uncomfortable.  Not because I don't want to get married, I feel great about that.  I would've tied the knot last summer, if it weren't for writing a play and organizing a 5-day arts festival for the first time.  Good thing Nick talked me out of that one, eh.


But I think it's easy to get tied up in fabrics, dresses, jewelry, presents, tulle, invitations and the pile of other things people associate with weddings.  So I've been trying to walk a middle path between asking for things we need or would use and turning a celebration of togetherness into an out-and-out swagfest.


So, the gift registry includes a lot of simple items like dishtowels, sheets and bath towels, a few large items (people can team up on these if they're so inclined) and an opportunity to donate to Sanctuary House, which supports women and children dealing with relationship violence.  I think it's important to recognize how lucky I am and to use my celebration to assist people who haven't had such a fortunate life so far.

Just the facts, ma'am...

Hello!

You're probably reading this because you heard (through the grapevine or otherwise) that Amy & Nick are getting married. Well, it's true, and this blog will help keep you updated on all the happenings.

So, the red-circle day is Saturday, Sept. 4th at 7pm at the Old County Courthouse in Upper Woodstock, NB.  It's located on "Court St." on the map below. The reception will follow starting at 8pm at the Richmond Corner Rec Centre. Currently, the Amy forecast is excited with a high chance of stress about details she never knew existed before.  The Nick forecast is clear and sunny. . . as usual.

Look for more info in the days ahead.  The wedding party will be Anderson sisters and Lawson brothers so that's bound to make for some interesting times...