Hey everyone! I've been getting into reading a lot of lifestyle blogs around the interwebs, especially couples blogs and I was inspired by a very cool idea one of them blogged about! (You can check them out here - www.wordsofwilliams.com) Basically, it's the story of us (or them..?). They call it their Fairytale... and this is totally cute, but not me and Tyler! Ha! So I am going with the theme of this blog and calling it the Story of Just Us. I'm going to start right at the beginning and work through all the years that Tyler and I have been together. I am so excited to reflect on our journey.. I told Tyler about this the other night and even though he's not really into blogging, he thought it was pretty cool, too.. I am hoping to get a bit of his input but we'll have to see how forthcoming he is with his memories... (he's says he's more "private" than I am..I say he's just forgotten.. haha!) :)
So, here goes! Errr... enjoy!
**I will add photos where I can. Some years of our journey are pre-digital-camera days, so I will do the best I can!**
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Chapter Five: Engagement & Wedding Planning
As I mentioned in my previous post (2 weeks ago!!), we had a long engagement. We had only dated for nine months and wanted to get engaged while my parents were visiting during summer 2003. I was floating on a cloud for many many weeks after and things were going great for us... why wouldn't they be? It was the "honeymoon" stage after the engagement. (There's a "honeymoon" phase for everything, right? Right?) :)
September rolled around and Tyler was back to school.. it was his third and final year (of his technologist diploma), so his course load was super heavy and of course, he needed to keep his grades up so he could apply (and be accepted) to Lakehead University to finish his degree there. So my fiance put the halt on all wedding plans until the Christmas holidays. This, clearly, did not stop me from looking and poring through endless bridal magazines... no, no, it did not. Just ask my dad...
I called him one evening to talk to him about these shoes I found in a bridal magazine. I loved them and wanted them so bad. They were $165 and needed to be special ordered from New York City. HAH! Over the top much?? I think so. Dad was so patient with me and listened as I rambled on and on about how they were exactly what I wanted and the perfect heel height, style, etc, etc, blah, blah... Then he just calmly suggested that maybe I look around at some of the stores in my area before resorting to a special order shoe from NYC. I was sad at the time, but now I totally see the wisdom in that decision... So thanks for that, dad... :) Oh, FYI: I ended up getting my shoes at Payless for $40. And I loved them.
Christmas rolled around and we sat down for some serious wedding planning... in Nova Scotia! My parents and brothers were coming to Halifax to my aunt & uncle's/grandparents for the holidays and Tyler and I decided to make the trek (via airplane) across the Gulf of St. Lawrence and join them! We had an awesome little holiday.. it was relaxing and the best part? I got my wedding dress!!!! Me and my mom went dress shopping one afternoon.. it was one of the most memorable experiences with my mom... The little store was called Betty's Wedding Boutique or something like that. The lady that ran it was so sweet and accommodating. Plus, to top it all off, my dress was on sale! And yes, as soon as I tried it on, I *knew* it was the one... And when Betty put a veil on my head, my mom teared up... so, yup, I said! Ring it up!
Once the holidays were over and the high of finding my wedding dress was over, the January blues set in. Tyler and I fought and argued all month long. I needed him for wedding stuff (and just good ol fashion quality time!) and he needed to focus on his studies. Looking back, I know he was just frustrated that he was being pulled in so many directions and I could have been a tad more understanding. Hindsight is always 20/20, isn't it? Oh well... perfection isn't something we really strive for anyway... we believe in being real and honest and growing and learning and changing (not only in our marriage, but in every aspect)... but I'll touch on that in another chapter though... :)
Once spring beckoned and the dreary winter days lifted, things began to fall into place. Wedding plans were coming along nicely. Tyler was done exams and passed everything with flying colours. (I don't mean for that to sound so light. He worked so hard and deserved everything he worked for..) His application went through for Lakehead University and he was accepted to start the summer bridging course after the Canada Day Long weekend and then resume a normal school schedule in September.
In April, my aunty's (my dad's sisters and sister-in-law's) hosted a bridal shower for me. They flew me over to Nova Scotia for a long weekend and I had a Pampered Chef bridal shower! It was so much fun. My aunty's spoiled me rotten and I still have (and use) my Pampered Chef stuff to this day! :)
Early spring we worked on invitations. Tyler helped. We had an appointment with the florist. Tyler came with me. We discussed cake options. Tyler most definitely had a say in that! (Ha!) He was the maid of honour (my cousin stood up with me on our wedding day, but lived in DK, so, obviously, wasn't readily available for everyday tasks..), the mother of the bride (again, no mom close by to help) and the fiance all rolled into one! We grew so close during this time and it truly felt like we were planning "our wedding". (As opposed to me deciding everything and him just mindlessly agreeing).
I have an awesome picture of Tyler tying straw ribbon around terra-cotta pots that would become our centrepieces. Anything I needed help on, he was there for me. It makes my heart just swell thinking about it now.
My parents and I made our wedding cake! We did a marble swirl cake (no fruitcake! That was a firm decision made by Tyler!) The bottom two layers were cake and then the topper was Styrofoam. A close friend of the Brakes iced and decorated it for us a few days before the actual wedding day.
The family started to arrive for our big day. Mom and Dad came a full week before the wedding. I remember every night, mom and I would sit down and write out our to-do list for the next day. Dad's job? Our chauffeur. :) Thanks dad; mom and I still look back on that week fondly and marvel at dad's patience to just drive us around. :)
I am going to try to dig up some wedding planning pictures as well as some photos from that Christmas in Nova Scotia and my bridal showers (yes, showers! My mother-in-law and sister-in-law hosted another shower for me in Newfoundland for all the friends!)..
I would love to hear some of your wedding planning stories! Any major disagreements? Or super sweet fiance stories? Bring 'em on!
Until next time!
xo ~ Jessica & Tyler
So, here goes! Errr... enjoy!
**I will add photos where I can. Some years of our journey are pre-digital-camera days, so I will do the best I can!**
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Five: Engagement & Wedding Planning
As I mentioned in my previous post (2 weeks ago!!), we had a long engagement. We had only dated for nine months and wanted to get engaged while my parents were visiting during summer 2003. I was floating on a cloud for many many weeks after and things were going great for us... why wouldn't they be? It was the "honeymoon" stage after the engagement. (There's a "honeymoon" phase for everything, right? Right?) :)
September rolled around and Tyler was back to school.. it was his third and final year (of his technologist diploma), so his course load was super heavy and of course, he needed to keep his grades up so he could apply (and be accepted) to Lakehead University to finish his degree there. So my fiance put the halt on all wedding plans until the Christmas holidays. This, clearly, did not stop me from looking and poring through endless bridal magazines... no, no, it did not. Just ask my dad...
I called him one evening to talk to him about these shoes I found in a bridal magazine. I loved them and wanted them so bad. They were $165 and needed to be special ordered from New York City. HAH! Over the top much?? I think so. Dad was so patient with me and listened as I rambled on and on about how they were exactly what I wanted and the perfect heel height, style, etc, etc, blah, blah... Then he just calmly suggested that maybe I look around at some of the stores in my area before resorting to a special order shoe from NYC. I was sad at the time, but now I totally see the wisdom in that decision... So thanks for that, dad... :) Oh, FYI: I ended up getting my shoes at Payless for $40. And I loved them.
Christmas rolled around and we sat down for some serious wedding planning... in Nova Scotia! My parents and brothers were coming to Halifax to my aunt & uncle's/grandparents for the holidays and Tyler and I decided to make the trek (via airplane) across the Gulf of St. Lawrence and join them! We had an awesome little holiday.. it was relaxing and the best part? I got my wedding dress!!!! Me and my mom went dress shopping one afternoon.. it was one of the most memorable experiences with my mom... The little store was called Betty's Wedding Boutique or something like that. The lady that ran it was so sweet and accommodating. Plus, to top it all off, my dress was on sale! And yes, as soon as I tried it on, I *knew* it was the one... And when Betty put a veil on my head, my mom teared up... so, yup, I said! Ring it up!
Once the holidays were over and the high of finding my wedding dress was over, the January blues set in. Tyler and I fought and argued all month long. I needed him for wedding stuff (and just good ol fashion quality time!) and he needed to focus on his studies. Looking back, I know he was just frustrated that he was being pulled in so many directions and I could have been a tad more understanding. Hindsight is always 20/20, isn't it? Oh well... perfection isn't something we really strive for anyway... we believe in being real and honest and growing and learning and changing (not only in our marriage, but in every aspect)... but I'll touch on that in another chapter though... :)
Once spring beckoned and the dreary winter days lifted, things began to fall into place. Wedding plans were coming along nicely. Tyler was done exams and passed everything with flying colours. (I don't mean for that to sound so light. He worked so hard and deserved everything he worked for..) His application went through for Lakehead University and he was accepted to start the summer bridging course after the Canada Day Long weekend and then resume a normal school schedule in September.
In April, my aunty's (my dad's sisters and sister-in-law's) hosted a bridal shower for me. They flew me over to Nova Scotia for a long weekend and I had a Pampered Chef bridal shower! It was so much fun. My aunty's spoiled me rotten and I still have (and use) my Pampered Chef stuff to this day! :)
Early spring we worked on invitations. Tyler helped. We had an appointment with the florist. Tyler came with me. We discussed cake options. Tyler most definitely had a say in that! (Ha!) He was the maid of honour (my cousin stood up with me on our wedding day, but lived in DK, so, obviously, wasn't readily available for everyday tasks..), the mother of the bride (again, no mom close by to help) and the fiance all rolled into one! We grew so close during this time and it truly felt like we were planning "our wedding". (As opposed to me deciding everything and him just mindlessly agreeing).
I have an awesome picture of Tyler tying straw ribbon around terra-cotta pots that would become our centrepieces. Anything I needed help on, he was there for me. It makes my heart just swell thinking about it now.
My parents and I made our wedding cake! We did a marble swirl cake (no fruitcake! That was a firm decision made by Tyler!) The bottom two layers were cake and then the topper was Styrofoam. A close friend of the Brakes iced and decorated it for us a few days before the actual wedding day.
The family started to arrive for our big day. Mom and Dad came a full week before the wedding. I remember every night, mom and I would sit down and write out our to-do list for the next day. Dad's job? Our chauffeur. :) Thanks dad; mom and I still look back on that week fondly and marvel at dad's patience to just drive us around. :)
I am going to try to dig up some wedding planning pictures as well as some photos from that Christmas in Nova Scotia and my bridal showers (yes, showers! My mother-in-law and sister-in-law hosted another shower for me in Newfoundland for all the friends!)..
I would love to hear some of your wedding planning stories! Any major disagreements? Or super sweet fiance stories? Bring 'em on!
Until next time!
xo ~ Jessica & Tyler
