Hello everyone! I’m thrilled to introduce myself to the hive—but don’t worry, I don’t breathe fire in real life.
Photo by Brent Wesley / These are our fake-angry faces!
I’m coming to you from the Great White North, but not Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, or anywhere that most people could name. Nope, I live in northern Ontario; Sioux Lookout, to be exact. Thunder Bay lies about a five-hour drive away in one direction, while the same drive will get you to Winnipeg if you head the other way. The closest large centre is Dryden, which boasts a Walmart, and is an hour away.
From Google Maps / It’s crazy how much more of the province is still north of us!
If you guessed this isolation makes wedding planning a bit tricky, you’d be right! I do a lot of online shopping and have learned to repurpose things I find in town at places like the hardware store or the grocery store. All but one of my bridesmaids live in southern Ontario, around 1,800 kilometres from here.
I’ve been here for two years and counting while Mr. Dragon has put in a bit more time—he has family even farther north than us! Although I sometimes miss malls, traffic lights, and cheap groceries, there is a lot to enjoy up here.
All following photos are personal
Like geocaching! This is Mr. Dragon with BM/FSIL Ashley, searching for a tiny cache on top of a giant cliff.
Mr. Dragon and Dad Dragon have scoped out many a good fishing hole.
Sometimes we snowshoe, even though I’m clearly still learning.
Planes on floats and skis land on the lake in front of our house all year long, which is awesome for aviation-loving Mr. Dragon and tolerable for light-sleeping me.
As much as the north has become home, with most of our beloved people living in the south we’ve opted to use my mom’s backyard in Brockville, Ontario as our wedding venue. It means we’ve got a lot of DIY details stored in boxes waiting to be transported as we get closer to September, but luckily we have big closets.
Mom’s garden from a few years back—check out her amazing green thumb!
We’re planning a low-budget, intimate wedding of about 50 people, ourselves and wedding party included. It’s a homespun affair with our friends and family taking on everything from food to photography.
One of my favourite parts of bee introductions is learning why each blogger chose her icon, so of course I’m going to share why I snapped up this adorable dragon. Both Mr. Dragon and his son were born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon, and I juuuust missed out by about a month (I’m a rabbit).
A rabbit and two dragons
I’m so excited to be a part of Weddingbee, and I can’t wait to start sharing our journey with you!
Welcome! I can’t imagine living that far away from a city; it sounds amazing 
Can’t wait to read more about you and your wedding.
OMG – Sioux Lookout! Never in a million years did I think there would be someone from Sioux Lookout on the ‘Bee!
I’m from southern Ontario, but my family has a cabin on Lake Minnitaki.
So excited to read about your wedding planning!
@fionak: Never in a million years did I think I’d be *living* in Sioux let alone writing a wedding blog from here! 
Minnitaki is gorgeous!
Welcome! I feel like I’m rural and far from a city but you, my dear, have just put me to shame
I really enjoyed your pictures **Canadian bee over here! -originally from NB and living in Ottawa**
Your mom’s garden looks fantastic too. One of my best friend’s (and bridesmaids) is from Brockville
Small world.
Welcome! I can’t wait to hear more! And I’m hoping your black kitties will make an appearance 
Welcome! I know nothing about my neighbor to the north (typical american) so please keep the geography lesson coming! Can’t wait to read more about your intimate backyard wedding!
Welcome! I am so interested in hearing your wedding story. I can’t imagine living so far from a major city!
Thanks everyone! There’s a lot more coming about my geographical challenges.
@janie-janie: There’s a better photo of it in an upcoming post about tattoos but it’s probably going to show up in a zillion pictures because at this point, I forget that I have it and don’t try to cover it at all.
Welcome! Your area looks so gorgeous, I’d love to visit there!
Welcome! I nearly had a heart attack when I saw this haha (: My FI and I both grew up in the Brockville area, wow, such a small world (: I can’t wait to read about your wedding planning process!!
When I first saw your introduction I google mapped Sioux Lookout and in case you are wondering you are 14 hrs from me. Lol. Looking forward to reading about your kitties, tattoos, and wedding planning in the coming months! And your mother’s garden looks beautiful!
Oh man…. soooo jealous you snapped up the Dragon icon. Lucky Bee! Of course my wedding is 17 months out so even if I DO become a Bee, the Dragon would have been long gone! Still, enjoy it for all the rest of us who love it, won’t you?
Love the pic of you and Mr. Dragon and his son… can’t wait to hear the story of your family!!
@Miss_Manda: I will treasure this dragon on behalf of all dragon-lovers everywhere! The Dragon boys are wonderful, both of ‘em — Mr. D’s son lives in Nanaimo, BC, so we don’t see him often but he’s a fantastic dude.
ooh! so jealous of the dragon moniker!! your life sounds amazing though, can’t wait to hear more!
Mrs. Dragon, Sioux Lookout/Brockville, ON Age and Occupation: 24, Journalist Fiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Graphic Designer Engagement Date: August 22, 2011 Wedding Date: September 2012 Venue: Mother of the Bride’s Residence About Me: I moved to Northern Ontario for a job, expecting to be single for the year I'd be there. Within one month I was dating a co-worker, and now, more than two years later, we’re planning a wedding and I’m still a Northern girl. I’m a reporter and a photographer for a small-town newspaper, and I get to do all kinds of fun, exciting, and sometimes weird things at work. When I’m not getting the scoop, I’m cooking, adventuring, playing with our three black cats, or blogging.
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