Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
I can barely contain myself…tomorrow we have our cake tasting!!! I can’t wait to see what amazing flavours we’ll get to try. I was reading through our baker’s 2011 wedding-cake flavours, and they all sound so amazing. Chocolate raspberry…double chocolate…pumpkin Philly…red velvet (my personal favourite)…raspberry tuxedo…vanilla passion fruit…and that is only a handful of the flavours she makes!
In preparation for our tasting, I’ve been scouring pictures of cakes so we can not only talk about how our cake will taste, but also about how it will look. Here are a few of my favourites!
I really like the tall proportions of the layers in this cake. Plus the white texture and “buttons” running up and down are adorable!
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
It is official: I am the bride who cried shoe. I knew I wanted purple shoes for our wedding; however, when I was looking for said purple shoes, there weren’t a lot of options. I initially bought the Nine West Jojus with almost a feeling of, “Oh my gosh, they are purple and available.”
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
I am slowly but surely getting ready to start making our invitations. I’ve ordered the paper supplies, RSVP postcards, and various bits and bobs. Everything should be here in the next week or so, and then it will be time to get to work!
I decided on a covert plan to identify any RSVP cards that may come back without any respondents’ names. I ordered a black-light pen! I plan to number each RSVP card in invisible ink and keep a numbered list of our guests. That way if we get any blank RSVPs back, we’ll know who they belong to.
I bought mine from Glow Products, a company located in Canada. It retails for the low, low price of $2.25 (plus tax and shipping), and it is a pen and light combo all in one. Apparently it comes in a variety of fun colours?
Well, my pen just arrived in the mail, and I had to chuckle as I pulled it out of the envelope.
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
I *love* to dance. A few years ago, my perfect night was going out and shaking my booty. Now I’m old and I get tired at 9 PM, so my perfect Friday night involves jumping around our living room and playing Just Dance 2 on the Wii.
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
You may remember that a couple of weeks ago I decided to make a mock-up of our invitations. The only thing that I wasn’t happy with was my attempt at embossing. Just to refresh your memory, here was the result that I wasn’t pleased with:
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
In the beginning of our engagement, I decided that I might attempt to do my own makeup on our wedding day.
This is a pretty funny notion if you know me, considering that I very rarely wear makeup. And I’m going to attempt to do it myself on what will likely be the most photographed day of my life? Perhaps not the brightest idea. I had Googled a few makeup artists in Vancouver but I wasn’t in love with their portfolios, so I figured I’d just do it myself. I really want to look natural, to look just like me! But maybe with some false eyelashes?
Thank goodness for my photographer who asked if I needed a makeup recommendation. She really has been a great resource for advice and recommendations. She suggested ML Makeup Artistry. I pored over her portfolio, and everyone looks so naturally beautiful. Plus, not only is she good, but apparently she is wonderful to be around. Luckily she was free on our wedding day, so I booked her right away. She’ll come to the house to do my makeup, along with my MOH and BM as well. I imagine our photographer will come by just as I’m getting my makeup done.
This will allow for amazing pictures like this… Read more…
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
This weekend, I finally got around to making a mock-up of our invitations. I ordered supplies ages ago from the absolutely amazing Paper Circle. Paper Circle is based in Canada and has fantastic prices and some of the most amazing customer service I’ve experienced. Plus, their products are top notch!
I wanted to make a mock-up so I could know if:
The design in my head would translate into the real thing like I hoped.
I could print on beautiful shimmery paper with our laser printer.
My ideas would work without having to sacrifice oodles of supplies.
All in all, I was really happy with how my mock-up turned out. The laser printer did a great job on the shimmery paper.
There was, however, one thing that didn’t work out.
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
In case you missed it, catch up with Part I and Part II first!
I decided to use Vistaprint to make our postcards. I had made address labels and stickers through Vistaprint beforehand, and I’ve been pleased with the results, the value, and the customer service. My timing also just happened to be right for getting the postcards printed up because they were on sale.
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
It is a pretty exciting time here, hive—it is time to talk about our STDs!
Of course you know I mean save the dates, right?
Once Mr. Gazelle and I got engaged, I immediately started thinking about the save the dates. I wanted something simple but something that was going to give our guests their first glimpse of our wedding. Our wedding will be a destination wedding for 81.667% of our guests, so I wanted to play off of that theme.
How about postcards?
First I thought about purchasing a bunch of postcards in Vancouver, getting a custom stamp made with our save-the-date info, and sending them out.
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/VancouverAge and Occupation: 32, EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology AnalystEngagement Date: September 3, 2010Wedding Date: July 2011Venue: Brock House Restaurant, VancouverAbout Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
Hair fascinators…they are so pretty! I knew I wanted to wear one for our wedding day. I spent some time perusing Etsy looking for the perfect flower for my hair. I never quite spied one I was in love with, though. Most of the fascinators I saw included feathers, and I wasn’t sure I wanted that. I thought about approaching a few vendors who had something close to what I was looking for to ask about a custom order, but as I started thinking about it more I realized that this would be one project I could tackle myself.
I envisioned a hair flower made out of layers of silk that matched my dress, layers of tulle, and maybe with a touch of French veiling since I won’t be wearing an actual veil. Perhaps a vintage rhinestone brooch in the center? Perhaps something like this??
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
