Honeymoon Recap!

HONEYMOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, that's right.  It was that good.  

We decided we wanted to spend our honeymoon in Varadero, Cuba at the Iberostar Playa Alameda.  Let me say that the weather was FANTASTIC the whole time we were there.  During the day it never went lower than about 25 and never higher than 35.  And it was sunny!!  Basically it was a wonderful week to spend on the beach and exploring town.

So let's start from the beginning:

The cab picked us up at 3:40 a.m. on Thursday. It was way too early and I was not happy. I got sick on the flight to Toronto. It sucked. But Mr. Dan was so sweet. He made me a pillow with his hoodie and found me some headphones so I could try to block out all the noises and sleep. After we landed, and I got on firm ground, I felt a lot better. We had a nice little brunch, chatted and waited for our next plane. Apparently it was re-scheduled so we had 3 hours instead of 2. It was okay though. We had a nice chat and people watch!

We arrived in Varadero around 2:30 p.m. Got all our stuff, no problem, and found our bus. It was quick ride to the hotel (which was lovely!) and then we were there. The first few hours we got checked in, wandered around the beach and the resort, figured out where everything was and headed to the buffet for dinner. We were exhausted so then we headed to our room. And our keys wouldn’t work. So we went to get new ones…and they still wouldn’t work. So maintenance (Darel) came and explained (in broken English) that he was new but he’d fix our locks. 1 hour later his supervisor arrived. Then Darel ended up climbing to our second story balcony and letting us in. He stayed for 2 more hours, and was such a sweet man, but couldn’t fix our door. He got the manager who made sure we had a new room that had all the same amenities (king sized bed, second floor, etc). It was mid-night by the time we actually got into our real room…but I was just happy to sleep.  The experience was really crappy but Darel and his team were great to us.

The next few days we spent going into town, relaxing by the pool and on the beach and playing in the waves. It was SO windy that we had these huge waves to play it. It was like we were 10 year olds…but it was so fun to just act silly with my husband.

We went into Varadero (the town) twice. It was a lot of fun and we ended up spending 4 hours just wandering around and buying jewelry, rum, cigars, etc.

Our evenings consisted of dinner (2 restaurants were alright, the other one was CRAP. Buffet was always good) and then drinks in the outdoor courtyard with live Cuban bands. On the 4th Mr. Dan and I went to the “Romantico” restaurant and then got absolutely loaded while watching the band. We ended the evening on our balcony with beer (and a cigar for him). It was the best "monthaversary" ever.  (Did I really just call it that?! LOL)

We didn’t really do a whole lot but we had so much fun. We relaxed, we got a “tan” (I got freckles and now look like less of an albino) and we spent so much time just sitting and chatting. It really was a much needed, much appreciated, wonderful honeymoon.

And here is my proof:

We made it!!

The building we stayed in

Hot day in town! 

Celebrating!

Lizard.

Taxis in front of the hotel

Love palm trees!

I'll just take these beer back to my room to examine....

The beach!

Hello palm tree <3 

The pool

Our last night:(

Wedding Maddness!!!

So I know I've been MIA for a few days but it's with good reason: One of my closest friends just married the love of her life! AND  I got to be the MC! Hense...busy!!!

So now you may be expecting a big post about something...but you're about to be disappointed.  I'm just going to do a little AW about this wedding.  I'm so happy for them! They deserve a post;)

So... CONGRATULATIONS KAT AND ANDREW!!!!

How did that happen?!

Holy carp (yes, like the fish!), Mr. Dan and I have been married ONE MONTH today! wo0t wo0t! It seems like just yesterday that we were standing in front of my Grandfather (our minister) and our family and friends saying "I do.".  It's still an amazing feeling to me to wake up every morning and hear him call me his wife. 

Happy 1 Month, Mr. Dan! I love you;)

Pics...or it didn't happen!

As anyone who knows me will have heard me say: Pics, or it didn't happen.  So today I present you with a smattering of (non-pro) pics from the wedding.

It happened.

Chillin' in the hotel room

Waiting for the music...

Dad and I

Signing my life away.  (That's my Grandpa!!)

Mr. Dan signing his life away

We're murried!!!!!!

Mrs and Mr:)

First dance

Hello Gentlemen!

Mmm...cake....

Bouquets!  MIL made mine and MOH and I made the rest:)

Miiiiine!

Let them eat cake!

Told you it happened.

Murried!!!!!!

So I know you've all been dying to her about my amazing, fantabulous, AWESOMELY SPECTACULAR wedding...and so I give you the wedding recap:

Sunday morning was lovely. I couldn't sleep much past 5:30 but that was fine. All the ladies (mom, BM's, aunts, a few girlfriends and I) ate breakfast in the hotel then the BMs and I  relaxed in the room. We had champagne and OJ, played on Facebook, ordered pizza and just chilled out. Everyone kept joking with me that I was too relaxed, but honestly I just was. I had this wonderful sense of calm. No nerves, no jitters, just calm. It was AWESOME.

At 2:45 mom came and got us for the ceremony. We all went down and the music started. Girls went in and when it was time for us Dad just grabbed my arm and looked at me and said "Steady now. We've got this one." And then smiled at me and we were off. The ceremony was great (I kept grabbing looks at Mr. Dan) and only 10 minutes!! We signed the papers and then waited for Grandpa to come pronounce us....3 minutes....4 minutes...finally my aunt went over and then Grandpa comes back "My daughter told me I should now pronounce that we have Mr. and Mrs.Paige." I almost bust out laughing. Then all you hear is our photog yell "KISS THE BRIDE!!!" and the people in the seats start yelling "Yeah! Kiss her!!" "KIss Kiss!!"! Too funny! After it was just a blur of hugs and kisses.

Pictures were awesome! We went to the Public Gardens (beautiful!) with our family and the wedding party. Then just Mr. Dan and I headed with the photogs to another park, some woods, a pond and some random train tracks. I think we're going to have some AMAZING pictures. AND my photogs were amazing! Karen kept checking on us, Brian was bringing us drinks and setting up shots without us even knowing it. They made it so easy! (http://www.brianlarter.com/)

After that we met up with the wedding party and had a drink in our suite. Then we headed down to the reception. I could hear my brother annoucing us but no music. I thought it was weird but Drew (banquet manager) said it was okay and we'd just go with it. I was okay. So we get annouced and cheer and yay and suuuuch and then sit down. And I look over to see no DJ. Uh...what? So I grab Drew (who was AMAZING the entire night! He made sure everyone was taken care of, nothing went wrong or if it did he fixed it, and he kept getting us beer ♥ ) and ask. He says he'll figure it out. 60 minutes in to the reception (and while we're eating) the DJ shows up. (NOt sure what happened BUT he made up for it with the dance.) Speeches were AMAZABALLS. Dan's dad didn't want to speak but he wrote something and read it to us privately part-way through the reception. I'm getting copies of the speeches so I'll share later♥

Anyhoar: My brother was seriously an awesome MC. He was funny and quick and witty...just like I always tell him!! lol! He even said he really enjoyed himself. And everyone kept commenting saying "I didn't know your brother was so funny!" "How did I miss his sense of humour?!" It was GREAT!

The food was AMAZING! Like seriously some of the best food I've ever had. We got so many compliments on it. And zomg I agree...NOMMMM! Mom thought it would be funny to annouce to each table with kids that the candy buffet was now open. 15 minutes later there were only a few candy sticks left. The glow braclets were a HIT! Look at our cake pics and you can see that I had two on...I forgot to take them off for those pics...OOPS! lol

The dancing was wonderful! Our first dance was so nice, we just chatted and laughed and really enjoyed it. Dad and I had a blast too. The parrrrrrty was rockin'! Everyone was out on the floor and we all danced and partied...it was seriously the best party I've ever been to! Everyone said they enjoyed themselves(which is really what we wanted!) and I can't believe it's all over now!

It was seriously this amazing, wonderful, beautiful time! It went by quickly but we drank in all the details. It wasn't a blur...it was like a dream though. Everything was relaxed, and perfect. It could not have been better.

Wedding Hiatus

Sooo, as you may have noticed my posts are few and far between lately.  Well...I'm getting married on SUNDAY! So they will continue this way until the crazy has subsided.  I promise I will be back.

xo

I was pretty sure this was 2011....

But maybe I'm wrong.  Maybe we're back in the 50's where women lived in their kitchen and raised their kids, where people of a different ethnicity stayed in "their sections", where gays weren't gay...I didn't think I time traveled that easily but I MUST have done it because otherwise I just don't get it...

Two close friends of mine (a same sex couple) are planning their wedding.  Their Grandmother/FGMIL recently went to a shop in Maine to order their invitations for them.  The invitations were designed and made by her and they just needed them printed.  

(Sidebar: The guys are in NB, on the border, so g-ma getting something in Maine and bringing it over on the weekend saves a lot of cash!  Smart men!!)

Anyhoar, she discussed the invitations with the person at the store and was told she'd have a quote in a week.  The next week she hadn't heard so they contacted the store.  They were told that due to "Ethical policy" they wouldn't be doing their invitations.  They had been rejected based on content. Basically they were told "no thanks, you're gay".  Now, normally I wouldn't post this company's name but I feel people deserve to know who they're dealing with; the company was Wilton Printed Products out of Wilton, Maine.

I'm absolutely disgusted that it's 2011 and there is a "company policy" that would prohibit someone from printing wedding invitations for a same-sex couple!  It makes me both angry and sad at the same time.  I'm pissed that someone wouldn't want to help these two wonderful young men with their wedding and I'm sad that there are still people that don't support love.  What has happened to love in this world?! These gentlemen deserve a beautiful wedding and they deserve to be happy.  Why is there STILL a company out there that will not serve them?!  I don't understand how people can hate love so much.  I just don't understand...

Wow...when did that happen?

So apparently I'm getting married in 33 days.  When did that happen?  I always said I wouldn't panic...there's no point to it.  But I feel like I should be doing something.  I just feel like I have everything under control...and it's too easy.  My suspicions are aroused....  Hmm...

Anyhoar, now that we're so close I've got some things that need to be taken care of.  For example: My cake.  That really needed to get done.  So Mr. Dan and I headed down to the Gingerbread Haus Bakery and ordered our cake.  It won't be EXACTLY like this but:

Picture this with red piping for the ribbon and yellow daisies!

Next I headed down to the tailors and brought my dress in.  You may remember it:

Now, picture me about 20lbs lighter, no sash and with a sweetheart neckline.
Got it?  Good, because I'm lost.

After dropping the dress and getting asked (before I broached the same subject) "Can we pleeeeeeeease do a sweetheart neckline on you?! It would look so fabulous!!" I headed to my DIY pile to see what needed to be done:

Invites and RSVPs made and mailed - CHECK!

Bouquet ideas ready to make with FMIL - CHECK!

Candy buffet ready...minus labels and candy - CHECK!

Girls gifts bought...CHECK but they read this blog and I'm not giving it away =P

Really...everything is done or nearing completion.  I feel good.  I feel calm.  And now, all I need to do is get murried!  33 more days!

Wedding Update!

Today is not Wedding Wednesday...because Wedding Wednesday had turned into Windowshop Wednesday.  So instead, today I will just update you on all the fun things that are going on wedding wise....

So let's get started : 

Canada Post went on strike at the exact moment I was going to send my invitations.  FML, right?  Wellllll, only sort-of.  We ended up hand delivering about 80% of our invitations, which meant we actually got to sit and chat with family and friends (some of which we hadn't seen in a while) and it was really just a nice experience.  CP is back to work now so everything else has been sent!  And I've gotten a few back, and only 2 noes! Woah.


My dress has been sent to the tailors.  I'm SUPER excited about this.  I've gotten skinny.  HAHAHAHAHAH! No, okay that's a lie.  But I did lose 2 sizes since I bought it.  I would post a pic but Mr. Dan is watching me type...so no dice today.  But the big news about it? I'm getting a sweetheart neckline!!*squeeeeee* So excited!

Engagement photos! We're booked in for July 31! I'm pretty excited.  Any tips on what to wear would be greatly appreciated.


That's about it for now...Peace out!

Wedding Wednesday - also known as I make pregnant ladies cry....

Welcome to Wedding Wednesday...or making pregnant ladies cry, as I like to call it. But we'll get to that in a minute....

So as you may or may not be aware, my Grandfather is a retired Baptist Minister (as well as a retired teacher, driving instructor, an author...the list goes on...).  Grandpa has graciously agreed to perform our wedding ceremony.  I'm really excited for him to be the one to marry us, it's a really sweet gesture and my heart of ice MIGHT melt enough that I tear up.  Might.  Anyhow, Grandpa recently sent us the lovely ceremony and we okay'd it and sent it back. He's working on memorizing it for us.  But today I got an e-mail from a family friend that made me want to change our vows.  It's too late so I figure I'll incorporate it into our program somehow but it's so true and meaningful that I wanted to share it with you.

And with some friends....one of whom just happens to be pregnant and apparently it started some tears.  My marriage vows are just that cool.  hehe!  Sorry C!



Enjoy:

Knowing that we are both selfish, weak and willful, I give you my love without conditions.

I will not forget that laughter heals, that resentment corrodes, and selfishness divides, that a child’s happiness relies on our happiness together, that love gives, forgives, and gives again.

I will not be your master nor your servant, but your lover, companion, and friend, your partner in parenthood, your ally in conflict, your comrade in adventure, your consolation in adversity, your confederate in revelry, your accomplice in mischief, and your associate in the search for enlightenment.

I will be your husband/your wife, and your mate and I will spare no effort to be a mate worthy of the love you have given me.

Wedding Wednesday - Invites

So we've only got 7 months til the wedding.  It seems like just yesterday we got engaged.  Where did all that time go?! I have a dress, I have a veil.  We have a guest list,wedding party, venue, caterer, photog....what else do we need....Oh yes, those ominous invitations!  Well, being the crazy that I am, I've decided to make my own invitations.  I want them to be fun, fit with the colours, simple and really just something nice that I can send to people.  Oh...and I'd like to not spend an arm and a leg or 4 months of my life making them.  Simple requests, right?  Well, maybe not.  I've spent MONTHS looking for invitations.  It's hard business. I couldn't find anything I liked.  It was too simple or it didn't fit or it wasn't what I wanted.  Here's some of the things I came across that were close but just not it...

It's alright..but not at all what I wanted.  First thing I found when I googled "red and yellow wedding invites".

This is super cute but it was out of price range.  And it's not quite right...

I liked this...in red and yellow.  But not quite it.

And then I found...

http://www.theuncommonbride.com/diy_thediyphoebe.htm

THIS!! I love it.  No it's not red and yellow but it's easy enough for me to switch out the black for some nice yellow patterned paper.  It's a DIY kit from the Uncommon Bride, which I believe is out of Montreal, and I'm in love.  I'm going to use this as my inspiration, tweak it a bit and let 'er rip!!  I'm quite excited.

I'll post pics once I've gotten a sample done.  Thoughts? Suggestions?

Wedding Wednesday - Shit just got REAL!

I ordered my dress less than 2 months ago.  I was told it would arrive in 4-6 months.  That would put me at Feb - April for the dress.  Perfect.  It would only sit in a closet for a little while and then it would be altered and ready to go.  Wellllll I got a call last night that my dress is in.  It's done.  Less than 2 months.  And my first thought was "HOLY CRAP! SHIT JUST GOT REAL!".  I'm not even kidding.  It all became real when they told me I had a dress.  Now I won't be in to get it until January, there's no time with family and Christmas and my birthday and the like.  But January 10, 2011 I will be going in to try on and pick up my dress.  For those who don't remember what it looks like...

It will be ivory when I get the actual dress...but they only had white in store.  Anywhore, this is my dress.  It's here.  And shit just got very real.

Holy crap, I'm getting married!!!!!