Life Lately :: Our First Wedding Anniversary

Earlier this year, we asked our friends how they would spend their first wedding anniversary. They had it figured out. Each year, the anniversary would celebrated in a different city. Planning responsibilities would alternate so they could take turns surprising each other. When they finished explaining their plan, I looked at my friends and told them I was sorry, but that was just too perfect and I would be stealing the plan.

obsessed with this tiny electric bus | last walled city in North America

Since I planned Jacks 30th birthday this year he took on planning our first anniversary. He chose an amazingly romantic first city and managed to keep the entire thing a surprise!

We left for Quebec City after breakfast and a coffee. Rather than driving the whole way we stopped in Trois-Rivière a town about an hour outside of Montreal for lunch. It ended up being quite charming, we found wild flowers and even tried our first Cronut! 

dorks | awful stairs to our hotel from the waterfront

We continued on, arriving in Quebec City just in time to check in to our hotel in old Quebec. Our room was fantastic, overlooking old Quebec with a gorgeous view. The hotel also had a heated, outdoor pool which usually wouldn't sway me BUT, since moving away from the ocean, my heart has had a constant yearning to swim - it was perfect.

photos of photos | cute little streets | our new home {one day} | shyness at the wall

We changed quickly and left to explore. Rather than calling around for a reservation we wandered around until we found something that looked perfect - le lapin sautée. We made a reservation for 9 and continued our adventure. Dinner was delicious. We ordered many little bits - wine, charcuterie, salads - and split a main. On our way home from dinner we stumbled upon quite an amazing fireworks display, which we clearly assumed was done for us.

fireworks | dinner | Chateau Frontenac | toasting in the park

One of my favourite wedding gifts was a trio of wines - champagne to celebrate a first anniversary, red wine for a fifth and another red for a tenth. We brought the champagne with us and, as there was no hotel patio, went to the gardens next door to cheers our first year. So dreamy. We ended our night with a trip to the most posh McDonald's I've ever seen for mcnuggets and a drumstick mcflurry. The most romantic. 

photos of photos | jack versus winston churchill

The next morning we woke up early to swim, explore, relax, eat crepes and adventure before leaving for home. I couldn't think of a more perfect first anniversary, and I can't wait for our fifth!