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!

Jack and Sorren got married

One year ago today, I married the love of my life, my best-friend and my favourite person in this whole wide world! Jack, marrying you was the most exciting and natural thing I have ever done. It so hard to believe that an entire year has passed since we stood in front of our family and friends promising to do all those things, big and small, we do so willingly. We’ve already had so many wonderful moments together and I am oh-so excited for all our adventures to come!

Wedding Wednesday :: Budget Breakdown

It's all well and good to share all the details my sweet day BUT for those of you planning your own wedding, I thought sharing a bit of the more practical side [i.e. financial side] might be even more exciting. 

As Jack and I were the ones footing the bill for our wedding we tried to keep costs as low as possible. Initially I had wanted to spend even less however I would not give up my dress, my menu or my photographers. All in all - money well spent!

INVITES: $88

      $6  Paper: cardboard

      $6  RSVP paper: craft paper

      $3  Seal paper

      $6  Seal cutter

    $35  Envelopes

    $10  Screen printing ink

    $22  Transparencies

ATTIRE: $1,450

  $960  Bride's wedding dress: inspired by Vera Wang, sewn by a seamstress.
  $180  Groom's suit: Ted Baker [at an appalling discount - hurray for the Bay one-day sales!]
  $150  Groom's shoes: Ted Baker
    $75  Bride's shoes: Yosi Samra
    $35  Bride's something blue
    $50  Groom's cufflinks, pocket square & perfectly skinny tie

PRIMPING: $330

  $150  Bride's hair: trial + day of
  $100  Bride's makeup: trial + day of
    $80  Sister's hair

FOOD & DRINK: $2,124

$1500  Sandwiches & salads: as made by the talented, Andrew Farrell

  $345  Cakes, cupcake, cake pops

      $0  Stands & trays: borrowed

    $15  Dinner & dessert plates

      $7  Straws

    $35  Candy

      $0  Candy bags: given to us by friends

    $22  Mason jars: some borrowed, some bought

  $200  Bar supplies*: propeller bitter keg, homemade spiked pink lemonade & other bits
             *we opted for a toonie bar which helped to keep bar costs manageable 

RECEPTION: $944

  $453  Table & chair rentals: for 70 people
  $121  Table cloths: Bought from fabricville, cut into table cloth length
    $30  Table runners: Bought from fabricville and borrowed from friends
    $25  Bunting: Fabric bought and sewn by a friend
  $120  Lights: Bought and borrowed
  $110  Flowers: Hydrangeas bought wholesale  
    $85  The sound system

THE REST: $2,524

$1500  The photography
    $30  The bouquet: Mini calla lillies bought wholesale
    $90  Wedding favours: blueberry jam made by a local business
  $448  The rings 
  $121  The marriage license
  $120  The justice of the peace
  $130  Porta-potty
    $85  Miscellaneous

TOTAL: $7,460

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or email me to ask!

Wedding Wednesday :: Sweetness

Oh my goodness. Guyyyyys, I forgot to share our desserts! How this happened - I will never know. In any case, here they are. I am incredibly jealous of the me who got to eat these all those months ago. 

Lemon cake with Lemon Curd filling and Vanilla Buttercream

Almond cake with Chantilly Cream filling and Vanilla Buttercream

Mini Maple cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing | Mini Lemon cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream
Mini Almond cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream

Cake Balls! White cake with French Vanilla Icing & Chocolate cake with Chocolate Fudge

Red Velvet cake with Chocolate Ganache filling and Chocolate Buttercream

Wedding Wednesday :: Late night

We invited our guests to celebrate late into the night with us. Plying them with a keg of propeller bitter, an old fashioned barn dance with our favourite ipod DJ, photo booth fun and a midnight candy table. The party continued until 2am - squeezing every last minute from our noise by-law extension. 

midnight candy table

photo booth snaps

photo booth snaps

photo booth snaps

*all photos by Chelle Wootten photography

Wedding Wednesday :: The Menu

At times, I cannot help but wish to be transported back to August 18, 2012 so we could do it all over again. One reason for this is to have another go and the amazing spread our friend, and chef, Andrew prepared. It. was. appalling. The shame of it all was we barely got to have bite once in the barn for the reception. I suppose it was fate that the rain stranded us in the kitchen allowing for a fifteen minute, private tasting slash full blown face-stuffing sesh.

As the photos speak for themselves, I have no more words. 

roasted veggie sandwiches

Cup o' Beef

chef extraordinaire, Andrew!

Pesto Pasta Salad

[open-face meatloaf sandwiches in front]

FULL MENU

Wedding Reception :: Details

Much like the ceremony, our reception was littered with DIY details. From the guest book to the photo booth we added touches wherever we could manage.

Jack drew little cartoon versions of us holding balloon strings for our guest book. Old windows were propped up close by outlining what to do. 

With the help of Jack's aunt, our favours, blueberry jam made by a local farm, were adorned with twine and a J&S tag available for guests to collect on their way out. 

The Super 8 cameras Jack had collected throughout the year prior were set up with instructions to be used at will.

Hydrangeas we had bought from a local wholesale distributor were placed in wooden crates bought en mass from the dollar store and stained by Jacks aunt. 

Table cloths were just long pieces of white fabric bought from fabricville, while the runners were either borrowed from my friend or sewn by my mother. Since we were going for a rustic, romantic feel the unfinished ends of the cloth fit right in and even added to the atmosphere!

In keeping with the touches from the ceremony, the main details of our reception were bunting, flowers and twinkle lights. The flowers were brought in from the ceremony, while our bunting was sewn by a very lovely friend and the lights were strung by very patient men.

The barn itself had such character that I shied away from too many details as I didn't want them to compete and clash. It was soft, simple and romantic.

*all photos by Chelle Wootten photography

Wedding Wednesday :: Reception

Our reception was a little bit crazy. Originally, it had been laid out in the front part of our backyard. Long banquet tables to one side, with cocktail tables and a bar to the other. Lights had been strung across the entire space set to be turned on as the evening set in. Once the torrential rain hit however our planB was in effect.

surprise champagne!

Our amazing guests put down their cocktails, cheeses and beers and started grabbing chairs, tables and whatever else they could manage. My sisters and brother had been given a detailed, barn rain plan and directed everyone for placement. By the time Jack and I arrived everyone had a drink in their hand, a smile on their face and rained-on clothing had begun to dry. I'm told the men were chivalrous and the women outstanding. Part of me wishes I could have been there with them.

There was champagne and soon after, food, speeches and tears. I couldn't have felt more lucky than to have such amazing friends and family around to help us celebrate. Below, I've chosen a couple of my favourites snaps from during the reception. 

Our MC, Jack's brother, Alex

post Father-of-the-Bride speech

post Sister-of-the-Groom speech

Attempting to express our gratitude