Save the Date!

The save the date was inspired by our recent trip to Paris where we visited the Ponts Des Arts Bridge. We locked a padlock with our names etched on it to the bridge and through the key into the Seine river---"and our love will be forever locked"

So you want to be a Canadian, EH?

Marrying into the Canadian culture you are expected to live up to a few expectations. You are required to have at least one Christmas ornament with a Canadian Maple leaf on it,  you  must love(*and understand) hockey and know who Don Cherry is, and you have to have a Jack & Jill (otherwise known as a Stag &Doe, Buck & Doe or Wedding Social in other Provinces.)

"What is this?!" you may ask your American self. Well, in Canada a Jack & Jill (and other above mentioned titles) is a party held for an engaged couple. A hall or venue is rented and people buy entrance tickets. Generally there is a lot of liquor and/or beer behind a bar manned by members of the wedding party, a band or DJ (my first experience at a Southern Ontario Jack & Jill was complete with a live Country band and line dancing.. yeehhaww!), as well as prizes and silent auctions.

At first this may all seem a bit strange to a traditional American bride... But when I sat down and  thought about it I realized that all a Jack & Jill really is, is a slightly more booze-heavy version of a Bridal Shower where I get to dance..*and don't have to open presents in front of everyone I thought...this sounds like a great idea,EH?! :)

So feel free to come on over to Ontario if you are in need of a true Canadian Cultural experience this Memorial day weekend.

Jarvis Community Center

18 James St.

Jarvis, ON

May 26th 2012

8pm-1am

Step one: Set a date!

A mere three and a half months later we have set the date! Much easier said than done when attempting to make arrangements from 4,000 miles away. We have decided on Saturday May 18th, 2013 in my hometown of Marquette, MI. For all of my soon-to-be Canadian family this falls on your May long weekend. We are hoping that the extra day off from work and school will help make your journey all the way to the U.P. easier!

We have decided to have the ceremony at the Huron Mountain Art Gallery on the first floor of the Peter White Public Library, followed by the reception at the Marquette County Historical Society.  And although there are still a bajillion details to be worked out, I can rest assured that the most important detail of all has been decided... Lewis's bow tie.  After making that decision everything else will be a piece of cake!

Blue seawater seersucker bow tie from the
shop of "Learned Stitchworks" on Etsy

The Engagment

Aurland, Norway October 16th, 2011

 

Aurland, Norway is about a 4 hour drive from Lillehammer, where we are currently living, on the innermost part of the Songefjord. There is a lookout bridge there which was featured on a Design and Architecture blog I read, so I had been bugging Ryan to go there since before we even left the States.  I had just returned from Japan the night before, but when Ryan asked if I wanted to go to the lookout bridge the following morning I jumped at the opportunity... and really didn't think twice about it. 

The drive there was beautiful as we weaved in and out of the mountains, keeping our eyes peeled for moose.

When we got there I was estactic and immediately started taking photos of everything. I was facing off once side of the bridge capturing some shots when I heard Ryan say " You should turn around and take a picture of this." I turned around ready to snap a pic of a beautiful mountain view.. or even a moose. Instead I saw Ryan down on one knee with the ring out. I immediately started screaming.. I don't think he even got to ask his big question for a few minutes. When he finally did of course I said "yes".