what a pessimistic view...

The people writing the "Relationships" columns on the CNN page all seem to be a little jaded, today while I was reading I came across this article Are Marriage Proposals Dead?

The article is suggesting that the idea of a proposal isn't the same now. That people talk about getting married, shop for a ring together and that's it. Kind of the way Carrie and Mr. Big did in the Sex and the City movie.

Are we losing all our romance, the element of surprise, the grand gestures? I really hope not. I've admitted before to being a hopeless romantic, I've had friends tell tales of scavenger hunts, grand speeches, proposals on hikes in the mountains and renting of skating rinks. Is it wrong to want to be surprised and swept off our feet? I want a story that I will be able to tell forever and that will make my friends jealous.

I think maybe I just need to cut my self off of romance novels, and cheesy romantic movies... or maybe I'll just hold on to my hope that romance isn't completely dead.

Does anyone have a great proposal story to share?

And she's back in the game!!

Hi everyone!

Sorry for my little disappearance in the last week or so. I was crazy with work and then off on a well deserved girl's weekend with my mum and sister to the fine city of Boston.

Why is it that everyone's reaction is "Why Boston??" It was a random choice that brought us to Boston (and the hopes of seeing my favourite football team, which didn't happen this time).

We did some of the tourist stuff, took in a lot of American history! Also, quite important to a good girl's weekend, we found some shopping time.

Walking around after dinner on our first night there was a store that just drew me in! For the unbride, or just a bride who is looking for a great vintage shop please check out designer Michal Negrin. This store located in Faneuil Hall Marketplace is full of romantic and feminine accessories, clothes and paper products, including a bridal line.

A showroom by appointment only is located in Port Hope, ON.

A Beautiful Day in Maine.

One day last week I was browsing my favourite blogs when I came upon this wedding posted on theunbride.com. Laura and Susie are a Maine couple that were getting married, just before before the passing of Question 1.

The photographer Brooke Schwab wrote of the wedding:
"this wedding was sweet and beautiful! laura and susie two met 6 years ago through a job and fell in love quickly. they moved to maine to work and knew that this is where they would be married. these two were fun brides and I learned that it sure does take a lot longer for two brides to get ready. we shot along the coast of maine and in a national forest prior to the ceremony and it was beautiful (minus the rain). the reception was held at a beautiful home with an attached barn where they had an early dinner with friends and family. this misty wedding day was a beautiful affair."

Your dress after the day...

Have you thought about donating it?

The Bride's Project in Toronto has created a great way to give back after your wedding day. They take used dresses and accessories as well as corporate donations and sell them and lower prices to brides to be. The great thing about the Brides Project is that the money they raise goes to help children and adults with cancer.

A cute little idea that they promote, is leaving little notes with your dress for the next bride to wear it. The note will give them a little understanding of where your dress came from and why you donated it.

I think it's a great idea! You don't even have to be in Toronto or go to Toronto to contribute. They have information on their page about the beset way to send your dresses to them in the mail.

Please check out The Bride's Project.

A friend of mine sent me this...

I think it's supposed to be a joke... It's not hilarious, but kind of funny.
The source is unknown.

*****
Jennifer's wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement -- not even her parents' nasty divorce.

Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best dressed mother-of -the-bride ever! A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father's new young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother!

Jennifer asked her step mom to exchange it, but she refused. "Absolutely not. I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I'm wearing it," she replied.

Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, "Never mind sweetheart. I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special day."

A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress. When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked
her mother, "Aren't you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another occasion where you could wear it."

Her mother just smiled and replied, "Of course I do, dear. I'm wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding..."

I have to wait till when??

Ok so my new little romance novel addiction of the Bridal Quartet, maybe not be unfinished from book to book. But I want to read more.

Last night I did something a little stupid. Knowing about my long day with both jobs, I picked up my book... and didn't put it down until it was done.

Emma and Jack lived happily ever after... of course only after he made a mistake and she had to forgive him... and in the fashion of romance novels, we now have 2 best friends engaged in 6 months of book time.

Next book is out in May 2010, so I will have to find other things to keep me busy. I'm pretty sure that won't be a problem.

Saturday Night...

This past weekend Ottawa Wedding Planner Stacey Price hosted a fundraiser for Breast Cancer, Something White for Something Right. The event encouraged women to come out in their wedding gowns, or simply wear all white and raised about $5,000.00

Something tells me that this is an event that will be around again next year! Congratulations to Stacey, her team and all the brides that participated!

Photo by: David Gonczol, The Ottawa Citizen

Bed of Roses

I spent a very lazy Sunday, when I had many other things I should have or could have been doing, reading book number 2. Bed of Roses.

These books have a great way of sucking you into a world that, although it doesn't exist, feels like it does.

Emma is falling in love with Jack, who is not a commitment guy but finds himself falling in love with Emma. Will they make it... it's a romance novel.. so of course they will, but I am definitely enjoying reading about their journey.

Not everything is traditional...

I was browsing around the Internet, looking for new and interesting things to post, when I came across this article.

Although they aren't from Ottawa, this couple from the London, Ontario area did something that just touched my heart. A second marriage for both parties, they already had everything they needed so they gave back to an organization that had helped them in the past. Both the couple and their guests did an amazing thing.

Read this heartwarming story here.

On to Book number 2...

So I've started reading the second book kin the Bride Quartet series by Nora Roberts... Bed of Roses.

Proving to be as addictive as the previous novel, I have been sitting around reading it whenever I get a chance. This time it's Emmaline's (the florist) turn to find love. Will see find it with Jack, her best friend's brother's best friend??

Should I or Shouldn't I?

I was browsing CNN, as I tend to do everyday. The headlines, entertainment then the living sections. I came across this article.

Change your name after marriage - Why?

I find it funny (odd not haha) that in a day when we live in a free country and have so many options that someone's name choice after they get married could be an issue. Oddly, it's not even the first time it has come up this week.

The definition of feminism is that it is the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men. Under this definition, I consider myself feminist, equality is the goal. I do not see taking the name of a person one has chosen to spend their life with as a negative thing. Is it wrong for a strong woman with a career and an identity of my own to want to take their husband's name when and they get married? In my opinion I would still know exactly who I am and I consider it just another stage in my life.

Keeping a "maiden name"or "birth name" for professional reasons or for personal reasons makes sense to me. I even get hyphenating names, creating a new name or even a man taking his wife's name. Why create more issues when we have much more important things to worry about.

* Useless fact: In the middle ages, before it was the husbands name that was used, it was the family name of the higher class family.

... and something blue

There are some traditions that are falling by the wayside... others are sticking around and some are just fun. The idea of something blue is a great and fun way to add some colour to your wedding.

If you are having a wedding with a blue theme it can match your decor, if not it can be a great and creative way to add a burst of colour.

I went and did a little "window shopping" on Etsy - a great site for handmade accessories and other items. Here is some of what I found:
Items are from vendors: (clockwise from top left) hair clip, BrassPaperclip; blue bird necklace, LycheeKiss; Garter, Garter Lady; Ocean Bubbles pearl bracelet, AMIdesigns; cluth purse, JuliaSherryDesigns; blue birdcage veil, JadeRoseDesigns; navy bolero jacket, maryandangelica

well it was less than a week...

and probably the first book I've finished in a while.

My first venture into romance novels and it was great. I can't wait to start the second one... but wait, that means I'll have to wait for the 3rd and 4th books!

I've always known I was one of those hopeless romantics. The girls that movies like The Notebook are written for. This book was great in that it didn't have the grand romantic gestures, just the little things that make someone realize they are in love. The main love interest that listens, is patient, cooks, stands up to us when we are being stupid... but can hold your hand just that right way and look at you like you are the only thing that matters.

Ahhh... romance.

Everyone should read this book, if you are looking for a nice fun read that will leave you smiling.

Vision in White

My Nora Roberts book is coming along well. I can see how people just keep reading and reading these romance novels. They are really easy to relate to, the characters seem like normal people and the romantic interest seems just like the guy that all woman want to find... so far anyway.

The story is based around 4 friends who own a wedding company called Vows. Parker is the planner and owns the venue, Laurel is a chef and does the cakes, Emma is a florist and Mac the main character of this novel is the photographer. She reconnects with Carter, a nerdy yet intriguing guy from the past when he shows up to support his sister in a consultation.

I can honestly say that I don't want to put it down at night.

More to come.

Some great photos!

My friend sent me an email today with a link to some pictures taken by a Brooklyn New York photographer. The wedding has a really great fall feel to it and Susan Stripling's photos are beautiful.


Click here to view the photos and many others on her blog.

Does anyone have any engagement or wedding pictures that they would like to share?