Mike Fisher...

Ok so anyone who knows me, even my boyfriend, knows I have a soft spot for Mike Fisher.  I'm definitely one of those people who is very excited about the engagement news of him and Carrie Underwood.  What a cute couple. 

I read the following article about her wedding ring, estimated to be at least $150,000.00.  Some people are saying that it's too big.

Is there really such thing as too big for a famous country singer and an NHL heartthrob?

Read the article here.

More to prove that proposals aren't dead...

An article I just read on Canoe.ca says that December, or even Christmas time is one of the most popular times to get engaged.  Often more than Valentine's Day

Read the article here.

If you have a great holiday proposal story.  Let me know, I'd love to hear it!

Tia Photography

A friend of mine recently introduced me to a local photographer, I'm a big fan of her work.

We've been discussing putting up some of her photography on here and here is what Christina had to say about her company:

Tia Photography was started 3 years ago, it is my own self stared company and I am the only photographer, Tia is me! It is my childhood nick name my Grandmother and family called me, so my company is very close to my heart!

I have been shooting, self taught since I was 17 years old. I lived in the country and practiced on my surroundings and my new daughter.  I worked in Social Services until making the career change and going to Algonquin College and graduating in May 2009.  I decided it was time and my company was started and has been going ever since! I shoot family portraits, maternity, newborn, couples, and weddings. I have a studio in my home. I feel totally, 100 percent in love with what I do and soooo grateful! My clients have advertised for me the past 3 years and kept my company growing! I am so lucky. It's been hard, but all worth it.

Christina is a great photographer and has a great eye for an image.  Please check out her site, and check back for more wedding features.  You might want to catch her before she gets too popular!

How far is too far?

I read this article the other day, and couldn't believe it.

Cosmetic procedures for a wedding??  I instantly thought this was going too far.  I thought about it and teeth whitening, ok.  Botox, I don't really like the idea... but surgery for a wedding?  That seems like too much.

What are your thoughts?

Proposals aren't dead...

I knew I couldn't possibly be the last hopeless romantic out there.

A little while ago I wrote about an article I saw on CNN that suggested that people were just agreeing to get married over casual discussion, leaving out the surprise and romance.

The other day I read this post on another blog site, What Junebug Loves.  Laurel, a Seattle, WA photographer tells the story of a proposal/engagement soot that she was recently involved in.


The cutest story I've heard in a while... This is what movies are made of!

"I Me Wed"

It sounds like a silly idea, a silly title for a silly movie.  While, my mum caught it on t.v. not so long ago and told me about this cute little movie she just saw.  Turns out that it was filmed in our fantasic city, although, according to the film they were in Boston.

There are some great shots of a picnic by the canal, a great centretown home, and an apartment building on Bronson.

It's not an Oscar Award winning film, but it is a movie that entertained me for the evening.  It was empowering for girls, with a strong message that, we don't NEED a man to make us happy.  BUT that's not the whole message.  The movie goes on to show that being true to yourself, with or without someone else, is the important part.

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It seems to be a big topic today...

So please check out White Knot.

As it says on the front page, the White Knot is a symbol for marriage equality.

This page is very informative, gives facts about same sex marriage. The map below shows where the world is at currently with respect to same sex marriage and the punishment for it. That's right there are still places in this world that punish people for being themselves.

From the White Knot page.

Same sex marriages are legal in Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. Many other nations have same-sex civil unions or registered partnerships. See a complete list. This map also shows nations where homosexuality is punishable by law, even death. (Note: Not shown on map, Nepal now permits same sex unions but does not have an official law.)

██ No information

Homosexuality legal

██ Same-sex marriage

██ Civil unions or other recognition

██ No recognition of same-sex couples

██ Foreign same-sex marriages recognized

Homosexuality illegal

██ Minimal penalty

██ Large penalty

██ Life in prison

██ Death penalty

The next battle over same sex marriage

New Jersey, it the next state to propose a bill that would allow same-sex marriage.

Please read the article here.

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?

Perhaps a little book club?

My friend just introduced me to a new series of books written by Nora Roberts. I've never read anything by her before but it's a series based on a group of friends who have this wedding planning company. My friend thinks I'll like these little romance novels... The first one is called Vision in White.

I'll let you know as I go.

and then my daughter can wear mine...

Weddings are full of traditions and superstitions, it's suggested that maybe we are drifting away from the things we "have" to do.

As I was doing some research the other day I came up on an article suggesting that more and more brides are selling their dresses after the fact.

Click here to read the whole article.

Are we getting less sentimental? Is making money back really the most important thing?

What do you think? Will you keep your dress and have it stored away properly? Alter it? Sell it? and if you sell it, what would you put the money towards?

Please leave me your comment!

I call it focused, not obsessed...

Just more of me and my opinion on the drama that is Justina McCaffrey's career these days. I don't mean that in a bad way, it's just amazing what she has been going through and I really do feel bad because I truly believe that she is so creative and good at what she does...

While Ms. McCaffrey is working hard to build back her career, it's unfortunate that every time she does create a new dress, it's reported as a Justina McCaffrey designed dress. Not everyone knows her story and people still think of the little boutique on Sussex; not the woman who put all the work and effort into creating the dress.

When you google Justina McCaffrey, sure her new site comes up first but right after it is the brand that everyone is so familiar with.

Here's what I think, (and I hope Ms. McCaffrey sees this, I would LOVE to help see her beautiful dresses become as famous as they were, with her getting the credit) what Ms. McCaffrey needs is a new brand. Somewhere she can start again. I love the idea of the Phoenix, rising from the ashes to become something new... there's a beautiful constellation named after it, the branding of stars and feathers reminds me of one of those amazing dresses from the fashion show years ago. Again, maybe over stepping my bounds as a complete nobody in the fashion world but she needs new photos of her new dresses. I volunteer my friend and I to come in and do it for her. We are good with our cameras, I promise.

Off topic, but Good news for Ottawa!

This has nothing to do with weddings but it's very exciting Ottawa foodie news.

The Enroute magazine has just come out with this year's Top 10 New Restaurants in Canada. Ottawa has not one but 2 restaurants on the list!

Congratulations to Ottawa Chef Marc Lepine of Atelier, #4 in Canada's Top 10 new restaurants!!

Also, congratulations to Murray Street Restaurant at #5.

Click here to see the article!

A wedding in paradise.

Destination weddings are quickly growing in popularity, I just attended one in Hawaii this August, a beautiful ceremony and a perfect day, I couldn't have wished for more for Graeme and Danielle!

This is a time when a wedding coordinator makes a huge difference. Using someone in that city, or someone who is in your city but can take the time to find the best vendors for you is really important to making your day the best it can be.

Wedding Coordinators are also great for destination weddings because they can make sure that all the requirements are met for your marriage to be legal and transfer back to Canada. There are different requirements for each country, some require blood tests, others require you to be in the country a certain amount of time before the wedding. A coordinator can make sure that all of these details are taken into consideration.

Here are some of my pictures from Graeme and Danielle's traditional Hawaiian ceremony.

Talk to me!!

If you have any vendors you would like to rave about...
beautiful pictures to share...
or questions about your upcoming wedding...

email me at trixietulip@gmail.com

I'd love to hear from you!!

Co-ordinator? part 2

Why do people hire a wedding coordinator?

People hire wedding planners for many different reasons. Wedding planning takes a lot of time, these days our lives are busy and we are so quick paced that someone who can focus their time and energy into the research will put that time back into your schedule.

Perhaps the bride and groom are planning the wedding from out of town, someone who knows the area and the vendors is a great help.

Many brides don't know where to start, are unfamiliar with the industry they need guidance and the skills of an organized coordinator, there are a lot of details to cover?

A wedding coordinator that is associated with your venue is a great help to ensure that everything at the venue is correct, however, their job stays at the venue. They don't coordinate your flowers, linens and any extra touches.

The most important reason in my mind for a coordinator, is for the day of your wedding. Who will be responsible for setting up the decor, making sure everyone has their flowers, all those little details that make your day run smoothly. It is so important for the bride to be able to enjoy her wedding day, and do you really want your bridal party and your family members running around, or do you want them to enjoy your day too?

Co-ordinator? part 1

What is a wedding consultant or coordinator?

A wedding coordinator's role will vary from client to client. The coordinator will be there as much or as little as you need. Some people will want a wedding coordinator to be there and plan the wedding from start to finish, other clients will just want someone to answer questions and recommend vendors that will fit their budget.

To help with this wedding planners offer a variety of services: ranging from complete coordination, hourly consultations or day of coordination.

A wedding planner has many roles to play during the process of planning and executing a wedding, problem solver, mediator, organizer and director.

A wedding planner should not take over your wedding, they are there to guide you through the process to create YOUR dream day!

True Love

So really this blog is about weddings... tonight is less about weddings and more about what goes into the successful marriage.

After a busy night at the market restaurant I work at, I decided to stop in at one of my favourite places, Zoe's Lounge at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier (which does host a number of Ottawa's weddings and top events) to unwind and listen to the beautiful music.

I was inspired to write by this beautiful and classy couple that come in every so often. They must be in their late seventies, they come in, have a late dinner and then dance to Natalie's beautiful music. They are so in love and it gives all the staff and patrons hope that true love is out there.

It's just one of the forms of love I saw tonight, new couples, married couples, people who have just attended a wedding in the hotel and people just loving to sit and listen to Natalie sing and play the piano.

Love really is all around us.

War of the Rosettes

A couple weeks ago there was a very interesting article in the Ottawa Citizen about Ottawa's bridal icon, Justina McCaffrey. Over the last couple years she has been going through a hard time.

The article talks about, the boutique being bought in 2007, by her then brother-in-law, and in 2008 Justina being denied access to the store with her name on it. It also quotes Bridal boutique owner Newell Fox, of Solutions Bridal in Florida, who has continued to carry McCaffrey gowns since Justina left the company and says the "design hasn't dropped a bit."

When I was younger I used to stand outside that little boutique with the beautiful dresses in the window. In 2004, working on a Fashion Show in the market, I had the opportunity to dress a couple of the models in these amazing gowns. It was quite an experience for me. Now walking by the store the dresses are not as beautiful or exciting. Is this a change in style from year to year, or a reflection of the change in ownership?

Click here to go to the full article

My first Post

Another wedding season has passed. This was a good one for me though, a bit of a Renaissance for me. No longer a hopeless romantic without an outlet, I have a fantastic boyfriend, my aunt got married for the first time at 50 and I have had the opportunity to brush off the wedding magazines and start helping a few of my friends plan their upcoming nuptuals.

That's what brought me to creating this site. I've been trying to get into wedding planning for years, the industry excites me! I've been trying to find a good resource for Ottawa brides to go to, feel comfortable asking questions and getting the answers they are looking for. What venues are good options for them? How do these colour match? How much should I be spending on photography? Plus great ideas for do-it yourself projects to help keep the budget down. I also wanted to find a place to show Ottawa vendors, we have some great ones here!

Please stay tuned for updates... I can't wait to share my passion with you!