One Week and Counting!

We are down to single-digits in the wedding countdown and I couldn't be more excited!  I've been a little distracted at work lately, but luckily there is only 3 more days to go.  Dress fittings are complete, and the Mom's did an impressive job helping me put some projects to rest last weekend.   You didn't think we just let them play the whole time did you? 

Our big day is so close that today we are welcoming the first travelers - my Matron of Honour, Gloria and her husband, Jeremy.  It's a great day here as Hurricane Irene isn't upon us just yet.  Last forecast had Irene missing Nova Scotia pretty much completely -fingers crossed!  Hopefully the travelers arriving Monday are not affected.

We spent some time today watching Jack Layton's funeral.  Now while that may sound morbid, they did a fine job of making it a celebration of his life.  No matter what your political stripes are, you have to acknowledge that Jack Layton was one of the most charismatic politicians that Canada has had for a number of years.  His optimism, determination, and view for a more respectful and generous Canada, were inspiring to many.  If in you haven't already, I recommend a read of his last message to Canadians.  It would have been an interesting four years with Mr. Layton as our Opposition Leader.  You will be missed Jack.

Volleyball on the Waterfront

For those of you who know me, you know I have been playing volleyball for a loooong time - over 20 years in fact!  While I'd love to have a little volleyball fun with everyone, that's not actually what this posting is about.  It is actually about watching some really great players in the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH Junior World Championships.
 
The event will take place in downtown Halifax right on the waterfront for players from around the world under the age of 21.  And in fact, the Canadian men's team are reigning champions! 

It's the first time (to my knowledge) that an event like this has taken place in Halifax.  The weather forecast is great for the entire event, so if you are in town and looking for something to do, this is a pretty unique opportunity! Check it out at the link above. 

Meet the Parents

For the five plus years Eric and I have been together, there has never been an occasion for our parents to meet each other.  With only a few weeks to our wedding, we thought it would be nice for them to get to know each other, and so we arranged for a "Meet the Parents" weekend!

Maman et Papa Cayouette
Mumsy and Popsy MacNeil
The only problem as that we have one true guest bed... and one not-so-comfortable davenport or an air mattress.  So, to make things truly fair, we had to set the parents against each other to earn the right to sleep on a real bed.  The game had to be new to both sets of parents, a game of skill and strategy, a game where losing your cool means getting booed off the stage.  The game?  Rock Band! 

My vote was three-legged races, but Eric pointed out that we really did not want to cause any injuries ... physical anyway, injuries to pride and ego we deemed to be perfectly acceptable. :)

In any case, Mumsy & Popsy MacNeil took on Maman et Papa Cayouette in a "rock off" to Weezer's Say it Ain't So, with the Cayouette's coming out on top.  Perhaps noteworthy is that both mothers played the drums... It seems their normally-relaxed demeanors mask a need to hit something with wooden sticks.

And just for the record, they did seem to enjoy it, and did actually play a little more WITH each other after the intense competition was over.   I guess you could say Wii brought our families together.

Ahoy Matey!

For them that be around Thursday, Septembarrrr 1, Eric and I have booked ourselves on a Cocktail Cruise.  In a nutshell we be headed out on the sea in a sailboat, the Marrrrr, from 6:30pm t' 8:00pm.  Costin' and bookin' information be found on t' Murphy's Cable Whaft website, and we encourage you t' join us!  Hors d'Oeuvres beserved free o' charge, and t' boat will serve ye fine rum for a few small pieces of gold.

FYI - you receive a full refund if the sail is cancelled due to the stormin' seas, or if you cancel your bookin' at least 24 hours in advance.  No refund if ye walk the plank...

For ye scallywags wi' a hankerin' for more grog an' plunderin', or landlubbers who have a fear o' the sea, we be hittin' the town o' Halifax after the Cruise and you be welcome to join us for a few tasty pints of rum. 

A little parched? We've got you covered!

If you have been exploring the Hatfield Farm website at all, you may have come across the fact that they do not have a liquor liscence, and events there are often BYOB (bring your own booze).  However, that will NOT be the case for our wedding.  We will be hosting an open bar, and as such, you cannot BYOB as it would be in violation of our liquor liscence.  We are pretty sure we'll have all bases covered for anyone who wishes to indulge.

On that note, a reminder that accomodations are a bit of a drive away.  While there are taxis that will service Hatfield Farm, is will still cost you $30+ to get to any of the hotels in the area, and more like $60to get to hotels in the downtown area.  We encourage you to stay in one of the bunkhouses at Hatfield Farm - very reasonably priced and breakfast included!  This frees you from the need to drive or taxi, and also lets you party for a little longer!  While deciding on the spot IS possible, it is better if you give it a little thought beforehand as Hatfield Farm does not provide linens.  More information on the Accomodations page!

One Month and Counting...

Goodness gracious!  Where has the time gone!  I remember when the wedding countdown showed over a hundred days to go... now we are down to less than a month, and down to the nitty gritty of wedding planning!

Luckily, Hatfield Farm takes care of most of the big stuff, and the few big things we had to do (dress, photographer, flowers) are done.  Now, it's details.  I've had my first dress fitting, Eric has been measured for his tux, we are confirming our ceremony details, picked out ties and jewellery, and are starting to have fun with some crafty projects!  Many thanks to my sister Susan who came to town to help me make some decisions about those... For some reason, Eric just wasn't interested in spending a few hours in Michaels, my favorite crafty store!

Of the items we've checked off our list recently, the most important one was "get marriage licence".  I picked ours up just yesterday, and it really made me stop for a moment and remember that this big party coming up is to celebrate a pretty big event. 

Eric and I are getting married!  I'm going to have a husband!  I'm going to be a wife!  It is amazing how that most important of facts almost gets lost in the business of planning the party!  I have had the pleasure of sharing my life with Eric for a few years now, and feel pretty lucky to be able to do it for years to come.  I can't think of a better way to start our married life together than a celebration with our families and friends!

Gift Registry

Hello everyone!  One thing we are being asked a lot lately is about our Gift Registry.  There is no information on this on our website because... we're not registered anywhere!  Eric and I have been together for a number of years, and have lived independently for a number of years before that, so coming up with a list of things we needed or wanted seemed like a difficult task.  That being said, we have only been in our house for a few months now and there are bound to be things that come up.

Our "catch phrase" response to this question has been "Your presence, not presents!" as we are really more excited to have you there to share our day than to have something to open up.  If you would like to get us a gift, here are some ideas that we know we'll use:
- Gift cards for stores like Home Depot, Canadian Tire, HBC, Chapters, Winner/Homesense, groceries (Atlantic Superstore, Sobeys) or gas (Esso, Petro-Canada)
- Gift certificates for malls (MicMac Mall, Halifax Shopping Centre) or restaurants in the Halifax area
- Trip to Bermuda (hey... can't blame a girl for trying?!?)

Thanks again, and we can't wait to see you!!!