The Details, there are details, and then there are more details....

I'm wanting to be a frugal bride. After all, it is but one day and the focus should really be on the marriage. That being said I don't want to cut any important corners. We've chosen our venue - a boat (it belongs to a friend), a caterer (the wife 2 be of the friend who ones the boat), can supply most of the protein for the wedding at a very reasonable cost (we have food connections). But the thing about a boat is that it's capacity is finite...and as such we must keep our guest list to 70ish - maximum.

Which is part of the reason why I've also chosen to do a second reception in Alberta where most of my family is from.

So the ceremony and reception in Victoria will largely be my dh2B's family, our friends in Victoria and my 'core' family. The reception in Alberta will largely be my extended family and my Alberta friends...

It's a way for me to include everybody and celebrate our marriage, keep the costs reasonable, maximize the amount of time that can be spent with everybody, and minimize (overall) the expense and time of travelling for our guests. I just hope too many toes won't get stepped on in the process....

The Venue and The Date

As of this past Tuesday, we settled upon a venue (The M.Y. Northwind - a fantastic restored heritage yacht)....and a date. I will be saying I Do to the love of my life on May 17, 2009. A prime date if ever there was one!

Now the other planning can get under way. As I have a flex day today, I may even get a chance to do some dress shopping!

The bridesmaids are selected, and I think I've got an idea about numbers

So my women by my side will be my future step daughter (age 8), my best friend, my sister and my future sister in law. In terms of numbers, it looks like it'll be aroun 80 people. And bare bones wise it could be as small as 60ish. It all depends, what is the capacity of the venue???

Popping the Question

I've waited very patiently for 'the question'. I largely thought it would have happend last year, but it did not.

It happend on Sunday, October 26 (I knew it was going to). We went out to the Deep Cove Chalet, an exceptional restaurant in Deep Cove (near Sidney). Our favorite restaurant is Brasserie L'Ecole, but they are not open on Sundays and Mondays...and schedule wise it was looking like the week was going to be busy.

We shared sauteed chanterelles and malpaque oysters for appetizers. He had the beef wellington, and I had the quail for the main course and we paired it with a bottle of 2005 Chatteau Neuf du Pape (a really nice wine)...

And then before dessert but after the main course he leaned over and asked if I would be his wife, of course I said 'yes'. He pulled out a lovely hexagonal box (red with gold detailing), and inside was my ring, resting on tissue paper. I slipped it on my finger (of course it fit perfectly, he had asked for my ring size a few weeks earlier). Although I knew the engagement was 'in the works', I had not seen the ring before - it is perfect.

We then had creme brulee.

Not what I planned, but....

When I met my DH to be, I was determined to move to London. Determined to leave my life and start fresh in a whole new place. It was New Years' 2006/07, I hadn't gone home that Christmas, single and exhausted, I just wanted time and space to myself. I thought I'd practice going out on my own. I ventured out, flipped a coin to decide where to go (heads: Hugo's, tails: Canoe Club). Hugo's it was. I was in line for the restaurant side (after all eating is a good idea if one is to be drinking). I got to the front of the line and asked if any tickets remained, I was told that there were no more restaurant tickets but that there was still some tickets on the bar side. So I lined up for the bar side. While I was waiting in line, G, part of my DH to be's group of friends, approached me - apparently they overheard my conversation with the hostess - apparently they had a spare ticket that they would sell me. I bought it. Shortly after his group adopted me for the night. DH to be took a real shine to me, and half through the night stated 'I don't care if you're moving to London, you're beautiful let me buy you dinner'.

And that is where it all began, not what I planned, but probably much for the better.