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Welcome to our Wed site!

September 5th is fast approaching - stop by often and stay updated on all the happenings. Leave a message and introduce yourself to other party-goers! We look forward to celebrating with you.

  • It's Official - We're Married

    Like a camera flash, it was over in minutes

    Wonderful. Magical. Fairy-tale-like. Fun. Light. Serious. Near-Perfect.... What a terrific day we had on Saturday, surrounded by all of our close friends and loved ones - we couldn't have asked for better weather, a better setting, or a better wedding. When planning an event of such nature, one expects things will 'happen...' Go wrong...go REALLY wrong. The Universe was shining down on us on Saturday, because so many things went right for us. What an incredible day it was. Thank you to everyone for their support and good wishes, and of course for their concern over Ron, John's dad. He is much improved and investigating things this week with his GP. Happily ever after... Kathie & John
    Added by Kathie on
    Wed, Sep 9th 2009
    4 comment(s)

  • TWO MORE SLEEPS!!!!

    There aren't enough hours in the day!!!

    Speech...not started. Seating plan...almost done. Double-sided tape, getting there. Nails...lovely. Spirit...light and calm. The finishing touches are being put on everything and tomorrow (Friday) is the final rush to the finish line. We can't wait!

    Thanks to all of our friends and family who have helped us out, given us advice, thrown get-togethers in our honour, sent us little notes and loving e-mail messages, and even run around getting candles, tongs, baskets, bags, and the like.

    We hope everyone has a wonderful time on Saturday night - we can't wait to see you and celebrate with you. Please make sure you have a way to get home safely: there are ample cabs, the TTC is at the door, and there is a hotel across the street. Please enjoy yourself on us and with us, and make sure it's a night to remember, for all the right reasons.

    Love, Kathie & Johnny


    Added by Kathie on
    Fri, Sep 4th 2009
    1 comment(s)

  • SIX MORE SLEEPS!

    Boy, does a year ever fly by!

    Well, here we are in the final stretch - proof that life is fleeting and we should try to enjoy every moment of it, because before you know it, it's gone! I can't believe we started planning our wedding over a year ago, and here we are! Whoa!

    John and I, along with tonnes of help from my sister Lynn, our awesome friend Heather, and even my niece, are busy putting the final touches on our big day. Yesterday I was covered in spray adhesive as I made each and every single place tag, that you see pictured here. Still lots to do, so this will be short. Today I sent out an email entitled The Top 10 Things You Need to Know about Kathie & John's Wedding. I haven't received any bounced or undeliverable messages, so that's a good sign. Also, I don't quite have all of John's family email address, so I hope they forward it on, as there is some pretty important messages in there. If you're reading this and didn't receive this email, please send one of us a note and we'll be sure you get it!

    In the meantime, despite being inundated with 'stuff' to do, we're really excited about our wedding! See you soon!

    Love, Kathie & Johnny
    Added by Kathie on
    Sun, Aug 30th 2009
    0 comment(s)

  • A Huge THANK YOU to all our friends...

    We had so much fun at our jack and jill!

    Just a quick hello and thank you to all of our friends who were able to come out to our recent Jack and Jill party, thrown by Sue, her husband Bob, and our good friend Linda. A great cross-section of our friends were able to join us for the afternoon get together on August 22, and we really appreciate all the good times, fun, visiting, food, drink and generosity of all our friends who contributed to our little honeymooon. Thank you to EVERYONE, and we're very much looking forward to our get away in Niagara on the Lake, at the Everhart Country Manor. Your generosity was overwhelming and humbling.

    As I said during my almost-teary speech, we wouldn't be throwing this party if it weren't for our many good friends. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts....

    We're very much looking forward to our day spent with all of you...in TWO WEEKs no less!!!

    Kisses and hugs,
    Kathie & Johnny
    Added by Kathie on
    Sun, Aug 23rd 2009
    0 comment(s)

  • What if the weather on September 5th is a bit rainy?

    It's an outdoor ceremony - don't forget

    We've put our order in for a nice, sunny and moderate-temperature day, and while September is usually nice, you never really know what Mother Nature has in store for us.

    The ceremony will start at 4:30 p.m. sharp, and it is taking place outdoors in the back garden. Unless is it POURING rain, the ceremony will still take place outside - think of the amazing photos of everyone standing and sitting with their colourful umbrella, and John and I at the front exchanging vows - how cute is that?!

    So, please throw an umbrella or two in the car - we won't really have extra, and we'd hate for you to have to miss our vows because you have to stand inside for 15 minutes while it sprinkles. After all, they say rain on your wedding day is good luck!

    By the way, should it decide to pour rain on our wedding day, we'll move the ceremony somewhere indoors - not sure where yet, but we'll figure it out. There's always the parking lot!

    Looking forward to celebrating with you!
    Added by Kathie on
    Mon, Aug 3rd 2009
    2 comment(s)

  • Calling all Athletes!

    Please bring your props for a fun, athletic photo op!

    Most of our guests know that John and I met through our passion of triathlon and running. And so, it is understandable that many of our friends are also athletic. Hence, we liberated a great idea from a friend, and think it would be fun and fitting to somehow capture this aspect of our social connections in a group picture.

    So, on September 5th, whether you are training for or have run a 5km, marathon, completed an Ironman, or swam Lake Ontario, please, please, please bring with you something that represents your athletic passion - it could be your running shoes, and/or a medal, and/or your swim goggles, or whatever you feel best represents you and your connection to us! We will plan with our photographer, Clint, to arrange for a huge group shot of everyone wearing their "prop" in their best suit or dress. It won't be all day, but we thought it would be a fun way to tip our hat to something that we as a couple, are passionate about.

    I'll send an email out separately, but in the meantime, please leave a note and let me know if you plan to participate, so I can start a list for Clint!

    Looking forward to having some fun with you!!!!

    Kathie & Johnny
    Added by Kathie on
    Fri, Jul 31st 2009
    1 comment(s)

  • Swim...Bike...Run...Birthday!!!

    Cake tasting with a surprise

    Anyone who knows either John or me know that we like to support the 'little guy...or in this case, girl.' Our forthcoming wedding is more about sharing the day with our family and friends, and having many personal touches so it is more of a celebration than it is a gala, fairy tale or princess anything. That is what is most important to us throughout this process, and on our day itself.

    Today John and I, along with our planners Melissa and Morgan, met with Juanita from     Sweet Things custom cakes, and what a fun day it was trying out all different cakes and working on our very own sweet surprise. Finding Juanita was one of those 'six degrees' situations, and I'm excited about working with her. She has a really amazing story, in fact, you can read here about how she started her business. Not only is Juanita amazing and talented, but learning about her story today solidified our reasons (and gut feeling) for hiring her as our cake designer.

    Juanita presented us with three, or was it four, perfect little four- and five-inch cakes complete with perfect fondant flowers, PLUS two cupcakes, for us to try a few of the different flavours we'd selected. After we had decided, or so we *thought* we'd decided on the flavours, she announced she had two other flavours in the kitchen, if we wanted to try them. Everyone but me hesitated, and then Melissa said she'd join me for a small taste. WOW! Am I ever glad I agreed, because that wonderful little cake usurped one of the flavours I'd decided on, hands' down! I will say that, even though the cake was really wonderful, all of us had *way* too much sugar this afternoon.

    The icing on the cake, as it were, was that Juanita specially made John his very own Swim, Bike, Run cupcake for his birthday (which was today), and presented it to him in a perfect little see-through box. How lovely was that?! I loved it so much, I wouldn't let him eat it until I took a photo for our wedding blog.

    Please visit Juanita's blog and like I do almost regularly, see what magic in cake batter and fondant she is creating this week! Thanks for everything, Juanita.
    Added by Kathie on
    Mon, Jul 13th 2009
    2 comment(s)

  • Things are rolling along

    Suddenly, I'm overwhelmed with the progress!

    So what seemed like few opportunities to update the blog has now become an avalanche of progress! This is getting exciting! Stressful...but exciting! I should be in bed but I wanted to add a few notes to update on what is happening...

    First, check out the "About the Wedding" section for some news.

    Second, tonight my mom, Kay (short for Kathleen) and I spent a couple hours together and she helped me arrange and 'stuff' the invitations. Many reading this will know that the past 18 months have not been easy, health-wise, for my mom, so it has been really, really special that she's been able to participate in the wedding planning process. She came to the venue way back when we were looking; she often gave her opinion, whether or not I was looking for one; she helped with the wine tasting we did a few weeks ago, and tonight, it was great fun putting the invitations together. It took us a few tries to get it down to a fine tuned production line, but I think in the end we got it down pat! (Disclaimer: if your invitation arrives and it's upside down, doubled, or somehow looks like it shouldn't, just smile and know that mom and I had a great time stuffing them!). Next I have to label them and get them in the mail - soon!

    Third - our engagement photo session happened a couple of weeks ago and we had such a great time with our photographer, Clint Russell! I've mentioned him a few times on the site, so you can read about his work there. I'm hoping to have a few shots up very soon! (See photo above for instance)

    Fourth - I think I've found a florist and am meeting with her soon. Erin from     Periwinkle Flowers is an old acquaintence of mine, so I was really thirilled when I actually thought about approaching her for some flowers and ideas for the wedding.

    Fifth - after selling my condo I decided that the best thing I could possibly do is to hire a wedding planner, to assist with the last of the details and the day-of stuff, as we cruise into our big day. Who was I kidding when I thought that superwoman here (that's me, tongue in cheek) could train for nine months and compete in an Ironman five weeks before a wedding. I mean, honestly, why didn't someone try to talk me out of it? Anyway, I'm thrilled that Melissa and Morgan from     Lustre Events are on board and doing an amazing job! M+M (that's what John and I affectionately call Melissa and Morgan) are helping me with all the details, keeping me in line, giving me great feedback, and making sure our a**es are covered with all the contracts. I swear I don't know why I didn't engage them earlier! Thanks you two...

    Sixth - after LOTS of searching for just the right thing, I *think* we have found our baker. We go meet with her for a taste test and design consultation on July 12th - Johnny's birthday. I mean, who doesn't want cake on their birthday?

    And, the list goes on and on. I can't believe how quickly time is passing - we are less than three months to the big day, and John and I can now go pick up our marriage licence - whoa!

    Stay tuned for many more updates and a few photos too! I wish I'd had the camera tonight when mom and I were stuffing envelopes, covered in stamps and labels!

    Thanks for visiting!!!
    Kathie
    Added by Kathie on
    Thu, Jun 18th 2009
    0 comment(s)

  • Wedding bands have arrived!

    My, how sparkly those diamonds are!

    Finally our custom wedding bands arrived from the Titanium designer! We could hardly wait to open the package after we picked it up from the FedEx depot! John's ring is very cool - a combination of Titanium and White Gold, that we think very much suits his personality. Boy, is it light! (errr, the ring...and I guess, his personality too!)

    My ring is a beautiful, sparkly and feminine Titanium eternity band, which really complements and yet contrasts my rather masculine engagement band, and they are kind of a cool combo!

    John and I had inscriptions put in the rings, which I hope will show when the photographer takes a photo of them! It is a fitting saying - broken into two - that we often say to each other.

    I can't wait until it's on my finger!
    Added by Kathie on
    Thu, Jun 11th 2009
    0 comment(s)

  • Another Milestone...

    One Step Closer...One Step Beyond!

    Today is May 14, 2009. Yesterday I had a wonderful surprise - much to my excitement, a tidy and well-wrapped box arrived on my desk. With that, I knew in an instant that our little event, planned for months and months, was solidified yet again. Carefully I cut the tape that sealed the box that held the treasure. Gingerly I opened the box marked merely with the word "ENVELOPES," and slowly I slipped off the top of the box. Inside were several little rectangular packages, all wrapped in thick-stock pure white paper, and sealed with packing tape, as though I were looking at several large sets of playing cards. I think I was holding my breath...

    With John on the other end of the telephone, listening to the rustling of me opening each packet, with gentle hands I ever-so-lovingly revealed our wedding invitations...reply cards...envelopes. The entire lot, custom designed and hand-made by my friend Jeff in Peterborough (for more information on Jeff and his work, please visit the     'About the Wedding' page on the top left navigation bar). In a word, they are lovely. Classic. Crisp. Beautiful. What's more, they were carefully crafted by a friend who created them for John and me, and reflect us, and our special day. They are worth framing!

    Thank you dear friend, Jeff. I couldn't think of a gift more special than this.
    Added by Kathie on
    Sat, May 16th 2009
    1 comment(s)

  • Jewellery to Last a Lifetime

    Choosing a ring isn't necessarily an easy thing...


    John and I ordered our wedding bands back in late February or early March, from a Montreal company that specializes in titanium, and only uses high quality Canadian Diamonds. However, choosing a style that you think you want to live with for the rest of your life isn't necessarily an easy thing to do.

    My engagement ring was somewhat of a surprise. Many moons ago when John and I were loosely talking about tying the knot, I started looking for unique and different rings that would suit our personality. Little did I know that John actually ordered one of the rings I'd seen in my pursuit for originality, and it was the one I'd seen from     Absolute Titanium along the way. So, when it came to choosing our bands, the obvious choice was to stick with the same company.

    Why titanium? Being active and sporty, we thought the idea of having one of the strongest metals on earth was kind of cool. Plus, in the cycling world, some of the best-built bikes are made from titanium, so we thought the connotation was kind of neat and just different enough to be unique. Our rings are a blend of titanium and white gold, and in my case I get diamonds too!

    Hopefully our bands will arrive before our wedding day. While they make unique jewellery, the folks at Absolute Titanium took a very long time to get John my engagement ring, so if you order anything from them, make sure you have a healthy dose of patience. I guess perfection takes time, but then, if I'm going to wear this for the rest of my life, I want it to be perfect!

    Thanks for dropping by!
    Added by Kathie on
    Mon, Apr 13th 2009
    3 comment(s)

  • It's Official!

    Our World Wide Wedding is now LIVE!

    Well, after much deliberation, we decided to put up a Wed site, so our family and friends can track our wedding planning progress - or lack thereof - as well as progress on many other fronts - unpacking, Ironman training, sleep deprivation, selling condos, etc.

    We officially have less than six months until the big day, and everything seems to be falling into place, at least I think it is. John and I initially thought about eloping to some far off land...I wanted to go to Machu Piccu, in Peru, which John refers to as 'Chocolate Mountain,' because he thought it was spelled/pronounced 'Mocha' Piccu! Wouldn't he be surprised when, after days' worth of trekking up the Inca Trail, finally reaching the summit and eager to claim his prize, John went to lick the ancient ruins and they tasted like rock (whatever rock tastes like). Picture of Machu Picchu











































    However, I learned that being married by a local Shaman would (a) not be recognized legally back here in Canada, and (b) as romantic as it sounds, if you get the wrong Shaman (ie a poser Shaman), it can actually be quite hokey. The last thing I would want after such a Spiritual trek with my beloved would be for some dude to show up in a KISS t-shirt, and having his cellphone ring in the middle of our ceremony! Maybe we will honeymoon in Peru next year...

    Anyway, our decision to stay put was also borne from the fact that despite wanting to avoid the spectacle of being on display, we actually want to have a party with those who make a difference in our life - our family and our friends. And so, the party planning started - I'm positive I could write a book about where to get married in and around Toronto, but I'll leave that to someone else.

    Our vision for our day is low-key and fun, with a few twists on tradition here and there. We are engaging as many of our talented and smart friends as possible to help us make our day personalized and memorable. Feel free to email us with any ideas YOU have!

    Our hope is to update this site as regularly as possible, so please visit often, let us (and others) know you were here, and stay updated on how the plans are progressing.

    Thanks for visiting.

    Love, Kathie & Johnny
    Added by Kathie on
    Sat, Mar 21st 2009
    2 comment(s)