Hi girls,
Just wondering what you all think about ribbon backdrops?
I am wanting a backdrop for ...
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10/04/2010
 Cutest Bridal Salon Happy Bride Amazing    |
happy dance.happy dress.happy bride
needless to say. my dress came in.
it was saturday morning in welland; cold, rainy, dark and barfy outside. the boy grabbed coffees and we were sitting on the couch watching what else....baseball, when my cell phone rang. when i didn't recognize the number i debated answering and am SO GLAD i did. it was paula, my wedding dress fairy godmother, calling to tell me my dress had come in that morning! after 5 minutes of squealing, giggling and happy dancing i told paula i would be there lickity split to pick it up-hung up the phone, told paul to stop looking at me "like that" and hustled my ass into make up and a half decent outfit. (i don't know why that mattered, but it did).
within an hour i had my mom and paul's gran in the car with me, and we were on our way to the bridal salon. i had the worst case of tummy gerbies as all i could think about was paula pulling my gown out of the bag, and hating everything about it. it's been 9 months since we had seen each other last! a lot can happen in 9 months! friggen babies happen in 9 months. when we got to {heidi's} paula was beaming from ear to ear. my dress was ready in a fitting room along with all my accoutrements-veil(s), additional crinoline skirt and other fun things. i was in my undies in 3 seconds flat and ready to be slipped into my dress. paula came to the rescue and talked me through it. "you may want to put it on this way....your girls may need to pull this first...you might want to cut this once you're in the dress" all with the cutest smile on her face. once the last button was done up, we stepped back to view the goods. thank god the dress is mine, cause i almost peed. like a second skin. like it was made for me and me alone. like they casted a mould of my body back in february and built the dress around it. paula made my mom and gran close their eyes, plopped me on the pedestal, fluffed and puffed me until everything was perfect and told them to look. cue the tears (again) from my mom....it was perfect. i love everything about my dress. i don't want to change a single thing. all the alterations and big plans i had are now out the window. this is my dress...made for me. and i love it just the way it is. the only thing i kept wishing i could change, and how do i say this politely.... the only thing i wanted was for my tits to be at my chin. so we slipped in a few cups, and voila! a built in clutch! i could even keep my lip gloss, compact and cell phone in there if i needed to ;) we paid and decided to store the gown at the salon. an old bank, the store has an actual fire proof, smell proof, amanda proof vault. we'll be meeting again soon, but for now i dream about it....and the look on paul's face when he sees me (and my girls) on the big day. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!! |
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09/30/2010
 When we "were" in love. The Culprit. My Pride and Joy.   |
for sale: wedding organizer
gently used, deeply loved, only dropped once.
loooong before paul and i were even engaged, i can remember making a point to literally sprint to the {Wedding Planning} section at Chapter's every time we made our monthly trip (cause we're nerds). with my $14 cafe mocha from {starbucks}, i would pull every wedding organizer off the shelf, plop myself on the floor, and spread all of the wedding planning goodness in front of me to drool over.
as i sorted through, i would stack them into piles-either "not good enough" or "worth considering" or "make sure to buy this when paul's not looking". and after several trips and bank breaking coffee's, i finally knew which organizer i would buy when the boy finally put a ring on it. and the day after he did, i went and bought "the one". i brought it home and got started right away. putting magazine clippings into the handy pocket dividers, slipping vendor business cards in the holders-in order of who i liked most of course...and filling out everything i knew about the plans so far: Bride: Amanda Groom: Paul (Insert heart next to Paul's name) Date: "Better Be" June 11th 2011 i was loving everything about my long awaited, specially chosen wedding organizer. jam packed to the tits with everything i have ever loved that has to do with weddings, the organizer slowly became heavier and heavier until i needed to buy an adorable pink silk screened tote with the cutest owl on it to keep the thing in. i carried that bad boy around with me religiously for the first months of our engagement-from work to home, to my mom and dad's back home, up the stairs down the stairs, in the car, out of the car... until the day i stepped out of the car and dropped it directly onto my big toe nail. 6 months later it looks like i have permanently painted my big toe purple, and have almost had to punch "rose", my adorable vietnamese pedi girl in the face when she starts poking and prodding at it. i finally had to warn her "don't even look at it rose". since that day i have not spoken to, thought of or so much as looked at my beloved wedding organizer. i have come full circle. from the "girlfriend" who was dying to get my hot little hands on one....to the "bride" who has fully memorized every single wedding detail i will ever/never need to know. as handy of a tool this little gem can be, it was not what i had hoped it would be. i have become my own wedding organizer...complete with a blushing bride on the cover...and the ugliest big toe you ever laid eyes on. |
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09/22/2010
 Favourite picture of a King's Table setting Longer then ours will be Bride and Groom's view King's Table done by my decorator Simply Beautiful Decor.     |
a twist on the head table
lovin' the king's table!
one of the ideas i am most excited for at the reception of our wedding, is the way we have chosen to set up our head table. back when we decided to do harvest table settings for our guests, we thought-why stop there? let's do the same for our head table. with that being said, we are doing a {king's table} for us and our wedding party to sit at during the reception.
a {king's table} is basically two harvest or rectangular tables pushed together to form a 4' wide by 8' long square. the bride and groom sit at one end, which faces the rest of the guests, so paul and i will sit at the "head" of the table, with the boys sitting along paul's side, and the girls sitting along my side. i love how it will allow for our wedding party to sit face to face so that we can all see each other easily, and talk without having to bob back and forth as we would if we were sitting along a long straight table. i will be decorating the head table to compliment the guests tables, but will be hanging either wreaths, monogram letters or a book wreath down the front of the table that will face the guests. i have purchased some really pretty vintage-looking lanterns to line the table, or sit in front of it-whatever floats my boat when setting up the day of. i have had a really hard time finding inspiration photos for {king's table} ideas, as they have become trendier very recently, but the one's i have been able to find are a good representation of what i am trying to accomplish. no matter how it turns out, sitting at the table for dinner with a few of my closest friends, is going to be one of the most fun parts of the day. knowing our groomsmen, i will have to have a poncho stored under the table for myself, because if a food fight doesn't start, i will be shocked. |
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09/13/2010
 Paulie and Ricky and Paulie's Stache. Ryan and Paul Pat and Paulie-Cute. Me, My Ma, Matty. Crazy Ryan Cowley Sandwhich Me n' Ricky Denied. boys boys boys          |
let's hear it for the boys...
introducing: our handsome groomsmen
i am super stoked to say that paul has FINALLY asked each of the groomsmen to be a part of our wedding....it only took him 9 months to commit (this is a recurring theme with the boy).
4 sexy boys + 4 sexy girls = one sexy wedding party! without further adieu, the 4 sexy boys: {ryan~brother of the groom} ryan is "the cowley you would think i should be dating". he is crazy, wild, outgoing, hyper, hilarious, batty, bonkers and bananas. he will break out in song at any moment, mess up his hair and talk in a crazy accent all while eating packet after packet of sugar. (he can't get enough, but probably should). he was only 13 when paul and I started dating, but has become an incredible 21 year old young man. he has a heart of gold, would do absolutely anything for you and puts a smile on my face every time i see him. {pat~groom's childhood friend} paul and pat have been friends since they were 3 years old-they have gone to school together pretty well their entire lives and played baseball for even longer. from plenty of ball games to plenty of partying we always have a really good time. just last year, pat got married and paul was one of his groomsmen-the wedding was a lot fun and i know how much it meant to paul to stand up with pat on his wedding day. i too appreciate this as the boys wore kilts and i finally got to see my pasty white scottish boy in a kilt and at his finest. mmm mmmm. {matty~my baby brudder} having my brother in the wedding party meant a lot to paul and i. only a little less then a year younger then us, matty is not just my brother, but a co-worker and most importantly, one of our very good friends. he is truly excited for us and has wanted nothing but the best for us since we started dating a million years ago. i know matty will be a great groomsmen, and i am so excited that he is going to be such a special part of our big day. {rick, ricky, chano, curly headed f#*k~longtime friend of both} i'd like to say i left the best for last, but anyone who knows this kid would agree-that's not the case. (this is the kind of relationship we have). what can i say about rick. it's funny how things work out. rick and i have been friends for as long as i can remember, starting waaaaay back in pre-school. in grade 6 we sat next to each other for the entire year, and thus began our lifelong friendship. {moosechink} fast forward 6 years to grade 12 when rick met jules (my maid of honour) and began their own million year long relationship. the four of us; paul, rick, jules and I, have become ridiculously close and spend a lot of time together. from trips to double dates, we are lucky to have found each other. oh yeah-paul and rick are pretty well boyfriends and are in love with each other. i said it. so these are my boys. in no particular order. and if you ask paul who is the best man, he'll tell you what he thinks is the smartest idea since microwave popcorn: "oh don't worry, i'm getting the boys together for a rock paper scissors competition. best 2 outta 3. winner is the best man" if it were only this easy for girls..... |
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09/07/2010
 go girl. |
at what point am i considered that "crazy bride"?
start vent.
i guess i'm just an eager beaver but it's been 7 whole days since august ended and i am still waiting on a phone call from the bridal salon i ordered my wedding dress from. i know, i know. i ordered it in february. i know, i know i'm not getting married for another 9 months. but my panties couldn't be in a tighter knot. plus i'm one more phone call on my cell NOT from the salon away from having kittens. they said it would be in last month....but no call as of yet. (unless they called the house phone when i wasn't there and left the message with paul? in that case they would have been better off asking for the dog and leaving the message with her). i don't want to be that "crazy bride" every wedding related vendor wants to strangle with her own veil...but i've been dreaming about that dress for 7 years and the suspense is giving me malaria. i'm going to sweat it out another week. end vent. |
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09/01/2010
 Ready to gooooooo!!! All smiles :) The boys waiting so patiently....make em' sweat. Husband and Wife Paul walking Ashley down the aisle The Mr and Mrs! My new sister The groom et moi Nice Paul. Real Nice. The Cowley Kids Lovely We're next!!! Very happy with how the cake turned out :) Mmmmmmmmmm.... Gettin' down with our bad selves!                |
always a bridesmaid, BUT....
soon to be a bride!
this past saturday was a very happy day...one that had been a long time coming, and went by far to quick. paul's sister ashley married her long time boyfriend chris, and the day couldn't have been more perfect.
we got ready at paul's mom's: from hair to make-up and getting changed, we all helped to turn each other into sexy lil' bridesmaids. once ashley was laced, buttoned, squished, pinched and smooshed into her amazing wedding dress, i stepped back to see the most stunning bride i have ever seen. i knew she was going to knock my socks off, but didn't expect her to bring me to tears. once we were all set, we headed to the church for the ceremony. it was short and sweet (just how i like it) which left little room for crying. of course i found that little space and choked on tears as paul walked his gorgeous sister down the aisle. it was a really special moment...one i am never going to forget. after the ceremony we headed to the prettiest golf course for some fun on the golf carts and lots of pictures...and beer. it was really fun and went by sooo quickly! it made me concerned that there won't be enough time for family/wedding party pictures at our wedding, but paul reassured me "we were there for 2.5 hours! how long do you want to take pictures for?".....ummmm.....at least 6? no? we boarded the party bus (which is so fun by the way) and made our way to the reception. the hall looked amazing-from the decor to the table settings, the head table and all the other little details, the bride and groom pulled together the prettiest wedding that suited them perfectly. it was lovely. things i loved: ~the memory table for their dad. it was the perfect touch and made it feel like he was a part of the day <3 ~shots during the receiving line-let's be honest. no one likes being a part of the receiving line...but hand shots to everyone who walks through and NOW we're talkin'! ~the "in lieu of" favours-a donation was made to the lung association and chocolates were given as a small token...yummy! ~the band. they definitely made everyone dance and party until the last song was played! so much fun :) my first experience as a bridesmaid made me realize that weddings are not just a day for the bride and groom. rather they are a celebration for all the most important people in your life...your family, your friends...your pets...whoever. it's just the perfect chance to show everyone just how much you are in love... i'm really lucky to have been a part of ashley and chris' special day, and hope they are enjoying themselves *wwwwiiiink* while honeymooning in greece for 12 glorious days. cheers to many years of love, laughter and happy days. to ashley and chris xoxoxo |
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08/23/2010
 Love the bunting. No sides-perfect. Lighting options. LOVE the cafe lights. <3 this. Wish I could do this! Light and Airy Printed Liner Marquee Cafe Lighting Grass floor Perfect Indoor Ceremony Fun Lit at night Love this lighting!                 |
{outdoor tented weddings}
my marquee madness!
the first time i saw the {navy hall}, was while working for a flower shop, setting up the florals for the reception. i tried to do my job as best i could, but was so distracted by how amazing the location was, and how beautiful the marquee looked, that everything about our centerpieces is a complete blur. at that moment, i was hooked: this is where i'm getting married.
because the hall itself only seats 80 comfortably, i knew we would have to rent a tent and have the reception outside. which was perfect for me-a big blank white canvas for me to do whatever i want with!?! PERFECT. no carpet or wallpaper to compete with? PERFECT. no lighting or seating restrictions? PERFECT. everything about the idea of choosing each of these details leaves me grinning from ear to ear. it also leaves me in a bit of a pickle. mmmm. pickles. i basically have to construct an entire room from top to bottom. from size to style, atmosphere to arrangement, every little detail needs to be planned and put together. alllllllll without looking like a hodge podge of anything and everything pink and green with lace trim i can get my dirty little hands on. god help me. with that being said, i have spent almost all of my spare time on the lookout (with a hairy eyeball) for inspirational tent ideas. i have collected a nice little chunk of pics to add to my "reception" folder, which sits in my "ideas" folder, which sits in my "wedding jazz" folder. thank you mom for passing on your organizational skills to moi. i want the sides of the tent up during the ceremony and cocktail reception~this way our guests will be more surprised for the dinner reception when the tent walls are rolled up to reveal the dining area and getting down area. although the tent will be setup as a whole room, there is a smaller sub~tent off to the side, that will house our ridiculous band, the dance floor and one of the bar areas, keeping everything clearly visible from every angle of the tent. eeeee!! i love the idea of using a fabric liner, although i have been almost permanently scarred into believing that a fabric liner makes you feel like you are laying inside a closed coffin. ew. i'm over that and until i find a better option, a liner may be the way to go. i could break it up with bunting and lighting and think it will look just lovely. speaking of lighting, my parents and i have priced out the cost to rent antique chandeliers from an antique store in town, and can get 2 fixtures that are over 90 years old for about $160. i am also on the hunt for cafe string lights, and if i can find the ones i like, will be stringing them from one end of the tent to the other. back to google in case i missed a pic..... |
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08/17/2010
 Holy Shit Eyes. Baby Blues.   |
first comes love. then comes marriage.
then comes....the panic attack.
i don't know what it is lately...maybe there's something in the water...or maybe i'm giving off bambino vibes, or maybe. just maybe. it's a legitimate question to ask: but i have been bombarded with the last question i am prepared to answer at this time: "when will you and paul start trying to have babies?".
WHAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????!!!!!!!!!!!!! i don't usually have to physically answer the question, as my eyes bug out of my head and my jaw drops to the floor. not to mention my uterus starts talking to my brain and literally begs it to spare me another few good years. i never even considered the fact that it is the "norm" to start working on a family after you get married. when i picture the next few years of my life, i'm not picking nursery colours or preparing my boobs for a solid year of sharing against my will. rather, i'm travelling to scotland and paris, drinking as much wine as womanly possible, sharing my husband with no one. (i have a hard enough time sharing him with our pooch india, never mind another human!). wow. i'm terribly jealous. it's not that i don't EVER want to have babies. i can't imagine marrying paul, and not starting a family with him. he would be an amazing dad, always wanting to play with them and take them places-and nothing is sexier then your man taking care of you and your family. i'm hoping for a house of all boys....all cute like their dad. my boys. and i like when people tell me they think i will be a good mama...and i think that as well. don't get me wrong, i like kids, i do. i just also like sleeping through the entire night. plus, i have some pretty perfect baby names picked out, and can't let them go to waste! for now, i politely tell those who are so eager to know when i will get knocked up, that having babies IS a part of my plan. my 20 year plan that is. they're in there. somewhere. |
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08/10/2010
 Best. The Caverners    |
attention guests: please wear your dancin' shoes...
cause we hired a band!
band. band. band. says the boy. so a band is what we got!
i have never been to a wedding where a live band performed, and have always thought it would be the best/most fun way to get your guests dancing and having a good ol' sloppy time! as paul says "nothing is worse then a bad dj. well, maybe a bad band. and when you're guests sit around all night, talking about how bad the band is". fair enough. so after looking into a few really great options, we decided on hiring a local band called {flat broke} to play at the wedding, and i am so friggen' excited! we decided on {flat broke} for a few reasons. they have been around for years and are familiar with our venue-which is key as it's kinda on it's own and would require a bit of work setting up. they are a 4-piece band made up of super nice guys and can play tons of songs from the 30's all the way up to today-and variety is good when you're guests range from 6 years old to 86 years old. we want our guests dancing from the minute the band starts, to the minute their legs give out and their feet catch on fire. and the best reason. the number 1 reason. 3 of the 4 members play for {the caverners}. a beatles tribute band very well known in niagara and is apparently "canada's premier beatles show" according to their website. lol. when you're fiancé's family are die-hard beatles fan, and he is literally named after paul mccartney cause his mom has had a monster crush on him since she was a wee lassie back in scotland-you have no choice but to hire a band that can play any and all of the best beatles songs. and {flat broke} is that band. on top of lots of beatles, we are hoping for some of our other faves: fleetwood mac, neil young, david bowie, michael jackson, queen, phil collins, sinatra, bob marley and all that jazz. all the music we love to listen to and hope our guests will too. with the exception of a very short "do no play" list to hand the band, i am leaving the set list up to them. (if i have to listen to the macarena or any celine poutine at my own wedding, i am going to have to pack it in and call it a night). they promised me they can have everyone on their feet-and i trust them. if they can't get my nonno twistin' and shoutin', i don't know who can. eeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! |
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08/05/2010
 loveliness |
a shout out....
...to the other brides in my life
i know i'm not the only girl in the world who thinks that planning a wedding is the single most important thing i will ever do. and if i am. well, i dont care.
i love to see and hear how other brides are doin' it: what turns their crank...what blows their hair back. currently in my life, there are 3 other brides planning their weddings. 2 long time friends {steph} and {ashley}, and my soon-to-be sister in law, {ashley}. at the end of the month, paul's sister ashley is marrying her long time boyfriend chris. i am a bridesmaid and cannot wait to see her that day! she is stunning as it is...and will be the prettiest bride. the things that make me giddy aren't necessarily the same things that make these girls giddy-but i love to see what does. from what i know of each of their taste and preferences, they have some pretty amazing stuff planned. it's exciting to see how they are going to pull everything together, and i know that each of their weddings are going to be unique to them-special in every way. with all that we have been through throughout our friendships, being a part of each of their "big day" is going to be the most special time. i love each of them very much, and can't wait to see them that day, all grown up, in white...and in love. |
acowleysoontobe
| 2 | years since wedding |
{amanda}
{paul}
Jun 11, 2011
niagara on the lake,
Ontario,
Canada
navy hall
navy hall
nataschia wielink
Pink
long awaited. shabby chic. pink and green. vintage. lace. tented. peonies. outdoor. antique. fun. romantic. not soon enough.
number of visits: 20025
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