This is makelifehappen's Green Wedding!

Online boutique stationery studio offering assistance in designing and creating unique invitations, announcements and stationery for special events (weddings, showers, parties, corporate events, etc.)

http://www.paraviondesign.com

I am wondering how many of you have seriously and thoroughly looked through the legal requirements, expectations and allowances for a wedding out of your own country.

My cousin was married 2 years ago in Dominican and felt confident that she did her research (coupled with the information provided from the resort itself). She had all of their documents translated and signed off on as a "true copy", etc They got married, she returned to Canada and began using her new married name.

In Canada you are allowed to "assume" your married name without having to legally change everything over. Your marriage license can be used to change over all the government ID, etc, but your birth certificate remains the same.

I understand that it is also true that you can elect to legally change your name (like anyone else), but you lose your birth name by doing so.

Anyhow, long story short...she has only JUST (after years) been informed that because she got married in Dominican she is unable to "assume" his last name. While the marriage is perfectly legal and recognized here in Canada, they refused her the right to "assume" the last name and suggested that if she wishes to continue to use the last name she make an application for a legal name change!!!!

*GASP*

Does anyone else know more about this?

It is so confusing because she also has a friend that was married away that has had absolutely no trouble getting everything changed over...

Would you still want to change your name?

I am almost certain that anyone that knows me thought that I would be the last person to ever to fall completely mad about someone, let alone get married...but here I am.

My past was filled with those in need and I have never known what it was like to have my needs met or cared for, until one day, this insane Brit came swooping down from a plane to show me all of these things and more:)

I now know that love is not something we should have to survive and could not be possibly happier.

Truth is, James and I met by complete accident online. He lived in England and I in Toronto, Canada. I googled a health related topic and his post on a forum was the hit that lead me to the site that was a huge relief in understanding alot of my daughter's medical needs. Over the next few weeks, I read and posted eventually stumbling across that same post and felt compelled to respond to him. I did so in a private message and well, one thing led to another and we corresponded back and forth a few times until he asked for my private email and msn.

Not a single person on the forum had a clue, but the 2 of us spent everyday from that point until us meeting, enjoying all of our free hours on msn.

Several months later and closer to the point of him wanting to book a flight to come over, he felt it was a good time for him to express his feelings for me and told me that he was confident he was in love. I was feeling the same feelings, but I would NEVER have gone there and well, it just seemed all too bizarre and unbelievable!

Anyhow, he booked a flight to come over to Canada to take me out for my birthday. He arrived the morning of. We went downtown Toronto to a restaurant on the 51st floor of a high rise building that overlooked the city. He had never been to Canada before and this was all so exciting for both of us! Sadly though, I am not sure that either one of us were really able to appreciate the scenery, as we were too caught up in the moment, conversation and excitement!

He was a perfect gentleman. Opening car doors, buying me cute little gifts, kissing my cheek every time he had to scoot off to do anything, bringing the car 'round so I didn't have to walk in the bitter cold. It was pretty perfect.

The whole week was awesome, really. From walking by a hotel lobby computer and reading "Melissa I am so completely in love with you" written across some random screen to laughing, crying, dancing, sightseeing, etc.

Not a hell of alot has changed since then either! I have been very fortunate to find someone so completely fitting!

Years later, we have built a family, a home and a life together, like no other!

And to think that all of this started by complete accident!!!

So amazingly excited to become Mrs. Fawcett!

Anyone else have a serendipitous tale they care to share?

So clearly our choice to marry in another country on the other side of the world. I get that we have created our own madness in that way:)

However, I am wanting to have an outdoor wedding and have not booked venue. We wanted something earthy and picturesque and that is exactly what we are getting. The City is cool with us marrying wherever we want and there is no need for a permit to have an outdoor ceremony like there is here in Toronto.

So, we hope to arrive spend a few days scoping the area out and well...just stumble across the location:)

That said, there are so many things to consider with this such as:

Isles
Isle runners
lack of seating
weather
time of day
decor?
music?
Programs?
etc....

We have opted for a Humanist ceremony which will allow us to plan the entire ceremony to suit our interests, style and tastes and so far I have been thinking...

It is just us, the two kids and a friend of ours (whom we are bringing along to care for the kids while we enjoy Europe)

The Officiant and her SO

Perhaps I do not need an isles, but instead can send the two girls down a pathway ahead of me spreading flower petals in our colour scheme and have them take a seat on bunches of fairy-coloured tulle near the Officiant?

Our oldest has alot of gross and fine motor control issues, tires easily and would really struggle standing through a ceremony. Perhaps this would be helpful to keep the little one from wanting to run free, also:)

We opted out of a photographer there, as we continuously stumbled across the photojournalist type and well, there is no need for 18 hours of photography at $5000 Euro's for a small intimate affair! Instead we have opted for a more edgey, vibrant phtographer here in Ontario.

Do you all think it is insane for me to load up a suitcase with "props", ipod dock/speakers, candle holders to create a "pathway", SLR for our own photography, tiara's, parasols, wands, etc??

We were thinking of making Program Fans, but change the content to prompt for involvement in the ceremony. We would like my daughter and friend to do a reading each and these would really help our daughter keep focused, I think.

I thought it'd be cool to send the announcements from France, but I am not going to have my photo session until we return...should I wait for those do you think?

What about a "lighter" alternative to the wrought iron tealight holders that I am completely in love with as the "pathway" edge...Any thoughts?

I would love to trust that I would land in France and find all that I was hoping for, but I am NOT THAT INSANE!

But at the same time, how does one arrange to have what they want without booking a venue and paying the planner without having to do these things, right?

So, that said...I have a florist, a hair salon, restaurant, the officiant (flying over from Ireland!!! *shakes head*), the holiday homes and seperate wedding night quarters booked...etc...

Thoughts?

Anything else I might be missing out?

Anyone else taking a bunch of things over to a destination wedding?

(Eeeeek!!! gonna have to strap it all to my back and trek through Europe at this rate!)

Anything you have to offer would be hugely appreciated:)

and female -like behaviour...he located a shop that would special order his ring.

He was after (what some would have assumed unachievable) a "stainless steel with silver and black ceramic inlay flat band with a comfort fit"...

Brace yourselves for the wonderment of this rarity:)

*shakes head in amazement* :D

I have spent months and months trying to arrange my wedding and all the little details that we felt were important to us, but it has been a fairly incredible time trying to sort it all with the language barrier! Sadly, I didn't take french beyond grade nine and planning a wedding in the South of France from Canada has been a task and a half:) However, I have to admit...I would have been happy picking wild flowers from the roadside or local market, but... That said, I have had a huge amount of support from a fantastic bunch on a france forum and we have found the most incredible florist just a few KM's from where we are having our ceremony! Have yet to confirm the final details, but keeping withing the theme of fairy-like colours (mauve, purple, pinks, greens, ambers, golds, etc) I have chosen these styles and have left it in the florists hands to arrange something fantastic! http://www.murielle-bailet.com/.