This is mikaiten's Blue Wedding!

Photographers, another expense that just makes me shake my head. I'm a journalist, so I know it takes talent and learning to be a truly good photographer, but the prices are killing me!

I went to the Toronto Winter Bridal Show in January with my maid of honour, where we met a number of wonderful photographers. Of course, I was already considering using a friend of mine anyway, but it didn't hurt to look. I'm starting to think that I'm in the wrong line of work though. $3000 for a basic photography package?!?!?! For that much money I better look like a freaking runway model in every picture, there should be no bad pics on any roll, and there better be a team of photographers taking shots during every second of the entire day!

So, I'm going to use my friend instead. He's a professional photographer anyway, and the only reason I was considering not using him is because I didn't want to take him away from the celebration. I only want the formal pictures done anyway (ceremony and family pics). There are going to be tonnes of people with cameras at the reception, and I may even spring for disposable cameras at the tables if it comes to it.

The awesome part about using Andrew... no fee! He offered to do the photography for free because I just want a CD of the images when he's done and I only plan on taking about two hours of his time. I'm not concerned about printed photos because I can get anything I want printed by my publication's artist.

Ha! I win this round, wedding budget!

I'm taking the frugal bride approach to everything, I think. A few days ago I ordered my wedding dress from a wonderful online store (www.bridalonlinestore.com), which will cost me approximately $400 with all the shipping, handling, and whatever border crossing charges I need to cover.

I probably could have got away with sending it to my aunt's house and then having her bring it across the border for me, but if I started doing that I don't think I'd ever stop. :P

I don't think I could have found a dress in my area for that money, and quite frankly, I don't even care to try. One of the worst things about planning this wedding is the very obvious lack of anyone to help. This has driven me online more than most brides, I think. My maid of honour lives too far away and most of my friends in the area aren't exactly close either. Going out with B's family is just not an option, since a) they lack taste, and b) they smoke in the car. His aunt might be a good choice, but she's rather busy with babies at the moment.

So, I'm on my own. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the dress gets here safely and that everything fits okay. Thankfully they have a great return policy.

Okay, so here's my first post in this lovely new blog.

I've been planning this wedding for approximately six months now, and admittedly I haven't done nearly as much as I had thought I would by this point. This weeks wedding fiasco is all about flowers.

I had always assumed that I would just go with silk flowers and have done with it. Of course, now that the wedding is in the Royal Botanical Gardens, and I've seen various silk arrangements that look nothing like real flowers, I've changed my mind. I still can't justify spending hundreds of dollars on flowers though. I don't need anything to decorate the space, thankfully, but I do need centerpieces and bouquets.

So, blue flowers. I found an amazing silk arrangement that I think would look great. Of course, now I have to find someone to make it out of real flowers. I'd gladly do it myself, but living in Canada apparently precludes me from having any access to wholesale flower purchases online.

There's a florist around the corner from our place that may give us a deal, mainly because I really don't think they get a lot of business in that plaza. I'll have to visit them next weekend, along with the billion other things I still have to do. Ugh!