This is sweetkarine's Chocolate Wedding!

It was great... from the ceremony to the reception... the day was gourgeous and I think that everyone had lots of fun... What an amazing day... But, it goes by soooo fast... I can't believe it's been 2 days already...

here are a few pictures that I received so far

Hey Everyone... sorry I have been very busy lately.. and sleeping alot...

Just wanted to give you a quick update... well... I am now 10 weeks pregnant and everything is going well so far. I have my first ultra-sound on Oct 30 and I am very excited. The planning of the wedding is coming along great... We have picked the flavor of the cake and we have received many RSVP... Being such short notice and also being a Friday... I am very pleased that we have received 103 yes so far...

We also found the girl"s dresses... because there was not enough time to order the dresses, we went shopping and we found those amazing dresses at Sears on sale at $50 each... The girls will look great in those.. It's the same thing as the picture but it's black and white instead of black and purple... they are great... and with black magic roses.. they will look amazing!!!

Well, just wanted to give you a quick update and I will make sure to post losts of pictures and everything after the wedding.

;-)

Hey Everyone.. here's the link to our engagement session ;-)

http://seyeauphotography.com/clientproofing/Karine_and_Ben/index.html

Enjoy ;-)

ok... so it's a Friday.. Stupid X-mas parties... but that's ok.. it will work...

so far what is ok to change:
Banquet hall
DJ
Flowers

still waiting:
Photographer
Church

not gonna work:
Bridemaids dresses... so... I will tell the girls to go out and get a black dress of their choice... and They will have champagne color flowers and me red and champagne... so that will work...

Everything will work out juste fine!!!!! ;-)

Oh.. baby update... I am 5 weeks pregnant... still early but it feels great... my FH came home and we hugged eachother and cried tears of Joy... he was worried for me that I wouldn't fit in my dress... that was is only concern cause he knows how much I love my dress.... ahhhh I love him so much!!!!!

Well... we have to change our plans a bit... Our wedding date will change... not sure exactly when but sometime in November this year... yes... 2008... yes in 2 months or so... Reason... well I found out today that I am pregnant... Not the best timing but we are sooooo happy...

So lots of things to do... I have to call the church, the banquet hall, the photographer... well you get the picture...

I will update you on all of this very soon...

;-)

ok.. .so lately it's been pretty busy... We have signed for a new house but we need to sell this one... We have an interested buyer but somedays he'll call like 3 times for info and other time when he's supposed to get back to us .. nothing... anyhow, we are getting frustrated with this guy because if we don't sell soon, we have decided to keep this one for 2 years and renovate a little bit.

another thing... my bf might be leaving for 6 months for training to become a police officer... The problem is that the only way I could see him is by plane... I truly hope that he succesfull in the application process but I will miss him soooo much!!!

Also, I am changing jobs on Tuesday...

Anyhow.. lots of things going on but all of them are very exciting!!!

Oh.. .also our engagement pictures are in... will post them shortly and I also have started my pew bows for the church... will also post that a bit later...

Another thing to cross off our list... DJ is booked... We went to see him perform in a wedding last night and he is great... so professionnal, funny, and he's very good at mixing the music and all...

If anyone is looking for a DJ in the Ottawa area.. his website is:
http://www.deejayb.ca/index.html

I was shopping the other day and came accross those lovely shoes... they were on the 50% rack and were 59.99$ for 29.99$... I tried them on and they were so pretty... The color is the same as the bridesmaids dresses...

As I was making my decision and talking to the cashier, she told me well, for that price you can't go wrong... $15.00.. WHAT!?!?!?!

yes.., they had an aditionnal 50% from the already reduced price!!!

what do you think?

We had our engagement session today.. It was great!!! I am soooo looking forward to seeing the pictures.. Ryan our photographer is awesome... We saw a couple of shots and they are beautiful!!!

I cannot wait to put them on this site... the location was just amazing, the weather was great and he's a great photog....

I am soooo excited.... we are finally down to a real countdown... 1 year from today.... We just came back from vacation today... and it was great...

I also ordered some tulle to make my own pen bows for the church and I got it today... I will try to make some and will put up some pictures ASAP... ;-)

So... I am ready to print my invitations... I know I still have plenty of time to do that but I like to plan ahead.... I just love them... they are simple, yet elegant...

I will print them on white cardstock and I will put the invitations in black enveloppes and write all the adresses by hand using a gold pen...

My friend Pascale who is a graphic designer did the template for me... She is truly talented, innovative, creative... I just adore all her work... if you are interested to find out what she could do for you, I invite you to visit her site at www.p2design.biz

She can do many things like invitations, save the date, RSVP, Programs, Seating Charts, Thank you cards...

Don't hesitate to contact her to find out her prices and all... she's great!

I will post the final thing once I have put them together... ;-)

so... what are you girls doing with all the decorations, centerpieces... and all that stuff that you did for the wedding ... Are you planning on selling them?

I am thinking for selling my stuff after... lots of brides are on a thigh budget and some are not comfortable in doing things by themselves... so I think it's a good way to help them out...

I am also looking to get some stuff to make my own.. so If you are or will be selling some stuff let me know what... ;-)

So ... I know that I want to do my own invitations... I want something simple, elegant and clean... What I have in mind... Black font with perhaps a dark red border .. and... I will had a little ruban at the top...

so, my question is which program did you use? What size for the invites and for the reply cards... where did you get the enveloppes...

I want to know it all...

Thanks you girls are awesome!

We are looking for something simple and elegant... my FH likes vanilla cake and I like chocolate...so we might have both...

Well... as planning is a bit on the quiet side on the moment, I thought that I could introduce to you our 2 babies...

Miss Trixie and Mr. Bijou (yes it's french)

Trixie is Ben`s cat and Bijou is mine... They are so funny together... Trixie beats the crap out of Bijou... but both of them have no claws... so it's funny to see them...

Here are the two little stars of the wedding...

Ok... So here's what I have in mind for centerpieces... I was thinking of using wine glasses of different sizes like the picture beside.

I am going to put beige candle in them (not decided if they will be floating candles or not) and a little black ribbon.

I will buy those round miror thing and put the 3 glasses on them... around, I will put rose petals and more candles (tealights)

I will go and buy what I need and post a picture of it later on to see what it will look like...

Ok... so I have decided... key word... WARM AND ELEGANT... so, I have decided to go with Black magic roses... What do you think????

I think it will look great... too bad that everything I had in mind will change but it's a new concept... I imagine lots of candles, and lots of petals on the tables... very simple...

I have made a small montage with the dress colors and the flowers...

I think that those flowers would work out great with the new colors... perhaps the lily's could be a bit more towards the champagne color... and a champagne ribon around the steams... what do you think????

Or should I go with something like Black Magic roses???

So... like previously mentionned we have changed the colors... so now I am having a bit of difficulties in choosing the colors of the flowers... what do you think... do you have any sites that you could suggest...

If the dresses were only champagne it would be easier but with the black, I am getting a bit confused...

Thanks for all the help ;-)

ok... well there is a major change... the colors...

The girls and I went to try on some Bridesmaids dresses today... the plan... have them choose the model they each wanted as long as the color was Burgundy... well well well... now, we are going with a champagne and black color and the girls all loved the same dress.. .So I guess in the end everything works out great... So ladies.... forget about pretty much everything you have read below in regards to colors and let`s start this from fresh!!! ;-)


BTW... they picked the one on the left...

Is is just me or the more you think about your wedding the more confused you get... What I mean is that there are so many great ideas outhere... you wish you could do all of them... and I plan on getting married only once so that is my big dilemma....

OK... Hydrangea... I LOVE THEM!!!! I know I was planning on making me centerpieces with Coleus but I just ADORE the hydrangea...

so here's my question... do florists have them... I mean I walk around and I see tons of them everywhere... How fast do they grow? Should I grow my own? Should I ask someone if I can buy some from them next year... That would look stupid right???

One house close to mine has tons of them and the are gorgeous!!!

I think I have found the perfect spot where to have our engagement pictures... Strathmere (www.strathmere.com)

I had a work retreat over there today and the porperty is great. I have asked the permission to have my pictures done there and the owner was so nice and said that it was no problem... There are sooo many nice spots on that property... it`s great...

We are planning to have our pictures done in August...

Last night we went to my future father in law's place and we announced to him and his wife that we are getting married. We have been trying for a while to tell them but something always came up.

So now it's done. Also it's great cause they accepted to make our wine not only to serve during dinner but also we will make small bottles that people can take home as a favor with a label with our picture thanking them for being part of that wonderful day...

We will probably make about 120 bottles (cause 1 batch makes 30 bolltes) so we should be good to serve 240 guests ... more than enough...

1 bottle (regula size) serves 2 guests about 2 glasses each... so to know how much wine you dive by 2... 100 guest.. about 50 bottles...

and most of the time it's between 60%-70% red versus 40%-30% white...

Why do I know all that.. I used to be a wedding coordinator in a hotel ;-) It's makes it a bit hard to plan your own wedding cause you have seen so many great ideas and also you know the real cost versus what you are being charged!!!

So here are my girls...


Friendship Quotes

I will start with the one I have known the longest and so on...

1- Julie: Julie and I have know each other since kindergarden... We don't see each other that often but it doesn't matter... cause I know that she will always be there for me :-)

2- Sylvie: Since grade 4... Julie, Sylvie and I have been friends... She's my memory... yes... everything I forget about my life, she remembers!!! She's leaving for work for 2 years to go work in another country.. I will miss her so much!!!!

3- Anick: Ben's Sister... I have to get a picture of her... I have actually known Anick since college... We are sooo much alike... so alike that back then we used to have a crush on the same guys... lol I couldn't ask for a better sister-in-law.. she's great

4- Pamela: Pamela is like my litte sister... even if she's wayyyy taller than me. We always have a blast together... I really adore her and I think that she's such a great girl...

5- France: my firecracker... France is always up for anything... I have known France because of Pamela but we had worked together before. She's so funny... such a wonderful friend :-0

Girls... thank you for being part of one of the best days in my life...

Huges and kisses...

Also on July 12, all the girls and I are going to try some dresses on (well them) they will choose the exact shade of burgundy they all like and because my friend Sylvie is leaving and won't be back before x-mas she will have to choose her actual dress... we will have a blast!!!

ok.. so I have found the basic idea for my centrepieces... I bought those vases at the dollar store like stone vases and I sprayed on burgundy paint... well ok.. my HTB did cause when I did it I did it too close... anyhow.. it looks great... so those are 2 for $1!!!! so If i have 20 tables (not including the head table) it will cost me $10 and maybe $20 for the paint. I will put before and after pictures soon.

Now.. what do I put in it... I thougth of silk flowers, real flowers or a plant... I actually like the idea of a plant cause people could take it home and keep it. Also, cost wise... much cheaper...

I found the perfect girl to make my cake. She seems very detail oriented and also very reasonnable pricing.

The way I see our cake it will be very elegant, simple and DELICIOUS!!!

That is the part that my HTB will be picking... the flavour... he's has a HUGE sweet tooth...

If anyone is looking to have a montage at their wedding I can help you with that. I can make a montage of approx. 10 minutes (as short/as long as you want) with music and zoom in and out effects. All I need is your pictures and the song you want. I normally make it in 3 parts. 1- the bride throug the years 2- The groom though the years and finally the happy couple. I charge $25.00 plus any shipping fees. If you need me to scan pictures, I will charge $10.00 an hour to scan them for you. If you want more info contact me and I will be happy to answer your questions. :-)

So here's the ring... hard to see but you can see the BIG smile on my face... it's such a beautiful ring and the fact that it comes from the men I truly want to spend my life with makes it even better!!! We went to a wedding this weekend and let me tell you that I am soooo looking forward to mine!!! August 2009 seems soooo far away... but I realized that the actual day will go by so fast that I try to enjoy everyday until I get there!!!!

So I am going to do my invitations.. I like to think that I am pretty crafty but I also love it...

And I have a idea of what I want... pretty much the same things as the pictures but in my colors... Very simple and also not too expensive...

Also, Iwill buy I that I will put on the invitation, the reply card and the enveloppes. For the enveloppes,I will use Bourgundy ink on one and green on the other... I will use plain white enveloppes because they are less expensive.

As you will see, I am always looking to get the best results without spending a million!!!