Fran had decided to rent a cottage in Niagara on the Lake for a family get-together and it kicked the whole thing off. Kate and Randy won a weekend at camp and it coincided with Fran's cottage stay so they thought - why not get married then. Oh, the complications!
What an amazing time it was though. Months of planning went into this. The first I remember, weddingwise was going to see Kate try on dresses. Ali got us organised and Ali, Kate, Daphne, Elwyn, Lucy and I went to Corso Italia to a bridal shop. They were incredulous that we were looking for a dress for September and we could only choose from one rack and they were all size tiny and very elaborate. Kate tried some on and had to have the back held together. Needless to say she didn't find anything suitable on those racks. Ali was not to be deterred and found another bridal shop further down St. Clair. We fibbed and said it was for next year and she got to try some on. It was particularly useful because she came to realise that she liked the boned bodices and ivory satin.
She then went with Ali and Zoé to the Bridal Project where they have donated dresses which you can buy and the money goes to charity. She found the perfect dress which would have to be cleaned and altered. Ali found flower girl dresses at H & M and a suit for Randy too.
We made huge crepe paper flowers at great expense. But they looked gorgeous. I made some ceramic vases with Kate and Randy's logo stamped on them. I made two ring-bearer boxes. Kate had Randy's special wedding drawing made into fabric and I made a tie for Randy and two bow ties for the ring-bearers out of that fabric. Kate had found her favourite Liberty print (also the lining of her favourite shoes which she wore for her wedding) and ordered a yard of it and used that print as an inspiration for the website and her flowers and also to cover the table at the altar for the signing. I then also found a long velvet jacket which looked like the fabric in question. All so perfect.
Kate and Ali conspired to design a camp flag which was gorgeous but, as is tradition in our family, the proportions were wrong and it turned out to be very small (which ultimately was more useful but a bit of a disappointment to the girls). I had to pick it up in Buffalo because it would have cost $60 to send it (!!??how could that be? It was light as a feather!) So I picked it up when I went to get Becky from the airport. It was very tricky because my Waze refused to work in the US and Fran and I had a bit of a hard time finding the place. We then went to Wegmans to get provisions for the cottage and then pick up Becky.
Frances arrived in Toronto Thursday 12th September - 2 hours late but we set off for Oakville to stay over in the Hilton Garden Inn. Had a fun dinner and Moscow Mules and wine and went to bed. Middle of the night I realised I didn't have my passport to go to Buffalo to pick up Becky.
Friday 13th Sept Was able to make Kate change her plans in order to meet mer in Etobicoke while she was picking up stuff from Costco and Home Depot and Walmart. Yikes. Kate saved the day by finding my passport and giving it to me. Fran and I went off to NOTL to our air B&B after a sojourn in Oakville and some grub at the Croissant Express and a little visit with Mother. Weather a little iffy so we didn't linger in Oakville. Had dinner at the Grill on King inn NOTL and actually sat outside on the patio - lovely flowers and very nice dinner. Paul arrived in Toronto on the Thursday and spent a couple of nights in Toronto before getting the Greyhound down to Niagara Falls where we picked him up on the Saturday.
Saturday 14th September . Picked up Paul from the Greyhound and drove back up the Parkway. Stopped for potential lunch at whirlpool restaurant when I discovered I didn't have my handbag so big panic and had to ditch perfect parking spot and lovely restaurant! What a hoohar! Turns out, I hadn't left it on the driveway but actually on my bed. So we had to re-think and went for lunch at Peller Estates. But then off I went with Frances to Buffalo to pick up the wedding flag and then Becky from the airport and Kate and the girls drove down after Diane's Celebration of Life. We all got together that night and had a magical weekend together.
Sunday 15th September. lunch in the Angel Inn
Monday 16th September Kate and girls go back to Toronto
There was a bit of a problem because Becky had promised the girls the horse-drawn carriage ride but we didn't think it went on Monday so they set off back to TO but we saw the horsedrawn carriage and texted Kate and she was able to come back in order to do it. But not before Elwyn had been distraut and Fran had had to promise them a swim with the Dolphins in Mexico. And now - haha - they've had their horse-drawn carriage ride a la princesses and still want their swim with the dolphins!!!
Tuesday 17th September.
Wednesday 18th September. I set off back to Toronto to do wedding prep.
Thursday 19th Sept I pick up flowers from Hofland. Then Waze doesn't work so I contact Kate and Joe in the U-Haul and am able to follow them. We stop in Flesherton to pick up chrysanthemums and Ali and kids join us there. Much fun. Off to camp. Kate and I returned the U-Haul and go to Peasmarsh Farms to pick up some food (even though they had just closed, they let us in!) I start prepping flowers. Others turn up. Tent gets put up. We have dinner at camp in cookhouse. Fran and Becky & Paul go to the B&B to check in. They go to dinner at the Flying Chestnut. It was really good. I organise the flowers, unpacking them and cutting the ends. Gretchen and Zoe were helping me. I sleep over in cabin at camp because it is late when I have finished.
Friday 20th Sept. I start prepping the flowers. Carol and Don join me and we are making bouquets and boutonniers. Fran and Becky and Paul go to Owen Sound to check it out and come back to camp for the rehearsal dinner and more flower making.
Rehearsal dinner in the tent.
Irene and Emma arrive late, having found a kitten and it becomes the focus of the evening. Becky drives us home and I leave my car at camp.
Saturday 21st. Glorious weather. I'm a little late getting to camp because I need a lift. Finish the flower making. Get ready. It's really hot. Eveyone arrives and the ceremony starts. It is so much fun and really joyful. The pictures tell the tale.
What an amazing time it was though. Months of planning went into this. The first I remember, weddingwise was going to see Kate try on dresses. Ali got us organised and Ali, Kate, Daphne, Elwyn, Lucy and I went to Corso Italia to a bridal shop. They were incredulous that we were looking for a dress for September and we could only choose from one rack and they were all size tiny and very elaborate. Kate tried some on and had to have the back held together. Needless to say she didn't find anything suitable on those racks. Ali was not to be deterred and found another bridal shop further down St. Clair. We fibbed and said it was for next year and she got to try some on. It was particularly useful because she came to realise that she liked the boned bodices and ivory satin.
She then went with Ali and Zoé to the Bridal Project where they have donated dresses which you can buy and the money goes to charity. She found the perfect dress which would have to be cleaned and altered. Ali found flower girl dresses at H & M and a suit for Randy too.
We made huge crepe paper flowers at great expense. But they looked gorgeous. I made some ceramic vases with Kate and Randy's logo stamped on them. I made two ring-bearer boxes. Kate had Randy's special wedding drawing made into fabric and I made a tie for Randy and two bow ties for the ring-bearers out of that fabric. Kate had found her favourite Liberty print (also the lining of her favourite shoes which she wore for her wedding) and ordered a yard of it and used that print as an inspiration for the website and her flowers and also to cover the table at the altar for the signing. I then also found a long velvet jacket which looked like the fabric in question. All so perfect.
Kate and Ali conspired to design a camp flag which was gorgeous but, as is tradition in our family, the proportions were wrong and it turned out to be very small (which ultimately was more useful but a bit of a disappointment to the girls). I had to pick it up in Buffalo because it would have cost $60 to send it (!!??how could that be? It was light as a feather!) So I picked it up when I went to get Becky from the airport. It was very tricky because my Waze refused to work in the US and Fran and I had a bit of a hard time finding the place. We then went to Wegmans to get provisions for the cottage and then pick up Becky.
Frances arrived in Toronto Thursday 12th September - 2 hours late but we set off for Oakville to stay over in the Hilton Garden Inn. Had a fun dinner and Moscow Mules and wine and went to bed. Middle of the night I realised I didn't have my passport to go to Buffalo to pick up Becky.
Friday 13th Sept Was able to make Kate change her plans in order to meet mer in Etobicoke while she was picking up stuff from Costco and Home Depot and Walmart. Yikes. Kate saved the day by finding my passport and giving it to me. Fran and I went off to NOTL to our air B&B after a sojourn in Oakville and some grub at the Croissant Express and a little visit with Mother. Weather a little iffy so we didn't linger in Oakville. Had dinner at the Grill on King inn NOTL and actually sat outside on the patio - lovely flowers and very nice dinner. Paul arrived in Toronto on the Thursday and spent a couple of nights in Toronto before getting the Greyhound down to Niagara Falls where we picked him up on the Saturday.
Saturday 14th September . Picked up Paul from the Greyhound and drove back up the Parkway. Stopped for potential lunch at whirlpool restaurant when I discovered I didn't have my handbag so big panic and had to ditch perfect parking spot and lovely restaurant! What a hoohar! Turns out, I hadn't left it on the driveway but actually on my bed. So we had to re-think and went for lunch at Peller Estates. But then off I went with Frances to Buffalo to pick up the wedding flag and then Becky from the airport and Kate and the girls drove down after Diane's Celebration of Life. We all got together that night and had a magical weekend together.
Sunday 15th September. lunch in the Angel Inn
Monday 16th September Kate and girls go back to Toronto
There was a bit of a problem because Becky had promised the girls the horse-drawn carriage ride but we didn't think it went on Monday so they set off back to TO but we saw the horsedrawn carriage and texted Kate and she was able to come back in order to do it. But not before Elwyn had been distraut and Fran had had to promise them a swim with the Dolphins in Mexico. And now - haha - they've had their horse-drawn carriage ride a la princesses and still want their swim with the dolphins!!!
Tuesday 17th September.
Wednesday 18th September. I set off back to Toronto to do wedding prep.
Thursday 19th Sept I pick up flowers from Hofland. Then Waze doesn't work so I contact Kate and Joe in the U-Haul and am able to follow them. We stop in Flesherton to pick up chrysanthemums and Ali and kids join us there. Much fun. Off to camp. Kate and I returned the U-Haul and go to Peasmarsh Farms to pick up some food (even though they had just closed, they let us in!) I start prepping flowers. Others turn up. Tent gets put up. We have dinner at camp in cookhouse. Fran and Becky & Paul go to the B&B to check in. They go to dinner at the Flying Chestnut. It was really good. I organise the flowers, unpacking them and cutting the ends. Gretchen and Zoe were helping me. I sleep over in cabin at camp because it is late when I have finished.
Friday 20th Sept. I start prepping the flowers. Carol and Don join me and we are making bouquets and boutonniers. Fran and Becky and Paul go to Owen Sound to check it out and come back to camp for the rehearsal dinner and more flower making.
Rehearsal dinner in the tent.
Irene and Emma arrive late, having found a kitten and it becomes the focus of the evening. Becky drives us home and I leave my car at camp.
Saturday 21st. Glorious weather. I'm a little late getting to camp because I need a lift. Finish the flower making. Get ready. It's really hot. Eveyone arrives and the ceremony starts. It is so much fun and really joyful. The pictures tell the tale.
