real weddings :: jeanette and cassian

Came across this the other day and realized that I had never posted it. Better late than never! Here is a same day edit of Jeanette and Cassian's wedding by Cloud Nine Creative. Thanks to Nicole from Down the Aisle for helping out with this one!

one (small) bathroom

We are currently staying in a studio apartment rental in Wimbledon while we finalize the plans for a more permanent home. Pretty decent space that is super close to the high street for a low price. However, I do want to show you the bathroom. I think it's the smallest one that I have ever experienced! The picture pretty much sums it up. Shower on the right... toilet on the left... It's also kind of drafty in there, so the key is not to touch anything with your bare skin. Brr.

events :: bridal swap

After many trips to the floral wholesaler looking at vases and visits to Ikea, I am so happy to tell you about Vancouver's first Bridal Swap! Connecting past brides and brides to be, Bridal Swap is the place to buy and sell gently used wedding items. Perfect opportunity to clean out your closets, re-live some of the wedding excitement, make some money and give your treasured items a new home!

Here are the event details:

Where: Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street Vancouver

Date: Sunday, February 20th, 2011

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Cost: $10 in advance, $12 at the door

Interested in selling your goods? Tables are $75 to $125. Early bird rates available. Contact Dreamgroup for details.

Cleaned out your place already? Only have your wedding dress left? No problem! Click here for more information about consigning your dress.

found :: one flat

Just over 24 hours after we landed, we were picked up by our relocation agent and taken on a tour of 22 properties. They guarantee finding a flat for us by the end of the day, and sometime around 3:30pm (UK time), we found 'the one'. Two bedrooms, separate craft room, own mail slot at our door, two bath, cat friendly and private roof top terrace. All in our budget. Isn't that crazy!? It's a freaking house! The listing has been taken off the market and the owner has accepted our offer (prices can be negotiated here). We placed a deposit and are now waiting for a reference check. If it comes back positive, we move in February 10th where we will meet our landlord and go through the house to let them know which pieces of furniture we want and what needs to be removed (most flats come furnished, but you can request for it be unfurnished or partially furnished).

Fingers crossed...

If there isn't much happening over here, then check out the Got Craft blog.

this time next week

(images from the past week)

This time next week we will be busy getting ready to start our first full week as residents in London! The past few weeks have been filled with friends, eating, packing, working, cleaning, re-packing, cat sitting, more eating - wash, rinse and repeat.

I'm looking forward to cooking meals at home and stop wearing the same two outfits, because I'm not sure where anything else is. Oh, the joy to be able to actually find something! 

We fly out on the evening of February 1st, land February 2nd and will be picked up by our relocation agent (he just happens to be Canadian!) on February 3rd. Our agent will show us 15 to 20 properties in one day depending on what is available and the goal is to have us find a new home in one day. Keep in mind that it is a competitive market. This is how it's done over there. Plus, we have Cleo (cat) and they don't usually advertise if pets are allowed even if they are and if you really like a flat, you are able to offer the owner more than the asking price to guarantee getting it. It's pricey (one month's rent), but for us, the agent is the way to go. We want to settle in as quickly as possible and want somebody on our side to negotiate all the details on our behalf.

The plan is to tweet and blog as much as I can, but it may get a little quiet while we transition into our new surroundings and get the internet and phone set up. Some days will just be pictures of everyday life... some days will include more. We'll be staying in Wimbledon the first week we arrive. Any tips on where to eat, drink, shop or see? What would you do if you were visiting London? You can find posts from our last visit in Oct 2009 here. Bon voyage!

indie i do :: lotus events

Indie I Do took place last Saturday and, as always, it was a complete blast! Not only did our Principle Day-of Coordinator, Witty, come hang out with us all day, but we bumped into so many familiar faces and met so many new ones! Sometimes you spend so much time going back and forth over email, that it's good to put a face behind that address. 

Here's some sneak peeks of the lotus events booth display which I am completely in love with. I have to admit that I do struggle with booth displays. Usually, we are so busy coordinating vendors and making sure that everything is being crossed off of our to do list for the show, that our display often gets pushed to the bottom of the list. 

(our mini notebook giveaways for writing all of your wedding planning notes!)

Thanks to Studio Jeanie, Mélanie and Kevin, Flower Factory and Delovely Creative for letting me borrow all of your goodies!

Yes, those are screen printed place settings. Thanks Blue Olive!

Sorry librarians and book lovers, but you have to admit, this is a super cute way to mark your guest tables.

Bride and groom pennants made of felt and strung together with bakers twine. Oh, and my favourite piece, check out the lotus events sign above (first image). We borrowed a chalkboard frame from Studio Jeanie, but 'my handwriting + chalk + being 1:00 a.m. before the show =  not happening', so on to plan B - logo + blender pen = genius!

rockin' the props

Renting a photobooth? Props are a fun way to make sure you end up with some really memorable photos. Stumbled across these little goodies from the Little Retreats shop on Etsy that will be sure to spark your guests' creativity!

wedding feature :: poppytalk

images by Ophelia Photography

The new Poppytalk market launched their Wedding and Valentine's event "Love Transforms" yesterday. To kick off their featured wedding series during this month, they posted Aaron and Jay's wedding from last July. Hooray!

Check out the full details and more images here or see our past blog post here.

a prepping we will go

We have been busy prepping our booth space at Indie I Do this year. Want a little something of your own? Come visit us and pick up your own mini notebook. Perfect for jotting down those wedding plans and as an added bonus, there's a little coupon code for those looking for some extra hands to bring together their special day!

Whew. Booth designing is exhausting. Especially when you realize that half the items you could be using is traveling across the world right now to our new home. So, a thrifting we will go! Hoping to find some hidden treasures for a few final touches.

See you there I hope!

Etsy Finds Friday

Etsy Finds Friday is a speckle of random things that have caught my eye on etsy.com. Great ideas and lots of inspiration for your upcoming wedding or to add a little handmade love to your life.

photo credit go to the respective shops listed below

(From left to right)

Top: Vint Condition,  Erica Hammer Calligraphy, kmalinka vintage

Middle: Nervous System, Joanna Rutter, Mignonne

Bottom: Magnolija Dress, No. 144, Topsy Turvy Design