After a snow drought most of the winter, the floodgates have opened. The last several weeks have seen the Vancouver mountains blanketed with metres of fresh snow. For skiers who have waited patiently, the time is now to hit the slopes.
I checked out Grouse Mountain over a recent weekend, on a day when it was pouring rain in downtown Vancouver. Up on Grouse, however, all that precipitation was light, fluffy snow; in fact, the mountain had been dumped with nearly 25 centimetres of white stuff in the last 48 hours.
Situated only about 15 minutes from downtown, Grouse is known as the “Peak of Vancouver.” It offers 26 runs serviced by four chairlifts, plus two terrain parks. While the mountain may not have the biggest vertical drop or most technical trails in the area (that distinction generally goes to nearby Cypress ), it is a great setting for people (like me) still learning to ski, with more than a half-dozen easy green and blue runs .
It was with plans to conquer some of Grouse’s blue runs that I rode the Skyride cable car up to the ski area. The enticement of fresh powder had lured big crowds up top, which led to some long lift lines. But the good news was that the snow was falling so fast that each run felt almost like the first of the day.
Even The Cut, Grouse’s most popular green run, was blanketed with fresh snow. A few inches of powder made the slope manageable even for newbies like me, with none of the icy patches you sometimes find on Vancouver mountains this time of year.
After a few practice runs on The Cut, I was ready to hit the blue runs. Locals out there who have been skiing all of their lives can probably handle Grouse’s blue (or intermediate) runs with their eyes closed. But for me – and lots of skiers just starting out – they’re still a great challenge.
Photo credit: Miss Barabanov | Flickr
I started with the Paper Trail, which winds its way gently through evergreen forest with a few mildly steep stretches thrown in for a bit of speed and excitement. Whooshing down the slope, surrounded by nothing but forest and snow (and a bit of fog) I felt a world away from the grey streets of downtown.
I moved on to the Expo run, which is pretty much a straight shot down the mountain and a bit more of a challenge. Grouse staff had just finished clearing away the gates from a ski race, which meant I had the run to myself. I’d have to say that zipping through an inch or two of fresh powder – without having to drive to Whistler or Interior B.C. – is one of the great luxuries of living in Vancouver.
The snow giveth and the snow taketh away, however. After about four hours of skiing in – at times – near blizzard conditions, I was chilled to the bone and my parka was soaked through. I took a final run along Heaven’s Sake – a gently sloping blue trail that winds around Grouse’s iconic peak – admired the views of the foggy city far below and called it a day.
For skiers interested in taking advantage of the late season snow and saving on next season, Grouse is now offering its Y2Play pass (adults $359), which includes unlimited skiing this spring and all of next season. (Basically, if you use it more than six times, you end up saving over the standard lift ticket price of $58). In addition, the pass includes one free lift ticket for a friend, as well as a free ski/snowboard rental, skate rental and snowshoe rental. You also get 20-percent off of private lessons and retail purchases and other food and beverage discounts.
Anyone skied Grouse recently? What did you think of the conditions?
We are used to being spoon-fed what others think we ought to know about God. Until we take responsibility for our own journey, we’ll never learn to look to him to teach us.
Engage is our unfolding video series designed to equip and encourage people to explore their own relationship with God. We are adding a new video every two weeks on Wednesday. Of course the most important part of this process is not the videos, but the time and focus you’ll give between them to learn the joy of letting God show you how he wants to build a relationship with you. Living loved is not a matter of embracing a different set of principles about God. Living loved is the fruit of growing in the “knowing” of God, learning to sense his presence in our life and to cultivate an ongoing conversation with him about what’s going on in your life. As that unfolds, or if you have specific questions you’d like to ask me, feel free to use the comment section of this blog because lots of others will probably be interested in the answer as well.
When I really let my daydreaming go, I envision a lot for my life.
I want a house near the ocean and a house in the mountains. I demand a job I am crazy about where I serve my community and a bigger purpose. I want to travel- everywhere- from the islands of Greece to the snowy peaks of the Andes. I want to share my passions for health & wellness. I want a garden that grows every fruit & vegetable on the spectrum and acts as my personal grocery store. I want a golden retriever puppy named Coogie. I want to have ample time to engage in my hobbies and have wine nights with my best girlfriends. I want to attend yoga festivals and mind body workshops and meditation retreats. I want to share my life with my best friend and raise hippy happy nature children who spend their days playing in the sunshine and getting roughed up in the dirt.
I want to live bold and I want to stay inspired and be inspiring.
Sounds like a lot right?
The visions we create for ourselves are not that unrealistic, but it seems we stop at doing the work because of self doubt (guilty) or we’re afraid of NOT achieving what we set out to accomplish (guilty again).
This is where having GOALS have become a critical part of my life. I used to be pro at writing and accomplishing them, excitedly creating the next list for the month or year. But lately, I’ve felt stagnation and dissatisfaction creeping into my life. Instead of blaming my jobs, relationships, lifestyle, or financial situation for my frustration, I accept complete and full responsibility for where I stand. What am I doing to change my situation?
I am getting back to goal setting.
Having goals keeps us motivated and encourages us to find focus. Goals help us discover a path, and more importantly keep on that path. And I have enough evidence to prove that they work.
So while I work on updating mine, here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way…
1.) Make goals SMART
S- Specific : break it down & keep it concise!
M- Measurable : Can you measure your goal? If not, how do you know if you’ve accomplished it?
A- use Affirmative language : Say what you WILL do, not what you WONT do.
R- Realistic Only you know what is realistic for you in this moment. Shoot for the moon, but don’t be floating in outer space!
T- time sensitive : Set a by-when by attaching a date to your goal. It will keep you accountable and on track.
2.) Share Them! Let your community, partner or mentor in on your goals. Goals can be challenging and support is crucial! You may even inspire others to create their own goals 🙂
3.) Keep them Visible: Write them out and post them in areas you frequent everyday. They are great visual reminders and can help keep you focused.
4.) Be ok with “Failure” – There are lessons to be learned! Failing allows you to re-evaluate what you’re working towards and how you can approach it differently. Failing may open up an opportunity that wasn’t there before. Remember that failing is better than fear and not trying at all.
I would LOVE to hear about your goals and visions. How do you stay motivated? What are you working towards? Aloha nui xo
I just had an awesome weekend near Palmer, Alaska with some wonderfully fun believers on a marvelous journey. I wish I had time to tell you about the North American Funsucker and those brothers and sisters going through their Pharisectomies. I wish I could show you the view out my window from the home I stayed in on the shore of a lake with mountains in the background. (I’ll try to put a picture up when I get home and have my cable to download the photos.)
Many of these have connected with me through the podcasts. I’ve had a ball. Now I’m in Anchorage for the day and fly out on a red-eye tonight. So, think of me when you put your head on a pillow tonight… I’ll be coveting a more horizontal sleep configuration.
Yesterday I got this email and know it is a question many others have as well. It fit in so well with so many things we’ve all been talking about this weekend:
I’ve been enjoying listening to the Transitions teachings and over the last couple of days have been pondering the parable of the prodigal son. The things you said strike a chord in my heart and it’s what I really believe about God, but I was reading John 15 and came to verse 10 (“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love…) and was wondering what your thoughts on it were. Sounds a bit conditional, doesn’t it? Some versions actually say, “If you keep my commandments. I will keep loving you.” Could this just be one of those translation leanings, do you think? I did read the Amplified Bible which said something about “remaining in the intimacy of my love” which I thought perhaps made a bit of a difference. Is that the sense of “abide”? Not that God doesn’t continue to love even if someone isn’t keeping his commandments, but that those who do enjoy a greater intimacy with him?
Yes, on first read it does sound conditional. But in the context of the entire upper room discourse (John 13-16) and John 15 itself, we know that’s not what he’s saying. He’s not saying we earn his love by keeping commandments. That goes against everything else he’s been saying in this passage.
So, what could it mean? I think the context gives us the answer. He’s inviting us to remain in the love he’s already given us. He made the disciples clean by his word and asks them to simply remain in him. So they didn’t earn their place there and neither do we. But what Jesus is saying about obeying his commands, is that we live in the reality and fruitfulness of his love by following his ways. So it doesn’t mean he loves us more, it just means we live in the fruit of that love by following him. So if I’m in a situation and Jesus gives me wisdom as to how to deal with it, but I refuse that wisdom and do what I think is best, I’m going to end up in a bigger mess. He will still love me the same, still offer me the same relationship, but I will not live in the fruit of that love because I’ve gone my own way.
It’s just the prodigal story. The son goes his own way and by doing so doesn’t live in the Father’s love, even though the Father still loves him completely and the same offer of relationship is always there. He’s just not living in its reality because he has chosen his way over the Father’s way. But his rebellion works its own way in him until he comes to see the love the Father always had for him.
So keeping his commandments doesn’t earn us more relationship, it just allows us to live in the fruit of his love. And that command remember, is not following a list of rules, but living loved—experiencing his love for us and then loving others around us the same way. It really isn’t rocket science. It’s so much easier and more freeing than that.
Two more meetings today, then I’m off to the airport…
Most of us have experienced a mishap or two when enjoying our favorite outdoor activity. Instead of getting down on yourself, Demerit Wear has created Scout-like merit badges that celebrate your less than stellar performance outdoors, since after all, at least you are out there trying.
Modeled after the Scout Merit Badge system, Demerit Wear has created a long list of embroidered patches that celebrate common mishaps and mistakes made in the outdoors. A wide variety of outdoor activities are covered such as unintentional knots in your climbing rope, pitching your tent on sloping ground, or suffering a sprained wrist from that snowboarding wipeout.
Demerit Wear is the brainchild of Michigan resident Steve Kosinski. Tired of not living up to his brother's stellar outdoor performance as an Eagle Scout, Steve decided he would create a set of merit badges he could actually earn and that would celebrate his own outdoor experiences, even if they were less than perfect.
Along with the funny merit badges, Demerit Wear has created some more serious embroidered patches to commemorate events such as running a marathon, hiking the Appalachian Trail, summiting a Colorado 14er, or climbing peaks across the Cascades. For the foodies, there is the Bacon Addict, Caffeine Addict, and even a PBR inspired Beer Can merit badge.
As playing outside in a Scout sash is not exactly cool, Demerit Wear sells caps for sewing your patches onto, or you can choose to decorate your favorite messenger bag, gear bag, or just about anything. All Demerit Wear embroidered patches retail for $3.95 and can be ordered from the company website.
What are some of your ideas for an outdoor merit or demerit badge? Perhaps Steve will be open to suggestions. I personally need a mountain bike fail patch to commemorate all my crashes the past couple of weeks.
A year ago my best friend and I discussed what my word for the year would be. What did I want my 26th year to be about?
EXPANSION
I was two weeks away from a life changing transition. My grounding and security were about to drop out from underneath me but love held a bigger promise that filled me with faith.
Yesterday, celebrating my 27th birthday, I contemplated what word would describe this next year.
I chose SELFLESS.
At a time when the world is pushing us to focus on personal gain and the details of our own lives, I aspire to bring attention to the collective instead of the individual. We can live for ourselves or we can live for each other. Let’s see what happens when I choose the latter.
Deepest appreciation for all the well wishes and helping me celebrate another year!
The material Michael Hansen—otherwise known as Manse—has been responsible for in recent days has seen the young Swede’s career skyrocket out of control. He’s been a huge target for imprints such as Revealed Recordings and Protocol, who were quick to jump all over his refreshing progressive and big-room output.
Enhanced Music is getting the next piece, with the estimable label picking up his latest offering, “We Come Alive.” It brings the same vigor and emotional appeal as most of his previous productions, making sure not to undersell in the melody department. Cornellia Jakobs lets it all out with her scratchy vocal delivering, which is then complemented completely by Manse’s from-the-heart chord progressions and briskly moving synth work. It’s going to drive the dancefloor mad.
Manse shares a few words on his work:
“We Come Alive” is one of my very personal tracks that I’ve been working on for quite a while. It was amazing to work with Cassandra and Cornelia (the girls who wrote the lyrics and melody); we really connected in the studio. I wanted to make a track about forbidden love, and they really created an amazing story about that, as you can hear in the track. I hope the fans will appreciate the track in context. In typical Manse format: a lot of emotions in the melodies, and also brings a lot of energy in the drop.
Available via Enhanced Music.
Buy “We Come Alive” here .
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Hi friends! This week, a fun story has been trending about these bridesmaids who ditched bouquets to hold puppies down the aisle. So adorable! I’ve had lots of couples lately who want to involve their furry friends (usually a puppy or dog) into their big day. It can be really cute, but there are a number of logistics involved. If you’re thinking about in...
Hi friends! This week, a fun story has been trending about these bridesmaids who ditched bouquets to hold puppies down the aisle. So adorable! I’ve had lots of couples lately who want to involve their furry friends (usually a puppy or dog) into their big day. It can be really cute, but there are a number of logistics involved. If you’re thinking about incorporating your pup into your wedding, here’s what you should keep in mind:
Consider your pet’s temperament. Is he a calm fellow or does he tend to get really excited and difficult to wrangle around lots of people and commotion? You likely won’t be able to change his behavior in time for the wedding, so if he’s an energetic little guy you may want to avoid incorporating him into the actual ceremony. Have him around for the reception (if it’s outdoors) or just for some cute photo opps.
Check with your venue. Before making any big plans, check on your venue’s pet policy. Outdoor venues are usually more likely to be flexible with pets, for obvious reasons. Some may require an extra fee or deposit.
Assign a “babysitter.” You will not have time to look after your furry friend – it’s your wedding day after all! Assign a trusted friend, family member, or member of the wedding party to be in charge of your pet. Make sure it’s someone your pet is comfortable with (and vice versa). This person can make sure he’s fed, pottied and exercised while you’re being pulled in about million different directions.
Have treats on hand. This will be a stressful and exciting day for your pup! Ensure his “babysitter” has some of his favorite treats or toys to reward the little guy at the appropriate times.
Arrange for overnight accommodations. You likely would’ve needed to do this anyway. Many hotels (if you’re staying in one) aren’t pet friendly and your wedding night is best kept a human-only affair. Make sure someone’s available to take your pet home that night or transport him to his pre-arranged accommodations.
If this sounds a little too much for you to take on, incorporate your pet into your engagement photos! An adorable picture of you as a couple with your pooch (or any other pet) would look fantastic on your save the date.
Today’s Jew-ish wedding takes the term ‘White Wedding’ to a whole new level! Phoebe & Ben were married in December 2015 and love winter, the festive season, and the way it brings the whole family together, so wanted their wedding to capture that sparkly, wintery, celebratory feeling.
They picked their stunning venue, The Underglobe (the museum beneath Shakespeare’s world-famous Globe Theatre in London) because of their love of theatre, and Wildabout Flowers expertly decorated the space to look like a dramatic Winter Wonderland straight out of Narnia.
Some of my favourite details include Phoebe’s sublime Rosa Clara gown, a colour scheme that included silver, purple and all out sparkles, live cabaret by a Drag Queen in leather shorts and knee high boots, and a first dance to I Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore (genius!). Then there’s the off-the-scale Abigail Bloom cake, a show-stopping speech by the bride, an unplanned (unrehearsed) rendition of Bohemian Rapsody by the couple’s friends, a hugely meaningful Humanist-Jewish wedding ceremony, movie-themed icebreakers on the tables… Phew, what a wonderful glorious mix!
Come on in and delve into Jew-ish Wedding Narnia… We have the perfectly captured images by Richard Payne and the oh-so-romantic film by Allora Visuals . Take it away gorgeous Phoebe!
How we met
Phoebe, the bride: Ben and I meet at University, he was on the Kent Falcons American football team, and I was a first year who had just joined the Kent Falconette cheerleading team. We be came friendly on the team tour to Prague, and eventually Ben asked me out.
Choosing to get married at The Underglobe, South Bank, London
We got married at The Underglobe . It’s an amazing museum space under the Globe Theatre on the South Bank in London. I love the theatre and performing and the space was so versatile, when we first walked in their where children being given a sword fighting demonstration, but that was what I loved I knew we could completely transform it.
Winter Wonderland and a Movie theme
I love winter, and the festive season, it’s a reasons to bring the whole family together, and I wanted our wedding to have that same feeling, of the family coming home for the holidays. Our ‘main’ theme was winter wonderland, our colours where white and silver, with a splash of purple (we both have the same favourite colour, and it was the colour of our uniforms when we played sport at uni) we have a second theme to help tie things together, movies.
We picked our favourite films for the table names and used movie soundtracks for some of the key songs throughout the evening – we even had movie themed Icebreakers on the tables and movie themed props for the photo booth. It’s was subtle but helped to bring out our personalities.
We found the venue and the majority of the suppliers on our own, but a few months before the wedding, I ended up changing jobs and we where moving house, and it all become a little too much, so I enlisted the help of the fantastic Zouch & Lamare. Liesl and Mimi were brilliant and had some fantastic ideas, were so passionate, and like me, really paid attention to the details of the day.
Invitation design
I wanted our invitations to be an extension of the day, as they are the first thing people see. We worked with Intricate Creations – I couldn’t and see them in person but we spent hours on the phone exchanging ideas and thoughts and the end results where perfect. They also made our table name signs from mirrored Perspex, they looked amazing.
Hair + Make-up
The lovely Kristina Gaspera did my make up, I wanted to look like me only a little more sparkly. I went for a make up lesson with Kristina before choosing to book her for my wedding as I wanted to check we would be on the same page, and she was just fantastic. I learnt so much from her in the lesson. And on the day she did everyone’s make up exactly as I had envisioned, but better!
Imran Chowdhary of Michael John in Knightsbridge did our hair, I thought I had always known how I wanted my hair, but when we tried it, it looked too old fashioned. Imran played around a little during the trial, and on the day, with the diamond head band and veil, it all fell into place.
A Rosa Clara dress from Paris
I really wanted something timeless, Audrey Hepburn has always been a style icon of mine, I didn’t wanted something too of-the-moment as I’ve never been one to followed trends. I was really struggling to find something that ticked all the boxes, I didn’t want lace, or beading, I didn’t want ruffles or something too patterned…
One afternoon flipping through one of the 100 bridal magazines I had bought, I saw a interview for Rosa Clara , and feel in love with the shapes of her dresses, and the texture of the fabrics… Only problem… nowhere in London seemed to sell them. My nearest store according to their locator was in Paris. As I was going to be in the city of romance for work only a few weeks later, I booked an appointment. My mother came out to join me, and after trying on only three dresses, I walked out the changing room, and my mother started crying. That was it, we paid the deposit, and booked in my first fitting for 12 months later, and headed into Paris for a celebratory glass of champagne.
A very special gift from my father
I picked a stunning little jacket to go with the dress, as the wedding was in December, I needed something to keep me warm. It really helped give the overall look that slight vintage feel I wanted, and it totally helped make my waist look tiny.
My veil was also from Rosa Clara , it was very simple but very long. My jewellery was all from David Morris , as my father owns the company and I had worked there for five years. I knew exactly wanted I wanted to wear, the only problem was the week before the wedding the earrings I had wanted to borrow had been sold! However the staff were all wonderful and I tried on every pair of earrings in the shop until I found something that would work with the diamond Alice band I had picked out.
After the wedding, when I went to return the earrings to my father, he whispered in my ear ‘they are my present to you’ it was such an incredible gift and I felt so lucky.
Sparkly Stuart Weitzman shoes
I’ve never been a great wearer of high heels, and while I LOVE shoes, I can normally only keep them on my feet for about an hour before I give up, so it took a while to find a pair that I liked and could walk in.
In the end I picked a sparkly pair of Stuart Weitzman for Russell & Bromley ‘s ‘showbiz’ heels. The name felt fitting for the venue, and they where so comfy. I kept them on all evening until it came time to do the first dance and I realised the dance floor was quite slippery. Not wanting to end up on my bottom in front of 180 people, I slipped into my crystal covered trainers my mother had surprised me with a few days earlier ‘just in case’.
The handsome groom
Our wedding was black tie, and we had Ben’s tux custom made by a local tailor, Birkett Bespoke Tailors , who talked us through all the fabrics and linings etc, We liked him so much that we ordered a second suit for Ben to wear to some of the other wedding events. We got all the ushers and best men matching scrabble cuff links and purple silk bow ties – they all looked so smart.
Bridesmaids in silver
I had always known that I would have my sister Cecily as my chief bridesmaid, and my little sister Skye as my flower girl, and of course my best friend Heather was definitely going to be a bridesmaid too.
They all wore different dresses, in tones of silver in keeping with the colours of the wedding and they all looked amazing.
The flower girls dress was from Monsoon , Heather’s was from a lovely store on Chiswick High Street – Reflections Bridalwear and is by Dessy . My sister’s dress was made bespoke for her.
Not a chuppah but a wall of foliage and white flowers
We didn’t have a chuppah, we were married in front of a wall of foliage and white flowers, but to play with tradition, our amazing florist had created a tunnel of white willow tress, so as we walked up the aisle it was as if we where walking through the archway of hoops that the bride and groom enter through at the start of the reception, which is quite a traditional thing to do at a Jewish wedding.
A Humanist Ceremony
We had a humanist ceremony. Ben’s family is Christian and mine is Jewish, and we wanted something far more personal than a civil ceremony. We meet with Ginny and explained our predicament, of wanted a ceremony about us that allowed us to bring in elements from both of religions. She agreed, and we worked with her to put together a ceremony, that even six months on family and friends still comment on just how personal and lovely it was.
My brother lit a candle for the family that are no longer with us, and my mother read a poem, and Ben’s father a passage from Corinthians. The highlight of the ceremony was hearing all our friends and family laugh. It’s one of the things I love most about Ben is the fact even in what feels like the darkest of times he can always make me laugh and that was so important to us.
Our musical choices
I walked down the aisle to an amazing orchestral rendition of What a Wonderful World performed by Orquesta Filarmónica de Honduras, I spent a very long time searching for the perfect version of the song. But as a surprise for all our guests, and to kick off our movie theme, our recessional music was The Jurassic Park theme tune .. some of our male guests where very impressed. And to keep the movie theme going, we entered the reception to the Star Wars theme , it was a surprise for Ben, and it was much appreciated.
Incredible Flowers
We worked with the amazing Wildabout Flowers . Leanne is a family friend, she did the flowers for our engagement party, there was never going to be anyone else!
I gave her my overall vision, winter wonderland; whites, silvers and greys. And I trusted her to do what she does best. It was so amazing to walk into the venue to have this amazing surprise. They totally transformed the space, you never would have know by day it’s a museum. Using willow trees, decorated with floating tea lights, and surrounding the bases of the trees with festive foliage and white roses, it was like a snow covered garden.
She picked calla lilies for the bridesmaids bouquets as she knew they where one of my favourite flowers (she remembered from the engagement party) and the only thing I had said I really wanted was white peonies for my bouquet. Very out of season, she said she would try. Well try she did and deliver she did, they smelt amazing, and looked amazing.
Our fabulous photographer…
I studied photography at school, so the photographs where really key to the evening. I had looked at over nearly 100 wedding photographers and no one had really stood out, till I meet Richard Payne at Brides The Show . He used black and white FILM!!! As well as digital, but it was the film that got me excited. He had an amazing eye, but also understood that there is something so amazingly tangible about an original printed photograph, that digital just can’t capture. I was sold, and he did not disappoint, I only wish I could share the black and white prints with you.
…and Videographer
We picked Allora Visuals to do our videography, I knew the day would fly by so fast I would miss so much of it. Niki capture all the key moments, from getting ready at the hotel, all the wonderful speeches, and even the unplanned (unrehearsed) rendition of Bohemian Rapsody our friends treated us to at the end of the night when the music stopped, and no one wanted to leave.
Jewish Traditions
It was really important to me to have some elements of Jewish tradition , so I asked my uncle to do the blessing over the bread and wine before the meal. Those prayers where always my responsibility as a child, and remember being so proud when I learnt them by heart, it was a really special moment for me to have them said at my wedding by my uncle.
A wow wedding cake
We worked with Abigail Bloom for our cake, I had heard so much about her from some of our suppliers, and when we tried the cake I could understand why, not only did it look amazing, but it tasted even better. We saved the top tire to have at our civil ceremony.
Entertainment
I let Ben to pick our first dance song. The only criteria was it had to be from a movie. He chose I Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore which made me laugh every time I heard it as the version he chose was from Rock of Ages sung by Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin.
Our amazing drag queen sung it, in leather shorts and knee high boots, and I don’t think anyone one else got the joke, but it made the whole moment about us, which I loved.
We had an amazing live cabaret act, diva, tenor and drag. It was one of the few things Ben had really wanted – a drag queen! Over the years we have seen some amazing performance, and this was no different. They kicked the entertainment off with Time Of My Life from Dirty Dancing and the drag queen entered singing Diamonds Are Forever – very fitting for a family of jewellers. We then had a great DJ drummer take us through the rest of the evening, with the dance floor never empty.
Tree decorations as favours
I know that often favours got left behind, so I wanted them to be something everyone would want (and if not that I would want!) so we picked tree decorations, to match our colour scheme, and used them as the place settings as well. Most of them went, I saw some guest collecting more at the end of the evening, I even had a guest call me afterwards asking if I had any spare she loved them so much.
Creative details
To enter the drinks reception upstairs our guest had to pass through a wardrobe of coats, as if they where entering Narnia, it was just one of the many fantastic little touches that Zouch & Lamare pulled together for us.
We had a great photo booth, with loads of props, peopled loved it, and it was amazing to look back on them, and see how much fun everyone was having.
Speeches
My father gave a speech, I had been worried about what he might say, but he moved the whole room to tears. It was lovely to have his blessing and hear how proud of me he was, even Ben looked a little teary eyed, which doesn’t happen often.
Ben and his groomsmen all gave cracking speeches, and not be outdone I did one of my own . It was important to me that I had a chance to thank all the people that had done so much for us to make this day special.
…including a Bride’s speech!
There was no way I wasn’t going to make a speech at the wedding, after all the hard work, blood (literally, I pricked my fingers that morning sewing the straps onto my sisters flower girl dress), sweat and tears that went into the day, and there were people I wanted to thank.
It’s funny, a lady at my old office told me that a bride shouldn’t make a speech at the wedding because she should appear shy and demure on her big day…. well, anyone that knows me will tell you I am neither shy nor demure. It was so important to me that my friends who had supported me, and my family especially mother and father, my sister and my in laws knew how grateful I was for everything they had done to help make the day possible. Also to let Ben know how very much he means to me, and how much i appreciate his small gestures of love as much as the big ones, I told a funny story of me bashing my head against a wall and Ben coming to my aid with a bag of frozen brussels sprouts.
Advice to brides and grooms currently planning their wedding
Get help! It was very important to me that my friends and family where able to enjoy themselves and not worry about the decorations, or travel. Bring on planners for the last couple of months as it made everything so much easier and we didn’t notice any of the hiccups on the day.
Phoebe & Ben’s little white book
Photographer – Richard Payne Photographer Videographer – Allora Visuals Wedding planners – Zouch & Lamare Venue – The Underglobe Flowers – Wildabout Flowers Hair – Imran Chowdhary of Michael John Make-up – Kristina Gasperas Make-Up Artist Bride’s dress and veil – Rosa Clara Bride’s jewellery – David Morris Bride’s shoes – sparkly heels of Stuart Weitzman for Russell & Bromley Groom’s attire – custom-made tuxedo by Birkett Bespoke Tailors Groomsmen suits – Moss Bros Bridesmaids – Monsoon and Dessy at Reflections Bridalware Live cabaret – Incognito Artists DJ drummer – Lindsay, found through Incognito Artists Cake – The Abigail Bloom Company Stationery – Intricate Creations Calligraphy – Claire Gould Calligraphy Chairs and Crockery – Options Hire Photo Booth – The Photobooth Guys Toast master – James Hasler
No, we don’t need any money, so let me put you at ease there. I am, however, working on a couple of projects in which I need some help from others. I don’t like using the blog for this, but I know it touches a lot of people and I thought I’d at least ask.
The first involves a coming trip to Europe. I’ve been invited to two different events in Europe this spring and summer and need to decide between making two trips—one in the UK in April and one in Ireland in June—or combining these into one trip in late June. Whenever I fly so far, I also have an ear out for other invitations in the same area to make best use of my time and the flight expenses. I am not seeking invitations nor asking people to plan something just because the opportunity is there, but simply trying to get in touch with those who have asked about my coming in the past to see if you sense God is wanting to do something around these trips. Please let me know, even if it would involve a hop over to the mainland.
The second involves some connections for a book I’m trying to help find traction for its release. Many of you know that I am part of a team that is helping to publish a new novel called THE SHACK. I have never read a more engaging work of fiction that reveals God’s heart and grace in the midst of human pain and suffering. This is a superb work. Also, if we can facilitate 100,000 of these being sold we have the possibility of 20th Century Fox helping to produce it into a movie. To that end, we are looking for some connections that will help us put it in the hands of some key people we think will enjoy the message of this book and help us let others know about it. We are working on a number of connections that we already have but would like to get it in the hands of some people we don’t know and don’t have connections to. If you have any connections to one of the following people, would you please see if they would be willing to take a look at this book for us and possibly write a blurb for it? Tony Campolo, Anne Lamott, Larry Crabb, Phillip Yancey, Brennan Manning or Michael Card. If you have ways for us to get in touch with these people, would you please let me know. If you have other connections you think we should know about, please let us know that as well.
And for all of you waiting to read it, we hope to have the book in print sometime in April… I can’t wait!
Although he may spend a considerable amount of time in Europe, namely Berlin, Victor Ruiz is still seen as the golden boy of São Paulo’s underground. The Brazilian producer has kept his hands full in terms of releases. In this month alone, he’s tossing out remixes for Senso Sounds, Hommage and Eklektisch. He’s also holding onto a stellar EP, Jaws, which has been snatched up by Pig & Dan for their ever-expanding Elevate imprint.
Acting as the label’s 15th issue, Ruiz packs three hypnotic offerings into the release. “Uranus” happens to be the only collaborative effort on the package, choosing to cross streams with longtime collaborator Any Mello. Together, they send off a deep, cavernous cut that plays out like a voyage through the cosmos. Fueled by propulsive drums, reverberant claps, swelling pads, and cerebrum-searing melodies, it’s a number you won’t soon forget.
Available September 16 via Elevate.
Follow Victor Ruiz on Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud Follow Any Mello on Facebook Follow Elevate on SoundCloud
When I head out on a ride, I normally throw my phone in a waterproof LokSak case, together with some cash and maybe my credit card. I was excited when I saw the new Mission Cycling Wallet from Timbuk2, so decided to buy one to replace my now ripped and not very functional LokSak.
The Mission Cycling Wallet is a slim profile case that protects your smartphone from not only the elements, but your own sweat as well. Your phone slides into the main zippered pouch with felt backing for scratch protection. A touchscreen compatible clear front panel enables you to access all of your phone functions so you won't have to remove the phone to check the map or start and stop your Strava ride.
Three slots on the back of the wallet are perfect for storing your credit card, drivers license, and some cash for that mid-ride coffee stop or post-ride beer. I would actually recommend sticking your cash on the inside of the zippered pouch along with your phone, otherwise the cashier will not be all too pleased when you hand over some really sweaty bills.
My only annoyance with the wallet is that in order to fit my iPhone 4 inside the zippered case, I have to remove the protective bumper or hard case from the phone. As these cases are somewhat hard to remove and almost everyone I know puts a case on their iPhone, I would love to see the cycling wallet just a little bit larger to accommodate.
Also of note, you won't have access to either the camera or the headphone jack when your phone is inside the cycling wallet. Soft nylon sides enable you to still operate any side push buttons however, even if not all that easily.
I can not vouch for the Mission Cycling Wallet fitting all types of smartphones. My only experience is using the wallet with an iPhone 4 and a couple of Nokia smartphones. The dimensions are 2.6 in x 4.7 in, but I would recommend you physically try the wallet in person if you are unsure about your phone fit.
Bottom Line: The Timbuk2 Mission Cycling Wallet is a slick way to organize your ride essentials. The zippered pouch protects your phone while allowing use at the same time. The wallet would work just as well for any other outdoor sport such as running, skiing, or hiking.
The Mission Cycling Wallet retails for $29 and comes in two versions: black with the Mission Cycling logo or black/green with the standard Timbuk2 swirl logo.
As obvious as it may sound, you can learn a tremendous amount about an artist simply by asking what music they were brought up on. Since we are well aware this is the name of the game, we hounded techno aficionado Sian to find out what records he has stored away for safekeeping in the figurative crates of his formative years.
Seeing as how the Octopus Records head has had his hands full in signing and producing some of the most genre-defining selections the underground has ever seen, it’s not surprising to know Sian draws most of his inspo from an era when underground was the only option. From his birthplace in Dublin to his stomping grounds in Spain to his current home in Los Angeles, he’s always had an unbreakable affinity for the raw and timelessly real records. He puts a handful of them on blast for us today, as he raps about the specific ones that helped shape him into the extraordinarily informed artist he is today.
His list comes right in time, with Octopus Recordings set to touch down at Exchange LA on Saturday for a very special label takeover. The lineup is more stacked than what should be allowed, including appearances from Technasia, Harvey McKay, Jia and the Octopus head himself.
You’ve picked out a handful of ‘90s club tracks that somehow inspired your own path into producing. From the list, which one track had the deepest impact on you personally, and why? I would have to say Underground Resistance’s “Transition”; this track hits me so hard every time I listen. I normally can’t handle being preached to on the dancefloor, but this vocal has some serious depth and power—so honest and simple. It has a kinda universal message about hustling, and really going for it creatively, and believing in your game plan. The production is so driving and simplistic, too—almost a continuous build. I’m guessing many other young ravers got the message, too, and went on to work in creative industries.
Obviously there’s a close connection you share with virtually every tune on the list you provided—otherwise they wouldn’t have made it—but can you share some of your fondest memories hearing them played out? I remember I heard Andrew Weatherall (big hero of mine) drop Ron Trent’s “Altered States” to a packed dancefloor in Dublin at the Temple of Sound as a teenager. This one is freaky, because the record is actually kind of laid-back and dreamy, so to hear it within the context of a hard techno set was pretty inspiring. I have applied this idea to some of my own tracks, like “Shame Cube” or “Sleeper Cell.” They are somehow slow, laid-back and sleazy, but hard-hitting in a club.
What was your big introduction to this type of sound? Do you remember a specific moment when the floodgates opened up and you became an unquestionable fan of the music? My older brother brought me out to a mind-blowing warehouse party in Dublin when I was 13 (I looked older). It was in a disused, abandoned factory in the city centre, which was cleverly renamed a Multi Media Centre by some hyper-intelligent promoters there at the time. There was a trans wedding, chainsaw sculptures, and semi-naked people serving fruit—plus a legendary Dublin DJ dropping that unmistakably eclectic ‘90s mixture of anything and everything.
How accessible was this sound where you were living when it was coming about? Were there many other people gigging out to the same music you were digging back then? That was the thing: It felt super secretive and underground. When you met other people at these raves, it felt like a forbidden society, almost. The establishment of normal concert promoters in other genres had literally no idea that the “music video shoot” going on next door in some wrecked, old building was actually a very wild, liberated, psychedelic orgy of completely new music or fashion styles. Nowadays, everyone knows what synths, DJs and clubs are about; during that time, it was more like a cult.
What was your source for keeping up with new records? Did you have special digging spots you would frequent? Absolutely. The key spots in Dublin were Tag, Abbey Discs, D1 records, etc. Tbh, I always felt out of place in record shops—like a real outsider kid. The staff always seemed to be so full of their own importance and highly opinionated about rare genres, etc.—typical trainspotter guys who kept all the good records out of most kids’ hands, so we used to have to find other ways to get our hands on white labels and unusual vinyl. I actually bought and sold a lot of vinyl myself as a kid and sampled many a kick drum or snare for my own music along the way.
Do you miss anything in particular about that era of dance music? Are there any qualities or characteristics you wouldn’t mind seeing resurface? One amazing trend I’m seeing lately is the return to more open-mindedness and higher energy on the dancefloor. For a while, the crowds in the last years were a little introverted and self-absorbed. Now, there seems to be a very extrovert and celebratory atmosphere coming back—isn’t that what nightclubbing is all about? Maybe it’s a reflection of where society is at, too: People want to let loose again, I guess.
Not to say current music is more disposable, but there seems to be a stronger sense of timelessness from many records of that generation. Do you agree? If so, to what do you attribute this general expendability of music nowadays? I think when we switched to digital as record shoppers, there is a sense of fast turnaround, and not many records stick around. In the previous years, vinyl was a big commitment, so the label had to make sure the tracks were total bangers. We always apply this idea to my label, Octopus. We treat every release like it is a big step and should be around forever. Our tagline is “classic, modern, techno.”
Are there any Octopus tracks you feel resemble the essence of any of the selections from your list? I would say more “inspired” than actually resembling them. For example, my new EP Information (out July 4) is a real product of my experiences at these early raves. Now, hearing those super raw and stripped-down tracks with fresh ears, I feel the idea of reducing a track to its basic elements in order to always crush a dancefloor is something I learnt in those formative dancefloor years!
Jamming out on a bike commute or softly serenading by a campfire… the Buckshot Pro is my go-to portable speaker.
At $80, the Buckshot Pro is an ultimate electronic “multitool” for people serious about their outdoors fun — it plays music via a wireless Bluetooth connection, charges gadgets with an internal battery, and it has a light.
I reviewed it over several months and through all kinds of weather and situations outdoors. The product has become a favorite accessory in my pack.
Bluetooth Breakdown
The Buckshot Pro is a smaller device than your standard Bluetooth speaker; the sound quality, life, and range are likely not as good as your UE Boom, Beats Pill, or even Outdoor Tech’s sturdier wireless musical standby, the Turtle Shell .
But that’s not the point of the Buckshot Pro, which is lighter and more durable than at-home speakers. It’s an on-the-go sound system ideal for mounting to your bike handle (durable rubber mounting band included) or sticking in your backpack for that night’s campsite.
Add a light (which I found a little cumbersome) and a powerbank to make this something of a biking and backpacking multitool, and the sound quality is pretty darn good, too, especially given the Buckshot Pro’s versatility.
Loud, Clear, Music
Sound quality was good given the tiny size of this speaker. Maybe my ears aren’t trained to discern the extra crispness of a $200 speaker, but I never thought “oh, this sound quality could be better.”
The volume went loud enough to fill my apartment with the Grateful Dead’s “Throwing Stones” and to hear clearly every riff of “In the Evening” as I biked along the Mississippi River. The sound is directional, coming out of the end facing me (a nice feature that will maximize enjoyment while cutting down on noise pollution for other bikers, runners, etc.).
It also has a built-in mic, so you can hop on that conference call from whatever neck of the woods you find yourself in.
Light, Portable & Durable
At less than six inches long, two inches wide, and seven ounces heavy, the Buckshot Pro is easy to pack and takes up about as much room in your backpack as a small flashlight.
Its rubber exterior is shock-resistant if you drop it, and it’s rated IPX5 water-resistant, which means it will handle well in the rain but isn’t cut out for SCUBA diving.
It seems durable, and lived through the rigors of use outdoors for several months of testing.
Light and Powerbank for Camping, Biking
Attached to the end opposite the speaker is a USB port, where you can charge a phone, watch, headlamp, etc. in the backcountry. I was able to recharge my iPhone (a 4s with discharged battery) twice in addition to playing music for two hours and lighting up the tent for another hour while camping in sub-40-degree temperatures.
The light, which attaches to the USB port, has settings for lantern (handy to light a tent if you hang it from the upper netting), flashlight (bright enough to illuminate potholes on your bike ride) and strobe (vibrant enough to alert even texting drivers to your presence, or to confuse and subdue roommates when combined with EDM over the Bluetooth).
With a long turn-on time and toggling, it isn’t your most convenient lighting option compared to a headlamp; I also found the rubber cover of the light moved easily, which put the pronounced spot for the power button and the actual power button, underneath, out of alignment. I had to futz with it to get it back in place.
Still, for the versatility of the device, the lighting options did quite well enough. Likewise, the power bank isn’t the biggest or longest-lasting on the market; but those both, along with the speaker, work pretty well for an all-in-one package this small and sturdy.
Range, Battery Life Decreased
One note that might only resonate with original Buckshot users: the Pro’s Bluetooth speaker has a shorter play/talk time (10 hours) and smaller range (32 feet) than that of its predecessor (16 hours and 33 feet). Again, the tradeoff is its versatility and the added features of a powerbank and light, which the original model lacked.
Bang For Your Buck
The Buckshot pro won’t be the best speaker you’ve ever owned, or the brightest light, or the longest-charging powerbank… but that’s not what Outdoor Tech was going for. The brand wanted a device that contained all three of those functions in an easy-to pack, super-durable package.
The company delivered with a remarkably good speaker at the helm. For under $80, this is a great value for anyone serious about camping and biking with music.
–See more at Outdoor Tech, where the Buckshot Pro sells for $79.95.
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This is another one of those email exchanges, that I felt would also be of interest to many others… Someone has either swallowed or is about to swallow the red pill! They wanted to know if I could help!
OK, I am in trouble. I discovered you and read two of you books and started the 3rd just this week. Oh, how your writings resonate with something deep inside of me. I know what your saying is true—I just know it intuitively. My wife and I are weary of the institutional system of doing church. We so want to separate ourselves. We are tired of the professional class and lay separation, the need for enormous amounts of money to keep the machine operating with the appeal to tithe, trying to reconcile law and grace…
Our story is long and tangled, but the short of it is that I am running into resistance from leadership which I sense will be escalating, using the tactics that you are so very familiar with. I have already been ask, “how do you interpret the scriptures that tell us that we should submit to leadership and our “covering?”
Please help us get beyond this initial hurdle—it is a big one. Thank you, my new found friend and brother.
Thanks for writing. I certainly hear your heart and am grateful for the journey you’re on, even if it may get painful in days ahead. It sounds like you’re moving from the disillusionment of religion, into the reality of real relationship with him. I’d like to tell you that’s all glorious, and it will be in the end, but the process can be a bit disorienting and painful. That’s why many talk of it as ‘de-toxing’, because there is a bit of withdrawal involved from our dependence on religion. And, there’s the reaction of others that won’t understand what he’s doing in you and will make harsh judgments about you.
First, let me encourage you to take a deep breath and slow down. If this is all fairly new to you, you are probably far more ready to react than you are to simply respond to him. You don’t have to be in a hurry here. Let your desires draw you closer to him so that he becomes more real to you than those you fear. So many who first see these things react by attacking the ‘system’ or the ‘institution’, before they even understand how Father wants to work in them. They want everyone else to understand their new insights, and end up like the proverbial bull in the china shop, upsetting things God doesn’t want upset. If he asks you to leave, leave. Don’t try to drag others along. Don’t make a final stand affirming that you have the truth and they are all in error. Just, go quietly and let him lead you on. If he has others he wants you to talk to, he’ll arrange that.
How do you do this? One step at a time. Each day wake up and ask Father what he has for you, and follow him as best you see him. Walk in the integrity of your conscience, with humility and graciousness to everyone you meet. Always doing what is in your heart to do and take on whatever consequences result, whether it be the angry accusations of others, or the guilt for not doing what others expect of you. It is often those very consequences that show us next steps and open doors to what God has for us in days to come. But, yes, they are painful too!
Yes, people will try to get you back in line by claiming that Scripture teaches us to submit to our covering. Simply ask them where? The only covering in Scripture, that I know about other than the head-covering for women is the fig leaves in Genesis. I’m not sure covering there as a positive thing. They were trying to hide from God and each other, remember. Who needs a covering from God when we have all been washed in his forgiveness. We can boldly come before him now without any need for covering. But, there is no way to scripturally convince people there isn’t a call for covering who are convinced there is. Leadership is never viewed as a covering in the New Testament, and leadership ‘over’ was forbidden by Jesus to his followers in Mark 10:42-45. The only passage people point to is Hebrews 13 about submitting to our leaders, and which King Jimmy translated as to ‘those who are over you in the Lord.’ But that is not the correct translation or interpretation of this passage. The translators added it to embellish ‘church’ authority. This passage is simply about yielding to those who stand before you in the Lord and keep watch for you. That’s brothers and sisters who have your bests interests at heart, not obeying the systems managers of religious institutions.
The overwhelming weight of NT Scriptures talks about each one of us having an anointing to know truth and error, of not needing anyone to teach us, for all will know him. The glory of the new covenant is that we all get to know him and that Jesus makes himself known to each individual surrendered to him, not through any kind of leadership hierarchy. I know some worry that will lead to anarchy, but folks who are growing in relationship to Jesus and his Father will know how to treat others with love and know how to work with each other when he calls them together. But don’t expect those who have a vested interest in the power or money of authority positions to affirm that, and free people to live in it. It just doesn’t happen until God opens their eyes.
I’d just encourage you to walk graciously in the light God has given. Love people but never compromise your conscience to go along. Folks will not understand that and say horrible things about you to marginalize your life from ‘infecting others’, which is exactly how Jesus said they would treat us in Matthew 5 at the end of his blessed-are-you statements. So just keep following him. As graciously as you can explain to those who ask what you see God teaching you, but never try to convince them. By trying to, you’ll only make them defensive and push them deeper into the cave in which the are already hiding… And that just won’t be helpful.
In it all you will learn to depend on him in the rich joy of a love relationship, and that will carry you on to incredible expressions of life in him and body life with other believers, that you cannot even conceive at this point in the journey.
Forget about fiddling around with tedious mounts for your point of view camera, simply throw on a pair of Pivothead sunglasses and you are ready to record your outdoor adventure. With the press of a single button, you are filming and what you see is the exact image you are going to capture.
Built into the lightweight Pivothead sunglasses frame is a Full HD (1080p/30fps) video camera. The Sony 8MP image sensor lets you take high quality still photos in addition to video, while the Image Stabilization technology helps get rid of the dreaded shaky cam.
A high quality microphone is also embedded in the frame, so you can capture all the audio along with the video of your adventure. The sunglasses frame will accept a 32GB capacity Micro SD card for 20 hours of video storage, but the Li-polymer battery will only last for around 2 hours of HD video recording on one charge.
The video recording eyewear has 6 different modes depending on the conditions and your chosen activity. The Pivtohead sunglasses connect via Micro USB to either your mobile phone or computer if you need to change the mode settings or for uploading your photos and videos.
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There was definitely a moment in my practice that taking child’s pose (balasana) wasn’t an option. Even when my teacher told me that resting was always an option and honoring your body was of upmost importance. In my mind, honoring my body meant pushing its limits and making it sweat. So what if my arms were about to give out and my form suffered? I was powering through it. Thinking I had something to prove to my teacher, my peers and myself, I was stubborn in thinking that child’s pose was giving up or cheating. I can say now after years of being a student and some practice teaching, no one cares what you do on your mat. Seriously. Everyone is caught up in their own little rectangular yoga mat world to worry about what pose you are getting yourself into. So that worry can be dropped.
I can’t pinpoint when it happened, but I started to let go of the notion that child’s pose signified weakness. Naturally, the more I practiced yoga the more aware I became of my body. And by awareness I don’t just mean what my body is physically capable of doing. I mean the art of really tuning into my body in its wholeness. The physical, energetic, spiritual and emotional body. The complexity of these layers still amazes me and tapping into them requires acute attention. The more acquainted I can become with the complexities of the body, the better I can identify what it’s asking for and honoring it’s needs.
So at some point my perception shifted from one of weakness to one of devotion and surrender. Instead of telling my body what to do, I let my body tell ME what to do. And then I actually listened. Sinking my hips to rest on my heels and stretching my arms out in offering became an asana I looked forward to as opposed to averting. It became a symbol of humility and a chance to reconnect with my breath and humble my ego. Balasana quickly jumped the ranks in the list of most underrated yoga poses and I felt no shame in taking a timeout now and again when necessary.
Taking child’s pose is not “childish” or make you an amateur yogi. Quite the contrary in my opinion! Resting in child’s pose is a wise decision to appreciate and love your body – moving past the voice in your head that says push forward and honoring the connection to the body that tells you it’s okay to slow down.
When you research what comes next after choosing your wedding venue , you often see suggestions like “book your officiant” or “find your photographer!” You might even find comments like “you’ll want to get your DJ right away” but “purchase your wedding dress?” That’s definitely not on the top of the standard Wedding To-Do list, but it somehow ended up being my next big wedding check mark.
With a sixteen-month wedding planning period and my sister Jill’s wedding two and half months after Harley and I got engaged , I was in no rush to book anything other than the venue. Even as someone who considers myself to be a serious Type A planner, I’m enjoying having a longer engagement so far because I don’t have to worry about deciding on vendors quickly. In fact, I took a one-month hiatus from searching for a florist when I found myself getting stressed over finding the perfect vendor who fit our style and budget. Somehow, “saying yes to the dress” has been one of the easiest decisions I’ve made related to our wedding and the one that I thought about the least!
Dawn’s friend, Shelley is wearing a wedding dress from Mariolka’s Bridal Boutique , which inspired her to shop for her dress there. Dawn is also in this picture as one of Shelley’s bridesmaids! (Image: Jack Bates Photography )
It all started with my friend Shelley’s wedding (pictured above) in December 2016. Shelley has been one of my best friends and fashion gurus for over 10 years! She got her gorgeous wedding dress at Mariolka’s Bridal Boutique , so naturally I started following the store on social media when I got engaged.
One Sunday in May, Harley and I were relaxing at the pool, and I saw an advertisement on my Facebook newsfeed that Mariolka’s was having a huge sale to make room for the 2017 collections. I figured that I probably wouldn’t find anything because I wasn’t “ready” to look for a wedding dress. I hadn’t started “sweating for the wedding” yet like many brides do, my Wedding Dress Board on Pinterest only had about five pins on it, and I didn’t have wedding dress shopping on my planning timeline until at least August when I would be eleven months away from the big day. I also didn’t want to get too excited because Mariolka’s is a very high-end boutique, which I thought would be out of my price range. Regardless, I made plans to go to Mariolka’s that Tuesday after work with Shelley and my mom. It felt strange going without my sister because I was very much involved with her wedding dress shopping experience, but she lives four hours away and I didn’t want to miss out on the sale!
Dawn, her sister, and her mum drinking champagne at the Bridal Boutique after she tried on the dress for them.
We arrived at the store in the pouring rain only about an hour before they closed and started pulling dresses from the 2016 collections. I let the Wedding Dress Consultant know that I hadn’t really thought much about what type of dress I would like yet and was open to trying on different styles. We pulled about 7-10 dresses, and it finally became real that I was getting married when I had the first one on and was walking down the runway to Shelley and my mom. After being a bridesmaid or Maid of Honor in five weddings during a one-year period, it finally hit me that it was my turn to be the bride!
The whole process was such a whirl-wind of fun, fashion, and decision-making that I couldn’t even say if the dress that I ended up choosing was the second or sixth dress I tried on. All I remember about trying it on for the first time in the boutique was being surprised by how flattering the style ended up being for my body and saying, “but it’s not completely white.” Spoiler alert for Harley: My dress is ivory. That was a big concern for me at first because I’ve always thought that wedding dresses were “supposed” to be white. Now I’m learning that every wedding-related rule is simply a suggestion, and the only thing a couple is truly supposed to do is make their wedding a memorable day that is a reflection of their relationship.
I’m not one to make such an important decision on a whim, so I asked our extremely helpful Wedding Dress Consultant if she would be able to put the wedding dress on hold for me. Because it was a sale item, she was only able to hold it for 24 hours. I quickly scheduled an appointment at another Bridal Boutique for the next day and was very honest with the consultant there that I already had a dress to beat. Being that the dress from Mariolka’s was already at the top of my budget at 50% off, I knew that the quality of other dresses in my price range would not compare. When nothing I tried on even mildly paralleled its beauty and quality, I knew I had found the dress!
I quickly went back to Mariolka’s to put the deposit down on my wedding dress by myself because I wanted to make sure it didn’t go back out onto the sales floor. The Wedding Dress Consultant and I shared a hilariously awkward moment when she said, “Well, I guess we’ll celebrate with champagne when you come back with friends for your accessories.” Again, I wasn’t expecting to find a dress at this boutique so quickly and had no idea that they celebrated with champagne when a bride finds her dress. It was such a nice touch, and I did finally get to share my celebratory toast with my mom and sister and on July 9th…exactly a year from my wedding date when Jill was home for my mom’s birthday. I wanted my sister to be able to see the dress in person, and it looks even better now that sweating for the wedding has begun!
Dawn as a bridesmaid at her sister, Jill’s, wedding (image Laura Serra Photography)
Wedding Dress Shopping Tips
Reflecting on my dress shopping experience, I have a few pieces of advice for my fellow brides:
Keep your shopping party small. I was so happy to have my mom and Shelley with me to try on dresses and wish my sister could have come, but I’m glad that I kept my shopping party to a minimum. I definitely sought out the opinions of my dad and stepmom, as well as my bridal party before making my ultimate decision, but having too many people present would have felt very overwhelming.
If you’re alright with not having a custom-made wedding dress, End of Season sales are the way to go!In addition to fabulous prices on designer dresses, another perk is that your dress is readily-available at the boutique without waiting for months in anticipation.
It can still be the dress if you don’t cry.Jill and I both cried when she knew she had found her dress back in January, but I was thinking very logically and critically when I chose mine. When making the most expensive clothing purchase of my life for a dress that would also be the most-photographed outfit in my life, I guess the emotional side of my brain shut off. I did, however, get choked up when I tried it on for Jill in July, once the dress was all mine and there was no more need for logic and critical thinking.
HAVE FUN!Whether you find your dress on the first try or have to visit ten stores and try on dozens of dresses, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience leading to the happiest day of your life. Soak it all in, appreciate the praise or criticisms of your entourage, and celebrate!
Dawn will be marrying Harley on 9th July 2017 at the Delray Beach Marriott in South Florida, USA, and Jack Bates Photography will be photographing her wedding.
You can read all Dawn’s planning posts so far here .
* Megan, Advertising Coordinator & Joe, Chef Of The Future * Photographer: Kateryn Silva (APW Sponsor) * Soundtrack for reading: “ This Time Tomorrow ” by The Kinks
One sentence sum up of the wedding vibe: A relaxed and easy gathering in the woods.
The Info—Photographer: Kateryn Silva (APW Sponsor) / Location: Morris, New Jersey / Venue: The Lodge at Schooley’s Mountain / Officiant: Unity of Sussex County / Catering: Redwoods Grill and Bar / Megan’s Dress: David’s Bridal / Megan’s Sweater: Van Heusen / Megan’s Fascinator: -Made at home with supplies from Feather Store / Megan’s Shoes: From DSW, already owned / Joe’s Suit: JC Penny / Joe’s Shoes: DSW
Other cool stuff we should know about: Reading everyone’s experiences really settled my fears about the things I thought people would miss. What, no dancing? What, no speeches? But no one did, it was all just as relaxed and easy as we had hoped for. People started eating the cakes before we did any official cutting. One of the Wedding Fairies came by to tell us we should get over there if we wanted pictures with cake. Our families don’t need to be told when to start on the desserts! The day was a little chilly, so I was glad to have picked a venue with a fireplace and it was a great backdrop for the ceremony. We had just the one location for both the ceremony and the reception, so we were able to maximize our time with everyone. And even then, I felt as if we couldn’t spend enough individual time with everyone. I was also glad for all the advice to stay present during the ceremony. It went so quickly, I’m still trying to hold on to that magic, feeling like I would burst with joy and excitement.
Favorite thing about the wedding: The Hug Line. Every time we stood still someone would come over to hug us and then a line would form! Everyone wanted to be a part of the spontaneous love. I didn’t want it to end.
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