Archive of www.momentville.com/ireneandstephen - Wedding 2008 blog

The Wedding Blog

Who gets engaged 2 years in advance?!

Apparently we should have booked our wedding venue 2 years in advance to get the best date and location. Faced with limited selection of classy and large venues, we are having some trouble finding a location that meets our 'high' standards and attendee size!! Wish us luck!

January 21, 2008

The engagement party

Yesterday we had a family engagement party at Irene's parents home in North York. What a coincidence that both sides, i.e. Stephen's siblings and Irene's sisters/brother-in-law purchased the SAME engagement present for us!  It was a non-traditional gift but a great choice to get us working as a real team. So we received not one, but TWO wireless Guitar Hero guitars to complement our Rock Band ensemble! Similarly we received matching Bailey's Irish Cream bottles from my parents no less to get the many parties started! The event was well attended and we were pleasantly surprised by Julie's (Irene's youngest sister) unexpected appearance from Montreal! Thanks again to everyone for a great evening!

February 10, 2008

The engagement ring was the 2nd ring that Stephen gave me...

Thanks Domina for reminding us that in fact, Irene proposed once to Stephen before in 2001.  Irene asked him to present her the Engineering Iron Ring in a cult-like pre-graduation ceremony from McMaster (note to non-Canadians - this is a tradition to remind engineering grads of their social responsibilities).  So the engagement ring would be ring #2, albeit a MUCH nicer one.

February 10, 2008

Finally finished our save the date cards...

Look for them via email or in the mail! Only 209 days to go...

March 02, 2008

Marriage classes are DONE!

March 04, 2008

Stuck in Vancouver

Irene: I've been staffed on a project in BC for some time now... missing Stephen a lot and certainly not getting much wedding stuff done. In fact, I just bought my dress down in Seattle. Not sure if that was a great idea (logistically will be tough and who knows if it will even be ready on time...) but time is short. We finally booked the photographer and are starting on invitations and DJ-interviews. I noticed many potential club DJ's refuse to play the chicken dance or macarena, so to put their reputations at risk...

April 11, 2008

New wedding planner...and general blog update

We finally got a new wedding planner at the hotel and he is very helpful. Even directed me to a off-the-beaten track wholesaler area to bypass florists' mark-ups on decorating goodies! Getting stuck in a 2 hour queue of housewives buying out of season Christmas junk is not really my scene, but a fun experience overall! Heading to Punta Cana for Stephen's brother's wedding in a few weeks. Much needed R&R as well... just before Stephen's big CFA exam! On another note, Irene's project in Vancouver is extended indefinitely... NOT a good thing for the wedding, but helpful for the honeymoon budget!

May 07, 2008

Tanned/burned, bitten and gearing up for summer

We spent the last week in sunny Dominican Republic, sipping unlimited rum-based drinks, eating non-stop at endless buffets and baking in the sun. Stephen was really good as he spent a few hours each day hitting the books (while Irene slept in). Harry and Tanya's wedding was fabulous, with close family and friends enjoying much needed relaxation... too bad Terminal 3 is so inefficient. The summer will be busy... as for the wedding...bridesmaid dresses are sort of ordered, DJs selected and hotel room block getting larger! Book soon!

May 28, 2008

Summer is too short in T.O.

We are just realizing the # of summer weekends are too few in Toronto.  You can count them on both your hands. Not to mention they book up - waaay too fast. Heading to Cali for a couple weeks, and thereafter, Stephen is joining me there for my MIT roommate Linda's wedding. Should be a short trip but nice to catch up with good food and (reliable) sun... I'm sure we will be re-juvenated about wedding planning after enjoying their celebration at the golf course :)

June 06, 2008

No more books!

Finally finished writing the CFA test on June 7th. For those who are not familiar with the CFA, its becoming the benchmark designation for the Financial/Banking industry. There are three levels of testing with each level being tested only once a year on a global basis.

Did I pass? Not sure, but I'm ready to chill out and then start tackling all the necessary things I need to prepare for our big day.

June 11, 2008

Sun and more....

Can't wait until Stephen meets me in San Francisco in 1.5 weeks. The weather is beautiful here but it would be more fun for Stephen to be here with me. Looking forward to some good food, friends and scenary! Congrats to Stephen on his Level 3 exam! Huge accomplishment to be already so far in the CFA process. And hooray to no more books!

June 12, 2008

Invitations are coming...

Thanks to the bridal party (especially Domina and Pauline) for spearheading the invitation effort! They are (almost) in the mail... we need to sort out exact mailing addresses. We had a wonderful time preparing the reception giveaways with Harry, Tanya, Domina, Terry and Irene's parents as well. After a much needed California getaway, we are settling down for the home stretch of wedding stuff. On to the engagement photo-taking and flower selection.  Too bad Machu Picchu permits are all sold out! where to go now?!

July 03, 2008

July update...

In Arizona, the weather is so hot that you can barely breathe when outside! Stephen gets to experience it this weekend :)  The limo is booked, engagement photos taken, centrepieces designed, (most) invitations mailed... dinner menu not yet selected! We also hear the ballroom is under renovations so keeping our fingers crossed. Our wedding shower is Aug 23rd so come if you can!

July 15, 2008

End of July...

Now that Stephen has come and gone from the dry desert heat... The next big task ahead is the HONEYMOON!!  We still want to go to South America... but need to FOCUS and decide what the game plan will be. Not the best time to travel there (early October) but we hear Chile and Argentina are lovely nonetheless. Did I mention that my wedding gown is flying with UPS to Phoenix right now from Seattle? How scary is that?! Hopefully it will arrive, then onto alterations. And I look forward to a fun weekend with the girls in Montreal next week. Not QUITE done the invitation mailings (so please don't be insulted if your arrive early August!). Good bye 110 degrees F.

July 23, 2008

Hello Montreal

Thank you to Faye especially for spearheading the bachelorette festivities...I look forward to a fun weekend in Montreal, the city of my birth!! Not to mention great food, spa and friends traveling so far to hang out with me. Congrats to my sister Pauline for completing her bike ride from Toronto to Montreal this week!! (yes no joke, it was a fundraiser for People with AIDS foundation... its a serious 120km+ daily!).  Stephen and I saw her off last Sunday... See you in August!

July 31, 2008

Hawaii it is... we don't believe in letting coin tosses decide our travel comfort.

Stephen and I wildly debated the following honeymoon options:

1. Buenos Aires (Argentina), Chile, Patagonia (Peru Inca Trail sold out!)

2. China - Xi'an, Beijing, Shanghai etc

3. Hawaii

We finally decided on Hawaii for its high cost of hotels, expensive food and likely overpriced tourist activities like hiking, surfing and diving! Nonetheless it at least has warmer weather than Toronto in October.

The next decision was even funnier.  We tossed a coin whether to use our airline points towards economy or business class. Every coin toss indicated we should fly economy, but we decided on business class luxury nonetheless.

We leave 6:30am on Mon Sep 29 and return on Mon Oct 13.

Dear South America, we'll have to come visit during snowboarding season next summer!

August 07, 2008

Moving on... and looking forward to the home stretch!

We met with Father Paul Cusack from St Gabriel's this morning. Looks like we're ready to roll... the church will be beautiful and modern as its North America's greenest church. We trust you will all love it!  Irene also decided to accept a great job opportunity to run the channel division at another company. She bid farewell to a wonderfully talented group of friends at Mckinsey on Aug 8th and started 7 am at her new role two days later.... Lots to ramp up on at work, right before the wedding! Other than that... totally UNHAPPY with the Westin Prince catering managers thus far (high turnover, unprofessional). we're keeping our fingers CROSSED!  The ballroom should be done renovations by now!

August 17, 2008

Congrats to Mr CFA!

BIG congratulations & well done to Stephen for passing all 3 levels for Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) exams! The consecutive pass rate is << 10%. This is a global professional Finance certification and great personal accomplishment(exams only written 1x/year).  Looking forward to celebrate together this weekend at our Wedding Shower!

August 20, 2008

Thanks for a great wedding shower

Thanks to Christine for organizing a great wedding shower at Milne Creek park yesterday! She got tons of help from Harry, Julie, Tanya, Janne, Mrs Hwang, Tita Sandy and countless others who brought food, sports and fun!  The weather was perfect. In the Hwang vs Yang soccer match, unfortunately the Hwang (aka mostly friends) team lost 4-1. We'll have a rematch soon! We are so blessed to have such supportive family and friends.Thanks again and can't wait for our big day!

August 24, 2008

Argh...work!

Well its been a hectic few weeks ramping up at my new role (irene). I'll be in Boston then Asia for the next 2 weeks. Stephen will also be heading to the US for a business trip. But before then, we have our hotel menu tasting!!  And as we're finalizing the list of attendees....there are several vegetarians/no beef/no pork/no fish/no chair type guests! ;) We love you anyway. Oh yes, need to book the Hawaii hotels too. We're on that...its all about the points. See you in a few.

September 04, 2008

2 more weeks!

Well the guest list is nearly final, food tasted, ... hmm... how are the bridesmaid dresses coming along? Can't wait to see everyone!

September 11, 2008

Final week!

Irene is jetlagged from Asia, Stephen a little tired from his bachelor party festivities... unfortunately we both have to work most/all of this week! See you on thursday, friday, saturday & sunday!

September 22, 2008

3 days left

A new wedding planner... last minute cancellation... and finally picked the music and the wedding celebration readings! Don't expect much for the first dance. We can't agree on a song. In fact, we thought Foreigner sang Forever Young. Argh.

September 24, 2008

Sad to leave Hawaiian honeymoon...

Thank you everyone for a wonderful wedding ceremony and party! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did...despite the rainy weather, the day turned out perfect! We'll post photos soon!  Sad to leave Hawaii...the first week, we did tons of activities in Oahu, Big Island & Maui - surfing, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, boogie boarding, shopping, hiking Big Island volcano, biking down Maui volcano, golfing... we were exhausted and sick! Heading back to Vancouver now. we loved the sushi and japanese cuisine in Hawaii!

October 12, 2008