Invitations

Ladies and Gentlemen I have been working for approximately 11 hours straight (I say this because I took a break to eat a wonderful dinner Mike had cooked) and I have now completed* the invitations to the wedding! I have printed and stamped 42 cards and envelopes, complete with different colour embossing and stamps. I feel rather accomplished, and have a terrifically stiff neck.

All this being said, now would be the very LAST moment to tell me that your address has changed. Fortunately I remembered that 3 people had moved recently, and that one I had used the wrong address for. I will be mailing these out within the next 2 weeks, so if you are moving after that then I am unconcerned, however if you have moved and I am unaware please tell me!

I am busy with lots of other projects now, but considering it took me an entire day off to do this I'm glad it is now done. I won't post pictures because that would ruin the surprise you shall receive in the mail!

So exhausted but triumphant I will go to bed now... with a hot water bottle for my neck, however no papercuts!

Also I will be posting more maps and directions, and details on the blog. Please remember to look here for all that fun stuff!

*This is mostly true except for 3 missing addresses on envelopes and thus have only 3 envelopes to finish.

500!

I have folded 500 cranes! I'm have way there! I now have 3 boxes of them... and I'm running out of places to put them. I think I need to mail this half home now lol.

50% down,
50% to go!

Here goes!

Times!

Sorry this took so long. Mike and I kept thinking that something would crop up, something that would make us go 'Ok then we better set the time for nani nani [translation note 'nani nani' is Japanese for 'blah b
blah blah' and I like ti better lol]. But that never happened.  So it just came down to Mike and I talking it out, and we did.

So here it is.... drum roll please..... 2 o'clock!

Not that exciting is it lol.

2:00 Ceremony At the Newman's House  <--- Click for map from Kincardine hotel to the house.
3:00 Mingle and Chat while photos are taken
5:30 Dinner and Speeches
7:00 (ish) Dance, Cake Cutting, Good Times

Ok so at 2 o'clock, given all that everything runs on time (which I'm told at weddings it doesn't) the ceremony will begin at 2. Everyone will be sitting underneath some amazing pines on my sister's place at the back of her property. After the ceremony we will be taking the various pictures with the wedding party and the family members. At about 5:30 dinner will be served in the tent and everyone can enjoy a few speeches as well. We hope to start the dance between 7-8 depending on speeches and things.

Yep so we will print all this on the invitations as well, but I've had some people asking so here is the info. Hope it helps! Can't wait to see everyone!

OMG Info You Need!!

Ok so I hadn’t jumped on this issue, assuming that I still had time, but I’m glad some people were asking about it and that I have gotten my butt in gear.

Block Booking for Hotels

So here it is. We have 2 hotels booked because both are getting filled up fast with other reservations! So sorry but hopefully this is enough rooms for now. Both hotels are a straight 5 min drive to my sister’s house (seriously other than the drive ways there are no turns!), and are a 2 min walk from each other (you can seem them without issue). Both hotels have been booked for both September 2^nd and 3^rd because I don’t know which nights people would want to stay over. The hotels are booked in both of our names, so give either name when booking to make sure you get a room. All reservations must be made by August 2, 2011 otherwise the rooms are no longer saved!

Holiday Inn Express         519-395-3545

Two Queen Beds             $153                       2 Rooms

Suites                              $162                       10 Rooms

With the discount of 10% the suites are cheaper than a regular room, so I don’t think it’s too bad. I think it comes with a continental breakfast. When booking online the block book code is GCW (as in Gemmell/Clifford Wedding)

Best Western Governor’s Inn     519-396-8242

Queen and Pull Out Couch           $154       10 Rooms

Comes with a hot buffet breakfast.

Some people were also asking about trailer parks in the area and this one is a 2 minute easy drive to the wedding site, 2 minute drive into town, and also an easy walk to the beach.

Green Acres Trailer Park               519-395-2808

Hydro and Water Site                     $153

Full Service Site                                 $160

For the long weekend it’s the same price no matter how many nights you stay at the site. However they have strict quiet hours from 11pm-8am, all pets on leashes, no off site alcohol, and no outside wood rules. Double check the number of people allowed for the sites.

Aintree Trailer Park                      877-396-8533

I couldn't get a hold of them, but I know they are almost directly across from the Green Acres Trailer park, so close to everything you need.

So please book ASAP! I know some of my friends might want to double up on rooms and things, so please make those arrangements with those who can. Remember it's first come first serve, so after this point I'm not in control of who gets which rooms. I mean come on, I still need to figure out which room Mike and I are getting!

If there are any other sites or information you need please let me know!

Holidays in Japan

Well spring is here in Japan, and along with it a little bit of holiday time.

With stresses at work and in life in general, Mike and I were more than happy to get some time off to see some more of Japan. First we went to Kyoto and got dressed up in traditional Kimonos and went to the 'Clear Water Temple', and afterwards ate at a Ninja restaurant.

The next day we went to 'Golden Temple' and then went and did a Geisha/Samurai photo opportunity, followed by a part visit to the 500 gates of Buddhist disciple (we are not disciplined enough to walk all 500!).

A big thanks to our amazing Friend Kei who was a WONDERFUL tour guide and just a blast to be around.

The next day we went to Nara, a very historical city, and visited some HUGE pagodas and the world's largest bronze Buddha statue (over 4 stories tall) and saw the wonderful deer in the parks who enjoy the tourists feeding them Deer Biscuits.

Also, side note, but there is a hole in a post that is the same size as the Buddhas nostril which if you can fit through then it's good luck.... and apparently I am just the right size!

Final day brought us to Osaka where we spent the entire day in the Osaka aquarium watching all types of creatures. Some we knew from our diving trip to Thailand, others were new to us. But we couldn't help but smile and be a little proud when we saw the massive whale shark in the giant tank, and remembered that we have dived with one of these amazing creatures! Personally I think the highlight though, other than watch Mike have a giant kid like grin on his face all day, was the touch tank where we got to pet about 5 different spices of sharks and a few different types of rays! Super cool!

Anyway what I was able to determine during all this in regards to the wedding were these things.

1) I bought these super cute little hair pins to pull in the Japanese tie, and to remind me of my time here in Japan. I think day of they will be great and be just enough bling in my hair since I didn't want a tiara.

2) Heels can be SUPER painful. I spent one day in boot heels, and I was DONE by days end. So I need to find some SUPER comfortable shoes, maybe even two pairs, because I need to be able to dance that night.

3) I'm glad I'm not getting married in a Kimono. I toyed with this idea for a long time, and even once announced to Mike (before we got engaged) that I was going to be married in one. While they are super beautiful and a great experience, those Obi-s are stiffer then a corset, and harder to walk in than a dress. PLUS I was too curvy, so they always stuff me with towels to make me look more box shape, and I can't help but feel 'larger' when they do that.

4) Mike and I are both agreed that we need more practice in FRONT of the camera since we are both a little camera shy sometimes, or not sure sure how best to stand/pose. America's Top Model we are not. *Side note though, I like the pictures that Mike took of me as a Geisha better than the professional woman's and I think I got a few good ones of Mike too*

Visiting around Japan is wonderful, but I am missing home. We can't wait to see everyone and do some catching up and lots more planning.