Wedding Week!

So as many of you know this past week-end was the wedding of Kate and Stuart. This one has been roughly two years in the making. This is the wedding that has opened my eyes to what weddings are really like. Before being Kate's bridesmaid my only experience with weddings was being a guest or a photographer or both. Man is it different when you're on the other side of the bridge! It's way too much work and WAY too many people get bent out of shape about stupid things. That being said it was a fantastic and came off with no hitches - or at least none that I am aware of. Let me begin my recap from Scott and Jason's arrival on August 1st.

Tuesday August 1st


Kate picked Jason and Scott up at the airport. There plane had been delayed so I expected them to be later arriving at my apartment. Well they were, however they were FAR later than I had guessed.

By about 8pm we were eating dinner at the Korean Grill House on Queen Street that Kate says is the best one in town. Scott loved to revisit some of the Korean delicacies he had enjoyed during his two year tenure in Korea. Jason enjoyed the fact that it was unlimited meat and a BBQ. We opted to not have the OX tongue or liver nor the squid and white fish. Instead we enjoyed unlimited amounts of Beef, beef ribs, chicken, salmon and pork. My dear friend Kate is definitely a carnivore because she out-ate me and Scott! Actually she always out-eats me at this place and I'm not quite sure how. The place is great because it's all you can eat for $15 plus tax and tip! Besides the meat they give you rice and a few other Korean sidedishes.

After dinner we strolled along Queen Street so Scott could see the Chum/Much Music building. Stuart had wanted to show us the inside of this biker bar but there happened to be a cover charge that night so he said it wasn't worth it in that case. We passed the Silver Snail comic book store because Jason had wanted to go into it but it was unfortunately closed for the evening.

However they did have the coolest window display. They had done a replica of the helms deep battle from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers using Muppet figurines! Even Statler and Waldorf were in it! Kermit the Frog was Aragorn and the big Monster guy from the Muppet Show was Gandalf. Miss Piggy was supposed to be Eowyn I think. I think they called it Hogs Deep because the pigs from Pigs in Space were in there. It was quite cute actually. I think Ryan took pictures of it when him and Mandy went past the store.

After that we headed back to my place and we chatted for a bit before Kate and Stu had to head home as both worked in the morning. I was looking forward to having the next three days off!

Wednesday August 2nd


We all took our time waking up on Wednesday. It had been somewhere near 40 degrees with the humidex and smog alerts the day before so we were all pretty tired after walking in that.

We got going sometime around noon. I promised Scott some good Thai food so I took them to Pi Thom my absolute favourite Thai restaurant. Their glass noodle stir fry is amazing! For appetizers we ordered spring rolls, shrimp chips and Mee Krob. Scott had green curry, I had the glass noodle stir fry and Jason had Cashew chicken. We stuffed ourselves silly!

After our thrilling meal we headed down Yonge street towards the Eaton's center. I showed Jason and Scott Dundas square and the Trinity Square labyrinth. We made a stop at Starbucks for a refreshing drink as it was still 40 degrees outside with the humidex and smog. We were going to make a stop at the Silver Snail for Jason but the time was getting on and we were all hot and sweaty so we opted to head to Yonge and Eglinton for some relax time before dinner at the Mandarin.

We spent a couple of hours reading and browsing in Indigo since we had time to kill. I ended up buying a Photoshop magazine and book. Scotty read the Lonely Planet Toronto and became the walking toronto encyclopedia. Jason was reading some comics I think.

Mandy and Ryan and Greg were all supposed to join us for dinner but in the end none of them could make it. So Scott, Jason and I headed over to the restaurant. On the way there we passed the Canada Square movie theatre and they saw that An Inconvenient Truth was playing. Scotty REALLY wanted to see it so instead of seeing Lady in the Water as originally planned we opted to see that instead.

So Jason and Scott filled up on yummy chinese cuisine at the Mandarin buffet. I think they enjoyed the experience. It really is one of my favourite restaurants in Toronto. After our leisurely dinner we headed over to the theatre to see an Inconvenient Truth. It's quite frightening what is happening in our world. Everything is explained using scientific evidence as proof. It's totally undeniable what we are doing to the earth. I did learn I'm already doing a lot of things to help the environment though.

We headed home after the movie and settled into bed.

Thursday August 3rd


We were up bright and early today because Lisa and Greg were coming over for breakfast before we headed out to Centre
Island. Jason had an appointment to pick up his tux so he was off with Stu for the day so it was just Scott, Lisa, Greg and I. I made everyone pancakes and chicken bacon (especially for our beef avoiding Scotty, although Lisa liked Chicken bacon too) The ferry to the island was easier to find than I thought. It was supposed to rain that day so we all brought umbrellas just in case. The
upside of the weather was that it was no longer 40 degrees with humidex. It was a
comfortable 27 or so.

Before exploring the island we stopped for a slice at Pizza Pizza and then headed out to check out the hedge maze. We passed all sorts of interesting things along the way such as beautiful willow trees, mallard ducks, african sculptures, bridges, fountains and a garden.

The hedge maze was all right. It was full of little summer camp kids so it was hard to enjoy it at all as they ran past you squealing in high-pitched voices. At this point it had started to rain. We walked over to check out one of the beaches and wharfs on the island and then went in search of a lighthouse. We never did find the lighthouse but we walked the perimetre of the island in the process. By then it was nearing dinner and we had promised Mandy and Ryan we would meet them at the Spaghetti factory.

We caught the ferry back to the main land and Greg had to leave us as he had prior dinner plans. Scott, Lisa and I went for a Starbucks and chatted to pass the time till 5:30. At that point we headed to the Spaghetti factory. We had a really fun time trying to find it. I even gave Mandy and Ryan the wrong directions telling them to walk North on Yonge when in reality they needed to walk South. Yikes!

The Spaghetti Factory is one simple restaurant I just loved. I know I could easily make spaghetti at home but it's just a fun atmosphere to eat in. Besides you get your salad, dinner and dessert all included.

After dinner we went our separate ways as Lisa, Scott and I had some serious shopping to get done for the wedding. We had a 1/2 hour to find shoes for Lisa, a purse, slippers and a baby shower card for me and a jacket for Scott. We managed to get everything but Scott's jacket which him and Lisa promised to find the next day.

We returned to my apartment as we were supposed to meet up with Kate, Stu and Jason for wings at Duff's. They all walked into my apartment to me and Lisa dueting to Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked. Stuart promptly closed the door and attempted to leave.

Since we had all eaten dinner late, none of us felt like wings. Instead we hung around and chatted then walked down Bayview to Hollywood Gelato for dessert! Everyone got a different kind. I had Mars and Twixx, I think Kate had fruit flavours I specifically remember lemon and key lime. It's a cool place because a regular cup of Gelato is under $5 and you can get three flavours! We all had a great time eating out on the patio and recounting our day.

After finishing we headed back to my place. Lisa serenaded Scott with songs from Wicked all the way there. We played a round of Kate's new game Wise and Otherwise. It's like Balderdash for Quotations. You get some pretty funny answers in that game.

Friday August 4


Friday was to be a busy day for me. Kate had asked me to help her finish the programs for the wedding because she couldn't format them the way she wanted in WORD. I figured it wouldn't take me long however I was mistaken.

Scott left early in the morning to meet his friend for breakfast and then met Lisa to do his shopping. It turned out Scotty helped Lisa do her chores which included vaccuuming. I hear he's really good at it. So if anyone is looking for a live-in maid I nominate Scotty! Jason stayed at the apartment while I met Ann for our make-up trial at Dyanna's (sp?) apartment. Unfortunately the make-up appointment took longer than I expected and I didn't get home till 2:30.

I was SO starving cause all I had had was a banana berry smoothie from Second Cup. Didn't have time to make myself anything either because I had to get the two programs done! Jason was kind enough to walk to Subway and get me a meatball sub sandwich. So I ate while I worked.

With all the problems I had with the programs I finally finished them at 5:30 at which point Kate, Jason and I ran out of there to get them printed. I also wanted to pick up a 1 GB camera card and needed to go to the bank and I was supposed to get my eyebrows done.

We got to Staples and had the programs printed and I was also able to buy a 1 GB camera card. However the spa Kate had suggested I get my eyebrows done at was booked till 7 which wouldn't work since we had the rehearsal dinner that night.

We made it back to the Sackler residence just in time. Some of the guests had already arrived. We enjoyed a lovely home cooked meal courtesy of Fran and Stuart. It was mouth watering delicious!

After dinner the wedding co-ordinator took over and ran the rehearsal. She made us practice walking up the aisle five times! We were experts by the end of it. All the readers received their readings. Greg read "Celtic Wedding Vows" while others participated by reading one of the seven blessings. Scotty got drafted to be a chuppah carrier and holder.

After the rehearsal everyone just chatted the night away until we all realized we had a busy two days ahead of ourselves and ran away home!