A Few More Wedding Candids

Hubert, the wedding mascot! Look at that face! 

Passing the pre-wedding time!

Mmmm... fudgesicles!

 
Puppy love! 

All dressed up and ready to go! 

Erika having just put on her veil~ *sniff*

Posing in the garden

Walking down the aisle at Minoru Chapel

The gorgeous Heritage Hall

The Geary's first dance as husband and wife!

Friends for 8+ years, we all went to Europe together! Still friends! Jim, Erika, me & Jess

Kristin's fabulous leap for the bouquet! Naturally a 14 year old caught it!

New Zealander Jeff's crazy aboriginal chant! Amazing! 

Hello Mrs. Geary! Candid Wedding Shots

Getting beautified at Blo!

The bride and myself~ let's get you married! 

Her stunning hairstyle!

Rach, Erika's twin and Maid of Honour, et moi

More beauty time!

All ready to go to the church, with Sarah, her flower girl! 

The giddy and gorgeous bride! 

Riding in style! 

The twins

Reception time at Heritage Hall! 

Erika had trouble cutting the beautiful cake, so her hubby took over! 

Dear Erika & David,

My wish for you is to always love each other as much as you did on the beautiful August day you married. Remember that giddiness, those tears of joy, that wonder. Hold all the memories close to your heart, don't take them for granted and savour the absolute beauty of your marriage. I know you will. Thank you for letting me share in the most lovely day. 

xo Ally

"Sometimes it's not about looks or personality; sometimes two souls are just meant to be."

Wedding Day

One more sleep. Tomorrow one of my best friends in the world is going to put on the most beautiful gown I have ever seen, pin a veil into her hair and walk down the aisle to marry one of the loveliest men I have ever met. Tomorrow is Erika and David's wedding and I absolutely know it is going to be the most beautiful of days. 

This couple seemed meant to be from the moment they started dating. There never seemed to be any hesitation or doubt about how they felt for each other; they fell in love as naturally as the shift of the tide. Erika and David's relationship has been a wonderful thing to witness and be a part of. They adore each other so much I know it is destined to work. But beyond their crazy love they care so deeply for each other as people, are thoughtful to each other and communicate so well. Their love is equal parts passion and friendship~ the very best kind, in my opinion. 

I know Erika is wonderfully lucky to have found David but David is profoundly fortunate to be marrying Erika. I met the beautiful bride eight years ago, as we wandered across Europe to study art history for two months. We stared at hundreds of paintings, explored endless cathedrals, slept in the coach for days on end, ate many cheap student-y meals and shopped like no one's business. In Switzerland I remember we stayed up until the morning light, talking endlessly about boys and love with Jess and Alexandra. It seems like a lifetime ago, but I still think about those nights. In the last few years we have grown incredibly close and we have always been there for each other, especially through both our choices of bad boyfriends. That streak came to an end when Erika met David. To see how much he loves her affirms to me that everything leading up to this point was worth it, because they have arrived here. 

Wedding day. I can't wait to stand up next to Erika as a bridesmaid as she marries the love of her life tomorrow. To my wonderful friend and her soon to be husband, the biggest congratulations in the world! I love you both. 

(Photos via A Cup of Jo) 

Always a Bridesmaid...

This August I'm incredibly excited and truly touched to be a bridesmaid in the wedding of one of my very best friends, Erika, to her fiance David. I genuinely felt from the beginning that these two would be married and two years later we are counting down to their happy day! Erika is the very best kind of wife-to-be~ relaxed, enthusiastic and generous with not a touch of "bridezilla". Erika has enlisted seven women to stand up for her on her wedding day yet the hunt for bridesmaid dresses can frequently equal a headache for any bride. What colour, shape, length to choose for seven women of different heights, body types and hair colour? How much money can any bride expect her bridesmaid to spend on a dress typically worn once (hello, green satin)? The selection of the bridesmaid dress can become a very contentious experience for an occasion that is meant to be an honour. 

Did I mention that Erika is the best kind of bride? She has let us run wild, so to speak. We are going to wear black cocktail dresses of our own choice, whether new or something we already have in the closet. For me, new it is! I've been scouring the city and the internet for the perfect LBD, something classic and elegant but special. I want something pretty and eye catching without being too sexy (not that I could ever upstage such a beautiful bride, but I don't want people to think I'm trying to do so). I often avoid black because I find it can be boring and predictable but these above dresses from BCBG are anything but snooze worthy. I think any of them would be a phenomenal choice. Isn't the one with the frothy flower hem simply amazing? I have a hunch my final selection will be one of these three. I can't wait for August! 

Visit BCBG here for these and more heavenly dresses. 

Half Hour to Gorgeous Hair at Blo

The calendar may technically disagree but, for all intents and purposes, summer is here! I'm not sure what it is but the dawn of the warm weather and smaller outfits always makes me long for a new look, hairstyle wise. Last year I chopped off my hair to a chin length bob~ a look I enjoyed at the time but grew quickly tired of. This year I don't want to act as drastically but I still feel the need to change up my look now and again. Blo is the perfect option for me. A wash and blowdry at my normal salon (Suki's, which I totally adore) can cost up to $50 or $60 with tip, and while I don't mind spending that kind of money on a cut I don't care to drop that much on a style that only lasts until my next wash. I tried Blo for the first time last year and the style I was given was an unmitigated disaster (think bad, crazy Shirley Temple curls....ick) , so I was hesitant to try it again. However, my friend Erika has booked herself and her 7 bridesmaids (myself included) into Blo for her August wedding so we opted to try it again this past weekend. Thirty minutes and $30 later Erika and I emerged with stylish, swingy hair and wallets only slightly dented. Two days later my typically stick straight hair is still bouncing along nicely and I'm trying to work weekly visits into my budget. Visit Blo here for locations around the city (including inside The Four Seasons hotel) and to see their "menu". 

Above are before and after pics of Erika and myself. Would you spend $30 for a blowdry if it made you feel like a babe? 

A girl can dream, can't she?

Erika and I went ring shopping tonight. For her, obviously! With her wedding in August fast approaching she was in search of the perfect wedding band to pair with her beautiful engagement ring from her honey, David. While there I couldn't help but play. And play I did! With an oval cut solitaire surrounded with diamonds on a pave diamond band. Le sigh! It was torture to take it off my finger. Dream ring, check! But a single girl can dream, can't she? Erika ended up picking a stunning white gold band dotted with diamonds~ a beautiful choice. Diamond shopping followed by dinner and gelato~ talk about a perfect evening!