our wedding...

Yes, it's nearly been two months. Hard to believe how fast time flies, but then again, I should know better. What a year it has been! I am happy to say, that our day was perfect {except for the fact that I think its warmer on November 26th, then it was the day we got married} but all in all, our day could not have been better! 

So October 1st, 2011 at 3:00pm we got married at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Swinton Park. This is the church that I grew up in, and the minister, Rev. John Hogarwaard who was preaching at our church when I was younger, married Neil and I.  Surrounded by 160 of our friends and family, we said our "I do's" - it was the best day of my life, and I think Neil would say it was the best day of his too. 

As apart of our ceremony, we incorporated some memory candles for those who were taken from us over the passed year, and would have been there for our big day. Jamie-Lee and I designed this candle holder for this exact purpose, and it will forever stay in our home. I love it. 


After the ceremony, we went down a sideroad and had some pictures taken with our wedding party! I cannot wait to get our pictures back from Amanda! I am sure they are going to look amazing!


We then met up with our family at the Holstein Community Park for family pictures and more wedding party shots! 

 I surprised Neil with arranging to have a fire truck from Dundalk come to the park, I wish I could have arranged to have someone take a picture of his reaction, better yet a video. The siren sounded, and he looked at me. I just kind of shrugged it off, and then he saw the truck coming towards us, filled up with some of the Milliner Clan. He was so surprised, and all the {little white } lies were worth it just to see his reaction that day.  

I look at this picture, and remember thinking I want this to last forever. If you're not married take in every moment with this day comes. The day flies by. So many friends of mine gave me the save advice, and I took it but wish I could have slowed things down even more then I tried that day. I mean, don't drag your feet, but you know - take it all in - moment for moment. 

Our reception was held at the Egremont Optimist Hall in Holstein, we had that place decorated to the NINES in my eyes, and I loved every single aspect of what we did to dress that place up for our big day. It was perfect in every way, and exactly... EXACTLY how I pictured it in my mind for the last year. Our caterer was Peter Chaplin from Markdale, and I cannot tell you how many people have said how great the food was at our wedding. Each time someone comments about our wedding, it's about how nice the hall looked and how great the food was {no, not about how stunning the bride looked... }.. they must have forgot about me?? LOL Just kidding. 

 My decorating vision was put into reality because of a very dear friend of mine, Jamie-Lee Higginson, of Prim Pickins. We basically tore my house, and her house and work shop apart bringing things to decorate our wedding. Her and I made the centre pieces, the favours, and so many other things that tied into our theme, and added so many little details that everyone noticed and will always remember. Thank you Jamie-Lee for everything you did for me, as I said in my speech, you're not just the "girl who makes everything in my house" to make my love of country decor, in my home - you're a dear friend to me too. Thank you! <3

In addition to the "surprise" fire truck at the pictures, I also had Debbie our family friend, who made our wedding cake do a "grooms cake" for Neil, surprise!! Another fire truck. She did a great job and all of the cake was delicious! We saved the top layer to eat next year, it's in the freezer.. anyone want cake? LOL I was told it's a tradition, who knows what it'll taste like a year from now. 

We loved our wedding cake, it was one of the first things we decided on and loved it from the moment we found the picture online. I helped Debbie make the leaves from gumpaste and we painted them with edible paint and shimmer. They looked amazing! Thank you Debbie!!


Our bouquets and flowers for the wedding, were done by Lisa Marshall from Country Petals in Dundalk. I would highly recommend her  business for any flower arrangements, as she took a picture I had picked and adjusted the flowers (still keeping in the same flower families and colours) to to my budget! Thank you Lisa for your wonderful talent! I appreciate everything you did for our flowers, we LOVED them!!

I cannot WAIT to get our wedding pictures back and share them with you, they should be coming very soon, just in time for Christmas!! I cannot wait. Amanda Arch Photography, you are one AMAZING photographer and business lady! I congratulate you in your first year of business - you have become super successful and the one and only person I send my friends to to get their family, newborn and any other kind of photography they need. I hope you continue to grow in your business, and your talent! Love you lady!! Here is the sneak peak we got from her.. don't you LOVE IT?? WE DO!!

Our wedding dance was a huge party, I loved that everyone had a lot of fun and tons of people were dancing all night long. I could have danced all night long, until I stopped and realized I could not feel my feet anymore, and at 2:00am - we called it a night! Wasn't that a party!?!?

And that was our wedding day, it flew by quicker then I thought but we enjoyed every single moment. I wouldn't change a thing for the world, except for the temperature but I wouldn't have wanted to be too hot either. A girl can't ask for much more then that? 


Thank you to our family, friends and wedding party - our day was perfect because of you. We love you all and cannot wait to share more memories with you!

Love From, 

The Mrs. Milliner-Cowan <3