I have a dream.

Because writing about my wedding is definitely more fun than unpacking, rearranging and cleaning, here it is.

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I admit to having a document saved on my computer, titled quite innocently, "notes". This is to deflect anyone's curiosity if they ever ARE snooping around on my machine. (I mean, what piques your curiosity more, something titled "WEDDING PLANS, OMG!!!!" or, just "notes"?)Now, this document didn't materialize until after Keith had put the magical word on the proverbial table of our relationship, but my good golly gosh, they sure as heck flowed out of me once he did! And since my wedding is still a good distance of years away, I have no doubt many details will be changed over that time period, but the basic elements will stay the same.

• My dad walking me down the aisle is super super important to me.
• Not seeing Keith that day until I'm walking down said aisle.
• Photography. I want lots and lots of pictures of the entire day, because I am absolutely obsessed with wedding photography. I want the posed photo session, candid photos, getting ready, ceremony, and everything in between. I'm even thinking of hiring two photographers so I don't miss a single detail.
• Location would be here in Ottawa since we've been living here (already) a combined 15 years and it really is home to us, especially to me, in a way that my hometown area never really was. There's little appeal for me to marry back home now that my church has been torn down, other than cost.
• Still undecided whether we want a church wedding with separate reception, or have it completely non religious in the same building, but I'm leaning towards the latter. Mostly because we aren't religious, most Catholic churches require you to do some type of marriage prep, and I can't think of any churches I'd like to be married in here. Of course, if my church back home hadn't been torn down, it would be a no-brainer. (can you tell I'm still a little bitter about the whole thing? No? Must just be me then).
• We both want a fall wedding. It's the most beautiful time of the year and I want to maximize the colours fully in my wedding; faded yellow, fiery orange, burnt red, coppery brown.
• I'd like to do nearly all of the planning myself, but hire a "Day-Of" Coordinator, just because I want myself and my wedding party to be fully present and enjoying the day, and not worrying about any details or last minute emergencies that can/will occur.
• Decor. Super important. I want it kind of simple, yet tasteful. Fairy lights, tea candles, and lots of flowers in fall colours. Boring, but pretty.
• In a perfect, perfect world, I'd have ALL OF IT here. Just look at it. (seriously, go check it out, its GORGEOUS). And the perfect thing about having that venue is there's tons of options as to where exactly you want your reception. Of course, this one comes with a really hefty price tag *sigh*, so unless we win the lottery, or I want to get married in jeans and a tank, we'll probably be married somewhere else. Where that somewhere else is I have no idea right now, but I think that'll be a fun part to the actual wedding planning.
• Small wedding party, 3 people on each side. Tea length coppery reddish/brown dresses for my side, traditional suits for the men.
• For the dress I know what I DON'T want: I don't want white (i want ivory). I don't want sleeveless (i want off the shoulder or capped). And I definitely do not want super poofy with a long train (straight down touching the floor. That's it). I want it to be as easy as possible to move around in and wear for the entire day. After all, it'll probably be the only day I'll wear it. Undecided as of yet if I want a veil, tiara, stuff like that. If I do decide to go that route, it'll be one or the other, not both. Simple hair and makeup; I might even leave my hair down rather than putting it in an up-do.
• Keith wants to wear a white suit. Or a Don Cherry-style suit. I really hope he's kidding.
• A DJ, that, after the compulsory first dance songs, will play anything to get people on the dance floor.
• Being introduced as "Mr & Mrs. W", not "Mr & Mrs K W".
• I'd like to spend the first-night-as-a-married-couple here. Just becaue it's so incredibly over-the-top that I will never, ever get to do it again.
• Canon in D for the processional by string quartet. Oooh, fancy.
• One of my major regrets is that my Grandma didn't live long enough to see me getting married. I will really miss her on that day, and was thinking of incorporating an instrumental of her favourite song (When Irish Eyes Are Smiling) during the ceremony. Maybe during the signing?
• Flowers will be predominately dark red, orange and yellow roses (my bouquet) and red, yellow and orange gerber daisies (bridesmaid's bouquets).
• I want the wedding favours to be something functional, or just plain delicious. Like candy apples or a wine stopper in the shape of a heart, engraved with the date and our initials.
• First dances will be Lay Me Down by Ashley MacIssac for us, Against The Wind by Bob Seger for my dad and I.
• 100 - 125 guests. I'd like it to be smaller but my family is kinda huge. As for the kids/no kids debate, I want my adult guests to enjoy themselves without worrying about their offspring...but I think that's up to the parents to decide if they want to bring them.
• Transportation is something I'm willing to compromise on. I want vintage cars, Keith wants anything but.
• Three tiered cake, with different types of cake in each tier. I don't care if there's not enough cake for everybody, there's a dessert table for that exact reason. NO SMOOSHING. (Keith, you hear me? NO SMOOSHING).
• I'm not huge on the whole garter thing, but catching the bouquet is something I would definitely consider.
• I'd like our guests to blow bubbles over us as we exit the ceremony. (Except, how does that work exactly? If you're going down the aisle while your guests are still seated, who's outside to blow the bubbles?)
• Three or four course meal, nothing too too fancy. Not sure what the other three courses are, but seafood has to be one of them. Dessert bar. Cocktail hour, open bar, 2 bottles of wine per table, circling glasses of champagne.
• Afternoon ceremony, followed by formal pictures and then evening reception.
• No receiving line. I'm dealing with divorced, I-only-talk-to-you-for-the-sake-of-the-children parents here. Let's just keep the awkwardness to a minimum. Plus, Keith's mom can't really stand for too long. Instead, we'll try to circle around to everyone during dinner, since we'll be gone for the cocktail hour (taking photos).
• Centerpieces with a bit of "ooomph" and plenty of awe, but not blocking peoples views of each other.
• I'm totally stealing this idea from Jess, because I think it's absolutely brilliant - a big basket of flip flops and slippers near the dance floor for the women to change into so they can dance all night and go home comfortable.

What do you think? It's a fairly traditional and budget-conscious wedding, but I've always been of the mindset that the wedding is one day while the marriage is a lifetime. I'd like your opinion though; what works, what doesn't?