Ice | You May French Kiss The Bride

May 2014

Kaiti + Priit

Dreamy Backyard Winter Wedding at Dusk

Yes, it’s the end of May and we’re all looking forward to some sun and hot temperatures, but on a cold and rainy day like the one we’re having in Paris right now, I really don’t mind looking back at a winter wedding… Especially when it’s a dreamy backyard winter wedding at dusk like the one Kaiti and Priit had! Funny story, Kaiti told me she wasn’t thinking about having a winter wedding, until she saw Joanna and Jaan’s on this very blog (which of course, totally made my day)! It even ended up convincing her future husband how a great idea it was and that’s what they went for, with the same photographer Joanna and Jaan had. I think I love everything about this wedding: the bride’s beautiful braid, the decor created by the winter woods and the ice on the floor, the cute ceremony backdrop, and of course all the sweet details! What about you? Is anyone planning a winter wedding? Photography by Gerry Sulp out of Estonia.

•••

The wedding took place at Laitse Granite Villa—an old renovated manor stable with fieldstone walls and stylish interior—on February, 22, 2014.

February here is the coldest month of the year, a time when Estonia is entirely covered with a beautiful white snow carpet. We wanted our registration to be outside no matter how hard frost there would be. But the reality was totally different – the whole night before the wedding and even in the morning it was pouring rain. There was zero snow, the ground was muddy and green. At first it seemed pretty frustrating but in the end it made our day even more special than we expected!

Name one thing you regret…

No matter what happens or how your wedding day turns out, it is unique and in the end you are anyhow super happy! You have worked hard and it pays off big time. Small errors are OK, they do not play any roll in the big picture. A few tips:

– The more you do yourself, more you will enjoy it.

– The more you do yourself, more it characterizes your union.

– It is important to choose some key figures carefully and not scrimp with money. E.g. a photographer – our choice was so right and we are more than pleased!

– Consider having a video made by a professional. As a wedding gift we were offered a brief video clip made by Kristiin Kõosalu. We truly suggest that: it passes really well all emotions and was the best gift we could have.

… And one thing you’re really happy about. proud of.

One thing that we are really proud of is our registration ceremony. It still took place outside (luckily it stopped raining), in the backyard of the Granite Villa. The groom’s father got lost and did not arrive on time, so the beginning of the wedding was delayed. It got dim in the meanwhile and the place turned to magical. We spoke briefly about love, friendship and emotions. A lot of people sobbed and everybody laughed. It was so special, really beautiful and awesome. A memory for a lifetime, and not just for us!

Jul 2013

Danielle + Tyler

Winter Hockey Themed Wedding

Summer’s finally here, so what, won’t you let me blog a winter hockey themed wedding? I love weddings that include some activity, I think it definitely adds something… so, hockey? Hell yeah! Also, I love the idea of a pre-wedding welcome party, has anyone of you had one? Photography by Julian Kanz, out of Italy.

•••

Danielle and Tyler got married in February in Mont Tremblant, Québec. They love to travel and take any opportunity to enter a plane; no surprise they got engaged during one of their trips! Here’s their story.

In the beginning of 2012, Tyler’s parents planned a family trip for a month to Italy, and like we always do, we jumped on board. Prior to meeting them in Florence, we decided to spend a week on our own on a small romantic Island called ‘Ischia’ just off Naples and north of ‘Capri’. As soon as we arrived we went for dinner and watched the sun set over he ocean at a bar called ‘Antonio’s’. It was the best bruschetta we have ever had and we don’t say things like that very easily! After that we walked to the end of a pier and soon Tyler disappeared out of sight around the end of the pier where there was no more restaurants or people. He told me to come out there for the view of the island. When we were ready to turn back to the restaurants, he pulled on my arm and turned me around while he said ‘there is a reason that I brought you all the way out here.’ I was shocked to see him down on one knee and became so excited that I barely gave him time to ask me before I started saying ‘yes yes yes!

Name one thing you regret…

We should have purchased a cake from the local bakery. Our cake collapsed during the 7 hour car ride from Toronto and had to be pieced back together in Mont Tremblant. It was a huge headache and hassle to bring it from that far but it was absolutely delicious!!!

… And one thing you’re really happy about/ proud of.

Looking around the campfire at our welcome party holding a specialty hot coffee and watching all of our friends and family enjoy the skating and sleigh rides while the snow began falling in huge flakes. Best night of our lives.

May 2013

Joanna + Jaan

A Pregnant Bride for an Ice Cold Winter Wedding in Estonia

I know it’s May and I should stop blogging winter snowy weddings, because we all kinda wanna see some sun right now, right? But, you should also know Winter was quite long here in Europe (is it over?) and I could not resist this one. Also, if you’re looking for me next Winter, try Estonia. Seriously, what’s with this country? Style, Nice people, beautiful landscapes, killer photographers… as the author of this reportage, Gerry Sulp.

•••

Here’s the story, from the bride, of how they planned their wedding during Winter.

Our wedding took place in beginning of February and was planned so because of the hectic weather in Estonia. As our Summers tend to be rainy and cold, we set the date to February as it is the coldest month of the year. No mistake there – cold and snow are guaranteed. :)

I have to say that I had never dreamed of my wedding and it would be difficult to answer if we were asked about how it should look like or how we planned the evening. I actually just wanted to enjoy the evening as much as my guest with good music, wine and food. No shame to shed a tear or two if you are surrounded by your closest friends and family. And this is what we achieved.

Name one thing you regret…

(Not only regrets here, but still…) We had trouble finding the place for the registration. Our wedding planner came up with the idea to build a glass tent and fill it with candles. And the outcome was amazing! Even more, we had an accident with electricity – just 5 minutes before the actual ceremony, electricity was gone. So the candles had even better effect than expected. Unfortunately we planned to show photos from our childhood until today, so this plan failed.

… And one one thing you’re really happy about/ proud of.

This was a bit of an unusual thing in Estonia: our wish was to have gifts which would not fit into an envelope. The purpose was to later enjoy the nice attentions our friends and family had for us. And the best gift was a love seat made by my friend; it was a wooden swing seat that we can hang to a tree at a place that’s special to us! Overall we were very blessed to have such a good helpers to plan that special day. Many thanks to all!