Monday, December 11, 2017

a house update (since it's been awhile!)

You may remember this post from the end of October, filled with photos of our house in Stittsville as it officially went on the market. And maybe you and I are friends and you've been hearing all about my inspection-related headaches. Maybe you've even poured the wine while I taped up and labelled another cardboard box and complained about the uphill battle of finding full time preschool for 2 kids with 1 month notice... 

But if you haven't heard much about our big move to the Glebe since that very first post, here's a little house update that will get you all caught up. 

First of all, we sold the house! We had the offer 3 days after it went on the market, right after our first and only open house. So grateful for The REPS who made that process as smooth as possible! Once that offer came in, we could officially start falling in love with a beautiful home on Second Avenue:


We happily signed those papers and patiently waited for our expedited closing date. Crazy to think we're getting those keys this FRIDAY -- only 2 months after we decided to start this great adventure. I'll look a little different than the photo above with a fresh blanket of snow in the driveway, but we know it'll be the perfect home for a minimalist Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, this side by side comparison of my completely bare living room next to the cozy, warm, and festive one from last year is blowing my mind... Never thought I could live in a house without a Christmas tree until the 20th! Who am I?!


At least someone is enjoying the bare white walls for her fashion photoshoots...


On another festive note, my goal was to have Christmas shopping covered by selling things on Kijiji. Not because we needed to, but because minimalism is SO fun and we need to get rid of about half the things we own in preparation for this move anyway! It's actually somewhat comical how the new house is like a mini version of the old one. Gold star if you can guess which one costs almost double... 


I managed to sell WAYYY more stuff than I thought I would, ending up with almost $2,500 after all was said and done! That'll pay for Christmas a few times over I think :) Every Kijiji deal adds up, but here are a couple highlights:

$30 for an Apple Magic Trackpad that we NEVER used, but have had
 in the desk drawer for over 7 years!

$150 for a Mont Blanc pen that I gave to Ry for his graduation. 
Fancy pens are not minimalist. Get it outta here!

$0 for a TV Stand that went to one of our friends' parents. 

$110 for Baby Gates that my kiddos have obviously long outgrown. 

$10 for a giant piece of luggage we'll never use. 
As far as I know we're not planning to spend 6 months in Europe any time soon.

$20 for a pack of Size 2 Diapers that accidentally 
got shoved to the back of Jilly's closet.  

My personal Kijiji strategy is all about that 1 day sale. Price it low, sell it quick, and place the item on the porch with an envelope that they can leave for me when they pick it up. It's like having a decluttering Tooth Fairy who leaves $10 bills under the welcome mat. Sure I don't get top dollar for absolutely everything I sell, but the potential for wheeling and dealing is more stress and burden than I'm willing to take on.

We are almost at the finish line and ready to tackle a fresh house and make it a home. It's certainly a before & after situation folks, so stay tuned to see how we are going to update this hundred-something year old place! 

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

favourite pup appearances from 2017

From engagement sessions to save the dates, custom wedding invitations and wedding day cameos -- there are so many ways to incorporate your furry loves into your celebration. The Laura Kelly Bride tends to be pretty obsessed with her four legged bestie, so much so that an entirely new year-in-review post was calling my name this year... 

A blog post with more wagging tails than ever before: I am so excited to bring you a collection of my favourite pup appearances from 2017! 

And there's no better place to start than my beautiful friends Brittany, Zach, and Brutus. That little tongue sticking out makes this the perfect family photo from their darling engagement session.  


Jasmine & Jasons's first date included this adorable speckled friend (you can read about that here!). Naturally we featured them as the amazing dog-parents they are during their meaningful engagement in downtown Ottawa. 


Puppies + sunsets are a good combo.  


Domino made quite the appearance at her parents' wedding at Stonefields. From a custom flower crown to an honourable mention on the cake topper...she truly was a star that day. 


The perfect wedding family photo (and one that I knew Nicole was dying for as a sneak peek!)


See little Dommy there on the laser cut cake topper? I mean... My brides think of absolutely everything. 


For Meagan and Devan, their pup made an appearance in their Fall engagement session from last year but couldn't join them on the actual day. Instead, a personalized wine label featured their names, wedding date, and a tribute to their fur baby. 


Back to Brutus for one more pic, he's just such a little baby! This condo engagement session was obviously one of my faves, and not just because that blonde is one of my closest friends in the world <3


Sometimes there are sleeping pups hanging out with me while I shoot the details. It's always nice to have company :) 


This handsome pup was SO good at posing for Mom & Dad's Lansdowne engagement sesh



Nothing compares to Sarah King and her obsession with every animal known to man. Sarah & Jordan have the BIGGEST hearts and it shined through on every part of their wedding day. If you've swooned over their wedding at Evermore than you'll know they had visitors from Bullies in Need and made a hefty donation in lieu of wedding favours. 

But their pup love didn't stop there...



The entire wedding party made friends as well: 


And they even had Shannon Kristen design a custom crest featuring some of their furry friends amongst a gorgeous floral garland. This stationery design makes me so happy!


Kelly & Peter couldn't pick just one occasion for photos with Ben... 


So he came back for the wedding day too! And with a bow tie to boot :)


Ariane and Brandon planned a "walk in the woods" type engagement session on a cloudy fall day and these little guys made for some adorable photos. 



While the bridesmaids are getting into hair and makeup, sometimes the groomsmen can be found in the lake. And of course not without one very loyal lifeguard watching over them. 


I'll end this post with a pup who held quite the title at Carly & Ryan's elegant backyard wedding: The Dog of Honor. 


Simply the best :) 


If this post didn't make you slightly happier than you were before, there's something wrong with that heart of yours. I miiiiight have to make this post a regular every year... That is, as long as my couples keep being obsessed with their puppies!  

Thursday, November 30, 2017

dress moments that simply needed their own blog post...

Whether it's the wind that blows her veil into the air, or the sun that shines through the layers of her tulle skirt, a "dress moment" can always take my breath away. It's my job to watch for these little details, especially since the beautiful bride can't see them for herself. 

I've collected a few of my favourite dress moments from 2017; the ones that simply needed their very own blog post. And the back detail of Maria's Stella York dress from With Love Bridal is the perfect place to start:


I'm not entirely sure, but I think this staircase in the Wallis House AirBnB was designed with Kelly's dress in mind. This was one of my favourite dresses of the year, and you can find it at Sinders, designed by Ashley & Justin Bride.


Now how about this for a dress moment: the first time Marisa tried to sit after putting her dress on. "I'm like a creampuff!" I live for these adorably joyous moments. 


Brittany's engagement session dress had a hundred million moments of its own on this windy condo rooftop. This one is my absolute fave. 


I know you're looking for a closeup view of it's perfection... 


Holly's dress on the 23rd floor of the Westin -- the best. 


So many layers of this dress to fluff! Holly's Maid of Honour had the best job that day. 


Speaking of layers... the way Sarah's Hayley Paige dress from White Satin swishes at dusk. I was in heaven! 


Masters of the romantic walk. Carly & Ryan's wedding was a serious highlight of my entire season. And it's not just because she had two wedding dresses... 

This one is Hayley Paige from The Modern Bride in Guelph, Ontario. 



When TOAST Events chooses a dress for a styled shoot, you just know it's going to be good. This dress isn't technically a wedding dress -- can you believe?!


Sweetest moment after doing up the back of her daughter-in-law's gown. It feels like forever since Michelle's stunning wedding in Brockville!


Can't decide which I like better: on the hanger... 


Or on Nicole! Just kidding, Nicole takes it by a long shot. 



The face of a girl with the most amazing bridesmaids in the entire world, who cheered like crazy when they saw her all dolled up. I loved Kara & Kevin's wedding so freaking much. 




If there's a vintage wine cellar door in your bridal prep suite, guaranteed it will be used for a full length dress shot. 



People have been messaging me left right and centre about Sarah's wedding setup. Yes, it's her home. Yes, the gown is Hayley Paige. And yes, she has been dreaming of this moment for years. 


A giant floral wall and a Revelle Bridal gown with cap sleeves? Yes please. 


Perhaps the most unique wedding dress of the year. Norde Bridal gets me every time! 



I can't forget Chelsea's engagement session dress either... Those darling straps in the back and long flowy skirt! Perfect for that golden sunset.  



"In the presence of God and our family and friends..."

As these words were spoken, Carly's veil flew up and was carried across the entire frame. "Hey God!" she said. 


And last but certainly not least, the beautiful Ariane. I obsessed over this back cutout (& let's face it, her tattoo!) all day long. Her dress is from Boutique 1861 in Montreal. This photo is one of my absolute favourites from the entire season. 

Can I please have this flower crown? And this haircut?  


Just like the little sign from Ariane & Brandon's ceremony arch, the best is yet to come. The next post in the year-in-review series features everyone's favourite wedding crasher: puppies! You'll have to stay tuned for that one. It might be the cutest post I've ever written! 
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