For Out of Town Guests

Destination Winnipeg!

We are honoured that you will be traveling all the way to Winnipeg to celebrate our wedding with us.  We want you to have a fabulous time during your visit to our city.  Summer is definitely the best time to be in Winnipeg!  We hope this information helps you enjoy the city and, of course, our wedding.

Please refer to this blog post as the big day gets closer, we will continue to update this post so that you have all the information you need.

The Hotel
You can stay anywhere you like, but we have established a special rate at the Clarion Hotel & Suites for our guests.  Here's why...

1. Location.  The Clarion is located at 1445 Portage Avenue and is next door to Polo Park Mall and within walking distance of a variety of restaurants, such as Earls, Red Lobster, and Boston Pizza.  It is very close to The Forks, Assiniboine Park, and our house - all places where events will be taking place before and after the wedding.  The hotel is also a reasonable drive to Fort Whyte, where our wedding ceremony and reception is taking place.
2. Economy.  The Clarion offered one of the most affordable rates of all the hotels we looked at.
3. Amenities.  All hotel rooms have fridges and microwaves, internet access, and weekday newspapers.  The hotel is attached to The Pancake House and has a wonderful spa onsite - Urban Oasis Mineral Spa - as well as a fitness centre, pool and water slide, and a lounge.  There is also a daily airport shuttle from 7:30am to 10:30pm.     

A special rate has been established for our wedding: $129.99/night plus taxes (double occupancy).  For reservations please call the hotel directly at 1-855-216-6393.

The pool at the Clarion

When to Travel
If you are thinking of staying an extra couple of days we encourage you to come before the wedding weekend rather than staying afterwards.  We ask this out of sheer selfishness since we'll be leaving on our honeymoon after brunch on Sunday, June 22nd and won't be able to spend time with you.  We plan to have a few events throughout the week leading up to the wedding and would love you to be able to attend.  We will provide more details as we get closer to June.

Pupusas in the Park ~ Wednesday, June 18th 2014 from 4:30pm to 8:30pm
Join us at Assiniboine Park for an evening of fresh air, family, friends, and of course, everyone's favourite Salvadorian dish...pupusas!  Everyone is welcome.  Bring a lawn chair.  We'll be at site #3 on the west side of the park.  The site has a shelter, so come rain or shine!  Click here for a map.

Sunday Brunch  
We have reserved the 2nd Floor Banquet Hall at The Current located within The Inn at the Forks for Sunday brunch following the wedding.  Our out-of-town guests are invited to attend.  Brunch begins at 11am.  

Explore the Forks Market after brunch!

The Registry

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Your presence at our wedding is desired.

No gift is required.

However, if it pleases you to do so...

You will find links to our registries below.

Bed, Bath & Beyond  #541043353 www.bedbathandbeyond.ca 

Merci Registry www.merciregistry.com/kellyandjuan

A Year of Engagement

The Exchange District

The numerous wedding books that I have thumbed through since Juan popped the question say that the engagement period is a time to reflect and prepare for a lifetime together.  This means asking the tough questions about values, goals, expectations, and needs.  I have come to believe, however, that this time of reflection is a myth, a mirage in a very hot desert, a bit of folklore for the uninitiated.

Our year of engagement has been a whirlwind that started with champagne and celebration, quickly morphing to one of planning, invitations, research, decision-making, and a series of mega and mini-celebrations.  And we're not even at the main event yet!

Don't get me wrong.  I wouldn't change any of it for the world.  But my goodness!  There are so many things to do.  Though it could also just be us.  After Juan proposed we did move to Winnipeg.  We also started new jobs, traveled to Guelph, and I finished school and graduated.  It's been such a busy year and I feel like we've barely had a moment to breathe.  

Well, that's not actually true...

One right of passage for the newly engaged is the engagement photos.  To pose or not to pose.  That is the question.  Juan and I disagreed on the answer.  In the end, however, we didn't have to decide because our lovely photographer decided for us.  

Cousin's was where Juan and I had our first date.

It's also a place where we have shared numerous beers together.

We got engagement photos.  I'm so happy we did.  Not only was it an unseasonably warm fall day, but we had so much fun!  This was a time where we had a chance to breathe and enjoy each other's company - at times I think we forgot Julie was even there.  

Julie Fulsher, of Sterling Images, is our wedding photographer.  Her and I went to high school together and she took amazingly beautiful photos at my very good friend and bridesmaid, Tamara's wedding.  We hope you enjoy some of her photos and her extremely flattering blog post about us.  

Love, Kelly & Juan

The Wedding Social

Designed by my bridesmaid
 Tracey O'Neil of Simple Life Designs

We weren't going to have a wedding social.  Too much work, too much stress.  Some people say that a wedding social is harder to pull off than the actual wedding!  But after much deliberation we decided that not only is a wedding social a Manitoba tradition, it is also a great way to reconnect with the friends we haven't seen in so long.  Though in truth it may have come down to one fact:  Juan and I simply love a good party.

And a party we had!  

We had surprises.  

Juan's sister Maria and her boyfriend Peter (not in this photo)
came all the way from Toronto to surprise us

We had foosball.  Psychedelic foosball.  

Photo credit: Jonah O'Neil

We had food.  Traditional social food.

We had a popcorn machine.  

The popcorn was courtesy of Michael Walter, my Step-Dad,

We had prizes.  

We had dancing...a fog machine and light show.  

I know what your thinking...that's a foosball table.
Beyond is the dance floor.

But most importantly, we had alcohol - cheap alcohol.

Note the empty drink pyramids

Just Kidding!

Most importantly we had all our family and friends from near and far with us...on the most ridiculously cold night ever!  The average daily temperature for March 1st was - 31.5°C and with winds that made it feel like - 50°C.  It was the the second coldest March day on record in Winnipeg since 1872.  Despite the frigid temperatures it was warm inside Riverview Community Centre and hot on the dance floor. 

Juan, Paul, Dave, & Derek

Kelly & her cousin Brenda (who came all the way from B.C.)

Toni and Bill & Wayne and Lenore helping out

We had such a great time!  

Thank you so much to everyone who came out on March 1st and supported us.  

Steve, Kelly, & Juan
I'm pretty sure this is only photo we have
that both Juan and I are in!

The Proposal

It was summer solstice and a beautiful day for a trip into Ontario's wine country.  We had it all planned out and I was really excited.  Juan was acting a bit strange, but really I had no idea of the events to come, I just thought he wanted to be on time for our first wine tour.  After a wonderful breakfast prepared by Juan we packed a lunch and headed out the door to hit up the first winery on our list, Tawse, an organic and biodynamic winery with award winning wines.  I can't take any credit into the wineries we went to, it was Juan who did all the research.

And the research I did payed off!  Though this wasn't part of the plan, at Tawse we were treated to 8 samples each of wine!  Though small tastings it certainly did loosen me up for the next event!  Following the tasting we headed to Balls Falls along the Niagara Escarpment.  Owned by the Ball family in the 1800's, now it is a conservation area and cultural centre full of history and natural beauty.  Also, the perfect place to pop the question.

He popped the question alright, at the top of the falls with no one else around.  The only sound was the rushing water and Juan's heart pounding in his chest.  It was the sweetest proposal.  I felt like I was in the movies.  Juan had eased me in, asking questions and talking casually about when we first met.  But as I listened to him talk about how much he loved me and my family, it suddenly dawned on me what was happening and then before I knew it he was on one knee, holding out a pretty little ring, asking if I would marry him.  Tears sprung to my eyes and I, of course, said "Yes!".

And now that Kelly had said "Yes", it was time to celebrate!  We had a fabulous gourmet lunch and our first champagne as "newly engaged" at Vineland Estates, overlooking their vineyards and Lake Ontario in the background.  We were both elated and giddy with joy.

Actually, I think I might have been more in a state of shock!  But I was very happy and after another wine tour and some more tastings at Vineland and Megalomaniac, I was ready to go home, relax, celebrate, and soak in this life changing event.  However, the surprises were not over and as I walked into our apartment I was completely swept off my feet (if I wasn't already).  I was greeted by roses, candles, and rose petals delicately scattered down the hallway.  So beautiful!  There was champagne and sushi in the fridge and all I could think of was, "Wow!" and "I'm so lucky!" and "Who did this?"

I won't give away my secrets, but let's just say I'm very thankful to two wonderful friends back in Guelph.  The whole day couldn't have been more perfect.  It was a great beginning to our "happily ever after".

Love,

Juan and Kelly