Our Wedding Story

I guess the best place to start is the Thursday evening before the wedding, it was 3 am after a crazy fun and even at some times scary Bachelorette Party (all that one should be) and we had all finally decided to get some rest before the crazy weekend began.  After lying there wide awake for what seemed like ages, I decided to do what helps the most when sleep never comes - call Cal.  I went out on our dock over a quiet lake and I remember asking him "You really want to do this?" with a heart filled with anxiety that had been building up for months now.  "More than anything babe, we've finally made it" he told me.  I smiled and we let each other in on tid-bits of each other's party - like how he got food poisoning, and how we got a little too into Single Ladies.

Now I didn't realize it fully until we got to the Honeymoon, but my stomach was in knots (like barely able to keep down food knots) for the entire week before the wedding... and for really no reason.  Things went incredible smooth, especially considering we set up the entire venue in a little over a day.  It blew me away how many loving and thoughtful people we have in our life who selflessly gave up their time to help us out.  I could not thank them enough - our day was made oh so special because of them.

Friday was a bit rough and a tad surreal.  Going on about 2 hours from the night before and a few bites of food, adrenaline is what really brought me through.  Showing up to the Rehearsal Dinner was so strange because for the first time in the whole wedding process I was done planning.  Done!  Not that the nerves were done, of course, no they were still going strong.  It was so nice to see family and friends from out of town and to spend time together.

Then the morning of the wedding finally arrived.  My dad took me out to breakfast at Sam's Diner - our favorite spot. As we sat down and ordered our orange juice, he handed me a letter.  Now I would tell you what's in that letter but it probably wouldn't make too much sense - but I will tell you that that was when the first tears were shed that day, and they were plenty.  I am so thankful that I have such a loving dad with such a sweet heart, who knows how to make time stand still when it should and, although it doesn't happen often, knows how to have a good cry when reflecting back on all the crazy places life has taken us.  We hugged for a while and then both laughed at how short of time it took to get us both to cry and talked out the little details of the wedding to get our minds off the fact that today was the day.

Then the girls, the curling irons, bobby pins, and the mascara all started to arrive.  I was relieved when the photographers arrived because then I could think of shots and angles for them to get my mind off things.  (Always the photographer, never the bride! lol) It was also a blast to be pampered, I'm not going to lie.  I must say that my mom was a rockstar the whole morning (the entire wedding process really) but she was offering coffee and sandwiches and her smiles and gentle reminders made the day go by so smoothly.  Emily and I headed to the venue convincing each other that this was no big deal and that people literally get married every day. Nbd. We got this.

There were several tearful moments in the final hours before the wedding, and my wonderful ladies did everything they could to keep me laughing.  Yes, corny blonde jokes were told.  I love them all oh so much.

Then the moment came.  The processional music started, and my dad ran to grab me an umbrella because a light rain had started.  I laughed because that was literally the last thing on my mind.  I squeezed my dad's arm a little tighter to hold me up from the shaking and also the huge dress.  And then I remember seeing his face.  That face I had seen a million times before, and yet, now for the very first time. We choked through our vows and all I can vividly remember is this surreal nervous feeling I was just in a room with Cal and our Pastor... except EVERYONE we knew was there witnessing it. I had to look around a few times just to make sure.

We kissed (twice, I think) and the party began.  It was so cool to spend time with everyone we love, all in one big tent.  Hours felt like minutes, and I remember the DJ telling me "It's time to cut the cake" and thinking there was no way that it was 7:30 (yes, I had our schedule memorized).  We danced and talked and grabbed a few more photos as the night slipped away and then Cal and I headed to our car.  We said our goodbyes, honked a million times and left... and then I realized I had nothing with me.  I had Cal run back and I guess no one saw him so it was our little secret.. or not :) . Once we were on the road we looked at each other and I said "did that just happen?" Haha man that FLEW by.  How did 12 months of planning turn into 4.56 minutes??

What happened after? Uh oh no, internet, not going there. Not at all.


I guess what I can say after all of it, was that year of planning was one of the most challenging years of my life.  Because it was a year of intense waiting, intense worrying of what the heck it married life is like, and intense planning. It was a lot.  Married life, though different and a bit more difficult than what I thought it was, is so so worth it.  So yes. Do that crazy DIY project for your day even if it takes several late nights, because it's a labor of love, for your day and for your future.  Do go out to coffee after dress shopping with your ladies, because that may be one of the few times you will have them all together. Enjoy it more, and try to let the little things go, because it's not worth having your stomach in knots or getting mad that a little thing isn't just as it should be.  Marriage is a whole different roller coaster, but be sure to ride the one your on.  Even if it does mean you have to throw your arms up and scream ;)

Well that is my version of events.  We'll see if we can get Cal on here to tell his side - wouldn't that be fun?

So yes, we are finally with one more C.
Cathy and Caleb Craft - 07.26.14

With love,
Cath

Few More Days

So I wanted to drop in and update just a bit before it's full time wedding mania.  Like has been so wild the last few weeks, it's so hard to even recall all the little "emergencies" we've taken care of.  I am moving out this week, which seems to add a whole new level of it all.  I seriously love my MOH who has been doing ALL my laundry this week to help me pack... she seriously takes this title to the next level.

And you know with each new change comes a whole range of emotions, too.  In some ways, this day couldn't come soon enough, I feel like I have wanted to be married to Cal for ages now.  But then there's other things that freak me out... like how little kids may call me MRS. Craft and how I feel like my friendships may change in some ways.  But then sitting in our apartment on our couch talking to Cal makes me realize how much I NEED this in my life.  Generally, I'm just overall pumped.  I can't wait to get this wedding on!

Anyways, just stopping by... until next time!

With Love,
Cathy Huntington (... for 11 more days)

Twenty Fourteen.

So I must admit that I am surprised that I haven't been blogging this much over Christmas.  I thought I would be full of little Christmas DIYs and gifts... but honestly I spiraled from my insane semester into a Downtown Abbey Coma.  And I'm ok with that.
Christmas was wonderful, had about a week full (I mean full) of seeing family and friends.  Cal and I got a bunch of appliances and things for the apartment which will help a ton for when he moves out. The new year has come and we are now in full time wedding planning mode: playing hard ball with vendors, meeting with the DJ, and figuring out which champagne glasses we really want to use.  With Cal and I pretty distracted with all that, it's pretty easy to forget to slow each down and be with each other... which is why we are doing all this, so we can be with each other forever!  So we've decided that and sit-down get-to-know-each-other date was in order. Pronto.
I love how Cal can remind me to slow down and enjoy life just by a simple smile, or giving long hugs right when I walk in the door.  And man could I use the reminders, too.  I am planning a wedding, my wedding with the man of my dreams, and I want to soak up every moment.  So although there may not be too many DIYs here in the near future (I pretty much have a DIY wedding on my hands here), I want to blog more.  To enjoy more.  To cherish more.
Bring it on 2014, you are gonna be the most exciting year of my life.

Ice-skating on New Years! ...goofiest picture ever.

With love,

And I am going to marry that man.

Sometimes, he just blows me away.  It doesn't always hit me at first, sometimes it's in the drive home at night when I really think about how loving and selfless  and all around awesome he really is.  And it's in so many ways.

It's in the way he will volunteer to do something even though it scares him half to death because he feels God told him to do it... and then he ends up nailing it.

It's in the way he will not only give a homeless man money at McDonalds, but will talk with him about his journey and his past.

It's in the way he will use his day off to look for internships for me online.

It's the way he loves to play trivia in the car on long car rides.

It's in the way that all he requests for his birthday is that I watch the Star Wars Saga with him.

It's in the way people come up to me and tell me what a blessing he is.

..... and I am going to marry that man.

 

Happy birthday to the best man on the planet.

With -MUCH- Love,

Engagement Story

So as many of you probably already know, Cal and I are engaged!! Here is our engagement story:

So Cal and I have been talking and planning on getting married for a long time... as in around 2 years.  So with this long of time to plan and wish for getting engaged and getting hitched, it would be hard to not see this coming.. but somehow Cal managed to surprise me - big time.  It was around a week before the July holiday weekend when I suggested that we go on a picnic to the beach rather than going to the parade which we always do on the Fourth.  He agreed, and we loosely made plans for our excursion.  The weather threatened to rain out our fun, but it thankfully held off and we made some wraps and snacks and headed out toward the beach.  Now he was super chill and on the fly about the whole thing, so I had nooo clue at all.  I seriously said during lunch "Yano, I wish we could talk more about this whole engagement thing, I hate not being able to talk really at all about it. Like I almost thought you were going to do it today, but there is NO way, since your not nervous or making sure everything is going along to plan."  Literally. But he still gave no hints!

We then went to another beach that we had both been to together, and had fun memories there in the past.  We laughed and talked and looked out over the water.  A little while later, when we were both quietly taking in the view, he said he had a gift for me.  He described the gift, saying it was like me, unique and different on the outside, but once you really get to know it and look deeper into it, you see really how beautiful it is.  I still had no clue. I laughed and said maybe I should see the gift so I could understand it better.  He smiled and said I had to wait a little bit.  He then pulled out a little book out of his pocket and said it was a flip book and he wanted me to flip through it.  I saw that he drew a ring and a heart on the cover, and I started to sit up a little straighter and my heart started to beat a little faster.  As I flipped through it spelled out: "Will you marry me?" As I was reading this he got on one knee and said "Cathy, will you marry me?" At this point I am freaking out.  I am taking in the book, the gorgeous ring in front of me, and the love of my life asking me to be with him to the day we die.  I gasp and smile and eventually say yes, which he said felt like eternity.. which was probably a few seconds. We laughed and giggled and hugged and he placed the ring on my finger. We laughed and talked and had to pinch each other to see if it all was really real. It was a sweet moment of happiness that I will never forget.

It kind of blows my mind how faithful God has been to our prayers.  It somewhat seems like it has been a long time coming, yet I am nervously excited for this short time in our lives while we are engaged.  God has given me the man of my dreams, the man knows how to take me at my worst and encourages me to be my best. I am so blessed.

This cutiepatootie reenacted it for me :)

Thank you for all the love and support, the encouragement has blown us away!  We truly appreciate it.

With love
Cath and Cal

Valentine's Weekend

So Cal and I got to spend a WHOLE Saturday together last weekend - it was a blast!  We of course had to plan a fun day, because we are hardcore planners.  Like seriously, I have like 5 calendars filling things down 6 months in advance... Anyways, we went and got a bunch of men's white T's and got teal, purple, and green dye and tie and dyed till we turned blue - literally!

We then made some supper that was SO good! It was just ravioli (cal calls them pillows, haha) and some broccoli but oh so yummy.

Oh and let me not forget to tell about our little gifts to each other.  I made us a "to go" box filled with "personal" would you rather cards and other games, to have in the car with us for when we travel.  And then Cal got me a silver heart necklace (which I've barely taken off since!) and a "Our First Home Video" with all our special recordings we've had of us together with all our favorite songs!! Oh my word I cried and laughed.. I've never been given something so so sweet.  I love these special and so sweet gestures he does to show much how he cares about me.  I have never shared such a deep special with anyone else and I wouldn't have it any other way.

So thanks, Love, for the best V-day so far!!

With Love,

More Free Valentine Prints!

Here's a few more to tell your special someone how you love them!

If you happen to be broke college kids like Cal and I, I thought that this was cute and fitting.

These are my designs and I give you permission to use them!  Just left click and save file, for that is my best method as of now.

Also, I would LOVE to know your thoughts on them and if/how you used them!

Have a wonderful week and don't forget to tell your loved ones how much you hold them dear to your heart.

With Love,

January

We have both been on break and it has been (hmm in one word..) wonderful.  I, Cathy, have laughed so much in the past few days that my mouth literally aches. I could say the same for myself (Caleb). Being able to hang out with friends, seeing old friends that came back from college for the holidays, and going to some parties made the "break" an eventful but overall relaxing break from the college grind.

Here's a few photos and stories from January!

#thuglyfe #skoolzout #swagger ...... #Claires. Yeah.

Cathy surprised me with this hat at one of our many Tim Horton coffee dates over the break. She made it with yarn that we bought on Black Friday. I remember dropping a hint that I wanted one for Christmas, but she had already gotten me a gift. I was so happy to get this hat! It looks great!

Brushing our pearly whites for the pearly gates! (Church. :) )
Can't wait for this to be every morning...

And this brings us up to today.  Eating garbage plates at Jimmy Z's. Not that hardcore. But we like to think we are.  Also can we talk about this phone quality? Man.

Through spending so much time together we have fallen even deeper in love with each other.  Gotten to know how certain situations effect us and what we like to do, even when we're cranky.  We've both gotten into The Lumineers, found that we both LOVE iced mint chocolate coffee, and become fierce at a round of pinochle.

God Bless!

With Love,
Cath and Cal

Free Print - Valentine

So with a little more free time on my hands, I was able to make this print for my fellow friends!  You could Valentine's Day or just use this to tell your special someone you love them. Just right click and save, because I don't have a better method as of yet. I would love to know how you use it and what you think!

Enjoy!

With Love,

Sit. Stay a While.

A bit about us.

1. Our favorite song.
2. Favorite date: euchre at Tim Hortin's
3. Favorite TV show: Up All Night
4. Favorite season: summer
5. Favorite place: beach

With Love,
Cath and Cal