Legal ceremony, confirmed time...

My final plans were confirmed today for our legal ceremony (marriage day). One week from tomorrow I will marry Everton at noon, on Saturday. We are getting married in a really cute church on an island in Toronto, called Centre Island. Tortonians love the island!! The man who is to marry us is a wonderful man who I befriended at Sick Kids Hospital, when my daughter was living there. He was the pastor at the hospital, and he kept me strong. He has agreed to marry us in a very private ceremony in his church, with Everton and I and just our children. We leave for Dominican Republic, for our wedding, at 6am the next day, so there will be no way for anyone (Everton) to let our secret slip.

We will go over on the fairy in the morning, with a picnic in hand, we wil say our vows and then have a champagne picnic for lunch, before heading home to finish packing,lol, and head back into Toronto at 3 am for our flight.

Our daughters (all 4 of them) and I are all wearing really cute white cotton sundresses, with our hair flowers I bought for the wedding. We might look funny on the fairy all of us in white cotton, but I think the pictures will be so sweet. I would like some kind of flowers for me and my daughters, what do you think we should do, I don't want a bridal bouquet, just something small.

Do any of you have any idea what kind of gift I should buy for my friend marrying us, he is a free spirit, with a hippie sort of nature. He is very spiritual, and believes in reiki. Also what do you think is an appropriate amount of money to donate to his church, since we are using his church? While I'm asking questions, what should I pack in my picnic, to make it special??

Wow everything is happening so quickly now!

Kelly~

Congrats, that sounds amazing!!!!! I am also wondering how much to donate to the church...I was thinking maybe somewhere in the $100-200 range? But maybe I'm feeling more generous now than I will be when we've paid all those wedding expenses. I am curious if there in an "appropriate" amount.

Wow - it'll be here before you know it. The white cotton sundresses sounds so sweet. I'd say a donation of $100-200 to the church would be appropriate.

Congrats & have fun!!

I agree with the 100-200 dollar donation.

As for a gift - do any of y'all paint? Coming from an artistic family I know that paintings/pieces of art always make great gifts and people genuinely love receiving them. Or maybe you could find one of Kendra's (did I spell that right?) photographs that is spiritual in nature and have it blown up and framed. You also write poetry, correct? Maybe you could write something to go along with whatever you give him. I think something like that would be a beautiful gift that he would really appreciate and truly cherish.

Kelly that sounds lovely. For flowers what about a single orchid or stargazer or calla lily for each girl (maybe with a green leaf?) then for you, instead of a massive bouquet maybe one flower representing each child (5, right?) then 2 more for you and Everton. Damn that's getting to be a big bouquet, lol...well you could use small flowers like mini carnations or orange roses...ooh, I like those. That's what I would to to symbolize the blending of your families...but it ain't my wedding, lol. Whatever you decide will be beautiful.

A few hundred dollars is definitely acceptable for the donation, I'm sure he would do it for nothing so really anything is good. The connection you have with the minister is awesome, definitely make the gift personal. If you have time, maybe you can get the kids involved in an art project.