To stress or not to stress...that is the question.

So lately i've been getting a lot of questions about our wedding plans..."Did you think of this? What are you doing here? What time, what order, etc. etc", and I suddenly found myself starting to hyperventilate a little bit....You see, we started off this whole wedding thing promising ourselves that this would not get stressful.  That really, we just want to have a celebration with all of the people in our lives that mean so much to us, and that the little details like colour schemes and napkins shouldn't matter in the least...

The problem is, when you listen to everyone's questions (all well intentioned of course) it can be really easy to all of the sudden start to question your decisions...I mean i really HADN'T thought about 90% of the questions that were asked...should I have!? Is our wedding going to be lame!? My heartbeat started pounding and my breath got fast...Gary what do we do!?!?!?

Gary's reply: "We're gonna have food, booze and a sweet dance party. What more do you want?"

So there you have it folks! Wedding planning complete! I should have just handed it over to him MONTHS ago!

Now in Gary's defence, he sort of has a lot on his mind.  Here's why:



Now a normal couple planning a wedding might think to themselves: "You know there's a lot of details to one of these things...lets just take the time to plan ahead, and that way come the day, we won't have anything to stress over because it's all been done!  Let's take the time to ENJOY this experience and really drink it in."
ANd well, we did say that in the beginning...but then we decided that it would also be a good idea to do this:

That's right, over the 2 months before our wedding we decided to also take on the biggest house reno either of us have ever lived through (at least we hope we live through it). We ripped off our roof, and are building a new floor on top, which when complete is going to be a wicked new photography studio!!  Which, in theory is a great idea...we just somehow didn't really think through what a  terrible choice of timing it would be seeing as how it's the same 2 months we're supposed to be organizing a wedding!

SO...needless to say the past two weeks, and the next month and a half are going to be the most hectic and stressful ones that we've had basically ever.  House renos, wedding planning, OH and i forgot to mention that i've also just went part time at my Gov't job, so we're adjusting to working together from home 1/2 of the week as well.

Can anyone say relationship test 101???

SO the other night, at about 1am after we had moved our entire garage into our living room, bedroom, and partially into our kitchen, after I had a bit of a mental break down, (I literally just burst into a fit of giggles when Gary told me we had to move the entire contents of our garage after dinner...It was such an absurd statement to me that I went into a crazed laughter and didn't stop for about a 1/2 hour) we sat down on the couch (the one piece of furniture not piled high with boxes) and cracked a couple beers.  And it was in that moment of pure exhaustion, that we re-made a promise to each other.

Let's not get caught up in the "how a wedding is SUPPOSED" to go craze that is bred by TLC and Pinterest...let's have the wedding that we've always wanted which is simple.  That highlights parts of the Yukon and parts of our lives that we love.  Let's do it the way we want, whether it makes other people nervous or not. Because, at the end of the day, as long as our friends and family are there to share stories, have some laughs and do some ridiculous dance moves late into the night...we're gonna have a successful wedding.

SO we hope that you all can join in on our promise-to not get stressed, don't worry about details, and just enjoy your time with us this summer.  Some things are going to be done a bit differently: we're doing a potluck dinner, we're going to have two people officiate our ceremony, we have no colour scheme, and we would rather come with you guys to do some unreal outdoor activities and see the sights of the Yukon than spend the days before our wedding making decorations.  But in the end, we'll get married, you guys will see it happen, and then we'll spend the night eating, laughing and dancing our pants off...it'll be a blast!



POTLUCK


NOW don't worry, we do have some details to give you. (i'm really not as disorganized as this post sounds, as Gary always reminds me...Realistically, I have been making little pieces of decorations for over a month and have our music picked down to the last detail...really, i'm just spazzy and am excellent at worrying)

The thing that most people have asked about is our decision to have a Potluck wedding! One of our favourite parts of the Yukon is how many potluck dinners we have had over the years...In fact the ritual wednesday night potlucks at Ryan's house was how Gary and I first really got to know each other...so it only makes sense to have that be a part of our wedding too.

AND there's also the fact that we both loooooove food. And the best part about a potluck is how everyone brings their own 'speciality' and you always end up with a huge variety of foods...

So we hope that you all will join us in our potluck dinner after the ceremony.  There will be enough time to go and get stuff/prep it as we'll be off getting our photos taken.  And we're not delegating who brings what for a reason...I stand by the fact that potlucks are meant to be a mix of foods-whatever people feel like making, and that's why i love them so much. There's always something new to try...so you get to bring whatever you feel like!

Now this is exactly one of the parts that we don't want you to STRESS about! Obviously, those of you from out of town won't have a kitchen to cook in, so if you're able to bring buns from the bakery, grab a cheese and cracker platter from the deli, or even a bag of chips with salsa that would be great!

We already have people here in town who are offering to do the 'mains' to ensure we've got some hot dishes like turkey, ham, etc. So we're guaranteed to be well fed.

If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to ask!  In fact, i'd like you to meet Lyndsey:

Lyndsey is one of our best friends here and has been AMAZING at helping us organize things (I actually never have to worry about details not being ready...this girl made a spreadsheet to organize my bachelorette...a SPREADSHEET people!) So if you have any questions at all about the potluck, need suggestions on what to bring, or want to know more about how it all works, just send her an email at: hamilton.lyndsey@gmail.com

Ok, i'm off to do some photo editing and Gary's calling dry-wallers so we better run! Can't wait to see everyone together in just a few short months now!

Bri and GB

There's so much room for activities!!!

Okaaaaay. I admit it...i've royally sucked at updating this thing lately!  So here's my attempt to make up for it...a blog post dedicated to to the EPIC activities you can take part in this June while you're here to visit, or if you live here and just never go and do this kind of stuff...So here we go:


One thing Yukoners know how to do better than anyone else is how to take advantage of our amazingly long summer days!  After those long winter months, as soon as the sun comes out again, this place starts buzzing with activity and it's not uncommon for people to be burnt out by end of July because they've been going non-stop since April...BUT there are many who know the fine balance of work and play, and we've decided to feature them right here in our blog...


We've compiled a list of some of our amazing friends and family who are experts in a wide range of activities that'll keep you busy on the non-wedding days of your trip.  They know how to plan the most epic of days, or how to relax the hardest, so pick and choose as you will, and be prepared to never want to go home. (seriously...it happened to Gary about 8 years ago now...)




*Please note most of the people i'm listing below know they're being offered up as 'guides', but some don't.  For those of you reading this thinking "Whoa i didn't know i was signed up for that!" I say to you...surprise! And thank you kindly....




OK so let's start with the adventurous side...seeing as how Gary and I officially met at the bottom of an ice tower, it seems only fitting to start here....






First, let me introduce you to Mr. Ryan Agar, one of Gary's groomsmen, and one of the main perpetrators of setting us up in the first place...

Ryan at the infamous Black Dress Party

He's pretty isn't he?....


During the first two months of knowing these boys, they had me dangling upside down from an ice tower flailing ice axes, threw me off the side of a cliff the very first time i agreed to rock climb, and had me tenting in a snow storm sans sleeping bag to 'teach me a lesson' of never forgetting my gear....Romantic isn't it? They sure know how to treat a lady...


Anyways, Ryan has so graciously agreed to be your Climbing/Rapelling and coffee drinking guide.

Did I mention Ryan and Carrie have a climbing wall in their basement?

He's a certified climbing instructor (Him and Gary have nerded out for hours over knots and rescue scenarios), and I kid you not, has a serious coffee addiction....the guy has an adapter for his coffee grinder that he uses when car camping. He is also one of the most generous people I know, so if you're up for a challenge, and looking for a safe way to test your fear of heights-Ryan is the guy for you.
Or, you can also do what I often do, which is go for a few climbs, then spend the rest of the afternoon laying on a crash pad in the sun drinking coffee or beer, while the rest of the crew climb themselves to death! (I've mastered the relaxation part of adventure over the years, trust me!)






Now, Ryan's partner in crime is Ms. Carrie McClelland.  Carrie will probably be along for the climbing trip, but after that, she'll go home, put up some dry-wall, fix the fence, volunteer for a few organizations, go to a skating practice and then be up the next day to take you paddling!  In other words, this girl cannot be stopped, and she's your key to paddling trips in the Yukon!  Seeing as how she's participated in the Yukon River Quest, a gruelling paddling race-715km or 444 miles from Whitehorse to Dawson City, she's a fantastic person to feel safe on a river with.


As you can see in the photo below, she makes her paddling partners feel very comfortable (that's my 'canoeing with Carrie' position).  You'll also note her 'birding stance'...she used to work as a Wild life viewing technician, (now is the biologist), and can tell you all the different species of animals you see as you're drifting down the river....

Another hard day on the water...

OH and I forgot...she literally has a degree in Camping. Ask her about it-she loves it when people do that....






Now Ryan and Carrie know how to relax with the best of them, but Mr. Charles Stewart on the other hand, needs some lessons in that....

A rare moment when Charles was captured standing still...

Charles, another one of Gary's groomsmen, cannot be seen inside his house during any part of the summer months. If he's not mountain biking, climbing, hiking, paddling, or camping, he's sleeping. There are no other options. Charles is an instructor at Yukon College and teaches the Outdoor pursuits program so he's literally certified to teach you all there is to know about Yukon outdoor activities.  And of course, Charles also has a partner in crime-Jen Eakins. I'd like to say Jen knows how to relax more than Charles but her version of relaxing is working on her Masters, or planning their next great adventure...so, I guess i'd be lying.  But their ambition and thirst for knowledge, is exactly what makes going on adventures with them so amazing-you always feel safe (between the two of them i think they're certified in every outdoor sport possible, or at least have intro experience in it), and you're guaranteed to have a great time. We've been climbing, kayaking, back country skiing and camping with them and it's always some of our favourite trips we've had.

These two have been a huge part of our lives here-Gary lived with them his first summer up here and has been trying to keep up to their energy levels ever since. (although we now have given up, because it's humanly impossible).  They've agreed to be the mountain biking/hiking tour guides (cause let's face it, they'll be out doing it anyway!) so if you'd like to try either, they're the ones you've got to get a hold of!
Charles also has a lead on a place to rent mountain bikes, so no need to bring one with you... We have world class trails here, so for sure try to get out if you like biking!







And you can't talk about adventure without talking about the infamous Christopher Gishler. Gish and his lovely wife Ellen are owners of Equinox-an outdoor adventure/learning company that does Ziplining, rock climbing, team leadership, kids camps, etc. and was the place of Gary's first job in the Yukon! He worked there his first summer here, and has been great friends with Gish and the fam (all 7 of them) ever since!  Located out at the Takhini Hotsprings (a natural hot springs located a 20 min drive from downtown), you can head out to do some zip lining and climbing, and then pop in for a relaxing soak in the springs! Check out his site at: http://www.equinoxyukon.com/ for details on pricing!

The Gish...

Ok...now for those of you thinking "I want nothing to do with any of that"...well, first off at least check out the views you can see while doing it....

Now that's a good view....

This is pretty ok too...

Buuuut if that still doesn't convince you, don't fret...we have a few other more relaxing and colourful options for you too:


1.  Do you love wine? Well, you're in for a treat, because we just so happen to have a group of connoisseurs that not only know their wine, but always look fantastic while consuming it.  It's my book club!  That's right-ladies who love to read, drink wine, and eat cheese. What more could you ask for?  We'll hopefully be hosting a meeting the week of the wedding you may be able to get a special invite to...

2. Love live music? Enjoy a good art show? There are two ladies in town who will always know what's going on...Ms. Fiona Solon and Tara McCarthy (also our MC), are the ones to ask about what's going down the week of the wedding.  Also members of wine (and by wine i mean 'book') club, they will be able to give you tips on where to go and who to see.
You can also check out the Arts Centre site at: http://yukonartscentre.com/

The first night Fi and I met each other...as you can see, we got along swimingly...

T and I over a glass of sweet sweet Yukon Brewing...

3. Enjoy a good story? All true of course? Talk to my grandpa-He's been living in the yukon for over 60 years. He's travelled all over the small communities during his work for Northwestel and owns a ranch about an hour out of town we used to spend all summer at, riding horses, building forts and playing in dirt like kids should! I wouldn't be the person I am today without that experience, and he'll be more than happy to tell you stories all about it.  Bears, horses, wolves, hunting-he's got stories on all of them! In fact, you should ask him about the time the "wind was so bad, there were whitecaps on the peanut butter!"...that's one of my favourites...

My Grandpa and Grandma out at our old cabin.

4.  Looking for a GoldRush Tour?  This one might not be the kind you had in mind originally, but it's guaranteed to leave YOU with some stories to tell...Head on down to the GR, our favourite local bar, where you're guaranteed to Find Ben Mahoney.  Just yell out his name as you walk in-someone will point you in his direction. Sit down at his table, and drink it in...the man's a legend.  Also a great spot to check out some local blues.


5. If you like to run or jog, we have some amazing trails right around town that you can hit up...And you can always call my running inspirations, Jada Kwok and Loralee Martin, for info too! Every year we participate in the Klondike International Road Relay-a running relay race that goes from Skagway Alaska to Whitehorse! We've spent many a hours meeting up to go for runs, doing laps up and down the "black street stairs" and encouraging each other to keep on running, even when we'd rather sit down and eat some of Loralee's amazing baking...

Jada and I at the finish of the Dome Race in Dawson City...Note I DO NOT recommend this one-it's straight uphill the entire way...(it's also in July)

Loralee and I last year at the finish of the 1/2 Trail Marathon

For a walk/run that's easy and right down town, i'd try out the Millennium Trail...It's a 4km paved walking/running/biking trail along the Yukon River that starts at the SSKlondike and winds through the trees, looping back around to the boat.  Don't miss the eagle's nest situated along the path in a tall tree along Robert Service Highway (aka South access).  If you can't see it, just ask someone.  Everyone knows where it is.




AND finally, if you want to wander around sans guide, here are a few more options for you that I stole directly from Jada's wedding site give or take a few! (We love to share...)

Short Trips (2 hours or less...) 1. Miles Canyon - just 10 minutes from downtown and you've got some of the most breathtaking scenery to soak in!  A bridge across the canyon is a great photo op and there are lots of trails to explore as well.  Enjoy the pristine tourquoise waters and sunny breeze at special little yukon gem. We like to go at least once a year! 2. S.S.Klondike - Can't miss it!  no literally, if you don't see it while you're in Whitehorse... you must be blind! It's the huge boat sitting pretty much right down town along the river.  Info centre on premises. 3. Yukon Wildlife Preserve - a short drive from town and yo'uve got all yukon's wildlife in one area!  I just went there for the first time last year!  It's definitely worth the drive.  open 10am-6pm (7days/wk). You can take a bus tour or walk the 2.5 or 5km tour yourself and enjoy the endless daylight!  Adults $22 Youth $10, $50/family. 4. Waterfront Trolley - almost didn't put this in but it's a relaxing way to get around downtown i guess... runs from Rotary Park (close to SSKlondike) to Spook Creek Station (right by Earl's restaurant), you can get on or off anytime.   5. Museum Tour: MacBride Museum of Yukon History (Where my friend Heather and I worked for years, dressed up as "Sam McGee"), Yukon Transportation Museum, Old Log Church, Beringia Centre. 6. Brewery Tour at Yukon Brewing-a DELICIOUS local micro-brewery that has tours and taste tests....we'll also be doing daily tastings at our house. (as we normally do)... Day Trips 1. Skagway, Alaska - not an option.  you gotta do it!  Just a  2 hour drive from Whitehorse and you're there!  Super touristy location but lots to do and see. Located right on the coast, there's tons of little boutiques and jewellery shops, but what you really go there for is the best Thai Rrestaurant in the north!  Remember to bring your passports and your camera! Can't wait to see you all soon!! Write us if you need any more info/details and we'll be sure to post more often now that it's coming up fast!!! Love Bri and Gary