Picture Perfect U
I am 32 years old; I have struggled with my weight my entire life. I was chubby in elementary, which was cute, but not so cute going into high school. I was picked on a lot. I managed to keep my weight the same through my early teens. I’ve tried every fad diet there is. I’ve even starved myself.
I reached 300 pounds, the heaviest I had ever been, and that scared me. Something had to be done!! I have nieces and nephews that I want to see grow up. I want to run and play with them. I had seen the commercials for U Weight Loss™ Clinics but never really paid attention. I was scared to go and check it out. Then on May 27 I walked in the U Weight Loss™ Clinic and sat down. We discussed the program, where I wanted to be and how I was going to get there. They made me feel I could do it. I signed on right there.
I started my first week with a bang, I lost 11 pounds. I was hooked. It seemed so easy. I went in everyday that first week; I began to feel really comfortable. The girls were all so supportive, answered all my questions, made sure I was doing well. The meals are great and easy to make. They made it so easy, getting my menu plans ready and a shopping list, explaining everything that I was taking and how important it was. They made me feel comfortable just walking, even if I was having a bad week, I could talk about anything. If I am having a bad week and not losing the way I should, we look at the big picture to see what I can do to fix this. I don’t feel like I am doing it alone.
I have lost 40 pounds to date and I feel great. I am doing the CIBC Run for the Cure, something I never imagined myself doing. When I reach my weight goal in the spring I am planning on running the half Manitoba Marathon. I can see a future where I can look in the mirror and smile.
Adele Prasek
Photography by Mike Rogal Photography
Jewelry by Poco Creations
Hair color, cut and style by e.clips hair
Live music or recorded music for your ceremony?
Dear Diva,
How important are ceremony musicians? Our ceremony is outdoors and we are trying to decide on having a violinist vs. recorded music playing in the background. We are getting married in a garden and we’ll have about 130 guests… will music from a CD player and speakers simply be drowned out?
Natalie
Winnipeg, MB
The choice between recorded music and live musicians is more of a personal preference choice than anything. Live musicians offer a touch of elegance and refinement and are a popular choice for ceremony music.
No matter which you prefer you will need to think about sound. If you are outdoors you may be competing with nature, the wind, nearby traffic, and other noises both during the musical portions and during your vows. Talk to your musicians or DJ to see what equipment they offer to help with these concerns.
Many professional musicians will have their own sound equipment but if yours does not, they may be able to work together with your DJ to set up sound equipment for the ceremony so that your ceremony music and your vows are not lost in the wind.
Be Fabulous,
The Wedding Diva
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Have a question for The Wedding Diva?
Email your questions to diva@imaginemagazine.ca
Different Focus for Second Time Brides
The first time you marry, you’re so intent on making your wedding day perfect that you often don’t have any fun. When Tamara Thomson, owner of It’s My Pleasure, married for the second time on October 14, 2006, she and her husband, Rob, put the focus on sharing their joy with friends and family.
The couple married at the community centre in Dugald where they live. They kept it simple. The hall was decorated in fall colours. They wrote their own vows and their friend performed the service. They also included her daughters, Brooke and Annastazia, then 12 and 6, in the wedding ceremony.
After the ceremony, the guests played a game of Trivia – with prizes – testing the guests’ knowledge of the bride and groom. The wedding meal was catered by the people in their community.
“We had a lot of fun,” she says. “We were so happy that everyone was there to celebrate with us.”
Text by Myron Love
Westman Wedding Show Recap
On February 1st, brides from across the Westman region gathered in Brandon for the first annual Westman Wedding Show and Your Wedding… Imagine Magazine was pleased to be able to join in. A number of wonderful vendors from Brandon and the surrounding communities came together to offer brides a fun filled event with seminars, pampering, fashion shows, great booths and lots of prizes!
Here are a few photos from the event, courtesy of Photography By Dale. All of the vendors shown below can be found in our Wedding Directory if you wish to contact them.
Your Wedding… Imagine Magazine display at the front door.
Booths: Sterling Images, Royal Oak Inn & Grower Direct
Booths: Ultimate Travel, Party Professionals and Academy Florist
Booth: Photography By Dale
Mother In Law Full of Ideas?
Dear Diva,
I have been engaged to my fiancé for almost a year and we are getting married next summer. My biggest struggle with planning is listening to people’s ideas without feeling obligated to use them and without hurting their feelings. My future mother in law wants to be very involved, which is great. Unfortunately we’re not on the same page for a few key things in terms of design, colour, size etc.
I have been dreaming of this day forever and want it to be special both for us and for our families. We have a wonderful relationship with my future in laws and I don’t want to hinder that. How can I accept the opinions but not give off the vibe that I like them or leave them feeling shut down?
Amanda
Winnipeg, MB
The hardest part of wedding planning is often dealing with conflicting ideas from family members and friends. You are emotionally invested in your big day, but so are those who love you so feelings are easily hurt. The best way to avoid hurt feelings is to be honest and be respectful.
Start right away by sharing with your future mother in law your ideas and the look and feel you hope to achieve. Let her know what you’ve decided so far and what areas you still need ideas for. She will feel included and have a better idea of what you are trying to achieve. Then, when she comes to you with an idea, show her that you respect her ideas by listening and considering what she has to say. Don’t just wave her off or ignore her ideas because you are afraid you might have to say no.
Even if her ideas don’t fit with your plan, thank her for the idea and explain why it won’t work. Do not insult her ideas in anyway (It’s tacky; I don’t like it, etc). Instead, take a more subtle approach by telling her that while it’s a fantastic idea, it doesn’t really fit with the overall look or feel you are trying to achieve.
Most of the time, an honest and respectful approach is all you need. It is also important to know your priorities. Which things matter to you the most and what areas are you more willing to compromise in? Make an effort to include her in areas that are not as important to you, where you will be more likely to find a compromise you can live with.
Be Fabulous,
The Wedding Diva
Jason & Connie’s Wedding
Jason and Connie (Jones) Katchen
Married September 6, 2008
Kiwanis Park, Regina
Boy meets girl - Jason and Connie first met when they were 13 and 12 years old respectively. “I had a crush on him back then but we didn’t see each other again for 12 years,” says Connie. They met again 11 years ago when Jason who was living in Regina came to Brandon to visit his sister (one of Connie’s best friends). “We spent the whole night talking,”
On bended knee – Jason proposed in Kiwanis Park and they exchanged vows in that same park
Kiss the bride – For the ceremony, the bride and groom took a limo to the park. Jason made the ceremony even more special by buying a ring for Shania, Connie’s 13-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, and promising to care for her. Afterwards, the bride and groom had the limo take them back to the Hotel Sask.
Fabulous details – The wedding cake was a tiered cake with an autumn theme. On the cake were images of trees and falling leaves with brown and gold colouring underneath.
Their time away – Jason and Connie went to Las Vegas for their honeymoon and stayed at the New York, New York.
Photos by Photography By Dale
Text by Myron Love
A Waterfront Wedding
Only 2 hours from Winnipeg on Lake of the Woods, the Best Western Lakeside Inn & Conference Centre offers the perfect waterfront wedding. The facilities include 94 rooms and 6 meeting rooms to choose from. The waterside restaurant located on the 9th floor offers a breathtaking view of the lake. There are banquet facilities for up to 250 guests and docking facilities for those who want to come by boat from their cottage.
A room can be set up as a chapel and then a larger room can be for dinner and dancing. A staff member will sit down with you to tailor-make this special day right down to the last little detail.
If the wedding is held at the hotel, special room rates are included for you and your guests. There are 2 virtual tours on their website, including every room and facility, so if you are a bride in Ottawa and your groom is in British Columbia, you can plan your wedding down to the very last detail with ease.
Text By Stephanie Dickison
Photography by Colleen Serban
Engagement Photo Shoot?
Dear Diva,
I attended a wedding show recently and one of the photographers had a special on engagement photo shoots. What is an engagement shoot and do we need one?
Samantha
Brandon, MB
Dear Samantha,
An engagement photo shoot isn’t necessarily a must but there are a number of reasons why you should consider booking one. The most important reason is that it gives you a chance to get to know your photographer. It is wise to have your engagement photos done by the same photographer who will do your wedding photos. This gives you a chance to get to know the photographer so that you are more comfortable working with him or her on your wedding day which results in a more relaxed wedding photo shoot. Relaxed bride = fabulous photos!
Your engagement photos can be used for wedding announcements in the newspaper, with your invitations or as part of your wedding favors. They are also a wonderful keepsake of this exciting time of your life.
Be Fabulous,
The Wedding Diva
Sample photos from Jena Glover & Kyle Ratz’s Valentine’s Day engagement photo shoot in Brandon with Photography By Dale.
Bridal Show Hostess?
Dear Diva,
My mother and my maid-of-honor have put me in an uncomfortable position. Both have assumed they will be hosting my bridal shower and have mentioned inviting all my friends and family! Who should be hosting my shower and how do I let the other one down gently?
Cindy
Gimli, MB
Dear Cindy,
Traditionally the maid-of-honor hosts the bridal shower but it is not uncommon today to see multiple showers for one bride. This many include showers for the bride’s family, the groom’s family, co-workers and friends.
Go ahead and let both your mother and your maid-of-honor host showers for you; just let your maid-of-honor know not to invite family members who will be invited to your mother’s shower.
Be Fabulous,
The Wedding Diva
Ivan & Sherry’s Steinbach Wedding
Ivan & Sherry (Brandt) Plett
Wedding on October 13, 2007
Steinbach, Manitoba
Boy meets girls – Sherry and Ivan met at College and Career at church. Mutual friends asked her to sing at their wedding and had Ivan Plett play the guitar. Eight months after the wedding he finally called her. They dated for 4 years off and on. In the words of Sherry it is now ON.
On bended knee – While on a hike at the family retreat in Star Lake, Ivan asked Sherry to take a picture of him by a tree. Even though she had her own camera in her hand, he passed her his camera case. When she opened the case she saw the ring and her first response was “Oh, sh–!” Needless to say she was surprised. He got down on one knee and she changed her answer to an immediate Yes.
Cherished Moments – During the “you may now kiss the bride” the microphone was left on and all the guests were able to hear Sherry say MMM.
Their time away – They went to California for their honeymoon. They enjoyed themselves at Disneyland as well as Knotts Berry Farm before driving down to San Diego where they did biking and kayaking tours.
Words of wisdom
“Spend more time preparing for your marriage not just the wedding”
Photography by Charmaine Toews Photography
