Wednesday 7 January 2009

Happy Holidays! Toronto Wedding

Following our last-minute passport reprieve, we blasted off from Heathrow to Toronto, via Chicago. We knew it was going to be cold in Canada, but we hadn't quite counted on just how fierce the cold would be. A spate of particularly vicious weather had just passed through, leaving half a metre of snow in its wake, and temperatures stuck firmly in the -15°C region. A midday walk from our hotel to a nearby mall resulted in noses and ears that stung like they were going to fall off!

Mike and Krista's wedding was an incredible experience. Set in a beautiful old mansion on the outskirts of town, the gardens were blanketed with snow and made a stunning backdrop:


The ceremony was just how Johnny likes them - short and to the point, but also very touching and intimate.


The reception was a stand-up cocktail-and-nibbles affair so after some heartfelt speeches there was no holding back - the dance floor was quickly jammed with people bopping to the excellent DJ's selections. While Johnny got stuck into the G&T's, Bec was swept off her feet by this guy who introduced himself as simply "the gay cousin":


It was all over much too quickly, but everybody had a fantastic night, especially the stunning bride and groom.


The following morning, we'd been kindly invited to a "recovery brunch" at Krista's parents' house, outside of Toronto. Although Bec was somewhat under the weather for a goodly portion of the day (having enjoyed herself a little too much the night before), we still had a wonderful time, getting such a warm welcome from both Mike and Krista's families that we almost felt like a part of the family ourselves! It really was a true Canadian experience, with snow falling on a forest scene behind the house, and a cosy scene inside. Johnny's offer of a straight swap (4-bedroom family home in Toronto for 2-bedroom apartment in Melbourne) was politely declined by Mr Riddell!

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