Lights.....Cameras....UPLOAD!!

After considering wedding details, we decided we didn't want any strangers at the wedding, so we're not having a professional photographer.

Lucia and Anna are taking some specific photos of us and there will also be some disposable cameras lying around for youse to have fun with during the reception.

There may be some of you who are bringing a digital camera along, so we would like to ask you to upload your photos of the day on our flickr site . The login name is lisathefog and the password is triplesod. It would be great to come back from honeymoon and be able to look through other people's versions of the day. We'll be using your favourites to make up a wedding album.

Thank you very much in advance!!

My cousins!

So this picture was taken at my Nanna and Grandad's house the last time we were home in Barrow for Christmas. On the far left is my sister Sarah, then there's my cousin Tracy who was pregnant with her son Aidan in this picture, next to me is my youngest cousin Samantha, her big brother Danny and my oldest cousin, Lee.

Unfortunately, our Karl was a bit worse for wear when this photo was taken, so you'll have to wait until the wedding to meet him!

Guru and Boudewijn

And here's the lovely picture you get when opposites attract! Guru likes to chill and talk things out whilst Boudewijn's running up trees trying to get rid of his excess energy!

Guru loves to cook and juggles two jobs involving community projects in Amsterdam. Boudewijn is a computer science teacher and shares Ewoud's passion for gaming.

Last year Guru accompanied Ewoud to Venezuela for Marcel and Jairam's wedding and we're both really pleased they're coming over to help us celebrate ours!

Anna and Ijsbrunt!

Here's our good friends Anna and Ijsbrunt, this classic picture was taken at my 30th last August.

They're both teachers over here and they also try and help me with my Dutch conversation - one day it will pay off!

Ijsbrunt can pick up just about any instrument and play a song on it and loves to learn...everything! Whilst Anna is very creative and a talented illustrator. She has also kindly agreed to take some pictures at the wedding service. We count ourselves as very lucky to have so many talented friends around us!

Alexia

Here's Alexia, girlfriend of Ewoud's best man Ramiro! Alexia works at one of the most popular music venues in Amsterdam, the Melkweg and is studying music management.

Alexia's allergic to small desserts, has a house full of cool and random stuff (he-man models, DIY volcano kits??) and is currently on a mission to get a ticket to see Faith No More..(we need to go to Paris!)

We're looking forward to showing her around Barrow's boutique shops where she can add to her fine collection of kitsch!

Rogier and Farnoosh

Here we have Rogier and Farnoosh, long time friends of Ewoud and now mine too! Rogier is a yoga instructor and Farnoosh can speak numerous languages and is a freelance translator.

They're busy people with a lust for life and more recently they've been setting up their Brazillian yoga retreat. Their door is always open for friends and its amazing just how many people can fit into their flat! In fact, their flat was the setting for mine and Ewoud's first kiss.

Next month they'll be celebrating 10 years together....congratulations to you both!

Danny boy....

This is one of my oldest friends Dan, we've known each other for about 15 years, since college when I used to go to his house, drink loads of tea and listen to the Pixies, Lemonheads and Dinosaur Junior!

He does a mean version of 'Losing My Religion' on the karaoke and loves the great outdoors. We've had some fine adventures, one of which involved a waterfall and a tree and has left me scarred for life. Cheers Critch!!

Dan's now an excellent carpenter with his own business in bespoke furniture. He's the boyfriend of my bridesmaid Liz and together they're brilliant parents to Harvey and Ella...and their third child who we'll be welcoming in September!

Leon and Lula

Here's my best friend Leon and his girlfriend Lula! Leon is also the brother of my bridesmaid Mel and my late friend Andy. We've known each other for 12 years now and shared mental times living in Brighton and Amsterdam.

We really wanted Leon in the wedding but couldn't fit another bridesmaid in. He's one of the most articulate people I know and sometimes its hard to get a word in, so we thought he'd be the perfect person to do the reading at our wedding service!

Lula's a brilliant stylist and owns the Toni & Guy branch in Amsterdam and I'm well happy to say she's very kindly doing my hair and make-up! X

More Greats!!

No family party would be complete without my Uncle Mike and Auntie Dee (pictured in the middle and the far right of this photo with my mum and dad)!

Again, I've not seen them for a few years and they now live in Spain (I feel a holiday coming....) so we're really chuffed they've booked to come over for the wedding and can't wait to catch up with them.

I also owe them a massive hangover after the last boozy do we had together, which saw me missing out on nearly 2 days of my life after partying with the crooners of Barrow!

Uncle Stephen

Here's my dad's younger brother, my Uncle Stephen. Every time me and Ewoud go back to Barrow, we have tea round his house and watch a bit of National Geographic!

Steve became a grandad himself last year, when his daughter Tracey gave birth to little Aidan and she's also getting married in August!

Uncle Billy and Auntie Carol

Booo.....I don't have a picture of Billy and Carol
together on my computer.

Carol is in the Christmas spirit with my mam on the left and Billy is in the middle of this photo next to my dad.

Me and Ewoud had a lovely christmas at their house a couple of years ago and hope we can put on as good a party in July as they did! Billy has an unsurpassed knowledge of the Godfather movies whilst Carol sings a mean Sugababes on the Wii!

Auntie Hels

Here's my mum's younger sister, my auntie Helen! She was only about 10 when I was born, so she made quite a fuss of me as a baby. I, in turn, wouldn't leave her alone when she was practicing piano.

Sharing my grandad's passion for music, Helen went off to music college and became my inspiration for living away from Barrow and trying new things. She's now a professional freelance musician and lives in Yorkshire with her beautiful daughter Sophie. She has yet to find her perfect outfit for the wedding, but I have hope that it is out there!

Uncle Stephen and Auntie Andrea

Here is my mum's brother Stephen and his wife Andrea. They've lived away from Barrow for years now and enjoy life in sunny Preston with their 2 handsome sons, Nathan and Jordan.

Its been a long time since we all saw each other so I'm really looking forward to catching up!!

Grandad Jack and Jill!

Meet my mum's dad, grandad Jack and his partner Jill! My nanna and grandad enjoyed a 46-year marriage and raised a son and two daughters and have been loving and supportive grandparents to 5 grandchildren.

My nanna Pat sadly passed away in 2002 and I will greatly miss her presence on our special day, but she will be honoured and remembered with love.

Jill is my grandad's lovely partner and together they have been travelling the world, enjoying new adventures and setting a fine example of how to make the most of retirement!

My grandad is one of the directors of the local brass band, after playing the tuba for them for years. I have a lot of childhood memories of going to village concerts and having to be kept quiet with plenty of sweets while we watched him play!

Nanna and Grandad White!

Here's my dad's parents, my Nanna Margaret and Grandad Don! Over 55 years ago my nanna borrowed her sister's suit, hopped on the local bus with the workmen and took herself to the registry office to meet my grandad and get married.

Since then, they've raised 3 sons, been loving and supportive grandparents to 7 grandchildren and last year became great grandparents to my cousin's son, Aidan.

I've spent many hours sat drinking tea and eating homemade cakes, listening to stories from the past and talking about my future plans with them. I'm really happy they're going to be watching us get married too! And also pleased I've been able to get some good advice from them to start our married life.

Maps...they don't love you like I love you....

Although I've told the out-of-town guests that need to know, I thought I'd post the link of our wedding map for the entertainment of everyone else. It has important landmarks on it and once you've clicked on the titles of each post you can also check out the corresponding picture or video.

Click the link below to enjoy!

Lisa and Ewoud's Wedding Map!

Lekker chillen met 3TH

Meet the brains of the 3TH familia.

This little guy from Uruguay is a machine! Dont let his size fool you, he will throw you into all corners of the room by the power of pure logic.

Doing a degree in Law, combined with a full-time job, his lovely girlfriend Alexia as his evil sidekick, music projects and a talent for making art... no-one will stop this guy from reaching his ultimate goal... world domination!

As he seems to handle stress so well, and because of his overall outlook on things, I could not think of a better man to be at my side during mine and Lisa's wedding.

Watch out for his sweet feet on the dancefloor! They will hypnotize you and take away your soul!

If we were the A-Team then Marcel would be "Face".

Marcel played guitar in the same hardcore band I was doing vocals for when we were still snotnoses and I soon grew to love this super social and positive Dutch/Spanish guy.

He has the gift of putting a smile on the hardest of faces and he could even make you smile as you watch your girlfriend walk away with him! Lucky for us guys he just got married himself to his lovely South American little lady Jairam.

Music is his passion and next to his duties as usher he's also bringing music to the night-time festivities with Ramiro, as they have their own band "Los Pistoleros de la Paz".
Bound to make even the English, with their notorious 2 left feet, dance like Latin lovers.

Honorary Bridesmaid

My younger sister Sarah didn't want to be a bridesmaid, because there were already a fair few in a pretty small wedding and also (I think), because she doesn't like the attention. So I thought I'd stick up a baby photo of her on here instead!

We both still wanted her to be involved in the wedding in some way though, and now she's organising my flower bouquet and those at the chapel. She's also a great sounding board in our monthly phone calls.

Big hugs little sister! X

Lulu AKA Squirrel

We've known each other for 6 years now, since my first visit to Amsterdam. The baby of the group, Lucia's shaping up to be a beautiful, intelligent and super-organised ladeeeee!

We did a climbing course together a couple of years ago and I realised I was in extremely safe hands as she didn't take her eyes off me once as she was belaying me....not once...not even to look at Colonel Mustard guy's butt on the next wall, eh Lu?! I've not been climbing since.

As well as aping around the place and being a keen student, Lulu's a proactive campaigner for my evil humour and the master of all things technical and Ikea-like.

A very talented photographer, Lucia's also kindly agreed to take a few shots on our wedding day, which I'm really stoked about. You can check out her work here. Dikke Kusje!

Hey Mambo...Mambo Italiano!

The best barmaid of the Berry during its golden age, Lizzie is pictured here practising her wedding smiles already.

Me and Liz lived in the same 'hood for years, but have been friends since I was around 17. In that time she's beat me at quiz games, listened to me whinge on about relationships (or more often, a lack of one), held my hands through harsh panic attacks. And I've watched as she's gone from student teacher to mother and museum monitor (!)

Whether she realises it or not, I've also been in awe of her parenting skills to her and Dan's 2 children, Harvey and Ella...and she's now pregnant with their 3rd!! So watch out for the glorious bump down the catwalk...errrrr, aisle!

As Liz lives near our hometown, we don't get to see each other as much as I'd like, but once I'm home, we're right back to where we left it.

Earthmother Em

Now, Emma and me go waaaaaaaaay back, to the days when I was 6 and she was mine and Sarah's babysitter and she told us when to get to bed....how times change Em!!

"Lisa, Lisa lets go and watch the sun set!" "No Em, its 7am, the sun has now risen...I want to sleeeeep....and no, I don't want to do a bloody love dance ya hippy!"

Emma's an inspiration with her constant postivity and support of us starsistas. She's also working a full-time job whilst studying for a degree in psychology and I love that she's not shying away from the difficult path to being able to do what she's always wanted to do.

Starsista Mel

Here's Melly, my adopted big sis in Amsterdam. We've been through loads together in the last 6 years. We became close through losing our wicked Andy, Mel and Leon's younger brother and one of my best friends.

Since then, we've cried, laughed, danced, drank tetleys and gin and lived together in Amsterdam, Brighton UK and now back in Amsterdam!

Mel made my first foray to Amsterdam a lot easier, with all her support and great resourcefulness, I couldn't have asked for a better start! Our daily emails when we lived in separate countries continue today, even though we live 15 minutes' bike ride from each other.

She's my first port of call in a crisis and usually knows exactly what to say to chill me out. A perfect skill in wedding planning! Big hugs chica!

Talkin' bout my girls!

Ok, so it's been a looong while since I updated this blog, with plenty happening in between, but before I talk of more planning and arrangements, it's most important that I introduce my gorgeous bridesmaids!!

Unfortunately, my photo uploading skills are a bit crap, so I'm introducing one at a time.

Needless to say that they're all very important and much loved girls in my life!

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