EVP-Day Countdown

New Blog

2007-06-29T10:55:00.002+08:00

I haven't visited this blog for the longest time, but just an update, our new blog can be found here:

My Lavender Fields

Supplier Ratings

2007-02-02T15:18:00.000+08:00

Bridal Gown: Veluz Reyes
Website: www.veluz.biz
Overall Rating: 10

I really love the gown Veluz made for me. Like what my sister told her, “that’s what she really wanted.” What was probably the biggest compliment to Veluz was when my mom thanked her for a gown well-made (Note: my Mom is medyo hard to please). The design is very much similar to the gown of Princess Grace Kelly, I just opted to have my sash to have more color (rust) so that it would go with our autumn theme. Then during the reception I took off the long-sleeved lace top (made of chantilly lace). Anyway, I soooo love it! Though pricey, I never had regrets as soon as I saw the finished product… the night before our wedding.

Oh, the dupioni silk, I ordered from Marj of Carlos (ex-Wawie). She sells fabric and specialty paper. Good price!

Bridal Accessories (included in Veluz’s package): Nikko Hernandez
Website: www.veluz.biz
Overall Rating: 10

We just love talking to Nikko. He’s very artistic, really knows his craft, and most of all… he’s so hilarious! Anyway, the details… Marie Antoinette inspired shoes, vintage bag, simple hairpiece, garters, and pillows…. LOVE THEM ALL! And… did I say I LOVE the shoes? My shoes had around 3 inches of heels, killer they said. But the shoes were so comfy I wore them until the end of the reception (around 10 pm). That of course was the time when my feet began to hurt hahahah.

Wedding Rings: Goldenhills
Contact Person: Ellen / Jobet
Website: www.goldenasjewelry.com
Rating: 10

Goldenhills was a "hit supplier" during our preps and so we decided to pay them a visit. Both Ellen and Jobet were very easy to talk to. We also only had to pay a minimum of 1k as down payment in order to reserve the wedding rings. Jobet also promised to give us free arrhaes should we need a set.

When we got our rings, we were so happy. It was a bit pricey but still worth it. Plus we loved the fact that my e-ring (Enrique got it elsewhere) was cleaned for free, and that letting them clean it together with our rings will be free of charge as well. And as promised, they have given us our arrhae for free.

Bridal and Entourage Bouquet: Mang Boy Mahusay
Contact Number: 314-5737, 0917-387-1910
Overall Rating: 10

We didn’t know which florist to get, so upon the suggestion of some brides, we decided to go to Dangwa and check out Mang Boy Mahusay. We were fortunate enough that he was there during that time, and immediately we felt that he was the right florist for us. After discussing the package he offered and the flowers to be used, then and there we paid him a down payment (of only 1,500!!!).

Now for the rating… A 10!!! We are so happy with the flowers Mang Boy made for us. My bouquet (red ecuadorian roses with hypericum berries) lasted for quite a while before it wilted. Love, love, love my bouquet! And we really thank him for putting much effort in coming up with golden-coppery pails for the flower girls. In terms of delivery, Mang Boy was there in our hotel just in time. We also got him to make a flower arrangement for our table. He didn’t follow what we wanted, but all the same, it looked really nice. Now we can say that looks (he doesn’t really look like a florist hahaha!) and price (really cheap) can be deceiving, for the outcome was really wonderful!

Entourage Gowns: Teresa Hagape
Website: www.tethagape. com
Overall Rating: 10

A lot of waw friends of ours recommended Tet to us, for not only are her gowns affordable, but the output was acceptable. So we finally met, and we agreed on the price, design, and fabric to use. A few weeks after, we booked her. We still were a bit concerned about the outcome of the dresses. But then again, given the price of the package, we shouldn’t and didn’t really expect that the quality will be that high. If they are, then well and good.

Outcome: the gowns for our entourage weren’t perfect (not perfectly sewn), but they still looked really nice. We loved the combination of colors, and any imperfections were very minimal. What made me give her a 10 was the way she dealt with us. She was very easy to talk to and followed what we have talked about. That for us was very important. Again, price can be deceiving. Her rates might be low compared to others, but the output is near perfect (to us at least).

Photographer / Videographer: Archie Paungan
Website: www.archiepaungan.com
Pre-wedding Rating: 10
Prenups Rating: 10
Overall Rating: Pending (but most likely high!)

Well well well… what can we say about Archie Paungan? The first time we have contacted him, everything was really formal. But then we began to chat online. And he was totally hilarious! When we finally met, we knew that he was the right photographer and videographer for us. He gave us a customized package, which included a free prenuptial shoot, AVP, and an onsite photo presentation.

We have seen most of the pictures taken by Archie and two of his back-up photographers plus half of the raw footage, and we must say that so far we’re satisfied with the results. We were pleasantly surprised that he brought an extra photographer but of course, we won’t complain hehehe. We are so glad that we have a good client-supplier relationship with Archie, because on the day of the wedding we both felt at ease while our pictures were being taken. We also appreciate that he gave us a free tarpaulin that was placed upon the venue’s entrance (near the pond), and free thank you cards that were given together with our favors. Who can complain right? But of course, the album and video will determine whether we will give him a 10 or… a 9.95? Hahahaha!

Church Flowers: Flowers Unlimited
Contact Person: Michelle
Contact Numbers: 682 07 29
Pre-wedding Rating: 2
Overall Rating: 8

We have agreed to meet up in a wedding fair in Rockwell. After talking to us for 10 minutes, we were left alone, Michelle said she’ll be right back. So we started looking at the pictures that were presented to us, but after 30 minutes of waiting, our irritation started to grow. Imagine letting their client wait for more than 30 minutes! Good thing Lala of Fernwood was nearby, and we talked to her and told her we have been waiting for Michelle for the flowers. She too was a bit bothered, so she called up Michelle. Finally she came. Didn’t even say sorry and all. After paying the DP and getting the contract, we just left.

On the day itself… Nothing spectacular. Probably Mang Boy would’ve done a better job. But then again… in that beautiful Chapel, the simpler the flower arrangement, the better. So, I guess we’re satisfied with their output.

Strings: JJS Entertainment
Contact Person: John John Santos
Website: http://www.kasal.com/vendor/jjs001/index.html
Overall Rating: 10

When we first met Mr. John John Santos, he was very warm and accommodating, and very easy to talk to. He gave us a VCD containing sample performances and their group’s background. When we discussed about his rates for a string quartet and 2 singers, we found his rates reasonable. We felt that JJS was a good choice, and after a week or so, we paid a 30% DP. Early 2006 however, we have read negative feedbacks on the performance of his group. This made us really concerned. But we just had faith in John’s word that he will deliver well.

Hmm… I can’t really say if they messed up in some areas, but we really didn’t notice anything really off. JJS followed all the songs we wanted to be played in a specific order and time. None of the guests commented anything good nor bad that time, so I guess their performance was ok. When I asked some of my friends, they said they played well. We are giving them a 10 because they followed all the important items such as crucial songs, call times, singers, attire of the ensemble, etc… that we have discussed during our preparations. Had they played the difficult songs we requested, we would’ve probably given them a 10+ hehehehe.

Invitations: V-Craft Printers
Contact Person: Susan
Website: www.vcraftprinters.com
Overall Rating: 10

We have known V-Craft Printers prior to our wedding preparations because they had been the supplier of the shipping company we formerly belonged to. So it was a pleasant surprise that V-Craft is the supplier of Fernwood for the free invitations (part of their package). Anyway, what we have planned is to get the free invites and just upgrade them by having the wordings embossed. We chose a very simple and classic design, since we didn’t like too elaborate or frilly designs.

Outcome: Susan is the best! She was able to give our invitations earlier than usual. The printing was flawless – there were no errors. So yes, we were very happy with the way our invitations turned out to be.

Hair and Makeup: Angie Cruz and Ogie Rayel
Contact Details: 0916 386 8307
Trial Rating: 10+
Final Rating: 10+

Angie and Ogie were the first suppliers to arrive on the day itself, and so we had time to just talk about different things, including their works and Angie being part of the Shu Uemura group of artists. I briefed them about what I wanted for my makeup, but told Ogie to just do his wonders on my hair. Result? I totally loved how I looked on that day. I especially liked the way they transformed my look from a simple makeup, upswept do for the ceremony, to the half up with curls hairdo and redder lips for the reception. They did these so that it followed my attire as well (during the reception I took off the very conservative lace top to reveal a somewhat-low back). We also liked how my mom, sister, and mother-in-law looked. Very nice! Definitely one of our favorite suppliers, if not the most favorite.

Caterer: Josiah’s Catering
Pre-wedding Rating: 10
Food Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 9

Marie of Josiah’s is probably the most fun contact person I have talked to during our wedding preparations. Our talks went beyond food matters. We have talked about almost all parts of our preparations, and she gladly listened and gave opinions to us. We can say that her service to us was beyond spectacular. Food-wise, we rate Josiah’s a perfect 10. During the taste tests, the quality and taste of the food never changed. On our wedding day, most of the people I have talked to told me that the food tasted really good. Service of Josiah’s overall… just a 9. One is that there was a slight error in the table arrangement in that they didn’t place a table where it’s supposed to be and placed a table where it’s not supposed to be (thus confusion in the seating arrangement) , though this was corrected immediately. What wasn’t corrected was the VIP tables. We have talked about having just one VIP table, but what they did was separated the ladies and the gents. Oh well… Second was
the wiper of the bridal car didn’t work! Good thing it was only drizzling. Had it been pouring rain, this might have posed danger to us inside. But anyway, they have assisted us in every way. Food was fantastic, the waiters were good, Marie was excellent, table centerpieces and other decorations were good, and so my rating to them overall is still very good.

Cake: Judy Uson c/o Josiah’s Catering
Website: www.thecakeartist.ph
Overall Rating: 10

I was a bit worried before that our cake will look too simple because we didn’t want to spend that much on the cake. But when we saw it during the reception, it looked wonderful! I never thought it would look grander than I thought! Taste-wise, it was absolutely delicious. Not dry at all.

Ceremony Venue: St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, Fernwood Gardens
Overall Rating: 10

The chapel is just adorable. Given the situation with Mt. Carmel, we could’ve just gotten another Parish. But the chapel is just lovely and we felt that it was the right place for us to get married. And we’re glad we pushed through with it.

Reception Venue: Fernwood Gardens Venue 1
Overall Rating: 10

From the moment I saw Fernwood I knew it was the right wedding and reception venue for us. Enrique felt it too as soon as he saw it. The place was just spectacular. Pricey, but still spectacular. The place just went well with our autumn theme. Not much adornments were needed, as the place itself was beautiful. Most of our guests had to go to us and tell us that we had a really lovely and romantic wedding, and what added to it was Fernwood itself. And it was just really nice that instead of the guests going to the reception by themselves, they waited for us to exit the chapel, and we walked going to the reception area with all our guests following us. It was truly a wonderful experience. We’re so very happy we chose the place.

OTD Coordinator: Kay and Co.
Overall Rating: 7

That 7 is a “merciful” rate already, considering that some people noted that they weren’t really that good and not that organized (“only one person was working”), and that my dad’s best friend was not allowed to enter the reception (he and his wife was so mad they left and just left their gift to us; this made my mom get so mad and cry). I don’t know what went wrong and why they didn’t deliver that well, but perhaps only the leader, Kay, was the only one who had the heart to do the job. Maybe she needs to get a new set of people to work with (her sisters were no longer in the team, and they were the ones I met before). Maybe they also need more experience in doing coordination services.

Favors: Papemelrotti
Overall Rating: 10

We love our favors and how they highlighted what was being celebrated: marriage. We gave marriage quotations in a box for our guests and a tabletop marriage prayer for our principal sponsors and parents. Delivery time was followed, and they were very easy to talk to regarding special requests (such as customized boxes for the sponsors’ favors).

Hotel Accommodations: Discovery Suites
Overall Rating: 9

Good thing we got a 1-bedroom suite, it was really easy preparing and doing the photo shoot on the day itself! Although the suite itself was very nice, we only gave the hotel a 9 because there were moments when the aircon wasn’t working at all outside the rooms. Service-wise, everything was ok except that sometimes it takes a while before they are able to respond to queries and needs. Also, this hotel is not for those who want a grand lobby for photo shoots. They only have a small lobby, not much “drama.”

Honeymoon: Nami Private Villas
Overall Rating: 10

The place is just fantastic for us, just right for honeymooners. The beachfront was so-so compared to the main stations, but we liked the fact that it was secluded, so it added to the serenity and privacy of the place. The rooms were simply decorated, but they looked really nice. Plus we loved the Jacuzzi in our balcony. What we loved the most was their sundeck, where we just relaxed and “appreciated” nature. It was fabulous. One downside (for me, lazy me) is the fact that since Nami is situated in the mountain area, we had to walk up a couple of stairs in order to get to the lift to bring us to the main area (and rooms). Food was expensive and very posh, but still they tasted very good. I loved their breakfast buffet, especially the eggs benedict (with smoked tanigue instead of the usual ham or Canadian bacon). The only concern was during that time, the resort was just recovering from a very strong typhoon. There was no electricity (generator only but had time schedules), and water supply, for a time, was scarce. The resort compensated on the second day by waiving our room charges (yippee!!!!) plus giving us an additional 3-days 2-nights complimentary stay valid until December 2007. That night, we splurged on our food and drinks! We also had the most luxurious massage we have ever experienced. Very very relaxing. We were doubly blessed because on the second night electricity and water went back to normal. So even if we were inconvenienced for a time, we are giving them a 10.

Besides, how can I not give a 10 to Nami when it was where our baby was conceived?

More pics!

2007-01-16T16:29:00.000+08:00

Mr. & Mrs. Pineda

2007-01-03T14:25:00.000+08:00

It's been almost a month now since Enrique and I tied the knot, and so far our married life is a blast!

I took the role as a certified housewife for almost three weeks, and I have never felt so happy, especially whenever I cook for my husband. In other chores... well... he gladly took the responsibilities. Hahaha!

Honeymoon Story
On the day of our wedding, a super typhoon hit Boracay, and our AE from Nami called us to inform us that they cannot accommodate us on our booked dates because the resort was badly hit. We really got worried as Enrique and I looked forward to our honeymoon. Our agent however assured us that they are doing their best to come up with a solution. And so after two days, we got a call from Nami again confirming our rebooking. Yipee!

When we were there however, the resort was running under generator, and it will not be opened until 6 pm. Our upgraded room wasn't available as well. We were still cool about it and enjoyed our day. The next day however, there was still no electricity (no elevator!) and worse, water supply was down (Our private nami will fetch water for us!). We got really frustrated and so we asked if we can just transfer to another resort. I told them they shouldn't have rebooked us at that time if they knew they wouldn't be able to provide full services (of which they are known for). We were surprised when Nami offered to give our stay for free, and also complimentary 3 days 2 nights stay valid for 1 year. Woopeeeee! Free honeymoon! Hahaha. But of course, we said no. I mean, what good is a free stay if there's no electricity and water??? The AE however called the resort where we were supposed to transfer, and told us that they too didn't have water. So finally we agreed to just stay. Nami, anyway, is the best resort (very serene and private... love the sun deck!) and the food is just fantastic. That night we ordered a bottle of champagne and ate to our heart's content. When we were about to finish, a nami gave us a letter regarding our free stay (food excluded of course) and the gift certificate, and also informed us that water and electricity are back to normal. Talk about being blessed!

Overall, our honeymoon was really a wonderful experience for us. Lots of food, relaxation, sleep, and... Beep beep. Hehehehe.

Teaser...

2007-01-02T18:23:00.000+08:00

Barely A Week Left...

2006-12-04T13:04:00.000+08:00

This is it! Only 5 nights left, and it will be our big day!

Time really flies so fast... too fast that though we have been preparing for 1 1/2 years, there still seems to be some more things that needs to be ironed out. Of course, I shouldn't worry that much because as of the moment, everything is at it should be. However, I cannot help but have this teeny weeny feeling of fear that something might go wrong.

Oh well... by December 6, after our final meeting with our Coord, Kay B., I plan to let go of the preps and just relax. Maybe we will just focus more on preparing for our honeymoon, the better part of this whole thing. Hehehehe, kidding!

Anyway, we have accomplished a couple of things over the long weekend:

Favors, favors
Finally, we have received all favors, including the gifts we will give to our principal sponsors. I wanted to do some fancy presentation of the gifts, but then decided that I should just keep it simple and put some ribbons. They're boxed anyway. Hehehehe. This task was really a concerted effort of Enrique, his sister, and myself.

Enrique cutting ribbons
Our boxed favors for our principal sponsors
Missalettes
I've already spoken to our Best Man regarding our missalettes. He was kind enough to volunteer to print the missaletts for us, so we just gave him the papers to use and some instructions. I also made a prototype of what will bind the pages: braided ribbons! Hehehe. It was a bitch though making one. But it's ok, I'm pleased witht he results, and hopefully I will still have time (and will not be lazy) to make them.

Couple's Toast
We also went to the store and bought our champagne for our first toast. For our guests, we decided to just go to Duty Free and buy the wines there. Or, I will just ask my former officemate if she could help me order wines from Ralph's.

Deliveries

Entourage Gowns
We got the gowns from Tet last Saturday. I was hoping everything will be close to perfection but there were still some that I wanted to be adjusted. It will now really depend on whether we will still have time to bring the gowns in question to tet's shop. But if not, the gowns are fine. Hey, the cost of each was really cheap, so I shouldn't really complain much. But overall, I'm still happy with the gowns. :D

Enrique's Barong
Applause is in order for Veluz's team for doing a great job. Enrique was really pleased with the outcome of his braong and pants. We were of course very happy too with the fabric c/o Mang Rey Casedo, and were really pleased with the design that we chose. Simple, yet elegant.

My Gown and Shoes
Oooh... I'm so tempted to post some pictures, but never mind. I didn't bother to look at the whole gown anyway (I might be tempted to try it on). But here's a teaser...

My shoes!

Lace Top, Sash, Hairpiece, and Two Brooches

Rings, Favors, and Gowns

2006-11-27T14:16:00.000+08:00

Last weekend was yet again a weekend filled with finalizing things for our big day (and the days after), and Enrique and I were really pleased with our achievements:

Final Fitting / Delivery of Entourage Gowns
Due to conflict in schedules, we had two schedules for fittings/delivery of gowns: one for Enrique's side last Saturday afternoon; and the other for mine (Sunday morning). I was really happy with the outcome of the gowns, though there were still very minor adjustments that had to be made. The gown of Enrique's mom, though we had some concerns because she's very petite and, shall we say, a senior citizen, turned out to be really ncie and it suited her quite well. Our major concern though is that since she has scholiosis, the dress kind of shifts to one side (very minor though). Regarding the bridesmaids' gowns, one gained a bit so the gown had to be adjusted in the hips. The other one's straps had to be adjusted, but I got the gown already lst Sunday.

Then on Sunday, my mom fitter her gown, and I really liked the outcome as well!

Front detail
I got worried a bit because in the lower half there seemed to be a crease, crossing the front part, but later on Tet told me it's because of the pins on the side (there was a little more adjustment needed).

Anyway, regarding the gowns of my flowergirls, all three were flawless, so the gowns can be brought home. The secondary sponsors' gowns were also finished, so they were brought home as well. As to my maid of honor's gown, the only major thing that had to be changes was to shorten the chiffon train.

I was about to pay the remaining balance, but Tet told me that she will just get it when all gowns and dresses are delivered. The remaining gowns (moms, maid of honor, 2 bridesmaids, and the dresses for Enrique's sister and sister in law) will just be given to us by this week.

Rings
We got our rings already... yipee! The fit of our rings were perfect. The only thing that was a bit of a bummer was that our arrhae is still unavailable, and will just be given to us on Wednesday, same time as the cleaning of my e-ring will be done. Anyway, the reings were really wonderful, and though the pair was really expensive (for me at least), I'm still glad that we chose that design.

Favors
We also got our favors from Papmelroti. The boxes were really cute, hehehe. The gifts for the principal sponsors though were still unavailable because Rowena, our AE, found the boxes to be too small for the frames. She even showed me one and yes, the box for the gift was too small. Putting it inside was ok, taking it out wasn't.

I also ordered 3 more because I forgot to order for our parents' and us as well!

*Sigh*

Less than 2 weeks to go!

2 Weeks....

2006-11-24T16:52:00.000+08:00

It may sound funny, but it just dawned on me that our wedding day is just 2 weeks from now. Wow, two weeks. In two weeks, I will be officially called Mrs. Enrique Pineda. I first had that feeling of being this "Mrs." when Enrique told me that his company included me in the list of guests for their conference's dinner as his wife. Of course, that thought sent shivers of excitement down my spine.

But then of course all the kilig feeling disappeared when we encountered yet another hurdle in our wedding preps: the missalette's approval is still pending and will only be approved sometime next week. This whole time of preparing, it is very ironic that we had the most difficulty when it comes to Church requirements, which resulted in heated debates between both parties, and between Enrique and I.

I just told Enrique that in this remaining two weeks, we should just let things pass and make these 2 weeks to be happy moments for us, up until we exchange our "I Do's." Frankly I'm quite fed up with dealing with difficulties that I just want to enjoy the days ahead of us. I mean, I want both of us to remember our wedding and the preparation as good and happy days, and not as one big stressful moment in our lives. So when we met up with our coordinator last Wednesday, I just told her to be the one in charge of what will happen during the day, and that I wouldn't be really that bothered with the program she will make because ours will just be the traditional (though some might think boring) reception and program. My only wish is that nothing major will happen and that things will flow smoothly. Not perfectly smooth, but just smooth enough.

We also met up with JJS last night. He promised he will take care of things, and I took that statement without too much expectations. Of course, I wouldn't want to be too disappointed in the end, like what other brides have aired regarding their services (they too have been promised to be well taken-cared of). But anyway, as long as there's music and it won't be the worst music, then it should be fine. I hope. Please.

So anyway, what else do we need to do (for next week at least)?

Saturday
1. Pick up our rings in Goldenhills
2. Pick up our favors in Papemelroti
3. Purchase the candles and matches for our Candle sponsors
4. Purchase a Bible for our bearer

Sunday
1. Final fitting of entourage's gowns
2. Finalize our officiating priest (either Mt. Carmel or elsewhere)
3. Buy Enrique's shoes and undershirt

Monday
1. Give my engagement ring for cleaning on Monday
2. Delivery of my gown, accessories, and Enrique's barong (Veluz's shop)
3. Pay Josiah's 2nd partial payment

Wednesday
1. Print those Missalettes!!!
2. Pick up my e-ring

Wait a sec... dang! We haven't prepared for our honeymoon!!!! Wahaaaaa!

Oh well, we still have time. Hopefully everything will be ok.

*Sigh*

Two more weeks. Wow.

Prenups in Tagaytay

2006-11-21T15:25:00.000+08:00

Whew!

After a week of anticipation, the CD containing pictures taken during our prenuptial photoshoot arrived today. I was really excited to see the pics, and when I did... Wow! I'm really pleased with the outcome!

At first I was a bit scared because I was the only one who did my makeup that time, not to mention that we were really unprepared. Enrique and I just stashed some clothes and headed to Tagaytay the night before. Originally it was supposed to be a prenups session plus a fashion shoot (Archie wanted to practice what he learned when he studied fashion photography), but because we were unprepared, we decided to forego it. Well, in some periods we were asked to strike a pose (hehe) but it was more relaxed and surprisingly fun.

Anyway, the photo-ops were done in three parks: one in a small park near the Picnic Grove, then in the Japanese garden, then lastly in this park where people can ride on the horses. In the Japanese garden, our videographer (he has been recording the whole thing) interviewed us, separately then together, for our AVP which will be shown during the reception. The questions were really hilarious! Anyway, the third photoshoot though was really a very awkward moment for me, because I had a traumatic experience riding on horses when I was a kid. Enrique was of course supporting me and psyching me to just stay calm and all.

All in all, the day ended really well. I am so thankful that I got Archie and Enan to be our photographer and videographer for our big event!

PS:
The day was really special for us because it was our monthsary too. :-D

For more pictures click HERE

Our New Home

2006-11-16T10:55:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was truly a memorable one because our very first home was turned over to us. We were tired because it was a long day for us, but as the day came to a close, there was still so much energy in us.

After sending out the invitations to our sponsors and relatives, we went straight to Rustan’s to buy some items...

Curtains
Our furniture will be delivered this Friday, and Enrique thought that we should go buy some curtains so that the windows will be covered (building of Tower 2 is in progress). We headed straight to Rustan’s, were we chose the very first curtains that we will use. Apparently, the consigner will be on sale from Thursday until Friday, and so we decided to just reserve the curtains (the saleslady suggested it!) and buy them the next day. Hehehe.

We also checked out some other furniture and items that we can buy or include in our Registry, but ended up looking at Christmas décor…. This is such an exciting time for us… First home, first Christmas as a couple! Enrique had to practically drag me out so that we can go to the grocery and buy...

Rice, Salt and Sugar
According to Enrique’s mother, there is a superstition that says that the very first things that should be brought to a new home are rice, salt and sugar. And so we went to the grocery and bought these 3 items, plus more! I could really tell Enrique was really excited, as he kept on buying things that were not really needed immediately: tabo (he still wants to have one), soy sauce, pepper, cooking oil, bathroom tissues, junk food, etc. It’s ok though, I didn’t complain!

We then went to his house and ate dinner first before going to the unit. We also decided to bring the appliances we got for free whenever we went to Duty Free: BBQ grill, teppanyaki grill, pressure cooker, dinner set, etc. We kept in mind however that the rice, salt, and sugar should be the first to be brought inside. And so we did.

It was such a wonderful feeling entering the unit together. We were so happy and so excited. Exhausted because of the long day, but still. Enrique commented that we should’ve brought champagne to celebrate the day. We should’ve thought of that earlier! But anyway, I suggested that we go down to the small shop and buy one. Too bad there wasn’t any, so we just settled for 2 bottles of Vodka Ice. Hehehe.

Create Your Own
I’m really so happy that in less than a month’s time, we will be living together in this lovely little place we call our love nest (hehehe, cheesy I know). I thank the Lord God for making all these possible and for all His blessings to us. Now, I can’t wait to start a new life with my greatest love...

Invitations and Canonical Interview

2006-11-16T09:41:00.000+08:00

Finally!

We are finished with our canonical interview, after much stress given to us by the parish's staff and requirements. The only pending matters are the revision of our misallette (the readings should be Sunday's reading, because our wedding date falls on Advent Season) and the submission of the much-debated affidavit of undertaking.

Anyway, it was a wonderful experience, and the priest was really nice to talk to. He had answered most of our concerns, and I surely hoped that we will keep all the thigns he told us in mind. Another good thing was we learned that he came from Marinduque as well (my family's province).

After our interview, we had a good dose of Trellis food before going to the bank. We were pleasantly surprised when the owner of the unit that we are getting told us he was in the unit. So we went there and he formally turned over the keys and unit to us. Yipee (more story later)!!!

Then we headed straight to Paranaque to give the invitations to my relatives. First up was my Tito Cholo. Good thing he was there, so I congratulated him for being awarded Best Director during FAMAS awards. I'm so proud of him. Next stop was my Lolo's brother, Tito Ton. He was there also, and we had a little chat about our wedding. Then we went to Tita Albine, sister of my Lolo. It was her birthday last November 10, so it was also good timing for us to go to her house. She was really happy to see us! So we talked about our wedding plans and other things, and it was really a good visit.

It was a really long day for us, but we were really happy with the day's events. I mean, who wouldn't be pleased about the day, when it ended with us having a drink in our first home!

Now that's another story. :-D

Bridal Registry, Rings, and Furniture

2006-11-07T17:03:00.000+08:00

Last week truly was a fun and good week, as we have done a lot of things for our wedding and for our new home.

Rings
Shortly before my bridal shower, Enrique and I dropped by Greenhills to have our rings resized. The last few times I have thought about our rings, I kept on thinking whether to push through with getting them or not. I really found them to be quite pricey, especially when I saw some sets in other malls and they were far cheaper than what we ordered. But when I saw the rings, I fell in love with them all over again. I have never seen any set that had the same design as ours, not to mention that mine matches my engagement ring. So we gave a go signal for the resizing. Oh, because we got the rings, we were given free arrhae (one less worry), and the rings will have a lifetime warranty. My engagement ring, though Enrique didn't buy it from them, will be given free service as well.

Bridal Registry
Last Sunday we went to Rustan's to choose the items for our Bridal Registry. At first Enrique was a little squeemish about the whole idea of a bridal registry, more so when it came to picking the items, but he got over it and actually enjoyed the whole process.

Home Furniture
After choosing the items for our registry, we went straight ahead to Our Home and finally confirmed our orders: our bed, sofa, dining set, and closet.

I'm so excited and can't wait till they are delivered! I can tell that Enrique, though he doesn't want to admit it (he keeps on saying getting married is so expensive), is really excited... I mean, almost everyday he visits the unit and measures the whole place!

Anyway, that's all for now. Our wedding and home preps are really full speed ahead, and we are so loving each and every moment!

Bridal Shower: Spa Theme

2006-11-06T11:45:00.000+08:00

My bridal shower held last Saturday was truly a blast, and I was really happy and thankful to my friend Sarah for setting up a spa-themed shower for me. Six of my friends came over and I was really glad they were really up for it. They each brought their own sleepover attire and their own spa kits.

Of course Sarah was very complete in preparing for the shower, so she prepared these goodie treats for each of us. Mine of course was extra special... I had a towel cake!

Food was fantastic as well! Lasagna, garlic bread, fajitas, and fish "fingers" were served, and of course wine. Tehehehe.

Then of course there was the spa service of which we availed: foot spa and body massage. We first started with a foot spa, and ended the night with an hour-long body massage. Very relaxing. :D

The ticklish me!
We chit-chatted about various things, but what I really appreciated the most was the time when they asked me about Enrique and I: his most romantic gestures, comedic instances, why Enrique, etc... Though I found it hard to answer the questions (hahaha after an argument with Enrique that morning) it made me think of the wonderful moments we had in the past, and of course, made me more in love with Enrique.

Me and some of my friends

Then there was the game.... There was a bag full of undies, and I had to guess who gave what to me. Every time I guessed wrong, I would have to wear them. My friends of course were merciful and they made me first wear some pants.

The whole night was really fun, and I was really happy that my friends took time out to spend one night with me.

The morning after... breakfast in Jollibee... Thanks Sarj!

Invitations and Braces

2006-11-06T11:14:00.000+08:00

Last Friday Enrique got our invitations from V-Craft, and I was really pleased when I saw them. Too pleased that I decided to take a picture of one in a very "special way." Hehehehe.

Here's from another angle...

I'm so excited to send out my invitations! Actually, I already did to those who went to my bridal shower. :D

Last Saturday, I also went to the doctor to have my braces removed. Finally, my the small overlap of my two front teeth was gone. But of course, I would have to put back my braces early January. In the meantime, I would have to wear retainers.

Bridal Shower

2006-11-03T09:08:00.000+08:00

My friend Sarah is throwing me a bridal shower tomorrow and I was really excited when I received the invitation she made!

This is the first bridal shower for me, and I can't wait till tomorrow! Sarah has been preparing for this for the longest time (I think ever since I told her I'm getting married) and I really appreciate all the efforts she has made. I'm sure that we will have a blast tomorrow night... and the morning after! :D

Marriage License etc

2006-11-02T13:14:00.000+08:00

I just got word from Enrique that he already has our marriage license.... Yipee! However, there was an error in the name of my dad, and I told Enrique to have it changed, considering how meticulous (maarte) Mt. Carmel is. And so he went back to the city hall to have it fixed.

*Sigh*

Only one month is left for us to prepare for and finalize our plans for our big day, but it looks like everything is turning out really well.

Favors
I also received an email from Papemelroti asking for our approval regarding the cover box of our favors. I found the text especially the date and venue to be a little small, but I hope it can still be enlarged by a tad bit.

Enrique's Barong
Enrique decided to have his barong made by Veluz... he he he, he got jealous of me. Since he had a feeling that my gown will look really nice (he has no idea what my gown looks like) and saw the receipt (ergo the cost of my gown) and contract given to me by Veluz, he wanted Veluz to make his outfit, though it would be more expensive than our original supplier.

House Stuff
We went to Dansalan to measure the unit and check if the furniture that we have been canvassing will actually fit the place. Unfortunately, the sectional sofa I really wanted might not be able to fit in the living area. I'm still trying my best to come up with a nice layout that will fit all the furniture we want. Else, we may have to buy smaller versions of what we want. This means that we have to buy again new items when we move in to our own home a year after. Sigh. I didn't think it would be this complicated. But anyway, I'm still happy and really excited to decorate our new home.

List of Songs
I already sent our preferred list of songs to JJS Entertainment, but I haven't received any feedback from them. Hopefully they can and will play all the crucial songs we wanted. :D

These are all for now! Next up are the delivery of our invites and meetings with Josiah's and our coordinator, Kay & Co. Exciting!

End-October Developments

2006-10-30T13:14:00.000+08:00

Last week was yet another busy week for us, but it was ok since we had a couple of major accomplishments!

Canonical Seminar
Oct 27 - We attended the whole-day canonical seminar conducted by Mt. Carmel, and it was an ok seminar. It focused more on family planning (the natural way), but early in the seminar the facilitator discussed about the Christian family and the duties of a husband and a wife. Enrique was very attentive when it came to what my duties should be. He was really funny! Anyway, I'm glad that one big requirement was off our back.

Fittings With Veluz
Oct 23 - I had my fitting of my gown's lining, and that night I couldn't wait to see the gown itself, using the silk dupioni I ordered from Marj. Niko also made a rough sketch of how my shoe would look like, and the inspiration of the shoe design was the shoe of Marie Antoinette. We also discussed about what the design of my bag would be, and I know that it would turn out really nice. Lstly, we finalized what color my sash would be. :D

Oct 27 - WOW! I was so in love with the fabric of my gown. When I fitted the lace bolero, Veluz just told me "wow, the design suits you perfectly." I was all the more flattered when her assistant told me that she rarely liked lacy tops but this time, she was awed that the design suited me well. I hope it really does! *Cross fingers*

Enrique's Birth Certificate
The cause of our hardships... Enrique's birth certificate had an error regarding his mom's name (missing letter). Mt. Carmel rejected the certificate and told us that we should have it corrected. *Sigh* I don't want to discuss about this further for fear of being ex-communicated, but anyway, Enrique ran to different civil registries to get the necessary documents and application forms in order to try to fix this very minor error. Tomorrow he will attend a hearing on this, and hopefully things will turn out well.

Favors! Favors!
Finally! We have finalized what our souvenirs will be: marriage quotes in a box from Papemelroti! Some months ago I happened to go to this store and saw the marriage quotes. I thought of getting them as our favors, but was hesitant to get them because it didn't really match our autumn theme.

Anyway, I brought Enrique to the store, and I knew that he might like the idea of giving them as our favors. He did! I realized that instead of highlighting our theme, maybe we should just give out favors that will highlight the main celebration, Marriage. And so we finalized our order and paid 50% downpayment. We have yet to wait for the final quotation for our gifts to our sponsors, a table top marriage prayer.

House Hunting
My favorite preps! We have been scouting for a nice simple place to stay, and we are so happy that we found a temporary home in Dansalan Gardens. It's a 1 bedroom unit, and though it is in a bare state, the lay out of the unit is just lovely and very livable. The owner is also very easy to talk to. Pricey I know, but at least we are assured that it is a safe place to live in.

Funny thing was early this year we were about to purchase a 2-bedroom unit in the new tower currently being constructed, but then we decided to just have a house built next year. Anyway, we picked a unit on the 9th floor. It was really a pleasant surprise when I learned that the unit we will be renting is on the 9th floor (of the old tower) as well. It's a sign!

We have also looked at other places, but we only considered 2 places, one in Dansalan, the other one was in Wack Wack. The unit in Wack Wack is a 1-bedroom unit, and considerably bigger than the one in Dansalan. However, the major drawback was it didn't have provision for a utility area and a space to put our oven. These two were addressed by the unit in Dansalan. And so Dansalan won our hearts. Well, it did way before. :D

Whew!

Anyway, today Enrique will meet up with the unit's owner and pay the initial payment. Tomorrow we are expecting our marriage license. I'm so excited!

Busy Weekend

2006-10-23T10:03:00.000+08:00

I was so glad that Enrique finally arrived last Thursday, but we only had a really short time to relax and all because starting Friday we went ahead and fixed some wedding paperworks!

Whew!

Friday
- Applied for marriage license in Mandaluyong City Hall. Very easy! We will get our license on 31 Oct.
- Afternoon: Attended the city hall's family planning seminar. This was fun, hehehe.
- Went to Enrique's office for his next vessel assignment (Yipee! Feb'07!)
- Duty Free Shopping!

Saturday
- Dangwa: Good thing Mang Boy was there. We showed the pics of our entourage gowns, and we were able to finalize that colors and kinds of flowers for their bouquets. We also asked Mang Boy to be the one who will do the flower arrangement for the couple's table. We just need to buy some candle holders and a lamp.
- Dapitan: Went to look for a candle supplier. Now we have two options: 1) customized pear and apple-shaped candles 2) candle holders shaped like a bouquet or bicycle/wheelbarrow. Option 1 is cheaper, but it depends if they can confirm that they can do the pear/apple shapes.
- Furniture and appliances window shopping: This was really fun! So now we are scrambling to look for a place to stay so that we can purchase these items. *Sigh*

Sunday
I ended the weekend with a long stay in the parlor to have my hair done, and was very happy with the results. Enrique, in the meantime, had some bonding time with his mother and sister. Then he picked me up at home and had a lovely dinner.

I also confirmed with Niko that I can have my back to back fittings this Tuesday and Wednesday. Now that's exciting as well.

*Sigh*

Life is really wonderful when you are with your loved one....

First Fitting of Ento Gowns w/ Tet

2006-10-16T13:21:00.000+08:00

My entourage had their first fitting of their gowns yesterday in Tet’s shop, and I was really happy that all the gowns looked nice. In fact, the gowns turned out to be really good! I was a bit worried that the color selection I chose might not work well, but when I saw the gowns being fitted one by one, they blended really well together.

First to fit was my mom, and there were some alterations needed to be done, such as the flowing chiffon in the middle part of her gown, and also the neckline and the sides of the dress. But everything else was ok. The fitting was good as well.

Next was my maid of honor. Her gown’s red hue was really rich, and the gown was close to perfection, except that the bust part had to be loosened by a tiny bit. The back portion has a train: shantung silk and chiffon (coming from the chiffon part at the upper part).

Third were my secondary sponsors. I totally love the colors of their gowns. Again, only minor alterations were done.

Up next were my bridesmaids. When I was choosing their colors, I was a bit worried that they might look too orangey, but the outcome was really good. I especially loved the back portion of the skirt area – their trains were really formed well. They looked sexy, I must say!

Then it was the turn of Enrique’s mom. I questioned Tet first as to why the color is much different because I was expecting a brighter green (almost the same as my mom’s). But when the mom fit her gown, the color suited her well. My major concern was the sleeves, and I couldn’t help but be distracted by it. It was too butterfly-ey, I had to tell Tet to tape it a bit so that I can focus on the gown well and tell her my comments.

Last were the flower girls. Tet was really good, nothing was needed to be altered. The fitting was so exact , my cousin can actually bring it home. But of course, she might grow a bit and it might be tight on her. Well, Tet told me there’s an allowance anyway so it shouldn’t be a problem. Besides, the sash was still not finished, hehehe.

I’m really pleased with the outcome of the fittings. I’m also happy that Tet followed all our plans, and she just made some adjustments that made the gowns look even nicer. It probably helps that the gowns are really simple. The major enhancements though are needed for the mothers’ gowns. I hope things will turn out even better in the next fitting!

2 Months and What Have I Done?

2006-10-10T15:43:00.000+08:00

Only two more months till our big day... Wow! Time flies so fast!

What have we accomplished so far?
1. Compiling of certificates needed for submission to Mt. Carmel
2. Paid the remaining balance to Fernwood
3. Paid for the gown fabric to Marj
4. Submitted the draft and specs of our invites

Our To Do's are still quite a lot, but the most immediate ones are:
1. 2nd fitting with Veluz (11 Oct)
2. Finalize draft, print invites, send them out!
3. 1st Fitting of our Entourage
4. Submit certificates to Mt. Carmel
5. Attend seminar and apply for marriage license
6. Finalize favors
7. Barong of Enrique

Speaking of favors, the honey idea is out. So I'm down to two options based on my original plans:
1. Pear candles to be custom-made
2. Strawberry wine

I have found a third option, which is the customized coasters. Oh a fourth one too! Con gave me her aunt's contact info should we opt to give out magnets as our favors. Hmmm...

*Think think think*

I really really hope that this time, Enrique's planned arrival date is final. In 9 days' time, I'm gonna be happy as a clam. :-D

Certificates and Required Validities

2006-10-05T17:43:00.000+08:00

I am now in the process of compiling all the documents necessary to start the paperwork aspect of the wedding preps, and I couldn't quite get some requirements.

For example, I know validity dates are important, especially the Certificate of No Marriage. For the Baptismal and Confirmation Certificates, I don't really understand why, but perhaps just to make sure that on the year of your wedding, you are a Catholic.

What I don't understand is the validity requirement of birth certificate copies. I called up the Parish just to make sure I understand the document requirements, and then I learned that though they didn't state it in the guidelines, the certified true copy has to be issued on the year of the wedding.

HELLO! I'm quite sure that I have been born once, and that the certified true copy I have right now was issued in the age of technological advancement so as to ensure its accuracy and adherence to their database. I even have the real copies of all my certificates, including my original birth certificate, in all its browned paper glory. Why do they need a new one???

*Sigh*

Of course I have no choice but to get a new certificate, and it would take around a week to secure it. It's just that I'm wondering why getting married has to have these kinds of complicated and tedious procedures and documentation.

Oh well.

Fabric for My Gown

2006-09-25T17:54:00.000+08:00

Finally!

After weeks of delayed delivery, my fabric is now with Veluz... which means that by next week, I will have my second fitting! Yipeeeee!

Photo courtesy of Online Silk Fabric Store

I'm so happy that now our wedding preps pace is picking up a bit. At least my excitement is slowly building up again. These past few weeks I couldn't say much about our wedding preps because there weren't anything productive that happened. But now that our big day is fast approaching (2 MORE MONTHS TO GO!) I really have to do something or else we will be scrambling for appointments and all. Well, I think it's still much better this way, because I really prefer Enrique being here when we do our final plans.

2 more months... Dang!

But of course, more exciting is this fact.... 3 more weeks and Enrique's here!

Invites Concerns

2006-09-22T16:22:00.000+08:00

My friend Brian has asked me when I intend to send out our invites, and I told him that we plan to print them sometime end-October. He commented that maybe it is a little too late and I kind of agree. There is only one reason why the printing and sending of invites is late, and that is because Enrique said so. He wants to be here when the draft is finalized and when the printing starts. More importantly, he wants to be here when the invites are sent, i.e. he wants to be with me to personally send out the invites, especially to our principal sponsors.

I sure hope that we will have enough time to do this. At least I sent out Save The Date cards (or rather e-mail save the dates) and the our families and friends are already aware that out big day will be on the 9th December.

Anyway, our invitations will just be simple, given that the invitations are part of Fernwood's package. As we have planned before, we will just emboss the wordings, and if budget permits, have double envelopes.

*Sigh*

I'm sooo looking forward to Enrique coming back home. So much stuff to do!

Measurement Taking of the Entourage

2006-09-04T13:31:00.000+08:00

Last Sunday, I have gathered the girls of our entourage to have their measurements taken in our house. I was really happy seeing and experiencing another big step for our wedding preps. During that time, we have discussed the final designs and colors to use for the entourage. We have decided that all bridesmaids will wear the same style, while the secondary sponsors will have "straps" designs. The flowergirls dresses will all be the same as well. The major change for them is the color of their dresses. Instead of the original plan of using mustardy-goldeny yellow, a brighter, younger color will be used.

*Sigh*

This marks the beginning of the major preparations we have to do until our big day. My newly wed friends told me that the next 3 months will be so fast, for all we know, I'm walking down the aisle... Exciting!

One Less Sponsor

2006-08-29T07:51:00.000+08:00

One of my dearest and best-est close friends who we have asked to be our cord sponsor has told me that she cannot make it to our wedding. Sob Sob Sob...

It was a hazy plan to begin with anyway. She is currently based in Manchester, pursuing her MBA there. I know she tried her best to amend her schedule in order for her to be home before our wedding date. And I don't take it against her that she can't attend our big day. Definitely I don't. I just feel very very sad because if there were a few people I would really like to witness our wedding and celebrate with us, she would be one of them.

We have known each other since we probably started going to school, and though we have been separated by so many years, I really thanked God the day that we met again. And from then on we have been friends again.

I felt tears forming in my eyes when I read her mail to me. But I guess I have to make do with the current situation. Maybe I have anticipated this because months before I have talked to a good friend of mine and asked her to be a proxy if ever one of my sponsors cannot make it. Of course I am still hoping that she would email me again and tell me she can now go. In the meantime, I have confirmed to my other friend she will be a proxy, and so she will be with us during the measurement taking this Sunday.

September Rush

2006-08-24T15:50:00.000+08:00

The -BER months are slowly moving into the calendar, and of course, this thought gave me a sudden rush... Only three more months and I'll be Mrs. Enrique Pineda Jr.! I thought this feeling faded away for good, because my work has been ruling over my schedule and mind for the past weeks. But while I was on my way to the office this morning, I suddenly daydreamed (bad bad!) about what will happen in our wedding. I imagined myself wearing that special dress, walking down the aisle, seeing my beloved Enrique waiting for me at the altar... *Sigh*

What probably brought me "back to reality" was when Nikko called me up and asked me if I already have the fabric for my gown. I must have read his mind because prior to receiving his text, I thought about the fabric and immediately phoned Marj. She told me that my order will come anytime this week, and that she'll tell me if it arrives.

So anyway, I looked at my list of To-Do's, and I was mildly shocked, though expecting it, that September will be a month full of... payments. Yep. Remaining balance to be paid to Fernwood, Next batch of downpayment to Tet (during measurement-taking this Sept. 2), second payment to Veluz, payment of the fabric, etc...

I told Enrique about these payables, as well as getting our baptismal and confirmation certificates, as well as the CENOMAR for both of us. He assured me that he'll ask someone to secure these for us.

This month I also plan to meet up with JJS Entertainment to talk about our list of songs. Mr. Santos told me before that we should meet early so that if ever there is a song we wanted that is not in their playlist, they will try to learn how to play it. I will also discuss with him some of the concerns that may arise (you know, just to be on the safer side since there are a lot of concerns commented by other brides). Of course, no name-dropping hahaha. Besides, I don't know which names to drop anyway. Tehehe.

I think it's also about time to meet our emcee, Ms. Mallory Cosio, for the first time. I will probably ask our coordinator, Kay & Co, to go to that meeting so we can discuss the whole program. Well, an option is to just wait for Enrique, since I know he would want to be part of that meeting and decision-making.

In the meantime, I am eagerly anticipating the delivery of my gown's fabric, and the measurement-taking of our entourage. For the first time, I would be gathering them, you know, to have some light chit chats and ask for their thoughts on their dresses and all.

3 months to go! :D

Favors Updates

2006-08-11T15:06:00.000+08:00

I talked to one of my staff in the office if they know of any honey supplier, and one told me that we had an ex-crew who was in the business of making honey. Talk about "luck"! And so we called him up, and though he is currently onboard, his sister gladly accommodated my inquiry regarding buying honey in bulk, as favors for our wedding. She was excited about the thought, and promised to drop by our office so she could show me a sample of their honey. She also told me that she would give me a discount. Ting!!! Hehehehe...

My concern however is the packaging, as they only have 320 ml bottles. She told me that she will help me look for bottle suppliers (50 or 100 ml bottles), and if their honey would run short, she would refer another supplier. She mentioned Ilog ni Maria (although a little pricey, she said), and another supplier (I forgot). I also got to talk to another supplier, Honeygold Bee Farms, and the person I talked to told me she'll just call me, because she still has to discuss this with her husband. Ooh! I'm so excited!

Anyway, one thing I learned is that "harvest" of honey is done during the summer. And there's a chance that supply will run out soon. Dang, I wished I did this last May! Anyway, I'm really crossing my fingers regarding this one...

4 Months To Go!

2006-08-09T09:10:00.000+08:00

Is it just me, or is it really normal that 4 months before the wedding, brides tend to be too relaxed?

I know, I have prepared for our wedding 1 1/2 years before our wedding date. However, all I did was book suppliers and think of how we can incorporate our autumn in December theme. The colors to use, the kind of centerpieces for the tables, the menu, the flowers, the cake, the design of my gown and the entourage’s, etc... Wait a minute... I did do a lot of things already! Hahaha.

But then again, I still feel that I’m being too relaxed. I haven’t done much for the past weeks, except to reserve for our hotel accommodation and order dupioni silk from Marj (for my gown).

Oh well... Maybe I really deserve some rest after doing most of the preps on my own. What I need to do next month (hahaha, not this month!) is secure our baptismal and confirmation certificates, as well as CENOMAR. Oh yeah, my fittings, as well as the entourage’s. The rest...Enrique promised to take care of. Yipee!

I thought of printing the invites already next month, but Enrique told me he wants to be here to finalize the invites and all. And he’s coming back mid-October. Will it be too late? Hmm... I’d probably ask V-Craft the timetable.

But for now… I’ll just sit back and relax. :D

Favors, Favors?

2006-08-04T12:37:00.000+08:00

I have completely forgotten about wedding preps, up until my friend Jen just suddenly ym-ed me and suggested that instead of my pear-shaped candles, I just give away bottled honey… Sounds great, and it does adhere to our autumn-themed wedding! I’ll suggest that to Enrik, since he’s gonna be the one in charge of the whole wedding preps from the time he comes back from Sweden (mid-Oct) till our wedding day.

Anyway, at least we now have two options: pear-shaped candles or that bottled honey idea of Jen.

Sigh… how can I live in this world without friends like her.

*******************************
Update:

Hmm... how about strawberry wines as well? Or coffee beans? Options, options, options...

Planning Basics: Oops! The Bride Did It Again

2006-07-27T09:47:00.000+08:00

I read this article from The Knot Magazine Fall/Winter 2005, and I was meaning to post this here but was too lazy to do so. Good thing that today, this was posted by a fellow w@wie. Thank goodness I don't need to type it from scratch! My notes are down below.

***********************
Brides are only human -- and they're bound to make mistakes. No biggie. But since we hear about some common blunders all the time, we figured why not give you the heads-up?

1. Doing Anything...Before the Guest List
The problem: You're engaged! You're excited! You're ready to send out save-the-dates, book that reception hall, choose those flowers -- now! Well hang on a second, because we're afraid you're forgetting something. Who's coming to this affair, exactly?

The solution: It's not the most fun part of planning (and we'll be honest, it's one of the most likely to lead to a fight or two or twelve), but you shouldn't make any wed-day decisions before you have your guest list somewhat firmly in place. Why, you ask? Well, do you want to have a nonrefundable deposit down on that cozy restaurant room that fits 75 when your mother-in-law's additions bump your list up over 200? Exactly. Once everyone's in agreement, then you can move forward. That said, this means that one of the parts of your wedding you can plan immediately (or at least talk over with your fiance) is what kind of atmosphere you'd like for your wedding. Do you want an intimate, close friends and family-only affair, or do you want to
throw the event of the season for 300-plus people? Later, when you're in the guest-list trenches, this bit of planning will help back up your gut instinct about whether to say yes (or no) to guest-list additions.

2. Reading Aloud to Your Fiance ... From Bridal Magazines
The problem: Look, we know it's not the Stone Age, and there are plenty of guys out there who want to see their wedding as an event that reflects their style too (or at least one that isn't dripping with pink froufrou). But there's likely to be a limit to your fiance's ability to cope with an infinite array of invitation choices.

The solution: Here's how to defuse a potentially sticky situation (and a minefield of fights you don't want to have). Take a night off to go out to dinner and talk with him about all the different parts of the wedding, and try to get a concrete idea of his interest in the various details. Does it sound like flowers are flowers in his book? Okay, then you can more or less leave him out of that decision. And if he's cramming lettuce leaves in his ears to block sound, you definitely don't want to drag him into it.

Moving forward, save his sanity (and yours) by designating one night a week as wedding-free. Talk about the weather, your friends, the dog -- whatever you want. He'll be psyched to see that the girl he fell in love with still lives there, and you'll appreciate the breather yourself. And who knows? Left to his own devices, your fiance just might surprise you with a great idea for your cocktail hour or the perfect solution to a guest-list dilemma.

3. Freaking Out Because Someone Else Has Your Gown
The problem: These days, to-be-weds spend so much time personalizing their weddings and trying to find really unique big-day details that it does seem reasonable to freak if another couple chooses the same favors or flowers or food. Before you decide to arm-wrestle for it, let us suggest a different way of dealing.

The solution: If someone else "steals" one of your ideas, you'll probably hear a lot of "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" and "It will be at your wedding, not theirs, so it'll be totally different." Whether these statements are true or not (they are), they're probably not going to make you feel better -- but neither will stewing over it. Instead of worrying about someone else's wedding looking the same as yours, think about how you can make the copied detail different. If a friend chooses the same gown as you, add details to make yours unique: Accessorize with a brooch, add a sash, accent the train with some embroidery (you get the idea). Has someone else swiped your fun favor idea? Find a way you can package yours to set them apart. And if you're really that worried about copycats, here's a thought -- just keep mum. If you don't divulge every last big-day detail, you won't have to worry about your bride friends snatching them.

4. Realizing That Grape isn't Your Color ... With Two Months to Go
The problem: When you started planning your wedding, you knew just what you wanted: pink bridesmaid dresses, peonies, and classic, engraved invites. Now that you've been hard at work for a few months, you know just what you want: jewel tones, orchids, and funky, bold invites. Too bad -- you're stuck with the wedding style you first chose ... or are you?

The solution: You should feel free to rethink, redo, and revamp any element of your wedding that you want -- unless you've accepted a ring from it (just kidding). This doesn't have to mean yet another huge investment or reneging on a bunch of contracts -- you'll be surprised how easy it is to make simple additions or subtractions and change your whole style. Already ordered those pastel bridesmaid dresses? Think about adding a bold sash or accessorizing with chandelier earrings to liven them up a bit. Unsure about the color scheme you chose? Pay an extra visit to your florist and work out changes to your bouquets and centerpieces -- adding new blooms in all of your arrangements will introduce a new color throughout the room.
Same thing if you've already ordered the linens -- spice them up with bright table runners or overlays. If you decide you really can't live with it, chances are you can go back on your first choice -- just remember that it will have a cost. A good rule of thumb is that if you've already signed a contract or seen a proof, you will have to pay extra for any changes or additions you make. But if it's still relatively early in your planning process, don't be afraid to make the change. Remember, you're getting married to your husband, not your centerpieces.

5. Trying to Drop Two Sizes Before Your Final Fitting
The problem: You've found the gown of your dreams -- though it's not exactly a perfect fit on the real-life you. Your plan: Order the dress two sizes too small, and then do whatever it takes to make it fit. Or so you think.

The solution: Making a commitment to eat right and exercise is great whether you're planning your wedding or trying to stave off the newlywed nine. On the other hand, crash-dieting and chaining yourself to the StairMaster is a course likely to end in disaster -- and a gown that doesn't fit.

Instead of losing more sleep than weight, find a gown you love and order it in your current size. If you want to work on your body during your engagement, that's great -- go ahead, but be sure to make your goals are manageable (toning up but not dropping 20 pounds, for instance). You're more likely to stick with a routine that doesn't require superhuman willpower. And if you still find that you are freaking about your figure, just remember that you're about to get hitched to someone who can't get enough of the way you look (really, truly) right now.

If you do drop some weight, this slow-and-steady approach will help you big time (and help you keep it off long-term). You'll want to lose those extra pounds before your second fitting -- any big changes after that, and though you might be lighter, your alterations bill will be pretty hefty. Your final fitting should be for last-minute tweaks, not a total overhaul.

6. Doing it All Yourself
The problem: We love nothing better than seeing the clever projects that couples come up with to make their weddings unique. But even we have to draw the line somewhere. There's doing it yourself, and then there's overdoing it yourself. After all, there are plenty of benefits to DIY. You can be sure no one else has the exact same thing, you might keep your budget in check, and (before you actually sit down to hand-tie 200 tiny ribbons) you probably think that it will make a fun story.

The solution: Rather than taking on too many projects, pick the one (or two) that you're really in love with and put your resources (both mental and monetary) into working on those. For the others, do a little research and try to find a ready-made version that makes you happy. With so many great prefab goodies out there, chances are you'll find one that fits your style -- and saves you a whole lot of time!

7. Overloading Your Mom's Big Day To-do List
The problem: So you can't do it all yourself -- fine -- but you've got to have someone you trust double-checking with the caterer and the florist, steaming your veil, or making sure the limo company's got directions. Most brides turn to good ol' Mom (or their sister or their maid of honor) to make sure things go as planned on the big day. These folks are usually happy to help in any way they can -- but hey, didn't they come here to party too?

The solution: No matter how worried you are, most wedding-day (and day-before) chores can be trusted to any competent adult, and aren't there a slew of them coming into town just for your wedding? Before you hand your mom or MOH a mega-task list, consider splitting jobs among a larger group of people -- friends, cousins, aunts. They'll be glad to lend a hand (and likely flattered that you asked), and it's a great way to include more people in your celebration. If you're worried about losing track, simply take the to-do list you already have and note who's who next to each task. Check in with each person at some point, then check off the chore from the list.

Another option: Hire a professional wedding coordinator for the final weeks before the wedding. They're experts at making sure those last-minute details get done, and having the extra hands around will help you (and mom) decide what you really want to be in charge of and what you can happily hand off. It's more affordable than you might think --and really, can you put a price tag on alleviating that kind of stress?

8. Crying Over Mismatched Linens
The problem: The place cards just came back from the printer, and the color of the ink is a little off from the print on your invites. Or the best man's boutonniere has a hint of baby's breath where you'd specified berries. Let's face it, even the most perfectly planned wedding is sure to hit a few bumps along the way.

The solution: When you've worked so hard for so many months on your wedding-day details, it can be hard to deal when you find a flaw among them. The key is that when you spot one, you'll need to take a deep breath and think: "How important is this going to be to me in a year?" Not in 10 years, not even in five, but in one. Chances are, most mishaps that are causing you so much agita won't really matter to you once you're at your wedding (let alone after it). If it's a serious snarl, go ahead and deal with it. But if it's a minor mess-up, just move on. You can't give up all of your resources to every little crisis. Pick your battles wisely and they will be better fought.

9. Blowing Your Budget
The problem: You came up with a number. You did some research. You revised the number. You started planning ... and now that number's not going to cut it. Budgeting for a wedding can be the stuff of nuptial nightmares -- but that doesn't mean you should elope.

The solution: If you find you've underestimated some expenses, don't panic. Instead, sit down with your fiance and try to reach a constructive solution. Maybe you can give up an item or trade one for another (for example, dahlias over Black Magic roses saves about $4 per stem). If you're coming up short overall, you may have to take on some debt. To make it as minimal as possible, consider obtaining a low-interest loan or using a low-interest credit card. And to keep it from becoming a source of tension between the two of you, make a plan to deal with the debt and a deadline for paying it off so it won't hang over your heads.

10. Saving Your Place Cards for the Morning Of
The problem: Right now, it might seem weird to have a basic sketch of your seating plan or all of your favors tagged and ready to go. But other than taking up a little extra space in your closet, they're not causing any harm -- and they will actually save you a ton of stress a month or two down the line. The closer the wedding gets, the busier you'll be, so making (and sticking to) your timeline is essential.

The solution: Worried you're jumping ahead on the wedding planning timeline? Don't be. You're in the best possible situation. If you're set on saving tasks until the appointed time (rather than going ahead and doing a little of this or that when you've got the time), you may wind up with way too much to accomplish in the last month (or week) before the wedding. That's exactly the time when anything (and everything) can happen, when everyone will have demands on your time, and you'll -- well, you'll just want to take a hot bath and dream about your honeymoon. With check marks beside all your biggest to-dos, you'll be able to relax and enjoy your wedding -- and the days leading up to it. Make no mistake about it.

***********************
There are so many things to learn from this article. That's why whenever I start doing or thinking about my preps, I read this article first before moving on. You know, reminders and all. Those in italics are the things that struck me so far (and what I'm "guilty" of). My mental notes on the items:

1. Yes! I did something right! After we decided to get married, this was the first thing I thought of doing. Actually... even during my spinsterhood days, I have set up a guest list while daydreaming about me and Orlando Bloom getting married. Haha!

2. I'm so happy my Enrik is into wedding preps! So he did enjoy looking at bridal magazines, checking out the ideas I gathered, and computing budget stuff. Sweet!

3. Ahem. Hahaha. Shall I say no comment? Ok ok. Very true. No use stewing over it. And nothing is original anyway. Hey, we've all had inspiration weddings right?

4. Hmm... shall I just quote from this entry... "Remember, you're getting married to your husband, not your centerpieces."

5. I'm actually planning to gain a little. Currently I'm an unhealthy bride, thanks to these grrr braces.

6. My projects when it comes to DIY: STDs (done, see below); Favors (Enrik in charge); Missalettes. Oh, the couple's table centerpieces? Hmm... still thinking about it. What else? can;t think of anything else.

7. Geesh. My family and entourage need only do one thing... Be there (well, and do what they need to do during the ceremony).

8. Hmm... good reminder on the day of the wedding.

9. Yes! We are within budget! I have probably mastered the art of separating the needs and the nice to haves! :-D

10. Thank goodness I set up an excel file for the whole wedding preps, plans, and budget.

To STD or Not To STD?

2006-07-24T17:46:00.000+08:00

I'm still thinking whether I should send Save The Date Cards or not. But if ever I do, I have made a rough draft on how our STD will look like.

Yup. No tweetum-y pictures of us. Just a really simple one, to be sent out via email...

Date with Marj

2006-07-24T12:46:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday, I had lunch with former w@wie Marj (of Carlos) so that I could give to her the swatch of the fabric for my gown. She signed off from the w@w community to pursue a business in selling scrapbook and hand-made paper, as well as different fabrics (ergo she is calssified as a "supplier").

Anyway, it was fun seeing her again. We talked about my wedding preps and how near our big day is. We also talked about how well her business is doing. And of course, other chikas, hehehe. You know, about suppliers and all.

Recently there has been some disappointments I felt towards the whole wedding preps thing, and I'm so grateful that former brides shared my sentiments and understood my concerns. Maybe I should learn to be detached and just be civil/cordial to suppliers so that I would not be too disappointed with them. It's quite hard when you get to trust suppliers who in the end might not live up to your expectations, or somewhere along the process disappoint you. But I guess it really is part of the whole experience of being a bride.

But in the meantime, it's safe to say that I am still quite happy with the list of suppliers that we got. Maybe the pressure will set in when the "2-months to go" will be breached. But by that time, Enrique will be here to share with me the last few wedding preparations, up until our big day.

Wedding Nightmare?

2006-07-21T12:56:00.000+08:00

Last night I had a dream about our wedding... and it was a disaster! Weird one, but still a disaster.

First, my gown wasn't delivered on time, so there was an odd feeling between me and the designer. Then, for some reason, it was Tet Hagape who amde up our parents and my sister, and it was nasty! Good thing Angie Cruz was there and made them up. Then, the Chapel wasn't St. Francis in Fernwood, but another one. There was also a concern on my bridal march, that it didn't go well as well...

But there was one thing in my dream that was something... In the dream, even though the day was a complete horrific disaster, Enrique and I were still happy and overwhelmed with our feelings of love and joy. *Sigh*

Anyway, just an update on our wedding preps... We already have reservations for hotel accommodations in Discovery Suites. :D

The Proposal

2006-07-18T13:00:00.000+08:00

My friend Liv and I were chatting about engagement rings, and while doing so, she asked me how Enrique proposed. So I went to my archives, and GASP! Other than my sole post last December, there was no detailed account of one of our most memorable moments!

So here I am recalling what happened...

The day before the proposal
He asked about engagement rings and what I liked. I told him, "it doesn't really matter what, and I prefer being surprised." But all the same we talked about diamonds and the 4 C's: cut, clarity, carat, color. In the end, I told him that if there's one cut that I'm not really fond of, it's the emerald cut. Not because it was ugly (in fact emerald cuts are really elegant), but simply because a round shape is the usual diamond for the engagement ring (ala Tiffany's).

The day of the proposal
He was such in an irritable mood (it started the day before) we spent the whole day arguing. I felt bad because not only was it the day of my trial with Angie Cruz, but it was also the day of the w@w christmas party. I was looking forward to that night because it's the first time I'm going to an event with him by my side.

Then came trial time. WE picked up Angie in Megamall. I told Enrique to just stay in my house as we were running late. He said he wanted to go home because he'll freshen up and that he didn't want to see me being made-up.

So when he came back to my house, I had makeup on, and couldn't stop raving about Angie's make-up on me. Enrique was like, "Beautiful, but there's something missing." I didn't understand what he meant, so I frowned and said, "What else is missing? Doesn't my makeup and outfit look nice???"

He said... "You're beautiful, but you're going to a w@w couple's party and there's something missing..." Then he suddenly embraced me and whispered... "Sorry, you will not like it..."

That's when i knew...

We were locked in an embrace as he took out the box that was in his pocket. I tried to open the box, but he was resisiting a bit, and kept on saying "sorry, i know you won't like it." But when I did see it...

It was the most beautiful engagement ring I ever saw.

Angie, our helpers, and my bro were all clapping.

Then I told him... "TEKA, why are you not asking me anything???" He was like ... "Ay oo nga sorry!!!! Will you marry me?"

Hahahaha!

Anyway, that's when it all made sense. No wonder he was in a very hot-tempered mood. The ring he gave me was an emerald cut diamond ring. And he bought it before he boarded the plane going to Manila. He initially wanted the round one (yup, he knew it was the usual diamond shape for the e-ring), but there wasn't any available (according to him, the ones available were small). Then the attendant showed him my e-ring, and when he was told it was an emerald cut, he suddenly remembered that emerald was my birth stone. He thought he'd hit two birds with one stone.

Anyway, that's it... A romantic comedy proposal. Perfect...

Of Engagement Rings: Histroy and Tradition

2006-07-18T09:18:00.000+08:00

This morning I read a post on engagement rings and I just had to smile and laugh a bit because the engagement ring has always been a hot issue when it comes to the whole engagament and proposal shebang.

Are engagement rings really a necessity? Or are they just nice to haves? Engagement rings, for me (or so I was led to believe), are given by men to the women they wish to marry as a symbol of their undying love and commitment. Note the word SYMBOL, and this symbol takes on many forms, depending on the culture and traditions of the couple.

So anyway, I have researched a bit on this, and here are the things I have read:

History of Engagement Rings (excerpts)

Many couples are interested in the tradition of the engagement ring. In many cultures, it has become the ultimate symbol of love, devotion and commitment. It's extremely common to have a diamond engagement ring, and for some this stone is the only one that they will accept. Yet, the tradition of a diamond engagement ring isn't very old and throughout much of history, diamonds didn't even enter the picture.

Though the exact start of the engagement ring is in question, it is known that later cultures adopted the ring and/or circle symbolism. The ancient Greeks probably started the tradition as we know it today. Their engagement ring was called a betrothal ring. In many cases it was given before the marriage itself and was considered a token of affection. In some circumstances though, the betrothal ring might have been like the "promise ring" of today. Marriage wasn't always the end-result, and I've seen a few sources that mention it as a token of deep affection rather than a definite engagement ring. Betrothed is a word said to be derived from the word (Anglo-Saxon) "troweth", which means truth. Many sources further interpret this word as pledge or a pledge of truth. I suppose it's all in the interpretation as truth might also be interpreted simply as the word "true". All kinds of things can be associated with the word true, including both true love and true friendship.

Read more

********************************

The inception of the engagement ring itself can be tied to the Fourth Lateran Council presided over by Pope Innocent III in 1215. Innocent declared a longer waiting period between betrothal and marriage; plain rings of gold, silver or iron were used earliest. Gems were more than baubles; they were important and reassuring status symbols to the aristocracy. Laws were passed to preserve a visible division of social rank, ensuring only the privileged wore florid jewels. As time passed and laws relaxed, diamonds and other gems became obtainable to the middle class.

At one time, engagement rings mounted sets of stones. One traditional sentimental pattern mounted six to celebrate the joining of two families: The birthstones of the bride's parents and the bride (on the left), and the birth stones of the groom and his parents (on the right). The parents' stones were mounted with the mother to the left of the father. The bride and groom's birthstones would be adjacent in the center. Another similar pattern, for four stones, mounted the birthstone of the parents' marriages, and the birthstones of the bride and groom. These token rings often disassembled, to expose a channel in which a lock of the suitor's hair could be treasured.

Read more

Filipino Traditions (excerpts)

Filipino Engagement

Engagement traditions and marriage rituals are very important to Filipino culture. At one time, as a way of proposing matrimony, a man would throw a spear at the front of the house of the girl he wished to marry. This act would symbolize her unavailability, and begin the Filipino engagement process. The groom and his family would then go together to the bride's family to ask for her hand in marriage.

Read more

************************************
Sing Sing (the Engagement Ring)

Normally, an average Filipino man is wary on giving a ring as gift on ordinary occasions for he's concerned that his girlfriend might get the wrong impression because a ring (especially those of the gemstone-laden species) tend to speak of a deeper commitment. Really says a lot even without saying a word. The engagement ring is not a requisite to marriage but more of an option (that most brides surely wouldn't mind). It is both an adaptation of the western culture and a modern incarnation of an pre-colonial practice by giving dowry to his future wife (and her family) to signify his intentions. The ring is usually given simultaneously with the proposal (note: guys, don't give it until she says 'Yes'!) in a romantic ambiance. Popular choice for the 'rock' is diamond for it is the hardest wearing gemstone but a ring with her birthstone will do (read more about diamonds and other birthstones). Some traditional and sentimental Filipino families even insist and have their son offer a treasured family heirloom as an engagement ring to symbolize her acceptance and approval of his family. In cases such as the latter, it would be better to hand in the ring on the pamanhikan.

Read more

That's about it. But there's also a funny read about finding an engagement ring by an American for a Filipina gf... Click here!

2nd Anniversary: An Update...

2006-07-11T09:44:00.000+08:00

Wow!

I was kinda expecting it, but when it did happen, I was still surprised and very happy!

Oh yeah... Enrique sent me a dozen red long-stemmed roses. *Sigh*

Now my day is right.... sorta.... :-D

2nd Year Anniversary

2006-07-11T08:27:00.000+08:00

Enrique woke me up this morning to greet me "happy 2nd year anniversary." I couldn't help but be sad.

I wish he's here with me so we could celebrate our special day. Mass and breakfast in Tagaytay, picnic at the park, dream about our life together as husband and wife, romantic dinner... But of course, this is just wishful thinking... *Sigh*

Books To Read

2006-07-06T10:54:00.000+08:00

Last night I was looking for books to read, and I remembered all the "bride to be" books I browsed through during my last Powerbooks trip (a month ago, or two?). Just for fun, I plan to drop by again over the weekend and buy one.

I checked out the reviews in Amazon of these books, and all had good reviews... Now I don't know which to purchase... Hmm...

What No One Tells The Bride

"It's normal for brides to feel wildly disoriented. it's normal for your priorities to shift. But don't try to align your star in a fixed point in the sky. Let the things you cherish be a constellation, one more prominent in the sky one night, another brighter the next..."

Amazon Editorial Review: Stark has written a readable self-help guide for brides-to-be and newlyweds who are trying to adjust to this often anxiety-ridden passage in life and to solve the consequent identity crisis. Chapters touch on wedding postpartum, handling money squabbles, falling prey to stereotypes, timing pregnancies, and communication and criticism in a marriage. The text is interspersed with comments from the 50 (mostly white, middle-class) women whom Stark surveyed and interviewed. The result is a "feel good" book whose aim is to reassure newlyweds that their fears and anxieties are normal. Much of it reads like a woman's magazine article, offering somewhat simplistic advice: "breath deeply, and believe that your venture into love will succeed." But Stark does have a clear, readable style and a reassuring sincerity in drawing from her own life as well as others.

The Thoroughly Modern Married Girl

You were a fabulous single girl--you were swell, you were a bombshell, you were a bad girl on the open road. Now you're getting hitched--are your glam days gone for good? Is "matronly" the hidden meaning of matrimony? No way. The Thoroughly Modern Married Girl shows how to retire that little black book without tossing the little black dress.

Full of wisdom gleaned from dozens of savvy Married Girls, The Thoroughly Modern Married Girl serves up the pros and cons of changing your name, the trick to hanging out with singletons without feeling wistful, the art of the grown-up (but not geriatric) cocktail party, and the key to staying wildly in love. Plus you'll get answers to all those sticky questions you might be pondering as you're about to take the plunge.

- Do I have to say good-bye to my exes?? (Yes. It?s impossible to make two men who have both seen you naked into good friends.)
- Can I just marry my guy and divorce his family?? (Sorry, honey, it?s a package deal.)
-How do I deal with the frightening furniture my sans-style guy delivers to our love nest?? (Slip the movers a c-note to ?lose? it.)

From the moment you return from the honeymoon and find that the spotlight, tragically, has moved on from you and your guy, The Thoroughly Modern Married Girl helps you navigate the new terrain of marriage with flair.

The "I Have A Life Bride's Guide"

So you want to plan an unforgettable wedding, but you don't want to get swallowed up in a whole lot of craziness? True enough, some women have the time and inclination to eat, sleep, and breathe every last detail of planning their weddings-but that's not you.

You need a practical, true-to-life guide that boils down your wedding planning details to the nitty-gritty basics. If you're pressed for time-and patience-and want to avoid all the excess fluff and fuss, The "I Have a Life" Bride's Guide is the book for you. This no-nonsense guide shows you how to:

- De-stress and stay cool at all times
- Balance your wedding plans with your hectic schedule
- Steer clear of unnecessary expenses
- Cut to the chase when deciding on where to have your ceremony and reception
- Avoid time drains and pitfalls when choosing a caterer, a band, or a florist

Famous Kiss test

2006-07-04T10:32:00.000+08:00

As usual, I went to my favorite site to kill time, and took this test....

Your Famous Movie Kiss is from Romeo + Juliet

"Has my heart loved 'till now? Forswear it, sight! For I never saw a true beauty 'till this night."

What Famous Movie Kiss Are You?

5 more months!

2006-07-04T10:07:00.000+08:00

In the past, when July sets in, I normally think how time flies fast and that Christmas is coming around. This year however, it is different. As July set in, aside from thinking that I am now a regular employee of our company, I am thinking... wow, 5 more months and it's December.... We're getting married!

The past months of preparing, my feelings were a bit of a roller coaster. On certain days I am so full of ideas and very into our wedding preps, while on other days, I completely forget about it. So when Enrique reminded me that only 5 months to go and it's our big day, I couldn't help but feel the excitement again... what needs to be done? Any other ideas for our reception and theme? Shall I touch base with the suppliers?

The past month all I did was the following:

1. Register in Rustan's Bridal Registry
2. Pay for our honeymoon tickets.
3. Talked to Josiah's regarding some details for the reception.

As of the last time I have saved my excel file for our preps, our To Do's for July are:

1. Discovery Suites - finalize booking. Contact Tita Cathy.
2. Marj Orpilla - meet her to order the dupioni for my gown, as well as paper for the cover of the missalettes.
3. JJS Entertainment - meet regarding the list of songs to play (so that they can study the songs that are not really part of their song list).
4. Mallory Cosio - initial meeting, get to know and all.
5. Finalize Entourage List - Already did. But more on informing a few left.

What else do I need to do? My next to-do's are for September already. Hmm...

Are You a Bridezilla?

2006-06-29T08:03:00.000+08:00

I got this from Ai's post...

ARE YOU A BRIDEZILLA?

You are a: skilled-negotiator

You've found the perfect balance between practical and whimsical for your big day. You envision your wedding as an elegant event on a grand scale, but are careful not to lose the romance and tradition of the day. You are a level-headed negotiator, able to handle unexpected bumps in the road without losing your cool. Your serenity in the face of possible chaos will diffuse the situation and leave your wedding day a splendid celebration for everyone involved.

So... are you a bridezilla? Take the TEST to know!

Sweet Temptation

2006-06-28T09:12:00.000+08:00

This is soo tempting...

Dessert Bar of Josiah's...

An Assortment of different desserts like crepe, chocolate mouse, banana fritters, fruit roulade and chocolate fountain with assorted dippings.

Upgrade Price: PhP 15,000.00

*Sigh*

Of Stickers and Faux Leaves

2006-06-27T16:47:00.000+08:00

Yesterday my friend Mia delivered to our house the faux autumn leaves and the maple leaves stickers that I have ordered online (through her). They were so nice! I especially liked the stickers, though I don’t know yet where to use them… invitations perhaps? Or stick them in the pear candles (our favors).

For the faux leaves, they will be part of our centerpiece in our table. Ooh! I really hope we can work out our plan of having those pumpkin floral centerpieces, well at least for our table. :-P

Registered!

2006-06-26T11:49:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, I went to Rustan's Bridal Registry in Shangri La and I got ourselves registered! I thought that after registering I had to choose the items for our list. Good thing that our contact, Annabel, told us that we will choose the items a month before our wedding date. She also told us that for our showers and engagement parties, we should inform her so that a partial list will be drawn up.

The inclusions of the registry are:

- 10% discount (cash) for the couple until 6 months after the wedding
- 10% discount (cash) for those who will buy based on the list
- Gifts can be returned. (One time return)
- Gifts can be delivered to the couple's residence.
- 10% discount stubs for maidenform products (for showers?)

After registering, I already checked out a couple of items, and wow... some are quite expensive! Maybe I should register in another department store as well, perhaps in Home of SM.

Anyway, at least I know that Enrique will be here for the choosing of items. :-P

JJS: Jittery Jittery Strings?

2006-06-21T13:55:00.000+08:00

For our wedding, it is important for us that our music / strings provider will perform really well. We believe that having good music will somehow set the right mood not only for the reception but for the ceremony as well.

Last year I have carefully thought of which group to get, and during that time, one of the promising music providers is JJS Entertainment. I initially wanted the group of Bernie Pasamba. However, his rates are a little too expensive, about 5k++ more than JJS.

Enrique and I then decided to meet both the heads of these groups at the same day (on different times of course). We found Mr. John Santos (JJS) more warming and easier to talk to, not to mention the fact that his rates are really good, and his list of celebrity clients are quite impressive. So after a week, we have decided to book JJS.

Since the beginning of this year however, I have been concerned about JJS, as I have been reading and hearing a lot of negative feedbacks about them: tardiness, arrangements not being followed, different singers coming in, not replying when given feedbacks, etc.

I guess I have to closely keep in touch with JJS and raise to Mr. Santos my concerns, without referring to the negative ratings I have read/heard.

I really really hope that come our wedding day, things will go smoothly. I’m not really that demanding a bride, and most likely during our big day Enrique and I would be in Cloud 9 to care, but if I do notice anything unpleasant, it will mean that performance is that bad.

Knock Knock!

2006-06-21T09:19:00.000+08:00

Knock Knock!

Who's There?

Da Vinci

Da Vinci Who?

...

...

...

da Vinci winsy spider jumped off the water spout... down came the rain and washed the spider out...

hehehehe. GOOD MORNING!!!

Guest Table Centerpiece

2006-06-20T08:20:00.000+08:00

I don't know if I would still have a budget for this but... i really like this to be our centerpiece (plus tea lights) for our guest tables.

And this probably for our VIP table and couple's table.

Weekend Activities

2006-06-19T12:32:00.000+08:00

As usual, my weekend was a rollercoaster of emotions, but thankfully these are not about work.

My lost art
Over the weekend, for some reason, I was sooo inspired in doing some wedding preparations (and further planning). I spent most of my time reading again Martha Stewart wedding magazines I bought and borrowed. As I browsed thru the pages with new eyes, I began to conceptualize again the look and style for our autumn theme.

I got hold of a spare notebook, looked for my soft pastels, and started drawing new designs for our secondary sponsors, as well as the tables for our reception: a) if centerpieces of Josiah's are used; b) if we use our florist to implement what I had in mind (though this would entail additional expenses).

It really felt good holding my pastels, and for every stroke of my hand, I wondered why I stopped drawing and painting. The end products weren't that good (I'm a bit rusty, and the paper is not the right one), though at least it showed how the designs would look.

Our principal sponsors
Anyway, I also finished our list of principal sponsors... Finally! Initially, we wanted to have 7 sets, as 7 is a special number to us. However, I just settled for 5 sets. I haven't told this to Enrique but I think he'd agree too.

Bridal Registry
I also became inspired to think about our future home... the colors to use, the designs, the furniture, household equipment, etc... From here I was able to come up with a list of items for our bridal registry. When I told Enrique about our bridal registry, he told me he's quite hesitant in having one, as he felt shy about it. I told him that it would be good not only for us but also for our guests who wish to give us gifts, since they would know what we really needed and also redundancies of gifts will be lessened. I assured him that I will not put in the list really high end items. Also, my relatives are already asking me where we are registered so they could check out our list and buy their gifts (for the shower, despedida, wedding).

Grandfathers Concerns
I was supposed to go to Rustan's to start the ball rolling for our bridal registry, but then my plan was postponed because we visited my grandparents (Father's Day!): one grandfather was confined in medical City, the other was in Hillsborough in Alabang. My second grandpa had another attack soon after we left (to go to Medical City), so now he is confined in Asian Hospital. Now I am really concerned about my grandfathers. It sounds so unpleasant, but I hope that they are still "ok" in December (to put it mildly). *Sigh*

Tough Job

2006-06-16T16:28:00.000+08:00

Aaaarggghhhh!!!!!

This tough job of mine is slowly driving me nuts!!!! Unplanned developments in the fleet, somewhat unpleasant crew, etc... All are giving me a headache. This job is also eating up my time - not because I stay up late in the office (I still manage to go home at 6 pm), but because even after office hours (as well as during weekends), things may come up that would need my attention. Not to mention that even though I am home already, my mind is still filled with work thoughts - planning and all. *Sigh*

Aside from this, I have no time for wedding preparations, and Enrique and I have argued a lot of times eversince I took this job, about my lack of attention to him, especially now that he's away (he says that I don't text as often as he wishes, etc..).

I like my job. I really do. It's very dynamic, it's not boring, I get to talk to different people, it tests my people and management skills, etc. It really is a challenging job, which I like. But there are times when I ask myself, is it worth it? Is it worth the stress? Stress is even a word that was alien to me until last week.

I have ranted to Enrique about my current disposition, and I felt sorry that I ranted to him too much. Far too much, too much to the point that he told me that as soon as he comes back from Europe, he wants me to resign. Now he feels so useless, that he knows I shouldn't work and all, but he is letting me work. I disagree with him, and that he shouldn't feel useless. It was my choice to get this job even though he wanted me to stop last year.

Part of me wants to quit and take the easier road. Yet a bigger part of me wants to stay. I really like the challenge. And also, what the heck will I do at home?

*Sigh*

Drama, drama, drama...

Of Budgeting... Then and Now

2006-06-07T10:47:00.000+08:00

I'm kinda feeling nostalgic again, reminiscing about the time when I started with our wedding preps. It was about these same days last year when Enrique and I started setting up our budget.

In the beginning, when I wasn't part of the weddings at work community, I didn't know much about the suppliers (all our current suppliers were unknown to me!). All we thought of was to initially have our wedding either in Tagaytay or in Sanctuario de San Antonio/Makati Shang. And of course, my gown by Dennis Lustico. However, when I started "excel-ing" our budget, I was shocked to see a fat figure in the bottom line. And I said... no way. There should be some way of bringing that figure down to a yoga-like body. To make things worse, my budget was really wrong... e.g. 10k budget for a photo/video. Hello? Where can I get that? It only meant that my "budget," amid it being a little high (for me) already, was not even good enough.

Good thing I joined the community of brides and wives. I am able to stick to the original budget without adding more. Well actually... we are a little below our budget (clap clap clap!), and we are contented with it!

I really like to thank these people in particular who helped me get our suppliers:

1. Fernwood - Thanks to Arlene for dragging me to look at Fernwood. Before going there I didn't want the place because of its high rates. But when I did, I knew it was the one for us.

2. Veluz Reyes - Con Con! She was the one who talked to Veluz (among other suppliers) on my behalf and convinced me to book her. I'm glad I did.

3. Archie Paungan - Thanks Glo and Anne! Not only did I find a photog/videog, I have found a new friend as well.

4. Boy Mahusay - Though he was one of my prospect florists, it was Con's convincing power that made me go to Dangwa. And boy, Enrique was so happy with him.

5. Tet Hagape - Marj and Maricel were the two powerbrides who helped me decide to get Tet for our entourage gowns.

6. Angie Cruz & Ogie Rayel - Both were the HMUA of Maybelle, and she was kind enough to suggest to me to consider the duo because not only is their work fabulous, but their rates were really good as well!

7. Other suppliers I considered / got - I really have to mention this.... Thank you very much Jen S. for helping me everyday when it comes to the whole preps thing and experiences. It was her who most of the time went with me to meet our prospects. I am just so glad she became my friend.

*Sigh* Six more months..... can't hardly wait.

Our Guide

2006-06-06T17:10:00.000+08:00

Everytime we celebrate our monthsary, we see to it that we read and talk about this simple article / guidelines on how to have an ideal relationship...

*********************
HOW TO HAVE AN IDEAL RELATIONSHIP
By Lorrin Lee

A relationship is a natural, logical and harmonious association. This happens when people want to be with each other and look forward to sharing goals, time and activities together.

1. TALK. Always in pleasant tones. No shouting or swearing at each other. Speak only positive words with gentleness and kindness. Communicate daily. This is the highest and most caring form of love.

2. WALK TOGETHER MORE. Take 30 minutes a day. To exercise, communicate, release emotions, share ideas, goals, and to clear up any misunderstandings. It’s okay to hold hands, too.

3. DO NEW AND DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES TOGETHER. Enjoy a new restaurant, a different dish, a concert, a unique vacation, attend a class together--- something exciting both of you can plan and look forward to. Learn together and you’ll be happier

4. GIVE EACH OTHER GIFTS OFTEN. Like a magazine subscription, a special book, a warm bath and massage, flowers, surprise experiences, favourite foods and the many other special things your mate will enjoy and get excited about.

5. WRITE LOVE NOTES. Hide them around the home--- in clothing, pockets, in the kitchen drawer and secret places. Send some to his or her working place. Write a passionate love letter. Express your love in writing on exquisite stationery. Attach a gift certificate or a crispy P 1000 bill. Use your imagination and make it a fun surprise. And do it often.

6. DO NOT CRITICIZE, CONDEMN OR COMPLAIN! This is a NO-No. Only praise. Acknowledge the goodness in each other. There is no place for negativity in loving and lasting relationship ever! Your mate will do the right thing--- as you lead by example.

7. ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN YOUR IDEAL FIGURE. It is a gift to yourself and your mate. A healthy and attractive body also promotes a healthy relationship.

8. ALLOW YOUR PARTNER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER LIFE. He or she has the right to determine his or her own destiny. Always respect that choice. Both of you can live your lives in your own way harmoniously. Treasure each other’s differences. Do your best to make life easier and more fun for your mate.

9. GROW TOGETHER. At the same speed and direction---by sharing similar ideas and activities. This will bond you together even more while building on fond memories. (People who don’t grow together will complete their relationship and move on to lead separate lives. This is why most people divorce.)

10. DO NOT BE POSSESSIVE. Don’t act as though you “own” your mate. Support, encourage each other’s way of living and individual interest. Be grateful in harmony.

11. TREASURE YOUR TIME TOGETHER. It could be your last. Look at it this way and you’ll always appreciate each other even more. Have no reason for regrets. Spend time with each other doing all the things you both lo0ved to do. Do it now! Tomorrow mat not come so together plan now for the best of the rest of your lives.

12. IT IS OKAY TO DO WHATEVER PLEASES BOTH OF YOU. In private, there are no limits on what you can do together with each other… as long as both benefit and agree. Whatever other people think of what you do or say is none of your business! So, go ahead experiment--- and satisfy each other to the limit!

13. BE OPEN. To the ideas, experiences and relationships. This is the way for fun, growth and expansion in you lives. The more you learn together… the happier you both will be.

14. FORGIVE AND LOVE. Release the past at every moment. Live in the present. Plan for the future ---together and joyously!

15. BE FREE OF RESENTMENT, ANGER, JEALOUSY, HATRED AND ENVY TOWARD EACH OTHER. This will open both of you to even greater respect for each other. Be thankful to your mate’s kindness.

16. ELIMINATE ARGUING TOTALLY. Anywhere, anytime. Especially while eating or in bed. Each person has a right to his or her opinion. Respect each other ideas, philosophy and outlook on life. Be a great listener!

17. SMILE AND LAUGH WITH EACH OTHER. A prescription for aliveness and health. Don’t take yourself or your mate too seriously. Lighten up and laugh more often. Remember, your smiles are true gift to each other.

18. LOOK INTO EACH OTHER’S EYES OFTEN. See the love, truth and beauty in your mate. The more you look into each other eyes the more you will love each other more deeply! Do this daily. It’s very powerful and fun.

19. TOUCH EACH OTHER TENDERLY EVERY DAY. Hug. Kiss. Caress. These are wonderful ways to show caring love. We all need it more than we care to admit!

20. DEVELOP A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. Good food promotes a healthier state of mind for a more meaningful relationship. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole wheat, grains, hi-fiber, low –fat, low calorie foods. Drink more water. Get more rest. Keep yourself cleansed, nourished and balanced.

21. KEEP YOUR HOME, CAR, KITHCEN, CLOSET AND ROOM --- SIMPLE, NEAT, CLEAN AND ORGANIZED. This will help promote a tranquil setting for greater peace and happiness in you lives. It really works! Begin this---today!

22. DRESS YOUR BEST. Be appropriate, neat, clean and proud of you appearance. How you look especially in public--- enhances your mat’s choice and appearance too.

23. SHARE IN FINANCIAL MATTERS. If you are married, communicate with each other on all you finances. If you have a family business be sure both are informed on profits, losses, expenses, etc. set your financial priorities together. This will help to strengthen your relationship which is built on trust and sharing. Enjoy building your financial future together. This is important.

24. ACCEPT EACH OTHER TOTALLY. Exactly the way both of you are. Do not try to change each other’s uniqueness. Allow your mate to change if and when he or she desires. This promotes everlasting peace.

25. SAY: “I LOVE YOU”. Daily, many times, especially when you wake up and before you go to sleep. Say it for the rest of your lives together. Never ever take love for granted. Express it verbally as well as with action. We all need to hear that magical phrase. It reaffirms how we feel at that moment. So fill you lives with millions of love by saying “I LOVE YOU.”

Of Despedida de Soltera, Showers, and Registries

2006-06-05T11:55:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, our family had lunch in Intercon with some of our Hidalgo relatives, and part of our conversation topics was our wedding. Though we are a tightly-knit clan, I was still quite surprised that they were so into our wedding! They asked for the details, the theme, what they should wear, etc. Of course, being the excited bride that i am, I was more than happy to give them information about the wedding and our wedding preps.

My Tita, who hosted our lunch, said that a Despedida de Soltera should be arranged, a week or two before our big day. My other aunt asked if I already had a bridal registry. When I said not yet, they told me to do that immediately... Talk about being excited hahaha! They said that by the time they plan a bridal shower for me, I should have our registry set up. Hehehe... I love them. :-)

Of course, any wedding talk is incomplete without the dozens of wedding and marriage advices. Here are my faves:

1. A key to a successful marriage: 99% acceptance
2. Another ratio: 90% patience, 10% perseverance. (Where's the love? HAHAHAHA!)
3. From my aunt: Enjoy your last few days as a single woman.
4. Her husband: cherish your husband. (I really have to laugh, but it is a good advice)
5. Let God be the center of marriage (my aunt asked if Enrique was a devout Catholic. Actually, he is, more than me!)

Joke Joke Joke!

2006-06-02T11:56:00.000+08:00

BF: may malaki ako problema.
GF: wag mo sabihin problema mo lang problema natin dahil nagmamahalan tayo. ngayon ano problema natin?
BF: nabuntis natin si inday at tayo ang ama

*********
"There what it takes to be. Then we shall so be it because it is. To do or not to is in the what, now or what else. Without which there never to you!" - words of wisdom from Senator Lito Lapid.

*********
Pare1: pare parang malalim ang iniisip mo!
Pare2: nanaginip ako kagabi kasama ko 50 contestants ng Ms. Universe
Pare1: swerte mo! ano problema mo?
Pare2: pare ako nanalo!

*********
Killer: father mangungumpisal po ako
Father: ano kasalanan mo?
Killer: pumatay po ako ng 20 tao
Father: bakit?
Killer: kasi po naniniwala sila sa Diyos, kayo po naniniwala ba?
Father: dati...pero ngayon trip trip na lang

*********
Patient: doc takot po ako sa bunot
Dentist: eto gamot pampatapang ng loob
Patient: (ininom ang gamot)
Dentist: ano matapang ka na ba?
Patient: oo doc! puta pag may gumalaw ng ngipin ko basag ang bungo!

*********
1 panget na babe, hinoholdap

Holdaper: holdap ito! akin na gamit mo!
Babae: RAPE! RAPE! RAPE!
Holdaper: anong rape? holdap nga to eh!
Babae: wala lang! nagsusuggest lang...

*********
1 lasing nasalubong ang matabang babae na may kasamang aso

Lasing: hoy, saan mo nakuha yang baboy?
Babae: aso ito hindi baboy!
Lasing: huwag ka nga sumabat! yung aso ang kausap ko!

*********
In a pet shop...

Customer talking to a parrot...

Customer: hoy! can you talk ha?! bobo!!!
Parrot: yes i can!!! ikaw?! can you fly ha? GAGO!!!

*********
Priest: ang mga bakla'y walang lugar sa kaharian ng langit
Mga bakla: carry lang po father...dun na lang kami sa rainbow mag slide-slide!!!

*********
Bobo: pare hulaan mo ugali ko, nagsisimula sa letter A
Pare: approachable?
Bobo: mali
Pare: amiable?
Bobo: mali pa rin
Pare: o sige siret na!
Bobo: ANEST wehehe!!!

*********
Girl: doc, pacheck-up po
Doc: sige hubad ka ng panty at bra tapos higa ka
Girl: hindi po ako, itong lola ko po
Doc: sige lola, hinga na lang po ng malalim

*********
Farmer: lalaki na talaga ang aking anak kasi magsasaka na...ano ang balak mo itanim sa sakahan mo anak?
Anak: flowers papa!!! madaming madaming flowers! pretty diba

********* HAVE A NICE WEEKEND! *********

Our Honeymoon Tickets!

2006-06-02T10:53:00.000+08:00

Yipee! I'm so excited I got our e-tickets for our honeymoon!

Out tickets!

6 months, 8 days...

2006-06-01T12:40:00.000+08:00

Early this morning I received a text message from Enrique. Normally he calls or sends me a message everyday to wake me up (that's the time he goes to bed too). But today his text is no ordinary text...

He noted that it's only 6 more months till our wedding day, and that as soon as June 1 set in, his longing to be home grew even stronger. His message was really sentimental, and I could just imagine the small smile in his face and the shyness-sparkle-whatever in his eyes.

I miss him so much.

Our big day is becoming nearer each day, and like what I tell my friends, I look forward to our wedding day not only because the 1 1/2 wedding preparations will finally bear fruit, but more importantly, because I am really excited about the life both Enrique and I will have as husband and wife.

First Fitting with Veluz

2006-05-29T08:56:00.000+08:00

Last Friday, I had my first fitting with Veluz, and all I can say is.... even though the gown is in cacha, it is the most beautiful gown I have ever seen... *Sigh*

Now I know the feeling... what more if it is the gown itself that I am wearing.

I just couldn't take it off me! The minute I wore the petty coat, there's this mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement. When I wore the cacha gown, I was really happy. And when the chantilly lace strips were placed on my bodice, I was astounded. Wow. And the gown is not yet even complete!

Words cannot fully capture how I felt that night... I though that the pictures taken by Jen will capture the feeling... Yes... but not quite. It's really really different. Imagine, I was blushing the whole time. I was trying to keep calm by yakking the whole time about different topics. But deep inside I know that the minute I stop, and just focus on what's happening, I would probably burst into tears. Arte ano? And when it's time to take it off, I told Niko and Veluz if they could give me some few more minutes to just look at the mirror. Wow.

Pins and Needles

What more if it's lace!

That tickles!

Anyway, after the fitting, Veluz, Jen, and I still went on chatting and all. We ended up leaving her shop close to 11 pm (we were there around 6:30)! Jen and I then proceeded to have our really late dinner. Thanks Jen for being with me and taking really good pictures. Pilar Tuason in the making ka na! :-D

Anticipation...

2006-05-26T17:32:00.000+08:00

In an hour's time, I will have my first fitting of my gown... and I am sooooo nervous and excited at the same time!

Since last night I have been thinking about my first fitting, how it would feel like wearing what will be the best and most memorable dress I will wear in my entire life (naks!). I also kept on thinking which is better, that Enrique is here or that it's good that he isn't.

I asked my former w@wie friends Jen and Jane if they can accompany me (they are Veluz clients as well).

Though nervous, I am still confident that Veluz will give me a beautifully crafted gown.

10 of My Life's Simple Pleasures

2006-05-25T12:52:00.000+08:00

I've been tagged twice so I guess I'll just answer this!

Instructions: Name ten of life's simple pleasures that you like the most, then pick ten people to do the same. Try to be original and creative and not to use things that someone else has already used. Walang kopyahan! hahaha =P

One. Lying in the arms of Enrique and listening to his heart beat.
Two. "Mahal na Mahal Kita" from Enrique.
Three. Watching my 1 1/2 yr. old nephew Aden walking
Four. Looking at Enrique.
Five. Playing poker with my siblings.
Six. Going to the beach.
Seven. Reading a Book.
Eight. Being one with nature and communing with God.
Nine. Eating. :-D
Ten. Hot and sour soup OR combo of fried chicken and noodles (w/egg) whenever I'm sick.

I'm tagging all those who visited my blog and read my entries! :-D

Church & Legal Requirements

2006-05-25T08:28:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, while looking at our to-do list, it dawned on me (again) that Enrique and I only have 1 month to accomplish together all the legal and church requirements. I got worried, and so I called Mt. Carmel to ask for help on how to fulfill their requirements, given the scenario that my fiance will only arrive towards the end of October to first week of November, and that our wedding day is on the 9th December.

Don of Mt. Carmel was kind enough to assure me that we will meet the requirements on time, I just have to do most of the legwork by myself. :-(

CHURCH REQUIREMENTS

On or before 10 October 2006
- baptismal certificates (for marriage purpose): with the priest's signature and seal
- confirmation certificates cert (for marriage purpose): with the priest's signature and seal
(church docs should be at most 3 months before wedding date)
- CTC of birth certificates from NSO (I can do this via ecensus): authorizatrion letter from enrik
- CENOMAR for both: authorization letter from Enrik
to get
- banns and permission from bride parish form

before setting up an appointment for canonical interview (2 weeks before)
- 3 weeks banns and permission from bride's parish
- marriage license
- pre-cana cert (the pre-cana seminar can be from any other Parish)
- photocopy of license, seaman's book on Enrique
- 2x2 colored pics 1 pc per person

TO OBTAIN THE MARRIAGE LICENSE
(10-day waiting period upon submission of application form)

- CTC of birth certificates of both parties
- Certificate of attendance in a pre-marital counselling and family planning seminar.

TO OBTAIN BIRTH CERTIFICATES & CENOMAR

Birth Certificates: Only the following are authorized to receive birth documents:
(a) the owner of the document;
(b) spouse;
(c) direct descendants/ascendants and
(d) guardian.

If the receiving party is not any of the abovementioned persons, an authorization letter and the ID of the authorized person together with his/her valid ID are required to be presented.

Cost: PhP 300.00 per copy
Delivery: 3-6 working days (w/in the Philippines)

CENOMAR (Singleness): Either the document owner, the requesting party, or their representative is allowed to receive marriage and death certificates. A valid ID must be presented when receiving the certificate.

Cost: PhP 300.00 per copy
Delivery: 3-6 working days (w/in the Philippines)

What Have We Done So Far?

2006-05-24T09:17:00.000+08:00

Here's a checklist (courtesy of Leah of Jopek) of what we have done since May 2005.

*********

12 months before (december 2005)
Plan the Pamamanhikan and announce the engagement.
Choose a wedding date and time.
Draw up a budget with your fiancé.
Determine the number of guests you are able to invite.
Look for ceremony and reception sites.
Reserve chosen ceremony and reception sites.
Compile your guest list from the list you and your fiancé will make.
Notify out-of-town guests so they can make early confirmation of attendance.
~~Decide on your new home after the wedding.~~ (Rent first for at most 1 year, then build our own house)

11 months before (january 2006)
~~Select your ceremony officiant and check his availability.~~ (c/o Mt. Carmel)
~~Select primary sponsors.~~ Check their availability and personally invite them. (Some not yet advised)
~~Choose members of the wedding entourage.~~ Check their availability and personally invite them. (Some not yet advised)
~~Obtain a sample copy of a sample missalette from your officiant.~~

10 months before (february 2006)
Decide on the color scheme and wedding theme.
Finalize your guest list.
Consult a Travel Agent regarding Honeymoon Plans especially if you will be traveling to countries that require entry visas.

9 months before (march 2006)
~~Start and canvass for caterers, if necessary.~~
Secure birth certificates from NSO. (I already have mine, but not sure about Enrique's)

8 months before (april 2006)
Select the style of your wedding gown.
Select the designer and style of entourage’s attire.
Ask your mother and your fiance’s mother to choose their attire.
Canvass and select a reliable couturier and/or dressmaker.
Schedule measurements and fittings for your bridal gown as well as entourage’s attire.
Schedule your trial make-ups.

7 months before (may 2006)
Canvass and select a reliable florist for the church & reception.
Canvass and select a reliable photographer/videographer.
Schedule Pre-nup pictorials with photographer.
~~Canvass and select musicians.~~

6 months before (june 2006)
Select and order wedding souvenirs, and decide on packaging so you can order this as well. Ensure timely delivery of it.
~~Shop for wedding rings.~~
Canvass and select gifts for the Principal Sponsors.
Book a hotel room for your wedding day.
Get also swatches for the entourage's gowns.
Canvass and select wedding stationery printers.

5 months before (july 2006)
Finalize the members of the wedding entourage.
~~Select the mass readers and program hosts.~~ Check their availability. (Some not yet advised)
Double check full names (including middle initials) of your wedding sponsors, members of the entourage, mass readers and program hosts.
Start making draft for the missalettes.
Canvass and select make-up artist/hairdresser.
Canvass and select cake maker.
Canvass and book a florist for the the bridal entourage flowers.
Draft your ceremony program.
Start printing of invites.
Come up with solutions for typographical error on entourage card. Explore all possible options.
~~Start working on your vows, if you are saying your own.~~
Start printing map inserts on parchment paper.
Buy cloths for gown lining.
~~Begin planning out your honeymoon.~~

4 months before (August 2006)
Decide on and finalize wedding details/contracts/agreements with your florist, musicians, photographer, caterer, couturier, make-up artist, and other suppliers of your choice.
Have missalette draft approved by your officiating priest and the church or ceremony venue.
~~Complete honeymoon plans and book your itinerary.~~

Submit final draft/mock invites to printer.
Canvass and select calligrapher.
Book a calligrapher or a social printer for addressing of invitations. If invitations and guest list are ready, go ahead with the printing /calligraphy.
Reserve the Church for a wedding rehearsal.
~~Measurement taking with gown designer.~~
Confirm fitting schedules with your entourage gown maker and provide those concerned with a copy of these dates.

~~Trial HMUs.~~
~~Finalize on the menu.~~
Get a complete medical check-up.
~~Get NBI clearance.~~
Personally deliver invitations to your primary sponsors.
~~Decide on floral arrangements for the ceremony.~~

3 months before (september 2006)
Secure certificate of no marriage from the NSO.

Attend the pre-marriage seminar by the city hall.

Obtain marriage license from your city/municipal hall. Be sure to have all needed documents. Secure original or certified true copies of your and your fiance’s baptismal, confirmation and residence certificates.

Submit marriage certificate to the priest or his assistant. Be sure to give all needed documents.

Get permission from the Bride’s Parish (freedom to marry), as well as marriage banns.

Set an appointment with the priest for pre-marital counseling.

Attend pre-cana seminar.
Attend canonical interview. Pay balance.

Have missalettes printed. This should give ample time for corrections.

Measurement taking of members of the wedding entourage.
1st and 2nd Fitting with gown designer.

Order the bridal accessories and paraphernalia. - In my case, finalize this with Niko.
Shop for your undergarments.
Order and finalize design for wedding cake.
Complete gifts for the sponsors (if needed).
Finalize décor details with the florist, if needed arrange for a mock set-up.
Re-confirm with the musicians and choose songs for the ceremony and the reception.
Start working on your reception program.
Invite participants for your reception program and check their availability.
Pay the reception venue - Fernwood (50% + aircon fee).
Organize your calendar to accommodate all pre-wedding affairs (shower parties, etc).
Finalize your arrangement with your make-up artist/hairdresser of your choice.
Arrange for purchase of liquor or bar requirements with the reception venue.

*********
Hmm, we've done quite well so far! I'll probably post this again including the to do list for 2 months before the wedding, down to our big day itself. Whew! :D

My Inspiration (A Long Story)

2006-05-19T10:19:00.000+08:00

Niko (Veluz’s assistant) informed me yesterday that my first fitting (cacha) will be next Friday, 26th of May. After being delayed a couple of times, finally, I will get a first glimpse and feel of my gown, even though it’s just cacha!

Suddenly I began reminiscing about the time when I first thought of my wedding gown… in High School! 11 years ago, a teacher commented how I reminded her of Grace Kelly. For some reason, according to her, I moved like her and even had some features of her (haha! She must have been semi-blind!). Anyway, I knew who Grace Kelly was, but I didn’t really think much of her. As vanity set in, I began to read about Grace Kelly… Wow, marrying a prince, that is soooo wonderful and romantic, a fairytale coming true. I came across a picture of her in her wedding gown, and I immediately loved her dress. It did remind me of my fashion sense, hehehe, for even when I was a kid, I had been dressed with those sashes and ballskirts. And she is soooo beautiful I had to disagree with my teacher. I would be happy if we had the same cuticles (that is of course an exaggeration).

The Woman.... The Dress...

Anyway, time went on and some years ago, I began thinking about my dream wedding again (though I wasn’t in anyway engaged. You know… just daydreaming and all). Since I had my inspiration for my gown, I had to think of a design for my bridesmaids. I remembered what Princess Grace wore in the movie “The Swan,” so that became my inspiration for my bridesmaids. In one of our formal office functions, I had a dressmaker make a prototype of my bridesmaid gown, and I absolutely loved it. Most of the female guests commented how my dress looked so nice, that I carried it so well. I was really happy wearing that dress.

And then “tragedy” came in (can’t tell you what. It is like uttering Voldemort’s name). I forced myself to forget about wedding stuff. And so the Princess Grace was forgotten.

Now zoom to 2005.

I went to Veluz to initially meet her and discuss the design of the wedding. She asked what I wanted and I told her, nothing in particular (liar!). I also wanted her to design a gown for me based on what she thinks is my style and what would suit me well. She asked if I wanted lace. Ting! I said yes. The end-product… A strapless gown with French alencon lace as waist detail and lovely velvet red or autumn-colored sash.

Prior to meeting her, I browsed through some photos of gowns, and I was able to get one that I wanted. Nope, not the Grace dress, but a Vera Wang number. It was strapless, with some lacy or whatever appliqués on top, and a sash (that’s my trademark so that wasn’t forgotten). After meeting Veluz, I sent her the picture.

The second time I met up with Veluz was when Jane (of Mike) had her measurement taken (July? August?). Veluz showed me this gown she said would also suit me and was thinking of designing a similar one for me… well at least the top portion.

Upon seeing it, flashes of Grace Kelly went back into my mind. The dress that I wanted! How could I have forgotten it so long, the one that I have dreamed of wearing since I was 16! As I was browsing for Grace’s dress again, Mia M. (a chatmate and former w@wie) told me to look at Monique Lhuillier’s gowns since they evoke Grace’s wedding dress. Visualizing a modern Grace dress was even made easier!

Monique Lhuillier's Interpretation

And so Veluz and I discussed our redesign. We would still keep the strapless, but my bodice will be covered with lace. I finally told her my inspiration for my gown… Grace Kelly. I was glad when she said it would suit me. I was still squeamish about the full sleeves, so we opted that mine would have no sleeves (somewhat halter though I am unsure since I have those fatty stuff near my pits).

When I visited her again early this year, Veluz sketched what we had in mind, had my measurement taken, and then this… my first fitting.

I am really really so excited to fit my soon-to-be gown for the first time. Already I am feeling like a Princess. Though I may not have a prince for a husband, like Grace Kelly, I do have my Enrique, and that is enough for me.

Wedding Preps... zzzzz....

2006-05-17T17:49:00.000+08:00

RRRRIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!

I think I need to wake up and continue with our wedding preps! These past few weeks, I have done nothing much, thanks to the thinking that "it's still 7 months away anyway."

But yesterday I had this desire to do some wedding preps again. This was probably because for a couple of days I was virtually glued to my bed... I had a dental operation that left me slightly disfigured that I could hardly speak and eat. Spending idle time in my bed made me think where have I been lagging and all...

I thought of a couple of things to do, and my plans so far are:

1. First fitting with Veluz. The cacha is already available, but my first appointment was cancelled because I had to go to Cebu. Now Veluz is busy, but hopefully before the month ends, I could fit the cacha, and order the silk dupioni / thai silk from Marj (of Carlos).

2. Talk to JJS regarding list of songs.

3. Have a meeting with Mallory Cosio, our host for the reception. You know, just a little get to know so at least during the reception she knows something about us. Hehehe.

4. Discuss with Josiah's regarding the cake details (and also some things that needs to be ironed out).

5. Call / go to Mt. Carmel and clarify some procedures, e.g. pre-cana requirements, when the 50% will be paid, the banns, permission from parish forms, etc...

Whew.... reservations have been made, now it's time for the details...

Merry Month of May

2006-05-12T13:25:00.000+08:00

Wow! How time flies so fast. I just remembered that May of last year was the time when Enrique and I decided to get married. February last year, we were thinking on whether to invest in a house and lot first or to get married. Initially we decided to buy a place of our own. But then when May came, we changed our minds... And so towards the end of May I started conceptualizing and did some preliminary reseach for our wedding.

I am probably just being sentimental and all, but today when I visited our blog, a picture taken during our first date (as a couple) caught my eye. I began reminiscing, and recalled how nervous and excited I was. But it was a truly memorable time for us. He just came back from Europe, I just came back from Malaysia. He picked me up at the airport and we went straight to the Tagaytay. *sigh*

On our first date he took me to all 4 churches he visits whenever he goes to Tagaytay. He introduced me to all his patron saints, and told God that he is with the woman who he loves and wants to be with for the rest of his life.

And now, 7 months from now, he will take me again to a church, not for introduction purposes, but to face and be blessed by God as man and wife.

First DIY: Missalette... and Others

2006-04-15T11:07:00.000+08:00

Missalettes

Well... I'm not exactly done yet and have not yet officially started on the DIY portion. I did however start and finish the typing of the missalette in word document. I just copied the hard copy provided by Mt. Carmel.

While typing, I kept on imagining what it would be like on the day itself: the bridal march, the song list, the candles, the veil and cord, the saying of vows, the ring and arrhae... In other words, I was being sentimental again!

Anyway, back to my first DIY project... I have talked to my dad about my concept of the missalette: to have our pic (B&W) in the cover (I got this idea from the Knot website) OR just a nice looking rusty-autumny hard paper I will buy from Marj (of Carlos). He told me that he didn't dig the picture thing, and preferred a more classic design... Hmm... point very well taken.

Invites

We also discussed a little bit about the invites, and I told him that the invites are courtesy of Fernwood (done by V-Craft). I have talked to Susan and Yolly last year about my intention to just upgrade it a bit (emboss the words and probably have a double envelope). I planned to use abaca paper as cover, but my Dad thought the paper looked like cotton candy. Hahaha! So I guess I would have to push through with using the same hard paper for the missalette for the invites cover. Either that or organza paper... I don't know. If I get lazy then I'll just settle for the unadorned invites.

Favors

At the beginning of our wedding preps, Enrique and I decided to have sandalwood fans OR candles as favors. Early this year though, I have thought of giving minicakes as favors c/o Judy Uson. But lately I have been thinking of just going back to our original plan of giving pears and apples candles wrapped in sinamay, the sandalwood fans an additional (if we still have the budget for it). Enrique reminded me that his cousin is a candlemaker, so we can just ask her to make those candles for us.

Anyway, the next step I guess is to meet with Marj regarding the papers, and also show her the swatch Veluz has given me for my wedding gown.

Loungerie Lux for Honeymoon

2006-04-10T13:58:00.000+08:00

Last Sunday I went to the mall to buy some bathing suits for this summer's events: company outings, family get togethers, overnights, etc... I checked out U Swimwear, and there was this really nice and sexy deep purple maillot that I wanted. Unfortunately, the only size is SMALL, and no matter how much I tried to fit in my former plus-size (I was an XS before), I just couldn't squeeze myself into it.

I then checked out the items in Billabong. All were two-piece bikinis and some tankinis. However I was hoping to get a maillot so as not to be too revealing in our company outing...

Anyway, I went to Chocolate to check out Loungerie Lux, and I really eyed a couple of items. The fit of this deep purple piece was reeeaaaallllyyyy sexy, and I knew that this one is neither for regular beach bumming nor for company outings... Imagine this maillot with a plunging U-neckline beaded w/ torquoise stones (down to the waist!) which will really really show off any cleavage, somewhat cutouts in the sides of the waist area to show off a defined waist, and is almost backless.

This piece however is good for one thing.... honeymoon attire! It would be a really pleasant surprise for my Enrique! Hehehe...

Our Honeymoon!

2006-04-07T16:48:00.000+08:00

Wow! I got really excited upon confirming my booking reservation for our honeymoon! :-D

I know, I know... it might be too early for some... But after all the fuzz about wedding preps, I am really looking forward to the wedding itself, the honeymoon, and the life together. Jen of Eric joked me if I was looking forward to the vacation or the "s3x".... Hehehe... I initially said "of course, the vacation." But after two seconds, I added... and of course, the s3x too! Hahahaha!

Nami Private Villas

Anyway, I am really really pleased with my accomplishments so far. I was able to meet our budget for our honeymoon. Now I couldn't help but imagine us by the beach, relaxing in our private jacuzzi while sipping champagne, spas, and of course.... hehehe.

Handwriting Analysis

2006-04-04T14:47:00.000+08:00

What does your handwriting say about YOU?

The results of your analysis say:
- You plan ahead, and are interested in beauty, design, outward appearance, and symmetry.
- You are a shy, idealistic person who does not find it easy to have relationships, especially intimate ones.
- You are affectionate, passionate, expressive, and future-oriented.
- You are a talkative person, maybe even a busybody!
- You enjoy life in your own way and do not depend on the opinions of others.

Losing Those 1 1/2 Inches!

2006-03-31T09:13:00.000+08:00

Hehehe...

It seems that I am slowly harvesting the fruits of my investment in yoga, rice-less meals, and braces.

Last night, I went to Tet to have my first fitting on the dress I am having her made for my grandparents' golden anniversary, and the dress was so loose on the waist part! Tet was really concerned, and asked for the measurements again to see where she went wrong. After all, she was the one who took my measurements.

She checked the old waist measurement and it read 27 1/2. I knew this was correct because Niko (of Veluz) a week ago also took my stats and he said to me I was a 27 1/2.

When Tet measured my waist again, it was down to 26. Whoah! And I just had braces over the weekend!

I was really delighted to learn this, but my sister was a bit worried that I am losing weight too early. She noted that I have a tendency that when I lose weight, I really get thin and stay that way, until my "fat age" begins.

But then that's another story. Maybe I will keep track of my developments, and will try not to overdo the losing part.

But really, I was happy with the 1 1/2 inches lost. I may not go back to my old 23 waistline and 34 hips (currently a 37), but I will try my best to keep these as close to my old figures as possible... :-D

Little Miss Tin Grin

2006-03-28T14:39:00.000+08:00

After years of being told that I needed to have braces, I finally succumbed to its calling. This was partly due to my concern that our pictures might not look nice. Vanity set in as soon as I saw our first prenuptial pictures last November. My oh my! What imperfect teeth I have! I started inquiring about having braces, but upon hearing the cost, I just shrugged the idea off. We have so many costs to consider, and I did not want to add anymore to them.

However, fellow w@wie friend Grace (of Harvey) convinced me to fix my teeth. Finally, I got my braces last Saturday afternoon.

It feels a little weird, but I am coping with it. I am still having difficulty eating, but I just tell myself that at least this would help me lose some weight I have gained over the past few months.

Having braces is really expensive, but I sure hope this little affair with vanity is worth it.

Ladies' Night

2006-03-13T08:54:00.000+08:00

Last Thursday, Jen, Arlene (plus sister!), Maricel, and I agreed that not having dinner was far too long already, so we decided to have dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (cheap food!).

We spent the whole time catching up on things... married life, work, and wedding preps (I'm the only one in the group that's not married yet!). They joked me that they will be spending a lot again... since Enrique is now at sea, they said that they would get a lot of dinner invitations from me. Hehehe!

Ladies' Night at Behrouz, Metrowalk

Ladies who couldn't go that night were Jane and Con-con. Oh well, there's gonna be one dinner this week anyway... :-D

Another pic by Archie P.

2006-03-09T11:55:00.000+08:00

Here's another picture taken by our photographer at Glo's wedding.
:-D

Another pic by Archie P.

Wedding bands - Option 2

2006-03-07T17:46:00.000+08:00

Goldenhills sent me a picture of our second option for our wedding bands. This is cheaper than our first option, but the bands look good anyway.

Enrique really prefers this as he doesn't feel wearing a band with diamonds, let alone 9 diamonds!

This weekend I will be going back to the Goldenhills showroom and finalize what set to get.

Option 2 - w/ emerald cut diamonds

Cake and Wedding Bands

2006-03-06T12:59:00.001+08:00

*Sigh*

Just to keep myself even busier, I will just post some updates on our wedding preps...

Last December, Enrique and I have reserved our wedding bands. We initially wanted to just have a simple, unadorned wedding band, but upon seeing the pair, we reserved it on the spot.

Our wedding bands

During the bridal fair however, another pair of wedding bands captured our eyes. Unfortunately I have no picture of it, but the details are: Bride - combination of glossy and matte finish band, with 3 emerald cut diamonds set apart; Groom - same except no diamonds.

Enrique preferred this pair because though he liked what we have reserved last December, he still felt uneasy about wearing a band with diamonds in it.

**************************

During the fair, I showed Marie, our AE in Josiah's Catering, the picture of the cake we wanted. Ms. Judy Uson, will be our cake maker but we will course this thru Josiah's. We opted for this design so that our cake will also serve as our favors.

Our cake. :-)

Speaking of favors... I am still unsure whether the minicakes will be our only favors, or if we will still push through with our plan of giving fans or candles. If so, maybe we would rethink about the cake (hehehe, it's pricey, as per my standards!). But as of the moment, this will be our wedding cake.

Sad and Lonely

2006-03-06T12:42:00.000+08:00

Up until now I can't accept that Enrique has gone for work. He left yesterday afteroon, and as usual, my poise was lost in the airport. I tried to control my tears, but to no avail. My sadness was really reflected by my face. I couldn't smile at all. But I broke down into a river of tears when he had to finally go inside the airport.

The day before (March 4), Enrique and I went to the Themes & Motifs Bridal Fair at the NBC Tent. We just tried to shrug off the fact that he will be leaving the next day, but after two hours of strolling, he finalyl told me we had to leave... he couldn't stand the fact that he will leave me with the wedding preps that he enjoyed doing.

Now I am just keeping myself busy. Till then, it will be winter first before our special autumn.

Glo's Wedding

2006-03-02T16:53:00.000+08:00

Enrique and I attended Glo's wedding last February 18, 2006. Her wedding was really nice. I loved the setup, the colors, the favors (yummy cupcake!), the cake, etc. Archie Paungan, our photographer, was their photographer as well. We forgot to bring a camera to have a remembrance of this special day of our friend, but it's so fortunate that Archie was able to take one quick picture of us...

Picture by Archie P.

Winter Days...

2006-02-27T18:05:00.000+08:00

I should be happy today because today is the 2nd year since Enrique and I first met. I am happy, but then this happiness is dampened eveytime I remember that he will leave for work anytime this week. That would be 7 1/2 months away from each other.

My winter season is coming to a close... Sigh.........

Pamamanhikan

2006-02-21T16:41:00.000+08:00

Finally! Enrique and his family went to our house for the pamamanhikan. We had planned this ever since he came back from work (November 2005), but it kept on being moved due to the holidays and also the request of his mom (she needed to go to the dentist and work on her teeth, hehehe).

His family consisted of: Enrique, his mom, brother, sister, and niece.

My family consisted of: Me, my Mom & Dad, my sister, 2 brothers, Lola, Ninang (from Canada), Tito, Tita and cousin, whew... a lot from my side!

Pineda - Martinez family

I invited my Grandma since she is the same age as Enrique's mom - for conversation purposes (good thing I did, they went along really well). My Ninang was there too since she will be part of our primary sponsors. Both of them stayed in my Uncle's house, so I invited them too because my Uncle was the one who brought my Ninang and Grandma to our place.

Gift from my Ninang

Anyway, everything went well. The morning of, we even had a little drama, to the point that we questioned whether we should continue with our wedding plans or not. Good thing we came to our senses... we became even more in love with one another during and after the pamamanhikan.

We went a little modern, because instead of Enrique's family cooking and bringing the food, we hired a caterer to do the job. What we did was when Enrique's family arrived, that was the time that the caterer set up the buffet -- at least it signified his family bringing the food to our home.

The food! Yum yum!

*Sigh* I'm so happy because now everything is formalized. The only thing that is bringing me down a bit is that Enrique will be leaving first week of March. I just try to think that t's ok, and the next time we meet, I will be officially known as Mrs. Enrique Pineda Jr...

Now that is something I am really looking forward to. :-D

To Blog Again...

2006-02-16T12:05:00.000+08:00

Wow! Time passed so fast that I never even thought that my last post was ages ago!

Now I'm beginning to feel that need again to update and post here because in a matter of two weeks, Enrique will be away again. He will return on October. Sheesh, those two months before our big day will be so hectic!

Anyway, what have we done so far? It's actually a combination of preparing for the wedding and scouting for a place to stay when we are finally wed. Actually, we focused more on looking at houses and units, rather than on wedding preps!

With regard to wedding preps, we have finally booked the following:

1. HMUA - Angie Cruz
2. Strings - JJS Entertainment
3. Bouquet and Ento Flowers - Mang Boy Mahusay
4. Entourage Gowns - Tet Hagape

Enrique finally saw Fernwood, and he totally loves it. He got sentimental and teary-eyed when we went inside the chapel and tried to walk down the aisle. *Sigh*

As expected, he loved the food of Josiah's, although we have yet to taste the actual food they will serve.

Regarding the flowers, our initial prospect was someone else, and we were supposed to sign the contract already. However, we just went to Dangwa for fun, and lo and behold... Enrique was so amused with Mang Boy that he decided that we should get him. He paid the DP on the spot!

Enrique was really hands on with the preps, and I'm so proud of him. Even though during these past months that he was here, we had a couple (a lot actually) of arguments, it made our bond stronger (I hope!) and at least we had an idea already on how it would be when it comes to dealing with these kinds of matters (finance, decision-making, preparations, etc...).

But right now, we are focusing on our latest event... the pamamanhikan! Enrique is so scared but I told him not to worry, my family (and the whole clan) accepts him as part of the family.

All for now, and hopefully I would update regularly, like before!

Finally! He's Here!

2005-12-13T11:47:00.000+08:00

After 8 months of waiting, Enrique is finally here. The first few days were so hectic as we had a lot of errands to do, but we somehow managed to fit in everything that was planned. A couple of highlights...

1. I had trial makeups with 2 artists, and both were good. But I chose the artist that made me look radiant... During the w@w christmas party, a couple of w@wies commented that I looked really nice and glowing. Veluz, upon seeing us, approached me and gushed over my look. I really loved it.

2. W@W Christmas Party... Enrique enjoyed the whole night! He felt comfortable the whole time, and he even found a chika-mate... Carlos of Marj! Anyway, Veluz won as Supplier of the Year. I knew she would, I even bet my own gown that she will win. Hehehe good thing she did. :D

3. His Proposal... Dang, he really caught me by surprise. It happened in a light-mannered and funny way. I thought since he proposed before, we would just get over the formalities by us taking a trip to a jewelry shop and buy an engagement ring... but I was wrong. I love this ring, I can't keep my eyes off it! Its clarity and whiteness is just stunning!

Anyway, that's all for now. I'll be having an extended vacation with him, so Ciao!

Sleeping Girl Semi-Awake...

2005-10-31T18:58:00.000+08:00

Woah! Talk about not updating and keeping silent!

Anyway, there aren't really any u[dates when it comes to wedding stuff, but a big update is this: Only two weeks from now and my beloved Enrique will be here! Every day that passes by seems to be getting slower by the second. But it's ok. Only fifteen more days... ;-D

Anyway, I just saw Gracita's blog and I just had this quick test. Later on I will reply to her tag...

How You Life Your Life

You have a good sense of self control and hate to show weakness.
You tend to avoid confrontation and stay away from sticky situations.
You prefer a variety of friends and tend to change friends quickly.
You tend to dream big, but you worry that your dreams aren't attainable.

How Do You Live Your Life?

Partial Slumber

2005-10-07T15:21:00.000+08:00

Wow! It's been a while since I last posted!

I haven't done much though. The only change is with regard to the entourage gowns. I decided to use full rust color with deep red accent for bridesmaids and flower girls; my Maid of honor will still wear a full deep red colored gown. Primary and secondary sponsors will wear varying shades of gold.

I also plan to meet April and Karen Yu for my bouquet and for my entourage's flowers. Another prospect is Kablooms. No definites yet though.

Hmm.... what else? Nothing much really. Just these things. Although I was really concerned about the colors for my entourage.

Oh yes... 6 more weeks and my beloved Enrique will be back here! I'm so excited though I think i will be out of the country when he arrives. Poor Enrique... This is the second time that instead of me picking him up when he arrives, he will be the one to pick me up when I arrive from a business trip. Oh well. What's important is that we will be together soon.

*Sigh*

Meeting With Ento Gown Designer

2005-09-22T21:45:00.000+08:00

Wow, it's been a while since I last posted about wedding preps...

Anyway, I just got home from a meeting with Eric Garcia, my prospect entourage gown designer. Along with me is my Mom and my sister, so they could help me finalize the look of and colors to be used for the gowns. The meeting went quite well. Eric sketched two designs for my mom, and both looked really nice!

There was some difficulty with regard to the colors of the gowns, as my sister was unsure whether she should have a burgundy colored gown or a light orange-yellow ochre-ish one. But here are the following colors which will be used for our entourage:

1. Maid of Honor - Burgundy or Light Orange/Yellow Ochre-ish
2. Bridesmaids - Light Orange/Yellow Ochre-ish or Burgundy
3. Secondary Sponsors - Beige (unsure yet though)
4. Flower Girls - Beige with Burgundy Sash as accent
5. Primary Sponsors - Matte Gold
6. Mother of the Bride - Two Colors of Green
7. Mother of the Groom - Unsure yet but this might be Light Earthy Yellow (to be finalized when Eric meets my MIL2b)

Other Wedding Preps Matters:

1. I'm supposed to meet up with Christine of Out of the Box this Saturday, but we decided to reschedule.
2. I got to talk to the wife of Alex Franco and she confirmed to me that we are pencil-booked and will meet up before the year ends.

Singapore Trip

2005-09-14T08:56:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since I last posted here. I have no wedding preparations activities so far!

Anyway, I am currently in Singapore, preparing my stuff to go back home in Manila. Last Monday night I was able to meet up with Cata and Flo. Unfortunately, I didn't bring a camera with me (Dang!), so I had to settle for my phone's camera. Ugh. But, it is still better than not having any pictures taken!

Van and Cata

Flo and Cata

Fountain Show

I've Been Tagged: Seven Things

2005-09-06T22:30:00.000+08:00

I've been tagged by Liv, so here goes!

Seven Things That Scare Me
1.) Losing Enrique 2.) Being A Patient in the Hospital 3.) Being Alone At Home 4.) Having No Relationship with God 5.) Getting Sick 6.) Scary movies (though I still watch some!) 7.) Uncertainty

Seven Things I Like The Most
1.) Being With Enrique 2.) Staying In Bed 3.) Reading 4.) Nature 5.) Food! 6.) Shopping 7.) Music

Seven Random Facts About Me
1.) I like to draw and paint 2.) I'm a Taurean 3.) I'm an environmentalist 4.) I wanted to be a nun 5.) I eat a lot 6.) I don't exercise though I need to 7.) I have small feet... :-(

Seven Important Things In Our Bedroom
1.) Bed 2.) Books 3.) Lampshade 4.) Pillows 5.) Sidetable 6.) Picture of me and Enrique 7.) Cross

Seven Things I Plan To Do Before I Die
1.) Take a European Tour 2.) Have a family of our own 3.) Say I love you to parents, sibling, family, friends, and Enrique (of course) 4.) Visit the Vatican 5.) Read the entire Bible 6.) Do charity work 7.) Go to all ancient cities and sites that I've read about

Seven Things I Can Do
1.) I can paint and draw 2.) I can kinda sing (though not necessarily good!) 3.) I can dance 4.) I can write an article 5.) I can put on makeup 6.) I can play bowling (though I'm not good!) 7.) I can play other sports such as table tennis, badminton, volleyball, fencing, etc...

Seven Things I Can't Do
1.) I can't see my future without Enrique 2.) I can't go inside a market 3.) I can't stop myself from loving Enrique soooo much 4.) I can't reach my toes anymore (ergo, I need to exercise!) 5.) I can no longer drink alcoholic drinks as much as I used to! 6.) I can't drive a manual transmission car 7.) I can't play the guitar

Seven Things That Attract Me To The Opposite Sex
1.) Humor 2.) Thoughtfulness 3.) Eyes 4.) Smile 5.) Intellect 6.) Respectful 7.) Simplicity

Seven Things I Say The Most
1.) Dang! 2.) Letch 3.) Nyemas 4.) I Love You! 5.) Thank You 6.) Please 7.) Oh well...

Seven Celeb Crushes (Whether Local or Foreign)
1.) Orlando Bloom 2.) Piolo Pascual 3.) Brad Pitt? 4.) Enrique Iglesias 5.) Orlando Bloom 6.) Orlando Bloom 7.) Orlando Bloom

Seven People You Want To See Take This Quiz
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ANSWER THIS!

w@w EB: 27 August 2005

2005-08-29T17:21:00.000+08:00

Here are two of the pctures taken during the W@W Grand EB that was held in Oasis Manila last 27th August 2005.

Dinner Time!

Lounging Around!

Birthdate Meanings

2005-08-24T07:45:00.000+08:00

This morning, I happen to come across this website that will give you the meaning of your birthdate. Here are our results...

***ENRIQUE'S BIRTHDATE MEANING***
Your birth on the 26th day of the month (8 energy) modifies your life by increasing your capability to function and succeed in the business world.

In this environment you have the skills to work very well with others thanks to the 2 and 6 energies combining in this date.

There is a marked increase in organizational, managerial, and administrative abilities.

You are efficient and handle money very well.

You're ambitious and energetic, while generally remaining cooperative and adaptable.

You are conscientious and not afraid of responsibility.

Generally sociable and diplomatic, you tend to use persuasion rather than force.

You have a wonderful combination of being good at both the broad strokes and the fine detail; good at starting and continuing. This birthday is practical and realistic, often seeking material satisfaction.

***VAN'S BIRTHDATE MEANING***
Being born on the 3rd day of the month is likely to add a good bit of vitality to your life.

The energy of 3 allows you bounce back rapidly from setbacks, physical or mental.

There is a restlessness in your nature, but you seem to be able to portray an easygoing, "couldn't care less" attitude.

You have a natural ability to express yourself in public, and you always make a very good impression.

Good with words, you excel in writing, speaking, and possibly singing.

You are energetic and always a good conversationalist.

You have a keen imagination, but you tend to scatter your energies and become involved with too may superficial matters.

You are affectionate and loving, but sometimes too sensitive.

You are subject to rapid ups and downs.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Josiah's Catering

2005-08-22T15:51:00.000+08:00

I just got my revised contract with Josiah's and so far I am really happy when it comes to dealing with them. This made me more excited about our wedding!

I feel so blessed that I was able to book before their Anniversary promo ended. Marie, our AE, is so easy to talk to, especially when it comes to little demands (e.g. Vinaigrette dressing other than the usual thousand island) as well as budgeting concerns.

But of course, what impressed me the most is their food, which I think is the most important thing to consider. Still, it also helps that I feel relaxed (at least as of this moment) when it comes to dealing with them. I am really crossing my fingers that they continue their excellent service.

The Zany Photographer

2005-08-18T09:24:00.000+08:00

I met with Archie (photographer) and Richie (viedeo editor) last night and our dinner was a blast! Archie was soooo funny and very witty. There was never a dull moment. And when I looked at his works, they were really nice. We discussed a little about what can be done for our wedding day, though this wasn't much... It's still far away! We agreed again to meet when Enrique's here already.

Anyway, I'm happy so far with the suppliers I have met and booked. Hopefully things will really turn out well!

Enrique Says: 6 PM!

2005-08-17T13:59:00.000+08:00

I just talked to Enrique, and he’s very firm that we get the 6 pm slot. He’s probably enamored by the night picture of St. Francis Chapel.

So far:

A. 6:00 PM slot
1. Enrique
2. Van
3. Peachy
4. Maybelle

B. 4:30 PM Slot
***Everyone else

Dilemma, dilemma, dilemma.

The Innocent Bride

2005-08-17T07:49:00.000+08:00

I got this quiz from Edrei's blog and my result was this!

Awww! You are an innocent bride!

What Kind of Bride Will You Be?
brought to you by Quizilla

True or not true? That is the question :D Hehehehe.

I guess it's true. I'm really a hopeless romantic. :D

Dinner at Kashmir

2005-08-17T07:19:00.000+08:00

After talking about Indian food last week, my w@wie friends decided to have an Indian foodtrip. And so last night, we ate in Kashmir. Initially we were supposed to be a group of 8 or more, but in the end only four us confirmed: Helen, Jen, Maybelle, and myself.

It was very fun, especially since Helen (who I met for the first time last night) has never tried Indian food before. We told the waiter that all our food should just be medium-spicy. After tasting, we were thinking, "Why didn't we say 'mild'?" The food was very delicious and rich, although somewhat on the spicy side. Still, we enjoyed every bit of what we ordered.

Later that night we agreed that we should have regular "sports" activities as part of our get-togethers -- think bowling and badminton. Another planning is needed!

It took a couple of takes before we finally agreed that this picture is the most "decent" one!

We just had to have a picture right at the entrance (before we went home)

L-R: Helen, Jen, Van, Maybelle

I just tried this collage for fun

Change of Time Slot

2005-08-16T09:20:00.000+08:00

After much thought and based on the opinions of fellow w@wies, n@wies, friends, and my Mom, I finally decided to change our wedding rite time slot from 6:00 pm to 4:30 pm.

Reasons are as follows:

1. The weddings prior to ours might have some delays, thus our wedding time might be pushed at a later time.
2. Reception might be pushed further, and I don't want this, since we might get hungry!
3. Archie P. suggested to get the 4:30 slot because normally it takes an hour for the photo-ops.

Reasons why I still like the 6 pm slot *but I have to let this slot go):

1. Night time is the best time to see the beauty of the chapel, and of Fernwood itself (you know, to maximize the value for money!)
2. No rush to end abruptly because this is the last slot.
3. Straight to dinner, no need for cocktails (ergo less expenses, hahahaha. So lame an excuse)

Thanks to all those who helped me with regard to this dilemma!

Mt. Carmel / St. Francis Chapel Update

2005-08-13T13:05:00.000+08:00

Before I say something about my latest wedding preps achievement, here's a tidbit:

Yesterday, my beloved Enrique called me up. I was so happy to hear his voice, and I was really surprised. he called my direct line in the office. The reason? Because he feared that if he called me in my cellphone, I might not answer it (he thought I was still mad). Anyway, I said that I'm really sorry about our little squabble (actually it's more on me that was squabbling!), and that I love him sooooo much. We had a really long and really nice talk, and I felt that I was in Cloud 9! Then while I was on my way to Greenhills to watch Bewitched (really funny, must watch!), he called me again to say his I love you's and please take care's.

*********

On to my wedding preps update:

Just this morning I went to Mt. Carmel to pay the downpayment for the Church's services. They're a little strict when it comes to certain requirements and to the rites itself. Among the "strict requirements are:

1. Pre-Marriage Counselling / Seminar must be attended by the couple and is given every last Friday of the month, between 9 am and 12 nn. Other seminars, such as Discovery Weekend, ARE NOT ALLOWED. And the attendance of the seminar whould be after the paperwork requirements are done.

2. Canonical Interview is the last requirement, and is only given every Wednesday and Thursday between 9 am and 12 nn.

***This means that I have to be on leave for two days in order to accomplish this!

3. Only liturgical songs are allowed during the Wedding Rites. Non-liturgical songs can only be played during the Bridal Procession and during picture-taking after the Rites.

4. Readers should be dressed appropriately: No strapless or spaghetti straps. If they wear these dresses, they have to wear shawls.

That's it actually, not that bad really. But I was hoping we could play our songs during the Rites itself. Oh well.

I got these answers after asking them. They didn't really tell me the details, just gave me the requirement sheet, as well as the receipt. i was a little discouraged because I told them that I am still undecided on whether I should get the 4:30 slot or the 6:00 slot, and requested if they could call me first if somebody would want the 4:30 slot. They said that I should just call them for updates. Hello??? How would I know right? Unless I call them everyday! But I guess I would just have to ask Joy (our AE in Fernwood) to inform me if someone booked the other venues, with the same date as mine. Reason why I am concerned about this is because I don't want our wedding time to be delayed. I really want ours to start on time, for fear that our reception will be too late. I feel uneasy abou the 4:30 slot because it will end at 5:30 (until 5:45 for the picture taking) and I find 6:00 to be too early for the wedding reception, not to mention that I will be rushed to finish since there would be another wedding at 6 pm.

Anyway, that's all. But overall, I'm really happy with the pace of our wedding preps.

*********

Only 3 more months and Enrique will be back! I'm so happy! How time flies!

13th Month

2005-08-11T13:08:00.000+08:00

Today is our 13th monthsary! Enrique still hasn't called, but I hope that he calls me today. I have a lot of things to tell him, including "I'm Sorry."

Anyway, I have nothing much to say when it comes to wedding preparations, except that I called Josiah's Catering regarding the draft contract for our perusal. This Saturday, I will go to Fernwood and to Mt. Carmel to finalize the time (we are opting for the 6 pm slot, though they have to assure me that this will be on time!). I was supposed to go to Veluz prior to the Fernwood trip, but it was moved to Saturday next week.

****

This cold is getting nasty. I hope it will not worsen. I don't want to get sick again!

BREAK TIME!

2005-08-08T16:40:00.000+08:00

WIFE vs. HUSBAND

A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position.

As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, “Relatives of yours?”

“Yep,” the wife replied, “In-laws.”

*********
WORDS

A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day... 30,000 to a man's 15,000. The wife replied, “The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men...”

The husband then turned to his wife and asked, “What?"

*********
CREATION

A man said to his wife one day, "I don't know how you can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time.

The wife responded, “Allow me to explain. God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me; God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you!”

*********
WHO DOES WHAT
A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning.

The wife said, “You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee.”

The husband said, “You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee.”

Wife replies, "No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee.”

Husband replies, "I can't believe that, show me."

So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says.......... "HEBREWS"

*********
The Silent Treatment

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper,

"Please wake me at 5:00 AM." He left it where he knew she would find it. The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed.

The paper said, "It is 5:00 AM. Wake up."

*********
Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.

God may have created man before woman, but there is always a rough draft before the masterpiece.

That Memorable Night: Dinner at Teriyaki Boy

2005-08-05T12:05:00.000+08:00

Finally!

ConCon sent us our pictures from our dinner last Tuesday. Tuesday night... That fateful night when I had my dose of GERD. Hehehehe. It's ok, we had fun even though they thought I wanted to go home early due to CSI NY!

See, you guys, I was telling the truth! I really didn't feel well! :-)

L-R: Jane, Myself, Arlene, Jen (Special Mention!), Concon

Perfect Gift for Our Entourage

2005-08-05T09:52:00.000+08:00

I have found a really nice token that can be given to our entourage (and if I still have a budget, for our guests as well).

I believe in the cause of One.org, a fight campaign against poverty and AIDS.

For those who are interested to join the campaign, here are the following links to consider:

One.Org
MakePovertyHistory.Org
EndPoverty-Philippines.com

I've Been Tagged by Chi!

2005-08-04T10:31:00.000+08:00

Chi, a fellow w@wie, tagged me. So I’m passing this on to my fellow W@WIES.

1. What are the things you enjoy doing even when there's no one around you?
Hmm... tough question! Most of the time I am alone! Hehehe. Well, I enjoy reading books, watching CSI, talking to Enrique over the phone. I used to draw, paint, and play the tin whistle and piano, but for some reason I am currently a dormant "artist." I also enjoy singing, even though there's no audience. And most of all, I enjoy communing with nature. I miss those times when I just climb up our hill in the province, armed only with water, knife, and salt. Then i climb up a mango tree and eat mangoes, while watching the sunset and enjoy the view: the sparkling sea plus the faint islands beyond.

2. What lowers your stress/blood pressure/anxiety level?
I normally don't get stressed, though I get depressed and anxious at times. Whenever I have these attacks, I just pray to God and think of Enrique. I used to practice yoga too. Hmm... probably I should do that again.

3. Tag 5 friends and ask them to post it in theirs.

Arlene
Concon
Glo
Jacque
Peachy

Thanks Chi!

Married Life Boo-boos!

2005-08-04T10:23:00.000+08:00

My officemate sent me this post, this is funny!

MARRIED LIFE BOO-BOOs

TO MY DEAR WIFE:
During the past year I have tried to make love to you 365 times. I have succeeded 36 times, which is an average of once every ten days.

The following is a list of why I did not succeed more often:

54 times the sheets were clean
17 times it was too late
49 times you were too tired
20 times it was too hot
15 times you pretended to be asleep
22 times you had a headache
17 times you were afraid of waking the baby
16 times you said you were too sore
12 times it was the wrong time of the month
19 times you had to get up early
9 times you said weren't in the mood
7 times you were sunburned
6 times you were watching the late show
5 times you didn't want to mess up your new hairdo
3 times you said the neighbors would hear us
9 times you said your mother would hear us

Of the 36 times I did succeed, the activity was not satisfactory because:

6 times you just laid there
8 times you reminded me there's a crack in the ceiling
4 times you told me to hurry up and get it over with
7 times I had to wake you and tell you I finished
1 time I was afraid I had hurt you because I felt you move

==========================================================

TO MY DEAR HUSBAND:
I think you have things a little confused. Here are the reasons you didn't get more than you did:

5 times you came home drunk and tried to screw the cat
36 times you did not come home at all
21 times you didn't cum
33 times you came too soon
19 times you went soft before you got in
38 times you worked too late
10 times you got cramps in your toes
29 times you had to get up early to play golf
2 times you were in a fight and someone kicked you in the balls
4 times you got it stuck in your zipper
3 times you had a cold and your nose was running
2 times you had a splinter in your finger
20 times you lost the notion after thinking about it all day
6 times you came in your pajamas while reading a dirty book
98 times you were too busy watching football, baseball, etc. on TV

Of the times we did get together:
- The reason I laid still was because you missed and were screwing the sheets.
- I wasn't talking about the crack in the ceiling, what I said was, "Would you prefer me on my back or kneeling?"
- The time you felt me move was because you farted and I was trying to breathe.

I Survived!

2005-08-03T14:07:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, I was down with tummy aches, but figured it was only a matter of time before my stomach comes back to normal. Apparently, I didn't foresee that things would turn out to be much worse...

In the wee hours of the morning, I was awakened by this feeling: as if there was a huge slab of stone above my chest. At the same time, my stomach was really painful. The stomach ache, I could understand, but this heavy feeling on my chest? It took me thirty minutes to decide that I should go to the hospital and let the doctors check me out. I know, thirty minutes was a long time, but I really have this great fear of hospitals. So anyway, my parents brought me to the hospital.

The doctors did an ECG test on me (to rule out heart problems), as well as chest x-ray (to rule out lung problems). Then they gave me two injections for two medicines. I tried to stay calm the whole time, and I succeeded! Whew, I survived.

But then, I was beginning to feel anxious and panicky (I was there for a total of two hours already), and so I told the doctor about this phobia of mine, and he said that i can be transferred to the observation room to rest. Yet even though I was there already, I was still beginning to panic and fear was creaping in already. I just played with my mobile phone. When a doctor checked on me, I calmly asked if I can go already because I'm beginning to feel tense and that i just wanted to go home. And so finally I was cleared. The doctor gave me prescriptions and explained to me what happened: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), which triggered my chest muscles to harden (thus the "burden feeling on my chest). We arrived at the house past 4 am already.

I know this might be a little lame, but all I can say is... "Thank God I survived this whole thing!" I have to tell this to Enrique, I'm sure he will be proud of my developments.

But on the darker side of things, while we were in the car on our way home, I had this sudden feeling that the three of us (my Mom, my Dad, and I) were thinking of the same thought: Enrique is most of the time away from home. What will happen if one night while he's away, something like this occurs? Who will take me to the hospital? This is something I have to talk to Enrique about. I hope we will sort this out...

But in the meantime, I am happy that I have overcome this fear, at least last night.