120 Day Countdown Begins

At last, we begin our 120 day countdown. :)

I must say, I actually thought I'll be all calm and collected having booked most of our suppliers ahead, even having done with our prenup... yet I actually feel pressured! Haha!

As a control freak that I am, you may understand how this countdown set me in a panic mode. We still need to book the following:

(a) Lights and sounds - to which we already spoke to and pencil booked. Just need to pay the DP and sign the contract.

(b) Entourage gown maker - though we decided not to pay for the entourage gowns, we still need to find one for them for uniformity. This is already pre-set to be my mom's friend, but we still haven't booked her cause I want my mom to tag along so we coudk avail of "friendly" rates. ;)

(c) Wedding Rings - Okay, so we bought a voucher already months ago. However, we decided no to go with it anymore. My Tita has a jeweller friend and we could have ours custom made by them at a much reasonable cost. So we decided to go ahead with this and completely set aside the voucher. Plus, my mom will be paying for these so we are, again, waiting for her to tag along.

(d) Florist - This is pre-set to another friend of my mom, who happened to be the same florist during my debutant's ball. So going with her is also a walk in the park choice. However, since he is a mom's friend, we need her to tag along with us.

(e) Invite drafts and printouts - So we're done with the STD, however I have not yet started anything - not even a dot for our DIY invitations. :| This is the major pressure I have as of now since work had been hectic and demanding of my time even on weekends.

(f) Musicians - We are still yet to find one! We liked SJT Strings, however they are a bit over our budget. So we need to look for others, and book them soon. I wouldn't want you to hear me sing on my own wedding - you might all go home! Haha!

(g) Ron's confirmation - We are needing to have this settled SOON! The thing was, Ron sort of remember that he received the Sacrament of Confirmation, however, he could not remember when or where! So to avoid anymore hassles, we just decided for him to go through it again - to which in my opinion, he needs a "re-confirmation". Hahaha!

So there... I do hope we do get to settle all of these this month of February till March. I just want a detailing schedule by April! Fingers crossed! :)

120 days and counting,

DIY # 4: Save Our Date!

Finally, I had a spare day today and I was able to edit a few of the raw photos from our official photographer. While doing so, I had the itch to pause and do our pending Save The Date.

I did not want a formal looking announcement, as we are not those type of folks. ;) Alas, below are my three options:

Option 1 - Peg is an upcoming match to showcase the "competitive personalities" of the couple (ehem... That's Us!).

Option 2 - It's a simple straight to the point announcement using fonts to suggest a "game" feel.

Option 3 - This was just for fun using an iPhone application turning photos into comic-like pages.

After a few votes from my chosen panel, you guys know who you are, we decided to go with our Option 2.

BUT WAIT...

Ron gave his opinion and wanted Option 1 because you could see our faces here, plus it has that "cinematic match" feel. However, he disapproves of the font choices.

So tweeking the layout a bit... And voila... Our DIY Save The Date!

Please Save The Date! :D

Cheers,

Tips: Prepping for Prenup

This Sunday, Dec 16th is our scheduled Pre-Nuptials Photo Shoot to be held in Dasmariñas, Cavite. All is set as planned. But, back when I was starting to prep for our wedding, I did not realize the time and effort needed for this one particular pre-wedding day.

It took me weeks before I was able to schedule the photographer and the venue. It was sort of a game of volleyball at times cause one party keeps throwing off the date. Until finally, I was able to find one common date - to which I instantly grabbed! :)

After which, the search for the hair and make up artist was needed to be done. And this did not come easily as well. Most of the artists I have asked had blocked off this date since December is the peak season for weddings, thus they entertain weddings more than prenups. Thankfully, after months of searching, I was able to book the HMUA that fits everything perfectly. :)

You might think it all ends there right? No, not at all!

We needed to look for clothes that will tie up the venue and the ideas we had. So we had to have a custom made pair of uniforms to bring our vision to life. And of course some styling was badly needed as well, thus the trip we had to Divisoria. ;)

All in all.. There are a few tips I could suggest future couples:

(1) Make sure to know, or at least have an idea of, when you would want to have your prenup, and what you want for it. This will be helpful in booking suppliers, as you could have the date blocked off at the same time that you are blocking off your wedding date. To top this, knowing what you want will help you set aside the needed budget for this particular day.

(2) Have a concrete vision.. Planning is easier when you know what you want to achieve in the end. Plus, this will help your suppliers to be prepared for your shoot, and be able to provide the services you need or more.

(3) Stick to your plan. It's nice to have Plan B, just be sure that this is not too far from your Plan A unless you have all the liberty in the world to change everything. Otherwise, changes could lead to additional costs, and of course stress for you and your fiance.

(4) Communicate. This is not just limited to you and your fiance. Have an open communication with your suppliers, especially your photographers, on how you envision your shoot. Throw ideas back and forth to know their limitations, and their capabilities, as well as yours. This will help both parties to have a better working relationship.

Lastly...

(5) Enjoy! This is hard to do when you are stressed - I know! But please do so. This will definitely help the way you perceive your prenup, and all the preparations you have done. And of course, stress makes us ugly - so who wants to be ugly on photos, right? So... No matter how stressful it gets, SMILE! :)

Just thinking,

W@W Auction: An Experience I'll Never Forget

So it's time for the yearly W@W Auction. Since this is my first year as a W@Wie, this is also the first and only auction I have the privilege of joining prior to our wedding. So you may assume I was really excited about this, which by the way - I WAS! :)

A week before the auction opened, Ms. Benz (co-founder of W@W) sent us a list of the items being auctioned. Immediately, I searched the list and took note of the ones I'm willing to bid on. Naturally, I checked our ever growing list of wedding expenses, but nonetheless, I decided to join. Haha! :))

The week of the auction was thrilling to say the least! And I had only placed bids to the ones I really wanted, and kept checking if I was already outbid or not. Came Saturday, the last night of auction, and the game was getting serious. By the time my first 2 bids were about to close, I lost both items. Sad, but I kept on fighting for my last item - which was to end at 7am the following day. A couple of hours before I decided to sleep, I was actually outbid. So immediately, I asked Ron if I could raise my bid and help me get some sleep. Good thing he said yes! :)

Come Sunday morning, I was up really early - earlier than my alarm clock that was set at 6am. Yes, this is how addicted I was! No movements were being done. No one is bidding for my last item, but I was praying really hard to get it. But alas! 2 minutes before the close, someone outbid me! And so, without Ron's approval, I bid and bid till my limit was exhausted and I had no choice but to fold and accept defeat. Needless to say, it was a sad morning. But as any game I had played, it was fun and very challenging I may add - you'll need to know how far you could go with your budget! Haha!

At the end of the auction, I did lost all 3 items, but kept a smile and learned that I could actually discipline myself at some point. Hahaha!

To my surprise, Ms. Benz announced a fast and furious round 2 for everyone that night! So, of course, I did join again and tried my luck. I proxy-bid my entire budget for each item and hoped that I'll get it a lower bid. Fingers crossed! :)

Two days of pure anticipation as I did bid for another 3 items, 2 of which were the same as the 1st round, and the 3rd item being one that I really wanted. Come this day, I was at work with a lot of reports to do, that I knew I had to strategically plan my time as all of it will close while I was working. Good thing as well, that I had proxy-bid all of them. But I did made use of Ron's spare time, as I had asked him to carefully watch the items I had place a bid on. So come judgment time, I did won the first 2 items - the Silver Unity Coins and the Php 3000 GC from Hearts & Bells. The 3rd item was very tricky, and I was scared to lose it. So I tried to finish my report, but unfortunately, I wasn't finished yet when Ron said I was already outbid. So, I knew I needed to set aside something, and checked it myself. 10 minutes before closing time, I asked Ron for approval and how much more I could bid - and when he gave the approval... you may have guessed already, I did placed my bid 5 minutes before it closed! And voila, I won Purple Dish's Dessert Bar Buffet for 150 guests! :))

Silver Unity Coins

Php 3, 000 Hearts & Bells Gift Certificate

Purple Dish for our Dessert Bar

By the end of the 2nd round, I won all 3 items and felt really really happy and excited!

Again, thank you to Ms. Benz and Sir Abet for creating W@W! This is really an unforgettable place to be - maybe virtual at most times, but definitely a family in support of one another. Being a part of it is really an unforgettable experience on its own - with the likes of this auction and the upcoming xmas party as cherries on top! ;)


Very grateful,

Place and Food: Officially Booked!

After a tiring and stressful week at work, we decided to stick with our schedules, instead of lazying around the house today. Today's schedule was supposed to be as follows:
10 AM - Queensland Catering Services - Las Pinas
12 NN - 1PM - Lunch at Hypermarket in Las Pinas or in Cash and Carry in Makati
2PM - Trial Makeup - Makati
But as always, nothing went according to plan as first, I woke up late - by 9am, and second, we both felt too tired to go to Makati. Hehe. So, we just decided to go to QCS, and hopefully to Antel in the afternoon.

By 11.30am, we were in Las Pinas already and decided to have lunch in the area. After which, we proceeded to QCS' office to have the waiver signed, discuss, and hopefully book them. Arriving in QCS, we talked with the AE in-charge for our wedding, Ms. Belen, and told her that Antel already signed the waiver we made. At first, there were hesitations on their part, and they insisted the 12% add-on. Ron was quiet, and I knew he was getting pissed off already. So, as much as I can, I tried to explain the purpose of the waiver, but the discussion was still on. Ron spoke and insisted the waiver we made, and luckily one of the other AEs butted in and commented that they could use the waiver in case Antel comes after them for payments of corkage fees, and have it mention in our contracts that any costs Antel will be seeking will be referred to us. Only by then, they accepted our waiver and agreed to a no 12% add-on. Whew!

After the heated discussion, I was just happy Ron did not ask to leave the place as I knew he wasn't very happy with what happened.. Hahaha! Anyways, we were able to discuss the needs for the wedding, chose the menu and other additional amenities. After reviewing the contract, we were both satisfied and happy with the choices, and decided to book them and pay the reservation fee required.

Fourth Supplier Booked: Quuensland Catering Services

We left QCS, and decided to go to Antel to reserve the place. And so we did. Before booking the venue and paying the reservation fees, we handed them the waiver and made sure, once more, that they won't be seeking payments from QCS. As proved by the waiver, they assured us and we were just relieved. So there, with the caterer booked, and the waiver signed - we booked Antel Grand Village Clubhouse's Ballroom for our June 8, 2013 wedding. :)

Photo from Antel's webiste... No photos from us as they were having a grand open house, and the ballroom was packed!

With a place to be and food to eat, we sighed and smiled in relief! :))

Mission accomplished,

A Gathering of Two Families

At last, the Pamamanhikan is done. According to tradition, the Pamamanhikan is done to announce the engagement of the couple and for the Groom to formally ask for the Bride’s hand in marriage.

Initially, we set the date of the Pamamanhikan on Christmas of this year, but coming from a traditional family, we’re told that we’re not suppose to be making arrangements for the wedding until it is done. So, months after the engagement, we realized that we’d want to do it sooner if we wanted to start booking suppliers at a lower rate, and make other necessary arrangements, and to have ample time to research for back-up suppliers. So instead of having it this Christmas, we set it on a Sunday, July 22nd 2012. Thus, it was more of a strategic move to do it earlier.

We had no idea what happens during the formalities, though we’ve attended some. So the only question we had in mind was – What food will Ron and his family bring to the said event? Period. That is all that we thought of. And since we had the date set next year, June 8th 2013, we figured everything will go on fine. As an engaged couple, we’ve discussed places, people, and other things for the upcoming wedding. But I guess nothing prepares you, for the formalities. Emotionally.

Days before Sunday, there was a typhoon, so Ron and I were not able to discuss some details alone. Admittedly, I was a nervous wreck for some reason. I had butterflies in my stomach, and kept checking our checklist, so we know what to answer their questions, if there were any. My control freak alter-ego was surfacing, and I hoped that everything will go on just fine.

Then comes Sunday. Everyone came for the formalities; from Ron’s side of the family, and from mine. We had lunch first before we discussed the wedding. When Ron came with his side of the family, and brought the food to be shared, we immediately thought twice whether the food would be enough for all. So, we asked someone to buy additional roasted chicken just in case.

Ron still calm, unlike me! Haha! :)

Food for everyone - the roasted chicken hasn't arrived yet.

Lunch time!!!

Smiling the nerves away ;)

Ayiiiiii.. it's our engagement party today! Wohoooo!!!

During the discussions, Ron formally asked my Papa for my hand in marriage in front of both families – I actually felt like a little girl again, sitting next to my Papa. Emotional as I was, tears were about to fall when my Papa responded to Ron with, “Sa akin naman ay pumapayag ako. Malalaki na naman kayo. Pero isa lang ang hihilingin ko sa iyo… Huwag na huwag mong sasaktan ang anak ko.” To which Ron responded, “Opo.” I was trying hard to hold back the tears and good thing I was able to, though I’ll probably won’t be able to do the same on our wedding day. Haha!

Holding back the tears... so much like a little girl.

Ooohhh... people are serious naaaa!

Ron and his side of the family

From there, everything just flowed lightly. The date was finally set – Formally set. A lot of questions were asked like where will the ceremony will take place, where will the reception be, and a lot of other details. Even the question about where we’ll have the honeymoon. Suggestions were also being brought to the table for us. It felt surreal – Like this is it! We’re getting married and we have the blessings of both families. It was truly a blissful feeling for us – it made us, especially me, realize that we are not alone in the preparations though we plan to shoulder everything.

At the end of the day, it was tiring, but it was definitely fun. I felt relieved as well knowing that both families are in agreement of the upcoming wedding, and no objections were raised. I was a very happy girl! ;))

Tired, but definitely happy! :D

 So now… the wedding plans begin.

Cheers!