121606

hibernation off...

2006-10-19T02:30:00.000-07:00

arrrggh... i've been neglecting not only this site but our preps as well. bin has been half-meaningly teasing me that my interest in the preparation just went down the drain... but you see, more than my usual procastrinating-self, it's my schedule at work that should be blamed. -- heeh.. im not making excuses here. of all the days that i can be burried neck deep with work, with less than 2 months to the wedding , i've been given assignments that dont allow me to be home before 10pm ,and i can see the sched getting tighter as the year ends. nyaarggss good thing ive already told my bosses of our plans, kaya there's no stopping me in going home! kundi nakuuuu... BABU! :D

so to get me back on track at least for a day or so, i'll just blog whatever wedding-related comes to mind. hehe

let's start with something really good....

--- we got our rings!!!! and we just love love love them in all aspects - the style, the fit, especially the price! :D

onset our preps we knew that we'd be getting our rings here in JP because bin was bent on buying platinum bands to match our rings, and plats are a LOT cheaper here than in Phils. what we got are sort of two-layered rings, top layer is a platinum and the bottom layer is made of yellow gold w/c is slighty wider than the plat... get the picture? they are kinda heavy and thick but fits comfortably. super simple, just the way we liked it. what im most happy about, however, is that we got them at a very reasonable price :D it was actually below our alloted budget hehehe.... so happy!

--- we had our moms' measurements taken ... my mom and sister went to Veluz last month for their measurements... it's a blessing that my mom didnt like the initial color of fabric veluz presented to us hehehe kasi the next options she gave us are much, much better. since they had 3 choices, i still got to decide which one to use hehehehe... basta it's a better shade of pink than the first one :D

mamang also sent her measurements then i gave it to veluz, wala naman reklamo, so i think they are already doing tbhe gowns... im sooo excited for this. i hope our moms will love their gowns. they so deserve to feel pretty on our wedding day din kasi :D

--- some of the entous have their measurements taken... some wala pa. im finally done getting our jp-based ninangs' and entous' sukat. i hope the fit would turn out just as well as jo's gown. nay! i remembered being told that all measurements should be in first week of october! :(

--- we already bought gifts for our ninangs. we're giving away silk wallets in different colors.. we'd probably just put some yen in it. coins lang! hehehe i plan [operative word hehe] to do the wrapping. i visited hyakuen shops several times for nice wrapping paper but still cant find something i like... i think i need to visit tokyu hands na.

we plan to give jp gifts to our pinoy ninongs and ninangs. and pinoy gifts to our japanese ones. i asked my mom to look for same type of gifts. :D any idea on non-consummable, non-vice-related gifts for ninongs?

--- our supplier has started printing our invites! i just got news today from our coord.. who's been sooo nice to make abono for the DP when she met with Trina [of vprojekt] . in fairness to us, we asked naman for the bank acct. so my mom can transfer the money... pero siguro she thought [our coord] na baka ndi ma-start ang invites on time. grabe she never fails to amaze me with what she can do for us :D

as for the invites design, it has been a looong and tedious process in coming up with one to our liking. good thing Trina has been sooo patient with me. ang dami kong specs, kmi pala ni bin! hahaha.. i initially saw one of her original designs in her website.tapos i asked her to customize accdg to our motif, theme and budget. it took us 4 mockups to finally close the deal hehehe we slightly went over the budget [me bago pa ba dito?] pero clarice told me it's very nice naman considering the price.

cant wait to receive copies to distribute to our JP guests.. sana they'll be as good as in the pictures.. or better pa. :)

--- ive been secretly wanting to do JP-based prenup shoot kasi JP plays a major role in our story. bin is sold with the idea but he was insisting that we do it ourselves, kasi shy daw sya! asus! we've done this several times pero for me mas dyahe pag me tripod lang tapos kung ano anong pose ang gagawin namin hehehehe :D buti na lang i convinced him to do this with the help of our photo. hobbyist-friends :D they have digital SLRs and they take really good pics! so, sayangin ko pa ba ang opportunity ??

next step was asking them... im quite hesitant pa kasi it's a hassle din on their part because we will be taking their precious restful weekends from them. pero, they're all sooo nice to say yes on the idea right away. no need pa ko magmakaawa hahaha

we set to start our prenups at enosh beach this sunday hehehe then probably visit shinjuku park for the ultimate autumn effect. sooo excited :D

ayan ok na! i hope this long post makes up for the time i've been AWOL. hehehe

i hope to post some wedding-related pics next time like souvenirs, PS gifts or perhaps our prenups! naku, need to practice my smile hehehehehe

anlaaaapit na!!!

updates...

2006-08-02T00:32:00.000-07:00

updating based on comments of the ever-reliable wawies... [thanks! thanks!]

------------------

we have about 4 months and 2 weeks left for preps. ideally it should only be 4months, because our original plan says we should be finished with everything before december. but with bin and I going home a week before the big day, asa pa talaga. :D but, i am not worried with the preps... at least not yet. or is it just because there are more things in my mind... like our rapidly inflating expenses? :( i would rather think about the preparation details.. than contemplate how we can scrimp on things still need to spend on.

so, here is the list of the accomplishments done by Bin [and me na rin hehe] before he came here in JP and the to-do list [payments not included]. As expected the additional To-do items outnumbered the things we've done ..sheesh.

Coordination - Clarice of An Event to Remember
We upgraded our contract with them from On-the-day coordination to Partial Coordination. We figured that although we have booked almost all the important suppliers and we are still on track with the schedule we set, it would be close to impossible to tie all the remaining loose ends with both Bin and I here in JP. Before Bin left Pinas, he gave Clarice almost all the wedding-related documents and contracts so she can take care of whatever we have left hanging. The other night, over YM, we browsed through the major details of our preparation. She told me I have nothing to worry about. Good. I'll see her on the day. Joke lang hehehe. With the way she handled our discussion, I must say that Im now much more at ease that there's gonna be a wedding on Dec.16. :)

To do : follow up on things we've discussed

Venue (Ceremony/Reception) - Coconut Palace
We asked Clarice to give our DP... I havent reviewed our contract but I think next payment would be on the day itself.

To do : ask about generator[?] in case of blackouts, Ask about the usage of Chapel for ceremony if in case it rains

Caterer/Ceremony Arrangement - Josiah's Catering
Haaayy..the source of my wedding-related stress and frustration. They booked us an emcee w/o informing the emcee... and so, she has accepted another wedding event na buti na lang somebody i know... kung hindi baka nagulat na lang kami on the day na iba pala ang emcee namin! grrrrr talaga... actually that's just the short and tamed version of it.. I dont want to dwell on this na.. kasi it already took so much of my energy I have alloted for wedding stress hehehe. anyway, Clarice told me she'll talk with our "reliable"AE about this.

To do : Settle Emcee problem [Clarice will discuss this with them this week], Ask for change of Color Motif [we initially told them Brown and Yellow, now it should be Pink and Brown], If sched still permits, Ask for food tasting on the dishes we havent tasted yet.., Discuss Ceremony and Reception Layout, Discuss floral arrangement [both Ceremony and Reception], Discuss how to feed the vendors [guest meals or crew meals?]

Bridal Gown, Moms' Gowns and MOH Gown - Veluz
All of us already had our measurements taken, except Mamang who's in Isabela. She'll probably have hers taken by a neighbourhood mananahi na lang and send it via mail.

To do : Ask for Designs, Send Mamang the measurement guide, Update Contract with Veluz, Wait for Fitting Garments, Further fittings, Have Ivy [my sister] deliver the fabric for her gown to Veluz.

Bridal Accessories - Niko and Veluz
Shoes, Hairpieces, Cord, Pillow and Garter, Cord and Secondary Veil come with the bridal gown that Veluz will be doing.

To do : Research for the shoe/hair accessories designs and forward it to Niko

Barong - Bin and Papang
Still on the lookout. Bin already visited Edwin Valerio and had his measurement taken but he told them that he's still not decided. Their rates are reasonable considering the good feedbacks we read/heard about them. But we are still considering Clarice's and Veluz suggestions on this. They may be able to deliver the same style and quality at cheaper price.

To do : Ask for Clarice's contact's rate on the barong. Decide on who will create Bin's barong.

Bin's Pants and Shoes
none yet

To do : If we decide to get the Barong from Edwin, we will also get the pants from him. The price is quite reasonable if they could create the exact barong design we want :) ... As for Bin's shoes, we will scout here but will probably buy in Pinas..

Entou Gowns - Leony Bautista (Mrs. Bau for short).
With Jo's gown [see pic on previous post] I am more kampante that Mrs. Bau can deliver my other entou's gowns accdg. to my expectation...

To do : Compile all Entou's measurements, Have Haidee[Bin's sister] send a copy of the designs to Clarice, Discuss the designs for SS' and PS' Gowns with her or Clarice.

Entou's Brooches - c/o my BM's friend
Im not sure if they would like me to mention their name here... so for the mean time, vendor's name is just BM's friend. :)

To do : Wait for sample pics.

Photographer - Nelwin Uy
We've finally set the date for prenuptial shoot with Nelwin :D From our prenup pics Nelwin will be doing our guest sheets :D

To do : Shop for prenups attire hehehe, Decide on where to hold the prenups, Set a prod. meeting with him and Paul V. if sched permits.

Videographer - Threelogy
As I've discussed with Clarice, we will avail the onsite video in place of the additional aisle arrangements [another tipid step]

To do : Inform Threelogy that we will be availing their Onsite Video. Decide on the onsite video song and theme.

Backup Photographer - Paul Vincent
No update.

To do : Set a prod. meeting with him if sched permits.

Lights and Sound System - Sound Syndrome
No update.

To do : Inquire if they can provide sound recording of the music that will be played during the ceremony. Provide playlist on the disco part.

String Quartet - Velvet Mood Musicale
No update.

To do : Draft and submit song list.

Flowers - Mang Boy Mahusay
We went to Dangwa to meet him and pay the downpayment. We found them really nice kahit mukha silang siga sa kanto hehehe

To do : Change bridal bouquet because we changed our motif... give them an extra cloth to tie up the bridal bouquet.

Cake - Alex Franco
No update.

To do : I think nothing's left to do here. Will see him on the wedding day na :)

Hotel Preps - Manila Diamond Hotel
Bin already put the DP for an Executive Suite (one day) and Superior (two days). But Clarice made us decide to double up the Exec. Suite because we cannot be assured that the room is available for early check-in.

To do : Book Exec. Suite for Dec.15-16. Decide on rooms for Pastor Jim and company.

Souvenirs - Ms. Chie
Already got the sample and I am happy with how it turned out. :) The production has already started. Mama will do the packaging :D

To do: Wait for the finished prod. and hand it to mama for packaging. Buy Boxes/Baskets to contain the
souvenirs.

Rings
none yet

To do : Will go to Machida to scout for rings on Saturday. If we can find rings we like w/in our budget, we might buy it already :D

Invitation/Missalettes
none yet

To do : Must decide on the supplier for the invitation! As for missalette I can do the layout and find a printer for it. Submit it to Pastor Jim for review.

HMU - Chichi Sotomil
no update.

To do : must set trial makeup date. better if it would be on the same date as our prenups sched. Ask her if what hair accessories we will be using. :)

HMU for other family members
none yet.

To do : Find one and book.

Rental Cars for our families' transport on the day
no update. we might need 3 private vans.

To do : find the cheapest but reliable supplier for this.

Gifts for Principal Sponsors
not sure if we're gonna get the same gifts for both our foreign and Filipino Principal Sponsors.

To do : still look around

Luminaries
no update

To do : Mama will do this :D

Arrhae - Unity Coins or 500-Yen Coins?
To do : Decide which is better... I like the symbols that go with each Unity Coin.. but 500-Yen coins go with our Japanese theme. :) dochira ga ii ka na...

Ceremonial Needs
Bible, Unity Candles, Secondary Sponsors' Candles/Lighter, Chalice, Wine and Bread, whatelse?

Reception Needs
Chamdor Sparkling Wine for toasting, Props for games, pre-dinner Snacks, whatelse?

Special Effects
some nice-to-haves :D i actually havent mentioned this to Bin :) I have to think first how I can defend these addtl gastos to him.. hehehe

mini-gallery, fireworks, take home beverages, putobumbong/bibingka stand :D

To do : Since these are at the least of our priorities, we'd decide on these when we have extra budget... so most likely.. pangarap na lang ito :D

Honeymoon
no update.. hehehe we need to come back here in JP by Dec27. with the 2nd reception in isabela... at best, we can only fit in a 3day-2night R&R at a local resort.

To do : scout for one relaxing, not so far-flung [minimal travel], definitely not expensive vacation spot.

--------
Whew! Still a looonng way to go :D if you notice anything i have missed, please inform us :D

entou gowns...

2006-07-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

i asked mrs. bautista to create a gown ahead of the sched for jo, one of my bridesmaids. jo is also based here in japan and wont be home until the day before the wedding.

finally, i got the gown made by mrs. bautista.. and i am so relieved that it was made according to what i envisioned my entou's gowns will be. simple yet elegant. naks! even my metikulosang [hi jo!] friend loves it :D and ndi raw makati hahahaha

admittedly, i really was and still am OC on this because i also want my girls to feel pretty on our day :D

* model- jo, my bridesmaid
top : sabrina neckline; metallic slub in pink w/ taffeta in copper [aka metallic brown] belt and ribbon accent
skirt : a-line taffeta in copper

first dance?

2006-07-14T01:56:00.000-07:00

close friends and family, except bin [or at least he refuses to acknowledge] know that I love to dance. mapa-hiphop, disco or social dance.. go! i dont care if i have the right steps.. or the K to do it :D

and so with the coming wedding, im toying with the idea of having our first dance choreographed... i know now that i dont want the usual pa-sweet dance, where couple hold hands and sway to the music ... our guests might take it as a money dance and think that we're just there waiting for them to pin their 20-peso bills on our clothes :)

so i am hoping we can pull off a ...Foxtrot maybe? :D i know it's ambitious with Bin's ehem.. kahihiyan? take note, he claims he's the better dancer between the two of us so no problem daw in the talent department hmm so let's see..we still have 5months to practice... this can be another way to bond and spend quality time without the gastos. :)

as for the song.. i want it to be not too long, catchy and representative of how we feel for each other, naks!

so far i want it to be this... (*^o^*)/

"For Once In My Life"
Michael Buble

For once in my life
I have someone who needs me
Someone I've needed so long
For once unafraid
I can go where life leads me
And somehow I know I'll be strong
For once I can touch
What my heart used to dream of
Long before I knew
Someone warm like you
Could make my dream come true
For once in my life
I won't let sorrow hurt me
Not like it's hurt me before
For once I've got someone
I know won't desert me
I'm not alone anymore
For once I can say
This is mine, you can't take it
As long as I've got love
I know I can make it
For once in my life
I've got someone who needs me

ps. if ever we end up with the pa-sweet dance... friends who are going to be there, that's your cue ha :) we must be strapped for cash to do it, so start pinning those moolah away mwehehehe

ty ps...

2006-06-30T23:23:00.000-07:00

my hands are tied when it comes to diy stuff... definitely a major frustration of planning a wedding from abroad. i know i have all the potential to be a certified OC and doing things for the wedding would definitely give me mind-blowing high!

if im in pinas, i would have probably started on making our luminaries, souvenirs.. i would have probably traversed down to the narrowest eskinitas of divi, quiapo, dangwa.. i would have probably attended all the bridal fairs and tiangges to scout for cheap, cutesy stuff for centerpieces.. there's a part of me saying that i've been missing the brutal [on second thought, mas me brutal pa ba sa pagbubudget hehe] but fun part of wedding preps. haaaayy..

so now i satisfy myself by excelling all our expenses, our savings our projected savings.. heck, even bin's budget for the coming months! hehe i'm finally done with gown designs, i've drafted our missalette [w/c btw is now awaiting for bin's comments.. ehem].. so i now moved on to anything my very reliable ps could do.. layouts for souvenirs' and invites' logos :D .. ok lang, kahit ndi pa kami ayos ng suppliers hehehe

here's a layout for our souvenirs.. i 100% liked the concept :) and we are 50% sure we are going with this supplier...pending her quote. i have fellow wowie, concon to thank, for referring us this supplier:D

imagine that etched in bato :)

here naman is my second attempt for invites logo... we haven't booked any vendor for this but logo inclusion will be one of our non-nego :) no luck still on finding the perfect pink shade hehehehehe bahala na...

next thing to do... song list!!! :D

logo explained...

2006-06-29T08:56:00.000-07:00

i will be submitting this to whoever will do our invites.

kung tagalog o english yan, corny hehehe...
it basically means *alvin-love-irish* ;) but you see, the reading for that kanji is 'AI', our initials combined. plus our love story is made in japan. so, ayos!

though, i don't like the shade of finkaloo... hmmmmm

seeee...

2006-06-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

I took this quiz and I was told that ...

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.

I know bin would find it hard to agree... hehehe
----------------
btw, less than 6 months to go. ulk!

status report...

2006-06-12T03:39:00.000-07:00

With 6 months to go, here is a quick rundown on things we've accomplished... and a snowball of MORE things that need to be done....

*Ceremony/Reception : Coconut Palace - booked and paid DP.
to do : Discuss Genset, Finalize Layout
*Caterer and Ceremony Setup : Josiah's - booked, paid DP, discussed menu.
to do : Discuss venue setup, finalize menu [might waive dessert for
snacks before the reception], confirm Reception Host
*Bridal Gown and Shoes : Veluz and Niko - booked, paid DP, first fitting
to do : more fittings
*Moms' Gowns : Veluz - just informed her
to do : pay DP, ask for design and fittings
*Entou Gowns : Mrs. Leony Bautista - paid DP and discussed designs
to do : discuss comments re: sample gown, provide designs for other
BMs, measurement for all entou, fittings
*Photog : Main : Nelwin Uy - paid DP
Backup - Paul Vincent - paid DP
to do : Prenups with Nelwin, pre-prod meeting with the two
*Video : Threelogy - paid DP
to do : avail onsite video
*Florist : Mang Boy - paid DP, discussed bridal entourage floral needs
to do : decide if upgrade for ceremony is needed
*Cake : Alex Franco - discussed cake design and flavor
to do : give full payment for cake on the day itself
*HMUA : Chichi Sotomil - paid DP
to do : Discuss Hairstyle, Trial HMU
*Hotel for Preps : Manila Diamond - booked
to do : make an ocular and pay DP
*Lights/Sound System : Sound Syndrome - paid DP
to do: confirm contract if it includes Projector and Screen
*Strings : Velvet Mood Musicale - paid DP
to do : submit song list
*On-the-Day Coordinator : Clarice of An Event to Remember - paid DP
to do : send updates

[TO DO :]
Bin's and Papang's Attire - most likely it will be Veluz
Invitation - ask my sister to handle this for us.
Choices : Craftmaster, Ami's [she has a common friend with the owner] or Write Impression
Souvenirs - Mom will do it
Wedding Singer/Singing Group/Acoustic Duo - decide which to get and book
Rings - Will buy with Bin
Honeymoon - Will blog about this as soon as we have our sched fixed

[DIY :]
Missalette - draft and submit to Pastor Jim
Luminaries - Discuss with Mom how to do this
Ceremony Needs - [Unity Candle, Bible etc. ]
AVP - Collect photos

what do you think? feasible pa rin ba?

to do..

2006-04-24T22:12:00.000-07:00

we will have a long vacation next week here in japan. monday will be our office's foundation day and from wed til fri will be Japan's national holidays, collectively known as the golden week. so i will only have to report for work on tues., not bad eh? :)

my senpai told me that i could take a leave because almost everybody will be gone for vacation. but i choose to come to work nevertheless, because i am planning to use my remaining precious VLs for something else ;-) and nobody's gonna be here anyway so it means less work, i can leave work early and wear jeans. hehe

with all the free time next week, i can now give focus on some diy stuff for our wedding preps that i've been meaning to do but been too lazy to.. i think it would help if i officially jot down things i should accomplish before the vacation ends, lest, i'd be spending the whole week the way i spend my weekends, in bed or in front of my pc, watching something. hehe

ok, here goes my list :

- complete the gown designs!!!
-> i have to put this in bold letters. i used to be excited designing gowns for the whole entou. but now, the minute i get hold of a pencil, i fall asleep. hehehe i promise to post drawings here so i have more pressure to be true to my word. :D

- update our wedsite
-> we need to let our foreign invitees know as early as next month about our day and it's better if we can provide them an informative wedsite so they will be, hopefully, [more?] enthusiastic to come.

- window shop for our precioussss
-> rings should be one if not the most thought-out wedding prep decision we should arrive at. aside from the big dent on our budget, it will be the most tangible remembrance that we can have years after the wedding. we both want platinum bands that would go well with my e-ring and our e-bands, they must be simple and comfort fit because bin is still active in sports and he doesn't want anything flashy. still, even when i find that perfect ring, i must decide with him. so i promise to just look around for now. :D

- buy props for the reception
-> i've been itching to visit the nearby 100-en [about 50pesos] store to look for abubuts that could accentuate our reception area. i'll probably pick up those round hanging lamps, hopefully they have our colors, and those magnetic sheets i saw last month so i can start with our save the dates :D again, i promise to post pictures of my acquisitions.

- look for principal sponsors gifts
-> i already have something in mind but any alternative is welcome as long as it fits our budget.

- compile songs
-> i will strangle with my garter anybody who'd play or sing "please release me" or sort, pramis... so to prevent bloodshed on our day, i need to put control on everything that goes into that tape/cd deck. i already have a list of songs to play on my ipod but i think i need to burn them in CDs as well for backup. suggestions are most welcome :D

flowers...

2006-03-27T08:04:00.000-08:00

current object of my obsession... :D

our save the date...

2006-03-27T07:47:00.000-08:00

bin insisted on including our picture. but because we're planning to give this in magnets i'm too shy to have our face plastered God-knows-where that i made some adjustments ... and voila! a silhouette of our faces hehehe. so now, we're both happy :D

still, i may have to change the background to emphasize more brown than finkaloo. :)

*click on it to view larger image*

coconut palace...

2006-01-22T22:53:00.000-08:00

to date, 4 wawies pm-ed me and asked for pictures of coco. maybe because they couldn't find a decent picture of the place anywhere in the internet. i tried looking for one myself last year, when we're just starting with the preps. so now that i have these, i thought of posting it here :)

when we booked they gave us this rate :
Venue Rental : Php 25,000.00 (150 persons/4hours)

along with so many add-on charges :
75.00 : Per person in excess of 150 guests
6,000.00 : Electrical Charge for Band Facilities
4,000.00 : Electrical Charge for Sound System Facilities
5,000.00 : Electrical Charge for Mobile Disco Facilities
3,000.00 : Electrical Charge for Video Coverage Facilities
500.00 : Electrical Charge for Bubble machine
500.00 : Electrical Charge for Follow Spot
500.00 : Electrical Charge for Fog Machine
500.00 : Electrical Charge for Wide Screen
3,000.00 : Per hour in excess of 4 hours allotted time

and some more optional charges (which we may be also availing ) :
2,000.00 : Pool Service Fee
1,000.00 : Piano Tuning Fee
7,000.00 : Sound system facilities
10,000.00 : Mobile Disco facilities
15,000.00 : Floral Arrangements
500.00 : Guestbook
5,000.00 : Use of Front Lawn (---> for our ceremony venue )
5,000.00 : Use of Chapel

it could be expensive, all right, but isn't it worth the long list of expenses? :)

a quiet ceremony by manila bay...

and reception by the pool...

checkpoint...

2006-01-22T22:28:00.000-08:00

with 10.5 mos. left for preps... let me review what we have thus far...

- reception : coconut palace (paid reservation)
- ceremony : coconut palace (paid reservation)
- caterer : josiah's (paid dp)
- photo : nelwin uy (paid dp)
- backup photog : paul vincent (paid dp)
- video : threelogy (paid dp)
- bridal gown : veluz (paid 50%)
- bridal accessories : niko (included in gown package)
- entou gowns : mrs. bautista (will pay for dp on sat.)
- OTD coord : clarice of an event to remember (paid dp)
- cake : alex franco (reserved); somebody pledged to pay for this but i dont know how to remind her... so if you're reading this... hello tuloy ba? hehehe

still we need to find suppliers for :
- groom's attire : bin has decided... barong it will be. might also get from veluz
- flowers : will scour dangwa for this.
- hotel preps : manila diamond's only way to go. westin's already out of our list. too greedy. use of their garden for some minutes pictorial's 5k??? wtf?!
- hair and make up : the cheaper the better.
- invitation and missalette printer : basta, we want it formal, simple and mura
- sounds and lights : im more particular with the lights... as CP gets so dark at night. sayang ang photo and video hehe
- strings : still deciding whether to get an all-string ensemble OR an all-in-one band (strings at ceremony, small band that can play big band type of music at the reception). major consideration - BUDGET. and so we might consider an ipod party instead hehehe
- rings : planning to buy ours here in Jp. platinum has a wider range of designs here not to mention a lot cheaper than in Phil.
- tents : i refuse to accept we will be needing this. :S

not bad di ba?

all because of my very reliable full-time coordinator... bin hehehe
it's a relief to have a very involved h2b. when he says : "ako bahala", sya talaga bahala :D i don't think i would accomplish as much if im the one in Phils. and him here. kulang na lang i-ask ko sya to get a trial make up for me :D

***

i found out from bin that we may have to get married civilly first before getting married on dec. 16 since our church registration's in the Phil.'s not yet fixed. i am totally ok with this BUT the question is when??

tanoshimini...

2005-12-16T00:38:00.000-08:00

a year from now, bin and i will wed wooosshhh!!! ... and i will be seeing him tomorrow! i'm so excited i can't work. ayayay!!!:D

updates galore...

2005-10-09T04:36:00.000-07:00

it's a 3-day weekend once again here in jp and i've got nothing to do... my friends left for camping and since i just got back from vacation two weeks ago, a long weekend away from my bed doesnt appeal to me just yet... plus, my pocket's not yet ready for another abuse hehe

so with this circumstance and the fact that i have been a neglecting parent to this blog, i should probably give some heads up on what's been happening to our preps.

sa mga magtatanong... opo, tuloy pa ang kasal!

so far we do have na the venue, caterer, gown designer [and probably bin's suit maker], video and our photog! bin just signed the contract today. yey!!! so we could say the major elements of a wedding are almost complete, entou na lang! :)

when i went home for vacation, we met with veluz to give our dp and sign our contract. after much thought on the fabric, we agreed that pina cocoon is the best choice for the type of gown i want. and i am so excited. the way she explained it to us parang ang ganda ganda hehe she sched my measurement and first fitting on dec. when i'm home again for xmas break. bin still has to decide if he'll wear suit or barong... if he wants suit, we'd most probably go to veluz :)

next, we visited our venue...coconut palace. it was my first time to see the place. when bin reserved it for our ceremony and reception venue, he played it cool with me. when i asked for assurance that it's as beautiful as in pictures i saw, he said that i'd be the judge na lang hehe and what can i say... i was astounded really! it was what i imagined it to be and more! with the famous manila bay sunset, i know the place has all the potential to be gorgeous come our wedding day. wag lang uulan!ulk! the backup lobby looks ok naman but for 200 guests it'll be crowded na. and since we're having the ceremony in cp din we need to get a tent if it rains. and that would be an addt'l 20k expense! bigat nun :( so now, im really praying for a good weather. :)

next to settle was our caterer, josiah's. we've already paid the reservation fee for this. but we wanted to settle the package inclusion just so we know what do we still need to find suppliers for. we chose to attend the food tasting at fernwood and they gave us a headache getting a pass to this event only to find out sa fernwood na that we can just drop by grrr... the person who handled our account was always late in replying ngayon pa lang. so we decided to change our contact and finalize the inclusions with the new AE. we will also be getting their services for ceremony setup. as per what we have seen in their catalogues and the samples in fernwood, their standard setup are OK na. i heard from a wawie that their flower upgrade costs an arm and leg. so if ever we need it, outsourcing's the way to go. as for the food, it's masarap naman. i like their bowtie pasta in tuna lemon the most. and although it is not included in our choices i asked for it. we also confirmed that chairs for guests will be all sorrento. and that made me really happy! hehe

our video will be by threelogy. since it's already booked, we chose not to include meeting them to our itinerary. instead, we focused on looking for a photog. main considerations are the crispiness and creativity of the shots and album layout and of course, the rate. we went to mega bridal fair and even met with one photog [whose shots we also love] but nothing was decided then. we almost finalized with that one photog. but their quote for the package we want is way out of the budget na. as in! so we decided to check out again nelwin uy. :)

almost a month before i went home i sent nelwin a mail to inquire. i saw his photos in the net( websiteand photoblog ) and found them really great. in my mail, i told him of our budget and ask if it's possible to get the specs i listed. he agreed naman right away! and he answered all my questions pa. point by point. :) i asked him if we can meet when i visit home. but he said he couldnt make a promise because he had a full sched for sept. he told me that he might just drop by at his partner's booth in megafair. so i told him we'd meet him there na lang. and so at megafair we met kenneth but the entire time we were there he didn't show up. kenneth was so nice to show us their albums [he said they use the same mat'ls naman] and to call nelwin. and so we just talked on the phone. we completely understand his situation because he didnt promise me a time naman when he'd be there but we told them din that we cannot close deal without meeting him. of course we'd like to know first if we feel comfortable with the photog. we'd be getting di ba? at that time we were already leaning towards the photog we met earlier. but because we think the package he gave us is way out of our budget, we decided to not book anybody yet and look for other options.

when i came back here in JP, we decided to send mail again to nelwin. we were thinking then that if he couldnt set a date to meet with us we've no choice but to forego his offer even though it's the best we got. but fortunately, he gave us scheds when can we meet with him and that includes today. :) he's so busy pala kasi most of the times with corporate clients... and those include mga artista.. e im a very showbiz person hehehe kaya carry lang :D

and so i fwded a set of additional queries to bin, and with my sister and mom and his brother [actually they were planning to watch dubai at mega pero sumama na rin sila hehehe] he went to meet nelwin and as it turned out nelwin's family din. everything went well! including the character evaluation i've setup hehe nelwin's younger than us pala and bin and my sister likes him naman. :) so there we are now booked!

i'm not telling the price he gave us. basta, it's sooo reasonable. he even has freebies for waw members.:) this is our package with him...

- 2 Professional Photogs
- 1000++ Hi-res shots stored in CD JPEG format
- 40 pages album magnetic 11x14 (matte& scratch proof)
- 200++ pictures
- Prenuptial Shoot - on location
- 100++ loose prints
- 2 MiniAlbums
- Ceremony Photo-Playback in Reception
- Framed Portrait
- Online Photogallery
- Digital guestbook [his waw freebie]

so there...
now, we're still not decided where to get our entou. gowns. im doing the designs [para mas personal]so i will only be needing a mananahi, i want simple gowns anyway. not so much on the beadings so our entou can still wear it to other formal functions :) i met with my sister's recommendation. she quoted us a good rate and we have seen her gowns. they were ok naman but im thinking maybe i'll ask my sister to have one gown made for herself to check if the fit's also good. we need to finalize this asap because 2 of our entous will only be home on dec. for measurement-taking and probably fitting. e bilis lang panahon.

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ps. the only hinayang i have is not meeting any fellow wawies sa megafair or foodtasting. next time, next time. but i got to say hi to benz and john :) although, im sure ndi nila ako matatandaan

to ana (ni mike) and other pilar girls, sorry ndi ako nakacontact para sa ting coffee eb. :) sana next time talaga!!!

dou suru*...

2005-09-04T02:26:00.000-07:00

couple of days after i received the designs, i got the price quote from veluz. i was actually holding my breath when opening her mail. i was almost sure i'd be getting her, but my sigurista-part told me to wait for the price tags before i get overly excited. if i was not thinking conservatively [read: kuripot!!!] i would have sent her signed contract the first time she sent me confirmation she's available hehe but since im praning to the nth power, i was assuming the worst... that we cannot afford even the beads she'll be using sa gown :D

so when she told us all the options we have for the design we liked [by the way i decided on A... bin and my first choice] i was almost cartwheeling, kasya ang pera ko sa alkansya! hehehe

so now we're moving on to deciding the specifics... what material to use??? believe me i am in my most OC-self with this. i can't decide!

3 options she gave are :
1.) gazaar with organza overlay and lace with beadworks OR

2.) pina silk with organza, light silk and shantung with hand or machine embroidery and beadworks OR

3.) pina cocoon with organza, light silk and shantung with machine embroidery and beadworks.

i am not familiar with gazaar. i have not seen any dress made of it yet, but im hoping it's not the shiny type... anyway, i informed veluz of my non-enthusiasm with shimmery fabrics so im sure she's considered this na. i like the organza overlay... there's a dreamy look to it as veluz puts it. the two gowns i sent for her inspiration both have this effect. :)

the second and the third options were just orig. mentioned briefly by veluz... but since i have been a lurker on most veluz-brides' webshots, i got to see a couple of pina gowns and surprisingly i liked them :D to tell you the truth, i never imagined myself to wear a pina before... for one, i thought a gown made of it would cost me just as much as i would spend on the whole reception[no kidding!]... second, i thought it was too pang-lola, this pina fabric [i know! blame it on my ignorance...]. BUT since veluz has proven me wrong already on the second, based on what ive seen in photos of pina gown she made, it can be nowhere near pang-lola pala!... when i received her quotes, i immediately found myself considering!

it should've been an easy ride na sana for me. but now...

price-wise pinasilk [about 15k diff from gazaar] is still expensive for a budget-conscious b* [bride is sooo official hehe] like me. but it is definitely reasonable considering it's pina... pina-cocoon is more the guilt-free option, barely 8k difference from gazaar... so im torn between cocoon and gazaar na...

although, veluz is being matiyaga to answer my sandamakmak na q's... i also sought the help of WENG a very generous co-wawie and fellow veluz client [girl, big thanks!!!].. and she gave me soo many great inputs in coming up with my decision on which pina i like better... veluz will be using cocoon for her gown BUT in fairness, she described to me as unbiased as possible the differences she observed from her recent trip to our designer. so apart from price tags, i have now reasons to back my pina-decision :D

kaya yun.. it's pina cocoon over silk... but should i choose cocoon over gazaar??

if you could just throw me your insight... im sure it would help. :)

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you might think i have put up this blog to discuss gowns lang.. ndi naman :D i'll post on other suppliers next time. i just dont want to preempt anything and/or give free advertisement to suppliers im not getting [j/k on the second ha!] , so i'll post about them when im at least 90% sure. :D

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please dont go saying i still have time to be indecisive... im planning on coming up with a post on 100 reasons to panic! [disclaimer: ok, im exaggerating on the 100 hehe]

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* dou suru - what should i do????

veluz designs...

2005-08-25T07:51:00.000-07:00

here are the designs sent by veluz...a very nice, warm and down-to-earth designer :) she is well-loved by wawies who got her for their gowns and now i can see WHY! i would have written more of her gown descriptions and the story behind the sketches, but im already typing this with my eyes half-closed! haha...

all could be made in gazaar or shantung with organza overlay for that dreamy effect, to borrow her words. :) OR i could also decide for pina cocoon and pina silk, which from our designer's expert opinion would also look great when handembroidered or patterned machine embroidered with beadworks. no doubt about that. i've seen her pina gowns and they left me breathless :D ... but i am realistic i know it can be skyrocket expensive!

BUT since im still waiting for the price it probably wont hurt me to wish that it will turn out still reasonable.

* i have pala to give virtual hugs to my very supportive baby. thank you for being just as excited as i am. \(*;*)/

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*design A*

*design B*

*design C*

to love and to hold...

2005-07-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

time surely flies fast when you're having fun. bin and i will be celebrating our 4th anniversary tomorrow! holycow! ambilis!

four years ago, by this time bin had already professed his undying lust for me ahehehe. and if i could describe myself then at this same time, i'd be in a client's office, intensely glaring at my desktop monitor, trying to project the i-kill-when-disturbed look, but actually thinking about "our situation". i'd be probably smiling once in a while, playing over and over what he said [sa min na lang yun!]and what happened the night before [sa min na lang din to!]in my head. i'd look probably impatient to the knowing... counting for every seconds to tick by. because i knew then that when night falls i'd see him again. hehehe drama but true...

ay, it's great to be *inlab*! tom cruise is in his 40s yet still makes a fool of himself because of chubachuchu [or so he projects lang kaya?]. many people search high and low to find, sometimes the elusive, the one [and im not referring to neo hehe]. so finding bin may seem like a stroll in the park in comparison. easy. we may have seen probable odds then, but we couldn't just deny that the feelings were so right. ;)

from that, we made the decision to be together. we started to do things together, visit new places together, experience life together. it's all what i perceived happiness to be. :)

but soon enough, in between all the joys are the trials. little arguments were sometimes blown out of proportion. most of the time, by me. hehehe i was this ma-pride person who'd make tiny issues into a matter of life and death. but still bin put up with me.

yes, i was very well-informed that in a relationship one has to take the responsibility, own his/her part to work out whatever is given to begin with. it wont work if it's a one-way thing. i've seen it soo many times. the giving one is bound to give up in the end. and the always receiving one won't just know what hits him/her. it's a pity.

but what has changed in me are not brought by what i've seen from others or what i thought a relationship should be. but from our bitter-sweet friend called experience. a year into our relationship, we had this argument that led in me asking him for a cool-off as much as he disagreed i insisted which brought him to agreeing eventually. but when reality sunk in [less than a minute?] ndi ko pala kaya!!

i learned eventually that angry words when hurled at him are curved blades. it scars us both. that saying sorry does not mean that i am a loser, but admitting that i am ready to see it his way because i believe that he would not want to intentionally hurt me. with that im now giving a conscious effort not to thread the same path where relationships are broken because of ugly pride.

i'd be gago, tanga, inutil, walang kwenta if i'd let him go.

now, i have to strongly object to katie holmes saying that "tom is the kindest, smartest, most adoring man".... my man is much better than that! [bumabawi hehehe]

kelangan pa bang ispelengin yan??

2005-07-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

yes! we are getting married! bin and i... just to make it clear ;)

we've been engaged for quite a while and we sort of knew that we'll be getting married one day but since it's getting nearer, [at least to my definition] we want to keep track each and every step we make to that one special day. *me blushing*

as our other blog, this is gonna be partnership thing. so sit back friends and indulge yourselves to a little dose of our OC-ness.:)