Thoughts of A FairyTale Bride...

Thoughts of a Novice Fairytale - Wife...

2009-12-30T22:17:00.001-08:00

It's been a while since I last posted something on my page. I'm not sure whether to change my blogspot link or just continue with my previous one. As of the moment, I'm drawn to sticking to the old version.

I haven't posted anything about our 4-day Honeymoon at Hongkong. I was supposed to post pictures and blogs about it as soon as we came home but little did I know that getting married would entail a lot of things that would keep me busy to the neck.

Getting married did a big change in me. Being not used to waking up early in the morning and just doing nothing at home but surf the net, I found my first few weeks pretty tiring.. But I so love doing the things that are now forming part of my new routine.

I love waking up early in the morning to fix my husband a mean breakfast. It's not the waking up that I love but rather the gratifying feeling it gives me knowing that my husband liked the meal I purposely prepared, seeing him "down" everything on his plate with a smile is priceless. Down to every little detail that involves my husband, I do readily. I make sure he gets the feeling that our home is his sanctuary. Now who wouldn't want to go home to that, right? In return, I get such a very appreciative response from him. =) Fair enough.

And then there are the finances which we're now focusing on. I, being an only child, got a little used to shopping and getting things which some (I realized) I don't necessarily need. Getting married kinda changed that in me. Now I can say I'm much more responsible financially. And I've decided to keep it that way. =)

All in all, it's a big adjustment for the both of us. But I can say, things are pretty much in good shape..

I'm praying that this coming year would be a greater one for us. I'm back into events coordination as well. I've pretty much had all the time I needed for my own wedding so it's high time to go back into the job I love the most. Ally my friend (and first client) was so happy to hear the news. I'm just as thrilled.

Looks like I'm gonna have a good start... =)

Our Wedding Onsite Video

2009-12-12T15:32:00.000-08:00

We are now posting the link to our very own wedding onsite video, made especially by the one and only, Mr. Jason Magbanua...

Click this link and start watching.. Enjoy!!!

The Wedding of My Dreams...

2009-12-05T16:06:00.000-08:00

the lobby of our reception area...

It was the wedding of my dreams... A very happy moment for us and our families... I was the relaxed bride, ever so jolly. Just imagine, it's now the turn of the wedding coordinator to celebrate her own wedding... nice one, right? Since everything was well prepared, I felt like I had nothing to worry about, even if our main photographer got a little late, there was no stressed bone on my body. I took everything in stride. It was my day, and I wasn't going to spoil it for the world.

Being the ever so-prepared bride, I had everything in place, and as a bonus, the team which I hired to supervise our event were all sooo smart and dependable. Believe me, I was laughing all day, smiling at all these wonderful people, making my suppliers kulit so they'd have their lunch first before they start working on me.Weeks before, I've arranged all our DIY accessories for the reception and the ceremony.. I felt so excited just imaging how my Do-It-Yourself crafts would look at the table once they're all set...

our guest table... nice, ei?

my DIY flowergirl's tin bucket...

my diy-candle holder... wait, where's the kissing bell?

our personalized table napkins...

our DIY-wine bags & place cards... =)

our chocolate fountain... delish!!

It also helped that I had an awesome dream team with me on my special day.. Tita Princess & Eric were there to do my make up and hair, my back up photographers Marco & Gerard were on time, taking turns & finding angles and shots they could make use of.. Edward Teng's staff was ever so dependable prepping up my heavily-beaded wedding gown as early as 9:30 am.

Edward Teng's staff Ate Cita prepping up my gown..

Love, Beth and Kaye, got into action as soon as they arrived at 10am, fetching all of our souvenirs and doing a rundown on my "must-bring" accessories... I handed over to them the acknowledgement receipts e and the balance - payments of some of our suppliers which I personally prepared. . Of course, there was down-t0-earth Jason Magbanua , our videographer who I made kulit because me and my good friend Hyacinth (who is in the States) are both starstruck with him and his works... I was even giggling on the phone with Hya while I updated my facebook. In short, I had nothing to worry about. I was literally in good hands. Everyone was in a relaxed mood, even watching "JAWS" at Star Movies..

my dream team busily watching "JAWS".. hihihi

It was literally stress-free until I got to the church. I started feeling nervous only when I got off the horse-drawn carriage and was about to walk down to my waiting groom.. So that was how it must felt for every walking bride.. Mommy and my cousin Bobby rode with me at my Cinderella-coach, and just after my mom disappeared at the hallway to meet my dad, my knees suddenly turned into jelly. (I'd like to think strawberry jelly this time) As I faintly heard "Canon in D", I realized that my entourage were slowly walking down one by one, and that Leihson was already waiting near the altar...

my super beautiful bridesmaid, Arni... (Charmed One)

my gorgeous cousins Bibsy, candle sponsor Joan & Matron of Honor Beegel

my goddess-like beautiful cousin Jates, our veil sponsor...

my Kuya Borge & my angelic cord sponsor, Pamela...

When I heard my cue (The Prayer), the door opened for me and swirls of smoke came out and I started walking... ever so slowly, the slowest walk of my life that is. (one, two, one, two, just as Eric, my hairdo fairy instructed)... As you all know, I walk three times the average normal walk of a person so this is a first. I couldn't remember any of it anymore as it turned out like a blurr to me, all I could see was my parents and Leih waiting for me... anticipating....

here comes the bride..

As I was walking, I was telling myself, "I'm not going to cry"... though tears startied welling up at the corners of my eyes... My parents met me halfway down the aisle and "delivered" me to Leih who was teary-eyed yet all smiles at the front...

can't seem to let go of my folks..

When it was my turn to say goodbye to Mommy and Daddy, my tears just rolled down instantly. I couldn't muster the courage to control myself. My chest was choking, I was out of air, I felt like bawling... I couldn't seem to get past Daddy... I just can't... I hugged him tightly and kissed him.. i suddenly felt sad and anxious at the same time, I knew Daddy was trying to calm himself so he just hugged me back, ever so tightly as he patted my back... And then they said, lot of people stared crying as well... ( as I am writing this, I am in tears, just recalling that memorable walk)..

on our way out of the church...

me and my groom, Leihson...

The ceremony was so solemn, so hearfelt.. Fr. Sel Hernandez gave us his homily in Tagalog so it meant a lot more meaningful to us... It was "tagos to the bone" as they say. And just after the priest announced "You May Kiss The Bride", Leih, my husband, gave me our first kiss as a newly-wedded couple, and then he kissed me again on my forehead and hugged me tightly. It was surreal. It was full of respect and love. It was more than I could ask..sharing our first kiss...

the newly-married couple...

Truly, it was the wedding of my dreams... My family was there, my aunts (Mommy Abut & Mommy Chenggoy) came home from abroad just to be there on my wedding day..and of couse, almost all my cherished friends were present, save for some who weren't able to make it.. Even a few of my best best friends ( Hya, Ghia, Mai) were away but still, I know deep in my heart that their thoughts are with me...

It was a beautiful bountiful celebration that came after wards. Surely you wouldn't want to miss the "first dance" which we painstakingly practiced with our patient choreographer, Dustin. I'm not sure how it looked at the reception, but I'm grateful that I was able to get Leih to dance in front of so many people. That was enough effort on his part and I applaud that..

our first dance... to the tune of "Sway"...

my dad and my dearest Nanay Luz who gave us personalized pastillas wrappers..

as Jason Magbanua's onsite video was being shown...

We are just so happy our wedding's finally over.... beautifully & very successfully done.. All our efforts paid off, I should say... All those hardwork I put on these preparations paid off. It was a good thing I started on early with our planning. It pays to be a wedding coordinator, INDEED!

Now, I'm a Mrs.... =) Yay!!! I couldn't be any less happier... =)

My Wedding Flowers...

2009-12-05T09:06:00.000-08:00

If there was one thing that I like most, it would be flowers... When Leih was still courting me, he wooed me with flowers of different kinds, knowing how much of a flower-person I was.. And on my wedding day, I wouldn't go for just any kind of arrangement. It would definitely be one of my choice and color...

For our wedding, I hired two florists. My first was in-charge with the church set-up and is accredited by our venue. I carefully browsed thru their selections and chose the lamp post design which I imagined would give off a "ligh- in-th- park" effect once the sun starts to set.

Our second florist however, handled my whole entourage bouquets & mine as well. I made specifications on what flowers I prefer, though I let the florist do away with what he thinks would be best for my entourage. I personally chose both florists for their distinctive and gorgeous arrangements, and of course, they have already made names in the floral business so it's a bonus. In times like these, you can't entrust your wedding flowers to just someone, right? I should know, I've been handling weddings for a few years now.

And boy were we so happy upon seeing our flowers. My instinct was right. I definitely made the right choice.

my entourage's hand-tied bouquets..

those are of deep purple, it's my camera that's colorblind..

our Principal Sponsors' bouquet..

my lavender Ecuadorian roses & tulips...

the bride's labor of love... my flower girl's tin buckets...
aren't they just the cutest?

And I got what I wished for... the flowers that I imagined on my wedding day were all so beautiful.... It made our moment much more unforgettable. Thanks to my dream team.....

Checking In At Vivere Suites...

2009-12-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

We just got home from the hotel. 'twas a very busy day for Leih and me... Good thing, my cousin Jates ((who also happens to be my veil sponsor) was with us to help with the unpacking.. The hotel room was beautifully cozy... We even had a few minutes to take some pictures while we got silly waiting for the concierge.

a warm bubblebath??? good idea...

my beautiful cousin Jates posing for Maxim. wahahaha.. just kidding..

see those boxes beside me? those are for our sponsors.. =)

Upon heading home, we dropped by the mall to get 2 items for our prizes tomorrow, and took a peek at our flowers which was being arranged by my florist Martha.. I don't have a good cam with me so these were the least that I can do... but the flowers were all soooooo amazing... I just can't stop raving about it.. And wait till I post pictures of my little girls' flowerbuckets.. they are just sooo adorable. I can't be any prouder..

my proud work of art... my flower girls' tin buckets...

A few more things to print and I'm hitting the sack.. Gotta get ready for tomorrow... =)

The Wedding Dress...

2009-11-28T06:17:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, we fetched my wedding gown at Edward Teng's shop in Sta. Mesa. It was a busy Saturday for the both of us. Busy yet excitingly happy. Everyone at Edward Teng's shop were sooo nice to us.. I couldn't have wished for anybody else to make my gown. It was one of our best choices ever.

Jojo showed me the improvements and additional embellishments on my gown, and even gave me beautiful accessories to match.

some of my accessories inside the box...

the box where my wedding gown is kept..

I'm still not decided on what pillow to use as I have more than a few to choose from. All my other accessories are already inside the box. In a few days, I'll be wearing my dream wedding dress. Eight more days to go. =)

He-Says, She-Says Shirts...

2009-11-28T01:32:00.000-08:00

I got new customized statement- shirts for me and Leih, courtesy of my w@w sister Carmela Harder... She designed the shirts just as she designed my cards..

super tapos na ang mga araw na yon.. hahaha

And Leih answers back.. whoah!

Now, I'm not sure when to wear this, (after the wedding or upon arriving at the hotel for the wedding preps) Either way, we're wearing our shirts later when we go to the mall. hihihi..

KABOG!!

Our Boxes' Final Touch

2009-11-28T00:22:00.001-08:00

These are how our boxes will look like once they're complete... Pink ribbons will be for the female sponsors, while the lavender ones will be for the male.

some of the boxes we got... =)

box for our Ninangs....

box for our Ninongs..

Nice, ei?

A Little Time For Shopping..

2009-11-23T15:40:00.001-08:00

I got a gorgeous new pink luggage bag... I fell in love with it the instant I laid eyes on it. Man was it expensive (though I'd rather look at it as an investment). Hey, I think I deserve even just a little time to splurge on a luggage bag, don't you think? LOL I'm not sure though what to put in it as I'm not thinking of the tour just yet. Maybe a day after the wedding, then I'll start cramming.. Seems like the best idea ever. hahaha.

mine looks kinda similar to this one...

I also finished printing the reminders, table seating plans, event program and souvenir lists for my coordinating team which I personally prepared myself. It was painstaking to get our guests' names and assign seating designations for each but years of practice prepared me for this kind of job.. Now I'm much more at peace, knowing I've accomplished the most important task.

I also got a new set of contact lenses (which led me to get almost bloodshot eyes, dang). But even that couldn't dampen my spirits as I am more than thrilled because I'll be seeing my wedding gown this Thursday and I was advised that it looked much different than how it did the last time I saw it, complete with all the additional swarovsky crystals they put in, thanks to Jojo of Edward Teng's staff who was so utterly gracious enough to give in to my whining... He is just the best..

Turning Over the Kid's Flower Buckets..

2009-11-23T07:43:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I'll be turning over our tin buckets & little bears to the florist. Just looking at the little tin pails which I did myself a year ago makes my heart well-up in tears & pride.. It seems only yesterday that I sprayed paint on it and messed up the garage floor... It seems only yesterday that I purchased the little bears at Forever Friends... Everything seems like only a day has just passed... Indeed, time flies fast. In 11 days, I'll be getting married and I'll be using a different surname (which up to now hasn't sinked in much yet).. In 11 days, I'll be someone else's wife, and adjustments will start to surface...

But then, we all need to move up a notch in our lives, at one point, right? At least, I won't be alone anymore, having someone to always be with me, in times of happiness & problems... At least, there will be an additional member in the family... and at least, we could start building our own family in the near future..

Now, that's something to look forward to. =) 11 days.. that's all that's left in my singlehood days...

A Not-So-Spariffic Experience..

2009-11-23T07:36:00.000-08:00

I had a body scrub appointment at the spa yesterday. It was my first, actually. I didn't even have an idea what they do there, but being always the "prepared Ayha" that I am, I brought with me extra undies & shorts just in case it gets all messy.. And was I soooo right about the messy part.

I chose to have the milk, honey and oatmeal body scrub. Honestly, it just felt the same, not as intense as I thought I'd have with a dead-sea salt scrub. Fairly enough, it was okay... What' I didn't like about it was that I got soaked for thirty minutes in deliciously smelling milk & honey in a super cold room, at some point I thought I was going to die of hypothermia..the oats, honey & milk they used on me..

This probably became the reason why I was feeling sick all day, getting a red runny nose and red teary eyes to match. I was plain sick and I hate it. I just hope it goes away real soon as I don't want to walk down the aisle with a box of tissue in my hand.

All in all, the scrub wasn't so bad, but next time, I'm sticking to my routine Swedish massage. No regrets on that for sure....

Give-Aways For The Sponsors, Check!

2009-11-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

After my "NEW MOON" movie marathon, Leih fetched me at MOA and headed towards Glorietta to get some boxes for our principal sponsors. The basic plan was to give them wine and mini cakes but then, we thought of adding something more they could enjoy for a few more weeks after.. We chose round boxes but got only 6 pieces, the rest we'll be ordering at Papemelrotti in MegaMall. It was a dilemna for us whether to get Starbucks coffee beans for the sponsors but we ended up choosing our very own Manila Gourmet's premium drip grind coffee.. Not only does it taste divine, it's aroma is just to-die-for... You can even imagine yourself waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee.. Now, we would like our sponsors to have that kind of experience.. =)

a cup of freshly brewed premium coffee in the morning, anyone?

some of the goodies from Marks & Spencer...

We also picked assorted bristish biscuits & shortbreads of different flavors, chocolate and oatmeal cookies, and a lot more pastries from Marks & Spencer, (those with healthy food values of course) .. It will go well with the thick round packages of La Vache Qui Rit Cream Cheese which my Dad handcarried on his way to the Philippines.. Just writing this blog makes my mouth water.. How I wish I could take one box with me and just eat to my heart's content. (Goodluck with that)

A bottle of wine, mini cakes, and a box full of goodies, I think we're pretty much done here..

Booking Our Honeymoon

2009-11-11T02:42:00.000-08:00

As a wedding gift to us, our Ninong Mon gave his Mabuhay Miles Airfare to us, giving us a big discount as we only had to pay for the taxes it excluded. We left at around 5:30 in the morning and drove to Makati and Cubao to settle our tickets and our tour package to Hongkong. We chose to get the "4-day, 3-night" Hongkong - Disneyland Package Tour from our travel agent, Mark Carballo who happens to be my sister-in-law's very good friend. We even got a discount as a wedding gift.

a tour at Disneyland is something Leih is looking very much forward to

Victoria Peak is definitely on our list...

Initially, our plan was to go to Macau for a day tour. It is still possible but we would like to maximize our stay in Hongkong and explore all the sites the city has to offer... It's been 13 years since I first visited, it's but time to go back.

This week, I'm getting a new luggage bag. We can't be too early to pack. =)

Meet-Up With Scenta Flora...

2009-11-11T02:19:00.000-08:00

Last night, we met up with lovely couple Raymond & Bernidith Montes of Scentaflora, our florists for the ceremony.. They will be the ones decorating the church and the centerpieces for our reception. We agreed to meet at Starbucks in Alabang Town Center around dinner time. We lounged for a few minutes and talked about the details for our upcoming wedding.

Leih says he's very happy to see me so relieved and contented with our meet-up. It was such a breather to talk to Bing as she finalized the color scheme and flower choices up to the color of the lamp posts to be placed on the aisle. In my heart, I know we are secured with this team, that no matter what happens, they will make sure there will be beautiful flowers on our wedding day. With the unpredictable weather we have right now, we can't help but worry, though we're keeping our fingers crossed that our wedding day will go by just perfectly.

There were a few changes with the altar design as imposed by the Bishop, sadly, the waterfalls were taken out to give a more church-like effect to the place.

Now the flowers have finally been taken cared of... A few more details to go and we're done...

Finalizing All Details...

2009-11-07T19:36:00.000-08:00

December 5 is fast approaching so we're finishing up the final details of the preps. Yesterday, we met with our coordinator, Love Daligdig of Special Events, and turned over to her the necessary photocopied contracts and a few written reminders for the event. It was relieving to know that someone is going to take all the responsibility off our hands on our big day.

hoping our venue looks as beautiful as this. or even more..

Today, we were supposed to meet Bernadith Montes of Scenta Flora at Starbucks, Alabang, to settle the remaining balance for the flowers but she got sick and had to cancel a few hours before, so probably we will meet on Tuesay after we get done with our appointment with the travel agency and Mr. Johnny Santos for the music details. Everything seems to be working pretty well for us... I think I'll be a very relaxed bride on my wedding day. All tasks have been properly taken cared of. Now, we have all the time to go to the movies and get a well-deserving break. =)

Meeting Jason Magbanua

2009-11-04T07:57:00.000-08:00

I left for Manila at 2 in the afternoon to catch a sudden "out-of-the-blue" appointment with our videographer, Jason Magbanua. I was lucky enough to snag an appointment from his very busy schedule so we had to rush to Manila to get there on time before he leaves the office...

Yes, folks, we are talking about "THE" Jason Magbanua and I'm not going to be modest about it. Ever since Leih proposed to me, Jason Magbanua was the only request I asked of him. Initially, we booked the standard package they were offering, but later on decided to go full swing with the High Definition thingy, of course with the expected additional cost. Good thing, Daddy was generous enough to fill in the budget.

As soon as we arrived at Star Centrum, we were ushered into this orange-lit viewing room where Jason Magbanua himself welcomed us. Man, was he so friendly & down-to-earth , he was such a breeze to talk to... We felt so at ease with him, telling him all of our requests which he patiently listed down. This guy certainly didn't let his fame get to his head.. He was just awesome..

Upon going home, Leih and I had this smile plastered on our faces... We just know, our on-site video will be as beautiful as we imagined on our big day...

Cake & Wine Cards....

2009-10-29T07:39:00.001-07:00

Super thanks to my good friend Erra Sanjorjo - Gomez for these gorgeous fairytale cake & wine cards... It perfectly fits our theme, the color is just lovely & the design, simply elegant... Now, we can have this printed out and sent to our cake maker. =) It really pays off to have super talented girls for friends.. hihihi... Thanks again Girl....

Our Little Girls' Gowns...

2009-10-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

We finally got our flower girls' gowns today. Another task done for us both.

I love how simple and cute the gowns look. I'm sure it'll go well with the tiara and the lavender tin buckets that I personally prepared for the girls...

Our girls will all surely look cute on these.... I can just imagine...

Vienna Cakes: Check!!

2009-10-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

Today, we settled the remaining balance with our cake-maker, Vienna Cakes. We went to their bakeshop in Sampaloc, Manila and met our A.E Gemma. She was very nice to us, so accomodating even.. She knew every detail of what we've decided early on at the Bridal Fair last year when we booked them. Leih and I chose additional new designs for our mini cakes and we even got to taste a sample of their very moist cakes, we got two flavors ~ chocolate & banana. They were soooo delicious, I was so happy to bring home a few samples. =)

one of their cakes, ready for delivery... sarap ano?

another elegant creation.. totoong chocolate cake yan sa loob, from top to bottom

It was a very good choice booking Vienna Cakes. I took some pictures of the real cakes they have on display. They were all gorgeous... =) yummy pa!!

Wedding Ice Breaker: A Birthday Blowout!

2009-10-17T19:15:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful birthday. Aside from the greetings I received from family and friends, Leih surprised me with my favorite Strawberry Cheesecake, two-toned purple paper roses, a beautiful flower-card, and 3 cute balloons ~ colored pink and lavender...

the birthday surprise of my one and only..

my special Strawberry Cheesecake from Contis

my two-toned purple paper roses

my lovely balloons... I love it...

With all the expenses from our wedding preparations, I wasn't expecting he'd still get me anything. He also treated me to a wonderful lunch the next day. We had a big serving of sweet & spicy crabs, baked scallops and Sinigang sa Miso... We were so full talaga.. After lunch, he took me to the Spa for a relaxing swedish massage... And of course, he got me a New MANGO shirt. =) Too bad there were so few to choose from so he promised to treat me to a small shopping spree when we drop by ATC next time. Am sooo excited.. =)the wonderful man behind the fabulous surprises..

What more can a birthday girl ask for, right? Thanks baby...

DIY-ing the Wine Bags...

2009-10-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

I'm glad we've finally finished DIY-ing the wine bags for our principal sponsors. At first, I didn't know what to do with the bags, so I bought a few craft-items like ribbons, a few flowers of different colors, and some beads. But since I couldn't figure out how to make pretty bows, I gave up on the idea and thought of some other way I could utilize the ribbons.

This is how everything turned out afterwards. =)

Finishing Up The Invites

2009-10-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

It was a busy Sunday for me and Leih. I feel so touched by Leih's effort in helping me out with some of our wedding preps. Upon arriving home at 9 in the morning, he managed to drop by the house and offer to help out straighten our invitation list, notwithstanding the lack of sleep from his evening schedule.

the misalettes & the kissing note cards...

We were able to finish the misalettes and the sealing of the invitations. We took turns holding & sealing the burning candle wax on the envelopes. We actually enjoyed it especially when we'd get perfect round seals. I agree, this is one activity couples could share in and have a kick doing together..

Leih busy sealing the envelopes..

the finished set of sealed invitations...

"Taraaan!!!! the rose seal up close..."

Looks so nice and elegant. It was a good thing we thought of it. =)

Wedding Ice Breaker: Chinese Items On Sale? Yeah Right...

2009-10-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

I went to the mall to run some errands and grab a few things for our DIY task. I bought a few colored papers and got a "New Moon" book for myself, a couple of canned dog food for Zach, and a few groceries. It had been quite a while since I last went to SM Bacoor and I felt giddy just walking around, window shopping..

As I was about to go home, this certain Chinese "garage sale shop" caught my eye, and so I went in to check out a few of their items... And man was I blown away with the dining set I saw... It was made of a special "stone" (can't remember which one), it was sooooo gorgeous, I was practically drooling... Only, when I checked the price, I almost fainted. But then again, with how the dining table looked, it seems like a fair price I guess.

the dining table made of special stone

this is what it's made of..

I had fun looking around the things they had on "sale" though I don't think the prices are of "sale-range".... Just look at this lucky gold-plated lighted ball and the lovely sidetable lamp. I would love to get one someday.

this ain't half of how lovely it really looked like

the golden ball on a boat thing... It was sparkling perfect...

Good thing I was able to go out and get some fresh air... I went home feeling rejuvinated and happy. Malls just never fail to make me smile.. =)

Our Kissing Note

2009-10-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

We're pretty much ready with some of the details for our wedding, the personalized table napkins, the candle holders, the place card holders and even the kissing bells which we painstakingly did one by one. Since not everyone's aware of what a kissing bell is, we decided to put small cards with this note on it. Again, super thanks to my w@w sister Carmela Harder who designed our Kissing Cards & our name and number cards...she "again" extended help to us and made our bonggacious kissing cards...

censored?? nah....

Now, let's hope nobody clinks on their forks against the wine glasses.. Let's see how effective these cards will be..

The Misalette....

2009-10-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

It's almost midnight when I finished printing a total of 11 Tagalog misalettes, 31 pages all in all plus a personalized cover specially designed by my good friend Erra Sanjorjo-Gomez who also happens to be a fgraphic artist and a former w@wie herself.

I had no idea how to print out the invites until Dra. Wilsie (my w@w sis who also shares the same wedding date) sent me this article on how to make bookfold documents. It was such a big help...'

Anyhow, here's the sample covers of my misalette. I chose & printed two designs as I can't decide which of the two is better. =) A HUGE thanks from us to Erra for these beautiful fairytale designed misal covers...

Aren't they gorgeous or what?

A Fairy Dog As A Guest..

2009-10-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

Fact: Nope. Missy isn't included in our entourage list, nor will she be a cute ring-dog bearer... (though she's really cute..) But she is invited, and since she has been well-trained, it's enough to convince us that she won't be any trouble if she comes along.

Missy with wings..

So last Monday, we looked for a costume that she may use if she "decides" to come by on our wedding day. Since she already has a cute tiara, we got her some lovely fairy wings fit just for small breeds like her. Too sad, we can't bring Zach along as I'm worried he might chew on my gown or something. Que horror...

Missy wearing the contraption on her back..

I love how the wings fit her... She is just so cute... A lovely fairy dog indeed....

Our Center-Table Mock Up Meeting...

2009-10-05T07:39:00.000-07:00

'Twas a very busy day for me and Leih... Despite having only 3 hours of sleep, Leih drove us off to Merville, Paranaque, to meet our Account Executive Jenny for our mock-up schedule. We arrived just in time (thank God) after getting caught up in heavy traffic at Bacoor, Cavite.

Fairly enough, our sacrifice was worth I must say. We were so satisfied with the table arrangement. I instantly loved the purple see-thru ribbons tied on each tiffany chair... and the design we wanted was met, complete with the votive candles and candelabras. We had to bring our own candle holders and place cards to see how well it would blend in with the rest of the design. My heart welled up with pride as Jenny complemented on how cute our DIY candle holders were.

there goes my DIY lavender candle holders.. & our name card by Mela Harder..

the gorgeous flowers.. see the lavender/purple detail?

our Principal Sponsors' table..

the purple-colored ribbons on our tiffany chairs

So far, we've seen two of the three designs we've chosen for our tables. I've posted a few pictures of the mock up... not as beautiful as how it looked like up close, (gotta bring a better cam next time)but I am all smiles for Center Table's work... Certainly a job well-done... =)

Next stop, off we go to fetch our entourage's gowns at Sta. Mesa... One task done!! Yay!!

Our Prenup with "Marco Malaca"... =)

2009-09-26T06:03:00.000-07:00

Our supposed Tagaytay Prenup is no more..... or should I say, an idea left to be just thought of as something beautiful, had it not been canceled for good. I decided to forego the prenup after getting all fed up with the arrangements and the lousy schedules which were never really met.

But enough with that bad experience, our prenup with Marco Malaca still pushed through despite the Tagaytay cancellation... We opted to do our pictorials at Fernbrook Gardens, though we've done a few prenups there before (courtesy of W@W), Marco and his team were able to take gorgeous shots of us ~ different from our previous pictures...

We've also had a few shots at the SkyLounge which, I may say, had a spectacular view from above... It was amazing... Funny coz I never got to finish the Cosmopolitan I ordered. Afterwards, Leih and me together with Marco, Jho and Gerard had dinner at a Japanese Resto (forgot the name) in Alabang. I even got to chat with the only girl in the team (Jho).. It was fun. Leih and I had a great time with these guys, it was kinda humid but we felt comfortable as if we were just playing.

BTW, here are some of the unedited shots that Marco sent us via courier. =)\

Save-The-Date & Name Cards... CHECK!!

2009-09-19T07:06:00.001-07:00

From the start, I've already resolved the idea that we won't probably be having a "Save-the-Date Card," since I have no idea how to make one in Photoshop. But thanks to W@W and my god-sent w@wie sister Mela, (Carmela Harder), we are finally printing our very own tomorrow!!!

Yes! I am proud to present Mela's very own design of our "Save-The-Date Card"... Just like our table numbers and name cards which she also designed herself, all three were inspired by our fairytale theme and color.
The table numbers and name cards have already been printed two days ago. We'll be printing our "Save-The-Date Cards" next. =)

Again, thanks so much to you sis Mela for helping me out on these... I wouldn't have such beautiful cards if not for you... You are an angel...

Our Wedding Invitations..

2009-09-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

Our invitations are finally here!!!!!!!! Leih and I went to Recto to fetch our 150 pieces of "invites" from Printlane. After only a week and a half, they finished our invites as scheduled. Our design was a simple and formal one - no flowers and other drawings. We kept it low-profile yet elegant to the eyes. The fonts were dry embossed in lavender shade. The paper for the invite and the envelope was colored off-white and had a metallic effect on it. It had a purple insert as well.

Leih was just as pleased. Since he was heading to work, he wanted to put the invites inside the car up until he gets home, but because I was so excited to show it to Mommy, I had him drop me off at MOA and brought the invites myself. I commuted with a big heavy plastic bag filled with two bags of invites (talk about OC) No complaint here whatsoever. I"m just ecstatic. Now that we have the invites, it's time for us to start on the wax seals. More DIY tasks ahead!! I love it! =)

Our Give-Away Wines

2009-09-12T05:49:00.000-07:00

don't be deceived, that bag is of deep purple

Our wines arrived this afternoon just before Leih and I headed to Manila to fetch our invitations. It was a box filled with 14 bottles and 14 deep purple sinamay bags. I was hoping it would be of lavender color but then, purple goes just as fine. I need to put some additional embellishments to beautify the give-away. Just don't know what to do yet... =) Looks like another DIY project ahead.

The Little Girls Get Ther Turn

2009-09-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

At 10:00 o'clock this morning, my little girls and I met up at Sherwin Sosa's shop to have their measurements taken. Of course, the proud parents were present while their little girls had their turn.

First in line was my bestfriend Jerrielyn's beautiful daughter, Issy.... I can't help but smile just looking at how these love-struck couple (Joel & Jeh) stared at Issy while Sherwin worked on the little girl. She was so angelic... I swear...

our angelic little Issy...

that's her hot momma at the back.. di lang kita..

Second was my inaanak Shaniah whom I personally fetched from their place. Everyone in the house was so excited for her. Though she had an "early morning tantrum," I was able to put her in a light mood after she learned she was getting a princess dress. Leih and I treated her to ice cream afterwards.

Shania and me on our way to Jollibee..

My third flower girl who last came in was Gab. She together with my cousin Beegel and Ichie came to the shop. It was even funny coz Gab wasn't in the mood yet probably because she had an interrupted nap but with Beegel's help, we were able to get her measurements right.

My only junior bridesmaid, Min-Min, was in Bulacan so I had my cousin take her measurements himself and just called in to give us the numbers. After the short meet-up, Leih and I felt relieved as we are down with another major task... The gowns will be finished on the second week of November... just in time.. =)

Our DIY-Candle Holders

2009-09-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

For days I've exhausted myself on how to improve the ambiance of our reception within a budget we can afford. So I thought of incorporating tea light candles everywhere. After purchasing the candles, I decided to improvise on the candle holders since those we saw at the mall were quite expensive. Off I went to this small craft store near the church and carefully chose the materials I could make use of. The store is literally filled with crafting tools and handwoven materials, all sorts of ribbons, flowerettes, little figurines and a lot more, first time I came in here, I thought it was heaven.. There was too much ideas flooding my head... After getting what I need, I started experimenting on my materials, mainly: a white handcrafted saucer, purple holed- foils for the cover, lilac and lavender tea light candles, lavender feathers, pink flowers and a glue gun.

getting started with my project

After two days of DIY-ing and two burnt fingers, I've completed an estimated one-fourth of the whole project. I'm proud to say that this DIY idea is all mine. =) Since we are following a certain colored theme, I decided to incorporate our color in all my DIY's.

Leih busy cutting the pink flowers.

Leih dropped by the house before heading home. After a short dinner, he offered to help me with our DIY project by cutting the flowers and gluing the holders. Again, he was with me, helping me with our DIY project. Good thing he liked what I did... It was awesome just staring at the final outcome, literally the fruits of my labor....

halfway done...

I'm planning to put these on our tables to provide more dramatic touch to the area. I so love the result...

50 more pieces to go!!! wait till you light them up!

The Candles & the Tiaras...

2009-09-09T08:31:00.001-07:00

I've already envisioned how my little girls would look like once they strut down the aisle. They'd be donning lavender chiffon ball gowns and a flower halo on the head. But after spotting these cute and gorgeous princess-fairy tiaras, that idea disappeared like a bubble.

I bought 3 similar Princess-Fairy tiaras with deep lavender feathers and fake diamond-like stones around it, for my three cute flowergirls, and a deep purple/plum stoned tiara for my junior bridesmaid.

We also purchased 72 pieces of scented tealight candles colored lavender and a darker shade of lilac. The all smelled divine, all that's missing are the candle holders. I already have an idea of how to make my DIY candle holders.

It feels so great just arranging them on the bed for some creative shots. =)

Half-Way Done With The Church Requirements!

2009-09-09T08:18:00.001-07:00

"September 9, 2009. Our first time to visit Holy Family Parish in BF Homes, Almanza... The church was quite spacious and well-maintained, Leih and I offered a simple prayer and made a wish before we headed home.

We submitted our documents for the wedding and we were told that the secretary herself will take responsibility in advising us most probably on the first week of October, regarding the scheduled canonical interview and the marriage banns which will be announced in our own parishes for three consecutive weeks. After accomplishing those, we are good to go. =)

It feels great knowing we've done a lot so far. These early preparations calm our nerves, makes us feel we're on top of things.

The Marriage License

2009-09-08T06:19:00.000-07:00

We finally got our marriage license today!!! Yey!!!! After 11 days, our wait is now over... =)
We'll be bringing this tomorrow at the Holy Family Parish in BF Homes along with the other documents we need to get the process started.

It's really getting nearer and nearer each day! Sooo exciting!

My Matron of Honor's Final Fitting....

2009-09-06T23:36:00.000-07:00

Finally, we're done with the gown fittings!!!!! The last girl on my ento- list which happens to be my pretty cousin Beegel, had her gown fitted this morning. It looked perfect on her and her fair skin tone which I may comment on, seemed to radiate even more since lavender and purple gave off a wonderful contrast. In fairness, Beegel has maintained her figure even after having Gab. Too much for a blessing I may say, but these two cousins of mine (Bibsy & Beegel) were both gifted with bodies that detest fat. (wishing I shared the same DNA) LOL.

Beegel being assisted in her gown.

Beegel's gorgeous silhouette..

the term GORGEOUS applies to my family...

and Bibsy here just had a baby, can u believe that?... so unfair.. huhuhu

My cousin Bibsy who also happens to be a very in-demand designer herself, helped us at the fitting. She was in fact my first choice then, but unfortunately for me, she got a job abroad and only returned home for a short vacation. It was a fun-filled Monday for us three who kept ourselves busy taking pictures even inside the car. We even dropped by MOA on our way home to run some errands. THe hours I spent with these two gals was truly a reliever...

me and my pretty Matron of Honor, Beegel...

having fun while on our way home...

we even missed a turn just to have this pic. hahaha.

Got me thinking, we should do this more often. I suddenly missed these two misses.. =)

Meet My New Shoes....

2009-08-31T09:20:00.001-07:00

We were about to go home when we walked past VNC and this "instinctive" urge convinced us to get inside the store and just ogle at the shoes... After all, what's so bad about ogling, right?

But then this pair of sandals caught my attention as I practically heard them screaming, "Ayha!!! I'm your destiny!!! Buy me, buy me, buy meeeee!!!"..... I said to myself, "Okay, okay, sheeesh, no need to shout! I can hear you loud and clear, you know?"

my VNC sandals...

After all, who am I to resist this desperate plea from a pair of footwear??? I'm just human... More so, I'm just a woman... (not so long after, went home with a paper bag in her hand and a big big smile)

Need to say more??? (^_^)

My Cord Sponsor's First Fitting...

2009-08-31T05:43:00.000-07:00

Since my cousin Joan was busy at work on our first scheduled fitting, we finally got to squeeze in a little time for her today, thank goodness it's her day-off... Leih was at work so he wasn't able to drive us to Sta. Mesa. Joan and I took a cab on our way there. Though it was difficult commuting because of the heat, the sacrifice was well worth it...

Joan having her adjustments done by the staff

her 24-inch waistline... kainggit kaya!!

just look at her silhouette... that's what I call sexy..

I was so fascinated as I watched my beautiful cousin fit her gown for the first time... She looked fantabulous. Since Joan is 5'7 and has a very long slim silhouette like that of a model's, with slender flawless arms and a lovely face, her gown looked just perfect on her, given that she was only in a casual mode and her hair wasn't even dressed yet for the part. Edward Teng even noticed how good she looked as he passed by when her gown was being adjusted by the staff. I only have praises for Edward Teng and his staff for this wonderful job.

Now, I have only one more girl to go (our Matron of Honor) and we're done with the fitting... Thank God for this wonderful day. =)

Marriage License Kwento

2009-08-30T19:38:00.000-07:00

It was a breeze applying for a marriage license. We've started with the required documents as early as I can remember. Being a government employee myself, I knew a few people at the Local Civil Registrar in our place and they were the ones who attended to us when we applied. Ate Shirley didn't even let us pay the fee anymore, (an early wedding gift). They were kinda teasing us the whole time. It was a happy day for Leih and I. I've been through this process a couple of times with a few brides I've helped coordinate in the past, but it never fails to put a smile on my face. Makes us feel we're on top of things. Every detail is being prepared in advance.

some of the documents we submitted

The license is due on September 6, next Monday... After that, off we go to Holy Parish for our church requirements... We want to settle the banns as early as we can so we won't be pressured come November. =)

Gosh, the "BER" months are coming in a few days!!! December is fast approaching!!!! Weeeeee!!!!

Meeting the Barong Maker...

2009-08-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

My male entou had their fitting today with Mang Rey Casedo at our office. It was a lazy rainy Sunday but everyone was present. Leih's father was there, his uncle, cousin and even his sister's family. They all took turns in getting their measurements taken and had their pick of what design they preferred. I chose my dad's barong design and I'm so excited...

Mang Rey and his companion were sooo nice to us. We're very at ease with him. He brought with him more than 20 designs of barongs and it was difficult to discern which one is better. Lahat intricately designed... =)

We'll be getting the barongs on the first week of October!!! I'm soooo looking forward to it.. =)

Wedding Ice Breaker: Prepping Up My Kitchen..

2009-08-29T04:56:00.000-07:00

The past three weeks have been so busy for us at home especially for mommy. Plates and pans were everywhere as we had our kitchen totally renovated. Leih and I chose the granite tiles ourselves up to the sink, the faucet and the stainless steel dividers for the cabinets. And after a few weeks of waiting, I was finally able to use the kitchen for the first time. Me being kinda OC., I excitedly started arranging all our groceries, dinnerwares and kitchen utensils and made sure everything was spic and span from the time I finished cleaning...

so excited to arrange the groceries.....

It took me more than an hour to have it done but it was worth it... I love the new look of our kitchen.. I myself love to cook, so having an efficient kitchen gives me and Leih an advantage, ~ Leih being a baker himself. ( He loves to bake all kinds of breads and pastries...)

half side of our kitchen

I'm sure we'll both have good times in the kitchen. I just love how clean and organized our new kitchen looks like now... Makes me want to cook the whole day... =)

First Draft of Our Invite

2009-08-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

At last, we've submitted our first lay-out design for our invites at Print Lane.. We chose a very simple design with dry - embossed letters, no drawings whatsoever.
Early this morning, I got an email from Ms. Au regarding our first draft. The letters will be in lavender... no fancy designs whatsoever, it will be as simple as it can be... Here's a preview of the format.. =)

The La Luz Beach Pictorial

2009-08-26T23:39:00.000-07:00

After only three days, Mr. Eros Astillero sent the raw pics in a cd!! Gosh, the pictures were soooo amazing.. Leih and I are just so happy with how the results came out.. They were oh so perfect, very much what we wanted to look like... Here is a preview of the shoot at La Luz Resort, Batangas.... I can't seem to get enough of the pictures.. We have over a hundred to choose from!

Preparing For Our "Beachy Shoot"....

2009-08-21T19:35:00.000-07:00

Leih and I went to Landmark to find myself a good pair of slippers but ended up buying white sandals instead, while he got a long sleeved polo shirt. I also bought Eric Santos' new Songbook by Jim Brickman album and played it nonstop in the car. Leih held his patience as I put the volume on a 9. It was funny seeing this "rakista" making "tiis" as I turned cuckoo with his radio.

Now, my outfit's complete. I just hope I don't look stupid tomorrow. Later I'll be printing out the directions for Leih and will be browsing on other beach pictorials to get a few ideas on what to do at the shoot.

I just wish it doesn't rain tomorrow. La Luz, here we come... =)

My Girls' First Fitting....

2009-08-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

Three of my girls finally had their first fitting this afternoon. It was an overwhelming sight for me, seeing all of the gowns after a few months of anticipation. Two of my entourage weren't able to make it because of work but are scheduled to have their turns in the next two weeks.

aren't they just beautiful or what???

my flawless bridesmaid Arni in her sexy V-neck evening gown

two of my girls in their evening gowns..

The colors were just perfect... I noticed how intricately they designed the beadworks and the floral adornments. Every gown had its own unique personality. I had no favorite as I loved them all.

my matron of honor's evening gown

I also took a peek at my bridal gown. It was already inside a big box ~ ready for dry cleaning... It was so lovely, just the way I envisioned it would be ~ a simple Victorian-inspired ball gown that any dreamy princess would want to wear.. I was so ecstatic.

Leih and I went home very gratified. Every cent we spent was worth it. Edward Teng is so good... I wouldn't trade this designer for anybody else.. We definitely made the right decision...

A Romantic Pictorial at La Luz

2009-08-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

We're all set on Monday for our prenup pictorial with Eros Astillero's team at La Luz Beach Resort in San Juan Batangas. After the tiring search for "the place," I stumbled upon this resort's website and completely got blown away with the beauty it promises. So I called their office early in the morning and booked 4 heads for a prenup shoot. I'm full of hope that we will have clear skies on Monday... Everything's been settled and paid for. We've requested for Jernin and Alliz Astillero, sons of Eros, to be our photographers for that day.

Upon seeing my good friend Marion's prenup pictures at Punta Fuego, I instantly fell in love with the beach theme and how the young Astillero's executed the shots. They were so unbelievably good given their young age.

I've already prepared my white string dress while Leih still has to get a new shirt. Hopefully, it all turns out good afterwards.. I'll keep my fingers crossed...

My Dream Purple Stilletos

2009-08-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

I was completely blown away when I saw these shoes at SM. It was so elegant and lovely, you'd notice it from afar. It was of deep plum/violet color, with overlapping silk ribbons and four-inch heels.

the dream that will remain as is..

First time I saw them, I knew this was "THE" shoes.... But to my dismay, I realized I couldn't walk in it without tripping~ the heels are just too much for me and Leihson. You see, my fiance isn't a very tall man,so wearing stilletos like this would undoubtedly make me an inch taller than him, should I indulge.

He knew very well how much I loved the shoes and even nudged me to buy it, aware that I won't probably stop rambling if I let the chance pass me by.. Yet I managed to keep my self control and decided to forego buying it. I've lots of reasons actually. There is no way that I can walk in these stilletos without embarrassing myself.. And again, it will just make my partner look less taller once I'm in these pair.

In short, I didn't buy the shoes. But I haven't lost hope yet. I'm currently on the look-out for people who customize bridal shoes,. If I find one who can make me these, the better.. But if luck evades me, my two other bridal shoes on stand by would do just fine..

Oh well, that's women and their shoes.... ^-^

Paper works...

2009-08-15T22:59:00.000-07:00

I've been a little busy with work lately but I still manage to tend to the small details of our wedding. Just last week, our principal sponsors confirmed, and I added a junior bridesmaid to the entourage list. I included my god-daughter Jhemalin in the flower girls' list at first, but since I'm already done with the 3 tin baskets (it's impossible to make another one), I decided to just make her a junior bridesmaid (she being the tallest among the girls).

Tomorrow, we'll be starting on the papers and hopefully by the end of the week, we're done applying for the marriage license. The Local Civil Registrar said it would take 11 days for the license to come out. And off we go to Holy Family Parish afterwards to submit the other requirements together with the license.

I can feel the excitement building up!!! 3 more months to go!!!

Wedding Ice Breaker: Zach Cozying Up....

2009-07-18T05:32:00.001-07:00

I was planning to watch Harry Potter today but because the heavy rains haven't ceased, I decided to just stay at home and tend to my Multiply site as it needed a lot of updating.

I didn't notice how long I stayed in front of my laptop that I forgot to tend to my baby doggie, Zach. Whenever I'm home, I would find time to play and cuddle with him. I must have forgotten about Zach coz I got busy making blogs all day...I just realized he climbed up to my bed and snuggled himself soundly on one of my fluffy pillows. He must have been so cozy he didn't notice I was taking pictures of him..

Here he is.... =)

Attaining That Flawless Complexion...

2009-07-18T03:09:00.000-07:00

Since I thought we'd be having our prenups, I decided to have a facial yesterday. I felt so flattered when my dermatologist commented on my skin, she even asked me what regimen I follow to maintain good skin elasticity. Don't get me wrong, I don't have perfect skin, once in a while I worry about a zit or two especially since I have very fine skin you can almost see thru it, not to add I have skin asthma... (kita na yong mga tiny veins as in) but one thing noticeable was it improved tremendously as I rarely get breakout nowadays.. It got me thinking, could it be genes? A possibility perhaps.. But I'm thinking there's a more valid reason for the improvement... The fact that I don't wear make up contributes a lot to why my skin doesn't break out as much, I presume.. And how I keep it always clean and moisturized may count as one effective factor. Just like any other girl, I have naturally oily skin, but as what my derma says, it's far off better than having dry skin... All we need to do is keep it well-maintained and we're good..

When I started my routine a year ago, my skin has showed vast improvement. I make it a habit to religiously drink Carrot & Cucumber juice in the morning, and one full glass of freshly-squeezed Orange juice at lunch. This intake of Vitamin C not only made my skin notcieably smoother & healthier, it also helped boost my immune system. By far, I believe there's nothing better than the natural way...

Oh well, I'm starting to ramble again... Just wanted to share a few secrets to help other friends longing to have skin they could very well be proud of. To think we may hit two birds with one stone, you've got nothing to lose if you try, right?

My Postponed Tagaytay Prenup

2009-07-18T02:50:00.000-07:00

I feel a little frustrated on how our supposed "Prenup" today got moved to August 2 because of the unpredictable weather.. Leih and I have been to different places the past weeks looking for a venue for our Prenup with Marco. And just as we were about to book Nurture Spa, sudden thoughts of Tagaytay Highlands came over me, I started imagining the cable cars, the magnificent landscapes and the sumptuous food they serve there.... Hence, Tagaytay Highlands it is!!!!

The well-known Tagaytay Highlands

Good thing I was able to get someone to endorse us though honestly, I feel we went kinda overboard with the budget considering we had to shoulder four heads including Marco and his assistant. Seems like God's will that they were able to squeeze in four more people in the reservation list. I was feeling a little stingy but then Leihson ~ my ever so galant partner, was again attentive enough to salvage my building guilt and gave me the approving look and the thumbs up as soon as we paid my endorser in full.

my five different outfits for our prenup...

Everything is all set. Leih even purchased two more long sleeved outfits and I got four new ones, mostly of color purple to suit our motif. (talk about excited). My four pairs of shoes are all packed and I even got a new lipstick and face powder since I'm not hiring a make up artist. I'm going for the natural look, good luck to me... (haha)

Now, all we have to do is wait for two more weeks and hopefully, just hopefully, this weather finally cooperates.. Two weeks seem like years to me... For now, I may just have to learn to be more patient... (if only I can buy patience... dang..)

Scouting For The Perfect Prenup Site...

2009-07-12T21:59:00.000-07:00

We've been quite busy scouting for places for our prenup session with Marco Malaca. The fact that my back-up photographer is very good at capturing landscapes, I thought it would be best to have our prenup somewhere in Tagaytay. It would beat two purposes, not only for our prenup but it would be our form of retreat from the busy work routine we all have.

I was able to capture a few shots from Nurture Spa Tagaytay, a small wellness village which promises a tranquil experience for those looking physical rejuvination...

Here are some random shots of the garden and the Ifugao huts they have amazingly maintained...

On Supplier's Meals and Sealing Waxes...

2009-07-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

Upon leaving Vivere Hotel, we went straight to Alabang Town Center. I for one was craving for a turkey ham sandwich, which honestly, I do not know where to buy... We ended up buying something else instead.. We found 3 sets of sealing wax colored lilac and pink, all at PowerBooks...

Another accomplished task I consider...

the sealing wax courtesy of PowerBooks..

We then proceeded to Contis Restaurant at BF Homes to have an early dinner. I was more than happy afterwards, Contis is probably one of the best comfort food I know... We also inquired about their bulk meal orders for our suppliers' meals on Dec. 5....(though we haven't decided yet as we are still looking for other prospective suppliers)

I should say today, we've accomplished a few things on our checklist... It feels much better knowing we're doing just as fine on the preps... Makes me feel that we're on top of thingS. =)

Booking Vivere Suites

2009-07-04T02:51:00.000-07:00

Leih and I have finally decided to make our reservations for 2 bridal prep rooms at the Vivere Hotel. I just fell in love with its cozy romantic atmosphere... The rooms looked spacious enough for us and our suppliers, and they even allowed a 3-hour additional time for check out since the ceremony would start at 4:30 pm.

the regal suite bedroom

the living room of the regal suite

We're eyeing the Sky Line for additional prenup pictorials. The view here at night is just divine... I remember the first time we went here together to have dinner, it was our first anniversary... Boy, was it oh-so romantic... I would love to do it again.. =)

dining at the Vivere SkyLine

Center Table Food Tasting ...

2009-06-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

Leih and I spent our evening on a grand food tasting at Fernbrook Gardens, courtesy of Center Table... We met Jenny P. (our A.E) to finalize the contract and the list of menus we want for Dec. 5... And again, I'm just so satisfied just like my first food tasting with them (with my mom) last year.. I loved all the courses they prepared most especially their Lengua Con Champignon.. The variety of menus we tasted were all so sumptuous and delicious... I'm even wishing they'd open up a resto so we could visit them once in a while...

Leih was just as overwhelmed as I was... Somehow, talking to Jenny and the daughter's owner, Rica Valera, eased a big part of our worries for that very day... They were very accomodating and most importantly, the food and the set up were all worth every penny. Ratings?? 11 out of 10...

I have posted a few of the centerpieces and deserts that they displayed this evening. Most of these are just basic arrangements so just imagine how beautiful it would be once we get an upgrade... But judging from these centerpieces, I'm leaning on not to upgrade anymore as they are just magnificent all the same...

I'm feeling, we made a good decision in getting Center Table... It's probably one of the best choices

Leih and I made so far. HANDS UP to you CENTER TABLE.....

A Wedding Ice-Breaker From Zach

2009-06-20T02:38:00.000-07:00

And so the tedious task of preparing for the wedding has started to hit us back.. I would find myself falling asleep while online with my w@w sisters until the wee hours of the morning... (sorry for that) I think I'm in so much need for sleep lately... and so does my baby doggie, Zach...

good thing he smells like a baby... =)

He made sure he sneaked himself on to my bed and on to my pillow, specifically on my head where he slept leisurely, snoring at my ear and loving the warmth I provided... I couldn't stop from smiling whenever I see this... It's just so cute....

Our Search For "The" Wishing Well....

2009-06-20T02:09:00.000-07:00

Leih and I are still on the look-out for the perfect wishing well... Although we could just order one of these samples online, we still decided to look for some cheaper alternative since we'll be using it only once. I don't see the need to spend more than a hundred dollars for a cute wishing well.. (definitely not..)

And so, the search has begun... But hey, it ain't a sin to salivate over these beautifully-crafted wells... What do you thinK?

a white wishing well with lavender touches.. perfect...

I just fell in love with the floral embellishments on this one...

an off-white painted wishing well with yellow balloons

a beautifully-done Capidamonte porcelain wishing well... I just love this one...

or a beautiful bird cage for a change???

and last but not the least, the ivory-embroidered chest box.... perfect...

The Bride Wars Effect

2009-06-14T00:37:00.000-07:00

I must admit, it's been a while since I last saw a real movie. I had tons of things to do and going out to chill has been more like a luxury for me the past few months.

This morning, after having done with my chores at home, I watched "Bride Wars" on DVD. Had I known this was a good one, I would have marched down Greenbelt to see it. It was funny and silly and emotionally dragging (at least some parts)... But it brought me down to a few tears, good thing Leih was nowhere to see my humiliating crying fiesta. Suddenly, I missed my best friends who are now living abroad. (sad).

It made me realize how weddings could bring so much pressure on brides.. Sometimes, girls tend to lose the very essence of why they're getting married by becoming so focused and sometimes even "OC" with the gown, the preparations and all. It's somehow saddening .... Being a coordinator myself and now a part of an online wedding community, I've seen a few who have turned into bridezillas..

I've seen brides-to-be going nuts over simple things like finding the "perfect dress," and bombarding everyone with worries about how their receptions are going to look like, and the list goes on.. Some even become so competitive with other brides... Personally, I think it's normal for every engaged woman to be this excited and inquisitive but not to the point that they'd "overkill" just to get their way.

I hope in the end, it's the real purpose of being blessed and becoming one with the " right man" than just wanting to be the center attraction of a big event. I hope we won't lose the very essence of why we're getting married in the first place..

After all, it's just one day, I have read this somewhere and this applies: "A wedding is just one day, a marriage is a lifetime..."

A Bride-To-Be's Best Friend...

2009-06-13T23:21:00.001-07:00

As I was cleaning my room this morning, I rummaged through my cabinet and found these magazines neatly stashed in my box. I didn't even realize I started collecting these magzines as early as 2006,2 years before Leih came into my life.... I was newly-single back then and was having the time of my life.

there's more from where this came from..

It donned to me, there is something about weddings that spark up my interest so much. I'm just greatly fascinated with it and the things associated with it like the preps and all, even the DIY's... It seems true for most girls that it is in our DNA's, similar to men's love for cars...

I feel grateful for the publishers for sending out these "wedding bibles" as these have truly helped brides-t0-be like me conceptualize and create that wonderful "one day" worth remembering...

I'm definitely keeping these even after our Big Day's over...

Finally Moving On....

2009-06-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

Finally, we're moving on with the preps!!! We've settled the balance with one of our major suppliers ~ Fernbrook Gardens... 'met Emily yesterday and handed over to her our "cash envelope"... There's no turning back on this one anymore.. (LOL)

It was a little humid yesterday so we opted not to roam around too much. Good thing, Leih and I saw the insides of Byzantine 1 & 2 being lavishly decorated for a 6pm reception. It' felt nice just watching the place transform as the events people worked their magic on it. Flowers were everywhere, it was gorgeous... I couldn't imagine how it would be on our wedding day... =)

Emily also gave us an endorsement letter for Vivere Suites, and a bundle of directional maps (100 pieces) for the invitation.

I say, this wedding prep is really getting back on its feet.. A good sign, don't you think?.

Personalized Wedding Napkins....

2009-06-11T23:34:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've posted our personalized wedding napkins here on my site...

This came along with the place card holders Leih sent thru LBC.

I love the color... It's so us... =)

Ayha & Leih.... Forever...

Wedding Preps Back On Track

2009-06-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

It seems just like yesterday when we started on our wedding preps. And now, we have only 6 months to go and our big day's finally arriving... We've started finalizing the details and the settlements with some of our suppliers.

I managed to arrange all of our payments in separate envelopes. I also put the specific details for each supplier. It makes me feel more organized and on top of things. Besides, mas madaling magbayad coz we get spared from the confusion of dividing our money and to whom this cash goes to... Less hassle..

the individually prepared cash envelopes for our suppliers...

By the way, here's a few of what we have completed so far...

Center Table Catering:
Check! We've paid them in full already last May at the bridal fair. Half of it we put on a check due on November.

Fernbrook Gardens:
Check!!!! I'll be meeting up with my AE Emily in the afternoon.. The balance is ready to be handed over tomorrow. Fully paid na kami ... whew... Task completed...

Edward Teng (Bridal Gown and Ento's Evening Gowns)
Check! Paid more than half of our dues. The balance is already neatly stacked in a sealed envelope.

Scenta Flora Events Management:
Check. Balance is already prepared in a sealed envelope.

Eros Portraits: Check.

Jason Magbanua: Check!

JJS Entertainment: Check.

Dynasty Wines: Check.

Vienna Cakes: Check.

Wedding Bands: Check! Check!

Princess Misa H: Check!!!!!

What else? with the wedding paraphernalias like the embellished wedding napkins, the place card holders, the fairytale pillow, flower girl buckets, the bears, the arrhae, the coins, the wedding shoes (3), the kissing bells, all of them: CHECK!!!!!!!

Tomorrow, we'll be settling our arrangement with Mr. Joebert Sixto for our mood lights and moving heads. We have yet to finalize how the lighting design would look like.... I'm happy though that we're finally moving on with the wedding preparations.. We're almost complete na... I hope we get everything settled a month before our big day...

Wedding preps can indeed be tedious but personally, it's a lot of fun..

DIY Kissing Bells? Check!!!

2009-06-11T22:12:00.000-07:00

Finally, Leih and I are done with our kissing bells... It felt so good having him to help me with our DIY wedding crafts. He was very eager to do his part on everything involving our wedding. In fairness, he was very patient, wala kong narinig na complaint, and take note, the task took us only a matter of minutes to complete. Indeed, four hands are better than two. (LOL)

Leih: "One down, two more bells to go... haaay..."

I'm kinda in the mood to do more DIY stuff, only we're done on almost everything so far... =)

Here are our kissing bells, specially done by my husband-to-be Leih (hands up to you baby)
and yours truly.... (bow)

MY DIY Wedding Bible...

2009-06-11T21:15:00.000-07:00

I just finished our DIY wedding bible... At first, I was clueless on what to do with it, but after I saw this lovely pink paper, I thought of improvising with the help of a few flowers and feathers I have in my box. All I want is a simple design with my favorite color in it... And of course, the "touch of feather" was again present, just like with my kissing bells...

my pink fairy-tale inspired wedding bible...

I love the result by the way.. I'm thinking of embellishing it with butterflies and more flowers, but that's after I find the perfect butterflies for my bible... =)

Our Metro Weddings Prize

2009-05-31T07:54:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought Metro Weddings' promos are a fake, a big blessing just came ringing on my mobile. I won... I can't believe it. Today, I went to ABS-CBN with my ever-patient Leih to finally claim the Cathy Valencia Skin & Body Clinic Gift Certificates worth {P9,000.00). Yeah, I am one of the ten winners of this promo. All I ever sent was a short essay and I'm glad to say, I got chosen..

We've already planned when we'll be using these GCs. Since Alabang is just 30 minutes away from us, we may avail our freebies there.

This is a great first wedding gift, and to think it's from Metro Weddings... Leih and I are just so thrilled...

Our First Bridal Fair Together....

2009-05-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

I woke up late this morning as I wasn't expecting we'd be going out. Last night, Leih couldn't confirm to me whether we'd be attending the SMX CELEBRATIONS Bridal Fair. He knew I felt sad but then, what can I do, right? I've attended a few bridal fairs without him and I was hoping this would be our first together.

Leih woke me up with a message telling me we'd be leaving before 10. I was so happy I was smiling at the shower.. On our way to the fair, I asked him what changed his mind. He simply said, he knew how badly I wanted to go and he couldn't bear to see me sad. (Awwww) I wanted to hug him right then. The bridal fair wasn't as busy as last year. There weren't too many people so we managed to sneak at all the photobooths and got to taste a few cake samples. It wasn't what we expected, but it wasn't that bad for Leih's first time.
]
We're looking forward to our next bridal fair. It's something that I've grown a liking for. And I sooo love the cakes. That's the best part. =)

My Entourage's Gorgeous Gown Sketches

2009-05-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

Our appointment with Edward Teng today was truly very appeasing. I had almost all my female entourage with us, except for Pam who was unable to take a leave from her Nursing Board Review. We opted to leave early in the morning to avoid the heavy traffic, and just on time, we arrived at the Bridal Shop as scheduled. My girls took turns in having their measurements taken, and gorgeous evening gowns were designed for each of them, suiting their figures and personalities.

A few weeks ago, I was going ga-ga on who to get to make my Entourage's gowns. I was hoping we could get a less pricey dress but it seemed not even one of the designers I inquired with got our complete approval. Leih and I then decided to finally go for Edward Teng no matter the price, thinking it's all going to be worth what we paid for anyway. This is probably one of our best decisions ever as I felt so satisfied with the designs they gave me, plus the quality of chiffon and silk that they'd be using on my beautiful girls. The gowns are sure to get "ooohs" and "aaahs" on our wedding day. I sholuld know, 'coz I felt the same way this morning upon seeing our sketches.

We had a hearty lunch at Contis in Greenhills afterwards, all 8 of us including my other cousin Charles and his cousin Pepey.. Leih and I felt so relieved upon going home. We've accomplished one major task. We can now work on the next one. Yipppeeee!!!!

Our Catholic Engaged Encounter

2009-05-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

Leih and I just came home from Tahanan Village, Paranaque... Today was the last day of our Catholic Engaged Encounter Seminar. For two days, we lacked sleep as we would be up by 4am. The seminar starts at 7am so we had to allot some time for travel.

Honestly, the lack of sleep and the traveling time was very tiring for the both of us, but this I say... The CEE was well worth our 2-day sacrifice. It was an eye-opener. Indeed, there is much to marriage that most engaged couples do not realize. Most of us get so caught up with the wedding preparations, we tend to forget the very essence of the sacrament. We went home with our certificates, and an unforgettable experience with some of our engaged "classmates"....

What we learned from the past two days will be immeasurable.. I'm just glad we took the time for CEE. Now I can say, we're more than sure we want to take the next step...

Our Very First Anniversary

2009-04-28T03:56:00.000-07:00

Today, Judy Ann Santos & Ryan Agoncillo tied the knot.... It also happens to be the anniversary of Sharon & Kiko Pangilinan, and Richard and Lucy Torres... And guess what, today, we celebrated our very first anniversary!! April 28 truly marks moments worth remembering for most people, including us. ...

On our Anniversary, Leih surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of roses and star gazer which he and his mom bought directly from Dangwa, very early in the morning...

He woke up at 2 am just to surprise me at work with these lovely flowers, together with a big breakfast that he prepared just for me.

I'm just so blessed to have such a sweet and thoughtful partner like Leihson.. With him, I couldn't ask for anything more...

Friendship Blogger Award

2009-04-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks Sis Lorna for giving me this award :) I'm passing this on to my other sisters: Abi, Janice, Maan, Sieggy, Krisel, Georgia, Candy, Arvee, Carla, & Kim...

The rules are so easy:
1. Place the logo / banner on your blog.
2. Add a link to the blog who gave the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Add links to the blogs that you have nominated.
5. Let them know by leaving a message (shout) on their blogs.

Meeting The Designer....

2009-04-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

Today, Leih and I went to Edward Teng and finally had our measurements taken. My gown's design looked so divine, I couldn't help but smile when I look at it... I feel more excited as I can't imagine how it will look on my wedding day. We'll be back at the end of this month for my first fitting. It will only be the base or inside of the gown. If it fits me well, they'd be working on the real gown itself and the beadings which may take a few months to complete... Leih and I couldn't hide our excitement as we looked at the designs...

I'll be scheduling my entourage's gowns next... =)

Prenup Pics by Mr. Edwin Tuyay

2009-04-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

These shots are particularly a few of our most favorites... It captured the emotions we felt that day... we looked so comfortable & happy.... even if the sun was raging hot that day... It turned out just perfect...

notice the shoes??? yup, that's my 2 &1/2-inch glass shoes...

Richie Macapinlac's Work of Art

2009-03-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

Dressed in casual attire, we posed for Richie Macapinlac before we went home from the pre-nups...and after a few days..... here are some of his wonderful shots...

Pre-Nup Pics by SmartShot Studio...

2009-03-25T05:27:00.000-07:00

Now we have our own "Save-the-Date" card....
Super thanks to Sir Lito Genilo of Smart Shot for these beautiful pictures...

Nice Print Photos....

2009-03-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

"The Avengers"-Themed Pictorial

2009-03-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

I'm kinda running out of patience waiting for our W@W pictures, and it's been what? a day??? talk about excited.. (LOL) Thank goodness, Atty. Raymond Fortun sent me our pictures via email. I was thrilled to see our "themed pictorial" posted on his website.. Here are just some of our "London Detectives/ Mr. & Mrs. Smith/ The Avengers" shots!

Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Pinoy version) hehehe

London Detectives at work...

uhmm.. eh mainit ho....

38 degrees but still smiling...

Can't wait for our other pictures!!!! Weeeeeeeeeeh!!!!

Our First W@W Moment

2009-03-20T09:07:00.001-07:00

I must admit, though we got exhausted and sunburned at the W@W free prenups at Fernbrook, we actually enjoyed posing before the cameras. Leih and I felt so excited as it is our first prenups pictorial ever. We frequented all the photobooths and got some picture magnet for souvenirs.

Temperature was seemingly above 38 degrees and the streaks of sweat forming on my forehead almost wore out my make up but we continued with the shoot anyway. Leih had been most patient with me ~~ my ever reliable fiance who always had a tissue in his hand to wipe my sweaty face from the freaking unbearable heat. It was an exciting day for the both us, especially for me who got to meet some of my fellow w@w sisters in the flesh... Maan, Cielo and I all had our make ups done by Tita Princess so we kinda met up at BF Homes together with our h2b's.. And upon arriving at Fernbrook, I saw sis Abi with her better half Edu.

After the exhausting prenups, we headed straight to Alabang Town Center where we satisfied our selves with a huge serving of Schezuan Crabs at Crustaceas. Leih also bought me me a set of deep purple roses and two-toned lilac-colored paper roses.

All in all, everything went well, despite the unbearable weather, we had a really wonderful first W@W moment together... Something we will both always remember..

Our First Official Date

2009-03-14T18:01:00.000-07:00

It was by luck that we chanced upon this wedding being set up at Le Pavilion this afternoon while waiting for Dennis ~~~ we were scheduled to settle the reservation & down payment for his lumens projector. We agreed to meet at Le Pavilion where they had an evening event. He was a little late so we decided to take a peek inside the pavilion since nobody was at the door. Oh boy, how smitten we were with the designs of the table set up. I didn't bother to ask though who their caterer was. Good thing, Leih saw this big letter "C" plastered on the box nearby so he interestingly approached this guy who was setting up the table. It was Rolly who confirmed to us that it was no other than CENTER TABLE who was catering the event. We were so thrilled!!!!! I had a sudden rush of excitement as we watched these people finish decorating the place.

Our excitement pushed our moods to the highest pitch. Upon getting to MOA, we started our food-tripping ,had a satisfying japanese food marathon, enjoyed a delicious Haagen Dazz fest and finally, some serious shopping.. We also went for an hour massage at Body Tune. All we did was eat and talk and laugh. I seemed to have forgotten how wonderful it is to have someone special to share moments like this,, after all, it has been quite a while.

Today was our first official date (mind you). Being away for almost 10 years, we felt the need to make up for the lost time.

a lambing kiss from my prince...

I even got to pick a few items at MANGO and Freeway.We went home with an armful of shopping bags and pastries.. I can't be any happier... =) We had an amazing, amazing day....

Surprise Surprise!!!

2009-03-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

This is actually the first bouquet that he personally handed to me. All the other flowers were sent either thru a messenger or even thru his mom. I was actually expecting his arrival late in the afternoon, but he surprised me at 2:00 PM when he dropped by at work (straight from the Airport) with a beautiful bouquet of roses in his hand.

It would always be one of our most memorable times together... Our first time to actually see each other after 10 long years... =)

Finally Home...

2009-03-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

After 10 long years.... my prince if finally back home... Surprised me with a bouquet of fuschia-colored roses at work before heading home from the airport. Went home with me to meet my family for the first time. It was a great day..

Now, we're a bigger happy family...

A Special W@W Moment

2009-03-07T19:03:00.001-08:00

Sis Abi and I tried the Photobooths..
Check out our wacky photos.. Kase yong SpiceBooth wala man lang warning.. (LOL)...

My Third Bridal Fair...

2009-03-07T18:57:00.000-08:00

We finally settled the full payment for Center Table Catering today at the "Themes & Motifs" Wedding Expo. I got 2 booklets of raffle tickets, all of which I solely signed, hoping we'll win this time (sakit tuloy ng kamay ko)....

The Bridal Fair was overwhelming with top wedding suppliers, it was literally a big carnival of "dream granters". I had so much fun walking around while checking all sorts of offers and services. I even got to meet my w@w sister Abi and her fiance, Edu. We tried the photo booth and got some pictures as souvenirs. Abi was able to purchase a beautiful dress for our W@W prenup pictorials. And I am guilty of snagging another MANGO blouse before heading home.
It was a great day..

. I think I won't get over my passion for wedding fairs.. It's just addictive..

Wedding Accessories...

2009-03-03T07:42:00.000-08:00

A day wouldn't pass me by without thinking of our wedding preps. It has gotten me so involved that every accomplishment gives me such an overwhelming feeling. Just as I was updating my other site, I realized I've never posted some of the accessories that we've already purchased.

There are more from where this came from, but for now I'll be posting just a few....

The Unity Candle.....

The Arrhae

The Fairytale-Inspired Pillow

Our FairyTale Table Numbers

2009-03-03T06:55:00.000-08:00

I've been busting my brains for more ideas on how to make unique table numbers for our guests... Finally, I have set on a design that will most likely become our table numbers... I still have more time though to think if we'll do it ourselves or just buy it to lessen the hassle. But DIY-ing has slowly become a hobby for me, I might as well put my personal touch on it...

What do you think, guys? crafty, huh?

About The PreNup Pictorials

2009-03-03T06:31:00.000-08:00

The W@W pre-nups are coming in a few weeks and I still haven't figured out what to wear. Seems funny but I was talking to my friend Maan and she shares the same dilemna. At least I'm not the only one contemplating about possible bouts of shyness around cams. To think we'll be having our pictures taken in front of other brides... I'm not sure how I'll do. (LOL)

Leih and I kinda decided to just keep it casual. Most probably, I'd opt for a casual blouse and jeans and just have my hair prepped up a little. I'm not sure about the dress yet.. not on the 20th at least, anyway, we have 2 more other pre-nup pictorials coming up in a few months. I wonder how things will go about on the 20th.

Just thinking about it makes my heartbeat faster... haaaay...

Our First Website...

2009-03-02T07:29:00.000-08:00

I'm relieved that Wedding Announcer is finally back to work. I had a hard time uploading all our pictures the first time it went down for almost 2 weeks. All my w@w sisters were dismayed at the trouble it left us. Imagine having to upload everything from scratch is really a nightmare... I even started thinking of making a new site but since our announcer site means so much to us (it was our team effort that created this one), I painstakingly had the site redone...

Thank goodness for blogging geniuses like Aby (w@w sis) who sent me an already-snipped picture on my email, and my cousin Kathy (blogger mom), I was able to post my first ever snipped picture.. Kathy, you are amazing... Galing galing mo grabe... And to aby, thanks sis for being so patient with me. hihihi

Fairytale Place Card Holder

2009-02-25T07:47:00.000-08:00

The box filled with our place card holders finallyarrived this morning, (Las Vegas time). Leih took some pictures of it but I'm posting a better shot of the item so I could post it here.. I already have an idea of how we want our place cards to look like, good thing I have my friend Erra who's helping me out with some of her ideas as she is the more experienced between us especially when it comes to art. (She's a graphic artist by the way and she's helping me with my misallette cover.)

Im grateful for this God-sent angel... She is such a big help... =)

Little Princess' Gowns & Capes

2009-02-25T05:30:00.000-08:00

Look at these gowns and capes... Aren't they cute? I chanced upon these things on the internet while browsing for fairytale themed outfits and accessories. Hindi pa kase ganon ka-set ang mind ko about my bridesmaids' and flower girls' gown designs..

Here are some of the pieces I saw.. interesting, right?

I just noticed, puro colors namin ito ah..

A Blessing From The Pope...

2009-02-24T03:40:00.000-08:00

February 24, 2009. This FED Ex packet came in just after I left for work. Mommy couldn't wait until later so she opened it (with my permission) Thank God! Finally!!! Our papal blessing arrived at last!!!

I felt her excitement as she read over the phone our Papal Blessing. My mom being a very devoted Catholic was so delighted to learn that we got the opportunity to avail one for our wedding, with faith that the pope's blessing she believes it would do wonders for our future life, together as husband and wife,.

I have yet to tell Leih about it.... He has been waiting for weeks now. Boy, he's gonna be happy when he hears this.... =)

Wedding Inspirations...

2009-02-21T06:34:00.000-08:00

I have always loved pink, purple and lavender. May it be a dress or a notebook, I try to always get something of that color. On our wedding, we want two-toned flowers everywhere, candles, flowers, even the mood lights. ~~~ all with a splash of purple, lavender and pink. Let me share with you some pictures that became the inspiration for our dream wedding:

the reception will have our color-motif mood lighting...

pink & lavender-colored ecuadorian roses, carnations & liliums...

two-toned paper roses and some greens......

our miniature cakes are somewhat similar to this...

and of course, it is a Happily Ever After for us...

My DIY Kissing Bells

2009-02-21T05:48:00.000-08:00

February 15, 2009. We went to Tabora, Divisoria last Friday to purchase some kissing bells for our wedding. If not for my friend Aby Pasco (the blushing bride), I wouldn't have learned about this place. It was a little difficult to find since I haven't been to Divisoria yet, but I had fun walking the aisles of Tabora.. Ang daming mabibili grabe! Kelangan lang talaga pasensya kase ang hirap hanapin ng bells, you have to ask everyone coz they don't display them. Parang prohibited drugs yong hinahanap mo. hehehe!!

At first I was a bit skeptical on how to start designing my very bare bells... I had no idea what to do, but since I bought all the necessary things to accesorize it, I just said to myself, bahala na. I got pink and lavender feathers, a deep lavender mini rope, flowers and a glue gun.. Ito ang kinalabasan ng bells ko.. 3 down, 29 more to go. hehehe

My Valentine Bouquet

2009-02-21T05:47:00.000-08:00

February 15, 2009. Valentines for me was an ordinary day. Just like last time, Leih and I celebrated Valentines away from each other. But as expected, he made an effort to make my day of hearts worth smiling about. We had a deal that we won't be giving any fancy gifts this Valentines as we were already starting to save up for the wedding, but he still managed to pull something off... 3 days before the 14th, I got 2 gorgeous flowercards, they're now all neatly arranged on my desk for everyone to see... I was out the whole day, scouting for some wedding accessories at the bridal fair and in Tabora, Divisoria, a day before the 14th.. We arrived home late, at around 10:30 in the evening. It was the eve of Valentines, only a few hours and the clock was turning 12. Little did I know that he asked his mom to help him get a very big bouquet of roses and two-toned pink carnations for me. His mom and uncle personally delivered it to my house at 11 in the evening, . I was at loss for words.. Fairly enough, even if it wasn't as big as last year's surprise, he still made my Valentines so special. I still couldn't help but smile when I look at my flowers... I hope next time, I get to spend it with him for good... =)

DIY-ing Our Bible

2009-02-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

I thought of DIY-ing our bible for the ceremony but I was running out of ideas lately. I am almost finished with the kissing bells so I'm planning to work on the bible next. As much as we could, Leih and I would like to minimize the costs.. Being a w@w member helped me alot in our search for the most efficient and cost-worthy suppliers. I was eyeing on this embellished bible on the net, but I think it was way too expensive so I decided to make the bible myself. I bought some of the accessories I'll be needing for the bible. Unfortunately, I forgot the inner paper I need for the task so I might start with project late this week.

My Beauty Fairy.....

2009-02-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

February 8, 2009. I finally found my HMUA! My Beauty Fairy, Ms. Princess Misa Hernandez. Together with my mom, we commuted to her place at BF Homes.

Tita Princess is such a nice lady. Armed with a certain charm & good vibes, I easily warmed up to her and was able to lay out all my ideas on how I would want to look like. The hair isn't final though, as I'm still opting for other styles but definitely, I loved the effect she did with her magic airbrush make up. She maybe just a fairy godmother in disguise after all. (LOL)

My Pre-Valentine Roses

2009-02-07T06:30:00.000-08:00

February 1, 2009. I had a wonderful Friday... Yesterday, Leih sent me 2 dozens of crimson red roses with a cute teddy bear via Island Rose... These are my first roses for 2009. The little bear was so cute, I'm including it as an accessory for my flower-girls' basket decoration. I still have to get two more teddy bears. 'Am definitely buying some tomorrow.

Fernbrook Mishap...

2009-02-07T04:29:00.000-08:00

January 12, 2009. First day of work for this year and I had to take a half - day off.... I had to rush to Fernbrook to clarify some misunderstanding regarding the former AE who supposedly handled our account. Leih was the first one who actually settled the arrangements when he reserved Fernbrook last April. Apparently, that same AE who was appointed to us has been out of Fernbrook's management just this October and yet, they failed to notify us. Good thing I was still able to book some of the amenities she failed to put in writing. I paid the additional amenities in full, clarified some details with the VP himself, and finally, our account was transferred to our new Account Executive, Emily. Fairly enough, our "new girl" has been very accommodating and kind as to assure us of no more mishaps in the future.. She also looked way nicer than my former AE. I liked her instantly. (just being honest)

Afterwards, I went straight to Presentation of Child Jesus Parish to get the list of requirements we need to complete by July. I'm glad I've had everything sorted out. Getting blown off by some incompetent people could really be a bummer. I hope this would be the last. Today had been very stressful for me. Thank God this day's over....

The Give-Aways...

2009-02-06T07:13:00.000-08:00

December 1, 2008. Leih's boxes arrived early this morning.. He sent a lot of gifts for Christmas including Zach's "overflowing" food treats... He gave me a new pink laptop and a designer watch for Christmas, among others... But what got me excited the most was seeing our give-aways neatly arranged underneath the clothes.. We ordered these give-aways since October from David's Bridal and Leih got to see the product himself before it was delivered to his house.

He let me choose the design for both the item and the boxes... As soon as I fixed the contents of the packages, I painstakingly assembled all our give-away boxes... I have never felt so excited as I attached the tags on each item... This would be given along with another item we have ordered... Leih was right, it felt different seeing these things... I remember him telling me how happy he felt when the package arrived. Now I know what he means.. It seems we're just a few months away... =)

The Princess' Wedding Ring

2009-02-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

November 3, 2008. Leih finally purchased a wedding ring for me. I was so stunned when he showed me the ring on the net. I had no words left to describe the awe I felt upon seeing my wedding band, it had 17 full round cut diamonds on the center and 74 single round cut diamonds on the outside.

I didn't expect he'd give me something so precious. I've already imagined our wedding bands to be just a simple plain ring, so far from this one actually.

If I were to choose all over again, I wouldn't trade this for another... I am so inlove with my ring...

Our String Quartet... Finally...

2009-02-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

December 27, 2008. I finally sealed the deal with Maestro Johnny John Santos... We dropped by his place at Multinational Village to once and for all sign the contract that would make him our official wedding singer. Actually, we got a string quartet, with him to personally play the piano on our big day. He will also choose the singer that he thinks will best fit the songs we have on list.

I have a big faith in this man... known to many as the very sought-out musical director of Studio 23. I've seen him play at my friend, Eden Estornino's wedding once and I fell in love with their songs instantly. He has also played at numerous celebrity weddings, one of which is the Santiago-Barreto nuptials, to name one. I am just ecstatic... I'm sure I won't have any regrets booking the Maestro.... One supplier down!!!! One more to go! Weeeeee!!!!!!!!!!