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 | Welcome! | Feb 2, 2009 |
Two years ago I was just like every typical engaged soon-to-be-brides - romantically hazed and ultimately clueless. Sometimes I get caught in two or three conversations about wedding progress and I see myself answering in an opaque manner. Then I found this helpful article at The Knot and added notable activities on it. Somehow it shed light on me during the whole dreadful preparation period. Of course, it didn't guarantee a problem worry free wedding, but for us it was successful enough. So hope this helps to other clueless brides out there. 12+ months before
* Envision your wedding, color palettes and theme.
* Draw up a budget.
* Pick a wedding date and time. Start planning the guest list/head count.
* Look for and book ceremony and reception sites.
8-10 months before
* Bride: Think about, shop for, and order your gown.
* Envision your reception food, visit caterers and do food tasting.
* Think about the ceremony and reception floral decors, conceptualize a mood board.
* Find a wedding coordinator, if not gather friends who are willing to help you through.
* Research and book your wedding professionals. As much as possible interview vendors.
6-8 months before
* Send save-the-date cards to your must-be-there guests especially if wedding date falls on peak/busy seasons.
* Start planning honeymoon.
* Order bridesmaid dresses, include mother of the bride and mother of the groom.
* Decide what type of entertainment you want for ceremony and reception.
4-6 months before
* Attend pre-wedding counseling, if required.
* Order groom's men outfits, include father of the bride and father of the groom.
* Shop for and order invitations.
* Look and shop for wedding rings.
* Ready and gather all required documents like cenomar and birth certificate before applying a marriage license.
* Envision and plan your engagement photo and video shoot. Prepare necessary permits for venues.
1-3 months before
* Apply for a marriage license.
* Order wedding cake.
* Send your invitations.
* Write your vows.
* Purchase gifts for parents, attendants, and each other.
* Book your makeup and hair stylist. But go for a trial run first.
* Bride: Have final gown fitting, same with your bridesmaids.
* Do engagement photo and video shoot.
2 weeks before
* Review final RSVP list and call any guests who have not yet sent a response.
* Deliver must-have shot lists to photographer and videographer.
* Deliver song to videographer for your on-site video/same day edit.* Deliver final song list to your music vendor for ceremony and reception.
* Bride: Get your last pre-wedding haircut and color.
* Groom: Go for final fitting, same with your groomsmen.
1 week before
* Rehearse ceremony.* Give reception site/caterer final guest head count.
* Print place and table cards.
* Groom: Get your hair trimmed.
* Attend bachelor/ette parties.
* Check and follow-up bridal bouquet, together with the entourage flowers.
* Check and practice your vows.
2-3 days before
* Bride: If you need to, have your gown pressed or steamed.
* Determine wedding-party positions during processional and recessional. It is better if you can make position layout.
* Reconfirm final details with all vendors. Discuss any necessary last-minute substitutions.
* Give your marriage license to your officiant.
* Rehearse bride and groom dance.
Day before
* Write checks / ready cash for any final balances to be paid at the end of the reception.
* Take time to rest.
The Big Day
* Be happy and on-time.
* Don't you ever panic, always smile. :)
Post wedding
* Write and send thank-you notes to gift-bearing guests and vendors who were especially helpful. Lately, I've been hooked on working some fashion pieces in my other personal blog and with that corresponds on being totally addicted to Polyvore. Never thought that polyvore would be so cool, gosh I keep on smiling while browsing the items especially the Louboutins! Crazy! Anyway, in the interest to shed light to couples who will be having engagement photo sessions soon I have come up with three sets/look (for now) that may help on understanding a desired theme. Hope you'll love it.
Black has been a staple of elegance ever since. From the sleek well tailored coat, sultry cocktail silhouette, sparkles of diamonds and steel down to lovely pair of shoes, sure enough can't resist that red-carpet charm. Inspired by daily bustling sound of the streets, fast-phase walking people and that comfortable feeling of just wandering around. A look that reminds me of cozy coffee shops, ice cream parlors, acres of rice field and a distinct summer breeze when strolling in a park 60's style.
Now being married for months, once a hands-on bride means a survivor of most mind blowing tasks in wedding preparation normally puts you in a situation where in most of your friends, relatives and office mates admired on. Thus you are often asked about the how's and who's of your wedding. So like I always share, below are some guide that might help you not to become a bride/groom-zilla.
First thing first, decide on how you both envision your wedding. I know this is a part that most women/brides actively do, but I guess effective wedding planning only means when a "couple" is actually talking and agreeing on simple basic things. Like choosing the church and reception venue? When will be the wedding? What is your Wedding Theme? Big crowd or just plainly small? Would you like to be simple or grand? Will both of you want to pay for your own wedding or not? These are basic questions you 'both' must agree, d lang si bride pati na din ang groom. Planning ahead is an essential key, it is never exaggerated to plan out early - in fact you can save more especially on suppliers rates.
Second to take consideration is definitely the BUDGET. Draw a fine line on how much you would like to allocate, shed and spend for the entire wedding. This is very important because from here you'll pattern what you have previously envisioned. Budget is the framework on how far you can "willingly" afford and a factor that defines a wedding in terms of expenses by which should be taken with practical actions. Yes, its not easy to earn money these days except if you are born priviledged/royalty or only planning to invite 5 guests.
Third, identify expenses that can be negotiables and non-negotiables. Non-negotiables expenses are normally kahit mahal you are willing to spend kasi you see it as investment and important aspect of your big day. It may be in a form of food, photo/video, clothing or venue. Negotiable expenses are the ones na pwede tipirin or maging tight ang budget, sometimes pwede i-diy (do-it yourself) na lang. Example: invitations, gifts/souvenirs, flowers (bouquet and buttoniers), accessories and etc. If you can pull-off a diy wedding gown or photography, why not.
Fourth, take time on researching for suppliers. Pag-aralan nyo mabuti kung sino kukunin nyo, do a little research first before signing any contract kasi every supplier has different skills, approach, styles, strokes and of course "price tags". Like with photo/video, ask yourself what type of style you want kayo ba yung traditional couple who wants dramatic and mushy shots or kayo yung tipong contemporary na gusto playful and modern genre. Thing to remember hindi porket mahal ang supplier magaling na. One determinating factor for me is the attitude, make sure that you can jive with your suppliers kasi at least you will still feel confident even if shit comes/happens. Always find in each supplier the "this is it" moment.
Lastly, always remember no matter how long and perfect you planned out your wedding you have to accept the fact that at some point there are unforeseen and inevitable problems that may occur. Just embrace it, solve each problem one step at a time and learn to compromise - don't let the preparations get into you. Never allow yourself to be a bride-zilla, of course pray it out to God.
"Just one glance took away my breath Then you drew me in with your tenderness You captivate my soul, I'm enraptured You knocked me out and you locked me up Stole my heart like a thief at love Keep me here in your happy ever after I'm captured.. "first time I heard the song, right then and there i knew its us - plus Jeff was digging an OPM touch
see, our love story may not sound perfect as it seems.
4 long years with unimaginable bad fights, 2 years of distant longing
but one inescapable moment.
Mitch and Jeff from MWCDLS on Vimeo.
days passed still, I go gaga reminiscing that joyous day
all the memories, smiles, laughter, fun, giggles, stylish peeps, unbelievable crew
that made it a day Jeff and I will never forget - love you guys!
of course we heart our snapshots even more :)
 Location : Monte di Portofino, Portofino Heights Daang Hari Road HMUA : Irene Manigo and Ava of Faces Salon Photo : Guj Tungpalan of Redsheep Photography Couturier : Jeanette Roxas for the Bride, Alice de Guzman for the Groom
 click here for more photos and the avpLocation : Fernbrook Alabang Open Fields and Monte di Portofino, Portofino Heights Mood : Modern vintage, Non-mushy shots Stylist : Mitch Cagadas - Leus HMUA : Irene Manigo and Ava of Faces Salon, http://www.makeupartist.com.ph Photo : Guj Tungpalan of Redsheep Photography, http://www.redsheepphotography.com/blog/ To be honest, I had the hardest time finding a gift right for our principal sponsors. But it was my mom who first gave me the idea of giving the ninangs and ninongs a decent crystalline jar as a keepsake. First it was a major pain in the head, not to mention pain in my dad's feet as we lurk around to just find those "this is it" feel kind of venetian jars - yeah, we even reached SM Clark just for those jars. But true to that they all looked so lovely especially when finished them up.
 native bayongs were used as holder bags for the jars, bought at divi P45 each
 Someone might ask, what's that inside those jars? Well, its Barako coffee beans. Why use Barako? Aside that it looks super adorbs inside the jar, its a way of paving the home province of my dear husband since he happens to be a 100% pure Batangueno, though it matches our color theme too. :)
As for our souvenirs/keepsakes for each guest, we did still incorporated the idea of using Barako coffee beans. Placed in metallic cap jars and labeled with our personalized stickers.
 metallic jars were bought at divi, cost P10 per piece
 On the other hand, we incorporated fans as giveaways too during the ceremony. This is to keep our guests and the ninangs cool down summer heat since our venue is in an open veranda.
 for our ninangs : chinese fans 10php each, fake sun and daisy flower heads 5php each
 for our guests : colorful abaniko fans bought along Tabora street in Divi we got our beautiful cord
from my friend Aisha Vidal as a gift
 and diy'ed the holders
using native boxes with little touch blue and brown
 can you imagine that i made
a floral twiggy boutonniere out of a candle ring holder
what do you think?
 
it was almost 2 months
when we decided on it
until we got it
our hearts can't seem to stop pounding
why not? 'coz we had a great bargain
  out of being technically gifted especially on using autocad my lovely eng'r sister did the map for us must say super big oh my gaaaashh kasi its very detailed! see it for yourself.. 
sana walang maligaw na guests, ewan ko na lang kung mawawala pa sila with this kind of map :)
It was lunch time when Maja of PassionCooks scheduled to pick us up at Ayala Town Center, true to her words she was there before 12noon. Accompanied by my mom, her two great cook friends Tita Jojie and Tita Amor, and me we head off to Maja's home to do the food tasting. The house looked so lovely and there was this big round table allocated only for us. Add to the fact that PassionCooks' main head quarter is at BF Homes Las Pinas, accessibility wise and so efficient.
 my mother and her two lovely amigas
The food tasting was done in full course, everything in the menu set was served except for the 2 remaining desserts. To start off, we had the appetizer and it was really really masarap. I love green leafy salads and it was no surprise that their Oriental salad made me so happy.
 Oriental Salad with Mango and Tomato SalsaLove the super crunchy catfish and the heavenly taste produced by the vinegar itself.
 Pumpkin SoupIt was the natural creaminess of the soup and bacon tidbits which adds an adventurous taste.
 Three Mushroom Pasta Lots of mushrooms were used, nevertheless it tasted really nice.
 Grilled Beef KebabsThe tenderness and well marinated beef, made the food stand up esp being dip on mango celantro sauce.
For the main course,
 Grilled Fish FilletThe sauces, Mango-mint and tereyaki sesame made the fish's flavor pop.
 Hungarian Paprika Chicken with Sour creamThe food is originally hot due to visible chillis, but the potatoes and rice compliments its hotness.
 Apple and Prune Stuffed PorkApple sauce is really delicious and very tasty
For the dessert, we had 2 out of 4 deserts made due to serving constraint. so as a replacement they serve Leche Flan - not bad since I liked it anyway. They assured that the 2 remaining desserts will be seen on the remaining event itself.
 Assorted Gelatin with Fresh Fruits, Choco Lazy Cake and Leche FlanOne of my fave is the choco lazy cake, not to sweet not to dull - its perfect :) Over-all it was the best food tasting I ever experienced. Food was great, staffs was even better. There is no doubt why I'm loving my caterer now - not only they made us really busog with the food tasting but also for the fact that they were so kind, caring and generous enough for their clients. In what ways you might ask? Well my mom's friend got to take home several sweets from them. Bait dba? :)
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