Silent Blabber

PLEASE CLICK ON THE SUPPLIER RATINGS TAB ON YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW MORE INFO ABOUT HOW OUR SUPPLIER WORKED THAT SPECIAL DAY.

October 18, 2008….

The day when Billy and I will finally tie the knot!

It has been a long wait but as the saying goes, “patience is a virtue.”

Sharing to you all our wedding preparations and hoping that one way or the other, I’ll be able to give some ideas and tips to soon to wed couples as well.

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

THE DATE:

We actually wanted to wed March 8, 2008, but because there’s not enough time to plan and prepare and because I am working overseas, we moved it to a much later date.

I decided on the date when one night, I couldn’t sleep and just started browsing the calendar on my mobile phone. I was trying to search for a date with a number 8 that falls on a Saturday and I found 3 possibilities. March 8, June 28 and October 18 (there’s actually another date, November 8, but I actually skipped it when I was browsing that time).

March 8 is already not possible because it was too early. I don’t want to be a June bride so we crossed out June 28 and so, the last option was Oct. 18.

When I told him about the date, he agreed immediately and we felt good about the date. It still gives us ample time to plan, prepare and save money.

THE TIME:

Here’s one detail of the wedding preparation that we’re still unsure.

We both wanted a morning wedding. Like maybe, 10 o’clock in the morning. He’s just worried that we might get stressed with the preparation and stuff so, he’s contemplating on having an afternoon/evening ceremony.

I, personally, really want a day event rather than a night event because I’m not so keen about the sunset. I know a lot of couples prefer the dramatic effect of it and I do also feel that it is indeed beautiful, but I just feel sad looking at the sunset.

We have to talk about it though when I get to go home for vacation, hopefully, by late December this year or early January 2008.

THE ENTOURAGE:

Choosing the persons to accompany us to the altar is challenging for both of us because we just don’t want a relative or a friend in the list of entourage. We want to share the special day to those people who have been with us through our ups and downs.

We have 2 common friends that we definitely want to be there:

My Matron of Honor, Ellyson Ivy Devera and Groomsman, Orlando Solomon.

These two have been our friends for ages! Wouldn’t even think of getting married without either one of them to witness it.

CHURCH:

Looking for the right church is one of the hardest thing that we have to decide. We both wanted a place that is solemn and beautiful.

We both decided to hold the wedding ceremony in our hometown in Bulacan and not in Manila (where it is convenient for a lot of suppliers) because it’ll be more accessible to our friends and family, who are more important than anything else.

The choices for our wedding ceremony are the following:

1. Divine Mercy Shrine in Marilao, Bulacan
2. Parish of St. Michael in Marilao, Bulacan
3. Mt. Carmel Church in Baliuag, Bulacan
4. Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan

RECEPTION:

The reception venue is another important thing to consider. We want something like Fernwood garden minus the cost. We’re also considering the location of the wedding ceremony so we have 3 choices.

1. Alessandra Garden in Meycauayan, Bulacan (for Divine Mercy Shrine or Parish of St. Michael)
2. The Greenery in Baliuag, Bulacan (for Mt. Carmel Church)
3. Barasaoin Reception Hall (for Barasaoin Church)

CATERER:

Food is one of the integral part of the wedding reception. It needs to be sumptuous and delectable for the visitors to enjoy. Let’s face it, most of the visitors really didn’t come to hear about the wedding vows or to see your gown. They come to eat!

Both of us love to eat so attending food tasting events will be an enjoyable part of this wedding preparation.

Our choice of caterers are:

1. Hizon’s Catering (for Alessandra’s Garden)
2. Josiah’s Catering (for The Greenery)
3. Tamayo’s Catering (for Barasaoin Reception Hall)

BRIDAL GOWN:

I have searched high and low for the perfect gown for me. I’ve looked at websites of different foreign designers of wedding gowns like Mori Lee, David’s Bridal, Alfred Angelo and even Vera Wang!

I was initially planning to just have a dressmaker copy the design that I want but when I saw a list of Filipino couturier, I decided to splurge a little on my own wedding gown. I mean, it’ll be nice to have someone design a special gown just for me!

I’ve seen the works of Cecilio Abad and Veluz Reyes. Both of them are highly recommended by brides to be in the Philippines.

I’ve chatted (via YM!) with Cecile and he’s such a nice person. Easy to talk to and he gave me price quotations. I can’t wait to meet him in person so I could see his designs and gowns in the flesh!

With Veluz, I’ve just emailed her a few moments ago and still waiting for the price range. (just an update: she already emailed back and we talked about my budget for the gown and she’ll send me some sketches of the design that she can make for my gown. crossing my fingers that it’ll be something that i would like so i can book her asap!)

Of course, the cost of the gown matter because it’s our hard earned money we’re talking about. I already have a budget set for my gown but I think, the cost will really depend on what design I choose.

I’m not really a fashionista. I’m a plain Jane. Jeans and shirt type of gal so, they wouldn’t have a hard time pleasing me. I just want a gown that would bring out the beauty in me.

PHOTOGRAPHER:

One of the things I love is a photo.

“A picture says a thousand words” as they say and I believe it is so.

Looking for the best photographer in town could be a challenge but I’m down with 2 choices.

1. Nelwin Uy
2. Redefine Weddings by Jayson Arquiza

Both are nice people, although I have not met either one of them personally (just communicated with them through email and YM!). Both have affordable wedding packages as well. The only downside is that they only do photos and not videos so, we have to get a separate videographer to cover our wedding.

VIDEOGRAPHER:

I’m not into videos so I really don’t like to pay a huge amount of money just for it. Can you believe that videographers can even charge as high as Php 70,000++ (or $1500++)? That’s a downpayment for a car!

I found 2 videographers that have a cheaper video package that’s within our budget and it also depends on which photographer we choose.

1. MG Digital Video (for Nelwin Uy)
2. Jezreel Digital Video (for Redefine Weddings)

I am leaning more towards going with Jayson of Redefine and Jezreel because of a much cheaper rate but who knows what will happen when we meet up with them. It all depends on the chemistry, I guess.

Posing for the camera is important. We don’t want to look like dummies. I want it all so natural, so having a good chemistry with our photographer and videographer is very important.

HAIR AND MAKE-UP:

They say that women is at their most beautiful during their wedding day so choosing the right make-up and hairstylist is very critical to me. I don’t want to look like I’m all made up and uneven. I want to look like the blushing bride and 2 make-up artist and hairstylist have been the household names of most brides in the Philippines.

1. Madge Lejano
2. Angie Cruz

Madge is one of the popular ones ‘coz she’s really known to bring out the beauty in every single bride. They even nicknamed her as the Madgician!

MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT:

Who wouldn’t love to hear an enchanting voice singing while you walk down the altar? Or an instrument playing as a background music while you both say your wedding vows?

I’ve already made arrangements with Mr. Edwin Cruz Silangcruz Jr. of Velvet Mood. I can’t wait to meet him personally and hear them play. I’m sure it’ll be a tearjerker!

HONEYMOON DESTINATION:

I think this is the most anticipated part of every couple! Hahahaha…….

We both wanted to go to a place where we both always dreamed of going.

EL NIDO PALAWAN!

This is also the most expensive part of our wedding because 3D/2N stay in this resort will cost us about $1700 (inclusive of transpo and food).

That’s why as much as possible, we’ll try to get the best package with the wedding suppliers because we really want to spend our honeymoon in this beautiful place in the Philippines. We’re both crossing our fingers that we’ll be able to save enough but in case we couldn’t, we still have another option.

Bohol!

**********

please click on the link on the right side under wedding category to see our official wedding suppliers and venues.

Thank you.