Next on the List

so we're done booking our three major suppliers: coordinator, reception venue and church.
next on our list are the following: photographer, videographer and couturier.

i've made my research on different wedding photographers and videographers since last year but it was only this month that we've finally decided who to book. yes, it took us long enough to decide because our requirements and standard are high :D seriously, i think what made it difficult for us especially for me was the fact that i wanted to get mangored and jason magbanua but they are just soooo expensive. their rates would total the budget we have for the entire wedding. so, i have to cancel them. anyway, they are not free on our wedding date :D (nag inquire gyud ko in fairness!)

our videographer is DigitalMinds. i saw their website while i was browsing Jason Magbanua's site. there was this link posted in his site which listed all sites of good wedding videographers. of course, i inquired to all those based in Cebu and Digital Minds is one on the list. actually, i first heard about them from a friend who recommended them but did not take it seriously until i visited their website (see link in my homepage). i never expected that a local could create a video which is somehow at par with that of Jason's. immediately, we finalized the contract and paid for the deposit. we are so thankful that Joey, the owner, is kind enough to answer all my queries and created a package which is affordable and beyond what we even wanted. :)

one of the things that we've decided to splurge on is photography. aside from us being enthusiasts, we wanted our wedding pictures to last a lifetime. something that we would not regret spending much. our main requirement for our photographer is someone fun and edgy because we believe that it will reflect in the shots he will take. we both don't like the super cheesy and usual wedding pictures so we decided to get someone whose style is unique. cebu has a lot of good photographers both in wedding and fashion but only one person caught our fancy and that is charles buenconsejo, now based in Manila. he was not our first choice actually coz i found his site quite late. but when we were comparing his works from the rest, we've decided that his is way way better. :D lucky for us coz Tisha know him personally and the rest of the buenconsejos. they have worked together in so many weddings Tisha coordinated so i guess, it will not be difficult for us to negotiate :D
thank you Charles for being available on our day and for not charging out of town fees :D

i didn't have much worry about my wedding gown and Moyo's suit because even before Tisha recommended Bernardo Flores, we were already considering him. i did not stressed myself too much in finding a couturier because i found Bern's work really fabulous. before i personally met him last February, Tisha already spoke to him about my dream gown and sent me i think 2 sketches. yes, she spoke because she was not able to show him some pictures because i did not send any. i admit i am very lousy in searching for that perfect design. the only thing that i wanted for my gown is something flowy and beachy :D i actually found some designs but i was not sure if it would fit me but i sent it to Tisha anyway. after checking the pictures, she confirmed one design that would suit me best and the beachy theme and i totally agree, finally! she then asked Bernardo to make another sketch which was totally perfect. we visited him last February in his shop and we were already at ease. he gave us a rate that is really reasonable for the designs we wanted. :)

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So how's the preparation?

my friends have been asking the status of our wedding preparations. all i can say is, "so far, so good". how can i procastinate for my Big day? No Way!

as early as last year, we have been doing our research. from details, themes, suppliers, motiff and other stuffs. i can honestly admit that i am an OC person. i want every detail to be taken cared of, thus the early preparation, 1 year plus to say the least :D

so we started the formal preps last January. first and foremost, we discussed if we should book a coordinator or do it ourselves. the superwoman in me was telling me that i can do it :D but my work did not cooperate :( and i know Moyo has no talent in all the details, its just soo not him even if he insists that he can do it. i just can't trust him on stuffs like these (sorry bebs!). after a serious discussion, we've decided to get one :) according to Moyo, para daw no stress for me but i think he was thinking of no stress for him :D (he just know how much pressure i will be putting on him especially that he is still in Cebu). i have to thank Jhoe, my roomie, for recommending our pretty coordinator, Tisha. i know i can totally trust her knowing she's a good friend of Jhoe's. so far, we have no regrets!

since i am a beach-freak and Moyo is on the average, there's no discussing where the reception should be. the problem was in which resort? i want it in Shangrila (libre btaw mangarap) but of course that would be too much on Moyo's pocket :) so we opted for plan B, which is Maribago Bluewaters. period! so last January, we made our reservation and paid the deposit last February.

next on the list would be the church. my mother requested to hold it in Fatima Parish in Basak , Mandaue but we were thinking it would be too far from Mactan. i have to convinced her that distance really matters, good thing she agreed or maybe was forced :) anyway, Tisha, recommended St. Joseph's Parish (now National Shrine of St. Joseph) in Guizo, Mandaue City. at first, i was kinda hesitant because she told me that the altar is pretty but the aisle is looonnnggg, which is a no no for me :( i even told Moyo, a chapel would suffice but of course it would be too small and my dream chapel, which is Archbishop's Chapel, is way too far from Mactan. to give me peace of mind, Moyo checked some churches in mactan but sad to say, all of them seems so strict with the requirements which might be difficult for us since we are overseas. so we finally decided to book St. Joseph instead but told Tisha, I want to check it come February because the last time i was there was like 5 years ago. good thing, Tisha is also OC. she reserved the church ahead and paid for the deposit first. when i finally saw it, i was in love with the altar but sad with the aisle. it was really looonnnggg :( but i think i can manage...i just hope i won't trip somewhere. all in all, the church is lovely, intimate and vintage :D Moyo and I agreed that we are getting married on that church. teeehhheee!

to be continued...

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The Pamalay

last December 2008 was my first vacation after being away from home for a year. Moyo and I decided to announce our engagement and planned wedding officially to the whole family. but since it was also my sister's wedding that month, we scheduled it a week after so to give time for my parents to at least breathe :D

then it happened last December 24, lunchtime. it was supposedly scheduled a day before but his father had a problem booking a ticket to Cebu. but nonetheless, "the pamalay" finally happened.

it was a day full of blessing for us both. though we didn't exactly know what to do and say, we still made it through. it was heartwarming to see both our parents and relatives discussing our union. we're both happy it turned out really well and smooth. no objections from both sides except for his mother's request to check the moon on our planned date. good thing it turned out to be a full moon on December 30...whew! or else, it would result to a long discussion.

what made it really memorable was the fact that both our parents wanted the wedding to happen on an earlier date. not only that, they wanted us to have a civil wedding too before December. we're not so sold out with the idea but we ended up not arguing at all. so what happened next was we went to the Municipal hall to file our marriage license..hahaha! (this is for our compliance of the appearance requirement since I will be back in Singapore). we went home literally shocked why we did that. we were both asking ourselves if we really want a civil wedding. (answer to this question will be in my next post :D )

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Will You Marry Me?

yes, i will!

the not-so-serious proposal happened last October 10, 2008.
he came to Singapore to pay me a one week visit. it was our first time together as lovers part 2 after one year of living separate lives.

it was such a surprise for me when he popped up that question. though we had some discussions about wedding before he came, i never thought he was that serious. apparently he was but i can say, he was not prepared at all. he didn't have a ring. he didn't even plan a dinner or what. we were just roaming around chinese garden then rested in the pagoda area for sometime. while taking pictures and making fun of each other, he suddenly kneeled down and proposed. i was laughing my heart out watching his act. i did not take him seriously. i just jokingly answered him "yes" and asked him to stand up. i asked where's the ring and he told me he will make another proposal. bantay bitaw! was all i can muster.

but yes he did propose again and this time with the ring :D the surprise happened last February 24, 2009, when i was at home for a supposedly vacation but glued in my pc for some work to finished. he appeared in our doorstep with something. he was hiding it in his back and trying his best so i won't see it. i asked him what is it but didn't say anything. i acted irritated so he gave in. he showed me this cute little box wrapped in a gold tin foil with a red ribbon and a small blank card. (that's how lousy he is!) but i can't hide my excitement coz in my mind, it could be the ring he promised. i opened it without giving him the chance to open it for me. my eyes twinkled when i saw the white gold diamond ring and immediately wore it. ana ka excited! he complained because he wanted to personally wear the ring on my finger. so i removed it and asked him to do it. naay take two! hehe :D

but i'm not complaining because it was indeed sweet *wink*. i was literally surprise and was smiling like a kilig schoolgirl :D

so now, we are officially engaged!

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The BIG Day!

oh yeah, we are tying the knot!

it was not even serious at first. we were just discussing it out of boredom i think. we were sharing our dream wedding to each other when we are not yet even lovers part 2 and yes, we both have thought of the details too. funny!

so there, we already have a date! tantadannnn...it will be on December 30, 2009! this of course with our parents' blessings last December 24, 2008 ( story will be in another post). i know, we still have a long way to go and many events will surely take place in the months to come. but there's no turning back. this is it, this is really is it!

why the date?because September 30 is too near, which is our anniversary and i personally don't want to feel all panicky with the preparation. the date is also in time of our annual vacation so our expected guests could attend.in short, i want a year preparation for our big day *grin*. honestly, i insisted on the September 30 date but was convinced by Moyo that December is better.

i am happy and he is happy!we both can't wait. 9 months to go!weeeeeeee :)

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Yes, the Blog!

finally, i made up my mind!

it is in this little space that i will document our new life together. i will still have my own private nook, where i can write anything about what's inside my complicated mind but i think its also best to have a little place for us in cyberspace. teeheee!

so this is the launching of our online journal. but i have a feeling that i will be visiting this too often than him.

enough said. i think a short introduction will suffice. :D

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