SG W@wies Mega EB - January 14, 2011

I remember last year when Rona (a co-w@wie) and I were planning for a mini-EB for Singapore-based w@wies. But it was Rona who took the initiative to organize the EB (I never helped. :p). Thanks girl! =)

The mini-EB turned out to be a Mega one because more than 30 w@wie grooms and brides to be came. I'm so glad to have met these new friends! I'm looking forward for our next EB. =)

P.S. Thanks sis Donna for bringing your cam!

My Tablemates, Analyn, Lou and her h2b

SG w@wies

Good thing Analyn's fiance doesn't live here, I have a partner. :)

After few days of unraveling...

I'm back on track. ☼

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

~John 14:27 

Let me..for just one day..

Like what the Bible said in Proverbs 11:14,

'If there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory",

I am but a thankful soul that as early as now we are already receiving such overwhelming support, encouragements (and tips!) from our families and dearest friends. I know I can't thank them enough and they are worth mentioning here, but I opt to do that after the big day. =)

But I am also deeply saddened whenever I perceive a not-so-good reaction about how we wanted to execute our day. I mean criticisms are good, and I am taking every bit of it into considerations. But finding faults on every detail of the wedding tears me down to a negative self-esteem. The damage it does to me is just as despicable as a real knife. =(

I spent much of my prayer times lifting up all the wedding details to the Lord - from all the DIY stuffs we'll make up to the suppliers we'll get. Everything is well-thought out and carefully planned. For months, I did my share of thoroughly researching all the possible venues and suppliers, trimmed down and filtered the most potential ones and presented them to Jay for approval. I am a self-confessed impulsive but I always know my boundaries. And definitely I won't submit to my instant impulse on this once in a lifetime event.

It is also pleasant to see that there are people who would remind us not to spend all the resources we have. I really marvel at their wisdom and concern for us, and I am in awe of these guys. But it was just heartbreaking that some are just not careful with their choices of words - or perhaps am I just too sensitive?

But please, mull over my side:

a. I am not a Veluz Reyes or Cecil Abad Bride. Of course I'll be happier to wear one of their gowns but it never came to my mind on spending so much on what will I wear.

b. I am not a Jayson Magbanua bride. If you'll check my previous post, you'll see that we just won the auction and we were able to save ALMOST HALF of the original videography package price.

c. We got the photography package at a special rate.

d. I admit that the price of the venue is quite steep, but the wedding ceremony and reception will be done at the same place. When you calculate rates for a separate ceremony (church) and reception, the difference will not be that remarkable.

e. To save pennies, I plan to do DIY (Do it your own) stuffs (monograms, save the date cards, placecards, map, thank you card, invitations, growing up avp..etc)

Few months back, before Jay's proposal I remember on telling him that if we are to get married, unless they will offer we should not ask financial help from our families. So we had allotted an amount we will use up on the big day. Of course we're not spending everything we have! We still MUST see non-zero figures in our savings account, enough to spend for rainy days.

For 4 years, I've been providing for my brother's studies (He's now a 4th engineering student in a private school) and when I came here in Singapore I was able to help out 2 of my college student cousins (I fully support one of them since she's living with us) and was able to provide monthly allowance to my mom.Not even once that I failed to provide them on the things they need. I never missed on paying my room rentals and phone bills, and I have my auto savings account. This is not out of bragging or that I am too proud. I just want to let them know that I am doing the math, and at 25,  I am already financially responsible and I won't let this wedding use up all our funds.

I've been thinking of others since I was studying until I started working. Just for one day, let me think only of myself. Let me be selfish for just one day.

I'm not aiming for a perfect wedding, I just wanted to carry out my dream wedding since I was five.

Jay's Share of Mind: Meeting with Our Coordinator

December 18 we will meet Cecille around 10 AM sa Cubao. Since Sabado nun at malapit nang mag pasko gumising kami ng maaga, around 7 (maaga na to samin) then tinawagan namin si Cecille. Kakagising lang din pala nya, rather tulog pa ata siya nung tumawag kami. After preps around 8:30 kami nakaalis. Nung nakadating kami sa Divisoria grabe ang daming tao at napasikip and init pa! Talagang kung san san kami dumaan para makaiwas sa tao. Around 9:30 na ata kami nasakay ng LRT2 papunta Cubao. I missed riding LRT2 since maluwag and malamig pa. Pagbaba namin di din namin alam yung meetting place and we met up with Cecille ng 10:30 which is nakakahiya since siya pa yung puyat (galing lang pala siya sa 1 wedding the night before).

 

Sa French Baker kami kumain, I ate rice while both Kate and Cecille ordered a huge slice of pizza. Kate and Cecille talked about the wedding plans while I listened since di ako masyadong makarelate. Around 11 umalis na siya since may pupuntahan pa siyang 1 wedding while nag withdraw kami, kumain ng Dairy Queen (maliit lang yung size nung kay Kate since may ubo siya nun) and Timezone kami since we have a lot of spare time. Nanalo na naman kami ng toys which na ipamimigay ni Kate sa Isabela.

 

Nung maubos na yung pera namin umuwi na kami pero dumaan muna kami sa tindahan ni nanay. Ayun tambay lang, kwentuhan at kain miryenda. Tapos nun umuwi na kami sa bahay then relax lang, ako nanood ng tv while Kate checked the logs on our wedding site (un kasi yung relaxation time para sa kanya e). Tulog ng unti then dinner then we ended the day with a movie (kalimutan ko na yung palabas e).

Some Changes in our Team

Not because we had a bad encounter with them or whatsoever. In fact among our current suppliers they are one of the quickest to respond whenever we have concerns(actually we have no trouble in dealing with all our suppliers, they all reply to our queries instantly. hehehe..). From the package we availed we have to choose between mobile sound system/band and quartet. When we paid our reservation fee we chose the sound system/band (Livesound). Since then I've been exchanging e-mails with their contact person, Ms. Rona. She's actually nice and I have no qualms about how they will perform on our wedding day. But after deciding on our theme we felt that it is more proper and romantic to hire a quartet rather than a band. Ms Cecile, our OTD also told me that the basic sound system of La Castellana will already suffice. Yesterday I threw an email to Christian (La Castellana's AE) regarding the change and he called Jay minutes ago for confirmation. I am sad to let Livesound go but I am also excited to welcome Velvet Mood Musicale as the new addition to our team.

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass …” 

~Psalm 37:4

Our W@W Tags

I was exultant when I finally saw our w@w tags. When Jay received them, he refused to show the tags via webcam so when I went back to Philippines I straightaway asked him where are they. Hehe.

And now folks I present to you our w@w tags...

Tadaaan! :)

Jay's Tag

Here's mine!

God Gave Me a Happy Face ☺

Mama was actually telling me to get married about 3 years ago (LOL!) because she wanted to baby-sit her own grandchild already. Most of my cousins are already married that's why she felt she's kinda left out whenever she see my aunts looking after my nieces and nephews. So I wasn't really expecting a sad face upon telling her about our engagement. My only worry is that she might not want to have our wedding done in Manila. First, because it's an 8-hour travel from our home province. Second, because I am her eldest child, her only daughter and I'll be her first kid to get married and she might want to host the wedding in our area as per Filipino tradition (the wedding should be done at/near the bride's place)

But prayer really works!

It wasn't a formal convo actually. Jay just casually told mama about his marriage proposal to me while she prepares our lunch on the 24th of December. Then I started telling her our plans. I am so thankful that mama is a cool mom, we got her approval without any difficulty. :)

After my mom, I also needed to acquire consent from Mommy Mercy (Papa's eldest sibling and my guardian) and Uncle Leo (Papa's youngest sibling, my mentor and who stood as my father when papa died). I was so blessed that I have these guys in my life, they're full of Godly wisdom and they're just so supportive to me. I'm glad that they were also okay with the arrangement.

Indeed when you commit everything to the Lord, He will perform all things for you.

"A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

~Proverbs 16:9

Thank you Father for the happy face! ☺☺☺