W@W Tag

Happy to receive our W@W tags today! Thanks Ms. Benz and Sir Abet for the smooth transaction. :)

So, What's the W@W tag? Got this information from WeddingsAtWork.com!

The W@W TAG is a bag-tag-&-membership-card-in-one!

No more second guessing. No more doubting. If you are a supplier who extends a certain discount or freebies to W@Wies, this will make your verification easier.

Though we do not expect all wedding suppliers to extend privileges to W@Wies, some actually do, and that is one reason why we decided to come up with a sytem and formalize the W@W membership through the W@W TAG.

In return of this goodwill, W@W will be listing all companies recognizing the W@W TAG in a Special Category in our online directory and in the Bride's Yellow Pages as well for added exposure. Their existing directory entry with us (online and in print) will also be preceeded with the W@W TAG icon ( ) so they will be easily identifiable by our members.

LSS: Marry Me

Been listening to this song today and I think I want it for our Same-Day-Edit or Concept Video.

A W@W Christmas Party

I was one of the last w@wies who registered for the Christmas Party because I never expected that I would have the guts to go to a party without knowing anyone and without Peejay, ofcourse. Days before the party, I started to become active in the group and so I decided to attend on my own. It was really a fun-filled night. Bigatin ang mga suppliers who attended and who worked that night.

Here are some of the pics that were taken last Friday:
More pics here! :)




Charm and I at Starbucks Pearl Drive




Gladys and Charm




w@wies Ortigas group: (L-R) Ching, Gladys and Charm




Centerpiece by Dylan of Vatel Manila



The Veluz shoe-fitting "stampede" game

 

W@W Top 10 Suppliers




Supplier of the Year, Tito Boy Kastner Santos





BKS brides with Sir Abet and Ms. Benz




with my HMUA, Rae Venturanza




with Ms. Benz and Laya



W@W Exchange Gift

Wrapped and made these ribbons all by myself! :) super effort!

HMUA: Rae Venturanza

It's funny that since Peejay and I got engaged, I was already eyeing on Rae Venturanza to do my make-up. Although when I joined W@W, there were a lot of suggestions and ratings on different Hair and Make-Up Artists (HMUA) and it was really a challenge sticking to one decision. So, I inquired with a few HMUA, some are good but expensive and some are just okay but affordable.I could say that Rae is also affordable at her high-end level . She is really good! I sent her another email after 4 months and amazingly, she's still available on our wedding date! Without hesitation, I booked her right away. I am so excited coz I know that I am in good hands! :)

Here are the sample works from her portfolio:

OTD Coordinator: Kredin of Events Engineer

I thought that hiring a coordinator was just an unnecessary expense. Initially, I asked my friend, BR to be my coordinator (coz he does it for friends). But looking at the things that I want to be executed on the wedding day, I need a pool of coordinators to help me. I inquired with 3 coordinators thru email, met with 2, and Kredin of Events Engineer stood out.

Reasons why I chose Kredin:
1. The crucial part in any conversation is the first 30 seconds. I have short-attention span and can only endure more than an hour of conversation by selectively listening. I like that she's a no-nonsense speaker.

2. She's very organized. She presented 10 trackers --- in Excel and Word that Peejay and I will use for our preparation and wedding itself.

3. She's not trying hard. She's bubbly and confident and didn't sound like "pa-close agad." Whether I was getting her services or not, she impressed me with her professionalism.

It was the first time that I booked a supplier without any receipt and contract. Like I told her, di mo naman sisirain ang business mo sa halagang P_____. :)) She even gave the address where she's working. The next day, she sent the contract and the 10 trackers. She also created a facebook group for all her clients so that she can touch-base with everyone.


Visit her website! Events Engineer :D

Stop The Bride Bullying

I came across this article from The Rebellious Brides and I really could not stop laughing. Thankfully, I have not experienced any of these and I'm hoping that I won't. In any case, this serves as a reminder to all of us --- to me as well...to respect the couple's decisions and what they want to happen on their wedding day. It's their day and they deserve to be happy. Read on... baka maka-relate kayo,  haha.

STOP THE BRIDE BULLYING

NO TO BRIDE BULLYING!
Photo lifted from http://en.paperblog.com/

WE. ARE. SICK. OF. THIS. If you are a bride who is being BULLIED by the people around you, then think of a scheming way for your momzilla or your insensitive best friend, or your manipulative mother-in-law, or your bitter relatives to "accidentally" read this blog post. Because THEY NEED TO BE PUT IN THEIR PLACE. 

Here in Rebellious Brides, we receive personal messages from ex-brides and bride-to-bes on the bullying that they have gone though over the course of their wedding preps. Here are just some of the messages that really upset us the most:


"Dear Rebellious Brides, I am so sad. No matter how much we try to bring down the cost of our wedding without compromising quality or do what we really want...everyone still has something to say..."why don't you do it like this?", "why can't you just make it as simple as this?". I am seriously losing my appetite for my own wedding" 


"Dear Rebellious Brides, I want to do what I want for my own wedding. But I am not the type to be vocal about it. Everyone has an idea for my wedding. I am losing control over it. Now, I am no longer excited. It's not my wedding after all." 

"Dear Rebellious Brides, I really love your article about not having a traditional reception. I love it!! I am a number one non-reception person but my mother-in-law interfered with all my ideas for my wedding! But I just gave-in to everything my mother-in-law wanted because I was pre-occupied with exams here in the US so I just let her do whatever she wanted! I was so irritated because SHE EVEN DICTATED MY GOWN FOR ME! Every time I would try to inject my own ideas she would say that it would be embarrassing ---blahblahblah! I just surrendered because I was already in that stage where I wanted to get it over and done with so that I can get married already.

The most memorable part of my wedding was when my best friend said something about how my husband and I are just a simple couple with simple dreams and that she hopes for me to come home to Manila. Every time I remember that speech, it makes me emotional because that was the only "ME' part of our wedding. That was the only thing that I felt had a personal touch…through my friend..sorry if I’m opening so much cuz when I read your blog I really felt happy and inspired."

LEARN TO SAY NO.
IT IS YOUR WEDDING, NOT THEIRS.
Photo lifted from http://www.thisnext.com/

In my own wedding, I knew that "bride bullying" was bound to happen. I grew up with the strictest dad you could ever find (I grew up not going to gimmicks and going home early 'till I was working), and I grew up with an imposing, nagging, bratty, momzilla. In fact, I was even diagnosed with depression  because of how I was brought up. So if there's a weak person who could have easily been bride bullied, it was me. And I could smell it a mile away. So what did I do? The day we told my parents that we were getting married, I prepared a POWERPOINT presentation that had the BASIC details of our wedding. I had anticipated all their possible questions and comments and laid it out for them already. And most importantly, I told them that we were paying for our own wedding. I literally did not give room for anyone to dictate anything in my wedding. During the actual wedding, I had specifically instructed my coordinator NOT to allow anyone near me during my wedding preps unless authorized. I stayed FAR away from everyone as I can and explained to my parents that I want to de-stress before the wedding. The result? I had the peace of mind that I wanted in my own wedding. And I was able to execute my wedding, my own way. When we got married again the second time around, my parents spent for it, so naturally, I had to compromise for the things they wanted to execute for the wedding. But I still managed to control the essential things that I wanted such as the main concept, my own brunch reception with my friends, my own non-white gown, among other things. And it was not just my parents who I had to deal with, mind you. In the end, I also learned of who my REAL friends are--because you will begin to see the true colors of your friends when you are planning your wedding. I know that some people will not agree with the unconventional ways I dealt with my parents or my friends---but the fact of the matter is, THIS IS YOUR WEDDING. This is the very reason why we created Rebellious Brides. To empower brides to create and decide for their own wedding. 

If someone is trying to take over your wedding, smile, be polite--but at the back of your head, say: 
 

"W-H-A-T-E-V-E-R! 

I'll say yes to you now, but come wedding day--

 I AM DOING IT MY WAY."
 
Photo lifted from http://anglicancontinuum.blogspot.com

This is not about being a bridezilla because that's very different and we don't like bridezillas. This is about standing up for your own rights as a bride. IT IS YOUR BIG DAY. DON'T LET OTHER PEOPLE DICTATE YOUR WEDDING---INSTEAD, PUT THEM IN THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE--WHICH IS BESIDE YOU TO SUPPORT YOU--AND NOT IN FRONT OF YOU TO LEAD YOU. 

If you are afraid that standing up for your own wedding will burn bridges, perhaps it will, and perhaps it won't. But YOU CANNOT PLEASE EVERYONE. You just simply can't. You should know that by now. Even presidents and celebrities, even God cannot please everyone in this world. Same with you. So since you cannot please everyone anyway, might as well just do what you want to do in your own wedding.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE TWO PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE HAPPY DURING YOUR WEDDING IS YOU AND YOUR GROOM.ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT. 

I will end this blog entry, with a scene that I remember when my brother was getting married. I was inside the car with my parents, and at the backseat, I was with my younger sister. My parents were ranting about how my brother is not considering their suggestions for his wedding. My sister and I were defending my brother but my dad had a rebuttal for each of our defense. Knowing that it was a lost cause, my sister rolled her eyes, and whispered to me: "When my time comes, I am just going to elope". Have we really come to this? Is this what we eventually want to happen in the future weddings?  Only because we are so blinded by the fact that we are not the couple and yet we act as if we are the ones getting married? 

So for those who are BRIDE BULLYING out there: JUST GET MARRIED AGAIN OR FIND YOUR OWN WEDDING OR SOMETHING. BECAUSE THE WEDDING AND THE BRIDE YOU ARE TRYING TO BULLY IS OFF LIMITS. 

Photo lifted from http://www.123rf.com/

And for the brides out there who are being bullied, COVER YOUR EARS. DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM. Stay positive, release the negative energy and don't let them bully you. When everyone is failing you, hold your groom's hand, close your eyes, and envision your dream wedding. That's what matters the most. This is about the two of you. 

YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB! 
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE
WE ARE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP
Photo lifted from: http://www.clipartguide.com/

THE REBELLIOUS BRIDES ARE HERE FOR YOU. If Mica and I can just ward off all the bride bullies for you and tell them to back off, we would. Email us if you need support. LET'S FIGHT FOR YOUR OWN DREAM WEDDING

Written by Kai, but Mica and I are one in this cause, and we dedicate this blog to you, our dear Rebellious Bride :)

*follow us on twitter! @RebelliousBride 

Read related article:

MOMZILLA

ARE YOU A REBELLIOUS BRIDE?

Plants vs. Flowers

Peejay and I have been brainstorming on the centerpieces that we want for the wedding. Initially, I didn't want flowers but was convinced to get minimal ones. But I'm leaning towards getting plants on a pot or wood box. What do you think? (Note: These pictures were grabbed from the internet)

Nice to Have: Monique Lhuillier gown

I just love this gown! --- the design and cut especially on the shoulder part. Sadly, I'm petite so Tito Boy said that this design does not fit my body type. To those who are skinny and tall and still looking for designs, you might wanna check this out.

And oh by the way, check this wedding website regulary for ideas and tips: brideandbreakfast.ph

Wedding Venue: Enderun

Enderun was not really my first choice becauseI fell in love with Light of Love instantly! Its Atrium is just so enchanting and elegant. The downside is the price. It was more of a want than a need. Fortunately, I read a few information about Enderun thru W@W. It's a culinary school located at Upper McKinley, The Fort. I started checking pictures on the internet and thought that I'd give it a try. Iyett, Enderun's AE, was so nice and accommodating. In fact, she pencil-booked us right away even if we haven't confirmed anything yet. With several exchange of emails, Peejay and I decided to visit the place.

The Courtyard

The Atrium

My beloved officemates: (L-R) Marl, BR and JC

Me at the stairs

With my love, Peejay

We were impressed with its tall ceiling and wide space. It has free parking, consumable food, and nice walls (it only requires minimal decorations). Most of all, we had "this is it" feeling when we were there. The next day, we booked the place. We can't wait for next year! :)

W@W Auction

One of my W@W sis, April suggested that I participate in this year's auction since I'm still on the hunt for suppliers. Honestly, I didn't know how to go about it until another W@W sis, Diane sent me an email and gave me instructions. She encouraged me to do it since it's ending today. True enough, I tried playing with it and stumbled upon Val Villarin's Airbrush Wedding Package. The original price is 15k and the highest bid is 4k. Imagine that! So I was really willing to bid until 6k. It was just unfortunate that Val is already booked on our wedding day. So sad. :( Anyway, I was able to bid for a junior photographer from Imaginenation, Alex  Ruelo for 3k! Peejay knows him from CCF Photo Ministry and I'm sure that he's good because John Mateos Ong trains his people well. He will serve as a back-up photographer since we already have our main photographer. After a few minutes, I got an email from Ms. Benz.

I love W@W community. I have sisters there who I can count on. They always give tips, suggestions and opinions. If not for W@W, the wedding preps would be super stressful. It is sometimes stressful. (I got a splitting headache yesterday) but manageable because of W@W. :)

Color Palette

We want to achieve a rustic and cozy look on our wedding day, which perfectly fit a coffee shop theme. I've been bugging Peejay to finalize our colors simply because he is an expert when it comes to art and I'm not. Normally, I'm the one doing the research and shortlisting ideas (considering the budget, time, effort and worth). I consult him and ask for a go signal all the time especially in dealing with his areas of his expertise.
We chose earth colors and wanted to veer away from adding a totally different color. Minimalist? :)

Chocolate Brown

Latte

Champagne

Ivory

Got these beautiful color palette from here :) Guests can wear any shade from the palette or they can wear black. We're not really that particular as long as they wear appropriate attire. (will have another blog entry about this).

What is the Wedding Theme?

So you must have been wondering what our wedding theme is and i could tell you that Peejay and I don't have a lot in common, but we really love hanging out at Starbucks or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL). In fact, he confessed his love for me (weeeee, cheesy!) in 2007 and proposed for marriage this year at CBTL. Bottom line is, we love hanging out at a coffee shop. Its warm & relaxing ambiance give us a place to discuss ideas and share stories.We want to achieve a coffee shop set-up in our wedding reception and we already have a LOT of ideas. (i have been doing intensive research since august so please bear with me if i keep on posting a lot of ideas, haha).

Feel free to send me a message if you'd like to give suggestions! :)

Boy Kastner Santos

I never imagined that I'll be able to book tito Boy for my wedding gown! For one, he is already famous especially at Weddings At Work (W@W - forum for bride-to-be) and i have been hearing feedback that he is pricey. I hesitated but sent him an email with my pegs. To my surprise, he gave me a quotation that I CAN AFFORD!

Peejay and I met up with him today at Bizu, Glorietta 4. As expected, he's very kind and knowledgeable. He talks like he's our friend for a long time and that's a plus. We never really planned of asking him to create Peejay's suit but he was able to explain what he envisioned to do so Peejay was convinced, too. I won't be showing my final design yet. Let it be a surprise! :)

Tito Boy is one of the top ten nominees for W@W Supplier of the Year and I wouldn't be surprised if he wins on November 25th at the W@W Christmas Party.

Everything You Need to Know as a Guest

by: John & Benz Rana
article originally appeared in print: 12.03.05

If it's your first time attending a wedding, what follows is a simple guide of Dos & Don'ts to get through such a social event. Note that we made these questions up so allow us to be sarcastic and blunt with some of our responses to ourselves.

Q. I got an invite but have no plans of attending; should I still send a gift?
A.First thing's first. If you won't be able to attend for whatever reason, please RSVP. A big chunk of the wedding budget goes to the reception and it will be utterly inconsiderate to just give up a reserved seat without letting the couple know. Give them the chance to assign that seat to another guest in their "waitlist." Having that out of the way, let's get to your question: YES, it is customary to still send a gift.

Q. The envelope bears only my name. May I ask if I can bring a date?
A. Don't bring a date unless your invitation specifically says "and Guest." Bringing unexpected guests is very impolite. Neither should you ask the couple's permission if you may bring one or not. Don't put your friends on the spot. We Filipinos don't really like turning down people. So how would you know if their "Yes" means yes or not? Spare them that trouble.

Q. The invite says "Mr. & Mrs." Could we bring our kids?
A. Never bring the kids unless "& Family" is indicated. Soon-to-weds don't usually invite children for a good reason. Kids get bored or cranky during hour-long masses. Their tantrums might disrupt the solemnity of the ceremony. Weddings are usually formal events typically not appropriate for the little ones. To be blunt about it, inviting a child at the reception means added two mouths to feed - the kid's and the yaya's.

Follow-up Q. But my son/daughter is the bearer/flower girl. I'm sure it's understood that my other child is invited.
A. Which part of the answer above didn't you understand? Seriously, if the couple wanted to invite your other kid, they would have specified that on the envelope.

2nd follow-up Q. But I'm breastfeeding, I'm sure my friends will understand, won't they?
A. Granting that it's an infant and he or she won't eat at the reception - let's even assume that your baby won't wail at the church - the answer is still NO! Not even if you've perfected the art of being a cow in a long gown. Four words: Breast Pump and Babysitter!

Q. I don't have a clue what gift to give them. Any ideas?
A. The average Pinoy soon-to-wed would always prefer monetary gifts more than any other gift. It is the unspoken fact. We're telling you now to make it easier for them to let you know what they REALLY want; unless they indicated that already in their invites which, by the way, is a very tacky thing to do.
If you're not comfortable giving cash, you may ask the couple where they are registered (Gift / Bridal Registry) and choose from what's listed under their names in the store. You can also ask them where they're residing after the wedding and take the cue from there. If you know that they'll be migrating abroad or living with their parents for the time being, a ref or another oven toaster may not be the most practical and logical gift.

Q. I'm convinced. So how much cash should I give them? I don't want to give too little or too much.
A. That's a hard thing to answer. It's really a case-to-case thing. Try to put yourself in the couple's shoes. How much should a guest of your stature give you without being branded a cheapskate? Also consider your relationship with the couple. If you're good friends of the couple's parents, you'll probably shell-out more than if you were simply the bride's Girl Friday.

Q. Could I skip the ceremony and head straight to the reception?
A. You can. BUT you shouldn't! You are invited to THE wedding -- that's the part where they exchange their "I dos." The reception is where the Receiving Line is. You can't be 'received' if you are already seated in the hall, right? "Patay-gutom" is too harsh a word and we assure you that it's by no means what anyone would think if indeed you decide to go straight to the reception. But admit that it struck a nerve just mentioning the word in that context, isn't it?

Q. Speaking of the Receiving Line, what should be the proper greeting
A. Here's the rule: Say "Congratulations" to the groom and "Best Wishes" to the bride. The reason behind is that "congrats" implies that someone has caught something or won a prize, and it is rather improper to imply that the bride "caught" the man who married her. If this rule gets mixed-up in your head come wedding day, just say the two phrases together and look at both of them. That usually works!
Likewise, saying "Good Luck!" no matter how pure your wishes are will also sound very inappropriate for obvious reasons.

Q. Nice try, but what if the couple makes a Grand Entrance and left the Receiving Line to their parents? What then should I tell them? Note that I don't even know which sets of parents are whose.
A. Didn't we tell you already not to skip the ceremony? The bride and groom usually walk alongside their respective parents at the very start!
Anyway, make your pleasantries short and sweet. Shake their hands and say "Hello! I'm (your name) and I went to school with (name of bride/groom) in (school's name)/an officemate of (name of bride/groom) at (name of company)." They usually respond with "Nice meeting you." Just smile, nod politely, and move on to the next person. If one replies "Hi! I've heard so much about you!", simply smile and nod just the same. No lengthy conversation; just make small talk at most. If you can't find the words to say, just smile again, nod politely, and move.

Q. During the banquet, is there anything I need to know?
A. Nowadays, the Reception Program usually have the guests on each table stand up and have their picture taken with the couple before being led to the buffet. This is done to resolve two issues of past weddings: (a) for the couple's convenience and skip the tiring Table-Hopping ritual just to have their picture taken with all their guests; and (b) for the guests' convenience so they won't have to wait very long for their turn in the buffet line.
Keep in mind that Buffet is NOT synonymous with "Eat-All-You-Can." Do not pile your plate full. Be courteous of those who have yet to be served. Don't worry. You can easily go for seconds.

Q. I'm used to a Buffet setting, but what if it's a formal Sit-Down Dinner? Which fork do I start with again?
A. You're on your own, pal. Watch "Pretty Woman" again and see how Julia Roberts nailed it!

A Suprise Brewed in 2011

We've been together for almost 4 years and I can tell you that our relationship has been smooth-sailing 90% of the time. (yes, leave the 10% to some tampuhan and misunderstanding moments). Good thing about Peejay is that he's very patient and mature, while I am a work in progress. Haha. Our Dgroups and mature Christian friends have been helping us a lot in terms of growing maturely in our individual weaknesses. Thank God for them!
Peejay and I attended CCF's pre-marital counseling last February. I never considered that as a hint, because our main goal in having this relationship is to get married. I thought that he would propose this December or maybe next year. But I was wrong. It came at an unexpected time. Like what Peejay said, the proposal is like the RAPTURE --- or like a thief in the night. You wouldn't know when it will come.

Last July 23rd, Peejay and I went to CCF Eastwood for the monthly Camera Club meeting. After that, he said he wanted to go to The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (at the old Eastwood Mall). I said, okay. Then he was disappointed to know that a student was sitting at the memorable spot where we wanted to sit. (remember, I said yes to him at this branch in 2007). So, he drank his usual Moroccan Mint Tea Latte, while I was telling him a lot of stories. He started saying we've been together for 4 years, and I kept on changing the topic because I didn't want to get in another argument about it.
We went to Dorothy Perkins coz I've been wanting to buy a new pair of skinny jeans. Surprisingly, he paid for it even if he knows that I saved some money for it. Then, I said I was hungry so I ate noodles at Ramen Bar. He didn't eat because he only wanted to drink frappe. The nearest coffee shop from the Ramen Bar is CBTL (at the new Eastwood Mall). We headed there at around 8pm. Good thing, we were able to sit at a nice couch.

So, he started saying that we've been together for four years and I couldn't remember everything anymore. He was beating around the bush so I had some hints and started to get nervous. I've been waiting for it to happen but for some reasons, I didn't know how to react. At some point, I even asked him, "are you kidding me? coz it's not a good joke." Then when he put his hand inside his pocket, I stopped him. Coz again, I was really nervous and didn't know how to react. Finally, he got the box and opened it. To my surprise, it was a beautiful black tension ring with a diamond. I love it! He said, "Love, pakasalan mo na ako." I was just staring at a ring and smiling. He said he started to get nervous because I haven't said yes. I was just amazed and ofcourse, I said, "Syempre, love, ito lang naman inaantay ko."
It was a perfect proposal. He was aware that I didn't want an extravagant one because I only wanted to share the moment with him. He did exactly just that. I was deeply touched when I found out that he ordered the ring from the US sometime in April and he planned to propose in Bohol when he went with me and my family in June. Unfortunately, the ring arrived the day after we left. Still, the proposal is perfect. I never had hints and it was exactly how I wanted and imagined it to be.

I thank the Lord for our relationship. Without His grace and guidance, we would not make it. God made us for each other.

Love Brewed First in 2007

Peejay and I met in 2005 thru a common friend. We both rode the LRT and chatted a bit. I was talkative as always (he confessed later that he was too tired to even have a conversation with me, haha). 

We bumped into each other in 2006 at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, GB3. Then, we met again in June 2007 at church. That time, we already started to become friends. We met a few times and texted each other. 

Our friendship grew deeper even when he went back to Japan in September (2007). When he went home in December, we DTR-ed on December 16-17, 2007. (Defined The Relationship). 

Why 2 days? Coz we started talking on December 16th at 10pm, in The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Eastwood, then finished talking (and I said YES to him) around 1am, December 17th.