Thursday, May 20, 2010

New wedding website: Bridalbook.ph

Still having the wedding preps hang-over. I have discovered this site online and it is filled with wedding ideas and list of suppliers that one bride-to-be or maybe a hands-on groom-to-be needs!

Check out: http://www.bridalbook.ph/articles/find-all-your-wedding-needs-here

I just love browsing around for new wedding ideas.... I will never know when our renewal of vows will be...

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The question of the last name....

Have you evern wrote your name with the last name of your crush in high school? Did you ever practice signing your name using your boyfriend's or fiance's last name? Honestly, tell me. In this age of women power and feminist views, have you ever thought of retaining your last name once married?

After the reception party, my guy friends from San Beda hoovered over me. Being all lawyers, the question that they asked me if I am going to change my last name to adapt Christian's last name. I told them that this is one issue that we talked about and solved a few months before the wedding. I really wanted to retain my last name but Christian said that it will depict the purpose that we are getting married. He wants me to carry his last name. So I said I will have my last name hyphenated instead.

Legally, there is no law making it mandatory for women to change their last names once they got married. Refer to the article below:

Art. 370, Civil Code of the Philippines. A married woman may use:

(1) Her maiden first name and surname and add her husband's surname
Example: Liberty Palomo-Quiambao

(2) Her maiden first name and her husband's surname
Example: Liberty Quiambao

(3) Her husband's full name, but prefixing a word indicating that she is his wife, such as "Mrs."

Example: Mrs. Christian Quiambao

See the emphasis on the word "MAY." It means that any woman can use any of the three selections. As further explained in the jurisprudence of Hatima Yasin v. The Honorable Judge Shari'a District Court, Zamboanga City (G.R. No. 94986, February 23, 1995), the word "may" is used, indicating that the use of the husband's surname by the wife is permissive rather than obligatory. We have no law which provides that the wife shall change her name to that of the husband upon marriage. This is in consonance with the principle that surnames indicate descent. It seems, therefore, that a married woman may use only her maiden name and surname. She has an option, but not a duty, to use the surname of the husband in any of the ways provided by this Article."

One way or the other, it is customary to our Filipino traditions and culture that a married woman adapt her husband's last name. Some, if not all, do not know that there is no law requiring them to change their last names. It will be good to discuss these kinds of matters with your future husbands. This must be part of any bride's list of to do!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Do ocular for your wedding preps venue!

During the course of our wedding preparations, one thing really bothered me a lot... Where the hell in Metro Manila shall I do our wedding preparations? As the older traditional people would say "Saan ka bababa?" (translation: Where are you going down???) Hmmm... I wonder why they say it that way! It is really a challenge to get a hotel room that is both inexpensive and big! I have tried to look at some hotels online around the Manila area since Sta. Maria Goretti Parish is located in Manila.

The requirements are:
  • a spacious room big enough to contain all our suppliers
  • another room for Christian
  • a room for my family -- for the convenience of my dad who is a survivor of stroke.
  • nice windows
No grand staircase requirement for me... An elevator shot will do for me!

Sofitel???? Wow.. we don't have the budget for that... It will be nice if we could have the preps in Sofitel. Big rooms, Manila Bay sunset view... grand staircase. I will definitely fatten myself up with the breakfast buffet at Spirals... maybe for our renewal of vow on our 10th anniversary.

Manila Diamond??? Hmmmm... Possibly..... but will cost us a lot if we will be booking 3 rooms... Sigh!!!

Hyatt??? Another no no... Christian should not be around Black Jack tables ... poker tables.. slot machines... anything with the gambling mark! Hahahaha... Joke lang luvs!


GHotel...this has the potential. Based from the reviews of w@wies and referral from friends, it is one in our shortlisted hotels.

Then come the hotel behind our church.... it is not really a hotel but somewhat like a short stay place. The person at the reception told me that they usually cater to priests and other people who are in Manila for conventions and the like. My mom was really digging the place since it is the cheapest one that we have looked at.

However, I did not feel the it factor and I told her the room is simply small to fit all the suppliers! She was really clueless when I told her about that. She said that it will fit! Just look at the photos dear readers....

not really big... and the room is somewhat dark


i am also not keen on the bed... it has the minimal touch!

As the wedding date draws near, I am really anxious to find the right place. We looked at Pearl Garden Hotel as our wedding reception venue and when we checked out the rooms, we knew that this is it. Christian kept on saying.. Pwede.. pwede.. pwede... When I saw the executive suite.. I knew that this is it....

Just look how we snuggled.. hahahaha.. in the room...

i am really wondering why they cornered me...


just look at those suppliers!!!

camera showdown... i am guessing if Jo Anne or their rockstar assistant paolo...

hmmm..... suppliers galore! our dream team!


So to all brides out there.. you might have your respective requirements --- the floor to ceiling big windows, the sensual room furnishings that can be captured, the breathtaking staircase, the softest beds and linens... whatever it will be... BE SURE that it can fit all your suppliers.

Other things that we should consider:
  • Will they allow delivered food in the rooms? -- remember you have to feed your suppliers
  • Will they let you check in early or have a late check out without extra cost? -- some weddings are in the mid afternoon, most hotels have a check out time of 12 noon.
  • Wll they provide discounts if you book more rooms? --- let's face it ... it is not only the bridal suite that we might need to book... especially those who will follow the tradition that the bride and groom should not see each other on the night before the wedding. grooms need to be relax too the night before the wedding.
  • Check online rates -- they are usually cheaper! Always check the promotions link on the hotel's website!
  • Try to explore other hotels... There is something special in discovering new places!
One way or the other... you can still have it at your home... do it the traditional way! Nothing beats the old school way!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

things i forgot to note in our suppliers' rating

I just realized that I missed out some items that we used for our wedding or suppliers that we failed to recognize. This is a big boo boo for me.. I think I am just overwhelm with how things worked out for us.

We are now on our 3rd week as man and wife... and I am really happy that say that Christian is more sweeter... loving.. and caring than how he is before we got married! I am shocked actually on how he is behaving but I can say that I am loving it!

So here is the list:

Our wedding rings
http://www.iweddingbands.com
Peso power: gift from my cousins --- Kuya Boy & Benjie

Wedding rings are the only thing that will remind a couple that they are married and have committed themselves to love their partner from here up to eternity. This item on any wedding checklist can have a price range from 100 pesos to 100 thousands or even millions. For our wedding, we cannot afford any expensive rings. We checked out almost if not all the jewelry shops in SM Megamall and SM North Edsa and even in Trinoma to get the best deal that we can get. We have trimmed down our choices to the stainless steel rings with diamonds in Hearts and Arrows and the rings we saw at Suarez which we can lay-away.

Then come my friend from the US, saying that I should check out the stores online since it will be cheaper and I can ship it to her place and she send it to me. So, with the wonders of the worldwide web. I know what Christian wants for a ring.. white gold and very very plain! I did find it and when I showed it to him, he liked it. One of my cousin joked her siblings to buy it for us and they did! Happy happy happy. We just had it engraved here for 120 pesos each ring!

simple and sweet.. we want it to be wearable everyday with our lifestyle... wow as if active!

Next...

Suit of Christian and my dad
Chancellor ---> SM Centerpoint
Pesos power: 2,1999 each with free pants... plus 45 pesos for length alterations

This must be one of the good finds that we have had among the many ones. Christian is not particular in getting himself a suit for the wedding. He originally planned to just rent one from Gardini's. When we learned about the Onesimus outlet store in Mandaluyong and the prices that they give, he agreed to check it out. But before we got to the outlet store, one ordinary day at the mall, by instinct, I checked out some of the suits that they have inside SM Centerpoint. My mom was with me at that time since we just picked up our invitations from Impress Prints in San Juan.

At the men's department, I saw some sale signs up. I got excited since it goes lower and lower and the one that really caught our attention is the one from Chancellor offering the free pants. My mom then decided to get one for my dad as well but we need to split the bill... hehehehe.. That same weekend we all went to SM Centerpoint to get the suits.

The suit is not bad. It looks great on Christian. My dad looked good also. People taught that we have it made or something since it fitted them well. It is really a good find.

Luvs!

Christian's neck tie
Arrow
Pesos power: 399.00

This is most painstaking item that we need to find. Christian wants it to be green and he wants it on a particular shade of green! He said that he will have the "IT" factor if he sees the right one. We went to almost all the men's store in Trinoma, tried to search in SM and he ended up buying one at the Arrow corner in Landmark! Gosh!

Christian's Shoes
Hmmm.. forgot the brand!
Peso power: 900 pesos... on sale at Robinson's Place Manila

I already scouted for Christian's shoes before the wedding. He bought his shoes the night before the wedding.... Yes folks! The night before! I was in a panicking mode at this point since I still have to have my nails done! Talk about pressure and cramming! Oh well he got them!

Christian's polo
Hmmm.. no idea of the brand also
Peso power: 699.99... not on sale.. too bad!

He wanted to take the black route... so be it! He chose it... I left him with his best man to chose which polo he likes... He also bought this the night before the wedding! Very nice right? I still have to pick up the principal sponsors' tokens and meet up with my 2 entourage members at the mall. Sigh!!!

When I saw him with the polo on... I noted myself that he did well in choosing his polo!

My supposedly bridal shoes
Janilyn
Peso power: 1700 ---> it was on sale way way way back in November

I fell in love with these shoes when I saw it last November. I have worn it at home just to break it in!! LOL!!! I even took it during my fitting! On the day of the wedding.. my sister and my bridal assistant were helping me out put it on! Happiness.. UNTIL.. I stood up and took a few steps... ouch ouch ouch.. hmmm the left foot does not feet right... I tried to walk, thinking that pain is ok for beauty! Hmmm... no no no!!! I cannot imagine myself kneeling painfully with these shoes one! So i changed! Luckily my mom brought my sister's graduation shoes! We are the same size! Life saver! Or else I will have my coordinator go to Robinson's to buy me a new pair!

i can just exhale heavily... i really wanted to wear this pair of shoes!

i tried to wear the shoes at the office... damn it is really small for my fit!

Birdcage worn during photo shoot and reception
from Greenhills
Peso power: my mom and sisters got it for me.. I really don't have an idea how much is it!

Just want to take note of this one! I really really wanted to have a birdcage. I really liked the idea of wearing it during the church ceremony. I searched far and wide then one day when I got home my sister said that they got me one! I am just so happy and thankful! Nice nice nice!!!



the birdcage was perfect!

Xtian's best man suit
Gardini's
Peso power: 500 plus 200 for pants and 1000 refundable deposit

You will probably make fun of us when I tell you that we got Xtian's best man's suit the afternoon before the wedding. Christian is such a crammer right! All the cramming moments were all his assignments! So co-w@wies.. please take time to check on your h2bs... hehehehe! Wag kulitin.. Check lang! Well good thing, Gardini is really easy to transact with. We went to the one along España beside UST. Butay just have to find the size suitable for him. Problem though, the pants were too short if he gets one in his size. Solution.... he got a bigger one! Hahahaha... All together it was so easy! We returned the suit the Saturday after the wedding. Security deposit was given back with no questions! Perfect!

Michael.. or Butay (his lastname) .. Christian's best man.. suit looked nice

Paper materials... DIY materials

Ever-trusted National Bookstore
Peso power: 500 - 1000 pesos ---> got a 500 peso National Bookstore gift certificate during our Christmas party

Nothing can beat do-it-yourself projects.. Our wedding brought out the creative me. I am honestly not creative... I can think of the things I can do but not actually implement it... I don't know photoshop that well .. used MS Word and MS Powerpoint! Hehehehe.. In the end, it all went well.


I hope I did not forget anything else! It was fun doing the suppliers' ratings. It was fun to plan the wedding all together. The only thing I don't want to think about is money part. Eventhough our budget is very limited... when people give praises on how elegant looking and how fabulous the wedding is.. my heart skips! All the research and constant comparison paid off. Christian still has a hangover of our wedding. He cannot believed that we pulled off such a big project!

Now our next project.. hehehehe... SECRET!

Monday, May 3, 2010

the team that documented the start of our history

Chug Cadiogan
Address: Unit 1E4 Bright Condo, 60 Sct. Santiago cor. Sct. Rallos, Quezon City
Telephone nos.: 0917.514.1560
Email address: chugcadiogan@gmail.com

Jayson & Jo Anne Arquiza
Address: Unit 4i, Tower 1, Dansalan Gardens, M. Vicente St., Brgy. Malamig, Mandaluyong City
Telephone nos: 0917-815.6111 (Jayson)/0917-815.6112 (Jo Anne)/531.1837
Email address: jaysonandjoanne@gmail.com

Paul Vincent
Address: 83-D Aramismis St., Veterans Village, Proj 7, Quezon City
Telephone nos.: 410.5126/0928.500.6912
Email address: paulvincentphoto@gmail.com

Phoeben Teocson
Address: #9 Manga Road, Brgy. Mariana, New Manila, Quezon City
Telephone nos.: 0927.653.6187/0922.833.9942/0922.TEOCSON (+639228362766)
Email address: phoeben1@gmail.com / phoeben1@yahoo.com

Inclusion:
  • Wedding Coverage by Paul Vincent / Jason Arquiza / Phoeben Teocson / Chug Cadiogan; We will offer our services in form of Photo and Video coverage with onsite video only; all images will be given to the couple in DVD form.
Peso power: Priceless.. got the services from the w@w auction

It is known to most w@wies and the followers of our blog that we originally booked a different photo/video supplier to document our wedding. But due to the wonders of the annual w@w auction, we were able to grab hold of the photo-video package provided by the 2 of the best photographers and 2 of the best videographers in the Philippine wedding industry. Yes folks!!! 2 teams of photographers and 2 teams of videographers!!!!

There will be no contention on how I will be rating them. They are the best of the best. Before the wedding, I was able to meet three of them... Jayson Arquiza, Paul Vincent and Phoeben Teocson during the W@w Christmas party last November. They personally introduced themselves to us and we really find that very humbling. I was actually starstruck to be infront of the greats! Even in our wildest dream, we never realized that we will be having these great talents for our wedding.

During the preparations, it was just funny when I started to ask them of how many will be the members of their team. I needed the head count to prepare for the pack lunches as well as the food to prepare for the reception. Come and behold.. they will be bringing their respective teams! When I added them up it will be around 14-16 people! Yahoo.. Yahoo! Those are the photo-video alone and not counting the other suppliers... Good luck to us. Gen Teocson even joked during one of the bridal fairs that they might ended up as our only guests... LOL!

Come wedding day, Phoeben and Gen Teocson's team was the first to arrive of all our suppliers. I was on panic mode by that time since my OTD coordinator was not there yet, Val's team was not there also. Hmmm... I will I stall this people. They just went through my DIYs and the rings and other wedding stuff.. They just went to work smoothly. Bim really looks serious when he is behind the camera... I am actually scared to come close to him... hehehehe.. but Gen is really friendly and sweet. Their team made the onsite video shown during the reception and everybody loved it... we loved it.. we still watch it ... i just watched it this morning! Nothing can beat that... An onsite video is one item on our nice-to-have list. We cannot actually squeeze it in our budget but Bim & Gen gave it to us as part of the package and we are really really thankful for that!
Chug Cadiogan

Next to arrived is Jayson and Jo Anne Arquiza... Jayson is the life of the party. He kept on making us laugh and instructing me and my family what to do. Christian said that Jayson actually made him smile which is very rare for Christian to do during photo sessions. Jo Anne on the other hand is the silent type. She works quietly. I cannot wait to see the photos from them.

Then Chug Cadiogan came with his team. He said that they were late because of the traffic from Quezon City to Manila.. It took them one and a half hour to get to the hotel from Timog! He swears that the candidates for the elections are really a pain! Hahahaha... Bwisit nga ba Chug? With Chug's work, we still have to see the final video. I am really hoping that we are able to get it in time of the arrival of Christian's sister and uncle in June. I am keeping my fingers cross for that!

Then Paul Vincent arrived with Ayvih. Gosh, these two are just so humble. They just started shooting when they got in. Well.. after bantering with the rest of the group. I cannot believe that they worked together very well. I can still hear the shutters of Paul Vincent clicking in my ear as I write this rating! When I got the dvd of the pictures last Friday, I just cannot stop looking at it. Sigh!!! This is what they call wedding hang over... It is just worth it!

The pictures below are taken by the Ayvih I guess.. hehehehe... It simply documents the team at work. If I remember it right, Ms. Benz of w@w told me that these 4 talents really wanted to work together for wedding.. that is why they provided there services for the w@w auction and they have auctioned it for at least a year or two but no one ever got it until we came along. Lucky us.

I just cannot imagine how we were able to fit all our suppliers in the bridal suite! Too bad the hotel does not have a one-bedroom suite!

Jayson & Jo Ann Arquiza taking a rest...

Paul Vincent & Jayson ... two photographers at work.. Gosh.. I never guessed it right who to look at ..

Chug shooting inside the church grounds....

Bim playing around... I never realized that he was there! Hahahaha...

With the team of photo-video guys... nothing can be compared to this

as they say... there is always a woman behind the success of every man... me with the women behind the
talents ... Jo Anne Arquiza, Gen Teocson, Ayvih delos Reyes and Mai Cadiogan

(we asked Chug to bring along his wifey.. since the rest of the team will have their wifeys with them since they all work together.. lugi naman sya di ba?)


love it!

We feel really blessed to have our photo-video team. No matter what rating I give them.. there is no match to the gift that they have given!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

the projects that made it!

I never thought that I will ever do any DIY projects for our wedding. I can say that with a little bit of creativity and determination, I was able to pull off some of it. Here are some photos to showcase how they end up during our big day!


the centerpiece luminaries... with candles already provided by the hotel. It listed all the chat room rules we have for the reception


the luminaries serves as our table numbers as well... here it is together with the recycled jars that I have decorated and ballpens for the wish cards

the misalette... I used parchment paper for the covering... I simply printed it out to cover our misalette...

the sign pens... we used this for our guests to fill out the wish cards

our 2ndary candles.. the first DIY project that I made.

There is one project that this not made it to our wedding day and that will be the escort cards. I really have a down moment during the wedding preparations and it happened 3 to 4 days before the wedding. I really don't want to think of the wedding anymore. I just stopped thinking about it and doing the projects. Time just stood still for me! However, I was able to start a new but it was too late to catch up with the projects.

Lesson learned: Do the projects earlier...

the team who coordinated...

Teodoro Events Solutions
Telephone no.: 385.7757/0918.921.5397
Email address: teodoro.events@yahoo.com

Peso power: Php 16,000 less 50% for GC and Php 500 discount
Php 2,000 for emcee

I originally got another OTD Coodinator for our wedding but due to some feed backs and bad vibes... I decided then to look for an alternative... Luckily I got a certificate for a 50% off for the on-the-day coordination services of Teodoro Events Solutions. I met up with Teddy at UP Technohub before going to work and he is extremely organized.... I like!

During the preparations, I had 2 meetings with him... One is with Chi, the emcee that he recommended and the other is to look at the venue for them to help us out with the layout for the reception. For both meetings, it really went well. He asked for copies of our suppliers' contract so that he will have reference. He prepared a schedule of the activities for the day of the wedding.


On the day of the wedding... I would say that they did very well! They were able to think of something when they raised the problem about the door at Pope Pius. Since I forgot all about that and they really wanted for me to have my grand entrance at the church. The team covered the doors! Also, I asked them to check out the executive suite that I have used for the preps and to transfer all the stuff in the room to my family's room. They did that without any flaws. I handed over all the centerpieces that needs to be placed on the guests' tables, instructed what to do with the luminaries... when we arrived at the venue.. my DIY projects are all arranged perfectly... LOL! Love it! Teddy provided me with a personal assistant, Ate Leonie and she is really patient! My train is so long and she has to carry it everywhere I go!

By the end of the day, Teddy and his team did a great job. His sister was able to upload our onsite video online so we can share it to other family members and friends who were not able to make it to the wedding. They will also be providing a NSO copy of our marriage certificate since one of the team members works for NSO. They even provided 2 bears as token for the pair who will be at the garter game!

I also just learned now that they provided candies and treats for our guests at the church and at the reception venue so they will not go hungry! LOL!!! Too bad most of our guests were really hungry when we got to the hotel!


Teddy at work before the offertory part of the mass

the free bears provided by Teodoro Events ... they were given to the couple who were part of the garter churva...

Chi, the emcee recommended by Teddy... Our guests said that she is very pretty and she did well.

At the photobooth with the team of Teddy!

Rating: 5/5