Dress of one of my bridesmaid

Saturday before last, Sharleen, my mom and I went to Robinson's Place Manila to look for a prom dress for my youngest sister. We were able to find one at one of the stalls. It was really inexpensive and really nice on her. We agreed that she will wear it both as her prom dress and her bridesmaid's dress. Here it is...

Talk about Bridal fair marathon..

01.23.2010 - Two bridal fairs were on in Manila, one in SM Megamall and the other at the NBC Tent at The Fort. I already lost count of the bridal fairs that I have been to but I went to the one in Megamall to accompany an elementary/high school friend - Ria... excuse me... Dra. Ria Rachelle Almoneda, who is also getting married on June 12, 2010! It has been a long time since we have seen each other and it is really fun to see her and share an exciting moment like this.

I also met up with one co-w@wie, Kristell at Megamall. We went first to the site since Ria is still at the hospital. The fair is not really that ... hmmm... appetizing as I may say. We were able to see other w@wies - sis Diana Grace and sis Tin with her h2b. There were a few suppliers, specially florists and photobooths that we need. After another one sweep of the place, Kristell said that we should go to the fair at The Fort. Addict as we were to our wedding preparation, I agreed. Ria have to go since she said she has to write a report due on Tuesday and she has her scheduled duty tomorrow. Too bad. I did not leave Megamall, empty handed... I was able to get a quote from a florist and it is way way within our budget. I am really not particular about flowers, I was thinking that it is ok.

Me and Kristell said our goodbyes to sis Diana and Ria and off we go to the NBC tent. We even got lost going to the venue. It has been a long time since I was at the Fort and the NBC tent is usually the first building you see in the area but man, all the newly built condos blocked it. We got there in one piece. The place is packed with suppliers and people... We prepared ourselves for the photobooth and Kristell was able to browse through the gowns. I was able to get some quotes from different florists on the site and we got to try out the photobooths. Reminders to all bride-to-be... before heading to a bridal fair and you are looking for a florist.. write down or print out the number of flowers that you need for your entourage and the type of flowers that you want! It will really come in handy if you want a customized quote of your flower needs!!!! After asking... I was able to make up my mind on a photobooth supplier and I picked Click D'Fun. The rate is good and really fair. I got a 10% discount as well. The print is fast and colorful and the clincher of all, the owner is easy to talk to.

Me & Kristell trying out the photobooth of Click D'Fun.

We never realized that it was getting late and we haven't eaten lunch yet! Hehehehe... So we ate our very late lunch and went home. I told Kristell that I think I will book the florist from Megamall since they gave a very good price or a bargain price for the flowers that I need. She volunteered to go to Megamall for me and reserve the florist! I am so grateful and she informed yesterday, Sunday that everything is good! So for the florist I have JVM Flowershop....

It is really the home stretch now... Only problem now is my hair and make up as well as the suit of Christian but he said that he will just rent one.. so we just need to buy him a green neck tie and a white or black polo. Keeping my fingers cross that everything will be alright!

looking at the reception venue

Yesterday, my mom, my sister and I went out to have some girls day out. With no sleep at all from my night shift, we headed off to the Robinson's Place in Manila to look around for a prom dress for my sister and I decided to pass by Pope Pius XI Catholic Center to check out the reception venue. So we went after shopping for the prom dress that will double as my sister's cocktail gown for the wedding.. She is the only bridesmaid that I have after my other sister bailed out because she is now assigned in Iloilo and will not be able to come home to Manila until the wedding day.. hehehehe!!!

When we got to Pope Pius, the church was arranged for a wedding. They have nice flowers I must say and it is simple just the way I like it. I am not a flower-kind of girl; so I am not very particular with that one. We went to the office to ask about the reception venue... Yes, I haven't seen the reception venue that they have. It was on the second floor of their main building and I must say that it reminds me of the AVR room in my old high-school. It is a very long room, low ceiling and very dark hallway. My sister commented that the color of the curtain is really not nice. I am not really thrilled about it but I think we have no choice about it. I am keeping an open mind. I have some pictures taken but I left the file in my sister's pc back home.

The reception hall at Pope Pius... I must say that it looks nice in the picture. See the walls, it can be open to have the next room to be part of the area.

The stage that they have... It can be for the band or the couples table!

We also checked out the hotel at the back of the church. The rates are really affordable compared to the other hotels around the area. The rooms are nice and it is really simple. I expected it to be simple since most of their guests are from different religious background. They are also not strict with bringing in food and with the photos. My problem is the room is not big enough to accommodate the crew. My mom keeps on saying that the room is okay. I told her that it is really okay but my problem is the number of people that will be around during the wedding preparations. I told her that the photo-video crew alone will be around 12-15 people since the guys will be bringing their respective crews!!! I cannot picture how can we fit the number of people in there!

This is the entrance to the bedroom. I was told that all the rooms are this size... I am really debating with my mom that the suppliers will not fit here during the preparations... I counted the crew for the photo-video alone will be around 15 already... Sigh!!!

The beds are really comfy looking I must say.

Blurry shot of the lobby... it does look nice...

Answered prayer.. this is it!

I have posted on our blog that I won a tiffany ring from Vgem during the W@w Christmas party. I can say that it is an answered prayer since I have been bugging Christian to give me a ring... an engagement type of ring.. Hahahaha... nagging well not nagging but hinting on him to give me one for a long time about it and at the same time praying to God to whisper to Christian that it will really matter for me to have one.

Well God answered my prayer... I picked up the ring at Vgem's shop at Robinson's Galleria and it is beautiful... it is just small for my ring finger. I will go back this Sunday with Christian to have it resize. The gift certificate said that it includes after-sale services like resizing and cleaning for free. I just hope that it will be free. If not, we are willing to pay for it since we got it for no price to pay at all. hehehehe!!!

Nice right!?! Simple yet elegant...

Dinner with friends & the CAR

Last Saturday, me and my UP Solair friends had our pre-Christmas dinner at the Marriott Hotel. Sofitel's Spiral was fully booked beyond the meaning of fully booked... Imagine 100 persons on the waiting list!!! So we ended up at the buffet at the new Marriott Hotel! Swanky swanky it is... That is why our group is called elitist! Hahahaha!! Too bad Christian was not able to join us that night.

After devouring all the food that we can manage, we went to the bar and drank. I just had one cocktail cause it is really expensive! hahahaha! Frozen Strawberry margarita.. yummmy! We just sit at the balcony of the hotel and talked as the night went on!

Butch, one of our ninongs, offered us a ride to the nearest taxi terminal. We were on our way to his new car that he offered to be my bridal car and then I just stopped as he open the driver's door! Man oh man.. It is beautiful white very white .... Ford Expedition parked in front of me! I was like clapping and my jaw just dropped... It is really stunning! I told Matt that this is my bridal car and he said that it will be a first for him to see a SUV as a bridal car! I am so lucky... another freebie... less expense! God must really want us to wed in His church!

I don't have any camera with me so I just browse online to grab a photo!


Sweet right?!?

Tradition anyone???

As part of any wedding traditions, there are the SOMETHINGS... --- the old --- the new --- the blue --- borrowed Let's start with the old. As I posted before, we will be using my parents' arrae. It is made up of 13 1970's 50 centavo coins. Those were the times that they made the coins very heavy and thick, making our arrae really heavy. My mom have them plated again to get the shiny shimmering look and she even have our names engraved. I really wanted to have the unity coins but since this one is for free... I went with the free one.

Something new... this is a no brainer... new shoes, new dress, new contact lenses for sure, new hubby and new life as Mrs. Quiambao..hahahahaha... lahat naman new eh... so no problems on this one....

Now for the something blue.... I guess my wedding shoes will pass as something blue??!?!? Hehehehe.. It is blue green... But i want to have something really blue.. baby blue.. royal blue... bondi blue... aqua blue... hmmmm ... too many shades of blue to choose from. I am now in the look out for flat shoes and hoping that it will either be blue or green. Think! Think! Think! Or I can have my underwear as blue! LOL!!!!

Borrowed... hmmm.. what shall I borrow? who i can borrow it from??? just keep thinking thinking... I guess i have to borrow my mom's jewelry... an earring perhaps since i don't own any...

2009 W@w xmas party --- Fun Fun Fun

Last night, 27 November 2009 at Blue Leaf Pavilion, me and Christian attended the W@w Christmas party! I have been waiting for this night for over a night. I have filed my leave more than one month ago just to be at the event and it just fall on the day after Thanksgiving so it means long weekend for me!

The party gave an opportunity for me to meet my co-w@wies...putting faces behind the names and email addresses. The night was filled with laughter, food and booze!!! The annual W@w party is the time to name the supplier of the year. They first named the top five --- Kaye of K by Cunanan (catering), Atty. Raymund Fortun (photography), Elmer of Rejectcrew (lights and sounds), Ms. Jet of Josiah's (catering) and Jayson & Joanne Arquiza (photography). As the night went on, they named the supplier of the year.... and who else it is... Atty. Raymund Fortun. He certainly deserves it. I never expected for him to be so humble! He is definitely not the person who I commonly see on TV with his legal work...
Since I always get starstruck with lawyers and politicians, Christian told me to take my picture taken with him and of course I did get that!

W@w Top 5 Suppliers!

Atty. Fortun receiving his Supplier of the Year Award - with his team

Me & Atty. Fortun -- now we really have to get our prenuptial shoot with him!

No xmas party will be complete with games. The games were so much fun! There was even a game that will have all the w@wies try on 9 pairs of shoes from Solea and Veluz! I missed that one though because me and to other sisses --- Pinky and Elaine, got our surprise for Ms. Benz. Too bad... I love shoes! But Christian said to leave it since we won one game already! The game's mechanics is to name the most number of attendees in the venue and since I handled the registration for the party I pledged to name 20. Guess what we got!?!?? Guess??? GUess??? a gift certificate for a tiffany solitaire ring worth 12,000 pesos from vgem!!! Yes, a ring! 12,000 pesos for that! Since I have been hinting Christian to give me an engagement ring and I guessed God finds a way for me to get it! Speaking of gifts, me and the w@wies have been cooking up the gift for ms. benz for more than 3 weeks... Camille of Fab Occasions gave us the idea and we just delivered it..

The GC... hehehehe...

Ms.Benz with Sir John and Lil Kite opening w@wies' gift

The night is also suppliers galore of the best of the best wedding suppliers. It is really a night of gathering of soon to weds and their suppliers or future suppliers! Of course, present that night is our now photographers and videographers. I was shocked when they approached me to congratulate that we won the bid for their wedding coverage. I am speechless. Too bad Chug Cadiogan left early.. no photo-op opportunity with him! But then, this is simply worth noting!

Phoeben Teocson at work

The Jason Magbanua hosting the show with RJ Ledesma

Me with Paul, Jayson and Phoeben -- I am speechless! This really made my night!!!!

Me and co-w@wies taking our photo with Jason M.

The night is really fun... one for the books!

Taking our group picture!

Me and Ms. Benz