W@w primer... handy dandy for wedding preps

Being a w@w (weddings at work) addict for my wedding preparation days, I relayed on some reading materials to make my wedding preps more efficient and inspired. Aside from the wedding magazines, I have my handy dandy w@w primer. It is one of the most helpful things that I had. There are tips and some wedding kwentos.

The w@w primer is the brainchild of the founders of w@w... Ms. Benz and Sir John Rana. A husband and wife tandem, whom during their own wedding preps moments felt that there is a lack of resources to pool Philippine wedding suppliers so they came up with the site (www.weddingsatwork.com) and of course gave birth (nanganak talaga noh! hahaha!!!) to the egroups that I grew to love!

This primer is printed every year and most of the articles are written by weddings suppliers so you know that you are getting the hottest tips from the people from the industry themselves. In this primer, Ms. Veluz Reyes shared her thoughts on getting the meant-to-be wedding gown. Ms. Madge Lejano provided her insights on having the right bridal make up! Hayyyy.. I love reading it.

These are the reasons why I gifted some of my friends who are getting married with the w@w primer.... hahahaha! However the best thing about this year's w@w primer.. our names are in it!!! Hahahaha... check out page 66. Soooo... I will definitely try by best to give my other friends who are planning their wedding.

my copy of the 2010 w@w primer! lav it!

yebah... page 66.. i always have a dream of being published.. hahahaha

we hit the 100 days mark

Today is our 100 days as a married couple ... Just want to blog about it for memories ... It is a busy day at work earlier but all is worth it since there will be a party tonight! Nothing fancy to celebrate it... no dinner date or something special... Just me and Christian celebrating our tita's birthday with the rest of our family.

What happened in the last 100 days? Friends asked me often how's married life? Well... hmmmm... I always answered it's simply the same life that we had before we get married the only difference we have the papers to prove that we are married! But honestly, Christian is sweeter now... LOL! Somethings different.. I am more bound to make him coffee when he wakes up and set up the table for dinner. I can boss him around too without him complaining! hahahaha...

All together we are happy that we made the giant leap.... We feel the blessings pouring in. Now that the wedding planning and stuff has stopped... The next project that we have... a baby... hahahaha

Parental ... Advice... Consent... Guidance.. hehehe!

There is this one thing that makes future brides and grooms miserable in their application for the paper works toward the journey of being wife and husband. It is not the marriage license or the dreaded reproductive health seminar at the local health clinic.... It is the so-called parental advice or parental consent.

Well it is not a big thing... since there are certain age limits for this additional requirements. Based from the Family Code of the Philippines:

Art. 14. In case either or both of the contracting parties, not having been emancipated by a previous marriage, are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, they shall, in addition to the requirements of the preceding articles, exhibit to the local civil registrar, the consent to their marriage of their father, mother, surviving parent or guardian, or persons having legal charge of them, in the order mentioned. Such consent shall be manifested in writing by the interested party, who personally appears before the proper local civil registrar, or in the form of an affidavit made in the presence of two witnesses and attested before any official authorized by law to administer oaths. The personal manifestation shall be recorded in both applications for marriage license, and the affidavit, if one is executed instead, shall be attached to said applications. (61a)
Art. 15. Any contracting party between the age of twenty-one and twenty-five shall be obliged to ask their parents or guardian for advice upon the intended marriage. If they do not obtain such advice, or if it be unfavorable, the marriage license shall not be issued till after three months following the completion of the publication of the application therefor. A sworn statement by the contracting parties to the effect that such advice has been sought, together with the written advice given, if any, shall be attached to the application for marriage license. Should the parents or guardian refuse to give any advice, this fact shall be stated in the sworn statement. (62a)
What does the articles mean??? B.S. hehehehe... with all those wordings.. it just means that an affidavit of parent consent is needed for couples aged 18 to 21 ... I don't really know the logic about this one.. but I guess since the law changed the legal age of 21 to 18, there must be this notion that anyone getting married before 21 are still incapable of contracting marriage due to innocence.... Hmmm..... but I guess that is really stupid... Why have the legal marrying age at 18 years old if you still need your parental consent... why not have it by age 21 ... less the stress to marrying couples!

For the parental advice.. the article said that it is not really really a requirement... If no advice is given, the couple will wait for 120 days or 3 months for the issuance of their marriage license.. not the usual 10 days that the local registry process it. Hmmm... This is another requirement that I don't understand but I guess our lawmakers really have something in mind when they wrote this down. Our Filipino community is really big with family and I guess this particular parental advice seeks to prove that we are a family-centric society and that we look up to our parents or guardians for advice.

One or the other my dear future brides and grooms, if you fall under these stated age limits, you will have to follow it ... Absence of this document will make your marriage voidable... The good thing about it; no more annulment procedure... hahahaha... Seriously.... read the requirements very well... To help you... here are some links to get your the format of the form:

Parental consent... for marrying couple aged at least 21 but not younger than 18 (remember the legal marrying age is 18)... if one party is older... you still need it... read the article.. ANY of the consenting party... Click here to view form.

Parental advice... if you are at least 25 but above 21... Click me for your form.

It is good to understand and follow the rules... Do not go with shortcuts... It can fight back you know!

for all h2bs ---- better watch this!

Another video shared by one of my friends in Facebook.... Like the previous video this is worth sharing again! Why? Watch it and you will know why!

Did you watch it already? Tell me that it is worth it! This video or more like an ad tells us that marriage is a give and take thing... not only marriage but all kinds of relationship. The only difference with marriage to other relationships... it is binding and should be everlasting. There must be the presence of compromise. There is forgiveness! There is a goal to move forward to any issues or conflicts that came up. We might have heard by now the advice of settling the fight that you might have encountered for the day before going to sleep! I guess it is true! I cannot really sleep well when me and Christian if we still have some issues unsettled!

H2bs... learn to understand your W2bs... W2bs... learn to lengthen your patience! Let's face it... Guys are late bloomers! I am right, right?!?

This is what I call women empowerment

We always read from blogs, magazines, newspapers or any other readable, watched in chick flicks and telenovelas.. dreamed about it once in our lives... a man proposing to a woman that they want to spend the rest of their lives with.

When I saw this entry from a friend's facebook status... it is truly worth sharing on our wedding blog. The lady in this video is Emily Hawley... the valedictorian of her class since there was no contest to it... She got a perfect GPA! It will be like an average of 1 in our local grading system. During her valedictorian speech on their commencement exercise, she called up the stage her boyfriend... to profess her love and thanks for supporting her. After that... she just popped the question... out loud "Will you marry me?" No hesitations at all... no qualms... no fear... In front of their graduating class... she just said it!

Way to go you lady! Who said that we all have to wait for our man to propose? Friends and some family members (specially my sisters!) have always joked that I wrestled with Christian to get a proposal! Well I guess if you really know that he is the one for you and he IS the ONE you want to spend the rest of your life with ... why wait for the romantic proposal? Just ask the question!

the question of why do churches charge so much...

I have read on the w@w site that church weddings are becoming costly. It is not only because of the reception aspect of church weddings that are becoming expensive but the church itself charges unbelievable rates for one to have God's blessings.

One example.. The Shrine of Jesus in Pasay.. that big orange church in front of Terminal 3.. charges 25k for a wedding ceremony! Christ the King in Greenmeadows, Santuario de San Jose and Saint Alphonsus Mary Liguori Parish (Magallanes Church)also have the same rate. We get that they are all air conditioned churches but why? why 25,000 pesos!? We know that they say that it is all in -- meaning there will flowers, carpet and pianist and soloist but for the love of God, why so much?

Honestly for us, we paid 15,000 pesos and an extra 500 for the charge... and they say that it is all in! Golly! We just have to plug in one light for the photographers... it will not even cost 100 pesos for less than an hour ceremony! I really don't feel that the church is standing by what they teach that marriage is sacred and they keep on preaching that it is not all about costs of it but the blessing that the couple receives.....

Aside from the fees, why do the churches have so many requirements? Yeah, it is understandable to have the baptismal and confirmation certificates and the seminar but why oh why do one have to struggle in case there will be a problem with their information on the certificates? Like in our case, my mom's last name was wrong on the certificate. Instead of Marcelo they placed Manalo. I was baptized at the same church where my parents got married. For Christian, his baptismal certificate showed Stephen as his second name! The church said that we have to fix it since his second name is not on his confirmation certificate! I thought this would be easy to fix but no.. I have to go to the Archdioses of Cubao to have it fix there and they have ask me to talk to Christian over the phone to confirm what they need us to do! Gosh! Talk about hassle! Take note .. there are additional fees in the process of doing this! Not to add the permit or marriage banns that one has to get from the local parish church where they reside! Ours cost us 600 pesos from one church! What if we live separately then.. I guess it will cost us another thousand pesos! Jeeezzz!

You thought that this is enough.. No... there's more! Why on earth do some churches have special rules? Like a non-parishioner is not allowed to get married at their church if they will not avail of the churches in-house reception venue or if they will not get a sponsorship from a parishioner. Isn't marriage a sacrament and sacraments should not be denied to any Catholic? Again.. why would the church be doing this?

This blog is not to discourage any future couple from marrying in front of God's altar but I would rather have this blog get the attention of our church leaders. Marriage should be open to all.

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...

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!

12 days to go... balancing act of the guest list and one good news

Today is my last day at work before I head off and take my two weeks of leave for our big day. I am finishing all my deliverables today and also taking some time to finalize our guest list and their respective seat allocations. Me and Christian are very firm that we will not exceed the 100 guests that we have reserved. We will definitely not be sorry if some people will find us inconsiderate if they show up at the reception and not entertain them. It will be a no escort card, no seat policy at our wedding!

As of the moment we still have... 8 slots vacant due to early cancellations by my officemates since our wedding falls on a Thursday, they said that it is hard to take a leave for it. I am currently having problems with squeezing some folks that my dad wanted to be at the wedding. Well, we manage to reserve 5 seats for them and that is the highest that we can go! I know that I had arguments with some of my aunties about this issue but I am putting my feet down on this one!

I am now arranging the seat plan as well... thanks to the handy dandy tool that I got online! It is extremely useful. I am enjoying doing this seat plan thing! I just need to have the RSVP of the other folks who will be coming to the wedding. I only plotted the relatives and the entourage members plus the VIP table!

On with the good news! I received an email from Gen, wifey of Phoeben, our videographer. She was asking for the details of the wedding and was informing me the Phoeben is giving us a free onsite! Yehey... Love it! She further inquired what we want for the background song. I actually previously blogged about that onsite song and trimmed our choices to two songs. I emailed her my response and replied today, saying that Phoeben is ok with our choice! Happiness!!!! I will keep the song a surprise for now... I will not even tell Christian what is it... I will be the only one who will know... Bwahahahaha....

One of our videographers at work... Thanks for the free onsite!

I just cannot wait to see the onsite video!

according to our wedding ticker... 20 days

Gosh... 20 days left... time does fly so fast! I cannot believe that it will be less than 3 weeks and I will be Mrs. Liberty Palomo-Quiambao. There are still a lot of things to do but I know that I have managed my time wisely and God is really helping me out by having things fall into its places. I just want to have a run down of the things we accomplish and what we still need to do before 04.15.2010.

Church - Maria Goretti Parish (Pope Pius)

- down payment paid, done with pre-cana, interview, to submit docs and pay final payment on April 8/9, will need to have them check the misalette I made

Reception/Prep Hotel - Pearl Garden Hotel

- paid reservation, payment for balance on Monday together with food tasting, made a run down of the things needed to finalize with AE, check room again to make sure there will be space, don't want to be on the same floor with Christian's room.. hehehe

Photo/video - Chug Cadiogan, Jayson Arquiza, Paul Vincent & Phoeben Teocson

- fully paid.... feeling of excitement to see the the finish products, emailed Chug about onsite and said he will discuss it with Bim... yehey... I want to watch it now.

OTD Coordinator/Emcee - Teodoro Events

- had meeting with emcee already, provided contracts and contact info of all suppliers, will meet on April 9 to have ocular of venue to do layout and finalize other details

Flowers - JVM Flowershop

- will make another payment this weekend, done with detailing... still thinking of adding the aisle garden that Christian wanted

Gowns - Sheah Designs

- done with the fitting, 75% payment made, pick up ento gowns on April 9. Sheah will deliver my gown a day before the wedding. i super heart my gown.

HMUA - Val Villarin

- reservation paid, will still need confirmation from Val about the free prenup make

schedule for 31 March. we will just head to a photo studio for this one...

Cake - Gervy's Amazing Cakes

- reservation paid, done with all the detailing, got a lot of freebies during the detailing, will make payment tomorrow or during the weekend.

Band - Beatitude Strings

- paid reservation, now choosing 30 songs... Gawd.. I never knew that it will be this difficult

Souvenirs - Five EB Enterprises

- paid, will pick them up this Saturday and to package them nicely

Invites - Impress Prints

- done, paid for and mailed out... I heart our invites

Souvenirs for principal sponsors - still at the look out

Souvenirs for female entourage - secret

- just need to package them... thanks thanks to my friend Chris

Souvenirs for male entourage - secret

- will get them this weekend...

Christian and Daddy's suit - Chancellor

- done.. just need to get Christian's black polo shirt

Shoes - Janilyn

- check.. just need to get reception shoes!

Photobooth - Click D' Fun

- reservation paid, seen the photo strip & background layout.. another i heart wedding stuff... so nice! something our guests will really like

Gosh... I never knew that our suppliers will be this many. I told Christian that we will keep our wedding in a minimal.. I guess I went overboard... ang w@w kasi eh.. hehehehe... So next blog... run down of all the DIYs ... hahahaha

SM Centerpoint experience.. suits, bodyform & shoes

After getting our invites, I decided to go to SM to check out some stuff that I can give for my entourage and also to buy a cake for my dad. Side story first, the taxi driver we had gave me high blood pressure since he wanted us to take the bridge instead of making a u-turn! WTF... I told him that we took a cab because I don't want to cross the bridge and if I wanted to do that I will be taking a jeepney instead. Grrrrr!!!!

The airconditioning inside SM Centerpoint calmed my nerves. Looking around we checked out some polos for my dad and for Christian, I looked some suits. It is good that they are having a sale. Every brand I checked, the prices gets lower and the one that called my interest is the one with free pants! LOl! I am cheap I know. The ties are on sale as well, so I will be getting them as gifts for our male entourage. We just have to head back there this weekend to buy the stuff.

We also checked ou the slimming bodysuit.... and hmmm.. spanx like and it is cheaper. Good thing about it. They have it on my size! Hehehehee... So I got that one. Php. 949.75 only! Cheap cheap cheap!

see 949.75 pesos... hehehehe

it does work... i tried it when we got home... struggle to put it on!

Next agenda shoes, my mom is in the hunt to find shoes for my sister who is graduating from high school by the end of the month. I took this opportunity to look for flat shoes for our reception and I found TWO options --- one is pure white shoes and the other white sneaker types.... cost - 650 pesos and 499 pesos respectively. The sneakers won since it has green on it and I can use it after the wedding also. hehehehehe... I just love going to the mall with mommy.

Our engagement shoot with Atty. Raymond Fortun.

It was Friday, 12.02.2010, venue: UP Fair Grounds at the Sunken Garden. I have always planned that our engagement shoot should be in UP since it has a special space in my heart. UP will always be my home away from home. Even though Christian is adamant about it because he said that he is not from UP, I still got my way. To boost it all, our shoot falls on the week of the annual UP Fair. There is nothing to say more about the UP Fair but the most significant and most memorable moment that I have duing my university days! Organizing it is not easy!

Before the shoot I had it all fix. Called, text and even left private message to in Facebook people who I know who will still have connections to get into the grounds. I don't want to put my good resources to waste. So special thanks to Justin, my co-Alyansa in the USC, Kuya Gary for contacting his brods in Tau Rho Xi and Sir Erick, the faculty adviser of Tau Rho Xi. Connections really pays of. LOL!

Atty. Raymond Fortun shot these photos. I am really awed by these. I love it. While writing this blog, Christian is still asleep so he hasn't seen it yet but I am sure he will really like it too for the reason that his teeth did not show in any of the photos. Hehehehe... Love you luvs. Atty. Fortun is a genious. He is fun to work with and really cool.

Look at the concave effect.. beautiful!

Block and white photos are classic!

Cosmo and Wanda of the Fairly Odd Parents... we love this cartoon... what is written on the shirt is... Kelan ba magiging lastname mo ang last name ko? In English... When will be your last name be my last name? I know it is cheesy... My shirt just said the date of the wedding!

No tummy here.. hehehehehe

One of my favorite shots!

The Coffee Bean shop at UP Technohub... Sorry w@wies .. cute manager went home early.

Side view profile is the best... no bulging curves.. hehehehe

Our ferris wheel moment.....


I like the infrared shots!

NIce right!?!?

Shadows... I hope I am just a shadow... I dont't look fat at all

There are more pictures to come after we receive the CD of the photos.... Thanks Atty. Fortun for being patient with us. We are really not a picture loving couple.... THis is the most picture that we have.

*** Just a little story... when i paid for the reservation of the services... the bank teller saw the name of Atty. Fortun and asked me... "mabait ba sya? mukhang strict kasi sya sa TV eh" hehehehe

Valentine Dinner date.. after almost 6 years!

Christian really does not like formal settings.. He said he itches everytime he has to be formal! Last night after the ocular, we originally planned to eat dinner at the hotel's restaurant to sample the quality of the food. Good thing Arleen offered us tickets for their hotel's valentine's day dinner special. The damage is 600 per head... Christian instantly said yes when I asked him about it the other day... I was really shocked.... LOL!

The restaurant is really nice and we ordered some drinks before dinner... The frozen margarita is really strong and Christian had his usual beer! Sorry no "red horse" in the house! The dinner started with appetizers - oyster cocktails and small pancakes with sour cream... I love oysters... Christian doesn't so he tried one but gave me the other shot! Yummo!

Moowwwdel?!?!

waiting for dinner... hungry!

half of the oyster cocktails... when i heard the waiter said oyster... i immediately tried it! forgot to take the picture first.. hehehehe

Next course... soup.. creamy spinach... yummy also... Then the salad... I like the dressing. We were taking our time eating the food since the band hasn't started playing yet. The main course came in, we both chose to have the beef since I was not very in the mood for fish last night! I joked Christian if he needs to order rice... LOL! But no need for it the main course was fabulous! tasty.... the sauce was really good.

The salad.. yummy dressing.. i wanted to have a second round!

Main course.. beef tenderloin... Sarap!

Of course the dessert... SIGH!!! heaven.. chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream... Yum yum yum... i almost have to lick the plate to leave no trace of chocolate! All in all the dinner was great. If the food will be this great during the wedding reception I am all for it! Christian enjoyed it as well!

me and my dessert...

Christian taking out the yosi!

pre valentines... pre bday.... karaoke night with UP solair friends

After a tiring day at the bridal fair, I went straight to Trinoma to meet Christian. We will be having dinner with our friends. We changed the venue from Mall of Asia to Timog. We were supposed to be going to Ratsky or Zirkoh but we ended up at Centerstage. It was fun cause the last time that we have been together is during our pre-Christmas buffet at Marriott. We just chatted and sang some songs... ate some food... The service at Centerstage really sucks!!! It is soooo slow! My friends say that we should permanently block Centerstage from our list of places to hang out!

ONe other thing to note... Butch... our friend and one of our principal sponsors offered Christian to have his stag party that night but he begged off since he was still too tired. Poor baby!

Matt belting out tune!

Posing for the camera!

Gerie with Red and their 3 children. She is one of our ninangs!

Chillax! Happy with the booked suppliers from the bridal fair!

Pre-Cana Seminar... one good afternoon

Last week, I have received a number of missed call from one phone number on my mobile and I text message. The message is from Ms. Lanie, one of the contact persons from Sta. Maria Goretti Parish. It has something to do with our Pre-cana seminar. After reading the message, my mind is ticking.... What is that? Hmmm...

According to wikipedia, Pre-Cana is a course or consultation Catholic couples must undergo before they can be married in a Catholic church. The name is derived from John 2:1-12, the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, where Jesus performed the miracle of turning water into wine. Alright... course.... Christian is really going to dread this one.

Off we went today to Pope Pius, endured the long traffic from Quezon City to Manila. Booo!!! We went out early to go around Manila. We actually went to CCP... just at there ... walked the bayside and Christian enjoyed looking at the old folks fishing on the side of the bay. Yup... you read it right.. there are still live fishes on that bay! He is just into fishing. We will be doing fishing very soon and just give me to his liking! Support my guy, right? We checked out Gloria Maris as well, lo and behold, my friend is there I haven't seen him for a long time! One note, the bicycles are no longer at CCP. It is just sad.... no more nostalgia of CCP where you can rent the bicycles to go around... hehehehe...

The view from one of the restaurants near the bay. You can see the yachts of the rich at the Manila Yacht Club. I told Christian to buy me one. LOL!!!

Christian posing for a good photo!


Christian looking at the fishing hobbyists along the bay. Yes there are still fishes in that bay!


The floating Jumbo Restaurant. Unfortunately, this is closed already. It is such a waste of money. The owners can probably convert it into a venue hall.

Christian is simply envious of the old folks fishing. We planned to go back this coming February 14 for him to fish. I will let this one pass since it is Valentine's day.

After lunch, we went to the church.. attended the 12:30 mass... good thing the church has air conditioning cause it was really hot! We waited for the parish office to open and we ended up being accompanied by 3 other couples. Ms. Lanie and Sir Vic talked to us about any questions that we might have about the ceremony, requirements and reminded us with a few stuff... They said that the wedding last Friday did not go well and they learned their lessons from it! The short meeting is really worth it. We nearly forgot about the marriage banns! Whew. Saver!

We are waiting for our lunch... I was sooo hungry.

Waiting for the seminar to start....

He is definitely bored to death already!

The seminar is short and sweet. Christian just let it passed. HEhehehe! Good thing that the church only have the seminar for half a day! We did have some learning from it. It is really one good afternoon.

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