At first, I thought that the wedding planning would be a breeze as soon as we booked all the major suppliers.  Unfortunately, I’ve proven myself wrong. 3 months to go and we have yet to sit down and talk about details, details and more DETAILS! TJ is actually giving me a freehand in choosing, which is a good thing because I can unleash the artistic side of me… but also bad (or disadvantageous for lack of a better term) in a way, simple because I now feel the pressure.

Mailing Groups

Earlier during the planning, I registered in a mailing group in an attempt to get the latest wedding trends. Unfortunately, that didn’t work for me. My mailbox was overloaded with e-mails from hundreds of brides-to-be sharing their own stories, DIY tricks and experiences with suppliers, not to mention everybody else having their own say in each of the posts. I found no use for it so I decided to unsubscribe.

Wedding Glossies

Wedding magazines are a good source of ideas as well and a good buy specially if they’re on SALE! These are usually pricey (P300++ per issue) since they are published quarterly and are thicker than the other glossies. But if you check out bargains, I managed to buy past issues (say 6 months to a year) at half the price! (Tip: Do check out Filbar’s in leading malls for such bargains! ) This is also the best thing to do if you’re not sure which magazine to buy. Among the magazines I spent my money on, I think 3 out of 10 wedding magazines fit my preference. Some catered to high-profile couples, some were just loaded with advertisements, some had nice covers but contents were “baduy”. So be careful in your purchases as well or you might just end up wasting that penny.

Online Treats

Nowadays, I find browsing through wedding blogs and websites a daily must-do activity. The best thing about the internet is the extensive information you get at no cost! However, looking for the best sites is just as tricky. It’s a good thing that I recently discovered Google Reader where I can get updates and browse my favorite wedding blogs and websites without the hassle of searching it over and over again. It’s even better that bookmarking sites because you get a heads up and a quick preview of the latest entries once you log in. Here’s how the window looks like:

It’s so convenient and easy to use. You can easily switch from watching a tearjerker video of Jason Magbanua and immediatey shift to a DIY project by Ayleebits. And if you already have a Google account (i.e. GMail, etc.), you can simply log in and set up your own reader immediately.

I’d also like to share with you my favorite website.

 What I like about StyleMePretty is its filled with wonderful photos and images. They also feature real weddings – although American – that range from the simple DIY celebrations to the more sophisticated and elaborate ones. Color palettes, style books, DIY tutorials and wardrobe designs are also available for all the eager brides.

Here are other must-see websites for our reading (and viewing) pleasure:

What Junebug Loves

Aylee Bits

Brenda’s Wedding Blog

Paper Source Blog

We Heart Weddings

Hope you get inspired, too!

Posted on: 12 May 2010
Author: Betty Tianco

Getting ready for your wedding takes a whole lot of planning–and the wide range of ideas, choices, and suppliers available makes it that much harder! Like many brides-to-be planning their big day, you may have a wedding or events planner to help you out, or you may not–either way, we’re sure you want to stay involved in the coordination and organization, from the initial stages of planning your overall theme, to settling on a church and reception venue, to choosing the menu and the mementoes. Add to all this your own concerns as a blushing bride and future wife–choosing (or designing!) your rings, and planning your honeymoon activities (though we’re sure you know what you’ll be spending most of your time on)–and you can get easily overwhelmed way before you have to walk down the aisle!

That’s where BridalBook.ph comes in. BridalBook not only gives you a broad listing of all the suppliers and contacts you’ll need to plan a successful (and affordable!) wedding, it also gives you inspiration and ideas through its many photo galleries of real weddings, with detailed photos of gowns, invitations, centerpieces, giveaways, floral arrangements, and the ceremonies themselves! The site is also geared towards soliciting content from its users, which means you can get honest evaluations and reviews from those who have been in the (wedding) trenches and know what things matter most to a bride-to-be.

To cap everything off, BridalBook also has a collection of articles that provide quick tips and tricks on everything from getting the most out of your budget to booking your honeymoon flight.

Whether you’re a bride-to-be, a veteran of your own wedding adventures, or just a wishful thinker visualizing plans and dreams for your own future match, check out BridalBook for bright ideas and the best resources for brides-to-be.

P.S. I’m keeping gown design a secret for now. Surprise, surprise!

I’m in love with colors… bright, vibrant colors. So I thought of picking a rather unique combination to put more life to our big day.

It’s quite a coincidence that I love both blues and greens and turquoise is the color of the year. I never had second thoughts in making it our primary motif. Our moms and good friends who’ll serve as secondary sponsors will wear this.

A touch of apple green adds to the relaxed feeling of turquoise, quite fitting to the only matron of honor.

The magenta was a bit of a surprise. I wanted to add a hint of femininity in the scheme, and it turned out the best compliment to the two other shades. This truly fits our young and petite bridesmaids.

I’m also in love with nude colors and found a way to include it in the scheme. My principal sponsors will surely look classy in this color.

To add some more sunshine, I’m thinking of having yellow flowers for the whole entourage. It’s a rainbow-colored day after all.

All these were just in mind until I saw the actual fabrics in my couturier’s boutique. I was finally convinced I chose the perfect tones!

Over dinner, we finally put down the pen on our wedding entourage. Tough, tough, tough decision-making on who to include and who to take out from the list. Nevertheless, we got all the important people involved, which was our main goal in the first place. Next thing to do is to sit down on our guest list. Good luck to us!

We also started getting the required documents from government agencies and churches, even set an appointment with the DFA for our passports. (Yes, as in the news, we got a Sept. 14 schedule at 7:00 in the morning!)

On the brighter side, my last visit to Goldenhills gave me a sigh of relief. 5 months (and payments) to go and we’re off to get our lovely wedding rings. That’s really something to look forward to!

The list goes on and on from here and the wedding jitters is somehow creeping in already. The following months, weeks, days and hours will be packed with wedding stuff. My OC-ness will surely get in the way, but what else can I say? Just bring it on!

Guimaras has been on top of my must-see places. Because TJ had been there a few years back and heard stories about the place directly from him, the more I wanted to go. Thanks to his best friend who gave us impromptu invite to an Iloilo trip late last year, we booked tickets on sale in no time.

Iloilo is the primary gateway to Guimaras. After a 45 minute flight from Manila, we took another hour and half boat ride from Iloilo port to the island. It was way past lunch time and our tummies were growling of hunger, but the picturesque Guimaras kept us distracted the whole time. I was immediately in love with its clear blue waters and beautiful rock formations. I couldn’t wait to dock.

Upon arrival at Alubihod Beach in Nueva Valencia, we checked in at Raymen Beach Resort and had our late lunch at its in-house resto where we had daing na bangus and tortang talong, not to mention the filling and delicious mango shakes. Guimaras is known for its produce of the sweetest mangoes in the country. We were too lazy to take a dip and go around the island at 5PM, so we decided to take some rest, chill at a nearby videoke bar, sang our hearts out while enjoying some booze.

We were up early the next day for the most awaited Guimaras adventure. First stop was the Guisi Point, home of an 18^th Century Spanish era lighthouse. The bumpy 20-minute tricycle ride and hike was no joke, but upon reaching the peak, the view was simply breathtaking. The ruins were picture-perfect just as what we expected. The conserved but rusting lighthouse showed us how locals revered their history and the modern one just a few meters away showed us how things have changed through generations. The view of Guisi Beach from the top made us want to take a plunge into its lovely waters.  We were so thrilled, we wanted to see more.

Next stop was the Turtle Island,where we met a pawikan and a unique puffer fish at its Turtle Sanctuary. It was good to know about government efforts in protecting wildlife on the other side of the country.

Final destination was the Ave Maria Island – named as such because of its famous cave likened to the Virgin’s grotto. True to its name, it was the most pristine part of the island that we’ve been to where we enjoyed pure white sand. Its waters were luring us for a swim, shifting from light to dark shades of crystal-clear blue as it got deeper.

The Baras caves were another tourist destination and may be explored further by the braver ones. Other must-go spots were the Trappist Monastery, the Mango Plantation and the Inampulungan Island to name a few. There was just too much to explore Guimaras and an overnight trip definitely would not be enough. It was quite a quick trip, but a very memorable one indeed.

Well at least we have more reasons to come back.

1. FREEBIES ARE FREEBIES: Filipinos are naturally proud individuals. We wouldn’t admit that we’re in dire need of help until everything is almost lost. So, if someone offers to sponsor something for your wedding, grab that opportunity by the balls (pardon the expression)! There’s nothing shameful in accepting help that was offered. Another alternative is going out there and actually looking for help. We don’t mean you forcing people to sponsor something for your wedding. If you really need help, go out and look for it. Whatever you need’s not going to be served to you on a silver platter. Revisit all of your business contacts, closest friends, and relatives, and trim down your options. There’s no harm in asking. You may get “NO”s but we’re willing to bet that there will be at least one who’ll sponsor something for your wedding from all the people you’ll approach.

So far, we’ve got 4 sponsors already, significantly slashing our budget.

2. REVIEW “WANTS” AND “NEEDS”: Most couples exceed their target budget because they fail to distinguish between these 2. I want this, that, those. “WANTS” will definitely ruin your budget. “NEEDS” have to go before these “WANTS” if you wish to keep within your budget. Carefully plan how you both want your wedding to come out. And during the planning process, distinguish these 2 from one another. To cite examples, string quartets, OTD coordinators (external), a reception host (external), would merit WANTs. Your basic wedding necessities would be your NEEDs (i.e. Church, reception venue, caterer, etc.). The 3 WANTs we shared above are 3 examples of what we weeded out during the planning process. Instead of those 3, we were able to get alternatives, at ZERO cost. If you’re really bent on getting your WANTs, best advice would be to only get them in the end, when all of your NEEDs have been accounted for, and IF you still have resources left after. Having a “PRIORITY LIST” would immensely add to your cause of keeping your budget to a minimum.

3. THE EARLY WORM, CATCHES THE WORM: As cheesy as this may sound, but yeah, the earlier you act, the better results. In planning a wedding, time is GOLD indeed. The earlier you scout for potential suppliers gives you ample time to review each one, trim down your options, and finally decide on what suppliers you’re both going to get. Another point is that the earlier you decide on your suppliers, the earlier you can reserve their services. Booking your suppliers 1 year before your wedding date, at a minimum, assures you of securing lower rates than booking them 6 months before. Take us for example. We booked our date with our church 1 year and 2 months before the actual event, sparing us from their year to year increase. Usually suppliers increase their year to year rates by at least 15%, depending on current economic trends.

4. HAGGLING DOESN’T MAKE YOU A CHEAPSKATE: When meeting with a potential supplier, don’t say YES outright. Let them present what they can offer and how much it would cost. Afterwards, bring out all your haggling skills which you honed through the years in all your “DIVISORIA” and “GREENHILLS” escapades. Or if you’re really not that much of a haggler, the next best thing for you would be BRIDAL/WEDDING FAIRS. Discounts are abound during these 3-day events. Just explore all options before finally deciding on one supplier.

Hopefully, these tips would work for you guys as much as they did for us. Happy planning.

Choosing a photographer is much like shopping in Divisoria – everything seems the same but you’ll have to be very keen in choosing the best in style, quality and price. And because there is quite a handful in the market, you have to know beforehand what your criteria and requirements are.

We initially considered F. Topico Mayuga Photography since the owner was a good friend of my future mother-in-law. They were okay and it would’ve been the most convenient choice, but we didn’t have a comparison so we decided to look further. We looked into Raymod Fortun’s photography since I’m a very big fan but unfortunately, he was already booked Dec. 11. We looked some more and finally came across Decisive Moments’ ad in a wedding magazine I bought.

Their ad read “The Wedding through the Eyes of a Photojournalist” and that’s what attracted me most. What I really wanted was a photojournalistic approach in photography. I wanted more of the candid moments than choreographed poses, naturally lit photos instead of digitally enhanced ones. I wanted them not only to be visually beautiful but to be able to convey emotion and mood. It was good to know that their chief photographer, Mr. Mel Cortez, used to be a photojournalist for a broadsheet.

Before looking for options, we had already set a budget price ceiling for the photo/video service and that guided us very well. Jane was kind enough to e-mail me their affordable packages and even entitled me to 30% discount if we booked them within the week.

Things got really exciting so we paid them a visit to see samples of their work and discuss the package further. The good thing is that it already had almost everything covered and we were just given the option for add-ons. (Remember, in booking a supplier, get the basic package first and then upgrade later on should your budget permit.) We reviewed each item and asked if we can trade one with the other and they agreed. William was so energetic and very helpful in giving us suggestions (and further discounts!). He was so contagious that he was finally able to convince us to get them.

Photo/video eats a big chunk of the wedding budget so it was really a “decisive moment” for us. But we’re happy to have secured our second supplier and got style, quality and price in one great package!

—-

Decisive Moments Photography by Mel Cortez

Suite 902 Burgundy Place, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City

Mobile: 0922-8299333

E-mail: decisivemoments@yahoo.com

Website: http://melcortez.multiply.com

*             *             *

TJ :: Finally deciding on our church was really a no-brainer for Kay and I. The Our Lady of Consolation Parish Church inside Mira Nila Homes in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, was perfect for us in every way we had hoped our church would be.

We initially considered the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice (more commonly known as the UP Chapel) since that was where we used to hear mass. But after giving it much thought, we decided against it. Being left without our original option, Kay and I decided to look for churches in Quezon City. Kay stumbled upon a list of churches within QC online and we immediately scheduled our church tripping the Sunday that week, January 18, 2009. First on our list was the OLCP. Which was also our last. It was during one of the readings when I whispered to Kay that I fell in love with the place, which was her sentiment too. Everything about the church veered us towards our decision. The architecture was quite modern. The ambience was light and homey. The acoustics and sound system were absolutely marvelous. The aisle was not short nor was it that long, just right for Kay’s walk of fame. And the choir loft provided us with an option for the photographers to take one of Kay’s fave wedding shots. An overhead shot of her walking down the aisle, her train delicately trailing her. So from then on, we frequented the OLCP for regular Sunday masses and it was on October 25, 2009 when we officially locked our wedding date with them.

KAY :: As TJ mentioned, the UP Chapel was our first choice – it was unique, simple, serene. But somehow we realized that a lot of things that we wanted in the wedding couldn’t be possible in this kind of round architecture. Being a choir member, it was also very important for me that the church had the best sound system as I wanted our wedding to be filled with beautiful music. That’s when I was reminded of this church where we sang years ago for our high school adviser’s wedding. I quickly e-mailed Mrs. C and got details of Our Lady of Consolation in Tandang Sora, and the following Sunday, TJ and I made sure we paid a visit.

True enough, it was love at first sight. A lot about the church has changed. The altar is now painted with a deep purple accented by sprinkles of gold. The newly painted chandeliers added a rustic charm to the once plain church.  The choir loft was still at the far back, and the sound system was pretty good!  The chirping of the birds during the morning mass affirmed the serenity of the place. Right then, I knew we  were getting married there.

*             *             *

In choosing your church, we recommend that you first list down all possible churches in your desired area. Don’t be deceived by famous (and expensive) churches!!! More than the grandiosity, it’s important that you choose a church where you can have a solemn and meaningful ceremony. San Agustin Church, for one, is not the ideal church. Sad to say, but we’ve attended several weddings there and the outcome has not been pleasing – they rush the ceremony to the point that the bride hastens her march and the priest skips his Homily! You wouldn’t want that happening to you. Visit churches during Sunday mass so you get a feel of the whole place (ambience, sound system, size, ventilation, etc.). Think about your church as much as you would for your reception venue. Besides, it’s the most important part of your big day.

Ask any soon-to-be-wed guy, or any married guy for that matter. It’s not as easy as it looks. Sure, rapport has been established between you and your bride’s parents, considering you’ve established yourself as a household fixture already. But the thought of delivering this kind of news, the “Hi Tito/Tita! I’m marrying your daughter and taking her away from you already” kind of news, is pretty unnerving. Especially if you have a future father-in-law with a very intimidating presence. There’s just no way you can totally prepare yourself for that situation.

Kay and I originally targeted December 8, 2009 as our “moment of truth.” But the death of a very dear family member 4 days prior held us back.  We decided not to specify a date anymore, instead, agreed to get it done and over with before December 26, 2009, her  kuya’s wedding.  BUT, more unforeseen events happened so our “moment of truth” kept on getting pushed further, and further back. To cut the long story short, we only got to let her DAD know about our plans last January 20, 2010 (Kay told her mom about our plans earlier, in the hopes of having her prepare her dad for the “big news”). Here are some snippets of that conversation with her dad.

TJ: “Tito, niyaya ko na pong magpakasal si Kay, at pumayag na po siya.”

Kay’s DAD (with her mom watching on): “Ma, tama ba narinig ko? Ikuha mo nga ako ng cotton buds.”

TJ: “Hehe (nervous laugh). Opo, tama po.”

Kay’s DAD: “Kelan niyo plano? Handa na ba kayo? Handa na ba kayong magka-pamilya?”

TJ: “Sa December po. Handa naman na po kami.”

Kay’s DAD: “Wala naming problema sa akin yan. Ang sa akin lang ay yung request ng mama niyo.”

Our conversation went on for a few more minutes, with dad asking a couple more questions about our plans. In the end, Kay’s dad was really cool about the whole thing, thanks mainly to Kay’s mom who prepped dad beforehand. All I can say about that whole experience is that all my uneasiness and sleepless nights leading to that moment were actually unnecessary, BUT normal for any guy asking for the blessing of his girl’s parents. A little tip to guys out there planning a little rendezvous with your fiancee’s parents: Relax. Haha! Showing your future in-laws, that you’re nervous might give them a negative impression about your readiness for the married life.

So with that behind us already, our planning “officially” started. A couple of suppliers in the bag, but more of that on our future posts. Ciao.