the Big Day

the Big Day!!!

the site preparations

On this Big Day..I am really indebted to a lot of people who helped me make it through. I am so thankful for all those people. For all who helped me with free of any charges and those who are always there and believed in us.

I know I couldn't name everyone, but I will mention a few. First to Ate baby and ate Merly..they are the busy one finding all needed plates, glass, spoons and forks, seats and a lot more things!. To my Tiya Merly.. my fathers' sister-in-law..who helped me with my dress and my girls' dress. And find the cake!

Thanks to the people who make the 'damara' and who helped to cook the meal. All free of charges! Thanks everyone!

And a lot more thanks to KUYA WILLIE!.. who is the big Man in my Big Day! He is behind the flowers, the table settings, the corsages, the bridal car decorations, the bouquets, the girls baskets and a lot, lot more! He is behind the beautification of my Big Day! The guess what?? ALL FOR FREE!! Thanks KUYA Willie! He's a professional weddinghttp://cathybellen.blogspot.com/2010/06/ring-hunt.html organizer and sometimes director!

the car

I didn't plan to get a bridal car. One of my uncle offered his van so I think, that will do. It was red and my siblings said it's not a good one. But then that will reduce my expenses.

I was set for that van, then on the eve of my Big Day, our neighbor - Mary Anne asked me what time the car will be decorated. I was surprised. She owned a white car. And I think it's perfect for a bridal car. But then I am not renting it. So I told her. Then more surprised when she told me that the car was already rented by one of my primary sponsors!

Wow! I am so glad! Thanks to my sponsor Hon. Conrado Belza! So at eleven in the evening the eve of my Big Day the car was decorated!

the Invitation..

Among all other preparation -- the ring, the shoes, etc -- this is the part where I was most stressed out. I was late in my invitation cards because I couldn't complete the list.

Primary Sponsors, Secondary sponsors and even the flower girls. But still even though the time is limited I think I found a pretty design.

The cover of the invitation is simply the envelop. But I have a special paper with me that I bought because I thought I'm going to make my own invitation :-). Thanks God I don't have to. So instead of wasting the paper, i used it in this invitation, I redesign it, cover the actual card in a special green one and put the Ribbon (the ribbon though is original in design).

the sHoes!!

Finding the ring is no different in finding shoes for the preparation for my big day. If finding the ring is tiresome, double that and add to that the headache. Headache because there are so much choices, so many beautiful ones and yet you have to choose only one. :(

I spent almost half of a day looking for the shoes. I have to find three sets of shoes - for my mom, my sister, and me.

What makes it harder looking for the right one is that the shoe departments' most displayed stock are school shoes since school opening is in the corner. Good thing is that I have someone with me to help me choose. She's an officemate, a fellow blogger, a maid of honor and a friend. (-.-)

I found one pair from Ferretti. A brown 2" heeled sandals for my mom (i just hope she wears it ^_^) I have no problem with sizes because we have the same feet size.

What took most of my time finding is the right one for my sister and me. Actually I already had my eye for the GIBI. I like their new designs but I am considering the budget. Budget, budget, budget... Always the budget..

So I ignore the GIBI for awhile and look around for my sisters' shoes. It seems that I've already seen all pairs available and can't think of which one will be a good partner for a green gown. I have difficulty finding the right pair 'coz I am not good in color combination. *_*

Poor in everything...haist..

Well, time is passing by and the mall is starting to box their displays. I have to decide wether I'll buy or waste another half of the day. The next day is already accounted for, so I decided to buy the 3ocalo and the GIBI. With the help of my friend we came up with this designs...

They are beautiful, ain't they?? (say yes, pleeeease??? :O )

(Note: Pictures are taken by with my new Olympus T100 (-.-))

the Ring hUnt

I've been a little idle for a few weeks and that's because I've been busy preparing for my Big Day. I never thought it's this stressful and exhausting. Well, no one in my siblings did marry in church, mostly they were civil married. So we haven't experience preparing for such event.

The past few weeks are challenging. Especially if you are in a tight budget, like us.

It is only almost 2 more weeks left before my big day and almost everything is ready (except me, i think..LOLz). Anyways, one of the important things that we prepared is the ring. Yes, I think that's one of the most important thing.

So let me share to you my adventure in my ring hunt. ^_^

Only three weeks left and yet we still don't have a ring (parang wala lng noh?). I don't know where to wisely buy a ring, since like what I said, we are on a tight budget. I asked some of the people I know and they point me to Ongpin (Sta. Cruz, Manila). That is one of the busy streets in Manila. Truthfully, one place I hate here in NCR is Manila area. It is so crowded, so busy, so noisy and so stressful. Sometimes you are not stress out while buying, however, the transportation will drain out your energy for sure.

Still, even though I hate going there, I still went over since that's the place where you can find everything in cheaper prices. I was also forwarned to be careful in choosing since there are also a lot of fake jewelries. So there, me and my pangga (love) went to Ongpin for our ring hunt. But then while looking for the right ring we realized that both of us don't know how to look for the real gold. So we stormed, we looked and we asked about each and every store we see and every wedding ring design we like.

Did I say that you can find everything in Manila and in even cheaper prices? Well, I bet you will, 'coz we did. I have known that gold were costly these days. My sisters' bestfriend and my brother-in-law are both in Jewelry business and said as much. So imagine my surprise when we ask about the ring that we like cost only fifteen hundred pesos for a pair of 14 karat gold ring and we can still barter for a discount??? Whoah! that really sent me not only doubts but a firm confirmation that the ring was a fake. And in each and every store we ask, they have almost the same price or vary only for a hundred or two. And going from store to store and walking the streets of Sta. Cruz is so creepy, too.

So finally, after an hour or so of ring hunting, we have decided to check the mall prices for a wedding ring. We went to SM Manila first since it's the nearest mall in the area, and in our way home. We drop by and checked. The prices of rings were over our budget, but still reasonable. So I thought maybe adding another buck in our budget for the ring won't hurt. But still we are short for cash since we bring only what is our budget so we went home and plan to check another mall much closer to our home - Market! Market!.

It is late and some shops are already closing for the day. Good thing, there are still jewelry store open so we check in. And this what we found. An elegant, simple and affordable ring for us. It is not much, but I love it! Pangga(love) chose it. I showed him another ring that is a little thicker and just the same design (only with more stone around the ring) which is a little cheaper (but not so much cheaper) but he just shake his head.

I think he has fallen in love with this one. ^_^

big Day pREpaRation

i've been idle for a few days. I miss blogging and miss visiting some blog..

but i am happy..and excited.!!!

i've been preparing for my big, big, big day!!!

most of papers are ok, and prepared, we already went to church to secure the schedule..

municipal papers are prepared, marriage license is due on may 3, and then we already finished seminar for pre-marriage counseling and as well as the dswd seminar.

i'll let u have a peak in my secondary sponsors dresses, and the flower gurls.

but not the bride's gown :D

for secondary sponsors

for my flower girls :D