i made my Groom cry

June 11, 2011

I've seen enough wedding SDEs to know that there are grooms who cry on their wedding day. I asked Topher if he would cry once he saw me walking down the aisle, his answer -  maybe. I was actually just teasing him. I mean if he was moved to tears once he saw me walking down the aisle, that's awesome, if not that's ok too. While doing our misalette, I asked if we should create our own personalized vow for each other and he declined.  I know him well enough to know that he may uncomfortable with reading his vow in front of hundreds of people. We designed and created the misalette to know how the ceremony will flow. However, God has other plans.

As I started to walk down the aisle and my parents met me halfway, I saw my Tatay crying. It was one of the few occasions that I saw my Tatay cry and that almost undid it for me. I had to tell him jokes about not crying so that I will not cry myself.

Then we started to walk to the altar, to the man I will be marrying again. I am sooo happy to see him. I missed him since we haven't seen each other since breakfast that morning. My parents handed me over to Topher and I kiss Mama and Papa. Then we made our way to the altar and Fr. Allen started the mass.

The homily was incredible. Fr. Allen's words were full of lessons and stories and jokes in between. He even sang a song for us. After the lighting of the candle, it was time for the vows. Fr. Allen asked us if we have any personalized vows that we would be reciting, we told him we don't have any. He then instructed us to think of any message that we would want to say to one another after the vows. This made me nervous but I know what I wanted to tell Topher. So after the vows, I gave him my message "As early as 14 years ago when we first met, I will always be here for you. You are the only person that I cannot live without. I love you." And my Groom starting crying. When he gave me his message "Thank you for being there for me, through good memories and through tough times. I really appreciate it. I love you." I started tearing up too.

That made our vows more special. Although the message is short, it was heartfelt and honest and it is what we were feeling at that moment. It is priceless and I am eternally grateful for Fr. Allen for giving that moment to us.

Next came the blessing of the Arrhae, Rings and Bible and then the Lighting of the Unity Candle. Then it was the laying of the Veil and Cord and then the Nuptial Blessing. After the communion, the ceremony was concluded and we were presented as Husband and Wife in the eyes of our family and friends and importantly, in the eyes of God. And then we kissed and hugged. It was such an amazing moment.

After signing the marriage contract/license (again!), it was the pictorials inside the church and then the recessional. We informed the guest to proceed to the reception venue while we are shooting pictures around Caleruega. It was my parents who waited for us to finish, then we all proceeded to the venue.

Traffic is not as horrible northbound but still the usual 30 minute drive took almost an hour and I'm scared that the guests may have not been able to figure out where the reception venue is. The relief I felt when I saw the number of cars park was so great, I can almost touch it. Guests made it! :) And our OTD team happily reported that people are having fun getting their coffee and photos taken while waiting for us. Awesome! We were led to the room that we would stay the night and my HMUA team is still there. How I love them. They really waited for me, for my retouch. I started eating some appetizers while Ms. Chichi is retouching my make-up. Then we were led to the reception place for the program to start.

We had our Father-Daughter and Son-Mother dance, and then Topher and I had our first dance to Incubus' Admiration. I love that song. And then it was cake-cutting time! Afterwards, it was pictorial time with each table so that the guests can start eating! I'm sure they're hungry because I am. While having dinner, we had the games and the AVP presentation that Topher created was shown. It was our growing up years. Then our SDE was shown, and I'm happy with the output. Topher was almost moved to tears again!

A few messages from our families and godparents and then before we know it, the reception program is finished! We didn't really got to eat since we had photo booth pictures with family and friends. I went over the suppliers who were having their dinner and I'm glad they've got to eat properly. I saw them lining to the Starbucks kiosk too, I'm happy they had a good time too. After all the guests left and most of the suppliers, we retreated to our room and was sooo happy and glad that the wedding is a success. God is truly great to us.

8 days before the big day...

Pardon the posts' titles from here on 'til our wedding day. :)

June 03, 2011

We've accomplished a couple of important things today! Even before heading home to Manila, Chi (of OAB) and I would meet online to discuss matters and questions that I would have about the wedding. Small wedding details that I keep on thinking on and on for days. The last time that we chatted online, we've set a schedule to meet at Moon Garden. Although they've handled several weddings in Tagaytay, this will be their first at Moon Garden and today was also the first day they would visit the place personally.

I've visited the place last year, when I went home unexpectedly. The whole family (Tatay, Nanay, Carlo and Chai) came with Topher and me when we met the OAB team. When we got to the venue, I was really surprised about the changes in the place. To tell you guys honestly, I was disappointed with the changes that I saw. More about that on the supplier's rating (coming soon).

Chi came with her husband, Jardonyx (June) and Ate Pia. Since Chi is already on her last trimester, she wouldn't be physically at the wedding, but the whole team will be there. She assured me that she will be on top of everything throughout the day.

We looked around at the venue and then we decided on where things will be set-up. I gave her a reception layout which Lace (of K by Cunanan) gave me before. It was a layout on how K by Cunanan usually set things up in Moon Garden. We then decided on where we would place things around the caterer's setup.Like where the Starbucks coffee station would go, where will be place the photo booth, the registration tables, string the escort cards and put the appetizers table. After a couple of hit and miss, we agreed on things.

Moon Garden setup from K by Cunanan

We proceed to the details of the weddings, things that I still need to finish and turn-over to them. Here are some of the items that we've discussed:

citronella candles/mosquito patches - as suggested by both Lace and Chi, we should get these just to make sure that guests not be swamped with mosquitoes. The garden has tons of ponds and the rainy season adds to the mosquitoes at night.

1 bedroom suite/deluxe room - they suggested that with the rooms, i should get one like a suite as there will be tons of people coming in that day, that is without adding in the guests and would visit. The last thing that all of us would want is a stressed environment come wedding day.

body form - they asked to make sure that the body form that Tito Boy lent me can be adjusted to my height.

steam iron - for last minute clothes that needs to be pressed.

Bible and pouch - things that I still need to buy!

organize things - organize and label that are needed for each. Place them on a box/paperbag for each place, like preps, church and reception.

labels - make sure that the gifts and the ties/vest of sponsors are properly labeled.

wedding march - prepare cds of the entourage/ wedding march in a CD in cda and mp3 format. also have it saved on a flash drive for back-up

fruit basket for offertory and stipend - need to prepare for the offering

water and snacks - they also recommended that if there are guests coming in from Manila/far location, we can opt to buy water and some snacks that they can distribute while waiting for the ceremony to start

string - needed for the escort cards

gift/gift certs - prizes for the games at the reception

OAB will still need to contact Starbucks Tagaytay to suggest the additional glasses to extend the number of the frappes, and the wedding day schedule. We agreed that we'll meet again 2 days before the wedding.

Moon Garden

We invited the OAB team for lunch, they declined and explained that Ate Pia still need to attend her review school that day. We had lunch in Dencio's  Tagaytay before heading to Taal Vista to book our rooms.

@ Dencio's Tagaytay

I faced a dilemma when we reached Taal Vista. I wasn't prepared to shell out Php15,000 for a single night stay, and that is for my room only! Add Topher's room and we are looking at more than Php20,000 for a single night accommodation. I had to ask Topher and make sure that he's ok with the rates that we will be shelling out. He told me that this is only one day that we'll going to splurge and it's something that we need. So might as well get the best. Awwww. :) It the end, the front desk people at Taal Vista gave us discounts and generously granted my request for late checkout on all rooms (2pm checkout), that made the hefty price tag all worth-it.

Taal Vista

Before heading home, we met with Ate Yhoan of Yhoan's Flower shop who will be supplying our flowers, for both entourage and church come wedding day. I'm happy that she kept the pegs of the flowers that I've shown her for the bridal and the entourage bouquets. We also discussed the church flowers and the inclusions of the package (bridal car flower, offertory flowers, petals for the recessional etc). I still have to give her pegs of the groom's boutonniere as well as the entourage's. We agreed that I'll send the pegs over email and that if she has any concerns, we can chat, call and text.

We went to the mall to pick up supplies that I'm gonna need for the missalette and thank you cards. We still have tons of DIY projects to finish, but bar none, the hardest part of all this is the guest list. Why can't people do a simple RSVP? I've given all the contact information, online and on paper. A simple SMS would do. A message on Facebook would suffice. But noooo, most would still not do it. So all you brides-to-be, be warned as early as today. Finalizing the guest list is the hardest thing that you would have to do.

wedding escort cards

What exactly are escort cards? Escort cards inform your guests of their assigned table. Each card displays a guests’ name and a table number or the name of the table. The most common way to address escort cards is as follows - but you can do it your own DIY way of course:

Matt Bomer - the full name of a single guest
Table 1
Mr. and Mrs. Burke - a married couple
Table 2
Percy Jackson and Guest - if an invitee brings a guest whose name you don’t know
Table 3

I've been checking wedding websites for ideas for the escort cards and these are few that I found really cool! ;)

Caricature Escort Cards - theknot.com

Ketchup Escort Cards - theknot.com

Apple Escort Cards - theknot.com

Clothespin Escort Cards - weddingwindow.com

Flower Ball Escort Cards - elizabethannedesigns.com

Starfish Escort Cards - theknot.com

Escort Cards on Lemon treats - sdweddinginsider.com

Origami Escort Cards -  lullieux.com

Escort Cards as wedding favors

Modern Escort Cards - camillestyles.wordpress.com

I absolutely love the last one! So cool and fab! ;) I wonder if I can pull that one off. I've been thinking of doing clothespin escort cards using all the scrap papers from the invites, let's see that I can come up with! ;)

cake buffet!

Yep, you read it right. *grin* We're having a cake buffet! Imagine, 8 to 10 of our favorite cakes at our wedding. I can't think of anything sweeter. I love desserts! Cakes and ice cream are my favorites, and I have a competition in Topher. He loves his sweets too! It's really hard for us to say no when there are desserts serve at the table.

For months now, I've been going back and forth about the wedding cake, and well about many things about the wedding. At first, I just want a cupcake tower, then I learned that everyone is doing that. Birthdays, baptismal or anniversaries, the cupcakes are always present. I wanted our wedding to be different. One option is getting Joy San Gabriel for her mini-cakes, one that she's famous for. But then again, the price is an issue for me. It's possible that we'll have to spend around 15k (or more) for the cake, and honestly that's a bit too much even if my Nanay wants to pay for it.

Then I read LA's post about one of her nice-to-haves, a cake buffet. At the time that I was reading her post, I thought, what a great idea. But I didn't really think much into it. I still went to back to thinking and searching for the cake. And then, BOOOM! It hit me, a cake buffet is really briliant, beyond briliant idea. It's inexpensive, it would look nice on the table not to mention we're sure the cakes are yummy. So the next step before dreaming of my cake buffet is to ask Lace (of K by Cunanan) if they have cake stands. Bless them, they do! Lace is really nice to provide a picture of the cake stands. She also ask that we note how many we'll need by the time of contract signing.

(cake stands from K by Cunanan)

We can now decide on the cakes that we wanted for the buffet. They also have to be available near our place, easier for use to buy them a day before the wedding. Here are our choices:

(Conti's Mango Bravo; photo from practicalpinaybride.blogspot.com)

(Conti's Oreo Cheesecake; photo from Flickr)

(Sugarhouse's Almond Sans Rival; photo from shootfirsteatlater.com)

(Red Ribbon's Smores; photo from ybabie.blogspot.com)

(Red Ribbon's Choco Fudge Cake; photo from certifiedfoodies.com)

(Conti's Blueberry Cheesecake; photo from whatimlovingnow.blogspot.com)

(Conti's Choco Overload; photo from yedylicious.blogspot.com)

(Conti's Mango Cream Cake; photo from yedylicious.blogspot.com)

(Red Ribbon's Ube Cake; photo from dessertcomesfirst.com)

This list makes nine mouth-watering cakes. We would probably add another cake or two and call it a day. As much as I wanted to have all chocolate cakes for the buffet, I have to keep in mind that not all loves chocolate as much as we do, so the choices have to be diverse.

I'm soooo excited just thinking about the cakes and what they would look like come wedding day. Happiness!!

the search for the Cake - Joy San Gabriel

Joy San Gabriel is another w@w find. Her name is synonymous to beautiful and decadent cakes. She's also famous for the mini-cakes that so many are swooning for. I honestly haven't tasted any of her cakes, God knows I would love to.

I've emailed her a couple of months before, asking for her price list. At that time, she honestly told me that I should maybe wait until November for the 2011 price list so that all prices will be as they are come wedding day. True enough, last November 6th, she did sent me the latest price list.

I'm actually aiming for her mini-cakes, it looks and seems delicious. I really have to ask a family member to have a cake taste with her. Below are some of her works. Oh, and she makes cute cake toppers as well! :)

The cake flavor options that she offers are astounding. It's certainly not the usual wedding cake flavor that you often see. The only thing that hinders me from getting her services is the price. Truth be told, it's steep for a wedding cake. Specially when I said to myself that I don't want to splurge with the cake. And this is a definite splurge. Delivery to Tagaytay alone will cost me 3.5-4k. Which made me think of doing the DIY route. Having a cake buffet.

*all photos are from Joy San Gabriel's blogsite.

Joy San Gabriel
sangabriel.joy@gmail.com
http://joysangabrielcakes.blogspot.com/

me: fickle-minded

A girl being fickle-minded is not ordinary. I know it happens to me from time to time. I try not to change my mind too much, specially on wedding matters. I fight it, I try to reason with myself. Because honestly, it costs a lot to change your mind when almost all suppliers have been booked.

So what's been buggin' me these days?

Reception Venue. Yep, it's that big. Don't get me wrong. I love our reception venue. I 'm delighted how it didn't disappoint me when I visited the place last July when I went home. The only thing is, I'm having some trouble with the size of it. According to the manager, it can accommodate 200 guests. But I think that's a stretch. We're only having 150 guests and I'm worried. One more thing that bugs me, I don't think we can have any stage for the reception program. There's a small space in front of the pavilion but I'm not sure if that will do. It's a great thing our caterer is accredited to the place. I need to ask Lace, our AE, on how the sit plan will look like.

HMUA. Unfortunately, I've encountered some not so good feedback with the HMUA that I booked. The feedback came from the e-group that I'm a part of. I know that all reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, but anyone reading a negative feedback about their supplier will do a double-take. I had the issue directed to my HMUA and asked her feedback about it. Although I still have confidence on her skills, it makes me think twice about going with my reservations. It doesn't help that my mom and sister is loving a different HMUA (my sister attend a make-up seminar under this HMUA). At the moment, it's status quo for the HMUA although I'm checking other HMUAs availability for our date.

Cake. I'm having extreme feelings about the cake. It's either I go all out (read: Joy San Gabriel) or not make a fuss about it at all. I don't want a cake just for aesthetic purposes. I wanted something that's good and yummy. I'm really hesitant in paying Php3,000+ just for out-of-town fee when that alone can buy 3-4 yummy cakes. LA's post made me realize that having cake buffet is a great idea. It will allow me to choose the cakes that I love (God knows how I love cakes!) but it will also be cheaper. Anyway, I'm not really feeling a traditional tiered-wedding cake. We've had one before on our civil wedding and it's only pretty to look at. We can't eat it! I just have to make sure that our caterer have cake stands available. It will look absolutely gorgeous on the dessert buffet. Oh, I'm planning to get brownies from Brownies Unlimited, we'll include Walnut Swirl at the desset buffet table.

(walnut swirl = LOVE)

Florist. First of all, I would love to get Vatel Manila for our entourage flowers. Dylan has been extremely patient and kind with all my inquiries. However, getting a single supplier for both church and entourage flowers will save me around Php8,000 as compared to getting 2 different suppliers for each. So it is with a heavy heart that I may have to forego getting Vatel Manila's services. I initially didn't want to spend much on flowers knowing that they will not last, but seeing Dylan's creation made me falter. The difference alone can pay for a back-up photographer's rates.

Back-up Photographer. Speaking of which, it made me realized that I really want one. I want TONS of photos of our wedding and having a back-up photographer will do just that. They will take care of angles and things that the main photographer may not cover. I have my list and will need to narrow it down based on portfolio and price.

Entourage Couturier. I need to decide on this real soon. I'm almost sure of booking Tito Boy Kastner Santos of Sheaths Couture for the entourage dresses. I have to finalize the dresses for the girls and for the moms. Soon!