Category Archives: Team Perfect Wedding

3 months exactly

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Our wedding is gonna be hopefully exactly three months from now!  🙂

I’m really all hoity-toity and giddy today because our invites has already been finalized by Lene! Why giddy? Because it’s soooo pretty!! And creative. And out of the box. I just love Lene Dee-Dragon! And we’ve attained what we’ve been aiming for – your not so usual travel-themed invite. Will share it here on our wedsite once we’ve had our invites delivered to our invitees.

So thankful for Lene who’s designing our invites free of charge, to Rey and Dee sisterhood for giving us a warm stay at their place and for MOH Kat who stayed with me in the Dee household to support and keep me company.

For now, I need to update the invitees list to finalize the total number of guests so as to estimate total number of invitations we need (plus allowance) to make as well as the number of reserved seat for each guest (no allowance) that we will put on the RSVP card.

Yet another ASAP item as well is that I need to update our “Tagaytay Hotels and Sites” page since, well, I made a reference to it on our invites.

We are also currently starting discussions for detailing on Reception styling. And you know what? I just love Detalye. 🙂

Rings!

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The search for our wedding rings started as early as June. Like my usual SOP and probably like most brides, I always go for my first loves. Hence when I came across MokumeGaneya I just couldn’t stop daydreaming about it until we could get to meet with their jeweller. Their rings are just so pretty!! I can’t stop gushing about it.

Mind you, it’s only the mokume gane rings of Mokumeganeya that I love because I find the mokume gane make of other jewellers a tad scary. The jeweller in Mokumeganeya said that this is because of the silver component of the ring which is the main reason for the “black streak” on the ring. Even from before, I don’t want silver wedding rings and having known this new piece of info from the jeweller, I told him I don’t want silver in our wedding ring.

Oh yes, you couldn’t go as customized as you could get with Mokume gane rings. With this kind of ring, couples can choose what metals they’d like to have their rings be composed of. These metals are then melded together and pounded into one sheet about 8 inches length, cut into two (one for the guy, the other for the lady – this fact is quite romantic don’t you think?) and then made into a ring. Since it originally is a sheet of alloy, naturally there is an obvious line on your ring where the two ends met.

This was the main reason why I decided not to go for mokume gane. I would like our ring to be a seamless and continuous one, endless, without beginning and end.

One other reason though was that our rings would cost around 550,000yen. Gulp. Because I didn’t want the silver component (silver is usually the base material) in our rings, the jeweller said the other alternative for base material is white gold. To achieve the colors, pink, green and yellow gold will then be tossed in. Platinum is added on the inlay of our rings and diamonds added to my ring. Hence, 550k yen.

I was floored with the amount. Although I know Hubbie thinks it’s expensive, he gave me the choice whether to go for the ring or not because he knew how I wanted mokume gane for our wedding ring.

Boy was it difficult! I know that we have major expenses our way, what with the wedding and starting our new home hence splurging is impractical. I asked myself if I can wear that expensive a ring knowing there are other important things to attend to. Of course the answer was NO. And mainly, there was this breakline that I don’t want to see in our wedding ring.

Problem was that I didn’t see a ring that I fell for. We looked at Mikimoto, Michel Klein, 4C (I don’t know how to add the degree sign haha) shops but no “it” factor for me. I browsed Tiffany website but I wasn’t enamored with it. Probably because it seems I am just considering Tiffany because of its name/brand and not because of its designs. So I decided to visit the Tiffany store in Minato Mirai.

But I got intercepted in the way by Lazare Diamond in Motomachi. And there, I fell for our wedding rings. They beckoed towards me and sparkled before me way more brilliantly than Mikimoto did. This is it.

Originally though, I opted for the leaf design of the diamond inlay. But I decided against it because it looked like the shape of a wound. The Virtue wedding band was another choice but I didn’t like the grooves. Ultimately I decided to go for a continuous Pt1000 platinum ring wherein diamonds were simply yet seamlessly inserted that it almost looked as if it was molded together with the platinum band. Of course Hubbie opted for my ring’s partner, a Pt1000 platinum ring without the diamonds. We both agree that diamonds are for women haha.

I don’t think I was able to get a good picture of our rings to give it some justice but for now, this’ll do. Rings, please wait for Dino Lara okay? Then, you’ll have the pictures you deserve.

By the way, since we already had our civil wedding and our church wedding is still months away, we exchanged our rings on Christmas Eve in the old Christ the King Cathedral Church in my hometown in Tagum were I had fond memories of my childhood. Our little private ceremony was so sweet and special that I wouldn’t do our “exchange rings” any other way.

Getting Married Bridal Fair – K by C and MPO

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Attended my first ever bridal fair. The bridal fairs last year coincided with my trips abroad hence now is just my first time. It was quite exciting. And productive.

Booked! K by Cunanan. Will probably opt for the box of wine freebie – as long as the wine they’re giving out is Asti. Otherwise, we might consider the additional desserts.

I just loved (!) their display set. Love the queen anne’s lace arrangement!! The books are yet another centerpiece idea. Hubbie and I are bookies (although I’m nowhere near half a bookie as Hubbie is) so this set-up is totally appealing to us.

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Booked! Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, Quartet. Hubbie and I love music hence having good music is a must for us. I only booked the male singer though. Their female singer (sampler) belted out Lea’s “Two Words”. Sure she would be great during the reception wherein the place is quite huge. But not in Caleruega. Previously, Hubbie and I didn’t like Bernie’s female singer as well. Although MPO’s singer is better than Bernie’s I think, still, it was a bit too strong. I want it to be sang as softly as Lea sang it. Or the way I sang it… hehehe joke. Anyways, we’re still on a search for the best female singer.And oh by the way, we got a discount of 1000php owing to booking them during the fair.

Irene Sy-Go

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I wouldn’t want to have a made-up face go to waste. My trial make-up session had to coincide with an event/party or our prenup (take two!) session. That being said, the most sensible thing to do was to schedule my trial make-up with Irene on the day of our company Christmas party in Fernbrooks where we had to dress up in our black and/or white formal attire.

I’m not one for make-ups. And hubbie doesn’t like heavy make-ups as well. Hence choosing the right makeup artist for our wedding day is crucial. A fellow W@Wie recommended Irene to me back in October, prompting me to check on Irene’s site. I loved Irene’s work; Kat and I were very amazed the night we browsed Irene’s site – it made us realize how good makeup can really enhance one’s features. I pondered on the thought that probably soon, some other bride-to-be will have her share of oohhh’s and aahhh’s with her friends over my before and after photos. But what the heck, care ko; it’s a cycle. =D

Irene advised she’ll be at our office at 3pm. But she arrived a quarter before 3 – this despite hailing from Quezon City and on a December traffic at that.  Really professional.

The whole session lasted for more than 2 hours. Before starting our session, Irene asked me a lot about any allergies, any color/style preferences, the look I want – very thorough. I like! What I specifically liked with her was that she was OC with sanitation as well. She has facial cleansers and hand sanitizers and alcohol (for her tools) ready for use. She wasn’t heavy-handed at all. And even when using eyelash curler on me, I didn’t feel it at all.

Everyone gave a thumbs up on how I looked last night. When hubbie saw my pics and gave his thumbs up as well, it was then final. I’ll have Irene Sy-Go take care of our hair and makeup for our wedding.

We probably will opt for the Jessica Alba hairstyle.

I loved what Rica, Irene’s funny hairstylist, did to my hair.

Above shot as taken at the elevator, by very-preggy-yet-beautiful-buntis-jane.

Notes for the wedding:

  1. will probably not wear any faux eyelashes anymore
  2. teeny-weeny more blush-on
  3. darker shade of peach-pink lipstick since our wedding is early evening
  4. ask Irene to work on making my face less round

wedding centerpiece inspirations 4

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I just fell in love with these. By Pat Pastelero, Spruce Floral Designs.

from thefloralist.tumblr.com

from thefloralist.tumblr.com

Richie Ortega-Torres first mentioned her to me the first time Richie and I met. But at that time, I was already in contact with Dylan of Vatel Manila whom I’m so much a fan of and whom everybody else in W@W is raving about. However, at the time that Richie and I were talking, I forgot that Dylan will only be providing the entourage flowers. Also (and I think this was more the reason), I had this concept that we cannot afford Pat anymore, considering the budget we’re running.

Right now however, I still haven’t seen the florist whom I’d like to prettify (some more) our ceremony place.

Until I encountered Pat, or more like, Pat’s work. 

I loved her arrangements so much that I inquired, even when it was with trepidation that we may not be able to afford her. No harm in asking, anyways.

And as I wait for her reply, I can only hope….

K by Cunanan

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I admit. I was partial when I went to my foodtasting with K by Cunanan Catering. I checked out their website and I love their arrangement – for sure it’s not baduy; it’s very classy and tasteful just like the way I want it. It was also serendipitous that when I visited Ville Sommet, it was K by Cunanan who was making their set-up for a wedding reception. By the way, that same wedding had Detalye Team, my wedding coordinator, as the coordinator. Totally serendipitous right? And I must say, I was quite satisfied (if not impressed) with the setup and the staff that I chanced upon in Ville Sommet.

What was left to find out then was the food. I’m a foodie of some sort hence, I really am quite picky with the food I eat. Was not impressed with Juan Carlo. Was halfhearted with Hizon’s food and was totally not impressed with their service. Last December, I’ve been to an officemate’s wedding in Fernwoods and they had Josiah’s – everything was good, really good.

But then I preferred K by Cunanan arrangement and I was bent on knowing how their food tastes like. And I must say I wasn’t disappointed during my foodtasting last Oct 28. I wasn’t really expecting anything, but with K’s food, I found the right kind of food that my palate was looking(? or more like craving?) for for our wedding.

First off, Appetizer: Crackling Pork Wrap. I like how the hoisin sauce melded just right with the pork. One thing I didn’t like though: the wansuy/coriander inside the wrap. I like all vietnamese food except when wansuy/coriander is included in it (gah!). I wonder though if our guests would like it since Hubby certainly was ok with it during our Vietnam Trip.

Soup: Tomato, Lentil and Couscous. I have partial aversion to tomato-based food so when I get to appreciate anything that’s tomato-based it has to be really good. And this one is. Well anyway, for me, any dish that has lentil on it is good haha. It’s a bit heavy on the stomach though, because of the couscous but I ain’t complaining! yummy! ^_^

Salad: Three Melon Salad with Arugula in citrus dressing. Three being melon, yellow-colored watermelon and uhm….it was green-colored so perhaps, honeydew? although it certainly wasn’t sweet. Hence my vote would have to be santa claus melon. I should  have asked Macy about it and see if my guess was correct. ^_^

Rice! The carrot rice was oh so delicious!

Main dish: Osso Bucco. My stomach have a problem digesting beef so I can only eat Japanese beef which has very tender meat or thinly-sliced beef. Hence for beef cuts like this one, I usually don’t eat. For the sake of my guests though, I have to taste this. And good thing I did. Yes the cut was a big chunk of red meat but it was so tender you can’t help but eat the whole chunk. The sauce, I-jut-love-the-sauce.

NB: Osso Bucco can be either lamb or beef but K’s choice is beef.

Pasta: Mussel and Cream Pasta. In most restaurants (say, Brooklyn Pizza in ATC), I find myself asking the waiter for parmesan cheese or salt. For this one though, taste was just perfect. Pasta wasn’t dry nor swimming in cream either – it was just perfect. One thing though: if you take out all the mussells, the pasta would look like it was robbed naked. ^_^

Main Dish: Honey Nut Prawn. Macy gave us a choice whether to have the 5-dish or the 4-dish package. With 5-dish, you won’t get to have a seafood dish. It was fine with me since I am already assured of the quality of their food hence I was already leaning on the quantity side. But that bias was forgotten the moment I tasted the Honey Nut Prawn. Macy told me this dish is the best in their line. But I was in no way prepared of the GOODNESS it has. K had me at this.

The grapes were very sweet by the way.

So full, so full! But wait, there’s still dessert! Tropical Fruit Compote, Picatostes with chocolate dip and Crepe Samurai (mango). The Crepe Samurai was my favorite – the grilled flavor contrasted with the mango giving a rich flavor that’s really nice to the palate.

Aahh..Just looking at the menu makes me more excited for our wedding. Or even with the detailing! For now, we’re just pencil-booked though. We will make our booking come Bridal Fair on January.

Thanks to Rezza for taking the time to accompany me and for having had the foresight to bring her camera with her.