it's Irvin's birthday on March 30th

It’s my dear sweetheart’s birthday! Well, I forgot that this blog is set up as Manila time. It’s already March 31st in the Philippines and I could have made my post yesterday. Whatever! Anyway...

Happy Birthday, Irvin! Wishing you more years to come! All the Best!

still waiting...

It’s hopeless! I think Veluz’s mail was lost. I still didn’t receive it but she didn’t get it back either. Anyway, Irvin went to her house on March 14th to get a new set. Veluz gave him her reference copies of everything. We originally thought of sending it through a courier service but a friend of my Mama will be coming over for a vacation. Actually, she’s already here since the 23rd. So my Mama suggested that it be sent through her. I will meet with her this Saturday. Irvin showed me the sample embroidery through the webcam. I got so excited that I can’t wait to see it!

Dilemma on receiving international mails

Irvin signed the contract with Veluz when he paid my bridal package in full October of last year. Veluz has prepared the portfolio which includes the sample swatches of the fabrics she's going to use for my dress, my copy of the contract, the original copy of the design we picked, and I’m not sure what else. She sent it to me by registered mail on jan14 through the Philippine Postal Service. I was already getting worried then since I get most mails from outside the US within 7-10 days. And then, Wednesday said, registered mail usually takes longer. After almost a month, Veluz got it back saying it was opened here. I think the contents were not properly reported sort of. Anyway, she sent it again by ordinary mail on feb18 and believe it or not, I haven't received it up to now. Geez! I've already checked it with the US Postal Office and still waiting for the results of their investigation. I also couldn’t give them specific details since I don’t have any tracking no. I mean it's ok if I don't get the portfolio. Irvin can just keep it for me. But what about the fitting garment. Veluz is supposed to send this on Tuesday, Mar15 based on her latest e-mail. What if I don’t get this still? I can't be in the Philippines personally to have fittings so I have to get the fitting garment no matter what. waaaahhh...

ooops..i forgot two more

19. Strings - Wednesday has pencil booked us with Leggiero but we're still looking for other groups. We've been getting not so good reviews on them especially in terms of their punctuality. They have reasonable rates though, in fairness to them.
20. HMU - We're considering Ross Regala. Many w@wies have given good ratings on him. I couldn't have TMU until I get home 2 weeks before the wedding. We still don't know how to handle this one. Irvin said Wednesday knows a lot of HMU artists so we'll see.

Update on the wedding preps

1. San Agustin Church – paid reservation fee of P5k
2. Fr. Blanco’s Garden (reception venue) - paid in full (P10k rental for 4hrs.)
3. Makati Skyline (caterer) - paid reservation fee of P20k (balance deductible);
4. Bride’s Attire (Veluz) - Bridal package complete with gown, shoes & accessories (veil, 2nd veil,leg & bible garter, arrhae&ring pillows, & cord) which was paid in full on Oct’04. I haven’t received the portfolio yet. It was already checked with the local post office (USPS). I’m just waiting for the results of their investigation. My measurements were already submitted on Feb20. Veluz is supposed to send the fitting garment on Mar13.
5. Groom’s Attire (Veluz) - Nothing has been done yet.
6. Ento Attire - Designs are available courtesy of Veluz. We just have to ask the moms to choose which is which. We are really considering Mrs. Bautista for the entourage gowns. I was also thinking of getting the 'barongs' from her. Wednesday will meet with her again to get sample swatches and finalize pricing.
7. Rings - Irvin has met the jeweler that Wednesday was recommending. He has seen some samples. We were already given a package price for the ER and bands. We still have to set up another meeting for specs finalization.
8. Photographer (Mimi Abesamis & Karl de Leon) - paid the P10k down payment
9. Videographer - wala pa
10. Cake (Alex Franco) - He doesn't accept down payment or reservation fee. Wednesday will discuss with him the design by next week.
11. Bridal Car (Streetline Bridal Cars) - paid the reservation fee of P500. The details of the package that we got can be seen from my previous post.
12. Florist - don't know yet
13. Keepsake for the guest - none yet
14. Gifts for the Ento - Nothing has been finalized yet.
15. Invites, RSVP & TY cards (Kuya Louie) - I have already made a draft of the invite, rsvp & the insert. Wednesday is suggesting for some revisions. We're thinking of having a really simple design for this... monogram of our initials on the invite proper, embossed wordings in black, etc.
16. Missal - We're not sure yet but more or less DIY.
17. CEE or DW Seminar - No idea yet
18. Wedding Paraphernalia
a. Arrhae - silver CHF5 coins (swiss francs c/o Tita Baby from Switzerland)
b. Basket or Box whatever for the arrhae - none yet
c. Bible - none yet
d. Luminaries - DIY
e. Guest Sheets - DIY. We're thinking of incorporating our pre-nups pics on these but no idea yet as to the design proper.
f. Back drop (sort of streamer) - I'm just thinking of this. Irvin doesn't even have an idea yet that I want us to have this.
g. Feather pen - still looking for a nice one

I'm not sure if I have listed everything...but I think these are all.

changed our 'leave us a note' portion

I have removed tagboard feature from our blog as it is always down. I don’t know why they are having troubles with their server most of the time. Of course I want our relatives, friends and visitors to always have a way to communicate with us. Anyway, I registered from myshoutbox and tadaah… check it out! Remember to leave us a note ok!

streetline bridal cars

Wednesday, our coordinator, went to the NBC tent last Saturday for the wedding expo. I’ve been encouraging Irvin to go there but he really doesn’t want to. Anyway, Wednesday has already booked us with Streetline Bridal Cars. The package is not cheap but I think P12k is already reasonable for an MB Bug eye bridal car and 2 vans. Their package IV worth P8500 includes 3 hour use of the bridal car with driver, fuel and bouquet; and 10 hour use of the van. We just added another van with only 5 hour use. But drivers and gas are not actually part of the price on both vans.