on video

I just want to vent out our problem with who to get for the video. It’s as if I want to scream just to lessen whatever heavy feeling I have right now. I set up a budget of P15k for the video. I even asked the w@w group before for recommendations. Then, Cynch (hi, cynch!) introduced Threelogy. I know it’s over the budget but having 2 cam set up then is already a good deal. They even made it 3 cam at the latter part of 2004. I told Irvin about it and his initial reaction was he’s not that confident since they are new in the business plus the fact that we wanted to stick to our budget. I specifically told Irvin to make sure we’ll book the video before the end of the year as they will increase their rates for sure come 2005. Things got so complicated… h2b was busy at work… there were too many holidays... etc. etc. Now, Threelogy increased their P20k package to P23k but having canvassed from other suppliers, they’re still the cheapest/reasonable considering a 3 cam set up with AVP. So we decided to just get them. Never mind if it’s over the budget. Our coordinator has been trying to get in touch with Bong these past few days but to no avail. Now I got an e-mail from the coordinator saying THREELOGY IS ALREADY BOOKED ON OUR WEDDING DAY!!! I am so frustrated. I don’t know what we are going to do now. We might just stick to 1 cam set up and maybe just do the AVP ourselves.

she says...

What are the qualities that I like about Irvin? Hmmm… well, I sort of tackled this already in my post about cold feet in November but here are they anyway…

*Nice – very courteous and well-mannered; the soft spoken type; not showy but simply sweet
*Sensible – not much of a talker but is definitely clever
*Family oriented – I admire how he is to his family which is not really common to guys. His closeness to each and every one of them gives me the assurance that he will be a good husband. He doesn’t go out often…more of a home body type of person.

Physically,

*Well-groomed – his finger/toe nails are always clean; very picky in terms of what to wear; brushes his teeth a lot; his shoes are always well-shined
*Height
*Eyes

Negatives?

*Secretive – He just won’t open up about everything especially those that will make me worry. In a way his intentions are good but I would prefer him to be open.
*Yes, now & No, later – He has this attitude that he will say yes just to please me. He just doesn’t want to argue about it any further. Few days will pass and it will come out that he didn’t really mean the yes.

he says...

It’s always nice to reminisce especially those sweet moments you’ve shared with your loved-one. You may have been together for a very long time but you’re never tired of remembering the good old times. I was on the phone with Irvin earlier and I asked him this… “What qualities did you really find in me that made you love me?”

He said…

*Conservative – Lagi lang daw ako nasa bahay; marunong sa household chores; naghuhugas ng plato; nagluluto. In short, simple lang.
*Family oriented – He said I’m not selfish. I always think of other people. Di daw ako materyosa.
*Just – He said I always think of what’s fair. I don’t decide on things that will only benefit me. I’m considerate of other people at all times. In fact, we fight about it sometimes. I have this attitude that I don’t care if there’s nothing left for me as long as I know they are happy.

Physically,

*Maputi
*Matangos ang ilong
*Maganda
*Mahaba ang kilay
*Malambing (ex. lagi daw ako nakahawak sa kanya)

There are negatives of course. Know what those are?

Nagger – I really have the tendency to be like this when I’m mad and when I feel I’m not being heard. I may be sweet but I can be the total opposite when I’m angry.
Stubborn – I must admit I fight for what I believe is right. It may already be unreasonable sometimes but I don’t really listen. Also, I must get it should I have wanted it.

Well, they say no two people are alike. It’s up to you to compromise and adjust to each other for the relationship to stay healthy. It’s a lifetime process not just for couples but for everyone. We should learn how to appreciate the positives in the same way that we should also learn how to accept the negatives.

keepsakes

From the start, I really like audio CDs for our wedding keepsakes. I even had this crazy idea that we’ll ask the String Ensemble to play and record the songs even though I know it’s going to be really expensive. But then I dumped the idea thinking more of the practical side. Irvin is not really particular on these things. He prioritizes what I want and he’s very supportive.

Anyway, I got to see the wedding souvenirs (commemorative coins) of Abie & Howell which I like so much that I really want to have that for our wedding. Abie gave me the contact information of their supplier in which Irvin immediately contacted. Irvin didn’t have a good impression on him. Well that’s another story! But anyway, Irvin tried inquiring from a shop making trophies at SM Southmall. He was given a price that’s P10 higher than Abie’s supplier. In fairness, it’s a little bigger. But the mold is P1200 for the front and P1500 for the back. Why? I also don’t know. I was hesitant at first and Irvin suggested that he’ll just go to Recto to scout for other suppliers. Then, I just realized it’s not worth all the hassles so I told Irvin to just talk to that shop at SM. Guess what? He went there last night and another guy was saying the price they gave Irvin is only for the front. So meaning, times two! Holly molly cow! Excuse me! I told Irvin maybe it’s better to talk to the manager or the owner. He’ll go back there this Thursday.

By the way, special thanks to Daddy (Irvin’s Dad) for the drawing that we will be giving to the supplier.

Mrs. B

I just hang up with Irvin and he just came home from a meeting with Mrs. Leony Bautista. It went well and I think we got reasonable quotes from her. We already made the down payment and the measurement taking is scheduled on the last week of June. Irvin has also seen some ‘barongs’ and he said they are nice. We’ll just have Jusi for the male entourage and Pina Jusi for the dads. He said the sample shown to him for the latter looks so good and really formal. There was also a design made for my grandma. I will have yet to see it though. I think Mrs. B suggested a chiffon material for that. Anyway, at least I still have 2 months more to finalize the color (motif) and the designs. My Mama hasn’t made up her mind yet on this.

Also, thanks to Wednesday for being so persistent on things like this. Irvin told me how Mrs. B finds her so concerned on every single detail. I’m just very glad with the fact that we can count on our coordinator.

on weddings

-wedding expenses-

Why is it so expensive to get married today?! Some people say it depends on how you want the wedding to be…how many guests…whose services are you getting whether they are well known in the industry or they’re just starting…and so many other things. We’ve originally set up a budget that we thought is reasonable enough for 200 guests at a garden reception. Don’t get married if you’re not ready financially? Duh! I don’t think the budget set is small. With the economy today and the value of money, it’s very hard to determine when you will be ready. And I guess most people will agree with me that it’s more than just a wedding. We are going to start a family and the preparation is not just emotionally and physically but financially too. Sometimes I tell myself it maybe because I want too many things for my wedding?! Doesn’t anybody want what’s best for this one-time occasion! Well…well…well! Solution? Mmm…At least always scout for reasonably priced with quality services suppliers.

**********

-mothers-

Irvin’s mom wants to wear a ‘terno’ for the wedding. But my mama doesn’t want it. I told this to Veluz and she asked me to encourage my mother. She was just saying it’s better if both of them will wear a ‘terno’. The thing is, my mama thinks she’ll look really old in that design. She even said she’ll look ‘BIG’. As in literally big!

Veluz said chiffon fabric will look nice for ‘terno’. She also mentioned that canary yellow can be used if the moms don’t want the kind of green that she originally suggested. My mama doesn’t also want yellow. Waah! I don’t anymore know what to do. I was telling Irvin I didn’t really anticipate before how hard it is to handle these things. I thought it’s just simple. Designs have already been provided in the first place. Veluz has already suggested fabric type to be used. Whew!

My 1st fitting with Veluz!

I was online last night at around 9pm to have a chat with Veluz. She was already online even before me. She said she was excited for my first fitting. Well let me just call it ‘fitting’ even though we just did it through the internet and the webcam. She only made a fitting garment for the bodice of my wedding gown. Veluz is really nice to talk to…fun I should say! If I am happy and excited with how I looked in that fitting garment, so is she. You can tell it from her voice. Anyway, I didn’t have anyone to assist me. I didn’t even have pictures taken. Maybe I’ll do that later. She was patient enough to guide me through the marking and measuring. After I have put all the markings, she drew the bodice, made dotted lines on the original measurements and made solid lines for the parts that I have marked. Then, she put letters on every part so it’ll be easier for me to measure. Who would ever think it’s not that hard to do over the internet! We still spent some time over the phone talking about some other details. I told I want the chain design for the bodice over ‘sulihiya’ and ‘callado’. She did tell me she wants ‘callado’ best among others. But she really has this way of explaining how my choice will look nice on the gown. We also talked about designs of the entourage gowns.

My Tita Laling called afterwards and telling her what happened to my chat with Veluz, she suggested for me to have the ‘callado’ instead. She was saying it’s better to have a simple bodice so the embroidery pattern will look at its best. She said it has to be the embroidery which should be the highlight. Now I’m having second thoughts about it. I think I’ll discuss it with Veluz again. Hmmm…what ya think?!

I got it!

I met my Mama’s client/friend earlier of the day. Finally, I got the portfolio and fitting garment. I can’t explain the excitement I felt when I actually saw the swatches. Come to think of it, it’s not yet the gown! It’s just the swatches but…they are so gorgeous. I can’t wait! I am just so happy that I made the right decision of choosing ‘pina’ fabric for my wedding gown. And the options for the bodice…oh my! They are so nice. Veluz asked me to choose between 3 designs…‘sulihiya’, chain or callado. It’s really hard to make a choice but I think I’ll go for the chain design. I have a scheduled chat with her tomorrow night. She wants to see the fitting garment on me. I tried it on earlier. I think it’s a little loose on the bust area and also on both sides right below the armpit. And perhaps, I will ask her to lower the neckline a little bit. She also included the sizing pattern for the shoes.

Also, Wednesday sent some fabric swatches for the entourage gowns. Her A and B samples are exactly the same as those that were sent by Veluz before. I am really having a hard time deciding between the two. While there are other choices, I have already eliminated them. I’m planning to ask Veluz’s ideas tomorrow so maybe I could come up with a decision from there.