how many more days?!

It’s only 65 days to go before the wedding. Say what?! Yes it’s only a little more than 2 months and we’re getting married. Seems like it’s only yesterday when we started with the planning…booking the church, the reception venue and the gown designer. Well these are the first 3 suppliers that we booked. Looks like it’s hard at first having no idea where to start but everything just went on naturally. Of course, researches and suggestions from people (like the w@wies) helped a lot. And another exciting part of all these, I’m finally going home… I’m finally going to see my fiancé, family and friends. Well it’s been more than 3 years. Thanks to technology I can see Irvin through the webcam. I just hope everything will turn out fine. I mean I know there’s no such thing as perfect but I’m really looking forward to having a memorable one.

something uncalled-for...

This has nothing to do with the wedding preparation whatsoever. I’m just doing this post so that friends like you will understand the whole situation especially if you have read the messages left in my shoutbox by someone named “LARA”. Below is the post I sent to weddings at work:

hi, guys!

someone by the name 'Lara' left messages in my blog's shoutbox and i must say she's really mad. she's claiming that i made some crap comments on beaded gowns which i am not even aware of. i don't remember i commented anything on beaded gowns other than that of one wawie (i'm sorry i forgot your name!) who shared her gown design. i must admit i don't remember what i wrote in reply to her post. but as a reminder...each one of us has the freedom to say what we want with precaution of course. we're all matured people here and we will not just give nasty remarks uncalled for. i have no intention whatsoever to make other brides feel bad about anything. but if i say something 'negative' or should i say you don't expect, that is just my personal opinion. you're soliciting for advices from the group. don't expect everything to be according to what you want to hear. because if you do, i don't think you still need to get opinions from others. just follow what you want.

whoever you are, i shouldn't be affected with what you wrote, which by the way, i have included in this post. but i'm just not used to someone having bitter feelings at me...even if I DO NOT KNOW YOU! i would suggest that you make sure first if that's really me who made those crap remarks before you say something offensive to me. AND IF I HURT YOU IN ANY WAY, I AM REALLY SORRY!!!

Lara's unedited message in my blog:
You know I don’t like the crap you say about beaded gowns, if someone will give it to you for free I’m sure you’ll jump up and down. Your gown could pass for a bridesmaid’s dress by the way, it’s really plain looking. And guess what you don’t like a saint either, not even close. So if I were you, stop saying crap about beaded gowns if you that gown anyway, it won’t suit you. even if it’s made by a famous designer it will look something from divisoria if you wear it.

At first I was already thinking it was because of the comment that I gave Cathy about her gown design. But I wasn’t sure until Cathy herself sent the exact email I sent to the group which can be seen below:

hi, cathy! that's a nice pick! i find that more elegant than those with too much embro/beadwork designs. will definitely want to see it in your gown para makitaang overall effect. happy preps!

I may have hurt her in a way but this is just my personal opinion which I know I am entitled to...so to Lara: If you got upset with this one statement that I replied to Cathy, I am really sorry. It was never my intention for you to feel that way. But then again, that doesn't give you the right to say what you have said in my blog.

And as for the messages in my shoutbox, I'm not going to delete it so it'll serve as a reminder, not just for me but also for you, to be extra careful...

Bridal Shower

I just read a post by Alynn on the bridal shower that she recently had. Will I have one?! I don’t know. I really don’t. It doesn’t matter, anyway. But I will have to say it’s nice to experience one. I’m not sure if my friends are planning one for me…not even my sister/sisters-in-law though Ate Irmee asked me one time about it. I’m like… ’Not that I know!’ The only thing I’m sure about is I don’t want something that is too vulgar. It’s cute to have some sexy lingerie but let’s leave it at that. Besides, I wouldn’t want Irvin to have some sort of ‘naughty’ stag party too. Maybe you're already thinking how KJ I can be?! Na-ah!!! It is my personal choice.

pictures! pictures!

I have finally received the pictures from Irvin. Check them out...

'The Ruins' Sketch
The SAC Sketch
Coin Souvenir
Another shot of the coin souvenir

souvenirs are here...

Irvin already got the coins the other night. As usual, there are no pictures yet. I don’t think I should expect him to do that really fast. Haha! Anyway, the coins came in single boxes. I thought it was a relief thinking we don’t need to buy the boxes anymore but they’re not nice he said. Some of them are already torn and folded. Besides, the color is blue. He has sorted them and found some in rough finish. And since he has learned that the supplier made a mistake by making 200 pieces, I guess he could just ask for replacements. Apparently, they don’t want to give the extras to us. I wonder if they will sell those at half the price?! Hmmm…

recent events...

I try to sleep more during weekends. I usually get up late and avoid doing too much things. I got a text from Irvin on Saturday at around 9am saying…

Gud am. How r u? K naman lakad nmin, d lng nkumple2 ung s mga kids. Dscus k n lng syo wen we chat tom. Ingat k, food m n I luv u! :) btw, ung eng ring m s .50 crat.

Uh-oh!!! Do you think I could still sleep?! I grabbed the phone with my eyes still half opened and called him. At first I was like… how did your day go? Blah blah blah… blah blah blah… blah blah blah… Then he mentioned about my engagement ring which he was able to negotiate from 0.35 carat to a 0.50 carat. Geez! I couldn’t explain how happy I was upon hearing that. I’m sure any woman wants to have a nice diamond ring! And of course, the bigger it is the better. Haha!

Irvin already gave the 50% down payment to both Buddy and Cathy last Saturday. If I understood it right, he has already signed the contract for the video but not on the flowers. Cathy still needs to make some revisions…minor ones.

Also, they already bought the ‘barongs’ for the male (adult) entourage from Belen’s in Baclaran. He got pina-jusi at a very good price. Well at least for me. He’s having second thoughts though on his dad’s ‘barong’. He said he didn’t notice the quality of the seams. I’m just not sure if he could still return it. But maybe he could replace it with something else.

He also went to Tesoro’s and had his measurements taken. I think it’ll be ready in 2 weeks. He will wear a Chinese-collared ‘barong’ in pina silk. We also didn’t know that they don’t make pants so Irvin will just go to Onesimus for that.

By the way, I got the swatches that same day from Irvin. I like it! It's gorgeous though I would say it's still darker than Jen's motif. But I would like to give it the benefit of the doubt since it's hard to compare an actual swatch with a picture. I think I'd still go for this one.

bits and pieces...

Cake design

We haven’t decided yet what design we’re going to have for the bridal cake. But we’ve narrowed down our choices into 2 at least.



This design is perfect for a citrus motif but since ours will be rust orange with wine red and matte gold as accent colors, we’re thinking of having fruits like oranges, yellow pears, cherries, red raspberries or strawberries instead.

And since we’re not getting the centerpieces from Skyline, maybe we can just ask them to decorate the cake table with flowers. Hmmm…



This other design is also nice except that it’s decorated with flowers. And it looks a lot taller too.

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Gown Design for ‘Nanay’

I’ve been looking for a suitable design for ‘Nanay’ ever since her measurements were taken but couldn’t really find one. Then, I’ve came across this simple yet nice design while browsing through the pictures of past brides (w@wies).

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Others

I’m waiting for the sample swatch that Irvin sent me. Wednesday said it’s the color that I want which is in Shantung fabric. She said it just came out. Well I really hope so. We have to start making the gowns for the entourage since we only have a little less than 3 months left.

Previously, we have asked our coin supplier to revise the back portion (ruins). Irvin already saw it but wasn’t able to get a picture. He has instructed them to go ahead with the production. They said it’ll be finished in 1-2 weeks.

Ermita Church can no longer produce another copy confirmation certificate since all of their files were destroyed for whatever reason I just can’t remember exactly. They are willing to just issue a certificate saying I was confirmed at that church but San Agustin Church still wants the original copy as well. So I’ll be sending it to Irvin as soon as possible.

Irvin and Wednesday will be meeting up with our ring supplier, Bong, tomorrow to finalize the rings. Irvin has to make sure on the widths of my rings. He doesn’t want them too wide since I have small fingers. They will also meet Buddy and Cathy for the contract signing and down payment. I just asked Irvin to clarify some issues with Cathy before he signs up.

attire

It was the measurement taking for the entourage last Sunday. 2 of the Secondary Sponsors (Ruby and Caryl) will have theirs on the 1st week of August since Caryl is still in HK. It practically went well except that Irvin forgot to take the measurements of my brother, Adoy and my cousin, Harvey who will be the Bible bearer. The thing is…Mama hasn’t decided yet on what design she wants. She didn’t like any of the designs provided by Veluz and most of all, she’s not comfortable wearing a ‘terno’. So I said we’ll let her think more as we still have time.

Earlier this week, Irvin told me he got to talk to my Papa regarding the ‘barong’ he’s going to use for our wedding. There is a specific store where Papa wants to get his ‘barong’. But he was also saying he’ll just use his old one which he only wore for 3 hours at a wedding of my god-sister Fritzie. Papa also reiterated that he’s really comfortable in that other than the fact that there’s no need to spend for a new one. Irvin just told him that I want everything new. You know that feeling of being sentimental thinking that I’m the 1st in the family to get married and that he has already worn that. Oh well…

It was only last night that I phoned my family. It was Papa who picked up and same thing he told me what he told Irvin. So I just asked him very clearly if it’ll be ok with him not to buy a new one. And he said, ‘yes’. So end of conversation. I agreed with that. I also thought maybe this is the best way. I know my father. He’s very picky on what he wears. It’s more of comfort. It doesn’t matter whether it’ll be expensive or cheap as long as he’s not uneasy.

I also got to talk to my Mama. And I’m happy to know that she finally decided on the gown design. But… she wants another ‘modista’ to make it for her. She asked if it’s ok with me and she also asked for the budget. And we both agreed. She was trying to explain the design and fabric to be used but I must admit I’m not that familiar with fabrics.

Bottom line… I’m happy because we’ve finalized the issue on my parent’s attires.