Rogime & Michelle's Intimate Wedding

My two good friends got married last December! Wooohooo! Congratulations Rogime and Michelle!

(See these two posts about their engagement photos: pre-nup and DIY pre-nup.) 

So here are the things that I liked about their wedding:

1) It was a small and intimate gathering.

I personally prefer small weddings over the grand ones. Mitch and Ogim chose only 70 guests or so--all of them close to the bride and groom. The entourage are all their friends and close relatives. :) I like the fact that it was like a mini reunion for me and my high school friends. I rarely see all of them nowadays and it was great spending such a glorious celebration with them. 

Having fun with the balloons! :) Photo by Nemil

2) The Beautiful Ceremony and Reception Venues

They choose the St. Pancratius Chapel, located in the center of Paco Park for their ceremony.It was my first time to visit that church and I really liked it! It's perfect for small weddings but also great for photographs. The church itself is a beauty and the park is huge enough for different angles and poses for the pictures and video. 

Picture by Nemil

For their reception, they chose the The Venue, Prism Plaza in the MOA complex. 

Picture perfect again with the backdrop of the sea, grass and the sun :) 

3) The stunning bride

Michelle has the perfect smile that day. She was composed (in spite of the stress earlier that day) and confident. 

She was stunning on her wedding day! The elegance of her gown suits her. 

Photo by Jayson & Jo Anne Arquiza

4) The tensed groom

Yeah, you read it right! I guess Rogime's nervousness was too cute and he took away the seriousness of the ceremony. The ceremony was fun and light :) Way to go, Rogime! :)

Photo by Jayson & Jo Anne Arquiza

5) The Souvenirs
I like their personalized chocolate souvenirs for the guest. Too bad, I don't have a picture :(
And I also appreciate Mitch's thoughtfulness to her bridesmaids- she gave all of us a beautiful silver ring :)

And for the groomsmen, they gave these neckties :)

5) The pictures!!! (and the video of course)

Yes, with triple exclamation marks. I love their wedding photos!!! They were so beautiful, each taken with style. They have not posted a lot yet but here's what they have posted so far:

Click  to see the Video by Four Thirty Films

Love is in the air! :)

Welcome to Married Life, Ogim and Mitch! Enjoy it to the fullest! :)

Photos: Jayson and Jo Anne Arquiza/ Purple Kite Studios

Video: 4:30 Films

Preparation: Diamond Hotel, Manila

Ceremony Venue: St. Pancratius Chapel, Paco Park, Manila

Reception: The Venue, Prism Plaza, Mall of Asia

Hair and Make-Up: Jeanne Lu

Bride's Gown: Denpasar Fashion Collections

For more information about their wedding suppliers, visit their Wedsite.

Adrian & Rose: A Wedding Like No Other

Adrian and Rose's May wedding is really beautiful. The details are impressive and their story is worth-telling. This is really something that is too good not to be shared to others who are planning  their own wedding.

So here's my Top 8 Things to Note for on this eco-chic wedding:

1. Unique Bouquet and Boutonnieres

I think Rose is brave enough to try something different. This bouquet can really steal the show! :)
By Gantsilyo Guru 

2. Bride's fabulous gown

Need I say more?
Gown by Veluz

3. Eco-chic colors and details

Ecofettis instead of the usual confetti :)

Simple but classy (paper straws)

My dream set-up for my wedding cake :) i love succulents!

4.  Use of Instagram (with official iphoneographer!) 

Hashtag #ianrosekasal (check this link for the official iphoneographer for their wedding)

5. Lovely venue and set-up

6. Touching Video

    Check this link to watch the video: Threelogy "Adrian & Rose"

7. Beautiful reception

I adore the paper lanterns! 

8. Small wow details

Photo by JPPhotograph

Venue: Angelfields, Tagaytay

Bride's Gown: Veluz

Bride's Bouquet: Gantsilyo Guru

Official Photographer: Paul Vincent Photography

Iphoneographer: Erron Ocampo

Video: Threelogy

Lights and Sounds: Sensitivity

HMU: Jesy Alto

Stylist: Carla See
Caterer: Josiah's Catering

Coordinator: Styled Celebrations by Kits Diaz

To read more about this wedding, visit: http://www.bridalpod.ph/2013/08/26/glam-spectacle/

Thank you Rose for allowing me to share your wedding details. :)

Nemil & Eunice: A Knot Tied By God

Nemil and Eunice believe that weddings can be beautiful and meaningful without spending much. Their life and love story brought tears and joy to those who were able to witness their most special day.

The color motif is a combination of violet and rustic green. They really wanted a rustic wedding but it wasn't possible. They've decided to just incorporate a rustic feel to some elements of their wedding. Most of the things seen at their wedding is DIY (do-it-yourself). They tried their best to be very wise in their decisions and in picking their suppliers. 

Flowering Plants for Souvenirs

Message for the Couple Area

The wood are from Quezon Province since it was very difficult to find one in the Metro. The DIY vase is a wine bottle was covered with native strings. The succulent was bought in Manila Seedlings (Quezon Avenue). 

The DIY Cord and the brown pillow were made by the bride's mother. 

The ceremony decorations were made by the bride's mother also. 

DIY Boutonnieres 

Candy Cart by Shekinah Dishes

DIY Mr and Mrs

DIY Bible Design & Candles

Venue: Blue Garden              

 Reception: Blue Gardens Chateau

Caterer: Shekinah Dishes 

Photo & Video: JPPhotograph 

Coordinator: Styled Celebrations by Kits Diaz

For inquiries about the DIY stuff, feel free to contact the sulat.hinaing.atbp@gmail.com.

A Walk To Remember Insights

                                     Two months ago, I had my a-walk-to-remember moment!

  

Today, I want to share some insights with my engaged friends (I know some of them are getting married this month already). I hope you will get something from here .J 

Remember that no weddings are the same—they are beautiful in their own way. So don't fret if yours is not as beautiful or as grand or things won't go as planned. Just enjoy! 

Leave everything to the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.” This is so true. Sometimes, we think that we have planned so well already and we forget to just depend on the Lord. Remember to spend some time to pray and allow God to give you peace. 

The night before my wedding , I prayed to God not for a perfect wedding but the perfect attitude even if things won't go my way. I know that I am worrier and I don’t want to spoil my day just because things won’t go smoothly as planned. The Lord answered my prayer! J He helped me cope up with the stressors during my wedding day. Narealize ko na hindi din talaga dahil sa sitwasyon kundi sa attitude. My wedding was not perfect but I feel that it was because I learned to be content and happy with whatever the outcome is. So just trust the Lord J and be happy!

Do not pre-test your wedding kiss. This may sound so traditional and some of you may already have done this. I know that people who are in love wants to be close with each other. I understand you-- I know the feeling of being so-in-love. But because we have given our word to God and my parents that our first kiss will be on the altar, with God’s grace, we were able to pass all the tests! (I imitate the example of my dear friend ate Faye. Read her blog-www.buhaypurpol.blogspot.com)

But if you already have kissed, that’s okay.The most important thing is that you will be able to present each other pure and holy before the Lord. There is no greater feeling than that! J

Like I said, Enjoy! Enjoy the moment. Take time to prepare for your day—emotionally, physically, spiritually. Walk your shoes, prepare for the crying-moments, eat in the morning and/or during the make up time (you need the strength for the whole day/night!), take vitamins, have a massage, pray in solitude! Avoid facebook for a while :P and savor the moment of your last day as a single person! (If you have time, read a very good book about weddings "True Love Weds" by Grace Gaston-Dousel. I've learned a lot from that book. You may purchase that in PCBS, CSM Bookstore and sometimes even in National Bookstores). 

from Bride and Breakfast

On the day, enjoy your bridal walk. Wave, make fun, smile or even cry if you want! There are no rules, really! Personalize your own vow--make it truly yours! Make it fun—not just for the two of you but for the hearers as well. Write a heartfelt message for your parents, they deserve that. 

Honor God on your wedding day and He will bless you with an unforgettable wedding! 

Thoughts on Wedding Preparation

After being married for about a month now, I consider myself as an ex-bride. As an “ex-bride”, I know the feeling of being busy for months for that one special day. Who wouldn’t want to have a grand and beautiful wedding? But my then-fiance and I know that we have limitations (budget is the big issue) and so we worked hard in stretching our resources and talents to pull out a nice wedding.

Now I looked back and I’d say, I hope I relaxed more and maybe to not be too idealistic. After all, hindi lahat ng gusto ko nasunod. But I can still say that I had a beautiful and meaningful wedding. It wasn’t grand but it was beautiful in its own way.  It wasn’t too hot (it rained a bit in the afternoon). The people who love us were there and rejoiced with us. And most of all, we know that we have given God the honor that He deserved. Our day wasn’t really ours but His.

And so, here are my few thoughts on my wedding preparation. I hope that my future bride-friends would be inspired and would learn something from this. 

Negative:

*I wish I spent less on “little things”. I spent hours in researching and managed to create a folder of ideas for our wedding. I discussed them with my then-fiance and with my friends as well. The researching is good but I guess some of the ideas were not really that important.

Remember: Things can be simpler but grand on its way.

*I wish I did not just research on wedding ideas but on wedding forums as well. Maybe I was able to get great deals from good suppliers. Yes, I had mistakes on just trusting people in Divisoria for my wedding gown! (Beware of Nikki’s Bridal Shop in 168-they cannot be trusted!)

Remember: Ask questions. Research. Read.

Positive:

* DIYs. It stretched my artistic abilities (if there’s-any). My mom helped a lot with my projects. I would do the model and she would mass produce it for me. And I think we did a good job J

DIY Pillow 

DIY Cord. 

My mom made all of these. Nagkanda pasopaso ang mga kamay nya! 

Boutonnieres--nakailang revise din ito! :P

My idea--but my mom did all these paper designs for the  wedding ceremony. 

We collected wine bottles for the VIP table and transported 21 chunks of wood from Quezon!

My mom and I made all the bottles for table numbers and LOVE design. 

I made these Mr and Mrs Sign 

DIY Bible Cover

 Remember: Do-it-Yourself is always the best. But if you don’t have the time and have the money, go find a pro to do the little stuff for you.

*Booking early. We had discounts and freebies because we booked early!  (There is a disadvantage with this also pero mas maraming advantage!) Better start early than ma-stress kapag malapit na. We also had our pre-nup shoot done early so we are still looking fresh J Hehehe

Remember: Do know what you want ahead of time. Pick a theme and decide on your venue (church, garden, backyard etc). Determine the number of your guests so that you’ll know what venue to choose.

 I think you have to choose a coordinator ahead of time (if it is included in your budget so she can help you find the right venue)

*Buying stuff that we could use again. I had two shoes for my wedding but I can use them both in many occasions. I chose brown for the high-heels. I can use it in the office and formal occasions. I chose the celebracion fleur of suelas—it was comfy and beautiful! Hindi sila mukhang wedding shoes.

 

Got this on sale and then my then-fiance gave me a flat shoes as a wedding gift. Check the Suelas  for Celebracion. They have 3 designs for flat shoes. 

Nems chose his own suit-with the idea in mind that he'll be able to to use them all again—shoes, suit, the tie etc. Hindi sayang.

We bought little decorative-stuff that we can use again. (Yeah, we bought many—which is a mistake pero we can still use them naman. So wala pa ding sayang).

Remember: Expensive isn’t always bad—but make sure you’d use them again ;)

*Find friends in the wedding industry.  I guess, I was blessed to have friends in the wedding industry that I can asked. My coordinator is a friend of mine in college (Styled Celebration by Kits Diaz) and she referred me a supplier for photo and video (JP Recodo for PHOTO|GRAPH). Kits and my two friends in college went with me in Mt. Manalmon for our pre-nup pictures J She referred me to a good make-up artist na swak sa budget ko etc. etc.

Remember: Friends can help you (whether or not they are in the industry). 

*Finding the right venue and caterer. It was really a blessing to have known Shekinah Dishes. They do event styling for free and they were easy to talk with.

Remember: It is not just the food you know.

Now here’s my first take on weddings and the life after it. I want to share more but this is getting long. But I do hope it will help in some ways on your preparation. Enjoy the preparation!!! :) 

Here are some sites to visit:

Green Wedding Shoes 

Martha Stewart

Loverly

The Knot

Styled Celebration by Kits Diaz

All photos by JP Recodo for PHOTO|GRAPH