w@wies at the wedding congress

July 31—a funfilled yet "exciting" day.

I met up with my fellow w@wies to man the w@w booth at the congress and of course, para magchika chika na din. =) Che, Fei, Libz, Ayeth and I had a blast sa lahat ng mga chikas and from trying out different photobooths. And also naki-food tasting na din kame. =)

We continued our non-stop chikahan at where else, Starbucks coffeeshop. We chose the branch under the bridgeway of Megamall. Janice came and meet with us there. Super daldal and saya talaga ng mga w@wies. =)

Ma Del's Cuisine: Suppliers Meal and Lunch food—Checked!

Getting our supplier's food from Hizon's will cost us quite a sum since we have a total of 35 persons at the time of the reception. I have asked for the opinions of  our suppliers, and Kuya Romy of 1970 Events Stylist informed me that they don't usually get full with suppliers meal from caterers since they are plated and have limited quantity and viands.

We have thought  of what Kuya Romy has said also taking into consideration that our suppliers will be tired and hungry for working hard on our wedding day. With these reasons, we opted to get a different supplier to order our suppliers food from. We had Ma Del's Cuisine in mind since both Ryan and I attended one of my friend's wedding who had them as the caterer. It was at this wedding when I learned that the owner of this catering service was actually Anj (Angelique Salvador), a high school classmate of mine. We were both satisfied with the taste of their food.

She gave me a good quote for food served on trays plus packed lunch on styro as our meal during our preps at the hotel.

Good food + reasonable price were more than enough reason for us to book them.

Another supplier down. Hopefully, we get to book our rings and Ryan's suit soon!

Hotel Preps Booked—Astoria Plaza it is!

After considering the number of suppliers that will be present on our big day, and the number of our friends and relatives who would be coming over to our hotel room to prepare, we decided to book Astoria. Since they are not that strict with the head count and the room size is large enough for all of us to fit inside. These are already good reasons to book Astoria. Plus, we had it on cheaper price since we booked thru asiatravel.com.

This is one "must-have" supplier now off our list. One down a couple more things to go.

A big change is coming....

After the storm, the Lord gave me a new opportunity. I am accepting this opportunity. A big risk but I am taking my chances. I am moving on...

Astoria or Richmonde, which one should we choose?

Both Ryan and I are in agreement that we'll get a hotel in Ortigas for our preps since its closer to our church. And so, after our Divi Trip, Ayeth and I went to Ortigas to meet with Janice and Jake. We had an ocular with Astoria and Richmonde hotels as possible preps venue.

I got a bit irritated with the staff who showed us the suites in Astoria. He kept on insisting that what he showed us is a one-bedroom suite when I knew that it was a two-bedroom suite that he showed us. His words were something like "Yan na nga po yung one bedroom suite namen bubuksan lang yung isang kwarto para maging two-bedroom." Naman! Hindi naman ako tanga! I have to raise my voice a tone higher to let him realize that I am not pleased with his answer. Other than this incident with that staff, all is okay with astoria. Here are the pros and cons for Astoria and Richmonde:

Astoria Plaza

Pros:
- Big floor area. All of my suppliers would fit in here
- Minimalistic interior designs of the rooms.
- Full Glass windows
- Cheaper if booked thru AsiaTravel
- Not that strict with foods and headcounts according to previous reviews of fellow w@wies

Cons
- Plain corridors
- Plain lobby
- Staircase??? Hmm...ok lang...
- Staff?? If based on our experience with that one staff. No comment na lang muna.

Richmonde Hotel

Pros:
- Very nice and elegant bedrooms
- Carpeted and lovely corridors
- Lovely bathroom
- Gorgeous Lobby
- Grand staircase
- Staffs are more attentive

Cons:
- Floor area is too small. Not all of our suppliers would fit inside.
- Pricey compared to Astoria
- Elevator is too small too. I feel claustrophobic inside it.

So, which hotel should we choose? I'll have to ask Ryan.

Irritated....Tired....but Glad....

I am irritated…
Even after coming home at past 12 midnight last night, I woke up early to prepare for the day. My first stop, Morong Municipal Hall, Morong, Rizal. I have to file a petition to their Local Civil Registry (LCR) to have the issues with my birth certificate fixed. I was pretty confident that I have all the requirements they asked me to bring for the petition filing for the change of first name, but I was absolutely dumbfounded when the civil registrar officer said that his number one requirement was an Affidavit of History! Imagine my frustration when I heard him say those words. Not once in the number of times I have contacted their office have they told me that I have to have this affidavit! Neither did they tell me that I also need to provide copies of my pre-school, elementary, and high school diploma plus, a baranggay certificate. And they wanted me to complete those before I file the petition. I was absolutely furious and frowning the whole time I was in their office. I got more irritated when the LCR officer commented that I should smile as a sign of respect since I am at their territory. Man! Who would smile in that kind of situation, where you have to travel for almost two hours only to be told that I still don’t have all the papers they require and that I should complete it first before filing the petition. Nobody informed that such affidavit is needed! After the long talks that my mom had with them, I was able to file the petition and to follow na lang yung additional documents na kelangan nila. Hayyyy! Badtrip talaga!

I am tired but glad….

After getting out of Morong’s LCR, I rushed to Divisoria to meet with Ayeth. The travel time was really tiring. Then I walked all the way to Tita Vky’s shop in Ilaya. I accompanied Ayeth to Tita Vky's shop so she could ask for a quotation for the gowns of her entourage (she had some problems with her supposedly dressmaker for their entourage). It’s a good thing na din that I met with Tita Vky because I was able to discuss some minor adjustments with our set-up. And one more thing, that I was glad about was that I already bought our toasting flutes. It really has this cool and funky-shaped stem. All I need to do is have our names etched on it. =)

Ayeth and I went to Ortigas afterwards to have an ocular at Astoria Hotel as a our possible hotel preps. I'll tell all about it on my next post. =)

Love Love Love Kimmidolls!!

These dolls are the cutest! The first time I saw these at Rustans Dept. Store I absolutely adored them. A product produced and distributed by TAG, Kimmidolls have a total of 70 attractive and really nice doll designs. Each kimmidoll have its own individual identity and are described in detail in an individual profile collectors card. And it comes in three different sizes: Extra Maxi, Maxi and Mini.  

They now have Kimmi Juniors. It's a more-cartoon-like version of the dolls. It also have english names instead of Japanese ones which is why I still prefer the original ones. It's more unique, beautiful and classic. I hope I could start a collection of these dolls. I am also planning to use them for my wedding if I have enough funds. =) Below are my favorite doll designs.

 

Would this be my "IT" shoes???

I had a very busy and tiring day today. Yet, I have accomplished so much as well.

To start of, I met with my friend Mae in Galleria, who’s now my Matron of honor, and headed to Joe San Antonio’s shop to have my measurements taken. I was a bit nervous to have my measurements taken because I do not really want to know of the numbers or siguro adik lang talaga ako! =) After taking my measurements, Joe and I discussed a bit more details of my gown like the material to be used, color of the fabric, the length of the train, and even the chinese buttons that I wanted to be used. I also got to see the progress on Laine’s gown, which I gladly reported to her just a few hours ago. =)

A little more chit chat and we bid Joe goodbye to head off to our next itinerary for the day—Tita Vicky’s shop in Divisoria (suki na yata ako ng Divisoria nowadays).

Mae had her measurements taken since she is now my Matron of Honor. I also have to explain to Tita Vicky the changes with the line-up of my entourage as well confirming a few details with the gowns of my entourage. We then walked to the streets of Tabora to purchase the bells I would be using for Cha’s kissing bells and searched for the chopsticks I would be using for my own kissing bells. I was able to buy it at Divisoria Mall at the basement area where all sorts of kiddie party needs, candies and toys can be found.

By the time we headed home were almost dead tired but there is still one more stop we have to go—SM City Taytay. My main purpose of going there is to order personalized ribbons for both Cha and me for our kissing bells but little did I know that I would find my "would-be-IT-shoes". See pictures below:

What do you think guys of my “would-be-IT-shoes”? I’m calling it my "would-be-IT-shoes” since I still have plans of having my dream wedding shoes customized if our budget still permits and if I find a good supplier but would not cost me too much. My friend loves how my “would-be-IT-shoes” fits me and said that it is already a steal. It is simple yet elegant, it has just the right height, and it is the exact shade of blue that I want.  The best deal of it all was its on sale when I bought it and only costs me Php 800!

So what do you think guys? Should I just stick to my "would-be-IT-shoes" and make it my IT shoes?

...revamp with my entourage....

One of my bridesmaid went off to Singapore for a job opportunity. My maid of honor suddenly backed out for some reasons. Now I am missing two female entourage. I no longer wish to have another headache so I am breaking my own rules and including two of  my closest married friends in my entourage. Anne, does not want to be my matron of honor because she's still pregnant with her second baby as of this writing. Neither would she want to be my bridesmaid. Ok. I'll make her my secondary sponsor. Mae agrees to be my bridesmaid but Anne declined to be my matron of honor. So she's now my matron of honor.

Thank you Macquis for being ever so nice and agreeing to be my bridesmaid instead of secondary sponsor.

Another problem. Ryan still does not have a Best Man.

requirements...clearances...certifications... when would I be done with them???

Fixing the issue with my name is already getting in to my nerve. The civil registrar office where my birth certificate was registered is requiring a number of supporting papers. These required papers are costing me money, time and lots of efforts.

NSO Copy Birth - Done; Just received it a few minutes ago
NBI Clearance - Done
Voter's Registration Certificate - Done
Certificate of Employment - Done
College Transcript of Records - Done
College Diploma - Done
Baptismal Certificate - Done
SSS E-1 Form - Done
Affidavit of Discrepancy - Done
Police Clearance - Finally got it. I almost got late waiting for it and they really require personal appearance.

Court Clearance - Of all the days na a-absent yung signatory person ngayon pa?! Naman?! I have to go back by next week to get it and they require personal appearance as well.

Confirmation Certificate - This is the one causing me a lot of headache. My name in their record is LONELY instead of LOVELY! Naman?! Who would name their child as LONELY???? Considering I was a student pa of the parochial school who had our confirmation scheduled, fixed and arranged. Now I have to go to the office of Diocese of Antipolo to request for the information on record be fixed.

When would I be finished with all of it???

DIY: Finally, my first DIY!--Our wedding cord

Finally, we have a new president and I got to cross out one of my DIY projects from my list! After much thought of how I would do it and the materials I would use, I now present my first ever DIY—our rosary wedding cord.

As I have written in my previous entries, it took me a couple of trips to Welmanson in Quiapo and to Divisoria before I got all the materials I needed. I also have to disassemble our chord for about five times because it was not the right length. But at least now, I had it all perfectly done and I am happy of the finish product. =)

Next on the list, my entourage hair sticks and our kissing bells!