7 months to go—and the search for the “Perfect Rings” continues

According to TheKnot.com we only have 7 months to go before our big day. Ang lapit na! The day is getting closer but it seemed that it was only yesterday when we started looking and booking suppliers. Every now and then I experience panic attacks especially if we still do not have a supplier booked for one particular need. However, I have been laid back the past few months (tinatamad na sa wedding preps..hehehe). Hmmm..I think it’s best to check on our progress. Here goes:

Church – Booked; Pre-Cana Seminar scheduled on Sept. 25-26, 2010
Venue – Booked
Caterer – Booked; Detailing on June 2, 2010
Photo & Video – Booked
Wedding Gown – Booked; Measurement taking on July 3, 2010
Entourage’s Gown – Booked; Measurements already taken; Fitting on November 2010
Coordinator – Booked
Hair & Make Up – Booked
Lights & Sounds/Projector – Booked
Strings Ensemble – Booked; Submitted song list
Florist/Stylist – Booked; Final detailing on November
Photobooth – Booked
Souvenirs – Booked; Delivery on October 2010
Principal Sponsors Souvenirs – Booked
Cake, EMCEE, Bridal Car – Booked; c/o of Caterer

Wedding Rings – Pending
Groom’s Suit – Pending
Hotel for Preps – Pending
Neckties for the Male Entourage – Pending
My blue bridal shoes – Pending
Ryan’s Hip wedding shoes – Pending
Honeymoon??? – Pending and Undecided

DIYs???? – Still on the planning stage but getting started on it =)

We still do not have our wedding rings. Ryan does not want anything typical. He wants something modern. He actually wants something like the picture below.

I, on the other hand, wants something like below if I’d go for a modern style…

Last Saturday, May 22, 2010, Laine and I went to the Celebrations 2010 Bridal fair at the SMX Convention Center (dinaya pa kame ng taxi driver going there. Kainis!) She went to find and book some suppliers while, I went to scout for our wedding rings. It is here where I found some interesting pair of rings. First on the list, the Black Kamagong Rings from Oro Cher Jewelry. It’s cool and unique. Lightweight because the main material is Kamagong wood and only has a strip of Gold. It’s not that pricey too. Good catch actually ayaw lang ng family namen sa idea ng black wedding rings.

Next on the list are the tungsten and ceramics rings from Goldenhills Jewelry. Both are unique and beautifully crafted but the disadvantages are, tungsten rings can't be resized as the material used is very hard and the ceramic rings can break easily.

Black Tungsten Rings on the left and White Ceramic Rings on the right. (Note: These are not the exact rings at the fair. These are something similar to what they have)

Oh well. I doubt that any of these will be our wedding rings. But other soon-to-wed couples might be interested with them. Laine was able to book their invites and their bridal car while I just enjoyed the free cotton candy, flower pastillas and, of course, free pictures from photobooth hopping =)

Laine and I trying out Pose&Print

A trip to the "World of Beads" and "Divilandia"

A fellow w@wie, Chel (DreChel), and I agreed to go to Quiapo and Tabora last Saturday, May 15, to buy some materials for our DIY projects. Yes! I am finally starting to work on my long-planned DIY projects and so is she. We plan to do our DIY’s together to make it more fun.

We met at LRT Cubao-Gateway Station at around 10:30 AM. After eating a light snack, we set off for Quiapo. Our first stop—the world of beads, Welmanson Store. This store can be found along Villalobos St. (the street at the back of Quiapo Church). Being inside this store was a lot of fun. Our eyes feasted on a number of raw materials for accessories. They have a wide range of raw materials: from crystal beads to swarovski, rhinestones to semi precious stones, synthetic pearls to fresh water pearls, and all sort of things. We spent more than hour, I guess, inside this store and I got myself the materials I would use for my wedding cord. Too bad I was not able to find the material I would use as the center medallion for the rosary cord I am planning to do. Chel, on the other hand, got a couple of accessories for her personal use and some beads she’ll use as accents for her kissing bells.

We then went to the street parallel to Villalobos St. where we found a number of native products being sold. We were looking for capis candle light holders that she will hang on twigs to be used as church decorations. We found a number designs and tried to haggle it down but in the end it’s still too pricey. We then decided to proceed to Divisoria, also known as Divilandia.

We took a motorized-pedicab as it is scorching hot that day. We alighted at Divisoria Mall where we grabbed lunch at Jollibee which amazingly is situated in a quite tight and not too noticeable area. After lunch, out we go to the street of Tabora. We got bells from Morning Glory store for our kissing bells and some lace for my unity candles and finally got the hanging candle holder Chel needs for her church décor in one of the stalls on the street. We also bought a couple of yantok which we will use for another DIY project of Chel and saw some interesting stuffs. We also searched for the material I can use as the center medallion in a number of stores to no avail.

Chel and I, on our way to Divilandia

At 5 PM, we called it a day and decided to go home. We’re still missing a few items for our DIY’s but that is okay as we could always go back and have another day in the world of beads and divilandia. =)

I’ll have our DIYs posted here soon! =)

Before I Do Workshop

I’ve learned about this workshop some time in January, 2010. Ryan was really not up for it. He actually does not want anything like this if it is not required but somehow I have persuaded him and I am glad that I did.

The workshop proved to be worth all the time and money. It is enriching, fun and enlightening. It made us realize a lot of things about our relationship. And one of those is that we are missing Someone in our relationship. We are missing God in our relationship. He that should have been the center of our relationship from the start but we have neglected. And with this, we will make efforts to put Him in the center of our relationship. Also, we should not push our partners to change because only He could change and mould a person. If we want for something to be changed with our partners or with our relationship, it would be wiser to seek for His intervention rather than putting all your efforts into changing what you want yourself.

Another topic that made us understand why a couple fights are the 5 Love Languages: words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. We’ve learned that both of us are not speaking the same love language which results to conflict and that it is important that our partners knows our love language so he/she can help you fill up your love tank. The topic regarding the roles of husbands and wives helped us both realize what we should be doing for each other.

We also received a number of bonuses through this workshop. First, Ryan and I got to spend some quality with each other. Second, we get to meet and enjoy the company of a number of w@wies specifically our tablemates, Benj & Beej and Marnic & Denise. Raymond & Cheryl, Joey & Tina, Divine & Mark were among the other w@wie couples present at the workshop. Third, (and the biggest bonus of all) we got a FREE pre nuptial photo session with Imagination. Yey! Yey! Yey! I really wanted this from the start and thank you Lord for making it possible.

With all of the things we’ve learned through this workshop the best lesson I’ve learned is that if it is the will of the Lord, He will provide.

I will surely recommend this to other soon-to-wed couples as it is not just the wedding we should prepare for. It is more important to prepare for the marriage life ahead. =)

Before I do Batch 06 Participants

Election 2010: Philippine's first ever automated election

Today, May 10, 2010, the Philippines held its first ever automated election. Consequently, it is also the Presidential election. I will practice my right to vote and vote for whoever I feel and trust will lead our country to prosperity. May everyone vote wisely and vote for the right candidate for the country. May it be our country who wins in this election.

the storm is now over...

I can now smile and laugh again. Thank you Almighty God for letting me see the sun again and lifting me up above the flood.