The Wedding Dress

Three months have passed and until now I am still fascinated by the looks of my wedding dress. As I browsed through my wedding albums, I couldn't help myself but stare at my wedding gown for moment. I never regret my desicion in asking the designer Joshua Guibone for making such a wonderful creation.

The gown is made of stretchable tulle with lace appliqué. The belt is fully-beaded.

The 50 meters ruffles are sewed in three layers organza fabric.

The gown was a bit heavy. Just try to imagine yourself carrying 50 meter of cloth...But gladly I was able to pull it off during my Big Day.

I may not have a perfect built and slender body, but i guess this is the only dress that suits for me nonetheless.

The Fashion Designer

It took me months to decide whether I would've my wedding dress designed and made by a fashion designer or not. It appeared to me that when I get an expert of their field, it would eventually cost me more than 20K just to have a simple yet elegant dress for my BIG DAY! I actually asked some of my closest friends if they do have ideas how much a custom-made-to-own wedding gown would cost...and they have one common reply ~ price ranges from 15K - 25K. This really made me indecisive.

When I was in my early 20's, I used to know few brides who rented their wedding dresses from fashion boutiques. (This includes my older sister) It's 10 times practically cheaper compared to having your own. Indeed. I finally decided to visit the boutiques along Capistrano Street, Near Divisoria CDO where most of the wedding dresses that i usually passed by were displayed.

I was amazed. Yes! Those dresses were not just ordinary. Only a few gets to wear them. I asked how much were those for rent and they said that for only 5K, you can already have your full entourage covered. Aint it too affordable? Pwede ka nang magpakasal 5X.. Lol! ^_^...The designs were mostly tube satin gowns but fully beaded. But i personally did not want my wedding gown to be tube-like. Reggie then told me to consult, our dearest friend, Joshua N. Guibone, a local fashion designer.

Josh! That's what most people call him...But we have a unique endearment. We call each other, "Faggot". Hahaha... 

This was taken November 2009 wearing a Mystical Halloween Inspired Make-UP

He is a supervisor and at the same time, an officer of the local designers' guild in CDO. He won as best dressed during Year-End Christmas Parties three times in row. Wooow! Grandslam! He never settles for less. He settles for a sure win. He considers sketching and designing as his past time but in the near future, this desginer will focus on his booming career and will surely be a BIG TIME!

Sense & Style February 2012 Issue. Heart Evangelista is wearing one of Joshua Guibone's Creations during  2011 Philippine Fashion Week Spring and Summer Collections.

Reggie and I decided to have Joshua design our "wedding costumes". Since 2008, he was able to produce wedding gowns for most of our colleagues who tied the knot... and take note, he delivers quality! As a neophyte in the industry, he has our trust with his skills and creativity. He set the price just right! hmmm...

Being the designer of what Heart's wearing is already something. Joshua has really proven his ability to the upper class that he could consequently keep pace with the best designers in the country. We're so proud of you!

For now, my wedding dress would be kept secret!...Naks!

Click here to see Joshua N. Guibone's creations. Go and check it awwtt! :)

Will you be my Maid of Honor?

Choosing who my MOH would be for my big day was just so easy. I guess my choices narrow down when my younger sister passed away. She left us last April of 2010 *insert a feeling grief and depression here*. If she had been alive, I wont bother to ask a friend. I have no choice but to look for one. When my older sister got married, i stood as her maid of honor. This must be the tradition...but of course, it still depends on your decision.

When i popped this question to my dearest friend, Angela, she was "somehow" thinking twice. Maybe because she didn't like the role or maybe the role itself is unlikable. Haha. 

Angela and I started to become good friends when... when... i forgot when?! Hahaha... She's uber talkative, friendly, easy to get along with and super understanding, very practical (ahmm..sometimes) and is ready to support you! I found myself in her. A lot of our friends used to call us twins, or look-a-like. Naks!!! Some would even say, "Miss, you really look like Angela or vice versa. Gossh! Who would have thought?! Ang swerte ko naman. Though the real thing is that she's tisay, and i'm not...I am flattered and she, on the other hand, throws a facetiously reply that she doesn't like it. Well...

me and angela

Angela was the first person to know that I'm getting married before my parents did know about the plan. I only sent her a text message. I decided not to tell her personally 'coz  she might have gone wild with delight to know that I'm engaged. That's her! Reactions all over. (Promise! I am not the one who influenced her. LOL!) She even encouraged me to change my FB status from "in-a-relationship" to "engaged" but I said NO! At that time, I didn't want others to know about the good happenings in my life. Sounded selfish but i chose to remain silent. It took me 2 months to tell my parents about  Reggie's "offer".

Well, Angela really did not make it hard for me. She said "YES" on the day I asked her.

This is Angela. A photo i grabbed from her FB

I simply needed someone to stand by me on my BIG day! And she is indeed the right choice!

Wedding Favors

Reggie and I were already thinking of possible wedding tokens for the Principal Sponsors and Special Guests. Of course, the VIP's should get to take home a special token from the newly weds (sounds like a prize from a raffle..LoL!). That was the plan. It's a way to thank them for saving the date. The wedding would happen on April 18, 2012, and it happened to fall on a Wednesday. It's weekdays! So i supposed the people who would really come and celebrate with us are the people who truly value us. 

When Ms. Tines, our wedding coordinator, asked us of what wedding tokens we had in mind...we could not give a definite answer. I was thinking of a bamboo wedding favors, which are common nowadays. Something that looks like this:

image from web

With the 150 estimated guests, I think it would cost more or less 10K just for the wedding favors. Well, we only intend 50 wedding favors, thus, only selected few would get 'em. Ahhh... That's so sad..

Last week, we ran through our checklist. Since we haven't defined the exact picture of the favors we liked, Reggie's Tita showed her box full of stored wedding favors. She brought it with her the last time she went abroad. She even told me that Reggie would be the first nephew to use those items. Several packs of wedding favors sealed in a plastic cover were taken out of the box. When I first saw it, i was allured of the uniqueness. Something that I have never seen from weddings before. Or maybe, I haven't had received a lot before as i was just "maybe" an insignificant guest. Hahaha.

We decided to have these items as wedding favors on the occasion. It's unique. I'd rather choose these over small baskets from Bohol Trading (hahaha).

I took a pic for you to imagine how small these are!

His Tita demonstrated what has to be done with these items to make each pieces more pleasing. The stand, which is made of plastic, will be wrapped in white round lace with chocolates (am just not sure of the chocolates though... Parang mas mahal pa ang chocolates compared to this). The wine bucket, that looks like a goblet.. will stand out and the names will be placed on top of it that would look like place cards. Kulang na sa budget so All-in-one nalang...:P

I hope our guests will like it.

Honeymoon Destination: BORACAY!

I was on a high when my partner told me that we could possibly consider Boracay as our honeymoon destination. This idea came through when his father told us that the reunion every April of the year will be moved after the wedding. How nice, isn't it? (Seems to me everything falls into place). Then on, my soon-to-be father-in-law, who's very supportive and never runs out of brilliant ideas suggested that we book Boracay after the wedding for our honeymoon... Great!

So I immediately searched the net for possible hotel accommodations that were cheap but nice nonetheless. I was already aware that room rates range from 5k and up just for one night. As if! One night would never be enough to enjoy your moments in bora, right? So, what we had in mind was to book the hotel for 3D/2N, then... I had a second thought. What about the budget? Hayyy.. Wedding preparations pa lang di na kaya ng budget.

Then i asked a friend of mine, Maezy, for nice hotel accommodations. Maezy has visited boracay a few times already and recently with her sister. She suggested to get the hotel they booked last time they were there. Milflores de Boracay.

image from web

The hotel offers P2300, year-round rate. It was perfect. Suits right into our budget.

After the approval of my partner, then I decided to reserve it as early as possible. With all the inquiries, emails and favors, hotel was finally booked! We paid the 50% Down Payment through METROBANK last December, 2011.

Boracay Islands is just one of my vacation daydreams. It would be my very first time this coming April. Thank you Lord! This was something I prayed and wished for. And now, it's about to happen...^_^

Wedding Checklist: Church(√), Reception(√)

Alright! So January is about to end and I am not even half way done with my wedding checklist (Sigh). Yeah, it's just a checklist but truly hard to accomplish. My Big Day will happen in three months time. Good thing, I have my partner whose Tita's are into wedding coordination and the like (What a bonus!). Reggie is hands-on, so its a plus!

Let me tell you what we have accomplished so far:

October last year, Reggie and I talked to one of the top wedding coordinators in CDO, Miss Libertine "Tines" Retirado Bello. She is the tita of my husband-to-be and soon to be my Tita (Shucks, feel close). NO bias, she is really good! Miss Tines as what most people call her has been in the business for several years. With her expertise and special skills, every couple turned out very happy at the end of the day.

She gave us a copy of the wedding checklist since we both decided that she spearheads the planning. According to Tita Tines she only reveals the wedding checklist if the couple finally decides to contract her as the wedding planner. We'll, revealing the list to both of us may not be an issue, ahmm ..i think she was left with no choice!

She sent the copy through my email. I was absolutely excited to see the list. When i opened the attachment, i saw a file saved in an excel format. So that was when i decided to begin the planning.

It's hard! It's tough!

Her Tita gave advises. The first thing to consider would be the church, then the reception. You couldn't book the reception if you haven't booked the church. Choosing the reception for us was just a piece of cake. We both agreed and chose Pearlmont, Inn. located along Limketkai Drive. Aside from their classy ballroom, the price is cheap and suits the tight budget!

Image from the web

So before we booked the hotel, a little "brainstorming" was done..Imagine how hard for us to decide. We need to consider first, the church honorarium (not sure of the term), then, the location. Reggie asked me as to what church i would want the most (not minding the cost yet). I have one definite answer -- San, Lorenzo Parish located in Mega Heights, CDO. But of course, knowing that the church honorarium is too costly, I gave him my other 2 choices. Haha. My second choice was the San Agustin Cathedral, third was Mount Carmel in Carmen. We'll, after a thorough deliberation.. (See! may delibeartion pa.. haha) we both decided to take my first choice. It was OUR choice. take note, not just mine (hmmm..) After all, I'm not just the only one who's pushy 'bout it...(siya din). He then reminded me that the wedding would happen only once, why not make it happen. Naks!

Okay! (So, go na sa San Lorenzo Parish and please don't make him change his mind!).

View inside San Lorenzo Parish Church

This is close to what i would want the church to be decorated. Miss Pinky Retirado Salido, our florist, a renowned wedding coordinator in CDO would take care of the decors from Church to Reception. I guess aside from flowers, she said she could take care of the long table arrangements, lights and drapings.. It's sort of giving an extra touch of what she usually does... All i can say.. (Fantastic!)

At least, when my friends ask me the church and reception, i have the answer now! With the other lists that are yet to be done.. keep you posted! ;)