This post is way overdue.. Sorry for that...;) I started working on a new project at work right after I got back from my PH trip.. So I've been a little busy, and I'm loving the new challenge!;) But of course, it also meant less time for me to blog and play Farmtown.. LOLz!!

Anyway, like I said, my h2b and I went to PH last Aug 8, and we were there for 9 days... As usual, our days were jam packed with appointments and meetings!.. Even the last 2 days which we thought was our "free" day to meet with friends, turned out to be filled with last-minute appointments.. It was definitely very tiring... But I can say a productive one also..;) Sorry this is going to be a little longer than my usual posts...;) So here goes my wedding update:

Aug 8 - We landed around 6pm, then straight from the airport (NAIA-2), just kissed my mom hello and g'bye.. met my bestfriend (and also my SS*), Jajah there and we're off to Tita Juliet's house for her measurements. On the way we just grabbed a take out at Mcdo for dinner, and picked up my other bestfriend (and SS* also) Debby somewhere near ABS-CBN.. Once there, the girls had their measurements taken.. and then Tita Juliet and I finalized the fabric, design and costs of the gowns.. Also scheduled their 1st fitting, which will be 1st week of October.. After that, we brought Debby and Jajah home.. So how's that for a first day?..;)

Aug 9 - Had our pre cana seminar in our parish church the whole day.. then went to mass in the evening.. somewhere in between, we were able to pass by SM Southmall to drop h2b's shoes for fixing at Mr. Quickie and do some last minute shopping for props for our e-session with Paul Vincent.. then dinner with my family at Monggolian.. Then my sister Joymari, h2b and I watched the last full show of The Proposal at Filinvest Festival Mall..;)

Aug 10 - Had an 8am appointment with our dentist.. Then, we went to Makati for another check up.. Unfortunately, it lasted longer (and costed more) than we expected..:( Then, we went to Wally Gonzales' office in Jupiter St. to pick up our Engagement album and frame!.. After that, Anthony wanted to go home early so that we can prepare for our e-session w/PV the next day, plus I had to drop him off in Cainta pa and drive back home alone to Las Pinas, so he didn't want me driving back too late..

Aug 11 - Our e-session with Paul Vincent!! This took the whole day, since our location was a 3-hr drive from Las Pinas.. We went to Hamilo Coast - Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club, in Nasugbu Batangas!.. The journey was tiring.. but once we got there, it was surely worth the trip! The venue was just picture perfect! I think we all really got excited during the shoot, that we didn't even notice the time.. The clubhouse was supposed to close at 5pm, but we were there 'til past 6pm, still shooting.. Ahaha!! We all really just loved the place! And the staff are all super accommodating!.. I would really recommend this place for e-sessions!:) On our way home, we passed by one of our Ninangs who lives in Silang Cavite to give our STD*/Will-you-be card..:)

Aug 12 - Final food tasting with Josiah's (pictures here). As expected, everything tasted good! I think we were able to pick a good combination of dishes.. Unfortunately, their florist called in sick so we had to reschedule the meeting for the centerpieces the ff. day. Since we finished a little earlier than expected, h2b and I decided to check out Discovery Suites, and good thing we did! We're almost 100% sure we'll be booking rooms here for the wedding preps.. The rooms aren't as elegantly beautiful as the ones in Edsa Shangri-La, but theirs are waaaay more spacious, which is more important for us, since there will be a lot of people during the preps (view pics here).. We also checked out Linden Suites after, but we didn't like it much.. After that, we met Judy Uson to discuss our cake design options at Edsa Shangri-La.. She gave us samples of her cake, and we loved them!.. but we'd have loved it more if it came with fondant topping as well (like Penny's - Jan 2 post) so as to get a better idea of the whole cake taste (not just the bread).. After that, we had dinner at SM Megamall.. Before bringing me home, we again passed by another Ninang's house to give our STD*/Will-you-be card...:)

Aug 13 - Had a haircut and foot spa in the morning.. I try to have these "kakikayan" when I'm back home, since it's a lot cheaper than here in SG. H2B then had his baptismal and confirmation certificate corrected.. his parish misspelled most of the names! Argh! Then we went to Market Market to have lunch, then meet our OTD* Events Manila.. It was during the meeting where our "free" days disappeared! Haha! Rose squeezed in an appointment with our videographer (Threelogy) and our florist (15-58) for the weekend! I got so many assignments from her, haha! (which reminds me I should start working on them!!) After that, h2b & I met (this time) one of our Ninongs for dinner, where we gave him his STD*/Will-you-be card too..:)

Aug 14 - The most tiring day! Started with me driving to Sta. Lucia Mall Cainta, to pick up h2b. Then we went to Josiah's in Marikina again for the centerpiece samples (more pictures here). Unfortunately, the florist didn't wait for us, so we weren't able to talk AGAIN!:( We definitely loved the samples they made, BUT was informed that we need to pay additional Php600/table for it!!?!:( so right now, we know the colors and style we want.. but we'll just need to be a little creative and research for some cheaper alternatives for violet hydrangeas.. (anyone have suggestions?).. then, we picked up MIL* in Filinvest Cainta. Then went to Tomas Morato for lunch meeting with Trina for our invites.. More or less, we have finalized the idea we want for our invites. We'll just be sending her pictures from our e-session, then we'll get samples already.. Then we went to the Makati branch office of Jorge Palmos for MIL*'s measurements (see mothers' gown designs here). After, we brought back MIL* home in Cainta, then went to Threelogy's office in Teacher's Village, QC. There we finally got a copy of our contract and was able to watch a sample of their full video coverage!:) That ended our Friday!;)

Aug 15 - I had my 2nd fitting this time in Jorge Palmos' Alabang branch.. Sorry, no pictures this time! H2b reads my blogs!;) ehehe! It already has beads on it.. the skirt had it's "bustings".. We decided to be a little daring (sexy?) and lowered the back a little more.. Now I really have to lose weight! Haha! Can't wait to wear it once it's finished!!:) After that, we passed by another Ninong's house to give him his STD*/Will-you-be card.. Then we met my friend Grace for lunch in BF Resort.. After that, we met my family for a dinner treat for my youngest sister Joymari (she has been recognized for being in the Dean's List for the whole SY! Sooo proud of you lil sis!) at Red Crab in Greenbelt 3, Makati.:) Also did some grocery shopping for things to bring back here in SG and picked up my test results from the check up (Monday) then..

Aug 16 - flight back home... Phew!!!;)

So that was it!.. Warned you it's gonna be long..;) 'til the next update... Ciao!


* SS - Secondary Sponsor (Veil, Cord, Candle)
MIL - Mother-In-Law
STD - Save-The-Date
OTD - my short term for On-the-day coordinator

xoxo,

To my friend and (scrapbooking mentor ;) ehehe!) Bhane, thanks for this award!


Now I'm passing it to my "girls": Anna, Escie, Khim, Jhan, and Lorna. All you girls need to do is just pass it on to 5 more friends, and that's it!:)

Have a great day everyone!;)

xoxo,

Yes.. I went home to PH for just ONE DAY!.. I was even dreading it days before my departure... I just knew it was going to be a very tiring trip.. and I was right.. But what I didn't expect was how extremely HAPPY I was that day!:)

My main objective for going home was for my 1st gown fitting.. But being my mother's daughter (ehehe! love you Mom!), I had to make the most out of my trip, so I planned to go to 3 more suppliers!.. ahaha!! Yes, I met 4 suppliers in less than 10 hours!! And they weren't exactly neighbors.. ehehe!! I went from Muntinlupa to Visayas Ave.! Ahaha!! Told you it was tiring!;)

So my 1st stop was with Jorge Palmos in Alabang Muntinlupa at around 10am. Good thing this was my first stop, becuase this definitely made my whole day!!:) Like I said at our WEDsite, we've had a few problems with regards to my gown.. First, I couldn't make up my mind what I want!.. Then we had a hard time settling for a supplier.. Then when Ms. Olie and I exchanged ideas about the gown, I knew the gown would be beautiful.... but I was still doubtful if it is the gown for ME.. I wasn't sure if I'd feel pretty and would look gorgeous wearing it.. so still no excitement there..

Then when I was fitting it... WOW!!... for the first time, I got really excited over my gown!!:) I've been enjoying all my wedding preps, many thanks to my (w@wie) friends... I'm having fun blogging about the preps... coordinating everything.. being hands-on to almost everything... but that gown fitting experience was a different sort of "high"!.. ahaha!! now, I really feel that I AM the BRIDE!! ahahaha!! And modesty aside, I felt pretty in it..;) ehehe!! Unfortunately, we forgot to bring a decent camera with us, but thank God for camera phones, we were able to "preserve" those moments..;) You can view more pictures here.

Our next stop was in Makati around 1pm with Wally Gonzales. I was supposed to pick up our Gustbook/Engagement album, and a framed photo... But due to some miscommunication, the items were not ready for pick up yet..:( but my mom and I did see the pages.. it was smaller in size than I expected.. but still nice..:) After that, we had a late lunch at a restaurant nearby.

Then, we went to Tita Juliet, who's making my girls' gowns, in Quezon City!.. We were able to call my cousin Irene to join us for her measurements..:) Another booboo on my part.. I didn't call Tita Juliet to inform her I was going to visit.. I sort of assumed she'll be home.. which is my bad.. so when we got there, we learned that she was at a parlor having a hair rebond! Hehe!! Good thing the parlor was just close by, so we came there with tape measure and all, and had my cousin measured there! ahaha!! At least it wasn't a complete waste of effort and time.. ehehe!!

Lastly, we went to Trinoma (a first for us) to meet Trina of Village Pro'jeKt for our invitations. I had so much fun talking to her! She showed me lots of her previous work, and they were all very unique and classy! She had lots of good ideas, and I can't wait for our August meeting to finalize the design of our invitations!:)

So there goes my 1-day visit to PH.. After that, my family went to dinner at Kanin Club in West Gate, Alabang to celebrate in advance my mom's birthday..:) Happy birthday, Mommy! and super thanks for accompanying last Saturday!:) Had fun "bonding" with you! Love you! Mwah!

xoxo,