The Making of Our Wedding

1 year and 3 months on...

2008-01-21T00:35:00.000+08:00

It's been a year and 3 months since our wedding. Time flies. So much has happened and our lives have changed forever in the past year.

Soon after we were married, we were blessed with God's greatest gift to us. We now have a 4+ months old baby boy who is the most handsome in our eyes. Yes we are biased but I believe all parents are :)

Our first wedding anniversary was not much of a celebration because I had just completed my one month of confinement after the delivery. I was struggling in learning how to care for baby and frankly, was very clueless and clumsy. But we were glad for having him with us on our very first anniversary regardless.

What else has happened? Let me see....oh yes! We also had to change our wedding bands because they got too small for our fingers. Haha...is that a sign of "prosperity"? ;) I would like to think so.

We didn't do our honeymoon where we initially planned to because my pregnancy got in the way. But since delivering, we've had 2 holidays together and they more than make up for the "forgotten" honeymoon. Everyday of our married life should be a honeymoon if we think of it as such, right?

The next question...

2006-11-23T23:17:00.000+08:00

After "graduating" from answering the "How's married life?" question, we are now bumped up into the next level. It's like those computer games where you clear one level of difficulty to proceed to the next.

What do you think is the question at Level 2 that we gotta clear?

No prize for guessing it correctly, though.

P/S: If you're asking the question too, the answer is: not right now... ;)

The song

2006-11-14T23:04:00.000+08:00

Some posts back, I said I'll write about how Ray charmed our guests (AND ME) at our wedding reception...so here's the post that tells it all.

Before the wedding, he has been frantically looking for the minus-1 for a song by Kenny Rogers called Crazy. Years back when we were dating, he mentioned he'll sing me the song only at our wedding. And true to his words, that's what he did.

He entered the reception belting out the song, and I joined him halfway. Although I never told him in so many words, it is the sweetest thing that anyone has ever done for me. To many, it might be just another wedding reception "gimmick" if you wanna call it that or simply a cliche for the groom to sing his bride a song, but for me it is a lot more than that. I can't pretend it didn't touch me, and now whenever I listen to it, it's so much more than just another love song.

A family friend captured the entire wedding on video and shared it with us. Here's an edited snippet of the reception in Muar to share. You can see me grinning ear to ear, no? :)

Here's the original song by Kenny Rogers and lyrics to the song:

Girl, there are no words to say
What I feel in my heart
You, you're on my mind night and day
And it hurts me when we're apart
When you're not here by my side
There is nothing in this world for me

I guess I'm crazy, crazy for you can't you see
And although you may think it's crazy
Here is where I want to be
I will always need your love

Now, I can see every dream
When I look in your eyes
And though things never are what they seem
There is one thing that I realize
That there's no doubt in my mind
We can make this love go on forever

I guess I'm crazy, crazy for you can't you see
And although you may think I'm crazy
Here is where I'll always be
And I need you with me 'cause you are the dream
That finally came true for me

And all my life there'll be no one else
If I looked all my life there could be no one else
And for the rest of my life all I need is you

1st month anniversary

2006-11-07T23:05:00.000+08:00

It's exactly a month since the wedding. It doesn't seem like a complete month has passed us by...but yet it has. Am I enjoying married life thus far? You bet. Is he enjoying married life? His reply to my question was "Oh yeah..."

I can live with that answer. :)

My favourite videoclip

2006-11-05T12:28:00.000+08:00

This is our wedding day videoclip. Of all the clips that we have, this is my personal favourite. It brings back such beautiful memories of the day's events.

It's a large file, so buffering time may take a while before you can view it smoothly. Perhaps you can pause it to let it completely download before watching.

Studio photographs

2006-11-01T21:45:00.000+08:00

Ju asked if I will be uploading the rest of our studio shots. I hesitated because there're over 60 of them and the file sizes are quite big. So after some thought, I decided to put them up as a slideshow.

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

Thank you dinner for our friends

2006-10-30T22:42:00.000+08:00

If our friends hadn't put in all the effort and hours to help us during our preparation days as well as on the wedding day itself, we wouldn't have been able to pull it off. They had long days and very little sleep and not a word of complaint. For that, we are deeply grateful. We threw them a thank you dinner over the weekend.

As it turned out, we had even more to celebrate. It was one couple's 6th wedding anniversary that night. We also congratulated another couple on their very recent engagement. Another friend of mine is also getting married and I am honoured to be recruited as one of her chi muis.

Love is in the air...and many more wedding bells are ringing! :)

Look at all the happy faces...

The whole gang
Our Bestman-cum-Matchmaker and his wife
The cousins
Pretty girls all in a row
Friends & I

Shopping has taken on a new form

2006-10-29T23:44:00.000+08:00

During the long break that we've been enjoying including this weekend, we've been shopping hard. Before, shopping meant buying mostly stuff like clothes, shoes, bags, you know, the normal stuff a girl shops for. But in the last 2 weeks, shopping has taken on a new definition altogether.

We've been going shopping for the most boring of things - from wall hooks to frying pans to drawer liners amongst other things. It sure sounds like "fun" shopping as husband and wife!

Really, I mean it :) Because it all boils down to us building every nook and corner of the home together.

And while I'm writing this post, my dear hubby is sweeping and mopping the floor. Ain't he a keeper? Not only for this reason. Next time I'll tell you about how he wowed the guests during our wedding reception.

For now, it's time to log off.

The most common question for now

2006-10-27T21:02:00.000+08:00

"How's married life?" Our common answer: Not that different from before.

But the truth is, I do feel some difference. Here're some:

1. His name used to be the the first on the "Last Dial" list on my mobile at the end of the day. Not anymore. I don't need to call to say goodnight anymore.

2. I'm quite keen now to catch horror movies because I know at the end of the night I won't be lying alone in bed imagining scenes from the show.

3. I haven't gotten used to it, but it's nice to have someone to call "Hubby".

4. I have more clothes to hang dry on the clothesline.

5. As he said so himself, I now have a "live-in mechanic". And if I may add, a "live-in DIY-man" too!

6. I used to be the only one hogging the TV at home. But now we're sharing.

7. I used to think girls have a whole lot more clothes than guys until I saw his entire collection waiting to be stored in our wardrobe!

Married life is blissful, ain't it?

Pictures

2006-10-19T23:00:00.000+08:00

You can use the "-" and "+" buttons to scroll slower or faster when viewing the slideshow.

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

Just Married

2006-10-11T14:30:00.000+08:00

We were married on Saturday in Muar. It really was a long day but definitely an unforgettable one in our lives. We would have loved to enjoy the moments more but Ray was still quite stressed on the wedding day as we still needed to tend to things. We had many wonderful friends who helped us so, so, so much that we can't thank them all enough.

I started with a wake-up call at 7 a.m. Before I even finished getting ready, the make-up artist was already there. The make-up session lasted till about 9 a.m. By then friends and chi muis have already arrived. The groom was expected at 9.30 a.m.

He arrived with his heng tais and were only slightly tortured by the chi muis (maybe the guys beg to differ?). I think it was way too easy but since we didn't have time on our hands, a little torture is better than none.

We headed to the association hall where our Registration was to take place. I expected a small room that will fit only our family members but the room was spacious with a big conference table in it and enough chairs to house our friends, chi muis and heng tais. We do feel so honoured that our ROM was witnessed not only by families but also by good friends.

He signed his life away and I was about to sign mine...

Big smile for everyone as we show off the Marriage Certificate

Then Ray and I proceeded to pay our respects to his ancestors and when we were done, he headed to the church while I headed for a change of gown back at the hotel. I was getting rather nervous when we finally arrived at the church. While the bridesmaid was fixing my veil, I saw, to my utter surprise and delight, that the church was filled at every pew! It was a humbling moment for me. We are so blessed to have all our guests be with us on our special day.

The moment came to walk down the aisle and that's when I saw the crowd closer. Amongst them were my relatives who had driven to Muar early that same morning and some who had flown all the miles back from abroad to witness this day. I had tears in my eyes but was careful not to let them roll down! No one wants to see a crying bride.

At the end of the aisle, there he was...

At the end of the service, we were pronounced husband and wife and walked out the church to the cheers of our guests. We took lots of pictures with everyone present (hope we didn't miss anyone out!) before proceeding to the buffet lunch in the church compound.

Man & Wife

The Heng Tais & Chi Muis looking at each other - Love & Hate Relationship?

In the afternoon we had simple tea ceremonies for both sides of the family. We then went to help out a little at the dinner venue where our friends were busy doing up the decoration. They did a fantastic job given the little time they had to arrange stuff and to get themselves dressed up and ready for dinner.

Look how romantic and beautiful our friends made our guest registration table

My evening make-up session took longer than expected and by the time it was done, I was the only one at home. Everyone had gone to the dinner hall and were waiting. While being driven to the venue by Ray's cousin, the Barbie which we had tied to the bridal car almost flew off. We stopped halfway to make sure she's fastened properly otherwise it would only be Ken arriving alone!

Ken & Barbie on the Bridal Car

We finally arrived and proceeded with the entrance, dinner and drinks...let's just say there were lots of "happy" people that night high on drinks.

Ray singing passionately as we make our entrance

Cake-cutting & champaigne pouring

I was very tired even before all the guests left. When we left, it was close to midnight. By the time the make-up was removed and all those pins in the hair taken off, I felt a load lighter!

Though tiring, it's been one helluva day to look back on and smile....it ain't all over yet. We've got another reception coming up in 2 days... :) More pictures then.

The ring pillow

By the way, all these beautifully taken pictures are courtesy of Ben.

Last day of work

2006-10-03T22:36:00.000+08:00

Today is my last day at work as a single gal :) So when I return to work a week and a half from now, I gotta change my personal details with HR and make a whole new set of declaration on behalf of the better half. What administrative work to "look forward to" :P

Tomorrow we'll be bringing the bridal car for decoration and I'm picking up my gowns too. I hope they fit nicely. Some weeks back I had to go re-measure and have the gowns altered because I lost weight. Since then, I've been trying to eat and snack more just to make sure I don't go down anymore. I easily lose weight when stressed.

Tomorrow is also time to get one last facial fit in before all that make-up has to be slapped on. I've also booked my manicure and I have to be so dainty afterwards as it has to last me a whole week more after the wedding on Saturday because we still have a reception a week after.

With all that done, the least favourite part of the plan kicks in...I gotta send my Babies to their "hotel" as we will all be heading to Muar.

So this really should be my last post before the wedding...and as a single gal! Gosh, how many times do I have to repeat that and remind myself huh? :P

Is this it?

2006-10-01T22:30:00.000+08:00

Barely 6 days to go...a good part of today is over and when I wake up tomorrow morning, it's only 5 more to go!

We've been busy at home installing electrical items, fixing up furniture and fittings, painting and moving things around. It's been a very tiring weekend. It's a pity we've to spend our last weekend as single individuals stuck at home playing house! But Ray has it slightly nicer...he's gone out now to enjoy his well deserved Bachelor's Nite with his buddies. Hen Nite for me? Nah...I don't think I have the energy and time to do one. And for someone as boring as me, Hen Nite and me just don't jive! :P

Anyway, I wonder if I will have any time to update this wedding blog of mine in the next few days leading up to the Big Day. And once it is over, I wonder what will happen to this blog...there's just no wedding stuff to blog about anymore! :( Does that mean an end to this blog? I would think so...I'm already missing it.

"Surreal, but nice"

2006-09-17T23:29:00.000+08:00

Remember this phrase? If you're a die-hard fan of Notting Hill, then maybe you'll instantly recognise it. Well, this is how I feel right now. It's only 20 days to our wedding and it feels so surreal...but nice.

Time has passed us by extra quickly these days because we're busy at work and with the final preparations for the day. I get easily tired because I'm not getting enough sleep, coupled with working on preparations till late.

I do think it's about time we slow down and get more rest before we burn out before the wedding day. But how? Maybe we suck at time management? Never mind...it's too late to worry about that now. All I want right now is to zzz....

Tomorrow will be another day...it's getting more and more surreal, but nice :)

Flower girls or little brides?

2006-09-17T23:25:00.000+08:00

I didn't want to have flower girls all along, wanting to keep things as simple as possible. But I don't know why I had a change of heart a couple weeks back and so my 2 God-sisters will walk down the aisle in front of me, tossing petals on the sides of the church aisle.

I was hoping to find them some very beautiful flower girls' dresses like the ones De Bookworm sent me that got me drooling. Just look at them:

Nice? :) But don't you think they look more like little brides than flower girls?

Anyway, we bought ours today. We just don't have such selection in the country. What a pity. But if we did, I think it'll cost a bomb too!

Less than a month to go

2006-09-10T23:22:00.000+08:00

It's been a very tiring weekend. It's 30 minutes to midnight and the bad news is that tomorrow, it's back to work. All weekend I've been doing nothing but everything that has to do with the wedding plans. Cleaned up, packed stuff, carried heavy boxes of things and moving them around took all my energy all afternoon yesterday. Then mom and I went shopping in the evening to find outfits for my mom.

We couldn't find anything but guess what? I ended up getting lots of necklaces as wedding presents! The best thing was I got to choose them myself. I ended up with 2 Swarovski pieces because I loved both and couldn't decide which to bring home...and so I was generously given both! We also chose mom's wedding gift to me. It's been a glittering night alright and I'm not used to it!

Today my day started with facial. I was told my skin condition has improved tremendously from the first time I visited when it was horribly dehydrated. I'm glad all the fortnightly facials and alternate nights of thirst-quenching hydration masks have paid off handsomely. These are definitely heavy investments for the big day. What to do, vain pot wants to look good!

Then I drove all over for the rest of the day, almost from one end to another sending out as many invites as I can. I've done this for 2 weekends now and I'm tired. I've decided to post the rest! Hand delivering is a warm gesture and something nice to do, but I'm running too short on time to try to meet everyone.

We went to look for outfits again since we didn't find anything suitable last night. We did this time, not all that we need but at least we're making progress filling the gaps a little at a time. I must say I've never expected little things like these to take so much time!

Finally, we've also picked up our wedding albums along with all the softcopies. So with that our wedding slideshow was completed last night. That's one thing out of the way but there're more to work on. And here are some more of my favourite pictures:

Lots have been done...

2006-09-01T23:44:00.000+08:00

Since the last post, I've been MIA on all my blogs. But I'm glad to say that we've accomplished a lot of things in the last month. Booked make-up artists in KL and Muar, found a florist we're happy with in Muar, decided on the theme of the church decoration, booked our photographer, bought some furniture, bought tea set and other customary stuff needed (boy they're so expensive!) and last but not least tonight we went for food tasting at the hotel. It was quite good throughout the 9 course meal, but sure, we do expect them to serve us nothing but the best tonight. On that day itself, it remains to be tasted.

On Sunday we'll be picking up the invitation cakes and I'll need to start delivering them to relatives' homes. We've also started to hand out the "summons" to our friends. :)

Next weekend we'll be picking up our photo albums from the bridal shop too. I hope that trip turns out pleasant. I'm tired of arguing with them already. Here's a little sneak peek at some photos...

Bad experience

2006-08-10T22:59:00.000+08:00

Today we went to the bridal studio to view the edited photos and to take home the softcopies if we are satisfied with them and return later for the complete albums. We found that each time we visit that place, we are sure to have arguments with the girl. Everything there is about money. We got really cheesed off.

She wanted us to settle a large portion of our bill for releasing the softcopies, without the actual albums. After some words, we agreed. It doesn't feel right for the photos to be so hard earned when we are paying for what is rightly ours!

When we got back, we realised that instead of giving us the softcopies for 2 of our albums, they only gave 1 album! We rang them up and she said the other album doesn't come with softcopies. That got us boiling mad again because we had purposely chosen different sets of photos for the second album and to get the softcopies, too. All the extras that we paid weren't just for the printed photos. So there we went arguing again and finally she caved unwillingly.

This hasn't been a very good experience at all. Although we are happy with the photography, the service really sucks. For those who will venture into this kind of photography arrangements in the future, be warned that everything is sweet and possible when you have not signed up. Once you're signed on, you receive bad service and every little request is met with a price tag.

Complete in Bangkok

2006-08-09T20:58:00.000+08:00

Our trip to Bangkok over the weekend was extremely fruitful. We did lots of shopping for working clothes and some casual wear, and we also got a lot of wedding stuff settled.

One of the main agenda was to have our dads' suits tailor made. After a day of looking at several tailors, we decided on the one opposite our hotel. Not only was it convenient, we had a pretty good deal and the fabric and workmanship of the suits are satisfactory. Ray also got his Tux altered for a fraction of what it would cost him back home.

One of the suits we ordered amidst all the fabrics in the shop.

In Pratunam, I came across a simple off-white wedding gown that I couldn't resist. It's a very simple piece and so affordable! I tried it on and kept walking around in it, not wanting to take it off while wondering if I should buy it. I asked Ray when do I get to wear it since I've already booked a rented gown. He said if I get it, I'll definitely find a time to wear it. He's right! ;) So I got it! It was a little big at the abdomen and the shop didn't do alterations. So we went back to our tailor and had it done.

Having the gown altered in the back. Now it fits just nice.

I think we've achieved a lot in the span of just 4 days to get all our attire made and altered.

When we visited Chatuchak, we didn't buy much. Not as much as we thought we would because prices weren't that cheap. Or maybe our bargainining skills suck? Anyway, we managed to get some wedding favours. Imagine lugging some 400 favours back on top of our shopping!

Today I went for another trial makeup and this time I like the result. It was natural enough and the hairdo was also a simple one with a little tiara. I fell in love with the mini tiaras when I first saw it some weeks back in Sg. Wang and had thought of buying them for my Queen Cats! :P But it looks like I'll be wearing it instead. 10 days from now I'll have another makeup trial in Muar. Hopefully it'll be what I like so that we can finally be finished with booking all these professionals.

Blooming flowers & therapy day

2006-07-30T20:30:00.000+08:00

It has been a very productive day in many ways. Made a visit to the hotel to discuss our timeline for decisions on the menu selection, decorations, food tasting and music licensing permit for the wedding.

Then I went to a florist and was quite impressed with the selection of flowers available. They're quite reasonably priced, for loose stalks at least. I was thrilled to find all the flowers we had in mind readily available - tulips and an assortment of lilies - white calla lily bulbs, white lilies and stargazer lilies. I would have loved to stay longer to look through all the flowers but it was cold in that highly air-conditioned "flower-supermarket". But at least now I know where to find what we want.

Next, I headed for my facial appointment. I can't remember the last time I did one. I'm not a regular at any form of therapy. But since I've been told my skin is dehydrated, I had to start doing something about it now. The beautician didn't think I started early enough, so she worked on me for 2 hours using an intensive hydrating mask she called "quenching thirst". It's the first time I've had a mask made of yogurt put on me. I really enjoyed it.

At the end of the session, she gave me some cream for the eyes and lips, and a blemish control to apply daily. She'll work on the hydrating process and eye treatment once every 3 weeks but I've got to keep my side of the bargain by doing my homework - apply those cream diligently. At the end of it all, she offered me advise on the most natural and free skincare regime to help create a radiant look - drink lots of water, sleep early and be happy. She also suggested an all-time "beauty diet" to follow - less chillies, no cold drinks, less coffee.

During the 2-hour session, we chatted and the topic of makeup come about. It turns out that they do bridal makeup too, and was featured in The Wedding Book. Just then, I recall seeing it in my copy. After seeing more samples and knowing some of their previous happy clients, we're arranging for a trial for both makeup and hairdo, complete with whatever tiara or pearl-drop pins I want. I hope this one works out so that I'll have one less thing to worry about.

On the other side, my better half went home to Muar to see to a couple of things. Little by little, we're starting to put in place all the jigsaw pieces to make this real. As much work as it is to organize a wedding, I think I'll miss all these activities once our big day is done with.

The last mile to a new beginning

2006-07-21T11:00:00.000+08:00

We're finally done with our last step of the Engaged Encounter program - the prenuptial enquiry. It was rather quick, just a half hour meeting with the priest to answer questions and sign on them.

Back in January we attended this compulsory marriage course and found that it has helped us and hopefully it will continue to grow us along together.

Adding a touch of humour to the cake

2006-07-20T10:09:00.000+08:00

Never seen any wedding cake like this before...

Love is a decision

2006-07-18T00:27:00.000+08:00

A friend sent me a good article on love in a marriage. It's definitely something I want to keep and come back to if and when the goings get tough. I'm realistic about life - nothing is perfect and there will never be a 100% smooth relationship that lasts a whole lifetime for any two people. There will be moments we will have to endure and I hope we will endure them together, holding on to each other and the lessons from this:

During one of our seminars, a woman asked a common question. She said,"How do I know if I married the right person?"

I noticed that there was a large man sitting next to her so I said, "It depends. Is that your husband?"

In all seriousness, she answered "How do you know?"

Let me answer this question because the chances are good that it's weighing on your mind.

Here's the answer.

EVERY relationship has a cycle. In the beginning, you fell in love with your spouse. You anticipated their call, wanted their touch, and liked their idiosyncrasies. Falling in love with your spouse wasn't hard. In fact, it was a completely natural and spontaneous experience. You didn't have to DO anything. That's why it's called "falling" in love... Because it's happening TO YOU.

People in love sometimes say, "I was swept of my feet." Think about the imagery of that expression. It implies that you were just standing there; doing nothing, and then something came along and happened TO YOU.

Falling is love is easy. It's a passive and spontaneous experience. But after a few years of marriage, the euphoria of love fades. It's the natural cycle of EVERY relationship. Slowly but surely, phone calls become a bother (if they come at all), touch is not always welcome (when it happens), and your spouse's idiosyncrasies, instead of being cute, drive you nuts.

The symptoms of this stage vary with every relationship, but if you think about your marriage, you will notice a dramatic difference between the initial stage when you were in love and a much duller or even angry subsequent stage.

At this point, you and/or your spouse might start asking, "Did I marry the right person?" And as you and your spouse reflect on the euphoria of the love you once had, you may begin to desire that experience with someone else. This is when marriages breakdown. People blame their spouse for their unhappiness and look outside their marriage for fulfillment.

Extramarital fulfillment comes in all shapes and sizes. Infidelity is the most obvious. But sometimes people turn to work, church, a hobby, a friendship, excessive TV, or abusive substances.

But the answer to this dilemma does NOT lie outside your marriage. It lies within it. I'm not saying that you couldn't fall in love with someone else. You could. And TEMPORARILY you'd feel better. But you'd be in the same situation a few years later. Because (listen carefully to this):

THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND.

SUSTAINING love is not a passive or spontaneous experience. It'll NEVER just happen to you. You can't "find" LASTING love. You have to "make" it day in and day out. That's why we have the expression "the labor of love."

Because it takes time, effort, and energy. And most importantly, it takes WISDOM. You have to know WHAT TO DO to make your marriage work.

Make no mistake about it. Love is NOT a mystery. There are specific things you can do (with or without your spouse) to succeed with your marriage. Just as there are physical laws of the universe (such as gravity), there are also laws for relationships. Just as the right diet and exercise program makes you physically stronger, certain habits in your relationship WILL make your marriage stronger. It's a direct cause and effect. If you know and apply the laws, the results are predictable... you can "make" love.

Love in marriage is indeed a "decision"... Not just a feeling.

The search continues

2006-07-17T11:45:00.000+08:00

I was pretty confident from my previous visit to Bobbi Brown that I liked their makeup style because it was very natural, clean and refreshing. Well, at least it was evident on their bridal brochures, pictures and even on the girls who serve at the counter. So yesterday I finally went for my first bridal makeup trial with them. The girl took pain and patience in trimming and shaping my thick brows, applying extra layers of moisturizer on my skin and doing the makeup. The whole process was about 1.5 hours (including asking her to remove the makeup when we were done observing the look).

She applied one side of the eye a lighter and more natural shade while the other had a darker contour to it and asked which I preferred. The makeup wasn’t quite what I expected. I looked rather messy and appeared to have a tan skin tone instead of a fresh-faced look. The makeup also seemed to have caked up on my face. She explained that it’s because my skin is too dry and therefore not absorbing the powder well, despite the extra layer of moisturizer.

In a way I was rather disappointed that it didn’t turn out well. I paid RM80 for the trial only to eliminate them, but gained a little advice on keeping my skin moist and hydrated. Now I have over 2 months to do something about this – use hydrating masks frequently and apply moisturizer diligently. I admit I haven’t been using a moisturizer for months!

The search for makeup artists continues…

All's well ends well

2006-07-15T23:37:00.000+08:00

I was quite nervous about today. Firstly, we had an appointment to meet Father Philip for our prenuptial enquiry. Next was an appointment with the bridal shop to choose our wedding photos.

When we got to the church, Ray realised that he had left the documents at home. We saw Father anyway and decided to schedule for another time. We left and headed to the bridal appointment.

We arrived at the bridal shop at 11a.m. The night before, I was quite anxious about this and even dreamt of it. I was worried that I'd not like the photos because of how I would look with make-up. I never wear any and don't even own a lipstick.

The girl at the shop made us tea and we waited while she downloaded our photos into the Mac. Then we were seated and she proceeded to show us all the photos in a slideshow with Minuet in G playing in the background. Well, I'm glad to say at first glance I didn't wince at myself and I actually thought the majority of them look nice.

The slideshow ended and now we were given all the time we need to pick and choose. Our starting point was 171 pictures. At first Ray and I were quite optimistic thinking that we will not be sucked into buying the whole lot. So we begin eliminating right away. By the time we were done with our 1st round elimination, we had around 120 pictures.

We started our 2nd round elimination and that's when the girl came with a pot of tea instead of our initial one cup each. She must have seen enough to know that we won't be done anytime soon. When we finished round 2 and 3, we ended up with 97 photos.

Now we did some calculation and decided to negotiate to purchase the extra photos we had chosen. This was when things got a little heated between us and the girl who must've assumed we printed money. We were quoted RM2,000 for the extras to be printed into albums! Even if we didn't print them and just want the softcopy, it cost us RM50 per picture. It was ridiculous.

So off we headed back to the Mac and decided to trim our selection further. After a long time, we eventually ended up with 67 pictures. This was the last cut. By now, the girl at the shop knew that we are capable of cutting down more and more so she offered to let us purchase all the 171 pictures with editing thrown in for RM1,150. But the offer came too late as we were already happy with our trimmed selection and wanted to stick to it and not pay anything more.

By the time we were finished with the bridal shop, it was almost 5p.m. Couldn't believe we spent close to 6 hours just to choose the photos, and we didn't even have lunch! But most importantly, both of us are happy with the pictures and I can sleep fitfully tonight.

3 months to go

2006-07-07T10:46:00.000+08:00

Exactly 3 months from today, we'll be exchanging vows. It seems like we've been planning for so long and looking forward to the wedding, but didn't realise that time had passed us by so quickly. The date is soon approaching. And before we know it, it'll be all over with the wedding and we'll begin a new life chapter.

The magic of a white gown

2006-07-04T17:21:00.000+08:00

There’s something about wearing that white wedding gown that makes a woman feel special. Well, if not for all women, at least I’m speaking for myself. When we went for our photoshoot recently, I had ample time flaunting myself in 3 different wedding gowns. I loved the feeling. I can’t explain why. Maybe it is a once in a lifetime thing that makes it so special.

I love this french-laced satin Victorian wedding gown. It's really heavy to pull off and rather grand, that's why I chose to wear it only for the photoshoot. This picture was "illegally" taken with a phone camera during the shoot. I liked this picture best because of the gown. I look nothing like me but I suppose the focus here is more on the gown.

I wonder if any bride had felt reluctant when getting out of the gown at the end of the wedding day. For those who owns a wedding gown, I wonder if they secretly put them on and admire themselves in the mirror long after the wedding. I wonder if I will do that years down the road.

Will that be silly or what?

Our Anniversary

2006-07-02T22:43:00.000+08:00

Today is our 5th year anniversary as a couple. I made a gift for Ray, using our special song that we've shared for the last 5 years. The lyrics are most meaningful to us.

Note: The file is really huge and the buffering is slower than the speed of the video. So I suggest you let the file load first before playing it. Click on the "Play" button, then pause it and let it load. When it's done, click on "Play" again to watch it without disruptions.

A full day of posing and smiling

2006-07-01T12:44:00.000+08:00

We started our day with breakfast before getting to the studio for the photoshoot. I chose 4 gowns - 2 white wedding gowns and 2 evening gowns in yellow and maroon. Ray had matching outfit for each of my gown, too.

When we got to the bridal house, everyone was friendly and I appreciate that very much because Ray and I wanted to be in a light-hearted mood so that we would enjoy the long day ahead. We've heard stories from friends that the photoshoot is a whole day affair and it gets tiring. Nevertheless, we wanted it to be a good day for us. I'm glad that without so much as making an effort to make the best of the day, we were already in high spirits and had countless moments of laughter and secret smiles exchanged between each other. It really warmed my heart.

It all began with putting on my outdoor wedding gown and I was seated to do my make up. I specifically told the make up artist that I want a natural look and as simple as it can get. As she was "painting" up my face, Ray told her that it was the first time he's ever seen me in make up in the 5 years we've been together.

When she was finished with the make up and hairdo, she and her assistant chose jewelries for me. They chose the simplest necklace design they could find as they knew my preference by then. But they had a problem finding earrings because the bridal house stocked up some chunky ones which would probably overshadow the frame of my face. So the ladies decided to make me simple Swarovski-beaded earrings in simple yet pretty designs. I was impressed at their speed at making them on the spot! I was also glad to be getting newly made ones because it meant they were hygenic for me, too.

Ray wore a 3-piece with a vest and tie to match my simple gown and we were well on our way for our outdoor shoot. Our photographer, J, met us then and asked our names. I repeated my name twice but he soon forgot it. I thought it was an easy enough name to remember but apparently not for him. He started calling me Riko throughout the shoot. At first I was rather puzzled as to who he was calling but soon realised it's me. I got used to it and even responded very naturally whenever he called me Riko. Ray thinks that he was calling me Ricoh the camera brand. Well, whatever works for him, just so long as he does a great job.

We went to Sentul West where there is a huge, beautiful garden with very nice landscaping. We took some shots and thank goodness for that because we soon saw security coming our way. He said we needed YTL's permission to take photos in that place. So Ray went up to the office to get approval but was told that we could have 10 hours to do the photoshoot for a hefty price of RM2,000! We thanked them and left. But not before taking a couple more final shots. :P

J recommended we move on to the old KTM building in town to continue our photoshoot. We accepted his recommendation and headed there. We were stuck in traffic for some time. When we got there, it was about time for Friday prayers so traffic was very heavy. J made me stand on the pavement so that he could capture the background of the KTM office building behind me. It was really weird because everyone who was stuck in a jam would probably be looking at this silly girl in a wedding gown, holding her bouquet, and posing for the camera in the middle of a pavement! I burst out laughing during one of the shots because he made me do this real funny pose when I knew people were watching. At the back of J, I saw Ray standing there and laughing, too. But I think he didn't think it was that funny anymore when he too got called up the pavement to do poses with me. Haha!

Our outdoor shots ended pretty quickly but we were glad because it was terribly hot under all that sun and let's face it, the weather in the last week or so have been rather warm. Imagine Ray in 3 layers and choked up in a tie while I had to deal with a wedding gown.

We got back to the studio for indoor shoots. The make up got a little heavier with each gown and I do regret that I let them put too much decoration on my hair. I think I looked quite ridiculous and really should have insisted on simpler hairdos. But what to do, pictures have been taken so I can only hope they turn out alright. Or we'll have to choose pictures where I look like me rather than some unrecognised person even to myself.

I have to say that the indoor shooting were a lot more tiring than the outdoor ones. Simply because we had to pose in certain ways to accentuate body postures. We did some fun and candid shots with funny facial expressions (Ray was asked to do a cock-eyed look but he couldn't!), some classic ones with more sultry looks, some romantic ones and a few silhoutte shots.

All in all, I think we did a little less than 200 shots in a day. At the end of it, we were tired and my back ached. We had little to eat for lunch and Ray was already craving for bak kut teh as we were leaving. We drove far to satisfy that craving and the first spoonful was heavenly.

When I got home, it took me a really long time to fully remove all that make up that was on my face and to shampoo off the colour and hair-spray that left my hair stiff and life-less. I got a good night's sleep and now I can't wait to see how the pictures are going to turn out.

Big no-no on the wedding day.

2006-07-01T12:37:00.000+08:00

Photoshoot

2006-06-27T16:32:00.000+08:00

This Friday is our photoshoot at the bridal studio. The gowns have been pre-picked but yet I feel pretty insecure about them. I keep thinking I should've picked something else, that I might look funny in make-up and a fancy hairdo.

So wish us luck and hope the pictures turn out OK.

Bridal hairdo and makeup search

2006-06-20T20:45:00.000+08:00

During the weekend, I tried on temporary curls on my hair to get an idea how I look in them.

The result: WEIRD! Either it wasn't done right or I'll rethink the curls.

Today I visited some cosmetic counters to ask about their bridal makeup services. Found someone at Bobbi Brown that I quite like. I didn't get a make-over but a friend asked to try on a product and so she had eye-shadow done on her. I like the nude look they apply at Bobbi Brown.

Will ask for a trial bridal makeup one fine day.

Like a little girl again

2006-05-29T12:03:00.000+08:00

We finally found the kind of Barbie we want at Toys "R" Us for our wedding figurine. The ones we saw previously were all blond Barbies in pretty wedding gowns. I'm not blond so we tried finding a non-blond one.

Thank God Toys "R" Us has a large selection of Barbies and even sell different designs of wedding gowns separately. So we made our choice and came up with our preferred combination. I also had to apply for my very first Toys "R" Us card to be entitled for discounts on our Barbie.

Proudly displaying a new card addition to my already stuffed purse

The gown I chose for Barbie and erm, some lingerie too. But no, we decided Barbie would go Commando ;)

As soon as I got her, I was so eager to start unpacking her from the box and dressing her up. It reminded me of my younger days playing with a Barbie doll! Anyway, here are some pictures of her.

This is our brunette, sweet looking Barbie

Her wedding gown, veil, bouquet of flowers, pearl necklace and matching shoes

All dressed up. Pretty?

Here comes the bride, all dressed in white!

I just love how simple but pretty she is!

Soft & Curvy

2006-05-26T16:40:00.000+08:00

I've had straight hair all the time, well except for the time I was in college when I did a perm and decided never again. But then, never say never because now I'm getting different ideas...

I'm thinking of simple soft curls for the wedding hairdo. I'm attracted to styles like these:

They tend to give a softer look and that's what I want to achieve.

Pearly white - Updated

2006-05-18T19:06:00.000+08:00

I hardly ever do anything to my hair other than to tie it up when it's a hot day. But I love small sparkly hairpins tucked nicely into a hairdo just like the ones in the picture above.

The kind that I would pick out would be simple ivory-coloured pearl ones just like these:

Not sure where to find them yet. More hairy research to do! :)

Updated - 25 May 2006
Found them cheap and cheerful! :D

Barbie & Ken

2006-05-11T13:57:00.000+08:00

Ray has this great idea of using a Barbie bride and her obvious (or only?) choice of groom, Ken, as our wedding figurines. I think it's a good idea too. So we went browsing the toy section for the pair. We didn't have many choices, we only saw the bride without her groom.

Bride without her groom

We also came across Rapunzel Barbie in her wedding gown with her Prince Ken.

Rapunzel Barbie in her wedding gown

Prince Charming Ken to be paired with Rapunzel

Happily Ever After Barbie & Ken

We need to browse more toy sections. Whatever happened to those Barbie wedding collection I used to see when I didn't need them?!

Invitation cards

2006-05-11T11:28:00.000+08:00

Some card designs that I picked out, taking Ray's lead to finding the sources. Still can't decide what kind, design, etc. But they sure look great to me. A mix and match would be great, but we're so spoilt for choices!

Cravats for the Groom

2006-05-03T17:14:00.000+08:00

Since Ray is into cravats for our big day, we've been searching for the right match and style. Found a step-by-step method with pictures on how to tie and wear it, courtesy of Tom Sawyer. I never knew there were so many different types and ways to wear a tie!

I also read somewhere that cravats are only for the Groom and Best Man. Not even the Father of the Groom is to wear it. Special or what? :)

Anyway, here are the instructions:

1. Drape around your neck and take short end in your left hand (if you’re right handed).

2. Cross long end over short end.

3. Bring long end underneath short end.

4. … and wrap over again.

5. Bring the long end up through the loop you’ve created.

6. ... and if you want a self tie cravat, just bring the long end down, tighten the knot and secure with a cravat pin or pearl headed corsage pin. If you want a Scrunchie tie ignore this picture and go on to no.7

7. Tuck the long end through the loop you’ve created at the neck – exactly the same as a normal necktie.

Scrunchy Tie Tied

Scrunchy Tie Pinned

Groom's Attire

2006-05-02T11:00:00.000+08:00

Scouting around the web and came across some general but good tips for a groom in the making.
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We've never met a man who doesn't look great in a tuxedo, but that doesn't mean he has to wear one at his wedding. Today's options are endless. As you're deciding on your attire, one thing to keep in mind is the formality of the event -- is it a black tie wedding or a beach wedding? Take your cue from the bride. Then create a look that fits your personality and complements her.

Tuxedos

Black Tie -Black tie weddings are hotter than ever, and statistics show that more men own tuxedos than ever. And while Armani makes a gorgeous tux, you don't have to spend a fortune -- there are many labels at a wide range of prices. You can certainly rent a tux, but if you plan to wear one more than twice, it pays to buy.

After Hours Tuxedos

Tux Shirts - There are various types of tuxedo shirts, including the ¼" pleated shirt and the wider, very elegant ½" to ¾" pleat. The pique shirtfront is also popular, and works well on larger guys. There are other options as well, such as a placket front or horizontal pleats. There are three types of collars: the wing collar, the most popular, in which you can see the whole bow tie; the laydown collar, which reveals only the bow and knot; and the band collar, with which no tie is worn -- instead, a cufflink-like fastener closes the shirt at the throat.

Studs And Cufflinks - Although tux shirts are available with button cuffs, French cuffs fastened with cufflinks are a common choice. Most tux shirts button down the front, but also offer special buttonholes below the neck for the insertion of shirt studs. They come in sets of four and should match your cufflinks. Cufflinks and studs run anywhere from $20 to $100, and are usually made of onyx or mother-of-pearl, surrounded by gold plate or silver.

Ties - Formal silk or satin bow ties and cummerbunds are forever. However, many men opt for a gray or black satin classic tie instead.

The Right Tux For Your Body Type - Certain styles look best on certain body types. Here are some tips:

Tall And Slender - You could probably wear any style, but thin men look best in double-breasted jackets. Shoulders should be padded a bit more than normal, and the trousers should be full with a higher rise.
Tall And Husky -- The shawl collar tux is the perfect choice. The jacket is usually single-breasted with one button and the trouser legs should be slightly wider if you have large or muscular thighs. Avoid thin bow ties; instead choose a tie that is in proportion with your face and neck.

Short And Stocky -- The shawl collar tux is a good choice, single-breasted, with the button around the belt line to make your torso appear longer and leaner. Choose a jacket with a lot of shoulder padding, and consider pleated trousers. Avoid wing-tip collars and very small ties if you have a large face or neck. If you are on the heavier side, consider a vest over the traditional cummerbund.

Short And Thin -- A single-breasted jacket with a low single button will lengthen the lines of your look. If you'd like to appear broader, a notched or "peal" lapel is a good choice. Or create the same effect with a double-breasted jacket. The trousers should be pleated with reverse double pleats, and the trouser legs should break just above the shoes, angling slightly downward in back. Smaller bow ties are the best choice for your frame, as are vests with an elegant, understated pattern.

A Final Word -- If your choices are slim, opt for a shawl collar jacket. It's a classic - you can't go wrong.

Tux Alternatives

The Dark Suit. A navy blue, charoal or black suit with a white shirt and dark tie is a gorgeous look -- one worn by the late JFK Jr.

The Dinner Jacket. If your wedding is between Memorial Day and Labor Day, nothing is more elegant than a white dinner jacket. Winter wedding? How about a gray flannel dinner jacket? Or blackwatch plaid? Or black velvet? All stunning.

Casual Attire. For less formal weddings, the range of creativity is endless. When choosing attire, consider the precise location. If it's a beach wedding, will it take place on the sand or nearby? In either case, there are few more elegant looks than a blue blazer and khakis. If you want to go really casual, consider navy trousers -- or even stone-colored khaki shorts -- with a white linen shirt. As long as your attire fits the occasion, you can't go wrong.

Whether you're choosing a tuxedo or a casual look, try to project yourself forty years into the future. If you've chosen simple, classic attire, your love won't be the only thing that's timeless.

Source of article: The Wedding Network

Wedding Wisdom for a Happy Marriage

2006-05-02T10:40:00.000+08:00

1. The little things are the big things.

2. You are never too old to hold hands.

3. Remember to say "I Love You" at least once a day.

4. Never go to sleep angry.

5. Never take each other for granted.

6. The courtship should not end with the honeymoon, but last your whole marriage.

7. Have a mutual sense of values and common objectives.

8. Stand together to face the world.

9. Form a circle that gathers in the whole family.

10. Do little things for each other every day out of love not duty.

11. Let the other person know they're appreciated.

12. Don't ever expect your husband to wear a halo, or your wife wings.

13. Don't look for perfection in each other.

14. Cultivate flexibility, understanding, but most of all a sense of humour.

15. Learn how to forgive and forget.

16. Give each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.

17. Find room for things of the spirit.

18. Establish a relationship in which independence is equal, dependence is mutual and obligation is reciprocal.

19. Never be ashamed of honest tears.

20. Win without boasting, lose without excuses.

Pearls of wisdom from Secret Brides Business.

Productive weekend

2006-05-02T10:01:00.000+08:00

Saturday morning we went to the tailor's, spent 2 hours or so and got some gowns tailored. Now we're anxiously waiting to see how they'll turn out. I'm also anxious to make sure I don't grow any more or less in the next few months!

While we were in Muar, we also got a few things done - saw the priest and straightened out the procedure for the marriage registration. I was relieved to know that we needn't go through the normal way of doing this, which we've heard is by no means easy nor convenient.

We also went carbo-loading when we visited two bakeries to check out wedding invitation cakes. There were sponge and marble cakes to choose from. We sampled both and even took home free boxes of cakes courtesy of the bakery!

Multi-flavoured sponge cakes with icing. A little too sweet for my tastebud.

Marble cup cake, which tasted better than the sponge cake.

I don't think I should sample more cakes. Otherwise my dresses may not fit!

Western Wedding Traditions

2006-04-28T11:51:00.000+08:00

Interesting to know why a bride wears a white gown; needs something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

I found this list of Wedding Traditions from Wedding Manor.

Why a wedding ring?
As far back as literature documents weddings, the wedding ring has been in evidence. Some believe the wedding ring was the first element of wedding traditions. The circular shape of the wedding ring symbolizes never-ending love.Third finger, left hand? It is believed that the vein in the third finger of the left hand runs directly to the heart.

Why does the bride where a veil?
Many moons ago it was believed that a veil would protect the bride form evil spirits. Today the white veil is a symbol of modesty and virginity.

Why does the bride wear white?
In Colonial times a bride often wore her "Sunday best" to her wedding. It was not until the 1840's, when Queen Victoria was married in a white wedding gown, that "white gowns" became the rage. White is also a symbol of affluence, purity, joy and virginity. Today, brides can choose many shades of white, from bright white to champagne.

Why carry flowers?
Historically, flowers & herbs have played a significant role in the attraction of "good" and/or the warding off of "evil". Greeks used ivy for the sign of lasting love. Today, pretty wedding flowers convey a message of fertility and enduring love and romance.

Why something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue?
To insure a happy and lasting marriage, a bride should carry something old from someone who has been married for a long time and something new, to carry into her new life. Something borrowed, "borrowed happiness", something blue, "the color blue has been associated with purity and modesty". A penny in your shoe, place a penny in your shoe to bring good fortune and protection against want.

Why is a white runner used?
The white runner, signifies a pure pathway into happiness. Rose petals in the bride's path lead her to a sweet and plentiful future.

Why is the bride given away?
In days of old, the bride was literally given to the groom in an arranged marriage. Today "giving away" is seen as symbolic of her parent's support for her union.

Why is the ceremony sealed with a kiss?
Occurring at the end of the ceremony, the kiss announces a new union and married status.

Why is there a wedding cake?
It is a symbol of good luck and fertility, cake being exchanged is to show loyalty and devotion to one another.

What is a groom's cake?
A groom's cake is often a rich dark cake or a cake in the groom's favorite color, sport or hobby. The groom's cake is a way to share the couple's good fortune and the sweetness of married life.

Why toast at a reception?
Toasting represents the collective best wishes of friends & family. Toasts may be offered with any beverage, but champagne is a wedding favorite. Raising a glass together is a way for everyone to share in wishing wellness & happiness to the newlyweds.

Why are there wedding favors?
The bride and groom are considered to be lucky, as is anything they touch. Wedding favors are a way for the bride and groom to thank their guests for sharing in their happiness and to symbolically pass on their "good luck".

Why is the bouquet tossed?
The custom of tossing the bouquet is the modern day alternative to the old tradition of the "tearing of the wedding dress". In days gone by, single ladies would tear a piece of the brides dress for good luck. One can only imagine the fate of the brides gown at a large gathering! Thus the tossing of the bouquet is the modern alternative that allows the bride's gown to remain intact. It should not be forgotten that the lady who catches the bouquet is the next woman to be married.

Why is the garter tossed?
Like the bouquet toss, the garter toss is also a modern alternative to the less than savory tradition of old. In the old days, guest would follow the newlyweds to their room and wait for them to undress then take their stockings and toss them at the bride & groom. The first male to hit the bride or groom with their stocking would be lucky and the next to marry. Thus the garter toss. The gentleman who catches the garter would be next to wed.

Why are shoes attached to the car?
Shoes represented power. Shoes signify the creation of a new family unit. Shoes and cans were attached to the bumper of a car to cause a noisy clatter intended to drive off evil spirits.

Why is the bride carried over the threshold?
It was believed that evil spirits hovered at the threshold of the home the newlyweds would enter. The bride was lifted over the entrance to keep the evil spirits from entering through her feet.

Why throw rice?
Rice and wheat symbolize fertility, prosperity, and bounty. Today guests throw rose petals, potpourri, wheat, millet seed and birdseed. Showering the newlyweds in bubbles or releasing birds, butterflies and ringing of bells replace rice today.

Fabric craze

2006-04-24T09:52:00.000+08:00

Upon checking that the bridal house’s latest dresses are in store, we went over in the hope of picking out the gowns. To my great disappointment, the designs are just not what I want. They are too elaborate for me. The one simple one that could have been, well it didn’t fit length wise and there was not much that could be done to alter it because it’s got a trailing tail.

I’m told to return earlier next month where more gowns should be in. I’ve pretty much lost confidence that I will find something I like, looking at the trends coming in. I’m not willing to drape myself in something that I feel uncomfortable and awkward. So came Plan B – to tailor the gown. Since I have some ideas in mind of what I would like in a gown, it was quite easy to choose my fabric and colours – a mix of satin and chiffon. It’ll be a very simple dress inspired by a combination of a few designs I like. Whilst it looks alright in my head, I hope the outcome of the real thing won’t be weird or I’ll be doomed.

We’ll be making another long gown for the bridesmaid too and we’ve also chosen the fabric and design. So come this weekend, we’ll all head to the tailor’s and make some gowns! :)

Wedding Stationery

2006-04-24T09:49:00.000+08:00

We started looking at wedding stationeries needed – church booklet covers and invitation cards. From the selection we saw, we had a similar liking for one design. But we still have time and probably more choices from other shops, so it’s not time to buy them yet. Tried to search for some designs on the web but don’t see much offered. Maybe my keywords are not right, but I do suspect there isn’t a big demand for such items. Nevertheless, I think we still have a few more stores to check out.

Chinese wedding traditions

2006-04-17T16:46:00.000+08:00

This is another post on wedding traditions, following the one on Tea Ceremony earlier. An interesting read and something to learn for our Big Day! =)
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Chinese wedding traditions are as varied and complex as China is vast. In addition, during the centuries of ethnic Chinese migration throughout Asia, traditions have evolved and changed due to a myriad of regional and cultural influences. The traditions discussed below offer a preliminary overview for couples who wish to include elements of their Chinese heritage in their wedding plans.

Family First.
The best place to begin your plans is with your own family. Discuss your desire to include Chinese traditions with your relatives who have an understanding of such matters. Parents may have included culturally significant elements in their wedding and would be honored and touched that you wish to include similar practices in your ceremony. Our older relations are our best links to our past and can offer knowledge we may not be able to find elsewhere, especially about the region of our ancestry and its unique traditions. Don’t hesitate to ask them to share their expertise. If they don’t have all the answers you’re looking for, they will likely be able to point you in the right direction. If you were raised in a community with significant Chinese influences, you have no doubt attended weddings that included Chinese elements. Search your memory for the points that moved you most, then learn how to include them in your own wedding.

Ancient and Modern.
The current Asian-American wedding often melds Western customs with elements of traditional Asian celebrations. Today’s Chinese-American bride may not agree with certain customs and decide not to include them in her ceremony, or the couple may choose to celebrate in Chinese style on one day and Western style on another. This is a particularly common practice if only one member of the couple is Chinese. Remember, it’s your wedding to plan any way you wish. Include or exclude elements, old and new, in the way that is most satisfying to you as a couple.

The Basis.
Carried forward for more than 2,400 years, a set of traditions form the basis from which most modern Chinese ceremonies and the events surrounding them are interpreted. Known as the "Three Letters and Six Etiquette," the procedures mainly concern formal arrangements between the two families that are being joined, and are rarely carried out in full today.

Three Letters -- letters exchanged between the two families.
The groom’s family sends this letter to the bride’s upon the announcement of the engagement. The letter formalizes the engagement and is sent with several gifts. A letter is sent by the groom’s family along with a more formal collection of gifts. This missive is more of a gift list than a letter of communication. The bride’s family sends a wedding letter to the groom’s family on the wedding day, formalizing the fact that the bride is being brought into a new family.

Six Etiquette -- six customs carried out before the couple is married.
An emissary sent by the groom’s family to persuade the bride’s family of the groom’s interest in their daughter. The groom’s family requests the bride’s birth date and time. The couple’s birthdates are given to a fortune teller who decides if the couple is a good match. If compatible, the groom’s family sends gifts to the bride’s family. The groom’s family sends more formal gifts. The fortune teller selects a wedding date. On the wedding day, the groom fetches the bride from her family’s home and brings her to his family home where the ceremony is performed. The couple serves tea to the groom’s parents followed by a wedding banquet.

The Evolution.
In the past, the procedures mentioned above were considered essential and were followed for centuries. From them, the elements of most modern ceremonies are drawn. There were many other procedures and rituals followed by couples in the past that persist today. The principle vestige is the exchange of gifts between the families of the bride and groom when the engagement is announced. The groom’s family will sometimes send small, sweet cakes known as "bridal cakes" or "messenger cakes" to the bride’s family. In turn the bride will distribute the cakes to her relatives as announcements of the upcoming wedding. In addition to the gift exchange, it is quite common today for the families to join in throwing the couple an elaborate engagement party.

In place of the fortune teller, many families choose to consult a Chinese calendar to determine a "good day" for the wedding. As in days of old, the groom offers to pay for the wedding, though financial arrangements vary widely, with the bride often contributing substantially.

In the past, as part of the pre-wedding preparations, couples were expected to acquire a new bed to sleep in as a married couple. Today, most couples simply prepare a bed with new linens, often red to symbolize good luck.

The hair combing ceremony is not always performed today, but it is a lovely ritual that is meaningful and simple to perform. The night before the wedding the bride bathes and then takes a seat either in front of lit candles or within sight of moonlight. Her hair is combed by a woman (often her mother) who is considered to be fortunate in life. Her hair is combed four times.

The first combing symbolizes "from beginning to end."
The second combing means "harmony from youth through old age."
The third combing is a wish for many grandchildren.
The fourth combing offers hope for wealth and a marriage that lasts a long, long time.

The groom sometimes goes through this ceremony in his own home as well, but more often he takes part in a capping ritual symbolizing his passage into adulthood. He kneels in front of a family altar where his father places a decorated cap on his head. He bows first to the altar, and then to his family members.

On the wedding day the groom and his groomsmen arrive at the bride’s home and go through a mock bargaining session for her with her bridesmaids. The groom is often made to do funny embarrassing things such as dances or recitations before the attendants release the bride to him. The couple then serves tea to the bride’s parents. Her parents offer them a gift before they leave for the groom’s home. In the past, the bride alone would serve the tea as a parting ritual. At the groom’s home the couple serves tea to his parents and older relatives as a sign of respect, whereupon the couple receives more gifts. The families then head for the church or registrar to complete the wedding ceremony itself.

The importance of the ceremony often takes second place to the wedding banquet. For many families, the banquet offers an opportunity to repay past kindnesses of family members and friends. It is often seen as a way to renew the good fortune, respect and happiness of the whole family. As many as twelve courses are served during the couple’s banquet. Abundance is the operative word, so if you plan to attend a Chinese wedding, be prepared for a long, fun-filled evening where you’ll eat up a storm.

In addition to the traditional Western wedding gifts, couples at a Chinese wedding will be given small, red envelopes filled with money. The couple collects these packets from the guests as they visit the tables, or guests deposit the packets in a designated box. Large sums of money often accumulate, so many couples hire a security guard to watch the money box.

It is common for a Chinese bride to be married wearing either a traditional Chinese red silk dress or a Western-style white gown, but during the reception she may change clothes several times. These wardrobe changes once symbolized the opulence of her family, but now it is just for fun.

Note from blog author: This article was sourced from Wedding Channel

I can't get enough feasting on dresses!

2006-04-12T20:41:00.000+08:00

The title says it all.

Bridal Dresses

Bridesmaid's Dresses

The Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony

2006-04-12T09:22:00.000+08:00

Last night we were discussing some Chinese customary rituals for the wedding. There are lots that we aren't clear of. For those that we know of, we do it for the sake of doing so because it is required, without understanding why.

So for a start, here's one to begin with some basic understanding, the Tea Ceremony.
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The Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony is an important ceremony for all Chinese newlyweds.

It is usually done without any qualms as it is symbolic of paying respects to your in-laws. Questions like why are only the groom's parents offered tea is often asked. Can the bride's parents also be offered tea? Is there a symbolic significance to this? What physical position should they be served tea, sitting or standing?

Significance of the Tea:

Tea is probably used because it is China's national drink and serving it is a sign of respect. Using tea is practical because not everyone can drink alcohol.

Lotus seeds and two red dates are used in the tea for two reasons. First, the words "lotus" and "year," "seed" and "child," and "date" and "early," are homophones, i.e. they have the same sound but different meanings in Chinese. Secondly, the ancient Chinese believed that putting these items in the tea would help the newlyweds produce children early in their marriage and every year, which would ensure many grandchildren for their parents. Also, the sweetness of the special tea is a wish for sweet relations between the bride and her new family (which is foremost in her mind!)

Serving the Tea:

On the wedding day, the bride serves tea (holding the teacup with both hands) to her parents at home before the groom arrives. She does this out of respect and to thank her parents for raising her. The tea at this time does not need to have the lotus seeds or dates, and the bride does not need the assistance of a "lucky woman." She pours and serves the tea by herself without the groom.

Traditionally, after the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds serve tea (holding the teacups with both hands), inviting the groom's elders to drink tea by addressing them by formal title, e.g. first uncle or third aunt.

The general rule is to have the woman on the left side and the man on the right side. The people being served will sit in chairs, while the bride and groom kneel. For example, when the newlyweds serve tea to the groom's parents, the bride would kneel in front of her father-in-law, while the groom would kneels in front of his mother.

The newlyweds serve tea in order, starting with the groom's parents then proceeding from the oldest family members to the youngest, e.g. the groom's parents, then his paternal grandparents, then his maternal grandparents, then his oldest uncles and aunts, and all the way to his older brother.

In return, the newlyweds receive lucky red envelopes ("lai see," which means "lucky") stuffed with money or jewellery. The helpers, who are usually women blessed with a happy marriage or wealth and chosen by the fortuneteller or bride's mother, also get lucky red envelopes stuffed with money from those being served. These envelopes are placed on the platter, which holds the teacups.

The tea ceremony has undergone few modifications throughout the years and today's tea ceremony, whilst still full of significance and meaning, is often a shortened procedure involving the presence of close friends of the bride and groom.

Source: Female Brides Online

Pew bows for church decorations

2006-04-10T16:49:00.000+08:00

To decorate the entire church for the wedding is not the easiest of tasks. I was doing some search for ideas on how to decorate the church and found that simple pew bows can do wonders and they give the church a nice, weddingy look. Of all the pew bow designs I've looked through, I like the above one the best.

Hopefully the home-made pew bows will turn out as classic as the ones in the picture, if not better.

Found some instructions on how to make them.

MATERIALS FOR ONE BOW

4 1/2 yds (4.5m) of
2 5/8-inch wide (6.5cm) brocade merrow-edge wire ribbon in ivory
4 1/2 yds (4.5m) of
1 1/2-inch-wide (4cm) wire-edge sheer ribbon in ivory
1 yd (1m) of 2 5/8-inch wide (6.5cm) wire-edge sheer ribbon in ivory.
2 to 3 branches of ivy
Tacky glue or hot glue

DIRECTIONS

Cut three 1 1/2-yard (1.5m) lengths from the 2 5/8-inch (6.5cm) ivory brocade ribbon. With right sides out, make a 6-inch (15cm) loop at one end of each. Wire all three lengths together and notch ends.

Following the instructions below, make a twelve-loop bow with 16-inch (40.5cm) tails from the 1 1/2-inch (4cm) ivory sheer ribbon. Wire this bow to the loops from step 1.

Following the instructions below, make a fancy pulled rose from the 2 5/8-inch (6.5cm) ivory sheer ribbon. Glue the rose to the center of the ribbon bow.

Glue the ivy to the pew bow.

GENERAL BOW TECHNIQUES

To fasten a bow with wire, fold an 18-inch (50cm) length of wire in half. Place the folded wire underneath the chosen ribbon and wrap the wire around the center, inserting the wire ends through the loop to tighten. Pull the wire ends to secure, bringing one end around center again at back. To tighten, twist the bow -- not the wire -- a few times.

TWO-LOOP BOW AND VARIATIONS

Cut a length of ribbon as specified in the project instructions. Wrap the ribbon back and forth, forming two loops with tails. Glue a small strip of ribbon around the ribbon loops to hold it in place. Ease the ribbon tail to the back of the bow.

For four-, six-, eight-, ten-, and twelve-loop bows, simply increase the number of loops before securing the center strip.

Note: When using ombre~ ribbon, results will differ depending on which side of the ribbon you work. Experiment with this for interesting color variations.

PULLED OR GATHERED ROSE

Cut ribbon to desired length. Knot one end, and pull knot firmly toward end to secure. From opposite side, gently pull one wire, slowly gathering ribbon along that edge. Continue gathering until entire side is completely ruffled and curling naturally. Wrap gathered ribbon around knotted end, forming a bud. Continue wrapping lightly so ribbon flares out and acquires an open rose effect. Tie wires together and trim. Adjust shape by fluffing or crumpling.

Author's note: This content is courtesy of Offray.com

Exactly 6 months from today

2006-04-07T21:16:00.000+08:00

The Day is exactly 6 months from today. All the fuss that goes into planning it will be all over...

The Ring Bearer

2006-04-06T14:48:00.000+08:00

Following my previous post on Ring Bearers, this is one we don't need.

Ring Bearers

2006-04-04T11:12:00.000+08:00

Found some nice ring pillows such as these:

We'll probably not use them at our wedding, it's just something nice to have and pretty to look at. But for our good friends who will be tying the knot before us, maybe you may find them useful.

To Ann & Nick, Steven & Shireen, congratulations! =)

Cheongsam Express

2006-04-03T15:58:00.000+08:00

While in Beijing recently, we came across a silk shop in Yue Show complex. It has a wide variety of China silk and some very nicely designed cheongsams. There were a variety of traditional ones and some with contemporary designs.

We decided to make my first cheongsam that I could wear for the wedding and I chose a piece of silk cloth in soft gold, with embroideries of dragons in gold and flowers in baby pink.

It was about 8pm when we did the measurements. That same night around midnight, the skeleton of the cheongsam was made and brought over to our hotel room for fitting.

The next day, at 7am, the completed cheongsam was delivered to the hotel. All in all, it was less than a 12-hour job and I’m impressed with the tailoring speed and also satisfied with the service and results.

The "sifu" hard at work during the midnight fitting session

Bridal Bouquets

2006-03-27T11:31:00.000+08:00

Our receptions will be provided with flowers so we don't need to pay extra for that, other than to buy some for the church decorations and maybe the bridal bouquet and corsages. Flowers cost a bomb! But they sure make up very beautiful rooms.

It would be nice to have a fresh bridal bouquet but they are costly and lasts only for the day. I'd hate to see them die or to throw them out. Nevertheless, I couldn't resist looking around and saw some that I like.

Some of my favourite bridal bouquets:

Tulips
Pink Toss
Eustoma, orchids & corsa ball
Pomander ball

True love

2006-03-25T12:30:00.000+08:00

I'm sure it would have been a touching and beautiful wedding.

If you are viewing this in a feed reader then click here for a link to see the Lucky Bride.

Bridal Shoes - Updated

2006-03-24T13:51:00.000+08:00

When I wasn't looking specifically for bridal shoes, I see lots of them displayed on sale, some with even great discounts. But when the time came to start looking out for them, I could find only 1 pair in a huge mall with many shoe shops. Ironic!

But I did find quite a fair selection at an unheard of shoe boutique in the heart of town, right by my office. The photography ain't great and don't do them much justice. But that's the best I could manage given that I had to sneak to photograph them whenever the sales girls weren't looking.

I saw a pair that I like but haven't had time to try any. Maybe I will soon.

Updated: 27 March 2006

A few of us girls happened to go shoe hunting on Sunday and after trying on a few pairs, I settled for something very simple.

Love is in the air...

2006-03-22T20:43:00.000+08:00

Recently we have been very happy to share some wonderful news of some of our good friends who will also be getting married very soon. I guess we will be more or less in the same stage of our lives, sharing similiar mindset and frequency when it comes to this common topic of "Wedding". It's a good time to exchange tips and ideas of where to get the better deals!

In love with another dress

2006-03-22T20:34:00.000+08:00

Over the weekend we achieved yet another task of getting the Bridesmaid dress confirmed and bought. It will be ready end of this month, but we'll probably collect it first thing next month since we'll be away.

We also saw a simple white gown which I couldn't resist trying. I really loved it but I'll feel really bad if I had to hang it up for the rest of the time after wearing it just once. So, perhaps it's better to just rent it from our current bridal package. But then again, if I don't find any that I like as much as that one, hmm...something to think about despite the guilt I just said!

Double standard or what?

Wedding Favours

2006-03-22T20:20:00.000+08:00

Something else to add to our To Do list would be to look out for Wedding Favours.

No specific ideas but my first task is to check out Fortune Cookies which I've forgotten to do last week. It'll be quite neat if we had Fortune Cookies with romantic messages in them instead of fortune-telling ones.

You are a part of Me

2006-03-17T13:59:00.000+08:00

I thought this optical illusion does a great job to say that You are always a part of Me.

Wedding Songs - Updated with MIDIs

2006-03-15T20:37:00.000+08:00

Surfing about to get ideas, I found a pretty comprehensive and satisfactory list compiled by Discjockeys.

We'll have to go through these and see if we agree on something soon. Will start striking out those not wanted and highlight those preferred.

Updated: 23 March 2006
Now some of these are linked to MIDIs to check out what they sound like. Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Ceremony music:

Prelude music: Played prior to the ceremony, while guests are arriving.

~~Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven)~~
Isn't It Romantic (Glenn Miller)
Water Music (Handel)
Ave Maria (Schubert / Gounod)
The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
Greensleeves (Traditional)
Rhapsody In Blue (Gershwin)
God Only Knows (The Beach Boys)
As Time Goes By (A Kiss Is Just A Kiss) (Tony Bennett)
Arioso (Bach)
Ode To Joy (Beethoven)
Brandenburg Concerto #2 (Bach)
Gloria (Vivaldi)
~~Unchained Melody (Righteous Brothers)~~

Processional & Bridal music:

Played during the time the family, wedding party, and the bride walk down the aisle.

~~Bridal Chorus (Here Comes The Bride) from "Lohengrin" (Wagner)~~
Trumpet Voluntary in D (The Prince of Denmark's March) (Clarke or Purcell)
Canon in D (Pachelbel)
The Four Seasons (Handel)
Water Music (Handel)
What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
~~Unforgettable (Nat King Cole)~~
~~I Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)~~
~~When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge)~~
~~In My Life (The Beatles)~~
March From Lohengrin (Wagner)

Interlude music (optional):

The songs played during the ceremony.

~~Ave Maria (Schubert)~~
~~Amazing Grace (Traditional)~~
La Traviata (Verdi)
Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach)
And I Love Her (The Beatles)
Primavera: First Movement, Allegro (Vivaldi)
~~Love Me Tender (Elvis Presley)~~
Für Elise (Beethoven)
~~We've Only Just Begun (The Carpenters)~~
~~Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)~~

Recessional music:

Music played as the new husband and wife walk up the aisle together.

Wedding March (from "A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Mendelssohn)
Ode To Joy (from The Ninth Symphony) (Beethoven)
Hallelujah Chorus (from "The Messiah") (Handel)
Trumpet Tune (Purcell)
Magnificent In D (Bach)
~~The Long And Winding Road (The Beatles)~~
~~I Got You (I Feel Good) (James Brown)~~
How Sweet It Is (James Taylor)
Then He Kissed Me (The Crystals)
~~I Got You Babe (Sonny and Cher)~~

Reception music:

First Dance music: First dance as husband and wife.

~~Unforgettable (Nat King Cole)~~
Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)
Can I Have This Dance? (Ann Murray)
The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
It Had To Be You (Harry Connick, Jr.)
What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Endless Love (Diana Ross and Lionel Richie)
I Cross My Heart (George Strait)
~~I Swear (John M. Montgomery or All 4 One)~~
A Whole New World (Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle)
As Time Goes By (A Kiss Is Just A Kiss) (Michael Feinstein)
~~When You Say Nothing At All (Allison Krauss)~~
Faithfully (Journey)
No Ordinary Love (Sade)
Here And Now (Luther Vandross)
~~I Can Love you Like That (John M. Montgomery)~~
Power Of Love (Celine Dion)
Tonight I Celebrate My Love (Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson)
~~Everything I Do {I Do For You} (Bryan Adams)~~
~~When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge or Michael Bolton)~~
All My Life (Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville)
~~I'll Be There (Mariah Carey)~~
On Bended Knee (Boyz II Men)
At Last (Etta James)
Don't Know Much (Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville)
From This Moment On (Shania Twain)
Our Love Is Here To Stay (Harry Connick, Jr.)
~~Unchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers)~~

Father/Daughter music:

The dance between the new bride and her father.

My Girl (The Temptations)
Thank Heaven For Little Girls (Gigi)
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
~~Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)~~
The Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
My Dad (Paul Petersen)
~~Hero (Mariah Carey)~~
Butterfly Kisses (Bob Carlisle)
Times of Your Life (Paul Anka)
A Song For My Daughter (Steve Moser, Mikki Viereck, Ray Allaire)
~~Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John)~~
The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
Have I Told You Lately (Rod Stewart)
~~Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)~~
~~My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)~~
What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Through The Years (Kenny Rogers)
Daddy's Hand (Holly Dunn)
Daddy's little Girl (Kippi Brannon)
Daddy's Girl (Peter Cetera)
Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler On The Roof - Sndtrk)
~~Lullabye (Billy Joel)~~
A Whole New World (Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle)
How Do You Fall In Love (Alabama)
Isn't She Lovely (Stevie Wonder)
Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
Thank Heaven For Little Girls (Gigi)
Father's Eyes (Amy Grant)
Friends (Elton John)
In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)

Mother/Son music:

The dance between the husband and his mother.

I.O.U (Jimmy Dean)
Moon River (Andy Williams)
Moon Dance (Van Morrison)
'Til The End Of Time (Perry Como)
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
In This Life (Bette Midler)
You're The Inspiration (Chicago)
Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
Wishing Tree (Sonia Dada)
A Song For My Son (Steve Moser, Mikki Viereck, Ray Allaire)
Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler On The Roof - Sndtrk)
In My Life (The Beatles)
Ever I Saw Your face (Roberta Flasck)
Greatest Love Of All (Whitney Houston)
I Wish You Love (Natalie Cole)
Thanks Again (Ricky Skaggs)
Stand By Me (Ben E. King)

Bridal Party Dances music:

The dance including the Bride & Groom, Bridesmaids & Groomsmen, and family members.

That's What Friends Are For (Dionne & Friends: Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder)
Friends In Low Places (Garth Brooks)
We Are Family (Sister Sledge)
Heroes and Friends (Randy Travis)
Celebration (Kool & The Gang)

Cutting The Cake music:

Played while the Bride & Groom cut the cake.

Cut the Cake (Average White Band)
I Wanna Grow Old With You (Adam Sandler) - This has been our song for 5 years! It's a must!
How Sweet It Is (James Taylor)
Sugar, Sugar (The Archies)
Hit me With Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)
When I'm 64 (The Beatles)
Recipe For Love (Harry Connick Jr.)
That's Amore' (Dean Martin)
Happy Together (The Turtles)
Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leppard)
I Got You Babe (Sunny & Cher)
Love & Marriage (Frank Sinatra)
Oh Yeah! (Yello)
Axel F (Harold Faltermeyer)
Peter Gunn Theme
Money/Dollar (Honeymoon)

Dance music (Optional):

Played during the time the Bride & Groom dance with guests

The Stripper (David Rose)
Legs (ZZ Top)
~~You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate)~~
Oh Yeah! (Yello)
~~Macho Man (Village People)~~
~~Theme From Mission Impossible (Danny Elfman)~~
Wild Thing (The Troggs or Tone Loc)
Let's Get It On (Marvin Gaye)
Bad Boys (Inner Circle)
~~Another One Bites The Dust (Queen)~~
Curly Shuffle (Jump n' The Saddle)
Kiss (Prince)
Do Ya Think I'm Sexy (Rod Stewart)
Gimme All Your Lovin' (ZZ Top)
Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison)
Freak Me (Silk)
Hungry Eyes (Eric Carmen)
Heaven (Bryan Adams)
~~U Can't Touch This (MC Hammer)~~
Shameless (Garth Brooks)

Last Dance music:

The last song of the night for the Bride & Groom and their remaining guests.

Last Dance (Donna Summer)
New York, New York (Frank Sinatra)
Good Riddance {Time Of Your Life} (Green Day)
From This Moment On (Shania Twain & Bryan White)
Save The Best For Last (Vanessa Williams)
Wonderful Tonight (David Kersh)
Could I Have This Dance (Anne Murray)
~~You're Still The One (Shania Twain)~~
Closing Time (Semisonic)
I've Had The Time Of My Life (Bill Medly & Jennifer Warnes)
How Your Love Makes Me Feel (Diamond Rio)
Goodnight, Sweetheart (David Kersh)
The Party's Over (Nat King Cole)
Goodnight Sweetheart (Spaniels)
What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
The Dance (Garth Brooks)
Truly, Madly, Deeply (Savage Garden)
Always And Forever (Heatwave)

Oh we're so spoilt for choices!

Masters of Ceremony

2006-03-15T20:29:00.000+08:00

Ray has started thinking about getting friends to be Masters of Ceremony. I didn't even start to think about that had he not brought it up.

That's an additional item to add to the "To Do" list.

Though I've got an idea whom I would like to ask, I'd give it a couple more days to think it through.

The Bridesmaid's Dress

2006-03-12T15:02:00.000+08:00

Yesterday we went in search for a dress for the Bridesmaid. It's simple yet very sweet and the best part is that it can be re-used in future for functions or even for a girl's night out.

I simply love it!

Wedding Reception Venues

2006-03-10T19:28:00.000+08:00

A peak into what's coming for the reception in KL:

And this is the hall in Muar:

Funky Wedding Cakes

2006-03-08T20:12:00.000+08:00

We are thinking of using some funky wedding cakes instead of the normal tiered cakes. These seem chick and nice. Let's see what goes. The first is by far still my favourite piece.

Fairy Wedding
Just Married
Red Symphony
Classic
Chinese Wedding

Ideas from Bridal magazines

2006-03-07T20:32:00.000+08:00

Been browsing some magazines and websites for some ideas on anything and everything. There's a fair bit of nice ideas that always comes with having to pay too much. But we're lucky to have some happy volunteers who could help us handmake stuff if we need to.

For weeks we've been looking at wedding favours but have yet to decide on any. Some nicely wrapped chocolate samples we saw were tempting. We also went in search of other items but have yet to come to any decisions whether we will just use the ones provided by the hotel or have customized ones.

Amongst other ideas we gathered from the magazines are also some gorgeous dress designs. My favourite Bridesmaid dress is this one:

Simple and pretty.

As for cards, it's been pretty much decided to be a mix of these:

Seems to be quite a bit of crafts coming into play soon. So far, things have been easy because it is decision-making period and no work has actually begun.

Well, so far, so good!

Our Marriage Course

2006-03-04T16:39:00.000+08:00

In late January, we attended the weekend stay-in course and after 2 full days of couple-work, we finally got our certificate. =)

Our Story

2006-03-03T13:17:00.000+08:00

Our story started back in 2001, almost a year after we were introduced by a mutual friend. In the last 5 years, we have seen each other through wonderful moments and some painful ones too. Life, after all, is never truly a bed of roses all year round.

Through it all, we are still holding it out together, and now ready for more.

Our wedding is in October, which is only another 7 months away. We have only just started with our preparations. It will be a long way to go but we hope to trudge along happily ever after.

Wish us success!

The Making of Our Wedding

2006-03-01T14:45:00.000+08:00

This blog looks at "behind the scenes" preparations to our upcoming wedding in October.

The effort towards the wedding and the wedding itself are once in a lifetime experiences and I hope to capture as much of these moments as I possibly can, for eternity.