I was hesitant at first if I should blog my wedding day because I'm not sure if anyone would be interested, but since I had already shared about the proposal and our engagement photos and some of the entourage pre-nup shoot, might as well complete all the details. So I will try to pick some of my favorite photos on our wedding day and share with you all the stories and preparation and try to provide some tips for your BIG day as well. It will be long, but I hope I can give some inspirations to those couple who will be getting married. Enjoy!
Our Story
Before I start on the details of the wedding, let me first tell you how it all started. Don't worry, I'll make it short so it won't bore you. :)
I will always remember our story in a campus as we were pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering. The story about friendship that afterwards became a love story when a funny guy fell in love with a shy, blushing girl. The feeling was reciprocated after almost a year of patience. We successfully got our degree and separately fulfilled the calling of the real world. From being together everyday in school, we only meet once a week or a week after the other. It was one the adjustments that we went through at first. We didn't had much of a big fight during our relationship but it didn't mean that we never share difficulties as well. Our relationship has been tested by time. We sometimes became each other's enemies. We share a lot of tears together, of laughters, of sorrows, of frustrations. We share each others dreams and plans and witnessed each other's failures and struggles. We mature and grew up together. Our story is not always about happiness, but definitely always ended up on love and choices.
I was pressured at once to get married. Not because I already wanted it but because everyone was expecting us to be. After all, we had been counting anniversaries for so long. I'd been to so many "kelan ka'yo ikakasal?" moments. Then after a while, I realized, our story should not be about what other people is expecting from us. It was ours and so we should savor the journey. It was not about how long or short your relationship was. As love doesn't depends on time alone. All those moments that I was pressured, I was glad I didn't do anything to push it. Because it actually took years after that before I knew I was ready. It was those times when you can vision your life together, everyday. It was overwhelming to realized that God has actually preparing you all those times for that exact moment. That moment you will know that you were perfectly paired together to share the wonderful feelings of love and commitment. It was all His plan so always trust on the process. That no matter what, it will end up beautiful. And remember to have your choices clear. As love is always a choice to stay together, to fight, to trust, to commit and to fall in love again and again after falling out of love so many times. That choice brought us to the day that God has promised. After 9 years of relationship, we got engaged and we got married after our 10th year, in God's most perfect time.
The BIG Day
Starting the year right, January 4, 2014, we commit ourselves to be each other's husband and wife.
- Hair and Make Up
I trusted the work of hair and make up to the talented Ms. Diana Santos. I found her thru browsing some wedding inspiration. I started looking at her facebook account and her website and was impressed so I e-mailed her and we finalized the contract without physically seeing each other.
You know those pimples which always choose to show up on the days that you unlikely want them to show, she magically hid all of those. And her team was good to work with. They were bubbly and friendly, you will feel at ease under their hands. And she really knows what she was doing. I was happy with the way it turned out. She also did the hair and make up on my prenup shoot at Stilts.
- The Gowns and The Suits
My bridal gown and my entourage gowns including my groom suit was not made by a known couturier because I thought that it can provide us less of expenses. There was no problem with the men's suits as I think it was the expertise of the couture but I had issues in my gown and some of my ladies gowns and flower girls gowns. It was too late to back out then and I found out later on that most of the known couturier in the wedding industry can now provide gowns fit on your budget. Well I learned my lessons.
To prepare in advance, you must have gathered all your gown inspiration and bring it to the couturier. The style and the type of fabric will determine the cost of it. Better do the research on the works they made before closing any contracts as it will save you to a stressful preparation. Never depend on a sales talk. Never.
The Groom
The Bride
The only accessories of my dress was pearls of three different sizes. The couturier was actually trying to convince me of putting some stones that can have a sparkling effect but I refused. I want my gown to be simple and classic.
-The Church
Our exchange of vows happened at Ina ng Laging Saklolo, Brgy. Sungay West, Tagaytay City. It was not the first choice as my dream was to have my wedding at San Antonio de Padua, Pook Silang, Cavite which was located in a more private surroundings and it was nearer to our venue while Ina ng Laging Saklolo is situated along the busy highway, 15 minutes from our venue. Unfortunately, the church was fully booked and since we didn't want to move our date, we ended up at Ina ng Laging Saklolo. But I didn't regret having it as our church wedding. It was an easier find and the size, although small was enough to accommodate all our guest, making the event more intimate.
Tip: If you're planning to do your wedding in Tagaytay which became a Wedding Capital of Cavite, better booked the church and the venue a year in advance if you want to fix your desired date. I don't know if the church accepts an early booking one year earlier but the venues do. It will also save you at least 10 to 20 percent of cost as most of the venues make yearly increases, same as the other suppliers.
Photo shoot after the Ceremony
Wedding preparation was fun and exciting. Every girls dream is to see their selves walking down the aisle towards the man who they love most. And once you have a chance to fulfill it, you will do it happily and wholeheartedly. I had been hands on to all the details from the smallest to the largest. Although fun, sometimes it will consume you. It will be stressful especially if you intend to do it all by yourself. And honestly, getting married today is quite expensive. I thought I kept my wedding simple but in the end, it cost us a fortune. To those who are well of, it won't be a big deal but to those who are in ordinary situation, it was not practical. This is not a justification that you can spend more than you are capable of but I like to make it a point that if you are ready and you planned and work for it together, it is possible. After all, getting married happens once in a lifetime so better do it in a way you wanted it to be. You need to be financially and emotionally prepared. Help and support each other as preparation can cause conflicts sometimes between the couple. Listen to your partner and save as early as you can. I am proud to say that Owen and I had shouldered everything. We didn't involve our parents to the planning and financial bills. The only thing they need to do was to show up on our wedding day. And we were a witness of how God works on our wedding because despite of the shortcomings, He amazingly provided. So make sure that everything you will go through, the decisions, the negotiations with the suppliers and other matters how small it is should be shared together with God. That is what marriage is all about.
Marriage doesn't just come to anyone. It should be asked and prayed. Because marriage needs courage, commitment and selflessness. To be able to be ready in a life out of you comfort zone. It means courage to build a family that can be equivalent to a lot of sacrifices. It means commitments, priorities and changes. It means being selfless because it is not about yourself anymore. I was blessed to be with a man whom I share the same faith and values and whom I am ready to face my everyday with. Wedding is just for a day but marriage is a lifetime so ask for God's blessing and guidance and keep your promises to each other sacred. At the end of the day, you should always remember your wedding day as a day of celebration of God's love and grace.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 --
PS: I will have a separate blog for the venue and for my suppliers. Will be posting soon. :)
x o x o
Faith
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