Wedding Preps: Photo/ Video

Our first booked suppliers! We’re not even officially engaged that time yet haha Kaya nga I really wanted na sabihin na namin that time sa families namin kasi mahirap mag prepare ng ganito na walang blessing from our parents –pero hindi ko alam may during this time, nagpaalam na sya kela Tita, Mama at Papa.

We are extra critical with our prenup and wedding photos & videos. Aaminin ko, may mga prenup & wedding pictures & videos akong inokray in mind. LOL But I know which ones were very good. Luckily, we got our photo and video suppliers from the same wedding expo last March (even before our venue!). We got the special bundle rate from Bob & Zab Photography with RoadTale Films, both with engagement session (prenup).

 

Wedding Preps 101

The truth is…

Bago pa man kami maging officially engaged ni Paolo, nakapagscout na kami ng main suppliers namin for the wedding. Last March 4, out of our another “inip na ako” tampuhan, we mutually agreed to get married by 2018. But it’s a mutual decision to not have a Church wedding. I am Catholic & he is an Adventist and neither of us needs to convert to any religion, as we respect our own religions. I initially thought to have the wedding this coming December 2017, but eventually, we decided to have it on our 8th anniversary: March 22, 2018. Since no’n, nagstart na kami magprepare. Kung anong theme, anong color motif and pegs. And as someone who works in (corporate) events, ang una sa pre-work talaga ang kung saan gaganapin ang event. I know that as early as now dapat nakapagreserve ka na ang venue. So, since identified na namin na hindi kami mag-church wedding, ang una talaga naming hinanap kung saan kami ikakasal?

Last March, we attended Themes & Motiffs Wedding Expo in SMX. First time namin umattend ng ganon kalaking expo (or a wedding expo as is) and we were overwhelmed! Literal. We went there to check options for venue muna sana pero pagpasok mo pa lang ng expo, sasalubungin ka na nila ng mga flyers. Wedding expo or bridal fairs are the soon-to-wed couple’s best friend, because each supplier has discounts if you book them on the spot! But here’s my advice before going to wedding expo or bridal fairs.

Themes & Motifs Wedding Expo, MOA SMX

Themes & Motifs Wedding Expo, MOA SMX

Know the participating suppliers. If you already have a supplier in mind and you wanted to book them, check if your supplier is on the list of the wedding expo or bridal fair. This is a perfect place for the suppliers to gather their prospective clients in one location. This is also perfect for clients to avail discounts from suppliers and sometimes you get freebies pa!

Check if the event is for free. Para lang di ka masurprise. LOL May mga wedding expo o bridal fair na free entrance. These are big organized events na may mas maraming suppliers, nakakalula. I remembered after ng pagiikot namin sa venue, gowns, HMUA nag-mnagtry pa kami magfood tasting dahil medyo nahihilo at napapagod na kami. There are some events that require minimal entrance fee.

Come with a mission. Noong pumunta kami do’n, sobrang na overwhelm talaga kami. If you decide to go to a wedding expo or bridal fair, aside from researching which suppliers you want to know or inquire. For the venue set up ng event may floor plan sila kung nasaan ang mga suppliers. Some organized event, isang row ang mga venues, catering, etc. Some events naman, they strategically mixed suppliers para lahat madadaan ang booth, pero halu halo yung mga suppliers. So, if you target to book a supplier on that wedding expo, research if that venue place is an exhibitor then go directly sa booth nya! haha

Come with your partner. It must have been hard if hindi ko kasama si Paolo sa pagaasikaso ng kasal namin. I can only image yung mga couple na yung isa nasa abroad, tapos isa lang syang nagaayos ng kasal nila. I’m thankful that Paolo is with me in this journey, less bridezilla mode. Parehas kaming may say sa lahat ng aspeto, hindi lang siya o ako lang ang may idea etc. Sabi ng aking career & life mentor and soon-to-be ninong, wedding preparation is a bliss at perfect time din itong maging ‘practice’ or to know more about your partner. Matetest din (daw) ang patience ninyong dalawa, magkakapikunan at one point dahil sa guestlist, most especially sa gastos at budget (pero wala pa naman kaming ganung moment so far) pero dapat at the end of it everything must be both of your decision. 🙂

So, after ng wedding expo ang dami naming flyers LOL we used those to do a comparative scan/ matrix of venues. Some suppliers who offer discounts extends their promo and even tapos na ang event. In that expo, we were able to book two of our main suppliers for our wedding: venue and photo & video.

Some of our suppliers were suppliers from my friend’s wedding din kaya tried and tested na but some of them are from the wedding expo and bridal fair. These events are wedding couples’ best friend and if you take advantage of it, sobrang sulit & makakamura ka talaga dahil sa discounts & freebies.

Fast Forward and Press Play

Hello blogging!

Fast forward to mid year 2017 >>>> Wow, so many things happened from my last post (which I haven’t even finished yet LOL– ILOCOS getaway)…

• January 2015, resigned from my 4-year Marketing job.
• March- April 2015, landed a job at one of the leading real estate company.
• During the first couple of months in the job, together with my team, we were able to execute several thematic events & got to execute out of the country housing fair in Hong Kong for not 1 but 4 times already.
• Launched new project sites in VisMin: Cagayan de Oro & Iloilo, organized annual sales rallies, done milestone events, and brought CSR events with my team.
• Had chronic stress and over fatigue by December 2015.
• Reunited with my college friends and saw for the first time, my inaanak Oye last January 2015.
• Started to gain weight. 😦
• Early 2016, launched as the company’s print ad ‘model’ on company’s marketing collaterals (w/o TF BTW) LOL
• Went to La Union last August 2016.
• Late quarter of 2016, aside from events, I was given the task to head Marketing Operations.
• These are all happening while doing the photo booth business on the side from time to time.
• Recurring over fatigue by December 2016.
• January 2017, went to Bacolod for the 3rd time and visited Cadiz City, where Lakawon Island & Tawhai Floating Bar is located.
• February 2017, attended my first AMP workshop and got to meet fellow AMs in different brands & sister companies.
• March 4, 2017, Paolo & I agreed that we’ll be getting married next year.
• Nag-soft launch ng pag-diet at work out. Nyahaha!
• March 31, 2017, Paolo officially (and finally) proposed to me at MANGO -Glorietta 2 with 2 MANGO ladies as the accomplice. ❤
  • Habang nagfifit ng damit paghawi ko ng curtain, nakita ko nakaluhod na si Paolo habang vinivideohan ako ng sales ladies mas kinikilig pa sila sa akin habang nakangiti lang ako. Sabi ko sa sarili ko “eto na ba yun? Bakit hindi ako umiiyak?” Habang binalik ko yung dress (na later on binili ko na rin dahil memorable sya) sabi ko kay Pao “excited na akong malaman nila Mama. Alam na ba ni Tita (mama nya)?” Alam na pala ng mama nya March 11 pa lang habang sila Mama at Papa alam na rin nila bago pa nya ibigay sa akin yung singsing. Do’n ako naiyak kasi nagstart na kami mag-plan ng kasal pero hindi pa alam ng families namin sabay alam na pala nila ❤
• April 1, 2017, it’s Facebook official!

March 31. Actual day of proposal. Medyo need a mani.

Nakapag mani na hehe

And for this month of May, we are almost done with the wedding preparations! ALMOST. And I cannot help while reading tons of wedding blogs from ladies who were also doing their own preps (during their time) felt inspired and I thought, I wanted to document our own moment while doing our wedding preparations. S

So I took time to revisit this blog after 2 years. Reset the password because I already forgot the original password and so… here I go.

 

Overnight(mare)

During the middle of the spiritual visit of Pope Francis last week, I worked.

I missed the Manila Cathedral and Tacloban mass on TV while our endurance were being tested for an 11-hour land trip from Manila to Baguio! WTF

Last Friday, I went to my first activity for the year (and probably my last) for work  in Baguio. I should have anticipated that my travel will be a torture. Since its a non working holiday for most employees due to the papal visit, a long weekend and everybody just got their pay, I think 1/4 of Metro Manila residents went to Baguio to see La Presa. But, as my colleague said to me “your moon and stars are properly aligned” that’s why I survived that overnight(mare) travel.

Quarter to 7am- my sister and I went to Victory Liner Caloocan to catch the 7am trip directly to Baguio. The next trips were at 2pm pa, anong petsa na kami nun makakarating? So we went to Victory Liner Cubao since every hour naman ang mga direct Baguio trips doon. But there’s no more direct Baguio trips, and everyone else were up for chance passengers. So, I had no choice but mag-2 trips. Sumakay kami ng Dagupan then from Dagupan, sumakay kami pa-Baguio. So akala namin OK na? Pero hindeeeeeeee!

From Dagupan, we were able to catch a bus that normally takes only an hour lang (Dagupan- Baguio). Pero inabot kami ng 3 hours! Papasok pa lang ng Baguio city proper, pila na ng mga buses at private vehicles. Grabe! So, halos mag-6pm na nang maka-check in kami sa hotel. Wala halos masakyang taxi so from bus terminal nilakad na lang namin to hotel. And as you walk, you’ll get irritated and exhausted dahil ang babagal ng mga turistang maglakad. Kakain kami ng dinner, pila pa rin,
Pabalik, ganun din. Right after the activity ng Saturday, our plan is to eat lunch pa, try out Tea House, go to the market for pasalubong, relax at Cafe by the Ruins, etc. pero we were afraid we need to go straight to the bus terminal again para mag-check at bumili ng ticket pabalik ng Manila. And it was the worst! The line at the ticketing was unbearable and hopeless. There were several lanes for chance passengers going to Cubao and Pasay. People looked as if kanina pa silang umaga nakapila don as chance passengers and I thought we’ll be waiting there magdamag. Kumain muna kami then got our bags back in the hotel tapos bumalik na kami bus terminal by almost 3pm. Sakto may bus na pa-Caloocan. Tried to haggle 2 seats as chance passengers sa konduktor, sabe ko “Monumento lang kami kuya. Baka may 2 seats ka pa dyan?” at thank YOU Lord talaga at pinasakay kami agad agad at umalis na rin ng exactly 3pm ang bus pabalik ng Manila. Nauna pa kami sa mga nakapila! Sobrang thankful talaga.

Yun ata ang pinaka nakakakaba at pinaka panget trip ko sa Baguio. I’ve been there several times, pero first time ko lang to naranasan! Aside from we were able to catch rides on time, my sister and I were able to visit Mt. Cloud Bookshop. It’s the mainly reason, she came with me haha I was planning pa nga to drop by La Pressa in Sto. Tomas Road (outside Baguio City) pero next time na pag-off peak na ang mga turista.

The morale of the story is never under estimate the power of 3: holiday, long weekend and payday. LOL

The sunset when we’re going back to Manila.

PS. On Pope Francis’ last day in the Philippines, nakita sya nila Mama at Papa towards his last motorcade back to Villamor Airbase. #LiteralNaBlessed

This was taken from Papa’s video on his cell phone. #blessed

Real Time Year Ender Post

Obviously, with all the year-end work load, last minute photo booth rentals, last minute shopping, Christmas rush (or should I say traffic) I ‘ve been struggling to blog in real time, meaning not back posting (wala pa ako sa kalahati ng Ilocos Tour posts ko huhu). In this busy, yet still my favorite time of the year, I would like not to just enumerate all the things I wanted to do NEXT year, but first, let me have the moment to be thankful that this year blessed me and my loved ones.

1. This year I am thankful that I was able to close the year with another big event at work. After which, November and December seems to be a lot easier to bear with.Next year, I would love to focus on Events/Marketing more.

Live! With Dr. Chen at PICC Reception Hall last October.

2. I am grateful for the job that gives me the opportunity to travel in different parts of the country, meet different kinds of people and enables me to share my knowledge and skills. It thought me of being patient, being humble and proves that traveling alone may sometimes feel liberating.

3. I am thankful for the challenges at work, that continuously making me a better person professionally. It thought me that it is not only important that you know your values but should also be firm of it. Also, it’s OK to say “no” or “enough” with. LOL

4. I am thankful for my #buhaycommuter “chronicles” because, clearly, there is nothing more that I can do about Manila traffic but amuse myself. Below are some of the quirks (when I still have the energy LOL), which I think deserves a separate post, soon! But kidding aside, long hours of commute really zaps your energy to work and home. During these times, I practice my “creativity” as well as my patience, but more often my angst in the Philippine transport system and to the masa commuters. Nevertheless, I expect more of this in the next year, so…

• Public Transport Etiquette #1: Invest in a decent earphone to play your music and give everyone their own time (sleep, day dream, contemplate in life, etc).
• Public Transport Etiquette #2: In an enclosed van, at night (after a long day at work), keep your phone’s Brightness down. Nobody cares what’s your current Candy Crush level. They just wanted to sleep and some peace of mind.
• Public Transport Etiquette #3: While waiting in line (for a van, bus, jeep, whatever that you need to fall in line (1st come,1st serve basis) there is an unspoken rule: BAWAL MAGPASINGIT. Meaning, regardless, if you have someone with you and she/he is not yet present, once you let that person occupy your spot WITH you, both of you are equal to two. So, if a van can occupy total of 18 persons, you’re the 17th and I’m the 18th, but you just happened to let your friend steal my spot on the 18th?! Well, it’s a war then. #buhaycommuter #mondays #gv
• Public Transport Etiquette #4: Now that you have earphones or headset, please make sure your sound level is in a certain volume that stays inside your ears. Kaya nga nag-earphones ka, so you have the sound for yourself, duh? (See P.T.E. #1) #buhaycommuter

5. Despite the distance, job promotions, new endeavors, settling down (and a baby!), I am thankful for the few but true friends. I still want to make up to some get together that I missed due to work. Ang trabaho talaga ang sisira sa pagkakaibigan. LOL

6. I may often oversee or sometimes taken them for granted, but I am grateful for a complete and healthy family. For next year, I wanted to spend more time with my parents and my siblings. Treat them out-of-town or just be at home more often.

7. I thank God for a nurturing relationship that I have with my bestest friend, travel buddy, official photographer and my one and only Bear and for still keeping up with me despite my occasional (mostly monthly) craziness. For next year…well, may utang ka pa sa akin na “talk”.

8. In connection to that, I am grateful that we were able to visit more places this year!

9. I am grateful for the gradual progress of our photo booth business. May we have more new clients and maintain our regular clients. I hope by next year, we’ll finish all the upgrades.

10. And last but not the least, I’m just grateful, I’m still here and strong enough to go through life with more possibility of becoming better in what I do and what I am.

With open arms I want to welcome the new year, for in 2015 I’ll be…

Alam na! ;p