Meowth!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Time goes on and on and on...

Time flies fast. It is fair in the sense that it does not wait for anyone.

I've been practically living in the city in the last three months. My husband and I have (temporarily) moved to the city. Condo living it is, plus a lot of good stuff going on in our respective career. We work from home, too. It could be anytime of the day as long as there is work to do, at least the urgent ones. We follow the sun.

I thought I was used to living life in a fast(er) pace, but time itself, over the course of time, proved to be a very fast fellow. Doing things in a slow pace is a lost art. Today, we do a lot of things differently compared to how we did them years ago. Midlife crisis? No. There is one technique I have learned to embrace - it's called living in the present. It is the humility to admit that one cannot always compete with time, else run the risk of losing the essence of each and every moment. (While emergency cases are a different story all together. )

Today, I finally caught up with myself again and nailed some precious time - holding on to it, hoping it does not run too quickly. I'm blogging random thoughts again while enjoying music...though playing the guitar, too, would have been nicer, along with a glass of good wine to keep me company - exactly how things were not so long ago...but today should be fine, too. It's a period of effortless peace; taking things slow even for a short period of time. Priceless.

It's good to be back 'in the zone.'

Friday, October 18, 2013

Part II: My Modern Filipiniana Wedding

Now, here is the sequel...

This photo blog covers the wedding reception graced by our family and closest friends. Daves and I chose a ballroom as our blank canvas. We intended to turn it into a cozy place that would offer a traditional-but-not-stiff ambiance; one that would allow happiness and well wishes to flow effortlessly.

Traditional + understated elegance. Invitations by Print City, wedding bands by Suarez, arrhae by Endless Treasures.

A beautiful contrast between traditional and modern. Neo-classical. Wedding reception - Summit Ridge, Tagaytay City. One of the newer structures in this cool city, offering a spectacular view of the Taal Lake.

Table setting; menu is displayed in a charming wooden frame.

Blue is our color motif. Summit Ridge used some lighting techniques to produce this bluish tint with just the right balance, not an overkill.

The buffet table. This is Pinoy Feast minus the banderitas (colorful flags).

Catching that cool Tagaytay summer breeze after the church ceremony - Summit Ridge veranda.

Our wine toast. I removed the train of my wedding gown. The back is also embellished with intricate bead works. Gown, Barong Tagalog, pants - by Ms. Carmen Papa-Reyes of 8 and a Half Trends.

The traditional garter game. Candid moment captured by the discerning lenses of Lito Perez and team.

Our first dance.

Giddy like teenagers...yes, even grown ups could go teeny-bopper to the highest level.

Our principal sponsors. ADD writing a message for me and Daves.

Our good friend Jake enjoying the food prepared by C2 - Summit Ridge's official caterer.

Our godfather, Capt. Geluz delivering his advice on making it work as a couple, a lifelong commitment that is marriage. His intro? Julio Iglesias' 'To All the Girls I Loved Before'.

Our secondary sponsors - definitely in the list of women we love. Our good friends of many years and in the years to come.

My fellow baddict (badminton addict) Aileen - writing on our guest book.

Yes, Ritz. You're next! True love will find you for sure.

The next generation gals are as crazy as me.

My 'wicked son' Lowell, still fresh-looking after a week of global work shift (Asia, EMEA, NALA) and wedding reception emcee duty.

Good friends I met at work. They are very much part of our extended family.

We did not hire a wedding planner. Daves and I managed all the wedding requirements, budget, schedule, and suppliers. We enlisted the help of some friends a month into the wedding. Our runner-blogger friend Banjo took the role: on-the-day coordinator. He extended a hand in finalizing the program and scheduling the delivery of certain items by our suppliers. This is something I advise marrying couples to appoint - an on-the-day coordinator. It will be tough to personally oversee everything on your wedding day. :)

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These are the wedding suppliers featured in this blog.

* Reception, bridal suite, hotel accommodation for family and friends.

Summit Ridge Hotel - Tagaytay City

http://www.summitridgehotel.com

+63 2 240 6888

+63 922 852 6800

* Flowers of May - Ms. Evelyn Legaspi

+63 918 936 6750

email: liza_n_legaspi@yahoo.com

* Suarez Wedding Rings - SM Mall of Asia

http://www.suarezweddingrings.com

* Endless Treasures Wedding Arrhae - an affiliate of Golden Hills Jewelry

http://www.goldenhillsjewelry.com

http://meowthlovescoffee.blogspot.com/2012/12/preview-our-wedding-arrhae.html

* Invitations by Print City - SM Center, Las Pinas City

http://www.printcityinvitations.com

* Bridal gown, dresses, Barong Tagalog by Ms. Carmen Reyes

8 and a Half Trends

4F The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center

+63 2 624 0114

http://www.facebook.com/pages/8-and-a-half

http://meowthlovescoffee.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-modern-filipiniana.html

* Hair and Make-up: Ms. Garla Cabuco and Team

http://www.facebook.com/makeupbygarla

http://meowthlovescoffee.blogspot.com/2013/04/bridal-make-up-review-make-up-by-garla.html

* Photo and video: Sir Lito Perez and Team, Close-up Portraits and Photography

http://www.litoperez.com

* Church and choir: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

Priest: Father Jeff

Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway, Tagaytay City

+63 46 413 0758

* On-the-day coordinator: Mr. Banjo Asiddao

http://ulikblogrunner.wordpress.com/

* Kultura - SM Mall of Asia

* The Wedding Library - SM Mall of Asia

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Disclaimer: This is a personal write-up, not a paid advertisement.

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http://meowthlovescoffee.blogspot.com/2013/09/part-i-my-modern-filipiniana-wedding.html

http://meowthlovescoffee.blogspot.com/2013/01/on-destination-wedding-battle-of-guest.html

Friday, September 13, 2013

Part I: My Modern Filipiniana Wedding

A celebration of love, faith, family, and friendship. This is a mini-compilation of photos from my modern Filipiniana-themed, Catholic wedding.

Classically decorated pair of matchbox for the ceremonial candles
by The Wedding Library

Matte white gold on glossy yellow gold, comfort fit - wedding bands by Suarez
Bridal bouquet by Flowers of May

Gold-and-silver-plated arrhae (aras) by Endless Treasures
Arrhae, in Filipino Catholic weddings, traditionally symbolizes prosperity.
The 13 pieces of arrhae represent the following virtues: love, forgiveness, wisdom, spirituality, respect, gratitude, perseverance, trust, optimism, integrity, discipline, gentleness, and passion.

Embroidered pouch by Ms. Carmen Reyes
Madrina de Aras (antique Narra box for storing the arrhae) - I bought this from an antique shop along Crisologo St., Vigan.

Invitation designed and printed by Print City Invitations

Filipiniana-inspired wedding gown with panuelo and detachable train
by Ms. Carmen Reyes

Intricate beadwork on the panuelo

Payneta showered with crystals - handpicked by Ms. Carmen Reyes
(Payneta is a traditional hair piece, originating from the Spanish colonial era)

Custom-made shoes embellished with native fibers and sequins by Ms. Carmen Reyes
Background - throw pillows made of Abaca (Manila hemp), gift for the primary sponsors (Ninong) - bought from Kultura.

The ever-traditional Barong Tagalog for my groom,
by Ms. Carmen Reyes.
Barong is an embroidered formal shirt from the Philippines. It is usually made of pina (pineapple fiber), jusi (abaca or banana fiber), and polyester organza (synthetic fiber).

A few moments before I walked down the aisle...
Hair: AJ of Make-up by Garla
Make-up: Ms. Garla Cabuco, chief make-up artist of Make-up by Garla

Pagmamano - this is a Filipino custom, a practice of respect by asking for an elder's hand and touching one's forehead while bowing. The elder blesses the person.

Fisheye shot by Sir Lito Perez of Close-Up Photography
- a solemn Catholic wedding ceremony -

Father Jeff of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Tagaytay City

Veil - signifies union and oneness. Together we will build a future for ourselves (and our children to come) through love and perseverance. Cord - signifies strength.

Our closest 'couple-friends' cum Secondary Sponsors (candle, veil, cord)
Gowns by Ms. Carmen Reyes

Our 'HHWW' moment, enjoying the gentle summer breeze at the patio of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. HHWW is part of the Filipino pop culture. HHWW = Holding hands while walking. :)

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Tagaytay City

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BFD and I were hands-on in our wedding preparation. We did not hire a wedding planner until the final stage of preparation. Our good friend Banjo was our on-the-day coordinator. We have had three meetings with him before the big day. He made sure the plan was properly executed.

Until today, by just looking at the photos, we are still overwhelmed by the level of support our suppliers had (whole-heartedly) given us. We were in good hands. All our transactions were done in a professional manner. We did not have to worry about timelines and budget overrun. Our suppliers are so much in the know, not only on trends, but also about the dynamics behind weddings.