First Fitting with Veluz

Last Friday, I had my first fitting with Veluz, and all I can say is.... even though the gown is in cacha, it is the most beautiful gown I have ever seen... *Sigh*

Now I know the feeling... what more if it is the gown itself that I am wearing.

I just couldn't take it off me! The minute I wore the petty coat, there's this mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement. When I wore the cacha gown, I was really happy. And when the chantilly lace strips were placed on my bodice, I was astounded. Wow. And the gown is not yet even complete!

Words cannot fully capture how I felt that night... I though that the pictures taken by Jen will capture the feeling... Yes... but not quite. It's really really different. Imagine, I was blushing the whole time. I was trying to keep calm by yakking the whole time about different topics. But deep inside I know that the minute I stop, and just focus on what's happening, I would probably burst into tears. Arte ano? And when it's time to take it off, I told Niko and Veluz if they could give me some few more minutes to just look at the mirror. Wow.



Pins and Needles


What more if it's lace!


That tickles!


Anyway, after the fitting, Veluz, Jen, and I still went on chatting and all. We ended up leaving her shop close to 11 pm (we were there around 6:30)! Jen and I then proceeded to have our really late dinner. Thanks Jen for being with me and taking really good pictures. Pilar Tuason in the making ka na! :-D

Anticipation...

In an hour's time, I will have my first fitting of my gown... and I am sooooo nervous and excited at the same time!

Since last night I have been thinking about my first fitting, how it would feel like wearing what will be the best and most memorable dress I will wear in my entire life (naks!). I also kept on thinking which is better, that Enrique is here or that it's good that he isn't.

I asked my former w@wie friends Jen and Jane if they can accompany me (they are Veluz clients as well).

Though nervous, I am still confident that Veluz will give me a beautifully crafted gown.

10 of My Life's Simple Pleasures

I've been tagged twice so I guess I'll just answer this!

Instructions: Name ten of life's simple pleasures that you like the most, then pick ten people to do the same. Try to be original and creative and not to use things that someone else has already used. Walang kopyahan! hahaha =P

One. Lying in the arms of Enrique and listening to his heart beat.
Two. "Mahal na Mahal Kita" from Enrique.
Three. Watching my 1 1/2 yr. old nephew Aden walking
Four. Looking at Enrique.
Five. Playing poker with my siblings.
Six. Going to the beach.
Seven. Reading a Book.
Eight. Being one with nature and communing with God.
Nine. Eating. :-D
Ten. Hot and sour soup OR combo of fried chicken and noodles (w/egg) whenever I'm sick.

I'm tagging all those who visited my blog and read my entries! :-D

Church & Legal Requirements

Yesterday, while looking at our to-do list, it dawned on me (again) that Enrique and I only have 1 month to accomplish together all the legal and church requirements. I got worried, and so I called Mt. Carmel to ask for help on how to fulfill their requirements, given the scenario that my fiance will only arrive towards the end of October to first week of November, and that our wedding day is on the 9th December.

Don of Mt. Carmel was kind enough to assure me that we will meet the requirements on time, I just have to do most of the legwork by myself. :-(

CHURCH REQUIREMENTS

On or before 10 October 2006
- baptismal certificates (for marriage purpose): with the priest's signature and seal
- confirmation certificates cert (for marriage purpose): with the priest's signature and seal
(church docs should be at most 3 months before wedding date)
- CTC of birth certificates from NSO (I can do this via ecensus): authorizatrion letter from enrik
- CENOMAR for both: authorization letter from Enrik
to get
- banns and permission from bride parish form

before setting up an appointment for canonical interview (2 weeks before)
- 3 weeks banns and permission from bride's parish
- marriage license
- pre-cana cert (the pre-cana seminar can be from any other Parish)
- photocopy of license, seaman's book on Enrique
- 2x2 colored pics 1 pc per person


TO OBTAIN THE MARRIAGE LICENSE
(10-day waiting period upon submission of application form)

- CTC of birth certificates of both parties
- Certificate of attendance in a pre-marital counselling and family planning seminar.


TO OBTAIN BIRTH CERTIFICATES & CENOMAR

Birth Certificates: Only the following are authorized to receive birth documents:
(a) the owner of the document;
(b) spouse;
(c) direct descendants/ascendants and
(d) guardian.

If the receiving party is not any of the abovementioned persons, an authorization letter and the ID of the authorized person together with his/her valid ID are required to be presented.

Cost: PhP 300.00 per copy
Delivery: 3-6 working days (w/in the Philippines)

CENOMAR (Singleness): Either the document owner, the requesting party, or their representative is allowed to receive marriage and death certificates. A valid ID must be presented when receiving the certificate.

Cost: PhP 300.00 per copy
Delivery: 3-6 working days (w/in the Philippines)

What Have We Done So Far?

Here's a checklist (courtesy of Leah of Jopek) of what we have done since May 2005.

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12 months before (december 2005)
Plan the Pamamanhikan and announce the engagement.
Choose a wedding date and time.
Draw up a budget with your fiancé.
Determine the number of guests you are able to invite.
Look for ceremony and reception sites.
Reserve chosen ceremony and reception sites.
Compile your guest list from the list you and your fiancé will make.
Notify out-of-town guests so they can make early confirmation of attendance.
Decide on your new home after the wedding. (Rent first for at most 1 year, then build our own house)

11 months before (january 2006)
Select your ceremony officiant and check his availability. (c/o Mt. Carmel)
Select primary sponsors. Check their availability and personally invite them. (Some not yet advised)
Choose members of the wedding entourage. Check their availability and personally invite them. (Some not yet advised)
Obtain a sample copy of a sample missalette from your officiant.

10 months before (february 2006)
Decide on the color scheme and wedding theme.
Finalize your guest list.
Consult a Travel Agent regarding Honeymoon Plans especially if you will be traveling to countries that require entry visas.

9 months before (march 2006)
Start and canvass for caterers, if necessary.
Secure birth certificates from NSO. (I already have mine, but not sure about Enrique's)

8 months before (april 2006)
Select the style of your wedding gown.
Select the designer and style of entourage’s attire.
Ask your mother and your fiance’s mother to choose their attire.
Canvass and select a reliable couturier and/or dressmaker.
Schedule measurements and fittings for your bridal gown as well as entourage’s attire.
Schedule your trial make-ups.

7 months before (may 2006)
Canvass and select a reliable florist for the church & reception.
Canvass and select a reliable photographer/videographer.
Schedule Pre-nup pictorials with photographer.
Canvass and select musicians.

6 months before (june 2006)
Select and order wedding souvenirs, and decide on packaging so you can order this as well. Ensure timely delivery of it.
Shop for wedding rings.
Canvass and select gifts for the Principal Sponsors.
Book a hotel room for your wedding day.
Get also swatches for the entourage's gowns.
Canvass and select wedding stationery printers.

5 months before (july 2006)
Finalize the members of the wedding entourage.
Select the mass readers and program hosts. Check their availability. (Some not yet advised)
Double check full names (including middle initials) of your wedding sponsors, members of the entourage, mass readers and program hosts.
Start making draft for the missalettes.
Canvass and select make-up artist/hairdresser.
Canvass and select cake maker.
Canvass and book a florist for the the bridal entourage flowers.
Draft your ceremony program.
Start printing of invites.
Come up with solutions for typographical error on entourage card. Explore all possible options.
Start working on your vows, if you are saying your own.
Start printing map inserts on parchment paper.
Buy cloths for gown lining.
Begin planning out your honeymoon.

4 months before (August 2006)
Decide on and finalize wedding details/contracts/agreements with your florist, musicians, photographer, caterer, couturier, make-up artist, and other suppliers of your choice.
Have missalette draft approved by your officiating priest and the church or ceremony venue.
Complete honeymoon plans and book your itinerary.

Submit final draft/mock invites to printer.
Canvass and select calligrapher.
Book a calligrapher or a social printer for addressing of invitations. If invitations and guest list are ready, go ahead with the printing /calligraphy.
Reserve the Church for a wedding rehearsal.
Measurement taking with gown designer.
Confirm fitting schedules with your entourage gown maker and provide those concerned with a copy of these dates.

Trial HMUs.
Finalize on the menu.
Get a complete medical check-up.
Get NBI clearance.
Personally deliver invitations to your primary sponsors.
Decide on floral arrangements for the ceremony.

3 months before (september 2006)
Secure certificate of no marriage from the NSO.

Attend the pre-marriage seminar by the city hall.

Obtain marriage license from your city/municipal hall. Be sure to have all needed documents. Secure original or certified true copies of your and your fiance’s baptismal, confirmation and residence certificates.

Submit marriage certificate to the priest or his assistant. Be sure to give all needed documents.

Get permission from the Bride’s Parish (freedom to marry), as well as marriage banns.

Set an appointment with the priest for pre-marital counseling.

Attend pre-cana seminar.
Attend canonical interview. Pay balance.

Have missalettes printed. This should give ample time for corrections.

Measurement taking of members of the wedding entourage.
1st and 2nd Fitting with gown designer.

Order the bridal accessories and paraphernalia. - In my case, finalize this with Niko.
Shop for your undergarments.
Order and finalize design for wedding cake.
Complete gifts for the sponsors (if needed).
Finalize décor details with the florist, if needed arrange for a mock set-up.
Re-confirm with the musicians and choose songs for the ceremony and the reception.
Start working on your reception program.
Invite participants for your reception program and check their availability.
Pay the reception venue - Fernwood (50% + aircon fee).
Organize your calendar to accommodate all pre-wedding affairs (shower parties, etc).
Finalize your arrangement with your make-up artist/hairdresser of your choice.
Arrange for purchase of liquor or bar requirements with the reception venue.

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Hmm, we've done quite well so far! I'll probably post this again including the to do list for 2 months before the wedding, down to our big day itself. Whew! :D

My Inspiration (A Long Story)

Niko (Veluz’s assistant) informed me yesterday that my first fitting (cacha) will be next Friday, 26th of May. After being delayed a couple of times, finally, I will get a first glimpse and feel of my gown, even though it’s just cacha!

Suddenly I began reminiscing about the time when I first thought of my wedding gown… in High School! 11 years ago, a teacher commented how I reminded her of Grace Kelly. For some reason, according to her, I moved like her and even had some features of her (haha! She must have been semi-blind!). Anyway, I knew who Grace Kelly was, but I didn’t really think much of her. As vanity set in, I began to read about Grace Kelly… Wow, marrying a prince, that is soooo wonderful and romantic, a fairytale coming true. I came across a picture of her in her wedding gown, and I immediately loved her dress. It did remind me of my fashion sense, hehehe, for even when I was a kid, I had been dressed with those sashes and ballskirts. And she is soooo beautiful I had to disagree with my teacher. I would be happy if we had the same cuticles (that is of course an exaggeration).


The Woman.... The Dress...

Anyway, time went on and some years ago, I began thinking about my dream wedding again (though I wasn’t in anyway engaged. You know… just daydreaming and all). Since I had my inspiration for my gown, I had to think of a design for my bridesmaids. I remembered what Princess Grace wore in the movie “The Swan,” so that became my inspiration for my bridesmaids. In one of our formal office functions, I had a dressmaker make a prototype of my bridesmaid gown, and I absolutely loved it. Most of the female guests commented how my dress looked so nice, that I carried it so well. I was really happy wearing that dress.

And then “tragedy” came in (can’t tell you what. It is like uttering Voldemort’s name). I forced myself to forget about wedding stuff. And so the Princess Grace was forgotten.

Now zoom to 2005.

I went to Veluz to initially meet her and discuss the design of the wedding. She asked what I wanted and I told her, nothing in particular (liar!). I also wanted her to design a gown for me based on what she thinks is my style and what would suit me well. She asked if I wanted lace. Ting! I said yes. The end-product… A strapless gown with French alencon lace as waist detail and lovely velvet red or autumn-colored sash.

Prior to meeting her, I browsed through some photos of gowns, and I was able to get one that I wanted. Nope, not the Grace dress, but a Vera Wang number. It was strapless, with some lacy or whatever appliqués on top, and a sash (that’s my trademark so that wasn’t forgotten). After meeting Veluz, I sent her the picture.

The second time I met up with Veluz was when Jane (of Mike) had her measurement taken (July? August?). Veluz showed me this gown she said would also suit me and was thinking of designing a similar one for me… well at least the top portion.

Upon seeing it, flashes of Grace Kelly went back into my mind. The dress that I wanted! How could I have forgotten it so long, the one that I have dreamed of wearing since I was 16! As I was browsing for Grace’s dress again, Mia M. (a chatmate and former w@wie) told me to look at Monique Lhuillier’s gowns since they evoke Grace’s wedding dress. Visualizing a modern Grace dress was even made easier!


Monique Lhuillier's Interpretation


And so Veluz and I discussed our redesign. We would still keep the strapless, but my bodice will be covered with lace. I finally told her my inspiration for my gown… Grace Kelly. I was glad when she said it would suit me. I was still squeamish about the full sleeves, so we opted that mine would have no sleeves (somewhat halter though I am unsure since I have those fatty stuff near my pits).

When I visited her again early this year, Veluz sketched what we had in mind, had my measurement taken, and then this… my first fitting.

I am really really so excited to fit my soon-to-be gown for the first time. Already I am feeling like a Princess. Though I may not have a prince for a husband, like Grace Kelly, I do have my Enrique, and that is enough for me.

Wedding Preps... zzzzz....

RRRRIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!

I think I need to wake up and continue with our wedding preps! These past few weeks, I have done nothing much, thanks to the thinking that "it's still 7 months away anyway."

But yesterday I had this desire to do some wedding preps again. This was probably because for a couple of days I was virtually glued to my bed... I had a dental operation that left me slightly disfigured that I could hardly speak and eat. Spending idle time in my bed made me think where have I been lagging and all...

I thought of a couple of things to do, and my plans so far are:

1. First fitting with Veluz. The cacha is already available, but my first appointment was cancelled because I had to go to Cebu. Now Veluz is busy, but hopefully before the month ends, I could fit the cacha, and order the silk dupioni / thai silk from Marj (of Carlos).

2. Talk to JJS regarding list of songs.

3. Have a meeting with Mallory Cosio, our host for the reception. You know, just a little get to know so at least during the reception she knows something about us. Hehehe.

4. Discuss with Josiah's regarding the cake details (and also some things that needs to be ironed out).

5. Call / go to Mt. Carmel and clarify some procedures, e.g. pre-cana requirements, when the 50% will be paid, the banns, permission from parish forms, etc...

Whew.... reservations have been made, now it's time for the details...

Merry Month of May

Wow! How time flies so fast. I just remembered that May of last year was the time when Enrique and I decided to get married. February last year, we were thinking on whether to invest in a house and lot first or to get married. Initially we decided to buy a place of our own. But then when May came, we changed our minds... And so towards the end of May I started conceptualizing and did some preliminary reseach for our wedding.

I am probably just being sentimental and all, but today when I visited our blog, a picture taken during our first date (as a couple) caught my eye. I began reminiscing, and recalled how nervous and excited I was. But it was a truly memorable time for us. He just came back from Europe, I just came back from Malaysia. He picked me up at the airport and we went straight to the Tagaytay. *sigh*

On our first date he took me to all 4 churches he visits whenever he goes to Tagaytay. He introduced me to all his patron saints, and told God that he is with the woman who he loves and wants to be with for the rest of his life.

And now, 7 months from now, he will take me again to a church, not for introduction purposes, but to face and be blessed by God as man and wife.