Our Sweet, Simple DIY Wedding!

Weddings are one of the most beautiful events that could happen in a man and woman's life and ours is not an exception (of course!). I think it is because two hearts have decided for that lifetime commitment through uphills and downhills, sweetness and bitterness, etc. Mind you, it isn't easy but totally worth it. We have a long way to go - a lifetime actually - to stand on what we have promised to each other that one fine day in front of the altar. So, I'd like to write ( in a form of caption before each picture) bits and pieces of  our May 5, 2012 affair. :)

 This is one my favourite bridal portraits because even I only had one hour + sleep I made it through the day gracefully. Thanks be to God for the strength and peace he put into my heart that all will be well.

 The gown's design was personally picked by me - from a few inspirations into one. It fit very well the first time I tried it.

The handsome groom who looked dapper with his black suit and a bow tie. 

The theme of the wedding is combination of peach corals, peachy pinks, dark and baby pinks and anything in between. There goes my B$29.00 shoes that I am still using even after the wedding.  

 

Flower girl Jai-jai who made way for the bride with the sign created by Dave's colleague and friend.

Crying bride, said to my self '' This is it!''

With the beautiful entourage

Took some couple portraits after the ceremony. ''Just Married'' buntings were done by yours truly.

Some details at the reception - Our favors were personalized fruit jams. Decorations included paper lanterns in candy colors. Centerpieces were from the hotel to save cost. Table numbers are our pictures holding a number sign.

Family pictures were hung at the reception in honor of our families who were not present on our wedding.

Our very own friends were the ones who graced the reception with our favourite music.

Got playful during the cutting and eating of cake :)

Our wedding could be just one of those weddings but for us it was a beautiful story that I would love to tell to my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Because the best part is, it was coordinated by our loving Father. He sent people to help us along the way. It was Him who made all things possible.

Photos by our friend photographer Dominic Barrios, click here!

Our DIY Wedding : The Preparation

Better late than never. Yes, it's been a more than a month since our wedding and finally I got the time and zeal to reminisce the preparations that we had on our May 5, 2012 wedding. It is nice to bring back those efforts exerted, the fun at shopping items, those sweet memories, relationships tested, friends' helping hands and God's overflowing providence.

Let me start off with the bridal shower and/or stag party combined. It is a tradition in the community that when someone's getting married, brothers and sisters will gather together to have fun with the couple. Games, honoring and advises.. and lots of laughter 

What comes next are the little things about wedding. 

We had marriage ban posted weeks before the wedding! :)

Dave and I wanted to have a simple and personalized affair with the people dear to us. We decided to have things crafted by ourselves that reflect who we are us a couple. Laid back, simple and sweet.

Groomsmen and sponsors' boutonnieres that I did myself :)

Inspiration that I got from the web for one of the flower girls' sign to carry!

Mustache for the photo wall that we also did ourselves!

The signage at the photo wall :)

DIY flower girl basket :)

Love and support from family and friends are for me the best part of any wedding :)

Our wedding was also DIO (Did It Ourselves). It wouldn't had been possible if not for all the people who had always been there for us.

 And many many more... Will be posting the wedding day's details in the next post.

E-Session : Behind the Scenes

We were all ecstatic one lovely Sunday morning (October 16,2011) for our long overdue and early engagement shoot. Long overdue because we booked our photographer friend as early as April, a month after Dave and I got engaged, also early for the wedding that will take place next year.

We headed to our shoot location as early as 6.15am since the travel will take us one and twenty minutes or so. We prayed before going there and asked the Lord for protection and blessings for the whole day. We have been blessed with a wonderful and fun shoot and lots of food, praise God! Here are few of the beautiful things that day. 

1) Picnic Theme

     Dave and I wanted to have a fun shoot that is true to us, something that reflects who we are individually and as a couple. I first thought of this picnic theme since we both love nature. We both like to recreate with nature and can spend a day wandering in a forest, hiking, taking pictures, camping, etc. Since he is a musician, we brought along with us a guitar, he played and I sang. Since I am into reading inspirational books, we also brought along some and read together.

2) Fishing Theme

    We have gone fishing quite a few times already and this is one of the activities we do to bond as a couple. Way back then as a kid, I spent a lot of time fishing in our province. We had this clean and fish-filled river (now gone) that served as a abundant source of water in our place (remembering those days). No, we are not professionals when it comes to fishing but it is one of our favourite past times as a couple, plus, it teaches us to be more patient.

3) Playful Theme

    Why playful? Because we are like playful children in many ways, laugh on silly jokes, tell lesson-filled stories, and 'lambing' like a child. We also wanted to have it fun and colorful. Makulay ang buhay!

4)  Miss Wonderful Photographer

     We have been so blessed to have a dear photographer friend who helped us a lot in our preparation and all the way through our shoot. Carem even spent time with us to discuss details of the shoot and was as excited as we were (even more I think haha :p). It really helps a lot when you are friends with the photographer (befriend them if you are hiring photographers that are not your friends) because it creates a setting where you are more relaxed and can be just yourselves. I think we spent a lot of times giggling and laughing throughout the shoot and that would make beautiful candid pictures (right Carem?). Even more lovely with her is that she contaminates her cheerfulness, a happy photographer makes happy pictures . :)

5) Ever-ready stylists/assistants

     Aby and Ivy were also with us to help us with the shoot and were excited to go to Merimbun for the first time. We can't thank you enough ladies for being there and helping us set the shoot, from the hair and make-up to accessories and especially your time (kering-keri ang pagbibilad sa arawb :D).

6) Bountiful Lunch by Kuya Romy

     Picnic lunch over the green meadows, calm lakes and cool-hot breeze (ok, 'twas mostly hot breeze - but never mind) we enjoyed a full seafood lunch courtesy of dear Kuya Romy. Thank you so much kuyang. We felt so loved and cared for. Praise God for your kindness. Alongside with Kuya Romy were Elmer (thank you for the chips mer) and Kuya Benj. Thank God for your time, blessings to you all!

7) The location - Tasek Merimbun

     When we planned for this shoot, Dave had already had Merimbun in mind. The place was perfect for our two themes, picnic and fishing. We visited the place 2 weeks before the shoot to plan ahead. Even we had to travel for more than an hour to get into the place, it was all worth it. And we had a perfect weather! What a bonus!

8) Something blue (outfits) and something borrowed

    We have planned this shoot ahead and we see to it that we are not going to spend a lot. My dress/blouses and Dave's polos/pants were all budget-friendly (very budget-friendly). For the accessories, it was a blessing that Ivy brought her turban, bangles and earrings to complete my bohemian look for the fishing theme. Thank you so much Bella!

All of these blessings were brought to us by the Greatest Provider.. Thank you dear Lord for all of these!!

I was teary-eyed by the end of the day realizing all the blessings (kasama na rin ang pagod :))..

Blessings to us all!!! To God be all the glory!

   

i - SWER!

Twenty days ago (as of this writing), 8 soon-to-be-married couples have been blessed enough to have SWER [Singles Weekend Engagement Retreat] organized by our beloved titas and titos, ates and kuyas from the community. It has been an overwhelming experience for us in preparing ourselves for the popular vocation - marriage.

*April 30, 2011 (7:00pm - 12midnight)

 

The night started with a sumptuous meal of pasta and pizza. It was in a form of group date that everyone enjoyed. Chikahan here and there :)

What followed was more of filling the spiritual needs for to-be-married couples. Prayers and talks by our dear 'elders' in the community. Praise be to God for them who were with us throughout the retreat.

Group picture muna before the guys went to their quarters.

Ate Jane told us that to have some reflection time ('twas her way of staying us awake and still on our dresses for the surprise prepared for us). At nainip ako haha, nakabihis halfway ng pantulog when the guys had their surprise for us. Brought roses for their respective partner and danced while kuya Joms serenaded us. Dave also played the guitar to which I sang along.

A beautiful night indeed.

May 1, 2011 - And the lovely morning comes! We drove off to Empire Hotel to witness the rising of the sun while we (the couples) will have some time together. Pray. Talk. Bond.

The sun was just so gorgeous that day that we have to take the opportunity to have pictures by our resident photographer Ms. Carem :).  [Below : Dave and I]

Lovely Couple #1 - Kiko and Sheena . To be wed sometime in 2012.

Love couple # 2 - Sam and Girlie. To be wed on August 6, 2011.

Lovely couple # 3 Merf and Kitchie. Wedding is on July 30, 2011.

Lovely couple # 4 Jim and Aike. Wedding is set on May 12, 2011.

Lolo Berts wishing his mahal was there too.

Mi She and Yurie (was not able to attend due to some work restrictions) are the second pair to be wed, May 14, 2011.

Mi Lhen is missing her honey (Kuya Albert), they are getting married on August 13, 2011.

Kuya Amiel and Ate Jane who accompanied us throughout the event. ''Para na rin kaming nag reretreat'' as quoted from Ate Jane.

After the photoshoot, we headed back to Holiday Lodge Hotel for the rest of the program.

We ended the program filled with lessons. Stomachs are also filled hehe. We are all grateful for all who supported us, for those who sponsored and for those who prayed for us. Our hearts are filled with joy. Thanks and praise be to God for all of these. KKBBH!

Photos courtesy of Miss Carem Lemence :)

Mga Kasal-Kasali-Kasalo

Kasal - n. Two weddings of our dear friends (May 12 and 14) Jimmy Cabalu - Criselda Boller & Yurie Bautista - Sherryl Borromeo respectively.


Kasali - v. as in we are honoured to have attended the two weddings

Kasalo - v. Salo-salo with the foods at the celebration (lafang time hehe) but that's just the other part. In deeper sense, these two couples have become part of my/our lives.

Weddings have always fascinated people from different walks of life. Whenever I hear the word ' wedding', to me  it means two people have found enough courage to finally settle and be with the one they love forever. A lifetime commitment as they say.
It was my first and second time to finally witness a Catholic wedding in the church with the priest giving the mass. The first wedding I have attended is what they call intermarriage, in which the other party is not a Catholic that's why the ceremony doesn't include a celebration of the Eucharist to which a normal Catholic wedding does.
And so for the month of May, I feel blessed to be part of the weddings of my dear friends.

May 12 was a very special day for Jim and Aike a.ka. wabby as it marks the beginning of their union together. Family on both sides flocked from the Philippines just to witness their vows for each other. Before that day, we've helped them in ways that we can in decorating the church, preparing the materials for their big day, etc. And so the morning came, I went to the salon to curl my hair and Dave has pledged to take the doves for them. 'Twas 12 o' clock in the afternoon when we were set to go to church and witness their commitment to each other. Fr. Arin solemnized their vows in front of family and friends. Reception followed at Holiday Lodge Hotel where everyone shared a night of love and laughter and a lot of dancing hehehe.. Filles with love and fun wedding for these two :).. Congrats again Wabby & Jimboy!!

                   The now husband and wife together with Fr. Arin :) (Photo by Carem)

                          With the secondary sponsors (Photo by Kuya Nicky)

                          Dave and I lighting the candles  ( Photo by Kuya Nicky)

                           Wabby and I at the reception.. (Photo by Kuya Nicky)

                                Mga ayaw magpapicture hahaha :D

    I can't get enough with this girl with a big laugh.. I find her so cute hehe

After two days, it was Momi She and Yurs2x day of celebration of life and love. I wasn't present for the ceremony since I had to work whole day on Saturdays but I was able to attend the celebration. I've seen the joys on their faces. Such pure joy. I've known these two because we're batchmates in SFC (Singles for Christ). And I've witnessed their love story as well. So happy when it was made known that they will seal their love with the church's blessing. All the best for you Mi She and Yurs2x!!

           The couple with Bishop Sim & entourage [below] (Photo by Carem)

                                  At the reception ( Photo by Carem) 

    Many thanks to photographers Kuya Nicky and Carem (self-proclaimed hobbyist) :)


At sa huli, ang dami kong nakuhang tips for our wedding soon hehe.. KKBBH