Countdown: 1 month!

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And we're onto our last streeeeetch! Last month to finish everything before we reach the culmination of everything that we've been doing the past 2 years. I'm feeling strained more and more mainly because of the sudden spike of workload this month. Tons of things to deliver with so little time. I'm eagerly anticipating my break from work as the wedding will also serve as a much awaited breather for me. 

Excitement for the wedding itself hasn't kicked in yet but I'm looking forward to feeling warm, giddy, and kilig all over. Haha. Enough of this non-sense! Let's now talk business and see our completion rate against last months's task list.

• Send-out all invitations - In progress. Most have been released already but some are still waiting for Christmas reunions to come so they can be delivered to the respective recipients. :)
• Complete processing of marriage license - DONE. We finally have our license! Yipee!
• Update Darlene's  program workbook
• Compile photos for AVP presentations - DONE. Photos for Prenup AVP has been sent to Darlene while the Growing Up photos will be shared to Ariel Javelosa soon.
• Create our missals - DONE. Layout completed and just waiting to finalize some contents before we proceed with the printing.
• Complete our wedding day accessories
• Pick-up my wedding shoes - DONE. I love how my shoes turned out!
• Complete layouts for stationery - DONE. Adrin did a great job completing all this. 
• Label/pack our giveaways - In progress. I already commissioned my trusted bridesmaid to put the twines on our small jams. Packing for other giveaways or tokens haven't started yet. 
• Finish DIY Signage
• Entourage dress fitting and delivery - In Progress. Almost all of our entourage have completed fitting their dresses save for our two flower girls. This will be completed within the week. Actual delivery of the dress will be on January. 
• Delivery of barongs to male entourage - In Progress. Some have been delivered already while others are still waiting for the reunions to happen. :)
• Another meeting with KTG
• Finalize song list
• Shop for house fixtures - DONE. BUT this is a work in progress while the construction is still on-going. 

Uh oh. Lots of items not striked out. But as Adrin would always tell me, fret not because looks like we're still in good shape since we also managed to accomplish these other items.

• Complete Rustan's and SM Bridal Registry
• Order for custom hangers
• Receive our cake toppers and clay giveaways
• Picked-up the jams
• Final detailing with florist

Oh how I badly wish everything will be completed a week before the wedding. May the list below be a comprehensive guide of all the things we need to complete. 

1. Finalize Darlene's program workbook
2. Complete our wedding day accessories
3. Complete packing of giveaways/tokens
4. Finish DIY signage
5. Deliver all barongs and dresses
6. Handover meeting to KTG
7. Finalize song list
8. Submit all church requirements
9. Finalize guest list
10. Finalize headcount of suppliers on the day
11. Book crew meals for lunch
12. Print misalettes
13. Buy offertory item (gift basket, mompo wine, host)
14. Buy wine and beer
15. Buy prizes for games
16. Final gown fitting
17. Prepare for our first dance
18. Pack all items for the wedding
19. Buy items needed for house construction

Okay, I should stop here as it's becoming a bit daunting already. More energy for us please! 

Countdown: 2 months!

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I can't believe that it has been 30days already since I last posted a checkpoint entry. To say that we've been busy is a grave understatement. I was overwhelmed with the list I created last month that it caused me some panic. Work is uncooperative and just proved to be as demanding as how I predicted it to be. Even this blog has been somewhat neglected that updating it more often is now one of my priorities. Haha. But enough of the ranting, and let's get into the business. =)

Let's see what we've accomplished the past 30 days. 

• Complete wedding documents - DONE. We've secured our baptismal and confirmation certificates.
• Layout for other stationery - In Progress. Adrin was able to complete the table numbers, and needs to work on the others still.
• Complete Darlene’s program workbook
• Complete Pre-Cana Seminar and Canonical Interview - DONE. We completed it over the weekend!
• Print invitations - DONE. A portion of our invites will be released today! Weeee. 
• Create our missals
• Detailing with Josiah’s - DONE. We just have minor follow-up items left.
• Detailing with Scenta Creations - DONE
• Buy wedding shoes for Adrin - DONE
• Complete our wedding day accessories
• Order Fruit Garden giveaways - DONE. Orders received too!
• Finish DIY signage
• Book vans for transportation provision - DONE
• Secure a building permit - DONE. Adrin worked really hard to get this as soon as we can.
• Start house construction work - DONE. Work has started and we hope for it to be completed before our wedding. :)

Ten tasks completed out of fifteen. Not bad. Completing the building permit and starting the house construction took a great amount of our time that it bumped-off some of the planned wedding tasks. BUT we do not mind because it's equally important.

I'm sure next month will be more demanding, so I need an organized list of things to accomplish.

1. Send-out all invitations
2. Complete processing of marriage license
3. Update Darlene's  program workbook
4. Compile photos for AVP presentations
5. Create our missals
6. Complete our wedding day accessories
7. Pick-up my wedding shoes
8. Complete layouts for stationery
9. Label/pack our giveaways
10. Finish DIY Signage
11. Entourage dress fitting and delivery
12. Delivery of barongs to male entourage
13. Another meeting with KTG
14. Finalize song list
15. Shop for house fixtures

I'll stop here for now. I hope we get to complete all of those and more in the next 30 days. We can do this! =)

Countdown: 3 months!

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We’re past our 100 days countdown, and today we only have 3 months left. We've been busiest the past weeks and panic is kicking in. I've been warned, but I didn't think that things would be this craaazy! 

 Since I declared that we've been busy, let’s see how we fared against our targets 3 months back.

• Free Prenup Shoot with Chasing Tales Photography > DONE
• Completion of pocketfolds > DONE
•  Layouts for invites > DONE
• …and other stationery
• Production of entourage attires > DONE
• Actual detailing with Josiah’s 
• Wedding shoes for me > to be customized by Faire La Fete
• Wedding shoes for Adrin
• Documents for the wedding > 50% complete (we still lack baptismal and confirmation certificates)
• Lot hunting > DONE. We purchased a house and lot BUT major renovations are in order.
• Band for our reception > Crossroads Acoustic

Oh no, I see a few unaccomplished items. I hope the following compensates for the items we missed.

• Honeymoon Plans > we booked Miniloc Island Resort by El Nido Resorts
• Marriage License Application > requirements already submitted to the city hall
• Family Planning Seminar > DONE. Certificate received
• Finalized and claimed our wedding rings > We just claimed it last weekend
• House Extension and Renovation Plan > this is taking up a lot of our time and effort - we're now working on the requirements for a building permit

For the next 30 days, let's accomplish the following, shall we? 

1. Complete wedding documents
2. Layout for other stationery
3. Complete Darlene’s program workbook
4. Complete Pre-Cana Seminar and Canonical Interview
5. Print invitations
6. Create our missals
7. Detailing with Josiah’s
8. Detailing with Scenta Creations
9. Buy wedding shoes for Adrin
10. Complete our wedding day accessories
11. Order Fruit Garden giveaways
12. Finish DIY signage
13. Book vans for transportation provision
14. Secure a building permit
15. Start house construction work

Whoa! What a long list?! And all due within 30 days! So much work to be done. WE.MUST.ENDURE.

Cheers!

Bridal and Entourage Flowers: Scenta Creations

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If there's one item in the list that I had a hard time deciding on, it's the flowers. Early on, I already have a vision of the flower bouquets and posies that I want for myself and my entourage. I knew I just have to find the perfect supplier who can deliver what I want.

Way back, I was already eyeing 2 well-regarded florists to choose from. We only got side-tracked for a time when I half-heartedly floated to Adrin the idea that maybe we can just DIY the all the bouquets and use fabric flowers. I didn’t think that he’d easily agree to it so I had to take it back after some weeks. Haha. I was just thinking then, of ways to lessen our budget hurt when this idea came to mind. I know too well that I’m not sold with it but I still went ahead and told Adrin about it, so I had to do something. Haha. After that short fickle-mindedness, I already set the record with my fiancé that fresh flower bouquets is still the way I’d like to take. :)

As I continued our search for our florist, I again went through the motions of inquiring, probing, and negotiating for services and freebies. Turns out, the best option and deal is not from my first and second supplier choice. Why? Because with the chosen florist, the service I received via email is above among the rest, and the package they presented best covers the things that we need with just the same price tag as others. Without further ado (how formal?! hehe), our chosen florist is Scenta Creations!

After sending the reservation fee and forwarding the deposit slip last Thursday, Janet of Scenta was quick to send our signed contract and order form. It was one fast transaction. I’m so looking forward to meet Janet and the people of Scenta once we finalize my bouquet and that of our entourage's.

Cheers!

DIY #2: Ruffly Wrist Corsage

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Making the most out of my work hiatus, I was able to tick off another item on the list. I bought the materials from Carolina's a few days ago, when I had my long overdue "me time". This wrist corsage made it to our DIY list after we decided with our theme. And one time that I was looking for inspirations, I came across the picture below. It was so cute and lovely! I just knew that our flower girls should have something like this.

Ruffly Corsage | Martha Stewart Weddings

So when I had the free time to scour for some eyelet trimmings, there's no way I'd let that opportunity pass. I first checked fabric shops in Glorietta 4, but not even a single shop sells what I was looking for. Luckily, the  lady in the last shop I went to was kind enough to refer me to Carolina’s at Glorietta 5. I treaded my way to the other building, looked for the said shop, and lo and behold, they have it! Apparently Carolina’s is a lace shop, so they have a wide array of lace and eyelet trimmings in different colors, sizes, and designs. I carefully scrutinized the items on display and bought 3 different types since I am not sure which among them will best look as a  flower.

I used the leftmost eyelet

Itching to finish this one, I started working as soon as I got home. Each trimming was used for a trial flower, and then I asked my family to pick which one looks best. The eyelet in nude won by a landslide, because it better complements our complexion compared the ones in stark white.  I was in production mode after that as  I so wanted to complete the corsages immediately. Excited much? Hihi.

Anyway, after crafting the 3 cute flowers, which I adorned with a yellow bead at the center, I was stuck because I did not buy any thin trimmings that will serve as wrist straps. Not wanting to give up and just continue on another day, I turned again to my trusty box of thingamajigs and found some cream satin ribbons. And they are just enough (as in no excess, not even a centimetre) to be placed as straps to my corsages. They’ve been in that box for ages (I think since my HS graduation! What a junkie?! Haha.), and finally I’ll be able to put them into good use. =P

I sew those ribbons at the back of the eyelet flowers, covered the stitches with some felt cloth for a clean finish, and voila, I now have 3 dainty and ruffly wrist corsages for our little girls. :)

Our Ruffly Corsages

Modeled by my young cousin :)

  

Carolina's Lace Shoppe

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Cheers!

First Take on Fabric Flowers

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I do not consider myself a creative person, nor do I have any penchant for the arts. I actually avoid it as much as I can, thinking that I’m not good at it. But during those times that I’m forced to work on artsy things, I tend to get engrossed on it and always find myself enjoying the activity. Despite my lack of creativity, I know that I love working with my hands. I even engaged myself in crafts (cross-stitching, scrapbooking, refashioning my clothes, decorating notebooks, etc.) when I was younger. Sadly I explored other activities, and coupled with the demands of work, my fascination with crafts was ultimately pushed aside.

Working on our wedding preps gives me a new opportunity to use my hands and come up with something. As early as day 1, I’m already positive that we won’t get through this whole wedding thing without a single DIY output.

Now that we’ve booked our major suppliers, we can already focus on our target DIY’s. I’ve yet to finalize the list and do the prioritization though.  By August, I hope we’ll already be in full swing ticking the first item in the list.

Given some free time today, I decided to try out some fabric flowers. We have several ideas in mind as to how and where we’ll use them, but I’m not sharing yet. Just hang in there for now; I’ll let you into it once we’ve started the actual work. *wink*

And so, after a long intro, I share to you the fabric flowers I was able to come up with today. This was not pre-meditated so pardon the materials used. I just scouted for scraps of fabric or wrapping materials that I’ve lovingly kept before. Yes, I’m such a junkie. I keep those in a box together with other thingamajigs with the intention to put them into good use someday. =P

This is my first output. The tutorial I found on the internet was easy to follow and this thing was easy to create. I'll probably try a different material next time.

Flower #1

Next I created this following this tutorial. Out of my 3 outputs for the day, this is the easiest to create. You can actually finish one in around 10mins. However it looks kinda plain and flat (lacks dimension) since my fabric was too short to create two layers of "petals".

Flower #2

My last output is this. After creating the first one, I looked for other versions where I can also use the extra circle cutouts. Found this tutorial, so I decided to try it out as well. Of the three, I spent the most time on this design because you need several petals and  it has to be sewn in one by one. It's puffy and has volume but looks a bit stiff. I'm sure it'll turn out better using a real fabric.

Flower #3

They look oh so pretty, don't they? =)

Cheers!

Wish #2: Can Someone Identify These Flowers Please?

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I've been searching for pretty blue flowers for quite some time now. Apparently there are very limited flowers in that color and most of them are considered as wildflowers (read: beautiful for a meadow but not for a bouquet). I was able to note a few and have been considering to have them as entourage flowers together with the bright and yellow ones. And in my recent trip to Japan, I saw these lovely flowers in the hue I'm looking for. It's planted in a pot in that tiny flower shop together with other kinds and colors

It's just sad that I don't even know its name since there was no label. And even if there was, for sure it would be in Japanese. Now I tried looking it up in the internet but I just can't find it. I hope that once I show it to my would-be florist, he/she'll be able to identify what these flowers are.


Cheers!