Planning Your Wedding

Guest book brought by my wife from Malaysia.

Planning a wedding is really one of the most complicated but most memorable experience a couple will experience for the rest of their lives. This is done once in every one's life. 

Wedding, as I still remember, marks the day of my celebration as husband to my wife. Wedding as i remember during all the seminar we attended is the union of a man and a woman to be solemnized in the name of the Lord and of the law.

I, being a son of a Cordilleran in the northern part of the Philippines, practice various traditional beliefs which we have followed from our ancestors. 

This is what we did:

1. Setting the date

Both parents were informed about our target date. It was a bit rushed but we knew that the date is perfect to us. My in laws from overseas were a bit shocked but we informed them in a nice way with at least four and a half months before the wedding day. We informed them earlier so that they can book their flight ticket to the Philippines (thanks to WhatsApp, this is our means of communication with my in laws).

2. Preparation for the wedding gown

Cinderella type of wedding gown.

This step is one of the most time consuming during our wedding preparations. We initially planned to hire a wedding gown and entourage clothes to lessen our expenditures. However, with our research and online blog readings, we were able to find out that there are some wedding designers somewhere in Manila.  We went to Landmark Ayala, Glorietta 1 - 5 Malls, and even to Mall  of Asia to check on wedding gowns. It was really  hard to find one as my fiancee (my wife now) IS VERY PARTICULAR.

We visited every wedding shop along those malls and the prices of the wedding gowns were quite shocking. SO EXPENSIVE...Until we went to a certain place in Divisoria (Tutuban) where some famous designer made a look of what is better for my fiancee. She suggested a halter neck design. Honestly, the fitting was very long as the designer was very detailed on her physical check with my wife's body structure. So I just sat in the  corner, listening to their longggggggg talk. After their talk and everything, I interrupted and asked how much. I was shocked as the price is very PHPHPHPHP (very high). So we went around that area and we found this simple shop. We were curious why a lot of people (couples) were in that place. So it is on that shop where we met Ms. Mara, the designer of my wife's dress in halter neck wedding gown. She also made my wedding formal wear and entourage clothes. 

The gown was in halter neck surrounded by silver beads and lace together with tulle for the skirting part in a Cinderella look with five yards veil with lace edges. Part of the wedding dress package included the ring and arrhae cushions, bride's pouch, the second veil, the cord, and the hair piece. The package covered three fitting adjustments.

And I'm satisfied with the price. 

So, I also decided to let her be in charge of my American Suit in Armani cloth. It was a 5-in-1 suit including the pants, long sleeve polo, vest, neck tie, and tuxedo.

The entourage clothes were also made by Mara. All in all, we were satisfied with the clothes and gowns we ordered.

Personalized wedding token with abaca bag.

3. Wedding Tokens

We got this in Divisoria. We let the shop personalize them. No worries, it was cheap.

4. Invitation Cards, Wedding Vow Booklets and our Love Story Booklet

I designed our invitation cards to save money. I used Photoshop (of course). I just printed them on photo paper with good layout. Of course, better do it yourself because you know what you like. Thanks to my sister as she lent me her Canon printer.

I'm also thankful as my parents and in laws overseas helped me to check the content of the said materials. It was really a good help from them especially my mum in law.  She made time to check every page and even the pictures.

I would also like to credit Ms. Kristel for designing our wedding logos. Kristel is my wife's friend from her office in Manila way back in 2014.

5. Wedding Cakes and Wine

A homemade Wedding Round Cake by Kyra and sponsored by Camilo family.

Must be simple. Thank God somebody sponsored our wedding cake (one of our ninongs and ninangs). I suggest that those who want to have some cakes, better to use cup cakes, especially when the setting of the wedding is in a provincial area. It is easy to serve and much cleaner to see in your photos.  

Make sure also to have food sampling of the cakes before you get their service so as to avoid too much sweetness and icing. 

For wines, Jack Daniels was sponsored by M.A. Camilo Freight Services together with the blueberry wine. Some of my relatives from Kapangan in Benguet (father's side) and Betwag in Tublay (mother's side) sent some of their native rice wine. We call it "tapey". And I liked it. As a matter of fact, most of our foreign visitors (friends of my wife) liked the said wine.

6. Food 

 

This is one of the most important things to check on. Since my wedding is in a house reception in Tublay, Benguet, Philippines, we have to be ready to feed the whole barangay. That is already common to us. We had to prepare numerous pigs to butcher, chickens, fish, vegetables and others as we expected at least 1,200 guests from both sides (that is how we are in the Cordillera region).

 

For this matter, you have to make sure that you should have a committee just like in a hotel setting. But what we did was just a simple house reception. We butchered the pigs in the house and we prepared the ingredients. My mum hired a good chef to get all the menu for the lunch and for dinner.

There were some flaws along the way, but just like any occasion, this is normal as THERE IS NO PERFECT WEDDING.

7. Program Coordinator  

We got the services of Flower Blooms located in Cruz La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines under the management of "Mother Belmer". She arranged our set up in the reception area with white swagging arrangement  accented with white trees blended within the December season. 

A typical Cordilleran guy.

She also set aside flower arrangement for our couple table, including the church altar as well as the aisles of the church. Generally we were satisfied with her performance.

She also took charge with the arrangement of our program being the master of ceremony together with my sister, Gera. 

The lesson we learned here---- better get someone who is experienced not only in weddings, but in other events. Flower Blooms may have a limited display in their shop but I recommend their way of delivering their services. GOOD JOB Belmer...GOOD JOB Flower Blooms. Plus the flowers were really fresh, even their entourage flower bouquets were very GOODDDDDD...

YOU MUST GET SOMEONE WHOM YOU KNOW SO THAT YOU CAN BE COMFORTABLE ON HOW HE/SHE  HANDLES THE FLOW OF THE PROGRAM.

8. Transportation

You should arrange a mobile vehicle or car for your transportation during your big day. This is very important especially when fetching guests from the church to your house reception. Also when fetching guests from the hotels. In my case, at least my guests were booked in three hotels so it was easy to pick them up.

This aspect also includes your wedding car (our wedding car was decorated by Flower Blooms). I am also thankful that Uncle Abraham was the one who drove my wife in the wedding car.

Also my two brothers (Randy and Enrille) were busy fetching guests from here to there. 

9. Sound system / Music

We hired a singing band. So at least Flower Blooms was in charge to this. Make sure the coordinator has a good working relationship with your music coordinators so that the flow of the program will be smooth. Make sure there are no sound echos as well.

10.  Make Up Artist

Our make up artist are 100 percent gays. Yes, they may be gays but we salute how they made effort in making our wedding and faces handsome and beautiful during our big day. They were very caring and at least they were on time (AHREN and friends - Lynsai, Gerosa and others). Accordingly, my wife's make up was very natural. Good job AHREN.

We can also say that the make up was reasonably priced. At least Mother Belmer also has contact with them . Really Flower Blooms is a one-stop area for wedding preparations.

11. Videographers and Photographers

We got Visual Effects Production. This shop is very reasonable for its price, that's why a lot of couples choose their services. Sad to say that they have a lot of clients that can affect the delivery of your finished photos. But generally they are still recommendable.

What I like about them is that Visual Effects and Flower Blooms worked together harmoniously. There was really working harmony from both sides and you as the bride or groom will not be bothered.

We are also thankful to one of my wife's friends, "Mangs" or Mark Benalla for helping us take our pre-nup shots in Manila and Batangas, Philippines (thanks bro). And his shots were also good. Also recommendable to anyone who wants to have pre-nup photos.

12. Coordinator

It is also very important that one of the family should be part of the coordinators. In our case, my sister, Gera was the one who was very busy assisting us with our wedding preparations. During that time (November 2015), we were busy in Manila checking on our documents and my visa. 

At least she was there to assist us on the necessary needs for our big day.

13. Friends to the Rescue

Bamboo set up with my Big Bro and Acop Boys.

There were also close friends and my KABABATA (childhood friends) in Acop who helped us set up our tents and other materials needed. I am thankful to the Acop Boys for helping me sort out bamboos to be used in the house. Actually the bamboos that were used were courtesy of Bolislis family and Tello family, as with Mr. Gaspar family.

This is how you can see that by the time you need help, there are people who are willing to help you without asking for money or anything. And you can say that they are happy for you. 

So lesson learned in this aspect, this is where you can see that there are a lot of people who respect you and are willing to help you especially when you are in need. THANKS TO ACOP BOYS.

For those who are planning to set their wedding,  always remember that  there are friends who want to help you. You may not know but you can see it in their actions.  

Just like for my wife, I wasn't expecting that in her few years of stay in the Philippines, there were really friends who are willing to travel more than eight hours bus ride and even to take flight in the Philippines just to witness her big day with me. Thank you for coming.