A New Look!

Thanks to my uber creative, net-savvy sis, Adie, for helping me create a new look for this wedding blog. :)

Alvin and I chose Disney's UP to be the theme of our wedding. After seeing that movie for the first time, he called me his Ellie and he was my Carl. That's how we envision ourselves many years from now - old and gray, wrinkly, but still together and still very much in-love.

We'll show you how our invitations and souvenir designs look soon. The invitation is a mix of blue and pink, with an image of that famous floating house in the movie, carried by balloons. Our music CD souvenirs are going to look like Ellie badges - that grape soda crown, remember? I found this computer shop in Kamuning where they print directly on the CD (plus print the case cover art and burn the songs, too) for just 35 pesos/cd. Coolness!

Confirmed!

Entourage:

Maid of honor: Adie Asis
Best Man: Carlo Carlos
Bridesmaids: Andrea Asis and Bianca Carilo
Groomsmen: Khris Ortega and Ton De Luna
Ring Bearer: Anthony Asis
Coin Bearer: Ricardo De Guzman, II
Bible Bearer: Ricardo De Guzman, Jr.
Flower Girls: Nadine Pena, Kathrina Sanchez and Jeosara Jose

Candle: Karlo Melendres and Jackie Victa
Veil: Jessie and Mags David
Cord: Oliver Melendres and Lennie Arboleda-Oliver

Confirmed principal sponsors:

Mr. Jose Luis Vera
Mr. Bernie Buenaseda
Mr. Rolando Sulit
Ms. Cherry Reyes
Mr. Guy Ilacad

Atty. Rey Melendres
Mrs. Ma. Teresa Melendres-Aristan

Mrs. Minda Villarreal

Ms. Monette Asis

Ms. Ayette Asis
Mr. Ricardo Asis
Mr. Elmer Hernandez
Atty. Joel Bretana
Mr. Alfredo Bigcas
Mr. Ramon Regio
Mrs. Maria Emelda Tan

Reception Hosts: Ida Hidalgo-Pangan and Jess "The Blade" Reyes

Time for photos! :)

Photos taken by my photographer extraordinaire fiance, Alvin. 'Pag siya ang nasa picture, then ako kumuha nun. :)

At the Quezon City Hall, working on Marriage License requirements.

The fiance fills out some forms

Our wedding preps scrapbook! Colored pens are fun! :)

Peek-a-boo!

At National Bookstore Techno Hub. Buying stickers for our scrapbook.

New friends Jen and Rio of Luminosi Studios

Yup, we finally found our photographer and videographer! Luminosi Studios, co-owned by photographer Igor Maminta, a friend whom I met during a PLDT event last year. We visited his studio in Makati and were entertained by two very friendly account executives - Rio and Jen. Rio also happened to be the ka-barkada of Alvin's sister, Bianca. Small world. :)

We got an awesome package! Whee!

:)

Day 1 (Take 2)

We got a bit init ulo during Day 1. So we labeled the following day as Day 1 (Take 2), this time with more love and patience. :)

Food tasting at The Grand Terrace! We were excited, like two little kids happy about getting free food. Tee-hee! VS&F Catering was the official caterer of the venue, with both companies owned by the same family. The place was all set up when we got there. The lights were turned on, the tables were set beautifully, there was water cascading from the glass walls surrounding the Palm Hall venue. The buffet was in full swing. Everything was perfect! And if a few days ago I was complaining about how my dad bullied us into changing our reception venue, I was won over instantly that day. We tried each dish that was served, making tick marks on our food list, selecting what to put in our own menu for the reception. It was a happy day!

Reception Venue: The Palm Hall of The Grand Terrace, Commonwealth, QC.
Caterer: VS&F Classic Food International
Cost (venue, food and other amenities): P160,000.00 for 150 guests

Day 1

Off we went to Dangwa to pay a visit to Jennifer and Agie. They were the ones who took care of the floral arrangements and stage design requirements during the AICS graduation events this year. Since we'd be giving them AICS rakets every year, we were able to get a really good deal at a very budget-friendly price.

The 18,400 peso package comprised of bouquets for:
- the lovely bride
- 1 maid of honor
- 2 bridesmaids
- 2 moms
- 3 flower girls
- 3 female secondary sponsors

Plus, wristlets for 20 ninangs. And flowers for the grand staircase at our reception venue. A winner deal, don't you agree?

Florists: Jennifer & Agie. Dangwa, Manila.

Not bad for the first deal we closed on Day 1 of our wedding preps. After a quick lunch at Jonas in Banawe, we went around to check out photographers and videographers.

We went to: Roper's, Smart Shot and Wally Gonzales. Alvin was okay with the packages at Smart Shot. I was still waiting to be convinced, or maybe swept away.

Church and Reception Venue

When we were first working on the wedding details, the reception venue we had in mind was this Filipino restaurant called Adarna Food & Culture. It's a lovely place located along Kalayaan Ave. in QC. We immediately fell in-love with Adarna, and the dishes, a variety of classic pinoy viands, were superb! But my dad wasn't impressed. He wanted a big reception venue, with ample parking and can house all the relatives he wanted on the guestlist.

So the new venue: The Grand Terrace along Commonwealth Ave. QC.

I was grumbling about this change for a few days. Until Alvin and I attended their food tasting last weekend. I was won over! More details about this story as we progress.

Nobody can ever make us change our minds about the church - Holy Spirit (BFQC) Parish. This church had sentimental value to us. It was the sanctuary to a decade of our memories and experiences. This church was where we ran to when we needed peace and quiet, a place to have heart-to-heart talks and heartfelt prayers. After the painful break-up, when we got back together, this church was where we knelt down and thanked God for bringing us back to each other. It meant a lot to us, and to get married there was a decision both of us shared.

So the church has been pencil-booked, awaiting required documents. We already have a reception venue. Time to work on other details. Lesgow!

The Proposal

He called me up in the middle of the night. Was I asleep? Not yet, I told him. I just spoke to my mom about the wedding reception venue. He wanted to drop by and talk. He was feeling sad about a story I told him that night while having dinner. He just needed to see me.

I stepped into his car and we embraced. I was whispering to him in a comforting tone. He looked into my eyes and started to talk. About how he was sorry I didn't have the engagement story that other people wanted to hear. About how he felt sad about it. We've been together for ten years. We broke up, I got hurt. We found each other again. He wanted to do something to show me that I deserve something wonderful. He spoke of how much he loves me. About a realization he had, that it was time for him to surrender to faith - faith in me, faith in our love and faith in God.

"I know that when your friends ask for an engagement story, you tell them we were together, we had a heart to heart talk, and we decided to spend the rest of our lives together. Honey, this is now a story that you can finish..."

He was suddenly holding a small, blue, velvet box. The lovely diamond sparkled as soon as it was uncovered.

"Please make me the proudest and happiest man on earth by becoming my wife. Ann Joy Marie Serrano Asis, I love you. Will you marry me?"

I don't even remember what I said. I just know I was in his arms and I was crying rivers of happy tears. The ring looked so beautiful on my finger.

He wasn't really feeling depressed about the story I told him. He just wanted to catch me off guard. He got out of bed in the middle of the night, knowing that it was already the perfect moment for a simple but most heartfelt proposal.

Then we were at the church. The same church we'd be married in on September 8. The lights were off and everything was quiet. Peaceful. The whole proposal speech was said again. This time, with God as our witness. We held hands and prayed together, entrusting everything to Him.

We've been engaged since last year, officially when we talked and decided to get married in 2010. I didn't need to show a ring. What for? I already had a man beside me who loved me with all his heart and would never stop loving me even after I lose all my teeth and hair. Now, in the middle of all our wedding plans, I got proposed to. So beautifully. I wouldn't have it any other way.

That is my engagement story. No drama, no fanfare, no candlelight and champagne. Just me and him, a peaceful church and a beautiful diamond. It's absolutely perfect.

En route to forever...

Hi there, family, friends and blog-hoppers! Welcome to our wedding blog! Our big day is set on the 8th of September, 2010. The preparations are so much fun! Things get stressful at times, especially when we're trying to trim down the guestlist. But at the end of each day, we look at each other, mutter our special "grumble" and laugh out loud. It's exciting, this journey to happily ever after.

We've been together for 10 years. A decade of full of adventures, happy tales, sad stories, fortunes and misfortunes. A decade of love, blessings, and lessons learned. Now, we're ready to set sail again. Destination: Marriage. We're going on a wonderful journey called LOVE. Come with?

:)