Our Prenup Photoshoot

Last August , my cousins Kuya Aryz, and his brother, Kuya Glenn, came home to the Philippines along with their families. The brothers have not seen each other in seven years as Kuya Aryz has been living in Dubai with his wife and kids, and Kuya Glenn has worked in Japan for a number of years, and has been living in Australia with his own family for the past three or four years.

Along with their jobs abroad, they also have been practicing photography; and even Kuya Aryz has done prenup, wedding, and other themed photography gigs. So along with their vacation plans, the brothers also offered to shoot our pre-nup pictures! Aren’t they so sweet?

 So even when the brothers were still abroad, we started planning the photoshoot schedule. And finally, we’ve set a date and agreed to shoot the photos on the 21^st of August, which was a holiday, and also our (Kelvin’s and mine) 93^rd month as a couple. :) We also decided to have the shoot done in our most favorite place in the Philippines. Kim Siong Community, TAGAYTAY!

Here is a picture that was taken of us back in 2009.

To prepare for the photoshoot, Hon and I (well, it was mostly me, of course) listed the clothes that we would wear, and of course, I advised him to get his hair trimmed.

And, boy, did he have his hair trimmed! He went to his barberbut he left with his head SHAVED! I guess he didn’t know how short the “dos” haircut looked like. AND NOW HE SURELY DOES! And if that was not bad enough, he had his hair cut THAT short just four days before our pre-nup photoshoot!

But guess what? My baby looked damn fine! Look at him working that new 'do! 

Anyway, there we were on the 21^st of August, all set for our photoshoot. Let’s get the details out of the way, here are the things that we have chosen for our prenup photoshoot:

• For my hair and make-up, I asked our good family friend and makeup artist, Kim Ombrezo to work his magic on me.
• Photographers – My amazingly good looking cousins Kuya Aryz and Kuya Glenn 
• Venue – our special place, Kim Siong Community, Silang Cavite – a private resort situated in SIlang Cavite, a ten-minute drive from Tagaytay. It is one of our (Kelvin’s and mine) favorite places on this God’s green earth and we’ve spent many a day in the resort with our close friends. 

• Clothes – mine and Kelvin's 
• Styling – mine and Kelvin's with some ideas thrown in by Mama and our cousins 
• Theme – We really didn’t have a theme and just went posing! 
• Food – my family was with me and Mama prepared food enough to feed a small army (Thanks, Mama! I love you!)

We arrived at the venue at around noon and started prepping up. For our first outfit, we went with matching gray shirts. I wore a plain gray shirt, shorts, brown leather boots, and had my hair straightened. Hon wore a gray T-Shirt, jeans, and his Jordans.

My cousins started shooting my pictures first and I was soo nervous!

In the first few minutes of the session, I was so nervous and too self conscious I didn’t know how to pose for pictures. I’ve never modeled ever before and I wasn’t sure if I was doing things right. I felt so awkward I didn’t know how to smile, where to look, where to put my hands, how to bend my limbs, or when to glance at the camera. It was too awkward I think 4 or five of my pictures I had my eyes closed! LOL! 

But after a few minutes and a few encouraging instructions from our fantastic photographers/cousins, I guess I finally got the posing and the smiling right as I saw my cousins start clicking away and shouting compliments like, “Ayan!” “Tama!” “Ganyan! Wag kang gagalaw!”

After my solo session, they started shooting Hon and me together. That was soo much fun! The weather was so nice and cooperative even the clouds were putting on a show! I was having a lot of fun posing, smiling, posing, and Hon was so supportive. As for my cousins, they were just phenomenal and looked so professional. They were breaking their own bones kneeling, bending, and  twisting, trying to get awesome shots. And awesome shots, they indeed were! Hon really surprised me. I actually had more trouble than he did! He was either really comfortable being photographed or he just happens to be a really good actor. He was such a natural! And he was having fun!

For the second session, Hon and I changed into more formal attire. Hon wore a maroon long-sleeved polo, black slacks, black leather shoes, and a coat. As for me, I had my hair curled; put my little black dress on, and my black peep toe suede shoes.

Because we were more comfortable posing, we then moved to the garden and the grand stairs for more dramatic poses. 

Look at my good lookin' cousins clicking away with their cameras lookin' all professional and stuff! 

Of all the shots we’ve had, that was by far, my favorite! Hon and I were very comfortable, we were smiling, laughing, and posing the whole time while my cousins were busy clicking away. The shots were romantic, dramatic, and classy. Here’s a sneak peak!

We were down to the last session and it was getting a little challenging for our photographers as the sun was starting to set. Hon wore his choice of basketball jersey and basketball shoes, and I had on a pair of denim shorts, a blue button up polo, and my favorite red hot pumps. 

We shot the last session in the basketball court, and they took a picture of Hon shooting a basketball, lay up style.

 That was Hon’s favorite; and he can’t wait to put it up as his profile picture! We had another shot where Hon and I were kissing behind an umbrella. My cousins were busy setting up their camera and lights; Hon and I were just too preoccupied practicing behind the umbrella! 

(Oh, hi, Daddy!) :)

So those were the last shots of the day. We wound down by wolfing down enormous amount of food made by Mama.

We had soo much fun!

Update as of Oct. 28:

We received the first batch of the pictures last week and the pictures were amazeaballs!

If you're in Dubai and you'd like to have your fabulous photos taken by my phenomenal cousin, you may click on  the picture below or visit his webpages here:

http://avreflection.carbonmade.com/
http://www.500pxart.com/aryzvarias
http://aryzvarias.wix.com/avreflection


Watch out for my next post about our next supplier. The CATERER!

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http://aryzvarias.wix.com/avreflection#!

September 3, 2014

After discussing the most stressful wedding topic, which is of course, the budget, Kelvin put his arm around me and said, "This is going to be fun, hon."

I replied with," What is?"

"The whole thing. The planning, the budget, everything. I had a lot of fun. Especially the pre-nup shoot. That was really fun."

‪#‎weddingpreps‬
‪#‎weddingplanning‬
‪#‎KelAndLeng2015‬
‪#‎weddingconvos‬
‪#‎aww‬

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October 9, 2014

"Hon, pumayat na ba ako?"

After 3 long seconds, he answered, "Next question."

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October 12, 2014

October 12, 2014

I'm the luckiest bride in the world!

Kelvin searched for and booked an appointment with a caterer for today without any prodding or help from me.

Whoopee! Good job, hon!

‪#‎KelAndLeng2015‬
‪#‎weddingpreps‬
‪#‎TheSearchForACatererContinues‬

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The hunt for THE Florist

Hi, everyone!

On the last week of August, Hon and I went to Dangwa to look for potential florists for the wedding.

I spent four years in Manila when I was going to Nursing School in FEU but never have I gone to Dangwa. Neither has Kelvin, even when he has lived in Manila his whole life. 

So to get things started, we hopped into a taxi cab and asked the cabbie to take us to Dangwa. When we got to Manila, I was looking at the street signs and waiting to see "Dangwa" posted on one of the signs. But to my surprise, Dangwa is not a street name! 

The mecca of flowers in Manila was actually named after a famous bus terminal called Dangwa Terminal. But the row of flowers and vendors can actually be found along Laong-Laan and dos Castillas Streets. The Dangwa Terminal is found at the end of Dos Castillas Street.

When we arrived at our destination, we each grabbed a cup of fishballs and started our search. 

Boy, was Dangwa overwhelmingly gorgeous! There were rows and rows of flowers and shops and it was just beautiful. Our senses were greeted with the scents of sweet smelling flowers and eye-popping blooms of flowers in different shades.

Say hello!

 We were invited by a couple of gentlemen from the first stall called La Primera Nene's Flower Shop. 

Frank, who I assumed was one their personnel, offered to provide us with an initial quote. He first started by asking questions about the date, location, colors, entourage, and stuff. He then went to take notes on this piece of paper. 

Now, if you are reading this and you are planning your own wedding, and you are looking for florists, it is important to have the following information ready when you speak to or interview a potential floral supplier:

• Wedding date
• Location - out-of-town fee may apply
• Wedding theme
• Wedding color - I told Frank that I wanted Coral but when I pointed to some flowers that I liked, he said that the color that I wanted was pomelo pink and not coral. Oh well!
• Do you want them to provide flowers for any or all the following:
• Church - aisles, altar, garden aisle, drapes, candle holders, etc.
• Entourage - bouquet, mini bouquet. corsage, wrist corsage, boutonniere, petals, throwing bouquets 
• Bridal Car
• Reception 
• Preferred flowers (if you've done your research before meeting with a florist, which is of course, we didn't do)
• The number of people in the entourage and their roles

After 20 minutes of questions, flower selection, flowers 101, and pictures of their works from previous events, Frank has finally provided us with a final quote. 

Here is the breakdown:

ENTOURAGE:

• Bride's bouquet - Pomelo Roses - P1,200.00
• Maid of Honor - mini bouquet made of carnation, gervera, and button - P800.00
• Bridesmaids and Secondary Sponsors - wrist gervera P1,200.00
• Flower Girls - basket with petals, and headress - P9,000.00
• Parents' and Principal Sponsors' Corsages - P3,000.00
• Freebies: bouttonieres, petals, throwing bouquet, car bouquet
• Total Price for Entourage (with discount) - P7,000.00

CHURCH:

• 10 Aisles
• 1 Big Altar
• 2 Small pillars
• 3 Candle Holders
• Total of P7,000.00
• Delivery Charge - P1,500.00

Add them all up, and everything sums up to P15,500.00

Frank was nice enough; Hon and I were impressed with his ideas. He really knew flowers and his business.  He even showed us every single flower that he plans to add to the arrangements and named a few of them for me as I didn't have any earthly clue as to what those flowers are called. My flower vocabulary is only limited to roses and orchids in my mom's garden. Hon was very sweet and gracious that when I asked him as to what he wanted in terms of colors and flowers, he just smiled and said, "Whatever you want, baby."

Aww...

 I did feel, however, that Frank was pretty forceful in his ideas and even shot down some of ours. I also didn't feel that he was very enthusiastic or passionate about his business, products and services . Don't get me wrong, the man knew what he was talking about and he was able to answer all of our questions; he even taught us a few things. But there was something about him and I couldn't put my finger on it. But if I've proven anything in the past 8 months of planning, I learned to trust my instincts.

After thanking Frank and getting his contact details, I decided to try one more stall and ask for another quote. Hon was getting impatient and wanted to leave but I begged him to let me talk to one more store are he relented. I then met Dan, and I'm not sure as to the name of his store because there was no name on his paper.

Here is what he gave me:

I wasn't very impressed; Dan was so focused on giving me lower prices that he didn't show me any real flowers nor ask me a lot of questions. He was busy writing the prices down and we were done in less than 15 minutes.

That was also the time when I realized that I have not seen Hon beside me for a number of minutes and I got worried. When I left Dan's store, I couldn't find Kelvin on the street so I called his mobile.  

I was looking for him in the stores around me when I heard someone say loudly, "Sir, ayun po si Ma'am o!"

 I turned around and there my fiance was. He was holding a pink stuffed teddy bear and a wrist corsage made of pink gerveras. There were about three other grown men around him and they were all looking at me smiling. Hon was just standing there, holding his two gifts with a sweet smile on his face. I walked to him and wordlessly he handed me the flowers and the bear, who now goes by the name Dangwee."

I thanked him and he asked me to talk to the proprietress of the store where he got his gifts from. Pointing towards the store and saying in an excited voice, "Hon, go ask them din about the quotes. Parang ok dito."

Two minutes into our conversation and I knew she was it. She was going to be our florist. Jayzell, was a very nice and sweet lady. She was very accommodating and even offered to make a mini bouquet just for us to showcase their products and give us a feel of how the finished products would look and feel like. She showed us pictures and pictures of their arrangements and products and even helped us decide as to the color combination of the bouquets. She had great recommendations, questions, and she was very enthusiastic and passionate about the designs and color combination. She and her team went back and forth, getting flowers and putting them in this bucket so that we get a feel of the arrangement.

Here is a sample:

Isn't it beautiful? I can't wait to see these colors arranged into a lovely bouquet with ribbons and greens and yellows!

After a series of questions, discussion, recommendations and decisions, we finally have our quotation from Jayzell!

Not only was the package affordable, it was more stunning! She added more colors, types of flowers, she even offered to switch the secondary sponsors' wrist corsages to mini bouquets for the same price! Talk about awesome!

She also recommended that we add a glorious garden aisle and Hon wanted to add Stargazers! Beautiful! Talk about awesome ideas!

But to me, I just love how animated and enthusiastic she was as she was describing the arrangements and colors. She could really see her passion for her business and craft. I just love her!

We've found our florist, everyone! Woohoo!

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Wedding Update | Blasts of color!

Hello, everyone!

In my last blog I talked about a situation that our family had to go through. And I am ecstatic to tell everyone that our prayers have worked and God has granted us our wish. God is just amazing! I will not go into the details but we are just so happy that everyone is healthy and well.

Now that everything and everyone is well, we are back on the wedding planning table and we have resumed our search. 

So far we have booked the following:

• Church
• Reception Venue
• Photo/Video
• Wedding Coordinator
• Souvenirs

Our next items on our list are florists and caterers. But before even that, Hon and I (or is it just me? LOL!) are still undecided on the color. I first proposed Chinese Red and Champagne Gold. The reason being is because I love red, it is my favorite color, and it also reflects Hon's Chinese heritage. Gold greatly compliments red; and gold was also an element in my parents' wedding. 

Isn't this so elegant and beautiful? :D

But then I also want our wedding to be in the summer. Summer is my favorite season of the year and I just looove taking a dip in the pool or swimming in the ocean or just laying on the beach looking out into the sea while listening to the crashing of the waves and feeling the heat of the sun on my shoulders.

This picture was taken last year in Cebu on a weekend off from work.

So looking at it, summer and red and gold don't match that well because the red can darken the bright, sunny vibe of summer. So I decided to look around and look for another color, although I still want it to be close to red. 

So, here are the colors that I have been choosing from!

Aren't these colors terrific for summer?! So far, here are my top choices:

• Salmon pink
• Coral
• Tangerine Tango
• Papaya peach
• Geranium
• Rhubarb

I'm a bit partial to coral now but I'm not closing my doors on other colors. Now all I need to do is download more pictures and inspirations and show them to Hon so that we can decide before we set up appointments with our selected caterers and florists. 

Wish us luck!

How about you? How are your wedding plans coming along?

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I’ve got a confession to make

I was lost.

As you may have read in my previous blogs, Kelvin and I got engaged in December of last year on our 85^th month.

So there I was, all giddy and happily engaged. I was so thrilled to get married to the love of my life and the image me of walking down the aisle to meet him at the altar makes me so happy I could just about burst with rainbows and cute puppies with wings! I was so excited to start the wedding planning and make it the most memorable wedding of the year!

Two weeks after our engagement, Hon and I started planning our wedding. From then on I was on the lookout for the best out there. Best photographer, best videographer, best designers, best stylists, best florists, best caterers, and all other best suppliers.

We attended wedding fairs, and kept a list of the top venues for the wedding and the reception. We've started the initial guest list and entourage, gone venue hunting, and then booked the church, reception venue, wedding coordinators, and photo/videographer.

We are also blessed to have the support of both of our families. Tita Kila, my future mother-in-law, offered to make our wedding cake, and give us the arrhae that she and her husband, Tito Johnny, used in their own wedding. Jami, my future sister-in-law, offered to gift us with the services of a make-up artist, and Tito told us that we can come to him anytime we need help.

My own family has been immensely supportive and happy for Hon and me as well. Mama has started sketching a number of her designs and kept pictures of styles and designs that have caught her eye. Daddy has been amazing and drives Hon and me to the church and reception venue, and he also takes Mama and me to meet with suppliers.

Hon and I also have spent a significant amount of time planning and talking about the colors, themes, designs, suppliers, deadlines, styles, and most especially our finances.

As for me, I have lost count of the number of wedding and engagement videos that I have seen online. I have sent numerous inquiry emails to coordinators, make-up artists, photographers, and such. I can no longer count the number of pictures and inspirations that I have saved on my laptop! I’ve created a hard copy of my wedding planner/checklist, and even started my superb wedding binder! I’ve even started doing my own DIYs!

So, for more than five months now, I have been drowning myself in looking and preparing for the best. I would always imagine the look and feel of the wedding day and of the reception. Not a week goes by without me checking my wedding checklist and planning how things would go on THE day.

Then came last week.

Last Tuesday we found ourselves facing a situation. I will not go into the details because the story isn’t mine to tell. But to make a long story short, the situation that we are now in has placed our wedding plans in the back burner because the situation is something that is bigger and more important than our wedding, or more important that anything, really. We are all praying as a family that whatever this is that we are going through will pass and we know that the Lord has a plan for each and every one of us.

When we both found out about the situation, I told Honey that we can temporarily put the wedding plans on hold so that we can focus on and pray for the current situation. We can always get married anytime and anywhere.

The situation has also led me to a realization.

And this is why I’m writing my confession.

I realized that in the middle of the planning, the interviews, searches, meetings, lists, hunts, reservations, and budgeting, I have forgotten the true reason and meaning of a wedding.

I was overwhelming myself in the search for the perfect people that I failed to remember that a wedding is about the union of a man and a woman in front of God. That our wedding is the symbolic ceremony that will start our married lives together. That on our wedding day, I will vow to be a wife, partner, confidant, supporter, best friend, and mother of our future children (yes, children). And that our wedding day, is the day I will start serving my husband for the rest of his life. That on our wedding day, I will cease to be just me and be one with my husband, to whom I will dedicate the rest of my life to. I’ve forgotten than on our wedding day, I will accept Kelvin as my husband, provider, and leader.

I have failed to remember that the wedding is a Holy Sacrament gifted to us by God.

I have also realized that Kelvin and I do not need two hundred people to be the witness of our marriage. And that a wedding does not need all those number of pictures, poses, flowers, chairs, tables, drapes, decors, looks, music, frames, letter blocks, printouts, cards, songs and videos for it to be memorable.

I realized that I do not need our wedding to be the most memorable wedding of the year. I realized that our wedding has to be ONE of the most memorable days of our LIVES as a couple. 

We will not need a lot of people or things on our wedding day. All we need is the church, a place where we can celebrate our marriage, the people close to our hearts, and each other.

A wise woman once said, "The marriage is more important than the wedding."

____________________________________

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