8...

- scheduled pre-production meeting with Realtime, and Chito Cleofas
- followed up on RSVP and started making the seating arrangement
- bought items needed for the garter game... *wink*
- bought wines for toasting

9...

Bleak day today... It has been raining all day... I hope it doesn't rain on the 9th... (Please God!)

Anyway, it was a productive day for me... Printed the remaining number of misalettes we need, plus the wedding reception programme i made a couple of days back. I was also able to redecorate the butterfly wings for my 3 flower girls, and i'm quite pleased with the results.

At 9pm tonight, we're going to the airport to fetch Jeff, one of Jon's bestmen, who's coming in from San Jose, Cali... And although i'm already a bit tired, i'm still looking forward to getting together with the boys and girls and, of course, seeing JEff.

10...

accomplishments for the day:

• had Jon's new pants dry-cleaned ( i know, i know... i promised Jon i would hand-wash it for him --- but i saw the tag "dry clean only" before i could do it eh... )
• had hair spa and my eyebrows threaded at the salon
• found THE shoes for my hunny (after days of searching!)
• scanned more pictures for our AVP

2nd gown fitting

I had the final fitting of my gown today... I went to Bess' shop with my mom, my sister (who's also fitting her gown) n Jon (who stayed inside the car coz I didn't want him to see me in my gown ;) ) ...What else can I say but I SOOOOO love my gown! It was already embroidered and fully-beaded (athough the swarovski crystals I gave them weren't placed yet), but still needed more alterations (which means i lost weight again??? - yipee yipee!)... Here's another peek at my wedding gown...

Went straight to Makati and picked up Jon's barong at Silk Cocoon. My mom had only one comment when he fitted it...

"Wow, pogi ni Jon ah..."(heheheh =D)

Next was my mom's fitting at her designer's shop at Makati. After that, we ate merienda at Market! Market!, bought plants for my lola and ate (who's celebrating their natal days today and tomorrow, respectively), bought 2 slippers at Banana Peel (they're super cute!), and headed home for our badminton session with friends...

Friday Night Out

Right after work, we went to Italianni's Glorietta for dinner with my MIL and FIL to-be. We had salad, beef linguine and pepper-crusted pork. Really great food! We separated after...

We chanced on getting Jon's pants at King Philip (we were supposed to pick it up Sunday pa) and fortunately, it's ready na... And it fitted him nicely so there was no ned for repairs. His only complaint was that it was a little itchy. So i offered to bring it home and wash it for him (hey, i will be his wife in a few days so this is sort of a practice already! heheh)...

And then I saw it... the perfect shoes for me!!! It had the right color, the right height (about 3 inches), and even had the right butterfly detail (see below)... Really, it was PERFECT!

We watched The Incredibles afterwards... The movie was okay, but (pardon the pun) not as incredible as we expected it to be... It was still a little early (for us, anyway) so we decided to have coffee at Gloria Jeans before heading home. We also bought Wetzels Pretzels (which name reminds me of Gonuts Donuts - rhymes eh! =D ) to go with our coffee...

Last Working Day for the Year... =D

Yay! 1 more hour and i'm off work already! I'll be on leave 'til next year! Yipee!!! So Xcited!!!

Our First Wedding Gift

We received our very first wedding gift from an officemate today... Last week, she generously offered to give us the bible which we would be using on our wedding day. Thanks again, Irish n hubby!


"To Mr. and Mrs. Cuy... Congratulations! ..."

I should be used to this... being called "Mrs. Cuy"... I'm still uncomfortable with it, i guess... I love my family name and I don't want to drop it after the marriage... (I'm contemplating of using a hyphenated surname)... Don't get me wrong, I mean... nothing's wrong with Cuy... maybe it's just... i don't know... too short???

Another Divi Trip

Jon n I had to wake up early again today for another Divi trip with my mom, 2 sisters and K8's bf.

• bought the piña jusi barong for the little groom
• ordered special pillows for the bearers - to pick up next week
• ordered special cord - to pick up next week
• bought illusion tulle veil and lace(for the secondary veil)
• bought colored sinamay cloth for the souvenir's packaging
• bought fake small flowers for the souvenir's packaging

So tired and so sleepy!!!

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...Btw, finally uploaded some of the pics during the surprise shower n stag party in one... do check them out!

Preps, Preps, Preps!!!

Distributed more invites this morning... Traffic in LP's gone terrible!!! I'm not sure if it's because of the rains or the upcoming Christmas season?

We proceeded to New World after to pick up Jon's barong at Silk Cocoon... but we were told it wasn't delivered yet. It was due today but they explained that they have some sort of a shoot last night so they were a little behind with their deliveries... Cathy was very apologetic naman so we let it go na lang...

We then went to Glorietta (we didn't realize it was SALE pala) to SHOP for more wedding paraphernalias... These are some of my finds:

I'll be wearing these...

got this jewelry box from Oceanic (as recommended by the wawies) for our unity coins

I was looking for my bridal shoes but somehow, I was sidetracked by the big sale at Janilyn and got these sandals instead...

P299 and P499 only!

Jon had his measurements taken at King Philip for his pants. We'll be picking it up after a week. Then to National Bookstore for more of our paper requirements...

Ate dinner at Friday's after and hurriedly headed home for our 10pm badminton schedule... whew!

Table Names

Instead of table numbers, we're placing table names... I've done some research a couple of months back (different types of butterfly) and finally finished its layout... Here's a sample...

TSG Demo

Jon n I wanted to hear TSG's version of the song we're supposed to dance to on our wedding so I requested Kay to have it played tonight on their demo session at 8pm...

After office, we had dinner at Stars and Stripes at Blue Wave before we proceeded to TSG's studio/office at Mandaluyong... We came in too early and we had to sit there and wait. There was a couple - with their emcee, i presume, who were having their production meeting with Ian and Jojo (the leader and the production manager whom we also met a few weeks back) and Ian would often strum a few notes on his guitar and play a sample of the song they're laying out...

At 8:30 pm, the "show" started... they played most of the songs in our line-up... and though this is the second time we've attended their session, we were still very much entertained... (although we both felt they didn't give their 100% tonight)... We headed home after we've accomplished our task for the night (recorded some 'important' songs)... Went to a friend's house to give our invitation and arrived home at past 10pm... We would have gone to Alabang for burgers and tambay with friends but we were just too tired already...

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WISHIN' AND HOPIN'...

THIS STRESS is getting the better of me... we've been fighting over small (silly or not-so-silly) things for almost every day now... I promised myself i would try to contain these bursts of emotions but this resolve just goes down the drain every single fuckin time!

...In 20 days, all these would be over... no wedding preps to do, no supplier to meet with, no wedding detail to think about... nothing... zilch... nada... I've heard of other couples who got married already who often said they miss the preps... maybe so... but right now, i just want it over and done with... and not be this mean grouch that i'm becoming...

...And be happily married with my one true love... (So hun, if ur reading this... know that you're truly, madly, and deeply loved... and i miss spending quality moments with you alone... ...can't wait to be your wife! )

4th day "vacation"

I just had to extend (again!) the 3-day vacation coz i realized we still haven't given out all our invitations and yet the due date for RSVP stated in there is already on Friday!!! Jon also received a call from Silk Cocoon yesterday telling him that he could already fit his barong. So, i included it in our itinerary for the day...

We first went to one of our ninong in QC (my late father's brother) and requested him to prepare a speech for us on the reception. Then to my mom's office at Dep Ed coz one of her officemate is also one of our ninang...

Proceeded to Silk Cocoon after and Jon fitted his barong already. There were just little adjustments plus they will put in the mother of pearls on the barong na lang and it will be ready for pick up on Saturday! Galing!

We had dinner at Jon's place (it's my MIL2b's bday today and we got her flowers and cake)... and we printed some more misalettes after.

3 more weeks!!!! aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Surprise Bridal Shower and Bachelor Party in One!

Just got back from a blastin PARTEIII! ...Rarin to make kwento, but i have to catch up on my ZZZZ's first... =)

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(posting this 4days after... that was a looong slumber!... mwehehehe)

side kwento...Alvin txted Jon inviting him for a business proposal meeting (that was a week ago). He told him he's inviting only the TC boys first and the rest of the tropa after... Since we didn't have anything scheduled that day, he got interested and so we blocked the day off...

Friday... I was out having lunch with Jon at Blue Wave when he received a call from Nhina... I heard him saying, "yup. andito siya..." , and then they put down the phone... What was that? I had to laugh my head off coz it dawned on me that they're cooking up something... At first, I thought Jon was also a part of it but he later on revealed (coz of my constant pangungulit) that Nhina called because she wanted Jon to set-up a 'meeting' between me and Nique- my 2nd MOH who i'm having a falling-out with... Turns out Nique wanted to have a talk with me... that Saturday also... She had a live-in seminar at Makati (near Greenbelt) so she wanted to meet up with us after their session at Greenbelt also...

Saturday... Jon, Ronald, and I left Makati at 2:30pm. The plan was to meet Alvin at GB3 at around 3:30pm (I'll go to Glorietta to accomplish some things for the wedding while they're discussing the business) but when we got there, he had just left his office and won't be there for another hour and a half. The three of us just went around the mall. Unfortunately, Jon n I had a little disagreement about something... and I walked out and disappeared for an hour or so. What's a surefire way to calm the nerves??? SHOPPING!!!

Jon had been looking around for me and calling my phone the whole time pala... When he finally got through me, he asked where i was and went to get me. We went to GB after and met the boys... Since i was there already, Alvin just decided to let me in na lang den... or so I thought... We went to Krokodile Grill and there, Alvin CONVINCINGLY discussed the business proposal... After a few minutes, Jon received a text from Nique and after a few minutes, she arrived. Alvin told me that they're just going to the condo unit of his friend who was the owner of the business supposedly to show them some documents and left the two of us to talk... We walked around the GB park and she told me she prepared a 5-page letter but that she left it at the seminar place. She asked me if it's okay if we go there and get it... The "seminar place" was at the BSA Tower at Makati, just a walk away from Greenbelt...

...A few steps away from "her room", I heard a familiar laugh... Jun's. And I laughed so hard I had to sit at the corridor... This was it! This was the surprise!!! When I walked in, they were all there... my tropa and even my sister... and the boys..(Jon was even more surprised when he walked in just a few minutes ago, I was told..)!!!

They prepared food (kaya pala Alvin n Ronald's not eating when we went to Krokodile Grill) and we even had a kink cake (pic above)! After our dinner, we had some games (lick the cream off the doughnut, wedding gown made of tissue papers, and rated R charades)... After that, some of the tropa went out and came back 1 and a half hour later with a male and female stripper in tow... And then the FUN started... We gurls with the male stripper in one room, and the boys with their stripper in another...

When the strippers left, we had inuman til 3am...

(Pictures to be uploaded soon...)

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Badminton Night Ulit...

After hearing mass, Jon n I played badminton with his tropa... Afterwards, tambay lang til 3am (Alex n Joi followed us) and we started shooting the interviews for the AVP...

Preps From Sun Up til Sun Down

On leave again from work... I woke up feeling a little excited bout today's events... Started my day by printing and addressing envelopes for the invites, and printed the misalette to give to Jody whom we were to meet at 10 am at PanPac (with Annie P).

At the meeting, we were able to accomplish the following:

• paid the remaining balance for the reception
• converted loose flowers to appetizers (nuts and chips) per table
• booked room requirements (bridal suite and 3 additional regular rooms) - requested for early check-in
• gave the exact number for the crew meals
• decided on the layout
• Jody provided me with the list of the remaining balances for the different suppliers and the call-time for each.

After everything had been settled with the venue, Annie left us (there was a function ongoing) and Jody gave us some valuable pointers for the wedding... how i should walk during the bridal march, how we should place the rings, etc etc. While she was explaining to me these things, i felt hundreds of butterflies in my stomach and i almost cried. I was imagining the proceedings so vividly already... and I'm sure Jon felt the same way... ooohhhh... 27 more days!!!

We went straight to Makati to deliver some invites. And then we dropped by the new office of Wings of Dreams in Prince Plaza II and got the sample centerpieces to show the florist which we were to meet later in the afternoon. I got to meet Marielle (the owner) and she asked me if i was the bride... Before I left, she asked me if it was okay if she drop by and take some shots of me with the butterflies on our wedding to post in their website or to use for their brochures ... of course i said OKAY!!! ...I didn't know i was model material! hahaha!

We had a quick lunch and proceeded to the flower shop of Angelic Blooms at the Manila Seedling at QC ... Joana had a flight today so we met with her partner, Biyen. Our original contract was only for the entourage flowers but since we were already there and I had with me the butterfly centerpieces, I asked for a quotation for the flower arrangements at the reception venue. We even had a mock setup of the arrangement and it's real pretty! So we finalized the contract and we're getting them for all our flower requirements already.

We went to Megamall after and looked for wedding paraphernalias (bible, cord, veil, etc.) at the Wedding Library. There were a variety of choices there but some were really expensive. We'd just have to look somewhere else.

I wanted to buy the gift for my emcee(at the store where i bought the entou gifts) but there was no available butterfly brooch anymore.

So as not to make our trip to Mega unrewarding, we just stuffed our faces at Tong Yang shabu shabu...

Before going home, we dropped by Wax's place to give the invitation and also borrowed a polo of JD (the little groom) so we won't have a hard time looking for his barong...

...off to now!

And It's Down To One...

This is sooo exciting!!! One month to go!!!

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Updates...

Church: SAN AGUSTIN
- Fully paid (church, flowers, priest, additional principal sponsors fee, electrical charge)
- Canonical inerview - OK
- Passed all documents needed (marriage license, baptismal and confirmation certificates)
- Paid pictorial fee for the use of the choir loft and the Ruins (Father Blanco's)
- Marriage Preparation (pre-cana): DISCOVERY WEEKEND - OK -last August 13-15

Wedding Paraphernalia (church)
*CANDLES - to decorate
*MATCHES - to buy and decorate
*CORD - beads? – to buy
*VEIL - to buy
*BIBLE - to buy
*UNITY COINS - got it. to make pouch
*PILLOWS (2) - to buy
*CONFETTI - bought 5 small tubes already / to buy more
*BUTTERFLY RELEASE - c/o Wings of Dreams
*DOVES - to decide if we still need this...

Wedding Rings: GOLDENAS
- got it! (with Jon for safekeeping...)

Reception Venue: PAN PACIFIC MANILA (Pacific Grand Ballroom)
- to be paid in full on Th (11Nov)
- same day meeting with coordinator and AE to decide on layout
- finalize details (rooms, flower arrangements, crew meals, etc)

Programme Paraphernalia
*CAGE CENTERPIECE - to pick-up at Wings of Dreams one week before
*FLOWERS - c/o Ara (?)
*GUESTSHEETS - printed - to finalize!!!
*WINE FOR TOASTING - to buy
*CHAMPAGNE FLUTES - to decorate
*2 PENTEL PENS (EE) - to buy
*4 PENS (EE) - to buy
*REGISTRATION SHEET - to make after RSVP
*SEAT PLAN - to make after RSVP
*WRAPPED FLOWERS - c/o Angelic BLOOMS
*GARTER - ask Nanay to make one
*ITEMS NEEDED FOR THE GARTER GAME
*LIST OF NAMES OF SINGLE LADIES AND BACHELORS
*TABLE NUMBERS/NAMES, PLACECARDS, GIFT TAGS - to print!

OTD Coordinator: EVENTS EXPERTS (Jody Liwanag)
- Paid 50% DP
- To be paid in full 1 week before
-MEETINGS!!!

Hair and Make-up: EDDIE BRUAN
- Trial MU - done
- paid DP - balance to be paid on the day
- decide on hairstyle!

Hairpiece: NONE YET!!!

Photographer: CHITO CLEOFAS PHOTOGRAPHY
- Pre-nups done
- paid 50% -> 25% balance on the day and 25% upon delivery of album
- Meet at least 1-2 weeks before to give list of shots we want
- Give permit (choir loft, ruins)

Videographer: REAL TIME VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
- Paid 50% DP -> 25% balance on the day and 25% upon delivery of DVD
- Production meeting (give list of songs/CD)
- Give permits (choir loft, ruins, San Agustin)

Projector and Widescreen: NONE YET!
- to decide if getting from Pan Pac or from Real Time's contact

AVP: (Jon's twin)
- discussed with Jon the flow of the presentation already
- pics scanned already
- TO DO: interviews

Lights and Sounds: SOUND SYNDROME (Elfren Uy)
- Paid DP - balance on the day
- meet with Elfren to discuss requirements

Bridal Gown: M. YUMUL BRIDAL - BESSEMER GARCIA
- Paid 50% DP - balance upon delivery
- first fitting done
- to give swarovski crystals for beading

Barong for H2B: SILK COCCOON (Kate Goulborn)
- Paid 50% DP
- fitting on 20 Nov

Undergarments:
*BRIDE - to decide if getting from Betty's
*GROOM - got it free from Silk Coccoon

Shoes: NONE YET!

Entourage Gowns: LENA SMITH (my lola)
- measurements taken already
- designs finalized

Entourage Flowers: ANGELIC BLOOMS
- finalize contract on meeting scheduled on 11Nov 3pm
- pay 50% DP
- give swatches of cloth

Cake: ALEX FRANCO CAKES
- met with him already - decided on the 'design'
- payment on wedding day
- give swatch of cloth at least two weeks before

Choir/Entertainment: THE SENTIMENTAL GROOVE
- Production Meeting OK
- Song list - OK
- Record Song for first dance (to practice - ?)

Bridal Car: AdEB BRIDAL CARS
- Paid 50% DP -> balance two weeks before
- text room number on the day

Butterflies: WINGS OF DREAMS
- Paid DP - balance on the day
- decide when to release
- pick up centerpieces one week before

Butterfly Wings: ACCLAIM
- got them already - to decorate!

Invitations: AMIS PRINTS
- started distributing them already...

Misalettes: DIY (Jon and Yax)
- started printing already...

Bridal Registry: RUSTAN'S
- selected items already. Got the list.

Souvenirs: SUDS & SCENTS (Landmark Makati)
- ordered already
- to decide on the packaging

Thank you gifts:
*for the PS - Regalong Pambahay - 14 pcs. ok ->wrapped already
*for the gurls - OK! - to wrap

HONEYMOON:
- paid in full!
- got the itinerary already
- still awaiting confirmation ;)
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Still a LOT of work to be done... don't ya think?

At Makati again...

Went to Rustan's bridal registry Makati to get our list of our selection of gifts... Not really happy with it... Oh well...

Placed our orders for the souvenirs. Will wait for 2 more weeks to pick them up...

Heard mass afterwards...

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Gosh. Look at my posts. I'm this busy...

San Agustin... CHECK!

We went to San Agustin after lunch to have our misalette checked... got it after just 5 minutes. We were also "briefed" by one of their priests... Paid the church in full already...

We had family bonding afterwards (with Mommy, Kate Peng and Jon) and went to Market! Market! at The Fort Bonifacio Global City. 'Twas really a LOT of FUN!

Busy busy days!!!

I so missed blogging!!! A lot had happened during the supposedly 3 day vacation (which I extended to 5 days)...

**SATURDAY, 30 October **

Went to Silk Cocoon at the New World Renaissance Hotel to check out the barong which we saw at a bridal mag (Bride and Home)... They showed us samples of the piña silk and the rafia embroidery they exclusively design although there was no available tela of our preferred color that day... nevertheless, Jon loved it! But we'll have to decide on this pa coz it was out of our alloted budget na...

Passed by Landmark Makati and saw our possible souvenir-to-be... whatchutink?

scented glycerin soaps

**SUNDAY, 31 October **

The scheduled measurement taking for my gurls... All but 2 arrived...

Because my granma (Nanay to me) is back home, the Villegas clan had some sort of a reunion at our place... The house was bursting with people!!! And half of them were kids! Wow!


**MONDAY, 1 November **

Mommy wanted to see for herself the glycerin soaps at Landmark (she offered to take care of the souvenirs... yipee!) so we went there after lunch with my sister (one of my MOH) and Jon... She was able to make tawad pa! Galing! =) She will just place our order thru phone pending the exact number of souvenirs we need. We'll just DIY the packaging... we're thinking of putting it in a small sinamay bag or somethin like this...

**TUESDAY, 2 November **

Started doing our misalette... I was able to print out 100 misalette covers... Addressed more invites...

Got the 4 butterfly wings from Acclaim... They didn't get the colors right! I didn't want to get it at first but another two weeks is such a long wait so I relented. We'll just put some beads and some gold dust maybe to make it look nicer.

Badminton wid Aion, Alex, Marlon and Mauie. Tambay til 12mn.

**WEDNESDAY, 3 November **

Appointment at Rustans Makati (bridal registry) at 11am to choose our gifts... We went there early to look around and pre-select the items... An assistant joined us at 11 and the selection took over an hour. Quite dissatisfied with our choices but i figured that is really not important...

We've decided on Jon's barong already! We're getting it from Silk Cocoon! Jon had his measurements taken already. Pazette's right (tnx again, Pazette! ;) ), Kate Gouldborn was such a sweetie... We'll be back on Nov 20 for fitting...

Went to RED BOX after. Availed of their lunch promo again and sang our hearts out til 3pm.

Distributed our invites to some of our ninongs and ninangs around the Makati area...

Printed 100 pieces of the first page (the bridal entourage and liturgical entourage page) of our misalette.

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And i'm back to work today... TOXXIIIIICCCC!!!!