One year to go! Updates of a June 2010 bride

It's now that time of the year when I can really start jumping and get all giddy and excited while exclaiming "One year na lang!!" Finally, it will really feel like it when people tell me, "malapit na!" Babe and I can't be more excited. For the day itself yeah, but even more on our life after.

The preparations have already started and I have booked several major suppliers, been to some nice bridal fairs, started my beauty and fitness regimen and corresponded with some possible suppliers. Thankfully, it hasn't become too crazy for me yet and I still have not transformed into Bridezilla and I think I have acquired a certain grace in the duration of the wedding preps. Maybe its because of that that some brides give off a certain relaxed aura.

Anyway, here are some of my supplier and wedding preps updates:

Church - Holy Family Parish, BF Almanza Subd., Las Pinas
Even before Babe proposed, I remember walking along the BF Almanza Streets with two of my close friends pointing to the Holy Family church and telling them that someday, they are gonna attend a wedding there. And I will be wearing white. Fast forward to after Babe proposed and when trusted advisers told us that the first thing we should book is a church, I knew somehow we were gonna land there. For me it was like homecourt. It is near, and really, has a sentimental value for the both of us since we always go to mass there. And like I mentioned in an old entry, that's where he first pictured me as his wife. That makes the church kind of non-negotiable. I can move the wedding date, but I will get married in that church. Anyway, so I inquired and was pleased to find out that the rate was really low. The lady in charge, Ate Josie, was pretty easy to deal with. So I gave my down payment of P1,000.00 and that was it. We have reserved the church for the afternoon of June 18, 2010. She told me to come back when my fiancee is here in the Philippines so she can advise us on the seminars and stuff.

Reception Venue - Portofino Clubhouse, Daanghari

I got a really good deal here. The wait was kinda long in booking this venue and I really had to tap different people for contacts, pull some strings (you need an endorsement to be able to reserve the place). Thanks to my friend Pau and her friend Tel who's a lot owner there, I was finally able to make a reservation. I almost crossed this off my list, but thankfully, we were able to work everything out. This is just so ideal for the simple and intimate dinner party that Babe and I want to have. Not to mention the rent is also really cheap. I mean, have you seen how beautiful it is?

a view of the swimming pool, from the 2nd floor

that's my sister/MOH waving... with Babe's family.

Flowers for church and entourage - Angel of Hearts
For me, booking them happened pretty fast. My sister and I went to the Wedding Expo where we met with Sir Lawrence. But it was kind of a no-brainer already, since my aunts who previously got married recommended them, and so did my fellow W@wies who I trust. And he was offering me a pretty good package valid only on the day of the expo. I just felt at ease because I showed him some pictures of floral arrangements I found on the net, and he was confident that he could do it. I don't want that many flowers anyway, just enough for understated elegance. And I'm all for the simple white and green ones lang naman, although mine has to have a bit more color. I'm actually excited for this when its time to do mock-ups. Can't wait to raid his stall in Dangwa.

Caterer - still looking! W@Wies swear by K by Cunanan and Blue Petals though. Although I'm for the latter because their packages are reaaally low. I just hope I can go for a food tasting in the near future to seal the deal.

Photographer - Jeff and Lisa Photography

Videographer - 30 FPS

After all the secrecy, I'm finally posting here who I'm getting for photo and video coverage. Like what I wrote about them in my previous entries, its just a supplier-client perfect match. Babe and I just want our day to be simple, heartfelt and fuss-free and this is how these suppliers struck us. I love that I'm in constant communication with Ms. Lisa; she's very friendly, willingly answers my questions and may I just confess that I'm a stalker of their website? How can you not stare at their pictures? They have an impeccable eye for details and are great at capturing moments that are real and romantic at the same time. I just had to do something to get them. You know how with several suppliers you get, they're not really your first choice? Like if money wasn't an issue you'd totally get a different one. That's so not the case with them. Even if I had a million bucks as budget for my wedding, I'd still go for Jeff and Lisa, in a heartbeat.

With 30 FPS, I loved that I can just go to their restaurant in Alabang when I want to meet with them, and that Sir Paul replies to my texts as promptly as possible. I also loved their onsite videos. Simple but timeless. They will surely remind us of our vows many years from now. Did I mention I got a really, really good deal with them? Among the esteemed wedding videographers, I think they have the lowest package, which they still managed to adjust for me :)

Wedding Gown/ Entourage's Gown - Dan Cadiz
No formal discussions yet, but since Tito Dan's a friend of the family, we all rely on him when we need dresses for weddings, debuts, etc., I think it's given na that he is designing my dress and that of the female members of the entourage. The moment we talk, I'll just show him some pegs, he'll sketch a design for me, I'll fall in love with it and by the end of the meeting, for sure he'll already be taking my measurements so what I have to work on is getting my wedding gown body ready. Budget? My mom isn't "Mars" (short for Mare) with him for nothing. We're so suki that I think we'll be able to get really fab dresses at lesser cost with him. Also Babe's suit perhaps? We'll see.

Hair and Makeup Artist - Mario Alondra

Like Tito Dan, Tito Mar's pretty much a given na. He's my mom's second cousin. He's not that well known in W@W, but he's popular in Las Pinas and he's really good. Politician's wives, several celebrities are some of his clients. A long line of women in our family have trusted him for their hair and makeup on their wedding day, and being a creature of habit and lover of culture and history, I'm not one to break the tradition. He did my makeup when I was conned in joing the beauty pageant in our High School, in both of my proms, my debut, relative's weddings, my sister's debut, etc. And friends and relatives give two thumbs up everytime :) Besides, its not like I need a total makeover on my wedding day. I'm going for au naturelle remember?

Hair and Makeup Artist for prenup (with J&L) - my good friend, Jinkie Simbulan. She's also really good! She doubles as my beauty adviser by the way ;)

Lights and Sound - This is also crucial since I'm counting on mood lights to create the (I qwas about to write mood, duh, kaya nga mood lights eh!) atmosphere in the reception, since I just want white everything and rely on the lights for color. Also, I won't be hiring a band for the reception so I'm counting on the sound system's DJ to be good too. I also plan to rent out an additional PA system for the church. I am now torn between two good suppliers that are W@W certified. I'm still deciding between RejectKrew and Sensitivity, although as of today, one of them already has the upper hand. To be fair, I'm meeting with both of them soon :)

Suits for male entourage and family - my friend recommended Mister K from Paranaque, and another one recommended her Tita, who used to be the apprentice of Edwin Valerio, also from Paranaque. Will have to research more on this. I was thinking of renting suits na lang for some of our groomsmen. My parents will pay for the suits of my brothers and so Babe and I will only worry about the suits of his brothers and dad.

Drapings - to be provided by one of our closest friends :) I'm so happy about this, because like I said, I just want a white, clean overall look for the reception and the white drapings will really reflect the moodlights well. I will have to show him some pegs though to give him an idea of how we want the drapings to look like. But he said it was a piece of cake for his mom and their staff.

Souvenirs - Definitely a photo booth. We're just deciding which supplier to get :)

Choir - will need one that's really affordable lang, since they'll only be singing the mass songs naman eh. Still scouting for a good group... If you can recommend anyone from the south, and my budget is actually 5,000 below only...hehehe.
Bridal car - my dad's car, Pearly. A 2008 edition Toyota Camry. Its beautiful and its free. And it will feel like home since I ride in it almost everyday.

Invites - After being tempted by several suppliers, I realized that I will do the invites myself. We just want it fun, brief, elegant and low-key. I should be able to do that. Will just look for a good supplier of paper and have a talk with my dad's friend who owns a printing company.

Hmmm... did I forget something? :) other paraphernalia like candles and stuff are basic, DIY it is.

That's it for now. So far, I think I did a pretty good job... Hehehe. As for Babe, he's doing a great job in saving as well :) a year to go and he already saved more than half of our allocated budget for the wedding. Not to mention most of the down payments were already made, care of yours truly (my little contribution to our dream wedding). And he's not losing his mind yet over my over-excitement, that's the tough part! hehehe :)

Some realizations I acquired from the wedding preps as of today: If you're having a hard time deciding between two options, close your eyes and picture yourself already marching down the aisle or having your makeup done or having the first dance, then you'll know what you truly want. Works for me, everytime. Always stay true to that picture inside your head.

Don't book on impulse. You know you're making the wrong decision when it feels like you're being hurried and forced into something you don't want. Yet, if you know you like this certain thing and you found the perfect supplier for you, you need not think hard. You'll just hear that voice inside your head saying "this is it." Of course, two heads are better than one so don't forget to consult your other half.

Love your own. When you've found and booked the supplier for you, stop comparing them to their more prominent and expensive counterparts. Focus on how they can deliver the best service on your wedding. Instead of looking for "what they don't have" in other supplier's blogs or websites, visit their blog regularly, remember why you got them in the first place, and know how their strengths can work well for your wedding. So stop obsessing on that high-end designer or that videographer that celebrities get.

Lastly, enjoy the wedding preps. REally, move at your own pace. Make the most of the bridal fairs, sAvor the moments you get inspirations for your dream wedding dress, listen to songs you want played on your reception, exchange friendly emails with your suppliers, take time to help out a W@wie in need. Engage in long conversations with your fiancee in making decisions. Its not a contest, really. Have fun and it'll feel like the most natural thing in the world.

That ends my post on my wedding-related accomplishments. I have 2 days and a year to go, technically. But I want to blog about more serious long term matter on the 18th eh... so I wrote this early na. Okay, now, on with the wedding preps!:))

My One-year beautification project** Part 2 of my vanity post**the usual long read from me

And here's the 2nd part, where I declare the things that I will do for my wedding look.

I know, I'm taking this waaay too seriously. Might give you the impression that I'm trying too hard. Hey, I'm not panget ha (not that anyone's panget, all brides are beautiful), its just that I want a really simple, yet stunning and ethereal look on our wedding day. I want that Ponds ad moment, where I will be the most radiant girl in the room, and my babe will feel like the luckiest guy on earth. That's my moment, which will only happen once in my lifetime, so I should do whatever I can to look and feel great at that particular time.

Anyway, here's what's included in my one-year beautification plan:

• Oplan Fair-ish skin. I have always taken pride on being morena. Well, there was the phase in high school where I dabbled on a few Block and White, but as I grew up, I have learned to love my complexion. It has been one of my assets, because I believe that bronzed olive skin is sexier. But then, I want my gown to be in off-white and creamy color, and friends say the dress would look so "lutang" in bronzed skin. And I mentioned that I wanted that Ponds moment. I want to be babe's My Fair Lady on that day. So, fair skin it is. I'm not gunning for that alabaster, mestiza type though, as I don't want to look like a metathione model naman, I just want that radiant, rosy, glowy lady-like clear skin that is suited for brides. And with that, I'm trying some of the Garnier Light line of skin whitening products for the face which my friend suggested I try. I'm now using their dark spot corrector and anti-puff eye roller. I haven't tried Garnier's body line yet, but I'm now using a whitening lotion with sunblock. Hopefully that helps. At night, I also lather on Myra E lotion, and I think my sister and I are already addicted to it. My friend also told me to take Myra E 400 capsules which helps in getting fairer and healthy-looking skin. But we have tons of Vitamin E capsules from the States at home, so I'm taking those for the mean time kasi sayang naman. I'm also taking Cee Plus, Vitamin C supplement with Rose Hip that was said to do wonders for the skin especially scars and acne scars (I'm selling this by the way, so if you're interested ;) ). I have really sensitive skin so I'm quite careful on what I take in and the products I use, so I stuck to my soap and facial cleansers advised by our dermatologist. So far I haven't developed an allergy to the new products I'm trying. Yey...


• Bleaching the hair on my upper lip area. I want a soft over-all look on my wedding day, and since I suspect I have more male hormones than any usual girl, facial hair has always been a problem. Lay Bare's threader and waxer is my bestfriend. Yet I have always been apprehensive to have the hair on my upper lip waxed or threaded. I'm not bothered by it on regular days, and I don't really think its too 'out there' but some people notice. So I brought it up during my trial makeup with the great Lorie Abraham and she told me that its best to just bleach the hairs on my upper lip so that they will be lighter and less visible. Waxing and threading may make the strands grow thicker kasi eh. Anyway, I'm still scouting for a good bleach creme, but I think I'm gonna go for the Sally Hansen line since they're known for those hair-removal products. I just hope it goes well and I don't overdo it...I don't wanna have white mustache! Anyway, Ms. Lorie said I should try it out before the wedding to see if I develop an allergy to it or if I should seek other alternatives. I loved how she picked up on things I only mentioned once. It feels like she was really listening, and sincere in dealing with me. Not too many makeup artists are like that. Sigh. But, I have a good one on my team, so no complains from me. Anyway, I hope the bleaching goes well and I get a softer, more feminine look on my wedding day.
  

• Perming my eyelashes. Admittedly, I have always been manang with these kinds of stuff. I don't normally go for these things especially when it requires sitting still for hours, let alone minutes as I'm such a kitikiti. But, after Ms. Lorie's thorough explanation, I realized I needed to do it. See, I have long and thick lashes, but like the hair on my head, they're just so bagsak that they're slanted downwards. That explains why I always get smudges when applying mascara, even when I curled my lashes a number of times with an eyelash curler. So I really should have them permed so that they will curl and open up and make my eyes appear bigger. Because even if I use falsies on the day, I'll still have a problem because they'll be slanted downwards pa rin. Kaya pala ang dalas kong mapuwing! :P Anyway, I'm just waiting for a new contract in work to materialize and then I'll have more time on my hands to devote to these things. I'll probably dedicate one whole day to have my lashes permed, and to get the bleaching thing done.
  

• Wear mineral makeup. This is a tip I got from W@W. I just got so curious about this that I started researching about it. Turns out this is really good for me, because I have sensitive skin and regular makeup usually expires on me. These won't. I can use them for more than a year or so. Plus they won't hurt my sensitive skin. They just seem to be a bit messy since they mostly come in powdered form, and a little more pricey than regular makeup, but I was told they also give maximum coverage, so the pros outweigh the cons.
  

• Get back in shape. Okay, for most of the time, I thought people were actually exagerrating when they tell me that I've grown. But when I looked at my previous photos in Friendster and Multiply, that was when it hit me. I really lost it. I guess it was stopping boxing and exercise that really made me blow up. Thankfully, I lost a few pounds when I got sick and that made me more conscious of my diet. That partnered with constant exercise should do the trick. Three months before I meet my wedding dress designer, I also plan to take these herbal supplements my parents are taking which is really great for weight loss. Imagine my mom already lost 11 pounds on her 3rd week! It's really effective but entails a lot of sacrifice as you'll only have one meal a day. And it's a bit expensive. So, its kind of my last resort. First, I'll try if boxing and diet does it for me. I hope it does.
  

• Be faithful to my beauty and fitness regimen. I know! This is the tough part. But the clock is ticking so I really have to work if I want really visible results. What's good though is I'm so motivated now. I'm updating my kikay kit in a few days, when I get the chance to spend a day in the mall. I also started devoting time to fixing myself before I leave the house for work. And with that I don't mean just getting dressed and combing my hair before I get in the car. Its making sure I apply sunblock, I look presentable and I wear accessories before I go to work. It makes me feel more confident.
  

Anyway, I think this entry has gotten way too long again. I hope you other readers won't think I'm too shallow or conceited. I'm just trying to be realistic. If you wanna look good on your wedding day, you have to prepare as early as now. I'm lucky to have started the preps early, I'm sure I'll see positive results as the days become closer. More than a year to go...

Just a way of measuring my progress for this year-long plan, I took a picture of me without any make-up. I'll check at least once every quarter if there are improvements (fairer, clearer skin, smaller face, slimmer arms,hehehe). So, here it is.uy, aminin niyo its not so bad! :P don't need much work naman diba? hehe.

Here's a closer look.

Haha, that's taken from my brother's Mac so I changed the background. Anyway, this is me without makeup, hopefully next time I'll have fairer skin na and smaller face.

One year? kaya yan! :))

The bride to be's vanity post** Part 1**the usual long read from me

this is the first part of the post that will end all my kikay entries (for this quarter).

Admittedly, I have been paying too much attention to my looks these days, well, not really the looks, but my hair and skin care. I'm not really what you'd call a high-maintenance girl, my hair's still basically wash and wear most of the time and I'm a big advocate of natural beauty. But I guess at one point, being low-maintenance and au naturelle became neglect. It all started when I was on an outing with my YFC Barkada and during the morning when us girls were done taking a bath and fixing ourselves, after combing my hair and putting on lotion, I found myself staring at the other girls in the room who were all still busy applying makeup and other stuff on their faces and hair. And then, one of my girlfriends asked me, "ikaw Cams, wala ka bang kakikayan sa katawan?" I was speechless. I had thrown out most of the items in my makeup kits because they have expired. All that's left were my lip balms(no color whatsoever), eyelash curler and face powder. I haven't updated my beauty loot in ages!

That was such a wake-up call for me. I used to be Cosmogirl Cams. I was updated with most beauty and fashion trends, and friends would come to me for makeup and fashion tips. And then for some reason, the Cosmogirl part of me just left and I didn't even notice it. At first, being my usual righteous self, I put the blame on several people and circumstances. 1)my Babe, for loving the simple side of me too much, sans makeup that I just became too much of the less is more kinda girl, and for being away, hence I didn't feel the need to always look good for someone 2)my sister, who was my partner in all things kikay. She pretty much gave up too when she entered film school. I mean, she was wearing my brothers' clothes to class most of the time! And so, when she neglected her looks, I did too, 3) the strict dress code in the office which pretty much left me with no choice but wear dull slacks and collared polos and ballet flats to work, 4)my officemates in their uniforms and kind of plain lifestyle here at work that I didn't feel the need to look pretty in work compared to my media job before where I always had to dress up and be made up to level with the celebrities, 5)lack of bonding time with my girlfriends therefore no chance to play dress up or talk about kikay stuff 6)spending too much time in the boys room. We had several relatives and family friends use our room for the last quarter of 2008 and most of 2009 (they just left last week) and so we were bunking in the boys room for a while, playing wii and the like on our free time. We were getting clothes from their closet, getting rid of most of our kikay stuff to lessen the junk in their room thus, no kikay time for a long, long time. See, I got six reasons, and I really haven't began to really think just yet.

But I realized, those reasons were merely excuses. That most of the blame was really should be mine. I mean, it was I who neglected my physical appearance, who got contented in wearing those kinds of clothes to work. So it was all me. But there's no room for pointing fingers (biglang ganun samantalang kanina ang dami mong sinisi =P) Thanks to my dear friend, Cosmogirl has awaken from a long and deep slumber and is now making her way back to Cams. Especially now that she's about to become a bride. So now, I'm dead set on prettifying myself again, most specially that I'm now preparing myself for my wedding that's almost a year to go na lang.


So with my approval, my friend appointed herself as beauty consultant slash makeup artist for my wedding. Well, she won't do my makeup on the day itself, but she's doing my makeup for my prenup. She's really good and although she didn't have a formal education on it, I wouldn't call her novice for she works in a global cosmetics company and she trains the ladies in the beauty counters on how to apply makeup. So I guess she just skipped the school part, but she's just the ultimate kikay girl, I trust her completely when it comes to this aspect. There were a lot of sensible advice that I got from her, and I'm pretty much convinced that I'm buying all the products she told me to try.

My trial makeup with Ms. Lorie Abraham (which I posted here before) also had a part in my so-called reawakening. While she was working her magic on me, she was giving me tips on things that I should try for my wedding. If my friend was subtle in the products she advised me to try, Ms. Lorie was more forward. You know, she told me to try out several beauty trends that I wouldn't really think of going for, but when she explained it to me, I realized they were practical beauty tips and I need to give them a try. While she was working, she kept on admiring my assets and gave me tips on how to highlight them and several things to try out before the wedding, so I would know if they work on me or I would develop an allergic reaction to them since I have sensitive skin. When she was done with my makeup, she told me that since I was blessed with good features, I just need a few makeup to look put together and I'm all set. That was such a boost. I felt so confident and so eager to resume my beauty regimen after that.

And not for anything, I'm thankful that I got sick and was hospitalized for a few weeks because I was able to assess certain things that I do to abuse my body, like eating and drinking certain foods, lack of exercise, etc. And now that I sort of lost weight and was able to find love on fruits again, I feel more radiant and energized to go on with feeling healthy and beautiful.

The gloomy weather's being a wee bit unhelpful, but I'm fighting every urge to be tamad to get up from bed and start neglecting my looks once again. It's even nicer now because my sister has also started to become conscious of her looks again. I guess its because we got our pink, girly room back :)

So hello world! CosmogirlCams is so back! :))

**if I can't get enough of blogging about all things kikay and vain, they will be at http://cosmogirlcams.blogspot.com

on part 2 (juday-ryan) - more on friendship and striking similarities

as you might have guessed...

Anyway, the two-part wedding special was already aired in ABS-CBN, and I loved it, obvi. This was really the celebrity wedding that I really, really liked, maybe because, like a close girlfriend of mine, I see a lot of myself in the superstar bride. Naks naman, Juday, ikaw ba yan? :P

nah, its just that I share the same doting qualities with her. The type that is strong and can live on her own but chooses to be loving and submissive to her partner, the type who just loves laughing with her friends and her fiancee. A little frilly, but who's all about love and romance and friendship and humor.

I just see a lot of me in her, a lot of my babe in Ryan (the private, funny guy type), a lot of my friends in their friends. I guess, bottomline is, they behaved like real people, which is why many real people identified with them.

And where would Juday be without her longtime guy/gay bestfriend? The one who told their story in part 2 of the wedding special. Its the person who has been there from the start. The one guy who has been the bride's chaperone during the times when the groom hasn't showed up in her doorstep just yet. The patient listening end of the bride's rants about her fiancee or her endless stories about how the love of her life swept her off her feet again...

Why do I know this guy so well? Its because if Juday has Direk Nico, I also have my guy bestfriend. He's not gay though like Juday's. He my go-to person when I'm bored and I need someone to talk to or who comes with me when I need to go somewhere. Next to my Babe, he's the one guy who never fails to make me laugh. He can make a joke at me, or at my babe without having to fear we're gonna get mad because he knows that we won't. When Babe was still here and he needs to go to the basketball court to practice, he'll leave me with this friend's house where we'll chat endlessly and Babe just picks me up after playing. He has been there for us since Day 1. And I mean that literally, because we were with him when I gave my most precious yes to Babe. I mean, he was the one who planted the whole thing. When babe was still courting me, he talked to me and made it known to me that Babe was wondering if I would ever say Yes. So I told him that Babe wasn't even asking me that question, so how can I answer? He relayed that piece of info to Babe, and that might have given him the guts to ask me the question. And that's how Day 1 began.

He's the guy who was first to ask us all the awkward questions upfront, and first to defend our relationship from those nosy people who wouldn't mind their own business. Its because he knew that I made a choice, and made a big step, and he knew that I'm serious about this guy, and he's serious about me, so he's just there to support us. He never crosses his boundaries, never taking a side, but just being there for us, for me.

So there, I just thought of him today, while watching the second part of the wedding special. I think every girl should have that kind of guy bestfriend - non-romantic, frank, loyal, funny and supportive. Aren't Juday and I so lucky? He might think that he's not so important in this whole wedding, but the truth is, he's very special for me and Babe. Especially for me. I never would have gone this far in a relationship if he hadn't been there to support me and defend me and encourage me and listen to me during my desperate times. And he's ever willing to be a friend to Babe as well. He's gonna be one of those standing beside us to become witness to our union. He's going to be one of our secondary sponsors.

Anyway, I'm sure you all have your share of great friendships which you also celebrate in the wedding preps.

Another nice part about the juday-ryan wedding was the bond babe and I form through it. I remember having that conversation wtih him when I told him that Ryan Agoncillo cried during their wedding dance. So it got him to thinking if he'll also cry on our wedding day. I teased him about being a crybaby and told him we should have a bet on it. I don't remember how that conversation ended, but I knew I was very happy we had that talk. We were bonding because of this wedding.

This may be the last of my post about the so-called wedding of the year, but, seriously, it tops my list of all the celebrity weddings in the entire history. idol!

A first.... (trial makeup with Lorie Abraham)

Admittedly, this is one of the things I like about bridal fairs. Trial makeup! Although I really am not seriously looking for an HMUA for my wedding since I have a relative who has done it for all the brides and debs in the family and who's really good so I'm all set with him to do my hair and makeup on my wedding day. But, since my sister really loved her makeup trial on the last wedding fair we went to, I braved my fears of talking with a different makeup artist and have my own trial makeup on the wedding fair.

I tried going to several exhibitors, but it just ends up not working out because I just wanted a hassle-free day and they just aren't making it happen for me. And so, I passed by Lorie Abraham's booth and although she was too busy doing wonders for another girl, her AE gave me a pleasant smile and chatted me up as well. I was at ease dealing with her so I was convinced to do the trial makeup.

When it was my turn, the fist thing I noticed was that she really used high-end quality brands for her makeup and tools. No wonder the price was also kind of high-end. Next thing, Ms. Lorie was really nice. Unlike other HMUAs I've worked with, she really took the time to ask me what concept I like for my makeup. I told her that I wanted a bronzy look, but my babe wanted it natural and without makeup. After that she knew exactly what to do and she even gave me tips on how my wedding gown would compliment my morena complexion, and what beauty trends to try before my wedding day. All of her advices made sense and I really enjoyed listening to her give me tips while she was working her magic on me. Once in a while, I'd take a really good look in the mirror and smile at the progress. Hehehe. She was really good. And she really achieved the natural blooming look that I wanted. I was really pleased. The makeup wasn't overly done and I really recognized myself in my reflection. Without any contest, she was great.

So, it may be one of the rare times that I'll be posting my pictures here, but I'm just so proud of it so I'm gonna let you see :)


the photos are kinda dark and mejo oily na because that was hours after the session, but I hope you got a nice glimpse of it naman.. Because that's basically how I look naman talaga. Only better because she has really defined by brows (groomed it 'cause they were starting to be unruly again), hid some blemishes, brightened up my aura with some blush-on, and painted my usually lip-balmed kissers. I just felt that I looked so chic and polished. I loved it, obvi.

The ultimate reason why I'm really so proud about it is because Babe loved it. Its actually the first time he complimented my makeup. Its because he always wants things to be simple, therefore, he always tells me that he likes me better without makeup. But when I sent the photos to him via email, he was so happy and really thought I looked beautiful. Here's the kilig part, he told me "nung nakita ko yung mga pictures mo, naisip ko sa sarili ko na ang sarap mo talagang mahalin." sooper smile na ko after that... I just wanted to look pretty for him on our wedding day. I'm glad he liked me with makeup :)Anyway, he really liked it kasi nga hindi makapal ang makeup. Even when I told him that the rates are kinda expensive, he said it was okay if I really like her.

Too bad I'm all set with my makeup artist slash relative. But don't get me wrong, he's good rin naman. So for those looking for a really good and reputable makeup artist, try Ms. Lorie. You'll really feel at ease with her. And judging from the service I got, I'll say she's worth every penny. If I didn't have good makeup artists as a relative and friend, I'll go for her in a heartbeat. :))

lets talk about the dress...

I am trying to be as discreet as I can about the details of my wedding and keep a low-profile on the themes and concepts, but I have always wanted to talk about what I'm gonna wear on the big day. It's one part I'm most excited about. So, here are some of my inspirations for my wedding gown... they're quite a lot, but I hope these will give you a glimpse of the kind of girl that I am - dreamy (or dreamer), chic, hopeless romantic, low-key and fuss-free.

I have always known that I wanted the most beautiful dress on my wedding day. . Growing up, my mom and aunts were fond of dressing me up especially on occasions that it kinda stayed with me. I'm a clothes/dress person as opposed to being a bag/shoe lady. I just feel so wonderful when I have on a nice dress. It just makes me feel like I'm on top of the world and everything is and will be perfect. Like I can do anything. And so, it's not very surprising that my wedding gown is one of the non-negotiables on our special day. It has to be THE ONE I picture when I close my eyes and daydream...

Its the one dress that will make me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. It will be just like I dreamed of wearing when I was a little girl...something that makes me feel like a beautiful flower... like the picture below...


Although, I don't want to feel like a little girl on my wedding day. I want to feel chic and stylish. And not really over the top. This dress from Marchesa looked so stunning and sexy.

I also envisioned my dress to make me feel like an ethereal goddess, which makes a strong reference to why I'm partial to empire-cut dresses and flowy gowns as opposed to princess dresses and ballgowns... the flow in this Maggie Sottero number below is really captivating. The length is just perfect and the train...


Although flowers is the overall theme for my gown and my entourage's dresses, one of my fashionable friends commented that putting flowers upfront on my wedding gown might make me look like a flower girl. I don't want that. She suggested I try incorporating my flower theme without going overboard and having flower-ish accents on my gown.

In a cocktail event for work, I saw a popular designer wear this beige dress with petal bustier and it was then I realized that I should do that instead of putting flowers on my bustier. I was reminded of my childhood dreams to wear a dress I saw in this baduy tagalog movie where the leading lady was wearing a pink dress with a petal bustier. It was in the early nineties but I knew I always wanted to wear something like that. Luckily, I came across the finale of project runway season 5 and saw that Leanne's finale collection was kind of inspired by flowers.

I like the petal bustier in this dress below. It looks chic, edgy yet still romantic. I'm also using this picture to refer to the color that I want to use (the aqua for my entourage's dresses, the cream for mine).

I just liked the flowy overlay of the dress below.

Though I didn't think Leane would be up on the running on the contest, I actually ended up liking her final collection and making it a big reference to my wedding dress. This dress below is my favorite and might be the closest to how I like my wedding dress to look.

And to finalize the flowery romantic theme, here's the backview of Claudine Barreto's wedding gown. I know, I just can't pass up on flowers for my wedding dress. So I'll have them at the back na lang to also serve as accent to my panel train.

Yeah, as you might have guessed, I kinda know what I'm talking about. Its just that, like every girl, I have pictured my dream wedding dress a thousand times in my head. I have also done a lot of research on the terminologies in the world of fashion. Anyway, like I said, it has to be the dress I imagine. Kinda like the pictures above, but waaaay better.

I have yet to meet with my designer, who's a close friend of the family, and I have always been one of his muses. Everytime we bump into each other he keeps on telling me to meet with him about my dress already. I just think it might be too early for a June 2010 bride to have her wedding gown made. Considering I already know what I like and I know he can make it happen for me, I'm sure it'll be easy then.

So there... that was a glimpse of my inspirations, a glimpse of me. I pray that this dream comes true for me. That when the moment comes for me to see my wedding dress, all my princess, goddess dreams will be fulfilled and upon seeing me on that white dress, my prince will feel like the luckiest guy on earth.

juday-ryan wedding

well, well, well... you knew this was coming didn't you? :)

it's the wedding of the year! How the heck can I not blog about it?
Before anything else, I want to share that before, I kinda wished that their wedding would be this year. I kinda didn't want it to be on the same year or month that we were gonna have our wedding. I just don't want people to be making their wedding a reference for ours. And who doesn't want their wedding to be remembered instead of a big celebrity wedding? So when I learned that it was gonna be this year, I was surprised and relieved.

Okay... Thanks to W@W, I felt like an insider to this so-called secret wedding. But even though I kinda had a clue that it was gonna be the day, I can't help but be so excited with all the juicy detailms unveiling one by one. It was too intriguing that I found myself glued to the boob tube for days. More importantly, it was very, very impressing.

I mean, I'm no celebrity but there are times when I feel that too many people know and are asking about the wedding and I don't exactly know how to act or what too say, especially to those people who I have no plans of inviting. I don't wanna appear rude, but I also don't wanna share too much to spoil the excitement or make them assume they're invited. That part is really tricky. But Judy Ann is like only the biggest star of her generation, and Ryan is a hot item as well, how were they able to pull it off? Unbelievable. :)

Imagine having all that money to blow off on a really grand wedding and invite just about everyone, but they opted to keep it low-key, simple, elegant and intimate. Idol! :))

What's also cool about the whole thing is, they were not only able to get the attention and applause of girls, but they also made the men impressed with what they did. Maybe its the practicality part, and the simplicity and a lot of thinking. It's actually beyond impressive. Anyway, its not much of my fiancee to keep up with celebrities, more so with celebrity weddings, but for this one, he paid attention and opened the subject to me himself. I didn't have to feed it to him, he was updated.

Its because he always wanted a low-key wedding, and he's never too loud about all this. We already fought several times about me sharing too much information to people that I spoil the excitement for him. He wants to keep it special, to us, and people close to us. The wedding preps I mean. He's very humble that way, which I love about him.

So learning from them, I now make a vow to really take after Juday with the way she handled her 'big' day. C'mon, without admitting it, I believe that every girl wants to feel like a princess, even for a day, and if she can choose what day it would be, most girls would choose their wedding. So, its not easy for a girl to keep mum while she's getting the wedding of her dreams, especially if you have big suppliers like RN and Jason Magbanua. But she did it with such grace and tact, that you would respect her silence. And did I mention how absolutely stunning she was in her wedding dress? She just looks so happy and contented. And so did Ryan. Like it was the most natural feeling in the world, and there's no faking it. I hope I see that face a year from now, from my Babe.

So there. Its not an easy feat, but I will try my best. Like as much as I want to, I won't brag about my accomplishment with the wedding preps to random friends, if they ask me, I'll try to give as little and vague information as I can.

You may ask why I'm doing this. Am I gonna do it just because its the cool thing to do? And I want my wedding to be just like theirs? Of course not. It's because Babe was happy with how they did it, so I'm gonna try to be just as graceful, just as tactful, and just as low-key about everything. Besides, that's really the least I can do for him, who's being so giving and supportive of me on our wedding preps. And obviously, what they did made a lot of sense.

Hey, just between us, its also a great way to save :) hehehe. I'm sure you W@wies can figure out why. I can't keep the details though, from my dear W@wie sisters, whom I owe a lot to. But just in case the world is too small for us and you know a random family or friend of mine or my h2b's, I expect you too keep secret the details about my day :)

It also won't be easy to keep it from my family and babe's family, so I might make an exception to that. But even so, I'll try to be really, really quiet about it. I won't let out details that aren't relevant to their roles in the wedding.

Hahaha. Wish me luck! I'm gonna need a lot. :P

To the celebrity newlyweds, my hats off to you. You are an inspiration to us. Congrats and best wishes!