When I was growing up, I thought that having the most grandiose cake on your wedding spells elegance, class, and it speaks utmost style. It was *that* decade when celebrities get several layers of cake decked with tons of florets, candy pearls, and whatnots because why not, it’s pretty! I know people who got married years and decades before me who had several layers of wedding cake, only they know how many are edible.
It’s fun to scroll ’round Pinterest and Instagram looking for #weddingcakegoals, with naked cakes and cupcakes are in vogue in the wedding industry, and fondant cakes are still rocking it with its new look and technique of making it. I also had my share of my ideal wedding cake because it will help set the mood of the wedding party. It’s also fun to go to bridal fairs and sample cakes from different suppliers and dream about how our first cake eating as a married couple will be like, amidst clinging glasses and cheering guests watching us go through one of the important wedding traditions. Aware of the price tags attached to these delectable wedding cakes, my husband and I chose to settle for a 12-inch, one-layer carrot cake decked with fresh fruits and cream cheese frosting from the country club deli where we had our reception.
In-season cakes are sooo pretty to look at, and I bet these are tasty, too. We may be able to afford to get a several layers, but we decided to get a simple one that’s only a fraction of a towering wedding cake. In fact, our reception venue had us choose between a three-layer cake and overnight suite accommodations at a nearby hotel, and we unanimously chose the suite because we love staycations! I personally think it’s too extravagant to have a towering wedding cake with just a small layer just enough to eat for the traditional cake-cutting and to share with a very few people.
Soon-to-weds, think about this: How important is it for you to have a nice wedding cake, with all the layers and beautiful embellishments? Would you rather spend your monies on other wedding-related expenses and get a simple, non-traditional cake just so you can abide with the cake-cutting traditions? The answers are up to you, darling.
About Kassy Pineda – Alba:
Kassy is a Digital Media Manager for a utilities company, and a budding homemaker who is crazy about Konmari, doing household chores and watching Netflix with her husband.
https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BridalBlurbs_WeddingCake1.jpg467700W@W Editorhttps://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/WAWLOGO.pngW@W Editor2018-01-08 14:20:132018-05-10 19:37:27Bridal Blurbs: My Two Cents on Wedding Cakes
[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]It’s been roughly ten months since my husband and I got married. A lot has happened: our fun honeymoon, setting up our humble abode, and a handful of health issues. For this entry, I’d like to put emphasis on taking care of your health right now, while you still have a chance.
Many soon-to-wed couples put a premium on losing weight, following an effective skin regimen, or having their teeth straightened or whitened just so they would look good on their wedding day, most forget what lies underneath that beautiful shell that they will clad in intricately-designed wedding gowns and bespoke suits or barongs. For the sake of your overall health, now I ask you: How’s your blood pressure? How about your blood sugar? Have you had your teeth cleaned and checked by an able dentist? When was the last time you saw your OB, or have you ever seen one? Have you felt any suspicious lumps in your body?
It takes a lot of energy to prepare for one special day, and it’s especially tasking since you want every detail to be almost-perfect. Being at the prime of your health before and after the wedding is essential for your overall wellness. Why? You need the energy to deal with suppliers, DIYs, and errands, as well as family members, guests, and other people you will be in contact with in planning your wedding. I’ve mentioned in my previous BB blog that while there may have superstitions that tell soon-to-weds to avoid going out of the house before their wedding, it somehow makes sense because taking on exhausting trips, no matter the distance (because traffic, haha!) may take a toll on the body, so take heed not because of a few hokum but because you want to be at your tip-top shape on your big day.
Your reproductive health is another reason why you have to put your health in check before the big day. If you plan to conceive soon after the wedding or delay childbirth at a later time, it is important to keep your health in check in support of those plans. Taking certain medications, continuing an unhealthy lifestyle, or simply having pre-existing medical conditions may greatly affect your plans in building a family. I won’t go far anymore, I have irregular periods since I started working. Turns out, I have polycystic ovaries that turns my hormones out of whack, among other things. I started consulting with my OB-GYN and scheduled regular check-ups with my cardiologist a year before the wedding and underwent a battery of tests so that we could prevent possible problems when we finally conceive. I also have a friend who plans to have babies a few years after the wedding, so she asked her OB-GYN about options on how to plan for their future offspring.
Regardless if you want babies ASAP or months or years after, it is also best to have your vaccines updated. Get your mom or one of your parent or guardian dig your family baul and look for your immunization records from way back. This is also important especially if you’re planning a honeymoon getaway in areas that require certain inoculations prior to landing. Vaccines like the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR), diptheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTPv), chickenpox vaccine, dengue vaccine, and the annual flu vaccine will give you peace of mind not only during your trip, but also when you already plan on having kids. Ladies, make sure to have your cervical cancer vaccine as well as the MMR vaccine at least six months to a year before getting married to keep you protected!
We vow to take care of our partners “in sickness and in health, till death do we part,” so take initiative in keeping sickness at bay so that you may fully enjoy married life together, forever. Pay attention to every changes in your body, from your eyesight, skin pigmentation, minor aches, period regularity, and even the color of your finger and toe nails, sans polish (yes, this matters!) and have these checked ASAP before it’s too late. Brides and grooms, take charge of your health NOW. I guarantee you, one day of taking time off from wedding planning to attend to your health and wellness will be so worth it not only for the sake of your wedding, but also for the rest of your lives.
Kassy is a Digital Media Manager for a utilities company, and a budding homemaker who is crazy about Konmari, doing household chores and watching Netflix with her husband.[/cs_block_grid_item][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 2″][/cs_block_grid_item][/cs_block_grid][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]
https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/BridalBlurbs_CheckUps1.jpg525700W@W Editorhttps://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/WAWLOGO.pngW@W Editor2017-10-09 13:11:022017-10-09 13:11:02Bridal Blurbs: Why You Need to Check on Your Health Before Tying the Knot
My mom woke me up at 6:30 AM. I had time to take a bath and eat a very hearty meal, thank goodness for breakfast buffets!
The very first supplier to arrive was my HMUA team. I was still having breakfast when she called, and it was just 30 minutes before the 8:00 AM call time. After breakfast, we went upstairs to my room and set up the make-up stations for the female entourage. I have already changed to my blue romper, and everything was happening in a blur. We started primping up at 8:30 AM, and just in time, my lovely coordinator arrived, then my florist, who came with my beautiful tulip-and-rose bouquet. My room was abuzz with people coming in for styling, taking footage and photos, so I sat back and just enjoyed the moment. After all, I have properly turned over our things to our very efficient and reliable coordination team.
Come lunch time, we ordered food from the fast food chain just across the hotel. My bridal assistant handled it well, from coordinating its entry to distributing it to my family. However, there were miscommunications with the fast food crew because the hotline ordered our food from another branch far from the hotel; and by the time the delivery guy arrived, the hotel security did not allow him in. We were only able to eat about two hours before we leave.
Because we were running out of time, my bridal assistant gave me her lunch pack. It was similar to what I ordered anyway so I ate. All flat surfaces were being used by the HMUA team so some of my female entourage propped up the ironing board for me so I can eat lunch. Bawal ang maarte!
At this time, I have no idea what is happening in the groom’s suit a few floors down, but one of his groomsmen’s fiancée posted a photo on our barkada group about one of the male entourage’s ripped pants. Thankfully, another one of the groomsmen’s wife-to-be has mad sewing skills, so yay for that!
After lunch, my couturier and bridal manager helped me with my gown. Ah, this is it! My documentations team took photos and videos thereafter, with my female entourage, and with each people that brought me gifts from my then-fiancé and a note that he cannot wait to see me. Aww. I also had a moment with each of my family members, and had photos taken with them.
And it was time to leave. Dun dun duuuun.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BridalBlurbs_Aug2017.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=”” class=”aligncenter”][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]I was told that the groom’s party already left for church so we prepared to leave. I rode the bridal car with my sister, niece, and my bridal manager. We were all just laughing and taking Instagram stories on the way to church, while I complain how hot and heavy my gown was. Tiis-ganda! Oh well. Few more hours left until I take it off.
We arrive fifteen minutes before our set time. I was left with my funny bridal car driver and bridal manager, and we were poking fun at how tiring the day was, even if we haven’t started the main event yet. I impatiently sat in my bridal car, naka-de-kwatro na sa inip. Ten minutes left. How could time suddenly slow down, I thought.
I see one of my suppliers furiously walking towards the church entrance. I asked, why the face? And the he said something, to which I said, “Relax lang!” He laughed at the irony, saying that he should be the one telling me that. When I closed the window, my driver told me the same thing, and that I was the first relaxed bride he ever encountered. Hindi niya alam na inip na inip na ako.
Alas, my bridal manager asked me to alight the vehicle. My photo-video team instructed me to get off the vehicle slowly, with finesse, at least for the photos, and smile. Ooookay. Pagod na ako ngumiti, to be honest, pero kaya pa, besh.
While my bridal manager briefed me with what to do, the P/V team snapping shots, with the Canon in D in the background. My chest was pounding. I then whispered to my bridal manager:
“Teh, painom.”
She hands me my bottle of water, and I sip through the straw. A moment after:
“Teh, yung tumbler?”
It was THE tumbler. The tumbler that holds all the magic, the strength to keep it together. Well, it was a vodka-spiked ice-cold peach juice, okaaay.
And a few moments after sipping almost half of the tumbler, my bridal manager instructed me to look down. The doors creaked open. Here we go.
I saw the altar. Familiar faces. My parents waiting for me midway to the aisle. A few camera phones capturing the moment, yet careful not to steal the show. I see our friends and family happy-crying.
As I got closer to my parents, my mom was already crying, my dad smiling. I laughed and joined them. Oh, boy, so this is it, right?
And then I see my groom crying. He must be as overwhelmed as me. A lump of air blocked my throat, but I caught it fast and swallowed it, and let out a nervous chuckle. Thank you, vodka!
I kissed my parents, and my dad handed his youngest daughter to the boy she met 12 years ago and loved “illegally” for three months until she cannot hide it anymore, despite the parents’ prodding to not get into a relationship until after college. I also took a moment to hug my groom’s parents, as a way of showing my gratitude for raising the man I prayed for, dreamed of, and I wished on New Year’s Day of 2004, five months before meeting my future husband.
I did not cry, but my groom did. I said my vows with my voice breaking up at one point, but still managed to keep it together. My groom said an impromptu vow, shedding some more happy tears. Everything happened so fast, but we made sure we remember most of it. We sang the communion song with the choir, recalling how we said many years before getting married that we will use that song on our wedding day. We sealed our union with a kiss. It was a happy day.
And our reception? Oh, we had tons of fun, especially because I already changed to my lace sneakers to get ready for our grand entrance as Mr. and Mrs. All our bellies our full and so are our hearts. Seeing people who matter in our lives in one room is enough for our hearts to swell.
I guess the main takeaway from our wedding is that we thought of what my husband and I think we can enjoy with our guests, like we know that it is okay to veer away from the usual, like we didn’t have a dove release because kawawa naman the birds, or a tall cake because the price is too exuberant for us, and we thought it would be practical to have a 12-inch square carrot cake decked with lots of fruits so that we can also share it with our families and friend after the wedding. For the wedding programme, most people think that couple games are already passé, so we had games per table that had almost everyone compete with each other. Also, having two brilliant stand-up comedians perform their sets and team up with the best wedding coordinator-slash-wedding host brought the house down. And the food. The foooood! Even until now, our guests are still raving about our sumptuous spread, that I now realize that taking time to discuss with the banquet for details and taking the food tasting seriously makes a whole lot of difference.
I would also like to emphasize on getting a reliable wedding coordinator. We had THE BEST team! Save for some minor glitches during our hotel preps, which is beyond our control already, they ran our weddings very smoothly, and they barely bothered us for questions. This is why it’s so important to nit-pick every detail with your coordinator every face-to-face meeting, and to turn over COMPLETE and DETAILED deliverables before the set deadline so both parties may still have room to discuss and clarify. We enjoyed our wedding, the company of our guests, and the good food because our OTD coordinator took charge well and good, and even beyond our expectations.
Looking back now, my husband and I are proud that we did most things right during our wedding, and it warms our heart knowing that family and friends still remembers how they enjoyed our very special day.
Kassy is a Digital Media Manager for a utilities company, and a budding homemaker who is crazy about Konmari, doing household chores and watching Netflix with her husband.
https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BridalBlurbs_Aug2017.jpg467700W@W Editorhttps://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/WAWLOGO.pngW@W Editor2017-08-17 22:54:522018-11-08 21:52:33Bridal Blurbs: Learning and Musings from our Wedding Day (The Big Day)
Before my husband asked me to marry him, I have been daydreaming about how I want our wedding to be. From saving the nice to haves and filtering it down to the bare essentials, the only thing constant to MY own wedding bubble is to finally spend forever with the love of my life.
For 18 months since the proposal to the wedding day, we sat down, discussed, pencil pushed, and brainstormed to make the best days of our lives happen. See? Some couples plan for their wedding for one and half years, some even shorter or longer, only for the actual event to happen in just a matter of hours! Wedding planning is reaaaaally a tedious process, and it involves time, money, blood, sweat and lots of tears; and wedding planning will not only involve you and your partner, but also the whole family as well, whether you like it or else.
Okay, so you may be reading this entry because you want to know what happens before couples walk down the aisle. I am writing this based on my experience, timeline, and length of preps, which will enormously vary per couple. Are you ready to bring me back to memory lane? Let’s do this.
A MONTH BEFORE THE WEDDING:
Except for a few, everything was set a month before our big day. We finished booking all suppliers in September, and most of the gowns have been collected at this point. A few details, like the missalettes, table numbers, and place cards were being produced and ready for printing. Invitations have been distributed and diligent guests have already responded to our invitation.
We decided on a December wedding because it is the perfect time for relatives overseas to fly home and celebrate Christmas with the family. As they say, iba talaga ang Pasko dito sa Pilipinas, so we took advantage of this thought and booked our wedding during the Yuletide season. Last Christmas was the busiest because we were polishing details for our wedding, and at the same time joining the holiday merriments.
[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text style=”margin-top:30%;margin-bottom:30%;”]
Last minute DIY for our ring box
[/cs_text][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BridalBlurbsJune2017_4.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]I filed my vacation leave two weeks before the wedding so I can have ample time to attend to wedding matters. My then-fiancé still had no leave credits then because he was just four months on the job before the wedding. We still had a lot to do, buy, and settle just when we thought we’re ready for the big day, but because I am on leave, I had a lot of time to do it all. Both my husband and I also delegated tasks to some family members and a few friends.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BridalBlurbsJune2017_3.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text style=”margin-top:50%;margin-bottom:50%;”]
Time to say goodbye to my old room.
[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Everything was set and packed on Christmas Eve, but there was a problem: I was hacking a bad case of dry cough since a week before Christmas. That was the time when we were transferring things to our new home. It was drizzling the whole week. One time, I forgot to bring an umbrella nor put on a hat or a towel to protect my back from the moisture, and I thought I will be able to get away with it since I believed that a few doses of Vitamin C after being exposed to the elements can shield me from getting sick. I was very wroooong. I got too tired enjoying what my friends prepared to honor me on my last days of being single, and it also didn’t help that I was losing sleep worrying about one of my suppliers!
[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text style=”margin-top:50%;margin-bottom:50%;”]Got my bridal nails did 6 days before the wedding. It has to be gel polish for durability![/cs_text][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BridalBlurbsJune2017_1.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Lesson learned: Take care of yourself! While I am not superstitious at all, I now realize why ye olde peoples tell soon-to-weds to stay at home prior to the wedding. Take multivitamins religiously every day to supplement energy loss and to protect yourself from viruses, and it would be healthy to note not to take or overdose yourself post-exposure because the vitamins won’t be able to protect your already-compromised immunity at this point. It would also help to carry a handy bottle of rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer wherever you go; and no matter how inconvenient it is to carry an umbrella or a light jacket, just bring one just in case the weather gets nippy or moist.
My then-fiancé and I checked in to the hotel a day before the wedding with our families. It was our last day being single, so we spent the rest of the day hanging out with our folks and siblings. It was—to put it in the vernacular—nakaka-senti.
I was still coughing a day before the wedding, so even if we’re already set, I wasn’t able to sleep until 12 MN. Good thing I remembered that video I watched on Facebook about a Vicks life hack to suppress coughing, so I slathered a huge dollop of it on my feet and put on socks, and then everything was okay after.
What happened on the big day? Late lunch delivery, the bride’s pre-walk drink, and the crying groom! Wait for the PART 2 of this entry!
Kassy is a Digital Media Manager for a utilities company, and a budding homemaker who is crazy about Konmari, doing household chores and watching Netflix with her husband.
https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BridalBlurbsJune2017_5.jpg1050700W@W Editorhttps://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/WAWLOGO.pngW@W Editor2017-07-03 19:23:372018-11-08 22:04:16Bridal Blurbs: Learning and Musings from our Wedding, Part 1
When my husband and I got engaged, we knew more or less what we want done on our wedding day. We just needed someone to help us put these ideas together to make our big day uniquely our own in an organized manner. Not only did we ask around for recommendations, we also researched and considered our preferences in searching for THE dream team.
Prior to meeting our coordinator, my husband and I sat down and discussed our non-negotiables as a couple, and individual preferences for our big day. We also pooled ideas from family members, friends, and previous weddings we attended to know what we like (and we don’t like) for our wedding and the after party. As soon as we were settled, we discussed our inputs with our wedding coordinator.
We booked an on-the-day coordination because we took charge in booking and dealing with all our suppliers. Yes, we planned our wedding during lunch breaks, down times in the office, after work, and during the weekend, and had the coordinator run the show. It was tiring but it was all worth it! I know a couple who opted to hire a coordinator to help them with some of the planning, and there’s this one friend who hired a full-time planner because they are based overseas.
Still debating whether to get a wedding coordinator? Let me convince you:
Experienced coords know what’s good for you
An experienced wedding coordinator will talk sense to you. He/she will throw you no BS and will not sugarcoat their opinions simply because they’ve done a million weddings and have seen the best and the worst. When I wanted a certain type of game on our wedding day, she discouraged me because it will not engage the crowd. Instead, she suggested another game that is a whole lot better and much more fun!
They will help you to get things done
Because they have done a hundred weddings, efficient wedding coordinators have a very detailed checklist of essentials you need months before your wedding. They will even have a laundry list of items you need to prepare come actual day like things to bring in the church and reception. Sometimes all you and your fiance should do is to comply to these lists so that your wedding will run smoothly—and this is important, by the way, because even the most veteran coordinator may not be able to execute what you want for your big day if you don’t help the team, so do your part, coordinate early and efficiently with them months before the wedding!
Their bridal resource network are vast
Still lack suppliers? Maybe they can recommend. Five months into the preps, my then-fiance and I were starting to worry because we still cannot find a budget-friendly tailor to make my groom’s suit. I asked our coordinator for leads, and she reverted with a few names. And because they have worked with a lot of suppliers already, they will not have a hard time dealing with them!
They know what to do come wedding day
During our wedding day, our events team ran the show like how we discussed on our pre-event meetings. We didn’t need to worry about anything at all! My husband and I also dispel the myth that newlyweds aren’t able to enjoy their first meal because they are busy with things that need to be done during the reception. Efficient coordinators also know how to handle crisis come D-day. I have a friend who left their garter in their hotel room, good thing their coordinator has an extra one on his kit. Another friend and her husband got stuck in traffic on the way to the reception. Their coordinator brought out the bride’s flip flops so they could sprint to the hotel. I brought a tumbler with a cold drink because I knew I would get thirsty before walking down the aisle, and I completely forgot that sipping direct on my tumbler will ruin my perfectly-shaped lips! My bridal manager pulled out a straw from her kit and assisted me while drinking from my tumbler—life saver!
Why you should make your coordinator your wedding best friend
Next to your groom, family, entourage, and close friends, your coordinator will never, ever, want your wedding to fail! But as I have addressed it a few paragraphs back, your event’s success will also rely on how timely you and your fiance(e) will turn over things and update your team so your wedding will run smoothly. Some things may not turn out the way you and your partner want it, but know that your dream team will be on top on things so you can enjoy your first few hours as Mr. and Mrs.!
About Kassy Pineda – Alba:
Kassy is a Digital Media Manager for a utilities company, and a budding homemaker who is crazy about Konmari, doing household chores and watching Netflix with her husband.
https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/BridalBlurbs_Coordinator.jpg467700W@W Editorhttps://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/WAWLOGO.pngW@W Editor2017-04-28 10:40:122018-11-08 21:36:22Bridal Blurbs: Why You Need an Efficient Wedding Coordinator for Your Wedding
I have attended a few weddings as a child; almost all of these were as a flower girl. There was one wedding I remember every bit of detail—shiny, puffy-sleeved bridal gown with colorful trimmings, teased bridal hair, and the grand entrance of the couple with swords and flames and, uh, a marching band? My flower girl attire was a beautiful satin gown with semi-puffed sleeves and little flowers on my chest, and oh boy that dress made me itch so much!
That’s ’90s wedding for you, from a six-year-old flower girl’s perspective.I never thought about how my wedding will look, how I want my wedding dress, or what decors to have until I opened a Pinterest account in 2011. All I knew about weddings back then were the traditions that came with it and its significance in legally binding a relationship between a man and a woman, and more recently, between two individuals regardless of gender.
It would be fitting to call our wedding a millennial wedding. I would like to define it as a wedding custom-fit for the couple, cutting out “unnecessary” traditions and keeping ones that matter, and adding a touch of technology, current trends, and the personalities of the bride and groom.
Wedding planning is crazy, and it’s more cray to arrange a millennial wedding around Filipino wedding traditions most people are accustomed to. Sure, there will always be couples who will opt for a cookie-cutter type of wedding, but there are a number of couples who will veer away from traditions, or at the very least, will only pick the relevant ones to respect the culture they are in as homage to history and tradition, whether it’s a family or a cultural thing. Some couples may even describe it as a tug-of-war between them and their very traditional parents and/or relatives who may insist on doing things the way they did it in the past because it worked for them and it should work for the couple as well.
What makes a millennial wedding? Is it really required nowadays to subscribe to the modern way of planning a wedding, or do we just go the traditional way of doing things? Let’s break it down, shall we?
Traditional Invites vs. E-Invites
It is customary that couple who are planning to wed to send our invites at least three weeks before the wedding. Those who have been invited to weddings in the past years may have received physical invitations with embossed flowers and actual ribbons on shiny, scented paper, with quotes from the bride and groom printed somewhere on the invite. That would be enough back then, but nowadays, engaged couples have the option to send out save-the-date cards a year before the wedding, followed by the formal invite. The formal invite, depending on the couple’s preference or budget, may be printed out or sent digitally through e-mail or posted on the couple’s preferred events page platform. Some couples, on the other hand, opt to just send soft copies of their wedding invites online, saving on printing and mailing costs.
Wedding Communications
Phone calls and broadsheet publications are still the best way to announce a couple’s engagement. I still remember when I was younger, I would check my parents’ favorite newspaper for newly-married and affianced couples and I thought it was cool to have your wedding announced through that medium. But you know, as I grew older, my plans changed with what’s #trending, so I announced our engagement on Facebook and Instagram just hours after I was given the ring—well, that’s because both our families knew my then-boyfriend-now-husband was going to propose on that day!
Apart from our Facebook event page, we also made a website that contained maps, venue information, and some more details that will help them get around and be comfortable on our wedding. Digital media is a very effective tool to communicate with guests, entourage, and even suppliers, and relay important messages that may be useful on the wedding day.
Because of technological advancements, couples will not have a hard time collecting photos from friends and family post-event. Couples can get extra creative by utilizing hashtags for their event. Say, if a couple named Joey and Doris are getting married this year, they may use the hashtags #JoeyMayNowKissDoris2017, or something more witty or catchy. Hashtags included in the caption make it easy for newlyweds to see moments captured on their special day by friends.
Bespoke wedding
My husband and I made do with very few traditions. We made sure that we had the pamamanhikan before everything was cast in stone. I followed the customary something blue, something new, something borrowed, and something old, no pearl earrings on wedding day, and to have flowers in church no matter how bloody expensive it was to get from the lone accredited supplier! Despite those, we did not have a dove release ceremony because we thought it was cheesy. No bouquet and garter throwing because we don’t want only the single guests to have fun; instead, we had a Minute-to-Win-it inspired game so that everyone, including married and very young guests can enjoy! I also wore a champagne-colored gown instead of a labang-Tide white because I feel that it doesn’t fit my personality and body type!
Some people may say that you won’t lose anything if you follow traditions or superstitions, but if practicality or your personal values reigns over it, by all means, go against it. For example, brides are told not to wear their wedding gown prior to their wedding. What if the bride booked a couturier with zero professional background and receives a gown that doesn’t fit? What if the bride suddenly contracts an illness that may cause her to bloat or lose a tremendous amount of weight? Consider the risks you will be taking should you decide to follow such pamahiins, and know your options before submitting yourself to or against it.
But in every wedding–be it a very traditional one or a modern-day millennial wedding–we should not forget the love between us and our respective partners, and the beautiful lives we are to live together, for better and for worse, forever and ever.
About Kassy Pineda:
When not engrossed with her day job as a Digital Media Manager for a utilities company, Kassy muses about her thoughts on wedding preparations and her future married life with her fiance.
https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/BridalBlurbs_MillennialWedding1.jpg471700W@W Editorhttps://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/WAWLOGO.pngW@W Editor2017-03-15 14:01:592018-11-08 21:21:51Bridal Blurbs: Planning a Millennial Wedding in a Traditional Environment
[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Bridal fairs are not new to me and my fiancé. Before we got engaged in 2015, we have attended a few while we were organizing his brother’s wedding in 2010, which is why I can say that we kind of knew what we want for our wedding even before he proposed.
Couples who are planning to wed may scope out the wedding industry by visiting bridal fairs to benchmark how much they should spend for the most necessary supplier down to the littlest detail needed (or wanted) for their big day.
Let’s admit it, some suppliers who are very visible online don’t come cheap, while some suppliers have little to no online presence at all, making it hard for soon-to-weds to see their sample works. A number of these suppliers take advantage of bridal fairs to showcase their products and/or services, and that’s where you and your partner should be to see their actual work.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/BridalFairBlues5.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Bridal fair organizers usually announce their event at least three months before the actual date, so couples can plan their trips accordingly. Part of the planning process you need to do is to pre-register online. Why? While the door charge on the day of the event is minimal, you are still letting go of your hard-earned money. As I would say in Filipino, “Hindi ka makakabuo ng isang milyon kung kulang ka ng piso,” so save that for your wedding budget and pre-register!
It is also important to know what you need before you go to the fair. Event organizers usually post the list of participating suppliers on their Facebook or webpage. If it’s not posted, you may send them a message on Facebook or e-mail to ask.
If your goal is to scout for hair and make-up artist, have a look at the list of suppliers participating in the bridal fair and research about them. If you are interested to get to know about a particular HMUA, send her a message before the fair and ask for her regular rates, and compare her bridal fair rates to see if the deal’s a catch or not, so you can move on to another supplier. After all, you are given a day to think, compute, and research further to decide if you are going to push through with the booking or not.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/BridalFairBlues2.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Now that you are ready to go to an upcoming bridal fair in your area, heed these tips to make your trip just like a walk in the park:
Bring your pegs: If you are looking to inquire about invitations, cake, or event stylist fees, it would be best to prepare your pegs so they can give a quote based on your requirements. You may print it or save it on your mobile phone or tablet for easy access.
Bring an extra bag: Be it in canvas, paper, chic plastic bag, or an ecobag (because we love Mother Earth), this will help you store the brochures you will be collecting during the bridal fair. Some fair organizers give these away for free or with a minimum purchase, but it won’t hurt if you bring your own. After all, it won’t take too much space in your purse when folded!
On brochures: If you have a goal in mind, get only the flyers from suppliers you are interested in transacting business with. If you are looking for photobooth suppliers, concentrate on getting flyers from these businesses. You may refuse suppliers giving out these promotional materials POLITELY, because it takes a great amount of effort and money to produce these, only for you to dispose of it. Don’t worry, it’s okay to say no if you say it in a nice way, and don’t forget to say thank you!
Ask for rates: Some suppliers don’t have their price list on their flyers or brochures, and some give additional discounts on top of the promo price, that is if you haggle nicely. If you are reaaaally considering to book the supplier but still need some more time to contemplate or have a chat with your fiancé(e) whether face-to-face or online, have them jot down the deal you are about to close on their available stationery with their logo, or on the promo mat they gave you. Don’t forget to ask for the name of the person you spoke with, and write it on the same paper that he/she wrote on so you can have it as proof that you already transacted with them previously, whether in the event or after the fair.
Do the 3 Ts: Track, Talk, Think. Bridal fairs are usually a two-day event, so you usually have two days to do the 3 Ts.
First, track down your shortlisted supplier. Search for reviews on Google or on Facebook, and sift through the million messages sent on WeddingsAtWork Yahoo Groups or Facebook Groups. If you don’t find any reviews, start a thread and ask your fellow w@wies for supplier reviews. The last two T’s are Talk to your fiancé(e) and Think together and do the pencil pushing and the decision making together.
Before booking: As soon as you sit down with your prospective supplier to finalize things, lay down all the cards you have and discuss what you have previously agreed on. At this point, some suppliers may suggest upgrades or say that they will charge this sum for this and that on top of the previously agreed price. Listen to your supplier and read the fine prints carefully before signing the contract and handing them your reservation fee or down payment. If you are not satisfied with this last step, don’t be afraid to back out politely.
Book! This is the final stretch of your supplier-hunting sojourn. As with any supplier dealings in and out of bridal fairs, make sure your supplier gets all the details, the production timeline, and your contract and acknowledgement or official receipt with you for filing. Scan and convert your documents to soft copy when you get home so you still have it on digital file in case you lose it. And while we’re at it, PLEASE DO NOT LOSE YOUR RECEIPTS AND CONTRACTS AND HAVE IT IN A SAFE PLACE UNTIL THE WEDDING IS FINISHED, OR UNTIL THE OUTPUT IS DELIVERED!
[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/waw-logo-fair-2.png” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]With the innovations in today’s technologies, almost everything can be done online! Watch out for WeddingsAtWork’s second installment of the Bridal Fair Online on September 5-10, 2016. It’s like participating in a typical bridal fair, only that you could be sitting comfortably in the comforts of your own home, with your husband- or wife-to-be! What’s more, the online event will last for five days so you have a lot of time to do the 3 Ts.
When not engrossed with her day job as a Digital Media Manager for a utilities company, Kassy muses about her thoughts on wedding preparations and her future married life with her fiance.[/cs_block_grid_item][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 2″][/cs_block_grid_item][/cs_block_grid][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]
https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/BridalFairBlues3.jpg525700W@W Editorhttps://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/WAWLOGO.pngW@W Editor2016-08-31 19:24:462016-08-31 19:24:46Bridal Blurbs: Bridal Fair Blues
[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Note from Mimma Benz:Am happy to have on board as our columnist, Kassy Pineda. She’s a Wawie who will write about her adventures and experiences as bride. Her first article is lifted from her Tumblr Account talking about how to survive in this digital age of planning. Please welcome Kassy to the WaW Fam![/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Here’s the scenario: You (or your fiancé[e]) own(s) a desktop or a laptop, or if you two are of the techy kind, you own a tablet. Because seventeen or more years in school and/or work requires you to be equipped with basic knowledge of tinkering around MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, you use these applications to help plan your wedding.
But, alas! Your twelve-year-old laptop crashes…on the ground. Your desktop tower suddenly refuses to cooperate because of that motherboarding motherboard. Or your tablet gets stolen. Did you keep all your updated files in a USB or did you back it up on a hard drive? No? Darn.
Okay. Something similar happened to me a few days back. You see, I’ve been using my work laptop for my personal use (sorry, boss!) since I turned over my six-year-old Macbook Pro to its new owner, my colleague’s teenage daughter. I was supposed to do some work at home during this week’s city holiday when my laptop’s screen decided to conk out on me. I NEED TO WORK! I NEED MY FILES! OUR CUSTOMERS NEED ME! I NEED TO UPLOAD ADVISORIES ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS!!!
The next day, I sent my laptop to our IT guys and they revealed that my laptop screen and keyboard are not functioning, but my files are still intact, so they backed up all my work files as I wait for a proper diagnosis from the technicians.
You ask now, why am I not worried about our wedding preps files? You get your answers below:[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/WeddingApps1.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Dropbox.
Back when I was working in a Digital Media agency, I used to share files with my colleagues on the fly. I was a Manila-based writer doing Social Media content planning for Singaporean companies, and most of my officemates are in the Little Red Dot, so we found it efficient to exchange files through Dropbox. Now that we are planning our wedding, the fiancé and I keep our files in a shared Dropbox folder where we consolidate supplier quotations, guest lists, pegs, and other files. I have now migrated my Dropbox files to my dad’s laptop while I wait for IT to fix my laptop, and I can also access my files using my iPhone! Pro tip: Increase the capacity of your Dropbox by referring friends to join Dropbox, tweet about it, or connect several computers to your Dropbox.
Evernote.
If you are less effective in jotting down notes using pen and paper, it’s faster to type it in! Like Dropbox, you can sync your notes from suppliers’ meetings, do a checklist, and even write your vows! You may also access Evernote on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
Google Docs and Google Drive.
This is an alternative to Dropbox, since you can edit your guest list using Google Docs on your web browser simultaneously with your fiancé(e). Also, you can keep your files in Google Drive. Personally, I find Dropbox easier to use than Google Drive, but I like Google Docs especially when you and your fiancé(e) are discussing guest lists on Skype (hello, LDR couples!), Facebook, or Facetime.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/WeddingApps2.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Viber/Facetime/Line/WhatsApp/whatever.
If you have a mobile data plan, or if you carry a pocket wi-fi with you all the time, you may want to use this to call your fiancé(e) in the middle of a meeting with a supplier, or in the middle of a meltdown because of a supplier or somebody else (maybe you? Loljks!). Phone bills are no joke, and your existing data plan may just save your bank accounts from its possible demise. But what if you do not have a data plan?
Sign up for unlimited call and/or text promos.
Call your service provider and know your options. Calling your suppliers, fiancé(e), entourage, or family every so often during your preps may cause your communication expense to skyrocket. Some mobile service providers offer boosters for this purpose, and it’s better to pay a minimal amount instead of experiencing a shock of your lifetime when you see your bill!
Facebook/Messenger.
Some suppliers respond faster on Facebook, plus you get to see their sample works before you even send them a message. Also, you get to gauge your suppliers on how they have a relationship with their (potential) clients through their responses made in their Facebook page.
My favourites? Evernote, Dropbox, iMessage, Viber, and Facebook. What are yours?[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_block_grid type=”two-up”][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 1″][/cs_block_grid_item][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 2″]
About Kassy Pineda:
When not engrossed with her day job as a Digital Media Manager for a utilities company, Kassy muses about her thoughts on wedding preparations and her future married life with her fiance.
https://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/WeddingApps2.jpg533800W@W Editorhttps://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/WAWLOGO.pngW@W Editor2016-08-03 15:57:552016-08-03 20:37:35Bridal Blurbs: Nifty Apps You and Your Fiancé(e) Can Use While Planning Your Wedding
