Esession Teaser.

Weee! This is just so exciting! Our official photographer had already posted some photos from our E-session! And I am so happy that I am sharing it with everyone!! :)

We still do not have all the photos. But I think it's a good thing for me since as you may know, I have the lowest EQ and I MIGHT post everything in my blog!! hahaha!


Till my next wedding adventure! :)


xoxo,

Niki :)

3 Sunday banns.

Just sharing our photo for our wedding banns. I did not expect that it needs three weeks to be approved! So nakadisplay sa churches yung mga mukha namin ganun??:P hahaha. might as well make fun of it.

tadah! Parang bibitayin lang! :)


Till my next wedding adventure!

Few more days to go!;)

Much love,

Niki xx

Two short months and four shorter days...

Calendar check again... Two more months before our BIG day!
First of all I would like to thank our good Lord, for giving us the ability to provide for our wedding. It has been a challenging time for us both, as John is just starting up his own business, and I had been exhausting all means (work, online shop, bazaars, buy and sell) just to produce a significant amount of money to come up with the best wedding that we can have. Giving my mom her wish to invite a lot of friends is a burden at first, but then I realized, I am the eldest and the first in her children to get married, so we are trying our best to give her that. It is amazing how we still have money (especially John since he is shouldering more than I do) to deposit every time we go to our suppliers to book.I know God will provide, we are never losing our faith that He will. :)

And now, let's see the run down of our amazing team that will make our fairy tale dream wedding come true! :)

Church: Sto. Domingo Parish
Reception Venue: Elements at Centris
Caterer: Queensland Catering
Photographer:She & Him Photography
Videographer: Joaquin Ambata Films
Wedding Make Up Artist: EG Make Up Studio by Eds Go
Esession Make Up Artist: Make Up by Glacey
Wedding Coordinator: Silverback Events
Bridal Gown: Sonny Mindo
Entourage Gown: Sonny Mindo
Bridal Shoes: Everybody Needs a Pair
Groom's Suit: Onesimus
Wedding Cake: Little Oven Cakes
PhotoBooth: wedding gift
Wedding Souvenirs:  Cherub Online Shop
Lights and Sounds: Rave Party One
Wedding Singer/s: Penelope Matanguihan of the Voice Golem Pagkanlungan
Florist: Clint Carl Flower Shop
Wedding Ring: c/o h2b
Hotel for Preps for h2b (As I will be coming from our home in Bulacan, traditions.traditions.): Luxent Hotel
 

Okay, may namiss pa ba ako? It's just two months, and I don't want to cram, so I've been checking my list every now and then, just in case I missed anything. Almost done with everything I guess. Just more prayers and perseverance to work! :)


Till my next wedding adventure!

xoxo,

Niki

Sneak Peak: E-session.

Okay, this is another attempt to post some of the "unofficial" photos of our esession. John almost want to grab my hair to tell me "Wag muna kasi, suspense para sa wedding!" But I have the lowest EQ in the world! And because John is a photographer in the making (okay naman diba? haha) he had his camera and he asked one of my friends to take photos of us. Here are some of the photos that we had..

This is the second set from our first lay out. Unofficial of course. I used it as my facebook cover photo so I guess no harm in posting! :)

I look better without emotions, noh?:P

Two of my favorite candid photos! Yes, this is how I bully my fiance! First photo, kurot to the nth level! Bi, masakit? hahaha! And then second, sampal naman! har har! Di na nya natago ang feelings nya! (I also have my version of trying my best not to laugh, but of course.. deleted!! haha)

Another funny picture that Rico took! We need to transfer to another location and we cannot fit in to John's car. So I have to drive... In my pink and shiny gown! Hahaha! I feel like a damsel in distress! :) taraay!:)

 

And finally, our amazing team! We had the shoot in our humble abode, that explains the messy table!:P Thanks to Rico, Glacey and SheandHim Photography for a very fun and memorable esession! :)

Wedding Invitation final design! :) *insert kilig emoticon here*

*drum roll please* Eto na talaga. Sure na sure na, ikakasal na ako. hahaha! I already got the final layout for our wedding invites! After two revisions, I finally felt that "this is it feeling."

I like the romantic and pink feeling of our invites. When it comes to details, John allows me to choose everything, so happy naman ako! haha. Since our motif will be pomelo pink, canary yellow and aqua blue, we incorporated that in our wedding invitation since as they say, it is sort of a teaser of how the wedding will be. We're still finalizing the Principal Sponsors and will update this post as soon as we have them already. I am just so happy that we are almost there. :)

Till my next wedding adventure!:)

Niki xx

E-session Make Up-big check!

Last Sunday, we had our "official" e-session. Official meaning, the one that we have from our wedding photographers. Since John is an aspiring photographer, he scheduled some other e-sessions with his team. Anyway, God knows how much I wanted to post all of our wonderful pictures but I am trying my best not to, to have the element of surprise and all. So I am trying my best not to. But I just want to dedicate a post for my amazing make up artist that I had that day! Thank goodness for Michael's phone, I was able to have this photo.

I love make ups, but I just do not have the talent to make those amazing eyebrows! I requested Glacey to make the best brows for me and what can I say? I am more than satisfied with the result! So now, I am getting her as my family's make up artist on my wedding day. Plus, I had a make up artist and PA during my shoot. Super maalaga sya, not only to me but to my fiance as well. We had three looks, first is this, second is the fairy-tale look and the third one is the playful look. I love it how she played with my big eyes and my brows talaga! As in kilay power! hahaha. Here's another phone picture of my third look that day.

Oha! Red kung red! I love it how she managed to make me look like a good girl, a princess and then the real maldita in one day! So I am still recommending her to all the b2b out there. Oops and before I forgot, her rates are really affordable! :)


Till my next wedding adventure,

Niki xx

Bridal March song... Check!

Okay, before anything else.. countdown muna. As per checking, we only have two months, two weeks and three days before our BIIIIG DAY! I want to cry! Still can't believe that I am about to marry the man whom I never thought will have a significant role in my life! :) (And the best thing about it is, he has changed since the day I met him. He loved me more and more each day.) I know I am making the best decision in my life. :) Sobrang cheesy naman!! :)

Anyway, after so many choices, I finally have my bridal march song! Believe me, this is one of the hardest decisions ever, why? Bata palang yata ako nagiisip na ako ng wedding march song ko! Here are some of my choices:

1. Spend my life with you-Eric Benet and Tamia-(Super duper inlove with this song, but when I asked John, di daw nya mafeel yung solemnity nung kanta inside the church..)

2. How did you know-I know medyo gasgas na yung song, but this had a different meaning when I heard it when John is driving and I was lying in his lap. Parang, biglang, ikaw na ikaw yun bi! But then again, pili pa daw ako ng iba sabi ni John, so this will be our first dance song, so okay lang!:)

3. A Thousand Years- This too, Gasgas na daw, Sobrang dami nang gumamit. This is the song that our for our proposal video, (wala pang Twilight effect non) so our initial plan is to use this, but then, because of Twilight, lahat ng ikakasal ganito na, so cross na.

And the winner is.. *drum roll please*

Two words by Lea Salonga!
I know this is quite an old song and a lot used this already, but call me OA, I cried when I heard this song first! Nafeel ko talaga yung this is it feeling! This is exactly what we are looking for.. Check the lyrics below:

Two Words

In a while, in a word,
Every moment now returns.
For a while, seen or heard,
How each memory softly burns.
Facing you who brings me new tomorrows,
I thank God for yesterdays,
How they led me to this very hour,
How they led me to this place...

Every touch, every smile,
You have given me in care.
Keep in heart, always I'll,
Now be treasuring everywhere.
And if life should come to just one question,
Do I hold each moment true?
No trace of sadness,
Always with gladness...
'I DO...'

(instrumental)

Now a song that speaks of now and ever,
Beckons me to someone new,
Unexpected, unexplored, unseen,
Filled with promise coming through.
In a while, in a word,
You and I forever change,
Love so clear, never blurred,
Has me feeling wondrous, strange,
And if life should come to just one question,
Do I face each moment true?
No trace of sadness, always with gladness,
'I DO...'

Never with sadness...
Always with gladness...
'I...DO....'

Super super love the song, the instrumental.. everything! The only problem is.. ngayon pa nga lang naiiyak na ako pag naririnig ko, how much more on our wedding day! 

Till my next wedding adventure!

Much love,

Niki xx

Save the Date! Check!

Hola! As I type, my hands are shaking because of excitement. Our initial plan is not to have Save the Date invites anymore, since I have already informed most of my friends that I am getting married on 1-4-14. (Sa tagal ba naman ng engagement namin! haha) But then my mother said that she is informing her friends so we agreed to have a facebook invite and just to upload the STD soft copy. I asked PrintCity to create a fairytale inspired STD and this is what I got.

Tadaaa!!

Suuuper kilig when I saw this! Feels like I am a princess! haha. Kaartehan. Next on the list is our invitations! (Actually I have then already, only that I still want to revise some things so I cannot post it yet.)

As we are getting closer to January, I am getting more excited and nervous! Wala na talagang atrasan to! hahaha!


Until my next wedding adventure! :)


Much love,

Niki :)

E-session HMUA: Check!

Yaay! Another cross from my list! I got my e-session HMUA! Glacey Loiz! The reason why I got her is that last year, we had this "free-nup" with some photographers whom I met online. I came across her facebook page and I remembered seeing that she is just starting her make up artist career back then! She is a former school mate, and seeing her works, I decided to book her again for our official e-session with She and Him Photography! I am really amazed how I looked like in our pictures that is why I am trusting Glacey again to make me picture worthy this time. :P

Here are some of the photos that I had during our shoot last year.

And sorry, eto lang yung close up ko that time, medyo init ulo pa ako since ang tagal magstart ng shoot. haha.

In fairness talaga, nagmukha akong tao dyan. So without a doubt, I am booking her again! Now I am more of a princess-sy and casual-ish type of make up. (We had vintage last time, that explains the curls and the bright red lippie.)

 I can't wait to have our e-session with our official photographers this time!


Till my next wedding adventure!:)


Much love,

Niki :)

Entourage and Church flowers.. Check!

Another overdue post. Actually, we have booked this last bridal fair. Medyo busy lang so I was not able to post it right away. I didn't know that it is also hard to look for the best flower supplier! Engers as I am, roses and tulips lang ang alam ko. Haha. Good thing that my office mate Celine is also getting married next year, and she referred this to us! bang for the buck and mababait talaga yung mga staff nila!

For our entourage flower supplier, we had Clint Carl Flower Shop! They are a Dangwa based supplier, and it's also a good thing that we are still able to haggle! Peso power: 15,000Php for the church and entourage!

Here are samples of their works.

My bouquet will be something like this. Only that I wanted to have fuchsia pink and not light pink. Of course tulips, favorite ko kasi yun! And I remember, the first time that John gave me a bouquet of flowers? 1 dozen of tulips! (Insert kilig emoticon here). Pero nanliligaw palang sya nun, pasikat levels pa.haha

I decided to have mini bouquets for our sponsors. Kasi naman, I got some feedback na malalaglag lang kung yung bracelet-type ang gagamitin ko. At least, mas maganda din tignan pag bouquet diba?

So there, in general, we booked almost all our suppliers already. Lights and sounds plus musician nalang yung wala and we're ready to go! :)


Till my next wedding adventure!:)


Much love,

Niki :)

Bridal Shoes... Check!

After a debate of buying a ready made shoes and have my shoes personalized.. Finally I have decided! (look, mahirap talaga sakin magdecide since sobrang arte ko. As in ang dami kong gusto!) John said hindi naman na dapat priority yung shoes, kasi wala naman masyado makakakita nun, but of course, I am a shoe person (well a little) so I am secretly wishing that I will have the prettiest and the sexiest pair of shoes in my wedding.

I know I am far from owning a Loubutin, (whole wedding na yun halaga nun!) So I have decided to have my pair personalized. Peg ko sana to.

But I find it a bit common, so google search again.

It's a good thing I asked one of John's friends who is into bags and shoes (Erb and Chet) and he referred me to his friend who is making personalized wedding shoes! The best thing about this is, kilala din namin yung gagawa, so I know that it would not hurt our budget that much. :)

My bridal shoes supplier is Everybody needs a pair! Voltz! He is also into shoes and bags, little did I know that he's making bridal shoes as well! Here are some of the pegs that I have sent him.

My plan (and my decision na!) is to have my shoes pink. As in hot pink. Yung iba something blue nila yung shoes, but to me, pink! So I was decided to get the second pair, but then.. super arte as I am, I came across this picture and I instantly fell in love with it.

This is probably one of the sexiest shoes I have even seen. Sobra. The ribbon, the heels, perfect. It looks good in blue, though sorry, I am a pink person so hot pink it is. According to Voltz, it will be hard for me to walk in stilettos so we are revising it by putting a platform in front. (ang pangit naman kung sa likod diba?haha) So I said I won't be looking into other designs para di na gumulo utak ko. I have the ugliest feet in the world and I am keeping my fingers crossed that this pair will make my feet look better!


Until my next wedding adventure! :)

much love,

Niki :)

Wedding Invitations and Save the Date: Check!

Hello! My long overdue post is here! haha. I'm so happy that we booked almost everything already, because it's the second day of October already, and based on my counter, we only got 3 months and two days before our biggest day! :) I am nervous and excited at the same time, I don't know if this is normal!

Anyway, we have finally found our Invitation supplier!!

Printcity Invitations!
Short history again: (ang hilig ko sa history noh?)
The original plan is to ask John's bestman to print invitations for us. So dapat, maghahanap lang ako ng maglalayout and design. Pero sa bridal fair, whooping 2,500 yung creative fee! So parang di naman sulit since di naman masyadong marami yung papagawa namin. (konti ba yung 150 pcs.?) So as per our decision, hanap nalang kami ng mura. Actually, madami naman talagang magandang designs sa bridal fair, only that, super mahal! Parang 150+ per set, of course we cannot shell out that amount for an invitation. Then we found Printcity. Peso power: 65 per set! Winner!

The design:
At first, it is my plan to pattern our invites with Patty Laurel's. Since I am a big fan of her. But then I realized (oo maarte ako), I want something unique and something fairy-tale-ish so mega research ako. I admit zero din ang art skills ko, so google is my best friend. Since we are having a fairytale themed wedding, I've decided to have these:

The idea is to have Cinderella's ride (ride talaga??hahaha) and just to accentuate a little. I do not know the outcome but I am just too excited to see how our invitation will look like!! Parang pag may invitation na kasi, legit na yung wedding eh diba? Tipong wala nang atrasan?? haha!

For our Save the Date naman (actually, dapat wala na nito, pero yung nanay ko gusto, so go!) I had this inspiration:

This is really lovely!! I feel like a princess already! I am just sooo excited to see the final design for our invitation! So far Etel had been accommodating, prompt in answering my messages. Hopefully everything will be fine with him. :)

Wedding Souvenirs.. Check!!

Hi everyone! I know I've been in a hiatus for ten days, since I am preoccupied with work and all, I was not able to update my wedding diary. I've got so much to tell, since we have already booked almost all our suppliers and I can't wait to blog about the suppliers and how I was able to haggle!!

This deserves my first update after my hiatus.
Brief history: Evita had been one of my friends since my bazaar days. (parang ang tagal na ha. hehe) I had a booth in Supersale Bazaar and I have seen her making these cute polymer clay earrings. So dahil mahilig ako sa mga cute na bagay, may I buy ako lagi sa kanya! Super cute kasi tapos el cheapo pa! After that, nagshare na rin kami sa booth, and the story goes on. I also tried making polymer clay accessories before, pero wala talaga, zero ako sa arts kaya I super admire people who are into it. Then I asked her if she can make our souvenirs.

Yesterday, I got these stuff from mail.

Super cute personalized trinkets from Evita! :) sobrang ganda nilang lahat, di ako makapili! I super love cute things, as in gigil mode, kaya nun nakita ko silang lahat, inisip ko na kung saan ilalagay! At least decided na ako na ref magnets and chains ang ibibigay ko sa guests. (Hayaan nyo na cute parin naman kahit cliche!) And the best thing is, affordable silang lahat! Di mahirap kausap si Evita sa price! May bonus pa, she's giving us a cake topper as a gift! Super bait bait and friendly nya talaga! You can see some of her works here.

I highly recommend cherub for your souvenir needs! As in promise, di kayo magsisisi!! :)


Till my next wedding adventure! :)


much love,

Niki

Measurements for our entourage: Check!

Hello everyone! This weekend is one of the most tiring yet most fulfilling wedding preps weekend so far. I can feel na malapit na talaga, ang dizizit feeling dahil kinuhaan na ng measurements yung entourage namin!:) Since I am originally from Bulacan, some of my friends are from Bulacan as well. So driver ang peg ko, QC, Bulacan, QC ulit! Antukin ako so hirap talaga ako magdrive.

As in ganyan na ganyan ginagawa sakin ni John pag inaantok ako. haha. But the thing is, wala naman siya nun umaga, kasi, may shoot sya, so I have to go all by mysehehelf.. (Don't wanna be.) But then, success ang fitting!!

Bulacan fitting:

 Too bad I was not able to take a lot of pictures. I've been very giddy and excited so late na nung narealize ko na kailangan ng pictures, naguwian na sila!:( Good thing I have ate perly! Yehey! Just a quick history, she is our cousin and house help. As in andyan na siya since kinasal ang parents ko. She is probably one of the nicest people on earth. Lahat kaming magkakapatid, love na love sya. So just a little way of saying thank you, she's a part of the entourage! Little princess ko sya! That's my gown designer Sonny. My nanay's resident designer. (Nanay has this weird habit of collecting gowns and most of them are made by Sonny.)

QC friends fitting:

As usual. Dahil sa kwento, walang pictures! Originally, sa CBTL dapat, but since walang pwesto, sa Tutti Froyo nalang kami. Wala pang kahirap hirap! Solo namin yung place haha. Si Ivi nalang yung nakuhaan ko since ang tagal naming di nagkita ni Joanna so kwento muna. :P Good thing may group picture naman kami!

T

Three couples plus my gown designer! Joanna is a bride to be next year too! :) She's one of my bridesmaids. :) Ivi is married already and she's also my bridesmaid. Sayang hindi nga kami nakapag laser tag! Di kasi ako prepared sa coupons! :P 

Thank you so much to everyone who came and had their measurements taken. :) I really appreciate your efforts for my big day.

Much love,

Niki :)

Four months.

Exactly today marks our four month countdown before our big day. Wait lang naman, parang di parin ako makapaniwala. Parang kelan lang iiyak iyak pa ako sa shower with dausdos sa dingding, tapos ngayon, four months nalang and I'll be Misis Catalan na???? Di nga?? I checked my calendar, September 4. It gives me this awkward, nervous yet wonderful feeling that I'll be marrying soon!! (less the expenses of course!:P)


Seriously, I think I am having cold feet this early. I have this big question of: Am I ready? ay big pala wait lang AM I READY? I've been seeing weddings and little babies in my facebook timeline lately and I just can wait to have my own. But of course, our plan is to enjoy married life for a year. I have this hormonal imbalance thing and I am really praying that God will give us a child in His time. Anyway, looking backward, (backward talaga?) feeling ko di pa ko ready. Not that I still want to do a lot of things before settling down (because I have enjoyed my singlehood! yezur!), but because I do not know if I am mature enough to say goodbye to being Ms. Mendoza. It is indeed a big responsibility to be a wife. I must admit, doing chores is not my cup of tea. I am more of a work than stay at home person. And when I get married, I should be the best wife, and by that, I should know how to serve my husband. I know how to cook, and I love cooking, but I dislike cleaning the sink after I washed the dishes. My mother taught me how to do my laundry, iron my clothes, make my bed, for she told me, time will come that I will be doing this for my own family. Ngayong countdown na, parang, pwede rewind??

oh diba, parang minion lang ako sa sobrang panic. Plus, di pa complete yung list of suppliers namin. Ano ba yun?? But I learned how to manage that wedding stress now. Syempre, kung yung nanay ko ang nanay mo, lahat ng klase ng wedding prep stress! (You know, the typical mother of the bride chronicles.)

So looking forward naman tayo, I know I will never be ready to be a wife and a mother. But I also know that I have such an amazing husband to be who will support me even if I watch TV all the time during my spare hours. John has been very supportive to me ever since. He only has one expectation and that is "mahalin mo lang ako ng lubusan." asus! keso! ahaha. Kidding aside, God gave him to me because he is the best person for me.

Till my next wedding echos!!:)

E-session venue: Check!

Finally after a few weeks of weighing our options, we have our e-session venue! I want an indoor venue because of the weather. Our weather nowadays are unpredictable, today it's really sunny and then the next day it's raining cats and dogs! Plus I know how hard it is to pose under the heat of the sun so I'd rather have an indoor shoot. Our first choice was Studio Namu. I have already researched and it has nothing but positive feedbacks. Peso Power: 6,000Php for 3 hours. I have consulted my fiance about it and of course, he asked me, "kaya pa ba ng budget yan?". We are preparing for a big wedding. (not that we wanted it to be that way, but my mother invited a lot of her friends, and we have no choice so we are just trying our best to save to have a decent wedding.) And then I looked at our expenses list and tipid moves! 6k can go far already, so I looked for another indoor venue. And the result is... We're having our shoot in our humble abode! :) The best thing about this is that have the venue for free!

Here are some photos that I have sent our photographer:

Now it's getting more exciting! Our prenup is scheduled on October and that is a month away from now! I must lose these fats asap! :P

How I said yes!

Hello everyone! I know I've been busy with work and all that so I was not able to update my wedding blog. I've been consistently posting my random ramblings here. For now, since I'm too lazy to look for suppliers this look weekend, I'm sharing you our proposal video last year. I know, we're engaged for more than a year now. I can't believe we're four months away from our wedding!!

PS. So sorry for my poker face when I saw the ring. It's totally unexpected! =P enjoy watching! :)

Entourage.. CHECK!

Here's something good on a rainy day! It's really hard for me to come up with our list of closest family and friends, since we personally picked each one of them. Of course we wanted this event to be as special and as memorable as possible, so we picked the best entourage on our special day!

Here's my loooong list!

Maid of Honor 1: Ghia Karla Cruz. my bestest friend since high school!

Maid of Honor 2: Nicoleen Dyann Mendoza. My pretty sister. (well it's in the genes, yes?haha)

Best Man 1: Reiner Nani Puno. John's best friend slash kuya.

Best Man 2: Fritz Arvin Catalan. John's youngest brother.

Bridesmaids:

Nicomaine Dei Mendoza.My other pretty sister!

Joanna May Penada. My closest friend in college!

Melanie Mariano. One of my closest friends way back in high school.

Ma. Evita Teotico. another closest friends in high school.

Mary Ann Olmedilla. A close friend  since our elementary days!

Aimee Chan: John's officemate/close friend.

GROOMSMEN

Nicolas Dynn Mendoza. My brother.

Nicodeim Dean Mendoza. Our dear bunso.

Noel Miguel: one of John's closest friends in their church, who also helped John during his proposal plan!:)

Francis Silverio. John's college friend

Lester John Lomeda: one of the closest and my call a friend type of friend from college!

John Michael Rico: another closest friends whom I have, who witnessed my tragic and happily ever after love story.

SECONDARY SPONSORS:

Candle

 Arianne Alcantara: one of my highschool tropa.

Manuel Kristoffer Silot: my guy bestest friend since highschool! Definitely one of the closest friends ever!

Cord

Lian Finella Capili. My cousin and the person who introduced me or should I say "bugaw"? me to John!:P

Xavier Alfonso: John's friend from Odyssey, another bugaw. haha =P

Raianne Kei Mata. One of my college friends.

Erbizon Limin. One of John's officemates/close friends who happen to be a close friend of mine now! :)

Little Bride:

Kirsten Adrienne Catalan: John's adorable niece. :)

Little Groom

Guillian Eric Acolola: John's cutest nephew!

Flower Girls:

Keira Caselle Dimalanta: cutie patootie niece of John :)

 

Zhesca Manigo: daughter of one of my closest officemates. :)

Jade Lao: daughter of one of John's office mates.

Ring Bearer

 Anakin Beau Capili: my smart cousin!

Bible Bearer

Lestat Antoine Sadol: son of my college friend Helen.

Coin Bearer

Calix Jacob Dionisio: my super cute nephew!

So there, I know we have a looong entourage, but these people are just close to our hearts as they will play a significant role in the most special day of our lives. <3