A walk to remember...(wedding shoes!)

Shoes are perhaps one of the most important purchases you will make. You're going to be on your feet practically all day, so invest in a pair of shoes that will be comfortable for hours. A shaped, low or medium heel will provide enough of lift to create an attractive line yet to be low enough so that your feet don't get too tired.

In addition to the comfort factor of the shoe, you'll want to go with a shoe that offers some "toe cleavage" if you will. It looks dressier, and it will make your feet and legs look slimmer.

Usually, leather shoes aren't fancy enough to go with an elaborate wedding gown. So select a shoe that is made of satin or silk shantunglike fabric. However, if your dress is superornate, keep your shoe simple. Conversely, if you're wearing a simpler dress, you can go with a more elaborate shoe. Remind bridesmaids to keep the same advice when selecting their shoes.

(Taken from the book, The Portable Wedding Consultant by Leah Ingram)

How to Trim the Guest List?

I mostly find from my existing clients having a hard time trimming down their guestlist. First meeting with the bride and groom, they are having 150 guests. Second meeting comes to 200 guests. Third meeting is at 230 guests. And most of the time, they end up a hundred more from what they initially told me.

Ok, reading from "The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Weddings" by Joshua Piven, David Borgenicht, and Sarah Jordan, these are some qualified and witty tips. Find humor into it.

1. Determine your budget

Decide the maximum amount of guests you can afford to invite or who will fit at the wedding site.

2. Make lists.

The bride, groom, and respective parents each should make a list of people to invite.

3. Strike as many people as you can from your own list.

4. Remove unnecessary names from someone else's list.

Take turns striking one name at a time from the list of the person sitting to your right. If that person objects to the removal of the potential invitee, invoke the "two strikes" rule and find an ally to vote againts the would-be guest. Remove contested names that have two votes against them. (There are variations on the rule that grant people paying for the entire wedding greater voting power: Their vote for removal counts as three votes, and the names on their list are untouchable.)

5. Compile a master list.

Combine the names and organize them by category: wedding party, work contacts, relations, friends, parents' friends, college friends, others. Rank each person within a category by importance, as determined by the answers of the following questions:

• How often have we seen this person in the last year?
• Did he really seem glad to see us?
• If I invite this person, will I be obliged to invite his spouse or friends?
• How much power does this person hold over me?
• How rich is he and will he use his wealth for good gifts? (hehehe)
• Will he seem impressive to my friends?
• Is he good looking? Will he improve my wedding photos or video?
• Can I handle the fallout if I do not invite him?

6. Agree in advance what the cut-off level will be.

Remove entire categories. Decide no kids, no work-related people, no relations beyond first cousins, no dates for singles, no redheads.

7. Remove people below a certain rank.

8. Create barriers to attendance.

Make it impossible for large numbers of people to attend.

• Hold the wedding in the middle of the week.
• Hold the wedding at a distant location.
• Require formal attire or elaborate, expensive costumes.
• Hold the wedding at an inconvenient time (6am).

9. Recalculate the list.

Estimate how many people each barrier will knock out. If your list is still too large for your budget, continue to Step 10.

10. Alternate knocking people off the list.

Only the bride and groom (advice from parents is acceptable) take turns removing individual names from the master list until they reach the desired number of guests. If this process becomes too heated, proceed to the next step.

11. Play Rock, Paper, Scissors.

The winner of each round can eliminate a name or add someone back onto the list.

Be Aware.

• Send out the invitation six to eight weeks before the event. As you get negative responses, send out your "B list" invitations to people who didn't make the cut. Stop sending invitations out a month before the wedding date; last-minute invitees will realize their status and be insulted.
• Manage expectations among potential guests. Let it be known that you plan on a small wedding so that no one is really expecting to be invited. If an invitation arrives, the invitee will be deeply flattered, but those who are not invited will not be hurt--at least that's the theory.
• You are expected to include spouses, fiances or long-term live-in companions of your guests. If a guest is only casually dating, you are not obliged to extend an invitation to his date.
• If you forget to invite someone,the next time you see them act annoyed with them for not sending back the RSVP card.

Hope the above tips can help somehow...

25 Tips to Enjoy The Day

This is an article which I wrote in The W@W Wedding Primer Third Edition 2005

The big day has come! After months of preparations, this is the day that you will finally say your “I do’s.”

Here are some tips on how you can truly enjoy your wedding day.

1. Know what is important to you and don’t waste precious time and energy worrying about insignificant details. You have heard the saying “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Now is the best time to heed it.

2. Plan, Plan and Plan. After knowing your priorities, planning is one of the best things you can do ahead of time that could help you to avoid panic and stress and just have a great time on your wedding day.

3. Make lists and more lists. List down your essentials and everything you want to be taken cared of. Make sure to check your lists from time to time to see what you have accomplished.

4. Delegate, Delegate, Delegate. You don’t have to do everything. You can either get an efficient wedding coordinator or ask for the help of your family and friends. Make sure the assigned person is willing to be in charge. You shouldn’t worry about ANYTHING on your wedding day. You want to enjoy and be a spectator on this important event in your life. Nothing can be more meaningful than just seeing how things beautifully unfold before your eyes.

5. Go to confession a week before your wedding. Do it together as a couple. It is good for the soul.

6. Take a vacation leave from work at least a week before the wedding. Inform your office about it ahead of time so you can plan with your boss/workmates the schedules and tasks you need to finish before the week of your wedding.

7. Plan your activities well especially pre-wedding parties. Ideally, schedule your shower parties not later than 2 weeks before the wedding. If you can do it a month or two before, it will be better. Plan your itinerary for 2 weeks before the wedding for the final errands.

8. Pack your gifts ahead of time. You don’t want to do the wrapping the night before your wedding and even asking your groom to run to the bookstore to buy ribbons. Spare yourself from this tension.

9. Pack your things one week before. Prepare two boxes and label it: 1 for church materials and 1 for reception materials. Put everything that you will need on these boxes.

10. If you are leaving few days after the wedding for your honeymoon, buy things you need and prepare your bags a week before the wedding as well.

11. Schedule your Spa session, Manicure, Pedicure accordingly. Book the salon at least 2 days before your planned date and stick to that schedule. Forego everything except pampering yourself.

12. If you really have some last minute errands/to do’s the night before the wedding, DROP IT! Let go of the non-essential items unless it is very, very important to you. You can probably just do a phone call rather than going out of your hotel. You can just delegate also to someone you can trust.

13. Don’t stress yourself out with the seating plan.

14. Check-in the hotel the day before the wedding, NOT the night before. Meaning, go to the hotel on the usual check-in time of 12nn/2pm instead of going to the hotel on midnight. You need to settle already and enjoy a hot bath in the tub. This can relax your muscles and can even put you to sleep.

15. Arrange for breakfast to be brought to your room and for all those joining you for preparation. Include lunch if you are having an afternoon/evening wedding. Order these in advance or assign someone to do it. You don’t want to do the worrying in the morning and starve yourself.

16. Plan out payments a week before the wedding. Have those ready in sealed envelopes and have someone in charge of giving them to the vendors. Confirm with suppliers if check payment is allowed to pay the balances. You don’t want to find out later on that day that you are short in cash. No time to go to the bank! Ask your groom to take care of it, or he can give it to the best man.

17. At least two days before your wedding, have a special dinner with your groom without talking about wedding details instead just focusing on your love for each other and how much you are looking forward for the day to come plus spending the rest of your life with one another.

18. On the night of your wedding, write a special letter if you can for one another. Just scribble your feelings that moment. It’s so nice to read even after the wedding, you will always be reminded of the main reason for all of your preparations. Arrange to have it brought to each other’s room on the morning of your wedding. Reading it is such a good way to start the day, while eating breakfast.

19. On the day of your wedding, have a nice and enjoyable bath. Do this early so you don’t need to rush.

10. As you walk down the aisle in the church, focus your attention to your groom waiting in the altar. Don’t think about the flowers going against what you envisioned, your seat plan not yet arranged, your late commentator and a lot more. CHIN UP, SMILE…you look radiant and take pleasure on every step you make. Just savor this time.

11. The ceremony is the most essential part of the wedding because you are committing yourselves to one another before God and His people. Pay special attention to the homily, on what your officiating priest will share with you. Focus on your exchange of vows, rings and arrhae. It so heartwarming to do all these ceremonies in front of the people around you.

12. In the reception, take time to mingle with your guests and be with their company. Most of the couple is so preoccupied on the reception program sequence without even recognizing the people who attended. Remember, they also took time from their busy schedules to attend your wedding. Never forget to thank them for coming and tell them how much you enjoyed celebrating your union with all of them. The clue: make a SHORT program so you have more time with your guests.

13. SMILE, SMILE and SMILE. The day after your wedding, you will feel that your jaw must have stacked up. It’s ok. It will definitely show in the pictures and videos. Guests always remember a happy couple, not just your food, flowers and dress, etc.

14. RELAX, RELAX and RELAX. Try not to worry about any of those little details that don’t go as planned. Those could turn into cherished moments later. Find humor into it. Few years after, you will look at it with laughter and fondness.

15. ENJOY, ENJOY and ENJOY. After all, it’s the best day of your life.

For our Dear Clients...

A Wedding Prayer

Today is the beginning of the years that lie ahead
May you always remember how special is this day
that you are wed.

May you encourage each other and be best friends.
May you always share a special love without end.
May your home be filled with patience, forgiveness, and love;
all of these are gifts from God above.

This blogsite is inspired by the many wonderful moments we treasure from every weddings that we are a part of. My heart is truly touched of the emotions that surround these happenings.

I would like to dedicate this site to all our clients (previous, present and future). I will be scribbling some highlights of the day, more of the way we coordinated the event and even the happenings that weren't captured in scenes.

In other words, how we have survived another wedding day!