Oh my Sitti :(

I always wanted Sitti Navarro to sing at my wedding - for some sentimental reasons (i discussed this in my earlier posts)
But now, I'm sure we cannot afford her. Sadness.

I received a call from Backroom (her handler) about her rates. My jaw dropped (literally) as she told me Sitti's rate. I have no idea that getting a famous wedding singer will cost us a fortune.

To give you an idea, the price is half our wedding budget. For 10 songs with live band. So we're talking about 6 digits.

We do not have that much budget. Plus we prefer to splurge on other things - like life after marriage?

So as much D and I wanted her, we really cannot afford her.
So it's confirmed - Sitti is only our Nice to Have but will Never Have :(

w@w proud

The moment I got engaged, I told one of my closest friend about my plans. And she introduced me to Sis Miles' wedsite. Miles is her ex-project mate from our ex-company. hehe. She talks a lot about w@w in her wedsite so I got curious. I clicked the link and voila! i want to get in that community.


I started as a lurker. I post sometimes, but im not active though. Maybe due to some depression of not finding my perfect church and reception.
I just started to get active when I booked my first essentials - church and reception nga.
Im happy and excited and I want to share it to my sisses who has been a great help in my decision-making.

I haven't got my w@w tag yet. That is my target now (and i know i'll get it soon :P).
For me, it is not just for the discounts. It's more of like a souvenir of my nerve-wrecking preps and the sisterhood.

I sooooo love w@w. I'm not only learning and sharing wedding ideas, i'm also earning friends. lots of them. :)

P/V: afama na nga ba?

Life has to go on after the rockin' failure. So after letting myself to a bit of disappointment, I set back to my search for the perfect P/V.

3 sisses from w@w mentioned this new blood in wedding photography (not so new at all na pala) -Afama Photography by Denise Abegail Fama.

My photographer (hobbyist lang daw :P) friend approved her shoots. May composition daw.

And mind you, her rates is not that high. Plus, she has a promo! how lucky can I get? :)

http://afamaphotography.multiply.com/

I am set to meet her for meeting over breakfast on Sunday. I am really hopeful na sya na sana talaga. :D

P/V: rockin' failure :(

As my search for the perfect P/V continues and intensifies, i found one deal of a lifetime - the Rockin' Photographers and Videographers.
With their lowest rate ever for a complete Photo/Video package, I can't imagine a budget-conscious bride to not fret about getting their services first.
I heard them first at w@w, and immediately browsed their portfolio online. I was awed.

http://rockinphotographer.com/about/

BUT. they are already booked on my wedding date. I knew it. Getting them is too good to be true.
Maybe next time I can rock with these guys.

Nice To Have: Sitti Navarro

The Bossanova Queen, Sitti Navarro has played a big part in my engagement. She sang for me as D did his proposal. So sweet. :)
And I would really love to have her sing all the way to my wedding. Imagine her sweet voice entertaining my guests as they feast on Enderun's buffet. Ahhh heaven...

captured Sitti's emotion

She said yes when I asked her if she sings at wedding, but I haven't inquired officially to her handlers. Afraid of the rates ehrr? :P

I'm not sure yet if we can afford her. So for now, she is a Nice To Have..

happy start! :D

This is it! I am finally getting married (hindi na basta engaged lang :P)

This afternoon, we went to SSA to check for available dates for our December wedding. BTW, we chose this month for D's family. His father went back to Saudi and his brother to UK after his sister's wedding. We wanted them to witness our wedding also so we have to do it on December so they can come home.
Going back, Ms. Susan of SSA said that they only have two Fridays for me. (all the other Fri or Sat slots are booked! deym!).
We took pictures and head for Enderun.

the aisle

The venue

I looked and I looked.. but I liked none from what I saw online.
But when I heard this venue from a sister in w@w and after checking it for hours in the internet, I was simpled awed.
This is exactly what I'm looking for.
I'm talking about The Atrium of Enderun Colleges.

pic from my Ms. Karen of Enderun

Perfect! ;)

Church Hunting

I learned from w@w that the first things to prioritize on wedding preparation are Church and Venue.
So of we go to finding my dream church!
But this one is hard. As in.

1. Christ the King Church in the Sky

Definitely we will not do it on my home church! I can't take the risk of being mobbed by my whole clan. Not that i dont want them in my special event. But financially we are not really capable of catering all of them.
PROs:
If not for that reason, I would really love to be wed here. The fresh air, the breath-taking view.. I would vouch for it.
CONs:
Very steep road to the church, almost 45% inclination. Waaa
VERDICT: NO! NO! NO!

2. Santisimo Rosario Parish Church (UST Church)

This was where D graduated. Of course he likes to be married there. Well, It favors us because they give discounts for alumni.
I've been to this church once. But I dont like it. It is too 'sad' for me. It's too dark. I was not wowed by the altar. Maybe because it is old?
But we considered the monetary value of the church and how much this will cut our expenses. This is indeed a penny-saver. 13k php for an aircon church? wow!
But, they told us that they do not accept reservation for 2012 until September 2011. What a waste of time. :(
PROs:
Cheap for an aircon church. And D will be happy.
CONs:
Not so lively ambiance. Late opening for reservation
VERDICT: Will reconsider. Check for other churches first.

3. Don Bosco Church

Another airconditioned church in Makati. I liked the way it registered to the wedding pictures I browsed online.
PROs: cute altar, nice circular church, cool aircon, ambient parking space
CONs: not-so-dramatic entrance because of the glass doors
VERDICT: Maybe

4. Sanctuario de San Antonio

My Gawdddd! It is perfect! My very much coveted high-ceiling, wooden doors for dramatic entrance, loft for the aerial shots. wow! this is it!
PROs: This church got all my criteria. plus it has ample parking space.
CONs: this will surely cut much of our budget. Expensive compared to the other aircon churches - 25k for the use of the church only. aww
VERDICT: I will push it! hehe

Obviously, you know which church I chose. I'll talk to D, knowing him he'll give in. :D

im back :)

Ok. Now that I'm settled, I finally have time to blog. After 3 months and 1 week, I am definitely back. :)

Let me walk you to what I've been through:
1. As mentioned in my previous post, I arranged my transfer. For some career move and more financial reasons, I decided to leave my previous bread and butter and transfer to the company that can put croissant on my table. It's a big risk knowing that my previous company is one of the best companies in the country. But with how Noynoy handles the economy, I have to make my move.
2. What's scary in transferring is the whole concept of starting over again. Good thing I have my old friends here in the new company, it will be less of my worries.
3. Certification - CHECK! Yes! I am now a certified Teradata Professional. Thanks to months of memorization and mind-boogling white book reading.
4. Boyfriend-time. This takes up all my weekend time. Either with my friends, his friends, his family, or just us. Pure bliss! :D

But now, I think I have time for this. Let's see. :D

im busy

hell I am! It has been more than 2 weeks already since my last post. aww.

Well, I have my reasons:

First - my TL left the company already. We have been planning this for half the year already. I should have made myself prepared for this. But hell. Little did I know how busy she was. All those issues, no matter how simple, take much of my precious time. Now I know how 'kurap lang ang pahinga' felt like. aww

Second - I was and am fixing my own farewell. hehe. (wait for the details in my next posts) :D

Third - I suddenly felt the urge to prepare my wedding! Yes I am excited. weeee

I am busy as a bee! weeee