Pamanhikan

a filipino custom that has been followed for years. This is where the parents of the bride and the groom meet and discuss the details of the wedding. Who will pay for what, etc.. But in our case, since the wedding will be in 7 days.. and everything is already in place.. Adrian's pamanhikan became just a formality for our families to meet and get to know each other.

I was about to go to church when they arrived. Mom and I was busy doing the re-heating of the food that they brought from Nasugbu while my dad entertained them with his corny jokes..hehehe! dami ng food.. we had sugpo, grilled tuna, nilagang baboy, soups and salads and buttered veggies. Adrian also help us in re-heating the food and fixing the table... They stayed at home for almost 3 hours.. talked, laughed and just getting to know each other. Its nice to see that everyone was happy to be part of this new family that we are about to create.

our wedding rings

Today, our wedding ring was delivered at my office. Its in plain white gold with etchings Shiena Sept 3,2005 and Adrian Sept 3,2005. Its so simple yet beautiful and shiny :)hehehe! I also had my engagement ring polished and it looked so good together with my wedding ring. I can already hear in my head the words.. "wear this ring as a sign of my love...etc".

My Shoes! and Missalette

I’ve finally found my shoes in Vinacci. No size six so I settled for six and a half. I’m happy with my choice and I got it with a 10% discount since its on sale. Hehehehe!

Our missalette is already 80% completed. Adrian has painstakingly arranged the missalette I made so it can be printed in booklet style. And he was so proud to show it to me. I too am proud of what he did since he was the one who analyzed and thought about how to do it. As an OC, I of course have some revisions (but its all for the better ...hehehhe!) We are due for printing them this weekend together with the sit plan and the giveaway tags. Speaking of sit plan… there are 113 more invited guests that has not confirmed their attendance ... additional things to worry about. Gosh, I just wish we would be able to cover all them before this week ends. And one more thing ... We still have not bought any tokens for the entourage ... what do you think we should give them ...of course we are working on a budget here.

With 11 more days to go ...I ask for divine providence for us to endure these remaining days and to keep us sane.

Pre-nup Pictorial

We were scheduled today for our pre-nup pictorial. I have arranged for my trail make-up with Naska around 4pm. And then afterwards we headed to June Seculles’ studio (Practical Photography) in Bacoor, Cavite. I was so looking forward to this day and also nervous while we were on the road. After setting up the backdrop, we posed and he started shooting his camera. Playing and sometimes fooling around while June takes some candied shot of us making faces to each other, laughing and kissin’. It was fun ... the changing of clothes (we changed twice), changing of lights, different angles etc. We had a taste of being a model for an hour… but seriously it’s tiring. We had a total for 191 shots and hopefully I can post some of the pictures here (as soon as he emails them to me.)

Wedding Essentials

I’m guilty of not being able to update as much as I want too.. It has been so hectic in the office and stressful too. Balancing work with your wedding prep is really a challenge and I salute those brides who are able to do so with grace under pressure. Here! Here! to all of you!

So here is my update ... I finally have a choir ... thanks to my dad, he was able to contact one of the choir at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd here in Fairview. They are really heaven sent. I was already loosing hope then with only two weeks to go before the wedding and I still haven’t got a choir. We even planned to just play a CD during the mass but that would ruin the beautiful ceremony and the amazing ambiance of Caleruega. But I know God wanted this day to be perfect as much as we do that’s why even on a short notice the choir agreed to sing at my wedding. They are scheduled to do a dress rehearsal on Monday next week.. I can’t wait… I just know they’ll be great!

Last weekend, we went to get the rest of the entourage’s gowns. Good thing that they were able to fix Ellie’s dress (she’s my Matron of Honor). I hope they fit perfectly on them. We also did some shopping ... bought table runners for additional accents on our tables in the reception, also bought rolls of ribbons and accents for my bouquet and the entourage’s flowers, candles for the giveaways, our unity candle, some bubble tubes for the kids, accessories for the ladies in my entourage and I also bought some accents for my hair (shaped in flowers with rhine stones). We also bought our bible as well.

It was one helluva weekend. I search and search for the perfect shoes for me but to know avail. I found one, but I was reluctant to buy it. So after some days have passed of thinking and searching, I’ve decided to buy the shoes but my friend Kim told me that when she passed by the store, its already closed. Panic has stricken me. All my entourage have found their shoes even my mom already bought hers, I the bride with 1 weekend to go until my big day has not yet found the perfect shoes. Gosh! Please show me the way to my bridal shoes!

Shower at Holiday Inn

It’s my second shower party courtesy of my friends from work. But the party starts after dark so I made plans for the morning to finish our distribution of invitation.

We found at last our ninang

The rain and cold wind did not hinder us to accomplish our plans for the day. We have one more ninang (godparent) whom we haven't delivered the invitation yet. I call her Ma'm Bhabes because she was my supervisor from my previous work. We had a hard time contacting her because her mobile phone got disconnected which was the only way we knew how to contact her. Good thing that Ate Normie (one of her staff before) told us how to get to her store in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. It was a one-hour road trip from our house. Adrian and I are both new to the place and don't know where we are going ... We just rode the bus and a jeepney and took our chance in finding the right place ... I was actually praying that we’ll be on the right track. And luckily we were. We disembark when we reach Road 2 and asked a woman which of the store is owned by Bhabes and she pointed at the third store then I heard someone saying "hay, anong ginagawa ninyo ditto?" "kakasal na kayo?" (What are you doing here? Are you getting married?) ... with her identifiable laughter and voice ... I know we were on the right place. Thank God!

Bridal Shower

What: Shakey’s Bridal Shower
When: August 13,2005 at 7pm
Where: Rm 1202, Holiday Inn Galleria

Coming from Bulacan, Adrian and I went back to my place to get my overnight bag and then we headed to Holiday Inn. Its already 1:20 pm in my watch and I thought we’ll not make it on time for the 2pm check in. We took the MRT and cab to get there and guess what? We were just in time. After registration, I was given a card key to Room 1202. Adrian and I waited for Claude (who was the organizer of the successful shower) and Louie to arrive. Afterwards, Adrian and I went to Galleria Mall to have our lunch (that was around 3pm already). I was craving for a mango crepe so after our delicious meal at Sushiya, We headed to Fuzion smoothie café which was just in front of the Japanese restaurant.

After stuffing ourselves with food, we then went to burn our calories by shopping ... not for ourselves though. Since the bridal party is a pajama/lingerie party, I was assigned to pick the sexiest and foxiest girlfriend. So we went to Beauty Bar and I got some Canus Goat’s milk soap and body butter and a sponge as a prize. I also went to find some items as a giveaway to all of my guest… first I thought of giving them a bead bracelet but there are only 7 pieces of it left, thus I have to pass. I thought of giving a feathered ballpen but I thought it might not write anymore after a few hours of usage. What I end up with was a hand sanitizer from Zen.

I wasn’t allowed to be in the room until they have already fixed the place up. So I decided to have a manicure and pedicure while I wait for 7pm to come. While Febie was finishing the polish on my 3 remaining toes, my fone rang. It was Kim, asking me where I am. They are ready for me. I can go back to the room now. As I reached for the botton up of the elevator, my stomach was starting to feel butterflies all around. I reached the 12th floor with a throbbing chest. Knocked twice and I could hear Baet’s voice and laughter coming from the room. Claude open the door with a purple balloon on hand and they welcomed me with flashing of cameras… They are all already in their sleepwears, pajamas and lingerie. Since I was still in jeans and shirt, I headed to the bathroom and changed into my pj.

Party started with a buffet of bake mac, chicken lollipop, cheese sticks, chips and salsa (all courtesy of Patz). Then... the party started with a game... 5 teams was all give their own clay and they have to shape it into a penis. I get to choose who the winner is :) The second game was "How well do you know Adrian?" The consequence? For every wrong answer I have to take one shot of Tanduay straight up! Oh no! I’ll be drunk in no time. First question, wrong answer, after my first shot, I requested for just a gulp of Mindoro Sling so I can still enjoy my party and not vomit all night long. I know I was tipsy after 5 wrong questions because I started to laugh out of the blue and tears coming out of my eyes while laughing. I’m talking and laughing non-stop. No longer following instructions. Apparently, I only answered 5 right out of 20 questions. The game should have been entitled "How well you don’ t know Adrian?" But the questions are so damn hard!

Before another game began, they took out the cake that they bought for me... from Kink Cakes ... a brown bald man with a big tummy and a very large penis... And it looked so real in the pictures ...heheheh! It says "Make a Wish Bebe and Blow Me" hahaha! Who’s words are those Claude?

Everybody gathered around the penis cake.

The third game was pop the balloon and do the consequence ... got 3 actually ... How will I seduce Adrian through a belly dance, associate my sexual fantasy with a yoga pose ( I did a shoulder stand ... see photos) and my sexual advise... hahaha! Too censored to discuss here :-) Afterwards, it was time to open my gifts!!! I got a lot of panties (seductively sexy ones), a pair of Calvin Kline bra, a purse from china with a very revealing thong and bra, a matching tankini lingerie and panty, a kama sutra video and a silk robe which I’ll be wearing during the bridal pictorial. I also got a Precious Moments book for my Wedding.

The party just went on with more dancing, eating and singing. As one by one bid their goodbyes, those who stayed for a sleepover (Claude, Baet, Me, Abi, Maya and Emmy) just shared some girl talk and enjoyed the night in our pajamas. It was truly a fun party! I was surrounded by good friends and left behind happy memories. Thanks everyone! And special mention to Claude who organized it all. Muwah!

Choir O Choir, where are you?

I’ve been scouting for the perfect ensemble to be the choir on my wedding. First, I wanted to have a string quartet. After 2 Wedding Fairs and some inquiries, I decided to just get a duo and a vocalist. But unfortunately, by the time I’m eager to book the String Minstrels, I was informed that they are already booked on my date. (Stress level is at its highest) That was 2 weeks ago.

Today, we went to watch the demo of the Sentimental Groove. They are good but pricy. They are way over our budget. Since cost cutting is the name of our game and also I’ve realized that I don’t want to add 8 more heads to a whopping 393 invited guest list. Now, with 3 weeks left, we decided to ask Adrian’s officemate to sing for us at the nuptial mass and we’ll just find her a guitarist or a pianist. I just hope that before the crucial days come, this is already in my done list.

So many things to do ... so little time.

My Shower Party

I'm still searching for the right adjective to justifiably describe the bridal shower con bachelorette party last Saturday, which was organized by my barkada (exclusive group of friends) from college.

As I mentioned, I was waiting for their text where the party will be held. They told me that they’ll meet me at Weng's place and Mimaw and Jacq will pick us up and bring us to the party. Obviously, I'm (again) late because I fell as sleep while reading wei hui's book (it's the rainy weather's fault). I arrived at Weng’s place and it was dark and the gate was locked. Called her in her mobile and she said she'd come get me. When I finally saw her, she said: "Khor wanted us to drop by their house before we leave" and so we headed to Khor’s place. When we arrived at the apartment, everyone was there already. Even our friend January who I thought was still in the US. Khor, Jacq, Mimaw, Red, Edith and Rhona are all there. And they said that we are actually having the party there. After some chit chat, we had dinner and they gave me my gifts: ) I thought it was just that, and they have been blabbing about having a stripper. I was expecting it to be someone we know… a friend that has agreed to do a sexy dance for me.

First the blind folded me and they gave me a seat in the center of the living room facing the sofa where the rest of them were sitting. Then a song of Celine Dion was played and the next thing I knew, somebody was already dancing in front of me... in all fairness he smelled really good. In the middle of the song, he removed my blindfold and there he was, a person in a white shirt, jeans and boots was dancing in front of me. I was mouthing to my friends the words "Who is this guy?" but I only got smiles and laughter. After the first song. He went upstairs and I thought that was it. I was soooo wrong! The next time he went down (still in his clothes) this time he danced and did some acrobatic moves.. and started to take off his clothes one by one... I was shouting 'OMG!!!', 'Mommy!!!' the whole time... i was screaming and laughing. The lights were dimmed and the next thing I knew he went All The Way! I can’t believe it! OMG! OMG! OMG! I won’t go into details anymore...

The most important thing is that not only I enjoyed the party but my friends also did (not expecting their participation as well during the stripper's performance). It was truly a memorable bridal shower and bachelorette party…Thank you very much ladies... for the time, effort and thought. Love you all!

P.S. January also announced later that night that she was engaged to be married as well. She and her fiancé Dave will be married in Chicago this coming October... I'm sure we're throwing another party for her :) Congrats Jan and Dave!

P.S.2. I'm still waiting for Mimaw to email me our pictures... Mimaw, where is it?
>>>Thanks Maw for the photos :)The photos are PG13 so I won't post them here..

Just showing off one of my gift, a pink thong.