33 DAYS BEFORE OUR BIG DAY

We have been watching movies of love stories that eventually end up in weddings or something similar to that effect.  Through-out the movie, conflicts of wedding preparations and probably some revealed secrets before the wedding day play the twists of these movies.  We have just been watching these movies for years... now it's our turn to watch a new wedding movie...  THE WEDDING OF OUR OWN.

We have been preparing for our BIG day for several months now.  When we decided on the date (12-12-11)... we started scouting for the church, reception and suppliers.... let the FUN begin!  We didn't employ wedding coordinators since we want to be involved in all the preparations,  this is our wedding, this experience will be once in a lifetime...

We started out from visiting wedding expos for the past 1-2 years and the experience was something memorable.  You would always find something new from all these expos. They offer promotions and discounts that could save you huge money that you can still use for other suppliers.  What we availed through these expos -- our rings (Golden Hills),  our photo and video (Nice Print), our invitations (Paper-flair.... give-aways was later added-on with our invitation supplier, now we have a common design for our invitations and give-aways).  I guess the learning's from attending these expos was --- you have to ask everything you want to know.  Price, freebies, add-ons, payment terms, expectations, service delivery and all other ideas that pops into your head.  Whatever that you imagine that would fit your expectations, ask for it before you decide what supplier to take.  You'll be surprised as to how much discount, freebies and add-ons you'll get.  It is also wise to just move around and get some flyers and ask around during the first day.  This will give you time to think about each supplier when you get home, then you can come back to register on the next day if you have decided to get their services.  Here's a SAVINGS reminder >> It is also advisable to go on the last day of the expo to sign-up suppliers.  They usually offer MORE discounts on the last day, you'll be surprised to get more savings compared to the first day that you asked this same supplier!  Skeptical?  Try it... you won't regret it!

We googled many suppliers for our reception... until we ended up walking-in to Ilustrado, this was my cousin's venue 6 years ago and we just walked-in to inquire if our date was available... and it was!  So we decided that we will reserve for Ilustrado as our reception venue.
 
We also went out to go "Church-hunting".  I guess we made several trips to at least 10 churches before we decided for our church.  We were actually teased that we were so lucky because we got a confirmation for the church 7 months before the date where it usually takes many couples to book 1-2 years in advance to get their dates booked.  Really?  Guess the date was really made for us!


Other preparations came-in afterwards.  Attending seminars,  preparation of documents such as CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage), Birth Certificates, Confirmation certificates, Marriage License, wedding banns....


The wedding gowns were also through the help of pareng google.  Tutel was able to find a supplier who was favorably recommended by other people.  This suppliers' reputation for delivering very nice and affordable gowns spread through the Internet and through word of mouth so fast that she now have more offers than she usually gets.  Good business for her!  I know that Tutel's gown will also be spectacular! 

This was also the case for the flowers.  Google directed us to a recommended and affordable florist from Dangwa. Guess we owe google two suppliers? haha!


Well, the latest we owe google is for our emcee (singing emcee).  Tutel found this one guy who have excellent recommendations from his previous customers.  So we decided to meet him.  I can only imagine that this guy is really a professional emcee.  He comes prepared with his presentation, he's really funny and have so many ideas in mind.  No wonder people claim that no one leaves the venue until the program has really ended.


33 DAYS to go before our BIG day.... we have completed so many and yet seems like we are still preparing for so much more.  I guess that's just how people feel when they have to go through all these preparations.  We are still counting down...

please visit > http://fun-space-to-forever.blogspot.com for more stories of our wedding preparations!