Our matching wedding rosaries

Praying the rosary has been a tradition for both of our families. Mark and I also make it a point that we pray the rosary as we go to our respective office every day. Mark would use his fingers to count the mysteries, while I would use the mini rosary that my mom gave me as a birthday present last year.

Since rosary played a big role on our relationship, I also decided to have our own customized rosaries. 1 for Mark and 1 for myself ;) To tag on our wedding colors, Mark would have a brown rosary while I get to have a pink one. Before we get married, I am planning to have it blessed to maintain its significance.

Hazel, who also made our wedding cord will custom the rosaries for us. Since she isn’t Catholic and doesn’t know much about rosaries, I had to lend her my own rosary so she could copy it.

Here are the crystals and beads she’s going to use to make the entire rosary. The brown crystals are not yet available. I'll post it some time next week ♥

Crystals and beads that Hazel would use to custom our rosaries. These are the same beads that she used for our wedding cord

Swarovski, crystals & beads

I'll take pictures as soon as she brings  the beads and crystals she's going to use for Mark's brown rosary.

I can no longer wait to get the finished product! ♥ Below are some samples of matching rosaries I have searched from Google

Wedding Fascinators - Princess Weds

I have been a lover of fascinators ever since I was a little girl. I love wearing head bands with big flowers on it, and I feel as if my aura changes every time I wear these types of head bands. To show uniqueness and exude my personality as an offbeat bride, I am going to wear a fascinator on our prenuptial photo shoot as well as on my wedding day. ;)

Not everyone would have the guts to wear a bird cage veil during their wedding day, but since I wanted to inculcate my love for these pieces; I preferred to wear one instead. There are a number of suppliers who can customize these types of veils and fascinators according to your motif, and thankfully, I was able to find someone who can tailor this lovely piece for me. I’ve sent out designs and inspirations, and to believe it or not, her rates are competitive and to top that, the pieces she creates are really exquisite.  

Below are her sample works. 

Aside from bird cage veils, Princess Weds also designs unity candles, bible, wedding cords, rosary, and so much more. 

  

 

My pink and brown crystal bouquet ♥

The moment I have decided to have crystal bouquet on my wedding day made me realize that I am such an offbeat bride. It is going to exude my love for pink and crystals and find it real perfect to do something diverse on my big day. Originally, I wanted all my girls to hold a crystal bouquet on my big day, but since I wanted to have the sparkle and twinkle as I walk along the aisle, I firmly decided that I will be the only one who would carry the crystal bouquet while others would have their own wrister.

I am pretty sure that the bouquet I will hold as I walk down the aisle would give a sheer impact of sparkle that will make me really feel that walking down the aisle as I meet my husband to be on the altar is the best walk I would ever have. ;) 

Here's a glimpse of how my bouquet would look like. Disclaimer: This is not yet the finished product. Thank you so much Hazel for your dedication! ♥

Hello to Grand Ballroom again! ♥

It really is hard to work on the draft guest list – but it’s quite harder to admit that the number of guests is continuously increasing, or somehow exceeded from what we have expected. Haha. Up to this moment, I just can’t imagine that the 100 pax that Mark and I had set in mind to invite on our wedding day, is already a whopping 170 guests and counting. Oh dear Lord, please spare us from the wedding expenses. :D But don't get me wrong, I'd love to see these people on our wedding day. Mark and I would highly appreciate if of all them would accept our invitation. ♥

Anyway, since the number of guests is over and above from what we are expecting, Mark and I had a change of plans AGAIN, and decided that we have to book a bigger function room. The empress ballroom which we booked 2 months ago is quite small for the number of guests we are expecting. With that being said, we’re going back to the first function room we have ORIGINALLY reserved with Great Eastern and that is the Grand Ballroom! Say hello to the winding stairs again! ;) This is what Mark and I really wanted anyway. We weren’t really happy with our plan before to switch from Grand Ballroom to Empress Ballroom, that’s why the two of us are too happy to come with the decision to book the Grand ballroom again. :D Who would resist with this function room anyway? The winding staircase, the 2 floors function hall plus the high ceilings?  See below: D 

The winding staircase that Mark and I are raving about! ;)

Ysabela Florist = Booked

Last Saturday, H2b and I went to San Sebastian church to attend the anticipated mass and met with Ysabela Florist to finalize the packages we are going to get from them.

Gladly the transaction really went very smoothly, and true to its tagged, Sir Russel was indeed 100.1% accommodating. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to meet Ms. Weng (the proprietor of Ysabela Florist) since she had a scheduled ocular visit with another bride.  And to top that, Sir Russel also gave me a bracelet since I am from GT (GirlTalk) Thank you so much! ♥

Sir Russell showed us sample pictures of their previous works that really made us feel very proud that we booked them as our reception stylist. They do have budgeted and pricey packages too according to the couple’s want. Here’s a rundown of the services we’re going to get from them.

*17 centerpieces

*Backdrop (Sir Russel showed me the inspiration they are going to use to decorate the reception venue. He said that this will be the trend next year. To keep the suspense, I am not going to post the peg he showed me, but I can pretty tell that the idea is 100 % really striking.

*Flowers for teddy bears

*2 set up for presidential tables

*Wristers

*Throw bouquet 

This is the bracelet they give to GT brides ♥

Mural ;)

San Sebastian Church Facade

What a coincidence! :) San Sebastian is also preparing for a wedding. 

That's me! ;)

Trying the Fascinators that Ysabela is also selling.

Trying the head bands for Flower girls. haha

Planning for the Chocolate and Oatmeal Wedding Favors

I know I've posted few times already that we're going to have a candy buffet on our reception, but the final verdict is we are no longer getting the candy buffet services anymore for the ff reasons:

1^st, Up to this moment, I haven’t received the bank details she promised me 1 week ago. I need these details so I can block our wedding date for her services. But please take note that I am not taking this against her, since I know that she’s pretty busy lately most especially that it’s already peak season (Halloween and Christmas season). She is very accommodating over the phone and her rates are really affordable. I’ve read super great reviews about her, not just in FN but also on other website, but my heart says that I really have to let it go.

2^nd the corkage fee we have to pay at Great Eastern Hotel just to bring in the candy buffet we were supposed to get

3^rd my mom is a diabetic, so she wouldn’t enjoy this. Haha!

4^th not everyone would appreciate candies. (I guess)

However, just like what the home TV shopping voice over would say on their show, -- but wait THERE’s more – even if we are no longer getting the services of this *supplier*, we are going to have our own sweet wedding favors – and that would be home made chocolate & oatmeal cookies!

Since I have started with my DIY’s this would be a great opportunity for me to pack the oatmeal and chocolates using God’s gift of creativity. :D

Fortunately, one of my agents is so into baking, and she will be the one who’s going to bake the cookies (oatmeal and choco chip cookies) plus make the home made chocolates. We’re planning to buy blocks of chocolates from Chocolate Lovers.

As per the boxes, I’ve already started getting in touch with this supplier I saw from Sulit.com.ph, and I can truly say that her boxes are really affordable!

Here’s a glimpse of how the boxes look like: 

She offers other boxes too at a very affordable rate. Here’s her contact number if you’re interested:

09472827621/09273018139 and aileenmae-t.claveria@aia.com

I am still thinking if we should use the heart shaped box or the normal squared box. Whichever comes cheaper, then that's where we're going to settle. 

I am still planning how to design the boxes. Below are some of my inspirations: (minus the ribbon and silver beads)

For the cover, I am already thinking to stick our monogram on it. :D 

Our oatmeal packaging would look like this 

I am a proud budgeted and certified bridechilla

First of all, I'd like to greet my H2b a Happy Monthsary! (yeah, I know, there's no such word as Monthsary) ♥ hehe. Looking forward to spend more months, years & decades with you. 

Ever since I started my own wedding blog, I have been receiving emails from other bride to be’s saying that they are thankful to find my blog on the internet.  Some of them are asking for my checklists, while others request a total breakdown of our wedding expenses. These wonderful messages are so priceless and it makes me feel that planning for a wedding is truly satisfying. They make me realize and add up confidence that everything will be fine on our big day. So for those who have emailed me, thank you so much. And for those who are still planning for their big day, just like me, please do not hesitate to ask me questions. I would love to help other bride to be’s who are planning for budgeted wedding.

As much as possible, I want to share the joy I have encountered while preparing for our big day. I want to inspire everyone that planning for a wedding doesn't have to cost a fortune. What's most important is the life after the wedding - and that is marriage. But if you're going to ask me this question, would I spend and splurge that much if my H2b is as rich as Manny Pacquiao? Hell yes! Who doesn't want to have an extravagant wedding anyway? I would not limit myself booking the suppliers as long as we have the means, but unfortunately, that is not the case. I will call myself hypocrite if I would tell that I wouldn't spend that much on our wedding if my H2b and I earn 100,000/ month. ♥

But the thing is, my goal  is not just to make things happen on my wedding day but also to share inspiration to other people specially to those bride to be's who are interested but doesn't require a large amount of money or expensive services/venues just to have their dream wedding. Remember, anything is possible so long as there is careful planning and a lot of help from both parties. 

I do not care if I share ALMOST every detail on our big day, but how can I keep myself from sharing all these things if there really is something to be proud of and be happy for?

So for all bride to be’s out there, just cherish every moment you are encountering while planning for a wedding. Stressful or not, enjoy it. Stress will always be there, but it’s pretty normal. Do not let stress ruin every ideas and plans you have in mind. Remember, stress will make you ugly, and it's important for us to stay beautiful before and after the wedding ;) So Happy preps!

Some of our wedding paraphernalia's

Sharing our wedding paraphernalia's 

Our wedding cord, boutonnieres and pens. (Yes, pens are included!) 

Wedding cord: Thank you so much to my dear friend Hazel for sponsoring our wedding cord! :) We can't thank you enough! ♥  Please do send me an email if you want avail to Hazel's services ;) She's my friend who started all these lovely wedding paraphernalia's. bloggingb2b@e-mail.ph

Or you may contact her directly thru the numbers below: 

 09157983425/ 09284385736

Please don't forget to inform her that you got her numbers from my blog so she can give you a very good rate ;)

Pens for our principal sponsors. (these will be used for contract signing) 

And our boutonnieres

Related links: http://bloggingb2b.blogspot.com/2011/09/crystals-and-beads-for-pens.html

http://bloggingb2b.blogspot.com/2011/09/corsage-bouquets-crystals-and-beads.html

http://bloggingb2b.blogspot.com/2011/09/crystals-and-beads-bouquets.html

http://bloggingb2b.blogspot.com/2011/09/brown-crystals-boutonnieres.html

http://bloggingb2b.blogspot.com/2011/09/girl-behind-crystals-and-beads.html