Rated DG: Donald-Golda

Yesterday, my SPECA-daughter got married to her beau of 5 years.

Yup, it was Golda, not Paolo. And we haven't really known for sure until we saw the people at the altar.

I left home at around 2PM to go to UP Dil FC, as we have arranged to meet between 2-2:30. Prof. Ken was already there, and I got to see his new office (Doc La's old one, at that!). The rain was pelting nonstop, and some of the friends we were supposed to go with couldn't make it. So it turned out, Pao's friend Alex would just have the two of us as his passengers.

Up to that moment, all we knew was that Paolo and his long-time girlfriend Gian were going to have a Greek-inspired plum wedding at Antipolo church (as Pao stated in the FB mail he sent us). Paolo being the artist that he is, we took the pitstop at Marikina as one of the many surprises he had in store. Until the phone call from Liz came, and we started having our own guesses as to what might be going on.

The ceremonies were already ongoing when we got to the church (I'm not accustomed to pointing fingers, but I totally blame the traffic for being late!!!), That was when we confirmed what we have suspected for the past ... 20 minutes (?) that yup, it was Golda and Donald's getting hitched there.

Even if it was raining nonstop, there were so many people at the church, one of the most numbered I've seen in any of the weddings I've been to (and believe me, I've been to sooo

many). There was a general feeling of love for the couple, and approval, among the people present.

After a while, we were joined by Paolo (who we gave our congrats to even if we were ready to tear his hair off for the prank) and Barns and Bunny (who were into the secret, coz Bunny did Golda's makeup), and we split up to get to the reception. Barns and I waited for Dea, who was still in the middle of somewhere because of the traffic jam, and who at that point still had no idea that it was Golda who got married (she was dead set to get to Antipolo church before finally taking the detour to Marikina).

The rain still didn't let up when we got to the reception. We saw Paolo (in his checks, slacks, and DSLR), and clueless Dea was thinking out loud how his get up is sooo wrong for someone who just got married. She still didn't catch up, even when as we went inside (eyeing the yummy dirty ice cream along the way), the MCs' were chanting "Donald, Golda, ikinasal na, bongga!", or even when the posters hanging at the wsalkways were all of my daughter and son-in-law. Barns and I were ready to roll off the floor laughing. If Bunny didn't ask her if she already knew that it was Golda and Donald (and not Pao and Gian) who got married, I wouldn't really know when she'd figure everything out, hehe. Even then, it took some time before the news sink in. I would say she was totally in shock.

Going back... as it is Golda we are talking about, it wouldn't be her wedding reception at all if there aren't any hints of showbizness (LOL!). There were a lot of production numbers, pseudo-talk shows, and a lot of laughter and talking going around. She changed into lavender sneakers and purple knee-socks, and almost hosted her own wedding reception! Not your typical wedding reception, even if all the traditional elements were there. With the one-of-a-kind garter and bouquet ceremony, she was really going around, calling on people to get on stage. Which brought Ken ending up being paired to a mysterious "Barbie" (details of which, Ken is the only one entitled to reveal).

Finally, it was time to say bye bye to the newlyweds, and thank them for the fun fun night. While we were on our way back, we still reveled on the nights goings-on, and left the place with big smiles and memories to bring back. It was definitely "one of the memorable nights of our lives" (right, Ken?).

Lucky for Golda she's of the marrying age, so she could legally get married without her mother's (my) consent (haha!). Be as it may, theirs is a God-centered relationship, and Donald has proven himself to be a good man. We are sure Golda is in good hands.

Congratulations, Donald and Golda! All the best, loves.

Mischief Loves Company

The tag to the 1994 film Little Rascals comes to life once again in Mark and Myke's upcoming wedding.

Ate Mica, my Ate's friend, is getting married to her beau on the 10th of September. Contrary to most of the weddings I've arranged, this couple's wedding is going to be an uber-fun, highly unconventional one. They want theirs to be playful, fun, lively... and musical. Pretty much like the movie, yeah?

The purple-loving couple is planning to have nothing of the traditional wedding - except maybe for the symbols. They've pretty much planned out the details. Since I'm just the day-coordinator, they're going thru the concept and planning and appointments on their own, while I quietly sit on the background until it's time. But since this is not your usual wedding, scrap the "quietly" in that statement, haha!

It's still a bit hush-hush at the mo, so I couldn't get into the details yet. But once they're ready to do the "Big Reveal", I really will jot everything down - to immortalize the details if not for anything else.

OffT: Cocolife Blood Donation Program

One of the reasons why I love my work is handling the Employee Relations Committee, which has the Corporate Social Responsibility as one of its major areas. I'm proud to belong to a company that recognizes the need for this, and be among a group of people who does CSR-work voluntarily.

Today marks the first of a semi-annual blood donation drive that we sponsor. We have a total of 92 registered donors, and the ERC members are paired and then assigned to man the faci-booth for each hour of the work day. I've just finished my shift.


As of 12:00 noon, we have had a total of 27 successful donations. More donors are coming this afternoon (me included!). We hope we reach or even surpass our target of 50 successful donations.


All for a good cause, my friends. All for a good cause. =)

Earl & Hannah | Wedding & Beyond

One of the most beautiful destination weddings I have been to. Well, at least for me and for some other guests who flew in from Manila, it was. But for Earl and Hannah, who have grown up in Iloilo and Roxas City, this place was where their heart is: home.

05 December 2008

St. Francis Chapel, Tanque Roxas City

The Lake House, San Antonio Resort, Baybay, Roxas City

The purple and green themed wedding was conceptualized and planned by the bride, who is very keen about the details. She wanted simple but unique and stylish, just as she is. This was the main reason they both chose St. Francis Chapel (a quaint but beautiful church) for their ceremony, The Lake House (an event hall just enough for the 100 or so guests for the reception), and San Antonio Resort (with suite rooms that has verandas heading to the lagoon) for the guests' accommodations.

All the suppliers were local, except for the flowers, which either took the same flight as I did (the morning of the wedding) or came in the day before. The food was great, not missing of course the sumptuous seafood dishes (the shrimps were heavenly!), as Roxas City is the Seafood Capital of the Philippines.

Where did I come in to the picture, exactly? Ahhh, yup, there I am.

The Confetti Crew's role in this wedding was purely consultation, since both Earl and Hannah, who "the crew" know very well, were very much hands-on on all the preparations and details. I was also invited to be the host of their wedding reception (so happy to be chosen, really), which was really much of a happy kind of riot with the family and friends present to witness their wedding. All-in-all, the perfect homecoming wedding.

photo credits: the bride's Facebook album

Ken & May | First & Last

28 August 2008

Santuario de San Antonio | Forbes, Makati

Makati Shangri-la Hotel

My first full coordination wedding project was for my college friend Ken and our former colleague May. The "first and last" couple (because they are each other's one and only ex) wanted an elegant wedding to be celebrated with the closest of their family and friends. However, they were both working in Dubai then, so fairy hot momma (a.k.a. moi) came to the rescue.

THEMES & MOTIFS

May wanted blue or pink for the wedding, Ken was okay with what she wanted, as long as there were butterflies. They wanted their wedding to be simple but elegant; they were willing to spend but adamant to splurge. Keeping this in mind, we were able to find a set of suppliers that would suit that requirement.

Willie, their couturier, wanted to stir away from prom colors, but since May wanted pink, he agreed on baby pink and champagne colored gowns for the ladies. The colors blended perfectly with the simple elegance of the church and the reception venue. Ken and May were also very particular with the design of their suit and gown, and they were really happy that Willie crafted theirs to the littlest detail of their desire.

The event designer, Lawrence, made an array of bouquets with different shades of pink, and donned the Shangri-la ballroom with drapes, crystals and butterflies. The souvenirs - designed and crafted by the bride - were abaca boxes with pink and butterfly details, filled with chocolates.

I DO... EVER AFTER, I DO

The wedding ceremony preceded the very intimate wedding reception. Ken made it even more special by granting May a surprise round of roses and dances - a delayed but very much appreciated replica of what she missed on her debut. Hosted by Barnaby Lo, the program was a mixture of entertainment and testimonials, laughter and joyous tears from beginning to end - just the way the couple wanted it. 

The Confetti Crew couldn't be any happier.

photo credits: B. A. Studio

SUPER SUPPLIERS
Invitations | design by Gerald Magtoto, printed by G. A. Printing
Flowers and Event Design | Lawrence of Angel of Hearts

Photo and Video Coverage | B.A. Studio

Couturier | Willie So of Maning's Dress Shop

Event Coordination | The Confetti Crew (Mia & Maize)
Hair and Make Up | The Make Up Studio Team

Musicians | Velvet Mood

Venue and Catering | Makati Shangri-la Hotel
MC | Barnaby Lo of CCTV News

Crew Confessions

I became a wedding planner almost the same time as I started being a blogger. As I was getting more blog followers, I was also gaining planning/coordinating clients. As I created more blogs to cater to my different readers (non-fiction, fan-fiction, fansite), I also engaged in a wider range of planning (from simply weddings, I also did showers, kids' parties and corporate events).

It has been four years since, and yet, blogger and planner have never met... until now.

Join me as this blogger puts into writing (or more technically, typing) the adventures of the planner and her friends in The Confetti Crew.

Note:
- the awesome background picture of the bride's DIY bouquet is taken by Mango Red for the M&M Wedding.