The bridal gown...and the designer!

When we are starting to plan the wedding. I already wanted simple yet elegant gown. I am not really fan of those beaded super fluffy with lace and all. I tried to look for several designs in the net and this picture caught my attention.

I have already my wedding gown inspiration. Now, the question is who will execute this gown that I want :-( I have search again several couturier who can make my dream gown. There are several designers that are to die for like Veluz, Cecilio Abad, JC Buendia, Rajo Laurel etc... But, even if I really wanted them, we cannot afford them :-). I didn't want to splurge much on the gown coz there are other important things that we can used the money for in our wedding. H2B and I talked about the budget and we settled with that and look for a designer that is within the range or if it can go up at least a lil higher than our budget only. After several meetings with designer. One of my team member suggested Zandra Lim. I immediately look at her site. I was amazed in her gown designs saved in her portfolio. We decided to pay Zandra a visit. Rvee and I look for her shop in E. Rodriguez Sr. in Quezon City, luckily we were able to find her shop.

At first Zandra is very shy, she's soft spoken . Then I let her see my wedding gown inspiration. She told me that she make her own version of what I want and will make a twist so as not to copy the entire wedding gown. She's very open for suggestion and does not tell you what she wants, but will definitely advise what will look best on you. That is what I like also in her. After she's done with her sketch this is how it looks like already:



Front design



back with detachable train



 And after that syempre there goes the price discussion. She have mentioned the fabrics that she will be using in my gown. And there goes the computation...tada!!! it is within our budget! I ask H2B his opinion regarding my gown. He just ask me, "gusto mo ba?...are you happy?" syempre nod and yes lang ako. So sabi ni hubby then we get "Zandra Lim to make your dream gown". Am super touch with my Rvee...he's the sweetest man ever!

Perfect Match

Been trying to look for shoes that I am going to used on my big day. I wanted it not the usual bridal shoes (white same as my gown). I have tried several shoe store to look for the pair of shoes. Though I have already been eyeing to have this as my wedding shoes.

Since our motif is Chocolate brown and Burnt Orange (our wedding theme is Autumn). Having an orange shoes is awesome!!!. Luckily, my support group w@w suggest a supplier that can customize this for me. I immediately sent them an email. I have asked their owner Mari if they can actually made the same shoes for me. And she confirmed that they can....I am sooooo happy. Mari invited me to attend the "Before I do" bridal fair coz they will be joining the fair. So, last Sunday Rvee and I went to megamall for the last wedding expo this year. Have found the stall of PERFECT MATCH. I instantly book them.

I do hope they can really execute the same shoesI wanted. Well, let's wait and see :-)

Search for perfect venue

The time that we planned to get married. It was always been our choice to have the ceremony at San Agustin Church at Intramuros. It was memorable for us both, because when the first time we both visit the church to attend mass, there was a wedding that is happening. Rvee told me that when I will just let him be the one, he wanted that we will get married at the same church.

We then book the church on July 6, 2010. Paid their required DP to blocked our desired date. And yes our desired date is still open. Yipeeeee!!!

After we have booked our church....now the search for a perfect garden reception venue. We drop by first at Tamayo and they have invited us for their food tasting at Villa Immaculada. Then we tried, coz I know that they are one of the best caterer we have in the metro. They have already provided us with the packages and inclusion for Villa Immaculada and we really love their food...superb!!!

Rvee at Villa Immaculada

Though we know that our heart now belongs to Villa Immaculada we still opted to visit other places and venues within INTRAMUROS areas.

CASA MANILA PATIO

CASA BLANCA

TEATRILLO



INNER COURTYARD

BALUARTE DE SAN DIEGO



with the guardia sibil



PATIO VICTORIA



We have also visited Puerto Real, Plaza Moriones, La Castellana. I just don't have a pictures of those venue. Maybe we were tired posing and smiling at the camera hahaha. Anyway, after we have visited those places. Our choice is still Villa Immaculada. So we went there to ask what would be the payment arrangement so we could withdraw the money just to blocked our date. And while waiting for our AE...our energy is back for picture taking...hahahaha...camwhores!!!

        at Villa Immaculda Entrance :-)

We got a call from Rvee's friend Marc saying that there's still another venue that we need to see at Intramuros. They do have a garden reception and a ballroom. He said that it is a fine dining resto along General Luna Street. So, before we pay the DP to Villa Immaculada, we opted to try and check the venue Marc have said.

while going to Ilustrado..picture taking again

When we set foot to the entrance of Ilustrado we were quite amaze as the place seems so private. This is our requisite for the venue we are looking for.

When we came to their office one of their AE was very excited to introduce what they can offer. Rvee and I were so delighted seeing their wedding packages and inclusions. Ilustrado's package are on a per head basis but the fact that the venue itself has no charge. So, basically we will saved the fee for those garden venues only the catering fee if ever (in comparison with Tamayo). Wow, isn't wonderful???!!! Now, the question is, how is the venue by the way...


Sinagtala Ballroom







The platform/place for bride and groom. Just love the dome at the center

The Sinagtala ballroom is an indoor venue with good quality air conditioned :-) I love the look of this ballroom and the AE also provide us some pictures of actual set-up of the Sinagtala Ballroom.

 

Now for our preferred venue...a garden reception. The AE accompanied us to their garden venue which is just in front of their resto.

Ilustrado Garden Courtyard





the wishing well

Their garden venue looks cool,intimate and private. We love the fact that there are so many angle or spots that are good for picture taking (picture na naman hahaha). Our AE also provided some pictures of how the garden courtyard look once styling is done..tada!!!

Because of this...the decision is final!!!! booked the place...And our wedding Ceremony will be San Agustin Church and Ilustrado Garden Courtyard both within Gen Luna St. Intramuros Manila. 

Save The Date

I was inspired by seeing save-the-date from my w@wie sisters. Unfortunately I am not good at computer software. I don’t know how to create one using Photoshop. Though I have in my laptop, apparently I don’t know how to use it *sigh*

Luckily, I saw a website wherein I can actually create a save-the-date(STD) by just following their own template nga lang...but then I tried…TADA!!!! Here’s the product of my pagpupuyat!!!! Happiness!!!

 As I'm not yet really happy with what I made. I ask my beloved Rvee to create another STD (Save-the-date). I told him my idea. about incorporating Mcdo to our STD. Since he's more tech-y than I am. He knows how to use photoshop a little hehehe. And though I made my own version of our STD the entire night. He made the Mcdo inspired STD in just few minutes...huwaaaaattttt???are you kidding me???. And it was fabulous.

We have already posted this in facebook to inform our friends and relatives of our BIG day. Rvee and I are planning to have this as a ref magnet STD as well.