Right from the start, I have kept my visual about the ceremony quite clear - me walking along a quaint chapel, with our family and closest friends looking on. I am glad that my fiancée shared the same vision or it would be a big problem. We started thinking about possible chapels here in Laoag and really, there are only a handful. Most of them are big parishes and that is the last thing I want.

A few weeks ago, we went to the Carmelite Monastery which was our first choice because it is within the town proper and it is a really beautiful chapel. But to our dismay, they do not host weddings. We tried to look into the Sacred Heart Chapel at Panganiban St., which was not as picturesque but just the right size for my projected guests. The only problem is that, apparently, there is not much parking space available inside and outside the vicinity of the chapel.

We had no choice but to wait for our Officiating Priest, Fr. Danny Laeda (my fiance’s dear friend and mentor), to come home from the States for his suggestions. He arrived a few days ago, and we went to him this morning to let him know that his dear Momoy is finally settling down. He instantly suggested some few chapels, but strongly suggested one of his parish’s territorial chapels in San Nicolas, which is located in San Lorenzo. After some catching up, and some other consulations regarding the ceremony, we went to take a look at this chapel.

Right from the moment that I saw the clean white walls, the colored stained glasses and the tidy facade, I knew this was it. It was beautiful! It was quaint, it was solemn and it was picturesque. I felt my heart flutter at the sight of it. It was not the usual chapel structure of heavily-set concrete ballisters and mouldings. It was minimalistic and modern with a few bushes growing around it.

And since it’s under Fr. Danny’s parish, booking is not a problem anymore. The search is over. There, I will walk and marry the man I love.

I want this to be played live on my Bridal March. Just sweet instrumental music, which would be wonderful for a small chapel wedding, really quiet and solemn. I am asking my very good friend friend Karen Ilar to learn it and play it. We don’t have the sheet music yet. I am still waiting for my friend who’s sponsoring the purchase of the sheet music. :-)

I have been looking over wedding dresses for so long, but when I saw this Nina Ricci gown which was worn by Marion Cotillard at the Golden Globe, I knew I wanted it bad. It was beautifully pleated, it was flowy, it was minimal! I already spoke with my designer and said I wanted something like this, but shorter - more like Cocktail Length and in an off-white or cream color. He said he can pull it off, and he’s going to have it specially pleated in Manila. Better yet, it was within my initial budget for my wedding attire which was Php 2,500.00!

Operation Diet, here I come! (fingers-crossed)

I couldn’t sleep last night, because I was visualizing a lot of things for the wedding. My mind was all moss green and gold, (plus I am thinking of adding touches of chocolate brown to it!) and I am still browsing my wedding magazines for more detailed ideas on table arrangements and stationeries. I am thinking of having everything personalized for every guest- the table cards, napkin binders, invitations and wedding gifts.

Still, the main problem is that the chapel and reception is not yet booked! Moe promised that we will be going soon after the storm gets out of our place’s vicinity, but I don’t trust it that much, knowing his tendency to not be in the mood for going out.

I, the bride, am ecstatic. Aren’t we all? But these grooms seem to be either indifferent or uninvolved. Well, sometimes they do, they can even be as agitated as us. But there are times when they just don’t get the hang of getting through every single detail. Most of the time, I present the details I want and he just approves (very nonchalantly). I am not misconstruing it as disinterest but mostly I would call it the “unmeticulousness”. He leaves planning all the details to me (for which I am a little thankful for deep inside). I still can not fathom how they can be that way though, but then, I guess most men are made to be Gestaltists by nature.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that he can find it in his toes to get us to Carmelite soon. I really mean soon. :-(

the rain.

So many friends and relatives to think about, but we really have to keep it simple… Now, who gets the Entrance Tickets?

Well, we are planning a very private family ceremony and dinner reception on the day of the wedding, and a post-wedding reception for our many other relatives and friends two days after, which actually falls on Moe’s birthday.

So far, for the main dinner-reception, our guestlist is already playing around 70 and I think I ought to stop soon. I already have both our immediate families and the closest friends covered. I don’t want to think hard too much about who to invite anymore, or I might over-invite.

I am turning 24 this month. My boyfriend, Moe, is 34. We’re going to get married in four months or so, and I wanted to make this blog to keep track of everything I am going to do for the wedding. :-) Don’t I look excited?

First thing about this wedding is that it is going to be utterly simple and intimate, just like the way we wanted it. I know it’s going to be a little anti-climactic because people on this side of the earth think that grand weddings are the best weddings. Well, I guess that will not work for us, because: 1. We do not like to invite people who don’t know the first thing about our relationship, or does not even know either of us personally. 2. We do not like to invite people who will not care about the wedding wishes, the slicing of the cake, the tossing of the bouquet, and even the first dance. We do not like to invite people who will leave right after dinner. We do not like to invite people whose names I can’t even remember. 3. We want to enjoy our wedding with the people closest to us. Weddings are supposed to be celebrations of love, with people that have shared your life story with you, people who will wish you well because they really do.

For now, we have not booked anything yet. But here’s an ideal picture of what the wedding would be:

1. an intimate dinner of about 60-70 carefully chosen guests (including immediate family and the closest friends)

2. three pairs of principal sponsors (the lesser, the better, and most definitely people who know about our love story in one way or another)

3. a best man and a maid of honor (we’re thinking of foregoing the rest of the entourage)

4. a moss green and gold color theme

5. a simple ceremony in a quaint chapel somewhere in Laoag (I don’t like long aisles. I want a chapel that will almost exactly fit 60-70 people, not too big, not too cramped.)

February 8, 2011, that is the target date. We have not booked any chapel yet, and I think I will try looking into the Carmelite Monastery next week. Momoy is still procastinating about it, which is something I expect because guys never care enough about wedding details. I want the date saved ASAP, since the 8th day of every month is most demanded for wedding dates. So I might go check on it alone.