Monday, May 15, 2006

Wedding Kwento (Part 2)

I saw my sisters by the door of the church so I hand signalled to them to come near me (because I didn't want to go down the car unless it's time for me to walk down the isle already), they came to me and I asked them if everything's ok. My sisters looked at each other and said, "Ate, don't worry... nandito na lahat and the butterflies have been handed out" I smiled at them and said, "how can I not worry ang haba ng isle na lalakaran ko, baka matisod ako!", and we all laughed. I don't think I would ever forget that moment... when we were like schoolgirls laughing at a secret joke... A few moments later of the women who were helping out at the church aksed them to go inside and line up for the entrance of the entourage already. I took a deep breath and readied myself. I waited until the church doors were closed and the only people assisting me were the two women from the church. They kept reassuring me, I was beautiful and that everything was going to go smoothly. The nervousness came back as I heard the Canon in D being played. I was imagining my entourage walking down the isle... and then one of the ladies touched my arm and said, "it's time." So I took another long deep breath as they opened the huge church doors. As the first notes of the song "Hanggang May Kailanman" by Carol Banawa filled the church, I took my first step, and the second, and I went on walk down the red carpeted isle of St. Andrew's Cathedral... The church where my parents got married in, the church where I was baptized, the church I go to almost every Sundays and Wednesdays, the church where Charlie and I first heard mass as a couple. As I reached the middle of the long walk, my parents were there waiting to accompany me for the rest of the way. I clutched at my Dad's arm like it was a lifeline and felt my Mom's hand at my left elbow, here are the people I care about and who care about me and they are going to give me away to a person they have learned to trust... enough to entrust me...
wedding march
I saw familiar faces, faces of family and friends, I know I heard several words of encouragement and praise, but I can't remember who they were or what their exact words were... All I know is that I can feel everyone's happiness and love for us... I am now walking towards the man I will be one with for the rest of my life...
the groom
As I reached Charlie, he said "mano po" to my parents and my heart just swelled with pride and love for him even more... and then he took my arm and we walked towards the altar... he whispered something to me, I didn't quite understand so I looked at him and he was smiling from ear to ear... I smiled back and continued to walk on...
wedding ceremony
Rev. Fr. Albert Caballero started the ceremony...
wedding ceremony 2
and before you know it...
sealed with a kiss

(reception kwento to follow...)

Wedding Kwento (Part 1)

I woke up at around 6am, which is relatively early considering I'm not an early riser... excited?! Anyways, I felt like there were a million things I forgot to do or did wrong that I have to rectify before 4pm that day... Anyways, I proceded to what seemed like a tasteless breakfast (I was too jittery to even remember what it was!) and helped my mom arrange my gown and accessories at the bed. (BTW, the wedding preps took place at my grandfather's house nearby -a stone's throw away from our house) Then the HMUA arrived, my good friend Tata with his assistant (sorry dear, I didn't catch his name in all the confusion) Anyways, the make-up and hair-do sessions started right away (I guess it was already around 11am already by that time) and because our videographer arrived late I didn't have before and after pictures just the after the makeup... that's ok though... and of course when the videographer/photographer arrived they took charge of the scene... directing which stuff to put where and where to look and what to do and when to smile...

wedding HMUA

wedding videographer

mom & bouquet

wedding outfit details

As I prepared to go the church, the nervous jitters faded away and was replaced with excitement and happiness... the realization finally sank in... this was the day I was going to be united with a soul already linked to mine. Today, I'm going to say I do... today, I'm going to be a wife!

On the way to church, as I was in the bridal car with my mom (BTW, Thank you so much Tito Boy for providing the car and being the driver aside from being part of the Entourage as well!) Charlie and I kept on texting one another, "is everything ok?", "may kulang pa ba?", "nakuha ba ni rosebeth yung butterflies?"... when I think about it now, I cannot help but smile... slightly OC lang naman po because we did the preparation on our own... no wedding planner... not even an "on the day coordinator"... yes we assigned certain people to take care of things during the wedding but we couldn't help but be concerned...

Finally we arrived at the church and my mom went out of the car with Tito Boy to check on things... I was left alone in the car for several minutes... I said a little prayer "Thank you, Lord for this day... Thank you for giving me someone to love and marry, Thank you for all the people who are helping us make this happen... I just have one more thing to ask You... please Lord, don't make me trip when I walk down the isle.."

the church and more

(...to be continued)

Thank You

Sa lahat ng mga nakiisa sa isa sa mga pinakamasayang araw ng aming buhay, Maraming Salamat sa inyong lahat. Sa mga hindi nakarating , pero nagpahatid ng pagbati... hindi rin namin kayo malilimutan. Sana ay patuloy kayong maging tunay na kaibigan at karamay sa hirap man o ginhawa. Sa aking asawa... Hindi ko kailanman malilimutan ang kasiyahang naidulot mo sa akin nang pumayag kang maging kaisa ng aking buhay at habang buhay kong ipakikita sa iyo ang tunay na pagmamahal na nararapat lamang sa isang taong katulad mo. Sa mga sakripisyo at hirap na dinanas mo habang naghahanda sa ating kasal, maraming, maraming salamat. Hindi ko inaasahan na magiging ganoon kaganda at kasaya ang araw na iyon. Maaring may mga panahon na inakala mong wala akong interes sa paghahanda para sa araw ng ating kasal ngunit gusto kong malaman mo na buong puso ang pagtitiwala ko sa kakayahan mo, at totoo naman dahil higit pa sa aking inaakala ang naibigay mong kinalabasan... Wala na akong iba pang masasabi kundi "Salamat" at katulad ng pangako ko sa iyo bago pa man tayo ikasal... patuloy kitang mamahalin at susoportahan sa lahat ng bagay. Mahirap magsalita... ipapakita ko na lang sa'yo araw-araw ang tunay na pangako ng pagiging asawa.

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Dream Come True

I never imagined that almost all the things that I wanted for my wedding would come to life... but they did... here are some pictures as we await the official ones from Kilaidoscope... I just can't wait to show it!

Remember my post about what I'd want my bridesmaids to wear? Well here's what they wore:

maid of honor

O, di ba? I really got it... very minimal differences lang from what I originally envisioned it to be but all in all it was really satisfying to see the gowns that I wanted and even the color of the shoes that we found. The bouquet was a bit different from what I planned but then there was the budget constraint so... But I am really happy with the turnout!

Oh, and the butterfly girls, I wasn't able to post the look that I wanted for them but Esther of Esther's Fashion Designs really got it to the T! Even the pink and green flowerettes at the waist... I love it! And Acclaim provided the cute butterfly cages wherein we put two butterflies each, which the girls carried. (The girls couldn't take their eyes off the cages that they were carrying, by the way, hehehe!) The girls' headdress and wings we found at a store in divisoria.
butterfly girl

And the secondary sponsors' gown were equally followed as per my instructions. I really felt happy when I saw them... The simple design made the ladies all the more elegant and confident and they kept telling me that they felt comfortable in what they were wearing. Oh, and the matching shoes that we found at Suki was a last minute find but they were a bargain! I originally wanted wrist corasages for the secondary sponsors but the bouquet that they were holding were also pretty so that's ok.
secondary sponsors