For those who weren’t there, allow me to share this video so you can feel what we felt that day. If you were there, allow me to share this as well, so we may relive that happy day together.

Much love and gratitude goes to Daniel Lei Studios: Lei, Joannie, Pau, Remy and the rest of the crew, for the wonderful same day edit video and photos.

P.S.
No. Aki and Junpei did not get married. They were only cosplaying. So there.

But a random shopping errand at Rustan’s stopped me in my tracks. Red high-heeled Mary Janes from Melissa, WITH THE LITTLE PRINCE ON IT. I didn’t buy it right then and there, because I was apprehensive about the height of the heels. However, I couldn’t forget it–even after sleeping on it–so I came back and nabbed it the next day.

Seeing I bought a pair of fun shoes, John latched on the idea of wearing black chucks with red shoelaces. A friend mentioned the existence of Limited Edition Ramones Chuck Taylors. After searching for it online, I knew this was it.

Luckily, both styles were in stock locally. A black canvas, white toe sneaker and a black rumpled leather, black toe sneaker. Both had red lining and two sets of shoelaces–black and red. Choosing between the black canvas and the black leather was tough, but trying it on with his formal pants made it easier.

What did he end up getting? Well, I guess we’ll have to wait until Oct. 16 to find out.

After carrying their basket of flowers around, the little girls are rewarded with a stuffed animal they can keep for themselves. I’m sure the little girls love them. I know I would. So, off we went to shop for a stuffed animal for our flower girl, Astrud.

Little Shu and her persuasive arguments

On the way to the counter though, the little stuffed cow started staring at me. She said she was happy to be coming home with us, and was looking forward to making friends with the other cows in my collection. She wanted to stay for good.

Shu rallies Sophie to her cause

John saw what was happening. He knows me too well. So off we went, back to the shelf, grabbed another one and brought both to the counter. One for Astrud’s basket, the other for me.

Shu promises to help out.

No, I didn’t even dare to look at Cow #2.

More pics at Daniel Lei Studio’s blog.

Date: 18 September 2010
Location: Peria Residence, Muntinlupa + Green Heights Subdivision, Muntinlupa
Photographers: Daniel Lei Sarmiento + Joannie Candi
Hair & Make-up: Ces Guerrero + Albert

Big mistake! I was already good to go with a low-priced supplier during a fair even without a trial. But as they were offering to do a complimentary one right then and there, I tried it out. John, Chris and my mom tried to be constructive after they saw the final look, but the bottom-line was none of them liked it. It was too extreme, too not me. That was when I realized the importance of getting a good hair and make-up team, as well as the need to do a trial session.

Ces Guerrero came highly recommended by a work colleague who got her services for her own wedding a while back. I was a bit nervous before we started; I really wanted it to work out since I’m pressed for time and don’t want to have to look for more people. Fortunately, Ces is a dream. She managed to enhance my normal appearance, glamming it up a bit, without making me unrecognizable. It was still me underneath.

Albert, her stylist, had great suggestions on how to do my hair. Once again, nothing too drastic. We tried out a classic style for the wedding, then he redid my hair into something more casual for the engagement shoot we had planned later that day.

Best of all, everything stayed put even after hours of shooting. Just a few occasional dabs with blotting paper and I was all good. Even my lips managed to hang on to the lip-color, despite being subjected to food and drink.

With the trial session deemed a success, I can now stop worrying about make-up. I believe I’m in good hands with these two.

Photo by Chris.

Photo taken by Maid-of-Questionable-Honor Chris. Actual e-session pics to follow.

During times when they’d ask us to smile, we’d laugh. Ask us to act sweet, I’d hit John’s face with a book. Ask us to make funny faces at the camera and we’d stare blankly, having used up all the silly faces earlier. Nevertheless, it was a memorable day. We were with friends. We climbed a roof. We fought over ice cream. We threw ribbons at the sky. And we watched the sun go down, its rays glinting on wild grasses as they fluttered in the breeze.

You can’t find a better day to capture forever than this one.

Bouquet mock-up. Aki approves!

Two suppliers yet to be booked: Hair & make-up artist and church florist. After much dawdling, I seemed to luck out and found highly recommended individuals. Hope to finalize things by this weekend!

It’s not something I like to think back on. I was, after all, in cowprint pajamas, a wifebeater, an old dressing robe, and paper slippers. I had big fat rollers in my hair and thick powdery gunk on my face. We were celebrating Halloween with a costume party–I was trying to go for the Landlady from Kung-fu Hustle, only I couldn’t find an appropriate old fashioned white nightgown.

We were having a few drinks and a casual question from our friend Gino had John whipping out a small box with a ring inside. *facepalm* The details are fuzzy. I sincerely wanted the earth to swallow me up right then and there. What other girls see as the most memorable moment in their lives, I saw as the most embarrassing. Being in the center of attention while looking like something that rose from the grave is not something I’m comfortable with.

But I live to tell the tale. I’ve been wearing this simple silver band, studded with a discrete diamond, on my finger for close to 11 months now. In just a little over a month, another band will be joining this. Will I be able to stand having a gajillion people stare at me as I walk down the aisle? I sure hope so. At the very least, I know I won’t be caught with rollers in my hair.

Last minute much?

Well, it’s never too late to start. I just want something to look back on after all the preparation stresses are over.

Something to help us reminisce.

Something to put a smile on our faces.

Something to remind us what of what it was like, counting down to one of the biggest moments of our lives.