2007 Feb: CNY VISIT & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Photographer (Main): P** U*
- got contract and photo package signed - Photographer (back-up): E**** B** E*******
- already decided and want to seal the deal; met him finally (!) and paid the deposit right there and then...super love this guy! - Viedographer: J**** M******
- picked up contract and sealed the package - Florist/Event Stylist: J** H**
- met him (finally also) and discussed ideas on the theme I wanted - Tux for groom: B******
- changed suppliers, decided to just have Ed's tux made by another supplier and we shall be asking the rest of our entourage to just wear a black suit so as to lessen the expenditures; Ed can have his tux made by a better tailer than the one I initially booked. Side-story below. - Orchestra/Band: D C***
- went to their performance and seemed to be fine; later also saw them at a wedding that E&I went to during my visit so the more we got to see how they are - Sounds M****** T**
- our MC will be able to handle this - Invitations: - W**** I*********
- met them immediately the day after I arrived so as to see if what I would like to do is feasible for them to make the closest exact replica for the VW invite - Wedding Cake: S********* C*** S***
- since I'm changing the motiff from ortiental to more european/morroccan, I'm looking for some other suppliers who would be different from the typical suppliers that can help me envision the cake that would set the whole mood of the wedding --> all with ma's help - Projector Rental - D*****
- added another projector as adviced by the event stylist and mother; one on each opposite sides - Pre-Cana Seminar @ Ateneo
- Ed and I finished this on the first weekend that I was there and we are progressing well in the church requirements after this big hurdle (8-5pm Sat & Sun for one weekend...very grueling if you ask E but for me...quite informative)
SOME SIDE STORIES:
a.) Tailor: J** C**** (initially) but now B****** (finally)
Good thing that my mom asked me use my dad's tux that was made by Jun as a basis if we would want to have him do the rest of our entourage. The price was a lot cheaper than the ones offered to me by other suppliers so I thought it would be a good choice especially since I have seen him at work with suits...how different could it be right?
How wrong I was! It was just wrong...even after I tried my best to describe what a real Z**** tux would be. Somehow it didn't even come close! I guess the cloth that he used for the shiny part doesn't match the matte cloth and somehow...the craftsmanship is not up to ordinary standards. It was very frustrating and even his inner shirt that my dad had to pay extra for was just a disaster! It seems more like a sleeping shirt than a tux shirt. Hay...super disappointing. I showed E and he was pretty disappointed too though he didn't tell me right out. He was able to wear the real thing here in HK so he would know the feel and fit more than me.
As per my mom's advice and through my own self-realization, it would best to just have a real expert tailor to make E's tux.
Mom did the original research for me before I got home and I loved the work of B****** and they work quite fast - two weeks lead time only and that included the fitting and alternations, if needed. I like the fact that there's a store we can go anytime to and see what they have available is quite a comforting thought. I bought E there to have a look and try on the sample tux and it fitted him well...very similar to the real Z**** tux. I guess that put some smile in his face though it's about the same price as what the tailor that he was referred to from the very beginning. The problem with this referred tailor is that it has been very hard to set an appointment with him and I think he would not to just do one suit for E. Hay...so to B****** was what E and I decided to have his tux with all it accessories made. It was easy to talk to the staff and they seem to really know their stuff well and give us advice on things. I love this a lot since men's apparel is a foreign language to me. :)
b.) 2nd Photographer: at first, none but now, going to be E**** B** E******* (!!)
I knew E**** early early on that I wanted him upon checking out his portfolio online. He was referred to me by my brother's wife since she mentioned that he's done a lot of magazine shoots and is known for wild and artistic shots. I inquired about pricings and told E to meet him up first to see his work and what he does. After E's visit and input, our decision to not take him was because he wouldn't be able to provide an album for us and handle the layout - as what he said to us - he's one lazy photographer; and that he didn't shoot digital. I don't know why but I felt really bad about not getting him...something was not right and I know that I would like this particular photographer to be part of the big day.
I was happy to learn that after a few more emails from him about his ever-changing packages, he has finally moved to digital and can provide albums now than just in a box! I was super happy to learn that he was still free on our big day and I quickly called E up to set-up another interview with him and this time, with me along!Upon the meeting day, I finally got to meet E**** B** E******* at his place and was met by a really pleasantly tall man. He very friendly, very open with everything he has done and was giving E and I advices. He told us that he can shoot a million photos and screen out the bad ones but not create an album for his clients. :P I instead went for a traditional one, which I realized that I would want some "art shoots" so I basically told E that we can forgo some stuff and get another photographer that would be "wild" and "creative with the shoots"...basically get E**** B**! I was basically visiting him to pay the deposit to seal our day with him - got my check ready by the time we did visited him. :) Super happy after paying him! Never though money out would make me so relieved. Hahaha!
c.) Florist/Event Stylist: J** H** (always and forever)
Finally met him! He's one jolly fellow indeed! We met at a coffeeshop and discussed the idea of a Morroccan motiff. I showed him what I wanted or have researched online. He got all excited and got the idea immediately - a "souk market" theme. It would have nuts, fruits, flowers and other things. This is perfect since E and I wanted out guests to have some snacks around the table that can serve as some sort of cocktails before dinner so as not to be too hungry, if dinner was to start a bit later. It's really cool and J** told me that he can find someone to fabricate the lamps that I would like as long as I get him some patterns to immitate. I can so love this guy! He was very accommodating even if my mom and I were getting conflicting suggestions. He was cool, calm and collected.
I know my mom had doubts on his abilities since we've seen too many of his work already and it would b a great refreshing idea to change his usual lanterns, drapes and crystial hangings...so this will surely be a challenge for him. :)
[Note: I met another event stylist, P***, before J** H** earlier since he is also a popular choice due to his over-the-top decor and vision - very cool though; but I find his pricings far higher and seem to be insisting on things that will not fit my color motiff. He was going to charge me so much just for decor/props and staging that it was crazy. I know it would fit the budget just fine but E and I think it's way and beyond reasonable ... and that's without flowers yet since I still wanted to keep me florist!]
d.) Invitations: - W**** I********* (Contact person: J***)
J*** and I have met quite a few times already since I've been changing the invite's style and look. Mom has seen her even more since she visits to "gently push" for a quotation and the feasibility of the invite that we have finally decided. J*** is very creative and is a very comforting character though at first, I think she was telling me that they couldn't do it. She somehow was able to show me some samples of how the design would be printed on the proper paper and how the design could be close but not exact. Atleast she is open to give it a try - she just needs to confirm with their printers and artist. I told her that if she pulls it off, she will have total bragging rights on it! I did most of the legwork of getting the photos, specs and design captured, and it's now up to her to see what she can do with the 3 hour research that I did at P******. I believe that this is the supplier that I'm currently stressing aside from maybe the event stylist/florist. I don't know if what I wanted is possible or is feasible for J***. It's quite nervewrecking actually.
e.) Photographer (Main): P** U*
Had to drag E to come with me and decide on the photo album package and meet P**. He's great and accommodating. I showed him some photos that I would like to have and do. Plus I would like a lot of candids and artistic shots. I also wanted to inform him that I have hired E**** B** as our back-up photographer so that should be quite interesting. :)
I also went to finalize the contract and requested so many things from him from the free CD to the free slide show. He's in the process of increasing his prices and will offering a different set of packages - more pick&choose than having all of them bunched together.
P** told us his would be schedule for that day and all...plus I requested him to have one photographer be at E's place on the day itself to get photos. P** also told us to let J** H** know asap of the motiff I would like so he can prepare or see what J** can do this early.
f.) Videographer: J**** M******
Got a good deal with this one. J**** still has not sent me the contract or show me what the contract would be. I was advised by P** U* to better get all the contracts and packages down before suppliers change their pricings for 2007. That same day, I quickly texted J**** and told me that my contract is still pending even if I already paid him the deposit late year. He informed me that he will send it to me via email when he gets his connection...which I was thinking might be forever! So, I proactively just called his office and requested to passby to pick-up the contract that was rightfully due to me. Good thing that his wife is in the office and was able to help me. I was able to get a better deal than before since the price that I was quoted included more freebees in it and was initially indicated so that's always good. :)
g.) Orchestra/Band: D C***
This was E's job...checked them out at their usual performance and it's what I wanted to have - lots of music and hardly any singing. :) The contact person was pretty friendly too! Great job, E! Paid the downpayment and signed the contract. All's well!
This has to be one of the tough part...good thing that I had someone I know to go with - E's the one! :) It was a lot of information all squeezed into two very full days. There were a lot of couples going through the seminar since it's a Church requirement and there are the rare ones that go into these seminars to see if there is any potential in the relationship they are in. You see a lot of people in all walks of life there. We tried to make friends but I think it's was tough since you only have two days to really bond and some aren't really into the friendly thing going. You really see that a lot are doing this not for making friends, but more for getting the certificate. The nice thing about this particular seminar is that it's not a stay-in seminar and it's on a weekend. It makes it a lot easier.
The seminar topics are quite helpful and do try to sort out topics and issues that some marrying couples should be tackling amidst all the wedding plans. It's a lot of information overload but E seems to be bored out of his mind while I was being the studious self and kept on taking down notes into the course pack that was provided.
With regards to topics and issues for a would-be marrying couple, I appreciate that E and I do talk about these things early on in our relationship. We have sorted out a lot of things and do have our "fights" on certain issues we aren't willing to give up on. I have heard stories that there are couples who are so in-love and going all the wedding plans but when it came time to get the seminar requirements done, they have a issues not sorted out yet and somehow break-up in the process. I can see why - the questionnaire that E and I were asked to fill-up is pretty intense in certain topics. I can foresee the money issue since a lot of fights come from this.
So what other issues could E and I have...there were a few but basically it's "In-Laws" and "Living Arrangement" for us. I realized that I'm an "absolute" person while E's a "conditional" person with regards to answering the questions.
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Things we've learned:
(1) Our Language of Love: E's physical touch while mine's gifts
(2) Love Tank & How to Fill It: E's favorite topic
(3) Empathy and Communication
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On further observation - I think this is a very important component that I really appreciate of the Catholic Church since it weeds out the potential idea that wedding vows can be broken and that divorse is an option in entering matrimony.
This particilar seminar includes the Family Planning Lecture so it would be even more convenient to file our marriage license with the local city hall when the time comes since we wont' need to take it anymore! We will just need to contribute a donation to the office and that's it.
The seiminar ended with a mass and it was really nice to be with E together for mass without him going all crazy and talkative. I guess he knows that he can easily be spotted. Now I know that he can do it. I hope he'll be able to do it as have a healthy catholic practice...oh...and that he can do it on the big day. :)
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