Notes

I heard about Mr. Jaime Tee from a good friend of mine, Malou, from GMA 7. I searched for him in W@W directory and emailed his availbility.

I was happy that he is stil available on our day, plus, I even liked more that he even checked my Multiply site. It was something that I thought was very personal. It is true what they say that the couple should have a good rapport with the photographer. Even with my mere inquiry, Mr. Tee took the time to know who is asking for his services.

Manila Meeting

We finally met Mr. Jaime Tee in his office and showed his works. We liked all of them. It was just sad that Mauro is not really into pre-nuptial photos but I know Mr. Jaime would understand.

What I also liked about Mr. Jaime is that he is very nice, seems easy to work with!! I always check his Multiply site for updates. :)

Notes

Days before we travelled to Manila, I googled Imacron. It was really nice to hear good reviews about the team. What made me confused was Imacron based in the US or in Manila? Whatever...Filipinos are behind Imacron. Talk about Filipino talent - made me proud.

Anyway, in one morning of our 10-day Manila trip, we met Imacron's boss, Dominic Velasco. He is a real cool guy! One of the unforgettable thing about him was when I naively asked him "Why Imacron?" And he said that an angel came to him in a dream..blah blah..The guy has a self-effacing sense of humor :-)

Mauro and me watched most of his sample videos and we told him what we wanted. We are getting the Director's Collection, a bit steep, though, it would be Dominic who will be making the actual videos and we know it is worth it.

PS: We were too engaged in watching his sample videos that we forgot to have a photo with him.

Notes

I have not met Mr. Paulo Clemente but when I checked out his website I learned that he was a member of The Tux and I loved them (I love acapella music, too).

Teena recommended him and I did not doubt of having him to be our wedding singer and emcee.

Manila Meeting

We finally met Paulo and also tried to see his actual performance. He is funny with really, really cool and deep voice!! Just hearing his CD sampler for 1 second gave me goose bumps! Thanks to my Dad who taught me to appreciate Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole's music - I am so sure he would also love Paulo! He could belt out like Pavarotti - it made Mauro enjoy him more!

Aside from being an amusing human being, what is also fascinating is that he knows his craft well, he asked me if I could send him a CD of "How to speak Italian" and said that he will try to learn at least 10 phrases for the wedding!

Truly, that is Paulo with a "U"! Cin Cin!

Notes

I met Michelle Lim on my third day in Manila and I know she will be my gown maker - even if I have not met her.

A part of me is saying that I just really want to get it done with (since we have only 10 days in Manila), however, there is something about her that makes me confident that she will make my gown the way I like it!

Just like any other bride, I want the best gown that would highlight my best features which are quite limited, if not nil!

During our meeting, I learned from Michelle a lot about the best design suited for my physique. I was surprised that she suggested something "sexy" (not because I am - just limited vocabulary, hehe).

Michelle was excited about making my gown. I am not adept with fabrics but she will be making a new fabric for me that would work well with my color motif. I am confident that I will have the gown I wanted because Michelle knows in which design and color I would look good on plus the fabric she will make is something different this time. I am indeed blessed to have this opportunity (in the most important phase in my life) to work with a designer who is sincerely thrilled with their creations. I say blessed since it did not come cheap, "no be small" as they say in Pidgin English.

It is the "something new and different", I guess, that designers like Michelle, are excited where they could also harp on another facet of their talent! 

It may sound cliche but it is indeed something different and new.

Notes

New Yorker will be making the female entourage gowns. Tina is the first supplier we met, on our first day in Manila! She was really nice as well as the Mom. I mentioned my concerns about the designs since most of the members of my entourage are not Filiipinos. She helped us picked the fabric that would match our color motif of gold and bronze. She says that the best fabric would be taffeta - something metallic. She prepared about 12 designs for all the members to choose that would fit various shapes and sizes plus something that they could wear for any formal event aside from my wedding since we are giving these gowns as a gift.

New Yorker is one of the favorite supplier in Weddings at Work, so I know my entourage members would love the gown! Good quality, world class!!

Notes

Even if I have not met Teena, I know she is recommending the best suppliers. There were no alternatives and options - 92 AD. We booked them immediately.

It is quite odd for me to swiftly book the emcee and singers but it took me some time to choose the videopgraohers and photographers!!

Our Manila Trip

We watched how 92AD perform in Church, I am not sure if it was because I was starving but when I heard them sing the Alleluia - "ok, let's go! They are good!" We have not met them since I really wanted to eat already but I know they will perform very well during our wedding and our foreign guests would be impressed!

Notes

We consider food as one of the most important part of the wedding. Mauro and me made sure that we tried the food that will be served during the wedding. Josiah's, through Happy, was very nice to allow us to have a second food tasting session. As of this writing, we still have not finalized the menu but we have a fairly good idea on what to get.

Notes

Our first day in Manila, Teena already asked me to meet her on that day and since we were in Makati we obliged to. She already scheduled two meetings!!

We met Tita Beth in Starbucks for the first time and already has her sample centerpiece to be used for the wedding (I am limited to say what it is to give you a surprise on the wedding day) and I was impressed with her preparedness!

She told us that she really wanted to rest on the day of our wedding but because of our wedding theme, she wanted to be part of it and we felt really good about it.

Tita Beth has sincere passion in her craft and we cannot wait how she will make our wedding!

Notes

My make-up trial with Lanie was a bit fun and challenging for her since it was scheduled at 8am in Alabang which is about 40 kilometers from my folks' place (Marikina). She arrived on time and I was late!! The challenging part is that she has to make me look "pretty" with puffed eyes due to lack of sleep (Mauro and I sleep between 1-3am every night!).

She was too nice to allow me to have breakfast (McDo) even I was so late. She had a lot of suggestions for the wedding as well - quasi wedding consultant!! We also liked her personality, nice, sincere, very professional and most of all - fun!!

Mauro and I liked the make up and we observed how I looked the entire day - I was still wearing them until 10pm!

Notes

We shopped in major malls in Manila and found the ring in Alabang!! For 3 times, we have to wake up early (6am even with jet lag and hang-over - tough combo, huh?!) to avoid the traffic to go to her shop.

Mauro and me decided to get the ring from Ding Velayo in Alabang - Jade was so nice to assist us in the details and made the ring in 2 days! It was her personal attention to us coupled with Velayo's reputation made us choose them.

It was interesting that we met Jade twice and it was after my trial make up...she liked the second make up.

The last day we met was in Greenhills to pick up the ring on the day we are travelling. She personally brought the ring with her. Again, personal attention - it really made us feel special. Cheers to you Jade and to your warm and pleasant staff!

Notes

I hope I could say more about them. Really have not met them, though, they seem to be fast in replying to queries..

We will meet them in December during the tasting session...and of course, that would be for the margarita.

Notes

Notes

Mauro and me have stayed here before on his second trip to Manila and also to make it closer to the office where I used to work before I left for Lagos.

We got a bedroom suite to stay after the wedding party. Compare to the hotel next door, I just like their spacious rooms!

Notes

I am one of the silent members of the group. I used to be a bit active, though, work have been too much that I have to select only a certain time of the day to check the e-group's messages. I met a couple of nice people online, gave suggestions and ideas.

The group has its own lingo, was a bit confused at first but you get the hang of it.

W@W is part of our Crew and they are free!! Yes, we never paid them for all the ideas and friends we met along the way.

Well done, John and Benz in putting up this site - indeed, helpful for Filipin couples based in Philippines and overseas.

Notes

Being based overseas is not easy to decide as to who or which coordinator to get. I shortlisted about 5 coordinators and e-mailed them with test questions. Teena gave me the right answers - brief and precise. Also, I liked her website.

I asked around if someone knew her, there were none. Until I asked one of my best friends who happen to have a cousin who is a florist and told me that 'yes, she has met Teena..' I only needed one person to affirm her existence in the industry so to speak.

I spent a lot of phone credits to make overseas calls to various coordinators for 3 weeks. Mauro wanted to hire any coordinator in order to get it done with and soon! He says that I am just unnecessarily prolonging it. I assigned a certain day to finalize the coordinator, I dialed Teena's number and she answered. We chatted online and nicely assisted me with my queries on the venue.

After 2 weeks, we finalized the contract.