Our Wedding Orchestra...

Today, I finally sealed the deal with Maestro Johnny John Santos. Known to many as the very sought-out musical director of Studio 23, I've seen him play at my friend, Eden Estornino's wedding once and I fell in love with his music instantly.  He was also the one who played at the Santiago-Barreto nuptials at Tagaytay, one of his many celebrity weddings on list.  Needless to say, I have big faith in this man.

Mommy and I dropped by his place at Multinational Village to sign the contract. I got a string quartet, with him to personally play the piano on our big day and also two singers that he would pick himself, assuring me that I will have the nicest music on that day...

I am still ecstatic as I am writing this. One supplier down!!! Super!

The Pillow Box & Arrhae...

As usual, while Mommy and I were malling, we found ourselves heading to the Wedding Library Shop. It has always been fascinating to check out their wedding accessories. Today, I got myself a cute heart-shaped pillow box filled with laces on top. It was so cute I couldn't resist it. I also got a Unity Candle though I have no idea how to incorporate it in the ceremony.

Now I'm confused on what pillow to use on our wedding day. Leih already bought a pillow for the rings with a special fairytale pumpkin coach in the middle so we might just use my pillow for the arrhae. My mother-in-law  had her collection of coins gold-plated for us just in case we decide to use it. I was also thinking of using my mom's heirloom arrhae but when I saw this set,  I instantly fell in love with it.

I may have to start controlling myself from getting more stuff or I'll end up filling one room with accessories.. Now, how do I do it again? (^_^)

Wedding Give-Aways...

Christmas has arrived early at my doorstep. 

Today, I got Leih's Christmas gifts which included a new pink Dell Laptop and a Technomarine Designer watch. (Yeah, am spoiled silly)... He also got Zach "overflowing" food treats. But what got me excited the most was seeing our give-aways neatly stacked underneath the clothes.

We ordered our give-aways since October from David's Bridal. We both chose the design for the item and their boxes.


As soon as I fixed the contents of the packages, I happily assembled all our give-aways. It was tedious putting all the tags on each item but it was fun.

Leih said that he felt overwhelmed when he saw our "wedding items"... Now I know what he means...

My Do-It-Yourself Flowergirl's Tin Buckets

I just finished my first DIY project for our wedding...

Tadaaaa!!!! Presenting my very own creation~~ our flower girls' pail buckets!!  . I plan on putting some flowers and  teddy bears on these pails so the children could enjoy the toy afterwards.

Instead of the usual woven basket or flower-balls, I chose to use tin buckets that I got from SM Department Store. I spray-painted them with metallic lavender color to match our motif. After the paint dried off, I carefully embellished the pails with purple beads that I got from the craft store. The pink ribbons on the handles followed next. I'm even thinking of putting butterflies on the handles for a finishing touch.

I can almost imagine how this will look on our wedding day... My excitement just escalated a few notches with this one. =)

My Beautiful Diamond Wedding Ring...

We have yet to choose our own wedding bands when Leih comes home next year but he insisted on giving me a special wedding ring he saw at a jewelry store I would rather not disclose the name. 
When Leih sent me this picture, I was just blown away at how beautiful my ring is...

It had an intricate design, with 17 full round cut diamonds on the center, studded with 74 single round cut diamonds on the outside. It is just overwhelming.

He wouldn't tell me how much he spent on it but I have a feeling I might gag if I find out so I thought to just go with the flow.

He'll be sending the ring through his aunt, Tita Chichi who will be coming home next month. =)

My Birthday Surprise!!!

I wear two rings to work everyday. One was an heirloom gift handed down to me by my Grandmother, and the other, a gold ring given by my dad when I graduated from college. But now, I may have to schedule which to wear as I got another one from Leih in addition to the birthstone ring his mom gave me a week ago.

Leih surprised me with two birthday cards, a small blow-out feast and a gallon of special strawberry ice cream, all delivered to my workplace by (again), my future mom-in-law, Nanay Lut. My mom cooked spaghetti and we wolfed down an array of yummy pastries from Bread Talk and Bizu.

Leih's gift was placed in a sheer lace, cradled in a small heart-shaped box. He was making me guess what his surprise was and I had a hint it would be a jewelry of some kind. What i received overwhelmed me much as it had a glistening 1.5 carat princess cut diamond on the centert, and 5 small diamonds on each side. Leih saved up to get me this, (God knows how long)...




There were no flowers today which is a first. I am not complaining though. There's nothing else that I would have wanted than this.

Happy Birthday to me!!!!!

My Opal Ring From Momma-in-Law

I am one lucky girl, and I mean it!!!

Today, my soon-to-be Mother-in-law gave me a small silver box containing an opal ring, my birthstone. It was her birthday gift to me. Since it was also Amaya's town fiesta, she dropped by our place to hand us over some food.



I must admit, I am dearly touched by my mom-in-law's gesture. She believes it would give me good luck.

I can feel how much she cares for me and Leih. I just feel so overwhelmed. My birthday hasn't arrived yet but it seems I have lots more to look forward to!

Valentines In August

I felt like a kid this morning. You would think it was my birthday, only, it isn't.

Leih sent a big box full of heart-shaped balloons with an air pump via LBC. A man handed me over the package as soon as I arrived at the office. My office mates were giggling as we pumped air into each balloon. It was clearly Valentines in August for the bride-to-be...

So sweet... It may simple but it was enough to put a smile on my face... Enough said. =)

Leih's Long Distance Proposal....

8Warning: Below is the conversation we had as saved on YM, recounting how Leih proposed marriage on the eve of April 20, 2008.

It took me quite a while before I realized I just got engaged!

I don't know how it happened. It went by so quickly. It was almost 10:00 in the evening and I was on YM with Leihson when out of nowhere, an email was forwarded to my inbox from a certain Ms. Alvarez. Leih asked me to open it, and so I did. I was obviously clueless as to what it contained and my eyes almost popped out as I read it... It was a confirmation of a wedding reservation for a December 5, 2009-wedding at Fernbrook Gardens, on the line adjacent to the Bride's Name was MY NAME!!! I was speechless for 5 minutes. I mean, you don't get proposed to very often at an untimely hour like this, right?

this is where I'll say  "I Do"...

 Here goes our detailed conversation...

Leih: Mahal, ito yong suprise na gusto kong ibigay sayo.. Di ko alam ano sasabihin mo pag natanggap mo na yong contract by mail. We've always talked about how we both want a beautiful wedding. Since mahilig ka sa mga fairytales, gusto ko bigyan ka ng wedding na di mo makakalimutan. Ayha, ano? Will you marry me?

Leih: buzz.... buzz... buzz... Mahal, are you still there?

Leih: Mahal, yong date na pinili ko, matagal pa naman. Pwede mo pa pag isipan, wag ka muna tatanggi ha. Mahal are you still there?

Leih: buzz... buzz... buzz...

Ayha: ha? e teka muna, pwede ba uminom muna ako ng tubig. Nagpapalpitate ako Leih. Jusko naman... Bigla bigla ka naman kase.

Leih: Sige sige, hintayin kita. Nasakit ba dibdib mo? Sorry mahal. Hindi ko naman kaw gusto mabigla.

Ayha: Ayos ka din naman e, sino ba di mabibigla nito? tsk tsk tsk... Teka nga, pano mo to nakuha? (I was referring to the confirmation). San ba ito? Bakit parang di ko pa to naririnig?

Leih: Nakita ko yang site na yan nong isang araw. Nagtatanong tanong na nga ako ke Bibsy dati pa. Nung nakausap ko yong AE, e di nagbayad na ko ng half. Nasend ko na sa bangko ung payment. Ginagawa pa lang yang Fernbrook, sa December pa ang unang event na mangyayari dyan kaya by next year mahal, magandang maganda na yan. Pwede mo din puntahan, baka magkaevent ka din dyan, malay mo.

Ayha: Teka teka teka.... bayad na kamo??? Magkano ba binayaran mo dito???

Leih: Wag mo na yon intindihin Mahal. Tanong ko lang, papakasalan mo ba ko? uuwi ako agad, pramis.

Ayha: Nyek. E magkano nga, daliii!!!

Leih: 70k.

Ayha: Shet... 70k??? Full payment?? (Ayha muntik nang mahulog sa upuan)

Leih: Half lang.. Pag pumayag ka na, yong other half, papadala ko na sayo para ikaw na maghand over don ke Ms. Alvarez, tapos ikaw na pipili ng ibang details. Papasama na lang kita ke Beegel kase sa Daang-Hari daw yan. Ano, will you marry me?

Ayha: shet, 70k? kakahinayang naman. Bakit ganon kamahal? binili mo na ba yan? susme.

Leih: Mahal, if ayaw mo pa, di naman kita pipilitin. Ipapalagay ko na lang na natalo ako sa poker. Pero me ilang buwan ka pa para pag isipan yan. Dec. next year pa naman yan. Ke Jason Magbanua rin nagdown na ako. (nyahahaha)

Ayha: huwaaaat??? huwaaaat??? Seryosooooo???? shet shet shet...

Ayha: grabeeeee.... teka teka, di ka ba nagbibiro? Hmmm??

Leih: Di nga. Ano???

Ayha: E pero bakit ganon price? di ka kaya niloko dito? E mas mahal pa to ng di hamak sa Tagaytay Highlands e... di mo naman ako sinimplehan, nanghihinayang naman ako Leih. di na yon marerefund?

Leih: Di na e. ayaw mo ba dyan? Seriously?

Ayha: E teka, titingnan ko muna... (Browses the site which was then under construction)

Ayha: Ang ganda naman nito... Gusto ko yong background music...

Leih: Nyek. yon nagustuhan mo? O pano na Mahal? Set na tayo?

Ayha: Beh , o sige na... isend mo na yong other half... Nagbayad ka na e. hehehe

Leih: Talaga?? yehey! Wala nang urungan yan ha. Idedemanda kita pag inurungan mo pa ko.. bwahahaha. Ang nakakaalam pa lang nyan si Eric.

Ayha: Loko ka, sana tinanong mo muna ako. Ikaw na nagdecide saan tayo ikakasal. Saka yong date, bakit December 5? Anong meron sa 5?

Leih: E Sabado kase yon. First Saturday of December. Madali daw makuha kaya pumili ka na agad ng oras at venue. Lakarin mo na this week.

Ayha: Teka naman, ang bilis. Beh pano ko pupunta don? Di ko naman yan alam.

Leih: Email ko Bugs, (Beegel) pasama ka kina Ichie.

Ayha: Pero thanks ha, didn't expect this talaga.. ang ganda naman nong place..

Leih: Shempre. Minsan lang yan. Dapat the best. =)

That night, I slept with a lot of things in mind. Didn't know how to tell the news to my mom and dad... I also had to go to Fernbrook a week after to actually see the place and sign some papers that would make our reservation complete. Ito na ang start ng long preps ko.. I am so excited... I can't believe it's my turn now to plan my own wedding!!!!

Mom & I Attend The Bridal Fair

Mommy and I just came from the SMX Bridal Fair... I am exhausted but my excitement has never left me...

Don't get me wrong, this isn't the first time I attended one. Being a coordinator myself, we have gone to a few bridal fairs for our clients, but this is indeed the first time that I went to one for myself. That made all the difference.

As expected, it was a carnival of wedding suppliers. Bridal fairs are a big help to planners and brides alike as we get good discounts on services, not to mention the freebies and the possibility of winning a honeymoon getaway or a free bridal car.. The offers are endless... You'd just wish you brought in more money with you as you'll get lured with every booth you visit.

another bridal fair I'm looking forward to

I'm grateful that Leih was ever supportive of my ideas. He gave me the go signal to choose the suppliers I want, as long as the budget permits. If it happens to be way out of budget, we could always talk it over and work something out. Either way, I am just thankful.

It was also a great bonding moment for me and my mom who was just giddy as I was. She has always been my shopping buddy, movie-date, bestfriend all rolled into one. Who would be best to tag along in this special day if not for my mom, right?

There are a few more fairs in the next months.. That gives me more reason to be excited!

Peach/Orange American Roses...

I got three dozens of deep orange American roses today from Leih... Just this week, I was thinking, "Ano kaya mababago now that we got engaged?"... Normally kase, once a guy gets the girl to say yes, some things start to change. The "ligawan" factor tends to shift slightly to almost non-existent as the couple start to put their attention to the wedding preparations that make them forget the "small things"....

I hope Leih doesn't change... I hope he remains to be the thoughtful and sweet guy I've always known him to be... I hope he stays this way forever...

Ten Facts About Ayha...

Each blogger must post these rules.
Each blogger starts with ten random facts/habits about themselves.
Bloggers that are tagged need to write ten facts about themselves.
You need to choose ten people to tag and list their names.
Oh well.... Here goes the ten facts about me... 

1. People call me Ayha but that is actually far from my real name. My grandmother, "Mama" gave me that nickname.... =)

2. I had two relationships in the past, and an "almost official bf" but all three remained platonic til the end. (if you know what I mean). Some people wonder how my relationships lasted for years without "it". Call me a stuck up prude for not believing in pre-marital sex but this is who I am. This also explains why I'm kinda uneasy when the topic "wedding night" comes in. whew. =)

3. Eating is not my hobby, rather it is my passion. (hihihihi)I love to eat anything that fancies my palate. Pero pinakapaborito ko ay cakes, sweets and anything with cheese and bacon on it.... haaaaaaaaay..

4. I have practically embedded in my brain the best spots in the malls. Though I'm a wise spender and I always try to be, I think I occasionally cross over to the "dark side" when I run into shoes and clothes.. Well, who doesn't, right?

5. I am so inlove with weddings... Everything that involves it excites me, pati "pre" at post events, pati na yong mga DIY projects.. I never get tired of going to bridal fairs... I never get bored watching bridal shows.. I even used to watch the defunct "THE NEWLY WEDS" and "I PROPOSE". I'm simply addicted to weddings... That is why I decided to pursue Wedding & Events Coordination... This is what I love to do...

6. I am into flowers, chocolates, surprises, letters, cards and cheesy lines. I still believe in the customary Filipino courtship.. Consider me a traditional pinay romantic. =)

7. I have more than 5 best friends, majority if which are already living abroad. This makes me a little sad that those closest to my heart are now miles away from me and probably won't be able to make it on my wedding day.. 

8. The thought of dying and losing my family scares me most. I have no idea how to take things if that happens...

9. I love my doggie "Zach" a.k.a. "Abebe", a.k.a. "Potato," a.k.a. "Abolotbot" soooooo much... He is a shih-tzu, anak sya ng dog na gift sa akin ni Leih. I delivered this pup with my bare hands kaya simula pa nang lumaki sya, naalagaan ko na sya. Zach has many names but what's weird is, he responds to whatever name you call him. Mahal na mahal ko ang baby ko na to.. SOBRA....

10. I love kids but I'm terrified with the idea of giving birth. Pero I want to have 2 daughters in the future. I'm sure that when that time comes, I'll be ready for it....

There you go.. Now I want to tag all of my w@w sisters here... =) cheers to us all!!!!