Photo Selection + Layout Review

Finally it's the photo selection and followed by layout review.... Was soooo excited for it BUT it's kinda like a disaster for us 😅

1. Out of 175 Photos, we can only choose 35 (About a quarter only) and all photos are so nice!

Controlling myself not to top up for additional photos... we short listed to 50+++ photos and was Quoted a "discounted rate" of $2000 for additional 15+ photos... Die also must reduce to 35! And because of that, the salesgirl who attended to our photo selection turn straight to black face when we told her we don intend to top up.. Meh~~~

2. Have to give up some nice photos as there are only 1 or 2 pieces that we like out of the whole series. (as what they said, need to have 1 whole set of the same backdrop or theme a page to make the album pages look good.)

3. Realise some editing errors such as colour disoriented AFTER reviewing it at home.

4. Realise they put in 1 wrong photo AFTER reviewing the album layout at home.

Quickly messaged the boss before they send it for printing.. luckily I like to see my photos again and again... ah bo print already too late.... Heeeeee😁

The vendors must have hated me for being a OCD Bride. Once seen cannot be unseen man.... But I earned 1 edited photos for free because of their own error 😁

Sometimes i would complain that there are too little choices... but this time i would complain for too much choices and i had a headache trying to make my own decision... so end up i let my mum make the decision instead 😂 Photo frames, pictures to be printed for table top and the main portrait etc.

My Photos selected in hard copy, non edited already so nice, after edit it will be even more awesome right? I nv felt myself so pretty in my whole life LOL *thick skin* And seriously 35 pcs is definitely NOT ENOUGH! Should have bargained for more before signing up... Haizzzz...

Photoshoot Day

Despite previous hiccups on the venue closure and appointed MUA being not available on my photoshoot day, it was a fruitful and enjoyable experience having the first photoshoot of my life (and also the prettiest day of my life)

How should I begin? I felt like a queen, princess and a celebrity within a day... hahahahaha....

The studio was super nice! with multiple themes and I personally love the Japanese sakura backdrop and the fairy light theme... they are sooooooo dreamy! Guess i will select plenty of photos from these theme, LOVE IT!

Our selected outdoor shoot was in Garden by the Bay and Marina Barrage (unexpected as it rained at the later part of the photoshoot), reason being, it has aircon!!!!! cannot stand this super hot weather under the sun sweating with gown and makeups on... BUT! it was soooo crowded... to the point that I felt like I am the centre of attention.. There are kids shouting "妈咪！有新娘！新郎看新娘！", there are people who congratulating us and unexpectedly someone who actually wanted to take photo with me. LOL! I still remember she came to say "can I take photo?" and I actually thought she wanna take photo with the waterfall backdrop till she grabbed my arm and smiled brightly at her camera man aka her boyfriend.. trying to hint her boyfriend perhaps? LOL

First, I must say that Shayla (my MUA of the day) is very good at highlighting my best feature on my face and making me the happiest little girl on my photoshoot day and also great thanks to the photographer who dealt with the 2 blur cocks who suddenly lost their sense of directions when instructed to tilt left and right, turn left and right... nose to nose... I hope the photos turn out well *fingers crossed*

Thanks to Ivy who helped us throughout the photoshoot.. And also special thanks to my brother who drove us around even though he had no confident in driving in town area... and Ahem! he actually asked me to drive back to bridal studio in Kwa... Just imagine if its in the middle of the night... LOL

The whole photoshoot was pretty fun! The photographer actually wished me good luck when he saw my actual day gown as its very heavy *eyes rolling*

Damn.... I missed my Photoshoot already....

Planned Chinese Wedding all within 3 days unexpectedly!

After long wait, my wedding plans finally started.

Previously I talked about the wedding packages we took from Beautiful Love Wedding.

Then we also took a package from Mambostevie for his videography and photography services, he's a really nice guy with his excellence team! Check out his services as well if you needed the services! I took a package of 3 in 1 service from him and the price is very reasonable :)

So what happened after that? the wedding called off due to personal reasons, some of the deposits were forfeited, but we are lucky enough that we have kind and nice vendors who held on our deposit and waited for our right time to get married, much much appreciated!

First, me and my mum picked a date, as my parents deemed I am too old to not get married, I mean... Really??? I know it's a sooner or later thingy that will happen to me and it will be my turn some day... But i didn't expect the whole "plan" to be done within 3 days, from picking dates, to contact Videographer & Photographer to settle down with the wedding venue... Poof! all done just before I set off to Thailand for a vacation. Am I dreaming or not?

On the picking of dates part, me and my mum decided not to approach anyone on the picking of dates, cos we believe in 1 thing, no matter which dates we gonna choose, it doesn't mean that our marriage will definitely be a success or a failure, it all depends on how we manage the marriage... Actually this is one of the rare times in which we agree in common things, hahahaha...

She even chose a date that was in 2018 and I'm like.... time is no enough! So I requested for a date in 2019, more time for me to go on diet ya?

So we roughly find out a few dates and decided that 29 June 2019 is the best date.

My mum requested for a full vegetarian banquet which is highly challenging... We have very few choices and hotels cater to more than 20 tables... where I gonna find all the people to fill in the seats wor??? So kinda giving up the idea on hotel banquets.... But!! I must say Stevie (our photographer+videographer vendor) is our LUCKY STAR!!!

18 March 2018
Contacted MamboStevie to confirm our dates and timing to him so as to book him in waaayyyy advance (Kiasu abit). Met him in person at Furama Riverfront Wedding Show.... after some talk with him, he introduced his friend who is a wedding manager in Furama Riverfront to us.... and guess what? This hotel holds minimum 12 tables and we fall in love with the venue almost immediately!!

High Ceiling, long aisle, look very spacious and no blocked view at all tables, the 12 tables will be distributed in straightline at 2 sides of the aisle and the whole feel is awesome!! Can say is a love at first sight! and their package not too bad, best part is, they allowed us to change the non-alcoholic beverages (in vegetarian menu) to free flow alcohols (wines, beers and liquors) at no extra cost! AWESOME!!!

On top of that, they gave us free honeymoon package to Bali!!! 3 days 2 nights stay plus massage.. 2 nights stay in their bridal suite instead of 1 night.... Woooooo.... What else can we ask for? The package is sooo perfect that we have nothing else to bargain for!

So after some negotiation with my parents, we decided to take up the package :) Fast and SWEET!

The plannings are smooth so far... hopefully everything will go on smoothly as it is!

Our House Progression

Haizzzz.... to me ROM is "permission to get a house" instead of "Registry of Marriage"... Oh well... after months of struggling with the grants and running in and out of HDB... we finally started our renovation and these are the progress :)

 

Picture speaks a thousand words and I can't wait for it to be finished!

Post Proposal Reflection~

Many asked me... What did I see in my boyfriend aka current husband (according to law)?

Negative comments were given within these 5 to 6 years of relationship...

1. When you guys have baby... will the people around thought that your husband is the child's grandpa?
2. Will he be able to accompany you till you get old?
3. He's too childish/immature for his age.
4. He don't earn much (much as in more than $5000 per month in "my ex friend" point of view)

Despite all these.... I hereby explain.... what do I really see in him

1. He dotes on me (Many couples don't see that as the most important point.... but what's the point of having a boyfriend/husband that doesn't dotes on you?)
2. He loves me whole heartedly (Too many couples who don't really love each other whole heartedly.... E.g. even when they have a boyfriend/husband... They still trying to seek for more "excitement"... I do not have to worry about him going out to seek attention from other girls)
3. He's caring, kind and thoughtful... (He helped the elderly in anyways when he saw them in need of help while other "high class office workers" whose eyes are on top of their heads will just turn a blind eye on them... sometimes... when these "humans" saw my boy helping the elderly... they will give that disgusted look.... and I would like to say.... what's wrong with you guys? or something wrong with your eyes????)
4. He always tries his best to make me smile (and that supports the "too childish" and "immature" saying of my friends... Who wants your bf to pull a long face in front of you? In fact I am the one who will pull a long face in front of him... so won't it be worst if he gives back the "mature" and "pull a long face" 

In anyway... he's a caring and lovable hubby... and that's enough :) 

Note to him: Earn more money and be more romantic hor!

About Me and My Fiancé

On 18 March 2009, I met my Fiancé in Zone X gaming arcade located in Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station. We made friends because of his "kaypo"-ness which made him came forward to comment on my scores in Jubeat. I was a beginner, that score was considered not bad as he commented: "2 more perfect and you will get an 'S' Grade!" and who knows this K-P-O guy that I met through the gaming arcade became my partner of my life...

We chatted, initially I thought he was a China man (due to his good accent of Mandarin... He hates people think he's from China and good thing I didn't so straight-forward), and I thought he was a 20++ guy (I was 19+ at that time). To my surprise he is a 35 year old PURE Singaporean Man. Despite our huge age gap, we thought that we can be very good friends as we have lots of common interest together, we chatted as though we were very close friends even though we just met for less than an hour. So we exchanged MSN Email and he suggested we exchange telephone number as well. (He actually gave me a wrong email with a misspelled letter but lucky we exchanged phone numbers.)

Two days later, we hang out together as friends. That's our first date ever and it was at Bugis Junction. And follow by another date at East Coast Park 3 days later. I still remember our first Mc Café Order was Chocolate cake with Hot Chocolate... Kinda heaty right? LOL!! Nearly 失声...

One fine day, I realised that the way he looked at me is far different from any other guys.(Cos I not pretty, no good figure, not the type of girl that can attract guys..) So that night through MSN I asked him: "You like me ah?" and guess what happen? I thought he's going to explain and drag the topic further and further away (like what he usually do) as the status on MSN shows he's typing and it stayed there for a good 10 min and when finally he hit the 'Enter' button, the only word I saw on the screen was "Maybe." (Which later he told me that his answer to that question was actually yes, but he was afraid that he might scare me off... so he decided to give a little bit of room for imagination by saying maybe..)

I met his parents even before we were officially together... That was rather an funny awkward surprise... He brought me to Ghim Moh Market and as he brought me around, he saw a few familiar uncles and aunties, so he stopped to talked to them... and as he sat down and started chatting with this auntie whom I thought she was just another neighbour.... To my surprise... he turned and say: "This is my mum." Can you just imagine how shock and nervous I am to meet his mum without any mental preparation? I met his dad on the same day at his house as his mum invited me to go to their house... didn't expect that as well... LOL

Despite our age gap of 15 years, we overcame all the obstacles including keeping his age a secret from my parents. I know that by telling them the age before meeting him in person will eventually end up objections from them... so I let them meet my boy before I decided to disclose his age... Well... parents are not stupid alright.... by asking his zodiac they immediately know he's either 2 years older or 15 years older than me... oh well... but good thing is.. they did not object us to be together...

We laughed, cried, quarrelled.... but these only makes us stronger in the relationship...

On 16 October 2014, He proposed!

On 19 October 2014, We had our ROM!

DIY Projects to share!

Did lots of DIY projects just for my ROM, and I am really really proud of those beautiful work that I've done! (admiring myself... LOL) But you know... am so sad that I totally forgotten my guest book! well... its okie :) I can still use it for my next year wedding.... and these are the photos to it!

 

I am really really proud of the DIY hello kitty birdcage centrepiece for my ROM table done by me, my dad and my mum.... and honestly speaking... the centrepiece that Ban Heng Aranda provided is so...... *couldn't find a word to describe it... but it's really really bad.... can you imagine the "couple" on top of the centrepiece looks scarily white instead of sweet? Eeeeewwwww....

 

And imagine this Ban Heng actually called us up and ask us where is the centrepiece that they provided... and I actually asked them to go ask the housekeeping.... I mean with such an unappealing centrepiece... who would want to take it and call it their own??? (Too bad no photo of it... if you see that you know what I mean....)

Our ROM

Pictures speak louder than words! It's been a wonderful day and really thankful for my parents to have planned it for us and for my relatives and friends who came to celebrate with us!

 

Due to space constraint, I have to limit my guest list as most of the guest were my relatives... Imagine I limited my guest list and the turn up rate is about 70 people... It was really really packed.... But not to worry! I'll open up my invitations when I have my Chinese Wedding Banquet next year! So, Here are the photos :)

 

(some only as most of the photos are not with me and in fact, most of them are with Joanna, will upload once I get them all and consolidate them together)

Oh! Did I forgot to mention who was my MUA? She's Yuki Fang and trust me, she's really really good and very professional.... I love her makeup skill that makes me look very natural and radiant on my big day! If you guys like how she did my makeup, do approach her ya? Just go Facebook and search Yuki Fang Makeup u can find her page :)

 

 

Long waited Proposal :)

On 16 Oct 2014, He proposed! 3 days just before our ROM.... Late huh?

Initially I thought it's just a normal photoshoot with my fellow friends... But it turns out to be a surprise proposal that was been planned over at Woodlands Town Park.

It was about 3.15pm, I went to Joanna's house for the make-up session before the "photoshooting session" later.. Previously I done various couple photoshoots with her... so I wasn't suspecting anything that's fishy about it, except that since it's a couple shoot.... why need "individual shoot"? Oh well... I wasn't thinking so much though... since she's doing us a great great great favour... I will have to cooperate with her :p

After about an hour of makeup session, we went over to the MRT to meetup with my another friend.

I was busying posing for "photos" and without knowing that the whole process was recorded in her camera...

I was told by Peggy that I should look at my fake flowers and pause there so Joanna could capture that pose after she finished talking on phone.... which I found out later that it was to prevent me from turning my head around and ruined the surprise... LOL!!!

So... He appeared behind me and showed up with a  Winnie the Pooh Balloon, a bouquet of flowers, and a heart shaped diamond ring placed in a porcelain figure.... Simple and Sweet! (Though he could do much much much much better... LOL)

Special Thanks to Joanna and Peggy to make this day possible :)

Final Decision - Beautiful Love Bridal

Ok, done my final decision on which Bridal shop I am going to engage! Drum Roll~~~~~~~~~~

Beautiful Love Bridal!!!!! Really love Jeanie's service and so far loved their gowns.... Total damage on this bridal package is $3988.... Price Steep? Look at what does it include ^^

• One Wedding Gown (Free Choice)
• One Evening Gown (Free Choice)
• One Kwa (Chinese Traditional Wedding Outfit)
• 2 sets Jacket + Pants for Groom
• One Chinese Traditional Wedding Outfit for guy (if can fit as requested by my fiancé)
• 6 corsages
• 4 sets Brother's Car Décor
• Bridal Makeup and Hairdo 1 day time + 1 night time
• Indoor and Outdoor shoot
• 35 poses in 20 to 22 pages album
• 1 portrait / 3 in 1 portrait
• 1 mini album 
• Bridal Car including Driver & Petrol
• Editted photos in CD Rom
• Includes ROM Package worth $888
• Simple Gown
• Suit
• Hand Bouquet
• Additional $50 for hairdo + Additional $50 for the make up artist to come over to the ROM Venue
• Make up using the Trial Makeup from the package itself

ROM Checklist

1. Get Wedding Bands
2. Book Aranda Country Club
3. Get Wedding Package (Jeanie @ Beautiful Love)
4. File Marriage
5. Engage Solemnizer
6. Order Wedding Cake
7. DIY Decor
8. DIY Signature Pens
9. DIY Guest Book
10. Prepare Invitation
11. Order Buffet

Our Plans - ROM Vows

We wanna make our ROM a special one... so we decided to have our own Creative Vows.... The vows below are just a draft and subject to change ^^

我，曾俊良在此宣誓，愿与林慧琪成为合法夫妻。我愿意成为一辈子爱她的笨蛋，并且与她携手到老。

我，林慧琪在此宣誓，愿与曾俊良成为合法夫妻。我愿意成为一辈子爱他的傻瓜，并且成为他生命中不可或缺的一部分。

And we decided to do something special after the ring exchange.... Stay tuned to our ROM!!!

Bridal Packages - Beautiful Love Wedding and Thomson Wedding

So, we decided to take a walk through the Tanjong Pagar Road (the usual place where couples go for their bridal packages hunting)... I must say... Tanjong Pagar is a very very very very very @#$/^& place as we took very long time just to figure out how to get there.. even with GPS... I had a hard time trying to figure out how to get to that place =.="""

 

On the way to Tanjong Pagar Road, we saw a shop that looks very nice on the outside, but what really make us think few times before we decided to go in was they were having some prayer ceremonies outside their shop for the 7th month hungry ghost festival, oh well... anyway we still decided to go in as we only see one bridal shop within distance.

 

Firstly, I really need to compliment Jeanie from Beautiful Love Wedding for her EXCELLENT SERVICE!!!! She gave me a relax feeling as she's not pushy and she's willing to throw in more freebies for us :) And guess what Singaporean REALLY loves???? FREEBIES!!!! But of cos, salesladies love to attract customers with freebies.... but trust me... so far they gave us the best deals!

 

She's kind enough to let me try on few gowns to assure me that their gown selections is enough for me to choose even before I make any payment etc (*Thumbs Up*) And we came to a conclusion... I cannot wear halter neck due to short neck (Today then I know *sob sob*) but am glad that I look great in the other 2 gowns :) I guess enough for now as I haven't pay? :P

 

My boy loves their service but now the main decision maker is my MOTHER.... so anything got to ask her first before we do any decision.... if not.... We'll have lotsa naggings!!!

 

So did I mention Thomson Wedding? Oh please... after went through the sessions with Beautiful Love Wedding... I really feel pressurised with how they handle the customers.... Can you imagine a saleslady that's so desperate to sell you wedding packages without even trying to get to know you? Talk about service attitude... Hur hur hur....

 

 

Hiccups - Bridal Packages + Bridal Package Hunting

After lots and lots and lots of considerations, we decided to forfeit the bridal package in Malaysia due to the following reasons:

1. Thanks to Malaysia's smart alecks government, Singapore cars that enter Malaysia will have to pay RM50 just to cross the damn bridge into Malaysia... Makes it a bit unworthy to travel here and there via family car just to save that SGD$1000 over dollars.
2. After much consideration on the traffic condition upon travel numerous of times to Malaysia, its really tiring to get stuck in the middle of nowhere due to the traffic jam.
3. Last and not least but most importantly... my mum who claims that she's the smartest in the house (actually she really is)... nagged at me non-stop with the above points and urge me to forfeit the plan.

So.... We began our Bridal Studio Hunting today! and lotsa thought will be shared here... Take a look and it might be useful to you in future.

If you ever came across Liang Seah Street, they used to have lots of bridal studios around that area... But today when we went there... most of those shops already became China steamboat, 麻辣火锅, Korea BBQ etc etc etc Food and Beverage Outlets... So, we only managed to see some of the bridal shops and browse through their portfolio outside their shop..

First we came across this shop that's located in the second floor of the Liang Seah Street buildings... Not very comfortable with it as we need to travel up the stairs just to "take a look" at the shops... Luckily, they put their portfolios at Level 1, so after we browse, we actually went off as we realised that its a Taiwan based Bridal shop (Taiwanese are super good with their psycho tactic, had numerous of experience with them..)

Then we came across numerous of other outlets.... THEN!!! I realised that the more years the bridal shop is established, the more variety of gowns I can select off from the racks! So I came across this shop by the name of Graceful Image... I must say... the salesperson is very friendly... he look as though he had lots of experience and we really can chat... He told us about Taiwanese Packages and how they "Chop off Singaporeans Carrot head" etc etc etc... Initially we were quite interested we what he told us and nearly went in to listen more about his shop... but hey... We need to browse more around right?

Then initially we wanted to go Blissful Bridal that my fellow Facebook friends recommended me... In the end... we ended up at Marina Square.... so we just went to the Bridal shop situated there... The shop name is "Bridal Zone"... This shop is 45 years old.... Lots of gowns to choose from and they are very gorgeous! I wouldn't say I wanna be a plus size bride... but if I can wear their dresses now, means I can wear them even when I slim down before wedding :p

Well... There's a saying 货比三家, so we decided to compare other bridal shops plus reading reviews online to choose the best bridal shop for us... :)

Our Plans - Wedding dates

Have yet to confirmed anything yet, but I heard if my fiancé go for his overseas training trip, he will be back on June and December.. so we actually planned out Plan A and Plan B for our wedding dates.

Plan A (if he's not going):
ROM - 7 May 2015 (Thursday)
Actual Day - 5 July 2015 (Sunday)

Plan B (if he's going):
ROM - 12 June 2015 (Friday)
Actual Day - 6 December 2015 (Sunday)

You realised we actually chose dates that are directly opposite? Easy to remember plus my parents also took opposite dates coincidently... So I decided to be a copycat!

More updates to come ^^

Our Plans - Bridal Make up

Had been researching for Bridal Makeup.... Wow... not a easy task.... been browsing through the Bridal Makeup Artist recommendations on forums, Facebook post and Friends recommendations, and FINALLY! I found what I want!

http://www.dblchin.com/

Recommended by one of my friends aka one of my bridesmaid... Love the way she turn the ordinary ducklings to beautiful swans!! Already got a package now... but due to my fiancé's oversea training trip have yet to be confirmed... so my wedding date is not confirmed yet till November...

Bridal Packages

Now it's time to browse through the wedding packages... Was intended to go JB just for dinner with my boy boy and strolling around, then we came across few bridal shops... we stopped by, browsing through the sample photos that was displayed outside the shop.. Then when we came across this shop named Dolce Vita Couture, a sales lady came out and served us with a smile! Well... since we already intended to get a bridal package so why not just take a look then?

You know this shop was sooooo much "atas" than those we went before and the place is just creating the "WOW" effect... in fact we were like thinking.... how much will their packages be? And guess what? It costs RM$5000!!!! (SGD$2000 with a exchange rate of about SGD$1 = RM$2.50)

What really touches my heart was I get to try out the wedding gowns even before I sign up for the package! and I look surprisingly... nice... Haha... Can't even believe my eyes... and guess how was my bf reacted?

 

Something like that, picture taken randomly online and this is closest reaction of how my boy reacted when he see me in that wedding gown... Don't know why... you just search "reaction when they see their bride" through Google... Almost all have the same reaction.... I guess your husband do have this kind of reaction too? Just imagine I have yet to put on make up and hairdo.... LOL!!!

 

Ok... I'll update more when there's updates and I'll be more active as time goes by? ^^ Good night!

Our Plans - Sisters & Brothers Team~~~

Having a hard time trying to decide how many sisters and brothers in sister team and brother team... Too many people queuing to be my bridesmaid! *Ahem! Feeling proud!*

Of cos I need to filter and choose my bridesmaids... so if you are chosen, do feel proud k? haha.... *Thick Skin*

So because my Fiancé is really flexible in how many brothers he can have in his team, he leave it to me to decide how many brothers and sisters we can have... ^^

Now few things for me to put on my thinking caps (yeah... not just one but many thinking caps..)

• Is it possible for them to travel around in such big group? (Not a problem if we can have Tea Ceremony in the Hotel itself as do not have to travel here and there...)
• Is it possible to get bridesmaid dress for all of them??? (Not a problem if we just set a colour theme... and let them choose what they wanna wear through their own existing outfits.)
• Will some of the sisters / brothers be left out with nothing to do throughout the whole gatecrash? (Don't think this will be an issue as they will all be having fun! Even if it's just laughing aside ^^)

ROM Accessories - Bouquets

I always dreamt that I can really preserve and keep my bouquets that tends to wither away after some time. However, I can't unless I get a fake flower bouquet which may seems to be too dull.. Until one day, I saw this at The Chinese Wedding Shop over at Clementi Central.. and this gave me an idea that my wish can come true!!!

Sweet and Elegant isn't it? Not only I can keep it, it looks extremely elegant and nice as well! 30 to 40 years down the road I can even show this off to my grandchildren that I married their grandpa with this nice bouquet and our marriage last as long as this beautiful and special bouquet! But one disadvantage, it's too heavy.. so forget about it if you were to throw this bouquet for your fellow bridesmaids to catch ya?

This bouquet is either for sale or for rent and of course, its not as economy as what we think. Maybe because its a handmade product. Wait! Handmade? That means I can handmade one myself!!!

So I started searching online for some pictures of beautiful DIY Bouquets :)

And I realised that I have this fantasy on Shiny finishing Satin Roses! and look what I found on Youtube?

DIY Ribbon Rose

This is what I've been looking for!!!! Looks easy and I think I really have to give it a try since the time is still early I guess ^^

Website - Wedding Ideas!

For those of you who wanted to get a rough idea of what kind of wedding theme, gowns, decorations, you can check out http://for-my-wedding.com/ as they have heaps of ideas for you!

I personally hope that I can DIY almost everything... but you know... kinda impossible that I gonna make myself too busy on my wedding day... SO! I might take ideas from this site and ask my  coordinators to do the similar designs for me ^^