Practical Wedding by Choice

We had been married for 9 years. He proposed on our 9th wedding anniversary on February 12, 2014. ;)

We will have a church wedding for our 10th year anniversary. 

My motto: do not live beyond your means; 
so we will NOT be married beyond what we (hubby and I) can easily afford. 

thus, we have a Decision-Making guide, here's the link:
Decision-Making Guide for our Wedding

Wedding: Basic Needs, Secondary Needs, Nice to Have

BASIC NEEDS:

1. Church - Shrine of the Five Wounds of Jesus Christ, Las Pinas City (nearest)

2. Venue - Dazo Hall, Philam Life Village, Las Pinas City (near, affordable, big - can hold twice my number of guests)

3. Caterer - Queensland Catering Services (i'm a repeat client, I love their food)

4. Requirements

5. Invitation - DIY but will have it printed by a pro somewhere

6. Sounds & Lights - 5th Element Lights and Sounds (have not booked yet)

7. Photographs and Video - Fidlen Miranda Creative Photography (a starting freelance photographer, co-worker, awesome shots, and I believe his heart is into it, and i mean REALLY into it. I trust him that he will create his best and that will be a plus, because what i NEED is just to document the wedding. I also have a backup photographer, my male bestfriend Mel who will go home from Singapore for my wedding, he has excellent shots based on what I saw on their weekend getaway with his then girlfriend, now wifey)

8. Wedding Gown - none yet, too early. can be RTW

9. Groom's Attire - hubby doesn't want to have a custom-made suit, he won't ever use it as he seldom needs a suit. He is decided that we will rent this

10. Matt David's Attire - our child, Matt, 5 years old by the time we will have the church wedding won't be needing a suit after the wedding, so definitely rent.

11. Rings -  we decided to have brand new wedding bands. 

12. Cake - will be shouldered by my generous sponsor, I'm thinking getting 3 cakes from Tous Le Jours and rent the metal rack I saw at Red Ribbon, I just don't know if RR will let me rent it without ordering their cake. I am also inlove with Mer-Nel's but I have not yet inquired if they make wedding cakes.

13. HAIR AND MAKE-UP - Well, this is definitely a need but to breakdown the need from want (secondary need) and from nice to have: (1)Need - simple hair and make up by a gay stylist from a parlor; for my entourage: a friend and a relative; (2)Want - one who uses imported products. (3)Nice to have - airbrush stylist for me and my entourage

14. Flowers - I inquired with Flowers from Dangwa (they have a website and I think they deliver) and I might get them for the bridal bouquet, entourage flowers, and church flowers. We might also just buy fresh flowers because my father has a florist friend who used to be an official florist to a cruise line, isn't that a wow? Reception flowers are included in the catering package of Queensland.

15. OTD - I didn't know I need this since I have a friend who can do this for me but I want my friend to enjoy the wedding and not be stressed. Also, I read from a blog that if you really want to have a blissful wedding to sit back and enjoy, get a pro. 

16. Emcee - I will have an emcee of course, but it will be one of my friends. The caterer offers an affordable emcee but I think I want an emcee referred by my future OTD (see secondary needs below)

17. Liquor - Should be VERY minimal at the reception - I browsed to 'what went wrong' blogs and there was a number of drunk guests (and bride and groom) who acted inappropriately. We  plan to have an after party, the drinks should be enough but that will be in our garden, where it is fun to be inappropriate ;)

18. GIVE-AWAYS - not decided yet. maybe a small bottle of honey since 'honey' or 'ne' is our term of endearment. 

SECONDARY NEEDS (boundary of needs and wants)

1. Entourage Attire - most of my bridesmaids will shoulder their dresses as their gift for our wedding, so that's why this is not in the basic need list. if i have extra funds, I definitely will pay for their dresses but it will just be simple.

2. Emcee, professional -  referred by my future OTD so they can work together

3. Van or minibus - convenience for the guests. The reception venue by public transpo would take two rides - jeepney and tryke; it's about 20 minutes away (with the las pinas traffic issue); it is possible to borrow vehicle from the 'barangay'.

4. Photo booth - not a need, but I hear the phrase "what's a party without a photobooth" in my head ;)

5. Wedding Gown Upgrade - self explanatory but okay, here goes the description. The WG in the Basic Needs list is a wedding gown. This one is THE wedding gown (custom-made but not from famous designers)

6. Hotel - so that we will have beautiful background in the photographs of the preparation. I work in Northgate and I am in love with Northgate. If being practical is not in my blood, I would get no other than Bellevue. But still, the company where I work has a corporate package and employees can avail them. I called Bellevue and they won't release corporate rate info over the phone, said I have to go to the reception and show my ID. But their regular rate is Php 5,500 per night 3pm to 12nn so I need to book 2 days. And, this is just for the regular room for 2 persons, I have not yet asked for a bridal room so I dunno. Seems impractical for me. But still, Northgate is my second home. I feel peaceful when I am there. I love Northgate ;)

7. DIY Decors - seconday needs because the reception decors (simple) are included in the Catering Package. Though it would be nice to have handcrafted items because I look forward to crafty sessions with one or two cousins and few friends. I also want to show my crafty side in our wedding. But then, DIY doesn't mean cheap. I still have to spend on it so therefore, secondary need.

8. FLOWER GIRLS's DRESSES: Here's a secret plan, so don't tell anyone (tee hee). I want to sew their dresses. I have my own sewing machine. The budget for this will go under my 'learning-how-to-sew-budget' and not in the wedding budget. If I fail, we will just buy RTW lol

NICE TO HAVE

1. Sparklers - i love the effect that i saw in one of the photographs on-line. Will definitely make a good photograph during send off. This is a down-grade of what I originally want, the fire lanterns. (ooooohhh... just thinking of them make me feel lovely inside)

2. Balloons - I am not sure with this one because of a line in the Bee Movie about people choosing balloons over flowers that goes something like "awesome, if you are a kid"

3. HMUA with Airbrush - to have nice photographs but oh, well. not really a need if you are really practical.

4. Bridal Car - i want to use our own family car so this is the one of the lasts on the nice to have list.

Do you want to know how much the items in my Basic Needs List cost? Sure, I will let you know but only if you are planning a wedding on a budget, too. Of course I want to help. Let me know and I will email you ;)

The 'Decision-Making' Guide for Our Wedding

1. PRACTICAL- we have been married for 10 years, no need to spend a lot

2. RELAXED - I don't want to get tired on the wedding day, but i will be hands-on in planning 

3. DOCUMENTED - with beautiful photographs to document the day and this blog to document the planning part

4. CREATED BY LOVING HANDS - will employ cousins, friends, relatives to do some minor work, this will also support item number 1