Johnny Secretaria - Starter Guide - House of Dannielle (Version 02)

ALL ABOUT WEDDINGS Your guide to start planning your wedding MAE CASTRO

PREFACE Should you marry once you are finacially stable? Prince and I were young, just 23 when we planned to get married. We were just starting our career journey. We were financially unstable: we didn’t have stable jobs nor a stable income, no savings nor investment of our own. Despite all these insecurities, we still planned to get married simply because we wanted to be together. As a woman, I was torn into deciding to have my dream wedding given our wedding budget on hand. We nevertheless decided to get married despite all the uncertainties. We know that it was the Lord that put the desire in our hearts to get married and we believed that He would also bring this into completion. With faith and perseverance, we pushed through with our wedding planning. We knew we may lack funds but we trusted the Lord. My husband and I worked hard to save for our wedding. I had two jobs and my husband worked more than twelve hours every day. He also sold some of his stuff just so we could have enough funds for our planned wedding. And with that, we were able to get married. Not as I imagined it when I was younger but it turned out to be a beautiful garden wedding. Not as lavish as what I have envisioned but it was just perfect for me because I married the man I love the most. truly, deciding to get married is an act of faith and love of the couple for one another. During our wedding preparation, we knew we had to be ready with the marriage itself. There were times we doubted if we could really make it once we’re married. We were somehow scared of what was ahead of us. But we took a leap of faith and matched it with hard work and teamwork. For us, we believed that it would be a lot easier to achieve anything and everything together. And we were thankful because for three years as a married couple, we never asked our parents to finance us. It amazes us how the Lord has worked in our life, how He has blessed us and continues to bless our marriage.

So what am I saying here? You don’t marry once you’re financially stable though I don’t also encourage that you do so and ask other people to finance your desired union. Rather, you marry once you have found the one who is willing to journey with you. In good times and in bad times. Mae Castro Author

INTRODUCTION As for me, I have found it so exciting when I am asked to be a wedding planner for a wedding because I will be part of the beginning of the journey of two people in love with one another to married life. This book is a guide to all who plan to get married. This is based on my experiences both as a woman that planned her own wedding and as a wedding planner and coordinator.



Chapter One Setting your vision for the big day: Type, Style and Theme This is the beginning of the excitement. Have you envisioned how your wedding day will be? It is important that you choose what type of wedding you want because it will determine the “look” and “feel” of your wedding. Ano ang gusto niyong klase ng kasalan: Church/Catholic Wedding? Christian wedding? Civil wedding, Intimate wedding? Do you want a simple or grand celebration? Do you want it Indoor or outdoor? Types of weddings Church or Catholic wedding Church wedding is almost every woman’s dream. Most women want to walk down that aisle with that lovely wedding dress, holding a nicely done wedding bouquet, feeling that she is the most beautiful woman on her wedding day. She is the center of attention, the focus of the celebration. She has never been as confident in her life as that moment knowing the man of her dream is there waiting for her at the altar. Family and close friends look in amazement at the beauty of the bride as she walks by while the groom, waiting beside the best man and his parents, is teary- eyed as he stares in awe at his approaching lovely bride. That’s what we visualize when we say church wedding. It is the traditional wedding ceremony that most couples dream to have. It is formal, and with more details.

Christian Wedding In most Christian weddings, iisa nalang ang venue for preparation, ceremony and reception. In this way, couples lessen their wedding expenses aside from being less of a hassle because they do not need to look for different venues. A Christian wedding is strict at some things like the bride’s gown in which a white gown is preferred to symbolize the bride’s purity. On the other hand, in Catholic weddings nowadays, a bride can choose to wear what color she wants for her wedding gown. For example, in one of wedding events we managed, the bride wore fuschia pink wedding dress. Civil Wedding Some couples decide to have a civil wedding. This is a marriage performed by either the Mayor or Judge as required by law. Kapag civil wedding, mas mabilis ang proseso dahil mas simple at kaunti ang mga detalye ng kasal: walang abay, walang bearer and flower girls, at walang photoshoot. Ang reception ay kadalasan sa bahay ginagawa o kaya sa restaurant o sa isang maliit na event hall. Kadalasan din, mas kaunti ang guests kaya intimate ang celebration. Pagdating sa gastos, mas maliit din if you compare it to religious rites like Catholic or Christian weddings. CIVIL WEDDING VS. CHURCH WEDDING May mga nagsasabi na mas matibay daw ang samahan ng mag asawa kapag sa civil o huwes ikinasal. Ang totoo, wala iyan sa kung civil o church wedding. Ang matibay na samahan ng mag asawa ay nasa kanila kung hahayaan nila na ang mga challenges ng married life ay magpapatibay o magpapatibag sa kanilang pagsasama.

style of weddings Intimate Wedding A wedding is a celebration of love and most couples want to invite everyone close to their hearts to witness their union but sometimes, going intimate is better than the usual wedding celebration we are all used to. Compared to big events, intimate weddings would cost lesser kasi konti ang guests, konti lang ang suppliers na kailangan i-hire at baka hindi na kailangan ng expensive designer gown where a simple formal white dress will do. Wala rin masyadong maraming planning and preparation na kailangan. Pagdating ng wedding day, you get up, shower, dress up, put on your makeup and then, walk down the aisle. After the ceremony, you can mingle with your family and friends. Di ba, less hassle? Most importantly, may oras kayo para sa close encounters with your guests, you have more time to sit and converse with them. After all, you invited those who are really close to you and your partner. Tip: If you want to save on costs, do not want to stress yourself with too much wedding details, and you want it private and cozy, go for an intimate wedding. Unplugged Wedding This is our experience of an unplugged wedding ceremony. Ang mga guests, nakatuon lamang sa magandang bride na naglalakad sa aisle. Napaka-solemn ng kasal. Lahat ay naging saksi sa kanilang pag -iisang dibdib. Napakaganda. Napakasagrado. No phones. No cameras. Just tears and laughters. Feel na feel mo ang moment. I hope every wedding will be like that.

Unplugged wedding is when guests at the ceremony are not just physically present but present in every aspect. They are in the moment. They stare at the walking bride, they cry as they exchange vows, they feel the kilig in their “kiss the bride” moment, they rejoice as the officiating minister/priest announce they are officially husband and wife, they participate in the reception program, they greet the newlyweds with warmth and sincerity. They witness the union, the celebration of love. We are living in the modern world where we take pictures of every moment and post it on social media. How much more pa ang wedding na napaka- special. Sa panahon na palaging involved ang gadgets, may mga bagay na for keeps. For keeps in the sense nasa puso itinatago at hindi sa memory ng phone. It is so much better to watch with our eyes than through our phones. Let's unplug the wedding. Tip: If you want an unplugged wedding ceremony, you can put that in your wedding invitation, you can also put a signage on your wedding venue to inform all the guests to keep cellphones, tablets and other gadgets and not use them while the ceremony is ongoing. Destination Wedding Most destination weddings I have handled are intimate weddings. Most couples who do not want a large crowd opt to have a destination wedding. There’s little to no chance that there will be gate crasher on your wedding. Some couples, however, decide to have this style of wedding if that will complement their desired wedding theme. For example, they want a beach wedding but they both live far from beach areas. That’s when they would decide to have their wedding on their preferred beach venue. Let’s take this, for example, one of my client wants to have a garden wedding. She wants an outdoor venue but her preferred wedding time would subject their wedding guests under the heat of the sun so they opted to have a destination wedding in Tagaytay where the climate is not too hot even on her desired ceremony time. That’s just what we arranged for this client.

As exciting as it is to have a destination wedding, the couple should consider its costs. I tell you, it is not as easy on the budget. Aside from the wedding details itself, you have to think of the costs of transportation and accommodation not only you and your groom but also of the entire family. Sometimes, you may have to shoulder those of your guests too. Since it is a destination wedding, you should be in the area a day or two before your wedding day so that you can take a rest and you should stay at least one day after the wedding day. Of course, you cannot check out right after your wedding because for sure you would want to rest after the year-long wedding preparation and the wedding day itself. As ideal as it is to have a destination wedding but truth is, not all of your guests can afford to take a leave at work, leave their businesses or leave their family behind especially if they have kids unless their entire family is invited. If your guests opt to travel back and forth on the day of your wedding, chances are, they can be late on your wedding ceremony or that they’ll leave early without finishing your wedding reception. Or they will stay until the end of the reception program but they’ll be home very late and they can also be late at work the next day. So you really have to weigh these factors if you really want to go for a destination wedding. DIY Wedding Some couples, after they realized that it would cost a lot to marry, they decide to DIY their wedding. That is nice! Lalabas ang kanilang creativeness. However, they need to make time for it. It takes time to create. Kaya naman, hindi palaging convenient ang mag DIY pero surely, convenient sa bulsa! If you want to DIYyour wedding but you do not have time, do not hesitate to hire professional wedding suppliers to help you plan your big day. Wedding Themes Some soon- to- wed couples wonder why there needs to be a wedding theme and motif. Deciding on your wedding theme can help you plan all the other details of your wedding. For example, if you want a garden wedding as your theme, then all other elements and details follow: the venue, you can choose an outdoor venue or venue that will complement to your wedding theme, the time of the wedding, since you want a garden wedding, what is the ideal time to marry? morning or afternoon? the gown, of course you will not wear a ball gown for a garden wedding. You will more likely wear an A-line gown so that you can move freely, and etc. Here are the popular wedding themes that you can choose from.

✓ Garden Wedding ✓ Beach Wedding ✓ Travel Themed Wedding ✓ Filipiniana Themed Wedding ✓ Vintage Wedding ✓ Boho Chic ✓ Classic Wedding ✓ Cherry Blossom Themed Wedding ✓ Ocean/ Nautical / Under the sea ✓ Monochrome Wedding ✓ Backyard Wedding ✓ Fairy Tale Themed Wedding ✓ Seasonal themed wedding ✓ Holiday Themed Wedding In choosing your wedding theme, pwede mong i-base sa kung ano kayo as a couple. For example, mahilig kayo sa mga gamit na vintage, you can go for a vintage wedding o mahilig kayo mag- travel, pwede iyong travel-themed. Kung may memory kayo sa cherry blossom, or pangarap niyo makapunta sa Japan for cherry blossom, you can also choose that. Kung mala- fairy tale naman ang kwento ninyo, you could also have that as a theme. If you both enjoy nature, you can choose a garden wedding or whatever your preferences are, it’s totally acceptable as long as you are comfortable with it. You can incorporate your theme in every detail of your wedding, from your invitation, wedding gown, hairstyle, prenup shoot, your reception venue styling, your bridal car, and your souvenirs. Motifs The motif is the main color of your wedding. What would the color of the entourage’s dresses will be? Pink, blue, yellow? What would be primary color in the reception venue? Kung wala kayong motif baka kung anu-anong kulay lamang ang isuot ng guests and entourage ninyo. Choose a perfect color combination for your wedding for it to look fancy and elegant. It could be a mixture of your favorite colors.





Shades o Snow Ivory Champagne Eggshell Beige WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

thebudgetarianbride.com of White Ghost White Seashell Vanilla Cream Parchment PAGE 04

Shades o Ebony Charcoal Onyx Jet Eerie Black WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

thebudgetarianbride.com of Black Taupe Black bean Midnight black Raisin Black Licorice PAGE 05

Shades Baby Blue Dusty Blue Periwinkle Sapphire Teal WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

thebudgetarianbride.com of Blue Light Blue Powder Blue Navy Blue Midnight Blue Royal Blue PAGE 06

Shades Scarlet Ruby Rusty Red Redwood Crimson WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

thebudgetarianbride.com of Red Carmine Blood Red Chili Red Lust Maroon PAGE 07

Shades o Light Yellow Maximum Yellow Royal Yellow Mellow Yellow Khaki WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

thebudgetarianbride.com of Yellow Bright Yellow Gold Safety Yellow Lemon Chiffon Cream PAGE 08

Shades Blush Fuscia Magenta Bubblegum Salmon WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

thebudgetarianbride.com of Pink Rose Coral Hot Pink Rouge Peach PAGE 09

Shades o Orange Red Tangerine Tiger Eye Bronze Rust WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

thebudgetarianbride.com of Orange Persimmon Marigold Fire Honey Pumpkin PAGE 10

Shades o Olive Pale Green Moss Green Fern Green Pine Green WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

thebudgetarianbride.com of Green Forest Green Lime Green Mint Emerald Jade PAGE 11

Shades o Purple Plum Magenta Wine Iris WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

thebudgetarianbride.com of Violet Mauve Lavender Lilac Amethyst Orchid PAGE 12

Trending Wed WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

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Romantic Garden Champagne, Wine, Ol WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

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Minimalist We White, Champag WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

edding Theme gne, Fern Green PAGE 15

Greenery Wed Lime Green, Forest Gre WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

dding Theme een, Mint, Tiffany Blue PAGE 16

Photo Credit: Filipiniana We Diana Laura Lei Eggshell, Marigold, Ch WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

edding Theme hampagne, Rose Gold PAGE 17

Vintage Wed Champagne, Marsala WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

dding Theme a, Copper, Fern Green PAGE 18

Cherry Blossom W Hot Pink, Bubbleg WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

Wedding Theme gum, Rouge, White PAGE 19

Rustic Wedd Olive, Rose Gold, Parchm WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

ding Theme ment, Pastel Pink, Brown PAGE 20

Black Wedd Photo Credit: Jezza Grace Miguel-Pascual Jet Black, W WEDDING COLOR GUIDE

ding Theme White, Gray PAGE 21

Pastel Colors W Mint, Mellow Yellow, Powd WEDDING COLOR GUIDE