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

Some couples, however, request the team na magbawas ng coordinator in hopes to cut in their expenses because they are planning an intimate wedding with only few close friends and family members invited so they think two people to coordinate their wedding will be enough, instead of the usual four to five coordinators. I would not suggest you to do that. You will probably notice that there’s no coordinator assigned for the guests alone. It is because their workload is not based on the number of guests and so is their rate. Bride and groom, if you want a beautiful wedding, there should be enough manpower for the event. How do you know what service do you need to book? OTD, Semil-full or Full Coordination? Well if you have a lot of time and you are a detailed person and you want to be hands on with your wedding planning, you can just hire on the day coordinators to execute all your plans on the day of your event but if you are not the detailed type, plus you are caught up with a lot of things to do, better that you get the full coordination service to have someone run errands for you and assist you from tiniest to biggest detail of your wedding. If you're going to hire coordinators. be mindful. They are not your personal assistants. Hindi sila personal alalay who will iron clothes, sew clothes, buy you something, fetch your entourage, etc. basahin niyong mabuti ang kontrata. Some coordinators however are willing to go extra mile and you are blessed if you will find one. Tip: If you can afford to hire a wedding planner, do so. Hire a wedding planner/coordinator because they have established connections with reliable and legitimate wedding suppliers and they can assist you in prequalifying suppliers so you will not be scammed nor are rendered poor quality services.

Chapter seven Documentary Requirements Now that you’re planning a wedding, you need to know what the documentary requirements are, where to get them, how much they will cost and when you will need to secure them. Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) The You can apply for this at the Philippine Statistical Authority online. information require are: ✓ Your complete name ✓ Complete name of the father ✓ Complete maiden name of the mother ✓ Date of birth ✓ Place of birth ✓ Complete name and address of the requesting party ✓ Purpose of the certification If you are planning for a Catholic/Church wedding you will need 2 copies of your CENOMAR but if it is a Christian wedding, you will only need one copy. You can also apply for your partner’s CENOMAR, make sure that you know all of his/her details and information. A CENOMAR costs P210 and will take two to seven days for its delivery. It’s valid for six months. Marriage License You can apply for a marriage license to the local civil registry of the city where you reside with the following details: ✓ Full name of the contracting party; ✓ Place of birth; ✓ Age and date of birth ✓ Civil Status; ✓ If previously married, how, when and where the previous marriage was dissolved ✓or annulled; Present residence and citizenship;

✓ Full name, residence and citizenship of the father; ✓ Full name, residence and citizenship of the mother; and ✓ Full name, residence and citizenship of the guardian or person having charge, in case the contracting party has neither father nor mother and is under the age of twenty-one years. REQUIREMENTS: ✓ Original birth certificate and baptismal certificates of the contracting parties ✓ The death certificate of the deceased spouse or the judicial decree of the absolute divorce, or the judicial decree of annulment or ✓declaration of nullity of his or her previous marriage. In case either or both of the contracting parties, are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, a consent to their marriage of their father, mother, surviving parent or guardian, or persons having legal charge of them, in the order mentioned shall be ✓obtained. Any contracting party between the age of twenty-one and twenty-five shall be obliged to seek parental advice upon the intended marriage. If it is unfavorable, the marriage license shall not be issued till after three months following the completion ✓of the publication of the application thereof. In the case where parental consent or parental advice is needed, the parties concerned shall attach a certificate issued by proper authorities to the effect that the contracting parties have undergone marriage counseling. The license will be available in ten days and valid in any part of the Philippines for a period of one hundred twenty days from the date of issue, and shall be deemed automatically cancelled at the expiration of said period if the contracting parties have not made use of it. The application form is P50, filing fee is P100, and the marriage license is P100. Marriage Certificate You will secure this document after your wedding. This contains details of marriage, signed by the couple and by all in attendance. This can be requested by the interested party. The following information is required: ✓ Complete name of the husband ✓ Complete name of the wife ✓ Date of marriage ✓ Place of marriage ✓ Complete name and address of the requesting party ✓ Number of copies needed ✓ Purpose of the certification

It costs P330 per copy, inclusive of processing fee and government taxes. It takes two months to obtain marriage certificate/contract. To get more detailed information of the above, you may visit the website of the Philippine Statistical Authority or visit any of their field offices near you. Certificate of Attendance in pre-marriage counselling, family planning, etc. Lahat ng ikinakasal ay dumadaan sa marriage counselling, family planning, pre-cana and you cannot skip this. This is a prerequisite before you get married.

Chapter eight Wedding traditions, trends and symbols Engaged people are often overwhelmed with the wedding preparation especially if they don’t have any idea of where or how to start. And now that we have discussed the different types, style and theme of wedding, as well as how to set up your budget, choose the date, time, venue, entourage, guests and how to choose your wedding suppliers and how to apply for marriage license, let’s dig deeper in your wedding planning. There are a lot of wedding cultures and modern times wedding and trends that you can adapt for your big day. Wedding Traditions Pamamanhikan Before, kapag ang magkatipan ay nagpasya ng magpakasal, kailangan mamanhikan ang pamilya ng lalaki sa bahay ng babae to get her family’s blessing. Now, both families will have dinner in a restaurant for formality. Minsan pa nga, wala na. They will just announce the engagement and that’s it. Meron din cases na ang magbalae sa mismong araw na lang ng kasal sila nagkakakilala. If you have the means for your parents to meet before the wedding day, arrange a small celebration so that they can meet and know each other before the wedding day so they can become more comfortable with each other on your wedding day. Wedding Dress Before, dapat white ang gown ng bride. Hindi rin pwedeng isukat ang gown kasi may paniniwalang hindi matutuloy ang kasal. Hindi rin siya pwedeng makita ng groom na suot ang gown hanggang hindi pa araw ng kasal.

Now, the color of the gown doesn’t matter so much anymore. Pwede ng mamili kahit anong kulay. Some pink dress, others beige, hindi na rin big deal kung isusukat ng bride ang gown. Praktikal naman iyon. Kasi paano nga naman kung hindi kasya, hindi ba? Mahirap magremedyo sa araw mismo ng kasal. At ngayon pwede ng magkita ang bride and groom kahit hindi pa sila naikakasal. It is not a big issue anymore. Depende na lamang sa mga paniniwalang pinanghahawakan ng mga ikakasal. Iyong iba naman, they opt not to see each other until the bride walks down the aisle para may excitement pa rin si groom. Prosperity Dance Before, when the newlyweds start to dance, family and guests will begin to pin money on the wedding dress or suit. Now, hindi na direct on the dress or suit ipini- pin ang pera kung hindi sash, or may wishing well na ipino-provide ang couple where the guests can put the money. As for me, I would recommend to use a sash if you’re going to have a prosperity dance so that you can save your wedding gown and suit from getting scratches and it will save time to remove those money when the dance is over. Dove Before, may dove release paglabas ng newlyweds sa church. Now, doves have been replaced by butterfly release, madalas, wala na. Something new, something old, something borrowed Before, kailangan ang ikakasal ay merong suot na something new, something old and something borrowed. Now, lahat ng isusuot sa kasal ay bago. Couples have a choice. Side Kwento: When I married, I followed this tradition. I wore something new (gown) something old (shoes) and something borrowed (jewelries) and it saved me money! Red Carpet Before, we all imagined the bride walking down the aisle on that red carpet. It was so classy. Now, we can have carpets that are green, white, brown (burlap) which is used for outdoor wedding.

Marami pang wedding traditions ang patuloy ng napalitan at nakalimutan dahil sa pagiging moderno ng panahon. Wedding Trends Photoshoot Nowadays, it is very popular to have a photoshoot before the ceremony. This has been practiced before, except that now, members of the entourage are included in the photo session. The couple provides them with something to wear like robes and they are asked to come in the preparation venue early unlike before na sa church na magkikita-kita. Food and Drinks Trending din ngayon ang mga cocktail food gaya ng donut wall, sweet buffets, pica- pica, bread stations, grazing tables, sushi corner, candy buffet, takoyaki corner, salad bar and a lot more. Meron din juice bar, tea/coffee bar and mobile bar for drinks. These serve as the couple’s welcome to the guests as they arrive in the reception venue. Although hindi rin naman lahat ay nagha-hire ng cocktail food supplier for their wedding as they would want to manage their expenses. Recessional We are used to traditional loose petal flowers but nowadays, there are a lot of other ways to cheer for the newlyweds. May mga wedding wands, confetti, bubbles, and sparklers. Invitation With technology, people are becoming more practical by sending wedding invites via Facebook Messenger or email rather than printing out copies and sending them to their guests’ houses. Veil Ang veil daw ay dapat nakaladlad habang ang bride ay nagwo-walk down the aisle. Pero minsan, may mga brides na gustong nakataas na kaagad ang veils nila so that the photographers can get better photos of them. Sometimes, it is simply because that’s what makes them comfortable. Entourage Kung dati ay bata lang ang pwedeng flower girls, ngayon kahit matatanda na ay pwede na rin! Even the couple’s pet can be part of the entourage!

Whether you follow traditions or new trends, it’s really up to you. Whatever makes you feel comfortable, go for it. Wedding Symbols Marami ang ikakasal (at iyong iba ay naikasal na) ang hindi alam ang kahulugan ng mga wedding symbols tulad ng arras, cord, veil, Bible, candle at kung anu-ano pa. They just go with the flow. As a couple planning to get married, it is important na alam mo ang pakahulugan ng mga ito. Arras According to Wikipedia, ito ay Spanish word that means “wedding tokens” or “unity coins.” During the wedding ceremony, ang arras ay iniaabot ng groom sa bride na simbolo na marapat na siya ang magprovide para sa kanilang pamilya. Gayundin, ang bride ay dapat na maging mabuting katiwala at matutong pagyamanin ang perang pinaghihirapan ng kanyang asawa. But whatever is your financial agreement, it’s okay. Hindi tulad noon na lalaki lang ang pwedeng mag trabaho. Ngayon, ang babae ay maari na ring magtrabaho. Trivia: Many may not know this, especially the millennial bride and groom. Ang coins sa loob ng arras ay dapat thirteen pieces. It symbolizes prosperity in each month with an extra coin for additional blessing for the couple. Cord of three strands The cord signifies the infinite nature of marriage. Three strands symbolize the groom, the bride and God. This means na ang kasal na ito ay hindi basta basta matitibag. Ecc.4:12 “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” Veil Meron primary and secondary veils. Ang primary veil ay inilalagay sa ulo ng bride. Ito yung itinataas ng groom kapag kiss the bride na!

Ang secondary veil naman ang ginagamit para sa ceremony. Ito ay puti na sumisimbolo sa malinis na samahan. It also symbolizes unity in marriage. Kung mapapansin ninyo, ang belo ay inilalagay sa ulo ng babae at sa balikat naman sa lalaki. Ibig sabihin, dapat, iisa lang sa kanila ang mamuno at ang isa ay kailangan magpasakop. Man is the head of the family and the bride needs to submit to him. Three Candles May tatlong kandila sa kasal. Isa sa groom, isa sa bride, at iyong isa ay tinatawag na “unity candle.” In their marriage journey, there will come a time na magkakaproblema (mawawala ang sindi ng kandila). Kapag nagkaganoon, things seem to blur or worst, darken. Hindi mo alam ang gagawin and things start to seem hopeless. That is when your partner needs to guide you. They will be your source of light. They will light your path again so that you may walk straight again, so that you may know the way. Pero kapag parehas ng walang apoy ang inyong kandila, you are both lost and hopeless, sa Diyos kayo kukuha ng lakas. Your source of strength should be the Lord. Kapag hindi niyo makita ang pag-asa sa isa’t isa, nasa Diyos ito. Lumapit kayo sa kanya. Let Him be your source of light, of hope. The Wedding Ring Ang singsing dalawa: isa sa bride, isa sa groom.. Ang singsing, circle. Kapag ang dalawang circles pinagdikit, nagiging infinity symbol. Meaning, walang hangganan because marriage is eternal. “What God has joined together, let man not separate” sabi nga sa Bible, hindi pwedeng sila ay paghiwalayin. Bible Ang salita ng Diyos ang dapat na magsilbing gabay ng mag - asawa sa pamilyang kanilang bubuuhin. You should live your life- centered to God and His words. In that way, you can have peace kahit na anong mangyari sa buhay ninyo as husband and wife. At kung kayo ay magkaanak na, nararapat na kasama sa gabay sa pagpapalaki sa inyong anak ang salita ng Diyos. Arras, veil, cords, candles, ring and bible are part of your wedding ceremony because these will remind you of their significance as you live out your married life. For example, kapag dumating iyong time na gusto ninyo maghiwalay pero makikita mo iyong singsing na isinuot ng partner mo nung wedding day nyo, maaalala niyo, “Ay, ito na pala iyong ka- forever ko.” Kapag nakita ninyo iyong cord, you will be reminded na nakatali na pala kayo sa inyong asawa. They seem to be a small detail in your wedding but they symbolize significant role as you live as husband and wife.

Chapter nine Wedding gimmicks and tips It is your big day! You can do whatever pakulo you want to make it beautiful, memorable and enjoyable. Yung tipong hindi agad makakalimutan kasi very creative ang concepts. Be bold. Don’t be afraid to bring out your creativeness just as long as they are not offensive to people’s sensibilities. If your parents should question these ideas, explain to them kasi baka may contribution sila sa kasal and they are entitled to know, o baka kasi conservative, traditional or mapamahiin sila, you have to respect that. Gimmicks No entourage Wondering if you can have a wedding without an entourage? Definitely yes! Not-so-young flower girls If you do not want to include kids in your entourage, you can also have not-so- young flower girls! This is what I did on our wedding day. Pwede rin nga ang mga lola niyo kung carry nila! Pet as part of entourage Why not? Especially if your pets have been a major part of your life together as a couple. Just make sure that they will not bite! Foreign traditions Marami na rin ang inter-racial marriages. You can incorporate unique wedding ideas from the foreign partner you are marrying. We handled this wedding, the groom is an Italian national and they have a wedding tradition wherein the newlyweds will dance around the reception area and the guests needs to tag along. It’s called “La Tarantella” and it made the reception program fun and engaging.

Gift exchange Hindi naman ito required. Some couples exchange gifts to one another on their wedding day. Pinag iisipan nilang mabuti, pinag-iipunan, at talagang todo effort na maitago sa kanilang partner ang gift para may surprise moment pa rin kapag kinunan na sa Same Day Edit photo/video. Meron naman na hindi na kailangan mag- isip ng malalim dahil alam na alam na nila kung ano ang ibibigay nila sa kanilang partner. Gift to parents Pwede rin kayong magbigay ng gifts to your parents as your way of thanking them. Pwede ang bride magbigay ng gift sa parents of the groom at ang groom magbigay sa parents of the bride. Pwede din naman na magbigay kayo sa both parents na galling parehas sa inyo. Practical tips for your wedding What kind of bride are you? Tipid or practical? A lot of people mistakenly think that because something is low priced, it's tipid. And because it's tipid, they think it is the same as practical. But there's a difference between being matipid and being practical. Being budget-conscious is not always practical. Minsan, sa kagustuhan natin makatipid, napapagastos tayo kasi we get low quality products and services. On the other hand, being practical may sometimes mean higher costs but you are assured of the quality of what you will buy. So it will be a choice for you: magtipid and find \"low cost, great value\" as business tycoon John Gokongwei says or be practical and rely on quality goods and services at a price. Well, if you can have both, that’s great! Whether you are tipid or practical bride, I have here thirteen tips that can help you manage your wedding expenses. You can have beautiful wedding on a budget. But remember, ang tunay na nagpapaganda ng kasal is the reality that you are marrying the person you love so dearly. Here they are. Send your invitation via social media (facebook messenger or email) With communication technology, ang dali ng magpadala ng invitations. Andyan ang Facebook Messenger, Viber o WhatsApp. This way, konti na lang ang dapat mong i-print out. This will lessen your expenses.

Design your wedding invitation Para rin mas tipid at hindi mo na kailangan pa humanap ng layout artist to do your wedding invitation. You may go to greetingsisland.com or canva.com to make your own wedding invitation. Have your bridesmaids spend for their own dress If you are a tipid bride, I suggest, you let your bridesmaids spend for their own dress. It is wise kung ang pipiliin mong mga abay ay capable to buy their own attire. In order that they can use their dresses elsewhere, you can choose a design that they can wear in other occasions. Side Kwento: Nung kasal ko, I chose kneelength dress for my bridesmaids. I thought that kung floor length ang pipillin ko, my abays will have to wait for another bonggang okasyon before they can wear their dresses again. At least they can wear that as cocktail dress. Well, who would know that it's their abay dress. In that way, yung gastos nila para sa kasal mo, double purpose na. Pareho kayong nakasulit at nakatipid. What I did is ako ang bumili ng tela so shared ang gastos namin. It also ensured that the tela will have the same color shade and style. I also looked for a seamstress who charged reasonably. This way, hindi masyadong nabigatan sa gastos ang bridesmaids ko. I also told them that this would serve as their gifts and they happily agreed. Another way to do it would be for bridemaids to wear their own dresses. You can ask them if they have the colors you want and just coordinate them. This way, they will no longer buy or have one made. Kung wala naman, at least they can choose the design and style that they want to wear. Have a gift registry The registry lists down things you want to receive as wedding gifts. With this, maiiwasan na pareho-pareho ang bibilhin ng mga guests. It works this way. Once a guest has bought an item from the registry list, hindi na sya pwedeng bilhin ng iba. Also, may special discount din na binibigay once magpa- register sa gift registry. So after the wedding at bibili kayo ng gamit for your new home, you can take advantage of the discount. Malls, such as SM and Rustan’s, can guide you on how to create your gift registry. You can visit them or go online.

Have photos from photobooth be your souvenirs Couples spend a lot of time thinking kung ano ba ang magandang souvenirs para sa mga bisita that they will value. So I suggest to have a photobooth at your reception. This serves a dual purpose. You give them something to do while waiting for your reception to start which they would like as well (most of us wants to take photos, right?) and photos taken there can serve as souvenirs of your guests. But if you prefer to have other souvenirs especially for your principal sponsors, pwede din naman. Hire newbies in the industry for cost-effective services Ang mga baguhan sa wedding industry ay mas mababa ang rates. But, they have the skills for the services they render. At dahil mga baguhan sila, they want to make a name in the industry so makakasiguro kayo na pagbubutihin nila ang trabaho. Of course, you will check them out first. Be in your wedding gown from the ceremony through reception Para sulit naman yung investment mo sa time and cost ng gown, isuot mo ito hanggang sa reception. Isipin mo ilang taon mong pinangarap magsuot ng wedding gown, ilang buwan mo inisip ang design na bagay sa iyo, ilang linggo ka nag-diet para magkasya at ilang araw mong tinitigan yung gown. You can’t believe that days away nalang, ikakasal ka na. Tapos ilang oras mo lang isusuot? Sa ceremony lang? Pagdating sa reception magpapalit ka na? Huwag! At saka dagdag gastos kapag bibili ka pa ng dress para sa reception. Okay lang mag second dress kung ang wedding gown mo ay too bulky and you have a dance number na talagang kailangang mong humataw. Pero kung sweet dances lang naman, your wedding gown is fine. Choose a gown na kahit hindi mo na kailangan magpalit, makakasayaw ka pa rin, yung makakagalaw ka ng maayos. Choose one na kahit maghapon mong suot ay walang problema. Meron mga gown na detachable. Two in one. You can have that as your option. Hire On The Day Coordinators Your wedding preparation is the best bonding experience you can ever have as a couple. If you have the time, do it together. Plan your wedding together. Mag-hire na lang kayo ng OTD Coordinator to execute all your plans and ideas for your big day.

Limit the number of guests Kung gusto mo na makatipid, you can limit the number of guests to those people who really matter to you. Hindi naman necessary na lahat ng kakilala mo ay ma- witness ang kasal mo. Make DIY items At kung katipiran lang din ang pag-uusapan, make some DIY items if you have enough resources for materials and you have the time to do them. You can DIY your invitation, thank you cards, souvenirs, table centerpieces and a lot more. Something old. something borrowed Sa kasal daw, dapat meron ka ng tatlong bagay: something new, something old, something borrowed. For something old, you can use yung sapatos mo that you used in your graduation or you bought some time ago. Yung iba na preserve yung gown ng mother nila kaya yun din ang ginagamit on their wedding day. If you really want to save for your wedding, you can use old stuff that you might be needing for your wedding. You can also borrow from your relatives. Side Kwento: Yung jewelries ko sa kasal, may nagpahiram lang sa akin. Ang laki ng savings ko kasi hindi na ako bumili ng jewelries. Get married on weekday I did this. We purposely scheduled our wedding on a weekday, Tuesday, so that we would know who were willing to make time for us in spite of their busy schedules. We thought that if we set the wedding on a weekend, there would be people who would have time to attend even though they are uninvited. This we didn’t want to happen. And setting our wedding on a weekday lessesn our food expenses. Save on venue cost Have your venues in one place. For Christian weddings, the ceremony and reception venues are usually in one place. For Catholic weddings, there are separate venues for the ceremony, preparation and reception. Still, you can have the preparation and reception in just one location. This is convenient for the newlyweds too. At least after the reception program, you can just go to your hotel room. You can rest right away.

So those are practical tips to cut your wedding expenses whether you are tipid or practical bride. Never compromise the quality of your event. Remember, it's once in a lifetime moment na siguradong tatatak sa iyo all your life. Just give your all and do your best! Whatever gimmick you want for your wedding, it is totally fine! You want it to be unique? You want it to be budget-friendly? Go ahead!

Chapter ten Handling pre-wedding blues What can go wrong that will stress you out before your wedding day? Common issues Miscommunication Ang madalas na dahilan ng pagtatalo ng mga soon-to-wed ay miscommunication. They often misinterpret one another. Pakiramdan ng bride ay hindi concerned ang groom. The groom, on the other hand, feels that what he will say is not important so he only suggests when asked. The solution is for the couple to start to learn how to communicate to one another so that they will understand each other.Be honest about what you feel. Don’t let the other party guess what you are going through. Conflicts in schedule Nagiging pagtatalo ng bride and groom ang kanilang busy schedules that affects their time together to plan for the wedding. Ang priority ng bride ay masiguro na ang wedding plans ay nasusunod kasi gusto nyang maging successful ang big day. The groom prioritizes work dahil kailangan ng pera for wedding expenses so he sometimes forget that he has a scheduled errand to do with his bride. The solution is simply to gently remind one another of the scheduled task to do together. Accommodating other people's opinion regarding wedding plans Nagiging dahilan din ng pagtatalo ng mga couples ang pagsunod sa mga unsolicited opinions from their friends and relatives. This becomes an issue kung isa lang ang may gusto sa suggestion ng iba.

Personality differences There are couples that are just too different from one another. The bride is friendly, extrovert, while the groom is the serene type, introvert. Because of these differences, magkaiba ang type of wedding na gusto ng isa’t isa. Ang bride ay grand celebration ang gusto pero ang groom ang gusto ay intimate celebration. Bride and groom, do not allow your differences affect your wedding planning. Wedding planning can be an opportunity for the couple to practice give and take or compromising to resolve differences. Money Matters Parating involved ang pera sa pagpapakasal. Nagiging pagtatalo ito ng soon-to-wed couple kapag yung isa ay magastos o maluho to the extent na yung pera para sa kasal ay nagagastos na. Sa wedding planning palang, pinagtatalunan na ang pera. Paano pag married na? How to handle this? I suggest that the couple talk to someone they both respect and get counseling on handling money issues. As a couple planning to marry, you should learn to resolve money issues. When problems start to rise in the midst of wedding planning Side Kwento: When we started to plan our wedding, that's when unexpected, unwanted things began to happen. 1. We lack money. And when you are planning a wedding, you know money is involve. 2. My now-husband lost his job. Twice. Imagine the frustration we faced. We lack money & he lost his job. Not once but twice. We were so anxious at the time. Our thoughts are, will we be able to save up enough? 3. Our family members are sick. His dad who is working abroad, went home sick. His brother have kidney failure, my sister underwent minor operation. 4. I am in medication. During our wedding planning, I've been admitted twice in the hospital. Another bill to pay! We lack money and the money we earn goes to something else and it was just so hard to save up for the wedding. There's a lot more that happened. The list goes on. What am I trying to say? When you start to plan something big for your life, like marriage, challenges will come. Will you be able to overcome it? Will you be able to go through it together? And come out even stronger than you were before? These challenges are meant to make you a better partner. It will test your patience, faith, perseverance, understanding and love.

Working as wedding planner, my previous brides would always tell me their frustrations about things going on. Problems at their job, with their family, at their finances, and even with their soon-to-be spouse. And it is always a joy not only to become a part of their successful wedding but to witness how they struggle and triumph in their journey to forever as Mr & Mrs. I know that these couples can overcome the challenges to come in their marriage because they've been tested a lot in their wedding planning. And I'm telling you, that you too, can do it. A lot may happen but take heart. When you start to plan something big for your life, like marriage, challenges will come but know that everything will fall into place. It will be alright. Your wedding will be just as beautiful as you thought it would be.

Types of bride In my work as a wedding planner, I have encountered different types of brides. Which bride are you? The Angry Bride (a.k.a Bridezilla) Sila yung bride na mabilis uminit ang ulo, grumpy. Maybe it’s her personality pero pwede rin na dala ng stress of wedding preparations. The Chill Bride They are the calm one. More often than not, sila ang bride who is well prepared, and organized. They are confident that everything is under control, especially with the suppliers they hired. That is why, they can chill and relax during the makeup session, put on their best smile during the photoshoot, and focus on the moment. The Worrier Bride They are the bride that worry about everything kahit hindi naman dapat. Mostly kase, sila yung bride na last minute. Last minute mag submit sa hinihingi ng coordinators, o kaya last minute na may ipapahabol pang errands. Sila yung nag- cram sa wedding planning so they worry so much if things will work out smoothly on their wedding day. The Expectant Bride They are the type na malaki ang expectation from everyone. From suppliers, from entourage, and from guests. The Happy Bride Sila yung happy lang, good vibes lang. They have a happy spirit. They just enjoy the moment. Sila yung kahit may mapansin na hindi okay, dedma lang at happy pa rin. They are very appreciative, they smile at every guests, compliments all suppliers and just so thankful that they married the groom.

The OC Bride Sila yung lahat ay napapansin, napupuna. Sila yung birde na lumilibot ang mga mata. Tinitingnan ang bawat guests, ang decoration, ang galaw ng bawat suppliers. Sila yung bride na “perfectionist”. Lahat kailangan in order, organized and detailed. The Tipid Bride Sila yung budget conscious. They really search for suppliers that offer the lowest rate. Nakikipagsiksikan sa Divisoria, matyaga na nakikipag tawaran at humihingi ng discount and freebies at gagawin ang lahat ng pwedeng ikatipid just to cut on wedding expenses.

Acronyms and wedding terms B2B – Bride-to-be H2B – Husband-to-be G2B – Groom-to-be BM – Bridesmaid/Best Man MOH – Maid of Honor OOTF – Out -of- town fee PF – Professional Fee PV – Photo and Video RSVP – Répondez s’il vous plait. Term na ginagamit to require guests for confirmation to an invitation. SDE –Same Day Edit STD – Save The Date TF – Transportation Fee BOUTONNIERE – Flower pinned sa damit ng mga lalaki CORSAGE – Flower pinned sa damit ng mga ninang. WRISTLET – It is often confused with corsage but ito ay nilalagay sa wrist ng mga abay na babae. BUFFER – Pa sobra. For example, sa catering may buffer na ten percent BURLAP – Also called as jute sack/cloth na madalas ginagamit kapag rustic ang theme ng wedding. RUNNERS – Accent na nilalagay sa table. DRAPES – Malaking tela sa ceiling ng venue COCKTAIL FOOD – Food served habang hinihintay ang pagdating ng bride at groom sa reception venue. COOR - Coordinator VENDOR – Another term for suppliers

Frequently asked questions 1.GAANO KAHABA ANG WEDDING PREPARATION? it depends on 3 factors. It depends on the type of wedding you prefer. Kung church wedding, it would be about three to six months preparation. Kung destination wedding, it will take five months to one year to prepare. The more the details, the more time it will take to prepare. It depends on the situation of the couple. Ang bilis o tagal ng kasal ay naka depende din sa sitwasyon. Halimbawa nasa abroad ang isa, you really have to schedule your wedding. In situation like this, you can’t just set a wedding date. You need to consider a lot of factors. Kailan ba matatapos ang kontrata? O magkakaroon at mapapayagan ba mag leave ng employer? Minsan , nagkakataon din na ang magkapatid, nagkakasabay mag- plan ng wedding. Kung naniniwala kayo sa sukob, one has to give way for the other and wait for another year for the wedding. Kung okay lang naman sa inyo na maikasal on same year, pwede din. May mga instances din na ikinakasal na agad kasi magkaka-baby na. It depends on your budget. Kapag may pera, mas madaling mag plano at mag- set ng date. Kapag kulang pa yung budget minsan pati yung date extended din. 2. KAYA BA ANG THREE MONTHSWEDDING PREPARATION? Yes. Pero dapat meron ka ng dalawang bagay. Una, may time ka. Pangalawa, may pera ka na. Then you can plan your wedding in three months. Here, you have to act fast on bookings your suppliers. Some suppliers charge extra if you book them close to your wedding date. They call it rush booking. Lalo ang mga suppliers na product based gaya ng souvenirs, flowers, invitation, cake. Unlike kapag service providers like coordinators, photographers, kahit a week before, okay lang basta free sila on the day of your event.

3. WHO SHOULD BE MORE INVOLVED IN THE WEDDING PREPARATION? Well, dapat equal ang participation ng couple. This is your wedding and should not just be the concern of the bride. Groom, be reminded that your bride wants you to initiate, wants you to help and wants you to get involved in wedding preparation. The bride should also be reminded that most men are not detail-oriented persons. So don’t expect ang groom to get himself involved all the time. Madalas iyan, sasama during meetings with suppliers pero makikinig lang siya. He will suggest if needed pero madalas brides are the one who decides on almost everything for the wedding. Of course, he will agree with the fiancée kasi he wants to give her the wedding of her dream. 4. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WHEN RESCHEDULING THE DATE? In case you decide to reschedule your wedding, these are the steps to take. a) talk to your suppliers right away especially to you coordinator who can help you contact other suppliers about the change of date, b) check your contract. Suppliers also have their own stipulations about change of date. Some of them might charge you some sort of penalty. Why? For example, your wedding date is December 18, 2021. Because you already booked the date, the supplier will not accept other clients for that date unless they accept multiple events in one day. If you change the date of your wedding, it would be a loss to that supplier because thye could have earned from another client who would have wanted to book their service on that date but would not able to because you have booked that date already. Also, consider that rates may increase when you rebook, say, in 2021. c) Inform your guests if you have announced the original wedding date. If you haven’t announced the date of your wedding yet, there’s no problem. You will not have to explain to anyone why you need to move the wedding on another date. d) Check the expiration dates of marriage documents if they would still be valid on your new schedule. Otherwise, you will have to secure them again. 5. I WILL START INQUIRING FROM OUR PROSPECT SUPPLIERS. WHAT SHOULD I DO? First, be sure you have done your research about the supplier that you are eyeing to book. This is available on social media or even from friends who have planned a wedding. This is for your benefit so that suppliers will not take advantage of you if they know you have not much idea about the wedding industry. Second, when it is time for you to contact suppliers in whatever platform, be ready with your details, most especially the date and venue. This information is important for suppliers to know whether they will be available on that date and in that location.

Wedding Planning Monthly Timeline 12 months 10 months 8 months Determine your budget Book wedding venues wCedhdoionsgeeanntdouarsakge Choose your wedding date Book desired vendors Choose bridal attire Decide on theme & motif Research wedding theme & style Research wedding venue Decide on guests size 6 months 4 months 3 months PlanMceereetmoofnfiycipanrotgram Book accommodation cefrienmaolinzeytaimndelrienceefpotrion look at wedding ring decide on wedding music Finalize menu Apply for marriage license Attend dress fitting 2 months 1 month 1 to 2 weeks DoervgealnoipzisnygstRemSVfoPr Attend final dress fitting Fowllhoowhuapvewni'tthRgSuVesPts Have engagement shoot Send invites Give final headcount to caterer Make envtoelsouppepslfioerrsbalances Pick up wedding ring Dy Before Wedding Day Make sure everything is laid o ut and packed for your big day Get Mani/Pedi Get your beauty sleep

6. IS IT IDEAL TO GET AN ALL-IN WEDDING PACKAGE? Some soon-to-wed couples do not want to stress themselves and opt to avail an All- in wedding package. The advantage is that you will only talk to one person compare if you will hire suppliers one by one, you will have to negotiate with a lot of different people. However, all in wedding packages also have disadvantages so whatever you feel comfortable, whether to avail all-in wedding package or not, it is okay. Just be really careful on choosing your suppliers. 7. SHOULD I SHOULDER FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION OF MY SUPPLIERS? This depends on your contract and agreement. Regarding transportation, this is usually included in the package rate. Nagkakaroon lang ng additional charge kapag yung venue is too far from where the supplier is located. For example, taga Manila yung supplier and the event is in the province. That will be an out-of-town event and you will be charged an out- of- town fee (OOTF). Pagdating naman sa food, sagot mo because suppliers will be working for you. Consider this scenario on the day of your wedding. Your suppliers will be working for your big day. Napaka- busy ng araw na iyan for everybody. Ikaw uupo for makeup, ngingiti for photoshoots, makikinig sa instructions of coordinators, you will walk down the aisle, say your 'I do', kakain, uupo sa reception. Ito ang mga gagawin mo on your day. Your suppliers, especially your coordinators and photographers, will be so busy from beginning to end of your big day. Since the call time for suppliers will be early, you may have to prepare food for them including a food kit with biscuits, candies and water para may pagkain kapag nagutom sila since on your wedding day, wala silang time to sit down for a proper meal. Quick bites lang. We all know naman na kapag gutom, mainitin ang ulo o di kaya naman ay hindi na makapag- isip ng maayos. Very rare ang taong kahit gutom ay can perform well pa rin. Mahirap ang mag-work ng gutom. If you want a quality service, mag- prepare kayo ng food for your working teams on your wedding day. Kapag ang mga iyan ay may maayos na food, nakakain ng maayos, ganado sila mag-work which will result to quality output/service.

8. CAN I BOOK WEDDING SUPPLIERS EVEN IF MY WEDDING IS 2 YEARS FROM NOW? Yes, you can do that. You will lock-in yung price and not be subject to price increase later. Kaya may suppliers that increase their rates every year because they also give salary raises to their staff or invest in their business to help them excel in their craft. Canvass thoroughly since you have a lot of time to prepare. 9. WHAT COULD GO WRONG ON MY WEDDING DAY? I have been asked, \"Ano ba yung mga unexpected things na pwedeng mangyari on our wedding day? Kasi everything is planned out naman.\" Actually, a lot can happen. No matter how well you have prepared for every detail, if something happens, it happens. After all, what matters the most is that you are marrying the person you love dearly. Baka kakaisip mo ng negative possibilities on your wedding day hindi ka na maging maganda o pogi sa iyong wedding photos. Couples, trust the suppliers that you have hired to manage the event. Especially, your wedding coordinators. Below are some of the unexpected things that can go wrong on your wedding day. Sudden change of weather The most affected are those who planned outdoor weddings. Kaya mahalaga na palaging may Plan B so you have an option for an indoor event in case the weather does not cooperate on your big day. However, Indoor weddings can be affected too. Kapag umuulan, madalas nagkaka-traffic din, hindi makakapag-shoot sa labas. Possible na magkaroon ng electricity problems like brownouts. Kapag umuulan, nagiging limited ang mga pwedeng gawin. In the planning stage, this should be considered seriously and alternative plans should be made Sudden change of seat plan Even if there has been a seat plan already in place, pwede pa rin mapalitan because of a) uncooperative guests and relatives, b) supplier’s negligence, and c) couple’s failure to give a complete and orderly guest list . Let’s see.

Uncooperative relatives and guests They either cannot or don’t want to follow the designated seat plan or are not in the seat plan. They want to be with guests they know. There are also gate crashers. Sila yung wala sa guest list but present during the big day. But we don't ask them to go home, di ba? Pinoys are just so hospitable. Minsan naman may mga guests na may dalang anak na pinapaupo kahit walang reserved seat. We had this experience ang guests babalikan kami sa registration table. Sasabihin, “Ma’am may nakaupo po sa seat ko.” When we go to see his designated seat/table, makikita namin bata ang nakaupo. (Couples, it is important that you hire professional coordinators who can manage situation like this. Who can handle guests that do not follow instructions and rules.) Note: this is why you should think carefully who you will invite for your wedding. Supplier's negligence Minsan ang agreement with caterer ay ten round tables with ten seaters. However, on the day of the wedding, there are ten round tables but nine seaters only. Instead of one hundred guests ang makakaupo, ninety guests na lang. Kaya naman nagugulo ang seat plan. Minsan naman fault ng coordinators. For example, hindi nakapag-print o naiwan ang guest list kaya ang guests hindi alam kung saan uupo. Couple's mishandling of guest list There are times also that it is the couple’s responsibility kung bakit magulo ang seat plan. Hindi sila nagbigay ng maayos na guest list. May names pero walang seat number (it happens!). Or, wala talagang guest list na ibinibigay. They just want their guests to take their seats where they think they will be comfortable. Missing member of the entourage Although this one, hindi naman masyadong malaki ang impact kasi kahit hindi dumating ang entourage, tuloy pa rin ang kasal! Sometimes may mga members of entourage na biglang hindi sisipot on the wedding day even if confirmed through RSVP. As my advice to the couple, you can remind members of your entourage to be on time, if not earlier sa call time, para makasama sila sa photoshoot . Para sa ninong at ninang, be sure to give them the direction to the venue ahead of time or print it kasama sa invitation para hindi sila maligaw.

There are really cases na iyong member ng entourage ay laging missing. Reasons are, retouching makeup ( for women), kwentuhan with other guests, yosi break (mostly for men). These sometimes delay the photoshoots. You can ask coordinators to manage these cases. Note: this is why you should think hard who will be part of your wedding entourage. Improper turnover of wedding items to coordinators Couples, especially brides, mag-turnover kayo ng maayos ng mga gagamitin para sa kasal sa inyong coordinators. Pagsama samahin, lagyan ng label or notes at ilagay in one place. Coordinators will find it faster to check kung kumpleto ang lahat ng kailangan at mai-turnover din nila sa photographers for photoshoot. Mahirap kapag hindi ninyo na- endorse lahat ng maayos sa coordinators. Dapat alam ng coordinators every little detail. Scammed by suppliers Mahirap ma- scam ng suppliers kaya check them out very well before you book with them. scammer is not just someone who do not show up. It is also considered scam if your supplier do not deliver well the services you have agreed beforehand. What should you do kapag na-scam ka? Kung ongoing pa ang party, kalma ka lamang muna. It will be hard for you to focus on your moment if you will negatively react to the situation so that is the better thing to do. Confront your supplier kapag tapos na. How you react to the situation will affect your event. Always be in your best composure. Event spoiled by family and members of entourage Minsan talaga ang panira ng kasal ay ang mga kamag-anak. They feel they have the right to intrude dahil kamag-anak sila. Makikialam sila samantalang hindi naman sila kasama during the preparation meetings at hindi naman nila alam ang mga agreements and requests of couples with suppliers. Pagdating sa seat plan, sila ang nagbabago ng seating arrangement para makatabi ang invited guests close to them. Ang pinaghirapang guest list and seat plan with the coordinator nawawalan ng saysay.

Kadalasan, during reception, kahit hindi pa oras sa kainan, iyong mga kamag-anak will insist na papilahin na ang guests at the buffet table . Minsan din kahit may sinusunod na pila for buffet, sila iyong unang pipila kahit hindi pa nila turn. (E, kasi nga kamag- anak daw sila.) Pagdating sa souvenirs, may issue rin sa mga kamag-anak. Kung may nakita silang sobra, ipapamigay sa iba pang guests. Iyong supposed to be one souvenir per family hindi na nasusunod. Note: You can limit the relatives you will invite for your wedding. But if your family is closely knitted and every family member should be present, your choice. Tip: There is no perfect wedding. A lot of things can go wrong. Hire a team of coordinators that exercise their authority and be firm in exceuting the plans. A reliable team that can handle problematic guests and circumstances.

5 things you can do to keep your wedding preps in progress If it will be a couple of months away from your wedding day, it does not mean you can sit there and relax. Use this as an opportunity to prepare for your wedding. Mahirap naman na kung kailan malapit na, saka ka mag ka cram sa preparations. Here's what you can do. LOOK FOR SUPPLIER ONLINE You can take advantage of the technology. You can look and book for your wedding suppliers online. Once you found the one that fits your budget and preference, you can reserve your slot online. You can also pay your deposit thru bank transfer. DRAFT YOUR GUESTS LIST. Start making a list of people you want to invite on your wedding. Create one that is alphabetically arranged, and one that is arranged per table. CHOOSE & DOWNLOAD YOUR WEDDING SONGS You can download songs of your choice. Mainam ng meron kang ibigay na list of songs sa inyong soundtech supplier. Mahirap naman na ang i play nilang song para sa inyong first dance as newlyweds ay yung theme song pala ninyo ng ex mo. Hindi mo naman sila masisi kasi malay naman ng sound operator di ba? Kaya better if you can provide a list of songs. At ilagay din sa flash drive. Para yung version na gusto ninyo ang mai play nila. Baka gusto mo ng forevermore na si Juris ang kumanta. Tapos yung version na nai play nila ay side A. MAKE A SEAT PLAN & FLOOR PLAN LAY OUT You can also decide on the seat plan. Sino sino ang gusto mo pagsamahin sa isang table? This is only applicable kapag yung wedding venue niyo, wala silang ma provide na floor plan lay out and they tell you it’s up to you kung saan mo gusto I pwesto ang stage, yung buffet area and etc. Kapag gumawa ka, let your caterer and coordinator know & give them a copy. MAKE DIY ITEMS Kung malayo layo pa ang date ng wedding mo, at kung may time ka at creative ka din, you can DIY some items fo your wedding like invitation & thank you cards (this is especially for couples na magaling mag lay out. If you're not, you can use apps like greetingislands.com) If you are a crafty person, there's so much more you can DIY. If you're good with crochet, you can make a crochet bouquet, if you're good with lettering, you can make sign boards.

Do not be too lax in your wedding preps. Always look for ways to advance your preparation. Mas mabilis matapos ang wedding preps, mas madaming time to rest and relax. Mahirap yung bukas na ang wedding day, madami pang hindi settled. Do not procrastinate on your wedding preps.

Things to do while waiting for your big day It maybe months or weeks away from your big day. and I know how exciting it could be! Since you will get married very soon, it’s time to use your remaining single days in a way you will not regret that you marry. BOND WITH YOUR LOVE ONES Spend time with your family. (This is especially applicable sa mga magbubukod agad pagkatapos ng kasal.) Once you’re married, hindi mo na pwedeng makasama 24/7 ang iyong family members kasi you are making your own family na din. Make memories with them. Make each day count. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SINGLEHOOD Kung may gusto kang gawin bago mag settle down, gawin mo na! Para wala kang moment na, “sana pala ginawa ko na to nung binata/dalaga palang ako” READ MARRIAGE BOOKS/BLOGS Your big day is coming near! Everything is almost prepare. Ilkaw handa ka na ba? Pause. Reflect. Weigh things. It’s time to read marriage books/ blogs or even talk to a married friend. These may help you get ready for what’s ahead of you after the wedding day. Mas dapat na pinaghahandaan ang married life. Wedding is one day event. Marriage is lifetime. Equip yourself. Are you ready for the next level of your relationship? Of your life? Are you ready to become a spouse, to commit yourself fully to someone? To the responsibilities it carries? Seek wisdom. (You can check out my page, Marriage Thoughts for some inspirations)