Chinese traditional custom

Just collected all the above with regards to the chinese traditional custom. It consists of:

A detailed timetable of when to tailor new pjamas, 安床 (change new bedsheet), 过大礼 (Groom's side to deliver presents to the Bride's family), prayers, Bride to transfer her belongings and presents from her parents 嫁妆 to the Groom's house and etc. Ops! But mine is all in Ben's house already .... haha!

过大礼 (Sorry but I don't know what is this called in English) is quite a big thing and a must in traditional chinese wedding. It's usually carried out 15-20 days before the wedding day. The Groom's parents will prepare all the necessary presents including 龙凤烛 (candle), 嫁女饼(biscuits), 请帖 (wedding invitation card), 礼酒（wine）, chicken, red cloth and 聘金 （ang pow) to be given to the Bride's family. These are the basic necessity and both parents can discuss if they want any extra presents. Also, the Groom's parents are not suppose to be present during this ceremony. The Bride's parents should also return the presents 回礼 given and not keeping everything.

They also provide stickers to be stuck onto the car when the Groom collects the Bride on the wedding day. There're 2 stacks of angpow cover, which we're suppose to give out to e.g. the person who does the prayers, tailor for our pjamas, person who combs over hair (上头）, person who introduces both of us, person who opens the car door for the Groom and etc. Many of these are not applicable in this modern society anymore esp the 'Introducer', I think it's called 媒人婆 in the olden days. A person who does match making when one family decided to wed their kids.

Our pre-wedding photos!

I woke up feeling extremely nervous as this is the day to preview the pre-wedding shoots we pose very hard for last week. Can't help thinking on how's I'll look in the photos, haha! Reached the studio after brunch at about 12-ish and started pre-viewing about close to 500++ photos!

Ben and I were quite satisfied with the outcome after the initial glance. It wasn't as bad as we thought it will be....kaka! I was extremely relieved!

After one glance at those photos, it's time for some filtering. We have to choose only 42 photos out of the 500++ photos, it's really a hectic one! Three of us, Ben, Ben's mom and myself were sitted ajdacent to each other started off with individual categories, Family, Outdoor, Evening gown, costume and wedding gown, scanning through every photos carefully and wrote down the no. of those shortlisted ones.

We both like the wedding gown and costume shoot than the others. Some of it are very nice, but I look chubbier in some shots; Ben looks extremely attractive in most of them!

After the 1st filtering, we were all exhausted, I then suggested to come back another day to finalize.

Unfortunately, I nearly broke my thumb while I was too excited viewing the photos!!!

See you Ferringhi beach!

Our 2nd pre-wedding photography session is scheduled on the Jan 5th at a stretch of beach by the Lone Pine Hotel, Penang. This is recommended by our photographer. She says it has a great ground for photography. I'm so excited and can't wait to pose again! hahahaah

She suggested a few options initially, one of it being the Golden Sand. We would love to be there but the price is just extremely expensive =P

Will be there on the 4th after work and hope to catch the sunrise on the 5th. Besides, I'm also meeting up with my friends who's coming back from Melbourne! It has been almost a year since we girls last meetup! I can't wait!

Pre-wedding shoot [1] - completed

We arrived at the Bridal studio at about 11am after a quick breakfast at Rocky, Bangsar. Stopped by a bakery to buy some buns for lunch just in case we need some energy to continue with the photo shoot. As we were travelling to the studio, the sky was extremely blue! A sunny and blue sky decorated with lots of white clouds! Thanks thanks, keep it that way pls.......

They started putting body liquid and powder on me and I changed to an outdoor wedding gown. The stylist then very quickly applied foundation, powder, fake eyelashes, blusher and lip gloss on me; tied my hair half way up and I'm ready to go. Ben have also changed to his suit.

Our very first shoot was against the blue sky. It was my double chin who causes problem >-<, it took us about 10-15 mins to adjust and get used to it before the shoot is taken and I still don't know if it's a good one. We then quickly move around the park as the rain was coming anytime soon. It was although the dark cloud was following us! We also got our feet all dirty stepping into a pool of mud! After about 1-2 hours, we headed back to the studio, had our shoes cleaned and prepared for the 2nd session in the studio. Our families were already in the studio getting ready for the family photo. Ben and I quickly stuffed ourselves with the bun, changed and continued with our photo session. Our families then joined us; first 2 families together and then another shoot for separate families. They were 'asked to leave' right after the few shoots as we had to continue with our shooting. Poor thing, all properly dressed up and the ladies with full makeup on. We moved on to our 2nd wedding gown, 2 night gowns and 2 other costumes (cheong sum and chinese kua). As we proceeded, the photographer was showing his true color! He was extremely demanding and even scolded us! I didn't express my anger as I thought he was just trying his best for good shoots. However, when I think he was abit over board (he commented that I looked too stiff on how I stand). I told him off by saying: "Hello! I'm not a professional model, ok!?" I suppressed my anger though as my once in a life time photos are in his hand. It was a great experience overall! Ben likes me in the mermaid-cut gown where I love the chinese kua. We both know that it's not easy being a model now...hahahah!

Sunny day please!

This is it! Our pre-wedding photo shoot day! Everything is ready now, all the shoes, socks, shirts, coat, pants, lense-less glasses....etc.... Put on my SkII whitening mask last night, slept at 10.30pm, didn't drink water after 8pm. Just burned the compilation of wedding photos I've collected so far for their reference.

Really nervous! kakakaka! cos I know I'm not a person who look good in a heavily makeup shoots. Worry that smile will look fake, worry that my complexion will not look good, worry about the makeup will not suit me .... and pray that it will not rain so early today, at least not till i finish my outdoor shoots!

Please please please, once in a life time, make everything goes as planned!

It's 9.30am now, gotta run!