Wedding gown fitting

After checking out from Guoman, we rushed back to our 3pm appointment with the Bridal studio for my wedding gown fitting. This time for my wedding day and wedding dinner. We glanced through countless number of gowns but I simply can't find any gown to my liking!

I recalled one designer gown I've tried the last time and thought it looks gorgeous. After describing how it looks like, the representative managed to find it. Everyone were happy with the gown but unfortunately it has been reserved for another bride for the SAME wedding day! What a co-incident!?

Left with no choice, we continue browing through, including the designer range. We saw one quite ok gown but the price that we have to top up just doesn't make sense! We were trying hard to negotiate for I'm only taking one wedding gown, no suit for Ben, no evening gown for myself.

At last, we found an ok gown, still not the perfect gown I've always dreamed of but.....................

Official launch of BenandPauline.com

After collecting soft copy of our pre-wedding photos, I spent a tremendous hours sitting infront of the computer putting up this website in full flash. It's extremely hard for a person who has no knowledge on Flash to even edit the template I bought...

But the end result is worth it every suffering..~Check it out at http://www.benandpauline.com/

Pre wedding shoot at Guoman PD

It's a Sunday today, early in the morning I dashed off for a hairwash at the same time, straighten my hair. It's a beach shoot today so straight hair should portray a more casual feel rather than my curly locks (you know wind blows and all....keke!). Moreover, I can't stand with my hairstyle which is out of style now, just waiting for my wedding to be over to cut it short! =P

After my hairdo and a quick tapao chicken rice (my fav chicken rice shop), we took off to PD from Seremban at about 1+. Reached Guoman PD at about 2+ and the makeup artist and gang were already sitting at the lobby. We quickly checked in and got ourselves ready and the makeup started.

Our shooting started at about 3+ , 4. The gang was extremely helpful and we thought the shooting session was full of joy and fun! Striking different poses was just so fun! Fiona made me ran towards Ben, jump on Ben, both of us swinging each other, running on the coast, slow walk, piggy back and the pinky fights! haha!!!! The gang was extremely helpful for we forgot to bring flowers with us!!! They actually plucked a nice bunch of white flowers from I don't know where for us; and it was sooo nice! The makeup gang actually stayed on cause I insisted not to tie my hair up and the veil can't stay strong. It keeps falling off! She had to pint it over and over again....=P The gang also helped holding my veil and ran as fast as they could when Fiona snaps!

No more scolding this time round. Hmm...I think we became pro posers, Fiona just can't stop saying we're both good at posing. We will literally stay there till she says 'cut'! kaka!

Later, I changed into my little white bikini and Ben into his board shorts baring his upper body....sexy! *boink ^-^ A few spashing water shoots and I changed to a short white dress to continue with the dusk shoots.

Definitely a fun experience! Highly recommended!

Last min shopping for PD shoot

So this is it! 2 days later is our final pre-wedding shoot by the beach, the long awaited shooting. During lunch, I grabbed a quick bite of a Egg Mayo sandwich and started all our last min shopping for the shoot. As Ben was having an extrememly busy day, hence I was on my own. First, getting a white T-shirt and a board shorts for Ben as the photographer also suggested some more casual shoots. While I've got my white bikini prepared before hand, we can't help thinking that it maybe too obscene hence I also bought myself a white shorts just in case.

After work, I indulged myself with a french manicure and pedicure while waiting for Ben to pick me up from work.

Distributing wedding invitations

This is a full week with scheduled meet ups with friends back to back. Almost every evening after work, we'll be meeting up someone e.g. my ex-colleagues, our ex-colleauges, high school friends etc etc to distribute our wedding invitation card. It's tiring but it's a happy process to be meeting up with everyone and spreading the news of our marriage ^^

Our meetup was at Pelita Bangsar, Naili's cafe at DU, Little Penang Cafe at The curve, a chinese restaurant at Jln Ipoh etc. During our trip back to Sban, I also visited 2 other high school frens and Ben's ex-colleague at Central HK cafe.

Videographer II

Today after work at about 8.30pm, we met up with another photographer which was recommended by the soon be appointed emcee/event coordinator. He's a freelancer but recommendations and track records proven that he can provide a quality deliverables with a more affordable price.

During the meeting, although I didn't know anything about videographer, I just asked la....what sort of model of videocamera are you using, how many people will be deployed on the day... and so on. We posted a few requests and he's flexible enough to include it in the package some with minimal charges and some without any charges! Incl a 2 hours videographing at Ben's house on the 8th at a small dinner gathering. kewl~

When I asked for his portfolio, he promised to drop it at our house the next day!

Meeting with the emcee/wedding coordinator

Before the confirmation to hire the emcee, we've decided to first meetup with him for an 'Interview'. So today after work, we've scheduled to meet up at One Utama. During the meeting, we basically ran through the schedule and every details of what will happen during the wedding dinner. He gave us a very good overall understanding of what to expect and also how he usually manages the weddings.

It's great meeting up with him in person, to know exactly how he looks like (as he look somewat more matured than his photo on his website =P) and listening to how he manages and handles the wedding and most importantly how he speaks.

His package is quite good, incl a 2+1 piece band, emcee and an wedding coordinating services. So at least we as the host will have some professional to guide as when to do what without appearing too blur. haha!

Cheongsam fitting

Today it's our turn for fitting, both Ben's mom and myself. My mom purposely came down to take a look of the cheongsam. I look extremely stunning in the gorgeous piece cheongsam, need I say....=D The tailor did some further adjustment based on my figure and said that I've lose weight it seems.

He even gave me a quick and instand grooming lesson, teaching me how I should walk, sit and even turn elegantly to match the cheongsam. hahahaha! A very satisfying piece of work I must say!

Suit fitting

Ben went for his 1st suit fitting today. Brought along his belt, black shoes and tie for a whole complete fitting. The suit looks perfect on him, very smart and handsome! =P Just a little adjustment here and there, esp stressing on the waist to be reduced by one size as he's confident that he'll lose weight by then. hehe!

Pre-wedding photo touchup

Today after work, Ben and I met Pat and Alvin at the wedding studio to go through the pre-wedding photos double checking on the touch up made as per our comments.

We've confirmed on the spot all the photos, selected the photo album cover, photo frames. Pat also tried on some gown hoping to rent a piece of simple evening gown from the studio but unfortunately, those gowns are just not our cup of tea.

Videographer

Based on the recommendation from my cousin, we visited the videographer that she hired at their studio. She first showed us their portfolio, incl the short clip of the wedding day and wedding dinner then the full version of each sessions.

Some of the videos even have a private interview session to talk about their upbringing, their families and the feeling towards each other. Others consist of the cliched growing up to dating photo montage.

We had a somewat different idea since the photo montage comes with the package. That is to compile a photos throughout the preparation of the entire wedding. From the wedding registration to our return from honeymoon which is about one year!!! Wooohooooo......~~~

Food tasting

On 12th Jan (Friday), we arranged for a food tasting at the Westin Hotel. We arrived the last after picking up Patricia from her workplace; Porsche didn't join us that night. All of them, my parents, ben's parents and 3 of their friends were already there. The hotel reserved the Straits Board Room for the food tasting. There were even notice board put in place outside the door and at the entrance of the lift which read 'Private Dinner hosted by Benjamin and Pauline'. We felt honoured!

We were first greeted by the Sales representative and she presented us with a feedback form asking for our feeback based on each dish served. So there we go, started the 8 course fusion dinner.

We took photos of all the dishes, was tempted to post it but I think I should remain it as a suprise for you! (",) The dinner was a good one! We were all amazed by the taste of the food, the presentation and the generosity of the shark fins, seriously! During the reviewing session with the chef, everyone gave their comments.

Ben's parents who have been to 3 wedding food tastings prior said that food tasting is always far better than the actual dinner. We pointed this out hoping that they'll try to maintain the same standard as tonight. We felt delighted with their assurance that it'll be of the same standard! Let's see ^^

After the food tasting, we went to the ballroom to have a look since both our parents have yet to view the ballroom.

Confirming our honeymoon trip

And YES! After the long researching and comparing, we've finally made up our mind and signed up for our Honeymoon to the romantic Europe! Went to the tour agent and went through the details on places we'll be visiting again!

So here we come, Paris - Switzerland - Germany - Holland - Belgium and England! Yes lotsa countries to cover in 10 days..... ^-^ But that's just the way we like it to be....as long as we're with each other.

Thanks to Ben's parents who's our sponsor! ^0^

Making the suit

Today we first visited SparksMen's shop in Bangsar to enquire about Ben's tailor-made black suit. Later visited Classmen's shop in Lucky garden, after comparison, we placed an order with Classmen's shop.

Ben's mom seems expert enough to pick up a suitable cloth, very very black wool and later we were advised by the tailor on the style. Ben also wanted a tailor-made white shirt and we found an excellent piece of white cloth! He also requested his initials to be sewed onto the shirt - BY.

After taking down the measurements and confirming on some small details, the suit will be ready in a week's time for first fitting.

Invitation Card

Our invitation card is out and everyone, Ben's parents, my parents, Ben and myself have started the calling, writting, posting and meeting up process to give out the invitation card. A little incident is that we under-estimated the no. of cards needed or rather the printer under estimated the cards that we need. Re-printing of another batch is not possible hence we went ahead with a different design, but it's still nice ^-^

Preparation for engagement ceremony 过大礼

Ben's mom have been buying 2 days in a row, for all the things needed on the chinese engagement ceremony on the 27th Feb including bed sheet, pyjamas, bed light, potty, slippers, charcoal, tea pot, roast pork and etc. Thanks to her friend who has been a great help accompanying and voluntering to be the 'official' consultant of this event. Consultant for both mothers, incl my mom. She'll represent ben's mom delivering those things over to my house too.

My mom is sooo reliefed that all the necessary things have been bought and settled by Ben's mom, and all she has to do is just to pay her.

The amount for wedding biscuits have also been confirmed. My mom was so nervous when Ben's mom called her one morning for the amount. She had to call me and i had to call my friends to ask for the norm. haha!

What is...

During the preparation process, I can't help wondering why are we doing a certain things e.g. Honeymoon, distributing biscuits and etc. How was it originated anyways?

Refer to my little 'Definitions' corner.

2 more months!

It has finally getting to us that our wedding it's just 2 months away! At a blink of an eye, we'll be outside the weddingdinner hall waiting to march into the our dinner. My heart beats faster everytime this moment flashes through. OK! I started visualizing again..... .....

So it looks like we've got most of the things sorted out but I spoke to a goddaugther of my aunt who's a wedding planner and got to know that we're behind schedule! Ouch! It's like a wakeup call for me. okok! what has not been sorted out are...

1) My invitation card is still printing in progress
2) Guest list not finalized yet (she said this is ok, it's still changing till the last min)
3) Emcee
4) Band
5) Videography vendor
6) Pre-wedding photos (1 done, another one to go); we've yet to collect the 1st pre-wedding photos
7) Assigning roles and responsibilities e.g. Usher, drink coordinator, etc (which I have quickly assigned my sisters to be sole responsible and requested a draft schedule of the wedding day and wedding dinner to be submitted to me by this Friday...(",)
8) Makeup Artist!
9) My cheong same is still in the making
10) Wedding shoe!

OMG! I'm stopping here, I'll faint and never get to post this message if I continue with the list...
She also said ideally everything should be sorted out 1 month prior to the wedding, and the last month I should only concentrate on how to indulge myself with manicure, pedicure, facial, massages...etcc. Which means - I have exactly one more month to get all the pending items sorted out.

The planning continues

Our honeymoon planning and research is still on going. Yes and we're going to Europe, but which part of Europe are we covering exactly? Hm....Some ppl say it's not recommended to do a touch N go kinda tour and some will say for 1st timer to Europe, it's better to do an introductory tour covering the major destinations of Europe; some will say you shouldn't join those hectic scheduled tour for a honeymoon........ hmmm....we've got those points and thankyou =) So I guess it boils down to what you want at the end of the day...

Research after research, from the local travel agencies like Holiday Tours, Reliances, GTT, Summit, UdaraTravels and Excellence Holidays to the global travel agencies like Trafalgar and Cosmos we have studied. Decision on whether we should do London - Paris - Rome or Italy - Switzerland - Paris - London or Paris - Rome yadda yadda yadda.... Trying every possible ways to stretch our money by exentending our stays, maybe some Free & Easy at the end of the tour... or maybe purchasing some cheap fares and board some local tour there... etc etc.

We can take Eurostar if the trip ends in Paris to London; or maybe go on a sleeper train to London if the tour ends in Rome; Some tour we've came across even stops at Milan, hmm and we can take the EasyJet over the London..... mixing and matching every possible ways.

And it's so nice of our ex-colleague, or shall I say current colleague who's working with IBM UK to offer us a place to stay during our stay in London! We can't thank you enough! So yes we'll be extending a few days in London just to recover from the forseeable hectic schedule during the tour across Europe.

Oh ... Have I mention we've made up our mind with the tour package covering Paris - Switzerland - Germany - Holland - Belgium and England. Yea! I can't wait! I think we've made a wise choice by combining both relaxing and hectic kinda honeymoon. Don't tell me otherwise.

Engaging Band & Emcee

I've obtained a list of entertainers for the wedding dinner from Westin. We're looking for a band and an emcee for that night. Compared prices and this Alan guy seems to be quite good. Spoke to him on the phone once and he seems to know what he's doing and he has a package for Band, Emcee, Planner and basically the Single point of contact for that night.

I'm quite comfortable for he assured that he'll make sure everything happens smoothly, including the program for the night, coordination with the hotel, coordination with the kitchen and so on.....

Visited his website and listened to some of his songs, seems not bad too! He's giving us a 2+1 piece band consists of 1 Keyboardist, 1 Vocalist who's a Philipino and a Saxophonist who himself will be. He'll also be the emcee for the day. Have discussed this with Ben's parents and they seem to be quite satisfied with his work after reviewing his testimonial and sample music from the website. Will have to consult my dad on this too...