Uploaded Pictures

Some pictures of the wedding are up at my Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/xinda/.

I need to work on Reception set though. I feel burnt out from uploading them. Please bear with me and check it out sometime tomorrow.

Some Short Slideshow

A short slideshow of wedding pictures produced to watch after post wedding BBQ with the CA people last night.

Online Album

Ika and Toto surprised us with a wedding album (two copies, gave one to my mom). It is such a thoughtful gift, guys! They took all the pictures starting from the high tea, the rehearsal, the rehearsal dinner, the make up and hair, the ceremony and reception. It took them only a few days to pick and edit pictures before hitting the publishing button at My Publisher. I haven't even received pictures from my photographer then when I opened this anonymous package.

Anyway, the album comes with an online viewing. Here it is, enjoy!


I will update my Flickr account to a Pro so that I can share pictures with everyone eventually.

Pics

Our photographer sent a USB worth 5 GB of pictures, three of them edited. I am too lazy to browse over the 1000+ pictures.

This is going to be a lonnngggg project (editing, album, thank you notes), deadline is first wedding anniversary. LOL.

Post Wedding Notes

We have been married, err, 12 days now. Wedding day was magical. We got all the things we've ever wanted and more. It wouldn't be possible without the help of my dearest girls, Evy, Dian, Ika, Yada, Ade, Melly, Trish, Jess, Giselle, Inok, and the guys: Chris, Toto, Bibi's groomsmen, George, my brother, Sean, and not to mention, my mother and Ika's parents. It was just a lot of fun.

We had our mini moon all over Texas: San Antonio, College Station, and Austin. I am back in CA and Bibi is still in TX catching up on his lab work. Our marital bliss is slightly different than most couples since we are still living apart from each other. But as Bibi always says, we have plan, and we are following it.

Anyhoo, now that the wedding is over, the the to-do-list still growing. I can't wait to actually get pictures from official photographer so that we can include a wallet size portrait of the two of us and picture with guests on the thank you notes. I have never been showered with so much love. Thank you, friends, family!

My unofficial photographers have been sending me their pictures, gotta choose some for mama, she's going home this Tuesday night.

My long term project is to make photo albums: the wedding and the behind the scene. It'll be magical.

D-4!

Oh, my.

D-4. At this point I am just...giving up. Seriously, this morning while still in bed, I tried to rehearse what things I need to do Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and the big day, but my mind refused to think.

Changes so far:

• There will be no live singing at reception, although the program says so. Reason is that brother couldn't bring his electric keyboard. NY is having half heart of singing and playing the keyboard live anyway. I am too tired to look for last minute instrument place. Given all the above, we are counting on CDs for music during reception, and if people want to sing, we will make use of the karaoke machine. Real use.

• ....I am sure there will something coming up. I am embracing myself for it (them).

NY is organizing a "tea-party" with the girls Friday lunch time. There are about 10 of us. I am not trying to envision a high-tea ambiance of an English nature. This is Texas, dowtown Riverwalk. LoL.


I am leaving tomorrow on a 6 AM flight and have yet to find a place for steaming.

Stuck on You (in a good way)

I don't mind having this as our first dance. It's a beautiful pop country.



Stuck on you
I've got this feeling down deep in my soul that I just can't lose
Guess I'm on my way
Needed a friend
And the way I feel now I guess I'll be with you 'til the end
Guess I'm on my way
Mighty glad you stayed

I'm stuck on you
Been a fool too long I guess it's time for me to come on home
Guess I'm on my way
So hard to see
That a woman like you could wait around for a man like me
Guess I'm on my way
Mighty glad you stayed

Oh, I'm leaving on that midnight train tomorrow
And I know just where I'm going
I've packed up my troubles and I've thrown them all away
'Cause this time little darling
I'm coming home to stay

I'm stuck on you
I've got this feeling down deep in my soul that I just can't lose
Guess I'm on my way
Needed a friend
And the way I feel now I guess I'll be with you 'til the end
Guess I'm on my way
I'm mighty glad you stayed

--Lionel Richie, Stuck on You, from the album Can't Slow Down, 1983

....and with that, we commence the making of compendium of songs for reception.

Ring Bear

My seven y.o. future nephew-in-law got confused when his mother told him he is going to be our ring bearer.

"I am going to dress up as a bear?"

I was having such a good laugh when I heard about this and decided we can honor the little man. Of course, he won't be dressing in a bear costume, but instead, he will hold a Teddy Bear in lieu of a ring pillow. A ring bear bearer!

I tied a silver ribbon on one of my Teddy Bears collections last night. He is a baby Pooh, a gift from a friend couple years ago. I also tied the two stainless steel rings on him. My mother will put a permanent stitch on the ribbon on the back of the bear's neck.



I haven't decided if we should put the real rings on the bear, or should we entrust them to the Bestman and the Maid of Honor?

Pictures Worths More than a Thousand Words

I am too incoherent to craft post with more words, I am down with a coughing fit. Let these pictures speak for themselves. These are part of things prepared for reception. Table name holders painted in purple and the making of pineapple jam fillings for nastar.

A Month Left!

NY took this candid picture of me and mom digging on our ice-cream and popcorn. We were at Old Sacramento last Saturday.

The caption said "This is not what a soon to be bride supposed to do a month before her wedding day... But a little bit of chocolate ice cream won't hurt haha...."

Oh, that NY.

Favor Sketch

Rough dimension for DIY cover for chocolate bar as wedding favor. Actual pretty work is in progress by Bu Didi.



Update, March 28th:
Design is done, what we need are the printings, cuttings, applying glue, and, voila, favors will be done!

Update, April 3rd:
This is what it's gonna look like. Pardon the printing mishap. I accidentally printed it twice on the same side of the page, still wondering how it happened.

List...

Cake Vendor--Done
Hotel--Done
Wedding rings--almost in Bibi's possession
Materials for readers--Done
Wedding website--Done
Flower order--Done
Music for church--halfway, brother has some sheet music for procession and recession
Invitation--Done, except for the one for local folks and people at work
Veil--Done, except for the comb

Need to get:
Bear
Locket
Ribbons for bouquets and boutonnieres
Vases
Flower foams and such except for Leaf Shine
Candles for unity candles
Materials for favors (Hershey's Trader Joe's chocolate bar with DIY cover)
Cake platter, 16"

Need to do:
Favors (design done, need to print, cut, apply glue)
Table ID (IP, Bu Didi, need to print)
Program for church (need to cut)
Guestbook
Seating, almost done
Delegation of things to do on the day, done, need to hold meeting, though.
Drinks ticket
Trivia

Still in the blank In Progress:
Program for reception (Bibi is in charge and is definitely rolling)
Music for reception (also rolling, Bibi is finding rental PA system), MP3 files left CDs and MP3s available.
Final count from RSVP, hoping guests start mailing theirs before April 1st deadline Sending catering guy the list of menu. Catering will follow up this coming Monday, 04/12. We are about to send contract approval back.Sent
Photographer program, this is still the death of me
Enlarging picture for reception

Anybody has suggestion for a church program design? I am trying to think outside the box. What about a combination of accordeon fold one like this from Martha Stewart online embellished/secured with ribbons?

indaandbilly.wordpress.com

Wedding website is up. It is kinda confusing, as we are using another blog (wordpress) format for it. In summary, it is a blog containing a blog linking to anotherblog. I am having a headache. LOL.

Enjoy!

Invitations Out

Mailed invitations are out on Saturday. Please be on the look out for it and RSVP ASAP.

Danke and love,

-Getting to be stressed out bride

And as a token of appreciation to my worker bees. Here is a picture of them (designer not included) while working on the invitations. Danke all.

2010!

It's been a while since I updated this blog. Honestly, I've had cold feet on preparing for this wedding. It is not about the groom and me, thankfully, but about leg works (and actual works) left. I am chanting the word "simple" for about a thousand times in an attempt to make myself feel better.

Bottom line is no matter how simple this wedding is gonna be, it still needs preparation, correct? Delegate and organize are my two best operating words these days. Also, magabu (makan gaji buta) every chance I can or when inspiration strikes. Notice the two don't necessarily coincide.

I would like to thank my resident muse and Ibu Bunga (aka Chief Decorator) in advance for their constant attentions and ideas on this crazy cross-country planning. Also to my mother. We went to the alteration place to have the bustle sown and to shorten the off shoulder neckline on Sunday. She also picked the same style of the bridal bouquet I had in mind. And to Oni for her idea for a simple chocolate bar favor.

So, in summary, flower is rolling. Favors have been decided and team assembled. We almost have a photographer chosen. Muse and I are working on invitation for a middle February print and March 1 send out. I am printing those myself. We also have a couple of ideas about making a fun reception.

The most important thing is that Bibi and I are almost there sacramental wise. We finished Enganged Encounter, had second meeting with the Father in December--we have rehearsal time by the way-- and last but not least, got two meetings with Sponsor Couple done also in December. The last meeting with Sponsor Couple will be over details on ceremony. I am thinking to go on the weekend before President's day.

Big item to do list:
Cake (I am thinking just to have cake instead of cupcakes. Rio-rio is charging reasonable fee for set up)
Music for ceremony and reception
Program
Transportation
Make up
Other decoration
Finalizing menu

I am quite energized.