DIY: invite prototypes

I'm so tired from work but wedding preps is giving me a natural and unusual high so, I was able to make two prototypes for our DIY invites after work. My fiance sent me the layout for the main invite that we did so it's just a matter of me printing and assembling it into a nice pocket-fold invitation. 

materials from Binondo

I've read from w@w about this certain store that sells cheap paper products for invites and other wedding stationaries so I went last weekend. The store is called Techbros and it's located at #483 Yuchengco Street, Binondo. I bought a lot of stuff which cost me around a thousand bucks. Thanks to that metallic black paper that costs P91 a piece but aside from that, everything else was super affordable. Actually, even the metallic paper board is still very cheap as compared to the stationaries you find in the mall so overall, I really got the bang for my buck!

board papers for border and envelopes.

We still don't really know the specifics that we want for the invite. The size, border, envelope and how to actually execute it so I tried to print a sample and played with the two possible border/envelope that I've purchased in Binondo.

prototypes. i think i know which one will prevail

After half an hour or so, I was able to come up with two prototypes. I know for sure that we might still rework some of the details but these are ready for presentation with H2B later when I wake up. I have a feeling which one will he choose and I actually like that one too!!!

DIY: main invite

H2B and I finally finished designing our main invite! Woohoo!!! I so love it!!! And I'm so proud of it!

don't you think it suits our rock n roll theme?

I've scratched our surnames to keep our identities (as if our unique names doesn't give our identities away. haha!)

Lookie at our names, Ren & Glee - turn it upside down... it's ambigram!!! Those will also serve as our "monogram" since we both fell in love with it. We're actually getting a tattoo with it because we are so loving it!!!

More than a year before the wedding and our invites are already in the works. We don't plan on giving out save-the-date cards and we are DIYing our invites so we got to start early. Now, we have to figure out what the entourage card, map and directions and RSVP card would look like. We have ideas already but sometimes what you perceive can't be executed like you hope so - we have to give it our best efforts anyways at keep our fingers crossed.

Til our next post! :) Cheers to creativity and teamwork! :D

1st booking: FAIL!

I was at the Weddings and Debuts 2011 Bridal Fair in Megamall during the weekend and I booked a photo/video supplier. I think I got excited with the amount of discount that I got from this specific vendor so I called up H2B and asked for his sign off. Unfortunately, he was at the middle of his deep slumber so his decision to give the supplier a go was not at all rationale. I on the other hand, was not thinking too because I was charmed by the discount. I was also very eager to have my 1st booking and to finally convince myself that yes, I am getting married. All these factors helped in how my 1st wedding vendor booking failed.

Reality is, when you are in these discount fairs, you are easily swayed to sign a contract and give your downpayment. Why wouldn't you? Any savings that you could get is very important, most especially when you are spending big bucks for your wedding. On the bright side though, at least I learned my lesson on the early stage of my wedding planning. And that I wouldn't suck it up with the supplier just because its cheap.

Wish me luck in looking for that perfect balance between quality work and affordable rates.

excited much

I am probably the most excited bride to be on the face of the Earth, H2B pointed out. I couldn't agree more. Just days after the proposal, and it's like I have everything about the wedding ironed out. I just need a go from H2B and contracts will be signed pronto! Haha! Yes, I am overly excited. It's not healthy. It's adding pressure to H2B and I'm getting close to becoming a bridezilla!

So, even if I lowered down my wedding costs quotations, I decided to slow down my wedding preps and research. To chill out a bit because my Obsessive-Cumpulsive side is taking over me and it's not a pretty site to see. Haha! So there, the date is fixed - June 1, 2012 but I have to restrain myself from obsessing about it. H2B also requested me to not to book anything yet. Just let it rest until the year ends because he is also expecting "something" he might not be able to give his full attention to the things I consulth with him. I thought I couldn't do it but it's been two days and thankfully, Farmville is doing what I expect it to do, to veer away my attention from wedding stuff. Haha!

Anyway, this wedding thingy has been teaching me things. First, I learned how to be secretive. And now, I learn how to control my OC side. It's also making me learn how to appreciate money and how to budget and follow the budget religiously. Ok, the last one needs to be proven as the preps go along but I'm positive about this. At first, I couldn't understand when fellow W@Wies would advise me to "decide on your budget first". Am I not supposed to do the research first then come up with a quotation and provide the money for it? But as I go along this process, I realize that money is tight. That we can still have a nice, simple yet memorable and one of a kind wedding without going over our tabs. That, what's important, more than anything else is that I get to marry the love of my life. I was telling this to H2B a while ago and I couldn't help but well up. I even reached the point where I told him that I'll just wear a rented gown from a gnarly botique from our province and it really cracked him up. Haha! But you know, I would agree to whatever wedding our budget can afford as long as I get to marry him. It's been 9 years already. I just want to be with him. -emo much! haha!

love love love,
W2B

frantic

I know that wedding preps should be at a stand-still until October, when we scheduled to finalize things but I'm obssessed about wedding planning since H2B got me started on it. I was actually devastated the other day when we decided to rest the wedding talks for now so I was looking for ways to still make the wedding happen.

We were keeping the wedding thingy to us both because we are still unsure. We also don't want the pressure coming from both our families and more importantly, we want the decisions to come from us both and not influenced by anyone. But while I try to find ways and means to make the wedding happen, I had to 'fess up to my newly wedded friend and ask how much did they spent on their beautiful wedding. After having a happy chat with her, I realized that the quoatations I gave to H2B was off the roofs! So I had to recompute and right now, I'm still not reaching the P400,000.00 mark. It's a far cry from my initial quote of P600,000.00. I was so very excited! There might be hope for us! So later, I'm going to have yet another money talk with H2B. Hopefully, I wasn't just hallucinating when I came up with the "new" budget. Hopefully, H2B approves. Hopefully, 2012 wedding will still push through. YAY!!! :D

love lots,
W2B