HONEY, fly me to the MOON

Definitely, we will fly the day after our wedding. Imagine having to go back to work after a busy weekend. NO THANKS!

Those places we have went together will be excluded from our shortlist i.e. Europe, Taiwan, Thailand, Bali and Hong Kong. We have always wanted to go South Africa. It would tough for us to go after we start our family (money is one of the issues). He also suggested NZ. Both are equally great but it boils down to our savings. If we are going to spend on wedding planner, we will compromise the destination for honeymoon. Australia can also offer breathtaking scenery! It's more laid back. I chanced upon a place in Queensland - Whitehaven Beach. This is a must go place. 

I've always wanted to go Alice Spring because our secondary school literature book talked about it. Well, I have no idea it can offer though. I googled about Alice Spring and these are what I saw....

Nice sunset but it looks lifeless. I'm trying hard to justify a trip there! 

Bridemaids Dress

I would love to have these simple, nude colour dresses for my bridemaids. After the confirmation for banquet and Burkill Hall, it would be time for me to start working on the bridemaids list. 

This is a very sweet dress but may not suit everyone. It's important to select a dress that your bridemaids look good in. Guess the first one would be more viable. 

Save the Date

As our AD is at Burkill Hall, we have to do what we can in selecting a month with least rainfall and not-too-hot. March 14 is the selected month. We are advised to hold on either 1st or 3rd week of March. Since the 1st week of March is 01/03/14 i.e.1314, we have decided to choose this date.

Once we confirm our booking in 1Q13, we can start preparing our "Save the Date" magnets!

On a sleepless night, I was playing with my photo apps. I came out with a few scrap ideas for Save the Date.  Pardon the low quality products. Haha.

Bali Pre-wedding Shoot

After our breakie in ECP, we decided to drop by White Link BS as we didn't have anything to do. The main branch is located in Eunos Techpark (60 Kaki Bukit Place). Exit from PIE and turn to Eunos Link. Then turn right into Kaki Bukit Ave 1 when you see One Enterprise. Turn left into the 2nd street and you will find the place. We went there twice that day and we didn't have issue finding the way there. Instead, we couldn't find the way out.

After hearing the bad reviews about Taiwan pre-wedding shoot, we were hoping to look for a local one. While I was looking at the gowns, Alfred queried about the oversea pre-wedding shoot and he asked if I want to go for Bali. OF COURSE! Bali is such a nice place for wedding shoot. Furthermore, I haven't been to Bali. The package was priced reasonably at $1,976 for 3D2N (incl air ticket and accommodation). Furthermore, the MUA will tag along during photoshoot and there will be change of 3 hairstyles. As we were rushing for time, we paid for this package and decided to come back at night to query about the AD package.

They also have pre-wedding shoot in Krabi, Japan, Korea, Australia and Europe. 

Before going back to the BS again, I researched on the recommended photographer and MUA, shortlisted the stuffs to take note for this BS. So when we returned to the BS, we raised our concerns and the coordinator addressed them promptly. They understood our concerns and suggested that we could go ahead with the Bali package before deciding on the AD package. She promised that she would reserve the negotiated package and price for us. 

Now I can't wait for the pre-wedding shoot in Bali which is most likely in July 2013. 

Updated on 12 Oct 12

As my boy's reservist falls on 8 Jul 13 for 2 weeks, it is very likely that it will clash with our photoshoot. We called our coordinator and she told us that the photoshoot is likely to be from 7 Jul 13 onwards while April slot is fully booked. The next photoshoot will be in Nov 13 which may clash with our Taiwan photoshoot. On a return call, she managed to reschedule the photoshoot to 2 Jul 13. Really thankful for her help. A few days later, she called us to schedule our gown fitting in Apr 13. I'm glad that she took the initiative and we didn't have to remind her or chase her for a date.

Updated on 2 Jan 13

Our bali pre-wedding shoot is gonna happen in 2 weeks time. We had our first fitting in May. I spent about 3 hours to choose 3 gowns i.e. light pink gown, white gown and blue/brown short dress. I returned home regretting over the white gown and blue/brown short dress. The former was old looking and nothing flattering while the latter had a weird colour combination. Totally no idea why would I choose that in the first place! We called our coordinator for a second fitting. She took the initiative to reserve a short gown I enquired about during the first fitting which was not available then. Also, she was very patient with me and brought out many dresses for me to try again. When she brought out a light green gown, my boy and I knew it straight away that this was the one. I highly recommend my coordinator as she has been very helpful, giving us  advice and of course, selecting beautiful gowns for me.

First Fitting

Seeing many bali photos taken in red gown, I thought of trying it too! 

But my boy said that it didn't suit me. =S

I liked this dress when I first chose it because I wanted something different from the typical white short gown. After having a few more looks at it, I started to regret. 

 The typical white short gown. 

I tried 2 pink gowns. I loved the latter one more!

Chose this!

 Chose this too!

Second Fitting

Love at first sight! This replaced my white long gown. 

 This replaced the short gown I previously chose.

Updated on 18 Jun 13

I'M BACK FROM BALI! I had a great time in Bali! Initially, the BS scheduled our flight for departure on 1 Jul 13 and returning on 3 Jul 13. They advised us to extend our trip after the photoshoot. But I didn't have enough leave because Taiwan trip in Oct would use up my leave. So we requested to leave on the saturday before. At the same time, we were worried that top up would be required for weekend ticket. The BS managed to get an offer for Garunda ticket. Just that the departure time was super early and we had to reach airport at 5am. Initially, we were told that the flight would be budget airline. So this came as a pleasant surprise for us! Luggage allowance of 20kg instead of 15kg! Meal provided, in-flight entertainment and the comfy blanket and pillows (we even brought the pillows down)!

The night before the photoshoot I was trying the gowns to make sure I could still wear them after all the indulgence - bintang beers, babi guling and crispy duck! Thanks to Mirage for the lovely floral crown! Mirage is gonna be my florist for actual day. I'm looking forward to the beautiful hand bouquet and decoration at East Garden.

 I love the detailing on the green long gown! 

On the day of photoshoot we woke up at 4 plus for maggie mee before going over to MUA's room for make up. I prepared 2 bottles of makeup ampoules for myself and my boy which I bought from Niks Maple at $10 each. Planning to go back and get another 6 more bottles for TW photoshoot and actual day. 

We left the hotel at 7.30am for the black sand beach. The journey took about 2 1/2 hours. While waiting for the horse, we took photos along the cliff and I was surprised that the photographer asked me to climb up a small cliff which appeared in the middle of the beach. My gown's train was flowing down the cliff as I stood at the tip of it against the backdrop of the sea. I've yet to see the photos but I'm sure that it will turn out well.  I always thought that photographers from these bridal shops tend to be more conventional. 

                           

We paid about US$30 for the horse which was very reasonable. I heard that renting a horse for photoshoot would cost near S$500! Not sure if this is true though. The horse was tall but the colour wasn't that perfect. It wasn't a great experience to have photoshoot with a horse. I was feeling nervous riding it and standing beside it. I didn't know how to control the horse and it would move about while we were taking photos. The horse was drooling all the time too! The stuff that dripped out was thick and green. Quite sick looking! After the horse, we had a VINTAGE vespa. My dream came true. =D Thanks to our driver, Mr Tattoo, for arranging such a lovely vespa for us! He was telling us how much he loved the vespa too when his friend showed it to him. He was also the one who arranged the horse for us. We paid another US$20 for the vespa. I changed to the short dress and my MUA changed my hairstyle too. Before leaving, the photographer found a paddy field nearby. Another new stunt I experienced was to sit down on the tiered paddy field. I thought the BS would be very cautious about not dirtying the gowns. Instead, I saw how passionate my photographer. He got the driver to get him a ladder. The ladder came and he thought it was tall enough. So he climbed onto a electrical box hatched to the lamp post (totally didn't look stable). He wanted to achieve a top-down angle to capture a plan view of the paddy field. This was something new to me. He even made us lied down on the paddy field. 

The vespa was similar to this. Classic series. 

White Link has a recommended itinerary for Bali photoshoot but we didn't want to follow the itinerary as we weren't interested in those temples. We told them our requirements were horse, vespa and Potato Head. They tried to persuade us a few times as they were unfamiliar with the route we wanted. At the end of the day, our photographer was willing to let us have our way and he even advised us on Potato Head. Firstly, we crafted a long email saying how potato head was special to us and we would like to have our pre-wedding shoot there. The management rejected and it seemed like even if we were willing to fork out some money for using the venue, they would have rejected too. We followed up with the second strategy by making reservation for lunch. The management was very strict about having pre-wedding shoot in Potato Head and they approached us once even though we were in causal wear and the photographer brought along his camera without those long lenses. 

Along the way, when the photographer saw picture worthy places, he would ask the driver to stop the car to take some photos. It was getting late when the photographer told the driver, "Think of somewhere for them to change their clothes". The driver brought us to his friend's restaurant where there was a vintage car. Exactly what I really wanted! So we made use of the opportunity to take photo with the vintage car. Another pleasant surprise for the day. We were really glad that everything went on smoothly. An exciting and fun day we had. 

Look alike vintage car

Gowns: White Link

Photographer: Alex Chai from White Link

MUA: Ann from White Link

Coordinator: Jenny from White Link

Coordinator for the Itinerary: Venice from White Link

Floral Crown: Mirage  

Updated on 6 Jul 13

Updated on 4 Aug 13

WYMM

It's interesting how your friends will always ask "How did he propose?" Of course, it's definitely the first question I will ask my friend who is newly engaged.

So how was my proposal?

Weeks before our 1st year anniversary, I asked him to plan for our dinner as girls always love surprise. Surprises come less often as a pair gets too comfortable with each other. He tried to play the game of "tai-chi". He kept asking me to plan! I got impatient and he finally agreed to do it.

Nearing the date, he started to tell me that he was stressed over the dinner to the extent of having insomnia and losing his appetite. I began to suspect but didn't dare to place too much hope on it.

On the day, I dressed up in my favourite apple green dress that I just bought from Missypixie. After work, I tried to follow his map to Labrador Park and I kept calling him to get the directions. The taxi uncle told me, "There's a girl waving to you." I told the taxi uncle..."I'm not meeting a girl but a guy" and totally dismissed him. The next moment I saw Cheryl frantically waving to me with her stalk of rose while Dave and Moo popped out behind a car holding onto the video and camera respectively. Of course, I knew it was going to be a proposal. As we walked down the park which was lined with heart shaped balloons, I saw my friends at the different meeting points. I couldn't stop saying, "OMG...What is he planning to do!?!"

Here comes the cab! My dear photographer and videographer hiding here.

Surprised to see them! I was still on the phone with Alfred asking for directions.

 Fens and Yen. I haven't seen them for the longest time ever.  

Paper Market - His anniversary present was inside. 

Everyone was busy grumbling about the mozzies except me (because I came the latest). Alfred commented that Hui Lin looked unglam here as usual. Lol. 

He sang an old school song by Westlife but a meaningful one..."I wanna grow old with you". A great choice of song as this song really touched my heart. 

I wanna grow old with you

I wanna die lying in your arms

I wanna grow old with you

I wanna be looking in your eyes

I wanna be there for you

Sharing in everything you do

I wanna grow old with you

(He wanted to sing "Marry Me" by Train but the chord was too high for him. Hmm... I'm gonna ask him to practice that for AD. It's such a lovely song.) After the song, he invited my friends with each of them holding onto 4 alphabet balloons i.e. WYMM and Nutty who was the ring bearer. He knelt and popped the question. Well, I wasn't very satisfied because he didn't say anything to me. Then, he said he forgot to do something! To my surprise, he got my friends to give a reason to why I should say yes.   

 The superstar moment. Lol.

Now, let the video do the story telling. Dave was the producer behind this lovely video. 

Credits: http://ds-image.com/

Here comes the "YES"

These are my friends who have made it possible. Most of them rushed down from work, changed shift with their colleagues and even faked MC. =P Thank you for being part of this special moment in my life.

 Gong, Moo, Kat, Cher, Jac, Chui

 Sylvia, Hui Lin, Euwin, Alexis, Fens, Yen, Rachel

 Royston and Leong Huat

 Dave, the man behind these beautiful photos and video

Alfred was very meticulous in planning the proposal. He took care of every details such as catering for bus to  send my friends to the nearest MRT as the place was inaccessible and preparing small gifts for my friends. On the way to dinner at Boathouse, he recounted his planning which started months back. I couldn't believe that he got the ring a few months back during Lee Hwa Gallery Sale. Despite knowing that I would be satisfied with a simple ring (not necessary diamond ring) as long as I see the effort in the proposal, he went ahead to get this diamond ring. I always thought that Lee Hwa was expensive especially their excellent cut series. Well, at least, the ring was bought at 70% discount. Totally worth it. He started to take leave from work to hunt around for Nutty and for the actual day itself. I completely had no idea pls.

Boathouse has always been a place I wanted to visit. Upon arrival, the staff congratulated me! How did they know about the proposal!?! Alfred got this planned out. 

Behind the scene.

 This is my new love!

 Kat, the guardian of Nutty.

Cher taking photos while waiting for my arrival.

Alfred belt for Mr Alfred

Balloons: Party With Us at Centerpoint Mall Level 5

Bouquet and rose petals: Secret Garden at Orchard Central

WYMM: Online shop