Evidence: The SDE

This is gonna be quickie post. Just got back from the hotel hide-out after the Cosa Nostra, and I must say, we had a blast! The biggest operation was a success. Though some of the operation capos messed up a bit, things still went well. A year of preparation resulted to a day of fab mafia gathering, and perhaps, the best :)

Just wanted to share with you guys our SDE by Daniel Lei and his incredible crew.  And get those hankies handy, you might need it. ;p


Miah and Kiko - The Mafia Penguins from daniel lei studio on Vimeo.

22 weeks before the Operation

Tomorrow, it will be exactly 5 months to go before the Cosa Nostra. Time flies so fast, that preps can't keep up with its speed. So far, we have most of the associates positioned, just waiting for their turn to work. Still have a few positions vacant though, and already have a list of possible members.

This week, I have been quite busy looking for our getaway car. I really appreciate bosses from other operation lending a hand, and the offered their resources. The Doctor (Doc Chris from GT) offered to ask his minions to check their black book while La Donne Summer called her contacts about it. I also did my own research (and inquiry), sent off emails, and made some calls. Have some good numbers on my book, so we have quite a number of options.

Wedding Trends and Themes for 2011

Photo napped from LoveMyDress

After the Royal Wedding last April, most girls are wishing to be as stunning as the Duchess of Cambridge when she walked down Westminster Abbey's aisle, or when we she was waving to the crowd in the streets of London and everybody else around the world, with her Prince beside. Now everyone wants to have their weddings to be like the Royal Wedding. So, I thought of checking with our good friend Mr Google, and find out if this indeed followed the trends, or have probably set a new one.

Operation: Dress-Up the Bride | Inspirations

Craig Sillitoe/Sydney Morning Herald

Now that we have booked almost more than 50% of our suppliers, I guess it's just about time that we talk about "the dress." We are to meet up with a designer this Sunday, so I thought of sharing my gown's inspiration design. 

Since Cosa Nostra will be living up to the Mafioso, I'd like to have something that will honor the glam and roaring era of 1920's. The time when women started to think liberated, jazz and art deco became popular, flappers, the Great Gatsby (which I haven't read yet), and Prohibition. 

When I was thinking about our theme, and was researching it online, I found both positive and some not-so-good reactions about the idea. Along with these are reviews on the era's fabulous fashion and signature looks. That is what I'm talking about, as I wanted ours unique and not-the-usual wedding. 

6 Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Date

Image courtesy of GettyImages.com

I, personally, am in a dilemma, whether to change the date, or keep looking for venue fee on our original date. I have been frustrated since I learned two weeks ago the venue we were looking at has already been booked. Darn it. We were eyeing on Pergola, but we knew that they are no longer available on our date as early as last year. But FHL... why have you turned me down?

Oh well, I dunno. Maybe FHL wasn't really for us. Or the date is not for us? I then remembered this article I stumbled upon in FemaleNetwork and BridalBook.ph, which I think is useful, especially those who are still trying to make up their mind.

In Search of an Ideal Wedsite: What's an Ideal Wedsite?

Kiko's bro, Earl, and Debbie's wedsite,
19 Dec 2007 weddingannouncer.com

In my last related post, I mentioned that I'm looking for an ideal wedsite for web dev-and-html-and-css birdbrains like me. I had my share of playing with free website providers online, like webs.com. I'm not sure, but I think, blogsites are also similar to websites, since these are like blank canvasses, only with some limitations compared to websites. The truth is, I understand how websites work, like how to customise a site, given that the site has templates to choose from, and has options where you simply click on what you want to change and what to change it with. Then again, getting a personal website for weddings alone, can be something useful.

This is really is it!

Photo by catholicpinoyblogger.blogspot.com

This is really is it... The date has been blocked.

We just made our reservations for the church ceremony at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Makati yesterday. Now, let me just clarify: this is not the famous and historical Nuestra Señora de Gracia in Makai ruins. This is Our Lady's Minor Basilica on the peak of Guadalupe plateau, Orense St, near the MMDA office.

Bridal Fair Galore | January

With the reservation schedule fast approaching, we thought we should also start hunting for suppliers now. Once we get the date nailed, that's it... everything should follow. Since that's the case, I'm now keeping track of bridal fairs and events where we can find resources, get discounts and lots of freebies. I wouldn't mind winning in raffles too; who knows, we might just get something really, really nice. *wink wink*

This month, according to my best friend Google, and to my inbox, here are what's happening in Megatrade, SMX and other venues for couples-to-be:

In Search of an Ideal Wedsite

It will be almost a year now until the date. We have somehow made inquiries to some suppliers, have attended some bridal fairs, and made some research on what we need. Let's just say that everything is still on the drawing board (and notepad).

Honestly, I don't know what wedding websites are for, but I have read brides-to-be in most threads in online wedding fora sharing (and sometimes bragging about :p) their websites "under construction" or going live. I also remember browsing Kiko's bro's wedsite, stumbling upon my friend Popsie's "secret" wedsite, and checking my brides' wedsites where they post stuff about their wedding. It was then I realised that wedsites are not really a fad, like getting photobooths, but maybe something that can help guests know more about the wedding.

I went on and asked our best friend Google about these sites. I learned that like regular sites, there are those which are paid and those that are free. Paid wedsites come in different packages, such as 2 months before the wedding, 6 months before, and a year before. If they are deactivated after the wedding, I'm not really sure. If I can get something for free, of course, I wouldn't mind (besides, why would I need to pay, if I can get the same thing for free, am not that choosy anyway :p). I typed in "free wedding websites" on the search bar. When the results came up, these were the most popular ones:

• MyWedding
• MomentVille
• eWedding
• Wedding Announcer
• SharedWeddings
• Project Wedding
• The Knot

Didn't really have time to click on all these link now, so I typed in "top free wedding websites", and these are what I got so far:

From About.com 

Best Free Wedding Website Providers

By Nina Callaway, About.com Guide

• Ewedding.com The 24 page designs on this site are basic but attractive. But what really makes this site better than the other free providers are the many customizable pages such as quizzes, polls, guest list, wish list, and even a way to recommend your favorite vendors.
  
• The Knot
  One of the first to provide free wedding websites, the Knot has recently upgraded their options to include 20+ modern and clean designs, and greater ability to customize. They also offer coordinating save-the-date emails and, since the Knot seems to never miss an opportunity to sell, coordinating favors, napkins, and other products.
  
• Wedding Channel
  The designs here are pretty basic, but easy to use. The best part is that the Wedding Channel will make a donation to your favorite charity whenever guests use a link from their registry page to buy you wedding gifts. Getting a gift is even sweeter when you get to do good at the same time.

I had made an account in mywedding.com a few months ago because my high school friend used it for her wedsite, and it required me to make an account to access her wedsite. I wanted to check all of them, so maybe first review would be mywedding.com on my next post under this tag.
c",)