The beginning of it all
Ok this is the first time I'm doing this so here goes!
Yey!! I am so happy this week! It is already official...we have 1 year before the wedding! Since January we have been scouting for suppliers, venues and churches kaya more or less I know already who and where to book. So far, we have booked:
Church - San Agustin Church. This was a really hard choice for us. Before booking San Agustin, we are choosing between 3 churches, St. James in Alabang (coz Gel and I are both from San Pedro Laguna) Manila Cathedral and San Agustin. When we decided to have our wedding reception here in Manila, St. James was crossed out from the choices. Down to San Agustin and Manila Cathedral. Before we went there last Saturday, Sept. 4, 2005, we have already decided that we indeed want San Agustin. The interior was more beautiful plus parking is more convenient. But when we were already talking to this lady to book the date, I began to have doubts, because she was saying that they only give one hour for the whole event. I felt that it was not enough time, baka magmukhang minadali yung kasal. So I told Gel that I want to look at Manila Cathedral again. Of course, the angel that Gel is, he agreed, we walked to Manila Cathedral to check it out again. While going there we passed by street dancing, I think that is part of the WOW Phils events, I kept on saying to myself oh my god what if on my wedding there is a WOW Phils event?! Yayks!! When we got to Manila Cathedral, we immediately went to the office, but close na, it was already 5mins after 5pm. So we just checked the inside of the church. It was then that I realized that indeed, San Agustin is more beautiful than Manila Cathedral, the details on the walls and the ceilings are really not comparable, and San Agustin have a more homey feel, more regal and more solemn. Kaya ayun... decided again that I really do want San Agustin. We went back again, and again passed by the street dancing, and again prayed wala sila sa wedding day ko hehehe. As we got back to San Agustin, it was already 5:20, they would not accept our down na coz its pass 5 na daw and the receipts have already been put away. Of course I tried to work my charm with her but to no avail. She pencil booked us lang and asked us to come back anytime during the weekdays to pay the down. And we did come back Tuesday to finally pay our down payment =) Yey!!
Photo-video - Emil Buencamino. This was also a very hard decision for us. We initially wanted to book Ariel Javelosa. We were impressed with his pictures sa website, and we got even more amazed when we saw his albums sa World Trade Center wedding expo. But he was above our budget. We were already willing to stretch our budget when we saw Emil Buencamino. He was even better than Ariel and at a lower cost! So we decided to book him right away! Yey!!
Reception - Manila Polo Club. Again the hunt was exasperating. So many venues to choose from. We previously were choosing between Manila Hotel and Manila Pen. We wanted Manila Pen but when we learned that we could not get the Rigodon ballroom, we dropped it off our list. Manila Hotel was our last choice when I remembered Manila Polo. I called them one time and asked for the packages and voila!... it was within our budget. Plus no reservation needed!! I just need to give them an authorization letter from a member and we are reserved. Plus their caterer is Makati Skyline, known for their good food and great set-ups! So I immediately booked the Main Lobby big enough up to 400 guests overlooking the pool! I am really, really, really very happy with Manila Polo!!
Cake - Alex Franco Cakes. This one is the easiest!! With all the good feedback from
W@wies, I knew he is the man for me. We even have not met him or tasted his cake! I texted him last Wednesday (Sept. 8) and voila!… we are booked!! Yey!!
Hmm I know this is just the beginning but I know this will prove to be very fun and exciting wedding preps!! Good luck to me!!
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Created: Saturday, September 11, 2004
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About me
Hi! I'm Analie Astorga-Motilla, you can call me Anne for short. Everybody else does, well aside from my mother. I am a true blue Filipino, born and raised in the Philippines. As I've said in one of my posts, most Filipinos are a mixture of Chinese and some other race, in my case I am a mix of Chinese and Spanish.
I have just married my beau of nine years, his name is Gel. He is a wedding photographer, doing what he has always loved, taking pictures of people and events and telling a story using his photos. We don't have a baby yet..but we are working on that.
Don't ask about my daytime job...it's boring. I have an 8-6 job that takes care of the bills. What I do after office is what excites me...photography. I am just starting...mainly because of my husband's encouragement. But I really like it and enjoying it so much!
How and why do you blog?I started blogging in September 2004, mainly to document my wedding preparations (I got married in September 2005). My original blog's purpose was an online journal, a place where I can organize my thoughts and ideas about the wedding.
Over the months, I fell in love with writing. I love the process of story-telling, sharing bits of my life in an entertaining way, and creating an experience with words and pictures.
I love the fact that this site is mine and I can control everything about it - from what it looks like, to what I say.
Now I maintain two blogs:
Manila Daily Photo and
Daily Musings of a Filipina. Manila Daily Photo focuses on photography, while Daily Musings of a Filipina was my original wedding blog which I have continued until now.
Extra stuff about meI love beautiful things. Art, photography, rocks, flowers, landscapes, pottery, jewellery, textures, colours, buildings, people.
I love eating! I love entertaining and throwing parties too. I get such a rush from trying out new restaurants and food and eating my heart out!
I prefer fresh, healthy, low-fat, low-sugar foods, that is what I should say LOL. But really I can't live without pizza, hamburgers, french fries, chocolate and KFC.
I'm a bit obsessed about shopping. Clothes, shoes, jewellery, underwear, anything girly. I'm not into brands or teeny fashion trends. I'm a careful shopper, I'm always on the look out for a bargain. And I like to think that I'm careful with my money.
I love going out. Sitting in cafes, dining out, house gatherings, parties, barbecues, weddings, picnics! I also love an occasional trip to watch movies, theatre, musicals, symphonies, stand up comedy, rock concerts and live bands.
At the same time, I can't think of anything more satisfying than sitting in front of TV, eating pizza, lights down low, in my pyjamas and watching crap on TV. I'm a home girl at heart.
Basically, I strive to live a balanced life. Fun. Serious. Fast. Slow. Brainy. Bimbotic. Intense. Lazy. You get the drift.
More random stuffI was born at Makati, Manila in 1978. I am the eldest of two girls.
My sister is three years younger and is the exact opposite of me!
I'm the eternal optimist. The peacemaker.
I'm a Catholic. I believe that everything has a meaning and purpose, and that everything I do should be for his eternal glory.
I am a Scorpion, and has always believed that I am the embodiment of a true Scorpion!
I had a very happy childhood. My parents were the best, though I had that occasional disagreements with them specially on the topics of boys, dating and parties, over-all I think we clicked!
I can't drink very much alcohol. I go bright red after 3 sips of wine on an empty stomach. Given the choice, I'd reach for a beer over wine and cocktails.
I have a bad case of road rage! But don't say I told you!
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Created: Tuesday, September 07, 2004
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Site Info
This site started off in 2004 as my online journal for my preparation for my Sept. 2005 wedding. It is mainly my tool to organize my thoughts and different ideas for the wedding. But as the months moved on and I came closer and closer to my big day, the site evolved to become a place where I vent our my rants and raves, document experiences and interact with other W@Wies (the term we use to describe an online community of brides preparing for their big day). It became not only my wedding preparation online journal, but also an online diary which I share with my friends and my loved ones.
And even after the wedding, this journal still continued to exist...still a place I go back again and again to write about my "daily musings" and even to just go back memory lane and reminisce my wedding day.
Now the topics you will find here would dwell mostly on my thoughts about life in general, my new passions: photography and digiscrapping, and of course my married life. A few rants would surely find their way...
And did I mention that my astrological sign is Scorpio and that Scorpion are known for their passion and agressiveness and also for their bull headedness? So you have to excuse me if these traits would come out in my posts once in a while :)
So make sure youcome back often and check out the Daily Musings of a Filipina.
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Created: Sunday, September 05, 2004
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