Creative Invitation

The first impression to a wedding is the invitation. So, Rod and I wanted to make our invite unique and personal as possible. Incorporating our colors blue and yellow with our monogram and the cute little feathers adorning the invites. The insides speaks of elegance and sophistication.

Without further ado, here are the shots taken of our invites.

Blue damask print on the inside flap of the main envelop

Missalette

Rod and I worked on our Missalette for our wedding ceremony for the last couple of nights. We got a huge help from Bangbang suggestions. I consider her the person to have a detailed experience on a lot of things. She was a hands-bride during her wedding. She stands as our mentor and editor for most of our wedding needs.

Missalette encourages people to participate in the Mass Ceremony, it also serves as a souvenir for the couple to keep the memory alive as the years pass by. The names of the attendants, officiating priests, the choir , and all other little details that go with the solemn ceremony of marriage.

Our missalette design will be simple with our monograms on the front cover. Our readings and choices of songs were carefully hand picked by us to make the event even more meaningful.

Wedding Bands

And with that I mean Rings instead of the entertainment band we're going to have. Rod and I have toyed with a lot of wedding ring designs and Piaget and Tiffany have topped our list. It is said that wedding band should be as simple as possible to represent the couple's union. As much as possible there should not be any diamonds or intricate design so as to represent a smooth going married life.

Piaget Rings (not ours by the way hehehe!)

Another consideration we have to make is the ring engravings. We can opt for a more traditional wordings such as names plus wedding date or something funkier like our pet names for each other.

Below are some of the wordings we're considering, each one of them we've personally created and means something to us personally:

• Together as one in faith, love and happiness
• My first (his), My Last (hers)
• Let's grow old together
• His- Shrek Hers- Donky (hahahah)
• No Return, No Exchange

Help us decide by voting for the best wordings for our rings!

An Unusual Contract

Check this out! I sent this to all my female entourage. It's funny! Truth be told if only one can take this seriously. Planning a wedding can be very stressful. It can make or break any form of relationships. And because of the high levels of emotions, usually one cannot avoid conflicts. Below is a contract between the bride and her entourage.

*Zharmagne's Bridesmaid Contract*

Hello my beautiful bridesmaids! Zharmagne here! Let me just say again how happy I am that you are going to be a part of my special day – which I’m calling Zharmagne-Day”! Below are just a few guidelines for the wedding that I’d like you to review. Please initial by each point, sign at the end and send back to me asap. Just want to make sure there aren’t any surprises! The planning bride is a happy bride!

Thanks a bunch! Love ya!

Zharmagne

My hair will remain at the length it is now or longer.

I will not change my hair color without first gaining approval from Zharmagne by providing a sample photo or hair swatch for consideration.

I will use Sally Hansen’s “Maximum Growth-Daily Nail Growth program” every day for the 4 months before the wedding day.

I will not be sarcastic, engage in any eye-rolling, dramatic sighs or other negative energy as it relates to any wedding plans, activities or the wedding itself.

I will not gain more than 3.3 lbs from the weight I was when I was asked to be a bridesmaid.

If applicable, I will join a well-known weight loss program and through whatever means necessary will lose the desired amount of weight as previously discussed at the time when asked to be a bridesmaid in Zharmagne’s wedding.

I swear to attend all showers, (lingerie, kitchen, bridal & bachelorette) to arrive in a timely manner and do everything in my power to support and “be there” for the bride.

I will purchase the Yellow Vera Wang bridesmaid dress 3 weeks of today.

I will NOT knowingly get pregnant without notifying Zharmagne least 6 months prior to the wedding so a suitable alternate can be found. I will also give (at no cost) my purchased bridesmaid dress to said alternate.

I do hereby swear that I will adhere to all of the above & other understood bridesmaid duties for the wedding on 16/8/2008.

1.. 2.. 3.. SAY CHEESE!

I stumbled upon this really cool idea for a wedding. It's all about digi-cam rentals for your guests. Imagine capturing your precious moments in all angles from your beloved guests? It's also a fun way to include your friends and loved ones present on your big day with a click on their fingers.
Unfortunately, it's not offered here in Manila. Check this site.

Wedding Party

Selecting the entourage for our wedding was a bit tricky as both Rod and I belong to a big happy. Of course we want ALL if not most of our family to be part of our wedding party. So here they are presenting Rod and Zharmagne's Wedding Entourage:

Maid of Honor - Zharloemar G. Carbonell, everyone's favorite sister. I grew up with her mostly as we are only a year apart. We shared a room most of the time we were growing up and shared practically everything until we finally got our separate rooms. Sometimes, its a love/hate relationship between us but in the end we're still sisters.

Matron of Honor - Zharine C. Villanueva is my elder sister. Who is mom to my favorite niece Zina and my favotire nephew Wind. We may not be best of friends but nonetheless I love her like a sister should and would fight for her whether she's right or wrong.

Bridesmaids

• Anna Lou L. Carbonell - favorite cousin, spent some time with her in NYC and adopted me and sheltered me in her apartment. She's big sister, friend and fun companion. She unknowingly got me into Yoga and being a semi- vegan. She's cool and super fun to be with.
• Maria Hagiwara- Carbonell- sister of Anna, another fave cousin of ours. We grew up together and took lots of trips together. She lived with us for a while during her college years in Manila.
  
• Keri Lynn N. Zamora - My only friend in college. Gimmick partner back then, food addict like me. Sings worse than me in videoke although she will never admit. Tennis partner. Mommy to my godson Rocco.
  
• Zhaniethia C. Jimenez - My look-alike niece who is even prettier and thinner than me.
  

Secondary Sponsors

• VEIL: Maria Rowena D. Gavino aka Ate Rona is Rod's only sister. She's the typical ate to everyone including me. She got me into digi-scrapping. She's fun and adorable to be with.
• CANDLE: Olivia U. Dizon also known as BangBang is the wife of Rod's eldest brother Boydee. She is the mommy of Bricky Boy. Bang is a role model and ever loving wife, daughter and FSIL. she is very helpful and shares the same passion in wedding planning or party planning.
• CORD: Mary Anne B. Dizon fondly called Lai among us. She is the happy-go-lucky person who gets along with everyone. She loves to laugh just like me. She cooks and bakes well. I love hanging out with her because she understands my wackiness.

Junior Bridesmaids

• Reese Dizon
  
• Raegan Gavino
  
• Rielle Dizon
  
• Raine Gavino
  

Flower Girls

• Zeena Villanueva
  
• Robyn Dizon
  
• Annika Allado
  

Dining with our Wedding Sponsors

I don't know much about other cultures' traditions but here in the Philippines. It is customary to get Principal Sponsors or what we call Ninongs and Ninangs as part of our Wedding Celebration as well as our blissful wedded life. The sponsors' role is to act as counselors to married life. Being veterans to being married, the sponsors can give sound advice as how to tackle as difficulties the couple may have in the future. It is wise to choose our Godparents well as they will be crucial to a young couple's journey.
Rod and I have agreed to ask 8 couples as our godparents. We divided it equally to ourselves to perhaps show the equality and balance to everything. Each godparent has been chosen meticulously for beneficial reasons such as our comfortableness to open up. Taking them out and getting them a little bit more is also customary before the big day. This allows the couple to be familiar with their godparents as well as their respective partners in life. The following are our chosen sponsors that we believe that are rightful to guide us through out our marriage.

1. Maj. General Ramon E. Montano- Tito Mon is the father of my late good friend Star. Star and I had happy memories together back when she was still present in this life. As a remembrance of how good friends Star and I have been, I am honored that Tito Mon accepted our invitation to stand as one of our sponsors. He has been happily married to tita Fe for 43 years.
2. Minda Villanueva- Tita Minda is the wife of my favorite Tito Dennis. One of my dad's best friends in the States. Tito Dennis is a great singer and has even agreed to sing, free of charge to our wedding. Their daughter Sharleen was also closed to me when we were younger.
   
3. Marlo Braun- My mom's eldest sister, and my favorite Aunt. Enough said.
4. Irene Silos- My favorite boss at Creative Response. She also happens to be the mother of my schoolmate RJ Silos.
5. Ruby Go Vera- One of my best friend's mom. Tita Ruby is now based in the States.