New Wedsite

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Check out our new wedsite at www.jcatcat.com

See you there!

Canonical Interview

Last Wednesday, we were able to attend at the canonical interview at the NSDG. It started out at 9am and we were the last couple to be interviewed. Well, it was more of a sermon actually in our case hehe! It lasted for about 30 minutes only. We were asked first to fill up a form that would be the basis of the interview. The priest was nice and friendly. Learned a lot from him too. He spoke about the importance of commitment, communication and putting Christ in the center of our lives as a couple. It was worth listening even though J and I haven’t slept that much the night before hehe! It was also a coincidence when we saw Ice and Melfin, my college classmate there! They got back from the States just for their wedding! I’m happy for them that they’re still together all this time.

While J and I were looking for a place to eat for lunch along Makati Ave, mama saw us along the way! We had lunch with them instead =) We were also able to have the neckties customized at P200 each from a tailor we knew. On the way home, I was able to submit my marriage banns and permission to Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish. So far, we’re doing good on the preps!

All in a Day

Last Saturday, we were able to finally meet Msgr. Jesus Romulo Ranada, our officiating priest for the wedding. He’s a bit serious in person. I think he has a lot of things to deal with that’s why our talk with him was a short one. Anyway, still looking froward for his presence on our big day.

It’s so nice meeting up with hun early in the morning. It’s really worth it despite the hassles of the MRT! We had a nice breakfast at Jollibee and headed off to SM North to look for gifts for our sponsors. We opened the mall this time hehe! Yey! We were able to buy something for them =) I’m sure they’re gonna love it! It feels good to shop when there are still few people around. Of course, there’s a shorter line at the gift wrapping section hehe!

We had lunch at home around 4pm just in time for Jenny’s fitting. She has to leave early since she’ll be having a meeting at 5pm. Hanpao dinner was great as ever! Thanks Ogie for the treat!

We thought the day’s over when Ogie asked us to watch Madagascar. I have watched the movie twice, the first one on the dvd. This one’s crazy and we laughed our hearts out. It’s a good break from all the wedding preps and stress hehe! This day has been really productive for us!

Applying for a Marriage License

Well it wasn’t that toxic in applying for one. Except for J who has to wake up as early as 5:30am for a DSWD counselling we thought was compulsory, only to find out that ages 18-24 should attend. Sorry hunny for the hassle in braving the MRT and having to go through that crowd. Haay.. I know you were so stressed thinking that you’re already late! If only the car’s not on coding.. Anyway, we were at the Mandaluyong municipal office around 8am and just submitted the requirements:

1. Birth certificate or baptismal certificate

2. CENOMAR

3. Cedula

4. 1×1 ID picture

5. Filled marriage license application form

6. Personal appearance

The other required seminar to attend was the Family Planning which was scheduled from 1-3pm. While waiting for the time, we had breakfast first at Mcdo. Big breakfast was our choice =) I was also thrilled when J let me saw the final draft of our invite that I absolutely love!! For me, it’s so personalized and it represents us =) Applause for hunny for a job well done yuhoo!! So excited to see the finished product!

We dropped by Goldenhills to check on our wedding rings but we have to resize it since we’re having difficulty in wearing and removing it. Hopefully by next week, we can bring it home with us =) We had our names and the date of our wedding engraved. We then strolled the mall for gifts for our parents and principal sponsors. We were able to come up with options. A few days ago, we’ve already bought something for our female principal sponsors so we’re kinda relieved!

We had lunch at Chowking first before going back to the municipal office. The seminar was somehow informative and the certificates were issued right after. We were scheduled to come back after 10 working days for our license. Hope there wouldn’t be any problem.

Where’s The Hunnymoon?

Well what keeps us more excited aside from the wedding is our honeymoon at Boracay!! It’s our first time to go here so we don’t know what to expect! But we’ve heard a lot on how fantastic this place is. So we might as well see the sights on our own =) I have to admit that I’m not a fan of the sun but I’ll give Boracay an exception hehe! Just enjoy the water, the sand, the sunset and being with your lifelong partner =)

Well it was not that easy in choosing a place to stay since we’ve never been here! We have to make it sure that our stay here would be worth it. So we read a lot about Boracay and its resorts. Finally, we were able to choose two! Our first day would be at Asya Boracay. We’re here for an overnight. Next day we’ll be transferring to Discovery Shores =) We’ll be staying here for three days and two nights! Thank God that we were able to book Discovery because when we checked the slots on the internet, there were very few rooms left. We got lucky!

Asya Boracay

Discovery Shores

Really looking forward to this mini vacation!

Pamamanhikan

As what the title of the song goes “This is the Moment.” We can’t believe it ourselves that it happened already. My parents finally agreed on J’s pamamanhikan with his folks. It’s official! I was really touched to see J’s determination in asking my parents’ permission for my hand in marriage. That went pretty well hun! You did a great job talking to my folks hehe! I’m also glad that the first encounter of our folks went on smoothly too. They brought lots of chinese food for our dinner. They were able to choose the kind of food my folks eat hehe! Thanks for the sumptuous treat and for the flowers too! I hope this is just a start of a beautiful relationship of both sides of our family =)

Behind the Scenes

Finally, the day has arrived for our prenup pictorial. I just can’t contain my excitement! Woke up early because we have an appointment at 7:30am with Aaron Lejarde of The Make Up Studio. Wohooo! There’s no sight of rain as shown in our weather forecast widget! I’m so happy that Candice tagged along with us. Many thanks to her that she took pictures of us as well aside from Nelwin =) Aaron did the make up while his friend, Joel, did the hairstyle for both hunny and I. I love them both! I can’t help myself from laughing while talking to A and Joel. They’re just so kalog hehe! They really did a great job in making J and I beautiful =) 

I'm on rollers!

My new look=)

A, Hunny, Me and Joel

After the makeup, we fetched CD at the Governor’s Place. She’s our stylist for the day. Also with her is Jake, who’s going to style us as well. CD is J’s friend since their Ateneo days. I’m really glad being able to meet her personally and getting along with her at once =) To Jake, thank you so much for being part of our prenup! We’re so honored having you and CD around =)

While we were on our way to Bonifacio High Street (BHS), Shierdan, our videographer, with his wife, Jenny got lost somewhere. They thought we were meeting them at Boni Avenue hehe! It’s a good thing that they texted J for details and were able to catch up with us.

Nelwin Uy, our official photographer, was there on time. Tey, Kuya M and Kuya Dalton were with him. We arrived at 11am and I’m on pressure since our permit was until 1pm only. We even saw Marian Rivera having her own shoot at Aldo. Guards were everywhere! I tell you, they were really strict!! They went up to us a lot of times to check on our permit. We were not allowed to shoot at the parking area nor at The Fort. We have to abide by the rules that we have to shoot at BHS per se. Well, we got stolen shots though hehe! Pasaway haha!

Having fun!

Our prenup stylists, CD and Jake

Trying to pose

Nelwin and Shierdan shooting us!

J fixing my shoes

Since we were maximizing the time, we had lunch at Pancake House around 2pm I think. I was really starving! I think the pressure and the changing of clothes made me that hungry hehe! After resting a bit, we went straight to The Harbor Square for another shoot.

Candid shot at Harbor Square

With our formal attire

Candice and Me

The whole gang!

It was a success, thank God! It may be tiring but we enjoyed every moment of it. We treated ourselves at Krocodile Grille for dinner. I’m once again grateful for all of the people who made our prenup wonderful and memorable! Cheers!

So Touching…

Yesterday, dad wanted to eat out. So kuya treated us to Meylin’s Pot and Noodle House at SM Megamall. As the days pass by, I really try my best to spend some quality time with my family. We then strolled at the mall afterwards to see if Ogie can choose a suit that he’ll be using on my wedding. It turned out that we had a hard time looking for the perfect suit for him. Some of the suits were so pricey! I’m glad dad was there to give him tips on whether to buy or just have it customized. 

Mom just told me personally that the reason why dad wants to eat out was because family bonding like this would be rare once I get married. It would be a different life already. It’s not everyday that I would be able to see or be with them like I used to. He wanted to maximize the time left while I’m still with them. I’m really touched by it.. I know it’s not going to be easy at first but in time we’ll be adjusted to this new phase of our lives..

Yesss!!

I’m glad that my efforts paid off in getting a permit at the Bonifacio High Street for our prenup pictorial. I don’t want to be too excited hehe! I just have to contain myself until the actual day! I almost gave up because I called them about five times just to follow up if our permit has been approved. They told me that the person in charge to sign the permit was on sick leave and so they have to really make it sure that our date was available. Well thank God it is!! Paid P1000 for it. I’m really looking forward on what will happen next week!

On the other hand, I’m also happy because I was able to look for a shop that can customize bridal shoes =) At first I was decided to go to Veluz but when I checked the W@W yahoo groups, some of the soon-to-be-brides there recommended Abbylyn’s Fashion Shoes located at Cubao Shoe Expo. Their price is very reasonable. Ate Jing is friendly and accommodating. Thanks hun for tagging along hehe! I’d be able to pick it up in two weeks time!

I have to admit that it’s stressful at times especially when things happen the way you don’t expect it. I guess it’s part of the process of getting married. That’s why good things like these really makes my day =)

Meeting Missy

Last thursday we finally got to sit down with our emcee of choice, the bubbly Missy Ferrer-Litao.

While our meeting has been a long arduous process — got postponed a number of times, hampered by tight schedules, prior commitments, and sore throats on BOTH our sides, it didn’t stop us from nailing a meeting date and finding out if things will work out. Despite my late, only-a-day-ahead notice, Missy went out to meet us in no time.

And thankfully, sticking with our guts with Missy has been a sound decision. She was on time. She was pleasant and airy. Good first impression, I thought. Even with a contract and details in tow, Cat and I haven’t noticed we’ve gone over the boring (serious) parts of the dialogue.

We chatted about a lot of things, wedding horror stories included, and notably she breezed through horrid details with laugh. She can be subtly commanding and cheerily friendly at the flick of switch. Brimming with pleasantries and insightful chattiness, Missy’s a natural.

At the time we said our goodbyes for the meantime, 2 hours have passed without us knowing. Definitely a good thing we want our family and guests to experience. No doubt, we’re very excited having her as the master of our reception programme.