𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴! 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿! 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝘇𝘇𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘆.𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Wedding Review - Pre-Wedding Photo Shoot by Versari Ade & Invogue Photography

We had engaged Versari Ade & Invogue Photography not only for actual day bridal & photography but also pre-wedding photo shoot. I believe these are completely different scenarios that ought to share separately.

If you follow closely, I actually had wrote about the behind-the-scenes bridal photo shoot. I was quite thorough on what happened on that day so click and read if you haven't. That post was bridal comment heavy for obvious reasons and it was only after I got our wedding photos I could really comment on Mr Lim's work.

Just a quick summary of Abg Hadi's Versari Ade's workmanship. Superb. In my opinion, his make up skills were to the T. I told him I trusted his work and let him do whatever he wants with his knowledge on what would fit me. He did, with wonders. He was friendly, nice and knows how to read the vibes of the client (me). I like story-mory and he is a man of many stories which I love but also knows to do his work silently.

Clothes were plentiful to choose from Arabian, Traditional/ Modern Chinese, Traditional/ Modern Indonesian, Traditional/ Modern Malay, Indian and of course western outfits. This is one of the reasons I love Versari Ade. I can have my old-skool photo shoot. People from the 80s and below will understand. =P

Now to the photography part.

Mr Lim from Invogue Photography (Versari Ade's in-house photographer), is a soft-spoken man who likes to make little jokes here and there. His natural demeanor makes couples like us feel not so shy especially in a setting in a studio where's it's just us.

After selecting photos for edit, it takes Mr Lim about 3 months to not only edit but also print 1 8R & 1 20x24 canvas and frame it all up. Unfortunately, the framing was slightly delayed for collection but we still managed to collect our photos 2 days before our wedding. Phew!

Like I said, the photo shoot we went for is not the trendy, picnic-artsy-vintage-dreamy type because we like it this way. We can always achieve the other types of photo shoot on any other day. Enough typing, here are some of the photos we had taken.

Traditional Songket which was a crowd favorite, even the Pinoys.


Traditional Indonesian outfit for my Javanese blood. I just love the head gear.


Cheongsam for obvious reasons.



Obligatory western outfit for our outdoor photo shoot.



We had to select 20 photos for our photo album but we also managed to choose more for personal copies. We could take all lah but it's excessive in terms of cash. In the end, we chose 41 more that Mr Lim also did some minor edit. 

We set up our big canvas framed picture at our guest book table (unlike the conventional near the pelamin on an easel because we didn't want to get one). I wanted more of a landscape picture than a full picture of us full blown because I am self-conscious and having a huge picture of my face is overwhelming. haha

 

And our table top picture frame at the berkat table.


We didn't showcase our photo album for the public unless requested.

So yeah, that's it.

We were so satisfied with our pre-wedding photo shoot from the beginning to the end. No regrets. No doubt, it was one of the items that was considered a want, not a need but it was something we both really wanted. It was so worth it in our opinion.

Versari Ade & Invogue Photography


   

Nadia Aqilah's Cukur Rambut

Back-to-the-past post:
I have about 4 of such posts so bear with me while I randomly selit them here and there.
This occasion was on 22 March 2016.

I was informed that the flowers was plucked downstairs at the nearby bushes... haha shhh...


Sleeping Nadya with her nenek.


Mak, Kakak and I.
Refer to signature apple cheeks.


Technically, Mak, Jhon and I arrived late. It was because Mak was assigned to do roti kirai (without the curry). The ceremony starts at 10am; we live in Eunos and the location is at Woodlands. So you do the Math on what time we had to wake up and kirai? Nadya punya pasal tau! Mak and I had to take shifts to kirai a bucket load of kirai.



All for you Nadya!
She looks so different with the eyeliner that her auntie put on. Her eyes looked humongous! I wouldn't even have the guts to put eyeliner on a baby. I still stab myself in the eye once in a while.







Jhon testing 1, 2, 3...


One of our favorite uncle and auntie from my maternal side. Maybe that's why takes too many photos of them. lol





The bro buat hal sendiri.


Irfan's favorite uncle.



Seriously, unrecognizable with eye make up.



Alhamdulillah, the ceremony went well and smooth sailing.






   

1 Month Married

It has been 1 month since Jhon and I have been husband and wife.

The usual question was, "How's married life?"
We unanimously agreed with the word "Weird"

From the night we got married, I was telling Jhon, "You are my husband, you know?"
That continued 1 week later, during our honeymoon, after our honeymoon and up until now. It's just weird. I suppose we have been boyfriend-girlfriend for almost 9 years now so it's really odd to see each other as a different status.

We do spend a lot of time together after all these years so it didn't feel much of a difference. The only difference was we don't separate ways by the end of the day and having extra private time. It was unbelievable that instead of Jhon sending me home every single night, I am following him back home.

After all these years of protecting our family's reputation by being well-behaved (if you know what I mean), we kept asking each other if we were sure Mak allows me to sleep over? Is it really okay? We asked that even more so on the first time we had a room all to ourselves at Sentosa. Usually, someone is always staying in a room with us as a guardian (lol). We were laughing and asking, "Where's Mak? or Fizah?"

Other than that, my life as a wife is normal, I suppose. I knew way before getting married that my first order of business was to do Jhon's laundry. This man likes to collect dirty laundry as a side hobby I think. Lucky for me, I secretly enjoy doing the laundry. There's something about turning smelly things into fragrant and soft things that makes me happy. Yes, I always smell them before hanging the laundry and before folding them.

So how's married life so far?

Weird.



   

Shopping Day with the Tolentinos

In continuation of the big family dinner post, the next day, I went out with Jhon's family. It was 2 days before our big day and we are out and about. Technically, I should be at home, handling the tentage, decor people and such but I have no choice. The outing is a wedding related errand.

The thing was, I had already ordered outfits for Jhon's Mom (Ma) and Sis (Loi) from Poplook for our wedding. Everyone was to wear a shade of pink/purple of their own preferred design. The colors will vary but it will be a family color. Jhon's Dad (Pa) and Jayden will get their top/ outfit in Singapore.

Unfortunately, when they arrived and tried the Poplook outfits, Ma's top was too tight so Loi gave her top to her. Which means, Loi has no top to match her long skirt which in turn, we had to take an extra side trip to Geylang. All I can say is that it was a long and tiring day.


The good thing was, they get a little more sight seeing, from our place, Changi City Point to Geylang. The bad thing was we don't have personal transportation so it's going to be tiring especially for Ma who is still sickly.

First stop was Changi City Point to look for Pa's dress shirt. We also ended up doing some personal shopping. It's an outlet mall so yeah, we let them go crazy. Everyone had 1 pair of Nike sport shoes, even Jhon's bro, Paul and BIL, (Paolo) who were in the Philippines. That's not to mention a haul at Cotton On. lol Once in a while, boleh lah.


Checking out and feeding the Koi fishes.


On the way to Gelyang Serai for Loi's top & Jayden's baju kurung.



Loi is slimmer and TALLER than me. So she experienced the typical, outfit fits well but sleeves too short or sleeves just right but outfit too loose. In the end, I told them, we just buy a dress lah.
My thinking was if she wore a traditional top and the sleeves are short, it looks weird but if the sleeves are short for a dress, it's fashion lol. Plus, I have those outfit cinch thingy for her to borrow.

Jayden also got a pair of baju kurung at Joo Chiat. He looked so freaking cute lah!



The story of the stroller.
I told Jhon to tell his family to bring a stroller so it's easier to jalan-jalan but he didn't. On the day itself, I offered Abg's stroller (not been used anymore anyways) and they all were confident, can handle and carry Jayden as we went out. -_- Those who ever went out with kids can relate right?

I had to actually convince them to listen to me that it's going to be useful! Budak tu dah berat macam guni nasi. Boleh ke jalan satu hari? Nak shopping kan senang?? (lol rant) Obviously, he gave in and everyone was grateful for the stroller. Ah kan... nasib dengar cakap (rant belum habis). That stroller can fit in 3 of my nephews when they are roughly the same age but with Jayden, he fills up the entire space. lol

After Geylang, Jhon parted ways with us to collect our wedding photo shoot photos while I sent the family home. They came over for a while after dinner to sibuk2 with wedding stuff. Poor things, they were tired so I let them end the day early after Jhon henna Loi's hand.

Sneak Preview of their outfits!

 While waiting for the bride and groom, Jayden wear's a singlet first.


Tada!




   

Report of Marriage to Embassy of the Republic of Philippines

For all readers, especially those who have been following from the beginning of my #weddingtalk, sorry my timeline may be a little jumbled up.

For all international couples, please take note of this. After your wedding and honeymoon, report your marriage to the embassy of your spouse's country. The earlier, the better because it's important and it's to get the deed out of the way.


Since Jhon is from the Philippines, we went to the Embassy of the Republic of Philippines. I let Jhon take the lead for this one since it's his 'world'. We signed in at the main counter, told them our intentions which was to report our marriage and we were sent into the compound for queuing.

We went on a weekday morning so although there were quite a crowd, it was a fast process for us.


Documents needed, 4 copies of:
Filled Report of Marriage form
Spouses' Passport
Marriage Certificate (with original copy)

I brought our actual passports too just in case but they didn't refer to any of the original documents. But it's okay, better safe than sorry.

We received a pink slip for immediate payment of SG$42.50 and collect a letter 3 working days later (not sure if the amount of days are consistent), only to inform that our form has been issued to the Philippines for process. The entire thing will take about 6 months. Typical Philippines.

I will update more when we got the official confirmation.

   

Wedding DIY: Bunga Pahar, Henna, Bunga Rampai, Sireh lat-lat, Guestbook, Tepung Tawar & Directional Signs

I'm squeezing all my wedding DIY in one post because I've more or less wrote about them previously and this is just a final summary and outcome of the items.

Bunga Pahar

Jhon and I were mighty busy during the 2 days before our big day because Jhon's parents were in Singapore. We were out and about looking and shopping for wedding related stuff with them, mainly outfits. So we were grateful to know suddenly Kakak WhatsApp messaged me a picture of these.
 
 
Kakak and Mak had boiled, dyed and place the eggs into the bunga pahar egg holders. Mak had use these red dyes she bought at a Tradional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shop. Eggs might be a little blotchy but after you cover them, you can't see them anyways. Our bunga pahar holder has seen it's days so unfortunately, the foam inside has worn off. With the weight of the eggs, the flowers drooped down a little. But no deal, because it looks decent enough.
 
 
 
Henna

After the henna tests we had, Mak and I were set on the henna recipe we wanted. Which was henna powder, calamansi juice and a little bit of the tube henna for a touch of redness. But on the day I wanted to buy henna powder at Pasar Geylang, the kakak advised me to use Gambir for natural redness. It was last minute but I bought it anyways because it was cheap.

On Thursday night, Mak helped prepare the henna with gambir in replacement of the tube henna. As expected, the stain was fast and more reddish as Mak got her fingers tainted while mixing.

Our henna ceremony is called inai curi called by the older folks. It's like a secretive henna ceremony because it was held 2 days before the big day and it's just within the family. Jhon's family was around but his mom was tired so I lovingly shooed everyone away to rest. After all, they had went out shopping the whole day. But before they left, Jhon did henna designs on Loi's hands. lol
 

Ada tak bakal pengantin lain buat henna kat orang? Loi always wanted a henna design ever since she saw it during Fizah's wedding years back. The thing is, we didn't engage anyone for henna designs. Since she was willing, Jhon did it lah. I was also surprised Kakak volunteered too. Fizah wanted but she was around on Friday and we were just too busy.

After they went home and had our henna paste set for 3 hours, Mak helped with the henna tainting. We had scotch taped our fingers for better lines and so that Mak won't stress making sure everything is neat. We didn't have our henna on very long. We washed it as soon as it dries which was about 3 hours. I wanted it longer but it was past midnight and we wanted to sleep. But here it is.
 


After the wedding and all, I can relate the feeling of other brides reminiscing their wedding day as there was a constant reminder on their hands.
 
Bunga Rampai

I think I was rather detailed about my bunga rampai in my previous post but I just I want to show how it looks like with chiffon pieces and the rampai itself in it.
 

 
Sireh Lat-Lat

I had Mak help me do with this one. We just used a small plastic cup, wrap it with gold crepe tissue paper, decorate it with a brooch & flowers. I totally forgot to take a picture of the end result. But it turns out that Versari Ade provides free sireh lat-lat. kwang kwang... The reason being, they will decorate the cup/ holder to our outfit (same purple cloth on our outfit to the cup) so it will match perfectly. So Kak Dee and Jhon just switch the holder.

In the end, it does not matter because as expected, Jhon's hands are so big that he covers the holder and you can see the flowers only.
 
 
Bunga Manggar

The night before our wedding, we did our bunga mangar with Jhon's family. His family has always been the crafty group so I knew they were the perfect family to arrange and poke the bunga manggar onto the styrofoam. They were hesitant to help at first because shy-shy mah but once they understand their duty, fwar.. so fast and I was so happy to see them so into it. After all, I want them to feel that they are a part of the gotong-royong and not left out.
 


We had a good amount of gold crepe tissue paper so we wrapped Mak's bamboo poles to make it more presentable. Where do you think we can get a gold bamboo pole? haha We even cover it with scotch tape for protection. I never thought I would be so happy to see my full and glittery bunga manggar.
 
 
Guestbook

I just want to show the set up at my wedding. I didn't rent/ buy an easel to put our big pre-wedding photo shoot photo so instead, I placed it on the table and resting on the wall. Guests can stare at our photo as we stare at each other. lol As expected, the jar was not filled to the maximum but it's okay. At least we can reuse the bottle and box. hehe
 

Tepung Tawar

Technically, there's an appropriate place to put the bertih (popcorn), yellow rice and egg but we only managed to borrow the renjis-renjis part for rose water. If you read my post about Malay traditions, this is like an act of blessing. It was fun for me, at least because we were sprinkled, prayed for and some relative were funny with their antics.
 
 
Directional Signs
 
A little boo-boo here, I forgot to take a picture of my wedding directional signs but it's basically my signage tied with gold ribbons to the lamp post. Tu je.
 
And that's it!