Sunday, December 28, 2014

Wedding talk : Banquet at Concorde Hotel (Part 1)

As the title suggests, my wedding banquet was held at Concorde Hotel. 
Before we went to Concorde Hotel for consultation, the husband was telling me he was gonna "minus marks" for Concorde Hotel for its old exterior and the sleazy pubs/clubs and massage parlors located at the basement of Concorde Hotel. I agreed too, but wanted to reserve my judgement only after I saw the ballroom.

We made the biggest mistake of judging the book by its covers, because it was love at first sight for us when we saw the ballroom. It was beautiful and classy, with its high ceiling, lovely chandeliers and a straight aisle from the door to the stage. What made the ballroom better was that there was only 1 ballroom in the entire hotel and we did not have to risk sharing the reception area with other weddings/events or risk guests going into the wrong wedding ballroom. Our wedding was exclusive. Our sales consultant, Valerie was really pleasant to work with, giving us all the perks and discounts even before we had asked for it. Thumbs up for her service and initiative! 

Here was the reception/cocktail area before the start of the banquet. Quoting a guest who attended, she said that the wedding was special as there were so many desserts, before the banquet and after the banquet. The cocktail desserts included strawberry cheesecake, truffles chocolates, mini cupcakes, and sugar cookies and rocky road. There were done by an intern, Elizabeth who used to intern at my workplace. When she was interning, she often made many delicious bakes and that was when i decided that I should use her for my wedding ( she could give me discounts too! Friendship price!) 

On the dessert table, there were also many candies and tidbits that we thought guests might liked, which we purchased from Teck Leong Lee Kee Wholesales . They were selling these tidbits in boxes and were cheaper than what was retailing outside. We spent about $80 in purchasing the tidbits, which was well-spent in my opinion because ALL, I mean EVERY SINGLE PIECE of the dessert and tidbit was gone by the end of the cocktail. I did not manage to eat a single piece of it. 

Oh, and on the dessert table as well, we also engaged Coolgurt. They specialize in providing Yogurt during events or weddings! They do not do retail hence you won't be able to get it outside. The husband is not a fan of yoghurt and the only yogurt he eats is from Coolgurt. They have many different flavours and you would be able to taste them before you engage them. We got a total of 100 cups of yogurt of the wedding and they were all wiped clean before the end of the cocktail. I was still pretty worried that we might have wasted our money of the yogurt because I thought nobody would want to eat the yogurt before dinner. But my worries were proven unnecessary!

We also engaged Mirage Flowers to do the decorations of mainly the reception area, the dessert table, and the phot album area. So the flowers, props and decorations that you see here, are nicely done up by Mirage Flowers. 






Our photobooth was a special one. It only came with the props that you see below, and a printer. Guests were supposed to download the application Cloudstaprint on their smartphone and they would be able to start taking photos with their smartphone and then edit the photos on their smartphone and print it out using the printer that was provided. 

The pictures that were being uploaded would be flashed on livefeed during the dinner, and guests are able to comment on the photos. 

I provided a photo album as well (if you can see it on the picture) for guests to share their moments with us! 


This was the photobooth backdrop and Yellowsplatz was the vendor I had engaged in. I had randomly found them on Instagram. As we had already engaged cloudstaprint, we did not want to have any conventional photobooth service. Thus it was hard to find someone that would only provide the photobooth backdrop and I was glad I managed to find one after much hurdles. 

Initially I was a little worried about using them because they had never done any set up in hotels before and mine would be the first. I was afraid that they might not deliver what they had promised but I was glad that I engaged them, because the final set up was beautiful! So vibrant and colourful just like how I had always imagined it to be!


And this, was our photo album area. We had a total of 2 wedding albums, from Digio and Z'wedding and also our engagement pictures that were pegged on the lines. Our engagement photos were taken by The Synchronal Photography.


We had also engaged Im perfection for the props to decor the entire areas. 

Props we got included the floral arch as you see below. Totally matched the linen colour of our tables. 

Love Marquee sign that was placed on the stage. 

2 lamp poles where our engagement pictures were pegged to, and finally 2 road signs. 

They were really affordable and it made made the banquet even more beautiful! 







So here's a conclusion/summary picture of how the entire wedding banquet looked like that night. 


Hope I've provided enough details and review about the vendor which I have used!









Wednesday, December 10, 2014

09 November 2014


No idea where to start the Actual Day wedding post. Because there are simply too many pictures to post, and I hope I have enough recollection of the day, as we were really rushing throughout the day.

1 week plus  (edit: more than 1 week plus already since I procrastinated in drafting this post) since the wedding has gone so quickly gone by.
It was a really tiring day, with us having to wake up at 3am in the morning and could only get to rest at 2am the next day. That's like being awake for 23 hours!

Pardon the blurred quality of the photos that I would be posting up, because most of the pictures were taken using iphones, and we haven't received the pictures from our photographer yet!

So like I said, I woke up at 3am to wash up and eat my "mian xian" noodles (vermicelli), then wait for my makeup artist to arrive at 430am. 

Here's my makeup artist, Cleo Chang working her magic on me! I liked her works the most, out of the few other makeup artist that I have tried. Her charges are on the high side, but I cannot afford to look meh on my wedding day! Hence, I made the decision to splurge, and burned a pocket in my hole. But trust me, she's really good! And the best thing about her is, she uses airbrush to do the foundation, so its really hygienic, and more even. The foundation would not look like layers and layers of powder. 


I was just finishing up the makeup when the boys arrived! And then there was a short period of chaos in the house. Ha Ha..

Everyone got so anxious and frantic. Even my cousin, who was supposed to go down to open the car door for the groom forgot about his duty, and thus there was a delay in the groom coming up to the house!

And then, came the gatecrash! Not sure of what happened outside the house, but definitely not anything pleasant for the boys!

The poor boys were subjected to the sisters' abuse, one of which was applying cheap mask and make up on the face. I hope their face does not rot after all the "grooming".







And then the husband reading his promises to me (I came up with the promises by the way.) before he could enter the room. Thus far I think he has been fulfilling those promises, except fetching me back from outing with friends (humph!).


Before the husband bent over to give me our first kiss, he had prepared a little surprise for me. And I was really caught by surprise when his friend handed over a violin to him! He IS NOT musically inclined and cannot play any musical instruments, maybe except recorder. 

And he started playing on the violin. His fingers were shaking, but he still managed to play Love Me Tender very nicely on the violin. 

Thank you for the pleasant surprise! :) 




    Us preparing to leave the house back to his house!




Back to his house. Before we entered his house, his family members have to retreat back to the rooms and were only allowed after we entered our rooms. This is done as a tradition to prevent direct clashes between the bride and the groom's family. 

A picture of us outside our room. 



We were then served a bowl of tangyuan each and we had to feed each other with the tangyuan. I think this practice has something to do with uniting the couple together (my guess!)

Thereafter it was  tea ceremony to his relatives and photo taking.




And then I changed into my Kua (Chinese traditional wedding costume) to proceed to his grandmother's place and then subsequently back to my home for another round of tea-ceremony. 

Initially I was quite afraid that I would look too cheena in Kua, but suprisingly, some of the photos which I liked the most are actually those of me in Kua. 





Here's me with my grandmother at my house, preparing for tea ceremony!




And lastly, photo taking session again!

Totally loving how the bridesmaid outfit looked in photos. So colourful and vibrant!









Alright! That's about it for the morning session! By then, both of us were really really tired, but were looking forward to the night banquet! : )

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Say something....


In October 2011, 3 months after the breakup, I wrote a last blog entry to him, telling him I would be leaving his life, like what he had always wanted me to.

I chose to leave, not because I no longer love him, but because I know he did not want and need me in his life anymore

And the song below aptly reflect how I had felt when I wrote the entry;  I was reluctant to give up and hoped that he would ask me to stay but on the hand, I was forced to leave him. And I felt guilty for making that decision because that meant I was going to give up on us.

I had tried my best to salvage the relationship. I did. But somehow to him, it was never enough. And it would never be enough.


                                                                 " Say Something"

Say something, I'm giving up on you
I'll be the one, if you want me to
Anywhere I would've followed you
Say something, I'm giving up on you

And I am feeling so small
It was over my head
I know nothing at all

And I will stumble and fall
I'm still learning to love
Just starting to crawl

Say something, I'm giving up on you
I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
Anywhere I would've followed you
Say something, I'm giving up on you

And I will swallow my pride
You're the one that I love
And I'm saying goodbye

Say something, I'm giving up on you
And I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
And anywhere I would've followed you (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Say something, I'm giving up on you

Say something, I'm giving up on you
Say something...

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Wedding Talk: 过大礼咯

28.10.2014 : Yesterday was our 过大礼 day!

A little background on 过大礼, also known as Betrothal. A really summarized version of it. According to the husband also, he said that it Betrothal also symbolized that the groom's family has accepted the bride in to the family. 

Betrothal, Guo Da Li 过大礼, also known as ‘Na Zhen’, is the formalities performed by the groom to bind both families together, and it shows the sincerity of the Groom to the Bride’s family.

Traditionally, this process is done two to three months before the distribution of invitation cards where a senior relative will accompany the groom to present the “Pin Jin” 聘金 and the pre-discussed gifts to the bride’s family.

Nowadays this process is usually done two to three weeks before the wedding day and a good friend can also accompany the groom.  (adapted from The Chinese Wedding Shop)

And you will be surprised by the amount of things both families would need to buy. 

Gifts for the Groom to bring over
• *Teochew Only * Straw Basket ( To carry the gifts over)
• *Hokkien Only* Black and Red Basket ( To carry the gifts over)
• 1 Ang Bao with betrothal gift money 聘金 (Typically an amount with 8)
• 2 pair of Double Happiness candles (2 dragon 2 phoenix, full wax)
• 6 Pig trotters minimum (Available in cans. Gift for Mother-In-law)
• Hard liquor or red/white wine (Gift for Father-in-Law)
• Traditional wedding cakes (For bride’s family to distribute to relatives)
• 8-12 Oranges ( Symbolize good luck)
• 12-16 Apples ( Symbolize peace)
• *Teochew Only* Peanut Candy ( To have off springs soon)
• *Teochew Only* Sesame candy ( To have many off springs)
• *Hokkien Only* Rice candy ( For prosperity)
• *Teochew Only* Lao Ma Gor 老嫲糕 (A type of wedding pastry. Skip if the bride’s grandma is not around)
• *Teochew Only* Banana 连招贵子 ( Homophone for ‘bring’ To bring in children )
• A pair of Coconut 有爷有子 (Homophone for Grandfather and Child. To have a family with multi-generation)
• Charcoal ( To symbolize the bride will have a good life after marriage)
• Black Moss, Fa Cai 发菜 ( To strike rich)
• Jewelry (For the bride)
• 1 Gift Box 礼金盒 containing
- Jewelry ( For the Bride)
- *Teochew Only* 4 pieces of gold jewelry 四点金 (Ring, earrings, necklace and bangle. Will be given by groom’s parents during tea ceremony but need to be presented during Betrothal Gift Ceremony)
- Dried Longan (Bless with a dragon boy)
- Red date 鸿运当头 (To have good fortune)
- Lily bulbs 百年好合 (A harmonious union) 
- Walnut/ Peanut 和和气气 ( To have harmony)
- Lotus seeds 连连生子 (To have many children)
- Dried tangerine 大吉大利 (To have great luck)
- Pine tree leaf 长寿 (If bride’s family has grandparents. Symbolized longevity and health, health and vitality for couple),
- Dried melon slice 甜甜蜜蜜 ( Sweet life together)
- Different grains like red beans, green beans, wheat, soy beans, barley and rice. (To bless the couple to have bountiful harvests)
• Double Happiness Stickers
• Red banner to hang over door
• 2 cans of tea leaves and 2 packets of white sesame seeds (To symbolize seeds growing into trees)

Gifts for the Bride’s family to return
• Gold Ring, or watch, or cufflinks, or belt, or wallet with an Ang Bao inserted (For the groom)
• 2 bottles of orange juice or syrup (For good luck)
• Portion of the gift received from groom (Usually half will be returned)
• Huat kueh 发糕 (Symbolize prosperity)
Dowry from Bride’s family ( Groom to bring the items back to the bridal chamber)
• Furniture such as bed, mattress or dressing table
• 1 Sewing machine/Sewing kit (To be bound together) 
• 1 Ruler 得寸进尺 (To have many children and grandchildren)
• *Hokkien Only* Sugar Cane 同甘共苦 ( To go through thick and thin together)
• Essentials 子孙三宝 ( To symbolize fertility)
- Bath Basin
- Wash basin
- Spittoon
- Mug
- Towel
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
• Linen (Pillow covers and bed sheet)
• Tea set (For tea ceremony at groom’s side)
• Bowl set
• 2 pair of Chopstick 早生贵子 (To have off springs soon)
• 1 pair of Bedside Lamp 添丁发财 (To symbolize fertility and wealth)
• 1 Red umbrella (To be left in bride’s home for use on wedding day)
• Fate coins 大缘小缘 (For setting up matrimonial bed 安床. Place some at 4 corners of the bed, of the room and in cupboards and drawers)
• Jewelry (optional)
(information adapted from Top Photography)

As you can see in the pictures, ours was really simplified, substituting most items to Angpow (red packets) instead. We felt that it was more practical and less cumbersome. The groom wouldn't have to carry so many things back to his house, and we could also save on those items that we might not need.


And this was the groom's gift to me. 



And my gift to him + my luggage of clothes, makeup etc. to be brought over to his house 



The whole 过大礼was over like in 5-10 minutes. Totally fuss-free!

And here's us, with a picture of the "Four Gold" that his father has bought for me. 



Yay. Finally being accepted officially into his family! :)