Tea Ceremony

I got to take note of : The order of service

• parents
• grandparents
• grand-uncles and grand-aunties
• uncles and aunties
• elder brothers and sisters
• elder cousins

Fetch the bride

I didn't know groom got to prepare these until I found this piece of information from a website.

Best man will carry a red tray containing:

• a piece of raw pork leg which is mum's reward for bringing up the bride,
• at least four or more, even number of tangerines or oranges for good fortune,
• some dried persimmons for prosperity,
• some dried longan in shells for sweetness in the marriage,
• some dried lotus seeds for having many children,
• some dried magnolia petals called “pak hup” to wish for hundred years of closeness and happiness in the marriage.

Return with :

• Even numbered cans of pork trotters or a red packet
  
• tangerines or oranges replaced in even numbers

My father has to :

• throw rice and pak hup (dried magnolia petals) at the bridal car before it drives off.

Install bridal bed

Simei aunty is going to help us install our bed on 22/11/2008 . So we have to get all these things before she installs.

• even number of tangerines or oranges
• dried longans
• dried red dates
• dried persimmons
• pak hup (dried magnolia petals) 百合
• dried lotus seeds
• sprigs of pomegranate leaves 番石榴/红花
• two red packets
• bedside lamps
  
• new bedsheets
  

过大礼

Since I'm am free today, I shall make a list of what do I need for my betrothal.

Betrothal gifts 娉礼

• wedding cakes which I will bake personally
  
• two bottles of brandy
• 12 oranges
  
• rice candies for a hokkien bride
• pig trotters (getting my future mother to cook a pot of 糖醋猪脚 instead)
  
• two pairs of red candles to replace 龙凤烛
• betrothal jewellery from the groom’s parents to the bride.
• 娉金

Return gifts 回礼

• two bottles of orange syrup
  
• 12 oranges
  
• a bunch of bananas
• red dates, dried persimmon, dried lotus bulb
• a pair of red candles
  
• Ang pows for FIL & MIL to buy shoes.
  
• portion of 娉金

送嫁妆

• tea set for the wedding tea ceremony
• beddings, pillows, bolsters, comforter set, blankets, bed sheets, etc., tied with red ribbons
• 子孙桶- baby bathtub, potty, face washbasin, in red and with wedding designs
• toothpaste and toothbrushes, comb
• new pyjamas
  
• new clothing in a suitcase for the bride
• two pairs of bedroom slippers
• gold jewellery from the bride’s parents or owned by the bride

I'm getting more and more excited as my wedding day approaches. I feel that there are so many things which I should be doing now and yet I have not done it. Yah, dear says I'm paranoid but I just knew that I have millions of things to do. Probably I list it down and I will feel so much better.

1. DIY Invitation card : Purchase ribbons, lace, papers, eyelets
2. DIY Hongbao box : Purchase wrapper, ribbon
3. DIY head bands for flower girls
4. Invitation card distribution
   
5. Confirmation of Solemniser
6. Draw up a Task List for Sisters
7. Guest List
8. Honeymoon Preparation : Book airline tickets, hotels, draw up itinerary, buy winter wear
9. Wedding Cake : Select which cakes to bake
10. Set a date & meet up with all sisters
11. Distribution of Xi Bing

Hmm, seems like not a lot of things to do but I still have to print the list out & paste it on my room wall. What other things do I left out?

First Gown Fitting

It's been so fun for me last Saturday! I finally went for my first gown fitting at Vaught. I merely try one wedding gown & two evening gowns and Vaught knew exactly what suits me.

For those who do not know, all my gowns & tea dress will be mtm, meaning made to measure. My gowns going to be a halter and a lovely heart shape and I have picked a very nice and unique colour for my evening gown. Hee, I will keep mum about the color of my evening gown till the wedding day.

I'm just so excited and I look forward to the next fitting in September!

Florist Confirm

Hasn't been updating recently as I was not doing much for my wedding. Most of the major part of the wedding details are confirmed, like venue, bridal studio & photographer. Today I will be emailing my florist the invoice to confirm their service. Next I will embark on another major project - DIY invitation cards. Hopeful I have time to complete the prototype and upload it soon!

Cupcakes Part II

I baked cupcakes again! On a special request by dear, so that he can bring to school during central marking. He specially make the chocolate frosting, out of his own imagination. However he is quite clumsy in applying it. This time round, I've used 4 types of filling. Peanut butter, nutella, banana and blackberry jam! Oh there's even an exclusive banana chocolate out of the 42 cupcakes we baked today. I wonder who is the lucky one to eat the banana chocolate!

Cupcakes

Excited! Before I finally bought an oven, I already source for cupcake recipes. Finally I settled on one which I found in Jamie Teo's blog and started baking today.

I baked 2 batches. One batch is a disaster, which in fact the amount stated in Jamie Teo's blog is meant for smaller cupcakes, whereas the 2nd batch, I modified a little and it turn out great. Looks like muffin though. I am so proud of my work and Kaiqian just picked 5 home for dessert.

The failure batch, due to frosting.

The 2nd batch, turns out nice and fluffy.

Inside is nutella filling, should add a bit more!

Photographer Selected

Finally, after weeks of searching, we managed to find a photographer we both like and the price is definitely agreeable. Although it is still outside our budget, but we will try to solve it. The most bread and plain water every day, every meal. Hehe, just joking..

As we didn't expect the engagement of the photographer to be so costly, I have to forfeit wearing a Qun Kua on my wedding day, which is equally costly, $560 for a flattering piece. I have to msg Vaught to include a tea dress Qi Pao into our package. As dear says, you still can keep it after the wedding. Most importantly, I can wear it for next year CNY celebrations and Racial Harmony Day.

My next problem is getting a JP. So far I have contacted 4, 3 rejected us. One is kind and friendly, could not help solemnise due to out timing problem. One is bitchy, who took damn long to reply. One says he needs to confirm as I called on a weekend, so later on could not even bother to reply NO through SMS. The other one is still pending for confirmation. Wish me good luck bah, once JP is found, I guess half of my wedding preparations are complete.

Photographer Woes

My luck has used up so quickly. The only hotel and bridal studio I have visited, I was so satisfied that I do not even have to visit other places. However, I seem unable to find a suitable photographer for AD. Either those that I want are extremely expensive, else they are unavailable. Up till now, searching for days, I still can't find a photographer within my budget.

I thought I was quite lucky to find the 1950 thread in SB,. Yet after they sent me their package, they never even bother to reply me until I sms them 4 days later. This time, the pg's reply was almost instantaneous. He told me he has already sent me an email and tell me he can't even scheduled to meet me because a couple may booked him on my wedding day. Imagine he took 4 days to reply me. If i didnt sms him, i think he can't be bother to reply me.

If I have known that engaging a photographer just for AD is so damn expensive, I would have took up photography, instead of becoming a teacher. I could have been damn rich by being a photographer.

Qun Kua

Doing some research now on the rental of Qun Kua.

1. Just.Gowns

Blk 101C Punggol Field
#06-460
Singapore 823101

Tel : 98005658

2. The Red Wedding

392 Yishun Ave 6 #07-1000 Singapore 760392
Tel : 9843 5577
janet@theredwedding.com

3. House of Etiquette

86 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore 088507

Tel : 6226-8139

I guess next week, I shall grab Jess to go with me to House Of Etiquette.

What do I need?

Upon the booking of venue next wed, I have to source for

1. March in song and songs to be played during the dinner
2. Florist for venue decorations
3. Wholesaler for Silk flowers (maybe DIY the function room)
4. Wedding Cake
5. MC to host and a AD planner
6. Wedding favors
7. Photographer/Videographer
8. 喜饼
9. Kua
10. 过大礼 stuffs
11. Printer for invitation cards.

Sigh, any recommendations?

Amara Hotel

I'm fretting over the booking of venue these few days, and luckily Amara Hotel manage to meet all our needs.

We went to visit the poolside yesterday and I specially went down earlier to take photos, in case I need to engage a outside florist for decorations.

On 6th floor, the first thing after you enter the pool area you'll see will be the mini bar.


Next, you will see the buffet lineup and six table settings. However, I have too many people to be placed here so rather it will be placed outside.


Back facing the buffet lineup, you can see a pavilion along the way to the pool. This will be where we are during solemnisation. The tables will be placed around this pavilion.


Further up will be the swimming pool and sauna area. Probably gals, my jie mei men, we will be able to use the sauna together after my traditional wedding!


Well, there are limitations to this poolside wedding. In case of rain, we have to go to the function room at 3rd floor. Also decorations are not provided, we have to pay extra $300 - $400 to get the decor done up. I have to spend additional money to decorate the function room too, in case of rain.

I have arranged another meeting on next wed with the coordinator to finalise details. Finally, I can announce that my wedding will be on 23 Nov 2008!

Extensive Reseach

Well, well, well, after extensive research these 3 days, I've have contacted, emailed restaurants and hotel for availability. Unfortunately, there are only a few worth considerations and few sent me a proposal which they promised. The others either are fully booked, else could not house a hundred. Those who have emailed me are so far these hotels. I probably have to made a decision by this Friday, so hopefully the rest will reply promptly.

ParkRoyal Beach Rd
Furama
Conrad
Amara
Grand Corpthorne
Flutes at the Fort

Crazy Stunts

With the EE booked in May, I thought that we can go ahead with the booking of our church, yet unfortunately, now then my parent complain.

Complain 1 : Do not want to wear coat, reason being he will be uncomfortable
Complain 2 : Once he walks me into church, he and mum will (probably my side relatives) will walk out of church.

I can imagine now, it will be super embarassing. Yesterday night, I argued with them. This is how much they love me. Issues that they can't stand are not being raised directly when I checked with them, halfway through the preparations then they do stunts. Hurray, I wonder I can still adhere to the date with such a big change, else I might have to postpone my wedding.

Victorian Style Wedding

VT says that I will look good in corsets and suggest a Victorian style wedding gown. I am so excited, therefore I went to look up for some nice Victoria Wedding Gowns. Unfortunately, I can only find two.




pictures taken from bridalcorsets.co.uk & thisnext.com

I love the top corsets of the 2nd picture and the bottom part of the first picture. If these 2 parts combined together, that will be my dream wedding gown!

Visit to Vaugh Tan BS

Finally, we went to VT BS today. If you have taken a look at his website and you will find that it's quite updated and the gown he design are quite unique. Since I am a very online person, therefore those websites which do not update their designs of the gowns turn me off.

The location of the BS was quite accessible, especially for us, since we set off from my place. The place was cosy, and makes you feel at home. The package that was offered to us was quite comprehensive and personalized, since we are not taking any studio shots.

Wedding Package

MTM Wedding gown
MTM tea dress

MTM Groom Suit and Pants

Car decorations x 3

Hair Accessories

Groom Corsages x 2
Parents Corsages x 4

Day Makeup & Hair styling
Afternoon Makeup & Hair styling

Hmm, most likely we will take his package. What attracts me is his friendliness, personalised service, frank opinions and suggestions, and sincerity. I also hate BS who are too pushy, trying to boost their sales. But VT BS makes me feel at ease. I feel so happy after I leave his place. I am sure if I take up his service, he will help MTM the gown that suits me best!

Ms Clarity Catering

Have you visited Ms Clarity before? If you have not done so, find a day to try it. The food is good, economic, yet with no service charge. While I was browsing their website, I noticed that they do catering as well. Recently, I have drop them an email, and this is what they offered.

Miss Clarity Cafe
Catering menu

Starters (CHOOSE 2)

potato salad

garden salad

pizza

quiches

soup

assorted canapes

Mains (choose 6)

chix stew

black pepper chix

chix on skewers

roasted chix

chix shepherd pie

chix baked rice

chix wings

chix curry

beef stew

beef baked rice

beef curry

beef sheperd pie

bacon aglio olio

ham OR beef bolognese

chix tomyam pasta

creamy fish pasta

pork chop with caramelized onions

hainanese pork chop

roasted pork belly

braised pork belly

german sausages

hot veg

veg gratin

roast potato

roast pumpkin

potato gratin

sweet sour fish

tomyam fish

fish baked rice

fish corden bleu

Dessert (choose 2)

fruit platter

mini muffins

assorted tartlets

cream puffs

bread & butter pudding

Drinks (choose 1)

lychee

orange

mango

punch

First BS visit

I'm so excited! I am going to visit a Vaugh BS next Sunday. Initially I have emailed him, but after 4 days, there's still no reply from him. Therefore I started calling him, and able to make an appointment with him next Sun! He told me that I would be able to see a new collection! Immediately I met my colleague, I told her about the good news. (We both chatted alot in school recently, due to both of us getting married. Hers is in Jun 09) Hee, maybe both of us are going down to Vaugh BS next sun together! Due to much of her nagging, I bought the Mar-May Her World Brides today. Guess how much information we are exchanging now?