Thursday, January 14, 2010
Moment-Capture Thursday
An intimate moment of the two of you by Photographer, Kristopher Orr.
(Thanks to Snippet and Ink who introduced Kristopher Orr Photography to me!)
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Epicurean Wednesday
Food for THE Celebration!
Looking for food ideas for your next party?
How about homemade + retail (Costco)?!
At least that worked for my new year party on 1.1.2010!
Here's what we got for the day:
(The menu was prepared by my husband & host parents...yummy!)
We started the feast with Salads, Cheese & Crackers Tray! Thanks to Sonya, Amie, & Dustin!
Clockwise from left: Spinach Strawberry Salad from Skinny Chef, Pasta Salad from Family Go, Deer Meat, Cheese & Crackers Tray from this blog, Spinach, Tomatoes, & Bell Peppers Salad from Quality Living Styles For our main courses, we had pulled pork sandwiches (bought the packaged pulled pork & dinner rolls from Costco), frozen chicken meatballs from Costco (Stew: along with some pineapple chunks & bell peppers in the slow cooker), and last but not least, the bagel bites (easy...just toast it in the oven and it is yummy-licious)!
Clockwise from left: Chicken Meatballs Stew from Taste of Home, Dinner Rolls as seen here, Bagel Bites from here, Pulled Pork Sandwiches from Gourmet Food AppetizersNow what? The Dessert! We ordered our wedding cake from Costco (decor: it was all white with weaver-like motif and some sugar roses; flavor: yellow cake with chocolate mousse filling). Not a cake lover? How about mini cinnamon rolls and brownie bites? Or healthier choice - Fruits Tray!
Clockwise from left: Mini Cinnamon Rolls from A Moveable Feast, Cake from here (Instead of this motif on the cake, ours was a white wedding sheet cake from Costco as well), Petite Brownie Bites from Sugar Bowl BakeryAnd finally, the toasting!
From left: Champagne Toast from Hotel Chatter, A Toast of Beer from Andrew's Brewery, Cranberry Fruit Punch from Woman's Day RecipeLet's toast together with us for the happy marriage, happy family, and healthy life!
Cheers everyone!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Perfect Blooms & Decor Tuesday
Almost every wedding planning website has talked about how convenience and cost-effective to decorate your wedding with floating candles centerpieces. It is beautiful, luminous and inexpensive way to wow your wedding guests.
But do you know that not all candles work as floating candles?
I found an article written by pkfzone in hubpages.com, the writer tells us what kind of candles work for floating candle centerpieces.
Here is what he wrote in the article:
With limited time (it was new year eve...and most stores closed early that day) and the urge to fully utilize the resource I have in hand (not being wasteful), I ended up with a "half-floated" candle decor. I had my friends filled up varies heights of cylinder glasses* with water, so only half the height of the candle is covered and made sure it won't tip over.
As for another tall cylinder glass with larger diameter, I had it filled with water and a few small tea light candles instead. The result was GREAT and I love it! (Our ceremony photos are not available yet, I will show you the picture later on.)
Now that you knew which candle works and which is not, you are ready to create floating candle centerpieces that are uniquely yours based on your personal preference, creativity, and wedding theme (if you have one)!
Origami Bird Floating Candles by 100candles.com
And here are some of the amazing wedding centerpieces I found online.
1st Row (from left): Asian-inspired candle centerpieces as seen in table-settings-with-pictures.com, Purple floating candles in fishbowl decorated with lavender carnation centerpiece as seen in wedding flowers and reception ideas.com, Rose floating candle with berries centerpiece as seen in zimbio.com, Floating candles and flower petals centerpiece as seen in lovetoknow.com
2nd Row: Floating candle with flower and rocks centerpiece as seen in Aisle Talk, Floating candles in vases filled with colored water as seen in ehow.com, Floating candle with pearls seen here, Floating candles with seashell mix as seen in Completely Coastal
Hope that inspires you!
*Cylinder glasses >> They are actually water glasses me and my husband found in Wal-Mart (good deal, four for only 2 USD)!
But do you know that not all candles work as floating candles?
I found an article written by pkfzone in hubpages.com, the writer tells us what kind of candles work for floating candle centerpieces.
Here is what he wrote in the article:
Floating candles are small candles, (generally the size of a votive candle or at least fit securely in the palm of your hand - usually 2 - 3 inches in diameter), made to float in a container of water while lit.Based on my own experience while trying to create the floating candle decor piece for the wedding ceremony on New Year Day, votive candles as shown in the picture below won't work for sure! Oh my...I should have read the article by pkfzone or maybe study some kind of physics before heading out to Wal-Mart and get those votive candles!
They have broader top surfaces than their rounded bottoms so that they can float better, won't tip over and have their flame extinguished.
With limited time (it was new year eve...and most stores closed early that day) and the urge to fully utilize the resource I have in hand (not being wasteful), I ended up with a "half-floated" candle decor. I had my friends filled up varies heights of cylinder glasses* with water, so only half the height of the candle is covered and made sure it won't tip over.
As for another tall cylinder glass with larger diameter, I had it filled with water and a few small tea light candles instead. The result was GREAT and I love it! (Our ceremony photos are not available yet, I will show you the picture later on.)
Now that you knew which candle works and which is not, you are ready to create floating candle centerpieces that are uniquely yours based on your personal preference, creativity, and wedding theme (if you have one)!
Origami Bird Floating Candles by 100candles.comAnd here are some of the amazing wedding centerpieces I found online.
1st Row (from left): Asian-inspired candle centerpieces as seen in table-settings-with-pictures.com, Purple floating candles in fishbowl decorated with lavender carnation centerpiece as seen in wedding flowers and reception ideas.com, Rose floating candle with berries centerpiece as seen in zimbio.com, Floating candles and flower petals centerpiece as seen in lovetoknow.com2nd Row: Floating candle with flower and rocks centerpiece as seen in Aisle Talk, Floating candles in vases filled with colored water as seen in ehow.com, Floating candle with pearls seen here, Floating candles with seashell mix as seen in Completely Coastal
Hope that inspires you!
*Cylinder glasses >> They are actually water glasses me and my husband found in Wal-Mart (good deal, four for only 2 USD)!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Fashionista Monday
Happy Monday everyone!
Our regular postings are making their way back and join us again from this week onwards ^.*
So what have we prepared for Fashionista Monday this week?
It is about how to accessorize your wedding look without exceed the limit of blink school. Most girls like to put on accessories whenever they have an outing with family and friends, this is no exception on their wedding day. They want to be the shiniest star on their big day. The tricky part is what considered as enough and appropriate to compliment your beautiful wedding gown?
I found the following article by Cori Russell where she shares her tips to not overdone but don with the right amount and type of accessories to compliment your wedding day look.
Bridal Jewelry - How to Accessorize Your Wedding Day Look
by Cori Russell
OK ladies, here's music to your ears (and neck, and wrist)... now that you've got your wedding dress, it's time to accessorize it! There's no doubt about it, the right baubles perfect your wedding ensemble. Here's what you need to know to accessorize like a pro.
TIPS:
1. Keep it Simple
Before the fun begins, please heed this advice. When it comes to your bridal jewelry, less really is more. Simple jewelry makes a timeless fashion statement; overdo it and you risk a phone call from Diddy asking for his bling back.
2. Formality Rules
Along with all other accessories, the bride's jewelry should reflect the formality of the wedding celebration. A small, informal wedding calls for simple jewelry, while a large, formal wedding calls for more elaborate pieces.
3. Complement the Gown
Wedding dress style also plays a major roll in jewelry selection. As a general rule - the more detailing on the gown, the simpler the jewelry, while a simple dress calls for added embellishment.
4. Let Your Neckline Lead the Way
Your dress neckline will guide you towards what pieces and styles you'll wear. Many gowns are strapless or have low necklines, which is a perfect style to showcase a great necklace. If your gown has a high neckline, you may want to forego the necklace and concentrate on finding the perfect earrings.
5. Make It You
Above all, wedding day duds should reflect your personal style. So stick to studs if you've never worn chandeliers, and if you've never left the house without your favorite strand of pearls - around your neck is where they should be when you say "I do."
Pick Your Metals:
The shade of your wedding dress will guide you to which metals work best:
Pick Your Gems:
- If your dress is white - choose platinum or silver jewelry, as yellow gold may clash with stark white.
- If your dress is off-white - either gold or silver/platinum will work.
- If your dress is ivory - the slightly yellowish undertones call for gold jewelry.
1. Pearls - A Classic Choice
The tradition of pearl bridal jewelry stems back to the ancient Greeks, who believed pearls promoted marital harmony. And of course, style icon Jackie O donned a strand the day she became Mrs. Kennedy, further cementing pearls as the refined gem of choice for brides everywhere.
2. Diamonds - The BFF of Jewelry
Diamonds didn't get their "girl's best friend" status for nothing. They're always good to add a touch of sparkle to your wedding dress. The good news for your wallet is that faux varieties work just as well.
3. Add Some Color
Of course, colored stones/gems present a great way to incorporate some color into your wedding day look, so don't shy away from blues, pinks, yellows - you name it.
Pick Your Pieces:
1. NecklacesThe classic choker features one to three strands worn close around the neck. This length works well with a jewel or bateau neckline, as it may get lost if too much skin is showing.
- The Choker
This Victorian style consists of three or more strands fitting securely around the middle neck. This length is a great accent to a low or strapless neckline.
- The Collar
This length falls about 16 inches to the hollow of the neck and often supports a pendant. This style works with almost any but a high neckline.
- The Princess
This style hits the top of the bust and looks great with a bateau, jewel, or a lower neckline with sheer fabric covering the decolletage area.
- The Matinee
The opera necklace is a long single strand falling below the bust. It creates a dramatic look when paired with a very high neckline.
- The Opera
2. Earrings
Keep your earrings simple if your necklace is especially large or grand. You also may not want to wear earrings at all if you're wearing a tiara - as the two may compete. On the other hand - if you're going sans necklace, consider highlighting your look with elaborate earrings. Remember, the key to accessorizing is balance.
3. Deck your Wrist?
Although not as common as necklaces and earrings, brides can wear a bracelet with sleeveless, short-sleeve, and three-quarter sleeve gowns. However, a watch is best left at home on your wedding day unless it's a family heirloom or antique.
Originally published on SearchWarp.com for Cori Russell
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article Source:
Bridal Jewelry - How to Accessorize Your Wedding Day Look
Article above was written by Cori Russell, editor for Elegala.com (a complete wedding planning resource with a nationwide directory of wedding vendors) and Gala Weddings Magazine.
I hope the article would be able to give you an idea of what is enough and appropriate to look as great on your wedding day. You are always the brightest star on your wedding day.
When less matters the most,
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Things I Learned & Shall Learn
The satisfaction of getting everything (you have planned) to be done in the exact same way as you dreamed of is great and very fulfilling. However, small things can go wrong no matter how many times you have double checked and made sure everything is alright. A perfectionist like me should learn when to let go the perfect ten and give credit to the imperfection that compliments the result. (This is also a reminder/advice given by my host mom a few days before our wedding ceremony and I think this is very true. Thanks for sharing, mom!)
Things that I learned and shall continue learning and improving.
Visualize the big picture before going into the details
Often time, a perfectionist pays too much attention into the details until he/she forgets about having the big picture of the result beforehand. (This is something that my husband brought to my attention. I appreciate your friendly reminder, Randy.)
Ask yourself:
Would you be able to move onto the details such as wedding theme, theme color combo, color of the table cloth and centerpieces at your wedding reception, IF you have not decided on the formality of your reception?
My thoughts/opinion for question above:
Before going into the details of the reception, you have to know what you kind of celebration you are looking for (e.g.: formality of the wedding reception; be it formal sit-down dinner, buffet-style dinner, or cocktail party). Once you have nailed down the formality of the celebration, it will make your life easier to plan the details of the event.
For example, you have decided to have a backyard party that serve finger-food, fruit punch, and a dessert bar (small intimate laid-back party). You may now let your creativity go wild and celebrate the joy in your own style! I found a few backyard parties on the web and would like to share with you.
Casual laid-back backyard party by Good Housekeeping
Bold color backyard party for young couples by Camille Styles Events
Lavishly elaborated backyard party as seen in Town and Country Event RentalsRemember:
Every single minute throughout the planning is precious, you would not want to waste time doing something that you realized you actually do not need it for the reception at the end of the day (lack of efficiency). Especially busy brides and grooms today, you want to fully utilize your time and resources. So let's visualize the end result and then work backward into the details to beautify your big picture!
Advices from my host parents (for newlyweds):
The 2 C's: Compromise & Communication
Compromise
From my host dad: You don't have to win the conversation every time; but you are going to understand each other and work things out together. That is so true (I seriously need to horn my skill in this area)! Everyone comes from their very unique background, no two persons with the exact same personality (that is also what makes the conversation more interesting). When two persons come together (in a marriage), they will have to learn to accept the other's strengths and weaknesses. The weaknesses should not be a barrier to happy marriage; they should conquer their weaknesses and search for solutions that will enhance their marriage life together.
Face the challenge + Compromise with each other = Happy Ending (Happy Marriage)
Communication
From my host mom: A good communication is one of the prerequisites for a good marriage. I agree! In fact, a good communication works in everywhere from workplace to family. Know what you say and mind your words. Always respect each other and never let your emotion takes control of you.
Good communication + Respect = Good Marriage
Happy Weekend!
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Gratitude.Appreciation.Thankfulness
(Sorry for not being around yesterday =( I had a bad headache and went to bed at 8:30 last night.)
The 101-Post! In our 101 post, we have a piece of appreciation towards all who helped us to make our engagement party and the wedding ceremony a total success! THANK YOU EVERYONE from far and near!
The GRABERS
We are very thankful and blessed to be part of the family who always there to share their experience and always being supportive!
Thank you so much for lending us your beautiful home with breathtaking view as our wedding ceremony venue. The house is so beautiful and we do not even need much decorations to beautify the place for our ceremony. (Sonya, you really did a good job in decorations. I am sure everyone who been to their house would agree with me!)
Honestly, it was the very first formal event that we have ever handled all by ourselves. We were unsure what to expect and what is the norm for hosting a big party at home. Luckily, our host parents were there to guide us through the entire process of planning the event, from the ceremony, decor, to food. They are very helpful and that took off most of the pressure from us.
For decor, my host mom understands what her host daughter looked for (a wedding with earthy tone and a lot of candles!). Hence, she purposely borrowed some very nice crystal candlesticks from her friend and pulled out each and every decor item from her own collections that suit our wedding theme.
Dustin, thanks for introducing me to deer meat with cheese and crackers! It was the first time I ever had deer meat but it won't be the last for sure! The combination of deer meat with cheese and cracker is delicious!
Throughout the process, they shared their ideas with us (about: what happened on their own wedding day and what they have seen at the weddings of their relatives and friends). At the same time, they tried their very best for not being over bossy or opinionated =p They want us to have a wedding that is uniquely planned for just the two of us and no others. (D&S: Follow your heart.)
Crew from Lincoln, Nebraska (Christi, Phaik Lyn, & Adeline)
They were my surprise guests. Randy only "allowed" me to meet them during his proposal, therefore, they did not arrive in Des Moines until we both left for movie and dinner on 12.30.2009. Guys, thank you so much for driving all the way from Lincoln! (It is a daunting drive on the icy road, but you guys did it. Good job!)
Christi, our dear college mate (Inti College) and also our professional photographer of the day! Thank you for helping us to documenting the important moment of our life (and you did the live streaming so that our family and friends could witness our marriage on the other side of the world too!). You just have the capability of making us feel comfortable in front of the lens and thanks for "fighting the cold" just to snap some winter shots for us! With your photographing experience, passion, skills, and artsy eyes; we can't wait to see the beautiful pictures end of January (hopefully ^.*).
Phaik Lyn, thanks for being there to comfort me when I am nervous and cannot make good decision on things like decorations. You were like a magazine editor who has a pair of good eyes on what would look nice and what is not. I am glad you were able to come and join us despite the fact that you had an assignment that is due on the following Monday after our wedding ceremony. Hope you did a fantastic job on the grant proposal!
Adeline, another college mate of us. Her signature quote would be "What You Want? (in friendly frustration mood)" from now on =p Yes, boss. Could you please make my face looks thinner? Yupe, she was my bridal make-up artist for the day. We tried on two to three different make-ups the day before and we found the one that we all love! I just want to say she did an outstanding job and she was able to transform the girl-next-door look into a mature-looking bride. With her simplest make-up set from M.A.C., she skillfully and artfully turned an ordinary face into an elegant look (where I don't even recognized myself...LOL...). Adeline, thanks for shortening your vacation in Washington D.C. and came all the way from Lincoln to attend our wedding ceremony. Hope to see our Lincoln crew on Chinese New Year! Let's meet up for reunion dinner!
Crew from Des Moines
(Wei Hao, Sheryl, Freddy, Jenn Ho, Corrinne, Tony, & Chia Wen)
A great thanks to all our friends from Drake!
Wei Hao, my dear host brother. Brother, thank you so much for running the errands on new year eve and also the special five-star hotel treatment specially planned for our engagement party! My brother is someone who would spend his time working, watching cartoon, and sleeping. Never ever initiated to do the shopping and needless to say about decorating a room; but he just did that for his sister! Randy and I love the zen table setting with rose petals, votive candles, river rocks, a glass of roses, and the champagne (it could be better by replacing some other flowers but I could understand it is probably hard to get it in Des Moines =p demanding sis, huh?). Thank you! I did not know my brother has so many romantic ideas in mind. Hui Yi, you are so lucky!
Sheryl, I always like her soft curly hair, it looks like those permanent curls done by professional hairstylist in the salon. However, her 30-minute hair curling session in the morning proved me that I am wrong. She actually did her curly hair all by herself! It seems like her hobby in hair styling paid off when she did my hairdo on my wedding day. We tested out five different hairdos the night before and we found the one that all the girls, including myself, love the most. Thanks, sweetie!
Freddy, another host brother of mine. He is a fun-loving and easy-going person. Brother, thanks for coming back all the way from Chicago to give your host sister a great surprise for our engagement party and wedding ceremony. It means a lot to both Randy and I. Also, we would like to thank you for being part of the video-graphing team to documenting the whole process of our wedding ceremony which will be shared with our family and friends in Malaysia later on. I hope to see you soon. Let's come over to our apartment for movie and we will share the lovely snuggie blanket with you ^.*
Jenn Ho & Corrinne
Here come my little brother and his girlfriend. Thank you both of you for being part of the engagement and wedding party! It made both the events merrier with your attendance and help. You guys are the perfect pair who helped to capture one of our important moments in life (the nervous faces of walking down the aisle and the blissful faces after being announced as husband and wife). Thanks for sharing the happy moment with us!
Tony & Chia Wen
Both of them are the great artists among our friends from Drake. They did an amazing job on the painting of "Will You Marry Me?" banner. They spent about sixteen to eighteen hours to get the banner done on time for the surprise proposal. Their time and efforts can be seen on each and every detail on the banner; from the birds, flowers, other embellishments, to the writing. Everything was drawn so perfectly. In fact, there was no room for error at all as the paint is permanent-type (need to be extra careful) and they need to get it done within a strictly tight schedule.
~ The Priceless Proposal Banner ~
Now that I knew what is the surprise that Randy has been keeping from me until the proposal (something that is unique and cannot be found elsewhere).
On top of that, Chia Wen also helped us to decorate the blank cutting board as our special guest book. She spent two hours to transform an ordinary cutting board to a customized guest book for us.
~ The Cutting-Board-Guest-Book ~
We love the banner and cutting-board-guestbook very much! I am sure Randy is going to frame the banner and it would become one of the decors to be seen in our apartment soon!
Thank you guys!
To ALL our invited guests on 1.1.2010:
A BIG HUG & THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR WEDDING CEREMONY YOUR ATTENDANCE MEANS A LOT TO THE NEWLY-WED! WE LOVE YOU!
The Grabers
Wei Hao
Sheryl
Freddy
Christi
Phaik Lyn
Adeline
Jenn Ho
Corrinne
Tony
Chia Wen
Huey Jer
Kok Lim
Yin San
Kok Weng
Ling Ling
Jeret & Family
Matt & Family
Amie, Randy & Family
Last but not least, thank you everyone for the wedding gifts. We appreciate your time and efforts in getting us the lovely gifts.
Love,
P/S: Our last posting of the week would be continued on Saturday. I will be out tomorrow for a gathering with friends in New York City whom I have not met for weeks!
The 101-Post! In our 101 post, we have a piece of appreciation towards all who helped us to make our engagement party and the wedding ceremony a total success! THANK YOU EVERYONE from far and near!
The GRABERS
We are very thankful and blessed to be part of the family who always there to share their experience and always being supportive!
Thank you so much for lending us your beautiful home with breathtaking view as our wedding ceremony venue. The house is so beautiful and we do not even need much decorations to beautify the place for our ceremony. (Sonya, you really did a good job in decorations. I am sure everyone who been to their house would agree with me!)
Honestly, it was the very first formal event that we have ever handled all by ourselves. We were unsure what to expect and what is the norm for hosting a big party at home. Luckily, our host parents were there to guide us through the entire process of planning the event, from the ceremony, decor, to food. They are very helpful and that took off most of the pressure from us.
For decor, my host mom understands what her host daughter looked for (a wedding with earthy tone and a lot of candles!). Hence, she purposely borrowed some very nice crystal candlesticks from her friend and pulled out each and every decor item from her own collections that suit our wedding theme.
Dustin, thanks for introducing me to deer meat with cheese and crackers! It was the first time I ever had deer meat but it won't be the last for sure! The combination of deer meat with cheese and cracker is delicious!
Throughout the process, they shared their ideas with us (about: what happened on their own wedding day and what they have seen at the weddings of their relatives and friends). At the same time, they tried their very best for not being over bossy or opinionated =p They want us to have a wedding that is uniquely planned for just the two of us and no others. (D&S: Follow your heart.)
Crew from Lincoln, Nebraska (Christi, Phaik Lyn, & Adeline)
They were my surprise guests. Randy only "allowed" me to meet them during his proposal, therefore, they did not arrive in Des Moines until we both left for movie and dinner on 12.30.2009. Guys, thank you so much for driving all the way from Lincoln! (It is a daunting drive on the icy road, but you guys did it. Good job!)
Christi, our dear college mate (Inti College) and also our professional photographer of the day! Thank you for helping us to documenting the important moment of our life (and you did the live streaming so that our family and friends could witness our marriage on the other side of the world too!). You just have the capability of making us feel comfortable in front of the lens and thanks for "fighting the cold" just to snap some winter shots for us! With your photographing experience, passion, skills, and artsy eyes; we can't wait to see the beautiful pictures end of January (hopefully ^.*).
Phaik Lyn, thanks for being there to comfort me when I am nervous and cannot make good decision on things like decorations. You were like a magazine editor who has a pair of good eyes on what would look nice and what is not. I am glad you were able to come and join us despite the fact that you had an assignment that is due on the following Monday after our wedding ceremony. Hope you did a fantastic job on the grant proposal!
Adeline, another college mate of us. Her signature quote would be "What You Want? (in friendly frustration mood)" from now on =p Yes, boss. Could you please make my face looks thinner? Yupe, she was my bridal make-up artist for the day. We tried on two to three different make-ups the day before and we found the one that we all love! I just want to say she did an outstanding job and she was able to transform the girl-next-door look into a mature-looking bride. With her simplest make-up set from M.A.C., she skillfully and artfully turned an ordinary face into an elegant look (where I don't even recognized myself...LOL...). Adeline, thanks for shortening your vacation in Washington D.C. and came all the way from Lincoln to attend our wedding ceremony. Hope to see our Lincoln crew on Chinese New Year! Let's meet up for reunion dinner!
Crew from Des Moines
(Wei Hao, Sheryl, Freddy, Jenn Ho, Corrinne, Tony, & Chia Wen)
A great thanks to all our friends from Drake!
Wei Hao, my dear host brother. Brother, thank you so much for running the errands on new year eve and also the special five-star hotel treatment specially planned for our engagement party! My brother is someone who would spend his time working, watching cartoon, and sleeping. Never ever initiated to do the shopping and needless to say about decorating a room; but he just did that for his sister! Randy and I love the zen table setting with rose petals, votive candles, river rocks, a glass of roses, and the champagne (it could be better by replacing some other flowers but I could understand it is probably hard to get it in Des Moines =p demanding sis, huh?). Thank you! I did not know my brother has so many romantic ideas in mind. Hui Yi, you are so lucky!
Sheryl, I always like her soft curly hair, it looks like those permanent curls done by professional hairstylist in the salon. However, her 30-minute hair curling session in the morning proved me that I am wrong. She actually did her curly hair all by herself! It seems like her hobby in hair styling paid off when she did my hairdo on my wedding day. We tested out five different hairdos the night before and we found the one that all the girls, including myself, love the most. Thanks, sweetie!
Freddy, another host brother of mine. He is a fun-loving and easy-going person. Brother, thanks for coming back all the way from Chicago to give your host sister a great surprise for our engagement party and wedding ceremony. It means a lot to both Randy and I. Also, we would like to thank you for being part of the video-graphing team to documenting the whole process of our wedding ceremony which will be shared with our family and friends in Malaysia later on. I hope to see you soon. Let's come over to our apartment for movie and we will share the lovely snuggie blanket with you ^.*
Jenn Ho & Corrinne
Here come my little brother and his girlfriend. Thank you both of you for being part of the engagement and wedding party! It made both the events merrier with your attendance and help. You guys are the perfect pair who helped to capture one of our important moments in life (the nervous faces of walking down the aisle and the blissful faces after being announced as husband and wife). Thanks for sharing the happy moment with us!
Tony & Chia Wen
Both of them are the great artists among our friends from Drake. They did an amazing job on the painting of "Will You Marry Me?" banner. They spent about sixteen to eighteen hours to get the banner done on time for the surprise proposal. Their time and efforts can be seen on each and every detail on the banner; from the birds, flowers, other embellishments, to the writing. Everything was drawn so perfectly. In fact, there was no room for error at all as the paint is permanent-type (need to be extra careful) and they need to get it done within a strictly tight schedule.
~ The Priceless Proposal Banner ~On top of that, Chia Wen also helped us to decorate the blank cutting board as our special guest book. She spent two hours to transform an ordinary cutting board to a customized guest book for us.
~ The Cutting-Board-Guest-Book ~We love the banner and cutting-board-guestbook very much! I am sure Randy is going to frame the banner and it would become one of the decors to be seen in our apartment soon!
Thank you guys!
To ALL our invited guests on 1.1.2010:
A BIG HUG & THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR WEDDING CEREMONY YOUR ATTENDANCE MEANS A LOT TO THE NEWLY-WED! WE LOVE YOU!
The Grabers
Wei Hao
Sheryl
Freddy
Christi
Phaik Lyn
Adeline
Jenn Ho
Corrinne
Tony
Chia Wen
Huey Jer
Kok Lim
Yin San
Kok Weng
Ling Ling
Jeret & Family
Matt & Family
Amie, Randy & Family
Last but not least, thank you everyone for the wedding gifts. We appreciate your time and efforts in getting us the lovely gifts.
Love,
P/S: Our last posting of the week would be continued on Saturday. I will be out tomorrow for a gathering with friends in New York City whom I have not met for weeks!
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
A Big Leap In Life
A BIG step into the brand new journey in our life ~ The WEDDING
Randy and I have a rather short engagement (it lasted for slightly more than 24 hours) ^.*
Before we could fully enjoyed our engagement, we have had to put in full force to planning our New Year Civil Wedding Ceremony (more commonly known as Registration of Marriage, ROM, in our home country - Malaysia) at our host parents' new home in Ankeny, IA.
Fortunately, we have a bunch of good friends and a lovely host family who were there to lend us their hands to bring all elements of the wedding together beautifully. In whatever thing we want and whenever we need it, Randy and I heard them saying "It's your big day and you are the boss, just let us know what you need and we will help you to get it done!" {Our dear friends, do you know how much it mean to us? Honestly, very much, your presence made a difference to us!}
BEFORE the big day - 12.30.09 - New Year Eve
We have no time to rest nor to "gulp down" the reality that we are engaged and getting married in the next day! (Yes, I am still living in my dream, haven't get used to the new title yet =p)
After the crazy engagement party the night before, we met up with our crew at Fuddruckers for burger brunch. Worth the try if there is any Fuddruckers restaurant near you (they serve ostrich meat burger too)!
Let's the Costco shopping begin!
We wanted a simple (sort of) afternoon cocktail party, therefore, we decided to prepare some finger foods, dessert, champagne and fruit punch for our 40 guests. Menu of the day was planned by my dearest husband; guys are always good at this! So then we had...
Appetizer:
1. Spinach + Strawberries Salad
(Brought in by Jenn Ho's host mom, Amie)
2. Spinach + Tomatoes + Bell Peppers Salad
(Prepared by our host mom, Sonya)
3. Pasta Mayo Salad (Prepared by Sonya)
4. Deer Meat + Cheese + Crackers
(Prepared by my host dad, Dustin, and my husband, Randy)
Main Course:
1. Pulled Pork Sandwiches
2. Stewed Chicken Meatballs
3. Bagel Bites
4. Dinner Rolls
Fruit Platter: Cantaloupe + Pineapple + Strawberries + Oranges
Dessert:
1. Our White Wedding Cake (yellow cake filled with chocolate mousse)
2. Mini Brownie Bites
3. Mini Cinnamon Rolls
Beverages:
1. Champagne for toasting
(This is really good! Thanks Fred for getting them from Wal-Mart.)
2. Apple Cider Sparkling Juice (for the kids!)
3. Fruit Punch (Specially prepared by Sonya)
4. Beers
5. Soda
As soon as we arrived at our host parents' house, the preparation began. Most of the food presentation were prepared by Dustin, Sonya, Randy, Jenn Ho, Tony, Freddy, Chia Wen, Sheryl, and Fred.
On the other hand, the decoration was done by the girls! They are Sonya, Adeline, Phaik Lyn, Corrinne, and Rachel. Initially I thought of having some birch trees, strings of paper snowflakes (see conceptual pictures below)
...In the end, I minimized the decors as much as I could because my host parents' house is already come with a beautiful setting and a breathe-taking outdoor view from the windows (I will show you the pictures when we receive from our photographer, Christi, by end of the month).
We began with the ceremony altar area...I bought a bunch of light blue hydrangea (can't find green or white one) and some garden flowers in blush color. The altar was lined with flowers-and-colorful pebbles-filled glasses by the window, along with two clear candlesticks at each side (thanks to Sue who lent us the beautiful crystal clear candlesticks).
In the middle of the room, we had a wooden folding small table covered with red cloth and gold tulle for our Unity Sand Ceremony. The ceremony is simple and yet it is a meaningful way to symbolize the unity of two different people into one after the marriage.
Ta-da...we're done with decor and food! It's time to go home and try out the many different hairdos and makeup for the wedding ceremony.
Thanks to my dear girl friends...Adeline, Sheryl, Phaik Lyn, and Corrinne They patiently tied and untied my hair, tried different make-ups, and being accommodating to the picky bride-to-be like me (who kept on telling them I want my face to look thinner...). From 9pm till midnight, we have tried as many as five different hairdos and two makeups. Their efforts are worthwhile because we finally found the right combination that we all loved! (Lastly, not forget to mention that we did not even realize it was new year eve and we missed the countdown! =p)
Besides the bride-to-be, it is going to be an important day for the groom-to-be too! He wants to look good on his special day too. The boys group...Jenn Ho, Tony, Christi, Fred, and Freddy were there to choose the perfect outfit for his wedding ceremony! Thank you so much for preparing the man of my life for the important moment! You guys are so sweet!
ti...tak...ti...tak...ti...tak...(sound of the clock)...1.1.2010...12pm drawing nearer...
The BIG DAY - 1.1.10 - New Year Day
8:15am
The most quiet moment I have ever been, throughout the journey from our apartment to our host parents' house. Both Randy and I were so nervous that we could hardly talk and everyone else seemed to be in their dreams (sleeping)...silent moment. LOL...
8:45am
As soon as we reached the venue, everyone switched to active position and started putting out their very best to get things done before the ceremony (set up the videocam, laptop for the live streaming, put out the food trays, etc...).
We had a very special idea for the traditional guestbook. We initially wanted to have a big oval ceramic tray as the signing board...but we couldn't found it in Wal-Mart and we came out with a new idea - using the Cutting Board instead! We had Tony and Chia Wen (the great artists) to add some drawings onto the board (sort of customized it for us). They did a great job! I will show you the picture when I have it by the end of the month.
10:00am
While the crew busy preparing the day-of tasks, the girls joined me in my host sisters' joint bathroom for the bridal makeover. It took us two hours to complete the look - I enjoyed the special treatment given by my dear girl friends very much. So many talented persons around me, you girls rock!
12:00pm
The moment finally here...(music playing - Westlife - We Are One). Guests are seated, City Judge standing tall, Music on - Let the wedding procession begins!
Randy walking down the aisle with the companion of our host sisters, Olivia and Sophia. Nervous...nervous...nervous...Luckily I had both my host parents to walking down the aisle with me (miss my parents, family and friends in Malaysia very much!).
Our Ceremony:
1. Speech given by the Judge
2. Vow Exchange
3. Ring Exchange
(Opps...Rachel was too nervous and she put the ring on Randy's right finger instead!)
4. Unity Sand Ceremony
5. Signing of Marriage Certificate
6. Kiss the Bride
7. Announcement of Husband and Wife
8. Blessings (Done by our host dad, Dustin)
Once the ceremony is done, everyone walked over to the kitchen area where we had our cocktail hours. We gave a short speech as a newlywed to thank everyone for joining us for the ceremony, did the toasting, had the cake cutting ceremony, food, and hung out with our guests.
Pheww~
We are so happy that everything turned out well and everything came together harmoniously! Great thanks to everyone who took time off to attend our wedding ceremony on New Year Day, by far or near. We appreciate it very much and hope to see you all again in the near future!
P/S: Our Chinese Traditional Tea Ceremony and Wedding Receptions in both US and Malaysia to be announced later on ^.* Will keep our family and friends posted!
Love,
Randy and I have a rather short engagement (it lasted for slightly more than 24 hours) ^.*
Before we could fully enjoyed our engagement, we have had to put in full force to planning our New Year Civil Wedding Ceremony (more commonly known as Registration of Marriage, ROM, in our home country - Malaysia) at our host parents' new home in Ankeny, IA.
Fortunately, we have a bunch of good friends and a lovely host family who were there to lend us their hands to bring all elements of the wedding together beautifully. In whatever thing we want and whenever we need it, Randy and I heard them saying "It's your big day and you are the boss, just let us know what you need and we will help you to get it done!" {Our dear friends, do you know how much it mean to us? Honestly, very much, your presence made a difference to us!}
BEFORE the big day - 12.30.09 - New Year Eve
We have no time to rest nor to "gulp down" the reality that we are engaged and getting married in the next day! (Yes, I am still living in my dream, haven't get used to the new title yet =p)
After the crazy engagement party the night before, we met up with our crew at Fuddruckers for burger brunch. Worth the try if there is any Fuddruckers restaurant near you (they serve ostrich meat burger too)!
Let's the Costco shopping begin!
We wanted a simple (sort of) afternoon cocktail party, therefore, we decided to prepare some finger foods, dessert, champagne and fruit punch for our 40 guests. Menu of the day was planned by my dearest husband; guys are always good at this! So then we had...
Appetizer:
1. Spinach + Strawberries Salad
(Brought in by Jenn Ho's host mom, Amie)
2. Spinach + Tomatoes + Bell Peppers Salad
(Prepared by our host mom, Sonya)
3. Pasta Mayo Salad (Prepared by Sonya)
4. Deer Meat + Cheese + Crackers
(Prepared by my host dad, Dustin, and my husband, Randy)
Main Course:
1. Pulled Pork Sandwiches
2. Stewed Chicken Meatballs
3. Bagel Bites
4. Dinner Rolls
Fruit Platter: Cantaloupe + Pineapple + Strawberries + Oranges
Dessert:
1. Our White Wedding Cake (yellow cake filled with chocolate mousse)
2. Mini Brownie Bites
3. Mini Cinnamon Rolls
Beverages:
1. Champagne for toasting
(This is really good! Thanks Fred for getting them from Wal-Mart.)
2. Apple Cider Sparkling Juice (for the kids!)
3. Fruit Punch (Specially prepared by Sonya)
4. Beers
5. Soda
As soon as we arrived at our host parents' house, the preparation began. Most of the food presentation were prepared by Dustin, Sonya, Randy, Jenn Ho, Tony, Freddy, Chia Wen, Sheryl, and Fred.
On the other hand, the decoration was done by the girls! They are Sonya, Adeline, Phaik Lyn, Corrinne, and Rachel. Initially I thought of having some birch trees, strings of paper snowflakes (see conceptual pictures below)
...In the end, I minimized the decors as much as I could because my host parents' house is already come with a beautiful setting and a breathe-taking outdoor view from the windows (I will show you the pictures when we receive from our photographer, Christi, by end of the month).
We began with the ceremony altar area...I bought a bunch of light blue hydrangea (can't find green or white one) and some garden flowers in blush color. The altar was lined with flowers-and-colorful pebbles-filled glasses by the window, along with two clear candlesticks at each side (thanks to Sue who lent us the beautiful crystal clear candlesticks).
In the middle of the room, we had a wooden folding small table covered with red cloth and gold tulle for our Unity Sand Ceremony. The ceremony is simple and yet it is a meaningful way to symbolize the unity of two different people into one after the marriage.
Ta-da...we're done with decor and food! It's time to go home and try out the many different hairdos and makeup for the wedding ceremony.
Thanks to my dear girl friends...Adeline, Sheryl, Phaik Lyn, and Corrinne They patiently tied and untied my hair, tried different make-ups, and being accommodating to the picky bride-to-be like me (who kept on telling them I want my face to look thinner...). From 9pm till midnight, we have tried as many as five different hairdos and two makeups. Their efforts are worthwhile because we finally found the right combination that we all loved! (Lastly, not forget to mention that we did not even realize it was new year eve and we missed the countdown! =p)
Besides the bride-to-be, it is going to be an important day for the groom-to-be too! He wants to look good on his special day too. The boys group...Jenn Ho, Tony, Christi, Fred, and Freddy were there to choose the perfect outfit for his wedding ceremony! Thank you so much for preparing the man of my life for the important moment! You guys are so sweet!
ti...tak...ti...tak...ti...tak...(sound of the clock)...1.1.2010...12pm drawing nearer...
The BIG DAY - 1.1.10 - New Year Day
8:15am
The most quiet moment I have ever been, throughout the journey from our apartment to our host parents' house. Both Randy and I were so nervous that we could hardly talk and everyone else seemed to be in their dreams (sleeping)...silent moment. LOL...
8:45am
As soon as we reached the venue, everyone switched to active position and started putting out their very best to get things done before the ceremony (set up the videocam, laptop for the live streaming, put out the food trays, etc...).
We had a very special idea for the traditional guestbook. We initially wanted to have a big oval ceramic tray as the signing board...but we couldn't found it in Wal-Mart and we came out with a new idea - using the Cutting Board instead! We had Tony and Chia Wen (the great artists) to add some drawings onto the board (sort of customized it for us). They did a great job! I will show you the picture when I have it by the end of the month.
10:00am
While the crew busy preparing the day-of tasks, the girls joined me in my host sisters' joint bathroom for the bridal makeover. It took us two hours to complete the look - I enjoyed the special treatment given by my dear girl friends very much. So many talented persons around me, you girls rock!
12:00pm
The moment finally here...(music playing - Westlife - We Are One). Guests are seated, City Judge standing tall, Music on - Let the wedding procession begins!
Randy walking down the aisle with the companion of our host sisters, Olivia and Sophia. Nervous...nervous...nervous...Luckily I had both my host parents to walking down the aisle with me (miss my parents, family and friends in Malaysia very much!).
Our Ceremony:
1. Speech given by the Judge
2. Vow Exchange
3. Ring Exchange
(Opps...Rachel was too nervous and she put the ring on Randy's right finger instead!)
4. Unity Sand Ceremony
5. Signing of Marriage Certificate
6. Kiss the Bride
7. Announcement of Husband and Wife
8. Blessings (Done by our host dad, Dustin)
Once the ceremony is done, everyone walked over to the kitchen area where we had our cocktail hours. We gave a short speech as a newlywed to thank everyone for joining us for the ceremony, did the toasting, had the cake cutting ceremony, food, and hung out with our guests.
Pheww~
We are so happy that everything turned out well and everything came together harmoniously! Great thanks to everyone who took time off to attend our wedding ceremony on New Year Day, by far or near. We appreciate it very much and hope to see you all again in the near future!
P/S: Our Chinese Traditional Tea Ceremony and Wedding Receptions in both US and Malaysia to be announced later on ^.* Will keep our family and friends posted!
Love,
Monday, January 04, 2010
Randy & Rachel's Engagement
Happy New Year to all my dearest blog readers and followers!
I hope everyone had a quality time with family and friends during the holiday season.
To kick start the brand new 2010, I have decided to postpone my regular weekday postings (of fashion, decoration, food, photographs, and real weddings) till next week, and instead, replace them with my personal announcement, appreciation, and things I learned during my year-end vacation in Des Moines, IA.
As mentioned in my last posting about an exciting news for you . . . that is - - - I am ENGAGED to my longtime friend and partner, Randy! I am so excited and can't wait to share the happy news with all of you!
After almost five years of courtship, we are finally getting ready to settle down and decided to spend the rest of our lives together as a family. Randy is my college mate who I met in Malaysia six years ago. He is a caring and understanding family guy who never failed to support me, cheer me up when I am down, enlighten me when I am in doubt, be the beacon of my life when I am lost, and always be there to share my sorrow and happiness. He is definitely someone who I would love to spend the rest of my time together with.
Here's Randy's proposal ^.*
On 12.30.09, he brought me out for a movie (It's Complicated!) and dinner for two at Romano's Macaroni Grill Italian Restaurant in West Des Moines. I can feel the uneasiness of him even the day before...he was tension and nervous (that is so unlike the usual him but I can totally understand when someone is about to give a surprise to his loved one).
After the movie, we went for dinner as scheduled. As soon as I sat down, I realized something unusual at our table (there was an additional vase of flowers and the table was under the spotlight!). Hmm...(in my mind) let's see what's going to happen =)
Right after our dessert (chocolate cake) was served, Randy went to the restroom and "awaiting his crew to come and join him!" After 10 minutes of waiting, he finally here...not just himself but with a big group of our host family and friends (they are Dustin, Sonya, Olivia, Sophia, Lydia, Fred, Freddy, Jenn Ho, Corrinne, Tony, Chia Wen, Huey Jer, Christi, Phaik Lyn, and Adeline), plus a nicely painted banner reads "Will You Marry Me?" held by our host parents. As soon as everyone gathered around, our host sister, Sophia brought out the engagement ring and Randy got down on his knee! Here come the successful proposal with the ring on!
~ My Engagement Ring ~That's not the ending...the proposal came with a surprise engagement party at home! Fred and his sister, Sheryl prepared some refreshment for everyone plus a 5-star honeymoon hotel treatment for Randy and I in our room (a table topped with rose petals, river rocks, candles, a bottle of champagne, two flutes, and rose-petals-filled heart on our bed!). While everyone else enjoyed the bruschetta, fruits, and juices, both Randy and I were showered with some gifts from our friends. There are a customized set of cake cutter and server, champagne flutes, a big heart-shaped pendant, and a photo album from Jenn Ho, Corrinne, Tony, Chia Wen, Seth & Wen Ni, and another champagne flutes and ang pau (red packet) from Chia Yiaw & Cai Xuan.
Thank you everyone for joining us on the proposal. We love you!
Next...Preparation for our Wedding Ceremony/Registration of Marriage (ROM) on 1.1.10
Stay tune,
Friday, December 18, 2009
* Inspiration from Real Weddings Friday *
A RUSTIC Winter Wedding Inspiration Board to share with everyone tonight!
Color:
White, Woodsy Brown, Dusty Green, Lush Green (All the earthy colors, love it!)
Ambiance:
Giving you a cozy, down to earth feel!
Clockwise from top left: Nili & Anthony's Winter Wedding (Couple Shot & Bouquet) via Vermont Vows Wedding Magazine, Hydrangea Wedding Cake & Candy Olive Wedding Favor from Martha Stewart Weddings, Old Watering Can by Tre Bella Flowers, Birch Pillar Candles from Wedding Bells, Place Cards & Ceremony from Nili & Anthony's Wedding via Vermont Vows Wedding Magazine, Oversized Metal Lantern via Peach and Pearl, Wedding Reception Table via VerandaThis is our last post of the year!
Thank you all my family, friends, and blog readers for your unconditional support! All your advices and praises are well received and I truly appreciate it. We will keep improving our postings, blog design, and of course, the content of this blog (wedding-related, special-occasion-related, fashion, beautiful decors, flowers, interior design, photography, and many other inspiring subjects)!
Hereby, I wish everyone of you to have a GREAT, MEANINGFUL, and THANKFUL Christmas and New Year ahead! Love you all ^.* See you next year, we will be back on January 4th, 2010 (Stay tune for Fashionista Monday!).
RE: Yeah! Flying out of New York City on Christmas Day~ (Shh...I will have an exciting news to announce when I am back in January!)
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