Shall be loved... Shelby married.

a glee wedding!

2010-11-30T15:57:00.006+08:00

I don't know but y'all but I've come to think of Glee as family. And as I watched Carole Hudson (Finn's mum) walk down the aisle, I sobbed like a donkey (do donkeys sob?). It was such a beautiful walk-in and I'm so happy for them. It's incredible to be married to the one you love that makes you feel complete.

P.S: Isn't it super genius of them to do the Soulja-Boy on the way to the altar?? BRILLIANT!! I can feel my mates rolling their eyes as they read this 'cos I love to do the Soulja-Boy at clubs and embarass them to bits ;D

the morning prep

2010-09-10T22:05:00.010+08:00

The chimui-s arrive bright early in the morning and fuel up with piping hot nasi lemak.

My relatives sets snacks and drinks up for the upcoming crowd.

Me getting my make-up done.

Make-up: Janice @ +6012-22332542

The groom suits up! The tuxedo is modelled after James Bond circa Pierce Brosnan or at least that's what Ron the tailor said.

Bowtie: Lanvin

Tuxedo: Fit & Match

The girls huddle to discuss before the boys'arrival.

The torture weaponry!

The yellow pistols..!

The tongue murderers..! It's a 4-taste combination (sweet, sour, bitter, spicy) of a sugar cube, lime, something bitter (I don't know what) and cili padi.

As the ladies prepare for war, Miss KosKos helps me with the meringue puff of a dress. We are figuring the best way to put it on.

The dress turned out to be a little tighter than I thought. Just yesterday it was 1.5 inches too loose and it had to get altered 'cos it kept slipping down the chest and now...

No fret, this is not unfamiliar territory for me and Miss KosKos. She has helped me squeeze into a million outfits including my graduation skin-tight kebaya. We've come a long way since then :)

Can't even remember what I was pondering about now. Everything seems a blur.

The parental units getting ready to...

... veil their first-born!

Good luck kisses from the girls :)

that lil' bird hairpiece

2010-08-20T20:37:00.001+08:00

Carrie: I wore a bird on my head
Miranda: Is that what that was? I thought it was a feather?
Carrie: It was a bird.

... Sex And The City: The Movie ...

Despite the not-so-positive reviews from critics regarding her avian headgear, I seriously felt this was truly 'Sex & The City' vogue to its core. I never fail to admire how much SATC has revolutionized the culture of girly brunches, ready-to-wear avant garde couture, dating and sex culture and most of all weddings! So... the Vivienne Westwood dress did not have a happy-ever-after but didn't the bird hairpiece blow your mind??

It sure did mine :)

So this is my personal homage to Carrie Bradshaw and SATC genius of a stylist Patricia Field *kowtow kowtow* I don't care what you haters say.. I love the unconventional! And I've always tried to live my life that way... not dangerously (not so dare-devil-lah) but brave.

Since I did receive quite a wee bit of emails regarding the bird-in-my-hair, I thought I'd share the journey with you lovelies so you can be brave too *giggle*

1. Prepare:
- hair clips (available at accessories shop)
- miniature paper flowers, preferably 2 big 1 small in size (available at crafts store)
- faux birds (available at crafts or haberdashery store)

2. Perch the bird on the clip as if it's resting comfortably on it. Wind the thin bit of wire protruding from the bird's under(?) around the middle bit of the hairclip. Try to hide the end bit into the middle so it doesn't poke your head.

3. Attach the larger flower to the end bit of the clip disguising the fork-end. Wind the flower's wire to the clip.

4. Attach the next large flower to the end of the clip in the 'front' direction. Front meaning where the beak points out to.

5. It's half done and you're almost ready. It should look like this.

6. Lastly, attach the smaller flower to the small opening at the end of the clip to give it a wholesome 3-D appearance. This is the view from the front.

7. This is the view from the back.

8. And this is how you wear it with pride!

The lil bird-in-your-hair pieces (& remakes) are available for sale.

Do email me @ khoshelby@yahoo.com for more details :)

my TLC kit

2010-08-18T20:41:00.001+08:00

Remember my post on the bridal survival kit?

Well I really did make them for my bridesmaids. Yea I'm that sort of corny *shrug* The nay part however, was due to the fact I had put them together in abit of a hurry, I had forgotten to attach the 'Bridal Survival kit' labels. Instead my bridesmaids call it 'Shelby's TLC Kit' which I find pretty endearing too. Anyhooters, I put together bits and bobs of what I consider as life-saving in order to survive my anxiety-driven Bridezilla reign ;)

Voila!

Clockwise from top right:

1. Sterile cotton pads + rose water = eyepads to reduce fine lines + puffiness: for the hours I put them through which may cause minimal sleep and bloated eyebags
2. T.Ponstan 500 mg: for the throbbing migraine when I drive them crazy and
3. T.Gelusil 1/1: for the gastric attack if they ran around town running my errands and forgot to eat
4. Alcohol Prep Pad: antiseptic wipe in case they hurt themselves... infection prevention!
5. Elastoplast: band-aid to seal the wound
6. The London Tea Company white tea, elderflower & apricot: if the skin gets a lil' roughed up
7. Normal Saline eyedrops: for dry eyes / contact lenses
8. Crimio strawberry milk candy: for those hypoglycemic moments that makes you wanna faint
9. Hair Mud Mask: to revive the limp locks
10. Pink surgical cap: to increase absorption intensity of the hair mud mask
11. Recyclable plastic (sorry!) container with matryoshka tape: they can use it to hold make-up, food leftovers...
12. Le Sportsac pouch (just wanna point out that this is not an imitation): to niftily hold them all together

Delightful or not??

the gem giving you the final touch

2010-08-16T23:16:00.000+08:00

I got this in the mail and thought you strawberry shortcakes could benefit from this little piece of information...

inspire: alix & manu

2010-08-15T14:07:00.000+08:00

Me likes:

- the bite-sized snacks & desserts!
- whitewashed name signs
- the guests dressed in their Sunday best
- demure old Japanese aunties in colourful kimono. How extraordinary.
- classic french ladies in eye-popping birdcage hats

- pastel foxgloves(?) and hydrangeas floral decor that looks like they were just picked from the garden

- bridesmaid chiffon dresses in khaki and nude. I'm not usually a fan of brown but this is marvelous!

alix and her maria lucia lohan dress

2010-08-12T13:23:00.003+08:00

What do you expect from a Parisien girl with tumbling dark brown locks that has captured so many hearts (mine included) catapulting her fashion photography blog into the exquisite page of Vogue? Especially when she got married?

Lots of peach and pastel loveliness with impeccable style and beauty of course! That and macarons :) (I just love saying that word: macaron macaron macaron macaron...)

When she said she had a special collaboration with Maria Lucia Lohan in progress, I had initially thought she was probably the muse for the next collection. It was only later revealed that MLH was her dressmaker. How fabulous!! And such a fortunate bride :)

Look at all that tulle and frills and chiffon. Oooh how I'd die to swim in those luxurious floaty fabrics...

The first preview of her dress. She looks like a princess, non?

The dress' debut on a very special day. Divine weather too.

Her amazing photographer, Maryanne Taylor, captured the hues just brilliantly. I wish I had her as my photographer.

Tres belle.

the cherry blossom girl gets married

2010-08-10T22:07:00.000+08:00

Alix, The Cherry Blossom Girl, is married!

It feels really warm and nice to share similar wedding year with alot of my favourite blog personalities. She had the loveliest French wedding with a macaron tower and Marie-Antoinette pastel coloured candles. Lovely lovely lovely.

Aren't you blown away by her Maria Lucia Lohan dress?? Tres belle :)

More images to come...

wedding giveaway

2010-08-08T21:28:00.000+08:00

Hello happy little gnomes!

Thought I'd spread a little love what with the wedding and all. Leave your email at the comments box. The lucky gnome will be randomly selected on 10th September 2010 :) Here's crossing fingers + toes that it's you!

*bisou*

connie talbot of britain's got talent

2010-08-06T19:10:00.000+08:00

If only I had found her and her untapped super-talent way before 'Britain's Got Talent' and got her to perform at my wedding, it would totally BLOW PEOPLE'S MINDS!!

Dear dear Connie Talbot,

I'm gonna watch Youtube videos of you again and again and again when I'm preggers so my little baby's gonna be as wonderfully cute as you. You put a smile on my face everytime (and Simon's *wink*... and not many people can attest to that claim).

*bisou*
Shelby bride-already

P.S: How much would it cost to hire you just for a song? Just in case I get enquiries... Love you love you love you!

olivia graham with marika domincyzk in style weddings

2010-08-05T21:42:00.000+08:00

OMG doesn't Olivia Graham take amazing pictures?? Marika Domincyzk looks smashing in the pretty little white dresses :) for In Style Weddings. Don't they suddenly uproot you and transport you into the times where The Mamas and Papas ruled the airwaves? I can already hear the cracklin' sound of California Dreamin' lightly playing in the background :)

I can't read the text 'cos it's terribly miniscule but I'm pretty sure it's Erin Fetherston circa spring/summer 2007(??). that is, like, MY FAVOURITE SKIRT!! How did they manage to find this piece 'cos I've been searching for it for years and nobody seems to stock it. Erin, if you're reading.. I'm looking!! Kudos to In Style weddings for bringing it back and adding a matrimonial twist to it :)

P.S: OMG I can't believe I've actually written a post about Erin and this skirt in my first few posts!! Read the post here *click*!!

Images courtesy of Olivia Graham

joy does strange things to people

2010-08-04T18:14:00.000+08:00

*b*

I was watching Sex and The City: The Movie yet again on HBO. Goodness knows how many times I’ve stumbled upon it and ceased Astro channel surfing almost immediately.

The one thing that Carrie ought to be thankful for is that she has the right friends. Genuine and tremendously functional friends. Cut to the moment when she was jilted at the altar in that gorgeous Vivienne Westwood + blue bird in her hair... it’s only Samantha who, at that moment of gobsmack, can actually get the wheels in her brain to start chugging way before the rest and proceed to ‘Damage Control’. I suppose it is in her nature considering she’s a publicist but I know alot of people who in their respective businesses, can prove to be utterly useless when called to the plate.

Most of all I admire her bridesmaids for being bridesmaids. You would think that it is only natural that bridesmaids act as bridesmaids do but on the contrary. I had the unfortunate opportunity to learn of this phenomenon. I was thoroughly upset on my wedding day and even more so on the day after when I learnt of judgemental remarks made by a bridesmaid in front of my family. I was not only embarrassed by her indiscretion but also her discourteous behaviour. When confronted by a relative regarding this issue, I had no reply. I was astounded and deeply disturbed. I asked myself if I had asked too much of my bridesmaids? Could it be that I was an abusive Bridezilla and not known it to earn myself such... I dunno... contempt? It was also by onlookers of the dinner event that there were some individuals who did not contribute efforts in aiding the process but did alot of hindering thereof. I didn’t dare surface the subject to any of the other bridesmaids. I didn’t want any affirmation. I would be too sad. I just listened, nodded and gazed into the window.

This was not how I imagined my wedding to be. It was supposed to be joyous with a big bus of cheerleading bridesmaids fighting to make this the BEST THING EVER for me. At least that’s how most of the brides I know describe their day. It sounds selfish but shouldn't we be on our wedding day, non? I spent many significant moments being bewildered as opposed to enjoying every second getting married. I was also told that on this day everyone should take all measures to make sure I was feeling constantly fine. Instead, apart from having to babysit my wedding planner I, pula, had to tip my toes around people’s feelings and that was just, *sigh*, too much f*cking work for a bloody DAMN BRIDE.

I wonder... what could have caused such acrimony? We know what goes around comes around so does it mean that I’m a bad person and karma’s getting redeemed so I should just shut up and not dwell on why. I wondered if it was because the bachelorette party was that financially taxing or if I overworked them like underpaid Vietnamese factory employees on my DIY projects or that I bought them, in their minds hideous, bridesmaid dresses... in my defence:

1. I tried to make sure they didn’t have to spend too much on anything
2. majority of the crafts were done by myself
3. those dresses was selected due to firstly size availability (NOT everyone can fit into a free size dress so I could not have gotten those) and colour (it was serendipity that I could find turquoise and fuchsia of the same dress in those numbers) while adhering to the budget

And if not those reasons mentioned before then what else?

Jealousy?
(I never figured marriage to be a competition. Should there be one, I think it best we compete to be the LAST one to get divorced instead)

Petty resentment?
(Are we in the cast of Mean Girls..? ‘Cos last I checked we surpassed the phase of b*tchy highschool girls)

Frustration?
(I don’t recall pulling any of those Cosmo’s smug-married-couple-Bridget-war on people)

Last-Girl-Standing backlash?
(*sigh*... I dunno. I had hoped to get a crowd of George Downes but got a bunch of Julianne Potters instead)

The issue that disturbs me the most is the possibility of them having such jaundiced bald spots in their hearts that would cloud the strength of their perceptions, spurring them on to refuse to do right by their friend on the happiest day of her life. If this was really true then this occasion has revealed how spineless they can be and this honestly profoundly saddens me.

Anyhoo... the wedding is over and I’m not going to waste further time on regrets and whys. I will, though, utilize this experience to evaluate my relationships and remind brides-to-be out there to choose your bridesmaids wisely. I took it for granted that people would be glad to be my bridesmaids but this incident has proven otherwise. Nonetheless all is forgiven. We are friends and friends forgive.

Things go mad at weddings for g*d knows reasons why. Let this not be one of them for you.

baharim

2010-08-02T13:23:00.000+08:00

During Friday lunch period, I was at Jeeves sending the wedding dress off for some drycleaning. There was a lady and her daughter in front of me amidst sorting their laundry out. They were really nice and was quite apologetic that they were taking way too much time resulting in me having to wait for quite abit. As the staff counted through the mountain of lush chiffon and sparkling crystal beadings, I couldn't help but notice the delicate yet alluring textures the dresses portrayed.

The garment straps were khaki with bright bold red letters that spelt out Baharim. I didn't know who that was... but whoever that person is, he sure makes really beautiful dresses. Really beautiful dresses.

So I whipped out my Moleskine and jotted that name out to Google after work. And Boom! came these pictures of those dresses I saw at Jeeves. Lovely lovely lovely. He is Syaiful Baharim a local fashion designer who graduated from Universiti Teknologi Mara and have worked under several major designers locally and in Singapore, Jakarta and Tokyo. Amongst his other awards, the one that he is most proud of is the grand prize at the Mercedez Benz Asia Fashion Awards in Singapore. His Goddess 2008 collection is amazing and is supposed to have a Bridal collection up in 2010/2011 though it's not featured in his Demi Couture website yet (I checked).

Anyhoo will keep you bubblegums posted on any updates. In the meantime, feast your eyes on his Goddess collection...

Syaiful Baharim
Syaiful Baharim blog
C-0-10 Plaza Damas
Jalan Sri Hartamas 1
Sri Hartamas
Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603 62011331

and the clinton wore vera

2010-08-01T14:06:00.000+08:00

OMG check out the fluttery waves of tulle she's got on. It takes a true maestro to use this much material yet have it look so soft and surreal. Lucky lil' Clinton and well done Wang :)

michelle phan on natural bridal look

2010-07-26T00:59:00.003+08:00

I remember writing an email to Rice Bunny aka Michelle Phan to do up a video on bridal make-up back in the days when I felt ambitious enough to do my own make-up on my wedding day. This video came in a little too late but nevertheless I'm sure alot of budget brides-to-be would be able to benefit from Michelle's talented tips.

I heart her.

Her somewhat melodic voice and voluptuous lips soothes me *sigh*

chimui + hengtai photo-op

2010-07-23T23:40:00.001+08:00

I eat in Kota Damansara all the time and have always known Sunway Giza to exist but I never really wandered in there 'till an emergency-sanitary-pad situation (it houses Village Grocer *swoon*) and was totally blown away by the space and how unblemished it was... a little voice in my heart squeaked, "Sugar place for a wedding photo-op... I can totally see us rockin' at that... etc etc etc".

Come wedding day I revealed my pent-up fantasy to my photographer and zoom... the lot of us headed here...! Glee!

I'm so glad I chose to get pictures taken here while it was still unblemished. Reminds me of Mansun's 'Wide Open Space' :) Awww the 90s...

I love F.R.I.E.N.D.S-ish walk shots!

That and merry jump shots!

Sunway Giza
No.2 Jalan PJU5/14
Kota Damansara
47810 Petaling Jaya
Malaysia

Tel: +603 6148 1600

Tell me what's your fantasy chimui-hengtai photo-op venue. Leave your web post address in the comments if you have them in pictures already :)

oh and my bachelorette party

2010-07-23T00:18:00.000+08:00

Read all about it and that special place Sekeping Tenggiri here...

drop-dead gorgeous bridal gowns at (almost) bargain basement prices

2010-07-20T23:18:00.000+08:00

Leah Bourne of Forbes wrote an article on drop-dead gorgeous bridal gowns at (almost) bargain-basement prices.

Did you know that before getting my bespoked dress, I was this close to getting this dress from David's Bridal Galina line?. Unfortunately it was not available online. I do not find it surprising to see it on this list as it is a lovely dress under US$400.

I do hope this list proves useful to my Budget Bridezillas out there..

house decor on wedding morning

2010-07-19T19:14:00.001+08:00

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know who this room used to belong to ;)

California name sign: souvenir from Wei Lin when she studied there

This is my ex-room. I've cleared my stuff out and so Mmmy placed family travel photoframes on my shelves to brighten it up for the wedding.

I've finally proved to one and all that queueing up like a Madhatter for the McDonald's Hello Kitty wedding plushes back in 2000 (WOW that was 11 years ago!) was crazy worth it! I unearthed my collection and finally put them out for show where they belong. It was minorly heart-rendering cutting the plastic bag open but watching them beam from the 'mantelpiece' really made me feel so fuzzy inside. They look gorgeous, non?

McDonald's Hello Kitty 2000 McSweet Millenium Love Plushes: Bride's own collection
Japanese cotton cloth: Kamdar (on 30% sale)
Flowers: Golden Cherie

My grand-aunt lent us this red wedding door banner (that she bought in China that was gonna be used for her son when she gets married... so basically I got first dibs and that is just so kind of her to lend us first). So meriah :)

Red wedding banner: Grand-aunt's collection

My failed attempt at decorating the handles. So I quitted after the driver's seat.

I used my other McDonald's Hello Kitty couple for the car decor. It was such a feat holding them onto the front of the car 'cos I didn't want to lose them yet I also didn't wanna damage them. I used those white plastic strip fasteners and clipped their arms and legs together.

McDonald's 1999 Love McKitty Plush: Bride's own collection

I chose fuschia scallops for the canopies *giggle*

I put the paper lanterns up with pearl chains over at my parents' living room to spruce the ambience up. It really does give more character to the space, non? Place them randomly in heights in equal spaces.

Pearl chain: Krismaya
Paper lanterns: Daiso

And now over at our place, where the husband is getting ready...

My 4th sister-in-law cross-stitched this pillow for us. How adorable!!

Chinese clay figurines: engagement gift from Pei Yin.

I love my living room. Check out my Mark Ryden corner :)

My wooden Paris!

City-in-a-bag: Muji

Oh-so-lovely Precious Moments figurines: engagement gift from Pinn Tsin.

I hope you enjoyed the little tour of our houses and the decor that I did by myself. More to come...

the dress, the suit and that bird hairpiece!

2010-07-12T18:07:00.001+08:00

Voila! This is THE dress. It's modelled after an off-the-rack sample but it's still pretty much bespoked. A ruched satin sash was added to give a better illusion of waist (and boy do I need THAT!). I love the flowing organza and tulle. Princess galore!

Note the flower appliques. Lovely hor?

Bespoked dress: After Twelve

Mmmy gets the tea set ready. Alot of people wondered why I didn't use the traditional tea set. I don't know, I just wanted to use what I have and what I have is cute :)

Tea set: i wanna go home!

The veil.

Hello Kitty bedcover: The Store, Teluk Intan
Veil: After Twelve
Flowers: Golden Cherie

The brushes.

My Thai aunt and I made our hair accessories which are fluttery lil'birds very much inspired by Carrie's in Sex And The City: The Movie. You can already tell it's going to be a frou frou affair!!

This is my something old: Aldo shoes that are fashioned after Miu Miu which are crazy comfortable! Trust me, you do NOT want to wear uncomfy and horrors worse: new, unbroken into shoes!

The suit. Lovely matching boutonnieres, non?

Bespoked tuxedo: Fit & Match

mimpi murni craft party

2010-07-11T20:42:00.000+08:00

Yellow babydolls!!

Will be back in action by the end of this week. I just got back today from Padang Serai, Kedah where we had a crazy traditional Chinese kampung wedding which was highly hilarious but tiresome. Now I'm packing for our mini-moon to Phuket.. glee!!

In the meantime, I'll definitely be going over to Murni's Handmade KL Craft Partayyyy this weekend. If you're looking to learn something new or something useful for a party or wedding or just for FUN(!!) from a true artsy maestro this is IT! Also the venue's one of my favourite place on earth: Wondermilk Cafe :)

bridal showers vs bachelorette party / hen's night

2010-06-09T15:12:00.000+08:00

My bridesmaids are going to throw me a bachelorette night. Though I secretly prefer a bridal shower, I think it would be nice to step out of the box and have some "have fun go mad" moments just before the wedding!

They were confused 'cos they thought that both the events were the same thing. It's really quite different.

Martha Stewart Weddings says, "Legend has it that the custom of the bridal shower began several centuries ago when the daughter of a rich merchant fell in love with a poor young man. Her father disapproved and denied her a dowry, so before the couple was married, the townspeople "showered" them with gifts that enabled them to set up a home together. A shower is still an excellent way to provide a soon-to-be-married friend with practical gifts for her new home.

According to tradition, a shower should not be thrown by the bride's immediate relatives, such as her mother, future mother-in-law, or sister, since it would appear that they were asking for gifts. The maid of honor or another good friend usually hosts, or several people, often bridesmaids, share the responsibility.

The tradition of the groom showing up with flowers just before his fiancee opens the gifts is definitely back," says Weiss. Guests who haven't met the lucky guy before often look forward to this part of the shower for that very reason.

Rituals that have been passed down from older generations are still common. A popular one: making a bouquet out of the shower gifts' ribbons and bows and using it as a stand-in for the real one at the wedding rehearsal. Other old-school traditions, such as having something old, new, borrowed, and blue on hand, are still favorites of today's brides as well."

Aussiebride833 says, "Yes a Hens night is a Bachelorette Party lol. We call them Hens Nights in Australia, and a Guys is a Bucks Night."

DC Texan says, "The bachelorette party is totally different. It is usually hosted by the bridesmaids and includes going out to bars and embarrassing the bride because it's her last night out."

Oh babydolls, DO TELL me more 'bout your bridal shower / bachelorette party / hen's night by leaving your link in the comments section!

8 pink questions: su of delectable

2010-06-09T11:59:00.001+08:00

Now yáll know me loves Su much!!

She made my lovely lovely birthday cake in "Who says I can't have my Birkin and eat it too?" and I got Mmmy Mother's Day cupcakes with pretty bunnies and I even attended the launch of Delectable by Su at The Gardens! I cannot deny I'm quite the fan. Also I was ecstatic to be invited to the launch of the shop and see myself (oh well a sweeter version of my anyways :P) in print.. weee!! Of course it goes without saying that Su makes killer wedding cakes which really blow the mind!

So I invited Su to a quick Q&A:

1. Describe your job.

I make edible inspiration! haha I bake beautiful cakes and desserts :)

2. If you had a wedding dessert bar, what are the 5 types of sweet goodies you would serve?

Cake, lollypops; macarons; fruit tartlets, chocolate truffles

3. Wedding dress: a mountain of ruffles or no ruffles at all?

No ruffles

4. If budget wasn’t an issue where would your dream wedding venue be?
Sydney australia :)

5. Name your favourite part of a wedding reception.

The toast + cake cutting of course ;)

6. If you had a chance to incorporate the most insane element into the wedding (dinosaur ring-bearer or Village People ‘YMCA’ bridesmaids etc) what would it be?

A wedding cake decorated by all the guests at the wedding party!

7. Can you fix a leaking tap?

Hell yea~ haha

8. Favourite fast food to serve at a wedding.

Onion rings! *burp* hahaha

*bisou*: http://delectable.com.my/

lunch time affair

2010-06-06T16:33:00.000+08:00

take your shoesies off

2010-06-06T01:50:00.000+08:00

*b*

ribbonize

2010-06-05T00:59:00.000+08:00

Budding brides!!

The latest wedding bible is on the shelf so hurry hurry and get your Summer 2010 Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. Mmmy says that this issue is even better than the one before. I say it's pretty obvious that the previous issue will always benchmark the next. Currently this is the ONLY magazine I pay full price for.

Anyway as I sat in an empty Zara changing cubicle awaiting my mother to finish trying on a blouse while pouring over this new mag, my heart stopped at these pictures:

My favourite!! Brilliant way to personalize your dress... was heavily considering this but decided against it with my already "crowded" flower appliques and lilac sash.

Nice!!

I may do this though...

The ribbons are from Midori and I'm lovin' the multiple widths as well as the very sturdy yet creamy texture they come in. Anyways I'm just lovin'the concept of this photoshoot. Genius!! Well done Martha's wedding team :)

bridezilla moments

2010-06-04T03:26:00.000+08:00

Read why I want to wake up in Vegas *here*

Take a look at the list of my *bridezilla-boo-boos*

Find out *WHY I'M STILL A FAT BRIDE?*

buntings and butterfly placecards

2010-06-03T09:46:00.000+08:00

Speaking of buntings (in the previous post), here's a peek behind-the-scenes:

Gathering my baju kurung cloth remains and rolls of twine.

In sticky processes such as this, you must use the 'divide and conquer' approach. I gave some cloths to Miss CillaCilla and Miss KosKos to take home as homework 'cos they can't make it to crafting sessions. I will later gather the flags from them and make them into pastel buntings.

Making a bunting is relatively easy. Cut triangles and join them with a string. That's the main idea. Here's a step-to-step tutorial if you need one. I didn't really dote on mine much 'cos I was lazy and unfussy and outta time but FYI, ironing is a pretty important step.

I also very very much love these butterfly placecards featured on Martha Stewart Weddings that perches oh-so-daintily on the wine glasses. You can get the template off her website and make your own. I also found them on Etsy here by Timeless Paper. They're definitely much more refined but also much more expensive.

The girls going at it with the scissors and a ruler ;)

Because the template only offers half a wing, what I did was I made multiple copies of the half-wing.

I then cut them out with o.3cm borders and stuck them in a row as straight as I could make them to be.

After that I used a craft paper trimmer to make perforated lines along the 'body' of the butterfly to ease folding.

You can then cut both the wings at the same time which really saves on effort.

The curvaceous lower wing is crazy tricky to do with a regular pair of shears so what we found out while doing this was that you can actually neglect the curvy lines and just cut it off with a craft scissors. Easy-peasy and quickly too!

My free labour and our awesome production site.

After awhile the girls got bored of sitting at the dining place and nicely adjourned to the couch where they enveloped themselves with a quilt while watching E!. I don't care where and how they do it as long as they get things done: typical Bosszilla attitude, non?

Big thanks to my bridesmaid babydolls for all the big help!!

you are my fav

2010-06-01T22:21:00.000+08:00

Melanie dedicated a year of garlands / buntings to her crafty sister Danni for her birthday which I believe is real merry!

I definitely share the same love for all things garland-y as Melanie does. I'm making cloth buntings for my pre-wed housewarming makan-makan.. thinking of adding dyed coffee filters (as inspired by Eunice & Daniel) to the bunting family but we'll see. Right now the edges don't look too good after being cut by craft scissors. i'll definitely have to think of how to go about it. Also patiently awaiting my wedding papel-picado banners to adorn my styrofoam Eiffel Tower base. Glee!

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

*b*

my digital save-the-date

2010-05-31T19:32:00.000+08:00

I just realized that I forgot to upload a digital save-the-date I made after our Cameron Highlands trip. It's a little nauseatingly corny but I guess that's how save-the-dates usually go, non? Or maybe in the heat of the moment I thought it was cute *giggle*

Digital save-the-dates make awfully inexpensive reminders. You can get them emailed, posted up on Facebook or Flickr... it really gets the news shouted out.

I'd love to help yáll search for corny one-liners for your save-the-date. Just post your email in the comments area and i'll holler back :)

I got our couples T-shirt from Taipei. They say: "You are my hero" and "You are my angel" :)

decoder save the dates

2010-05-29T10:23:00.000+08:00

The bride said:

“I did all the printing of the cards, envelopes, and stickers myself on a home inkjet and on a large-format printer, and we bought the decoder glasses online for about 20 cents a piece.”

*b*

Yearghhh!! Can you even believe this save-the-date?? It's beyond awesome!!

sex and the city wedding collection

2010-05-27T23:07:00.000+08:00

I hope everyone caught E! Asia's exclusive preview into Sex And The City 2 last night.

Oh Sex And The City weddings. We've gone through so many of them... Charlotte / Trey, Miranda / Steve, Charlotte / Harry... Tres Sugar recaps the weddings here oh-so-nicely.

I'm dying to catch the NEXT Sex And The City wedding!! Did you know there are going to be a small stream, a little bridge (over troubled waters I hope not) and OMG SWANS!! Real live swans!! Aaargh you know how much I love frivolous decadence!! I really wish I could be an extra in the set as a wedding guest. I want to learn of the details of the opulence that went into probably one of the most highlighted wedding of the century!!

Just a quick question: of all the weddings you've been to, do you remember what the bride wore?

Yet all of us will never forget the Vivienne Westwood bombshell that Vivienne herself felt it only rightly if Carrie kept it. Also we all know about the bird! How could we forget about the turquoise feathered friend that graced Mrs. Big-To-Be's blonde locks that day??

Now that's what you call a wedding!

Now we can relive this wedding again and again with Sex And the City: The Movie (The Wedding Collection Ultimate Collectors Edition). *hint hint* Wedding Gift registry ;)

Paul Katz, who reviewed this on Amazon, says:

The box, designed like the wedding invitation to beat all wedding invitations, comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (only 85,000 of these things exist) and a slim hardcover book with pictures and quotes not only from the screenplay, but the "love letters from great men" referenced in the movie.

Crazily delightful!

a french affair

2010-05-25T19:53:00.000+08:00

Well more of a bridal shower actually.

It's going to be a long photofied entry ços j'adore this bridal shower. C'est magnifique! I don't think I need to point out what I like 'cos I just love everything about it! I'm thinking to incorporate some of their elements into my wedding... wee!! Seeing Seeing learning learning!

Fabulous job In The Now Weddings for the ambience that stuck very well to the theme and Jasmine Star for catching it all just perfectly :)

*b*

perspex paradise

2010-05-14T12:49:00.000+08:00

If I had £860.87 in my Marc Jacobs purse, I'd buy these to grace down the aisle in a heartbeat.

Fendi tulle embellished suede sandals at Net-A-Porter

anya to the altar

2010-05-13T11:00:00.000+08:00

I love getting Anya emails :)

"The wedding season has started and we have the perfect gift for the bride-to-be. The Anya Hindmarch Bespoke Maud is an elegant and classic satin clutch. The Maud can be embroidered with dates and initials to commemorate the day. And, to make it even more personal, why not have a secret message embossed inside in your own handwriting."

Get yourself or your bride a Maud here.

krismaya arts & crafts

2010-05-08T23:25:00.000+08:00

Honeybunnies,

Let me introduce you to this great art-n-crafting paradise called Krismaya. It houses everything from feathers to laces to strings of beads (my favourite)! I got my satin ribbons from there and am totally addicted to strolling the lanes all by myself on quiet Friday prayer breaks. I find comfort being surrounded by pretty things so you can understand the zen I get from caressing the ruffley baskets and bamboo trays. The best thing about Krismaya is that it's in Setapak!! Oh boollywoohoo... I'm quite abit of a Setapak gal nowadays so shut it.

I'm gonna get the faux (acrylic?) gems, laces, metallic turquoise beads and glue gun next. Refrain me!

A messy but happy working space.

Krismaya
No.2, Jalan Wangsa Niaga
Wangsa Biz Avenue
Off Jalan 34/26, Wangsa Maju
53300 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +60341436253

*bisou*: www.krismaya.com

mangosteenskin

2010-05-05T21:58:00.000+08:00

Once upon a time there lived a very lovely young lady with very lovely hands and fingers that could carve very lovely image stamps out of erasers. One day I stumbled upon her lovely fairytale website and fell in love with her lovely stamps. I commissioned for my lovely wedding stamp, we wrote back and forth and she got to working. She carved from 0530 till 2300 one day and by 2230 she felt nausea and dizzy and had to lie down! The effort was a toll but the result was enchanting!!

And then me and my lovely wedding stamp lived happily ever after...

Aren't you crazy in love with Mangosteenskin's work already?? Read her entry here

I was deliriously delighted to receive her stamp in my post. It was worth every sen paid (that and Maisarah's near brush with syncope) and more.

Here's a tip from Maisarah on getting a good print:

"i use colorbox/versacolor/versacraft (tsukineko)... ink the surface well before stamping it down. since i use small inkpads, i turn the inkpads upside down and dab it on the stamp. This way it is easier to see if the whole surface has been inked evenly.:)"

I used Archival Ink on mine as it claims to be acid-free, fade resistant, waterproof and non smear. It gave pretty good prints. I wish they came in more fun colours though..

Voila!
Flyer invites designed by Proof Design and printed on A5 format, 128gsm art paper
Map printed on instant namecards
Brown paper envelopes with wedding stamp (FYI, if you're sending post below 10g, it's cheaper to send via white envelopes)

*bisou*: www.kulitmanggis.com.

8 pink questions: ina of lin's handmade greeting cards

2010-05-02T22:11:00.000+08:00

1. Describe your job.

I am a full time handmade greeting card designer. I set up an online business at home and I have been doing this for the past 3 years now, going on 4. I design handmade card cards for all types of occasions namely birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's Day, Thank You, Mother's Day, Teacher's Day and many more.

2. If you had a wedding dessert bar, what are the 5 types of sweet goodies you would serve?

Handmade chocolates, cupcakes, ice creams, pudding and cream puff.

3. Wedding dress: a mountain of ruffles or no ruffles at all?

No ruffles at all.

4. If budget wasn’t an issue where would your dream wedding venue be?

At an island........by the beach. :)

5. Name your favourite part of a wedding reception.

My favorite part would be the part when everyone is enjoying their food at the table. :)

6. If you had a chance to incorporate the most insane element into the wedding (dinosaur ring-bearer or Village People ‘YMCA’ bridesmaids etc) what would it be?

It would be to have the wedding rings brought to us using a Mini Cooper remote control car. :)

7. Can you fix a leaking tap?

Not really. But I've tried doing so before if the problem is a minor one :)

8. Favourite fast food to serve at a wedding.

Without a doubt .....McDonalds.

Read my previous post on her here. Do visit her here.

the magical proposal

2010-05-01T18:52:00.000+08:00

Macarons...!!

My favourite jewellery-maker (Mimpi) Murni got engaged! She has a wonderful wonderful wedding blog at Murni & Jamil and this is her oh-so-romantic marriage proposal story...

"20 march 2010 - as is usual for us, we decided to go to the hot air balloon fiesta at the very last minute after finding out the night before that bobby's cousin, imran was participating with his zeppelin. little did we suspect that something pretty magical would happen on this particular day.

we got to putrajaya feeling pretty excited & was shocked by the number of people there! this was our first time attending so imagine our surprise when we saw literally thousands of people everywhere, i kid you not. needless to say, we couldn't find imran & all phone lines were pretty much down. no worries, we had a lot of fun walking around, ate a lot (satay bar is yums! expensive, but yums), bought a couple of kites (a pirate for him & a butterfly for me), watched balloons being set up then one by one going up, up & away. although the day was a little downcast & windy (thank god it didn't rain), it was a lovely day out nevertheless.

after taking the picture above where the balloon rides were, we moseyed on over to the main area where the balloons designated for the night glow show were being set up. unlike the area we were at before, the audience couldn't get close to the balloons as there was a barricade surrounding the 30 - 40 balloons & their crews. lucky us though, we finally spotted imran & his siblings working on their zeppelin within the main area so they got us in. yaaay!

as not many people are granted access to this restricted area, we took the opportunity to take as many shots as our cameras could handle (which i will share later on) & to just soak in the scene. it was simply breathtaking watching the balloons lighting up as night approached & then because it was too windy, all the balloons were grounded. just imagine: 30 - 40 balloons crowded on a field, all lit up in a fantastic array of colors.

at this point i thought "hey why don't i go closer & take a picture of the balloons above me?" leaving the gang behind i walked to the middle of the field & took some pictures of the canopy of balloons. as i was plotting the perfect shot, suddenly bobby, guided by impulse, came up from behind & whispered in my ears "i can't think of anywhere else more romantic than this" & before i could go "huh?" he got down on his knee & asked for my hand in marriage. i teared up, he teared up, i said yes, we kissed then i heard loud cheering as his cousins & their friends gathered around us & showered us with hugs & congratulations. i can tell you honestly i was pretty shocked & never felt happier. to top it all off, as we were basking in our happiest moment, still hugging & kissing, fireworks started.

told you it was magical ;)"

Definitely magical babydoll. Cue for everyone to say "aaaaah..."

my invitation

2010-04-29T23:49:00.000+08:00

I did not want to spend a ton on invites so instead of the usual printed cardstock etc, I decided to make it a flyer.

Now who says a wedding invitation has got to be a card??

I had previously designed my own invite but my laptop got stolen and it was just way too much trouble and time to do a redesign. I got my planner to find me a designer and we got to working.

These were the first few drafts...

I did not like the first option.

Second option was impressive but I felt the giant rose weighed the Eiffel down. Much prefer the one on the right.

Third option was tasteful and Je quite adore the first from the right. The Metropolitain and Sacre Couer touch was very delightful.

After much heavy contemplation I decided on Second option on the right.

Then it came down to deciding the text image. I like the way the first from the right pops. Just realized I have the tendency to choose those on the right.

Voila!!

Finale...

Super CUTE right?? I really think Adele the designer did an exceptional job tailoring the invite to the theme and my personality. Cést bonne!

And to the printers we go!

flowers that made the cut

2010-04-28T22:06:00.000+08:00

I take flowers very very seriously.

To me, they're pretty much the life of the wedding. That glisten to a dreary occassion. The bling to the ring. So obviously I was going to have petals at my party. (I understand that there are some people who aren't flower people... got meh?)

It goes without saying that I'm treading on a seriously fragile budget.. I mean, aren't we all?? (OK I'm sure there are people like Ivanka Trump who has never heard of the word budget but who needs to worry about budget when her dad prints kachingkos within mere microminutes of existence). I narrated my vision to my wedding planner and waited. Imagine my horror when I was shown sample works of notable florists that amounted to RM20,000 just for something briefly simple!! 20K just on decorations?? Oh no no no no. I had to take things into my own hands (AGAIN) by sketching out 3 templates for the 18 tables and determining usage of flowers at each table. It took me multiple trips to flowershops and hours crawling through online wedding websites for weddingspiration.

Taking into account my theme and theme colours, I've narrowed down my choice of flowers to these:

Carnation dianthus. They're eye-popping, affordable and last a million hours!

These Eustomas are perfect for my theme colour and do not burn holes in pockets. Carefully distribute them and you'll get a plump luscious bouquet.

The other various choices of Eustoma colours. Loves them purple tinges on the white ones.

Let me introduce you to lipstick roses. They're mini versions of the regular roses which translates to equal amount of $$ but higher number of roses!

Here's a lipstick rose in comparison to a regular rose. Close your eyes and imagine it to be a beaming rose bush. Very Parisian garden in spring, non?

Last but most definitely not least carnations(!!). Cheap and cheerful blooms. Did you know that according to a Christian legend, carnations first appeared on Earth as Jesus carried the Cross. The Virgin Mary shed tears at Jesus' plight, and carnations sprang up from where her tears fell (Wikipedia).

Dddy is concerned over my bursting-by-the-seams stress level should I be doing my flowers on or just before my wedding day. Considering they're so delicate and easily perishable we've got to formulate a way to get the flowers in cheap and for skilled family members and friends to help assemble the bouquets. I'm still thinking as to how to get things done. I guess this is the point where DIY gets real cuh-razy. frugality really comes with the price of fatigue. Any ideas on how to get flowers done cheap and cheerful?

Will post up my sketches soon.

macaroons

2010-03-21T01:51:00.002+08:00

I want macaroons at my wedding!!

It'd be an ultimate betrayal to my theme 'Springtime in Paris' and my love for all things French to not have these beautiful little pieces of frivolous joy grace my tables.

After an extensive search I managed to compile a list of macaroon makers in the city

1. Sunny Yaw of Big Boys Oven
2. Dish @ Dua Annexe: 211 Jalan Tun Razak, KL Tel: +603-21641286
3. Yossi of Lolita's Daughter

4. Nathalie's Gourmet Studio @ Unit A4-01-5, Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1 KL Tel: +603-62079572

5. Whisk Espresso Bar & Bake Shop @ LG03A, Empire Shopping Gallery, Jalan SS16/1, 47500 Subang Jaya
6. That's it really. Pray pray tell if you know more so I can extend the list.

At first I thought I'd serve a macaroon to each guest and make them function as namecard holders. But this would mean shelling out a minimum of RM2.00++ per macaroon multiply by my 250 guests would total: RM500 which *sigh* as a kiamsiap Malaysian is a hard sum to stomach considering alot of my guests probably have zero idea of the magic of that ganache-filled shells.

Then I figured I'd serve afew at my guest-receiving reception table on a first-come-first-serve basis but then it would be unfair to just serve afew.

Then I thought of cakes. Like this:

Edible Mini Macaron Towers by Sunny Yaw

But it brought us back to the budget dilemma. And then I found these:

Non-Edible Point a la Ligne Macaroon Pyramid candle

Candles are fantastic ços after you're done with them as wedding deco you can bring them home to sugar up your kitchen counter or use them as sweet saviours during blackouts. Unfortunately the online store did not stock them anymore.

And then (after an extensive search quest) I stumbled upon these:

Also non-edible Kc SoapsNMore Goat's Milk Soap with Black Raspberry + Vanilla Scent on Etsy

Awfully cute and make brilliant after-wedding gifts for my bridesmaids but US$4.50 per macaroon is, again, not purse friendly.

Hmm... any other macaroon ideas I can use?

which ring to choose

2010-03-17T09:54:00.000+08:00

Jane of The Beauty Stop gives her advice on how to choose an engagement ring:

Long and/or bony fingers
Choose a round or oval setting. A wider band will not exaggerate the length of your fingers.

Short fingers
Choose an oval or marquise cut, but make sure it doesn’t extend beyond the first knuckle, or it will emphasise the shortness of the finger.

Small hands
Choose a small ring. A large ring may look gorgeous, but it will look heavy handed (pardon the pun).

Large hands
Choose a large ring. Remember, this is all about proportion. Get a couple of extra diamonds thrown in - you’re worth it!

But this is the best tip she gave:

This is just meant as a guide. Choose the ring you love and which best represents the love between you and your better half.

inspire: eunice & daniel

2010-03-02T14:51:00.001+08:00

What do you get when the creative director of Hello Lucky gets married?? Explosive work from the vendors obviously... like duh!!

Obviously her wedding planner did an amazing work. I mean check out the event pictures... but mainly the bride's the star of course. She was meticulous about everything and threw a mind-blowing party.

Me likes:

- actually more crazy about rather than just liking it, her pompom garlands made of coffee filters that she dyed herself. I'm dying to have this at my wedding!! Seriously!!
- ... what's pepper jelly? I don't know but if it came from that pink-labelled jar... I'm gonna dig in :P
- all the stationery... everything from their popcorn containers to the seating chart
- the charming silhouette cake topper made of balsa wood
- the theatrical 'vow' stage
- fuschia peonies. I'm dying to have this at my wedding too!! Seriously!!
- their custom cocktail: Marital Bliss
- dining under night lights. Magical!!

wedding registry: le creuset

2010-02-22T17:05:00.000+08:00

I love cast iron!! And especially this oh-so-cute Le Creuset 2-quart heart casserole. Heart pot *giggle* It's so Valentine :)

I'd like some of these to do some home lovin' cookin'!

Oooh and check out the vegetable casseroles! Wahaha crazy cutes!!

potential wedding dress

2010-02-18T16:43:00.000+08:00

hello babydolls,

how have you lovelies been doing?

Well I actually already have a wedding dress but looking at the state of the size of me... I ain't gonna fit. BRIDES DO NOT BUY A WEDDING DRESS A SIZE (or two) SMALLER THAN YOU ARE. If you did not fit in it then you ain't gonna fit into one NOW / LATER. Face your flab and figure a way to go around that giant boulder in the middle of the road.

Hence, here's me shopping for a new one and working on selling my old one. My budget is >US$500. There are afew places online that you find pretty good dresses and one of which is J.Crew.

This is Dune, my favourite! But it costs US$895. So that's a very sad buzzer being pressed right now. But it's such a lovely one, non? Well I have to admit, being the chubby bride I'm gonna be, that waistline is not gonna work it for me. Realistically no go for the body and no go for price.

This, though, was the winner: Taryn. Didn't really like the name 'cos it sounds so Wisteria Lane but the dreaminess is absolutely divine! Empire Cut: *tick*, price of US$425 *tick tick* I'm heavily considering it. Bohemian Chic is so Paris...!

It's running high in the list. I have afew more days to make a decision. Yeah I've always wanted Vera... Yeah I would've killed for a Monique but reality is as it is. I don't have US$3000. And if I did, I'd use it on the house. 2nd generation Shelbulosity it shall be.

bridal shower registry: clarisonic mia

2010-02-18T10:05:00.000+08:00

Clarisonic has come up with yet another remarkable addition to the Sonic Skin Cleansing family: Mia(!!) which is is really our oh-so-very-famous Clarisonic but in petite! *giggle*

I super crazy want one!

when casey proposed to amy

2010-02-17T08:12:00.000+08:00

Casey proposes to Amy from One Small Instrument Pictures on Vimeo

inspire: valentine's inspiration to reality

2010-02-16T13:54:00.000+08:00

Gawk hard. This is stunning. Stunning I tell you. They seriously pulled out all the stops.

*b*

Me likes:

- the many vintage Valentine hues

- the many macaroon hues

- apple placecards

- passionfruit cake topper

- feathered nougat

a valentine's save the date

2010-02-14T19:31:00.000+08:00

Now this is what you call a valentine!!

*b*

What a lovely Save The Date, non? Guess what? The groom is an established architect and excellent artist who designed that tulip on the stamp! OMG... c'est bonne!! I'm crazy 'bout the ole skool logo and singular odd-yet-endearing black balloon.

grace's bridal shower

2010-02-09T16:57:00.000+08:00

Oh how I wish I had a friend in wedding / event planning??

I seriously do not have enough friends!!

'Cos if I did, I would have had a smashing bridal shower like this honouring moi!! Man, Grace is sure one lucky lass, non? As for Detail Details (her friend and the event planning company of course) they are just bundles of talent wrapped in a sweet pink candy cane tissue paper. How delightful!!

*b*

anna rina

2010-02-07T14:29:00.000+08:00

I wanted Anna Rina to take pictures of my wedding but she's booked to another wedding in Kota Kinabalu. You guys would probably have better luck.

She takes amazingly beautiful photographs. She knows the moments. She knows the emotions and most of all she knows the love. She knows it and she captures it in stills. Most of all she makes people in her work look so gorgeous. Seriously. The drop-deads look like Miss Universe and the regular nobodies look like runner-ups. I don't mind look like Miss Universe 2nd runner-up.

Love. Love. Love her.

*bisou*: http://www.anna-rina.com/

i like card

2010-01-29T13:23:00.000+08:00

I like 'i like card' too!!

Very contemporary and definitely elegant. What I'm absolutely crazy about their stationery is the incorporation of vellum-like paper in print. Not so crazy 'bout the crepe bows though. The printed pegs are remarkably cute nonetheless. Check out the chandelier boxes and dress invitations. Damask prints are something you don't come by in local stationery so really this is pretty forward :)

*bisou*: http://ilikecard.blogspot.com/

inspire: carmella + gregoire

2010-01-27T22:42:00.000+08:00

Me likes:

- the venue: Merville-Franceville (a little village in lower Normandie, France)

- quaint chateau

- demure invites by Anna Bond of Rifle Design (makes me want them in my wedding now)

- that Vera Wang dress and Marc Jacobs shoes

- QQ Lollipop Workshop cake toppers (makes me want them in my wedding now too)

- delightful papel picados (makes me want them in my wedding now too again)

- Fujifilm Instax cameras

inspire: michelle & husband

2010-01-23T02:03:00.000+08:00

*b*

Me likes:

- awesome chandelier-lined reception tables (showstopping show-showstopping!!)

- vineyard-like appearance

- gargantuan christmas trees(?)

lin handmade greeting cards

2010-01-17T15:20:00.000+08:00

I'm currently on a card hunt so you'll be expecting quite abit on entries on stationery :)

Aren't these absolutely gorgeous?? Lin makes them by hand and laces them with love. Well that's what I think 'cos cards don't get this pretty if it ain't kasih... cinta... l'amour!

She's currently sold on on these but if you're interested you can always ask for more!

The ring print's a nice touch. And the gold lace trims... what can I say, I ain't the only fan of doilies huh? ;)

*bisou*: http://azlina-lin.blogspot.com/

sarah seven

2010-01-14T13:24:00.000+08:00

Romance. Decadence of a bygone era of feminity.

Sarah Seven Bridal.

Lovely. Lovely. Lovely.

Note the dress names.

Snow

Bone

By The Candlelight

.
Powdered Sugar (read that name... did I not say lovely?)

Ivory Bliss

my save the dates

2010-01-12T10:07:00.000+08:00

According to ScissorPaperStone, the sole purpose of save-the-date cards is to give the people you intend to invite to your wedding plenty of advance notice. If, for example, you are planning to marry during the holiday season or a holiday weekend, you’ll want your guests to reserve you wedding date on their calendars months in advance. If you will be inviting guest from out of town who will need to fly in for the wedding, they will need time to make the necessary travel arrangements.

You should send save-the-date cards to all of your intended guests when either of these circumstances fit your situation. Even friends and family members who you already know will attend should be sent a card.

On the other hand, if you are not sure whether a particular person or couple will be invited to the wedding, don’t send them a save-the-date card. And there is really no reason, and it’s a waste of your precious money, to buy and send these notices when all of your guests live relatively nearby or the wedding will not occur during a busy time of the year.

I had some leftover material from my engagement invites so I decided to make some save-the-dates for my friends overseas. I made them during Christmas which explains alot about the design: ornamental!

1. Prepare doilies (preferably heart shaped), red satin ribbons (not too thick), label maker (I use Dymo) and thumb strength (you sure need alot of that).

2. Start by preparing the text to the 'card'. Mistakes are unavoidable... don't beat yourself up over it. I've ended up with a couple of 'skelby' and 'SAV THE DATES' :D

3. Thread the red ribbon through one of the doily holes and make a knot in the end.

4. Stick the texts to the card. Don't forget the dates in your Save-the-Dates!!

5. Voila! Hanging Save-The-Date ornaments that your invitees can hang at important nooks, i.e., beside the computer monitor, on the fridge, toilet flush, tele remote control, and remember that nearing early July they've gotta make flight arrangements, hotel bookings, visit itenerary etc.

6. Cool huh? Hehe I just wanted a number 6 on the list. Cool's part of the list!

bakerella wedding cakepops

2010-01-07T09:21:00.000+08:00

I'm crazy 'bout Bakerella. She's magnificent with dough and an oven. She created the funnest (and I do mean the funnest) pastry on earth: cake pops!! Yup, you got that right: cakes on lollipop sticks... she previously made some Hello Kitty ones that seriously blew me away but this one takes the cake (pun not intended *giggle)!!

You can learn how to make the cake pops here. Bakerella says you can also give these cake pops for:
- an engagement party
- a wedding shower
- wedding favours
- you could even propose with them

She said, "Imagine how cute they would be with some sweet little tags.

Okay, forget imagining… let me just show you."

I was like, "WHOAH." I bet tons of readers felt the same...

"She said..."

So here’s a little background on how this wedding proposal came to be.

Several weeks ago I received an email from a guy named Rich. He really got my attention…

1. he was a guy and I don’t get too many e-mails from boys

2. the subject line screamed read me… literally… just like this …

Hello – PLEASE LOOK HERE :) (Friendly and intriguing at the same time.)
Now, I eventually get around to reading all of my emails, but I did have to move this one to the top and read it right away.

The email went something like this…

Hi Bakerella,

I hope all is well with you. I must be honest, the only reason why I know of you is because my girlfriend is such an avid fan of yours! Every Monday she shows me your latest creation. Feeling inspired, she proceeds to either replicate one of your creations or put her own twist on it. I of course benefit from the delicious goodies

Anyhow, my girlfriend’s name is Melissa and she’s began her own blog recently and has been enjoying it immensely. I bought her a fancy camera to document her process as well so it’s been a great experience for her. She spends countless hours in the kitchen baking and then on the computer updating the blog.

Melissa and I have been together for almost 6 years now and I would like to take the next step and propose to her! As a guy, we must think of that genius way of how exactly to pop the question. Well, I had a thought and this is really just a thought but was wondering how open you were in assisting me with that process?

This is a complete shot in the dark and just one of my ideas but I thought she’d really enjoy it. Once again, no obligation and please do not feel compelled to assist…after all I am a complete stranger!

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Rich

Needless to say, I was excited at the chance to help.

I think he had me at “fancy camera.” That’s my kind of gift. Then after talking to him more, I found out he also bought her a brand new stand mixer for her hobby. So sweet.

We discussed a few ways to propose through the site and settled on an idea, which I then changed at the last minute when I decided on cake pops. (Rich… hope that didn’t make you more nervous.) The post had to be orchestrated in a way so that Rich would be with Melissa when it went live. Hoping that Mel (I feel I can call her that now since I did help propose.) would casually look on the computer on her own without any prompting.

If only Rich were so lucky. It turns out Sunday night would test his already nervous nerves.

Mel is a teacher and usually bakes on Sunday. But not on this Sunday. She was grading papers. And nowhere near the computer.
On top of that, she had made group dinner plans with Rich’s aunt & uncle without Rich knowing. Again nowhere near the computer.
When they returned from dinner, Rich had a backup plan ready. He bought her the Martha Stewart Cookies Book after seeing it on last week’s giveaway post and had it ready to give to her, hoping the baking book would prompt her to go the computer.

But no. Mel just showed Rich all the yummy pages from the book and went back to grading papers.

So out of desperation… Rich goes, “Doesn’t Bakerella post something new on Sunday nights?”

Mel: “No, I think it’s Monday morning.”
Rich: “Are you sure? I think it’s Sunday night. You should go check.” (Definitely not suspicious.)

For the record, it is usually Sunday night, but Mel doesn’t get an alert until Monday.

So they both went to the computer. Together. (Again, not suspicious in any way.)

Mel clicked on the wrong site at first because Rich was making her nervous. (If she only knew how nervous Rich was right then.)

Then she read the post still unaware of what was about to happen.

When she got to the proposal, she said she was like Niagra Falls.

And when she turned around, Rich, also teary-eyed was waiting on one knee to make it official.

Afterwards, Mel asked Rich, “Is this just for me or can everyone see it?” (I think that’s just sweet.)

oh, hello, friend and her surprise proposal..

2010-01-04T13:46:00.000+08:00

I'm a big fan of Oh, hello, friend. She has the dreamiest website and merchandise ever! And as much as she finds it lovely to have readers over I don't think you even need persuasion to stalk her site. It's like a cotton candy cloud over there.

The very fortunate young lady got engaged in November and boy is her story fantastic:

"i arrived home thursday night ready to get errands finished during the weekend when he told me "pack a bag, we're going on a trip!" i thought.. a trip? hm. i have a surprise baby shower this weekend, 6 parking tickets i need to take care of, desperately needing to clean my apartment: the last thing on my mind was a trip. but i packed my bag wondering what was going on. he was so secretive. friday morning, he handed me my boarding pass and said "surprise! we're going to seattle!" seattle. my favorite place. mainly because, i love the rain. yes yes, i know some (if not many) of you are thinking "how can you love the rain?? it's so depressing" but i just love it.

so here we are. on the plane on our way to seattle! i jokingly asking him "are we getting engaged this weekend?" to which he replied, "no. of course not." haha.

we arrived in seattle. it's not raining, go figure. apparently we just missed the huge storm the night before. but it's still cool to be in the city. it's so urban and artsy. i love it.

we immediately went to the ferrie and purchased the 1:00 ticket to bainbridge. bainbridge? i've never heard of it. where is he taking me? on the ferry, i notice these 2 girls taking photographs of each other. they were really hilarious cause the wind was blowing so hard but they were having so much fun. i kind of glanced at one of them and thought "did they just take our picture?" but i didn't want to be paranoid so i didn't think anything more of it.

we get a taxi and arrive at the bloedel reserve. it's a really beautiful property where you can walk through the forest and gardens. it was so serene and peaceful. and no one was around!

i think i was glad it wasn't raining because it would have been really muddy. ;) actually, it rained before we got on the ferrie and then the sun came out. we both thought if it was rainy and gloomy, maybe it would have been all scary walking through the woods (twilight style!) hehe. so we walked for about 15 minutes..through the bridges and everything. we saw a swan. it was really nice!

so we're walking around and arrive at these steps, with a waterfall. i see the 2 girls from the ferrie! one of the girls, darrah, busts out her acting skills and says "oh we saw you on the ferrie! you know, i hope you don't mind but i kind of took some pictures of you guys.. do you want to see?" -- since at this point i sort of knew what was happening, I said "sure!" instead of thinking "why did this random stranger take pictures of us on the ferrie, creeepy!!" ;) so she starts flipping through some pictures she took and then we come to these 4 images, she flips through them one at a time:

i turn around and nicholas is on one knee with a ring. :) awwwwwwwwwwww.

it all happened so fast and i felt so calm about it, lol. it was so amazing and sweet.

it turns out he had done a bunch of research for photographers and found laurel mcconnell. he wanted to be sure we had memories and have the proposal captured in photos :) he had been emailing laurel for a month figuring out the plan. (she's also blogged about our story here!) darrah and laurel were amazing and so sweet. he wanted to take me to seattle to propose in the rain and have it be really special and memorable.

then laurel and darrah stayed with us for a while longer, having a mini shoot. i was so unprepared but it was so much fun!

AND he also made a back up ring (the ring i am wearing now) out of a block of wood. he hand carved it and sanded it down himself. it was the sweetest thing ever and i think it was meant to be because it totally fit perfectly as well. (i was very impressed by his craft skills, since he has never taken a woodworking class!) he is totally a crafter at heart i bet ;)

anyway, i wanted to share my special engagement ring with you today... and really kind of just brag about my fiancee for a second ;) i found this piece of paper on my floor, and when i opened it up i realized that it was a schedule for the day he proposed, broken down minute by minute. i'll admit: i teared up a little and it made me realize just how much work he put into it and how blessed i am to have someone who cares for me so much.

What a novelty: documented marriage proposal! Well one good soul deserves another... that's what I always think. Congratulations Oh, hello, friend!!

*bisou*

making the reception unique

2009-12-29T02:36:00.000+08:00

DJ Craig is a music programmer, remix artist and party enabler in the southern California area. He has been providing Disc Jockey and lighting services for Southern California weddings and special party events for over 15 years.

Now this guy would have lots to say about wedding receptions. He's probably witnessed thousands of them. Sometimes when you've seen a failure occur a million times you can't help but notice a pattern, know what I mean?

Anyhoos, here's what he has to say about '9 Easy Ways To Make Your Wedding Reception Unique':

Pick An Unusual Entrance Song:

Check out your music collection and write down the first ten songs that appeal to you. Then decide which one of those would be best for you to walk into at your reception. Chances are you will come up with an Entrance Song nobody else has thought of. One rule of thumb is- the higher the energy of the song, the better. This applies whether it's Classical, Rock, Hip Hop, Swing, etc.

Don't Just Enter, MAKE An Entrance:

The difference can be subtle or more pronounced but it is important that you, in some way, visually acknowledge your guests as part of your Grand Entrance. This can be done by simply pausing to let them get a good look at you while they snap a picture, waving back at them or perhaps taking a bow or giving high fives. Now you have included your guests in the joy of the moment by making them PART of your entrance!

Change The Order:

Often the First Dance comes after the meal. But there's no rule that says you can't do it right after your entrance. The Best Man's toast can be at the beginning of the meal... or later, towards the end of it. Just because you throw your bouquet doesn't mean you have to do the whole garter removal and throwing thing. If you want, you can the pass on the removal and just have a garter toss or you can dispense with the whole formality.

That Sounds Different:

You have an opportunity to create a unique experience for your guests from the time they first step foot in your reception. It is important that your reception have it's own "sound". Preferable a unique mix of songs that people don't usually come in contact with at the office, the mall or while listening to the car radio.

You can turn your room into a romantic Spanish villa with flamenco fusion latin guitar. Or create a swinging, "Rat Pack" atmosphere with classic big band music. You could even transport your guests to a sunny, tropical seashore with the rightright mix of beach music. We had one couple who got engaged in Italy and chose artists like Dean Martin, Andrea Bocelli and Louis Prima for their dinner music. The choice of sounds that sets the tone for your reception is limited only by your imagination. The goal is to give your guests something they haven't experienced at any other wedding they've been to.

Saying "Thank You":

A simple "thank you" to your guests over the mic can mean so much. Publicly expressing your appreciation for their participation at your wedding is one of the classiest and most heartfelt things you can do. And in case you should miss anyone during your mingling time, you have at least already acknowledged your gratitude to them.

Choreograph Your First Dance:

A choreographed First Dance is always a special treat for you and your guests. We've seen waltzes, swing dances and even a tango or two. A bit of work is involved here as you may need to take some lessons and rehearse prior to your "performance". The pay off is creating an unforgettable moment for you and your guests. A moment that never fails to get a great response from all in attendance.

Use Creative Lighting:

The right lighting can add color and depth to any room. Colored beams of uplighting on the walls, a pinspot to highlight the cake and dynamic projection dance floor club lighting are some ways to create a special atmosphere. Well planned lighting has a dramatic effect on the look and feel of your reception.

Avoid Musical Cliches:

Party songs that have been played at every wedding in the past twenty years can be replaced with more inventive choices. Jettison those played-out tunes like "Love Shack", "La Bamba", "Mony Mony", "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and "I Will Survive". Update your playlist with fresh ideas. Examples of newer songs that have wide appeal include "Smooth" by Santana, "Hey Ya!" by Outkast, "Get The Party Started" by Pink, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet and "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. This is a good starting point and the music can get more cutting edge adge as the night goes on.

Promo, Promo, Promo:

Have you ever been to a wedding where you felt like you didn't know what was going on? Your MC should let your guests know what they have to look forward to later. Attendees will be less likely to leave early if they know that the cake cutting is coming up shortly. Or that if they go now they will miss the first dance. Make sure your MC understands the power of the promotional announcement!

if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it

2009-12-18T21:52:00.000+08:00

Approximately a month and a half ago I personally went browsing and picked out a half carat at the price of RM6000. It sounded pretty OK in Guy’s books considering he had just enough to cover our wedding bands in the budget. There were people (mainly Mmmy) who were disappointed with my choice claiming it wasn’t right for me to be married off with such a cheapo bling. I have to admit I wasn’t ecstatic about it but I didn’t think a ring could be such a big deal in terms of saving face. But it was. And I was torn between my man and my mother. Hence I just left the subject aside for abit and continued to work.

Little did I know that time can be pretty tricky, the longer you want it to stall the faster the clock ticks and next thing I knew it was just a week to my engagement… and we still didn’t have a ring! Just as I completed my last O&G tag, Guy drove me from TI to De Gem, Bangsar to get our ring-shopping done. It was both thrilling and worrying at the same time. A boy has never bought me a ring before... I couldn’t help but be quite bewildered. Mmmy and Dddy came along for the ride. Drama pending *giggle*

Turns out, horror of horrors, the previous diamond I had picked out previously had been shipped to their outlet in Jakarta! There were just no other RM6000 stones left. F*ck.

Mmmy proceeded to ask them to bring out whatever 0.4-0/6 carats they’ve got left and then Michael (store manager) put this stone in front of me that was mind blowing. From the start I knew I wanted a solitaire enclosed in a 6-claw ring. When Elesa presented me with a 0.6 Carat Excellent Cut VVS Clarity Colourless, I fell deep in love! It was THE stone. I felt it but I didn’t dare show it. I did, though, grin like Cheshire cat and giddy. Well it was most rightly so ‘cos the price revealed itself and we had a momentary exolphthalmus. It was definitely over his budget. I was about to say no when Mmmy nodded in approval. She was happy with the stone. I looked to my right. Guy was pale as sheet. I checked his pulse and reminded him of the act of breathing.

(conversation)
Guy: We take it-lah.
moi: Huh?? Eh no-lah… it’s way above the budget.
Guy: You like it. I can see it in your face.
moi: That’s not the point.
Mmmy: I think this is the one.
moi: *exasperated*
Guy: Just take it. Really it’s OK.
Mmmy: It’s just the right size…
moi: Mmmy! But we can’t afford it babe…
Guy: It’s OK. Let me worry ‘bout that. I’ll work it out. We’ll take it.
moi: …
moi: YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I’m the QUEEN of the world!!

At the risk of sounding absolutely pompous, I can’t help but gush at how pretty it is. It’s just absolutely beautiful and QQ. It is actually quite nicely large when you stare long enough at it and NOT look at any other diamonds above 0.6 carats. I chose a white gold band ‘cos it’s cheaper than platinum. And the claws look like a crown from the side. How regal weee!! It’s seriously the best present that Guy has EVER given me :) Whenever I feel low and pitiful, I just cock my head to the left and lift my ring finger and *WHAZAAAM!!* I feel all peachy and special again.

Well really the guide to choosing THE ring is:

1. Firstly be very very very informed with your boyfriend's monthly wage and financial commitments. Choose a price range that's comfortable for him and then kick it up just a wee notch just so he knows that he can't get you easy. Yet don't be cruel and create a pent-up argument-to-be. You could probably use XiaXue's '3-month-salary' tip which incidentally turned out to be the price of my ring though I hadn't planned for it before.

2. Take time to scour jewellery stores and look out for bargains in the newspaper. It really helps though I didn't do much browsing due to time. Make sure you choose your gem from a reliable jeweller. I've heard of horrific stories where independent goldsmiths actually exchange your gem with a fake or lesser valued stone when they finally get down to making your ring. I chose De Gem 'cos it was recommended to me.

3. If you can afford it, purchase an internationally recognized diamond. In my case we couldn't afford a Lazare and opted for a GIA stone instead. You don't want to be in a position where you HAD to sell your stone but got peanuts for it in return.

4. Keep looking around 'till you find one that you love. 'Cos when you do find that special stone / ring, waking up everyday to put it on becomes an activity you just can't wait to get outta bed to do. They don't say 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend' for nuts.

Trust me, this engagement ring thingy is real fun.

For the rest of my Ring story *click here*

the new age cinderella slippers

2009-12-02T21:14:00.000+08:00

I am not the typical bride. I think you know it. It doesn't mean I don't appreciate conventional or traditional... I love a white dress, gigantic flower centrepieces, that something blue... Still, as I said, I adore stuff that's outta the box... atypical... unique... exquisite :)

I was just about to settle for Louboutin's Anemone when I saw this in Taipei!

I am so lovin' these Vivienne Westwood Anglomania + Melissa Lady Dragon open toe plastic pumps!! OMG I'm crazy regrettin' the fact I didn't just get 'em at that time.

Brilliant way to sashay-sashay-chante down the aisle. And you know a wet floor ain't gonna get in your way of your 'man and wife' moment, for sure yo.

behind the dress issue 01: love, vera

2009-10-20T17:30:00.000+08:00

"You don't tailor Vera to fit you. You tailor yourself to fit Vera."

... Liv, Bride Wars ...

I love Vera. I super duper cruper wish I could wear a Vera on my wedding day. Alas, even a used Vera comes close to US$ 3000 and that's just awfully too much to scrape out from the BUDGET. I guess the eye candy will remain the eye candy ;)

So I thought I'd share my Vera Wang 'Behind The Dress' subscription with y'all darling babydolls 'cos I'm sure it doesn't hurt to dream...

Amelia reflects two important elements of my design philosophy: weightlessness and draping.

The ethereal beauty of a fairytale princess inspired this collection. I wanted to capture the concept of weightlessness through light, frothy skirts. By removing the crinolines (stiff petticoats under the skirt), the wedding dresses gain more movement. The result is a nymph-like sensuality that is both romantic and modern.

Soft draping across a structured bodice is a challenging formula in design. At Vera Wang, we have sought to master this technique and made it a signature of my wedding dresses. With Amelia, I chose to leave the seam allowance at the back of the draped bodice free, consciously adding more detail to the back. My eye is always searching for subtle ways to draw attention there…

I never add ornamentation just for the sake of it. Like jewelry, the crystal corsage at the hip of the Amelia wedding dress can stand on its own. As it is placed here, the crystals add an organic touch of magic to the dress.

Keep in mind, when accessorizing this wedding dress, keep it simple. The mix of design elements speaks volumes; little more is needed or you will overpower the dress.

I added crystal details on Amelia to introduce drama. As a philosophy, ornamentation on a wedding dress should reflect the nature of the celebration as well as the shape of the dress. When added directly to the wedding dress (as shown here), ornamentation accentuates.

Added ornamentation is particularly effective when beading feels overwhelming or inappropriate, such as for a daytime or an outdoor wedding.

My recent collections of wedding dresses are tinged with color to provide a fresh interpretation on modernity. I believe color expresses romance, artistry and femininity. For this particular collection, I focused on a palette of muted colors. Amelia is shown here in pale nude but is also available in ivory and white. Color speaks to each bride in a different way; use it to capture your own sense of style and originality.

bridal shower registry: chanel

2009-10-18T20:10:00.000+08:00

Forget about multiple gifts.. just pull everyone's money together and get me this!!

I wish Coco Chanel was my mother-in-law :(

bridesmaid dress (trial 01)

2009-10-15T19:46:00.000+08:00

Something from Color99:

So cutes right?? Only RM36 too.. yup, inclusive of belt(!). I ordered (online) 8 pieces for my lovely 8 bridesmaids. It's totally not in the colour theme but it's too good a buy for me to be all matchy-matchy. Imagine all of 'em standing in a row. Kawaii ne! I'm such a clever lil frugal bridezilla, non?

Unfortunately luck got the better of me and turns out the dress was totally sold out. Awaiting my refund now. Suck.

Back to the hunt.

pretty lulu bridal

2009-10-13T22:42:00.000+08:00

Look at these darling clutches from Pretty Lulu Bridal for the bride or even her bridesmaids :)

Important for keeping our lip-gloss, oil-blotting paper, lucky Domo Kun charm, last minute ang-pows, etc... in check.

Melissa

Lucy

shelbybaby b'day giveaway

2009-10-12T16:07:00.001+08:00

Crazy sorry this is such a late post. Offer extended 'till Oct 31st! Email khoshelby@yahoo.com :)

sekeping serendah

2009-09-10T09:17:00.000+08:00

While browsing through a local online wedding site (seriously cannot remember which one) I found an article on local spots for a weekend getaway which featured Serendah. I looked it up and was blown away by this far out architecture in the middle of what seems like a mundane forest!! Frankly I don't know where Serendah is.. I've seen it on one of the exits near Rawang on my way to TI but I never thought of it as anything special 'till now.

This place is a miracle, non? So Secret Garden - Tropical style!

I'm already envisioning it: one-night-only bridal shower / bachelorette party with lots of girly talks around the fire munching on barbecues and massive board games to follow. Oh goodness I do sound quite abit of a snore don't I?

Sekeping Serendah
"From Kuala Lumpur, take the North-South Highway (NKVE) north and exit Rawang. After the Rawang toll gate, turn right and head north via old trunk road. Pass busy Rawang town and head toward Serendah (10km). Turn right at 1st set of traffic lights after Serendah Police station. Next, print out and view the local map (600KB pdf) to reach the retreat."

Tel: 012-3246552

david tutera's my fair weddings

2009-08-28T16:01:00.000+08:00

(msg)
Maid-of-honour: Did you know David Tutera does shows for weddings too?

I did not.

But I do NOW! As you all probably know, David Tutera is my PARTY GURU. I totally idolize him, I indulge in his every deco tip, I nod at every word he's got to say bout party no-nos, I mean, to me... this guy's a host G*D!! Seriously. Turns out the party planner now has a wedding show where he comes in and basically puts on the finishing touches (or shall I say changes *wink*) to the wedding preps... sometimes to the bride's dismay. I can understand where the reluctance is coming from. But fact is we, common non-party planner people, brides gotta admit that despite our dreamy perfect wedding sandcastles in the air, we are absolutely clueless when it comes to the nitty and gritty details. That's where David (specialist, consultant, whatever...) comes in to save the day. It's definitely difficult to stomach in rejections: what?? no balloons you say?? but I believe sometime in the future we will look back and smile gingerly that we took David's advice.

There's no WE-TV in Malaysia. Me so sad. Would anyone like to send me a season of the show??

print ribbons

2009-08-25T15:49:00.000+08:00

I was scouring through throngs and throngs of websites looking for an easy way to customized ribbons just in case I ever need personalized labeling when I came across Printribbon's uber cutey website. You may recognize the stands from some local bookshops and craftshops as well as identify some companies that use their services (oooh so that's where Suyin got her delectable -pun not intended- ribbons from).

Printribbon Sdn Bhd
6, Jalan 30b / 146
Desa Tasik Selatan
57000 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

Tel: +603-90578069

*bisou* http://www.printribbon.com.my/

Y'all know of any other ribbon customizers??

inspire: hollin + eric

2009-08-25T09:52:00.000+08:00

*b*

Me Likes:

- the youthful exuberance of the atmosphere

- superb image captures by Ben Blood

- bride's very happy smile + that cute birdcage veil

- very "meriah" wedding invitation

- brilliant headshots, literally!

- her centil bridesmaids

- the entire concept of a tree house wedding!! so blissfully juvenile...

- polaroids!

very cute proposals

2009-08-24T00:53:00.000+08:00

Proposals proposals... we all got them and it's the first thing one would ask when you declare a 'save the date'... which is why I don't have a date to save 'cos, well, Guy hasn't really OFFICIALLY proposed yet!! I guess that's just how it goes coming from a Malaysian (Chinese?) upbringing where marriage is the inevitable outcome of a relationship. I love Guy but the man's not much of a romantic-lah.. I've actually yet to experience my first bouquet of flowers (and I hope it looks like something Amy Osaba would put together). So here I am pencil-ing down my guest list, enquiring vendors, and looking around at venues and I gotta admit I do feel like an absolute loser getting things into gear when I'm not formally asked to be a bride. But bridezillas will be bridezillas and the absolute need to keep it all under the belt is severe despite proper invitation. Others, though, are intensely fortunate...

(Courtesy of Smitten)

When Linn decided to ask his girlfriend Annie to marry him, he knew one thing: She loved Starburst candy. So he decided to play a little trick...

Linn's side of the story:

Before proposing, I got advice from Annie's friends. They said, "Do it in front of all her friends," "Do it where you first met," "Go somewhere romantic." And advice from her sister: "Dude, Annie hates surprises." And that's when I knew: Make it a surprise.

Another thing about Annie: It's almost impossible to surprise her. Never in our five year relationship have I successfully surprised her. All attempts--and there were many--ended in my disappointment (because she wasn't surprised) or hers (because she got a Bud Light instead of Champagne). How do you surprise someone who can't be surprised?

Well, what better way to blindside her than to pick an activity that happens on a regular basis: Eating Starburst, her favorite candy.

So, one lazy Sunday evening in June, I held in my hand an unopened pack of Starburst. My secret? The second Starburst in the pack was actually miniature box (thanks to a razor blade, glue stick, and lots of patience) containing a diamond ring. The symbol of my eternal love was not encased in a cushy velvet box but wrapped with 99-cent wax paper. Amusing, but perfect.

A million thoughts swirled in my head: Here we go! What if she doesn't want a Starburst? What if she opens the wrong side of the pack and I have to eat 20 Starbursts before we get to the ring? When am I supposed to drop to one knee?

My emotions were a roller coaster. After dinner, I grabbed the pack of Starburst and thrust them into my pocket. I managed to choke out the words, “Do you want some Starburst?” Once the pack was in her hand, I focused only on executing the proposal perfectly. I strategically convinced her to choose the right Starburst--wrapped it in red, since she loves the cherry flavor. Seeing the red Starburst in her hand instantly made my heart beat a trillion times a minute. I hoped that my excess perspiration and breathing would not arouse her suspicion.

As she opened the Starburst, a new wave of excitement, satisfaction, and nerves overcame me. Things were moving so quickly, and all the thinking, planning, and more thinking were about to change my life. As I dropped to one knee and looked at her, well...it was exhilarating…and, best of all, she was surprised.

This is Shannon's story:

Last weekend, while we were on a trip, my boyfriend Chris proposed to me (an unbelievably romantic, sweet and perfect proposal--a whole other wonderful story) during a romantic weekend trip while my daughter Emerson was visiting her father in New York.

He also adores Emerson, my seven-year-old daughter, so he wanted to do something special to let her know we were becoming a family. So, when we picked up Emerson after our weekend trip, we all went down to a nearby creek. Chris asked me to stay near the path while he walked to the creek with Em to ask her something. Taking out a ring box, he got on one knee and asked her to do him the honor of becoming his step-daughter. My heart swelled knowing not only was I getting this amazing man as my husband, but my little girl was getting a wonderful step-father who absolutely adores her. She said yes and ran to me with a huge smile and a hug. A few seconds later, she started crying but between sobs told me they were happy tears, which I don't think she's ever experienced before.

It was a very special moment for all three of us.

*tear* So sweet hor??

Guy says that even though we're well on our way with wedding preps now, he WILL one day propose and I will be (pleasantly?) surprised. And the best thing, on his part, is.. I won't say no :P

Well it's a little hard to believe that I will be surprised but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt *wink* Let you know when it happens...

Do you have a romantic proposal story to share??

a bridal survival that i CAN make + afford

2009-08-22T21:59:00.000+08:00

*b*

I am so gonna make them for bridesmaids!!

photobooth fabrics

2009-08-21T19:53:00.000+08:00

*b*

An instant sunny photobooth setup with minimal effort. All you need is some good fabric and lots of smiles!

You can easily get cute (and cheap) furnishing textiles from Ikea or the local cloth shop, i.e: Kamdar, Globe Silk Store, Nagoya Textiles. If you're willing to splurge make a visit to Janine (look for Azmie,he's a doll!), Laura Ashley, ... (I'll add more when I get more info k!)

Do you know of any good textile houses? Do share :)

Best thing is, when you're done, you can easily take it for a good wash, scooter to the village tailor and have them cut up into tablecloths, dinner napkins or placemats. No wastage there!

reusable jars

2009-08-20T15:53:00.000+08:00

I love mason jars!

That's 'cos everyone (who's insanely creative) has mason jars especially in the States and they tend to come up with the most amazing use for the glass containers. It's crazy. Just as you thought jars would be just jars, they put on a kimono / house a tea-light candle and transform into the cheeriest cherry blossom (insert other flowers) vase / glass lantern!

*b*

inspire: serena + andrew

2009-08-20T00:53:00.000+08:00

*b* *b*

I really really really love the table centrepieces + overall deco concept + flowers!! Wishing Tree was a spot-on on this one. Awfully magnificent collaborations of colours and textures. I was blown away! The couple held a 'friends only' wedding reception in Sassorosso, KL with long tables overlooking the sparkling Twin Towers.

Yeh of Wondrous Vision, super lovely job. Such brilliant images to remember history by.

FYI, Andrew proposed to Serena with a ring kept in a zip-loc-ed bag as they were climbing Mount Everest!

meredith's bachelorette takeaways

2009-08-19T00:25:00.000+08:00

No, she didn't!
Yes, she did.
No, she didn't!
Yes, she did.
Whoah.
I know.. trust me, I know..

Tell me, how do people just get so clever and creative?? Seriously, how-lor?? Unfortunately, doctors aren't this bright when it comes to surprises and things-pretty. I don't get invited to events like these enough!

*b*

Inside each 'Fling Before The Ring' Bachelorette Survival Kit is: a Lip Smacker, a pack of Advils (aspirin?), Tic Tacs in mentol, a candy necklace and a condom in a self-sewn velum. Makes you wanna get a headache just so you can rip the packaging off!

inspire: pink + ivan

2009-08-17T23:33:00.000+08:00

Me likes:

- the floaty tulle wedding dress

- those fuschia bridesmaid dresses in shantung silk(?)

- maid of honour's hair

- the cascading floral spheres in Carcosa Seri Negara garden

- wedding favours: oriental organza parasols in pinks + purples + whites

Parasols are real popular photo accessories. I see them in many pre-wedding shots.

Photography by Jim Liaw. Really Shelbulous work right?

P.S: I heard from a little bird that Pink's bridesmaid sourced the umbrellas from Singapore and they cost less than RM20 each. I managed to recently find mini organza parasols (was helping Guy's sister for the kindergarten's concert) at the souvenir street at the foot of Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang and you can bargain them down to 'bout RM6 per parasol.

yurah's paper flowers

2009-08-17T00:09:00.000+08:00

Inspired by Martha Stewart, Yurah made paper flowers escort cards for Kinnis + Tipton's wedding. Such a perfect idea for a spring or garden themed wedding! It must be so exciting to look for your name in the window-box only to discover you belong at the daffodil / orchid / lily / daisy / cala lily / tulip / peony / carnation / rose / chrysanthemum table :) If only we had more people like Yurah in Malaysia...

*b*

Miss BellaBella once told me that the concept of escort card is quite tricky for the Malaysian crowd. She once helped a friend out with ushering and it turned out to be really really mad 'cos people were like, "Wh..? Can you just tell me the table number?"

inspire: paige + kevin

2009-08-16T10:08:00.000+08:00

*b*

Me likes:

- family portrait against sweet mural

- her dress ruffles

- guest book table deco

inspire: nadia + charles

2009-08-15T10:15:00.000+08:00

*b*

Me Likes:

- her french lace veil

- the dinner plate dahlias, peonies, garden roses, spray roses, millet

- singular pom-pom hung above each table

- pastel fiesta banners

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Coordination & flowers: Meg of La Partie Events + Photography: Erin Hearts Court + Dress: Cymbeline, Montclair Boutique + Tissue pom poms: Pom Pom Love, Etsy + Fiesta banners: Ay Mujer, Etsy + Centrepiece glasses: Anthropologie

bridesmaids invitation

2009-08-14T10:46:00.000+08:00

*b*

I am so gonna make them for my bridesmaids!!

Invitation: Rifle Design

amy osaba

2009-08-13T11:17:00.000+08:00

*b*

Lovely bridal bouquet by Amy Osaba.

inspire: bradley + jordyn

2009-08-12T11:25:00.000+08:00

*b*

Wanted to highlight their handmade bouttonnieres. Super cutes! Too bad Guy will be wearing his uniform, I would have loved for him to have brilliant boutonnieres such as these :)

once wed's the free wedding

2009-08-11T11:48:00.000+08:00

Our Labor of Love does the most beautiful photographs. I'm smitten.
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Event: Joy Thigpen Environments + Flowers: Amy Osaba + Dress: Joy Thigpen, Sohomade + Accessories, hair: Oh My Deer + Cupcakes: Chocolate Pink Cafe