1 wk before the wedding~Bridal Shower

Thanks to Sara, Jasmine & Amy for all the lovely planning~ started my day with facial, followed by pedicure with the martha cookies, as we sat in a row, sipping our drinks, as we caught up with each other. We forgot to bring flip flops to wear after the pedicure, and we'll decided to weat the paper slippers, and hopped into a cab immediately.

Jolene and our cute flower girl arrived early Galerie Bistro, as we waited for the rest of our guests, Yinchen & Sunny. I had to wear a *bling* crown on my head all night... even when i headed to the restroom. I was surprised when everyone took turns handing me presents! I opened them one by one, and loved everyone one of them~! Some gifts caught me by a HUGE SURPRISE, and some were perfectly cute, with meaningful thoughts behind :)

Headed to Jasmine's place, as she took care of Mantou's physical needs and drove us to Beitou for a night out at Pacific Hot springs! It was almost midnight when we arrived at the hotel and right after we settled in with getting bedspread on the tatami, all of us took turns going in to the hot bath, one after another. 4 girls in 1 small bath, as we gossiped non-stop till almost 1.30am. Time to snooze, wake up for breakfast at 8am & outdoor hot springs!

Day before the wedding

It was my day off, and I was expecting an easy/ relaxing day, but it didnt turn out that way. Early morning was filled with bank errands, lunch at home, praying to ancestors. Cliff came by and picked up our bride & groom wedding favors with Kevin. I rushed off in a cab to Sherwood hotel, as I was late meeting the florist for to pick up bridesmaids bouquets. Was nagged by the florist for being late..... and finally checked in to suite #918. Reminded the hotel for our champagne, as part of our package since we held our engagement last Nov.

Dress Fitting appointment at the Bridal studio was at 3pm, and we were running late! It also took us 2.5 hours for the fitting and dresses to be tailored..

5.30pm: Late for our rehearsal at Gracehill, and it was very cozy at the back of our seats with the girls, dresses & wedding favors.Rehearsal at the Chapel~ with cliff removing the veilOur group dance rehearsal and dinner did not happen either.. as i was simply too tired..

Amy and I had sandwiches @ Smith & Hsu around the corner and came back to the hotel room, surprised with chocolate/cookies/champage platter~!As I was just going to enjoy our night at the hotel with the girls, my parents came to visit and took me home.. as grandpa wanted to have a talk with me. We didn't sleep 1am that night, and woke up in between the night! *yawn*
Isn't it too difficult to have a good night's sleep before the wedding day?

Albums revealed

Invitations have been sent~ and the guest list expanded more than expected! it's wonderful news, but the cut off point is 25 tables~~~ The dance floor idea is off now... sorry dancing kings & queens~;)Headed to the bridal studio and picked up our photo album, frame, & mini photo "thank you" cards~ they are all part of the regular packages of every bride & groom in Taiwan.

Wedding Invitation & who's coming?

Paper invitations has been sent to friends in Shanghai, Hongkong, California, New York, Singapore, Tokyo last week! For those who did not receive an evite, please let me know! I don't want to leave you out! Coming from...

Shanghai~ Sara Jen, always a sister to me, my lovely bridesmaid that I have known since University of Michigan, Martha Cook Dorm & working in New york city.

California~ Amy Chien, is back in touch with us again, after her 2 year peace corp service in Haiti. Our friendship is unique in an indescribable way.
Taipei~ Jasmine, a friend I will always call up on, my cute bridesmaid that I have known since U of M!
Hongkong~ Tania Lee, wonderful friend & social support through our working days in New York & ice-cream buddies at the International House, NY. Florence Lai, also an International House friend who spent the spring/summer job hunting buddy right after our graduation. Aside from job hunting, we enjoyed fun outdoor & in-house events that summer~~
Tokyo ~Yae Okamasu, old friend & penpal, I met when I was 14 yrs old. We met in S'pore when she was assigned to be my exchange student buddy from Japan & have been in touch via snail mail for the past 14 years! Chiho Kabeya, U of M :martha cook dorm-mates, spring time cooking buddies & japanese language tutor :)
Singapore~ Koo*2- Stephanie member of Koh Koo Na Ya tribe since secondary school.
Meilina, a college & graduate school friend whom we are similar in various ways.
Kevin & Eileen~ Cliff's ex-roomie back in college, our common friend, probably the only friend who knows us both~ :)
New York~ Shaun, my cousin whom I got to know better, after he moved to New York.

Suits & Dresses

2/20 was yet another 4 hour dress try-outs. Thanks to my supportive bridesmaid, mum & Cliff~ They either nodded, smurked, looked blank as I put on & off over 20 evening dresses & 10 bridal gowns.
Groom-to-be also spent hours suit-fitting~~yep, from the regular suit, there's the tuxedo, English & Italian suit.

From Shanghai to Taipei~ Bridesmaid

Given very short notice via msn, Sara, honored bridesmaid to-be, flew back to taipei a day earlier to hang out & pay a visit to the bridal studio for bridesmaid dress picking! We met up at Shilin Night market, and began eating once Sara shouted out " woo, I want this!" while we passed by each store.

With very Limited bridesmaid dress selection, we've narrowed down our selection, but the final pick will be made on 2/20~!

Typical white bridesmaid gown, that made Sara feel like a bride...
Dress-picking always turns out to be longer than expected!~ time to head home now~

Dress Try-outs

Standing & giving rounds of speeches @ our opening day of the Creativity Lab exhibit, I hopped on the shuttle, and off to high speed rail station. Caught the 5.30 train & made it just in time to Western Studio Design in taipei. Jasmine & my mum had already arrived! Gobbled down my MOS burger, we headed on upstairs, being served by Shu-hua, a new gown assistant. We're not supposed to take any photos, but we broke the rules and secretly took a couple until they found out!

Color & bow was my style~~but the top resembled a pair of minnie mouse's ears! Off it goes~white gown with strings of roses down the side~ this was the exact same dress I tried on during the 2nd try-out.
Purple Flora babydoll dress~ i liked but didn't make my final decision on it!

Wedding Invites

Though I came across wedding invites by Erin Jang on designsponge.com, which I really really like.. I do not have the courage to enquire the possibility of her designing our wedding invitations and sending them over all the way from New York.

I spent some time last week, downloaded the 30 day trial of Adobe illustration- in order to design my work-namecard LOGO. The name card at Creativity Lab has 2 sides- 1 formal and 1 creative side - which is the one I've worked on. Don't forget and ask me for a new name card, this November, when it's ready as I don't usually hand out cards to friends.

Opps, that reminds me that I totally forgot about celebrating my 1 yr anniversary @ Creativity Lab on 9.16.2009! Anyway, I also dreamed about designing our wedding invitation, but work will be hectic, there is still so much to do!

So, we went on to a cute little store "POPPY" wedding invitations, with my mum and Cliff, picked out 2 sets of cards in no time, unlike the other couple who had at least 5 cards on the table, and were still deciding, after we left!

Prior to Pre-Dress picking II @ 7pm- we took mum closeby to a Japanese restaurant- with Fresh Soba & Udon~ which was simply fulfilling. Dress Fitting was done at the 2F of the studio, Cliff went parking while I went ahead and begun fitting. Kaka- our gown specialist had already lined up a few dresses in the fitting room. 1st up was - (1) light blue chiffon (2)bright red with flowers on the waist-line (3) Burgundy gown- white gown with roses lined from the waist-down (4) pink with silver sequins and silver ribbon by the waist (4) grey +shiny gems (5) yellow with black ribbon. So, I liked the white gown the most, but it's not suitable for an engagement.... so, I ended up picking burgundy (red wine), which, from right up, I said NO NO to a red dress. Since both cliff & mum nodded... One red dress wouldn't kill.

Wedding Studio Package

Wedding shoot (2 sets of gown+ evening dresses+ instudio make-up+ fresh flower bouquet)
Outdoor & studio shoots will be taken within a day starting from 8am~~hopefully 7pm
Date: 12/4/09 ( Fri)

Engagement- 1 evening dress ( instead of the usual 2!), I'll rather enjoy my meal~

Wedding day-Bridal Gown & 2 evening dresses
I'm also planning on 1 gown & just 1 evening dress for the night, but we'll see if it'll be ok to break the regular taiwanese wedding traditions that the bride walks the red carpet 3 times in 3 dresses!

Western Design Studio~

Being recommended to visit a wedding studio with an "experienced" friend, someone who's married and knows the hooks on photography packages..etc. Emily was going to meet me at Chung-Shan North Rd (where the string of wedding studios are located in Taipei). Appointments were made but long story short, I didn't get to go with Emily.

While poodle spent time at the SPA, getting her full body scrub & hair cut, Cliff and I found time to check out one place~ Western Design: famous for british hand-made wedding gowns (英國手工婚紗) . OK, I didn't pin much hopes, as I'm still debating between the value placed between photography techniques V.S Choice of dresses. CH's photography style was common, so to speak, dresses are well liked by most taiwanese ladies (baroque, princess-like). Bridesmaid dresses from CH are only cream-colored, the common trend in Taiwan.... my 1st reaction was "gee what?!" since I promised my bridesmaids that some color- either pink/lilac/tiffany blue would be ideal.

Western studio on the other hand, has beautiful gowns, as for dresses.. I've been worried with the lack of choice. Photography: unique, with a focus on people, and the scenery as a backdrop. Sales: Emma offered to allow 2 dresses for try-ons right when we walked in, but I was in aw,"ok, so let's view the albums 1st, i said." After glancing photos on the computer screen, we went upstairs to view dresses and curtains closed as Emma helped me put on the "poof" gown, and then the 2nd gown "lace" with intricate gems~ and then to the 3rd "simple" gown, I requested. Gee, the dresses got tighter one after another, I'm wondering how I'm going to enjoy my wedding meal >_<" Also, bridesmaid dresses do have colors, but I haven't seen them. So, almost 3 hours was spent, and after coming down to details, it was a time for negotiation. Since Cliff liked most of the photographers' style, with one in particular that I really liked, we made our final decision! This particular photographer has been booked all the way till Nov'09.
*Our date has been set on 12/4/09~ weather will be perfect, cool, with autumn in the air~

Blings & Wedding Studio: C.H Wedding

Thanks to the Typhoon Holiday this past friday, meetings were cancelled and we drove back to Taipei in spite of the pouring rain and blazing winds, and had a stay-home-lazy afternoon off. Sat was 8/8- Father's Day, where P2oodle's spa was closed from Typhoon day-off and we both sent my dad off @ the bus terminal to the airport.

From Cartier, George Jensen, Tifanny's, to Hearts On Fire. We've shopped and looked around for a wedding band, wedding ring & necklace throughout Taipei. We've learned a great deal about diamond cuts...basic 4C's Clarity, Carat, Color, Carat weight.

Hopped on the yellow cab, and off we went on to our 1st visit at C.H wedding studio, closeby Cliff's home in Taipei. After being introduced by a sales lady, served with a cup of tea, we glanced through 8 large albums, were given a briefing on studio packages, taken upstairs for a peek at the wedding and evening dresses. The sales lady tried figuring out my style and taste for dresses, which deemed as a major challenge.

http://www.c-hwedding.com/