Featured Bride!

Oh I almost forgot to share this! Earlier this year, Gold Magtoto, my wedding make-up artist, featured me and some of her other clients in the 2012 Make-up by Gold video. Thanks, Gold! :)

MAKE UP BY GOLD 2012 DEMO REEL from Jayr Magtoto on Vimeo.

Throwback Thursday

Every breath,

Every hour has come to this...

One step closer.

The Big Bang Wedding: Cecilio Abad Design Team

It has been four months since I wore the most special (and the most expensive!) dress I have ever owned!!

My feelings still hasn't changed, I am still so in love with it! Credits to Vidal Clayton of Cecilio Abad Design Team for turning my dream dress into reality! It was truly much more than I had expected. *Sigh*

photos by Jaja Lifestyle Photography

Interested? Contact Cecilio Abad Design Team now and see your dream dress come to life!

Cecilio Abad Design Team

c/o Vidal Clayton, Ikyat, Marcy, & Flev

Address: 1120 Pablo Ocampo cor. T. Ayala Sts., Malate, Manila 

Mobile: 0920-9027022

E-mail: cadesignteam@yahoo.com

The Big Bang Wedding: Make-up by Gold

photo by Jaja Lifestyle Photography

Gold is one of my most favorite suppliers. Her expert hands easily brought out a natural glow which highlighted the thrill and exhilaration I felt during my wedding day. Many people commented how beautiful I was. That's when I knew that I really hit gold with Gold!

On a more personal note, what I like about her is that she doesn't treat her brides as just clients, she treats them as her friends. Hers is truly a service with a personal touch! And that sets her apart from all the rest. 

Trivia: Gold's team was the very first supplier who arrived at the hotel on my wedding day. They didn't anticipate that there would be no traffic from Manila to Tagaytay so they got in 2 and a half hours earlier than their required call time. As in I was literally sleeping pa when they arrived. Gold was considerate enough not to wake me from my sleep and oh so patiently waited at the hotel lobby! A+ for effort, punctuality, and for an excellent work done!

The Big Bang Wedding: Threelogy

Our same day edit is one of the things I looked forward to the most in our wedding. Our videographer, Threelogy, truly did not disappoint!

Trivia: Even before I met Mon, I have already set my eyes on Threelogy to be my wedding videographer. By hook or by crook! Joke! 

I have no regrets in getting them because I saw how they were very professional the whole time. They blended well with my other suppliers and the best thing is that I received no complaints about them whatsoever during and after the wedding. All in all, I am really very happy we got them. They're super worth it! Kudos, Bong and the rest of the Threelogy team! :)

Enjoy the video!

Mon + Jen SDE 12.07.12 from Raymond Santos on Vimeo.

The Big Bang Wedding: Jaja Samaniego

So I am now married. Yes! I'm married! Everyday since that fateful day last December 7, I've been waking up all happy and giddy, realizing the fact that I am now married to the most lovable man I know.

Without further ado, here's a glimpse of what took place during our wedding preps up to the ceremony. Our onsite photo slideshow created by our very talented and my most favorite! wedding photographer, Jaja Samaniego.

Trivia: I stumbled upon Jaja's work on Bridalbook, where an e-session she covered was featured. I immediately loved her work! I loved it so much that I stopped researching for other wedding photographers because I was so sure she was the one! I am just so full of love for this lady photographer.

Enjoy the pictures!

Mon + Jen Slideshow 12.07.12 from Raymond Santos on Vimeo.

#1weektogo

whew! just one week left, my friends! one week before i walk down the aisle. at this time next friday i shall be on my way to the church where my groom awaits. naks!

teasing you real hard #2weekstogo

hi folks! i have a very very special treat for you today. nope, it's not a video, it's more than that!

but before i say what my treat is, i just wanna say thank you very much for taking time to catch my weekly teasers all the way back from week 12! i hope i was able to make you feel excited about our wedding as much as i did this whole preparations process.

anyway, this will be my final wedding teaser. i promise it's going to be better than just a picture or a 10-second prenup video. it's extra special because it's actually mon's treat for you! mon kindly took time and made this so we hope you'll like it! i know i do! so what are you waiting for? click here to view his special treat! 

bye guys and see you at our wedding!

2 weeks. how time flies. :)

teasing you softly #3weekstogo

teasing you softly #4weekstogo

Weddings, weddings, and more weddings!

I've attended so many weddings this year. It seems like getting married is "in" nowadays. Hahaha!

Here's are photos of weddings I attended.

December 28, 2011
Sev & Lyn
Dagupan Garden Hotel

April 27, 2012
Mike & Analyn
Toronto, Canada

August 5, 2012
Miguel & Sheree
Sanctuario de San Jose

August 18, 2012
Aaron & Lei
Fernbrook Gardens

In a few months, I'm going to attend my own wedding. Now that an event I am really look forward to!

Maid-of-honor speech, #tanko2012

My friend Sheree got married last Sunday and I was her Maid-of-Honor. I was supposed to give a speech for the couple during the reception but I didn't do it because I have stage fright (haha!). So para makabawi bawi man lang, here's my Maid-of-Honor speech:

Congratulations to the couple!

Sheree and I go a long way back. We've been friends for 12 years. And in those 12 years, I can say that we grew up together in a lot of aspects.

My friendship with Sheree is not all rainbows and butterflies. We met at a time when we were still governed by immaturity and childishness. And so because of it, there were times when we fought and ignored each other. But not very long, for we have always found ourselves going back to the comforts of our friendship. I can't explain it, there is like an invisible magnet that draws us together. Those incidents led us to know each other better, what makes us happy and what makes us tick. Those incidents strengthened a lasting friendship that, unknown to both of us then, would save, comfort and protect us from all of life's insanities.

Come to think of it, we've been there for each other in each and every major thing that's happened in our lives so far since we've met. Losing boyfriends, graduating, getting a job, family issues, personal issues, career issues... Our friendship is a constant thing we both have and I guess it is mostly attributable to the fact that we are confident with our place in each other's lives. We let each other be. We encourage each other to explore and create friendships with other people, never getting jealous or fearful that others might steal one of us away because for us, there is no one that can equal what we are to each other. And we know that wherever life takes us, no matter the distance in between, our friendship is one that can stand the test of time.

Anyhow, I am in no position to advise the couple about married life because I myself am not yet married. But  through my limited experience and with the help of my own life mentors, I've picked up a thing or two to share with you and Miguel. These are some of the things you already know, but have to be reminded of once in a while.

Make God the center of your relationship. In this ever-changing world, we can only count on God to keep our relationships intact. All else may fail, but everything that is anchored to God will be a success. THAT is a tried and tested truth.

Always give thanks and appreciation to one another. In time, you will find yourselves over-familiar with one other. Everyday, take time to be still, talk, and thank each other for the little things. Appreciate his cooking. Appreciate her keeping house. Appreciate that he opened the car door for you. Appreciate her gentleness. These "little things", when piled up, are what really make up the big things. Appreciation is the fuel to run this incredibly great car called love.

Be each other's support system. You are two people that became one in Christ. Today, in front of God, your family and friends, you are now one. Help each other to be the best person that he/she can be. Do not one-up each other or be competitive. Be happy for each other's achievements. Pride has no place in your relationship as you are now permanently and irrevocably ONE.

Learn to compromise. One of the best things that marriage can give a person is a permanent life partner. From now on forward, you are partners in everything. There will come a time that you will not agree on something. You will find yourselves in two opposite poles of the stick. When you do, learn to give way. If not, find a neutral ground. Do not be black or white. Be gray.

And lastly, know when to be strict and when to let loose. Love cannot live without trust. Do not hold on too tight that your partner would suffocate and not to loose that your partner would not feel valued. Hold on to each other with the right amount of force. Encourage each other to explore, while keeping each other grounded.

So that's it! I hope you guys learned something from me tonight. Again, congratulations and I wish you the best and a fruitful life ahead. Cheers!

*Babsky and Chokoy. That's our term of endearment with each other. I am Babsky (cute term for baboy) and Sheree is Chokoy (cute term for batchoy).