Weddings and Bonne

I've realized now more than ever how writing a blog brings me happiness, talking about weddings--mine and other couples' own too, and the pieces that fall into place in the preparation for each one.

As I was thinking of what to possibly write today, I came across an exchange of emails from a friend who is also a Milliner.  A Milliner, by it's definition in wikipedia, is a person who designs, makes, or sells women's hats. Super cool, don't you think? :-)

Ok so yeah! I'm definitely writing an entry about her and her cool hats!

Anyway, as I always do, a short intro about my Milliner friend, Bonsai, is also a senior copy writer at Publicis Manila. We were officemates at Adformatix Selections, Inc, a media agency here in Manila, way way back :-) After how many years, We got in touch again when I asked her to be one of my models for my artistic make-up class. It was our finals exercise, and I needed models, it was an easy choice, she was on top of my list because I remembered seeing her being a model in other shoots as well, on Facebook. Aside from this, I also asked her if she could lend me and showcase her hat products in that shoot, and whew I was happy that she gladly obliged.

My task was to do a Cleopatra look for Bonsai. Man, did I have a hard time. hahaha! But Bonsai was so supportive and very patient. She was even giving me advice as I was doing her make-up. And it turned out well! very, very pretty actually. 

Here's some of my picture of Bonsai as Cleopatra:

 

Good Job ches! hahaha

Bonsai's love for sewing all started in 2005 when she won a sewing machine at a Christmas raffle at work.  As her name was called, Bonsai ran to claim her prize like she won the grand lotto. From then on, she kept practicing with the help of her grandmother. Browsing on the internet, she came across handmade fascinators that reminded her of 1920s and 1940s Hollywood movies. And yes! she fell in love with hats from then on.

She furthered her studies by enrolling at La Salle International and took up basic sewing and pattern making. Apart from hats, Bonsai learned how to make lace cuffs, tutu skirts, shoe clips and brooches, things she would later on love wearing herself. 

From just a hobby, Bonsai later on partnered with make-up artist friend Mica (she's on my entry #3) in making their portfolio. Pieces were sold in an instant. From then on everything was history. 

It has been 4 years now since she created Bonne. Her designs are mostly vintage-inspired ranging from the 20’s to the 40’s. Here are some of the designs she did for various weddings.

The Brides:

 

Her sister, Bride Gail Fojas-Miller

                                                           Bride Jad Montenegro- Amor

 

Bride Diane

Bride Vanessa Valderrama-Obligacion

                                                           Bride Angela Tripon-Mangulat

Bride Althea Tuano-Aswani

                                                      Bride Kai

The Entourage:

 

The Guest:

She even does her own packaging!   

I so love her stuff! So happy to have Bonsai as a friend. hahaha! I am a loyal customer too! Bonsai is doing the headpieces for my entourage, 12 head candies for 12 lovely ladies. And also gifts for our 7 Ninangs.

Thanks Bons! Can't wait. Update me with you new collections!

I'm sure you would love to see more of her lovely, lovely hats, right? so I'm including her contact details below. 

Name: Bonsai Fojas

Contact No: 0920-9052740

SELECTED HEAD CANDY AVAILABLE AT

AC+632: Level 2, Greenbelt 5

Nullah: G/f Dona Consolacion Bldg. 122 Jupiter St., Bel Air, Makati City

Congrats Bons! and more power to Bonne! Happy Anniversary! :-)

When superheroes fall in love.

Over the years we meet a lot of people. People who are happy, funny, sweet, smart, beautiful, strict, annoying and people who turn to become special individuals--let's say someone like a friend. In my 7 years of working in media advertising, I get to meet a lot of these people. Some are my colleagues, few of them are my bosses, business suppliers, and even clients.

Working in media will always be memorable to me. Because it is where I started my career, learned, met mentors, met my good friends and found true love. It has greatly helped my with where I am now. On the client side, brand management to be exact, or what we used to call "The Other Side".

I have learned over the years that it's easy to be close to your colleagues, even to your bosses and also with business suppliers. But with clients? It was always a different story. Why did I say this? Because when you transfer from one agency to another, you still get to meet your old colleagues through trade events and seminars. Suppliers, most of the times, service a lot of other agencies as well. so the chances of you having the same supplier contacts as before is highly likely. But former clients? You rarely see them in most of the functions we go to. 

So, I say that it is really hard to continue having a steady contact with your  former clients or really maintain that friendship over the years. 

Today's entry is about my former client, Michelle. I met her in my last job in media, when I handled the media business of L'oreal. No, we were not that close, but I included her in my I-will-never-forget-her-because-she-did-something-nice-to-me list. 

Way back, when I was still an associate media director in Zenith, handling the said prestigious brand, I decided to take up artistic make-up classes. I guess this interest came up while handling the account. I was always surrounded by haircare products, beauty products and of-course lots and lots of make-up! I remembered mentioning this to Michelle and just like that, she told me that she would give me free supplies to get me started in my new found profession. 

Of course I didn't say no. Make-ups are so expensive and hey, I'm still learning the ropes  back then. So I gave her my list and she gave me what she had available with her. And I tell you guys, this was a lot! :) ok, now you know why she's on that list.

But more than the giving part. I find her very nice but more importantly, super fashionable. I could still remember meeting her the first time at their office. She was wearing knee-high boots with heels, and paired with fashionable shorts. It was a lovely fashion statement. Later on, I realized it was just an ordinary thing for her to wear those boots in the office, and in the dozens of meetings we had, I found out that she was getting married then, and that she was extremely excited about the big day.

Michelle is a friend in Facebook, so once in a while I chance upon her updates, and eventually her future husband's proposal, their pre-nup, then their wedding pictures. But what got my attention was Mark's oh-so-unique bachelor party, which was given to him by Michelle. As I exchanged emails with her, I found out about the story behind the so creative bachelor party.

"Mark didn’t want a normal bachelor party. He had never, in his entire life, set foot in a strip club and he had no plans of starting right before he was getting married. So I decided to throw him a party I was sure he’d enjoy – a Superhero themed one! Despite the fact that guests had to bring their costumes all the way to Boracay, we were so surprised that almost everyone went all out! It was a great party on the night before the wedding, giving everyone the chance to get to know each other, and it ended with the bride and groom carrying the best man back to his room. Good thing we were all able to wake up for the wedding the next day :D"

Here are some of their pictures guys!

                                                       Wolverine & She-ra

                                                              She-ra

Wolverine

She-ra and Friends

                                                     Wolverine & Cyclops

                                       Wolverine, She-ra and the whole gang

I'm sure it was a fun Bachelor party! Paging my friends! I want a creative and fun shower party too. hahaha!

fun-TASTIC! SUPER cool and just plain awesome! In the coming days, I will be featuring more of Mark and Michelle's road to I dos guys! Their pre-nup, and of course their lovely, lovely wedding! and oh! Michelle will also share with us wedding gifts they got from their families and friends, so watch out for that guys.

Thanks so much Michelle for sharing this to me, to all of us actually! 

Congratulations and more happiness to the both of you!

The Guardian Angel that watches over The Lone Ranger

What to do on a rainy saturday morning? N-O-T-H-I-N-G! 

Well, I can sleep and eat but I remembered how tight my wedding gown is going to be so N-O! I can't afford to gain weight. It's wet everywhere outside so I can't walk my two cute puppies either. Bri is also going on a training with his friend Chris this morning so I guess I just have to stay home and think. 

Think happy thoughts! So here I am doing my entry#5 :) Source of inspiration? I now have 42 followers! weeeeeee!!!!! Thanks friends!

Ok here goes...

I've known Erl A.K.A The Lone Ranger through Bri. They were officemates and good friends in ABS-CBN and even way way back before Bri was still in the media agency. Bri was Erl's client so to speak. You have to hear Erl's stories about Bri back then but let's just discuss it some other time hahaha! 

Anyway, since I always tag along Bri in his Barkada Gimik events I got to meet Maureen, Erl's very beautiful and down-to-earth fiance'. We weren't instantly close. Just simple Hi's and Hello's here and there at first but I knew that we were meant to become better friends since then. I will always tell Bri "I like Erl's girlfriend, babe, she's so simple and unpretentious". 

Simple and unpretentious, those are the best two words I can think of about this lovely couple. 

After which, Bri and I were invited by Erl sometime December, in their lovely home for dinner and a few drinks. It was also there where I got to meet a few of Bri and Erl's officemates. Like the two, they were also simple, funny and unpretentious. Here's our picture:

                                           Sarah, Rina, Erl, Winston, Cheska and Bri

But I guess the closeness started when we invited Erl and Mau during our post Christmas and pre-New Year celebration at our condo last Dec. 31, 2009. We introduced them to our friends and voila! Erl was playing poker with the guys in no time while Mau was already having fun with us in playing "Pinoy Henyo". I thought Mau will find us childish or corny but no, instead, she enjoyed the game very much and was happy to be able to win a few prizes. I was able to keep a few pictures back then.

                                                   Mau, Erl, Bri, Me and Charlie

                                      Mitzi, Merl, Mau and Steph holding their prizes

                                    Erl A.K.A The Lone Ranger playing poker with the boys

                                                   Paulette giving Mau her Prize

It was so fun! I guess yeah that's it! it's where it all started. Since then, we would always go out together for birthday parties, to watch movies, dinner out, for a few drinks, out-of-towns and in going to a lot of bridal fairs. 

                                                  Dinner at Abe, The Fort

                                            Merienda at Burgoo, SM MOA

                                                       Erl's bday party

                                                               at Tagayatay

and since Bri and I love these two so much! They will be part of our entourage. Mau will be one of my bridesmaids and Erl will be one of Bri's Groomsmen :-)

Like us, the two are also getting married on January 15, 2012 in Ville Sommet, Tagaytay.

I was so thrilled when Erl and Mau allowed me to feature one of their pre-nup pictorials. Yes guys! there will be 3 I think hahaha :-)

This one was shot last April in Mad Dog's house (Harley Davidson's garage) A.K.A Erl's house and along Makati, The Fort, Skyway and SLEX. Both wanted a simple and unpretentious shoot. According to Erl, their poses were simple and  unorchestrated. They didn't really intend to pose, hence the theme: Riding, which also depicts their journey in life together.

And it is a journey for them, indeed. 

"I think I'm going to be a rider 'til I get old, and I'm very lucky that Mau understands and accepted my passion."

"My bike's name is Bettina, by the way, but Maureen Latoy will be [the] one and only woman [for me]."

---Erl 

Milestones in Erl and Mau's life:

September 26, 2008:  "Sinagot ko si Mau ng OO!" 

September 26, 2009:  First anniversary na kasabay ang Ondoy.

September 26, 2010: 2nd anniversary. I proposed in Shangri-La Mactan Cebu

September 26, 2011: We will release our save the date video.

Congratulations Erl and Mau!!! Love you both!


Make-up by: Mau Latoy
Outfits by: Erl and Mau's Own
Photos by: TM Malones

The Story of two old-fashioned travellers

While everyone in Manila is so busy preparing to go home early since work hours in most of the offices has been cut short due to typhoon Falcon, I decided to write another romantic post. This is actually to keep my mind busy from thinking how come we're still in the office. hmmm...Paging HR! hahaha bitter much? :-)

Ok, reality check?!

Anyways, I've known this bride-to-be, Jaymie, way back since college days. We we're classmates and good friends in Ateneo de Zamboanga University where we both took BS Communications. And yes! we we're close friends, still is actually, although we don't get to see each other that much anymore. Hence, I'm super thrilled to hear that finally she and Pau, are getting married.  Woot!

Jaymie (an Operations Manager) and Pau (A Data Analyst) have been together for eight years! and they've been engaged since 2009.  Amazing! 


Want to know how he proposed? Pau and Jaymie went to Bohol sometime in May 2009 for a vacation. Feeling like a tourist, hehehe they went on a boat ride on Loboc River. And then out of nowhere, Pau hugged Jaymie, hugged her really tight actually and asked her to marry him. It was a KISS proposal,  which means he Kept It Simple and Sweet. Jaymie's YES however, was not heard over the loud cheers and applause of their fellow passengers aboard the boat.  Yes folks, you thought it right! it's not just the two of them aboard, which made the whole experience a lot more fun!  Knowing how shy Jaymie easily gets, I'm sure she turned to, what I've become familiar with her over the years, bright red-faced. Good Job Pau! Spontaneity at its best.

Pau and Jaymie finally decided to tie the knot on Aug. 6, 2011 at St. Joseph Church. Reception follows at The Patio, Hacienda de Palmeras in Zamboanga City. 

Jaymie was so kind enough to share us her pre-nup pictures taken last Feb. 10, 2011. Since both love anything vintage and travelling together, their theme: Vintage and Travels. 

Shoot Location: Zalos Bar, Camins and Edwin Andrews Airbase, Ecozone, Zamboanga City

Make-up artist: Norman Delos Santos

Stylist: Aleli Tan

Photos By: Joeart Production

But Wait there's more. Still keeping with the theme, here's their cute save-the-date and wedding invitation.  

Save-the-date by: Jaymie's officemate, Jim Faustino who is also a cartoonist
Wedding Invitations by: Print Divas


Congratulations again  Pau & Jaymie! Love you both!


Mwah!