A wedding is not just about 2 people coming together.  It is only complete only when it is (preferably) witnessed and given blessings by their family, friends and loved ones.

This is a post to give thanks to the many people who has blessed us with their joy of our upcoming wedding.

Mrs Matchmaker (Jenny) – via MSN: When’s your wedding!?!?!?
Me: (I told her the date)
Mrs Matchmaker: I don’t care. You’re going to have to make sure you leave a space for me and my babies!!!!
Me:

An ex-colleague: Hey this is the website of my custom-made jewellery. If you find anything that is suitable for your wedding, I’ll be most privileged if you would wear them for your wedding.

Joy (my best friend): Hey, I’ll be most glad to arrange a bridal party for you.
Me: It’s ok, thanks for offering! Let’s just have a quiet gathering to chit chat and do facial ok? Just you and me.

Irene (a very good friend): *cutting and pasting different make up tips and hair styles to suit all the various wedding gowns*

Eilen (a sister-in-christ in Australia): *describing what she feels will be suitable hairstyles for my various wedding gowns and to provide references of affordable wedding gown shops*

My sister: (much much earlier) Jie, what do you need help in? If you need anything, feel free to let me know ok?

My mom: When you’ve decided on your gown, we’ll go shopping for matching jewellery ok? Also, I’ve gotten you a spa voucher. Have fun!

Steffanie and her husband, Addie: (brother and sister in christ with whom we have only really known from July this year) Hey, if there’s any help at all we can provide you for your wedding, let us know ok? We’ll be most glad to give you our assistance!

Linda: (ditto) Hey do highlight your hair before the PS and the actual day!

Jolene (my good friend): Colour your hair and do your nails before your photo-shoot!!! Very important!!! And wear a button down shirt before your photoshoot! Else when you take off your top, you’ll mess up your hair!

Daphne (my current course mate whom I’ve only known from Oct): Hey, there’s a sale happening for my bridal shop this weekend. If there’s still stuff you need to get, go get it!

Lynn (ditto as Daphne above): I’m looking forward to attending your wedding and to give you my most sincere blessings.

Christine (ditto as Daphne above): Hey, your wedding falls on my birthday! I want to celebrate at your wedding!
Me:

Mary: …… That’s assuming that you’re going to invite me to your wedding!?!?! (Of course, how can I not? )

Steve: (who had helped us in all the invisible but necessary wedding preparatory work. Eric’s very blessed to have a friend like you>

Linda: (who had helped co-ordinate one of the location shooting for our wedding photoshoot)

YY: (who had recommended the very excellent hair-stylist who had done a terrific job with my hair. And who had suggested the initial gown styles which are somewhat the styles of gowns that I’ve selected.)

(To the many many who had given your blessings on my wedding photoshoot photo album)

(To the even more whom my old brain had not remembered. Do jog my memory!!!)

Thanks to all of you who have had expressed your joy at my upcoming wedding. Seeing your joyful response to our happy occasion had also helped add to our joy in our preparation for our wedding. Thank you!

FB status update: Carpe Diem thanks everyone who had prayed for our smooth photoshoot yesterday. The weather was perfect for our photoshoot yesterday and our chemistry with the photographer and make-up artist was good!

Note to all couples-to-be: Never ever book your gown selection date just a week (or even less!) before the photoshoot day.  For us, understanding the requirements from the MUA and of the gowns from trying them the previous week led to a mad buying spree rush during this week.  Try not to subject yourselves to that kind of stress (and extra charges from our vendors who had to rush the production of stuff required)!

I woke up at 5:30a.m (My SO was awake from 4:30a.m!) from the excitement of the day and was unable to sleep again until my alarm rang at 7a.m.  Thank God for my dear mom who had the foresight that we probably wouldn’t really have a good lunch and so prepared a good breakfast for us.  Yumz!  Because we had already packed the stuff required for the previous day, we simply throw in stuff that was neglected the previous day and reached our bridal studio at aound the agreed time of 9:30a.m.

My SO’s very good friend came on time as promised and he brought hot drinks for us!  What a wonderful, wonderful friend.  Thanks Steve!

Our responsible make-up artist (MUA) Joann (P.S: Pls call her directly and do not contact her at her e-mail address.  She’s unable to access her e-mail at this point!) was already there.  It was comforting to see her there before us. She started on my SO first before I went into the makeup room wearing a button shirt (Very important step for all brides putting on your makeups before putting on your gowns!  You don’t want to muss your hair) 

I asked for her plan of the look she was planning for me for the day.  After a little bit of negotiation, she got started.  Friendly and chatty, her deft fingers put on our makeup fast as we chat.  Before I know it, she had given me an updo, part of a princess look (complete with tiara and elbow-length veil) which matched my photoshoot gown.  I couldn’t quite believe my eyes when she was done.  I was transformed! I can’t believe how gorgeous I look!  (Hehe, my skin is very thick hor…)

We set off at 11a.m and as we drove, our moods got as grey as the storm clouds which gathered above.  In a very short while, it drizzled before it became a storm.  As we cruise along Thomson Road we saw pedestrians hurrying along the roads as they try to rush their way out of the rainfall.  Our moods got to an all-time low and I could sense my SO feeling really lousy driving in front.  We decided to continue driving to our photoshoot location to Upper Pierce/Upper Seletar Reservoir before making a decision when we’ve reached.  I prayed silently to our Lord who is also the authority over nature to give us good weather while Steve prayed audibly.  I also quietly discussed with Steve at the back for alternative photoshoot venues. 

Miracle of miracles, as we neared the Casuarina Prata area, the rain petered down to a drizzle.  Winding down the curved pathways of the road, the period of the rainfall slowed  until it stopped completely just before we got into the carpark.

Many lovely lovely photos were taken for 2 hrs or so until we leave and break for lunch.  My SO suggested going to the cafe where his mother worked to eat.  Steve, Ah Kok, our photographer (who is nice, amicable and very encouraging during the photoshoot.  The photos he was showing me from the camera seemed to be nice.  I highly recommend his services!) and I went in and I waved enthusiastically at auntie (my SO’s mother), she looked really blur for a moment and then suddenly broke into laughter when she was able to recognise me.  I must look really different!

After lunch, we went to French Bridal where we changed into our evening gowns.  The rain poured during then even till the time we were going to the 2nd location for our photoshoot.  Very thankfully, this location is an indoor location so between phototaking, we were peering through the window to see pedestrians hurrying by with their varied umbrellas in the downpour. 

Thanks be to God for perfectly scheduling our photoshoot so that it is not affected by the thunderstorms for the day!

The rain stopped and did not start for the day when we were making our way to the bridal studio to change our makeup.  To cap it all, our last photoshoot at Changi Village Boardwalk caught some vestiges of the sunset…. lovely and nice! I can’t wait to see the photos!

Carpe Diem prays for good weather on Friday!

(to add… and a smooth phototaking process with lots of nice photos!)

Update: 18th Nov: It rained between 2:45p.m – 4p.m today.  Hopeful it will at most rain like this on Fri!

Carpe Diem’s keeping her fingers crossed that the unsuitability of current bridal trend for her will really be a blessing in disguise

Things to prepare:

• Camera (They will allow photograph of gowns that you have confirmed ONLY)
• Comfortable footwear to kick back and relax (They have heels of an appropriate height which we can put on to see how the gown will look on us with heels on.)
• Arrangement of chit chat with photographer to discuss programme for the day
• Arrangement of trial makeup with makeup artist so that she knows what the bride looks like and is able to give her advise/opinion of what the bride needs to prepare for the wedding photoshoot!

I started this day with mixed feelings.  Partly because I did not exactly have a positive experience with them the first time and being concerned that they may not have gowns that would bring out the positives in my skinny frame.  At the same time, there is the gnawing hope to be a good-looking bride on my big day.

I brought my netbook (which contain photographs of designs of gowns that had caught my fancy), a button down shirt (because I thought the trial makeup is a full bridal makeup and I thought I may want the make up artist to match the makeup with my clothes.)

There was a little misunderstanding in the beginning but we proceed to the changing room soon.  As I had feared, the trend for bridal wear nowadays does not suit my frame totally.    The first wedding gown barely suit me, the second gown looked like it is wearing me.  Only after rummaging a long time in the back room was the staff able to find 2 gowns that suit me.  Surprisingly, the gown that had not yet been worn by any bride was the gown that suit me the most.  Wow, wow, what a blessing in disguise!

We then went on to my evening gown.  The first 2 gowns had designs that suit me, but their colours were very bland.  After trying a couple more, the 3rd gown appeared to be the one that suited me the most.  Everyone there (and what alot of everyones) agreed on this one.

After the gowns for my actual day were decided, it was time to look for gowns for my photoshoot.  The co-ordinator suggested that I go for gowns that are different in look, a suggestion which we decided to go for.  After all, freshness is the key!

In the end, it turned out that having a body frame that bucked the trend is a blessing in disguise.  It may be the reason why I got the gowns which are not frequently worn by other users and reduce the amount of time I take to select my gowns as there are limited numbers of them available.

With the gowns selected, my to do list had grown!

• Get wedding shoes (at least those that are suitable for my photoshoot)
• Buy…. (that’s for me to know!)
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Bring a button down shirt

Whee! I can’t wait for my photoshoot next week!  Pray for good weather and nicely altered clothes!

I must say that I had a more pleasant time this time round than the previous time when we talked with them.  The staff Pei Si was very patient, and she was accommodating in bringing gowns according to our requests.  She also gave opinions of what she thinks suit me and to find gowns that match these requirements.  Grateful for her advise today.  I hope the good working attitude does not just come from us having to make an additional 30% instalment payment towards our package on this day.

Carpe Diem suggests for couples-to-be intending to host less than 30 tables to take a look at Megu at Singapore Flyer. Many interesting choices of wedding decoration colours and ideas, good food and a team who appears interested in making the wedding event a memorable one. Kudos so far!

Carpe Diem is annoyed she’s growing skinnier and skinnier. How can she fill out her gown?

The event was supposed to start at 7p.m but we were there very very late.  Mainly because I was so tired after a day of my master’s course, partly because a vehicle was blocking the lane to the flyer’s entrance when trying to remove decorations from the trees outside…. grrr…  As a result, we missed their set up suitable for outdoor weddings.  So disappointing

However, we were delighted by the new colour themes they have introduced through this wedding show.  My SO and myself have kind of made the choice of the colour theme we want as a result of attending the wedding fair. 

We were also pleasantly surprised on being seated, to be served a full course of western set dinner.  It appears that they are big on promoting their Western Set Menu for weddings.  The food was very yummy.  Such a pity though that the option of serving a Western banquet is not open to us..

The biggest surprise of all was talking with Pauline Parry, the main invited speaker for the event and who runs a business, Good Gracious! Events doing event and wedding planning in the US.  Because of our extreme tardiness, we had missed the talk, but the MC for the evening gamely introduced her to us.  We were pleasantly surprised to hear that the Megu team had just undergone training with her on what it means to plan and organise wedding events and parties.  The MC was also passionately sharing on what it means to give people the wedding day of their lives and we just feel like we will be well taken care of by their team. 

In our nice chat with Pauline, she had opened my mind and changed my mindset on what it means to host a wedding dinner.  Given our character, I believe most of the plans we’re thinking of for our day will be really conservative, but I’m getting excited to know how it pans out.

What a fruitful trip.  The introduction of colour schemes and decoration ideas as well as chit-chat with Pauline Parry had really been an eye-opener.  I’m starting to look forward to our wedding day!

We had taken leave for the day so that we can take some time off work to simply spend time resting or looking after ourselves, as opposed to taking care of affairs of our work.

As we waited for his car to be fitted with new brake pad, we popped by the nearby Ikea and decided to just walk around to just see-see-look-look.

Inevitably, we started to discuss the furnishings that should adorn our future home and this is when we realise our preferences are really different.

My SO would want to avoid heat while I cannot stand the cold.  He wants the extra room to be furnished as a multi-media entertainment room while I prefer it be outfitted as a quiet room for reading and relaxing of the mind.  My SO also likes resort-like wooden type of furniture while I prefer malleable leather which still provides firm (not hard) support.  We could not reach an agreement over a thing as simple as an office chair for our future work desk.

My sense on moving forward is that I will probably be the shopper for items in our new home.  But dear God, I need help – like lots and lots of creativity and home furnishing magazines in order to cater to both our very different needs!

Battlestar Galactica is a story of a military ship which had miraculously survived after an enemy race had destroyed their entire star system leaving only them, led by Commander (and only much later in the episodes promoted to Admiral) Adama, and only a whole fleet of survivors who are on their way to find a habitable planet – earth.

Along the way, they miraculously came across another battlestar which had survived, Battlestar Pegasus led by Admiral Cain.  And with their meetings, it showed how these 2 ships had differed in their belief systems which had led to 2 fundamentally different ways of organising their ships.

1 example in point, the crew of both military ships had reunited joyously, they were happy to find other comrades who had also miraculously survived.  And as the joy of the initial reunion gave way to bonding sessions, that’s when the differences surface.

Both ships contain a prisoner from the enemy race.  While the crew of Pegasus talked crudely and nonchalently of how they had raped their prisoner, Galactica’s crew were shocked and 2 of their female crew members walked off in revulsion.

Another example could be seen in their treatment of civilian ships – while Galactica took under their care the majority of civilian ships they had come across (except with a minority which had to be abandoned as they lack key components that would undermine the whole fleet’s movement and potential escape from enemies through space), Pegasus simply stormed the civilian ships, grabbed the talents (threatening to and actually) killing some of their family if they do not comply, all the parts of the ships that could be put to use on their battlestar and then leave them to fend for themselves against their enemies.

While the majority of the episodes show the journey of Galactica, this particular episode show the journey from their side.

It led me to ponder about the differences in their perspectives that had led to fundamentally different decisions made in their lives.  Adama decided by the end of season 1 episode 1 that the war was over, the race of man has lost and they visualise their new goal to find a habitable planet so that mankind can survive as a species and grow from there.  As a result, all their actions are on defending themselves, trying to evade attacks and basically putting the preservation of the race, and their way of life, the values they should stand for, as their first priority in making most decisions that require sacrifice.  “The decisions made must justify why the human race should survive.”

Faced with the same information, Cain decided on something different – the war is not yet over and as long as their battleship stand, they will make every Cylon (the enemy race) regret the day that had destroyed their star system.  There is no meaning to their life, they simply live for the enemy.   They actively seek every Cylon enemy and lives are easily sacrificed if only to inflict greater damage and pain to the enemy.  Physical death appeared to them to be a release.  “Only after we have survived, could we then think about living as a human race.”

The ultimate difference?  The former have a goal for themselves while the latter’s goal is related to the interests of the enemy.  While Galactica sought to live for themselves driven by their desire to find earth, with the enemies only being a considerable factor, Pegasus did not hold an aim which relates to themselves, but only seek to survive for the enemy – to inflict pain, shame and degradation to them.

Isn’t that the same for our own lives too?  Whether we believe that:

1. there is real, true, physical life after the inevitable physical death and that it is something to hope for? or
2. that the inevitable end of this physical life as we know it signals the total annihilation and termination of life.  There is nothing to aim for after life as we know it.  Period.

If the former, the questions that naturally follow would be “What would give that whole life (including the portion after physical death) meaning?

If the latter, the natural question may be “Is there meaning to life?”  And the feared (though errornous!) conclusion may be “None.”