Hey guys! It has been over a year now since my last post.
Well, a lot has changed since then.
First and most importantly, I'M ENGAGED!
Yeap, I'm engaged on my 22nd birthday to the man I've been with for 7 years (and still counting).
So, a day before my birthday, my boyfriend insisted me to have a birthday party.
I always celebrated my birthdays. Never miss one.
But this year, I wasn't in the mood because we (Roni & I) argued a few days before and he didn't even spend my Chinese birthday with me.
And he knows that birthdays are very important to me.
So, yeah, wasn't in the mood at all.
He kept insisting me to celebrate and ask for a photographer.
I knew instantly that something's off.
He would NEVER ask for a photographer.
After considering a lot, eventually, I called and booked the restaurant and have a birthday dinner with my close friends.
It was a simple celebration with the best people, just what I need.
After dinner, he suddenly took the mic and say "there's something I need to tell you" or something like that.
And at that moment, Marry You by Bruno Mars was playing.
So, the speech goes something like this (translated from Hokkien)
"We've been together for 7 years now and it's a pretty long time.
Thank you for being patient with me all this while.
I've learned a lot from this relationship.
Beforehand, I would like to say sorry for not being there on your Chinese birthday.
I know that you're very sad and I am too.
The other I asked, what do you want for your birthday?
and you said "Nothing. I just want you to love me. That's all"
Actually, I love you too much that you don't actually feel it.
Therefore, if I make a small mistake, you'll feel so, so sad.
So, I would like to tell you that no one could ever love you the way I do.
Even if there is, I'm still 1 step higher.
So, today, is your birthday, is a good day, a special day.
In front of all your friends, I would like to ask you to go into a more serious relationship.
So, I would like to ask,
Julia Joman
Will you marry me?"
And that was the best moment in my life.
So, a day before my birthday, my boyfriend insisted me to have a birthday party.
I always celebrated my birthdays. Never miss one.
But this year, I wasn't in the mood because we (Roni & I) argued a few days before and he didn't even spend my Chinese birthday with me.
And he knows that birthdays are very important to me.
So, yeah, wasn't in the mood at all.
He kept insisting me to celebrate and ask for a photographer.
I knew instantly that something's off.
He would NEVER ask for a photographer.
After considering a lot, eventually, I called and booked the restaurant and have a birthday dinner with my close friends.
It was a simple celebration with the best people, just what I need.
After dinner, he suddenly took the mic and say "there's something I need to tell you" or something like that.
And at that moment, Marry You by Bruno Mars was playing.
So, the speech goes something like this (translated from Hokkien)
"We've been together for 7 years now and it's a pretty long time.
Thank you for being patient with me all this while.
I've learned a lot from this relationship.
Beforehand, I would like to say sorry for not being there on your Chinese birthday.
I know that you're very sad and I am too.
The other I asked, what do you want for your birthday?
and you said "Nothing. I just want you to love me. That's all"
Actually, I love you too much that you don't actually feel it.
Therefore, if I make a small mistake, you'll feel so, so sad.
So, I would like to tell you that no one could ever love you the way I do.
Even if there is, I'm still 1 step higher.
So, today, is your birthday, is a good day, a special day.
In front of all your friends, I would like to ask you to go into a more serious relationship.
So, I would like to ask,
Julia Joman
Will you marry me?"
And that was the best moment in my life.
Up until this moment, sometimes I still couldn't believe that I'm actually engaged.
And if you don't already know, the big day is coming real soon.
Thus, I'm writing this post to let you know my plans and experiences so far.
Enough of the intro. Let's move on to the lists, shall we?
1. Date & Venue
Those 2 are the MOST important things that you have to decide; wedding date and book the venue. If you're Chinese, you should know that the "Good day" is mostly the same. In Chinese traditions, no weddings should be held on March, June, or July. Not sure why, but yeah...After you set the date, you MUST book the venue immediately. Especially, if you live in a small town (like me) where there are not many options to choose from. To know which venue suits you best is by simply know what you want. You have to know how many people you're going to invite and how big or small do you want it to be.
2. Pre-wedding Shoot
Depend on what is your budget like, you may have the options of an indoor/outdoor photo shoot or even overseas. If you choose overseas, the expenses are likely to be much more. Choosing the right photography company is crucial. You really have to look into each company's work; what are their pros and cons. Once you've found the one you like, you have to decide where do you want your location shoot to be. Is it indoor, outdoor, or overseas? The overseas shoot is definitely way more expensive than the other two. Most company will offer you a package deal included with the photographer, MUA, and even stylish. If they are also a bridal store, they will likely to provide you with dresses/gowns as well. If they don't, then you'll have to find on your own or you can simply custom.Another thing to consider when shooting outdoor or overseas is weather and timing. The weather has to be just right for you to able to get a nice shot and the timing is important since most of the time, photographers would prefer during sunrise or sunset. Mid-day is the worst time to shoot. Other than that, the overseas photoshoot will likely to consume more timing than you imagine. You have to give at least a week of spare time and also, you have to match your schedule with your photographers'. So generally speaking, there's a lot of things to consider.
Aside from photos, there's also a cinematography shoot. I would personally recommend this for those who shoot overseas cause you can keep this forever and look back when you're older. Cinematography is simply mean videos. It's much more alive than just photos don't you think? There are several moods that you can look for; romantic, daily life, cinematic, story-telling, etc. So, again, you have to look into each company's work and find the one you like.
3. Event Organizer
An Event Organizer (EO) will be your wedding-saver! They will guide you on what to do and help you with everything you need for your wedding. However, finding the right EO is very much needed. You know that there are some people who promise a lot of things, yet don't make it true? yeah, you would want to avoid that. Your big day has to be perfect. Lucky for me, I personally know a couple of EOs so I know what their work is like. I know that my EO will stay true to their word (I hope).Anyways, an experienced EO is what you're looking for. They have to know about all the old-school traditions. I'm not sure about other culture, but Chinese has a LOT of traditions. What you should and shouldn't do, can or can't do. Thankfully, I have help from my EO. Moreover, they will also help you to book your photographer for the day, decoration, MC, entertainment, and many more. Book one ASAP once you've found the one cause most likely they will only accept one wedding per night.
4. Suits, Gowns, and MUA.
Which girl doesn't want an amusing gown for her big day? I'm pretty sure everyone wants one. However, the price point can go very, very high. For your information, I need like 2 gowns, 1 Chinese cheongsam, and 1 red dress for my actual day. For the groom, well, he needs like a suit and that's it. So, if you really planning on custom-made/rent all dresses, be sure to know the prices as well.Anyways, there are 2 types of custom gowns, one is for you to keep and the other one, custom-rent, is where you'll have to return it. Custom-rent is slightly cheaper than custom-made. I would recommend you to custom-rent than the latter because you wouldn't want to wear your wedding dress one more time right? Yes, it's something precious to keep, but it'll take up a big space. If you don't want to custom your gowns, you may want to look through bridal stores to find the one you like. It's much cheaper than custom, but it might just not necessarily be THE ONE. However, if you're trying to cut down the cost, renting one is your best option.
Having the perfect suit for your body type is the thing to look for. Whether it's hiding your belly or making you look taller, a well-made tailored suit has to shape your body according to your preference. A tailor has to know what you want to achieve and one must communicate well in order to achieve it.
Did you know that most people book their Makeup artist aka MUA a year in advance? I didn't. Especially those very famous MUA, they are most likely to be fully booked, so make sure you contact them wayyy earlier. Some bridal store will have one included in the package. My suggestion is to do a trial before deciding on one. Yes, you gotta spend a little more for the trial, but hey, don't you wanna look stunning?
5. Decoration
I'm pretty sure 80% of you want to have an extravagance decoration for your big day. Just like a wedding dress, the price stake up real high. BUT, does it really worth it? For just a couple of hours, those decors will be torn down anyway. Personally, I think a super expensive decor is unnecessary. I get to chose, I like those outdoor type of wedding with nature and minimalist decoration (inspired by Twilight lol). Unfortunately, my country is damn humid and hot. Just thinking of wearing a simple dress to an outdoor event is killing me. Thus, it's not an option for me anymore. Anyway, whatever you choose, that's up to you :)I think that's all for now. These are all based on my experiences and if you have any other suggestions or experiences you wanna share, you may leave it on the comment section below <3
I'm still trying to understand and keep up with my own situation right here hahaha
PS. Have you ever heard people saying that you'll argue a lot during these preparation process? Sadly, IT'S TRUE HAHA. I'm going through that phase right now. Argued over a small matter and didn't talk for days. hahahahaha
Whatever happens, remember why you're getting married in the first place - LOVE (i hope lol)
I wish you all the very best for the couples who are getting married. Hope everything goes as planned and the love keeps growing stronger than ever <3
xx Julia