#diyjourney – more and more

For our berkat aka wedding favours, we had taken quite a long time to search for a suitable item. We even contemplated buying them from Klang where my cousins are staying. Since we foresee that we are going to have many children at our event, we wanted favours to cater to both adults and kids. And for kids, we really do not buy the idea of giving goodie bags. As it is, we have already booked the great an awesome guys from The Party People. I first got to know them when I was planning for my eldest girl, Ayumi’s party. They really had a good promo deal for popcorn+candyfloss+soft serve ice cream. So what with the desserts and the party corner…having a goodie bag with the usual candies or chocolates is just a tad too much.

Somehow we stumbled on this guy’s store on one of our search who sells sweet-coloured pails like this image below:

http://sophiesfavors.blogspot.sg/2011/03/mini-tin-pail-favors.html

And these were selling for so cheap! That is one reason why we put in a lot of time and effort in finding for vendors straight from the source when it can go much lower than 80 cents per piece. Also when we were there, we saw the bride and groom bubble favours that were being sold for cheap also! All we need to do is to buy the bubble mixture from Toys-R-Us that will only costs us less than $15.

My pal, Ain using a syringe that saves us loads of time filling up the favours 🙂

And so from then on, ideas just came and we had another idea of DIYing tags instead of printing stickers for the pails/eggs. Already we were shredding brown papers as a ‘nest’ for the eggs in the pails. My bestie, Dian came over and helped out with the tags and even my aunts and cousins helped out with cutting out the tags as they were so gatal wanted to rewang rewang when I already said it is OK of they don’t but they still insist on coming. Happy jugak la dorang came to ramai-ramai kan preparation even though I would want the event to be as simple and fuss-free. Alhmadullillah…

Tags for the Pails

The finished Thank You Tags

More cools*** stuffs for #diyjourney

Jute and Burlap and Kraft bags and whatnots

And so…we got our stuffs from the trusted Daiso and Spotlight all from ever-accessible to Dhoby Ghaut purple-NEL line. Really makes me fall in love more and more with my new housing estate.

For those who do not know, I just got my keys a year back from HDB after a year of dingdong of written letters and appeals. I am especially heartened by the fact that HDB do have a ‘heart’. After my divorce, rightfully they would have cancelled the application (coz my ex-spouse and me were supposed to collect the keys in 2009 but we were in the midst of our divorce). So I was surprised that HDB kept the keys first and reserve the flat for me and allowed me to appeal as they stated that my salary and CPF alone is enough to finance the flat. Back then an HDB unit only costs $180k+ for a 4-room unit. And throughout 2009 till 2012, I refused to drive or travel anywhere near the housing estate. But after I moved in, I realised that my block is so accessible to all the places that I LOVE! It even had a direct bus to my workplace (so no need to drive) and there is a bus that stops at two of my best pal’s block too!

Things are definitely picking up for me Ahamdullillah 🙂

#diyjourney

The completed Table Centerpieces

Collection of Glass Bottles

Getting There…

One of the DIY items that we are embarking on are the decor items such as table centerpieces. We specifically told our main man Iss from Iss Weddingdesigns that we would be supplying certain items to match with the decor of the venue. We have full faith in him even though this is his first foray into the wedding theme. It is actually quite a breeze doing up the bottles.

Downside: I had to drink so many of them ginger beers, root beers, Snapple, Tazo drinks.

Upside: The supplies are so easy to get from! Daiso sells the glue gun cheap2 and even the glue sticks! I didn’t know that! Rather than buy the pricier ones from Artfriend or Popular. Even the jute strings can be found easily at Daiso or SKP. All cheap2 also. I had my pals come over to my house one day to help out and it was fun having them kecoh2 over the DIY items. And yeah they do grumble why oh why I sanggup to DIY but I like! And after wedding can also use as decor pieces at home what.

Soem other things that I was able to get from Daiso which I made into the bekas for Bunga Rampai:

Bunga Rampai Tray

A little feature to add some nice-ness to the tray

As long as you have a glue gun and glue stick, anything goes!

And then…when I was at one of the many visits to Rivervale Mall’s Daiso, I saw this.

Still thinking what to do with this.

Kad Jemputan #diyjourney

And so…I have finally collected the cards that I had sent to the printers. Yes…even right down to the invites we very intent on doing it ourselves. The idea for the cards was to incorporate features that will allow our intended guests to instantly link the cards to us. Hence the images of the quirky glasses that I love to wear and the ‘stache that K has on his face. It helps that most of our guest are people that we personally know and it will be a good talking point for us when we pass them the invites. We decided to go with a postcard design as opposed to a folded on or a standard orang melayu kahwin card is more of practicality. It is easier to write in the card without having to open and close the card, and its quite a good size to read and hold. Also, we included the feature of a ‘real’ postcard at the back. This side of the invite serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it acts as an information portion to tell guests on what is the programme. As our invited guests is only 600+, our event only goes on for 4 hours only. We would like to keep it short and sweet. Secondly, this side of the card serves as a ‘guestbook’ for our guests. There will be no actual guestbook during the wedding. We wanted guests to reuse the card to pen wishes for us and let us collate them all as keepsake. I mean for a fact, most of us would just discard the invite after the event somehow or other. So rather than letting our efforts in designing and printing the cards ourselves go to waste, we would rather have memories being penned down for us to have a read maybe years on after the wedding. Also, the envelope will not be an envelope. Heh. We shamelessly copied the idea from Helmindra and Fizah‘s wedding favours. As what one of my pals commented, “Kau ni step total package semua kena sama theme ar ni“.  But then of course! Nanti kalau takde feel then how? Heheh…#mcmpaham But seriously me and K would like it to go seamless…from the start to the end. Till my daughters terbawak-bawak help me find the kraft paper bags and going shopping around the purple NEL line. It was fun trying to find which places sells what. We found the Kraft bags from Daiso…$2 for a pack of 10. So we went to several Daiso outlets just to get 40 of them packs. And only after we got all of it, I found out SKP sells Kraft paper bags in much larger quantities and lesser price. Of course you can go Bras Basah to find or order from Etsy or some Alibaba.com vendors but since its just literally a month away from the event, we made do with what we can grab fast. But still end up quite cheap with printing and the packaging. Yang doiley tu berlambak at home..so cost price for that is literally $0.

It is exactly a month more to the #hipsterweddingaffair. Did not know what I was actually feeling coz it feels kinda weird having to answer the officer that it is indeed my second marriage and having to produce my divorce certificate. It’s kinda surreal you know. Hence the reason why I was a bit numb truthfully.

Insya Allah I will not have to go through this show of producing a divorce certificate ever again.

And guess what, we have yet to get the Invites done even at this time.

#hipsterweddingaffair BrideMaids Night

Love them so much. The night where I have my BFFS from the different stages in my life at one table ^_^

Wishes from My Besties/Bridesmaids xoxo

My Bestie Dearie, Sri Hirdayu

I would like to take a moment to reminisce how beautiful our friendship has blossomed. It has been 14 awesome years since our paths crossed way back in NYJC. Our GEMA DIKIR ‘white stone’ age of batu putih (haha!) –  to our dark age of case-of-the-ex life stories – to our marriages – and today, our club motherhood membership. Wonderful journey, I must say. And I thank Allah for blessing me with such a gorgeous, sexy, kind and a very very strong bestie like you in my life. You are very beautiful, dearie. Inside out. And I love you with all my heart.

Even though we rarely meet, deep inside we know we can always have each other’s backing when shit happens. (quote) Best friends listen to what you don’t say (unquote). This was exactly how I felt on that particular fateful Hari Raya year. With that lil bump of yours with baby Tiara inside and lil Ayumi running around the house with my Gaby, by just looking at your eyes, I could already sense something was not right. I even dreamt of you. It was then I decided to just pluck my courage to confront you. And the rest was history.

Alhamdullillah, love is indeed your true destiny with Kamal. And with everything that has happened, only Allah knows best, which why we call it F.A.T.E. InsyaAllah, if before this, a family vacation was not fulfilled, I really hope to make it happen with you and Kamal (and munchkins) this time. Ini Kalilah. Ubah. Mesti jadi. LOL. By the way dearie, this I have to tell you. Elias and I, we are so much more comfortable with Kamal for some reason. We really adore his down-to-earth nature. Power of the misai, I reckon. Haha!

So, let’s forget April (read: 10 April) coz June is THE month now worth remembering. Simply becoz we now share the same wedding anniversary month  Yeah!!!

Last but not least, my wish for you dearie is this: may you find in your newfound happiness with Imam Kamal (and not forgetting your precious munchkins), the affection, the serenity, the peace, and most importantly, loads of blessings from The One Above, that you’ve been seeking all these while. And may you love each other, till Paradise, in the hereafter. In the name of The Lord, all these I pray for you, Sri Hirdayu Ahmad. Ameen.

With all my love, Dian Hamzah

 

Darling Sri

Over the past 8 years, we have seen how each other discover and develop our own voices, beliefs, courage and passion in our work and in our own personal lives. Right now, I truly am filled with pure joy to know that you have found a man who delights in you, and makes you feel special by filling your entire being with that fuzzy-wuzzy feeling. May your every day be blissful.

I love you, my sexy fellow rebel! Love, Sylvia.

 

Dearest Sri,

What started with a sweet, sincere smile has bloomed into a tight, heartwarming friendship. A friendship that has given me plenty of strength, love, life, laughter and…food!

My prayers are with you guys for your big day. May Allah continue to bless you with much love, life & goodness in this life and hereafter. For you, your loved ones & those closest to your heart (like me!)

CONGRATULATIONS !!

With much love, Ida Razak

 

Dearest Sri,

I should not say so much in case these wishes turns into a wet one! All that I want to say is that I am thankful for having an awesome, sexy, ‘minah’ buddy like you! Many thanks for all the listening ears, your thoughts & advice…all the time spend together is much, much appreciated! Love you and may this lovely knot of love between you & Kamal lasts till  eternity…

Wishing you all the best, XoXo, Ain

 

Every other photograph I found of us together its either me with my eyes closed or you were looking elsewhere! So I dug, and dug and found the Korean costume photograph! This is probably one of the earliest times when I suddenly became “your friend” (no idea why!) and the three of us  just kept doing stuff together since. You’re a one independent and resilient lady who never fails to amaze me with the courage you have to make changes in your life! And keep it that way! I hope Kamal will be the one who’s really for you and true to your heart and remember in a marriage…

“The first to apologize is the bravest.  The first to forgive is the strongest.  The first to forget is the happiest.”

Ee Wei

I was fortunate to get Katt Ibrahim from The Wedding Brocade. I have been taken in by her personally when I witnessed her in action for my buddy, Ida, during her engagement. However, the first time I enquired, she couldn’t take me in and I settled for her assistant (who used to work for Anna Sui…so I was still sold! Anything Anna Sui, I will fawn over one).

So there was this one fine day that Katt called me up and said a client postponed the engagement of her services, and so…there I was shopping for fabric with Katt and her sweet mom and my two girls in tow! And yes! I opted for the custom made gown as I do not think I can fit in most of TWB’s ones. And I need something Different. Or else the concept really CMI.

I had somewhat briefed her what I wanted. And when she saw this, she exclaimed that no one had chosen this colour before! This one I had to agree as usually brides would want something dreamy, princessy, grand, you know…the works. When I saw this fabric and colour, I was like YES I take it! It is soooo me and Mr K. I know some of my friends or other brides do not take to this kind of colour.
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When you are 32, getting married for a 2nd time in 7 years with 2 kids running around hiding in between the fabrics at the shop, PRINCESSY and FANTASY, sexayyy-see-my-body figure-kind of wedding outfit just DO NOT fit me AT ALL.

6 Months to THE Wedding

By the time I post this up, we have well on our way to have that wedding that we have been looking forward ever since we felt that its the right time to move one step further in the relationship. So I’m just glad that it may not be the Typical Wedding (that’s what most would wanna claim their wedding to be) but its definitely Affordable and Meaningful.

So at long last, anyone who can pull this off, we RESPECT you. How else could anyone even think about booking any vendors with less than 6 months away? So here they are, our vendors, our first choice VENDORS!

You can click here –> PREVIEWs to get the Vendors Link and the Completed ‘Product’ ^_^

1. Catering: Rose Catering
2. Decor: IssWeddingDesigns
3. Bridal Dress/Makeup: The Wedding Brocade
4. Venue: Piai Plaza
5. Photography/Videography: PixelMuse Photography
6. Extras: The Party People for Cotton Candy, Ice Cream & Popcorn
7. Chairs: xoxo Tiffany Chairs
8. Wedding Favours: Simply Wedding Favors
9. Wedding Emcee: Zan Sofiyan (Medialite)

For the other stuffs that’s is deemed ESSENTIAL (or otherwise), either we scrap it or we going the DIY route. Good Luck to Us.

Yes. There’s no Kompang. Yes. It’s the bare minimum. Yes. It’s a Hipster wedding. Wedding for people who slacks too much like the both of us. We both work well under pressure. And let the pressure be 1 month before the wedding. Until then, I will never live and breathe Kakak2 Kahwin coz I’m already a Makcikstepnakkahwin.

Finally after 2 months!

I’ve had all these posts queued up in the draft box. After losing my phone in Cambodia, I led a so called ‘hermit’ lifestyle throughout the year-end holiday. There was no smartphone gadget in my possession and since my flat is still quite raw, there was no Internet connection at all. And for the girls, there’s not even cable to watch their staple of cartoon shows.

Hence, it was like a hikmah for us three that we were not distracted by any kind of games, social media and tv. So, I’m very well bersyukur that we had a well-spent holiday.

But then again, without connection with practically everyone and anyone, it was difficult for me to help Mr K to source for or communicate with vendors. And…with 6 months to the wedding, December was supposed to be a prime time for us to get everything going and BOOKED! Somehow, we managed and I guess, by the time you all read this, We did the UNTHINKABLE for a typical Malay wedding:

We somehow managed to book ALL the major (and all are our FIRST choices ^_^) by late December. Alhamdullillah After all the sourcing for vendors who can fit our non-conventional wedding, we came back still to our first choices through sheer luck and also like they say, kalau memang da jodoh, whatever that is meant to be yours, will be yours. I mean, by this date 231212, most BTBs (usually…I rarely hear of grooms turning into panicky mode 6 months to the wedding) would have flipped if their choice of vendors have not been materialized

The ones who were more stressed were our family instead. Asking details and such and usually ngan muka relak jack, we just replied “belom“. And I truly think that I’m the one who is the one yang macam, “Ada bagus, takde takpela” I guess, as I’ve been married before and now a Bonafide Mother of Two (MOT), the novelty of Parading myself through rows of table gawking (or sniggering) at you while you sit ‘daintily’ on the dais. On the hand, Mr K was the one who has been actively updating me on his ideas for a non-conventional wedding.

I know a number of those who stumbled on this blog menyampah with our liberal use of the term ‘HIPSTER’. It’s no use for us to defend our choice and definitely we don’t hang out at the supposed Hipstershit corners in SG. Our main idea of a wedding is for it to be meaningful and Affordable. I’m a MOT, he’s single yes. We live within our means and we don’t have parents to SPONSOR this and that. Malay weddings are damn expensive and for main keyplayers in the industry to dictate what’s IN as a trend (Photoshoot for Save the Date? We did it using Instag and Photobooth app. Total Cost: $0), it’s really a trickery of some sorts I tell you.

ADATs. Yes, it may be important but for us to include things that costs just for show? Waste my money. I did my own henna the first time round back in ’06. And I will still do it again. Simple henna on the tips pf my fingers. Thats It. For me to spend more than a $100 just to adorn my hand with designs? It’s a definite no-go. I won’t deny that Brides do have that extra seri with all that. But then again, they have cash to spare. I don’t. Two kids in school, expenses, my own schooling, housing…henna designs or Bunga manggar are worthless and they definitely do not ADD value to our relationship. Money is better worth saving than spending.

Well, now I’m clearing my drafts, as promised Ladies 😉