My Black and White Affair: A Wedding Planned in 3 months - THE WEDDING BUDGET

Disclaimer: I am not a  wedding coordinator nor a wedding supplier. I am now paid to do advertise or promote anything here. Everything's based on experience, my headaches and joys as I prepare the my wedding. Enjoy reading and feel free to comment :) 

It was July 2014 when my husband and I told my father that we are going to get married. When my father asked the date, we told him we wanted to get married on August 2014. Being conservative to the core, I think my father blacked out when he heard that. 

To make the long story short, we decided to move our wedding date to Oct. 11, 2014. I was so freaking confident that I can coordinate, prepare, and organize everything for the wedding. 

Take note: I had a full-time job (which requires me to go to the office early and leave late).
I even told my hubby that I will take care of this and that, do some DIY (do-it-yourself) stuff and coordinate with everyone who will be attending the wedding.

Did it work out well? Hmmmm.. Actually it did work out well but honestly, my dear brides-to-be, you will be needing a lot of help. It was not easy! 

Not easy, BUT it's possible. :) 

I have learned a lot with that  3 months of preparation. There were some things that I wish I could have done and things I wish I didn't do. Let me share some of the stuff that I have learned. Let's start with the WEDDING BUDGET

http://www.inkedweddings.com/stress-free-wedding-planning-say-i-wont-before-i-do/wedding-budget-planning/

My Black and White Affair - This is where it started.

I am and ordinary woman with ordinary dreams. One of my dreams is to get married. Now, the Lord gave me a chance to fulfill that dream. 
I belong to a big family, with 3 sisters and 2 brothers and a hundred of cousins. He is an only child and with not-so-many cousins. 
I live in Manila. He grew up in Leyte and spent almost his whole life there. 
I am 5 feet tall. He is 5'6. 
I'm so bad with computer games but he is so good at it. 
I'm messy. He is organized. 
I'm noisy. I talk a lot. He is quiet and very careful when he talks. 
I love shopping and walking around. He hates it. 
I am not good with jokes but he is. 
We are different yet our differences make us love each other.





Our Story

We were in college then. He was the smart one and I was known as the "dean's niece". We see each other in the hallways but never said our "hi's" and "hello's". 
We became classmates when we were in third year. He had his own set of friends and I had mine. Finally, we knew each other's names. 

We became friends. Then we became good friends. Finally, we became a couple. No courting, no silly flowers or teddy bears. I realized that he was special to me. I think he also realized that I am somehow special to him.

School life.

He has a good sense of humor. He is smart too. I get good grades in test but he gets BETTER grades. We enjoyed teasing each other and making fun of our schoolmates. 

Our usual Saturday date would include eating and studying in the park for our test. We were not just a couple but we were good friends - best friends, if I should say. We had our shares of petty fights but we learned a lot.

After Graduation

We graduated from college in 2007. Then comes the Nurses' Licensure Examinations. We only had two months to prepare. We attended the same review center. We seated beside each other. We go home together and we study together. He encouraged me to study more. He was the worrier and I was the lax - one. We spent a lot nights at Dunkin Donuts,studying, drinking coffee, and eating our favorite 'bunwich'. 

I was happy to study with him. And I guess I kept him awake most of the time.

The Real Life

We took the test. The results weren't out yet but I had to go back to Manila. He had to stay in Leyte. We had to look for jobs. 

I got a ticket and I was all prepared to go back to Manila. It was the first time I felt sad in our relationship. I realized that we are about to have a long-distance relationship. I told him to wait for me.

That was 2007.

2008. He came to Manila to look for a job. It didn't work out. The Lord has other plans. He went back to Leyte.

2009 - 2010. Our relationship was tested. It was a difficult time in our relationship and we were tested. He was in Leyte. I was here. Broke up and our relationship ended.

Late 2010. I thank the Lord for helping us both realize so many things. We talked. The Lord opened a door for us to communicate. We started to patch things up and it was like starting our love story all over again. We gave love a second chance.

Now to forever

We learn many things through our own experience and other people's experience. Our relationship matured. We understood each other. We accepted each other's weaknesses and learned how to communicate more. 

Indeed, love was better the second time around.

Finally, we are ready to end our boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. It's time for us to share a life together as a family.

October 11, 2014 marks the date. On this date, our life will no longer focus on "I, ME, MYSELF" and the things that "I can do". Starting October, 11, 2014, it'll be "US and WE with the Lord" and the things that "we can do".

Eight (8) years was worth the wait. Waiting was tough but with all the experiences, the challenges and the things we had learned , it was all worth it.