15 September 2009
06 August 2009
Carisbrook house - Terry is so nice, he going to do heaps for us! Err... didn't realize they had a memory stone plaque placed in the courtyard in memory of the house founder... Umm need to hide it on the day. Buying some Brush Fencing to wrap around it.
Lillian - total scream! Must remember not to use wry humor on the day or everything will be delayed while we're all cracking up.
Kam Fook - Thank God I have Christine. I understood 20% of what was coming out of Simon's mouth. We had a moment when I called out and got Chris to come over. Simon immediately called one of his "langs" to join forces with him to level out the playing field. Christine has been promoted to Operations Manager :P
So what needs to be done.
- Purchase Brush Fence for GStone in Carisbrook House
- Confirm Monkey Bar Food Order
- Confirm peoples assistance
- Wash Vases
- String Bind Bamboos
- Paint, Gloss and Cut out Fish
- Polish white slippers || & Red Shoes
- Decide on a necklace for Red Dress or not.
- Table Allocations || Write Guest Names on tags || Finish Tag Clips || Clip collate the bookmarks
- Find Ceremony Music || Music compiling || Burn CDs of Music
- Wedding Dress Alterations - hand stitch lace back on.
- Kathleen's Dress Alterations - still to do. Finalize that on Saturday
- Mum's dress alternations - Pick up Monday - Need to find her a silver stole
- Chairs - To be reglued
- Picture books - Pick up from Pep
- Stuff Favours
- Collate Kids Drawing book
31 July 2009
This Weekend
- Print off Chair Decals
- Collect Red Dress
- Collect Mum
- Visit Carisbrook House - check fountain/flowers/chair Storage
- Meet Lillian - pay money/talk action plan/goss about Phuket & CaramelloK with Wrinkles
- Have Yum Cha at KFC (Kam Fook Chatswood) - cant believe I only came up with that today!!!!
- Talk to Simon Restaurant Manager about numbers and seating arrangements
A Bruno like wedding
A wedding best to be forgotten
30 July 2009
14 July 2009
13 July 2009
Solder On
He has borrowed Denzil's soldering iron and turned the replaced the amber with the white ones we bought off Ebay.
I have made heaps of errors on these and ive listed for all to see
Lesson Learnt: Amber LED doesnt mean Warm white it means BRIGHT ORANGE.
Other Lesson Learnt: Warm White LED's use a lot of battery life
Other Other Lesson Learnt: There is a price fix on Coin Cell Batteries in Australia
Other Other Other Lesson Learnt: Jay Car is a Rip-off!
Lesson Learnt from Other People: Buy Diffused LEDS or youll end up with beams of lights
30 Umbrellas Collected!
These are the just in case, as its pretty miserable standing in the rain... if it rains... but of course it wont rain. its my wedding day right? *fingers crossed*
Tacky Weddings
One reader posted a comment that when she's stress out with planning her wedding she goes to the site to have a laugh and I agree, it reassures me that I'm not going OTT.
10 July 2009
Printing the leftovers
Thanks Pep!
Who has also helped me out with the signage and various other pieces of art.
But printing isn't cheap :( Even in bulk! So we are doing it the DIY.
Today I grabbed labels for the garden chairs, and the wine labels. And I found some really cute tags which are much better sized for the umbrellas. (And don't look like body tags you tie to the end of dead toes).
That means there will be STAMPING tonight!
On another thought the wine, we are only getting the red as a clean skin… And I'm REALLY glad about that! Today I realized that 6 boxes of wine means 72 bottles! And that's a lot of bottles to label!
07 July 2009
White dress in!
DreSs is a bit crumpled but it is to be expected after being balled up for so long
Eva
avechoco at gmail . com
06 July 2009
Shawls are done and packed
I got Ed and Steph to help with stencilling and folding while we were watching CSI reruns.
And last night i fished stamping dates and tying them up with ribbons.
Woohoo!
Now only small bits and bobs left to go!
05 July 2009
04 July 2009
Scary Weddings
Lu sent some shocker with a fluro orange colour scheme.
But there are so many on the internet!!! Many Top 10s, and of these this is my favourite
I like the comment on number 3. I wonder if the handlers come with the dress?
03 July 2009
30 June 2009
24 June 2009
QVB Locked in!
How exciting!
For those who haven't been into the QVB for a while, they have repainted and refurbished the building. Now with gorgeous aqua blues, rusty reds and creamy butter yellows. There are so many colours I think Jenny is going to go Nuts! :)
One of the areas hidden from general public.
I'm even going to organise a little lunch break for the Bridal Party and photographers. I was planning on making Bento boxes. but realistically, I think the Cafe is less stressful.
We will have to get Jenny to slow down for 10 mins! Wish us Luck!
23 June 2009
Viral Greek Wedding
There are nasty comments made, but I reckon commenting will happen to every wedding and I reckon some of the comments were unintentionally invited.
Weddings are about a promise, to be together from today onwards. to look after each other and meld the families of the bride and groom and promise to protect and nurture the children involved/yet to come.
I think if you start focusing on other things, you will run a higher chance of getting opinionated.
I suspect I'll have my fair share of comments. In particular the Trashing of the Dress, I'll probably have complaints about the locations, the squish, the weather, the travelling, the food, the favours, the language... blah blah blah... But like Yanna, Its my wedding. So Nerr!
BUT to be on the safe side. (Lets face it, its okay for friends and family to comment but who wants a passle of strangers to comment?!?! )
Friends and Family please foward your photos to me to view before posting on the web. If you need to put them up in albums please mark your photos as unlisted and please put in your albums disclaimers to prevent the distribution.
Not long away
I don't think there's much more to plan... But today in the gym I was dreaming about the sleeves on the w.dress...
The problem is the the dress has no sleeves!
I really need to stop with these projects
22 June 2009
Pinned in
I had 2 shops in mind, there was Look Smart Alternations in Myers and the other was Queens Alterations in QVB.
The service at Look Smart was so nice! I have to say it was a bit scary getting in my dress in front of Local MYER shoppers, and the tailor was male! But he put my fears aside, gave me a quote and proceeded to pin me in.
I get 2 fittings and if the 1st fitting isn't right they will redo the alterations free of charge!
Mmm.. I hope some of this loose fabric is due to the weight I have loss…
Oh and let me say Mum is pleased as PUNCH! She won't have to do any of my alterations.
And I get my points!!!!
Look Smart Alterations
Myer City Store
Level 1 (near Country Road)
436 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
02 9238 9335
Ask for Rami
21 June 2009
Happiness Stamp
Flowers are locked on
Carmen the owner had the day off but the nice staff there were happy to help. And the flowers - brides 2xBmaid, 3xmens button holes + 6 male buttonholes and 4 girl buttonholes. Comes up to a total of $390 I'm pretty happy with the costings
Eva
avechoco at gmail . com
19 June 2009
TableCard Holders
16 June 2009
Mr Pig has a date
I finally got us a quote a few weeks ago... And last night mum and I discussed the logistics of Mr Pig.
I asked mum how she was going to fit the pig in the hotel fridge. We laughed ourselves silly with the thought of chopping up the pig and distributing the parts in plastic bags amongst all the hotel rooms of the family members and friends.
But common sense prevailed and the pig will be handed over on Monday at the post wedding BBQ.
13 June 2009
Fabric warehouse
They have a loyalty card there. Spend 200 and get 20. And that's pretty easy to do in a fabric shop!!!
I was a bit depressed after the dressmaker they cheered me up with jelly beans. Then we had a chicken burger for lunch.
The Remnant Warehouse
theremnantwarehouse.com.au
494 Botany Rd Alexandria NSW 2015
(02) 9698 7855
Eva
avechoco at gmail . com
The dressmaker
Okay got the red dress altered for 150
But the white one with all its beading has proved to be a fly in the ointment. She quoted 450 which is more than the dress!
:( so what next?
Eva
avechoco at gmail . com
Today's agenda
Visit fabric shop about shawl fabric
Get a heater
Eva
avechoco at gmail . com
12 June 2009
Blue Lotus Makeup
I've never had a make-up trial before, nor had I had non friends come into my house and do non friend/family stuff in your home. I felt the need to feed and send her home with food!
Her boxes of tricks is quite extensive. V.distracting.!!! and she has heaps of falsies and we could all have some at no extra charge!
The trial did take a bit, because we were chatting and laughing too much! and the final product was WOW! I felt empowered and all mighty! Like the evil queen and could and would curse you all!!! Bwahhahahaha!!!!!.
But she applied some more blush and eyeliner so I settled back into normal (but glamorous) Eva. :D
I feel different without my red cheeks, without them I think something scary is unleashed
Blue Lotus Makeup
Contact: 0413 181 285 (Melissa)
Email: melissa@bluelotusmakeup.com.au
09 June 2009
08 June 2009
Flowers
So in the collage you see on the left flowers that I hope to have. Freesias, Roses, Lizzathus and these funny white berries which remind me of that berry bush we use to hide behind, back when we had Peking Restaurant (except those berries were red)
The florist name is Carmen, and she was so nice! and patient! As mentioned, when there is a lot of choosing to do, its REALLY hard to settle on one choice.
Its easier to tell people which flowers you don't want! Which were for me, the Gerbies (look like a massive daisy...), Chrysanthemums (death flower for Chinese) and Gladioli (Dame Edna *shudder!* not on my W-Day!)
Sunset Flowers
Look for Carmen
Marrickville Metro
(opposite Liqourland)
Shop 76, Metro Shopping Centre
Marrickville NSW 2204
(02) 9517 3412
Makeup and Hair
So back to the drawing board as mentioned...
I'm now talking to Melissa Chew from BlueLotus Makeup and her recommended hairdresser Colleen Jees, who i am getting a free consult on Tuesday in Mosman!
Also Lulu pointed me into the direction of a bridal dress shop in Marrickville, who we called and they indicated they would be happy to alter dresses. :) So Next sudnay is booked!! it cant be Saturday because ill be at Kirribilli markets selling all the clothes that i have collected over the years. it will all be cheap! $5bucks! so come over and grab a bargian!
Corsages Done
07 June 2009
06 June 2009
Suckling pig
Mr Wongs - the bright yellow sign outside, opposite market city is selling suckling piggies at $43/kg. At 4-5 kgs per pig... With one week notice. We'll call on them 2 weeks prior to the day to lock in Mr Pig.
Next Q will be who is going to look after Mr Pig?
Eva
avechoco at gmail . com
Wedding Dreams
The last dream i had. Uncle Jacob stood up to do a reading about the importances of promises and vows, which was very nice and all of a sudden the orchestra pit decided it was time to fine tune their instruments! Yeah My wedding was on a stage. HA! Lillian paused the ceremony and told them to stop making the racket. Most of the players obeyed except one naughty violin. Who got my death glare, and subsided.
The ceremony continued and then we got to a singing part?! (Yeah, singing.... WTF?) so while our guests sang the most folksy cheesy song about kissing and love (sounded like "From Big Things Little Things Grow") Steph gripped me by the elbows!
I'm nervous so I grip his and ask What's going on?!?. He tells me this is something we had planned and proceeds to pecks little kisses all over my face!
I dont mind kisses but infront of all the guests and an orchestra?! Frick!
Woke up and vowed to reduce coffee intake for the rest of the week.
04 June 2009
Wedding Favours: Something Aussie, Something Useful
Not my drink of choice... but everyone is different. Maybe if it came as rice bowl cosies...
02 June 2009
Menu Holder Idea
Rather than buying something or something or something or something or something...
Make it :D
Using Salt Dough!
Ingredients
- 1 cup Salt
- 1 1/4 cups Warm water
- 3 cups Flour
- Pour 1 cup salt into large bowl.
- Add 1 1/4 cups warm water, mix well.
- Add 3 cups flour, mix well some more.
- Knead into ball, seal in plastic bag and refrigerate overnight.
Number Stamps
and i doubt ill use them again, so does anyone have some i can borrow?
Sunday: Makeup Trial
>_< nervous as all buggery.
01 June 2009
Final Cake Dolls
Cake Doll Year Book
30 May 2009
Instax Camera
I orginally saw this idea at someone elses wedding published on the internet, where they used Polaroid camera and film. But since Polaroid has gone out of production, the price has gone up. You can still get it but at $2.50 a photo, I found another alternative, Fuji Instax is the alternative to Polaroid. You can find a whole gallery of photos taken with Instax on Flickr.
The Camera is a bit big. Well its bloody massive! Its actually the size of a bread plate. But the end product will look very cool and I'm looking forward to the photos and comments
Spurling
Originally we looked at Ferrari Formals. They have an excellent selection of suits and frippery. But at nearly $300 per person it was a lot of money for something that we couldnt keep afterwards.
Then we went to Spurling, who have moved into Myers. They have pretty much the same selection of suits PLUS you get Myer Points!
That won me over :) and at $220 each, it was a little cheaper.
13 May 2009
Cake Cake
Casa Del people, write it down. Maria was the nicest person yet! and happy to throw in freebies.
So we have ordered our 3 tier cake in white frosting with gold ribbon around the base.
and then around it I have a clone of cake dolls ready to drown all bad thoughts with their cuteness!
www.casadel.com.au
07 May 2009
Interesting
Aimed at Gentlemen with vertical issues, this item will help them add height. So if you're lucky enough to have a bride that wants to wear 5-inch hooker shoes on her wedding day, you can tower along side her subtlety... Click here to buy
Cake Tasting Saturday!!!
Then off to Myers Bondi Junction to add more crap to the Registry List for those who are old fashion and need to BUY us something. Seriously we have EVERYTHING. But then again I really want a chest freezer. (thinks)
Anyway for anyone hip and happening. Please just a red pocket, or Lai see is fine. Our next big purchase is a place to call our own and with Sydney prices, every bit of help counts!
Just a thought those who want to give us red pockets, and don't know when, please hand them over at the greeting table at reception. And please put it in a card with your name so we can thank you later!
Suite Hire? or Sue-me on Fire?
One place quoted me:
Hire a vest on its own is $50, To rent with a suit $15. To Buy $150. Bleh!
BLOODY. RIDICULOUS. Seriously Men of "Austraylia" You are held to ransom! Cost of apparell is so much more expensive!
That was Myers. Who have got a new Formal Hire Franchise, Spurling. Their suits are around the $220 mark, so that plus shirt and vest is around the $250 mark. Which is cheaper than the Ferrari Formal Quote. Ill try DJ's next and Chorleys too.
Makeup Artist
I've found Martha to do mine... To think getting my hair into curls, my eyes lined will cost me just as much as my dress is a daunting cost.
But... then again her before/afters do look good.
Maybe I should go back to that Chinese one stop shop lady? I thought her hairdos were too Chinese for me.
Table CP - Final Version
Each Vase will have: (from the bottom UP)
- 15cm x 32cm Vase
- A Warm White LED Globe
- 2 x 3023 Coin Cell Batteries
- Clear Gel Balls
- Spiky Bamboo Branches
- Gold Glitter Branches
- Red Glitter Spray
- 2 x Beaded Lantern like dangles
- 2 x red ribbon fish
- 2 x gold ribbon fish
- 2 x Glass Crystal Drops
I do have some dud items however, with the spare 11 peony vases, I'll have to think of a way to use them...
01 May 2009
Picking Bridal Procession Music
It's amazing… How EASY it is to pick the wrong one… but how hard it is to pick the right one!
Well last night I went through Ed's music collection. Bloody Oath! its extensive! 700mb of classical music and I didn't even get to Beethoven!
But during the process of listening to all that classical music Ed and I started grouping them into a few categories:
· Walking to your funeral
· You are happiest in a Tutu
· Race down the Aisle
· Contemplative and Melancholy
· Strip tease
· Enter Stage Left - Leaps and Bounds ß this had us in fits of laughter
But at 2.45am in the morning, I think I found the right pieces! And both are piano solos! Hopefully Steph likes them too! If not… well…
24 April 2009
Hunt for the Cake
Thankfully I found out now and not later! So off to find a cake shop.
So Far I've contacted the following:
Polka Cakes
Simmone Logue
Planet Cake
Casa Del Cakes
Faye Cahill
Steph - said he would as a work colleague about cake shops in Chatswood.
Thankfully we have a few months before the day to organize this!
Goodbye Miss Moonface!
Okay given the hairdresser did something fricking AMAZING to my hair. I have to say this is one of the first photos of myself I havent had a fit over... Weddings so some strange things.
Status Report
- I got my crystal drops which will add some sparkle to the ever evolving Table CP…
- I got my favor boxes again…
- I bought spiky bamboo for the table cp. These will add strength and height and Japan City have a deal, buy one get one free! Must go and get more!
- Coin Batteries are posted today
- Ive lost more weight, I can circle my wrists now! Very strange!
- Cake is back to the drawing board. Michels Patissere Cake wholesaler won't do the cake I want. So either get a crap cake or pay for a nice cake. Looking at a few suppliers
- Found another makeup person. Will ask them what they think of Eva and makeup.
- Emailed the post ceremony pub to book an area for guests to get pissed.
- Mums hotel is booked for the week prior to the wedding
- Steph's pars have organized their accommodation! So cool!
22 April 2009
Lesson Learnt
I was stuck as our invites were a unique size and I could only source white or bright mustard yellow envelopes.
Thank god mum has good humor and is searching for stickers/stamps in red to colour up the invite. If the worse comes, she'll stick them in red organza bags or wrap the invite in red wrapping paper..
Added: Apparently White envelopes and black text is what chinese use to give Death Money. When a person dies, the family is given "Bak Gum", another pocket of money that the family can use to pay for the funeral expenses.
14 April 2009
Airfares
Its closer than I think!
Wedding Bento
What could i put in them?
I want to make them small and easy to eat. so im thinking little nigiri rolls. lots of hearts and red and pink.
and it needs to be tasty too! Food plans to come!
Hey Mr Postman
Honeymoon Desitination
But it might not be as bad as it seems, certianly the Govt doesn't think so...
28 March 2009
Ringing it in
Sent via BlackBerry® from Vodafone
22 March 2009
Wedding Proofs
The invite is a unique size so its going to be a challenge to source envelopes.
Rings
We're getting them engraved with the date of our wedding.
Ready to be picked up next week.
20 March 2009
Clone army is ready to march m'lord.
Lessons learnt
- There isnt enough newspaper in the world to protect the carpet from paint spills.
- Japanese paper - soak off the white backing before using it.
- Faces are hard to draw on bumpy surfaces
The online album of the creation of cake dolls
11 March 2009
Photography
“ We met Jenny the photographer! She’s so cool! We’re going to have a food fight!”
Food fight?!? Hehe We’ll get to that later
Jenny was referred to us by a close friend, we hadn't picked a photographer as we were unsure of what we wanted and frankly the price was giving us heebee-jeebies.
Jenny's blog and website were intriguing and we liked what we saw, her entries were unique and conveyed her personality, - energetic, passionate, exciting. And to our delight when we met her, she is exactly that!
I think I need someone like that behinds the lens, otherwise I’ll freak out. Its important when you are going to let someone into the most vulnerable day of your life that you pick someone that you can trust and isn’t jaded and even better if they can help infect you with energy and excitement.
We had a quick lunch at Bar Quattro, a busy café restaurant which you can find on top of St James station. We chatted about how we met and how things were going with the plans, the location, what we wanted. Then we told her about the trash the dress shoot we were planning. (at this point her eyes did light up with glee ;) I told her that I had organised for us to go to Moore Park Stables for an hour to shoot photos on/around a horse and in the stables too. Then I informed her that we could do pretty much anything. Jen at that point suggested a food fight. (then my eyes lit up with glee!) So as described - Tomato sauce bottles at 20 paces! Bring it on!
A few people have looked at me with horror, about trashing my dress. The dress isn’t what makes the day, it’s the friends that share the day with you, all the funny strange moments that come up, touching, quirky, funny, teary. That’s what makes a wedding special. I’m really looking forward to those moments. (and the food fight too)
05 March 2009
Car Dolls
24 February 2009
An update
Chinese Qun Kwa. - I know girls are looking for these to rent and the elusive Captiol theatre address is HERE!
There are many forms of chinese traditional dress. If you saw all the kids carrying the China flag in the opening ceremony, you can see that theres more than just the staple Cheung Sam.
Kun Qwas are very traditional, and they are useful to wear in Tea Ceremonys. Not only do you look stunning in red with glittering golden/silver thread, you wont be showing all your goods (clevage) to your elders as you ask them to bless your marriage!
The Magic Image Wedding Services Centre
Level 1 16 Campbell St, Haymarket 2000
Manager: Sandy Lee
02 92810302
Sandy is lovely, and they have many different sorts of Qun Kwa, as well as Western Ballgowns Mother of the Bride Dresses and Wedding gowns to choose from. On top of that they do hair and makeup, photography, car hire, celebrant infact they do the LOT.
The downside was that they didnt have one my size (im a size 16/18) I have a small waist, but my bust is bigger than the average china girl. so I miss out :(
06 February 2009
Dramatic Chinese Music
But then I thought what would the chinese use? The first song that comes to mind starts with "Loong Bun! "
With the Power of google, the song is called "Shang Hai Tan", and it was famous around the time of Roman Tam, who is a famous male opera singer of Hong Kong and has done many songs that are opening themes of famous classical TVB chinese series. Hehehe Hope you know where im heading with this *grin*
So here are a list of Dramatic Chinese Songs that we could walk down the aisle to. There is the formentioned 上海灘 and then there is 小李飛刀 or even 铁血丹心 ! Arent they great! Ahh! sure bring back memories!
Steph and Andrew
My Dad
Eva in this...
doing this down the aisle
While Gpa sits in the Corner
29 January 2009
25 January 2009
22 January 2009
Stupid Question...
Pricewise they were originally something outrageous, but thanks to being in Chinatown and with the help of a GREAT negotiator, I got them at a pretty nice price :)
Anyway the funny bit was when I picked up the rings yesterday... the sales guy(low-watt variety), recognised me and brought out the rings for me to try. I was happy and told him so, then he asked if I wanted to wear them now...
Derrrrr!
19 January 2009
The Guest List that keeps growing
Do not let your parents out of the country prior to your wedding... you may end up with more guests than you had otherwise planned.
Not that I really mind... Most of the people that are coming are old waiters and waitresses and kitchen hands that worked for Mum and Dad, and hence I grew up with them as older siblings.
I suppose it shows how well regarding my parents are, and how many Malaysian and Singaporean Students they have raised over the 20+ years in Hobart.
But at this rate Sydney will need to prepare for a population boost in August 09.
Extra Guests: 14
15 January 2009
Celebrant - Lillian Lyons
Now I have more information I need to talk to Steph to see what he wants.
She needs a $200 deposit to be secured for the date. but need to confirm with Mum about Uncle Jacob
Lillian Lyons
12 January 2009
Concrete is getting laid...
Be prep to dine at Kam Fook Chatswood for our wedding.
08 January 2009
Shawl Inspiration
Curbly Video Podcast: How to Make Hand-Printed Fleece Scarves.
I was planning on using an off white/cream fleece, cutting strips and tasselling the edges. Now I can incorporate the flowers into them by stencil print!
I think a small rose and the date in the corner or centre of the shawl
05 January 2009
Table CP - Draft 1
Need to Source lights
Think about the ribbon fish
Opinions?