THE TOP 10 BEST WEDDING MOTIFS – The “FourKeeps” Way

What are the best wedding motifs? This is what’s running through the mind of every bride-to-be.  Of course, every bride wanted her wedding to be as perfect as it can be. And she was taken into this website because she is trying to “google” the perfect wedding motif for her once-in-a-lifetime event. Am I right or am I right? :)

Well then, before anything else, let me try to discuss what a wedding motif is. A wedding motif is the color intricately chosen by the couple that best represents their love story, their own personalities, and also their relationship as one. It is the one thing that connects them to their audience as soon as they walk down the aisle and utter the words “I Do!”. 

That means the color you choose reflects you as a person, and you and him as lifetime partners. The impact it creates affects the mood that the couple is trying to infuse on their wedding day.

Let’s go one by one on the “FourKeeps” choice of the best wedding motifs:

http://merrybrides.tumblr.com

1) Pink & Mint. The color pink symbolizes unconditional love and nurturing. It represents universal love. This means that you have the caring heart to nurture your partner with an unconditional love, and thus, you as a couple can spread the love with the people around you. Pink is a quiet color thus creating an atmosphere of calm feelings, relaxation, favorable reception, and serenity.

2) Mint green. They say that you must love yourself first before you can give love to others. Mint green represents self-worth.  Green is the color of balance. This means that you as a couple love each other with all the other aspects in balance. Balance is not letting anybody love you less than you love yourself.

www.brides.com

 3) Light Purple. Walking down the aisle wearing your  wedding dress, with the love of your life waiting for you,  only proves that right in the middle of our ordinary life;  love really gives us a fairytale. If you want to create a  dream-come-true atmosphere, then you might want to  make this shade your wedding motif in the rule. Remember  that this is no longer a make-believe but a fantasy-turned-  into reality love story of yours.

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4) Peach. Peach speaks of pure love; a love that is natural and coming straight from the heart.  The most peaceful romantic moment is watching the love of your life staring at you as you walk down the aisle. If you want to speak more of an innocent kind of love, choose peach as your wedding motif. As per Edward Counsel’s saying, innocence tinctures all things with the brightest hues.

5) Blue. Blue wedding motif indicates loyalty. As lifetime partners, you will be facing a series of life-changing obligations. Marriage requires the highest level of faithfulness to commitments. The shades of blue as the wedding motif signifies the desire of the couple to maintain loyalty in their relationship till death do they part.

6)  Yellow.  Yellow brings a free-spirited and uplifting effect. A cheerful couple might want to consider yellow as their wedding motif as it reverberates a joyful and welcoming ambiance. Filling your wedding day with cheerful moments will make it one of your favorite days as well as for those who will celebrate it with you.

www.perpetuallydaydreaming.com

7) Violet. This wedding motif has a charismatic and magnetic radiance. It’s a powerful color that exerts fascination over others.  If the couple wants to encourage distinctiveness and independence on their wedding motif, they may opt for violet as the dominating color. Spreading out charisma through your wedding motif will make you the noticeably captivating love team on your wedding day.

8) Black. Elegant. Intense. Mysterious. Black can always be described in one resilient word. Choosing black as your wedding motif confirms a pleasingly graceful and stylish appearance. This marks your wedding day with great zeal and energy. Only the couples with a high degree of determination to go against the traditional colors pick black as their wedding motif. It’s up to your guests to uncover the mystery behind the reason of choosing the color black as your wedding motif.  Auto-mysterious-effect isn’t it?

www.mywedding.com

9) Gray. Modern. Some say gray is the new black. Gray can have a freshening effect when combined with other more lively colors. It makes vibrant colors stand out because of its stabilizing property. If you wanted to encourage a conservative and formal setting on your wedding day, you may choose gray as your wedding motif and as mentioned, it may be placed next to your preferred vibrant color to create a perfect blend exactly just like you and your lifetime partner.

www.afloral.com

10) Pastel. Relieving. Soothing. Pastel has pacifying effects. Its soft and subdued shades evoke sanity. This wedding motif is a way to confirm the light-heartedness of the bride. It overloads the ambiance of brightness and tranquility. The oh-so-relaxing feels of this wedding motif will make you walk down the aisle wearing the softest yet brightest smile of all.

And so these are just the best wedding motif ideas we can share with you.  All we wanted is for you to feel the most beautiful lady on earth on the day of your biggest dream event – just as how we imagined it would be when we were those 5-year old little girls playing the role of a lovely bride. We do know how excited you are on that day and we definitely know you wanted it all to be just as perfect as planned. Whether you choose pink, mint green, light purple, peach, blue, yellow, black, violet, gray, or pastel, always remember that you have to choose the best wedding motif your heart really wants… just as how you relied on it on when you said "YES!" to  the man you would walk down the aisle and share the rest of your life with.

Best wishes our lovely bride! Make your once-in-a-lifetime event worth for keeps!

How To Pull Off a DIY Wedding

Many soon-to-be weds really love the idea of a Do-It-Yourself Wedding. Yes, it is challenging. But the thought of making the event very personal makes it more special. It is also lighter on the pocket giving the couple a lot more to spend on other important things like a house, car or investments (and honeymoon of course!). So What does it take to pull off a your own DIY Wedding?

1. A Ton of Creative Juice
Creativity is the key here. If you want a wedding that is uniquely yours, you have to think of ways to make it personal and close to your heart. Are you good in baking? cooking? sewing dresses? drawing? If you said yes to any of this, you definitely can make this work..Begin by choosing the motif or theme of your wedding. Of course pick a theme that would be easier for you to personalize. Then, go to the other details.

DIY you wedding favors

2. Choosing What to DIY
The truth is, you cannot DIY everything. Choose what you want and what you can DIY. Once you start planning for your wedding, think first of the things you want to do yourselves before you book any supplier. You firmly have decide to do, for example, your own wedding invitations, souvenirs, flowers, cake, and guestbook. This way, when you look for contacts for your wedding, you will just focus with what you need.

3. A Lot of Youtube videos
Youtube and other websites could really be a great help when you want a DIY Wedding. Lots of couple (mainly the bride, I really don't know why. haha) upload video tutorial on how to personalize some stuff for your wedding. 

4. Time and Patience
Yes, a lot of time and patience is needed. I have known some brides who've cried over invitations that they could not finish on time or souvenirs which do not look like how they imagined them to be. Especially if you're both working, and only have the weekends to work on things, be sure to start early.

DIY black and white guestbook

5. Support from Family and Friends
Before starting on your next big DIY project, you might want to check opinions of the people close to you, especially your family. Some family members (aunts, parents and grand parents are some of realistic examples. :P) would prefer a traditional wedding and would not entertain some of your crazy ideas to give your wedding a more personal touch. Consult them first. It is great to have their approval about your ideas. This would make your job easier because you can be assured that they would be ready to help you on DIY Wedding plans. Remember, you need lots of help when twisting ribbons for your DIY bouquets or cutting papers for your DIY wedding invitations.

DIY place cards

6. A Reliable and Effective Event Coordinator
A lot of couples think that since they plan for a DIY wedding, they would not need an event coordinator. This is actually a wrong move. To be able to pull off your dream DIY Wedding, you need a reliable event coordinator to execute everything that you have planned. Of course, you cannot do it on your own when you are saying your wedding vows. That is why you need to hire someone who understands what you need and what you want to achieve during your wedding.

Tips When Selecting Your Wedding Suppliers

Congratulations! You've just got engaged!
Now it's time to get serious in planning your wedding day. Selecting the right suppliers is probably the most difficult. Your decision could mean your dream wedding or a total epic failure. So here are the tips when selecting your wedding suppliers.



Buffet Set Up
c: Villa Leonila Binan Laguna

1. Decide How You Want to Be Involved
Some couples like to DIY things which therefore lessens their burden of finding suppliers for every wedding detail. Some make their own invitations, souvenirs, bouquets, and even dresses. If you're not that type, then you better start the search right away.

2. Never Hurry In Booking Suppliers
Unless you're getting married next week, do not be in a hurry to book your suppliers. If you do that, you may find a much better supplier the following day, and it will just make you frustrated that you can't get that supplier for your wedding because you have already booked one. If you have time, relax and ponder over at least three choices for every detail you need for your event. Search the internet, meet with them, but don't commit yet. Make the decision when you have already checked that the supplier is legit, that they have positive reviews, and that they are the best among your choices.

3. Check Supplier's Portfolio
Videographers, Photographers, Make Up Artists, Reception Venues, Wedding Gowns, Bridal Cars. These are easy to decide on. Once you've seen their products you can book them for your wedding day. Check their official websites or ask them to show you when you meet face to face. For caterers, of course a food tasting session is a must before you make the big decision. There are also instances where a portfolio is not a good reference tool. Refer to tip no. 4.

4. Read Reviews from Actual People
Event Coordinators, Hosts, Wedding Singers: they play important roles during your wedding day. But you can't rely on photos or a list of past clients to make a sound decision whether to book them or not. This is where reviews become ultimately useful. Never rely on compliments and praises the suppliers give to themselves. It's good if they would tell you that they are the leading wedding planner in the area or that they were awarded as wedding singers for the year. That's really good to hear. But never use these information alone when deciding. Research. Find reviews by past clients. Never get the reviews from the supplier's website. You will find some reviews in forums (like PinoyExchange and GirlTalk) and blogs. You can also check with some friends who already availed of their product or service. If you can't find any review, then don't book.

5. Select Suppliers Individually Rather Than Availing a Package
Well it is really convenient getting the whole wedding package from one supplier. But remember the saying "Don't put all your eggs in one basket"? That is also applicable for your wedding. You don't want to get a single supplier for everything. Look for a supplier specializing in invitations, another one for souvenir, another one for food, and another for photography, and so on. This way, when one of your suppliers messed up during the event, not everything is messed up. Anyway, it is really fun scouring for the best contacts for your special day. I am sure you will enjoy.

Deciding on the Wedding Invitation

The Invitation sets the mood of the event. It lets the guests know what to expect during your wedding day. It tells them what your wedding theme is. And, it actually helps them decide what to wear. So, make sure you send out the right invitations. You can make your own or hire someone to do it for you. Here are some of wedding invitation styles you could choose from:

ENVELOPS

you can try single or several pages

put ribbon as accent

perfect for any wedding theme

SCROLLS

Best for single page invitations. Very Cheap too!

Metal Casing: A more elegant look for scrolls

PASSPORT

A match for a travel-themed wedding

paired with elegant passport case

RSVP plane ticket can also be added to make it cooler!

passport to ever after

FOLDS

folded invitations suit any wedding theme

choose from one, two, or even more folds

use ribbons to seal them

Add your wedding online site or
have guests scan the QR code for more wedding details!

one-fold invitation with pocket for the separate pages

Of course you can also make your own style. Guests love unique invitations!

Aside from the style, the content is also very important. Date, time, and venue for the wedding must be clearly indicated. Filipino weddings often include the entourage list in the invitation as well. RSVP if you need the guests head count. This is mostly important for the reception. It's really hard to estimate how many tables and chairs would be needed or much food to cook. You can also include the map of the venue.

The invitation is also a means for you to tell the guests what you want during the wedding. Modern wedding invitations usually indicate the dress code for the event: what to wear and what not to wear. Some also include the details of their gift registry or a request for monetary gifts instead of other stuffs.

Enjoy your wedding preps!

Picking Your Wedding Date

Picking the perfect date is as important as anything else in your plan for your wedding. This is the date you will celebrate together yearly. This is the date you'll have engraved in your rings. You can't change it once it's over. So think bright!

Of course, it's not just the wedding day you're thinking about. It's your lifetime together. This is serious stuff. And getting off at the right foot is the way to go. Pick that perfect day!
So here are some tips to help you get started with all the wedding plans.

1. Consider the culture.
There are many beliefs and rituals related to weddings,especially here in the Philippines. Some believe it will cause misfortune marrying on a fullmoon. While others swear getting married on dates ending in 8 will give the couple everlasting love (8 symbolizing infinity). And of course there's the infamous Sukob, where no two family members should marry on the same year. It is believed to bring bad luck. Modern day weddings doesn't really give so much importance on beliefs. But it would be best to consult your mothers and grandmothers regarding this. Just to make sure everyone's happy during the day.

2. Think of the theme.
If you want that romantically cool and breezy wedding, make sure you schedule it during the months of December and January. There's not a lot of rain but the wind is cool and perfect for cuddling.
Me? i like the summer heat. I love to see flowers blooming. I love the blue skies and the warmth of the sun on my skin. So you already know why I chose the month of May. :)

3. Focus on the budget.
Even weddings have peak season. If you want to be a June Bride, you have to ready your pocket. December and January also see a lot of weddings so you should expect higher rates during these months. Of course suppliers tend to lower their prices during the months of August, September, October, and November. If you're willing to brave the rain, you can save so much on your wedding day expenses.

4. Check your work schedule.
Another thing to consider on choosing your wedding date is your work schedules. You wouldn't want your work to interfere during your special day, right? Include scheduling your work load, meetings, and client calls in your wedding preparations.

Plan those vacation leaves. You need those while planning your upcoming wedding day. Remember, you have some legal documents to process and seminars to attend before anything else and more often than not, you have to do these during weekdays: your WORK days. You also need those VLs on the wedding day itself and of course the days after. You know, for the honeymoon. ;)
Now go pick that perfect date and get started with your preparations early!

Enjoy and Best Wishes!

Ann

Getting A Marriage License

Are you Licensed to Wed?

Here is the step by step process of getting your Marriage License at the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna

1. Get NSO Birth Certificate and CeNoMar. You can request these directly from NSO. You can also get it from SM Business Services. Usually takes 1-2 weeks from your date of request.

2. Photocopy your Birth Certificate and CeNoMar at least 3 times each.

3. Get your Community Tax Certificate or Sedula. You can get it from your Baranggay Office.

4. Get a copy of your application for Marriage License at the 4th Floor of the new City Hall.You will also be given instructions on how to fill up the form and what to do next.

5. Attend the Seminar at the back of the old City Hall near NBI. Seminars are scheduled only every Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00am-12:00nn. Be early because they are very strict with the schedule. Don't forget to bring your requirements and an ID.

6. After attending the seminar, have a quick lunch and go straight to the new City Hall to submit your requirements.

7.Wait for 10 days for your marriage license to be released.

Marriage license has a 4-month validity.

Best Wishes!

Ann