He's in San Diego, I'm in Bangkok and the Wedding is in Manila

Great!

When I said yes to Joey 2 years ago on top of Banyan Tree Hotel here in Bangkok, I thought everything was perfect and rosy... but then the wedding preparations came...

It is good that I really really started very early in the preps -- 2 years! I didn't care if most people think I'm OVER preparing. But look, I am in a different situation and in a different country, too! (Not trying to be defensive here, just explaining hehhehe).

1st, I work here in Bangkok as the Director for Strategy and Creatives plus heading a 3rd company soon. That's not a joke! It means, my super OC boss (who is so worried about losing me when I get married) want 101% of my time. Personal life is different from career life. Imagine setting up a company on the year of my wedding!

2nd, Joey is in San Diego, I am in Bangkok and the wedding is in Manila. Ang ganda! You need here an organized list of things to do, super power coordination PLUS a real coordinator in Manila because there are really a lot of requirements that needed to be done. And if somebody else fixes it for you, better.

3rd, Joey is a Filipino who became a US citizen and I am a Filipino. So, there's that eeww ewww paper work on petition and all. Joey and I hated requirements like this. We're both lazy to do it by ourselves and it's difficult, too. We are always thinking of passing it to somebody else who will do it for us and we will just pay and pay hehhehehe.

4th, part of my job is doing events and I can't even give 100% of my time preparing own wedding! I am so tensed. It looks like it's still a long way to go but everyday I squirm on my seat. I can't eat properly.

5th, Joey and I are so different. That is why our theme is EAST MEETS WEST/Fusion. He has a different sense of time. I am super hyper and he is relaxed. So I always have to make kulit (to keep on bugging) to him everytime for the things he needs to do. If I did not do that, I think we are going to panic and rush on those stuff (like Church Confirmation Sacrament, booking flights, reservation of hotels, etc).

Anyway, for those who are overseas brides, here's a rundown on what I did to prepare. When people look at my blogs and webshots, they say I look very organized. Hmmmnn, but I still feel tensed!

Going back, here's the guide:


The 1st thing I did is to do a very detailed 2-year timeline. Our situation dictates that Joey and I can only see each other 2 times a year to sit down and talk about the plans and details. It's divided into:

a. Family matters - when will our families meet for pamanhikan

b. Financial matters - start saving for wedding

c. Careers - until when will i work in Bangkok? plan to apply job in US

d. Wedding preps (sub-details)
1. civil wedding (in case we need to do this for document processing)
2. petition filing and process
3. wedding date
4. people list (guests, sponsors, entourage)
5. materials (invites, tokens, etc)
6. church
7. reception
8. honeymoon
9. house plans

e. Post wedding

Joey and I made sure we followed this timeline. We were able to do most of it except for me visiting US this year to meet his parents kasi no more time.

2nd, we alloted our budget and I prepared a monitoring sheet for this. Then I started buying wedding mags, joined Weddings At Work and got references from internet to help me with the theme-- it took me 3 months to come up with a theme.

3rd, 1st quarter of last year (2004) , we finalized na the guest list, wedding date and theme with references (we saw each other only for 2 weeks).

By pamanhikan time of June last year, we already booked the church and the wedding plans are almost organized by the time we presented to our families (in powerpoint presentation). Again we had 2 weeks to do this.

4th, by December last year, I was able to get good suppliers so I started meeting them December last year and pencil book with them.

5th, by January this year we bought our wedding rings, had pre-nups in Thailand and finalized guest lists; booked all flights; booked and paid for honeymoon (Nami Villas in Boracay)

6th, By March and April of this year, I did our Save-the-date card and emailed to all to those I needed to email them and gave final deadline of 29 May to confirm

7th this month, I am already going home (for 3 days!) to --
- do final food tasting and pay 50% downpayment
- meet with all suppliers for final directions
- do gown fittings

8th.. none yet and to be continued


MY SUGGESTIONS --
1. Have a detailed timeline so you can plot everything
2. Make sure by the time you go to Manila, you are ready with your list of target suppliers, contact persons and numbers
3. Get a coordinator if you can afford

The important thing is you can decide fast so you accomplish things everytime you go home.

But don't get me wrong, I still enjoy planning. And Joey will always make me laugh everytime I tell him I'm tensed. And he will make things better for me.

The perks of having a fiance... :p