3-day bridal fair.. booked our rings! :)

Was at the bridal fair in Megamall for three straight days, just because.. We scheduled this month to buy our rings..

Friday (Feb 12)
Went there to meet w@wies at the w@w booth. Was able to speak to one of Edward Teng's staff about their gowns and promo. Made chika lang with Mama Benz and the girls for a few hours, asked about Mama Benz's opinion about my wedding coordination idea (was enlightened, just a bit), then head back to the office at 8pm.

Saturday (Feb 13)
I posted on my facebook status that I'd go to Megamall by 10am. But due to the stressful and tiring day I had at the office the day before (because of an event I organized added on top of my usual work--I took one hour OT pa), if it had not been for Libz's text message, I would've waken up 12noon. So I got up 10:45am, took one of my very quick showers (did not put on my contacts cos sakit sa mata cos of puyat) and almost ran to Megamall to meet Liberty. Super hiya cos I told her early ako punta, but she was there earlier and she had to wait for me pa (I don't like the feeling of people waiting for me). Good thing she found a make-up artist having free trial so she's pretty occupied while waiting. When I got there, super ganda make-up nya (talaga Libz, love your eyes!). Rates are ok, but better talaga kay Val Villarin pero may naunahan ako magbook sa date ko (huhuhu!).

Liberty referred me to her gown designer, Sheryl of Sheah Designs. I showed her my inspiration gown from another designer, we talked for a while about how I want my gown should look like (frou-frou skirt with no lace, minimal beading only). She gave me a very reasonable price, including gowns for the entourage. Super happy with what she gave me! :) She has din swatches of fabric for me to check out, gave suggestions on which to use. Dami niya questions, which is good, cos atleast she's taking everything into consideration. I told her pa my mom wanted gown na ma-ruffle ang collar or may malaking flower (very much like what Kris Aquino would wear). She gave a really good quote din. Will schedule a meeting with her next month, cos she said she wanted to re-sketch me a gown, as she doesn't want to copy another designer's work. Nice and ethical. :)

Had lunch with Liberty, Janice & Ria at Cajun Red Rock, Liberty's treat (happy birthday, Libz!). Super enjoy the chicken and mashed potato. :) After we had our stomachs full and more wedding preps kwento & chismis, went back to the bridal fair to tambay again sa w@w booth. Dami na tao! So saya. :)

I met Honieye, a fellow January 2011 bride. I was surprised she's almost done booking her suppliers, and I was just halfway through even though we started preparing last year pa. And our date's a week earlier from hers! Na-pressure tuloy ako.

Got a call from Mark, nasa labas na daw siya ng fair. He went there around 3pm na, cos we really scheduled that fair to book our rings lang. Eh ayaw niya mag-ikot masyado (and tambay sa w@w booth na mostly brides lang :P) so I went earlier. When we met, ikot agad and talked to some jewelers. We only got to speak with Goldenhills Jewelry, P. Zuniga Jewellery, Matus and Meicel. There were still a few others there, pero hindi namen napansin. After getting quotes, parang we were decided to book na Meicel, pero sabi ni Mark, let's think about it more pa, and get back there the next day (again) to double check.

Huling hirit to talk to gown designers before going home. Was able to speak to Shirley Lustado and Jean Avellanosa-Dee of Atelier Unbridaled. I was impressed with Jean when I spoke to her. She's young and very ma-PR. I showed her my gown inspiration and she asked questions about my preferences. She guessed pa who the original designer of my inspiration gown (she didn't get it, but close, cos both designers almost have the same style). I was so keen on getting her (madali ako madala sa PR), but her quote is out of my budget. Will schedule a meeting with her too, will check if she can work around with what we can afford. Speaking to Shirley Lustado is very different from Jean. After the cheerful, upbeat designer, Shirley was soft-spoken and wasn't very matanong and chika. When I spoke to her, she asked, "Do you have a photo of your inspiration? Let me see. Ahh.. are those feathers? For that, we'll use a fabric na feather-like". After hearing those, naku, cross out na. Hehe! Cos the gown I showed wasn't feathery at all. Looks more like cotton balls that were sewn together. Am looking kasi for a designer who, after seeing my inspiration design, would know na how the gown was made and the fabric used. Katakot kasi if she'll make hula pa panu niya gagawin yun.So she just gave me a quote, tapos wala na, smile nalang. She's a nice lady, pero I think she wasn't for me.

Sunday (Feb 14)
Went back to SM Megamall. Had brunch at Max's, attended Sunday Mass, then went to the bridal fair (again). I read the list of participants for the fair, and saw other jewelers. I told Mark that we should visit V-gem, cos when I went to the NBC tent fair 2 weeks ago, they also gave me a good quote. Daan muna sa w@w booth, Mama Benz & Kite (her daughter) were the only ones there. Didn't say hi pa muna. V-gem was a few booths away lang pala from w@w, didn't see it the 2 days we were there. We sat down, and spoke to the the person in-charge. Good thing they had a sample of the design we wanted. She asked us for our sizes, and gave a quote. We haggled for the discounts, and after presenting her final price to us,sabi ni Mark, "O cge, game na!". Ambilis niya ma-convince..haha! Reviewed the job order form and contract (we crossed out the terms & conditions that didn't apply) and signed. Hay.. So happy! :)

Went back to the w@w booth to fix our things. Said hi! na to Mama Benz and formally met with Kite. Made small talk lang cos nahihiya si Mark to stay longer. She asked us anu pa kulang, and I said gowns ang next. Sabi niya, "Bakit ba almost lahat ng w@wies ko yan ang problema?". I told her, "Veluz kasi closed na her 2010 calendar and she increased her rates pa.". Hehe! She'll tell that daw to Veluz.. :P

The End.