Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Themed Wedding #1

Uniquely #1: Fairytale or Movie Themed Wedding


Fairytale wedding is a dream wedding for many girls. Every girl wants to feel like princess on her wedding and marry the prince charming of her life. A fairytale theme wedding can be based on your favourite characters like; Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel or Flingstones. With some creativity, your imagination and participate of your guest arrive in other Fairytale outfits, your Fairytale wedding can be a memorable event of your life.

Find the video of Nathan and Kristel's Fairytale Wedding below :



Everyone has their own favourite movie list. Dressing up as the role of the movie character it had to be part of the list, a wedding theme which people universally seem to be keen on; Star Wars, Klingtons, Star Strek, obsessed couples all over the world seem to be tying the knot in this sic-fi way. As your wedding takes place you can be sure that your guest in other movie outfits will be watching on. A theme which everyone can get involved in, but still just as wacky.


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Themed Wedding #2

Uniquely #2: Role Reversal Wedding

Being brides who have more than one maid of honour. Wanna retain the tradition, yet with a slight twist. Ever fancied being the opposite sex for a day?

The idea of swapping your normal gender roles for the day, and taking on the role of your partner for your wedding. A beautiful blushing bride is now a man with a top hat and a suit, while the manly groom seems to have a pink pout and rosy cheeks. Not only do the bride and groom swap, but the ushers and bridesmaids sometimes take on the role reversal challenge too – an interesting wedding party to say the least.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Themed Wedding #3

Uniquely #3: Underwater Wedding



Looking for a different way to say "I DO"? Why not saying it under the beautiful waters surround by a school of foreign witnesses and some good friends/relatives. This gonna be an experience you are sure to remember with your partner.

The current largest underwater wedding was achieved by 303 divers who attended the underwater wedding ceremony between Ewa Staronska and Pawel Burkowski. The wedding ceremony lasted around 18 minutes and was preceded over by Father Pawel Wrobel, a local priest and licensed frogman. The couple and the priest communicated with each other underwater by using water proof texts and a system of sign language.

Find the video below:








Sunday, June 23, 2013

Themed Wedding #4

Uniquely #4: Extreme Wedding


Most Exclusive Experience Imaginable! Extraordinary Experience! Each dreaming of something different to their neighbour. Extreme sports although a terrifying prospect for some, was apparently some couple’s ideal way to get hitched. Crazy thrill seeker couples can chose a unique but fun theme for your wedding, bungee jumping, ski marry, zero gravity wedding, sky diving!







Saturday, June 22, 2013

Themed Wedding #5

Uniquely #5: Vampire or Zombie Wedding


This wedding theme might just work for you, if you are a big fan of vampires. Surely we all know about the vampire trend, thanks to the Twilight movie, their images gracing our screens.



Considering we imagine a wedding as a joyful and happy event it could be said that the gothic gloom of the Twilight movies isn’t quite suited. But this hasn’t stopped couples from turning their favourite movie into a wedding theme. Everything has been done from dusting the groom head to toe in glitter to quoting romantic lines from the Twilight novels in the wedding vows.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Themed Wedding #6

Uniquely #6: Nude Wedding

The current average cost of a wedding isn't less than a five figure sum, and the wedding dress often making up 10% - 20% of that figure, no wonder couples seeking something cheaper to replace it. Naturally (excuse the pun), when we think of a cheaper option, we think that the sales or auctions - not ditching the bride and groom's clothing completely like some people do!

This Australian couple, Ellie Barton and Phil Hendicott, decided to paint a white "dress" on the bride. The only things she really wore beside the bouquet was a long white wedding veil. then bravely exchanged vows in front of 250 guests wearing nothing more than their wedding rings - and a bouquet of strategically-placed roses. The groom wore nothing but a black top hat strategically placed top hat to maintain his dignity. Both bride and groom are completely naked.

Find their video below:





Weird wedding theme 5: bune

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Themed Wedding #7

Uniquely #7: Shark Tank Wedding

In June 2010, experienced divers April Pignataro and Michael Curry of New York have an unsual wedding inside a 120,000 gallon shark tank at Atlantis Marine World. To declare their love for each other to public, these including the unsual witnesses circle around them like; Sand sharks, nurse sharks, eels and a giant grouper.

With the scuba gears on, the Mr and Mrs Curry have wore a black and white wetsuit accordingly. An officiant proceeded the vows on a radio transmitter which was then widely broadcasted to the attended guests and beloved family members

See video below:


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Themed Wedding #8

Uniquely #8: Superhero Wedding

This couple, Neil and Sharon Vaughn of Devon, England took nerd to the next level with an all superhero-themed wedding, their wedding was superchargered, stood at the altar as Badman and Wonder Woman. Heroes guests ranged from Superman to Joker, making this wedding to far from the ordinary. 

If you are considering to have a superhero theme, the fun doesn't end at the costumes. The couple have choosen superhero of all ages, such as lollypops with capes and masks, done the deed in comic books store, Superman Wedding Cake, and even comic inspired decorative tables with 'ZAPs' and 'POW'!

Find the latest video below:


Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Themed Wedding # 9

Uniquely #9: Marmite Themed Wedding



Adopting your favourite food to the food theme wedding. This idea isn't such a bad idea after all!

Two marmite manics, Terry and Jennifer Constant, said "I MITE" and shared their love of spread at marmite themed wedding - complete with their own marmite taxi, marmite wedding favours and marmite flavored wedding cake.


Sunday, June 16, 2013

Themed Wedding #10

Uniquely #10: Murder Mystery Wedding


Ain't just traditional wedding is way off to boring
Why not have an Unusual wedding.
Lets have a wedding theme!

Top 10 count down..


Weddings generally tend to be fun; a time to dance, be merry and meet lots of people you might never see again! But occasionally weddings hit a lull where the guests get bored and the atmosphere deadens. For couples who fear the wedding woe of bored guests, here’s one way to keep them entertained; while the speeches are happening, all of a sudden a guest is found ‘dead’. It’s up to the rest of the wedding to follow the clues and find out who’s the killer! Could it be a jealous ex-boyfriend to blame or the angry father who was against the wedding from the beginning?


Traditional Chinese Wedding Culture

Ancient chinese traditional wedding are too complicated for me. Just look at this steps i would faint. So many steps to follow:

1. Three letters and Six etiquettes

 
2.Birth Date
Both parents will take their own child bith date to a fortune teller to compare,
that if both of them are suitable to get marry.


3A. Betrothal Gifts
The groom-to-be will send a lot of gift to bride-to-be home.
All these item MUST come in double/pair.
Represent good luck come in double.




 3B. Betrothal Gifts 四点金 (Most prepared in TeoChew Culture)
Is prepared by the future-parents-in-law to the future-daughter-in-law.
Represent a Warm Welcome the Daughter-in-Law into their family.

3B. Betrothal Gifts 龙凤镯 (Most prepared in Cantonese Culture)
                                   Is prepared by the future-parents-in-law to the future-daughter-in-law.
                          The Dragon (on the right, represent the Groom) and the Phoenix (on the left, represent the Bride)
                                                         Is an sort of an announcement of being a pairs (成双成对)


4. Weddng Gifts
Normally is cakes and cookies to relatives and friends to inform
them the couple are getting married soon



5. Arranging the Wedding Date
Choose an auspicious wedding date (良辰吉日).


Traditional Chinese Robes


Wedding Ceremony


Wedding Procession



Welcoming the Bride

During the old chinese wedding, the bride and groom will bow (aka known as Kowtow) to
1. Heaven and Earth - represent workship the God;
2. Ancestors and Parents, Elders - reflect the thankful of parents upbringing and filial
3. Husband and Wife - respect between couple

Heaven & Earth Kowtow (一拜天地)


(二拜高堂)

Ancestor and Parents Kowtow







Spouse Kowtow (夫妻交拜)

 

Traditional Sweet Snack


Enter the Bride Chamber (齊入洞房)
This is not the end of the day for them yet,
It is Shivaree time, all "brother" and "sister" will invade the chamber, because
the believe shivaree the chamber not only can bring wedding atmosphere,
 but also to avoid the evil spirit, and bring blessing to the bride and groom marriage,
 and Luck and Prosperity.

 

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Colour of the Wedding Dress - General Knowledge

A wedding dress or wedding gown is the clothing worn by a bride during a wedding ceremony. Color, style and ceremonial importance of the gown can depend on the religion and culture of the wedding participants.

Most brides would have chosen a white wedding gown. Why? I bet they will say white represent pure. Aiyo, if you really think that way than you are wrong.
In Western cultures, brides often choose a white wedding dress, which was made popular by Queen Victoria in 1840.
In Eastern cultures, brides often choose red to symbolize auspiciousness.
 

Western culture

Queen Victoria's wedding
Queen Victoria wore a white gown to incorporate some lace she prized. The official wedding portrait photograph was widely published, and many brides opted for white in accordance with the Queen's choice.

Even after that, for a period, wedding dresses were adapted to the styles of the day. For example, in the 1920s, they were typically short in the front with a longer train in the back and were worn with cloche-style wedding veils. This tendency to follow current fashions continued until the late 1960s, when it became popular to revert to long, full-skirted designs reminiscent of the Victorian era.

Today, Western wedding dresses are usually white though "wedding white" includes shades such as eggshell, ecru and ivory.

Later, many people assumed that the color white was intended to symbolize virginity, though this was not the original intention: It was the color BLUE that was connected to purity, piety, faithfulness, and the Virgin Mary.

There is an old poem about how the color of your wedding dress will influence your future:
"Married in white, you will have chosen all right.
Married in grey , you will go far away.
Married in black, you will wish yourself back.
Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead.
Married in blue, you will always be true.
Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl.
Married in green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow.
Married in brown, you’ll live out of town.
Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”

Eastern Culture


Chinese Tradition Dress


Many wedding dresses in China, India, Pakistan and Vietnam are red, the traditional colour of good luck and auspiciousness. Nowadays, many women choose other colours beside red.


In modern Singapore weddings, the bride generally picks red (Chinese Tradition Dress) for morning tea ceremony (provided if they have the ceremony) or westernize white wedding gown and other colours night gown for the wedding banquets. While the wedding itself is often based on the couple's choices, the wedding banquets are a symbolic gesture of "thanks" and appreciation, to those that have raised the bride and groom (intermediate family members) and those who will continue to be there to help the bride and groom in the future (friends and colleagues). Thus out of respect for the elders, wedding banquets are usually done formally and traditionally.





Traditional Japanese Kimono

At Japanese weddings, brides will often wear three or more dresses throughout the ceremony and subsequent celebrations with a traditional kimono, white and colour dress combination being popular. White is used, because in Japan it symbolises death—in this case, the bride becomes dead to her family. The bride will eventually remove her white kimono to reveal another colored one—usually redto symbolize her rebirth into her husband's family.

Red wedding saris are the traditional garment choice for brides in Indian culture. Sari fabric is also traditionally silks. Over time, colour options and fabric choices for Indian brides have expanded. Today fabrics like crepe, Georgette, Carmeuse, and satin are used, and colors have been expanded to include gold, pink, orange, maroon, brown, and yellow as well.

The Javanese people of Indonesia wear a kebaya, a traditional kind of blouse, along with batik.

Indian Saris

Indonesian Kebaya

Ain’t it fun to have culture for all of us to own. However, sadly to mention that majority of Easterners seem to forgone their culture and blindly following the Westernize culture.
Pass your own culture down to your generation before it is gone.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Wedding Banquet


I am not sure about you, but I have always wonder why Chinese wedding seem to be more complicated and is always about "FACES". What does I mean by "faces"?? It mean your parents invited those long distance relative or friends or colleagues, whom do not even know you and your partner to YOUR wedding. It look more likely to be a gathering ceremony for your parents. This wedding ceremony to me sound like an announcement of "I AM FINALLY MARRIED! HAHAHA!!"

How much will a wedding cost you?

Let say Couple A(Low Budget) and Couple B(High Budget) planning to throw a banquet of 25 tables in 1 Mar 2014 (1314, Chinese people you should know what this number mean).

Couple A Choose the location at Peach Garden
Banquet - $678/table x 25 = $16,950 ($20K after GST)
Rings - < $3,000
Honeymoon (Asia-Japan) - < $5,000
Wedding package - < $3,500
(Actual Photo + video Shoot + Gown + Suit + Make up + Hairdo)


Couple B choose the location at Grand Hyatt
Banquet - $1388/table x 25 = $34,700 ($40K after GST)
Rings - $15,000 = $10,000 (Engagement Ring) + $5,000 (Wedding Rings)
Gown - $12,000 (Designer Gown, eg, Tan Yoong )
Actual Photo + video Shoot - <$3,500
Honeymoon (Euro) - <$10,000

Comparing both couples, the range can go as low as $30K to $80K (this is not accurate, it is an estimation), SEE what I mean. All those monkey show (banquet) which is not necessarily at all. You are spending $20K-$40K for a wedding banquet mostly with people whom are by passers in your life.


What I am been trying to emphasize is banquets is totally a waste of money! If it is me, I rather take those cash and spend on my families treating them to travel with us for our ROM. Enjoy our joy with our loves one (families and BFF), these people are those whom stay in your life and be there for you all time. We can save the rest of the cash for renovating our love nest. Ain't that sound much better?

Recently I participated my Aunt wedding as one of the seven sisters, a very Simple Wedding. Morning - Gatecrushed, Noon - wedding photoshoot, Night - wedding banquet. All in 1 day, ush rush rush. Rush for makeup, hairdo, photoshoot, rush for changing from wedding gown to evening gown, rush from table to table to entertain guest/photo taking. Does all this worth it?? It is really depend on individual.

Estimating cost ($20K+-):
Banquet - $678/table x 20 = $13,560 ($16K after GST)
Gown - $500
Makeup + Hairdo Artist  - $500
Photo + videography - RM2999 (SGD$1,300)
I have not  include rings, flower, and etc.

I have questioned most of my friends and colleagues surround me. Why are they willing to spend so much on throwing a wedding to invite those they barely even know? Guess what! In conclusion their answer is "Because my parents ....". Is it necessary to spend so much to invite those Old schoolmates, ex colleagues, relatives (whom you hardly contact) to attend your wedding? I do not know about you, but to me NO WAY. It gonna be my wedding, my BIG DAY, I am in control of the wedding of where i wanna it to be, how i wanna it to be, not my parents. Not saying that I will not listen to their decision, I will still respect them, however my partner and I will still make the last call.

Most of the young couples want to have a simple ROM ceremony/party/dinner with both parents, siblings and BFF. Save up those banquet expenditure on honeymoon or purchasing a car/house. Sadly to mention most of the time the Parents WIN.

This young couple, I known of many year. Mentioned that they rather save from banquet and spend on renovating their new house. Spending water flowing money on throwing a time wasting wedding banquet which the couples hardly even manage to enjoy a proper meal, they have to walk around the banquet tables to entertain and take picture with the guests whom are mostly invited by the couple parents. Ain't it feel like a "Monkey in the Circus".

Finally the BIG SHOW came to the end, the couples cannot rest yet, they have to stand at the entrance and thanks each of the guests whom attend their wedding as a "blessing" (I bet those Uncle and Aunt also don't really know whose wedding they have attended). What an exhausted day.

The show really end when the couple finally reaches the rest destination.
My conclusion is Wedding banquet is a wasted of TIME, MONEY, and ENERGY!!!

P.S. For me, my dream wedding will be a extreme wedding like SKYDIVING or DIVING under the sea  which is impossible for this to even happen. My BF have a heart condition (Due to the air/water pressure). I do not wanna to lose a Husband just to fufilling my personal dream. >.<

But I believe i partner will not mind if I invite a few good friends of ours to travel with us during our honeymoon period, the more the merrier. :D