Haven't been posting for some time, only because the past few weeks were spent hotel-hunting! Shortlisted a good number of hotels, emailed/called up the coordinators to get their rates, and spent a huge chunk of my time comparing every single detail/perks offered. It was qt a bit of (read: hard) work, compounded by the fact that Lenny had been pretty much tied up with work (as always!) so he couldn't really contribute much to the research.

Ok, but at least he accompanied me down to recce most of the hotels, and decisions were of course made collectively :)

Yup, so we've decided to go with Marina Mandarin for our lunch banquet next year :).
Not the cheapest hotel around and perks were also not that fantastic (there're many other hotels offering lower rates with wayyy better perks), but I do like the look of the grand ballroom, the almost private reception area, and the location of the hotel. Ah well, I just hope that everyone will enjoy the food and ambience on that day :)

Oh, and we've decided to hold the church service/solemnization and lunch banquet all on the same day (26th Oct 2013).

Some pics from Fri (3rd Aug 2012) when we scooted off to meet our coordinator, Fiona, during our lunch hour, to seal the deal and pay the deposit of $5K. Wanted to take a couple of pictures of the ballroom, but there was an event going on during that time.

The Wedding Checklist

Things To Do:
1) Decide on church wedding and wedding banquet arrangements
Option A) Solemnization in Church + Church buffet reception on Saturday, followed by Hotel Lunch Banquet on Sunday, OR

Option B) Solemnization + Hotel Lunch Banquet on the same day, likely to be Sunday.

2) Finalize wedding date

3) Source for a bridal studio (hopefully the studio would be able to provide a one-stop-shop for everything inc. actual day photography and videography? If not, we'll then need to source for the later separately)

4) Source for Hotel

5) Make arrangements with church (if we decide to go with option A)

6) Marriage Preparation Course (likely to go for it in the first quarter of 2013)

Now where and when do we start?

How it all started.......

24th June 2012, Putahracsa Hua Hin, Thailand

It was slightly past midnight (the exact time, I really can't remember), when Lenny popped the question.
He started by asking me (after my shower, no less), in all seriousness, if I could recall the number of overseas trips we've gone on together, and asked which was my most enjoyable trip. I was dumbfounded, because I enjoyed all our trips together (whether it was just the 2 of us, with our families, or with friends). Each and every trip was memorable and beautiful in it's own way, and it was tough to have to decide on THE BEST TRIP.

Anyway, I thought that was a really random question and I got suspicious. He then told me that he had made a video which he'd like me to watch on his ipad (I got even more suspicious. "I think he's gonna propose", I was thinking to myself). The video was a lovely slide show of photos which we had taken over the past ~4.5yrs, and I couldn't help cringing at some of the pictures. Boy, have we changed so much (for the better, I hope)!

Meanwhile, Lenny excused himself to the bathroom while my eyes were glued to the ipad. The slideshow ended with a video of Lenny himself sharing his thoughts on our relationship (at that point, I was like "I knew it! He IS going to propose!)
But obviously, I didn't verbalise my thoughts, cos I didn't want to spoil Lenny's surprise for me. When the video ended, Lenny came out with the ring, and on bended knee and all, he popped the question. :)

I have to admit that I was touched, for many reasons:
1) Lenny had been really busy with work before the trip and I was really touched that he actually made the effort to prepare a video. If I may add, he also took videos of our/my loved ones. Apparently he went down to my place a week before the deed to film my parents while I was out.
2) It was a very simple and private proposal, nothing fancy schmancy (no bouquets/fine dinning, it was just us in our hotel room, with me just out of the shower and Lenny still dirty and grimy from our long train journey), BUT, Lenny has never been the romantic sort. So yup, some effort there. :p
3) Lenny didn't seem too excited about our BKK/Hua Hin trip (I did almost all the planning of the itinerary on my own, and yes, I wasn't too pleased about that initially).

But I almost saw it coming, because:
1) He sounded almost too serious when he asked me which was our best trip so far.
2) We had already gone ring-window shopping a few months back, so I had already made known to him the kind of ring which I wanted.
3) It's been ~4.5 years! Surely, it's time?

I'm glad that he got a ring which I really LOVE. It's simple, classic and timeless (in my opinion), just the way I like it. And so, on 24th June 2012, I officially got engaged!

Thanks Lenny, for making me feel so loved, even though I'm not perfect and I'm sorry if my temper is always so bad. Thanks for always bearing with me and my nonsense. :)

Although I'm always complaining/whining, and even though I hardly ever say this out, but really, I think I've been very fortunate and blessed. Besides a loving fiance, I've got a wonderful family, supportive and self-sacrificial parents who dote on me more than anything else, and a sister whom I've grown so close to. Thank you God, for blessing me so richly.

And so, this post marks the start of this blog, as we detail our journey towards our marriage/wedding-planning. :)