Keys to our Love Nest

Finally!! Today is the date of completion. We got our keys at HDB and happily went to place orders for our kitchen fittings at Heritage bathroom accessories.

The traffic was a killer that evening, i can't believe it took us 1.5hrs to return home from the east. Finally, we set foot into our new home after dinner :D

Wedding Photography wedding gown try out

Today we went to choose our photography outfit at I-wedding. Spent abt 2hrs at the shop. I can bring 3 gowns to Taiwan and he is bringing 2 suits

29 Nov 2009 - Busy Day today

We finally confirmed our housing renovation contract with Image Creative Design Pte Ltd. Designer is Mervyn. Hopefully he will do a good job for us.

Today is also our 3rd Anniversary since 29 Nov 2007 when Sky and I were together. There was no special celebration this year because of the the busy schedule working towards building our love nest. We will be collecting the keys to our new flat exactly 1 month later.

The bridal Studio also called to confirm the bridal dress tryout for the photoshoot next Mar/April in Taiwan.

New growth on my mini orchid

I'm so excited! I spotted a new growth on my mini pot of orchid.

Interior Designers

We have asked for renovation quotation from the following interior design companies to do our house renovation.

1) Creative Image
2) Unimax
3) Weiken
4) Indezign

Creative Image is pretty close our budget. Now pending quotation from Unimax, the final verdict will be out when we meet up with Jeffrey from Unimax.

1st Appointment @ HDB

We attended our 1st appointment at HDB today at 9.30am. We had our sales papers signed. For once in our lifes, we bought the most expensive items - Our new Home. We will be getting ours keys on 29 December 2009.

My orchids fullbloom

Planting Orchid in my new house

I bought a pot of orchid from Hortmart today. It's my 1st pot of live plant, hopefully Im successful in keep them blooming all the time.

Lightings at Balestier Road

We finish about 1/2 the street and found a few types of lightings which we like. The ceiling fans prices are also very competitve.

Bathroom and Kitchen Accessories

So far, only Asia Excel Marketing and Heritage Bathroom Gallery prices are very competitive.

Asia Excel Marketing have almost everything except ceiling fans (according to the lady who served us, her name is Regina). Nice Indian lady who can speak very fluent Mandarin, Im impressed. Excel Marketing is having package price for Franke sink with tap now. Sad to say, we got no place to store the sink if we buy it now.

Apparently we happen to be pass by Heritage Bathroom Gallery at Geylang and very surprisingly to get an even lower price that Excel Marketing can offer us. The Lady, Irene really knows her products well. The only bad thing is that Heritage Gallery carries limited brands. Will definately get from Heritage unless the brand we decided is not available.

Waiting year end to see if they have even better offer.

Interior Designers

Today we went to tradehub 21 to get our quotation from Weiken.com from Jovin. The renovation will cost us abt $26000! Wow! So much more that we have expected.

We also dropby Home concepts to get another quotation from my designer classmate. Hopefully she can give us something affordable.

Furniture and Fixtures

Sky and I have been going round funiture and electronic shops, there are a few brands of items we might be buying




1) Sofa set - Unicane Singapore
2) Dining set & lights for dining room - Zen tradition
3) Kitchen Sink - Crizto / Franke (2 bowl sink without drainer)
4) Fridge - Hitachi Solfege (3 doors)
5) Washer - Whirlpool front loader 7.5kg
6) Domino Hob - Brandt / Cuzino (Gas 1 burner zone) & Hafele (Induction)
7) Hood - Teka / Cuzino/ Bellani
7) Baking oven - Brandt / Cuzino
8) Toilet accessories - Hoe Kee




Lots of others to be decided along the way.....

Layout of our new home

Sky have been working very hard on a 3D programme to draw out how our new home will be like. The kitchen and masterbed room is ready. Gambade Dear!!

Our flat

Just received sms from the agent that our 1st appointment with HDB on 3 Nov 2009.

Floor Plan of my new home

I just got a copy of my new home's floor plan. Sky and I were discuss about renovation to our new place the whole evening.

Housing talks

A few of my colleagues are also getting new/resale flats at the same time as us. There has been a lot of experience sharing lately. Since I have already got my flat, i just hope that the prices remains like this and probably be higher in years to come :D

"I Finally Found Somone"

I love the movie "The Mirror has Two Faces" starring Babara Streisand and Jeff Bridges. Back in 1996, I watched it a few times on DVD,

Now that I hear the song again on radio today, I can appreciate the theme song "I finally found someone" better. Listening to it on radio today... 很有 "Feel". Scenes of the movies flashed past quickly and I'm glad I finally found someone to share my life, I finally found the one to make me feel complete.

Another long wait

The 1st appointment with HDB is estimated to be in Oct 2009, by Mid Dec 2009 I should be getting the keys to my new house :). Sky and I have been talking about renovation to our love nest, so MANY ideas. A lot cannot meet each other's likings.Most likely, will be getting an ID to draw up a proposal.

In the mean time, we are also looking at restuarants to hold our banquet end of next year. Visitng furniture malls and electrical fairs to hunt for bargains.

Our Love Nest at Bukit Batok

We finally found our love nest at Bukit Batok, it is at Blk 286. Thank god, my prayers are registered. This unit is newly listed today and we decided to close the deal fast, we do not want to lose this good opportunity again. Since we are given a second chance of a similar corner unit in the same block. We have already lost the bid for a corner unit on the 14th floor 3 days ago. This 10th floor 5I same corner unit is ideal too.

Parking Fine Rejected

My parking appeal needs supporting documents to withdraw. The excuse given is not good enough *sigh*

Flat Viewing

We have been viewing a lot of resale flats lately, yesterday just lost a preferred unit at Blk 286 Bukit Batok to someone else by $10K. Nice flat, very well maintained, no major renovation required. Just buy furnitures and move in can already.

We are still waiting for another unit at Blk 117 Bukit Batok for the owner to get his valuation done. That unit is superb for it's location, however major renovation of at last $50K required. In a delimma.

There is no reply from HDB with regards to my appeal for waival of my parking summons at Blk 291A Bukit Batok area during flat viewing. I wonder how now, $100 leh!!

1st date after ROM

It has been house viewing and more house viewings after our ROM last week.

Today is the 1st date after ROM, we were at the science center looking at the Da vinci exhibits

Parking Fine

Today is a black day. I got a parking summons for parking at the service road in front of CRC at Blk 291A Bt Batok during flat viewing. The summons will cost me $100!!

ROM Pictures Video Format

For more pictures.. click on the car plate picture on the right.. more will be updated along the way

Solemnisation Day

TODAY IS THE BIG DAY!

Sky picked me up in a WHITE MERCEDEZ cab to the BS by 3.30pm:)
Tee Yong, my photographer is already there waiting for us.
The makeup took about an hour and we went around Tanjong Pagar area to do some outdoor photoshoot. Luckily, it is not a sunny late afternoon. The lighting is just good for outdoor shoot.
We arrived at Noble House at about 5.30pm. There is going to be another wedding by another couple on the same evening as us. So there will be 2 brides in the house that evening! :D

There were some hick-up during the ROM table decor because the original brown ribbon given by the florist is insufficient. Luckily again, I bought another red ribbon the day before just in case really not enough. I guess the overall effect is still not so bad even thought the 2 ribbons are of a different. I really like the idea of the potpourri on the table to make it look "filled".

The JP, Mr Wee Pang Kiat came on time, the ceremony started without my 'march-in' *sad*, everything happened so fast. I regret not rehearsing the ceremony because Sky took both rings from the ring pillow 'together' and awkwardly wear the ring on my finger while holding his own ring in the same hand. (Gosh! he should just take my ring and leave his own ring on the pillow for me later)

So what's done cannot be undone. In the end, he "pass" his ring to me for me (I should have pick up his ring from the ring pillow if he did it correctly) I wear on his ring finger. This is so weird.

After the thank you and the JP Ang Pao. Then JP left already leh. Sky walked him out. In less than 1 minute, the both of them came back. Haha! FORGET TO TAKE GROUP PHOTOWITH JP! OMG! This is so unnatural! Amusing.

(The moral of the story is - Rehearsal is a MUST on all important occassions)

After the group photo, JP left. Comes the champagne popping ceremony, while waiting for the champage glasses, sky was removing the wrapper on the bottle, and just after he release the wire wrap around the cork and waiting for the photographer to set his video camera, the cork on the bottle suddenly flew out! *POP* OMG! there goes my champagne popping!

(Moral of the storey is - no co-oridination, no rehearsal of the programme in details).
So the video will only be on "the pouring of the champage" Haha!

Dinner commence by 7pm. We had more pictures taking after dinner, I saw a man looking into our function room. Shortly after, he appeared with a professional video camera. He thinks I am the bride of the other couple and wants to film us. Haha!

Dinner ended at about 9.15pm.

*Pictures and video won't be available until my photographers pass then to me*

My ROM Dress

Collected my decorations I ordered this afternoon everything is ready for the solemnisation tomorrow.

Thank my friends

Thank you all so far in showing concern, providing resources and ideas in planning of our ROM. You have helped us save quite a bit already. More to come for our actual day on 01 Jan 2011... Sky and I show our gratitude to you at this point of time.

1) Lisa
2) Jacinda
3) Ailian
4) Li Leng
5) Jerilyn
6) Maryanne
7) Hannah

And not forgetting Tee Yong, the photographer who will do our ROM photography at no charge and Jac who came up with a unique and affordable idea to decorate our Soleminsation table.

Declaration at ROM

We got queue No. 48 this morning at ROM

*sigh* No chance to take photo of the declaration progress. The whole process happened so fast. The declaration counter is so noisy with the other few couples declaring in the same time at the counter beside us. I find it rather amusing, as if it is like "mass production" of married couples within the shortest period of time. Haha!

JP not free!!

It has been a hectic day.

My solemniser, Dr Lim Lan Yuan called today and tell me that he will not be in Singapore this friday on my solemnisation day! He got a replacement JP for me, but this replacement JP has another solemnisation appointment at 7pm somewhere else. My appointment has to bring forward.

Good thing that the restaurant is still very accomodating to let me proceed with the ceremony even before the evening dinner opening hour. I hope all goes well tomorrow when I go and collect my blank cert.

There goes my planning so far for other people involved on my ROM day.

Meeting up the photographer

We met our photographer, Tee Yong today. He is a very accomodating person. Despite giving no charge service to his clients for a limited period, he also took the extra mile to put all the pictures into a video clip on top of doing picture touch up.

I must be so lucky to have found him.

My 1st Wedding gift

My cousin working in Qatar came back to Singapore for a holiday. He brought me a bottle of champagne (Moet & Chandon Champagne) as wedding gift which he bought from Europe when he was on Holiday.

Free makeover today

I did a free makeover photoshoot session at snapz along Hongkong street. I brought my ROM gown with me today for the makeover. 2 change of outfit, 2 hairdo. Free photoshoot only can choose 2 photos from the shoot out of the 51 pictures.

This is one of the pictures, the gown picture is confidential till my ROM day. come back for updates.

ROM Decor design

Finally, received Jac's proposal on my ROM venue decoration. Venue decor confirmed.
My ROM dress also collected back from the boutique, kept away so that I can still be excited looking at it on my ROM day :D

4D winning number 6547

My HDB balloting queue number opened consolation and starter prize in today's 4D result *siGh* 2 combinations of the same number some more.

Ups and downs

Nothing is smooth sailing...

My HDB balloting results are out. My Queue number is in the middle of no where, nothing near the first 438 either. Looks like I am only left with resale flat option *Sigh* Agents.. where are you?


Somethings to be happy about! I found someone to do free photography for me on my ROM. His name is Tee Yong and I found him on stylewedding forum. I call my bridal studio to cancel the dress they made-to-measure for me for ROM. I feel bad abt it, but I still want to wear my new gown. Hand bouquet have been changed to Orange Geberas to match my ROM gown.

Feeling a little excited again

After watching celebrities Shaun and Michelle's wedding on TV today. The excitement of going to get married came back again. The long wait is worth it! :D

My ROM Dress

We went to engrave our wedding bands at Cuppage plaza this afternoon and also to do engraving on my engagement ring at Goldheart Centrepoint.

while waiting for the rings, I went to some shops at centrepoint to look at evening gowns. I bought a new gown to use on my ROM day. The gown is from Miso by Blum & Co. The shopkeepers are 2 sweet talkers, and the gowns are truely gorgeous. Most importantly, got my size ah!

I was in a delimma between 3 gowns, 1 silver layered long sphaghetti dress, very stylish! The other one is a green flowly japanese style long gown with a little treal, i think i look very much like an oriental princess in it! :D The 3rd dress is another beauty which i cannot describe. But the 3rd dress is not very economincal for normal wedding dinner in future, but more for those grand ball style. I like it so much too. I posted another dress's picture made of the same material and colour tone for all to see. This dress in the picture was on the runway at the Miso's fashion show at Marina Square on 22 Mar 2008. So you can imagine that other dress I wore at the shop, somewhat similar :) Good buy if you are going to a Grandball.

Finally decided on the green one. Still in a delimma now, heartache yet happy.

No updates.... because

It's a long wait for...

1) The bridal studio to call me for 2nd fitting
2) HDB's balloting result on the Half yearly sale
3) us to decide what to engrave in our wedding bands
4) my venue decor person to send me pictures
5) bonus months to come...

Love nest hunting

Sky and I went to check out some Jurong Flats that HDB is offering during the Half yearly sale. We only have 3 units in mind.

Wedding Band collection at Goldheart Jewellery

We finally collected our wedding bands from Goldheart Centerpoint today!! Almost ready for ROM :D We are still thinking of what to engrave inside the ring.

Soleminsation Venue : Noble House

Today I went Noble House to take some pictures of the private room which I intend to use for my ROM. I realised, the original room's decor don't match my forest wedding theme. This Noble house is a "Chinese Noble House". Oriental setup!!

A pair of Wedding Band from Goldheart

Sky and I finally bought our wedding band today from Goldheart Jewellery Celestial Series. After waiting and considering for 2 months hoping to have new designs to compare. Eventually, we still settle for the initial pair which we targetted 2 months ago. And now the rings are on super discounted price for Celestial series. Last piece for his size, so must quickly if not have to custom make must wait 2-3 months, cannot make it by my ROM day.

ROM preparations completed

Everything about ROM have been arranged except for some minor touch up of details on solemnisation day.

Now I am working on our photobook. There is an online promotion till 31 May 2009 (buy 1 get 1 free photobook). 40 pages per book seems very little, but the layout is enough to kill a lot of my brain cells. I just started, and spent the last 2 hours working on 5 pages only :(

ROM Online registration

I feel so nervous filling up the online registration form to file a marriage at ROM. Will be even more nervous signing that day.. haha!

ROM dress try out at I Wedding

I chose my ROM dress and hand bouquet (Pink Geberas) at I Wedding this afternoon together with My Hubby-to-be as well as Jacinda and Kevin.

The Wedding Diary Asia 2009

We visited the Wedding Diary Asia exibition at Suntec City today. I notice that the exhibition booth Gazebo is very nice. It cost $600 to cash and carry it home. It is not expensive to buy if I have a big garden at home to setup this Gazebo.

I also got some decor ideas for my bird cage center piece as well as my forest theme wedding which I will be using during solemnisation / Actual Day

Our Justice of Peace - Dr Lim Lan Yuan

I emailed my JP and I got a consent reply from him the next day! :D

So glad that things turn out very well for my solemnisation preparations. It has been very stressful the past few weeks, planning and waiting for the ROM registration window to open.

Today is 26 Mar 2009, 3 more months to ROM day reads my ticker counter at the bottom of this blog :D

Soleminsation Decor by Lovedroplets

I met up with Jac of lovedroplets and have decided to get her to do up my soleminsation setup decor on 26 June 2009.

"Snow White and The 7 Dwarfs theme"

Flower choice - Geberas

Soleminsation decor ideas

Soleminsation table - idea 1

A birdcage as a center piece. The birdcage will also my ring holder during the soleminsation. Birdcage decorated with 2 doves/ butterflies and furry white base. Some petals sprinkled around the birdcage.

Flower choice : Tulip / blue rose for this setup.

Chair decor - Chiffon / organza with Clip on butterfly ornament

Soleminsation table - idea 2 (snow white theme)

A rectangular centre flower arrangement with snowhite and prince paper cut out in the middle of the flower arrangement with 7 dwarfs mini figurines.

option 1 : My wedding band will rest among the flower arrangement or

option2 : Just rest on my ring pillow in front of the center piece or

option 3 : Hang on the stalk of 1 red apple on the table.

Flowers choice - Sunflower / Geberas

Soleminsation table - idea 3 (a perfect royal setup)

Idea 1 + Idea 2 = Budget cannot exceed $100

I have shortlisted a couple of vendors to do up my soleminsation table setup. I will be visiting them slowly :

1) Lovedroplets http://moks0002.multiply.com/
2) A friend's neighbour florist shop at Jurong Point.

Memories flash back : Where our courtship life began....

We revisited Raffles Marina after 2 years.

Sky and I were invited to a wedding dinner at Raffles Marina, Tuas West Drive. The groom is his cousin and the bride is my best friend's sister.

Congratulations to Yang Ming and Xue Yun!

Raffles Marina is also the place where our courtship life began on 29 Nov 2006. It was actually not so romantic that night on 29 Nov 2006 when he "ask for my hand" to be his girlfriend coz he did it in the pitch dark, yacht park area. Raffles Marina is on that west side of Singapore with a beautiful sunset in the evening. I guessed he did not plan for that romantic moment.

Memories of that night 2 years back were replaying in my mind the whole evening during the wedding dinner :D The revisit also indicate that courtship days had ended and it did bring back many memories. It's so sweet thinking about it.

Soleminisation Venue confirmed @ Noble House

The perfect place to hold my soleminsation.....


1) Nice named venue to appear in my ROM certification.
2) Relatively affordable place with good stomach-filling CHINESE food
3) Soleminisation place and table inclusive in the food price for 13 pax.


Soleminsation venue have been confirmed at "Noble House" during dinner hour. We will be having the ala-carte buffet dinner at $39.80++ with complimentary mini Buddha Jump Over The Wall 1 serving per pax. Reservations taken by Veronica.

Next things to do....

1)) JP Consent - shortlisted... pending confirmation
2) Register our wedding online at http://www.rom.gov.sg/ after 26 Mar 2009
3) Florist to decor my soleminisation table setup (budget set @ $100 and below)

Budget for outside Rom venue decor

so far the places we shortlisted for outside ROM does not provide decoration for the soleminsation table except for the chair cover and plain table cloth. I will need to DIY or get a florist to do for me. Budget $100/- or less.


It will be also be nice to decorate the chairs for the JP and 2 witnesses if got surplus of money

Soleminisation venue reconsidered

There is going to be changes to our soleminisation venue. We may have an outside ROM soleminsation ultimately :D And I have really put in a lot of work researching for these places the past few days. Sky and I have been going around looking at the places I proposed.

Criteria

1) Nice named venue, nice environment not too hot.
2) Relatively affordable place with good stomach-filling CHINESE food.
3) Soleminisation place and table inclusive other than the food price for 13 pax.

This sounds impossible but I managed to shortlisted almost a handful. There again, the original plan was to soleminise at ROM (Fort Canning) and have dinner with family and helpers friends after soleminsation on 26 June 2009.

Wait for more updates while we consider....

I-Wedding Collections at Tanjong Pagar Road

I visited my wedding studio for the 1st time to collect my lucky draw 3rd prize Desaru Ticket that I won last week during the wedding show. I-Wedding is at 100 & 102 Tanjong Pagar Road

Meeting my Wedding Planner and photographer

Jacinda have been officially appointed my wedding planner. Kevin is helping me out with ROM photo-taking.

Jacinda proposed a Snow-white and 7 dwarfs theme on my Actual day. Who wants to be my 7 dwarfs??

Application opens now till........ (to be announce)

Wedding preparations

Appointment have been fixed to tryout my ROM dress on 29 Mar 2009 at the Bridal studio. So exciting!

Thereafter a list of other events already fix in the month of April 2009. Bridal shows etc...

Won a prize on 1 Mar 2009

The wedding show at Vivocity just ended at 10pm. I-Wedding collection, Mimi just called and informed me that I had won their 3rd prize during the wedding fair lucky draw. What good news! It's a trip to Desaru.

Parents-Meet-Parents Session 1 Mar 2009

Today is the 1st time both our parents meet each other. We had lunch at Riverview hotel's River Palace Restaurant. Sky's parents and sister. My parents and my brother. Sky and Myself. New families merger.

We confirm our ROM date on 26 June 2009 and Actual day on a Hot date!

Bridal Package with I-Wedding Collection

We bought our Bridal Package at a wedding fair in Vivocity from "I Wedding Collection" http://www.iweddingcollection.com/.

This is an overseas photography package to either Macau, Taiwan or Bali. The package cost us $4xxx. The original cost was $3xxx at the wedding show, we top up a little more for photography, videography service as well as bridal car rental on actual day. That takes care of almost everything on actual day.

Package includes:
1) FOC Trial make up session or ROM package - 1 dress, makeup, hairdo, bouquet
2) 4D/3N overseas photography to Taiwan or Bali or Macau, inclusive of air ticket (budget airline) excluding airport tax, lodging and meal. Make-up artist follow throughout the 2 days photoshoot.
3) 4 outfit and hairdo in Taiwan or Bali or Macau
4) 1 Portrait shot 24 x 30"
5) 40pcs 12x8" album
6) 30pcs 5R album (duplicate of main album)
7) 1pc 10R table top
8) 70pcs 4R
9) Softcopy of the photos in the albums
10) Actual Day package (Details below)

Actual day package
3 new gowns
2 gents suit
Bridal Bouquet & 6 corsages (pin on type only)
2 father jackets + 1 brother jacket
1 tea dress
Bridal car rental (BMW) + driver + decor worth $380 inclusive
8Hrs Photography (CD only) worth $588 inclusive
8Hrs Videography (DVD only, no express) worth $1180 inclusive.
1 day and 1 Night makeup and hairdo.


Additional charges
Ampoules $30
Eye Lashes $15
Makeup artist surcharge $50 per hour before 7am.
Videographer / Photographer surcharge $50 per hour after the normal 8 hours
Photography with 300pcs 4R top up $300 more.

On the whole, I think this is a good deal. What do you think?

Anyone interested to take on this package too? I can recommend the person I liaise with at I-wedding Collections.

Checking Auspicious dates with the great Master Long on 27 Feb 09

Our appointment to meet Master Long was fixed on 27 February 2009 to check auspicious dates to hold our ROM, moving house and Customary dates.

We arrived at Master Long's condominium at Yio Chu Kang area on the dot at 7.30pm. The prosperous elderly man greeted us with a big smile. Sky and I finalised our plans for ROM and Customary day after he gave us a range of dates from 24 Feb to Dec 2011.

Next comes the parent-meet-parents session on this sunday to present our plan to our parents.

Collected back my proposal ring on 25 February 09

Finally collected my proposal ring from Goldheart Centre Point. It was sent for alteration last week.