Miss USA

I saw Miss USA and it made me wonder what it's like to look so beautiful to so many people...

Wedding Preparations

I bought my veil yesterday. I found it in the first shop I went to. It's probably weird but I love it more than I love my dress. When I tried it on, I knew straight away that I had to get it. And it was on sale since it said it was faulty. My Mum and I (along with the saleswoman) looked carefully through the whole thing to see what was wrong with it and couldn't find anything.

It's got a wide wave of crytals running along the sides of the veil's two layers so it makes it look like my hair's got a waterfall of sparkles running along the side. It's beautiful.

I didn't think I'd be this excited about a veil.

Next on the list is shoes. April and maybe Ella are coming with me. April also wants to have a look for her dress. Should be fun. I haven't seen my friends for a while and with David preparing for exams/doing assignments and working long hours, I've been getting pretty bored. Especially that I have no TV show to obsess about and I forgot to get some books from David's house to read.

Wedding preparations have stopped stressing me out as much as before since the major stuff like the place, the dress and the photographer/videographer and DJ have pretty much been finalised.

Now I just need to book the ceremony place, the marriage celebrant and book honeymoon.

Buying property has been put on hold at the moment. We might have to rent first. That's not the end of the world so I'm not too worried about that.

Undiscovered

A new song I can't get enough of - Undiscovered by James Morrison

You think that I wanna run and hide
I'll keep it all locked up inside
I just want you to find me
I'm not lost, I'm not lost, just undiscovered

Hairy Problem

It weighed on my mind for a while now (i.e. several years) and the upcoming wedding was the push that I needed to get the permanent hair reduction treatment. I have pretty much tried all the methods to remove my thick hair but they have all lead me to even more frustration.

Shaving = harsh stubble in less than a day
Waxing = couldn't do it properly at home since I just don't have the ability to cause myself pain, salon treatments are expensive
Creams = an imaginary treatment. Whoever said it worked?
Epilating = hours wasted, red bumps for at least a day

Laser hair removal was out of the question as it doesn't sound anywhere near safe.

The only option left was the new IPL/SPL treatment going around. The major obstacle that prevented me was the price. At several hundred per session for legs and at least 6 treatments, that adds up to an equivalent of an overseas trip.

Then, the thought of never having to worry whether people would see the tiny black dots on my legs if I wore a skirt for the whole day or being able to go swimming in summer at the spur of the moment... I just couldn't resist that bright future any longer.

Ashley (from uni) was telling us recently how she had her armpits done and how happy she was with the result. There's nothing like hearing a personal experience to encourage me even more.

David tried to talk me out of it, said he didn't care. I told him I wasn't doing it for him. I wanted to do it for me. I explained how extremely inconvenient this whole thing was and that doing it would make that part of my life a whole lot easier. I think he was just worried that it was dangerous.

Last Saturday I had it done. And it hurt a lot more than "almost painless" that they advertised.

The woman said the hair is supposed to fall out in two weeks. I'm not sure if I'm imagining but I see a reduction already. I'm not expecting to be 100% hairfree after all this but I really hope that it will make a significant difference.

Women who don't have this problem are just so lucky. My Mum is one of them. Of course I had to take my Dad's hairy genes. Oh well, c'est la vie. I hope David and my kids take my Mum's genes, otherwise, poor kids (if they're girls).

Hopefully by the end of the year, I can go on my honeymoon without worrying about body hair.

I See You

Every new evening
I open my shoulder-wings.
Without a shadow of a doubt
Today I will meet with you
And you will notice me,
But under the strength of nervousness
I will turn into a shadow.

And you pass nearby
I embrace you with my sight
I could just touch you
But you don't know me
You dream of another one
New day, tomorrow, will be neverending again.

I don't need much - brush with just my sight
The tips of your eyelashes for a few seconds.
I will bewitch you, towards everyone I envy you
But maybe you'll read my look and your heart will beat back.

Perhaps I look ordinary
My dreams are transparent
But I obstinately believe in them.
Stewing in my body
And with pulse beating against the vein
The reckless wish to be forever yours.

I see you in the crowd
Suddenly I hate myself
The night will choke on water
As if it was like that
Forgot to love myself
Be damned the day I met you.

I don't need much - brush with just my sight
The tips of your eyelashes for a few seconds.
I will bewitch you, towards everyone I envy you
But maybe you'll read my look and your heart will beat back.

- POBian song from my favourite POBian show

Yes, you can say I'm a little bit obsessed with it.

Every Cell

I feel so empty without my POBian TV show...

I watched the bit where he recites her diary back to her. He found her in a cafe.

Kate: Leave. Go, leave me alone.
(He stays.)
K: Then I will leave.
(She gets up but he grabs her)
K: Let go of me.
Andrew: Two minutes. Two minutes.
K: There's nothing to talk about
A: Listen, please, I ask you.
K: Don't you dare boss me around. You're not my boss and I'm not the Kate who would hang off your every word
A: You love me.
K: No! Where did you get that from?
A: You don't believe what you say
K: You know, Andrew, I don't have any feelings for you. Not love, not hate.
A: Yes...
K: Nothing!
A: Yes, there's no hate, thank God! But love...
K (laughing): Love? I don't care, don't you see?
A: You can't not care. I don't understand why you're saying that. I don't understand why these games.. You'll be with me anyway.
K: No
A: Yes
K: No
A: Yes, we'll start from scratch, as if nothing happened
K: No
A: Yes!
K: Two minutes passed. I'm leaving.
(She gets up. He goes after her.)
A: I hear Kate, Katie and fly to him. I see his smile and the whole world turns upside down.
K: Wha... what?
A: I love him with every cell... I breathe him. I... live only the thought of him
K (choking on her words): How could you?
A: When he's not near, when I don't hear his voice, the whole day lived was a waste for me
K: You... you read my diary?
A: Yes. Yes, I know that wasn't right. I had to do it so I could be sure that you still loved me. Forgive me. When I read your thoughts, I worried for that each day. Sorry. Sorry. Understand, I had to do it
K: It's mean... I hope this is your last mean thing. Good-bye.
A: Kate, I can't be without you!
K: Yes, you can

In the Mind of a Person in Love

I'm up to the last episode of my POBian TV show. It's the best love story, ever. I just can't believe I'm up to the end now. 200 episodes.

The premise seems so simple - girl falls in love with her boss, boss tricks her into believing he loves her, the trick backfires and he really falls in love with her, girl finds out he tricked her and can't forgive him, boss proves he really loves her, they get married and live happily ever after.

Sounds like some typical soap-opera. Only the events and the characters are so life-like that it's hard to believe that the whole thing isn't real.

There's this bit where he reads her diary and then recites it back to her in a desperate bid to show her that he knows she still loves him. Seeing the growing discomfort in her face made me feel like for that moment I was her and could feel every emotion she was going through. That's how good the actor is.

Only a truly great show/movie can transport you into someone else's mind.

Seeing the deep love the two characters have for each other makes me miss David more than anything. I imagine us being the two main characters in a TV show and that it was fate that brought us together, like no matter what, we were always going to be together. And as you know, I don't even believe in that stuff.

Seeing the main characters prepare for their wedding made me think about mine. I mean, with all the organising and planning, the anticipation of what is going to happen at the end of the year has gone. It's become a normal part of my life. I have to stop myself to reflect on the fact that what I've dreamed of for so long is going to come true. Really, it already has.

I'm the luckiest person to have found my dream guy already. He makes me laugh, he makes me happy. I think of something he did or said and I can't help but smile. My heart is now full.

Marrying Young

My relatives came over today to celebrate my Mum's birthday. The conversation steered towards my upcoming wedding. My aunt, Naomi, and her mum were only too eager to impart some advice.

"Sky, do everything while you're still young. Get married, have kids. It gets too hard when you get to your 30s," said Aunt Jemma.

"First time I was pregnant, everything went really easily but the second time when I was 30, I had to have extra tests to make sure the baby was ok. There's a bigger chance something might go wrong," added Naomi.

"Australians here think very differently. They have careers in their twenties and then stop their lives to have kids. What, you have kids and that's it?"

"It's much harder to get back into the workforce when you're older."

I think that sort of mentality I've inherited from POBian culture. It just makes perfect sense to me. My attitude towards marriage and kids is so different to all of my friends. While they think I'm too young to get married, let alone to have kids, I feel like I'd rather do that now then when I'm 30.

First of all, I feel ready and getting married to David is not such a difficult decision. Secondly, even though kids obviously do change your life, I don't plan for my own life to stop because of them. Everyone in my family is a perfect example of how you can have kids and have a life (e.g. satisfying career, travel, going out).

Of course we all have a big support network behind us where there's always a grandparent or an uncle or aunty willing to help out. One woman from work said that her parents don't want to help out with her kids since they've raised theirs and now want a break. So I'm sure once this woman becomes a grandparent, she's going to be very reluctant to help out her kids since she's never gotten any help.

This is how my family is different. Since my grandparents helped to raise me and my brother, my parents would only be too happy to pass on this help to us. And I would be happy to do the same for my own kids. David's family is the same.

I think marriage has bad publicity here with high divorce rates and people wanting to have their independence. In all honesty, a marriage is a partnership, you always have to think about the other person and help them out. That's the beauty of it. You always have someone you can rely on and who will be there and have you as their top priority. I don't mind giving up my independence for that.

I've had more than enough of independence. I just want to depend on somebody.

Beautiful

Today I discovered the world of beauty salons.

Only a few years ago, a beauty salon was a foreign place to me. I knew they were around but they were not something that particularly interested me.

However, lately they have passed my ears more than once and caught my attention (especially because of the wedding).

To motivate me even more, I received enough birthday money to treat myself to a facial.

I organised an appointment for this afternoon and went in with a little bit of trepidation at facing the unknown.

Firstly, I filled out a form enquiring about the most personal details (such as whether I was about to have my period and if I blushed easily). Then, a young woman (with not very inspiring skin) looked at my face through some special machine and told me that I had sun damage, oily skin, dehydrated eyes which showed sign of premature ageing.

While I took all that information, feeling quite deflated, she told me that she recommended a 'booster' treatment (only an extra $30, on top of the $79 and $49). I decided that I might as well do it to see if I could get optimal results.

After the inital stage, I was taken into a small room, given a towel with velcro on top and told to change into the 'robe'. When she walked out, I looked at the rectangular material and wondered how anyone could refer to it as a robe. I tied it around my neck to avoid any spillage on my clothes. When she came back, she looked at me strangely and explained that I was supposed take off my shirt and tie the 'robe' under my arms so she could give me a 'decolletage massage', something that I didn't remember as being included in the package.

Not wanting to seem prudish, I did as I was told. There, I had no issues. I lied on the bed and for the next hour, I had many slimy substances rubbed all over my face. The consultant also made sure to drop in, quite early into the session, that I needed to have this done every month for best results. I hoped that was not going to be the excuse for a bad first outcome.

I was also given an eye mask (something I really hoped would improve dark circles under my eyes and fine lines).

After everything was done, I was shown some products to buy. I refused all of them because I didn't want to spend another $130.

I looked at myself in the mirror and my face looked quite difference. Very smooth and shiny.

When David saw me and I asked what he thought, he said he liked my original face better. I was like, "What???? Why???" I told him it was much softer now. He had to agree.

I looked into the mirror again and rather than noticing what I saw before, it looked like my skin was porcelain - glowing a bit like plastic. I actually thought it made me look older.

When I got home and asked for Mum's opinion, she said it looked much clearer. I wasn't convinced.

I think today I noticed that my face looked older. There's almost nothing left of childish features. Oh well, guess I will have to accept this stuff now. At least I found my guy which is more than anything I ever wanted. The thought of David always cheers me up.

Exactly two years ago, I met David. That twist of fate, coincidence, luck or whatever else you want to call it, changed my life forever. Where would I have been if that day never happened? I think nowhere, only more depressed. David thinks I would've went travelling. Who knows.

I asked David if I changed since we've met. He said I dress less conservatively now and am much happier, but just as beautiful. He obviously hasn't changed, sweet talking as ever.

Violet Sky

I feel a little sad and lonely 'cause I haven't been able to spend much alone time with David this whole long weekend. And I miss him. A lot.

I don't think I'm able to describe how I feel right now anymore.

I keep listening to this song.

I could be brown
I could be blue
I could be violet sky
I could be hurtful
I could be purple
I could be anything you like

My White Dress

I got the dress today!!!

I can't quite believe it. I've tried this one on a few weeks ago but they only had my size in ivory (and I really wanted white) and it was a little too heavy for my liking. It was also a little out of my price range (even though it was reduced from $2500 to $1250). Once I left the store, I couldn't stop thinking about it (especially after I tried on many others).

Today, my Mum and I went to a place which had lots of bridal dress shops. I walked into the same shop that I've been to in another suburb and saw the same dress, in white but a size larger. The sales person convinced me that it was easy to make it smaller. I still struggled with the price. I could've easily gotten a simpler dress for $800 or used the one a family friend gave me (for free!). I could've saved lots of money but I decided that I just really wanted the out-of-my-budget one (typically).

The more I looked at it in the mirror, the more I wanted it. So I bought it.

There went my plan on saving money on a dress.

I'm starting to realise that there is no such a thing as 'saving money' on a wedding.

Wedding Photos and Videos

Met up with a photographer and videographer today. It's hard to believe I need to organise it now since most of the ones I enquired about are booked out.

This pair also had the advantage of lowest prices. $1650 for 6 hours of video and photography. Yeah, cheap isn't it? What was I thinking I could get that for under a thousand. Silly me.

I guess I could keep looking but to be honest, I'm worried I might miss out. The people I met today I liked, they were professional and friendly. Nothing 'Wow' but they were ok. I think I'll just go with them and cross another point off my list.

Dancing Partner

Dancing was so much fun today.

David and I were laughing so hard, the teacher told us (well, David to be more specific) to stop mucking around. Right after he said to me, "Sky, this is not a joke. It's a very serious matter". Of course that made me laugh even more.

David also caught on to the fun game of pretending what people were really thinking. We made up quite elaborate stories for some other people in our class, including a very old man who came without his wife tonight.

Too bad he had to go to work afterwards. I know he didn't even want to go to class 'cause he was tired but he only came 'cause of me.

Can't wait till we have our own place to see each other more often. Ahh....

What's On David's Mind

David and I were involved in a mini car accident on the weekend. A P plater ran into the back of my car at a traffic light. I was actually quite happy because he didn't cause much damage but since I backed into a little pole a while back, the guy thought he did the dent.

This may sound horrible but I'm going to use the guy's insurance to pay for the damage, even though he didn't cause most of it. I think I deserve it after my incident with a hit and run driver causing me hundreds of dollars worth of repairs.

Anyway, David got the driver's details and was spelling out his name to me over the phone:

"H for homework, A for accounting, M for money, I for investor, S for savings and H for... had enough."

Poor guy obviously has been a little overworked and overstudied.

Still Here

Life has been hectic for me lately. It's gotten so busy that I had to make use of my pocket planner (taken from work and never used until now).

I had something on every day of last week.

Planning a wedding is like a part-time job.

Had some consecutive problems with my eyes. They seem better now so I shouldn't really be online tiring them. (I decided to take 2 days break from the internet and you wouldn't believe how many important emails I missed!)

I lost 3kg in one week which was a bit worrisome (not that I minded but it didn't seem healthy). My Mum thought it was 'cause of stress which was weird since I usually eat more when I stress. David said I was taking on too many things at one time causing me to get overwhelmed.

I'm now concentrating on 1 (well 3) things at a time and I feel better already. I just never thought that it would be so difficult and expensive to plan a wedding and I had fears that after all the planning it wouldn't turn out well or that it wouldn't turn out at all.

Also had some changes at work. My idiot manager lost her job. I guess the big bosses weren't happy with her either. She was very upset. So upset, in fact, that she cried... several times.

I felt guilty for not liking her because before she left she told me how talented I was and that she would be more than happy to give me a reference.

I told a really big fat white lie that she gave great direction and it was great working with her. Oh well, those sort of lies are important. She was already having a horrible week.

Now my new manager is the single 35 year old who I might've mentioned here. She doesn't have much experience in management but she's organised (and hopefully won't kick me out when my contract is up).

On the home front, my brother and I are on speaking terms again which is nice. During our non-talking period, he got himself a girlfriend. A very expensive one who wouldn't pay for anything so he was glad to break up with her last week. I didn't realise how good David had it with me. I mean if you want to be treated equally, you have to act the part.

David said to Andy, "I'm so lucky that way!" Times like these makes me think, "I make a damn good girlfriend".

On the weekend our parents met each other. It went the way I expected it to be - awkward at first but fine later.

We also went out to unofficially celebrate my birthday. David got very mad at my friends because they said they were too tired to stay out late (since we got there after 11pm). He was about to tell them off but I stopped him. I hate unnecessary conflict. I think he was more upset than me.

After he calmed down, we went in to dance which was great fun. He was very sweet. Ria was there with her boyfriend. I was surprised to get a birthday present from her. She congratulated us on the engagemt and said, "I can't believe you're going to be like grown-ups now" and I replied, "Just 'cause we're getting married doesn't mean we're going to be like grown-ups".

This is David's and my philosophy on life - having responsibilities and being independent does not stop you from having good old childish fun.

Lately, I've just been proven over and over again that I'm making the best decision of my life by marrying David. I didn't think it was possible but I'm falling in love with him even more each day.

(After not writing in here for a week, I got worried that this blog would die a slow death where the posts would become more sparse until one day they would all stop. I want to finish this blog on a high note so even though my posts might not be as frequent, I'm still here.)

Bridal Dress Shopping

April and I have been looking forward to today longer than I've known my fiance. Shopping for your bridal gown is not something you can do anytime.

It was quite surreal walking into a large bridal store in the City, bustling with brides and their mothers/sisters/friends. I was a bit numb because I had my goal of finding the dress I imagined for myself. April, on the other hand was almost hyperventilating with excitement.

We felt like we weren't really supposed to be there.

We went to the sale section and I told April to look through one side while I searched through the other. I described what I wanted - not strapless, not too huge at the bottom, clear white etc. Since 99% of them were strapless, we went through the hangers quite quickly. Finally when I found one I wanted to try on, I came up to one lady and asked her for an available change room.

The lady looked at me strangely and asked, "Do you have an assistant?" I looked at her blankly. Then she asked, "Do you have an appointment?"

An appointment! I couldn't believe you had to make one to try on a dress! I came up to the counter to add my name to their waiting list. The saleswoman said to come back in one and a half hours!

April and I decided to see the other stores. I added my name to another store's waiting list too.

After walking around the City discussing bridesmaid dresses and other wedding details, we came back to our first appointment.

A middle-aged lady introduced herself and helped me pick some dresses (including strapless 'cause she said straps could be added later).

She also gave me some skirt to put on under the dress. Then she told me to get undressed and she'd come and help me put on the dresses. I didn't like that one bit 'cause I didn't want some stranger seeing me in my underwear and some transparent skirt.

When she came in, she told me to stand backwards to her so she could put on the dress. I guess that wasn't too bad since she could only see me from the back. As the dress fell around me, I was very surprised how heavy it was! I also realised that since the bodice was tied up at the back, it provided enough support not to need the straps.

I was a bit worried to walk out to see myself in the mirror since I didn't want to look bad in front of all the other people eager to see the brides in the gowns.

When I walked out and saw April's face of awe, I looked in the mirror and realised that I didn't have to worry. The dress made me look beautiful.

The assistant got me to walk onto a podium in front of the large mirror. I didn't notice ealier how long the train was (no wonder it was so heavy). I couldn't believe how I looked in a wedding dress. Like the whole thing was a dream. The wide grin on April's face only added to my happiness.

The next dress I tried on was just as wonderful. The only problem was that it was even heavier than the first and a little tight (not that anyone would notice since it looked like it fitted well). I wasn't ready to compromise my comfort for beauty. I mean, I wouldn't even be able to dance in it! That was just not an option.

The big bonus was that they were all around $1000 (which as it turns out is quite good). The sale items were available off the rack, unlike the others which had to be ordered 6 months ahead!

April got offended when the lady told us that the dresses on the other side were out of my range. April said she had no right to assume how much money we had. She said it reminded her of the scene in Pretty Woman.

The next store was not as successful. Even though the dresses were lighter and more comfortable they just didn't sit as well.

We left the shops with a feeling of exhiliration. April said all the stores were just like in the movies, with the waiting areas, dress portfolios sprawled on coffee tables and ordinary women coming out of the change rooms as princesses.

I can't wait to go on and try on some more!

My Boyfriend with Good Taste

I got my ring back!

David got it from the store yesterday and asked me to marry him again in his bedroom. I said yes (to be consistent).

And I haven't really taken it off since. My Mum said, "You don't have to wear it to bed".

I was never even into rings but this one I love! People at work said David has good taste. For some reason I kept thinking that his good taste obviously shows in his choice of partner.

I told David yesterday that even though I was very nervous in the first few days, now I'm totally fine and just plain excited. I've made the right decision in several ways.

My friends say I'm very lucky and I know it. I don't take it for granted. I mean with my high standard and limited choice I managed to get a guy that fits my criteria.

Yes, there were some obstacles that seemed unbreakable but somehow we got through them and are better for it.

I was listening to someone getting cheated on, on the radio, and I got so mad. How anyone could deceive their partner is beyond me. Just the evil of it.

Being in love, I really felt for that girl. I think that for a person you love to break your heart is the worst thing in the world.

Sorry, got a bit on the dark side but this is a bit of an emotional time for me. (Like when is it not in the last few years?)

Yesterday at David's house when we were talking about venues, he said to me, "You know I can't go and see all of them. I don't have time." Even though I understood how busy he was (with full-time night work and uni), I still felt a little sad that he wouldn't be able to help me with such an important event.

I tried to hide my disappointment while David went to have a shower. When he got out, he said excitedly, "Baby, I was thinking in the shower and came up with an idea. I will go and see these places straight after work in the morning and let you know if it's worth for you to go there".

That is exactly one of the many reasons I love him. He will always try to make me happy, no matter how inconvenient it is for him. (And he makes good use of his shower time.)

Wedding Location

I always thought planning a wedding is simple. You pick the venue, you choose the dress, you turn up, sign and kiss.

But no....... I was stuck at number one: the venue.

Who would've thought that to book a place you need to do it at least a year ahead? No wonder everyone in Australia gets married closer to their 30s. They have to wait a few years for the venue.

And with an average wedding costing about $20 000, how on earth can someone like David and I afford anything nice?

I consider myself a pretty good researcher and started with full enthusiasm and positivity that I was going to find several options. After 2 weeks, I seriously thought I wasn't going to have a wedding.

However, we've had some luck come our way and it turns out David will finish his exams a week early so we can get one place that was ok on a Friday. Then, I spoke with David's step-sister and she suggested another great place that wasn't advertised anywhere. Hopefully it's still free.

So now, I'm again with hope that my wedding will still happen this year.

The Bridesmaids Dilemma

I'm having a problem. I don't know what to do about bridesmaids. It's like having to choose your favourite friends.

I'm fine with ranking my friends in my head but not too comfortable sharing this information with everyone.

If I could have my way, I would pick April, Amelia (I've forgiven her, will tell you later) and Claudia. There is no way I want to have Christine. I only hang out with her because she's part of the group. But how can I have all the others and leave her out? That would be so mean.

Then, I think, it's my wedding, why should I do things just to please everyone else when these people would be quite selfish in other circumstances?

First I decided I would just have April. Everyone knows I'm the closest with her. Not that they wouldn't get upset but at least they wouldn't be left out alone. I also considered having Nadine as well since we were very close and no matter how much we don't talk sometimes, we always keep in touch.

But I'm still not too happy with that scenario, it just doesn't feel right.

So today I came up with an idea. Since I'm not having a conventional wedding, there is no real need for bridesmaids. I will just tell everyone that to fit into my theme of 'enchantment' and 'magic', they can all be my 'fairies' so they get to choose their own outfit to suit the theme but in reality there will be no distinction between them and the rest of the guests. What do you think?

For some reason, I don't think they will understand and might think I've gone a little crazy, making them dress up as modern fairies. (Personally, I would have fun with that if I were in their shoes.)

Any other suggestions?

My Magic Wedding

Weddings are so expensive, it's not fair!

The more I look at wedding websites and magazines, the more pressured I get about having the 'perfect' wedding. It really gets to you when they all emphasize that you only do it once which makes me wonder if I'd regret just putting a basic one together.

I mean, a freaking videographer costs at least $1500! That's ridiculous. That could be a fortnightly salary.

Cakes cost several hundred dollars.

Venue prices are just crazy.

And of course I would like a nice honeymoon but I can forget about saving money there.

Also, the wedding night would be nice to spend in a luxurious room but doubt that will be happening.

My budget of $5000 for the whole wedding is starting to seem very unrealistic. The dress alone is $1000 (in the low range).

We don't even want many people (about 70) but at $85 per head that's thousands of dollars just for the reception.

I really thought it'd be possible to get $50 per head but that was just a nice dream that came crashing down after days of research.

Since I won't have my 'perfect' wedding or anything even close, I will describe it here for you, more to feed my hungry imagination than to let you know what it could be like.

The ceremony is in a beautiful luscious green garden, almost like the middle of a magical forest. The bride (i.e. me) is in a flowing dress with sheer layered fabric uneven at the hem, with little crystals sprinkled on the bodice like rainwater drops.

Once the legal formalities are sealed with a passionate kiss, the party moves into a magical place where everything else is forgotten. There's a warm glow all around the room. The ceiling is adorned with sheer white fabric and fairy light giving the place a sense of enchantment. The tables are covered with all sorts of berries and flowers. Dinner is a magical feast. A little later, a band starts playing a mix of POBian, Latin and English music. The whole dancefloor is full with enormous amounts of fun. Everyone is merry and jolly.

The cake is not only beautiful, it is scrumptious - choclate with raspberries throughout and ganache.

The bride and groom leave the party to spend the night in a cosy room with a spa and edible delights.

Next day they leave for a 2 week honeymoon where they enjoy their first weeks as husband and wife before they go back to their new home and enjoy the rest of their lives together.

Sounds nice? Well, the cost of my dream wedding is making me look forward to when David and I actually move in together and start our new lives together.