Wedding Traditions

Less starry eyed, and more pragmatic after one year of marriage…

It struck me now just how ludicrously extravagant everything to do with a wedding is. Why do we working folks save up for years to finance one incredibly expensive day, only to start our real married life feeling distinctly poor?

V lost his wedding band, and for months, we put off buying a new one, hoping that the ring would eventually turn up. It didn’t, and we finally went back to the same goldsmith for another pair of wedding rings. That was when I realized that the slender band of metal cost so much! I mean, a pair with the simplest of designs, without diamonds, would set us back by almost one thousand bucks! And worse, most of the rings insist on coming with diamonds, which means we are left with few choices. I conclude that they do everything they can to make wedding rings expensive, because love-struck couples wouldn’t know any better, and probably wouldn’t notice the price anyway.

In the first place, who says love has to be represented by wedding rings? It seems to me to be one of those traditions that have somehow managed to become very commercially lucrative. One feels vaguely compelled to observe them, but what intrinsic value is there in wearing a metal ring around your finger? At least, if I love wearing accessories, it is good excuse to get a nice one. But being no lover of trinkets, the ring simply seems a pointless expenditure to me, especially if one is going to lose it after a year.
We walked out of the shop empty handed. One day, the man has to get another one, I suppose. But not today.

and now, let the credits roll

Dear friends, what have we done to deserve such big-hearted, focussed and capable help? You are going to convert me from my misanthropic ways if you don't watch it! We want to thank

Wedding coordinators - Saul the one-man army and CindyOng for making sure that the bride behaves herself

Bridesmaid and Best man - for running in circles around us and taking care of all details

'Jie Mei' - The gatekeepers. Suen the chaperone of the bridesmaid, CY and Jen for zipping my dresses up again and again :P

Brothers - Jeremy, Paul, Mike, etc for shaking their bums shamelessly for the sake of their brother's quest. But someone secretly hid the chilli padi instead of eating it!

Anthony - fearless navigator of traffic jams and snarls

Weng and Gary - one of the relatives commented, 'they are the best photographers I have ever seen!' Thanks for making those aunties and uncles smile widely

Paul - a multi-functional entertainment unit - sings, translates, and jokes.

Huimin and Samson - the Band, for singing my favourite songs

Henry - for taking care of the million details at touch centre

Sminy - music selection and personal freight of the music

HP and Bloh - general shepherding of the good folks of the northpole

YC - the almost 'sister'. we felt so safe knowing that you were looking after the AV

My own sisters - Boon One, Fat one and Little Fish - you girls look so pretty at the dinner reception!

All right, now the dust is settling in the aftermath of the event, and we are getting used to being the 'Marrieds'. When we finally, finally get our act together, will have house warming...eventually. Am not cooking. I've declared that all along, so there.

Inside and Outside

This is what I look like on the outside...at least, after 2 layers of makeup, false lashes and styled hair.

This is how I really feel inside

Overwhelmed by the intensity of what is happening and the cataclysmic changes about to sweep through my life. Even my name is going to be changed, and don't they all say that the name represents your identity? (The feminist in me whispers subversively, 'how come the man doesn't have to change his name?')

End of the daisy path

Stag night

Scream! Sminy spilt the beans on the stag night. I want to do my hen night again! This time with male pole dancers, skimpy wear and plenty of beer!

Hen and Stag

How come I'm not called a doe instead? A stag is dashing and exciting. A hen just pecks, clucks and fusses around busily.

Hen
At Coca my favourite steamboat restaurant, and after that, a sedate cup of camomile tea and cake - all very Victorian and ladylike. If we giggled over lingerie and such, I'm not telling you. What do you expect? I'm a bookworm. A good night out means doing things I best like to do, not activities that I never do, because the reason I never do them is that I don't like them. Then as scheduled, we went home before 11pm. Thank you girls. I had a great time :) This is just the way I like it.

Stag
Traditionally, the secrets of the stag night are never to be revealed in the light of day, so I'm not sure what happened. But there are some clues. V went home at 3am, puked several times, and woke up at 12pm the next day, ashen and weak. Sounds like they had a really wild night. Hmmmmmm...

Helpers' Meeting

What we would do without out huge army of capable helpers, I do not know.

After much reminding by various anxious volunteers, Bridezella finally decreed a time and place and said, everyone please turn up. It was supposed to be at the Hans in Marine Parade. Before V and I arrived, we received calls from our friends. That branch of Hans no longer exists. Oh ok...we need to get our databases updated :P

Never mind, we adjourned to Mac instead, where a larger than expected crowd turned up. We distributed the list of tasks and helpers involved, then friends pointed out all the details we got wrong. I quite think that our helpers are more eager than we are to make sure that everything is fine on the day itself. *sniff sniff* We are very grateful, but as we have only 6 sets of cutlery at home, it looks like we are going to have to do our Helpers' Thanksgiving dinner in several batches :P

I can tell that the Sisters gang will nanny me into having a manicure, pedicure and all other beauty rituals before the event. And they wouldn't even let me eat ice-cream :( I suppose, it is the Bride's fault for being generally lazy and uncooperative about her own wedding :P But I had the last laugh yesterday. On our way home, I made V send me to the provision shop where I had a popsicle. Strictly speaking, it was ice, but not cream :P

While we were at it, we also chose more photos for our slide show. I hadn't realised that we took a staggering 500 pictures at the second photoshoot! wow...I must say that these informal pictures reflect our personalities and relationship much more accurately than the stilted, formal studio ones.

After all the excitement of the meeting, we went to Aussino to buy a marvellous 100% silk quilt for our new home, and immediately forgot to take it with us when we left the shop :P oops...

You've been asking

Nope, the photos aren't out yet, but they let us see some first so that we can give our stamp of approval. These are some samples, for those really interested :P

The red dress was the most skimpiest thing I've ever worn. Almost had wardrobe malfunction. We simply had to choose these pictures, since the man turned red with the effort to carry me. I'm not a waif, hahaha

Bits and Pieces

Slowly we are putting everything together. Grilles came in. Sigh...the unobstructed splendid view is no more, but we need to ensure our safety and this is the sensible thing to do. They don't look too bad. I can live with them.


Quaint clock, another love at first sight and impulse purchase.

Wallpaper

Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting :(

I have never been so patient in my life. The rapid progress in our renovation came to an abrupt stop, because the wallpaper we ordered is OUT OF STOCK :( and we have been waiting ever since for new stock to come in :( Rats, it is simple work and ends up taking such a long time after all. Grrrr.....I just knew that it couldn't be so easy.