Couturier: Boy Kastner Santos

The Groom and the Couturier

After weeks of searching, we finally have a winner for Winy's bridal gown and entourage couturier: "Tito Boy" Kastner Santos of Sheaths Couture.

Since we're working on a fixed budget, Winy made it a point to look for the best couture in the Metropolitan Manila area (okay, not really, since Tito Boy is based in Bacoor, Cavite) that our money could afford. True enough, we "discovered" Tito Boy in a bunch of forums, Facebook posts, Multiply entries and Blogspot wedding diaries.

Most of their conversations/ dealings were done online since Winy's based abroad. Finally, once the fiancee gave me the go signal, I decided to drop by the Weddings @ Work bridal fair at SM Megamall last Friday, February 17.

Suppliers update

Originally posted on February 9, 2012 on angelvelasco.multiply.com


One of the nuances of having and maintaining a pet blog (http://kilikilishot.blogspot.com - please do visit and like the official fan page on http://www.facebook.com/kilikilishot if not for the entries, then do it for me. For friendship. Please? Lol) is that I often run out of interest to even bother opening my personal blog.

And it's not like I'm running out of things to write either-- there's the whole CJ Corona thing, my DOM-like fascination with innocent teenage girls in school uniforms and the latest food joints that have recently drawn my attention- Bon Chon is off the hook I tell you.

So allow me to write a couple of updates re my December wedding, where we are at the moment and who we're trying to get. If you have dealt with any of the suppliers listed below, or know anyone better (and reasonably priced), please feel free to leave a comment. Well-wishers are always welcome too. :)

The Venue

Fernwood Gardens, Quezon City

Originally posted on November 17, 2011 on angelvelasco.multiply.com


Last Saturday was spent driving around Tandang Sora looking for the famed Fernwood Gardens to inquire about their wedding venue packages. I didn't really do a lot of research as far as the location was concerned, so half the morning was spent literally exploring the wonderful new roads that connect Visayas Avenue and Commonwealth (the one that passes along New Era and El Shaddai among others).

Turns out, I detoured prematurely and was supposed to exit right at Sanville where good friend Melissa lives. Once inside the complex subidivision, there were a couple of old street signs that led me to the gardens which was just as magnificent in person as it is in pictures.

The Wedding Planner

We're now officially just a year and close to a month away from the big day. Nothing's set in stone yet, but we are definitely pushing for December 1, 2012 (save the date, just in case you receive an invite-- if not, sa bahay na lang tayo mag inuman).

Originally posted on November 7, 2011 on angelvelasco.multiply.com

And since my beautiful and forever blossoming fiancee doesn't share the same country code, I find myself having to take care of the little details and nearly stressing myself out over it. In my last post, I've mentioned that we're looking for Wedding Planners to help us out. But given the fact that I enjoy dishes more when I cook it and that we're on a rather tight/ fixed budget, I'll forego that option and keep it on my back pocket-- for now. I'm giving myself until March to figure things out and check if I can handle it or not.

Good thing one of my friends, Kim, is getting married this January so I can always check and compare notes. She chose to get a wedding planner which makes the whole thing a lot easier, and I can definitely see that they're bound to have a great wedding next year.

Anyhow, here's my checklist of sorts:

1. Church

2. Venue

3. Caterer

4. Couturier

5. Jeweler

Meet the Parents

Originally posted on September 25, 2011 on angelvelasco.multiply.com


Technically, I've already met my fiancee's parents. It was the first thing I made sure to do during our relationship's infancy to show that I was serious and in it for the long run (but honestly, who would've known back then that we'd be together this long-- even longer, right?).

But meeting her parents and asking them for their precious daughter's hand in marriage are two different things. What made things a tad bit more complicated was that her father's living overseas while her old-school conservative mother pretty much runs their town like an O.G.

She's not into politics, but I've always told my fiancee that whenever her ma felt like running for a local seat, she'd win via landslide all day. That's how recognized and respected she is in her neighborhood.

The Proposal

Originally posted on September 10, 2011 angelvelasco.multiply.com

AV: Let's keep this one a secret for now and refrain from reposting or quoting it on FB, Twitter or wherever, since I'll only share this with my Multiply friends who I consider as a big part of my life. This one's for us geeks!

Last Thursday, the wife celebrated her 25th birthday with her friends via a videoke party at Centerstage, Jupiter St. The "mini-reunion/ birthday celebration" lasted all three hours and ended at around 12-ish. After that, it was off to the house because she said that she was tired and didn't want to "head to Starbucks MOA" or "grab a bite at McDo."

But before anything else, let's rewind a bit to when I bought her engagement ring. It was the last week of August, and Bie was set to arrive for her nth vacation this year at the end of the month. I knew that I had to buy the ring at the soonest possible time, and wouldn't have the time to do so once she arrives (since my sister will also be in town and I will be driving for both ladies in September-- ah the joys of being the official family driver).

One sunset by the bay

My beautiful GF now fiancee with,
well, a lanky dork 7 years ago

It's been seven (going eight) years since my now fiancee and I started this relationship. Admittedly, we didn't take it that seriously and brushed it off as just another college romance that could or would probably die down in a couple of weeks' time.

She was the pretty girl of her class but not the one that fits the popular, airhead type. She was more reserved than outgoing, simple than stylish. Her family and friends kept her grounded, and it was a joy seeing her around our college building- St. Raymund's which houses both the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters and Commerce.

I was the guy who came from some high-end school (La Salle Greenhills) but took all of it for granted. You could say that I pretty much made it easy for my classmates to see me as some sort of airhead/ loner/ poser. Every time I tried to reach out, they would think that I was just in it for something (say, to run for politics, or to sell something-- at the time, MP3 CDs were the bomb). It was my fault really, since I'm not the type to start conversations or hang out with friends. So yeah, my world revolved around her the minute I saw her. I knew I didn't want or need to be with anyone else but her.

We were finally able to exchange pleasantries during our college's intramurals. Both being freshmen, I played for the men's basketball team while she played women's basketball and chess. She was awesome. I, well, wasn't (that's why I ended up blogging about basketball and not actually playing it professionally).

I was nervous but I managed to introduce myself and my other classmates which she opted to interact with over the lanky six footer with zero game (me). Lesson learned: girls won't say it, but they like being ogled at like eye candy-- it makes them feel pretty at times I guess.

Summer break came, and we were off to 2nd year. That's when I had the balls to ask one of my friend's for her number. Yeah, she gave her number to one of my guy friends and not to me, the one who introduced the whole lot to her. Blah. I believe my SMS went something like:

"Hi, I'm Angel Velasco from 1Jrn1. Is it okay if I text you?"

Not sure with the last part. But that has got to be the worst non-personal pick-up line known to man. Sent via text. What a loser.

But true enough, she replied, we exchanged a couple of texts, was even on YM a few times before finally-- I asked her out on a date.

Yan ang Maynila :)

She wore pink, I wore blue.  I think her shirt had the word "Angel" on it.

Yun na! :)

No, seriously, we boarded an FX from UST to Malate Church. Went inside to pray a bit, sat by the benches at Raja Sulaiman park. And that's where I told her, that I wanted to "be with someone that I could watch sunsets and grow old with." Perhaps, back then, it was a little too much for her and she was just going along with the whole thing. I was (and always will be) pretty emotional in a "here's my heart, please keep it safe, nurture and love it" kind of way anyway.

She said yes, we went to Mayor Lito Atienza's beautified Maynila baywalk (which has now been turned back to just another place where commonfolk walk around and pollute), watched the sun set and had dinner. It was simple, but I felt that I had just met the woman who I wanted to spend forever with.

2011, my 26th birthday and when I finally decided
that yes, I want this woman to be my wife

And here we are, from 2004 to 2012, working on just that.