The Wedding Toast

You hear the melodious ringing of spoon against glass capturing everyone’s attention at someone’s wedding. Someone close to the guest, usually standing by the time heads are turned, has his drink lifted in the air as everyone looks to him or her expectantly – he’s going to give his toast.

 

Why do we toast? Well, the wedding toast is an expression of honour or goodwill to the happy couple. It’s announcing that we’re celebrating the love and marriage of two very special people. Whether it’s a single, prepared speech spoken by a sibling or a best friend’s impromptu well-wishes, a great toast can help lift the mood and be the perfect segue to the next part of your wedding programme.

How to best avoid an embarrassing situation? Always pick someone you trust, whom you’ll know will behave responsibly and keep it PG. Your party girl pal may be a lot of fun on the dance floor, but may not necessarily be the best person to approach for an engaging and heartfelt toast (at least, not in the way that you imagined). With that said, you may also want to consider breaking out the champagne only just after the toast is done, to minimize wedding mischief instigated by drunkenness!

Don’t be afraid to ask if you want to read through the person’s speech if they’ve prepared it beforehand either – just be sure not to go crazy with the editing. It’s their personal toast to your marriage after all. If there’s nothing offensive, humiliating or strange in it, then let it be heard by all the family and friends in your life!

Busy!

 

Weddings and meetings and weddings and meetings... but, happi ^^ life is more meaningful with something that you love, right?

Three more days to go, a bit nervous, haha! Is my first solely incharge wedding lor, forgivable I think ;p
Pray hard that everything goes smoothly.. finger cross leg cross body twist (yoga)

Speaking of which, miss my yoga class, body start aching coz busy and not enough rest. Must go yoga after my trip, which is right after the wedding, huh~ Luggage still unpack, great! But have to thank my buddies who lend me their winter wear and boots 感动+感恩(T^T)
Must buy you nice stuff from China (if I can get.. XD)

Your True Colours~

Many couples envision their wedding in themes, and most often one of the first things they settle on is the colour scheme of the event. Reflected on the invitations, the tables, floral arrangements and even the bridesmaids’ dresses, colour may very well be a central theme that a wedding is built upon.

One of the more useful designers’ tools you can use to help shape your decision is the colour wheel. Available at any arts and crafts store, you can use this adjustable paper guide to help with your colour pairings.

Selection by Analogous Colours:

3 colours that are adjacent to each other on the wheel are analogous. Picking a main colour of blue would mean that the accompanying analogous colours are Blue Violet and Blue Green. The scheme is most often found in nature and are most pleasing to the eye; use this when you want to really enhance your primary hue.

 

Selection by Complementary Colours:

Choose a colour you want on the wheel and draw a straight line across. Whatever that’s lying at the end of it is your complementary colour. People follow this scheme because the contrast is attention-grabbing but not too painful on the eyes. In fact, it’s thought to complete each other, as does a marriage!

Keep in mind that you can use your colour wheel even after the wedding – it will be handy when you start planning for your new home and its decor!

Flower Tales

Did you know that flowers used to be a means of communication called floriography? Although some of its old meanings have evolved and changed over time, it’s still no surprise that they are a key piece of the décor that sets the tone of your wedding. Here are some popular flower choices and what they represent:

The favourite of many brides, the rose is a classic choice which colour holds a deeper meaning than the flower itself (for example, red being love, pink affection, yellow joy and friendship). Unopened rosebuds symbolize youth and girlishness, and the inclusion of rose leaves would mean hopefulness.

Like the rose, tulip colors have their own significance, but are more lighthearted in feel. Tulips symbolize the perfect lover and are sometimes seen as a comment on the bride’s beautiful eyes.

In western cultures, orchids are exotic, representing thoughtfulness and maturity; pride and femininity. For Chinese people, they are a symbol for having many children.

Most commonly known for its representations of innocence, youthfulness and purity, daisies will make sweet-looking wedding bouquets. Try gerbera daisies for a vibrant, fun option.

A symbol of loyalty, steadiness and trust, picking sunflowers showcases a sense of boldness and originality.

There are many other options that people go for: Gardenias, Freesia, Irises, Calla Lilies, Jasmine. Whether you’re deciding on strands of delicate baby’s breath or feminine tiger lilies for your arrangements, It’s always better to do some research about what colour would be appropriate for which flower. White chrysanthemums may be a grand sign of virginal purity to someone, but in the Chinese culture the meanings are solemn – grieving and loss. You don’t want to offend anyone!

 

 

About Place ~ The Enchanted

240 meters above the city, on the 43rd floor beside Marina Bay - the view and feel alone is enough to warrant a chill out, but they're further augmented by exellent Italian cuisine, and all these while you're at the dining area. When you feel like, a 360-degree bar-counter await; any doubts as to its ability to cater to your tastes will be put to rest by the sight of the massive wine cellar lining an entire wall. For those looking for increased privacy, not only are there 2 private dining room available, the rooms also come with private lift lobby access that is out of line of sight from the main door. Such makes Zafferano uniquely suited for mid-sized events, receptions, including but of course not restricted to after-wedding and solemnization parties, or perhaps just an evening of letting your hair down and chilling to the view.

Meow~

2 from Cat Socretes, 1 from the street (^ +++^)

A friend brought me to a 'cat' shop, except it doesn't sell real cats. If you are looking for cool, vintage, or creative stuff as a gift or for your own collection, this is it!

It seems that the owner has put effort into every single detail from decoration to the displays to the sellable items. You can even sit down with a drink (number of seats are limited though) and do your own stuff, be it reading or surfing on the assigned corner.

I do admire the creativity and ambience of the place. Oh, something cool: check out their multi-purpose camera bags which don't look at all like typical camera bags :)

Shop: Cat Socrates
Location: 02-25 Bras Basah Complex, 231 Bain Street
Open hours: 12 pm - 8 pm

偶遇篇 - 美丽的误会

一个错的号码，对的人。因为这样，我认识了一位新朋友。

有时候人生就是这样奇妙，就像我怎么想破脑袋也猜不到某年某月某一天会遇见我老公^^

从相识到决定两人共度此生，短短的不到一载。

当喜讯传出，朋友问：出事了？我笑道：等着瞧 :)

一转眼，两周年也快到了，呵呵！

时间，总是在我们不知不觉中悄悄溜走。



About Wedding ~ Survive Planning A Hen Party

While the groom and his brothers are usually off celebrating their last night of singlehood before the big day, it’s only fair for the bride and her sisters to have a similar girls’ night. It’s not a must to have one, but it’s the best opportunity to treat the bride to a memorable night where she can take a much-needed break from her intense wedding plans.
The bachelorette (or hen) party can be notoriously daunting even for bridesmaids with professional events experience. Some haven’t a clue on where to start or what to do. Fret not - here are some tips to help you along the way:

Stay Organized 

Put all your ideas together into one space where you can review everything from a big picture perspective. Three main areas you can focus on are logistics, the itinerary, and budget (the “Hard Numbers”). In a single meeting, consider drafting the first copy of your activity plan (the “FUN!”) to get in as many creative ideas as you can, and then slowly cut it down and adjust according to your limitations from the Hard Numbers document. When you keep things systematic, it’s simpler to keep tabs on what you’re lacking or spending too much time on, so you can refocus on the more important task at hand – making your bride happy.

Ask Her What She Wants 
You can keep the details of your party a surprise and still ask the bride about what her boundaries are. Ideally, you want to avoid organizing the event based on guesswork. You can still fish for the information you may need to ensure that what you’re planning will be memorable and not humiliating. You can never be too sure about whether you're crossing the line. Sit down with your bride and ask what tone of party she prefers.

Enjoy the process!
Your celebrations don't have to revolve around the club scene. It doesn't have to be limited to a single night either. Your best bet is to arrange something that your bride and the others will be comfortable with. Don't be too stressed over the details. Chances are, the bride won't even care if you got her edible underwear or a tube of tooth whitening paste. What probably matters the most is that you showed up to have a good time together and laugh freely.

 

Think positive, and have fun!

Yes, I do.

I Promise to Love You

Honour You

Comfort You

Keep You in Sickness

and in Health

and be Faithfull to You

So Long As We Both Shall Live

童年篇 - 当年的红蜻蜓，你忘了吗？

红蜻蜓歇息在枝干上，惊觉光阴飞逝，童年不再。当年的纯真稚气竟被岁月磨灭的一干二净。

看着它潇洒地拍动着翅膀，当年的朗朗上口有如昨日。。

飞呀飞呀  看那红色蜻蜓飞在蓝色天空  游戏在风中不断追逐他的梦
天空是永恒的家  大地就是他的王国  飞翔是生活 
我们的童年也像追逐成长吹来的风  轻轻地吹着梦想慢慢地升空
红色的蜻蜓是我小时侯的小小英雄  多希望有一天能和它一起飞
当烦恼愈来愈多  玻璃弹珠愈来愈少  我知道我已慢慢地长大了
红色的蜻蜓曾几何时  也在我岁月慢慢不见了
我们都已经长大  好多梦正在飞
就像童年看到的  红色的蜻蜓 

About Weddings – Why the trouble?

Wedding traditions are basically a bunch of time-wasting rituals.

Who hasn’t thought of that at some point? I was frustrated with the rituals too when I was planning my own wedding. Most of us are busy enough and simply want to get from A to B as quickly and painlessly as possible. That’s why we have fast food. But there usually is a philosophy behind tradition. I guess it can’t hurt to know a bit more. It may even help us decide which ritual to edit for our weddings. And I’m sure some of us appreciate being able to please the elders and still get from A to B quickly and painlessly.

While a wedding is supposed to be a couple’s private intent to share their lives, here in the East the family is a pretty big thing. So the families celebrate the couple’s intent (if they agree), and also their having raised their kids well. That effectively leads to the carefully designed rituals with specific symbolic meanings showcasing respect, celebrating the job well done, and blessing their kids for life. These series of actions come in 4 general parts, with each action usually carried out at blessed dates and times. Believe it or not, that’s it!
 

喜喜篇 - 谈婚论嫁

继上回分享了几个婚宴的好地点后，这次想来“谈婚事”了，那就就由华人传统婚礼开始吧！不要一看到传统就准备要打瞌睡哦，其实大家会慢慢发现有好多大大小小的的婚礼传统习俗还真的蛮有趣的（想当年。。） 

在华人的传统里，婚姻代表着两个家庭的结合。所以当一对新人决定结婚，两家都会积极参与，除了一对开心的主角，还有比主角还雀跃的长辈们呢！自古以来，华人的婚礼传统多样与复杂，要一一牢记且遵守可不容易啊！然而随着时代的变迁，在速食年代“入侵”的情况下，时下的新人们都秉持着“省时省钱省麻烦”的观念， 于是传统的程序也越见简化了。 

但简化归简化，婚嫁的基本四大礼仪是省不了的。要知道婚嫁的每一事，物，都具有它独特的意义，还能为一般人认为繁琐的嫁娶过程增添不少乐趣呢！说到所谓的四大礼仪呢，那就包括过大礼、添置嫁妆、安床以及上头。当然，所谓的礼仪与习俗将因籍贯而异。所以呢，婚嫁过程请参阅插图=p

 

About Place ~ Mind your manners

The eastern locale facilitates a conducive environment for social gatherings indoors and outdoors with a gazebo for a mix of both, where guests of Table Manners will enjoy great value for a selection of European fare prepared with thoughtful culinary skills.

About Place ~ Feast ur senses

Elegantly poised amidst the city-fringe in the heart of Chinatown, guests will be treated to a mixture of dining options in the relaxing dining courtyard, the cozy main dining hall, the intimate private dining room with a classic long table, and the welcoming Senso bar to wash it all down.

私家篇 - 那些年

那追星的日子，泛黄的身影，以为从此只剩回忆，原来竟历历在目，犹如昨天。。
或许有些人不屑于此举，认为极其幼稚的行为（老实说，自己也曾这样认为）
如今木然回首，原来幼稚的曾经，竟是美好回忆的拼图方块
那些陪我们成长的片段，当初之所以‘追’，或许是因为在他们身上，看到了自己到不了的梦想，还有憧憬
人，要有梦，才有希望。虽然十年已逝，心中的梦，依然不灭。
谁会料到以为从此不再，今天竟然聚集会首。
向“永远不说再见”干杯吧！

About Place ~ The House

Situated in a city central locale, La Villa lives up to the promise of its name, which literally means ‘The House’, by providing guests with a cozy indoor dining area and an outdoor patio with an open garden, to enjoy the tantalizing selection of continental and regional cuisine.

About Place ~ Oh Blimey! Drinks!

In the heart of the business district comes Victorian London in the form of Penny Black, starting off the famous Boat Quay premier entertainment belt in Singapore with two full storey of legroom to eat, drink and chill out to the view and feel of the omni present Singapore River.

About Place ~ Bringing the Irish luck

Muddy Murphy brings the luck of the Irish to start of Singapore’s leading shopping belt Orchard Road, serving contemporary Irish cuisine going along with renowned Irish beers, to soak in the authentic purpose-built/shipped/imported Irish cottage pub fittings in and from Dublin, Ireland.

口乞篇 - 浪漫满屋

 

置身于家般的“浪漫满屋”，咀嚼着简单清新的味道，隐约传来银银笑声
食物虽不及预期，此时此刻，已沉浸在这清幽的环境里。。

私家篇 - 序

没想过停笔多年，如今竟然执笔，在自个儿的部落格涂涂写写 ^^
感谢科技的发达，从执笔书写到键盘输入。
感谢朋友及家人的支持，让我实现梦想，让我做自己喜欢的事，让我做自己
虽说完事起头难，但至少我努力过，就算是失败，也没有遗憾 J