Holiday advice for MEGS

If you're a MEG (married or engaged), the holidays are a joyous time to celebrate the meaning of Christmas together and being thankful for one another.  But sometimes there are issues that need to be discussed that were never an issue before you were a MEG.  So before you new MEGS get blindsided, Yaptos wants to help out for next year.

1. Alternate family holiday get togethers - for example, Marc and I had Thanksgiving this year with my family and we're doing Christmas with his family.  Next year, we'll swap it. Less hurt feelings. But if there's a way to celebrate on both sides for both holidays, even better.
2. Include "Christmas gifts" in your budget!  There is less hair pullage when you actually have money saved for the holidays.
3. A friend of mine saves all of her change in a big jar throughout the year.  When it's time to go Christmas shopping, she takes it to the bank to exchange it for bills and uses that for extra money for Christmas gifts.  Genius!
4. Who gets a gift this year? Write down a list of family and friends and based on your budget, how much are you going to spend on each loved one and what you're going to get them.
5. Budget for holiday cards and stamps if you do this.  Consider DIY cards to add a more personal touch or go with a photo card.  With various discounts, Marc and I got 40 holiday cards for $16 at Walgreens! Hollerrrr!
6. Go Christmas shopping either early or on a weekday. If you're someone like me that despises huge crowds to the point where you lose your Christmas spirit, I highly suggest you take this advice.

Marc's advice:

1. If you are like my dear, wonderful betrothed and hate crowds when you are shopping, I highly suggest shopping online.  Very often, depending on what you are shopping for, you can buy things without worrying about sales tax.
2. Focus more on practicality of gifts.  The newest toys might be nice for only the next year or so before they are upgraded or replaced.  (Ahem.  Apple.)  Practical gifts will be appreciated infinitely more so.
3. Google 'how to wrap a Christmas present' if you don't know how.  I did.  And it's done wonders (my fiancee loves me that much more)
4. Split up the shopping between the two of you.  Its saves you energy and headaches.  Eiffel and I shopped together this year and I made the declaration of never wanting to do that again.  Eiffel agrees.

On top of all of this, do not lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas.  We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!  Be safe, and enjoy the time with your loved ones!

I said YES to the DRESS!

Dress shopping to me sounded so overwhelming.... I occasionally walked into some dress stores and immediately ran out because all of the dresses seemed way too alike.  The idea of it seemed over stimulating and stressful.  Today, I just sucked it up and went to the boutique that I felt like would have the style of dress I was looking for.  Spring and Julia were gracious enough to come along last minute (Marc called and made an appointment for me since I didn't even think about it.. again... and they were able to squeeze me in on the same day).  I figured the "jump into the pool full of cold water" or "pull off the band-aid" method was the only way to do this.

The wedding dress search was actually so much fun!  The consultants were all so friendly and inviting, and my personal consultant had the sweet, kind, and outgoing personality that easily made me more comfortable about the entire process.  She was a pro at pulling the dresses that was exactly what I was looking for.  Also, she was great at adding simple accessories to make the dress stand out more and gave me her honest opinion.  She even asked about Marc, how he proposed, etc... which added on to the experience.  I think through the questions she asked and my opinion on the dresses, she quickly learned that I wasn't a flashy bride-to-be.  I couldn't have had a better wedding dress consultant!  

From the time of my appointment, trying on the dresses, doing measurements, paperwork, and payment.. it only took me an hour!  I was so thankful to have Spring and Julia there since they know me best.  And the combination of Spring's laid back/sentimental personality with her own wedding dress shopping expertise and Julia's keen eye for fashion and "dolphin jumping" excitement was a great balance of what I needed for the experience.  I was pretty sure we had the perfect dress when they both said "oooo," Spring couldn't help but tear up, Julia took pictures of every angle of the dress on me, and I couldn't stop smiling and twirling.  I am so relieved that I have the dress, and I am now even more excited about the wedding!  

For future brides-to-be, here is a list of tips when trying on wedding dresses:

• Make an appointment about 2 weeks in advance (I lucked out getting one the day of... but that is really rare).
• Try going during a week day when it's less busy so the dress consultant can concentrate on just you.
• Bring a couple pictures of dresses that you had in mind and why you like them.
• Bring the jewelry/shoes/other accessories that you want to wear for the wedding.
• Bring a nude colored strapless bra.  (I didn't think of it, but my boutique had one for me.)
• Bring a hair tie so you know what the dress will look like with your hair up. (I brought a clip, but a tie will be better since your hair will be under a veil).
• Wear nude colored undies so you can't see it through the dress.
• Have a price range in mind before you enter the boutique.  
• Don't be afraid to try on sample dresses because they are usually about 50% off.
• Have an open mind on dress types/styles!  A lot of women tell me that they ended up falling in love with a dress that they didn't even consider in the beginning.  
• Try sitting, bending, and dancing in the dress to make sure you are comfortable on the wedding day.
• Make sure you are COMFORTABLE!  You could have the prettiest dress, but if you are uncomfortable and can't move, it will totally show in your wedding pictures.  Plus, you want to enjoy the wedding and not feel constricted the whole time.
• Bring people that know you best, knows your style best, and will give you their honest opinion and suggestions based on what YOU want and not what THEY want.  
• Trust your gut! If you didn't like it initially, don't let others persuade you.  It's YOUR dress!
• Keep in mind it takes about 5-6 months for dresses to come in after ordering it. 
• Most importantly, relax (I tend to sweat when I'm not relaxed which is gross when trying on dresses) and have fun!  This time only comes once in your life :) 

I am excited to try on the dress when it is in my actual size!!  I'm even more excited for Marc to see me on our wedding day <3 Next step... finding bridesmaid dresses! This will be a doozy... 

P.S. Thank you, Ate Jacel, for reminding me to have room in my budget for alterations ;) 

So Thankful for the Yap in my Tos

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, and it is the perfect time to reflect on what/who you appreciate.  I am thankful for a lot of things because God has graciously provided me with so many wonderful blessings. But I wanted to express my appreciation for one particular person... none other than my fiance <3

Every night I pray, Marc is the first to be mentioned because he is the greatest blessing God has bestowed upon me.  You know when a good thing happens and you know that only a higher power could have been involved? Yup, that's Marc for me.  We compliment each other in a way that makes you believe that soul mates really exist... that 2 people are created and meant to be together. He is the sweetest and most kind person and will be there for his loved ones in a heart beat at their most troubled and most celebrated times in their lives. I have never told him this, but I have written it in my personal journal so many times; I look up to Marc.  The way he expresses his kindness and his unconditional love for me and for others is the person I strive to be every single day.  

So thank you, Marc, for being YOU and not changing based on external factors and circumstances. Thank you for always doing the right thing no matter what and having the biggest heart anyone could ever have.  Lastly, thank you for loving me unconditionally. I love you <3

Next Thanksgiving, I get to be thankful for my husband! I can't wait :)

Save The Date Photos

Some of my favorite photos from our "Save The Date" Shoot that my friend Chris Photographed:

 

 

 

 

 Many Thanks again to you Chris!!!

How a photographer would shoot his own "Save The Date" photo.

It hit me the night before.

Holy $%!@,  I'm getting photographed.

Let me back up and tell you my story though.

Being a photographer grants you several privileges, one of which stand out in my mind - the ability to see and record the most intimate of celebrations, customs and emotions a group of people can share with each other and the moments in between.

I have always loved being able to do this and love the freedom to do it with my own eye and vision.  It's something that I pride myself at.

However, I had no idea what it was like to be on the other side.  Where do I put my hands?  How would I look being on the other side of the lens? Does my smile look funny??  Things I was so confident in telling clients to do in order to make them look good in front my lens, I was now telling myself to do!

And it wasn't working.  

Someone else was going to be behind the lens - and I was scared out of my mind.

Instead of panicking and hyperventilating my self into oblivion, being scared out of my mind got me to thinking about other things.  What would my own shoot be like?  If i could only have one photo from the shoot what would it be and how would it look like?

I asked one of my good friends who also happened to be a photographer to photograph us.  Describing to him the idea and setup of the shot, he executed it perfectly:

It took less than three tries before we had it.  It was ALMOST as satisfying as having taken the shot myself!

The emotions that welled up in me when I saw the photo were enough to tell me that this was the "moment" for me.  That elusive moment that I personally hunted for when I photographed other people had now been captured for Eiffel and me.  I can't thank you enough Chris!

So save the date everyone!!! =D

Yaptos got smarter

10.18.11 Marc and I made the best wedding decision EVER this past Tuesday.... and it's totally a secret!! Let's just say that a huge load has been lifted off of our shoulders and we're getting back to being excited for the wedding!

My entire day off was dedicated to gathering addresses (consisted of a lot of texting, fb messaging, calling, etc...) and writing out addresses to send our Save-The-Date cards by this weekend!  We can't wait for everyone to see it.  Once they're all sent out, Marc and I will share it with the rest of the world.  But for now, we want our close family and friends to be surprised when they receive it  <3

Picture of the day: My bridesmaids (minus Melissa... we missed you!) at the Chicago Bridal Expo in Schaumburg <3  (L-R) Julia, Candice, Me, Jacel, Spring, and Sara

And Ate Jacel took a picture of the pig at our Engagement Party Luau! Woo!

9.10.11 Yaptos Engagement Party Luau Weekend Review

First of all, Marc and I would like to thank everyone that celebrated with us at our Yaptos Engagment Luau Picnic Party at Randall Oaks Park on 9.20.11!  We were worried that it was going to rain, but we were so blessed with absolutely perfect weather.  It was special having everyone travel to West Dundee and enjoy not only the celebration but the beauty of the outdoors.  A lot of people that live closer to the city commented on how green everything was.  Thank you to those people because it made me take a step back and appreciate the beauty that surrounded us! Again, another huge shout out to Marc's sister, Sara, and my cousin/sister/twin, Jacel, for flying in for all of the engagement festivities! And I can't forget a ginormous thank you to my little, Kathy, for taking pictures for us! Love you ladies!

There was A TON of food at our potluck.  I don't think Filipino parents understand what a potluck is because both of our mothers made enough food for everyone that we probably didn't even need it to be a potluck! I got full just simply looking at the food.  But all of it was incredibly delicious.  I need to get recipes from everyone so I can cook it all for Marc once we're married ;)

Maid and Matron of Honors helping set up :)



The Tiki was a hit! Thanks for letting us borrow your friend, Kuya!

With the parentals

Ate Jacel: Be a lion! Me: Ok! We're pros at being crazy



Arianna guiding me to the playground







Marc was so helpful and drew these on all of the goody bags <3

Origami Picture Frames <3

On Sunday, we went to Bridal Expo Chicago at the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg with my bridesmaids.  It was definitely helpful knowing exactly what we needed so it wasn't too overwhelming.  The fashion show was fun to watch.  A lot of it was so over the top for me though, but I did see a couple  of dresses I liked :)  Pictures of all the girls will be posted soon!

Now, Marc and I are taking a break from the wedding planning and concentrating on planning our marriage.  Friday nights are dedicated to our Two to One Workshop at Willow Creek Community Church.  We've already learned the importance of how our past has shaped who we are, our values, our personality types, how to communicate effectively, and how to celebrate each others' differences rather than wanting to change our differences.  Next week, we get to learn how to fight fair ;)  It's been a great journey so far, and Marc and I continue to learn more about each other and us through these workshops. 

Sunday evenings are dedicated to Financial Peace University (FPU) starting tomorrow.  This is a 13 week course being held at West Ridge Community Church taught by Dave Ramsey.  Financial issues are usually a struggle for couples, so Marc and I are going to make sure to tackle this obstacle head on to prevent the issues.  

Yaptos is well on our way with our journey from two to one!

Kuya: When you guys married, you're going to have a hard time walking!

Me: O_o What are you talking about?

Kuya: Because you're going to lose your "tos" from Yaptos!

Like I told everyone in my two to one group... my brother is definitely my "most colorful relative." lol Ciao!!

Wedding Bands And What Not To Do

I used to think that when the day came I would be choosing a wedding band that would be somewhat blinged out with cool designs and a diamond or so.

How little did I know...

A few weeks ago, Eiffel and I went out wedding band shopping.  While it's obvious from the get-go that a wedding focuses on the bride, one of the few things that the groom gets to participate in is with the wedding band choice.  It's a way that the groom can show that he's willing and able to help out and do his fair share with whatever his wife-to-be needs help with.

Seeing the vast designs that were out there, the one thing that struck me as interesting was little I truly did know about the world of wedding bands.  There are basically enough designs to deal with every single type of personality out there.  From basic molded pieces of metal to skulls (I swear I saw a skull wedding band!)

Based on what happened with Eiffel and I when we went wedding band shopping, I've put together a basic list of do's and don'ts:


Do - Go with something that's comfortable with you and your style and will last forever

Don't - Go with something that's trendy or flashy.  It will only date you and show how much of a loser you were back in the day.

I personally went for a simple wedding band made of Cobalt.  There are 5 major types of wedding bands for guys in terms of hardness from soft to hard:

1.  Gold
2.  Platinum/Silver
3.  Titanium
4.  Cobalt
5.  Tungsten

Cobalt is harder than Titanium and not as hard as Tungsten.  I went with my band as I liked the design and it appeals to the manly side of me with being rugged LOL. 

Eiffel found her ring (a wrap) and didn't want anything after that.  We plan on having it saudered together with her engagement ring just before the wedding and then having me put it on her during the ceremony.


After we found bands we liked we also did some comparison shopping.  I had never spent so much time in jewelry stores in all my life (with exception of when I was searching for Eiffel's engagement ring)  After doing a bit of comparison shopping we finally decided that on the specific rings we wanted - I put down some money for the rings and am looking forward to the day when I have Eiffel put the ring on me =D

Happy "1 Year Until Our Wedding Day" Day!!!

Holy canoly... exactly 365 days until we become Mr. and Mrs. Marc Yap! It has been a fun, crazy, and exciting time wedding planning so far :)  I cannot believe we have already been engaged for 3 months! Within the past 3 months, we have accomplished the following:

• Set up a wedding bank account
• Reserved a date and put down a deposit for our reception venue
• Found our wedding photographer and paid the deposit
• Reserved a date and paid for the Engagement Party venue
• Found our wedding bands, paid a deposit, and will be paid off this week
• Have a detailed vision for the wedding day
• Marc has done a ton of research/contacted  DJs and videographers, but the research continues!

It's easy to focus on what NEEDS to be done rather than what HAS been done.  So YAY for staying ahead of our timeline, staying within budget (so far...), and saving saving and more saving!

We're anxious for our Engagement Party coming up on Saturday, September 10th, and I get to attend a bridal expo with ALL of my lovely bridesmaids the next day!  We are extremely fortunate to have Sara (Marc's sister from CA) and Ate Jacel (my cousin from CO) flying out for all of the festivities next weekend! We love you ladies, and we're so grateful that you both can partake in our celebration <3  Then I'm taking off on Monday and Tuesday to spend time with my cousin/sister before she flies back to Denver. We're going to pretend like we're 10 again and jam out to Hanson while wearing matching clothes and rocking the side ponytail. lmao

So what's the plan after the Engagement Party? NADA! Marc and I are going to enjoy being engaged, enjoy being in love, and enjoy being Yaptos <3



Everyone have a phenomonal Labor Day Weekend!!!!



Yaptos Randomness Update

Eek!  Marc and I are preparing to send out our engagement party e-vites this weekend! (well... fingers crossed. lol)  Candice and I attempted to check out some wedding dresses this past Saturday.  But apparently, you need to set up an appointment to try on dresses. oops.  I thought it would be just like trying on clothes at Target; go in the fitting room, try stuff on, then you're outtie.  The "Target method" DID work at the jankie dress store at Spring Hill Mall. lol Umm, what else? Oh yes!  On Saturday, July 23rd, some of my bridesmaids and I went to a tea party at The Little Traveler in Geneva.  It is the cutest little place!  I recommend every woman I know to have a tea party here with your girlfriends!

Random,  but for those of you who are engaged/planning on getting engaged, word of advice: Please save as much money as you can!  Whether you're paying for your wedding on your own (which is what we are doing) or getting some help, save money!! Marc and I are finishing up our initial deposits for our reception venue and our photographer, and that alone is $2,500! The average american wedding costs about $29,000... luckily, Marc and I aren't average. lol We are going to be as cost efficient as possible but still have the unforgettable wedding we're envisioning.  It's just going to take a little bit more time and creativity.  High five to Marc for doing so well with budgeting because I know how much you like to work with numbers ;)  So proud of you babe!

Me and the 4/6 bridesmaids :)
Melissa, Julia, me, Spring, and Candice.... Sara and Jacel were there with us in spirit <3

Yaptos reflection: not losing sight of love

I think people get married for so many reasons.  They want to have their fantasy wedding come true, getting married can be a money saver (in some circumstances), they want to have kids and getting married is the first step, they don't want to be alone, everyone else is doing it, etc... Whatever reasoning is fine and dandy, but I believe some couples lose sight of love during the hustle and bustle of wedding planning and listening to what other people are saying rather than focusing on each other.   I'll shamefully admit that I've already caught myself on both counts.  But in defense of people who have been through this, there's A LOT involved in wedding planning... A LOT! And of course, we can't forget  that this is on top of everyday life like work, family, friends, and most importantly taking care of yourself and each other.  So it can be easy to forget about love. Oh geez, that sounds AWFUL. I'm so tempted to edit that horrible sentence, but I'm leaving it because there's no other way to put it.  So that's why I'm going to reflect on why I want to get married to my fiancé.

First and foremost, I warned Marc from the beginning that I wanted to be with him for a long time. I'm confident that would scare off most guys so early on in a relationship.  But I couldn't help it.  That's how I felt and I was going to express it without holding back.  But, surprisingly, Marc took it so well.  Turns out that he felt the same way.  Lucky me!  We both knew we were supposed to be together.  God meant for us to meet up again after 3 years of meeting the first time back in 2007 at an LPhiE and KPL social event at U of I.  He meant for Marc to facebook private message me (lol!).  He meant for US to happen. We fell in love so fast, and we couldn't wait to start our life together.  And look at us now.  We're engaged and wedding planning is taking over!

Although a princess wedding that every girl dreams of sounds amazing, it's totally unrealistic and definitely not what I want even if I could afford it.  Even though I'm not emotionally simple (oh, Marc knows this... and I thank him every day for dealing with my emotions so well), I'm certainly simple with material things.  I swear things started out so simple with a small wedding, everything DIY, possibly even just going to Vegas! Then we started getting into, "what does our family want? What do our friends want? What is acceptable in wedding traditions? How can we make this the best wedding partaaaay EVER?" .... and the list goes on.  Total reality check: weddings are just not simple no matter how simple you want them!

So I've taken a step back from all of this chaos to remind Marc why we are getting married in the first place.  No matter the circumstance with what others are saying, what kind of expectations others may have, whatever disagreements we have.... we're getting married because we are ridiculously in love.  We love each other to the point that we will do absolutely anything for each other, endure whatever for one another, sacrifice for each other,... we just want to be together officially.  Love has no costs, expectations, or judgments.  Love has no timeline and deadlines.  Love is dependable.  Love is forgiving.  No matter what we plan for our big day, the only detail that matters is that we will be husband and wife: Mr. & Mrs. Marc Yap.  We'll get through all of our hurdles to becoming one because we're just awesome like that ;) I love you!

Just reminiscing... New Year's Eve 2010

Photographers and how we chose ours.

As long as I have been a photographer, the biggest question people would ask of me was "Who's going to be YOUR photographer?"

For humor's sake, I'll write up some of what people have suggested to me:

"You should photograph your own wedding.  Ninja."
"Can't you hold up your arm and snap a picture at the altar?"
"Set up a dozen stop motion cameras."
"Set up a bunch of cameras at strategic locations on tripods...and remotely trigger them."  

While the joking was all good and fun, the question really isn't going to be easy to answer now that the moment has really arrived.

As one would expect, I'm more picky about photography than Eiffel is, and I really want the best for our own wedding.  As such here's a list of things that I'd like to put down in terms of criteria for the photographer whose work will appeal to Eiffel and me.

1.  Needs to shoot film.  My particular taste is pretty retro.  Retro shoes, hats, vests, suspenders.   It extends out into my own professional work with photography as well.  I love the colors of film.  It has a character that simply can't be duplicated with digital.

2.  Needs to capture moments.  A photographer (kudos if you know who it is) once said that there was no such thing as a perfect picture, only perfect moments.  The photographer that I would hire needs to be able to focus on capturing moments and emotions of the day - photojournalism.  I personally wanted a photographer that could anticipate moments that would occur during the most offbeat of times during the engagement shoot and the wedding day and be there to capture them.

3.  Can form a connection with their imagery.  Their work had to be inspiring not just to me, but to Eiffel as well.  It's easier for a photographer to connect with me since I know what to look for.  But for a photographer to emotionally connect with someone that isn't photographically trained was key to my preferences.  If the work of the photographer only appealed to me but was lacking emotional connection to Eiffel, what would it say about the photographer's work when we showed their images to our friends, family, and eventually our own children and grandchildren?

With help from Lydia of Ever Ours, we were referred to several photographers, one of whom definitely caught our eye.  He knew what moments to capture from weddings in his portfolio.  He connected with both Eiffel and me, and most importantly he shot film!

Without further ado, I present the photographer we've chosen:  Gabe Aceves!

You can find links to his work HERE and HERE.

I'm completely and totally excited to be working with Gabe as Eiffel has banned me from touching a camera during the wedding day...

Holy canoly, I'm getting married!

I remember the day I graduated from grad school. I stood there in line with my cohort and watched each one of them receive their diplomas, and it hit me: I'm getting my master's degree today!  It reminded me the reason why I went through all of the stress, had no sleep, and gained a ton of weight. lol

Yesterday, I was swimming with Candice and I had a similar feeling out of nowhere: I'm getting married next year!  Candice's reaction: "Umm... yeah Eiffel. You've been engaged for over a month now." Yes I know I've been engaged, but it didn't really hit me until now.  It's been so surreal. 

Through all of the trials and tribulations I've been through in my past, it lead to me to the person I've been looking for all my life.  As you get older, you learn more about yourself and become comfortable in your own skin.  I believe that during this time of growth, you also determine what you are searching for in a life long partner because you understand your own necessities, your personality, your strengths, and your flaws.  At the same time, you learn to stop looking for "Mr. Perfect" and search for "Mr. Right."  I'm not saying that I had an oversized list of my criteria in what my partner had to have... but once you meet someone and connect in a way that you thought only existed in love stories of corny movies that can only be concocted by creative writers, your heart strings start tugging to signalize, "Don't lose this one."  As Marc has told others, it was probably the closest thing to love at first sight.  The feeling was mutual :)

And by all means, our relationship is not perfect.  We just know/accept/understand each other's good and not so good.  It's when we get through the battle of the not so good, survive, and come out with a victory together is when we recognize THIS is love.  Elenor told me about the "80/20 Rule" from Tyler Perry's movie, Why Did I Get Married? Probably the best lesson I've ever learned about love.  Thank you Elenor and Tyler Perry! lol  What's the 80/20 Rule you ask?  Here it is:

Holy crap, I've gone off on a tangent.  Anyway, through the trials and tribulations of my past, it was all worth it to find THE ONE.  Marc, I can't wait to spend forever with you.  I love your 80 AND your 20... which basically means I love you 100%  ;-)

Reception Venue BOOKED!

Yesterday afternoon, Marc and I signed the contract and put down our first deposit for our reception venue!  We will be celebrating our marriage at Randall Oaks Golf Club on Sunday, September 2nd, 2012 (Labor Day weekend)!  Marc and I have been researching a variety of venues this past month, and we are so happy with our decision.  If you see Marc, ask him to show you his happy dance he did right before we signed the contract =).  Great deal, great location, great date... the whole shabang!

We're still in the middle of finalizing the church for the ceremony.  Now, we're just ironing out the details for the wedding photographer (whom we will soon announce! We promise!) and the venue for our engagement party!  After that, I'll be taking a break from the planning to wind down a bit and enjoy some me time and Marc time =)

For now, here's a couple pictures of me and Marc at Candice's 4th of July celebration :)

A little fuzzy, but still hilarious!

We match :) Yeah, we're nerds.

Some Images from Maui

Before I proposed to Eiffel, I shot a few images of the area and the restaurant that we went to.

Mama's Fish House was simply the best fish I ever had.  The scenery and decor was gorgeous and looking outside was like looking at a painting.  I honestly did not want to leave: