ROM Cost Uncovered!

Finally got round to tabulating the cost of our ROM:

• Our two attires including The Wife’s dress, shoes, hair colour, makeup and nails and The Husband’s tie came up to S$579.     (poor husband only has a tie

• The pair of stainless steel wedding bands cost S$118

• The admin fee at ROM as well as the JP cost came to S$63

• Two lunch tables at Peony Jade is about S$927

• The Wife’s calla lily bouquet and The Husband’s boutonniere cost only S$50 with some free freesia thrown in for my hair by Mrs Teo

• Our table decor with the DIY wedding tortoises and ring pillow (courtesy of The Wife’s friend Ms AZ) is S$37

• The DIY shout out board for guests S$8

• Last but not least, the DIY place cards and favors cost about S$40

All in, the total bill came up to about S$1822 which is rather good, considering that we have 2 tables of 20 guests (22 including both of us).

The Wife thinks that we are doing well in terms of cost control. Gambatte for the actual day!

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ROM Photos are Up!

The Wife just realized that the photos that have been posted in the previous blog entries are rather small and thus decided to “UPSIZE” them to show more detail.

The photos of our solemnization cum lunch session are ready! Given that Sarah, our photographer, came in the capacity of a friend, the photos that she captured are less typical in terms of the flow than usual.

Some recap of the moments….

The view at Clarke Quay

Entrance of Peony Jade

Cute tortoises all dressed up!

Our JP Mr Jude Yeo

During the ceremony

Exchanging rings

The kiss!

Of friends and well-wishes…

Last but not least, the group pictures….

With the families…

Last but not least, our photographer Sarah

Though it is not the most impressive ceremony with the largest crowd and details, it is still rather significant given that we have with us our families and dearest friends.

It also marked the start of our marriage and leave memories which we will treasure many years to come.  Hope that we can be this happy every 21 June!

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With this ring I wed thee

The Wife has always been a fan of big chunky rings and when it came to choosing our wedding bands, we did not want to spend too much of them.

Even though people (especially couples getting married) always think that the wedding band is the most important and significant item of the marriage, it is rather difficult to convince The Husband that we should get something expensive and everlasting because:

• The Wife is highly careless and always lose rings taken off to wash hands, gym etc
• The Wife always bang into things and an expensive band with diamonds will probably be destroyed soon enough
• The Husband is a fireman and thus cannot wear accessories that might meltdown in times of work emergencies and thus will not be wearing them after the ROM
• We are very poor with all the wedding and house expenses and the ring is not high on priority (as per the proposal ring gotten for half its price at the SK Jewellery sale)

Thus, armed with the concept that as long as we have a pair of rings for the solemnization and that they are round (symbolic of the marriage being endless and timeless in an unbroken wholeness), we went on ring hunting for the best material at the lowest price.

After an extremely short time and The Wife remembering a pendant she has gotten once, we went off to the Fjord store at Square 2 and got ourselves a pair of stainless steel rings for less than $100!

The rings came with engraving of the words “Share my life, take me for who I am” which we found rather meaningful as well.

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Long Overdue Post of ROM Invite

For our ROM, The Wife did up a quick e-invite for our guests. It only has a cover page of our temp logo as well as the wordings and then directions on how to get there.

The Wife is getting addicted to all the layout and planning. Will likely do a “Save the date” email as well as conceptualize the table numbers, signage, to be aligned to the theme of our actual wedding day.

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Long overdue entry on ROM preparation

Okie, now that our ROM is over, it is time to showcase the preparation that has gone into it. As promised, some of our DIY items:

1) DIY placecard magnets

A picture of the Korean erasers we got from More Than Words for the magnet placecards…

Close up view… They all look so solid, I was worried that they might be too heavy as a magnet.

After sticking the erasers on the little pegs The Wife got from Daiso, vola!!!

Next, comes the name portion. I got some ice cream sticks from SKP and cut them into half. Then using the fabric paint from Art Friend, I tried to write some nice “calligraphy”…

Ok, ok, nice is overated and I think it falls short of calligraphy by leaps and bounds as well.

But at least they look like words right… *pleased with myself*

After pasting part one and part two, this is the final result!

They don’t look very impressive ah.. but still The Wife is proud of the end result.

Had to try each on the fridge and due to the weight, had to change some of the items…

2) Wedding Favor

The Wife’s mum sponsored the Red Ginseng candies. We bought them while we were shopping at Tampines 1. Got the red organza bags from IDear Collection at Far East Plaza to pack them in.

They were placed near the chopstick holder for each guest. I didn’t have enough sweets and had to add in 2 of another variety. Try to spot the odd packet!!!

3) Wedding Tortises

The tortises finally came back from their makeover…. and they look gorgeous! Quite intricate even down to the tuxedo for the male tortise.

Them posing with the ring pillow and wedding bands that I tied myself… Everyone praised how cute they looked!

4) Wishing Shout-out Board

This was the easiest as all The Wife did was to buy a piece of white board material from Art Friend, a handle from Daiso and then brought back markers and a duster from school!

The results from this DIY project were very good (see pictures posted) and I get to see guests with their wishes rather than trying to decipher signatures on a paper guest book. I wish we can do this for our AD but I think it would not be logistically achievable given the number of guests. *sigh*

5) Food Menu

Well, The Wife didn’t prepare for this one, all we did was to negotiate for this one. But just for records on what is the final menu:

• Peony Jae Deluxe Five Combinations
• Abalone & Crab Meat with Bamboo Shoot Soup
• Szechuan Smoked Duck with Camphor Wood & Fragrant Tea Leaves
• Steamed Sea Bass with Minced Meat
• Deep Fried Pork Ribs with Mocha Sauce
• Braised Abalone Mushroom with Green
• Stir Fried Noodles in Cantonese Style
• Chilled Mango with Pomelo Sacs

T he smoked duck was great!! And the stir fried noodles look rather plain and yet so wonderful! I hoped the guests have fun too!

Overall I was quite pleased with everything except that it was quite a rush by the time we get to the restaurant, there wasn’t time to display everything nicely.

Will post up the video next!

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Finally Mrs Lim who may be jobless soon…

The Wife thinks that I am a blessed person. Our ROM lunch @ Clarke Quay Peony Jade was a great success and we have to thank the following people who were very nice and helped us with it:

1) Mr Yeo Woon Soo, our JP who is smiley and patient… He is very popular on the forum and I thought I will never be able to invite him, especially on Father’s Day

2) Marilyn, The Wife’s make-up artist who has made me look “mei mei” many times and hand-made me the nice set of crystal jewellery. A lot of people would not know that the first photograph that The Husband ever saw of me was the one from Joanne’s wedding (make up done by Marilyn!)

3) Sarah, our photographer who became our friend after the last Singapore pre-wedding shoot. She came again to help us cover the event and was game enough to pose for the shout-out wishes

4) Leon, for standing all alone at the entrance to welcome our JP and then send him off again

5) Peony Jade @ Clarke Quay who host a wonderful lunch for all of us and sent their well wishes through email. They also help to set up a beautiful stage and the nice feather pen. Food was good at a reasonable price. They help me do a pro-rate increase in the amount of food as well, without breaking an arm and a leg

6) Idear Collection @ Far East Plaza who did such a good job for the wedding tortises. They looked super cute with the ring pillow. The Wife almost thought that I would never find a pair of those tortises in Singapore but then I never expect to get them in JB City Square and it was the last pair. And then I chance upon the modification service when I was looking at bedsheets in their shop. They also sold me the organza bags for the wedding favors.

7) Mrs Teo @ Bedok North Market who made me such a gorgeous Calla Lily bouquet that still look so fresh now. And it has been 4 days! Highly recommended florist. Sent a free buttonaire for The Husband and also freesia flowers for my hair. Chance upon the contact on the forum as well

8) All our invited guests who were kind enough to give us face and grace the event.. and also show off their drawing skills and supermodel poses with the wishes…

9) Last but not least, The Husband! He was thrown the all important task of getting my hand bouquet and carrying my entire 2 recycling bags of stuff for set up at the restaurant. He also had to be Initial D quality driver to get us to the restaurant as quickly as possible

Hmmm, come to think of that, I do not seem to have much of a recollection of what happened that day. I wasn’t feeling any exceptional emotion. The ceremony is over within 5 minutes and we didn’t choose to say any personal vows, so cannot really remember. Thereafter is also quite unchanged… If my job transition is as smooth.

All I remember of it is I look like a doll…. The Husband don’t like me with makeup cos seems so unreal.. hahaha… not that it is not nice.

We hope everyone had fun last Sunday and will post up photos as soon as they are available!!

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Our first and last visit to ROM!

Yesterday, I was on leave and The Husband was off duty. We had so many errands to run. Our day started off to the ROM office to verify our documents before Sunday’s solemnisation.

It was as quite a long wait there and we had to watch this funi video they were showing on how to maintain a good and happy marriage. It was funi because the actors and actresses in the clips all seem pretty un-natural. And rather over the top. There was this irritating man behind us who keep commenting loudly about what he is seeing.

And gosh, the irritating man is captured in our photo!!! EEKS!! And he is smiling at the camera some more! BU YAO LIAN!!

What do you mean you cannot see?? Let me use the online photo editor The Husband found to highlight him. See, I have drawn a circle around his face… Let me decide what to do with him.. He’s ruining our picture… *hmph*

Uh Huh! *Magic brush working on photo* and TEH DUH! Here is the final picture without the stupid man! And the focus is on us… tsk tsk…

When it was our turn, we went to this counter with a nice lady. She verified our docs and then ask us to do a statutory declaration that we have never been married before. We chose to do the Mandarin one cos it was a lot shorter than the English! *evil laugh*

The Husband then ask if he can take a photo of the declaration but gahmen being gahmen says cannot… sigh…  Nevertheless, we left ROM with our marriage cert (unsigned till Sunday) and then we went to do what other couples do when they get to ROM – TAKE PHOTOS!

Here is a picture of us just outside the office. Didn’t have anyone so The Husband just use his tripod.

Went to the little garden and took some pictures of ourselves since we will not be coming here for our ROM ceremony. Thanks goodness for our tripod. We even took 30 continuous shots of ourselves jumping in front of the arch to Fort Canning Park. And I was wearing my birkies. Should have dressed up if we know there are the photos.

Jump shot Take 1:

First take is too bright… and then The Husband’s legs are like too straight for the jump…

So braving the glares of passerbys who are trying to get past the gate into the Spice Garden at Fort Canning, The Wife decided that it is worth another try since it is not so often we will make a trip to this place.

Jump shot Take 2:

The second try seems a lot better. The Husband and The Wife’s legs are now synchronised.

The whole gate behind us is also visible… so this is a successful take!

Tired, so no more third try…

Just glad that we are not ROM-ing in the office itself. Seems so gahmen-ish and unromantic… Anyways, collected a few more things yesterday as well.. shall update in the next blog entry! My wedding tortises are one of the items. Post their pic in the next entry.

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Till death to us part?

Yoohoo, doing this one during lunch.

Okie, wedding vows do not have to sound like this blog’s title… But, the ROM is less than 2 weeks away and I haven’t taken a look at the vows yet… The Husband seems to think that it is intuitive and there is no need to write drafts and then review and change it a hundred times but personally on The Wife’s side, I have absolutely no idea at all!

The following ‘script’ is what is being used by the Registry of Marriages (ROM) now:

In English
Before you are joined in matrimony, it is my duty to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows you are about to make. Marriage according to law is the union of one man and one woman, voluntarily entered into for life, to the exclusion of all others. Do I understand that you __________________ and you ________________ are here of your own free will for the purpose of becoming man and wife?

Couple answer together: Yes

To Bridegroom
Will you, __________________ take this woman ______________ to be your wedded wife, to live together in the legal estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and keep her in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, be faithful to her, so long as you both shall live?
Answer: I will

To Bride
Will you, _________________ take this man _________________ to be your wedded husband, to live together in the ligal estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and keep him in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, be faithful to him, so long as you both shall live?
Answer: I will

The Rings (optional) Registrar’s Instructions Take this ring and put it upon the third finger of his/her left hand and repeat after me:
Bride and Groom: In token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love, with this ring I marry you.
Registrar’s Pronouncement As both of you have given your consent before me to live together in matrimony and have solemnly promised, each to the other to do so, I now pronounce you two Man and Wife.

But then again, since we are doing the Mandarin version for the benefit of our parents, here goes:

In Mandarin

JP: 你们是否自愿来这里结为夫妻

Husband & Wife: 我愿意

JP: 在你们还没正试举行婚礼结为夫妻之前我有责任提醒你,按招我国的法律, 结婚是一男一女自愿结为终身半吕和其他人都没有关系,你们清楚吗?

Husband & Wife: 清楚 / 明白

JP: 请你们站起来
*STAND UP*

JP: <hubb’s>你是否愿意接受<wife’s>为妻,并在合法的婚姻地位上生活在一起?

Husband: 我愿意

JP: 在你们两人都在世之年,你是否会一直爱她,安慰她,尊敬她并拒绝所有其他人永远对她忠心?

Husband: 我愿意

<wife’s>JP: 你是否愿意接受<hubb’s>为夫并在合法的婚姻地位上生活在一起?

Wife: 我愿意

JP: 在你们两人都在世之年,你是否会一直爱他,安慰他,尊敬他并拒绝所有其他人永远对他忠心?

Wife: 我愿意

JP: 先在你们把戒指拿上来, 一人拿一只, 你们看着对方.请把赠给<wife’s>的戒指带在她左手的无名指上

*Husband put ring on wife’s left hand, ring finger*

<wife’s>请把赠给<hubb’s>的戒指带在他左手的无名指上
*Wife put ring on husband’s left hand, ring finger*

JP: 先在握住双方的双手, 看着对方, 然后两位跟着我一起念

JP: “为了象征
Husband & Wife: “为了象征

JP: 我两
Husband & Wife: 我两

JP: 对彼此
Husband & Wife: 对彼此

JP: 永远忠心
Husband & Wife: 永远忠心

JP: 爱情永恒
Husband & Wife: 爱情永恒

JP: 我赠送你
Husband & Wife: 我赠送你

JP: 这枚戒指
Husband & Wife: 这枚戒指

JP: 和你结婚”
Husband & Wife: 和你结婚

JP: 好,两位转过来,看着我. 既然你们两位已经在我面前表识愿意在一起过婚姻生活
并且互相庄重的发誓,我先在就正式的宣布你们正式结为夫妻. 你们先在可以拥抱还是亲吻对方.

Wah, it sounds like a mouthful though The Wife heard that these have been simplified.

However, even with The Wife’s pretty ok command of the Chinese language, I can’t really think of anything that doesn’t sound cheesy or soap opera-ish.

Probably will just do without vows and go with the standard. While it will be meaningful to have personalized vows, words are just words and it takes more action and effort to maintain a marriage than just what is said at the time of ROM.

Anyway, Peony Jade sends through picture of the stage setup today. The Wife will add on my own tortise, ring pilllow and bouquet!

Some picture of the stage BEFORE my makeover of table:

1) Close up view

2) Far off view

3) Actual users

Hey, how come the JP in the picture look so much like Mr Yeo!! Anyway, do look out for pictures after the ROM for the setup again…

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Hit by a DIY bug ~ The beginning

Not worry, not the H1N1 flu bug but the wedding DIY bug. Sorry for the alarm….its just that I have been looking through various websites as well as the Singapore and Malaysia brides forum that I discovered there are so many talents out there. I don’t think I can ever be so good.

Nevertheless, even without the inborn natural ability to DIY, that doesn’t mean I am going to give up without a fight! (The poor Husband is going to shake his head silly when he hears this and Heng is going to pack up her luggage and run off to a remote island where I cannot find her to help me with my repetitive and boring DIY stuff)

With the help of some online search and a photo editor program, here’s unvealing our logo:

I think R would love this one. She will say that this is like so us!!!

In her mind, The Wife is probably the most suitable bride to dress up as a Chinese opera singer.. except that I cannot sing Chinese opera… tsk tsk

The Wife is trying to incorporate this one into my informal ROM invite. Should be quite cool…

Will show this one to The Husband. I am sure he will be quite happy to know that he looks so good!

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The final countdown… to Mrs *arghh*

OH SHUCKS!!!! Totally engrossed in my work and our customary wedding, The Wife forgot that our ROM is coming soon… and only 24 days to go… OH MY GOD!!!

*Starting to fly into panic mode* (The Husband is quite glad that he is @ work and not see me hyperventilate)

Anyway… take a deep breath and take a checklist of the to-dos for the big day:

• Write our personal vows
• Confirm the wedding favors / makeup artist / florist order
• Do up the shout-out wish board + instruction of use
• Speak with Kenneth @ Peony Jade on the procedure and timing
• Send out email invites and RSVP the guest list
• Confirm with Mr Yeo, our JP + prepare the token of appreciation
• Check with Sarah if she is helping with the photography
• Pick up my ‘modified’ wedding tortises!
• Interrogate and force everyone at home to dig up something to wear
• Make sure that The Husband has the appropriate attire…

Phew, the list doesnt look that long…. but oh dear.. WHERE DID I PUT THE WEDDING BANDS??

On a happier note, The Wife has finally manage to find my pair of tortises. All are out of stock in Singapore.. luckily I found the last pair in JB City Square for half the price in Singaopore!!

Have sent them to iDear Collection at Far East Plaza for modification. I hope they will turn out well… A picture of them now:

I am so impressed with myself. The Husband found a free online photo editing software and I am trying it out!!! Polaroid the tortises… and doodled on the ‘Before’ wording Lets stay tune to the next episode when we reveal how they look like after their EXTREME MAKEOVER…

*MUAHAHAHAHAHAH*

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