Cartier LOVE Ring - Pre-wedding & 2007 New Year Eve Gift From Dad Dad (Sunny)

Today is 2007 New Year Eve, the last day of 2007. We didn't organize any BBQ activity cos we do want to have a rest and it's so cold today. Only 10 degree C. We decided to have dinner and drink with Winnie and Ray. Winnie is just back from her Egypt tour and she told us last time, her friend worked in the eyeglasses shop in Causeway Bay and we can have a good offer there. Dad Dad needed to buy a new eyeglasses for the wedding ceremony and so, it's time to meet Winnie. Ray is busy tonite and finally we went to Causeway Bay to buy the eyeglasses first.

Dad Dad was off at 16:00 but he needed to bring the webcam to Central to have maintenance before 17:00. Thus, we met at Causeway Bay at 18:00. When I met Dad Dad, he told me Winnie would join us half hour later and so, we can have a walk. Dad Dad then said, he have no money on hand and need to draw $$ from ATM. Just on the way to the ATM, I just saw a lingerie shop. I needed to buy "something". I just told Dad Dad to draw the $$ first while I was in the lingerie shop. 10 mins later, we met at the pavement of Paterson Street, just right outside the old "松板屋“.

Suddenly, what a big surprise! Dad Dad put out a ring and wear on my forth finger. I didn't know how to react at the time!!!! I can see, it's a Cartier Love Ring with 4 diamonds!!! Oh my God! My favorite ring! Dad Dad said he wanted to give it to me in a public place at the end of 2007.

I asked Dad Dad, how should I label this ring?? I've the engagement ring already. Dad Dad said, to celebrate our marriage in 2008 and this was the last gift which was given to "fiancee" and is the 2007 New Year Eve gift!! He have prepared for a long time, trying hard to find out my ring size and thinking of the style of the ring (he want to buy me a ring but haven't focus on Cartier at the beginning). And actually, there was a story behind the ring. (I'll leave it secret here) It wasn't easy to have the ring. I'm so touching and just cried out. I never ever thought that it would happen!!

I love you Dad Dad and you'll be my hubby 11 days later! Just waiting to become your wife. I believe we can overcome all the difficulties in the future and will have a wonderful future!

Workshop: Handmade Soaps & Lipsticks

Our wedding will be hold in Captain Cook Cruise Sydney with 10 people together including the AMOK crew, our celebrant Jean JP and our MUA Tasleema. As to express our thanks to our guests, I began to think of presenting them a little sovenir. However, what kind of gifts should be appropriate and useful to them?? Finally, I got this idea - handmade soaps and lipsticks with natural ingredients.

I've found the workshop which can teach me how to make lipsticks, soap and bath fizz. It's so interesting to learn such kind of things other than making cakes. I booked a private class that held on today from 14:00 - 17:30. The workshop was so funny and I really enjoyed it. The lecturer is Jun and she is an expert in making soap. After the workshop, I've bought some ingredients and wanna make more at home. You can alter the favor, color and shape of the soap and lipsticks according to your taste. Highly recommend other brides to this workshop and try to make your own sovenier to your guests. I think that would be more meaningful for your guests!

Anyone interest in the workshop, can check with this link:

http://bobeeshop.bambooster.net/

Wedding Gown Fitting - Ratna Dolma

Today is the first time for me to see the final gown for our wedding. We did the first fitting tonight. Don't know why, may be we have changed the style a bit from the mockup, the size now is rather big for me. Ellen needed to alter the size for me. In addition, there are some details to be added such as the beading of the straps. They're plain originally and I request to have some beading on them. Not bad, I mean the gown! However, do not have a "wow" feeling! Maybe the style is too simple to say! The cutting is not perfect at this time, little bit disappointed. Hope that it's because of the size. Maybe better after alteration. Just wait and see!

As to give all of you a surprise, the photos of the gown will be posted after the wedding! ^.^

Countdown: 4 Weeks To Go

I'm so stress that only 4 weeks left to the wedding. However, there are many stuffs need to be arranged! Just got enough time to send emails to AMOK, Jean (Our Celebrant), Tasleema (MUA), local tour organizer....

Still have many works to do..

Countdown: Only 1 Month Left

So excited! Just 1 month left to our wedding in Australia!! Time flies.....

I am still busy with the coordination work and filing the documents that needed in our wedding trip. Really hope that everything can go smoothly. However, I should learn to relax and take it easy cos greater expectation may lead to greater disappointment. I know, there must have some imperfections though you've well planned before.

Just take it easy and the only thing I can do is to enhance better communication. I and Sunny will tell AMOK what is our style and hope that there will be sparkle on the day!

The schedule in this month is full already! Need to have the final trial for the gowns, take the suit to dry clean, confirm the lunch details with Captain Cook, pay the balance needed, rent the car for use in Tasmania, have beauty sessions to groom my tired face and body....... Ohh ohh ohh! So busy!

Wedding Cake

It's a very important custom in western culture that the bride and groom will have the cake cutting ceremony after the registration ceremony. In Hong Kong, the couple will also have such ceremony. However, usually dummy cake is used. Though some may use the real cake, the style of the cake is quite standard and usual like cream cake or fruit cake (I think it's rather like birthday cake).

Recently, there are several cake shops in HK can made the real kind of wedding cake like those we can see in foreign countries. However, if you would like to share the cake with more than 30 guests, your cake should be in many tiers and in rather big scale. Of course, the cost will be so great!!

Once we've confirmed our wedding will be hold in Sydney, I started to search for our dream wedding cake. There are plenty of choices no matter the shape, style, taste, color etc. That really drive me crazy. I don't know how to choose!! However, two things can be confirmed are, I don't want a classic style with cream and fresh floral on the top of the cake and the cake should be in 2 tiers. I always imagine to have a wedding cake that have many tiers and all the tiers can be ate. Of course, I don't have so many guests and so, 2 tiers should be enough.

After searching different websites of different cake shop, basically I've sought out these three:

http://www.heidisdreamcakes.com.au
http://www.sweetart.com.au
http://www.soartcakes.com/index.html

I prefer Sweet Art at the beginning cos some of my friends have recommended this. However, I've send several emails to them, no response! Then, I've email Heidi's Dream Cakes. Heidi is so nice and reply to me the next day. After few emails, I finally confirmed with her.

Wedding Dolls

So glad we can have a pair of wedding figure which are so special and look like us. Of course, it's tailor-made. Must thanks to Celia and her friends for helping us to make the dolls.

Celia, a travel book writer and photographer. She have wrote a book 「我的澳紐童話婚禮」。Her book do inspire me a lot for my wedding. In her book, I saw the photos of her wedding and honeymoon. Their wedding dolls are so special and I really want to have one. Thus, I tried to find if there was her contact in the book. Luckily, there was her website and emails! I email her and asking about the dolls. I have never thought of that she would reply to me!! She is really nice and because of this, so amazing that we become friends. She help us to coordinate with her friends and help us to make a pair. Really thanks, Celia.

Here is Celia's website and blog. Come to visit her if you've time:

http://www.celiacheng.com
http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/chengcelia

Hairstyle that I like

Just clip from the internet. Maybe this style will suit me.

Makeup Artist & Hairstylist in Sydney

It's so difficult to find the suitable MUA and hairstylist in foreign countries cos not many foreigner can handle Asian.

First of all, Daniel said he will come with us and handle my makeup and hairstyle. However, as it's peak season for salon in HK, he cannot have annual leave at the time. So, I need to find someone to handle my makeup and hairstyle then.

After several months of research, I finally decided to use Tasleema and Marie as my MUA and hairstylist respectively. Here are their website:

http://www.tasleemanigh.com/weddings

http://www.mariehairdesigns.com.au/

The photos shown in Tasleema's website are okay, at least, will not shock you! Her makeup style is rather natural as looking at the photos. In additions, she is so nice and always can reply promptly to my emails. Besides, she's the only MUA mentioned about the groom's makeup. Yes, the grooms! Men still need some natural touch up to minimize their imperfection skintone and may be the pores and ance. Thus, I think she is the best choice.

For Marie, she is referred by Tasleema. Marie is not an Aussie. I think she's an English woman. She was educated in England and started her career there. She has over 20 years experience in the salon industry.

I'm still working with them for my styles. Hope that all things can go smoothly.

Wedding Bouquet

In May & David's wedding banquet on 22 September 2007, I've seen her bridesmaid's bouquet which was made from different pink tone of rose. The bouquet was small and supposed was not for the bride. However, I just love its size. So tiny! I think I can have a similar one in Sydney.

Fresh Flower Bouquet

I do love the bonquet in rather simple and small in size. I think the small bouquet is much more cute and sweet!

The Itinerary of the Wedding Trip

My first baby was born last Friday! After numerous emails with different parties, the final itinerary (but may be not) of our wedding and honeymoon trip to Australia was ready!!

Actually I've included the websites/informations for each visiting point and apartment. However, I cannot upload a "html" file here. If anyone have seen this post and really interested in my itinerary, just leave your email in the "comments" part and I can share with you more information about the trip!

Though we only got 2 couples for this trip at the moment, we do hope that more of our friends will come to celebrate with us!

Very busy in planning everything!

Count Down:Only 5 months left! We haven't finalized the wedding trip's schedule, haven't tried the mockup of the wedding gown, haven't find the appropriate MUA and hairstylist in Sydney, haven't confirm the hotels for our Big Date......... Many many stuffs needed to be organized. All we (actually I, the bride) can do is to search from the internets, find all the information, checked with Google Maps and send emails to relevant parties...... Though everything can be done virtually, I still find it is not easy.

I only sleep few hours a day and used to late to my work! Oh, no, I must get most of the things ready by the end of this month, otherwise, I will not have enough time to rest!!! Dark eye circles, eye bags.......please, please don't follow me!

Drafted Itinerary on the Wedding Trip

It's really difficult to plan for a trip that is not only for yourself. As our wedding will held in Sydney, we decided to have our honeymoon in Australia right after the wedding.

Of course, we do want more friends to attend our wedding. So, we must plan for a trip that will also value for them to join. We love to share our happiness with friends. So, we don't mind our honeymoon Will have the participation of others. Let's have fun!

However, to ask the friends to join, we better work out a draft itinerary and budget plan for them first! It's really really so tired in doing this. You need to do many researches. Browse through all the tourist guide books, browse through the Internet, search the website of hotels and airlines, ask peoples for comments, search for local tours information. Then, you needed to analyse the information, compare the price, try to figure out the interest of different peoples....... It's so complicated! And, the most important of all, the trip should be for US!! We should have fun in the trip!

After several months hardworking, the final drafted itinerary have been worked out!!!!! Great! Hope that it's workable.

Though the budget will be high for each people (Estimated HK$35000), I think it's worth to visit Australia!!

Suggested Hotels for Stay:

2 Nights in SYD: Medina Harbourside hotel Sydney
5 Nights in Tasmania:
Star Apartments Hobart
Somerset on the Pier (Hobart)
A Tamar Valley Resort (Launcestor)
3 Nights in Cairns: Waters Edge Hotel (Cairns)

Local Tours in Tasmania:

Chocolate Factory, Richmond, Tasmania Devil
http://www.affiliate.viator.com/brochure/product_show.jsp?ID=1010&PRODUCTID=1016&CODE=3998_776&AUID=3963

Launceston 3 Days Tour
http://www.discovertasmania.com/home/index.cfm?siteid=960&display=product&productid=9002438

Penguins & Places
http://www.tourstogo.com.au/tour.1048


Local Tours in Cairns:

Great Barrier Reef Adventure Tour
http://www.tourstogo.com.au/tour.81

Ballooning , Tjapukai, Skyrail, Kuranda+Train+Cairns Beaches
http://www.tourstogo.com.au/tour.1547

Balloon & Fitzroy Island
http://www.tourstogo.com.au/tour.4516

Kuranda Scenic Railway, Village, and Skyrail (1:30pm)
http://www.tourstogo.com.au/tour.3313


** More could be found in http://www.tourstogo.com.au

Wedding Gown for Wedding Ceremony (Ratna Dolma)

Just back dated the process of how I chose for the wedding gown in Jan 07.

As our wedding ceremony will be held in Sydney, we decided to tailor-made a wedding gown in HK instead of rent for one.

I do love simple style wedding gown with A-line cutting. I think ball gown is just outdated. In addition, as it will be an outdoor wedding, I think it's no need to have much beading. Cutting is my major concern. In addition to A-line, Sunny have a special request. He said my chest is the most sexy area. He think V-shape neck line with spaghetti straps will suit me most! Yep, I do love deep V neck line and I think it's so sexy. I tried to find reference photos and a suitable shop to tailor made that.

After reviewing some comments from the forum of ESD Wedding, I sorted out 2 shops in Central. One is TinaEllen and the other is Ratna Dolma. Sunny said he knows Tina from TinaEllen as she's the dresser in TVB before. So, I made the appointment for the two shops on 6 Jan 07. I think the gown could be ready before March and I can use the gown for engagement photos shooting.

We stopped at Ratna Dolma first. The owner of this shop is Ellen. She's a woman in her middle age around 4x. She's so nice and can show her profession in tailoring. I think she have pretty much experience. Though she will not have sketches before making the gown, she will have a mock up first for you to try the size and cutting. Sunny think that as we want to tailor made the gown, actually we didn't need to walk around different shop. If Ellen is good at tailoring, we can just told her our needs and figure out how to make the gown. So, he suggested to turn down TinaEllen and spend more time with Ellen of RD.
Yes, he was right. We then decided to tailor made our gown in RD.

Later on, I have think carefully that if we use the gown also in E-photos shooting, as we would have our doggies with us, I'm afraid they will make the gown to have stains. Thus, I think I better bought another cheaper gown for E-photos shooting. I then called Ellen and ask her not to hurry as I can wait until later this year. Ellen said it is fine for her and she ask me to fit again on July or August.

The above is the first mock up of my wedding gown. And I've tried an evening gown at RD. That EG is so perfect with lots of beading. That EG make us feel that RD have good tailoring. That reinforce us to make the gown in RD.

Wedding Accessories

I've bought several necklace to match with my gowns and evening dress. The accessories are quite expensive and heart shaped stimulated diamonds necklace costed me HK$2000.

Wedding Gown Style References

Just grabbed from the internet and magazines some wedding gown styles that I preferred.

Regalo Wedding Rings

I have taken several pics of our wedding rings last week using my Nikon D80 with the kit lens. The rings were from Regalo, a Japanese brand. The rings are so special that can let us to engrave our name outside the rings. Though the rings were so expensive, for what they're worth, they're exquisite. The rings cost us more than HK$20000.

Actually for such a price, we can buy a so called famous brand. At first, as I loved Cartier especially her watches (actually I've 4 Cartier Watches), I decided to have the Cartier "LOVE" series as our wedding bands. However, as usual, the services were so bad when we visited their shop at Pacific Place. After looking for several rings, Sunny thought that the style is too common and there are more and more people have Cartier as wedding rings. This time, Sunny is right! So we tried to look for other brand. By incident, I found out Regalo from internet and the most lucky that is, Chow Sang Sang in Hong Kong is the sole agent in HK for Regalo. We then no need to go to Japan! The story of our wedding rings was that.

My Meaningful Engagement Ring

Always ask myself, is a proposal and engagement ring really necessary?? I don't think you will marry a guy only if he proposed to you. When two are being together for a certain time, both of you may start to think of getting married cos you love each other and found that you want to start your own family. It's so natural to come to a decision. So, is a proposal really a must? And, an E-ring with great diamond is a must? I don't think so.

For me, I think "Proposal" would be a ceremony, a chance for man to give surprise to their girlfriend, a chance for the woman to show off how fire and big of her diamond ring, a good moment to test your man's creativity and the most important of all, is the time for the florist and jeweller to earn your $$.

I don't mean I'm not happy if my dear do propose to me. However, I will not force him to do that and if he love me, he can show his sincere through many other ways. That's what I think.

Then, didn't he proposed to me? Yes, he have proposed to me on 30 November 2006 in Osaka, Japan at the highest point of the Ferris wheel next to the 「海遊館」。

1. Why there?

That may be because we came up our decision of wedding just prior to our travel trip to Japan.

2. Then, have he planned?

Yes, he planned to propose to me during the trip but haven't prepare for anything except the location.

3. Why Ferris wheel?

Just because I love to ride on the Ferris wheel and enjoy the feeling when riding. It's so romantic, I think...

4. Then, why the proposal was made at the highest point of the Ferris wheel?

Ha ha, just because Sunny was afraid of something high and he did the proposal when we approached the highest point to show that he would not afraid anything towards his love to me and to show that he have used all his courage to do the proposal.

5. How about the E-ring?

He have no time to prepare one in HK and once we arrived in Osaka, he kept on finding a suitable one. In the souvenir shop at 「海遊館」, he found a 925 silver ring which was very nice and have special meaning. Though it was a silver one and without diamond, the ring was really nice. How nice is it, just see the photos.

6. What special meaning for the E-ring?

As can see, the ring have 2 dolphins facing each other. We love the ocean and we love the dolphin also. Dolphin represent freedom, peace and love. We would like our marriage life to be so free, close to the nature, love each other without quarrel, respect each other and can have the bless from others. So, this ring do have special meaning to us. I'm so happy that I have this ring as my E-ring. His heartfelt proposal could not calculate by $$.

After the proposal, we went to the "Santa Maria" to have a cruise around the harbour. So sweet for the day & I'll remember this "1130" (30 Nov 2006).

D.I.Y "Si Fa" Boutique for E-Photo Shooting

We've decide to have Simon The Photo to shoot for us our engagement photos. Cos I think his style is more journalistic and free, we may not need a flesh floral boutique. I decided to D.I.Y a man-made one. Though I haven't take any course on how to make a boutique, I would like to have a first try. I went to Prince Edward to buy all the materials needed. And, here is my "end product"! Still okay but of course could not compare to a professional one.