Save the date wedding cards

Everybody is busy nowadays. Everybody needs to be somewhere every time. That’s why making sure your friends and relatives mark their calendars for your forthcoming wedding is very important.

What really are save the date wedding cards? Well simply put, these specialty wedding invitation cards are designed to help your friends and loved ones save the date of your upcoming wedding. Depending on the circumstances, these cards are given out around a year to as close as four months before the wedding. Most of the time though, details of the wedding are not yet final during this time so you do not have to be very specific on the information that you will convey. The important things you have to indicate are the following:

Name of the bride and groom
Date of the wedding
General location of the wedding (city and country where the wedding will take place)

These are the minimum requirements, but of course you can already be specific if the details are already set. You can perhaps indicate the exact location of the wedding, the name of the church and reception place, if they are already available.

Now the question is... do you really have to send out save the date cards? The answer will depend on a couple of things:

Date of the wedding – does the wedding date fall on a holiday or any relatively busy season?
Location of the wedding – is it out of town which will require your wedding guests to arrange for transportation to and from your wedding
Where your guests will come from – are they from abroad of from the provinces?

Generally, if your answer to any of the question above is yes, you will have to send out save the date cards. Again this will make sure your guests will mark their calendars for your wedding, and give them advance notice so that they can make arrangements on logistics, etc. Invitation cards are usually sent out about a month or so before the wedding, making it hard for your guests to make prior arrangements, thus the need for an advance notice, e.g. your save the date cards.

Now that you know if you need to send out save the date cards or not, you have to decide what will be the look and feel of your cards. The good news is there is no rule on how your cards need to be, they don’t even have to be a card! You can be as formal or as casual as you can be, notwithstanding the mood of your wedding. You can have a formal cathedral type wedding, and have a witty, ref magnet or a paper stopper, even bookmarker save the date! You can definitely bring out your creative juices and come up with a card (or not!) that exudes you and your partner’s personality! If you are book lovers you can send out bookmarker save the dates, if either of you loves drawing you can draw a caricature to use on your save the dates, or ask a friend to draw one for you. The ideas are endless; the only limit is your imagination! It will even be a fun project that you, your partner, friends and relatives can put together!

Choosing your wedding date - does the stars agree?

May brides and grooms now are getting more and more concerned about how the stars will affect their marriage, and many are asking help from Feng Shui masters to choose the date of their marriage.

Here are some general tips that may be of help:

Selecting a year, month, and date begins with determining the animal signs of both the bride and groom.

• It is extremely lucky if you choose a year that matches either the bride or groom's animal sign- whoever is the major breadwinner will be favored by choosing his/her year;

• You should avoid getting married in a Conflict Animal year for both the bride and the groom's animal signs.

Base on the Chinese Calendar, here are the auspicious dates in 2007 that you should avoid:

JANUARY: 2,9,11,15,27
FEBRUARY: 1,5,6,11,14,17,27
MARCH: 1,7,11,17
APRIL: 1,9,12,13,14,15,18,21,24,25
MAY: 3,6,7,15,16,21,27,30,31
JUNE: 1,9,5,13,15,18,19,25,30
JULY: 1,3,6,7,8,9,13,14,19,24,26,27,29,31
AUGUST: 1,8,10,11,16,18,22,29
SEPTEMBER: 1,6,8,9,11,13,28
OCTOBER: 1,4,9,12,15,19,24,27,29
NOVEMBER: 5,11,16,17,18,26,28,29,30
DECEMBER: 2,9,10,1216,22,24,28

In the end, it's the bride and groom's decision if they will heed these dates or not these dates, but as our elders would usually say, there is nothing wrong in just following tradition, and in this case, the stars =)

Application for a Philippine Marriage License

Marriage License: this is the first requirement if you want to get married here in the Philippines, either Civil or Church wedding. You have to file the application for Marriage License at the Local Civil Registrar of the city, town or municipality where either the bride or groom resides. Personal appearance of both the bride and groom is required.

The license is usually released after ten days and is valid for 120 days (or four months) from the date of issuance. It may be used anywhere in the Philippines. So a couple where the bride say resides in Las Pinas and a groom residing in Quezon City may file an application for Marriage License at either Las Pinas or Quezon City, even if they are getting married let’s say in Makati, or even outside of Metro Manila for example in Tagaytay or Boracay.

Requirements to file for Marriage License in the Philippines are

1. Birth Certificate - Certified True Copy required for both bride and groom with the respective registry number. This document is issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO).

NOTE: NSO now provides a web service which accepts online application for copies of birth and marriage certificates. It is called the e-Census, a web facility aimed to provide Filipinos within and outside the country an alternative means in applying for copies of their civil registry documents. It also has a 24-7 hotline called the NSO Helpline Plus with telephone no. (632)737.1111. You could also reach them via email through: e-census.info@mail.census.gov.ph

2. Parents' Consent (for 18-21 years old) or Parent's Advice (for 21-25 years old): Under Philippine law, the legal age for marriage is 18. If either of the bride or groom is between the ages of 18 and 21, they must present written consent to the marriage from their father, mother or legal guardian. While if they are between the age of 22 and 25, they must present written parental advice, i.e., a written indication that the parents are aware of the couple's intent to marry.

3. Certificate of Attendance in a pre-marital counseling and family planning seminar conducted by the Division of Maternal and Child Health at the Municipal/City Hall in the same municipality or city where the contracting parties applied for the marriage license.

FOR FOREIGNERS: Philippine law requires a citizen or subject of a foreign country to obtain a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage. It is issued by the diplomatic or consular offices of his or her country, prior to the issuance of a marriage license in the Philippines. This serves as a clearance or permit from the consul as an actual proof of the subject’s civil status and his/her eligibility for marriage.

Unity Coins

~:~ Love ~:~ Harmony ~:~ Cooperation ~:~ Commitment ~:~
~:~ Peace ~:~ Happiness ~:~ Trust ~:~ Respect ~:~ Caring ~:~
~:~ Wisdom ~:~ Joy ~:~ Wholeness ~:~ Nurturing ~:~

The wedding Coins or Arras (Arrhae) is an essential part of a Catholic Wedding. It represents the willingness of the man to provide for his wife. It had been part of the wedding ceremony since our earliest fathers. The tradition was to use 13 coins (usually gold plated), placed inside intricately designed cages which the husband literally give to his bride during the ceremony.

But in past two to three years, a new trend related to the Arras came about… it was now known as the Unity Coins. Each coin represents one of the thirteen virtues that the marriage must have. Most couples now use these coins, and placed either in pouches, or treasure/jewelry boxes. Many are also holding them as keepsakes with the intention to give it later on to their kids to be used during their own weddings.

Wedding Gown Styles - Part 3

The short, petite bride: If you’re shorter than 5’5”, and quite petite as well, you have a different set of challenges to deal with. Most people may think you can look good in just about anything, and you probably could. Your challenge is to choose the design silhouette that will look most flattering, given that you are small-framed.

DO wear off-the-shoulder gowns, scooped necklines, shoestring straps, and A-line skirt shapes. The best skirt shape is, in fact, a slight A-line, not too full. If the skirt is very full, you can almost look lost in the dress. The exception to this is the Cinderella gown, which is extremely full and can look very romantic and stunning on some girls. But this look isn’t for every petite bride. Being petite does mean you may need some padding in the bodice of the dress, to fill you out a bit. You do have many design options that would suit you, but beware of the ones that don’t work.

DON’T choose slim, straight gowns as you will disappear in them. If you prefer a straighter look, a good option is the mermaid skirt, which is fitted to the mid-thigh, then flares out.

Bias-cuts may fit you OK, but could have the effect of being too minimal as a wedding dress. One option is to have a full cathedral length veil, which acts as an addition to the dress. This can serve to make you look more like a bride! I find that many girls who are petite and want a slim styled dress don’t want a veil, but once they try one on, they fall in love with the look it creates.

Message in a bottle

Destination weddings are big these days! And because the Philippines have miles and miles of breath-taking beaches, where else would couples head to get married than the beautiful beaches of the Philippines!

Planning a destination wedding, more so for beach weddings, requires patience as it typically would be more challenging to pull through. You would need more time to prepare as compared to the typical church wedding. Some couples choose try to tie all details of the wedding to the beach theme so as to achieve the biggest impact. And since they say wedding invitations serve as the window to your wedding, couples are more than willing to go the extra mile and make their invitations “beach friendly”.

So “message in a bottle wedding invitations” came in. You can now find card printers not just printing the invites, they can also assemble the whole line! Alternatively, some couples just ask their printers to print the cards and source the bottles and other accessories somewhere else, and assemble the whole thing themselves. For most this is not just practical and budget friendly, it is also a very good opportunity to spend some bonding moments with their fiancés, family or friends as finish the project.

However the couple choose to do it, message in a bottle invites are a sure way to give your guests a sneak peek of your wedding, plus a great opportunity to bring out the bride and groom’s style and personality.

Wedding Gown Styles - Part 2

Pear-shaped figure: Similar rules apply as the hourglass shape. The idea here is to balance the top half with the bottom half of the body.

DO wear strapless and A-line gowns, as they are an excellent choice for a pear-shaped girl. The off-the-shoulder scooped or V-neckline is also a very good choice, with an A-line skirt, as it helps to balance the figure. Two-piece gowns are a good choice for this figure shape, as the bust is smaller than the hips. You can have quite an elaborate corset bodice with an A-line skirt, and it creates the illusion that the figure is in proportion. I know this sounds odd, but it really works!

As with the hourglass figure shape, pear-shaped girls can certainly wear gowns with draping and ruching, provided it is with an A-line skirt silhouette. The best draping option here is diagonal draping as it is the most flattering. Go for detailing in the bodice, as it will serve as the focus of the dress.

DON’T choose straight or bias-cut designs. They look awful on a pear-shaped girl, no exceptions! Even tall pear-shaped girls should steer clear of bias-cuts and straight designs, as they simply cannot hide your hips.

Also, stay away from halter-neck gowns as this design actually gives the appearance of even bigger hips. Steer clear of full gathered or pleated skirts as well, as this look adds bulk to the hips.

Top Philippine Wedding Ceremony Venues

Choosing the church where to wed is one of the first decisions a couple has to make. Determining which church would fit the over-all mood of the wedding is critical. There are so many churches around, ranging from the biggest and grandest cathedrals, to the small and intimate chapels. Making this first decision is usually the hardest as it will depend on many different factors, some of which are the budget, capacity and other amenities.

To help you decide which church to choose, I have listed below some of the most popular churches around Manila and the nearby city of Tagaytay, and some facts that may help you finally make that decision.

Manila Cathedral
Intramuros, Manila
When you thing of a grand church wedding, one of the churches that will easily come to mind is the Manila Cathedral. It is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Manila, the Cathedral has been the venue of the country's historical religious ceremonies, and is the host to some of Manila's most illustrious wedding ceremonies.

Contact Details:
Tel: (02) 527-1796, (02) 527-3093
Website: www.manilacathedral.org
E-mail: manilacathedral@acbcpworld.com, manilacatheral@hotmail.com

Some Facts:
Capacity: More than 500 guests
Aircon: Yes
Choir/Balcony: Yes
Available days and time:
Weekdays: 8:30am, 10am, 1:30pm, 3pm, 4:30pm, 6pm
Saturday: 8:30am, 11:30pm, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm, 6pm
Sunday: 8:30am, 10:30pm, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm, 6pm
Wedding Packages: P17,000 (without airconditioning) or P25,000 (with airconditioning) inclusive of priest, red carpet, flowers, soloist & organist.
Downpayment: P7,000


San Agustin Church
Intramuros, Manila
Built between 1587 and 1606, the San Agustin Church is the oldest church in the Philippines and the first European stone church in the country built according to Spanish architectural design. In 1993, it was designated by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Until now it remains to be one of the top choices for weddings.

Contact Details:
Tel. no.: (02) 527-4052, (02) 527-2746

Some Facts:
Capacity: More than 500 guests
Aircon: No
Choir/Balcony: Yes
Available days and time:
Monday to Saturday: 7am, 8am, 9am, 19am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm
Monday to Thursday: 6pm, 7pm
Friday to Saturday: 6:30pm, 7:30pm
Wedding Packages: P20,000 inclusive of priest, red carpet, flowers, soloist & organist and usherettes
Downpayment: P5,000


Sanctuario De San Antonio
Forbes Park, Makati

Contact Details:
Tel. Nos.: (02) 843-8830, (02) 843-8831, (02) 843-8833, (02) 843-8835, (02) 843-8836

Some Facts:
Capacity: more than 500 guests
Aircon: Yes
Choir/Balcony: Yes
Available days and time:
Monday to Sunday: 8am, 10am, 2pm, 4pm, 7pm
Wedding Packages: P25,000 includes only air-conditioning


Nuestra Senora de Gracia
Guadalupe Viejo, Makati
This church is the oldest church of Makati and is popularly known as “Guadalupe Ruins”. It’s exterior is one of the most picturesque and is ideal for pre and post wedding pictorials.

Contact Details:
Tel. Nos.: (02) 896-8444, (02) 895-9141

Some Facts:
Capacity: 200 to 400 guests
Aircon: No
Choir/Balcony: No
Available days and time:
Monday to Sunday: 8am, 10am, 2pm, 4pm, 7pm
Wedding Packages: Mon-Sat (except 7pm) – P10,000, Sundays and 7pm – P12,000, inclusive of flowers, red carpet, usherettes, use of piano/organ


St. Francis of Assisi Chapel
Fernwood Gardens, Quezon City
A delight to the eye, this exquisite chapel is built with ease and grandeur in mind. Built inside the Fernwood Gardens, it is a convenient wedding venue for couples who plan to have their receptions in Fernwood Gardens.

Contact Details:
Tel. Nos.: (02) 927-5496, (02) 925-0020, (02) 926-2493, (02)926-0633, (02) 426-0698
Website: www.fernwoodgarden.com/new/stfrancis.html
E-mail: info@fernwoodgarden.com

Some Facts:
Capacity: 200 to 400 guests
Aircon: Yes
Choir/Balcony: No
Available days and time:
Monday to Sunday: 8:15am, 9:45am, 3pm, 4:30pm, 6pm
Wedding Packages: Depends on wedding reception package


Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life
Reclamation Area, Pasay City
One of the newest church in Metro Manila, but this church has been one of the more favorite wedding venues because of it’s impressive altar and beautiful exteriors. It is also located along Manila bay which makes it a perfect wedding venue if the reception is held along Roxas Blvd.

Contact Details:
Tel. Nos.: (02) 515-1274, (0918 ) 919-4245

Some Facts:
Capacity: more than 500 guests
Aircon: No
Choir/Balcony: Yes
Available days and time:
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – 8:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 6:30pm
Wednesday – 8:30am, 10:30am, 1pm, 3pm
Saturday – 8:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 7pm
Sunday – 1:30pm, 3:30pm
Wedding Packages: P25,000 inclusive of priest, flowers, red carpet, soloist, organist
Downpayment: 50% required


St. James The Great Parish
Ayala Alabang Village, Alabang
This majestic church is located inside Ayala Alabang, and is a favorite venue of couples in the south area. It’s picture perfect grand altar and interior is as beautiful as it’s exterior.

Contact Details:
Tel. Nos.: (02) 842-5140, (02) 807-1623

Some Facts:
Capacity: more than 500 guests
Aircon: Yes
Choir/Balcony: Yes
Available days and time:
Weekdays: 10am, 3pm, 7:30pm
Saturdays: 10am, 3pm, 7pm
Wedding Packages: P20,000 for parishioners, P25,000 for non-parishioners. Inclusive of priest, carpet and airconditioning
Downpayment: 50% required


St. Pancratius Chapel
Paco, Manila
This intimate chapel is built inside Paco Park, the historical Paco cemetery where Jose Rizal and the three martyr priests Gomez, Burgos and Zamora were previously buried. This chapel is a favorite among couples who want to have small, intimate weddings and is especially favored because of it’s perfect location in the middle of Manila.

Contact Details:
Tel. Nos.: (02) 842-5140, (02) 807-1623

Some Facts:
Capacity: 100-150 guests
Aircon: Yes
Choir/Balcony: No
Available days and time:
No fixed time for weddings
Wedding Packages: P15,000. Inclusive of priest, flowers, red carpet and airconditioning


Chapel of Transfiguration of Jesus
Nasugbu, Batangas
Located at the beautiful city of Tagaytay, this small Chapel has been a favorite by couples who want to have an out of town wedding. Because of its location (it’s just an hours drive from the Metro) and the picture perfect façade, it has become the most sought after venues outside of Manila. It offers a magnificent view of the sky and rolling hills and the beautiful pine trees surrounding the church.

Contact Details:
Tel. Nos.: (043) 931-5186, (0916) 718-5679, (0921) 270-9890
Website: www.calaruega-philippines.ph
E-mail: calaruega_philippines@yahoo.com

Some Facts:
Capacity: 100-150 guests
Aircon: No
Choir/Balcony: Yes
Available days and time:
Can be privately arranged
Wedding Packages: P10,000 inclusive of flowers, choir, priest, red carpet and organist.
Downpayment: No downpayment required

Chapel on the Hill
Nasugbu, Batangas
Another beautiful chapel that has made a name as one of the most favorite wedding venues south of Manila, Chapel on the Hill is a sight to behold. Perched on a hilltop of Nasugbu, this circular chapel boasts of nature themed design. It offers the tranquillity and solemnity that many churches in Manila could not. Trully, this church will not fail to make it’s mark in the hearts of bride and grooms and their guests alike.

Contact Details:
Tel. Nos.: (0916) 250-3559

Some Facts:
Capacity: 100-150 guests
Aircon: No
Choir/Balcony: No
Available days and time:
Can be privately arranged
Wedding Packages:

Wedding Gown Styles - Part 1

Always remember, when planning an elaborate church wedding or a simple intimate affair, your wedding gown should reflect your own personality, taste and style. Wearing the right cut for your body type can highlight your best features and downplay those you’re concerned about. The key is in wearing the right cut for your body type that will highlight your best features and downplay those you’re concerned about. Here are some tips that will help you find THE ONE:

Hourglass shape: This is where the bust and hips are in proportion, and there is a defined waistline. Typically a lady who is hourglass shaped is a size 14 or over, with a full bust and shapely hips. The majority of styles look great on hourglass figures, provided you stick to a few basic rules.

DO wear strapless gowns, they look fantastic on shapely girls! You will obviously need extra support in the bust area, but it is worth the effort. The best look is strapless at the neckline, with an A-line skirt. Also a straight-through gown is best, as opposed to a two-piece gown. The two-piece will tend to cut you in half, which can accentuate the hourglass shape.

If you’re not keen on strapless, a V-neckline is extremely flattering on a full bust. The V-shape should be fairly low (as low as you’re comfortable with), as a higher neckline actually makes the bust appear even bigger. A particularly flattering look is an off-the-shoulder V-neckline. A scooped, off-the-shoulder neckline is also very appealing.

The best silhouette for the skirt of the dress is A-line, and can be quite full. As for whether you should have a train at the back or not, that is a matter of choice.

The current styles which have lots of draping or ruching on them, are an excellent choice for an hourglass-shaped bride. Despite what many may think, draping is very good at disguising the not-so-good bits, which we all want to hide.

DON’T go for straight or bias-cut designs! They are strictly for the tall, slim, or generally size 10 girls. The only case in which these designs would work on an hourglass figure is if the girl is reasonably tall. Bias cuts are a no-no for shapely girls. They are too clingy and will only accentuate the parts that you would rather hide.

Also, avoid gathered or pleated skirts, as they add bulk around the hips.

Fernbrook Gardens

Have you dreamed of having your wedding at Venice and take that Gondola ride from the wedding ceremony to the reception? Do you dream of taking that Venetian tradition that dictates that couples must kiss under each bridge you pass by for Eternal Love? Well your dreams may very well come to reality, as the creators of Fernwood Gardens develop another fantasy field venue for brides and grooms, the Fernbrook Gardens. As with Fernwood, Fernbrooks also have a mini-Basillica atop a hill for couples who wish to hold the ceremony there.

Chocolate Fountains

Tell me anyone who doesn’t like chocolate?? I mean anyone?? All of us love chocolate… especially the dark ooozzy chocolate you like to lick off your fingers!

Maybe this is the reason why even weddings have been invaded by the chocolate fountain! White and dark chocolate oozing and dripping down from the fountain is a delight not only for the small ones but even for the adults alike.

Classic wedding cakes are now are now being replaced by tall chocolate fountains! Add in your favorite dips like marshmallows, bread sticks or even strawberries and apples and you will surely have star!

Welcome to Pinoy Weddings

Welcome to Pinoy Weddings! My name is Anne Astorga-Motilla. Here I will try to help brides and grooms plan for the perfect wedding. Comments and suggestions welcome =)