Inspirations that helped create the vibe for your wedding:
COLORS | Red. Burnt Orange. Gold. Champagne. (sunset/fall colors). The RED because it is such a strong color and means good luck in Chinese. It also brings out and says a lot about our personalities -- displaying passion, playful, full of life, appreciative, and always in the mood for FUN! The burnt orange/gold/champagne colors were used to compliment the red with softer, classic colors for a clean, "fresh" look that's not too distracting but elegant at the same time.
FAMILY UNION | Filipino (bride) & Chinese (groom) cultures, traditions (ceremony: veil/cord/coins), beliefs (Dragon & Phoenix: "yin/yang" - designs for our invites, program prints, etc), attire (men: barong, women: cheongsam -- these also had modern twists to the designs)
MISSION SANTA CLARA DE ASIS CHURCH| Vintage. The warm colors and feel with blue, yellow/gold. classic beauty. Beautiful gardens and an option for candles to set the mood even during mid-day!
PALM EVENT CENTER | simple. elegant. romantic. modern.
Some advice from Joy to other brides: A WEDDING IS JUST A DAY, A MARRIAGE IS A LIFETIME | don't get too caught up in wedding planning. Obviously it is an important milestone and most memorable day, but in the end, the marriage itself is what is left -- so during your engagement, also make time to ensure you build a strong foundation based on love, respect, honesty and trust. Remember that the commitment of the union itself is bigger than the day you are planning.
Photography by Ingrid and Jerry
Most memorable wedding moments:
Getting Ready | An overwhelming mix of thoughts & emotions that was beyond control. Feeling so nervous, anxious, but still so excited and full of joy at the same time!!!
Walking down the aisle/Ceremony | Feeling so blessed and surrounded by people who love and support us -- esp in the house of God. Just realizing how lucky we are to have and found each other. For Tony, it was holding my hand behind the curtain before the ceremony started & watching me walk down the aisle.
What song did you walk down the aisle to, and why?
Canon in D, because it's a classic and I've always known I'd walk down the aisle to this :)
Where did you splurge and where did you save?
Splurged on Make-up & Hair because I wanted to look and feel confident on my 1 & only BIG DAY where all eyes are on me. Saved on Paper materials - programs, name card holders (made paper cranes - bought origami paper from DAISO), and name cards.
Dress, shoes, jewelry etc.?
Dress by Marissa | Bridal Galleria, SF
Nina Shoes | www.ninashoes.com , Christian Louboutin Shoes
Wedding Planner, Stationer, Floral Designer, Rentals, Music, Videographer, etc.
Wedding Planner | myself! Joy Taburaza Lin
Floral Design | Natalini Flowers by Crispy & Aleth Wilson
Rentals | Pleasanton Rentals
Music | Marky Enriquez (DJ)
Videographer | Mayad Studios
Wedding Party attire | Edward Teng
Invitations | Subtle Glances
Wedding Programs/Menu Design | Ninh Ly
Menu, Drinks, Dessert, Caterer, Baker, etc.
Cake | Glass Slipper Gourmet
Dessert Bar | Sweet Appeal
DIY elements (also what were the funnest, hardest, and most rewarding)?
Paper Crane name card holders - folding
Chinese take-out boxes: ribbon & stickers, the contents inside included treats from GUAM (where the groom grew up) & PHILIPPINES. for example, we had "Chamorro Chip Cookies" from GUAM & "polvoron" a FILIPINO classic snack but with a modern twist as we had flavors like "Cookies & Cream" or polvoron dipped in chocolate.
Favorite Blogs or Magazines used in planning the wedding Etsy.com
Anything else…?
Be realistic about your budget, wedding size, and what is most important for you to get out of your wedding day. Prioritize accordingly but don't break the bank over 1 DAY in your life. Create options, do research, compare reviews/portfolios, negotiate & compromise.