Friends Will Be There as Best As They Can

Wedding planning has slowed down a bit, so I haven't had much to update for a little while. But this week, I was lucky enough to meet up with two very dear friends (separately), one who I've known for 9 years, and the other for almost 18 years. These two friends, I unfortunately, do not get to see everyday, but in all honesty, my real friends I actually don't get to see that often. In all honesty, there are multiple times that I feel lonely and miss my friendships because I transitioned early to family life, and haven't gotten the hang of balancing it with my friendships. There have also been times, that I have hung out with people, that maybe aren't really my friends. But thats a whole other weird layer in the character roll of my life's show.

So again, I am very lucky to have girls like these, still in my life because meeting up with them really makes me happy. Although my relationships are very different with each of them, even though we haven't kept up in each other lives, sometimes for months, we can always pick up where we left off. I am truly blessed to have them in my life.

Of course, the topic of the wedding came up. Note, we haven't exactly announced it officially quite yet. We've made whispers to people, but because it was poorly received in 2009, we are a little more cautious in our plans this time and now that it is indeed here. So I let my two girlfriends know that, yes we're getting married and set a date, and its in the Philippines.

Now, I knew, when we decided to get married in the Philippines, alot of people wouldn't be able to come. I said, I didn't want people to feel pressured into coming to our wedding; I didn't want anyone who couldn't afford it, feel bad they couldn't afford it/get time off, etc. I also thought, that maybe some people just wouldn't want to come because its too foreign of a place, or out of a comfort zone.

When I told my friends about our wedding in the Philippines, their reactions really warmed my heart because they both expressed their desire to be there. It wasn't like a, "I hope I can come", but it was an honest discussion on how they could be there because they genuinely wanted to come. Isa even said something along the lines of, I'm inviting myself to your wedding, where I said, OF COURSE you are invited!

This whole time, it has been unclear at who out of our friends would come/are coming. In fact, I've had to put a lot more effort into asking people, or convincing people, to come than I thought. So it just made me really happy that my two long time friends thought about how they could come to the wedding. When I imagined the wedding, I didn't think these girls could make it there, and some people who I pictured there, I don't think will actually put the effort to come. So it makes me immensely grateful that I can add these ladies, potentially, to my dream day.

Just goes to show you, that after a decade of friendship, your real friends will always show you
immense honesty and love, and will always continue to surprise you.

(Note: Dear Isa and Tamara, if in the end not everything aligns and you can't actually stand at the beach with me, I'll remember how I felt when I knew you'd try to come to the wedding in the Philippines. I'll always keep you in my heart, and that way you will be there. )

Wedding Dress Inspiration

Didn't I say, I may go a little nuts with inspiration boards?

Here is my inspiration board for my bridal look. :))))

If you're wondering where I'm doing all these boards, I'm using a website called Wedding Wire.

I recently also emailed my coordinator about looking into the availability of the designer I am interested in. My first choice is Philip Tampus of Project Runway Philippines fame. He ended in the top 3. His collection for Project Runway in 2009 had alot detail and embroidery, that I'm interested in my look for the dress. His most recent collect from Spring/Summer 2010 Fashion Week in the Philippines had some interesting pieces that were fitted and "hard" on top but flowing and light at the bottom. Also, an idea I like for my dress.

Some other designers that Tisha had suggested were Lord Maturan (also of Project Runway) and Bernardo Flores. Both are very talented, but their style from pictures I've seen didn't seem to exactly fit. I haven't looked at many other options if Philip Tampus is not available...I guess I don't want to think that way.