http://weddingbelle.com.ph/ Wedding belle's onlline collection of articles. en lloydsandiego@hotmail.com Copyright 2009 2009-04-21T21:40:00+08:00 http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/charm_school/ http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/charm_school/#When:21:40:00Z The happy bride’s short course on simple etiquette that will set your wedding apart from the rest...Because when you start that memorable walk down the aisle, it takes more than true love to keep that smile glowing. You want to be sure you’ve done everything just right. In the course of my fourteen years of wedding and event coordination, I received a lot of emails requesting advice on how to handle different situations. And with each and every issue, this column will help you approach these circumstances and handle them in a proper and confident manner.Two Dad BrideI grew up with my stepfather and my mother abroad, and am closer to him than my biological father. I am on positive terms with my real father but we are more formal rather than close. Who should walk me down the aisle if I marry in the Philippines? I do not want to slight or embarrass my birth father but I feel much closer to my stepfather. That is indeed a touchy situation. Since you are marrying in the Philippines, you are familiar with the importance of keeping up appearances. So you are already worrying about possibly embarrassing your real father by having all your guests see someone else walk you down the aisle. It is great that you are sensitive to that right from the start. Would you be ok with a compromise? There are several important parts of the wedding where your father will be needed- these are 1) the Despedida de Soltera, where the father of the bride makes the official toast which are the festivities of the occasion. 2) To walk the bride down the aisle and 3) the dance with the bride. What if you assign the walk down the aisle to your biological dad just out of respect and your concern for his standing in Manila society. (You have to admit, tongues will wag if you don’t do this, so it might be a nice gesture on your part to give this to your biological father) and then have your step dad do the other two parts. I’m sure that both gentlemen will understand and respect any decision that you make. Try to talk to each of them, and explain that all of these roles are equally important to you, and that you want each of them to have their distinct role at your wedding. Or another idea that I have heard done abroad, is one father walked the bride half way down the aisle, where the other one was waiting to take her to the groom. It sounds like a good idea if everyone is willing. Of course this example involved an American couple so I am not sure how open or willing your two Dads would be. Bride To Be 2My brother just announced his wedding, set for next year. His fiance’s family believes that it is bad luck for two family members to marry within the same year. My family is not at all superstitious, so do we have to follow such beliefs? Their wedding was announced first, but do I have to follow this and wait for another year to get married?Many families in the Philippines adhere to that superstition, especially those of Chinese descent. Other families just go with the flow… How do we combine the two and make it work?  I would say, do the polite thing… To explain the beginnings of etiquette, it came about as a consistent school of thought due to the need to make others feel relaxed and comfortable when in your home, or in your presence. Good manners and proper decorum follow that premise. So, though your family is not really superstitious, out of deference and respect to the beliefs of your brother and his in-laws-to-be, it wouldn’t hurt to acknowledge their wishes, and choose a date accordingly. You are, after all, going to be family. Again, we compromise. Ask your brother to choose a wedding date in January or early February of next year, a date before the Chinese New Year begins. That way, if you choose a wedding date from late February onwards of the same calendar year, it is not seen as the same year according to the Chinese calendar. Plan early, and book early, so that the dates you choose for both weddings will likely be available at each couple’s chosen church and reception venue. Or ask your brother if he can marry December of this year instead (if there is still enough time) so you can follow next year.Hands Are TiedThe groom’s parents are paying for the wedding. Does this mean that I have no choice but to go along with whatever they want? My future mother-in-law has good intentions but with all the changes that she’s made so far, it seems like now it’s her wedding more than mine.In Philippine tradition, the groom or his family shoulders the wedding expenses. So in keeping with this, 1. DO YOUR HOMEWORK Make an idea board and “present it” in early meetings, show it to your suppliers so that they can influence design details and concepts with your requests in mind.2. C IS FOR COMPROMISE Talk to your fiancé about those details that you are passionate about. If both of you are in agreement with your “side” of the decision, you may approach your mom in law to-be and ask respectfully about reaching a compromise between what she wants and what you want. But you have to be united in your decision as a couple, if it’s one sided it will never work.3. DO YOUR BEST to give in to the little things. Don’t sweat the small stuff, remember? If you can please them why not? Your mom in law is throwing the party of her life for you and her son, so please remember that too. It takes only a little bit to make them happy so why not do so?I know this sounds hard at this point, since you are immersed in these details. But really, once you look at the bigger picture, you have your whole life ahead of you to mold and improve your relationship as a couple. Getting off on the wrong foot with your future in-laws will certainly be negative in your relationship, no matter how hard your fiancé tries to keep the peace. Toiling over these details is not worth your sleepless nights or petty fights. Try to see some humor in these situations. Keep positive and your efforts will show on your wedding day. Everyone will be smiling genuinely, sincerely happy for you, and glad you made the right decisions leading up to the wedding day.   By Rachel Martelino-Climent Magazine Aritlcles , Etiquette 2009-04-21T21:40:00+08:00 http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/dr_beckys_5_things/ http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/dr_beckys_5_things/#When:21:09:00Z 5 Things the Doc thinks every woman should know.1. IT’S COOL TO BE A VIRGINDon’t think you are from another planet just because you are still a virgin at 35! You can prevent  sexually transmitted diseases which includes cervical cancer and unwanted pregnancies.2.  IF YOU ARE SEXUALLY ACTIVE AND DON’T DESIRE A BABY, USE A CONTRACEPTIVE!In this day and age and access to information, having unexpected, or worse, unwanted pregnancies should be a thing of the past.3.  IF YOU HAVE IRREGULAR MENSES OR SKIP MENSES FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS, SEE YOUR GYNECOLOGISTIt may be the first sign of a tumor or a condition which can predispose you to cancer.4. HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPYWhen you are approaching menopause, hormone replacement therapy can prevent a lot of the horrid symptoms that menopausal women go through. Your chances of getting a heart attack because you are not on hormones in menopause is far higher than your chances to ever get breast cancer because you are not on it!!5. SEE YOUR GYNECOLOGIST ONCE A YEAR ON YOUR BIRTHDAYIt’s your gift of health to yourself!! You owe it to you!!   By Dr. Rebecca Singson Magazine Aritlcles , women's health 2009-04-21T21:09:00+08:00 http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/dr_becky/ http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/dr_becky/#When:19:31:00Z The straight-forward OB-Gyne answers your most personal women’s health concerns with humor, wit and candor...We’d really like to have our own family as soon as we are ready. Are there any tests that we should get for peace of mind? Does the man go to the ob-gynecologist also? I’ve never been to one before.You may want to trot to your friendly gynecologist for a consult. Tests that may be in order would be the Rubella antibody titer IgG to know if you have received the vaccine and are protected from German measles. The worse time of your life to catch German measles is during pregnancy since it can lead to congenital malformations. A hepatitis screening as well as screening for syphilis may be done ideally before you may even intend pregnancy so you may consider being vaccinated against Rubella or hepatitis prior to pregnancy. To determine your fertility, at least get an ultrasound, a transrectal ultrasound if you are still a virgin and a transvaginal ultrasound if you have already had sex. It will give you information on your ovaries, uterus, partly the cervix. If you want to know if your tubes are still patent, an hysterosalpingogram may be done to evaluate that. The male needs to do a sperm analysis with a 4 day abstinence from his previous ejaculation. If there is a problem, he may be referred to an urologist, who is to the male what a gynecologist is to a female.Is there any way to make sure I don’t have my period during my wedding day or honeymoon? Like any other bride, the last thing I want is to be bloated or have PMS.It’s certainly no fun walking down the aisle while you’re on code red, fearing you’ll stain it! And talk about a messy honeymoon!! Yes, there is a way!  It involves taking contraceptives starting from the menstrual cycle before the wedding and just taking it non-stop until the day you desire to have your menses. Menstruation is a hormonal phenomenon and comes as a result of the withdrawal of progesterone when you don’t get pregnant. Therefore, the lining of the uterus which was prepared to receive the pregnancy is shed. If you keep using the contraceptive pills, it will continue to provide the hormone necessary to support the uterus so withdrawal bleeding, such as menses, won’t happen. However, don’t attempt to do this without consulting your gynecologist. You may have a gynecologic condition like a breast or ovarian mass, or thromboembolism that might prevent you from safely taking the pill.I don’t know whom else to ask. I think my fiancé and I should both have an HIV test before we get married. Is there a way do get the test privately so people don’t look at us funny?Whoever said people will look at you funny if you ask for an HIV test? More and more people are taking responsibility of their health and are subjecting themselves for a routine screening. Foreign immigrants to the country are required to take an annual HIV test and it is part of the blood work recommended during a pre-natal check-up. So, stop hesitating! Nobody will judge you for taking a responsible move such as getting a blood test for HIV.I really love my future husband and I’m sure he is the right person for me to marry but when we sleep together, it isn’t what I expected. Could there be something wrong with me?Not everyone has the same idea about sex so that’s really not surprising. Remember, men are from Mars (they need to be excited, can ejaculate in 2 minutes flat, and can fall asleep after). On the other hand, women are from Venus (they need to be romanced, need at least 20 mins of foreplay, and desire to be held and whispered, “I love you” to especially after making love). It’s essential for you to first know what pleasures you so you can communicate that to your partner without sounding dictatorial. Things can get much better with better communication!! By Dr. Rebecca Singson Magazine Aritlcles , women's health 2009-04-21T19:31:00+08:00 http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/ask_rita/ http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/ask_rita/#When:18:28:00Z There are no bad questions, ‘cos whatever questions you have, Rita answers it best...Q : We want a small but stylish wedding (100 guests or less) but are worried that both our families will want to invite too many business associates and contacts rather than our close friends and family.  Is a destination wedding the only option that would keep our wedding small and intimate without disappointing every one?  A : If having a destination wedding is not an option, you could try getting a reception venue that by its small size physically limits the number of invited guests. That way you could inform the parents that there really is no space available for more guests.  Some couples have opted to have 2 wedding receptions (the second one is held a day or two after) just to accommodate their parents’ wishes. Q : Our wedding is a year from now.  We are choosing between wedding coordinators, photographers, designers, etc. and have mentioned the date in our meetings.  Do we have to inform the ones we are not choosing?  What’s the proper way to tell them?A : It would show good manners on your part if you inform those suppliers that you are not hiring of your decision. Being professionals, suppliers understand that not everyone gets 100% booking average out of every possible client that they meet.  It would be proper on your part to tell them that you are not availing of their services so that they can unblock the date from their list.  No need to give any reasons or excuses.Q : I was told that it is not proper to include wedding registry with the invitation.  How do we let people know where we are registered? A : To include a wedding registry card together with the invitation presumes that the one being invited will give you a gift.  This is considered bad etiquette since it is their presence that is being requested (with or without the gift).  Those wanting to give a gift either send one or may call the couple or their family to ask what item would the couple need or want.  In these days of “practicality, I often advise couples to include where they are registered in an info card which also states the attire and RSVP or any other pertinent wedding info. This way the wedding registry is not too glaring or “in-your-face”.  Q : In your experience, what age is too young or too old as choices for flower girls and ring bearers?  We want them to be able to walk down the aisle without a maid or parent. A : A child is considered for the role of flower girl or bearer from the ages of 4 to 8 years old.  Any older would classify them as junior attendant and any younger is just asking for trouble.  Infants and toddlers can be dressed up as a flower girl or bearer for picture purposes but preferably not made to walk.   By Rita M. Neri Magazine Aritlcles , Planning 2009-04-21T18:28:00+08:00 http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/mr_jones_and_me/ http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/mr_jones_and_me/#When:19:14:00Z Love and Sex advice from our resident sexpertHow do I make it last on my wedding night?Most couples won’t have sex on their wedding night because of sheer exhaustion,  but if you know you are, let me explain how. Obviously, you’re going to look gorgeous on your wedding night given the see-through Jun Escario lace gown you’re wearing. So do you think I’m going to last long knowing this? Of course not! The secret to this all is a mild dose of alcohol... just enough to calm the nerves but not enough to pass out. If I never slept with my hubby-to-be, should I sleep with him on the wedding night or do I wait for the honeymoon?You didn’t tell me how long you’ve been going out with your fiance. Now, if it’s two weeks, I say sleep with him even before the wedding. If you’ve been dating him for two years and the most you’ve ever done is held his hand, then I suggest waiting for your honeymoon. Sex on your wedding night is overrated. Some say love is a decision, is this true?If you have to decide to be in love, then you don’t know what love is. End of story. Sometimes my thoughts are elsewhere during sex. What can I do to make me think more sexually? Just look into your hubby’s eyes and that should be enough. If that doesn’t work, think of Brad Pitt... As a new couple, should we invest in extra ‘play things’?It goes down to the question of how long you’ve been going out with each other. If you’re a new couple, you will not need any new play things because every love making session will feel special. Hey Jones, what’s your favorite music for love making?Depends on who wants to get in the mood. If you want to turn your wife-to-be on, play “Let’s Get it On” by Marvin Gaye. As newlyweds, how often should we have date nights?I’d like to think that as newlyweds, every night is a date night.  My husband-to-be still thinks I’m a virgin and I’m not. We haven’t had sex yet, should I tell him?Yes. You definitely should. Since you’ll be starting a new chapter in your lives, honesty is an absolute must. Better he knows now than an Ex that you’ve slept with tells him. Jones, my fiance has no problem making love for more than thirty minutes but yet I feel completely unsatisfied. I know I love him dearly but will this eventually ruin our marriage?Well, thirty minutes should be enough for most women but unfortunately your fiance ain’t Mr. Jones. That means, he is doing something that you don’t like. So I would suggest you guys break down the communication barrier and start talking to each other and discuss what you do and don’t like about each other sexually before you actually tie the knot. How much is too much on the honeymoon?It depends on where you are honeymooning. If you decided to take a trip to the Vatican, then I’d say you shoudn’t be having sex. But if your honeymoon is in Palawan, then minimum is thrice a day; first when you wake up in the morning, second, after you go diving and third, before you go to bed. Magazine Aritlcles , Mr. Jones 2009-04-20T19:14:00+08:00 http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/live_rich/ http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/live_rich/#When:18:54:00Z 4 Financial Life StagesEach stage specifies different levels of financial achievement with distinct guidelines for investing. START-UP: At this stage all income comes from sweat, i.e., no work, no pay. As soon as you earn your first peso, you should set your sight to the next stage, the build-up. BUILD-UP:  When about 20% of your income comes from investment income, i.e., life-money earned from money saved and invested. FINE-TUNING OR ASSET ALLOCATION STAGE: You should accumulate enough from investments to contribute up to 60% of total income.  This is the fine-tuning stage, wherein investments are allocated to ensure steady cash flow in preparation for retirement. RETIREMENT:  Ideally, one retires and is able to continue his chosen lifestyle without having to work. His lifestyle is fully funded by his accumulated wealth.   Magazine Aritlcles , Money 2009-04-20T18:54:00+08:00 http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/issue_3/ http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/issue_3/#When:21:35:00Z Issue 3 on stands in April!Hey Belles!   Watch out for Issue 3 to hit stands in April.  If you think the first and second had loads of info, wait till you see Issue 3! It's even more packed with info about your dream dress, dream reception, honeymoon destinations, honeymoon essentials, duds for your man and his best men and so much more!   Grab a copy as soon as you can or join the Wedding Belle forum!   XOXO News 2009-03-11T21:35:00+08:00 http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/wedding_expo/ http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/wedding_expo/#When:14:49:00Z For all the newly engaged couples March 7 and 8, Themes and Motifs will hold a wedding expo at the PICC from 10 AM - 8 PM and Wedding Belle will be there giving out magazines! Don't miss out on it, come and see what's in store for you! News 2009-03-06T14:49:00+08:00 http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/fabulousness_on_your_wedding_day/ http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/fabulousness_on_your_wedding_day/#When:17:45:00Z Steps to make sure you are healthy on your wedding day.Be healthy on your wedding day - vitamins and minerals, healthy eating, lots of water, pampering and exercise all have a contribution to make.   Follow these guidelines:   Take a good vitamin supplement - For vitamins to be effective, you need to start taking them at least a month before you want to see and feel the required effects. A good multivitamin formulated especially for women is a must; the extra B vitamins will give you the energy and vitality you need as well as help you to cope with the stress of planning your wedding. Other vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements that are great for ensuring you are fit and healthy on your wedding and don't come down with a cold or the flu on your wedding day are Omega 3 and 6, zinc, garlic and parsley tablets, as well as good old vitamin C. Follow a healthy eating routine - Be careful not to starve yourself in the weeks leading up to your wedding. You may achieve the desired result weight-wise, but your skin and hair will suffer. If you have decided to lose a couple of lb's, do it slowly and sensibly. Remember losing weight is best achieved by increasing exercise. You should not be dieting in the last couple of weeks before your wedding - your dress won't fit properly if you lose too much weight. You also need to maintain your energy so you feel your healthy and beautiful on your wedding day. Keep your skin, eyes, hair and teeth healthy by eating plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables (preferably uncooked), protein, and healthy carbohydrates. Go easy on the processed takeaways - you will feel sluggish and bloated and you need all the energy you can get. Water, water, water - Drink plenty of water (preferably filtered) in the weeks before your wedding. At least eight glasses a day will flush toxins from your body and this will be reflected in your eyes as well as your skin. You will have greater elasticity in your skin as well as a clearer complexion. The energy you feel will be well worth the effort of all those trips to the loo, and you will experience far fewer headaches (most headaches during the summer months are caused by dehydration). Pamper your body -  Massages and facials can also ensure you look and are healthy on your wedding day. Regular massaging of the body and face is great for the circulation and also prevents a build up of toxins. You will need regular help in loosening all those knots that appear in necks and shoulders as a result of all the stress and tension you are bound to experience, as well as relieving those pre-wedding jitters. Plus, this way you will ensure regular "me time'; nobody can disturb you while you are having a treatment. For details of the best health spas in your area. Don't neglect your exercise routine - When you are busy, your gym routine is often the first to be neglected. This is the time when you need to keep up with those yoga and pilates classes. Not only will you stay toned and look fabulous on your wedding day, but all those endorphins that are released during exercise are great for reducing stress! Regular, mild exercise has loads of benefits (including weight loss) to ensure you are healthy on your wedding day. 2009-01-22T17:45:00+08:00 http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/flawless_skin/ http://weddingbelle.com.ph/index.php/site/flawless_skin/#When:14:52:00Z Tips on how to get flawless perfect skin on your wedding day! It's your wedding day! The one day where you are at your most perfect, hair all in place, great make-up, the ultimate wedding gown and accessories to match and the best photographer to take gorgeous photos of you, your man and everything else! But alas! your skin is not as perfect as it should be... here are a few tricks of the trade to keep your skin healthy and flawless as flawless can be! Determine your skin type. Are you oily, dry, flaky or combination? Invest in a cleanser, toner, moisturizer and facial scrub suited to your skin type. You might have to test out a couple of brands before you find the perfect one. Talk to an associate at a make up counter or stand alone make up store. You will be able to test different formulas. They may even offer samples so you can try a product out for a day or two. If you have a bad case of acne or any other skin problem, consider going to see a dermatologist. They will give you the treatment you need. Buy an SPF 15+ sunscreen for daily use. Try for a facial sunscreen with no fragrance or oil. Use your face wash every day. You will not see a difference if you only use it once a week. Use your scrub only every few days as to avoid scrubbing off too much skin.  Wash off your makeup. Before going to bed remember to take off any makeup you put on. Washing your face may do the trick, but some makeup may require makeup remover. Eat properly. A great menu is a balanced menu. Remember the food pyramid? Eat fruits and vegetables. They say eat 2 servings of fruit and 5 servings of vegetables. Avoid foods with caffeine, greasy foods and red meat.  Drink plenty of water. Try to drink 8 glasses every day! Avoid sugary soft drinks, caffeine and coffee. Green tea is good.  Exercise. It will help metabolize and help detoxify. A walk with your dog or some yoga lessons do make a difference! Plus if you are stressed out, it will de-stress you. Beauty, Skin 2009-01-22T14:52:00+08:00