(apologies to Veluz for the mess)

For our youngest daughter’s 1st birthday, Benz & I decided that we won’t be throwing a birthday party and just allot the budget for a family holiday.  But of course, we could not let the special occasion pass without preserving memories for her to know how special her first birthday was.

For our final photo session with The Stork Studio (previous shoots while Laya was in-the-womb, newborn, three months, six months and nine months), Stan Ong and Sofia Genato suggested we go outdoors for the 12th month pictorial.  Benz was inspired by an Etsy-ish look (read: vintage and handmade) in one blogpost by Kelle Hampton and she made it her peg for the look of our mock birthday party.  I, on the other hand, wanted a “one-table-party” concept, with a family picnic feel.  Soon, we gathered-up our friends (some of the best in the wedding industry!) to help us achieve the look we wanted.

Our utmost gratitude for their generosity and the help extended to us.

our shoot location | Blue Leaf

styling & set-up | Teddy Manuel

Laya’s gown | Veluz

mini-catering* | Josiah’s
*spaghetti & fried chicken for us and the people who worked behind the scenes

cake | Sugarbox

yummy cookies | Joy San Gabriel

balloons | Polkadot Events

paper boutonnière | Vatel Manila

all watermarked photos by The Stork Studio | see more…

additional photos by Cherryblocks | see more…

And what better way to preserve memories than capturing them in moving pictures. The video below is a collaborative work by Pheoben Teocson and Threelogy:

Parting shot with the world’s cutest real-life caketopper!

Happy Birthday, Laya!  We love you!

The note below came in our inbox today. It’s from an abroad-based W@Wie who has gotten married two years ago.  It is indeed heartwarming to hear from our members even though they have long been married.  But this particular ‘love letter’ is noteworthy since the writer wrote her special messages in verses.  The fact that we received it the day of our 12th wedding anniversary made it even more special!

The poem is a glimpse in a life of a W@Wie.

We are deeply touched with the gesture. And with the writer’s permission, we want to share it with our readers. Read on….

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I’ve planned for a wedding overseas
I knew it ain’t gonna be a breeze
Didn’t know where to begin
And relied mostly on search engines

Then I came across this site
Giving me a handful insight
Until I decided to join the group
Felt like I’m part of a troupe

Hundreds of emails to read everyday
Variety of topics, mostly weddings Q&A
Not only you’ll get the latest trends
You’re actually gaining many friends
Suppliers?! Found them all here, too
Somewhat knew ‘em from a feedback or two

It’s this unexplainable sense of excitement
Even got hooked with someone else’s predicament
Oh how I miss everything about weddings
Eventful stress, but blissful undertakings

I owe this group a lot of things
Pay-it-forward: finish my ratings!
Oh no! Almost two years have gone
Truth be told, not even halfway done!

A bit cheesy you think this may sound
But I couldn’t find a word so profound
Simply put, I’ll say,“THANK YOU, Abet & Benz Rana”
You’ve invented a community with a sensational aura
Breaks my heart, I’ve to move on now
Still, me thinks… I’ll always be a part of W@W!

Judy (& John)
12.28.08
SSA / Pen

Today our eldest daughter, Kite, turns 11.  Her birthday party was held last Sunday which coincided with the baptism of her baby sister, Laya.

(photo by Oly Ruiz of MetroPhoto)

It ain’t a wedding but the event also involved preps in the hotel (courtesy of the GCs we received from Mandarin Oriental), a church ceremony, and a reception.  The staff of Mandarin even brought a cot to our room especially for the baby. Since we booked the party at Blue Leaf (thanks to Eugene & Michelle Sandejas for accommodating us), we decided that the Christening of our four month-old baby be held at the Sanctuario de San Antonio for proximity and convenience of the godparents and other guests.

Benz & I usually plan big events in our family together, but this time, she planned it with Kite. I was mostly pleased with this arrangement except when I asked approximately how much they spent so far.  But with the discounts and freebies we got from our suppliers, I shouldn’t really be complaining.

Joel Bautista did Laya’s baptismal gown in piña, while the candles were custom-made for us by Ernest Pascual –  dubbed as the ‘Details Diva’ by his brides.

After the short ceremony at the Baptistry, we proceed to the party venue.  Upon arrival, what greeted us were the myriad of colorful balloons dropping from the ceiling by Polkadot Events, which also served as our party planner.  There were also a gallery of large backlit portraits of our family especially setup for us by Ronald of 4th Wall (the selected photographs were taken by The Stork Studio during Benz’ pregnancy up to Laya’s 3rd month).  The photobooth of Studio on Wheels was already clicking away for the early birds by then.

Since the party’s theme was Arts & Crafts, there were stations for origami, cake decorating, ceramic & sun-catcher painting, nameplate designing, sand art, and bead making.  Most of these were provided by Rekindled Moments.  The personalized aprons provided to the kids were customized by Loot Fairy.  Standing in as the party host was Jiggles - the balloon lady whose balloon show was a big hit with the kids and ’stage parents’.

When I learned that Joy San Gabriel would be doing the birthday cake, I requested that it be a tower of mini-cakes so guests could take them home.  Aside from the various food carts, Josiah’s Catering provided the buffet of our guests.

Highlights and sidelights of the event were captured in the onsite video below done for us by Threelogy.

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Related links:

• Kite’s 11th Bday & Laya’s Baptism Party - by Fol Rana, Jr.
• Kite’s 11th Bday & Laya’s Baptism METROFIED - by Oly Ruiz of MetroPhoto
• Kite & Laya’s Double Celebration photobooth prints - Studio on Wheels
• Laya (3rd month) - The Stork Studio
• Laya (newborn) - The Stork Studio
• Laya (in the womb) - The Stork Studio

It been quiet here the past couple of weeks and, unless you’re a contact in our personal FB accounts, you might be wondering the lack of updates this side of the blogosphere.

Well we have added a new member to our family!

Welcome Laya Rana!  She was born the afternoon of March 29.  Her name was inspired by the last word from the song “Bayan Ko.”

Our family picture above was taken during our li’l bundle of joy’s newborn pictorial.  She was just 12 days old at that time.  Kudos to Sofia Genato & Stan Ong of The Stork Studio for their talent and patience.  Some of the ‘poses’ required our baby to be in deep slumber and there isn’t any on/off button when it comes to that. But the wait paid off, and the shots came out great!

As for now, like any doting parents, we eagerly share with you the other shots from this session.

Last summer, we had a family portrait session scheduled one afternoon during Boracay trip, with Oly Ruiz of Metro Photo behind the camera.

This year, Benz asked him the same favor, this time for a street pictorial for our 10-year old daughter Kite with her two teenage cousins, Pao (13) & Justine (16).

Since the shoot involved the girls to be glammed up, wifey also asked Jesy Alto if she could do the makeup of the girls. She gladly agreed, even tagging Raymond Ko along to do the girls’ hair. When Benz learned that Jesy will be brought to the shoot by her fiance, Erron Ocampo who also happens to be a wedding photographer, wifey asked if he would want to shoot as well. And he did!

Erron has been one of the senior photographer in ImagineNation’s pool of young & talented wedding photographers for several years. Late last year, he has gone solo to make a name for himself in the industry.

So there we were at Bonifacio High Street last Sunday, with the intense El Niño bearing down on us.   But didn’t stop the artists from getting the shots they wanted from their ‘models’.  Here’s one ‘Gingersnap-ish’ shot by Erron of our daughter in a gown made for her by Veluz.

The rest of Erron’s shots are posted in his FB album.