announcement: Today we start posting user-driven content by sharing stories contributed by our very own W@Wies (members of the W@W eGroup).  We would like to thank Joed See for getting the ball rolling. ~Abet & Benz

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Photo courtesy of Larry Leong for Imagine Nation Photography

I’d like to share with you a short story of weddings, friendships and details.

Once upon a time, a madly-in-love couple named Abet and Benz, created an online community for brides and grooms. They called it Weddings@Work. This is a support group for couples planning for their wedding. This is where you will find new friends who can easily relate to you and your woes in choosing between fuchsia and baby pink, tiffany chair or ghost chair, suit or barong, the list just goes on and on and on.

I’ve discovered this group online and it was just an exhilaration when I was able to share my simple wedding dilemmas and get an affirmation and new point of views. Not just a nod, and okay or a hmmmmm. It felt like, these are my people!!!! We were able to share our wants and dreams, workarounds (a.k.a. DIY) to achieve the wedding feel that we want but still within our budget.

Lately, it’s been going outside the confines of cyberspace. W@Wies, as we call ourselves, are now meeting up, going to each other’s weddings, helping out on DIYs, and a whole lot more.

Photo courtesy of CamZar Photography

Photo courtesy of Paul Vincent Photography

Photo from Mimma Benz at #wawbooth SM Megamall February 2013

Photo from Marie Francisco taken at Cucina ni Chef September 2012

Photo from Edward and Gracey’s Wedding December 2012

Photo from Didda Abet taken at Blue Leaf Banyan November 2012

The latest trend going on right now in the community is what we call, the Travelling W@W Love Items. These items have been shared by a W@Wie for the W@W community to borrow and use. Other W@Wies can use it as additional details on their wedding day or on their engagement and post-nuptial shoots.

Photo courtesy of Manny and April Photography

Photo courtesy of CamZar Photography

Photo courtesy of Black Tie Project

Photo courtesy of Noel Salazar of Imagine Nation Photography

Photo courtesy of Jaja Samaniego

Photo taken from Ersus-Jhellie’s Wedding March 2013

Photo courtesy of Macromedia

Photo from Jake-Jenny’s Wedding January 2013

The idea is simple, its really a pay-it-forward system. Not only do we maximize the items but we are able to share our love through these items. Weddings are expensive and items like these are really helpful to add that nice touch to your photo booth pictures, weddings preparations, entourage march, and even getting presents. ^_^

Now, isn’t it fun to be part of this community? As for me, all I can say is I’m really happy and proud to say that I’m a certified W@Wie!

Photo from Mimma Benz at #wawbooth SM Megamall February 2013

[this blog originally posted at Joedshares]

just. say. yes.

After 40 loooong years, being a ring bearer is finally off my bucket list! YAY!

It’s not that my life wouldn’t be complete without being one.  But more about getting to experience something that I didn’t get to do as a little boy.  As you know, the flower girl and bearer roles are monopolized by the cute and adorable kids.  And we all know that not all kids are cute.  I unfortunately fell in that category in my younger years. As I shared in my personal blog, my brother got the gigs back then.  But I didn’t mind.  I didn’t like dressing up as a kid anyway.  I was comfy with sando & brief even when my family went out-of-town.  When I was in my teens, my Tita Azon (my mom’s youngest sister), “revealed” to me why I never get to see myself in pictures when I was younger.  She endearingly told me, “hindi ka kasi ‘presentable’ na bata.”  But that didn’t offend me.  She told me that at the time when my looks had supposedly “improved” in high school.  But don’t be fooled.  The revelation was not an ugly-ducking-turned-gander moment.  To me, I’ve always looked the same ever since . . .  handsome. hehe

Fast forward to our podcast when we chatted with Noel Salazar & Rae Venturanza for our wedding photographer + makeup artist couples in the wedding industry episode.  They were kinda asking me to be a Ninong in their wedding.  I said, I’m too young to be one.  I think the ‘ring bearer’ was my counter-offer, and they agreed.

GAME ON!

Sent Boy Kastner these two pegs for my attire as he was also doing the suit of the groom and his men.  I asked that I use  suspenders instead of a jacket or a vest.

We asked Dylan of {etc} Handmade Goodness if he could make me a boutonniere where we could somehow tie the rings. Noel & Rae we’re pretty weird and quirky to let me do what I want. And I wanted to rid of the ring pillow.

My bearer gig  yesterday went pretty well. I heard giggles from guests when I went to the altar to hand the rings.  Friends we telling me that I was a ‘cutest’ ring bearer they ever saw.  Of course, I knew they were exaggerating. I’ve got no match for those adorable, naughty, little boys.  But it still felt good hearing those.

Thanks Mr. & Mrs. Noel & Rae Salazar for indulging me in making my ‘wish’ come true!

Mabuhay ang Bagong Kasal!

9photo by Dino Lara)

Nino + Nina dreamt of being wed inside the St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. They got what they wished for and even flew in Dino Lara (photo) and Bong Sare (of Threelogy video) the document the whole thing.

This is more that just a wedding. It’s a weddimoon!

In November 2011, Pinoy phtotographers (both hobbyists and pros) staged a ‘Photo Walk’ in Luneta and Fort Santiago to protest overzealous security guards preventing them from taking pictures of the Rizal monument and Intramuros.  Here’s  backgrounder . . .

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photo by Nino Jesus Orbeta

(Nov. 11, 2011 | Inquirer.net ) Some 100 amateur and professional photographers staged a “photo-walk” Friday morning to dramatize their protest of what they alleged was discrimination against Filipinos taking pictures of the Rizal monument at Manila’s Rizal Park or Luneta.

The newly formed group Bawal Mag-Shoot Dito (BMSD) is an organization of camera enthusiasts who found a common pet-peeve: overzealous security guards preventing them from taking pictures of the Rizal monument.

Bernard Mejias, a spokesman for the group who has been into professional photography for 20 years, told the Inquirer that the BMSD only seeks to ask why local photographers are banned from shooting the Rizal monument while foreigners are not.

“Isn’t that a double standard?” he pointed out, adding that it was ridiculous that he and other photographers who pay taxes cannot shoot at a public place.

Marching to the Rizal monument at 11 am, the group unfurled streamers and broke through the cordons set up around the monument and ignored security guards trying to block their path.

When the chief of security tried to snatch away their streamer, the photographers fended him off and asked him instead in chorus, “Bakit bawal?” (Why is it prohibited?)

The question visibly left a blank look on the security man who simply responded, “It just is so.”

After taking pictures at the Rizal monument, the group proceeded to Intramuros to continue their photo walk. [source]

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But things are better since then and the public has BMSD to thank for. Nowadays, the guards at the park don’t shoo away photographers holding a dslr.  In it’s statement, the Department of Tourism (DOT) clarified it’s policy regarding the matter:

“There is no ‘no-shoot policy’ implemented at Luneta and Intramuros.  Only shoots for commercial advertisements, videos, infomercials, events (such as prenups), and other commercial productions need permission from the managements of National Park Development Committee and Intramuros Administration to facilitate the documentation of activities.” (read DOT’s full press statement)

So we asked our messenger to secure a permit for an ‘event’ shoot we’re doing to celebrate our youngest daughter’s 2nd birthday. No sweat and it’s free!  Although security was tight around the at the time of our shoot as a visiting dignitary will lay a wreath at the monument, no security men accosted us to ask for our permit when they saw us shooting in and around the park.

Even the vendors around the area are friendly, allowing us to shoot with their goods they sell with a smile.

Finally, after the official ceremonies at the monument at around 5PM, tourists were allowed to go near our National Hero’s monument.  It’s the shot we came there for.

Credit goes to Joy San Gabriel for our little girl’s birthday cake, and to Stanley Ong who took refreshingly colorful pictures of our family in this shoot.

See here the full set of our Luneta shoot.