Wedding Prep:

Typically people get engaged, plan a wedding for oh say... 6 months to a year, and then get married. Well we are not even close to "normal" and do things our own way... that's what makes life fun and interesting!
Lets go on an adventure...

Adam and I were engaged in 2007... eloped in 2009... and were blessed to have a wedding ceremony and reception on June 20Th, 2010. So it really took us THREE YEARS to get married!!

It all started in January of 2010 when I started dreaming wedding again. It was really important for us to have our families present and for our Pastor Carlo and his wife, Jean Ann, to be in our wedding as well. As Jean Anne completely understood why we wanted all of this wedding madness to begin again she eloquently said that "we wanted a witness, before our Almighty God and our families." This was exactly it. She nailed it! So let the planning begin... again... for the fifth or sixth time!

Everything happens for a reason and really God does know what's going on and has His time for everything... surprise surprise. For the first time the planning and checking dates and figuring out venues were smooth like buttuh. God had orchestrated it all and things were gently falling into place. (FINALLY!!) hahaha

I will admit there were definitely still stressful times! After all thats who I am... I'm a worrier (there I said it! I admit it!) But somehow things still kept moving foreward. I was ready for something to go wrong like Adam not being granted his leave time to come to California (we didn't know for sure until the week of) or my dress wouldn't fit or a million other things that could possibly go wrong. And i thought of all of them and worried about every single last detail.
But it is amazing to have a wedding "all-star team" around us for support, prayers, and helpful hands!!

Once I arrived in Roseville, Carlo and another one of his "adopted kids" (FYI being a college pastor... Carlo and Jean Anne have pretty much adopted a church-full of kids! And we are all blessed to have them as our mentors and Spiritual leaders) Picked me up at the airport and reminded me that God's got everything under control... and if something goes wrong... theres nothing i could do about it now! :D

After picking up a borrowed truck from Adam's previous boss (Thanks MR. and MRS. Swanson!! This was a huge blessing!!) I made my way towards wedding work. Joyanne was ready to spend the day with me running random errands while my brain was trying to keep up with California traffic! We were singing some soul music dancing around in the truck the whole day through. Thats my soul sistah right there! Singing songs from the Temptations and Aretha Franklin really do have a calming effect on a crazed bride!

Soon some family arrived... My dad and Mom, Tita Celly and L.P. And all the eating and working began! We were like a filipino sweatshop working from dawn till dusk! But the food was amazing so i couldn't complain!! hahaha I am so proud to say that our wedding team was able to build and create everything for the wedding and reception. From the wedding cake (thanks Maria and Nicole!) to the floral arrangements and may i add.. we were FIERCE AND FABULOUS doing it!! Thats right!

Jaqi arrived next and helped even more in calming me down. Her constant note taking was a lifesaver since my brain was already fried! She helped us stay on track and remember all the little details that had to be done like um..."JC aren't you supposed to pick up your WEDDING DRESS today?! Or... do we have pens for people to sign the picture board? Or even better... "JC... your turning BLUE... you need to BREATHE!!"

After that Maria and Nicole came and they worked on their baking skills till they were colapsed on the floor! But the cake looked and tasted amazing!! Maria was always ready to take great pictures with her amazing camera and Nicole was always prepared with coffee and a hug... or you know maybe a shot or two... Those are my girls! Might i add... Nicole's creative skills came out when making floral arrangements when she would proudly lift a finished beauty up and say... "yup that one's mine! Isn't it just beautiful?!?!" lol

Our wedding planner Mo and ieleen taught us how to make the flower arrangements and the end product was a day filled with flowers and lots of fun! Everywhere i turned people were helping out with a smile and enjoying spending the time together. Mo kept saying to me in surprise.."wow there is really no drama here! All these girls are actually helping out... I can't believe it!" Those girls are my A-Team... the friends that I can always count on the family that i've made through the years...