2 weddings and a baby bump

To date, our baby has been to 4 weddings while in the utero. But during the first two, my baby bump was non-existent. Fast forward to this past week, I've been to two other weddings, this time, taking with me my 7 month baby bump. I guess I just want to say that despite how attending weddings in my current state have made me dream about getting to wear body hugging dresses and killer heels again, weddings still make me feel giddy all over especially when I have my husband as my date. Here are some of our shots from our friends' nuptials. :)

Reminiscing my bride-side

Well, lately, it's been all about planning for baby's arrival and fixing up our home. But just awhile ago, I browsed through some old photos and I found this. I forgot that I had this photo and how much I loved it. It looked to me as the perfect picture of bliss and inner peace. Yup, before Zei the wife and the mom-to-be, there was this version of me, Zei the bride-to-be. It feels so long ago already, but it still makes me giddy.

** Thanks to my hairstylist John Valle for this beautiful beautiful photo. You can actually double as a photographer with the shots you took during my preps for the big day.

Life Cycle according to Zei

Today I realized that my mom was right, life is really just a cycle, but an amazing one at that. You're born to loving parents, you grow up, you fall in love, you get married, you have kids. And from the next generation, that cycle repeats. And I guess I just wanted to share that bit today because earlier we went to our first Expo Mom at Rockwell and the whole time I was thinking that before this (around 2 years ago), Rich and I were taking on bridal expos and now here we are, taking the next step and entering the world of parenthood. It was a welcome change, from all the glitz and glamour of weddings to all things cute, sweet and adorable about babies. So yeah, that's it, life is a cycle and I'll make sure our little girl would enjoy every bit of it when she comes.

Elegance and Simplicity fit for royal brides of past and present

Today the world celebrated with Prince William and his bride, Kate Middleton, now Duchess Catherine, for the wedding of the century. As in all weddings, most eyes, if not all are on the bride and her wedding dress of course. The verdict: it was elegant and simple with a royal impact (READ: Absolutely LOVELY). Kudos to Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen! It was sort of a spitting image of Princess Grace Kelly's gown - she was a fashion forward princess bride. Anyway, here are some photos of both gowns - equally beautiful and fitting for a princess.

Looking forward to seeing how the long sleeved lace wedding dress would fare for brides-to-be of the present. Don't you just love weddings? Especially the royal ones. Haha. :)

The gown aside, my favorite part of the ceremony was during their processional - Prince and new wife hand-in-hand, sneaking sweet nothings and both unable to contain their happiness to be each others ever after. Happy weekend to all!

Of prenup photos and weddings of the present

I'm a soon-to-be bride, have I told you that? And my fiance and I have recently had our prenup photos taken and I got to thinking how wedding preparations have evolved as the years progress. I don't recall having attended weddings back in 2000 with prenup photos and on-site videos, but today, the two are almost essentials in a wedding to-do list.

I am amazed at how prenup photos allow couples to be characters other than themselves and how creative people could get. Prenup themes could go from sporty, high fashion, boheme, vintage, masquerade to an endless list of other possibilities. I guess for the soon-to-wed couple, the prenup photo session is a unique bonding opportunity and a chance to challenge their tolerance for nonstop camera posing in preparation for their wedding day. Plus, it's pure fun. =)

Aside from the prenup photos, on-site videos and other stuff that are now part of the wedding repertoire of today, wedding preparations have surely climbed up a gazillion notches as brides-to-be and even grooms-to-be have become more assertive as ever, with bookings that start as early as two years before their chosen wedding date and preparations spanning longer than the usual. I guess its a nice thing since it gives couples more time to gear up and save up for their dream wedding day, but hopefully also more time to prepare for the more important aspect of all the hullabaloos - the marriage and their lifetime of marital bliss together. =)