Shanghai 1930's

Someone commented that my bridal look was Shanghai 1930's. And how right he was. Looked through some vintage posters from the era and surprise, surprise! The timeline was right and my chinita face brought in the Shanghai touch. I was just lacking that feather boa...

A smaller table arrangement & the menu

This is another example of how one of the smaller tables was set up (picture is of us with my dad, family friends from Cebu: Tita Jing, her daughters Mariles and Merche, my sister, my brother and my sister's boyfriend, Carl). One of the difficulties we had was putting together table arrangements. We had tables that were originally set for two (Cafe Ysabel is a date place after all) which we had to increase to three. We also had to put together tables downstairs to accommodate large groups of friends. If you notice, the menu (in beige colored paper) was simply propped against the centerpiece. Nothing fancy but it served its purpose. Our reception sit down dinner was lovely: lobster bisque, Ceasar salad, Chicken Alfonso (stuffed chicken) served with Fetuccine Alfredo and a hot & cold dessert (apple crisp and heavenly panna cotta).

Simple centerpieces and colorful plates

This is a picture of the lovely centerpieces that my florist came up with for the reception. He combined simple floral arrangements with candle lamps (here, elevated for the principal sponsors table) to highlight the antique feel of Cafe Ysabel. You will also notice that Cafe Ysabel made the table arrangements look appetizing already by pouring the olive oil and black vinegar dip for the appetizer bread on all the plates prior to any serving.

The Caramel Area

This is a picture with friends at the lower part of the restaurant. I wish we could have had the wedding in just one floor but we really needed the whole restaurant given the number of guests. We solved the problem by having all the traditionals (bouquet tossing, cake cutting, speeches, etc.) in the courtyard at the beginning of the reception so that everyone could be there (though, we had to serve pink lemonade to combat the heat). We then split our time after dinner visiting tables and having our pictures taken both upstairs in the Chocolate area and downstairs in the Caramel area.

Down the stairs of Cafe Ysabel

This is one of my favorite pictures as well. It has a fairytale, old-world feel to it.

A good laugh.

An image of fellowship...

Okay, that's my train they're playing with. :)

Running through a shower of petals

A moment

Me and the girls (my maid of honor and my secondary sponsors)

Getting ready

We're married!

My bouquet

Announcing the Rehearsal

Dear Entourage and Everyone with a part in the wedding,
We have a rehearsal scheduled!
When: April 21, 2005 (Thursday), 4:00 p.m., we are only allowed an hour
Where: Mary the Queen Parish Church, Madison St., Greenhills West, San Juan (in between ICA and Xavier).

A simple dinner will follow in the front yard of Vier's house
#28 Dr. Lazcano St., Scout Area, Laging Handa, Q.C.
Directions: Take Kamuning, turn right to Tomas Morato, turn left at the corner where Alfredo's steak house is. Keep going straight until you hit # 28, green gate with yellow daffodils growing in the yard.

See you!

More resources for a 1930's look

The 1930's Vintage wedding theme started with our discovery that Cafe Ysabel was built in 1927. We sealed the deal when we found a 1932 Studebaker to be my bridal car. And little by little, some friends were getting excited with actually coming to the wedding in 1930's get-ups. So, as suggested by one of my wedding guests, a good friend, Gladys, I've posted some 1930's photos for inspiration.

Here are more resources to check out 1930's fashion and style:
- Watch "Aviator" (that was set in the 1930's, watch out for Katharine Hepburn played by Cate Blanchett and Ava Gardner played by Kate Beckinsale)
- log on to http://grapefruitmoongallery.com. This site has black & white photos, fine art and even vintage advertising art which depicts the 1920's and 1930's.
- Check out actual clippings from a 1934 Sears Catalog: http://www.costumes.org/history/100pages/1934sears.htm
- See some real 1930's evening dresses that would look great today: http://www.gbacg.org/30seveningdress.htm

Anyway, for the ladies, you can come in 2005 formal attire. The 1930's look is optional but would look just great with the backdrop of Cafe Ysabel and the Studebaker. And for our gentlemen guests, there's the traditional barong which was the norm back in the 1930's.

Here's another 1920's-1930's icon, Billie Burke. She played the "Good Witch" in The Wizard of Oz in 1939.

Here's a 1930's painting (Flower of the Orient by Howard Connolly) which depicts the fashion and look of the time.

Prenuptial shot: Holding hands at Cafe Ysabel. We may be at the very table, by the window, where we had one of our first dates.

Prenuptial shot: Fooling around by the staircase.

Prenuptial shot: By the Bridal Car and Cafe Ysabel.

Prenuptial shot: Mussing up Vier's hair.

Prenuptial shot: By the car window.

Prenuptial shot: Fooling around over the Studebaker.

This shot has the wrong light. But this is another test make-up shot, this time with the earrings I'll wear on my wedding day.

Don't mind the kalat in the background. This is a test make-up shot.

In this photograph, we are inside the 1932 Studebaker which we will use on our wedding day.

A pre-view of our pre-nuptial photographs. We are posing at the entrance of Cafe Ysabel, here.

My mom's butterfly painting on top of the rubberwood dresser.

My mom's three paintings against our egg brown walls: two baskets and one house against blue background.

My mom's paintings and our new "kacha" curtains.