Photo Processing

I have a new addiction! I recently discovered this website that processes photos to give them vintage effect. Everyone is crazy about Instagram, and I would be if I had an iPhone. This works better for me because I can choose my favorite pictures first and then add the effect. Also, I can match the effect to my picture. Here are a couple of favorites:

And this one:

I love how the photo looks like it was taken during the 90s.

Lastly, at work, today is our CD's birthday. He's in LA to be with his family, so we greeted him by posting a picture with his cake. This is what happened:

Excited for our trip!

Only 30 days to go before ouro trip to North America. B and I are starting to panic because of the work load we have to get rid off this month.

I'm excited to meet his relatives there, but dreading the inevitable topic of when we'll have a baby. I wonder if there's any chance we'll migrate in the future.

Things I'm looking forward to on our trip:

1. Shopping

2. Pajo's Fish n Chips in Vancouver

3. Seattle Central Library
4. Napa Valley wine tasting in San Francisco


5. A Malibu sunset it Los Angeles

6. Watching Cirque de Soleil in Vegas

7. Canada Day

8. 4th of July

I also hope we can catch a concert while we're in those places. Pretty simple aren't they? I've always been bigger on the journey than the destination. My biggest problem is deciding which shoes to bring!

Home stretch

Can you imagine living in one of those houses? What an awesome looking neighborhood.

In 2009, I went to this place for my birthday because of the beach. I walked that entire stretch of road (and more), thinking that it would lead me to the water over the horizon.

I did find my way to the beach, but the problem was going back.

Taken 2009

Vegas?

This frame made me think of Los Angeles or Vegas because of the palm trees and the interesting shape of the building.

Taken 2011

I feel better about our cake

Even though I was disappointed with our wedding cake, I kinda feel better after these:




Are you loving the expression on the bride's face? She's the one in green. :D

For more cake disasters, check out this hilarious site: Cake Wrecks

Photos of the day

I said I would post beautiful photos and they should come from my own collection. Just this once though, let me share pictures taken by a professional photographer... through his iPhone.

New venture

I got my reason for not quitting Facebook. This is my new baby:


I'm still amazed that we have more than 80 Likes, starting from 1... me. It touches me how the people who I haven't spoken to in the longest time are the most willing to share our page to their friends. Turns out, those dormant "Friends" are gems. :)

When I started selling clothes last year, I didn't even realize the connection to my experience as a shop girl in Zambelli. Now, the deeper I get into this hobby, the more the resemblance manifests: steaming, dressing the mannequin, "merchandising", inventory and of course, customer service. I think I'm a natural! :D

Cutting off Facebook

D'you know, I almost deactivated my Facebook account recently. I had the urge for almost a week but I didn't have access to the web every time.

I just thought... some people can live without Facebook, and they're okay. They function in society normally and have fulfilling, intimate relationships... A year ago I would have thought they're antisocial or losers. But what if they're even more normal than those of us with 1,400 friends (really??), who check Facebook even before getting to our mails?

I get the boon of social network websites, sure. It keeps us updated on our family and friends' lives right? With Facebook, years of not seeing or communicating with each other will never result in enstrangement. But...

... there was a philosopher who theorized on this which I read on a C.S. Lewis book... the larger group of people we associate with, the more impure we become. I don't know if I agree, but it makes sense. Facebook is set up for the norm... people have to "like" what you think, what you say and what you do. Otherwise, it's just bombing. We like approval. It's human nature. We like to be accepted. In the company of many people, the getting influenced, copying and changing just to get accepted will happen vis-a-vis judgment, discrimination, gossip and envy. I don't know a single person sturdy enough to remain the way s/he was before Facebook, unless s/he doesn't know how to use it.

It's a very vast topic for debate. I've had experiences with Facebook that affected my personal relationships permanently, so I know the damage it can do and it's only the tip of the iceberg. It's because everyone wants to be on Facebook and everyone wants to be seen and heard and watched. Everyone feels entitled to something that may not even be appropriate anymore.

I still consider completely removing Facebook from my life, unless somebody gives me a very good reason not to.

Autos go green

Water bottle from Volvo at the 2011 Bangkok Motor Show. I shot this on the cocktail table at their display area. Each table has a small vase of flowers that's both an adorable touch and strong statement to go green.

Hole in the universe

My whole in the universe.

Taken 2007.

A regular morning to the office

I am fortunate to have jobs that allow me to take greener routes.

Hear our prayers

Smelling the Roses

Taken 2010

Autumn Beauty

Taken 2005

Don't you sometimes wonder what if buildings can talk?

Taken 2010.

Project Beautiful Photo

I'm going to post a photo that I find beautiful each day. Of course, the photo has to be from my own collection. I'm not setting a finite time for this project, but I hope this will inspire me to look for beauty wherever I am.

Today's beautiful photo pick:



Taken January 2010

Give me more problems!!!

My life story is full of complications. Being at quarterlife, I've come to accept that my curse is such that I always choose the dangerous, uncertain off-beaten path over the clear, straight main road of life. And that's how Trouble and I meet.

Until now. Let me share a page from the book, The Heart of a Leader by Ken Blanchard.

"Positive thinkers get positive results because they are not afraid of problems." - Ken Blanchard and Norman Vincent Peale (authors of The Power of Ethical Management)

I know the minute you mention the word "problem" the implication is that you are speaking negatively. But some don't see it that way.

People often asked Norman Vincent Peale, "Don't you think life would be better if we had fewer problems?" Norman would answer that question by saying, "I'll be happy to take you to Woodlawn Cemetery because the only people I know who don't have problems are dead."

Norman felt it was possible that the more problems you have, the more alive you were. "If you have no problems at all," he would say, "you're in grave jeopardy!" In fact, if you really insist that you have no problems, he would suggest that you immediately race home, go straight to your bedroom and slam the door. Then get down on your knees and pray. "What;s the matter, Lord? Don't you trust me anymore? Give me some problems!"

Long overdue

Do you remember how long it's been since I posted about getting a credit card? Well, the day has finally arrived when I would own one. After more than 6 months of waiting and losing my temper with countless BDO call center agents, I finally took the matter to the bank itself and just like that, two weeks later, it's now in my wallet.

As my officemate put it, the story of this credit card getting to me was a saga. I'd been approved since April or May of 2010, but they delivered it at a time when I wasn't at home so it got returned to the releasing department. I applied for a change of mailing address which is made through a call center and ironically required faxing of documents. That's when trouble began. Everytime I followed up on the delivery, they'd say I lacked this and that document, this and that signature, and could I refax a clearer ID? until I got tired of refaxing.

The most frustrating part was the worst I could do was slam the phone down. It was useless to talk to the call center agents who are merely note-takers. Wait, scratch that. The thing that drove me the wall was that BDO was sending me emails and text messages to use my nonexisting credit card. The bastards.

Anyway, I would recommend that they have other options for sending the documents other than fax. Hello, it's the information age! And I bet even snail mail would be better.

The good thing is, I got a higher grade type of credit card than the what I was originally approved for. I wonder if it's due to my new bank account status or it was their way of an apology. Wow, now I'm a real adult!

"Seeing through" the situation

Last night, I finally learned my lesson. Never again will I wear a new outfit without dry running it first at home.

B made reservations at Oakwood hotel for dinner at 6:30pm. That meant I had to leave work early to make it, which consequently meant I had to bring my change of clothes to the office so I could change before B picked me up.

But work was extraordinarily hectic yesterday; I could barely sit down for five minutes without my cellphone or telephone ringing! By the time B arrived to pick me up, I'd only been able to freshen up and fix my hair. The rest of my outfit I changed into in the car on the way to the restaurant.

Big mistake!

When I got down from the car and as soon as I entered the hotel lobby, I immediately sensed something was wrong. Everyone was looking at me, although there were only a few people at the time, mainly the hotel staff and two male guests. Panicked, I hurried to the restroom as soon as we got the restaurant floor.

The dress I picked was quite revealing in front, so I thought that was the problem. I tried to arrange how the fabric draped until I was a little bit more covered. Deciding that I looked decent enough, I got ready to go out. And then I turned around.

Holy cow! I could see my entire underwear through the white dress! And I'm not talking about a silhouette or panty line-- that would've been preferrable. The fabric was so sheer that anybody from several meters away could see the details of what's underneath! I didn't know what to do; I felt trapped! It was like high school all over again when I once stained my skirt on a particularly heavy period.

I immediately called B for rescue and ordered him to get my work clothes from the car. The problem was he had it valeted which made the task complicated. Nevertheless he went down to get it. Meanwhile, the longer I was stuck in the comfort room, the sillier I felt about the situation. I was ruining the night he painstakingly planned for us! Finally, I decided to call him and forget about the other clothes. I had a solution.

As soon as I got out of the restroom, I took his TUMI bag and carried it crossbody style, such that the bag itself covered my heiny. Sure I looked ridiculous, but so what? All I cared about impressing was the man who knew about my wardrobe malfunction. Anybody else who could glimpse my fanny can drool about it and go to hell.

Our dinner ended up exceeding our expectations in style, skill and freebies.

We left the restaurant early to continue the celebration at home. On the way out of the hotel, B thought of just standing behind me to provide cover.

On our first Valentine's as a married couple, my husband proved that he got my back. Literally.

Happy Cheese Day!

It's Valentine's day! B surprised me with Equadorian roses in the bathroom this morning. It was the sweetest thing, really. Yesterday we were at the mall getting beddings and while observing ladies carrying bouquets of flowers on a pre-Valentine's date, I told him I preferred a bottle of champagne over flowers, in case he was planning to give me any. He concurred, stressing that I've never been into flowers.

That night, we spent some quality time on our new rug by watching Black Swan. It finished past midnight, in time for us to greet each other Happy Valentine's... our first one as a married couple. We talked a little and went to bed at 2am... at least I did. Turns out, while I slept like a log, he sneaked out some time later to get me flowers, and even write a love note!

The next morning, I woke up to a fragrant scent in the room. "What's that smell?" I asked, lifting my head up from the pillow to sniff around. B awoke as well and sniffed with me. "Something smells good... really good..." He told me to just go and take a shower because I was going to be later already.

In the bathroom, there was a bouquet of the biggest roses I'd seen lying on the counter top, with a note that read "Please don't read me."

I ran back to the bedroom, jumped on the bed and gave him a big hug of thanks, overwhelmed by the gesture, as well as with questions. Why? How? When??!

Apparently he put "Please don't read me" on the note to check if I'd read it anyway, because he believes I'm hard headed that way. I think despite how much he hates that about me, it's 60% if why he loves me.

We're going to have a simple dinner tonight followed by a quiet celebration at home, in the seclusion of our very own bar and lounge. Hehe. I know I'm sharing too much... but... I also know things aren't going to be this sappy all the time. So... make the most of every moment, take a picture of it, write about it, and most importantly, let the person know how he made you feel for it.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. :)

Update: the flowers 2 days later

2011 goals

I reaize I haven't made goals for 2011! So here's a draft after 30 minutes of pondering:

1. See Ilocos
2. Paint in canvas
3. Learn to schedule cooking time for B's lunch bag
4. Go on a walking tour with Carlos Celdran
5. Go hiking
6. Sew something - a pillow sham, chair cover...
7. Have a meaningful birthday
8. Try yoga
9. Peruse of house swimming pool
10. Join at least 4 organized runs
11. Be able to save a substantial amount for the house fund

Let's do this!

The Wedding - Part 2

The wedding reception is the couple's way of thanking guests for taking their time to bear witness to the most special occasion in their lives. It's a place for music, laughter, good food, wine and games. To me it's not supposed to be particularly impressive or grandiose. I would be happy to know that my guests were fed well, entertained, and one way or another shared the couple's joy. If you feel the need to impress the people at your party, they are probably strangers whom you are insecure of on their opinion about you.

I've read articles and books about what happens on the wedding day. According to them, most couples go through the night absently. Most are just thankful that months of planning are finally over, while some just don't know how to feel. I expected that state of mind on my wedding reception, but instead I was completely aware of what's happening, and even extra sensitive of each guest that I encountered. I chalk this up on dealing with each and every emotion that came over me all the months leading to the wedding day. I made sure to spend time and cultivate deep conversations with the people that matter in my life... the people who would be most affected by the change. Knowing their side gave me a balanced perspective of the event and gave it a realistic, logical quality.

B was the same, but not because he did some emotional preparations. He simply felt the need to be on top of things despite having our coordinator around. To be honest, the coordinator didn't give me confidence. It was B. Alongside my new husband, I oversaw the event with hawk eyes. I can openly say that the coordinators failed 70% at their job that night, but why dwell on the bad stuff?

Fortunately, there were people who enjoyed our wedding. Teddy Manuel didn't fail us with the reception styling. Paolo Corcolon who did the table centerpieces also did a good job. Days after the wedding, I would get a comment that the centerpiece flowers still showed no signs of wilting.

B's and my most important contribution to the reception was the background music. I'm proud to say that a lot of people thought the playlist was great, and someone even wanted to hire the orchestra we got.

I barely ate anything up on the stage. I don't even understand how B was able to do it! The spotlights were blinding; because of them I couldn't see the everyone clearly, which was a good thing. It meant, however, that everyone's eyes were on us, a thought I'd settle with a big gulp of wine whenever it occurred.

The program went as planned: AVP presentations, best man's toast and maid of honor speech (lovely, lovely speech by my maid of honor, Grace. I wonder how many people put their heads together to compose it. Hehe), then it was time to cut the cake.

The cake was a disappointment. I designed it to match our invitation and my gown. I especially reminded the cake maker that the florals need to be dainty, and the shade of gold, not orange. It was only upon close inspection that I saw the floral details made by a mould. The entire bottom layer was supposed to be edible, but we weren't told that it was only up to a certain point-- the lower half after the edible cake was made of styro. As a result, on our cake cutting ceremony, we got some styro on our plate. To make things worse, somebody else--a waiter--insensitively opened the champagne bottle, and we didn't finish the champagne during the cross-over toast because the coordinator was in a hurry to finish the program on time. It's probably the part of the evening that I want to repeat if I could.

And then B and I shared a first dance.

Suffice it to say we looked like fools, but heck even if we enrolled in a dance class for three months nothing would have prepared us for being in front of almost 500 guests.

I had my first dance with my father after that. Being a natural charmer with some dancing skills, my dad saved the performance. All my friends gushed over it after the wedding.

The singles' game was great. It was a fun twist to the classic children's game Trip to Jerusalem. All the forced participants had fun and I could tell that everyone else enjoyed watching it too... guys and girls sitting on strangers' laps. Haha!

The last part of the night where I was greeting the guests at the door, thanking them for coming, having pictures taken with them, etc. is a blur now. All I remember were the mixed feelings of relief, profound gratitude, being humbled, ecstasy, and then this great underbelly of heaviness.

When I wore that white dress, I was transformed into this woman nobody has seen before. Exalted into the role of bride, I shed my ordinary, girly appearance and physically represented my most feminine core, which included being my most radiant, most pure self. From a princess I became queen.

As the guests left one by one, I felt overcome by a sense of regret. I didn't want the night to end. I felt I would never be as beautiful as I was that day. Never again would I become a bride. Never again would I have my moment. I felt like a butterfly with the most magnificent wings, flitting from one guest to another charmingly. In the back of my head, I was thinking that tomorrow, I'd be just another bug on the other side of the garden, watching new cocoons become the next butterflies.

B wasn't at my side the whole time. He was somewhere in the room mingling as well. And then I finally saw him. He came to me and wrapped his arm around my waist. All of a sudden, I realized that I might never get to wear a pure, white dress again, but I knew he would treat me like the queen that I was that night for the rest of our lives.

Back in the hotel, we were to share a bed for the very first time as husband and wife. By that time, my confusion had been replaced by confidence. My transition to queen wouldn't desist when I take off the dress; its essence is not physical but internal. After that day and forevermore, I was not merely someone's daughter but my own person with my own career and my own family. I wasn't just B's supporter like I was as a girlfriend; I shared his authority and I was him and he myself. Together, we would navigate a road that was ours alone, and I couldn't help looking forward to tomorrow.

My husband helped me undo the buttons of the dress. With a last goodbye, I let it fall into a white heap on the floor.

The Wedding - Part 1

One week's hiatus after getting married and I'm back online. If you'll ask me how the wedding was, like most brides, I can only answer that it came and went like a whirlwind.

Last Night as Maiden

The most painful time was the night before, when I felt like I was supposed to be feeling or doing something, but I didn't know what. It was a long, exciting day that began with packing the things for the hotel, going to a nail salon with my parents, finally checking in and exploring our privileges at Club Lounge. Too bad I couldn't indulge that time, but the next time I get the chance to access that part of Sofitel, I'm definitely going to abuse the cocktail hour. Bonding with my parents came in the way of doing last minute shopping.

That night, my friends who were part of the entourage checked in a separate room. They came to my suite and we hung out at the veranda overlooking Sofitel's famous pool and Manila Bay. And then an amazing thing happened: fireworks started at the garden behind Sofitel's tennis court. We captured the moment through photos and had a blast watching the unseasonal display. My maid of honor commented that it was like I ended my singlehood with a bang. :)

I knew I had to get my beauty sleep that night, but instead I spent some alone time in the tub while my parents slept soundly. It was already midnight when exhaustion finally hit and I heeded the call of rest.

The Big Day

The next day, I woke up at 5:30am to the sound of my parents moving about the room. They'd both taken a shower and were having coffee while reading the paper/watching TV in the living room. That week I was inexplicably aching all over, and that morning wasn't any different. I had a bad headache, my arms were sore, and my body ached from waist down. I asked my mom if she could get me a paracetamol from the concierge of the Club Lounge. If only we had known about our room's butler service, I wouldn't have made her go up to get it.

My parents went down to breakfast at 7:00am. I dragged myself out of bed thirty minutes later. The sky was clear and sunny, a sign of good weather ahead. I popped the paracetamol and changed into work out clothes (of course I brushed my teeth, etc first). The change of clothes had an energizing effect for my body. By the time I got to the hotel gym called So Fit, I was pumped up and cheerful.

How can I describe the gym? It's small with only the basic machines, but I'd say they're the most advanced of their kind. I was offered a towel and something to drink (I chose bottled water over the sports drinks available) as soon as I walked in. When I got on the treadmill, the attendants offered me earphones. My work out was shorter than usual because I wanted to save some energy for the rest of the day, but I've never enjoyed it as much. Before then, I hadn't watched TV for months, so Channel V which combined music and visual entertainment was quite welcome (boy Avril Lavigne still hasn't evolved).

I wanted to explore the treadmill features some more, but I had a schedule to follow. I returned to the suite only to find my parents still missing. I called for housekeeping and started to pack our things away before the suppliers arrived.

I spent the hour waiting for the coordinator to arrive taking pictures with my parents around the suite. When the coordinator came, she was surprised that I still hadn't taken a shower at 9:30am.

The Dress

The make up people arrived at 10:00am, like they promised. My wedding gown arrived shortly after. It was the first time I saw the finished work, and my first thought was: it's so small!!

When you say wedding gown, what usually comes to mind is a tall, poofy dress with every inch of it covered in beads or lace or both. You imagine a train that goes on for miles. You imagine it weighing a ton. But when the staff of Paul Cabral finished putting the gown on the mannequin to display its full glory, it looked the opposite: precision cuts, compact shape, tiny, light and airy. Like you can float away in it. It was modest, dainty and tasteful. It looked perfect.

Photo Session

I got may hair and make up done, during which the photographer and videographer team started to arrive. Although I love getting my pictures taken, knowing that every one of them will be immortalized for the public got me nervous. I think that reflected on some of the photos, but in the end I just went with it and tried not to be so conscious.

I expected two hours of photo session all over the hotel, but it was unexpectedly brief. It's one of my disappointments, actually. I would've liked to feel the gown more and just be in that moment of radiance... to give the purity of my gown justice by staying maiden in it... before I had to meet my groom.

Anyway, so next thing I knew, we were on the elevator heading out of the hotel. Sofitel is well-known for its spiral staircase, where thousands of brides have posed on. When our photographer suggested a shot there, I agreed even though it was too cheesy and cliche. The spiral staircase is in the middle of the hotel's famous buffet restaurant, Spiral.

Imagine being there with friends and family on an ordinary Sunday. You're wearing jeans and T-shirt, and then out of nowhere there's a lady in her wedding dress coming at you with a horde of photographers and men with video cameras in tow. People stopped and stared, bent their necks to look. When I checked their expressions, they were smiling. At that moment I felt high... and then I wasn't shy anymore. It was my time to get attention. I was a bride.

Arrival at the Church

Waiting for the bridal car on the hotel lobby was torture. People ogled, hopefully for a positive reason. Finally, the white Lexus GS pulled up, and then that's it. Show time. I have no idea how all of me fit into the car door. All I know was that I was bundled up inside amid white tulle and satin, my parents looked great, the sun was bright and the sky was blue. We were off.

My wedding was at 4:00pm in San Sebastian Church. That day of all days, there were several parades going on en route to the church and my reception venue. Some roads were closed and traffic was on a standstill on the alternative streets. Thanks to our skillful driver though, we got to the church without encountering traffic. Unfortunately that meant being too early, arriving at 3:15pm. After several minutes, my parents got out of the car to mingle with the guests, leaving me alone and anxious.

Inside the car, I could see the guests who have arrived. I saw my friends who were part of the entourage, my relatives, and my groom. I watched them move restlessly from one guest to another, happily greeting, chatting, taking pictures. Seeing the people from different timelines of my life mingle was surreal; it was like my biography summarized in one moment.

Waiting in the car felt like forever. Some friends recognized the bridal car and peeked in to say hi. I think I was too paranoid that B might see me in my gown that at one point I shooed them away.

At last the wedding before us ended. The newly married couple came out of the church and had a photography session with friends and family. I saw our coordinator approaching and all I could think of was "Oh no!" I was made to get out of the car and stand outside the closed church doors. It was time! I felt unready. Paul's people were all over me frantically fixing my gown. They couldn't get the veil on right because it was too windy... it kept getting blown away which was bad for the pictures. My heart was pounding. The guests from the earlier wedding who were outside the church stopped taking pictures to watch me. I was actually screaming: "Aaaargh... this is it! This is it! Aaaargh!"

I kept repeating that as the church's double doors ever so slowly, ever so torturously slowly opened.

I took a deep breath. I couldn't feel my feet. Finally I entered, but I was made to stop before the aisle. What the heck? I thought. It's ruining the moment! They fixed my veil which was still flying everywhere, and then by some miracle the wind calmed, and I could walk.

The Walk

They told me San Sebastian's aisle is longer than usual. It felt short. I could even see the people by the altar craning their necks. I started to walk, I heard the marching song I chose but didn't really hear it. What was I thinking? I think I was disappointed that I didn't see the entourage march. I forgot I'd be at the end.

My knees were knocking together, my feet wobbling in four and a half inches of kitten-heel shoes. I remember being glad that the church was full, and I loved seeing familiar faces everywhere I looked. I hoped people would be touched, but I didn't think anyone would cry.

I reached my parents. My mom had a fixed smile on her face, which was completely contrary t my dad's expression. He looked calm and glad. I didn't think they'd cry either.

I passed my elderly relatives. I smiled and nodded at them. They smiled back. To my left, I saw my entourage friends, and one of them, Teddi, was crying. I wanted to know why so that I could feel her moment too.

And then my groom was in sight. I saw the bestman's gaze fixed on B's face. They were undoubtedly waiting for him to crack and shed tears, in vain. B's smile was a billion watts. There was no room for tears with a grin like that.

My maid of honor just asked how it felt to walk down the aisle. She says according to brides she's talked to, it felt like the whole world stopped. For me, it was like a slow motion movie, only I'm the star. I wished the aisle was longer; it felt only right that the last stretch to B's arms should be long enough to reflect everything we went through to get there.

Ceremony

I kissed my parents goodbye as they gave me to B. The first thing he said was a jest: "Nandito ka rin?"

Our priest is a friend of B's family. I had never heard a sermon of his so everything he said for that hour was a beautiful surprise. He began by saying that before the wedding, outside the church, he asked B if he was ready. And B allegedly answered that he was, because I'm God's gift to him, and he knows that God gave the best woman for him to love.

Of course, B didn't really say that. He stopped at "Yes, I'm ready." But it was a beautiful way to adlib the simple answer. It was the first time I heard a wedding ceremony start that way. The rest of the sermon was clear and communicated in simple, touching words. At one point, I really felt the Holy Spirit with us as the sacrament was performed.

There were some blunders with the putting on of rings, declaring our vows and basically every occasion where we had to speak on the microphone. I could hear laughter coming from the back. As usual, we're clumsy even in front of the altar.

The First Kiss

Some couples hold hands during the wedding ceremony. We were hesitant to touch each other before we were officially husband and wife. The priest almost missed giving B permission to kiss his new wife. He ended the ceremony already and the music from the orchestra was coming on. But leave it to B not to let that happen: he made me face him and was the one signalling to the priest that it was time to kiss the bride. I saw that the priest wanted to laugh but restrained himself. He only said, "You may now kiss the bride for the very first time."

Being the momentous occasion that it was, B took his time lifting my veil to reveal my face. And then he proceeded to do the most ridiculous thing: he gave me a kiss that almost swept me off my feet... in front of the whole church!!!

I remembered that we talked about that sort of performance before, when a wedding was only in our imagination. But I'd totally forgotten about it so I wasn't ready. I'm sure we looked awkward in the photos. Needless to say, B got a good cheer from that performance, but honestly it embarrassed me.

After the ceremony we had the obligatory altar picture taking, which ended badly because the church personnel was hurrying everyone to get it over with. It was unfair because we didn't even consume the entire hour allotted to us due to delays on the part of the earlier weddings.

We walked down the aisle again, B and I, but this time together and out of the church. Our friends were waiting for us outside armed with petals and Chinese style confetti. That's it. We're married. All the months of anticipation and preparation concluded in that moment when B held me at the waist outside of the church. I asked him, "How do you feel?" And you know what he answered? The sweetest, most profound thing: "I don't know." Huh. He always doesn't know how he feels. I wonder why I ever believed any of his professions.

It was already past 5:00pm and the sky was starting to turn purple. We needed to catch the sunset at our reception venue for some more photo session. It was strange being in the car together. We should have prepared a bottle of champagne.

On the way to the reception, we held hands and B couldn't stop saying I looked gorgeous. I believed him, because I not only felt gorgeous, I felt at peace.