Financial Empowerment

A brother of ours (Niq) just told me this... quote, unquote:

...the Hebrew words for bride and groom, when combined, is the same word as in "God gave us power to get wealth"

I'm, like, wow. I didn't know that. Now is that a revelation or what... If that is established on the sure words of God, then I shall stand on it by faith. Amen.

He says it's from the Christ is the Center of a Happy Marriage Series. I think I'd better finish those CDs I was given. You too, dear. :)

HDB Walk-in-selection

Ok, here's the deal... HDB is putting up a whole bunch of flats for Walk-in-Selection this coming month, in the areas that we'll love to live in (read: Bukit Merah & Queenstown). True, the prices may be a whole lot cheaper than the open market, but look at this way: first-time buyers will be hard-pressed to find the money they need to pay the downpayment (read: very young married couples who have just starting out carving their careers). On top of that, you can forget about the 30 grand family grant.

So now you really have to sit down and do your sums to ascertain which one will give you more bang for the buck.

For us, I thank God for God. He makes most of our decisions (read: still learning to let go entirely here). Though W.I.S is tempting, but I think that's not the best solution for my housing needs. So I'll let Abba handle all such transactions for us. :) So far He's been real effective ;)

The task list

(Updated on: 31Oct05)
Since we've got a list of stuff drafted out, why not a task list?

Here are the stuff that needs to be done over the course of time. Dear, please add on if I miss out anything... Let's see:

1. Wedding Bands (Collect late Dec '05/early Jan '06)
2. Unity Candle
3. Bridal Studio Photos
4. Gown fittings
5. ROM Date (Same as actual day)
6. Wedding Venue
7. House Viewing / Purchase
8. Furnishing
9. Renovation (Get quotations)
10. Guest list (Firm up by Feb/Mar '06)
11. Book Pink London Cab in September '05
12. Wedding Photographer
13. Brothers
14. Bridesmaids

If anyone out there knows what I've missed out, you can comment at the bottom, help us along :) This list is generalised. It will be broken down further to include more specific details.

Done deal?

Well, almost...

I believe May's mom has got us a pretty reasonable bargain that even she nods to. It's that she was around today at the meeting with Swee Lim, the sales executive representing Swissotel Merchant Court. I know prices can't be pushed down, but we can always ask for more stuff. Like floral arrangement, the number of invitation cards, parking lots, day rooms for our gals and boys hanging with us, etc. etc. which we all did push for. May's mom did it in the most professional way possible without seeming downright rude and overly pushy. She did agree that the menu was quite good for the price and that we shouldn't hesitate anymore. So we are now waiting for the contract to be drafted out, listing all the details that we discussed today.

So after the meeting, I was dropped off at City Hall to take a train home. Since I was right next to Robinson's, I thought I may as well drop by and check out the mattress prices for curiosity's sake. And to my delight, I did find that the prices were similar but the products ranges were totally different! Judy, the salesperson who served us at Harvey Norman that day was right here too (apparently she works directly for Sealy). However, the headboard and divan (basically the bedframe assembly) was sold seperately! There was no mattress protector given either. So I believe we have got ourselves here a real bargain with the deal at Harvey Norman, to the pleasure of both myself and May. I guess we were right to follow our gut feel (meaning to say, the Spirit had a huge part to play) on this one.

Right ahead, I headed off to the train station, entered the train and the last person I would expect to see was Swee Lim again. You know, the executive who served us at Swissotel Merchant Court. Just what are the odds? Gee. Anyway, we had a good conversation from Dhoby Ghaut to Bishan where she got off. She's only been around Swissotel Merchant Court for 3 months, prior to that she worked for an events management company dealing with mostly corporate events. She works longer hours at this job (due to the nature of the job), much longer than her previous appointment of a year and a half. However, she's highly satisfied with her job here at Swissotel. She says it's the satisfaction she gets from the couples and closing a successful deal (she does not get commission, by the way).

Nonetheless, God has made Himself manifest today in all the things I was involved in. Like the new job I am going to embark on (more in my journal, to be written later)... God is good! Always and forever... Haaa.. Amen.

The stuff list

Could not help it but dream about my new house. I literally dreamt about my new place moments ago as I awoke from a nap. Heh.

Anyways, dreams aside. It's probably a nice idea to put out a list of basic stuff that we most likely need or would like to have for the love nest that we are building. As I list this down, I shall commit it to God and believe that He is going to pick up the tab for all things (as always :) ).

In no particular order and as it comes out from my mind.

1. couch.
2. bookshelf. (May has tonnes of books)
3. flat screen lcd tv.
4. dvd and hifi combo system.
5. cd rack (I have a tonne of CDs)
6. small coffee table.
7. dining table.
8. computer workstations for 2.
9. computer chairs
10. 5.1 speaker system for my computer.
11. side table.
12. fridge.
13. microwave oven.
14. toaster.
15. washing machine.
16. air-conditioner system (system 4)
17. vacuum cleaner
18. assorted cutlery
19. assorted plates and bowls
20. place mats
21. that Noritake dinnerware that May loves (or Cornell, which she says it's almost unbreakable)
22. wine glasses for both red and white
23. a set of pots and pans (cookware)
24. knife set
25. wine rack
26. stove and oven
27. bed and mattress ($2267)
28. bedding, comforters, covers
29. broadband wi-fi router (depends on service provider is giving this away or not)
30. additional stools and chairs
31. mop, pails and broom
32. water heater
33. laundry rack and poles
34. curtains
35. rugs
36. 3 or 4 fold screen
37. throw pillows
38. futon bed for the guestroom

Now. I believe this list will grow a little but not much more I guess. :D My Provider has given me all this already.

(updated:04May06)

Mattress and bed, check

I'm glad we went ahead to get the mattress from the Harvey Norman sale as planned. For a total price of $2,267.00, we get the Sealy Posturepedic mattress, a matching headboard and bedframe, two pillows, and a mattress protector. We got the Ruby plush, a compromise between the different comfort levels of firm, cushion firm, plush, and ultra plush. I think my fiance will get used to it in time :) When we next get a mattress in 10 years' time, think we can get the ultra plush one. Hee. Anyway, it'll be a little difficult to get fitted sheets for ultra plush mattresses because it's not as popular yet, and flat sheets are such a bother.

Not a bad deal, in my opinion. I asked the salesperson, Raymond Yeo, if he could give us a fitted mattress protector if we gave up the two pillows, but he said he couldn't do that, and offered to give us two more pillows instead when he changes our delivery date next week.

I don't know what I'm going to do with four pillows, since I'll probably be getting my own firm one from Takashimaya. If they're giving away the pillows, it's probably ordinary pillows.

I think my fiance should give Raymond a ring sometime in July or earlier just to check on the status of our purchase. If Raymond leaves Harvey Norman unexpectedly, we don't want to be caught unawares.

When we got home, I found a flyer from Robinsons about their upcoming sale. "Cardmembers $200 off promotion price with minimum purchase of $1500 of mattresses & free beddings worth up to $258", it said. Hmm.

• Does Robinsons sell the headboard and bedframe though?
• What kind of beddings? I want plain white sheets. Doubt they'll give those away. My sheets are something like 200 thread or more. Very doubtful. So what's the use of free beddings if I still have to get my own?
• Any pillows?
• What about mattress protector?

What the heck's "beddings" anyway? Is it bedlinen or pillows/quilt?

Ruby plush

We went on a gut feel and decided to go buy the mattress after all. We do not know much about mattresses in the first place, but I do not think for one second that we walked away with a bad deal. I talked to my mom (and a couple of other friends) about it, and my mom did agree that the deal was rather good, the fact that it came packaged like that.

So, right after service today, we went down to Harvey Norman to look see the mattresses and compare for ourselves the sort of mattresses we went. May, long ago, suggested the Sealy Posturepedic mattress, she claims superior comfort and excellent back support on this brand. Harvey Norman is packaging the deal with a bedframe which, in our opinion, would probably cost just as much as the mattress for a good one. So it was 40% off the listed price and an additional 10% off on top of that for early delivery. For some reason, the sales person who served us was very nice to suggest that we should arrange for an "early" delivery so as to make use of the additional 10% discount. He even gave us the assurance that he will help us push the date back as long as we needed to. God's favor? I would like to think so.

Nonetheless. The whole deal came to a little over 2 grand for the mid-range Sealy Posturepedic (of 5 levels of plushness) mattress named Ruby which includes a headboard bedframe in the color of our choice, which is black, for the sake of easy matching with other furniture and stuff. We put down a little over 200 bucks as a deposit. The rest, we pay as when as we like before or on delivery. Oh yes, this might be totally irrelevent, he gave us a plush toy sheep with the number 91 on it. How cute. :) Psalms 91 perhaps?

Show us some love

We've got a new combo email addy...

I think it will be a good idea to have whoever needs to contact us on any wedding matters write to this address? No need to forward here, forward there... :)

So send us your love at wedlog@hotmail.com

Oh by the way... From this day forth will begin the 1 year countdown. 365 days to go... God bless us on this journey together..

Note to ourselves.

Merchant Court Meeting at 7pm, Tuesday 24th May.

Must not forget.

Food, glorious food

I didn't have high expectations of the food at Clarence and Linda's wedding because of the outdoor venue, but it totally surpassed what I imagined! Every dish was a delight to the senses. I'm a very fussy eater, as my mom would attest to; I rarely praise food/restaurants lavishly.

Curious? Ok, brides-to-be, take note of this name if you're planning to have an outdoor venue for your wedding: Gim Tim Group Of Restaurants.

It's (almost) too bad my fiance and I can't use them because we're going to have our wedding at Swissotel Merchant Court ;)

Linda and Clarence's Wedding

Boy, do I look orange in that picture above. 7th of May. That's Barnabas (red floral shirt), his wife and child. May's wearing a dress she just bought a few days prior at a small shop at Tan Quee Lan St. And the hosts, right there in the middle of us, of course.

Anyways, it was indeed a very interesting evening; firstly, being my first ever outdoor wedding event. Secondly, I've never been in the midst of so many church elders in a private function (it was almost like a mini church service going on there). Thirdly, I've never seen a more furry wedding dress. Fourthly, I've never enjoy such a view during such an occasion (the sunset, although blocked primarily from the rain clouds, the light bounced right off the waters anyway). Fifthly, the rain was nothing more than a light drizzling, almost over-romanticising the whole event. Lastly, but not the least, for outdoor catering, the food was indeed very good! Everything was fresh (ooh those juicy prawns), the fish was not too overdone (fish being the toughest to time and prepare).

Oh yes, I've never had a sermon preached to me during a wedding dinner. What more, in Hokkien, courtesy of Pastor Mark. Simply brilliant! :)

Of Mattresses and Venues

On the way to meet May's family for dinner last night we walked right through Millenia Walk. Harvey Norman was having a Premium Mattress Sale...

3 brands were on display, namely: Sealy, Setra and Dunlop... I like the idea of having additional storage; that is a bedframe with a compartment right beneath. It pretty much works like a car-boot. But that frame is only limited to one brand of mattress. Gee. How annoying. But nonetheless, we've got a week to decide (deal ends 23rd May). Hard to say no to 40% discount (with GST already factored into the price) on a plushy orthopedic mattress, +2 pillows and a bedframe (16 colors to choose from). Good thing is we can choose to pay a deposit upfront to secure the price first and when we need it to be delivered, we'll just pay up the rest...

Oh yes, made a call to Merchant Court today. Made an appointment with catering dept. So we're going down this Friday or next Tuesday. We'll see how that goes but we're pretty much decided on the hotel already. :)

Wow!

I like the formal look of the Minima template; I chose it because it looks like a wedding invite. And now look at the great job my fiance did on our wedding blog!

All the little touches you've added are so chic and romantic, darling! I love roses :)

Hallelujah

A beautiful and wonderous journey... Abba has gone ahead of us and behold! it is good in His eyes :)

Wee!

getting married. weee! anyways, i'm putting this up for now... this real countdown starts 20th may; which is in another week or so. :)