Life between trips

Website: http://www.joydenhall.com.sg/ I never realized that there is a separate hall within the shopping centre with facilities available for rent. The location of this place is quite accessible to all and HUGE. There is plenty of room for a reception and seated tables in the hall. In this instance, the reception area is converted for buffet corridor on both sides. There is still plenty of room in the centre for walking. The reception area and main hall is indoor and air-conditioned. The reception exquisite decor The main hall area is decorated with the guest tables on both sides, the pelamin at the background and a giant paper cranes centre piece from the very tall ceiling complete with a centre stage. The decoration is tastefully decorated. Hall with red carpet The pelamin with the groom and bride's seats Pelamin with fairy lights behind   Main stage with macarons instead of cake, high ceilings and the hanging paper cranes elogate and highlights...

一梳梳到尾 Yi Shu Shu Dao Wei， First combing, continuous from beginning till end, may you be together all your lives. 二梳百年好合 Er Shu Bai Nian Hao He， Second combing, may you have closeness and harmony in your marriage. 三梳子孙满堂 San Shu Zi Sun Man Tang， Third combing, may the laughter of children fill the halls of your home with children. 四梳白发齐眉 Si Shu Bai Fa Qi Mei。 Fourth combing, may you enjoy an everlasting love till a ripe old age. The solitairebride's take A simple and lovely ritual to perform and practise differs for this simple ceremony. To me its a meaningful ritual. I somehow instill the idea to my mum that this is a need as she originally thinks its not necessary. I'm more well versed in wedding ceremonies than her now.

The an chuang ceremony is done to symbolise good health and bring fortune to the couple and to bless them with lots of children. When: It is usually done a few days to 1 week before the customary wedding. An auspicious date and time needs to be chosen for An Chuang. The bed is usually not disturbed till the wedding day itself. A good fortune woman, one whose husband and children are alive and has many grandchildren will install the bridal bed and make the bed with a new set of bedsheet (red or pink) . After which, the woman or couple will leave on the bed a plate with the following items: 1. 2 oranges 2. Peanuts 3. Dried red dates 4. Dried lotus seeds 5. Dried longans 6. Sweets 7. Dried persimmons 8. A twig of promegranate leave 9. 2 red packets After setting the bridal bed, the pair of bedside lamps from Dowry will be lit. These lamps are not turned off until the wedding night. If the An Chuang date is too far off from the actual day, the plate of items to be placed o...

Its been 8 days after my wedding. Everything still seemed so surreal. The wedding ran smoothly and perfectly. And i felt like a superstar with at least 5 cameras shooting me at any one time excluding the videographer. :) Nearly had a heart attack when the make up artist was late. Agreed time was 6.50 am and earlier. As my mum insisted that i must be out of the house before 9 am. The PGs and VG had all arrived and still no sight of the MUA. *Hopping mad*. Fortunately, the gate crashing is short and sweet. (Send my love to my dear bridemaids) The bestmen never knew the doors ain't locked since the beginning. Funny how gentlemanly they all were. The other minor set backs on the actual day was the bride suffering from lack of sleep. So my efforts of sleeping early for the week went down the drain. And i still ended up with puffy eyes. This cannot be helped as i seriously couldn't sleep the night before the wedding. Sigh! And of course my clasp behind my gown had to give way...

My Guo Da Li (GDL) is finally over after all the preparation. I started since May and did not purchase any GDL during the lunar 7th month. I'm proud to say. I purchased most of the stuff all by myself. SO helped by carrying the stuff and accompanying me. My mum ordered the cakes, traditional cakes and biscuits. It was a very long day. My SO woke up at 6 am in the morning. And my mum picked him up with all 40 plus boxes of cakes and delivered it to my place. So i get to sleep in till 7.30 am. We started delivering the cakes to relatives and my mum's friends soon after. The day ended at 11pm. My cakes are the traditional type. For the Bride - 12 oranges - 12 cans of pig trotters - 2 bottles of Hennesy VSOP - 4 point gold - Dowry "Pin Jin" - 4 ang pows (representing 2 pairs of dragon and phoenix candles) - 38 boxes of Cakes - 8 Traditional pea-cake - 1 Candied peanut stripes (big) - 1 Seasame peanut stripes (big) - 2 Candied peanut stripes - 2 Se...

This is my Guo Da Li stash from Penang. This is mainly the bride's dowry portion. Some red packets to use for actual day. The red enamel tray. Can be used for setting the bed, guo da li etc Hubby and wife bedroom slippers Stickers for wedding Red cloth for door All of these for a very reasonable price. I'm so happy. Woo hoo. This is for decoration only. The grand stash. I purchase all these at: http://www.redknot.com.my/

The bride's parents may send the bride's dowry with return gifts on the day of bethrothal or delivery the dowry a few days before the wedding. This is to bless the newly weds and to symbolize that the bride is ready to take on the role of wife and mum. This is done ususally before the wedding and usually on the same day as the Guo Da Li or after. The chinese downry typically includes: (1) Beddings: pillows, bolstrs, comforter set, blankets, bed sheets etc. all tied with red ribbons (2) new clothes in suitcase for the bride (3) Tea set for the wedding tea ceremony (4) Baby bathtub, potty, face wash basin, tumblers, toothpaste and toothbrushes, mirror, comb (5) 2 pairs of wedding slippers or red wooden clogs (6) Sewing basket with even numbered rolls of colourful thread, needles, pin cushion with many boys, scissors and sewing wax with auspicious words written on it (7) 1 rulers (8) Pair each of bowl,with chopsticks and spoons

Before the wedding, the chinese tradition of Guo Da Li (GDL) or formal betrothal takes place. Traditionally a lady of good fortune (someone who is married and has children) will come to the bride's home with the bridegroom and present the gifts from his family. This is his assurance that he will abide by and honour his promise. The bride's family will receive the gifts as a sign of acceptance of the marraige and will in return present the dowry to the groom's family. When to do it: Usually 2 weeks before the customary wedding, sometimes up to 1 month before actual day. What to prepare: (1) Wedding cakes This is to give relative's and parent's friends (2) 2 bottles of brandy (3) 2 pairs of Dragon & Phoenix Candles (4) Even number of oranges (5) At least 6 cans of pork trotters (6) Red packet with bride downry ("Pin Jin" 聘金) This is either pre-agreed during the wedding negotiation or the bride's parents may leave it to the grooms...

Wedding Date (Chinese traditional wedding ceremony) is most important and crucial part of the wedding plan. Both for practical and traditional reasons. Without an actual date, you will be unable to proceed with your wedding plans, like the booking of venues and photographers etc. Moreover, to a chinese, we are most particular on the selection of a good date as it symbolise the beginning of a good marriage and an auspicious date brings you and your partner good luck. Personally, there are several ways to select a wedding date. You can choose any method as long as you are comfortable. But do also consider the preferences of your elders. DIY date You may choose a wedding date which marks an important day to both your and your significant other. Some examples are the anniversary, the day he proposed, the day you first met or dates that are unique i.e 09 Sept 2009. Alternatively, you can refer to the chinese Feng Shui Almanac (Tong Shu). The Tong Shu helps you to choose an auspicious date f...