One of the best wedding events and the only wedding convention in the Philippines, ‘The Philippine Wedding Congress 2009 opens on July 24, 25 and 26 2009 Mega Trade Hall2   SM Megamall in Pasig.  DON’T MISS IT!

By: Atty Michelle Palmres(ssinglestalk@yahoo.com)

Love is not a feeling, it is a decision. For those who are seriously considering marriage, an informed judgment is best arrived at through good decision making, not just feelings. If we take the time to each others likes and dislikes, favorite colors, movies or food, it will help us more if if we talk about serious matters. Like money. Believe it or not, money matters do matter in marriage.

Nothing can break the romance like having the prenup conversation. But for many soon-to-be newlyweds, talking about money let alone pre-nups is awkward, taboo even. But think of signing a prenuptial agreement as like buying fire insurance: You hate to think your house could burn down, but if it did, you’d be spared a lot of time, money and aggravation. Unfortunately, prenups are often seen as calculating, sinister, even a prescription for marital discord. But if you really think about it, a prenup would actually entail openness and honesty about money and other matters. Full disclosure of your assets and your liabilities (debts) could help you resolve a host of issues when you are already sharing a home together. Full disclosure of what you have or don’t have gives both the opportunity to address lifestyle issues. After all, when you’re planning the rest of your life with another human being, you’re supposed to share your hopes, dreams, fears and doubts. Unmet expectations are a major source of marital breakdown.

Contrary to popular thinking, prenuptial agreements are not only for celebrities, the rich and famous. They are essential if you want to protect family businesses or professional licenses or practices. It also helps you divide your properties in case of an annulment; absolves you of your spouse’s debts; keeps a family business intact and ensures that the family home stays within the family.  Although it’s not suitable for everyone but if you have something worth protecting then you should consider it.

How to talk about money with your honey without souring your relationship or engagement? First, bring it up early with your intended. Discussing about money and finances as soon as things get serious can deepen, or at least clarify, a relationship. At best, the conversation gives you a better picture of each other’s circumstances and goals; at worst, it tips you off to potential deal breakers.  Of course love is blind and most people believe they will stay married forever. But it’s worth remembering that marriages are not always made in heaven and requires a lot of work here on earth.

If you plan for all sorts of things in life that are pretty unpleasant like your will and life insurance, so why not think about a prenup? It’s better to do it when you are amicable than when you are tearing at each other’s throats. Then you will have to remember that love is not a feeling but a decision. And good decision making starts with knowing what you’re entering into.

By: Atty Michelle Palmares (ssinglestalk@yahoo.com)

With the recent spate of separations and annulments, who can blame singles if they think twice (or many times) before making a lifetime commitment? There are many sad stories of unions breaking apart due to different causes, chief of which is infidelity. Many do not respect their vows before God and man and it seems to me that a lot of people don’t put a premium on faithfulness anymore. So why commit if one can’t keep a commitment? In any undertaking be it in school, work or business, we make adequate preparations so that we will succeed. I believe it’s no different when it comes to making a commitment in a relationship, especially in marriage. There are many people in a relationship who really don’t know what they’re getting into. Oftentimes single people in relationships have poor choice written over them but somehow they never seem to see the danger signs.

It would be good if we have a clear idea of what our essentials and preferences are especially in our choice of a suitable partner. When emotions are involved, it’s very easy to lose perspective. I once read that emotions and feelings have zero IQ. If we can’t trust our emotions, what can we trust? That’s why for couples that are seriously considering marriage, I suggest you and your partner go through a discernment process, like Discovery Weekend. This will help couples enter into marriage more attuned with each other - which can truly spell the difference in a relationship. A discernment process will assess each one’s relationship to oneself, to each other, to God and the Christian community so that the couple will be able to experience, develop and deepen their relationship through a method of communication and dialogue which they can bring into their marriage. In other words, this enables couples to plan their marriage and not just their wedding. There’s a huge difference between the two.

A wedding is just one day. Marriage takes a lifetime. A life-long commitment that needs to be discerned.

By: Bong Abela konceptsandmore

1. It is important to get a good photographer and good videographer because they can take or shoot the best angle of your wedding. Subject bride and groom shall come out really beautiful and handsome on their special day.

2. A good photographer and videographer know how to establish rapport to their subject. They can create certain relationship or conditioning during the shoot because of their skills. You wouldn’t feel violated during the session.

3. It is necessary to hire a good photographer and videographer on the day of your wedding because you would be spending most of the time with him or her from the preparation, during the ceremony and during the reception. If you have good photographer and videographer you will enjoy every moment of your wedding day.

4. Good photographer and videographer also carry good relationship and reputation with other wedding vendors thus creating rapport with everyone.

5. Good photographer and videographer are also technically equipped with professional cameras and lightings thus producing quality output.

6. Hiring good photographer and videographer deliver what they promise.

7. At the end of the day, your documentation shall stay and be remembered. You would require memorable documentations that would last a lifetime. Documentations that will tell your wedding story.

8. Good photographer and videographer emit professionalism from coming on time, dressing and thru interpersonal relationship.

9. Good photographer and videographer have the creativity and the expertise.

10. Good photographer and videographer shall add tangible romance and love on your dream wedding.

by: Rightconnect Weddings

One of the most dominant supplier on any given event particularly weddings is the presence of this particular team.

They are easily recognizable composed of usually 4, to a maximum of 8 man team carrying if not what looks like a body bag; it’s either several long hard shell suit cases that might conceal either a nuclear warhead or a sniper’s rifle.

Along with this a bevy of personnel carry an array of tri pods, lights, flashes and almost 3 cameras hanging around the neck of the lead person.

Their presence alone when these men in neck ties or polo shirts arrive at the bridal room makes you wonder if you hired a team of assassins, or the CIA.

Whatever your impression towards them, you hired them, they are your choice, they are men on a mission, neither hail nor storm could stop them, they will aim at you, follow you wherever you go, (even in the comfort room if possible) capture every single move you make, they would suspend themselves 100 feet in the air to get the best bird’s eye view, they will gladly roll on the church aisle to shoot the best worm’s eye view even sit on the hood of the bridal car running at 80 mph, indeed these unique breed of men, they exist on that day for one sole purpose, to shoot.

Yes, the photo and video team, the unsung heroes of the whole wedding celebration often at the center capturing all the excitement there they are in the thick of it all clicking away at every single happening endlessly looking for that special scene, constantly freezing captured moments and weaving them together in a tapestry of memories that will forever make a difference of the lives of their clients and their generations to come.

You might think they’re not human at all however they are and they strive to give their best to their clients without being asked to do so.

To bring out the best in these individuals. All they ask is a bit of a consideration, these men are artists and their ability to do so depends on their mental and physical stamina however, their creative juices gets depleted especially when they get exhausted, though they may not be part of the guest list nor the client’s obligation to do so, they have but one simple request if granted, please do not neglect to feed them.

As you may know they always come prepared, however the long toil and constant movement depletes their meager food and water rations, they do not ask for medium rare steaks smothered in gravy or roasted duck in lemon sauce kind of cuisine (though they would like that,) and as long as it’s edible and would not bite back, they would greatly appreciate such gesture and to our experience as coordinators what these photo and video team always give back to the clients in exchange for these heart warming gesture is more than what they bargained for.

For example, an agreement of just 700pcs of shots could become 1500pcs or more, an agreed simple album just might become a premium album with no additional charge.

All these they would unselfishly give back in return just because a couple showed them kindness and these photo and video team never forget and they know how to reward these clients, service with a plus.

So there, it’s how you choose to treat your suppliers that you may get the best out of them not only photo and video but the rest of the team that will be serving you on that day.

by Atty Tetta H. Dizon

Imagine that you’re engaged. You can’t stop admiring your ring every 10 seconds. You happily practice the loops and swirls of your would-be signature for the Nth time. To you (and you alone), Tom Cruise couldn’t hold a candle to your groom.

Then it happens. Tom Cruise grows fangs and asks you to sign a “pre-nup”.

Your world swirls. Your heart sinks to your knees. You feel Lestat’s fangs sucking your life blood and all you can do to gain control is to raspily say, “Whhhaattt?”

Now stop imagining. Take a deep breath. And let’s talk pre-nups.

Pre-nuptial agreements need not be an offensive topic if both parties are open-minded and rational. A pre-nup is not a scarlet letter that brands you, nor is it a time bomb waiting to explode. In this day and age when women are just as empowered and successful as men, a pre-nup can even be more beneficial to the woman than to the man. It’s like a safety net or a financial escape clause that you wish you never have to use, but will be glad to have anyway if the need arises.

To cite an example of love and pre-nups co-existing, Kiko Pangilinan once displayed his unconditional love for Sharon Cuneta by offering to sign a pre-nup before they married. To me, that was sheer modern day gallantry at its best.

As a lawyer, I’ve noticed that some of the clients who seek advise from us on their marital problems could have avoided them altogether had their finances and properties been “signed, sealed, and delivered” even before entering into marriage. Of course timing is everything. It’s a foolish man who broaches the topic of a pre-nup for the first time to a bride in the throes of a full-blown wedding fever. Hopefully, the sensitivities of the couple have already been discussed before the engagement so the details of the pre-nup can be handled in a level-headed manner. A pre-nup need not spell out in minute detail which property goes to whom if you don’t want it to. For instance, it can be as simple and equitable, as saying: “Everything that I have before I marry you, will remain mine in the unlikely event that we separate. But everything that we acquire while we are married will be equally shared by us.” Now that’s not so bad, is it?

If you feel that you would benefit from a pre-nup, talk to your partner and get his ideas on what would be a good arrangement. Show your love to your partner by being fair. Keep an open mind (and quell the urge to scream). Engage a good lawyer to sensitively handle the preparation of the agreement and make sure that both of you understand the fine print before signing. Remember that with the right intentions, love and pre-nups can peacefully co-exist.

Then take a deep breath, cross your fingers, and live the rest of your married life with one less thing to worry about.

Atty. Tetta H. Dizon is a Senior Associate at Suarez and Narvasa Law Firm, contact her at 810-9217 to 18, or 810-4880. Suarez and Narvasa Law Firm is located at 3rd Floor CSJ Building, 105 Aguirre Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Your wedding album is something you will cherish forever. Your children and grandchildren will look at it and be able to see how their story began. It is a prized family heirloom that can be passed down for generations. Choosing a good wedding photographer is vital to capturing those happy memories and making your wedding album everything you want it to be. Wedding photography is different than other types of photography and you will want to choose a professional photographer that specialises in this field rather than a jack-of-all-trades type of photographer.

Your wedding album should be unique and an expression of your personal style.

The first thing you will want to do when choosing your wedding photographer is to look at their portfolio. Look at the other wedding photographs he or she has taken. Do they capture the moment? Are they artistic and unique? Or do they look like something your uncle could have done with his 35mm camera? You want your wedding album to be unique and express your personal style, yet not so artistic that they take away from the subject—you and your wedding day.

Make a shortlist and arrange to meet all the photographers before taking a decision.

Next, you want to interview the wedding photographer. Ask about prices and options. Explain the details of your wedding and ask what kind of vision the photographer has for your wedding photographs. Find out if the photographer is open to your suggestions as well. Interviewing your prospective wedding photographer will not only help you to understand whether he or she will take the kind of wedding photographs you desire, but it will also help you to see how easy he or she is to get along with. This person will be a part of your total wedding experience and will be dealing with your entire Bridal party as well as all your guests. You want your wedding photographer to be personable and make the experience of having photos taken fun for everyone.

Investing time to choose the right wedding photographer is well worth the effort.

You only have one wedding day and you want it to be special. Your wedding album will be your greatest keepsake and will help you to remember your special day and all the preparations that went into it. Choosing the right wedding photographer takes some time and effort, but it will help make your wedding photo album everything you ever dreamed of.

Having a professional video produced of your wedding day is well worth the additional expense.

You may also wish to consider a wedding video of your big day. You will therefore need to find a wedding photographer that can also demonstrate experience in producing professional looking videos. Very often you will find that as this requires a different set of skills (especially in editing and post video production) it is more sensible to employ a wedding video specialist, to ensure that you will be totally happy with the finished result.