My Vendors Listing: Part 1: Nikah

This gonna take a long long long entry. I shall segregate them into 3 segments of my events: Solemnization, Malam Berinai & Reception. Let's start with Solemnization first.

As I mentioned in my earlier entry, you have to start surveying vendors/service providers as early as possible and always watching out any of their promotions. May it be blog hopping, stalking other people's Instagram (as they always hashtags and tagging their vendors), Facebook pages like yada yada. Everything it takes to get the best and affordable with your budget of course.

1) Dowry/Hantaran Decorator
During my engagement last year, I thought I had a gifted hand or any hidden talents to decorate my own dowry. Oh boy, I was so wrong! It didn't turn out good and at last I let my auntie figured them out for me. Ahaha. So, I have wasted my money to buy all the decoration stuffs and I still have the leftovers until now. Buat semak rumah seriously! And tell you, they're not cheap either. So, I have set my target to find the dowry with a budget of RM100 per tray the most. I have few decorators in my list already and contacted them. But, Allah swt is a great planner after all. While I was stalking Dr Ezani's wedding on IG (Winner of 1st season Masterchef), she mentioned about her hantaran decorator and I contacted her immediately. And yay! lucky me as she was having a fresh flowers hantaran promotion. Can you believe it that I got only RM50.00 per tray for my hantaran??!! A freaking RM50.00 for fresh flower hantaran!! Even when I told my family and friends, they couldn't believe it because they were so pretty and exclusive looking. Alhamdulillah, it was my REZEKI indeed because I always wanted fresh flowers hantarans and Allah eased my way. I also ordered my hand bouquet for Nikah and Reception from her. She is Yanie from The Craft Potion. You may want to check out her Instagram: thecraftpotion and her Facebook as well. Link is here. You'll be amazed with her works. She is really a nice girl to work with and patient enough to follow my taste. (Just because I can't decide what I really wanted LOL). She understands your needs and will try to fulfill it as much as she could. I love you girl!

2) Dais
As for dais, I didn't waste my time surveying as I chose the vendor I used for my engagement before. Azura from Pearl Art Creative. She is one talented girl. I love her touch for the dais. Her taste is chic and romantic and she understand what I wanted too. Poor her. I was so indecisive!! She's so patient with me though! At the end of the day, I chose white flower and earthy theme for my dais to match with my Hantaran's theme. Alhamdulillah, another rezeki for me as she also was having promotion for fresh flowers dais! Ya Allah, you're the best planner and thank you for easing my ways towards building this Masjid :) Azura charged RM800 for mini fresh flower dais decorating and since I added chairs and Set Renjis, total was RM1000. That was reasonable right?? When she and her team set up the dais at my house a night before, I was worried sick. That was because I expected a MINI dais but the one she was setting up was huge! Didn't look like MINI at all! I was worried because I thought she thought I wanted a normal dais instead of mini. So, I was calculated the cash I have in my wallet to pay her because for normal dais, the charges is more (just in case). When I encountered her, Alhamdulillah, another rezeki (Masha Allah), she said yes, it was supposed to be a mini dais but since I'm her repeated customer, she upgraded for me. Semoga murah rezeki dan semoga perniagaan semakin maju my dear. Go like her page in Facebook (Pearl Art Creative) link here and she's on Instagram as well.

3) Photographer/Videographer
PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE IMPORTANT! Yes, they are. Of course you would want to hire someone whom you could trust to capture all your special moments right? :) I hired Ministry of Moment as my official photographers for my 3 events. Siapa tak kenal Ministry of Moment kan?? they need no introduction. Photographers are my top priority ever since we have decided to get married. Well, after booking our hall and we got a date, I booked my photographers straight away somewhere in March. At first I wanted to hire Udey Ismail and Mukhriz Latif Photography. Too bad, they didn't respond to my inquiry :( And they only replied after weeks I confirmed with MOM, haihs (and that's after I sent repetitiously). I always wanted to hire Udey and Mukhriz because I've been a fan of their works ever since they're with CST. No rezeki in this they say..hmmphh. Besides photographer, I also got myself a Videographer and Live Update team. Not my initial intention at first but they offered a good deal and payment plan during Pameran Pengantin whilst for the live update, I was charged only RM100 for each event. Lucky me yay! My videographer was Shutter Place and live update also from the same team, Shutter Feed. Do check out their Facebook here and Instagram as well :) And oh, please seach for #hafizaimi in Instagram and you can check out their beautiful works there.

4) Dress
This is also most important part. You can either rent it, buy it or get it tailored. I asked several places and they charged quite the same. I did ask from some famous people as well and their charges are beyond my budget, so thanks but no thanks :P Oh, I got my Nikah dress from The Ninas. Nina Natessa is her name. Got their contact from Maria Elena's blog, that's her cousin by the way. I love her beadworks on Maria's dress for her wedding. Since I got no time to buy the linen (It was already October I think!), I let Natessa do all the works. And she did wonders!! Luckily she accepted my last minute request. Well, many people contacted her ever since Maria's review. I love love love love my Nikah dress. I love it so much that I don't want to wear it because I'm afraid I'm gonna ruin it! Haha. I did the design myself *clap clap*. Inspiration of this dress was from Twilight (the back button) and I stole a bit of looks from Innai Red (Gosh, I can't afford Innai Red). Everyone was complementing my Nikah dress..Hihihihihi. Most of the designers/tailors I asked, their price range are between RM1.5k-RM2k. Oh, go check their page at The Ninas. My package was inclusive of veil and dress. For my scarf (not my initial plan to wear it though) I bought from Marshmallow Scarf in Instagram. I bought two types, chiffon and satin (just in case). I bought it one week before the wedding. Such a last minute decision!

5) Make-Up Artist
As for the make up artist, I hired Nina Faressa. Yes, she's a sister of Nina Natessa. The Ninas is actually sisters providing tailoring and make up services for bride to be :) I love her touch. Simple and soft. She is really careful and asking me whether I like it or not, darker or lighter, that way or this way. Unlike some of the make up artist who are so stubborn and not listening to what we wanted and making us look like Mak Ayam in the end. Make up our face as in they are a colouring book. Pfft. (yes..based on my own experience). Her charges quite affordable. RM300 per session and additional charges for mileage. Her session include pre-wedding make up test. Yes, she will come one week earlier to test make up on our face and discuss on theme, colour, with or without eye lashes yada yada. To making sure you got what you wanted on your big day.

6) Shoes
Well...I just bought my shoes from Charles and Keith. Last minute buying after finding out that the bridal boutique (for my reception) don't have any shoes in my size (Size 5 is common kan?!). Thought of buying from Christy Ng whom is famous for bridal shoes but I just couldn't find a time to go to PJ. Too bad, my shoes is like one size bigger from my actual size!!!! Well, when I bought it, it was fit. But when it comes the day, it became a little loose and I didn't wear it anymore since :(

See..I put the plaster (whatever you want to call it) and it still loose!

7) Welcome Board
This welcome board is inclusive of Thank You Tags, 20 badges and 2 Guest Books. It's about RM580 of the package. Again, I grabbed this promotion from Facebook and Pameran Pengantin. This welcome board comes together with its standee. You may want to check their page at: here.

8) Catering
As for catering, I used my Maybank colleague's sister. She always cater for our Maybank small event and her food is so goooooood. Since my solemnization was in the morning, we ordered stuffs for breakfast, Nasi Lemak, Bihun Goreng, Karipap and some other kuih and hot drinks. Nenek also ordered Rendang Ayam Pucuk Ubi from our neighbour in kampung..Yumms. Alhamdulillah, everything was good. (No, I didn't eat much pffft)

That are all I could think about for now. It's been 3 months since the wedding and I probably missed out some of the details. Will update more soon if the memory comes :P Till then~

Wedding Tips

Salam all. I hope anyone (if any) reads this blog are fine and healthy. So much had happened in our country that could taking toll to our health. Haze are so bad lately. I never really got affected by haze before this, but for this time around, I'm feeling dizzy, cough and having a sore throat. I even was on MC the other day due to dizziness. Long exposure to the haze I guess. Alhamdulillah, it rained these few days and haze is slowly gone.

Ok, back to business. As a budget bride like me, of course I have to start early and carefully planning my financial. So, here goes some of tips I could provide. Hope it will help you a bit. Hey, if it's different from your tips you've read somewhere, just bear in mind that I ain't no wedding expert, I just based on my personal experience only :)

1) Start Early
Always, always start early in everything. Surveying all the possible options available. Start early is the key of everything.

2) Go to any Wedding Convention/Expo
I could say that Malaysia is very actively organize this such of events. Pameran Pengantin, Wedding Exhibition bla bla bla. For a Malay bride out there (because I'm a Malay, therefore, my experience is based on Malay wedding, that's why), it's advisable to go to Pameran Pengantin which sometimes organized by Karangkraf if I'm not mistaken. I've been to Wedding Expo once in Midvalley and they only cater for Chinese wedding which the photography charges were like ridiculous! Really beyond my budget. Pameran Pengantin is better for Malay because they will offer you cheap prices for services and interesting payment plan.

3) Payment Plan
There are many services now that offers payment plan which could aid you to to save money and plan your budget. Usually they just ask for deposit, some before the products/service given and some afterwards. So, you can avoid any mini heart attack to pay large sum of cash to the service provider.

4) Use your social media
Nowadays, many service/product providers using social media to promote their stuff. You could browse your Instagram to check on the hashtag and like every related pages in Facebook. They always updating any good offers there. Well, I got most of my wedding stuffs in Facebook, like my tailor, photobooth props, make up artist yada yada.

5) Look out for underdogs/newbies in the industry
There are a lot lot lot of new service providers in this wedding industry. Those who already has names would charged like incredibly expensive for the same items. Name it designers, make up artist, dais decorator etc. These people usually don't have a chance to taking part in any wedding exhibition because they're not famous..yet. But they offer equally good services too with much lower prices. Give them a shot, you'll be blown away with the result! Examples for my dowry decorator. I only been charged for RM50 per tray for fresh flowers! Can you believe it?

6) Borrow stuffs from your relatives/friends
Some of the stuffs are not worth buying. Well, especially if there is no wedding in your family after this. Examples are like bunga pahar. Alhamdulillah, I have an auntie lend me hers Bunga Pahar. So, I don't have to buy it for the purpose of one time usage. As for the henna, I don't hire any henna decorator because I don't like to wear henna. So, my cousin bought me a henna powder to use and it only cost about RM5!

7) Wedding Hall
I guess, this is the first and most important thing to look at. Some people would set the date first then only to book the hall. But I did it in different ways. Wedding halls are really really difficult to book, they usually full even the wedding is one year ahead. Oh, yes, the advise is to book one year earlier. I have listed out the venue into 3: Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya (Kelana Jaya the farther) and Shah Alam. These areas are accessible by most of my relatives. Not in KL ever! The traffic could be madness. There are a lot lot lot of new places opened for wedding hall rental. Some rental are ridiculously high. Can you imagine that we only rent the space and uses its electricity for 5 hours the most but they could charge us like at least RM7000! This price is increasing yearly. Alhamdulillah, I've got my dewan in Shah Alam. When I went there, they just started operating for 2 months so, there's not so many people know about it yet. We fell in love immediately with the hall! After the hall is booked and date is confirmed, everything else can be planned smoothly.

8) Save save save money!
Well, this step should be done like years ahead. If your parents can support your financially, it shouldn't be a problem. Like myself, Alhamdulillah my parents are willing to support on the caterer for reception. And that's it. Other items like tents, goodie bags, photographers yada yada, all are from my pocket money waaaaa. Yeah, they did chipped in some aid for goodie bags items and tents. Alhamdulillah, working with the company now, I entitled to get bonus once, so I saved my money from there. And I allocated some of my monthly salary to be saved into ASB. ASB is very good yall because they give you high dividend yearly, and again, when the dividend is declared early of year I saved from there too. You can lock your money into Fixed Deposit as well. So, it could prevent you from using them! Credit card also is a major help in my case. Well, you wouldn't want to bring large sum of money to pay for your wedding ring yada yada right? Credit Card is use for emergency and I could say, this is an emergency! But, with condition, don't spend overlimit and please please please discipline yourself to pay at least minimum amount monthly. Or else, you'll be trapped in a very dangerous debt.

9) D.I.Y
If you're creative to do your own dowry or if you find out that you have hidden talent in decorating, it is your time to shine! D.I.Y can save a lot lot lot of money like seriously. Well, I didn't decorate my own dowry of course because lack of time and I'm not that creative..lalala. What I did myself was for my table centrepiece. I bought a cheap fake flowers from IKEA and for the vase, I use used tins! Tie a ribbon around them and voila, it looks vintage and pretty! (Well, at least to my eye). I got this idea from Wondermilk cafe and on the internet :) Of course, I asked my aunties and grandma to supply me those tins Hihihi.

10) Buy the dowry stuffs as early as possible
Well, I bought my gifts like 1 stuff per month. Because, if you wanna buy them all at the same time, that is gonna cost you a bomb! After you bought it, keep/hide it somewhere so you can restraint yourself from using it. Hihih.  Examples, my husband bought a handphone and he uses it since. But, he kept the box to put onto the dowry tray. Well, no one gonna ask when do buy it right? LOL. But, as for the perishable items like chocolate, it's better to buy it close to the wedding.

That are all I could think about right now. There are many other tips as well. And they are also so many things I supposed to do as a bride but I did not because lack of time. Did I tell you that I didn't even have a chance to do facial or spa?! Grrr. Luckily my make-up artists did wonders on my face during my big day! Haha. I shall listed out my vendors and service providers for my wedding soon. Till then, bye!

Groceries Shopping

Salam all. Ever since we got married, my husband and I discover our new habit on munching snacks. Maybe because we always be in our room, watching tv and movies together, we've found ourselves snacking like all the time! That is why we have to always restock our snacks. (HABISLAH GEMOK LEPAS NI!)

Well, while writing this post, we actually just got back from our groceries shopping. I always love groceries shopping especially at the premium places like Ben's Big Store, Jaya Grocer and Cold Storage, well to name a few. I love love love to be at the aisle of their food products because most of them are imported goods. They are so colourfull and I love to see how they arranged the products. And after that, I always find myself daydreaming to have a big pantry at my own house one day and stock up all those items. I think I could stare at it for hours.. Such a weirdo I am, I know. That is maybe because deep inside, I still have that culinarian traits. Haha.

By the way, these are some junkie we bought just now to stock up our room snacks. I probably thinking to buy a mini refrigerator. Anyone knows where I can get one with a good deal?

and this is our stock section..

#pray4mh370

Last Saturday, Malaysia and all over the world were shocked by this devastated news. The missing MH370. It's been 5 days now, and there is no sight of any good news yet. My heart just dropped and my body was shivering when I got to know about this news. I ain't an aviation expert nor the investigation agent. I have no personal comments or views on this issue. But, I rather feel upset with some of my fellow Malaysians who think this issue is a joke. I mean, what kind of human being are you to joke about someone's life and death? Would you make fun about it if your family members were aboard that plane?

Like seriously, how could you to relate this with politics and it's some kind of government conspiracies or something. Well, if it's true (Nauzubillah), could you please at least not to throw those bad words publicly. Please put yourself in their situation. What would you feel? Just please understand it's not an easy task to do. It's not a car keys that you missed place it somewhere.

I really appreciate and thankful with all help we got from other countries. Hopefully, with all the experts and professionals together, we could get something good soon. I wish them all the best and let us highly seeking the help from one and only almighty, Allah SWT. I really wish we could hear some good news soon, because the longer it takes, the more speculations and rumors are raised. Please, whether they are alive or didn't make it, the least we can do now is to respect.

The Ring on My Finger

Salam. Alhamdulillah. Another new year, another long silence in this blog. Well, I'm a wife now, can you believe it? Even myself can't believe it sometime, but yeah, that's the truth. No more Cik Aimi Amirah, it's Puan Aimi now. Hahaha. A bit awkward, I know.

There are a lot lot lot of things I want to write about my wedding. 2013 has been a chaotic and busiest year of my life I guess. Lotsa times and energy were put for my wedding preparation. Yes, I did almost everything myself. From choosing the halls, caterer up to tiny details like buying linens and bed sheet, and even tissues for the event! Yeah..yeah..I am very particular like that. But at least, I am satisfied with everything I had put through...Alhamdulillah.

Altogether, I have about 3 events which were Nikah, Malam Berinai & Reception. So, there were 3 details I had to think about! Every decision I made costed me. But, wise decisions can make you save money. That is why it was very time consuming to weigh all available options and studied the pros and cons. I understand, as a bride to be, we want everything to be perfect and we want every pieces of things are the quality ones. If you having loads of money and sponsors, it shouldn't be a problem. But, for a budget bride like me, I had to eliminate things that are not so important and plan accordance to the pennies I have. Financial planning are very crucial in time like this. That was why I started planning early. It really could help and give you ample time to survey for the best. Okay, this really could make an entry for wedding tips. Maybe soon! (I can't really promise hihi). Oh yeah, now I am in the midst of selecting pictures for our wedding album. There are about 4000 pictures to choose from! That is only from 1 photographers. There are 3 more photographers yet to submit theirs as well. Pengsan!!

Many people ask me, how it's like to be married. Well, I always answer "it's too soon to know, I only married for months!". Hahaha. Yes, seriously, I don't know what it's like to be married really. I can't really differentiate. Of course, there are things that cannot be done when I was single can be done now. Do not think other ways okay! Hehehe. What I meant is, now I can going out at until late at night with my now called husband and I never need to worry about curfew anymore. But I do notice, that I've become busier now I'm married. Maybe because instead of thinking for one, now everything that I do, I have to include my husband as well. Also, I have two families now and the responsibility is heavier now. I do enjoying every little things and feel blessed, Alhamdulillah.

Although we've been friends for almost 7 years now, surprisingly there are also many sides of him that I didn't know before. A good surprise they are. I still now adjusting myself with my new life and I'm glad to be blessed with a loving family around me. I'd love to thank them all, family and friends especially for being so helpful in my time of need during my wedding. Until the next entry, bye!