Review: D’ Perfection Gifts

I have a serious case of wedding planning withdrawal. For the past 1 year, I’ve been heading to the library near my workplace to borrow the latest issues of Pengantin magazine. I clearly do not have that need anymore.. but when I saw the April issue, I couldn’t help but borrow it.

It’s always been a useful source of information to keep up with the latest trends. I especially like how they give inspiration for gubahans. I do not have such talent so I can only gawk at their works. That’s why I decided to outsource this to Kak Ain from D’ Perfection. As mentioned before, I placed an order for trays, sireh dara and bunga rampais.

It was so worth it to go all the way and back from Woodlands where she’s based. Another A+ vendor I would recommend. She does this full-time so you can be sure she will do her best for you.

Here’s one of my trays for the other half:

Husband likes to invest in precious metals, so I bought him silver bars and a collectible coin. Impressed with how she laid everything out using the case! Also she kindly upgraded my satin base to a songket one.. there was enough teal cloth, as I was only doing 3 dulangs.

Her sireh dara is nice too! As I requested for all the items to be delivered at the majlis venue the day before, she made suggestions to arrange the leaves in a senget way to avoid the shape from going haywire if it became lembik.

I am a big fan of her tanjak bunga rampais – I requested for 20 pieces to be done in electric blue songket. Wished I kept one for myself!

Clearly, I would recommend her works as well – her rates are reasonable and she is definitely creative. No regrets outsourcing this!

Review: ND Henna

Will be kicking off my vendor reviews starting from the pre-wedding preps – henna!

At first I was a bit hesitant in applying henna, because my ustaz had pointed out that it has Hindu origins, but over time the intricate designs found its way into Malay weddings. Not sure how this happened, as during our mums’ time, only capping was done. I decided to go for it, only because its evolved such that its become a cultural thing with no religious significance. However I chose to have a floral design, and avoid those that looks like symbols in Hindu temples.

So I sourced around and engaged ND Henna. Nadya’s been doing it for a couple of years, and is working in the arts education field, so she’s naturally creatively inclined. Her portfolio is pretty awesome too. I chose her Violet Package which consists of minimal design on hands and feet, inclusive of capping.

This picture doesn’t really do the stain colors justice, as it was much darker than what it looked like on the photo, having gone through the full 48 hours. The colors on my palm were even richer and that’s where the stain will be the darkest for everyone. I was unable to keep the henna powder on that long unfortunately, as my session was in the morning and I had to remove the powder to take wudhu. We are supposed to have minimal contact with water, but obviously that wasn’t practical. Nadya provided an aftercare set, which included her own mixture of oil and balm to keep it moisturised.

(Yep my stains have faded due to loads of water exposure in Krabi)

Would I recommend Nadya? Absolutely.

Applying henna is already very torturous as we can’t move for hours. But she was easy to talk to, and when there were moments of silence, it was comfortable not awkward. I was amazed at how she fit all her tools in her backpack – stool, henna cones, camera etc.

She’s very responsive to emails and enquiries too, and proactive in follow-ups. I like her customised floral design for me, and she understood my sister’s requirement for her design too (esp my henna party only had 1 person hahaha).

For those, who can’t sit still and wants a guaranteed red stain, she also provides those instant henna which all those Malaysian artists are applying.

Nadya, if you’re reading this – you’re totally on my A-list of wedding vendors, and I hope this review helps in getting you more business. 🙂

“I am now a married woman”

Still find it surreal after years of spending my 20s in singlehood. But Alhamdulilah all went mostly well on Sunday!!

Thanks to all BTBs and already-brides in this network who provided much needed recommendations and support. It was a big help towards making me a married woman hahahaha!

I’m not ready to give up this space yet after one year of planning.. will give detailed reviews to pay it forward to other BTBs, who are undergoing the same challenges.

Some key take-aways:

1. You will feel super blessed at all the love being showered upon you
2. Family support is very important
3. Choose your vendors properly, the most important being food.. you keep your guests’ stomachs happy – they won’t care about anything else seriously
4. Tell all your friends the specific times you are coming out, so they won’t leave without a photo
5. If you have a wedding hashtag, make sure you plaster it all over your onsite posters and tags so that it will be used loads
6. Most importantly, do your best to pray to Allah, no matter how tight the schedule is, even if you have to re-do your makeup. It is He who makes all things possible.

Let me settle down first, and I’ll be back with my reviews!

Less than 48 hours to go

I am feeling really really jittery, and blogging here has always calmed me down. Most of the vendor’s are more or less settled, just need to coordinate and finalise with them.

Satin bouquet is here and my henna is done. I’ve used the good old minyak kapak to try and get a more darker stain. Will update everyone if this actually works. Will also be printing a last-minute welcome poster tomorrow morning, before heading down to the venue and ensuring all okay with the catering and decor. Berkats and dulangs will be delivered straight at the venue too.

Not sure what to pack along also though – change of clothes and shoes? Medicine? Umbrella? Water? It rained in the afternoon at 2 just now, the time I am supposed to walk in with the kompang on Sunday. Hope the weather is in my favour, or else we would all be marching in the rain – actually that would make quite a cool video shot haha.

I’ve been having like all these last minute thoughts – why on earth didn’t I get a photobooth or a live station to make my guests happier. But I need to step back and always remember what marriage is really all about.

Because.. years down the road, when we’ve had children, endured quarrels and experience the ups and downs of life, we’ll realise that the day itself wasn’t actually all that important at all. 

 

“I’ll be getting married next Sunday”

Sounds very surreal when I say that. Its not even sunk in as its been an insane week at work and I’ve not had time to fully register that I’ll be a wife soon!

Was so happy to finally relax at yesterday’s facial session. Love how Norfasarie’s spa doesn’t hardsell packages so I can fully relax even while they extract my clogged pores. Am going back in a few more days to do their scrub.

Tomorrow is final fitting and hopefully cutting back on carbs and sugar have paid off a bit. If not, hopefully the bodyshaper and dark colors can do some magic. 😀

A couple more of loose ends to tie up – do up the family list, (finally) decide on cake-cutting song and henna design and send the programme to the relevant people.

Have been clearing my room, and discovered some very nice kains which I totally forgot I bought so cheaply during my Vietnam-Laos trip. Its too late to tailor anything for the wedding now but Raya is coming up, so it would be nice to have something customised for my first Raya as a married woman.

Just taking everything one day at a time now, and hope everything falls into place insyaAllah.