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This week, I had to make a tough decision. It wasn't the most favorable one for some, but in an opinionated business and clinical viewpoint, it was probably the best one. Life's like that, I suppose, having to make decisions that might not be the nicest for everyone, but doing what is right takes precedence.
Read more...Today, is probably one of my sadder days. One of my favorite client, has returned to his own home country. And tonight, what a mismatch of communication and expectation.
Read more...I've made a couple of promises that I'm trying to fulfill, and that'd I'd place all my vendors, their services and descriptions and feedback, into a simple reachable location, for friends who are getting married soon and looking for some inspiration and ideas to perk up their wedding ideation. Kimberly, I'm sorry I took so long, Say Hong too. Hey Joel, you're quite blessed to receive this so fast upon meeting me. So here goes nothing:
1) Venue: we used a lovely marine country club called Raffles Marina; and there together with the package there are wedding coordinators to help you coordinate and run your show. The one whom we worked with is called Michelle and she was a great help to helping us plan, arrange and execute everything - call her! . Their package was wonderful, and we had a yatch-in instead of a march-in for our second march in! You can also check out their solemnisation package. =)
Other venues we seriously considered were
a. Asian Civilisation Museum
b. Burkill Hall in Botanical Gardens(look for the pictures - quite old English style, open for you to get your own caterers *plus point)
c. Raffles Hotel Outdoor Garden (fair deal for grandeur)
d. **my personal favorite: National Museum - my all time favorite. Pop by and see.
e. Chijmes Cathedral
2)Music - we're really lovers of jazzy music, and we wanted an ambience that is slightly more relaxed, open yet classy, and so we engaged the lovely Bevlyn of A Little Dream to sing for us. Their price then for us was about S$1500 so do check them out - she sings lovely!
3) Our photographer is Daniel Beh - he has really nice picture-taking skills, and has quite a fair portfolio to boot. Check his site here
4)We so loved the cakes from Pine Gardens! We ordered their Lychee Martini, Triple Chocolate Cake and Baileys to form a triple layer cake to feed 250 people. It amounted to about S$700. Pine Garden contact 64576159 - call to make appointment, and in the appointment they'd ask you all sort of preferences that you might have so they'd create your dream cake. Nice. =) Higher end? Check the Patissier which caters very classy looking food. Their contact 62205565.
5) One of the caterers we'd love to rave about is Lavish. They provide extremely good and tastilicious food for a real steal (we had an offer of S$25 per head to even have a carving station!) Food lovers take note, especially those who are planning to cater. We ultimately didnt take them, as Raffles Marina provided food, and the seafood was really good!
6) Wine - we scouted around for these, local suppliers Cold Storage and FairPrice had some really good deals, but it really depends on each individual taste. We love Muscato by Brown Brothers, and Cold Storage had a sale, and each bottle were going for less than S$20! And they deliver too! *can be bought online*
7) Wedding Bands. This one, we cant release online, for safety reasons. Those really keen to purchase, do let us know that we can arrange for you. Email us at nigel@urban-rehab.org and we'll respond to you asap for this.
8) Outfits: Groom - I purchased my full wedding suit from Zara Men, and the full thing costed me a little above S$700, from the suit, to the shirt, to the tie and to the shoes. Not bad stuff there. However, you can consider tailor making your suit(s) if you have something in mind already, and if you have a trustworthy tailor, and if you have loads of time. But if it's a quick purchase, go to a store.
9) Outfit: Louise - wedding gown. Her beautiful black and white piece is actually a rented piece from Just Gowns. Visit www.justgowns.biz. Her dress rental? S$200+. Its a steal!
10) Outfit: Louise - evening gown. Her hot pink gown was custom-made by Serene Yak, her email is made2measure@yahoo.com.sg and contact is 92726346. Price? Priceless. Ha ha. S$250.
11) Car rental. We didn't really need to rent a car, as Louise's dad provided the car for transportation, but we found a local car company www.sgrentalcar.com that has quite good bargains (we almost rented a Mini for S$300 for weekend use)
12) We did printing of most of our print items in Malaysia, but it's really quite a hassle to go there, print and bring back in bulk (if you have a vehicle then it's ok) then you can contact Alvin at . But if you're looking at a local printer, you can look for Phillip Ng, who runs Aero Printing - 91915890. He has superb quality.
13) Flowers - for the bride, the groom and the best man + groom's father. Look for Dolly from JM Floral. They did up some really nice flowers for Louise. =). However,Love Droplets (google them please) has an amazing portfolio too - you can contact Jac @ 90273622. She also recommends another company run by Jasmine (you can email her jasmine@enchanted.com.sg or call her at 96833952)
14) Make up artist? Francine (97344310)
15) Most Important Guy: Justice of Peace (JoP). Without him, you cannot solemnise your wedding, so VERY IMPORTANT. Our JoP was Dr Phua Tan Tee - super nice unclely gentleman, funny too, appropriate. Email him to ask for his help (and schedule) at phua_tan_tee@nea.gov.sg.
Other pertinent issues that we took into thinking, for some time were
1) Dowry - guys, please, they're worth it. Don't give low, allocate as much as possible within reason, and give to the parents. Usually the parents will give a token sum back, but we will not usually know how much. So to be safe, give and don't expect it returned. But her parents did returned a nice token amount. =)
2) Prepare angpaos for your helpers!!! Don't overload/overstrain them, let them enjoy themselves too, cos its a really special day!
3) On that day itself, be open minded and ready for anything that can happen, and have fun.
Go to this page to download a wedding guide from my church - it's quite comprehensive and we learnt a lot from it!
Other useful sources:
1) Martha Steward **Must go!!**
2) Google
Yesterday during the sermon, pastor asked us a question: 'What is our dream?' and we were encouraged to encourage each other, and quell the 'tall poppy syndrome'. My wife, Louise, didn't have any dreams in particular, she just wanted to help support my dreams. Now that's a powerful statement. The person on my left wanted to be a marketing manager of her company, and we encouraged her to go up the next level.
Later during debrief time, Gershon, our cell group leader, asked us to think about our dreams, and to email it to him, that he may know our dreams, and will help to make it come to pass in whatever ways possible. That set me thinking: what's my dream? Then suddenly a thought hit me - for urbanrehab to be a homebrand in Singapore, for occupational therapy and physiotherapy service provision. Think occupational therapy, think urbanrehab. Think physiotherapy, think urbanrehab. Then, urbanrehab to be an international brand, supplying the finest therapy and rehabilitative services to all over the globe. That was not enough - I'd like us to be the consultancy group for healthcare business developing and marketing, as well as the number one consultancy group for industrial therapy and ergonomics as well, to the point all current providers will outsource/refer to us ultimately, becoming not only a powerhouse in ergonomics locally, but internationally.
Taking a step back, I started to think deeper. urbanrehab was developed as a vehicle for a dream. My biggest dream, was to create change, for people that I know. A shift in paradigm, in the way we think, behave and act. To become a catalyst, for personal and financial excellence, no matter what field we are in. You see, I come from a family of employees, and living in debt. From the way we were brought up, we were taught that debt was 'the way to go' - yes, some debts are and some debts aren't. And its not more the debts itself per se, but our ideation and values to finances that burdened me. All the stories of poor dad in Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad, I could understand truly and see it in my dad. Make no mistake, I love him all in all, for his love, his tenacity, his patience and longsuffering. Respect. However, from the beginning, till today, still, money was the biggest issue in his life. Looking back, I know what I want to create, a mindset change in dreaming and achieving one's dreams. I want to create a lasting and classic change engine, that will change the lives of my wife and I, our families, our friends, and our social climate.
Hence, urbanrehab was born. It is our vehicular embodiment of our dream. We didn't want a dream that will only benefit ourselves, it became a dream not for us. It became a dream to help others, however cliche that may sound. Help our loved ones in debt/paradigm stagnation, help individuals to boost productivity and reduce injuries, help individuals in need of rehabilitation, help institutions provide quality therapy services. In the end, we become more and more like bread, meant to be broken for the embetterment of others' lives.
Interesting, our God is. But there's so much more to do, so much more.
Argh! I think me dad's really trying to make me an apek
I mean, I know I'm married but...but still!!
He made me wear one of his polo tees recently
Coupled with my work pants and slippers
I look the exact replica of a wannabe apek!
Argh...this is so embarrassing...
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