Recent close encounters with (not the third kind but with) newly married couples reminded us of two things. One: adjusting to married life is often difficult and poses a very real threat to your sanity (can we get an “Amen”?). And two: it’s been months since we promised a follow-up to this article on the challenges newlyweds face. For both, we are truly sorry. But don’t stay mad at us for too long! We’ll try to make it up to you by sharing these tips for staying connected with your spouse as relayed to us by Singapore-based counselling psychologist Lissy Puno.

Adjustment Period for Newly Married Couples

When two individuals become one and start living together, they naturally evolve and have to undergo an adjustment phase. During this period, differences arise and lead to struggles and conflicts. We’re sure you’ve heard at least one married friend passive-aggressively remark how you don’t really know someone until you marry them. Well we’re pretty sure this is what they meant. When these differences aren’t discussed, Lissy says, dissatisfaction starts to incubate. Rather than staying connected, couples tend to fight about it, withdraw, or shut down completely. All these causing a disconnection. This may then lead them to pursue “exits” in the relationship that pose further challenges to staying connected.

“Exits” to a Marriage: The Normal and Catastrophic

When it comes to these so-called “exits” to a marriage, however, it’s important to note that there are normal ones and catastrophic ones. Normal exits can mean that individuals choose to avoid the issue with their spouse by redirecting their energies towards their children, or work, their barkada or family of origin, even hobbies. While these are all good, they become an excuse to not prioritize the marriage.

“I remember when we were still newly married and we’d have a fight, my wife would leave the house and retreat to her parents’ place (We chose to live in the same neighborhood where we both grew up).” – Law

However, there is a worse kind of exit to a marriage. Examples of these catastrophic exits are affairs, addictions, mental issues, and the like. We hope that Lissy’s advice below can help individuals in their efforts towards staying connected with their spouses so that you can avoid taking either of these two types of exits, but especially the catastrophic ones.

Of course, it’s perfectly normal to seek these exits every once in a while. After all, it’s pretty rare for marriages to be walks in the park. Don’t let your friend’s Instagram stories fool you—we’re pretty sure she and her husband fight about things like closing the toothpaste cap too. But when the fighting gets too much, one or both of you need to recognize the importance of staying connected even when sometimes all you wanna do is gag your partner. Oh, that never happened to you? Me neither. I don’t know what this writer is talking about. But Lissy does though.

Staying Connected: 5 Tips for Newly Married Couples

Having authored the book, “Affairs Don’t Just Happen” and creating the journal “Stay Connected”, Lissy has had her fair share of experience counselling couples as they work towards resolving their marriage issues and staying connected. In fact, her well-lauded couples weekend workshop, “Getting the Love You Want”, will finally have its first run in the Philippines this July 2018. She gives us a sneak peek into her psychology as she shares with us some tips for staying connected to one’s spouse. If you’re single, keep on reading because you can also use these strategies to repair your relationships with other people you love! (But we’ll be praying that you get to work on these with a spouse in the future too.)

1. Say “I love you” every day

Don’t wait until Valentine’s or anniversaries to express appreciation for your spouse. Rather, show care towards them daily. Pay attention to the little things that they appreciate. Yes, that means taking a second to screw on the freaking toothpaste cap.

2. Take some time out

It’s easy to let the busyness of making a living and, eventually, taking care of children, to overwhelm you. But staying connected is vital to keeping the spark in your marriage! Don’t let your marriage take the backseat. If you want to keep feeling that kilig over your spouse, you need to work at it.

You don’t have to spend so much money or take too much time. Get creative! Whether it’s a steamy shower together or just a quiet night out on the porch gazing at the stars and talking about your childhood, make sure you take time at least once a week for just the two of you.

3. Get deep

When you get older, physical attraction in a marriage can fade so staying connected by other means is crucial. We’re such suckers for good conversationalists. Communicating our deeper thoughts, feelings, dreams, and passions with our spouses is therefore a pretty good way to keep us falling in love over and over again with the same person.

4. Learn the art of war

It’s not true that healthy couples don’t fight. Of course they do! You’re putting two completely different people together under one roof. There’s bound to be some resistance. (We’ve all seen it on Survivor, Pinoy Big Brother, and America’ Next Top Model.)

As couples, you need to work on areas of conflict, dissatisfaction, and frustration together and with effective problem solving skills. But you need to learn to fight fair.

5. Be grateful

This is easier said than done, especially when your partner is a bit of a nag or turns out to have horrible hygiene. But regardless of their flaws (and yours), do your best to cherish the person you love and make them feel special.

These are just a few of Lissy’s advice for staying connected with your beloved. We hope you can keep these in mind during the course of your happy (though sometimes challenging) married life. Remember that a loving relationship is possible for everyone. Let your marriage be the dream that you always imagined it would be!

The post Staying Connected: 5 Tips for Newly Married Couples appeared first on The Top Knotters.

Most just married or soon-to-wed couples are level-headed enough to know that married life is nothing at all like Cloud Nine (operative word: most). But the reality is, you’re never truly prepared for that first fight, first scream fest, or first walk out. So while we might not be there to literally hold your hand through the difficult first year of marriage (we have our own lives you know), we’ve taken it upon ourselves to do as much as we can to help.

Just Married: When the Honeymoon Ends

Marriage is a walk in the park. That is if the park were the Grand Canyon, and you’re forced to carry a 60L backpack while walking barefoot through the whole thing. In short, it’s friggin’ hard!!! And the first year is the hardest. Fights can start even before the honeymoon ends—and over the smallest things too!

“We had our first fight over salted egg. My husband was used to it being sliced, but where I came from, we peeled ours.” – Babes

“I was leaving for a work trip. My wife had taken a dump but the flush wasn’t working. Because I was feeling so much pressure at work, I ended up shouting at her over it. There was a lot of crying. I ended up missing my flight and rebooking for the next day. We laugh so much about it whenever we remember that fight.” – AE

While there are other more understandable reasons for fighting too.

“During our honeymoon, whenever we were going to sleep, my husband would turn his back toward me. I got angry and asked him if he didn’t want to sleep next to me. But he had just been used to sleeping on his side his whole life.” – Tin

“He forgot to pay his credit card bill. I’m very OC with managing finances. I couldn’t believe he could forget such an important personal task.” – Kitin

Whether it be petty or not, the truth of the matter is this: just married couples will fight. Over and over again. We asked Lissy about her thoughts on the challenges that newlyweds (and even older couples) face.

Just Married: 4 Challenges Newlyweds Face

Lissy explains that, because life spans have extended, there is also a greater challenge for couples to stay attracted to each other for longer. But with many distractions as well as an individualistic world view, couples often end up feeling disillusioned and even bored with the relationship.

“Much more work is needed to maintain the love, care, and intimacy [in a marriage]. After the wedding, the marriage begins and a lot of couples ask, ‘What now?’ They may need to deepen healthy and mature relational skills to keep their marriage safe and strong.”

1. Technology and Social Media

It’s funny how technology has made it easier for us to communicate with each other. (Holler to all the LDR couples out there!) But having so many gadgets and social media accounts can also be a hindrance to the relationship.

[clickToTweet tweet=”“Technology and social media often block deeper communication by giving couples a false sense of time spent together.” ” quote=”“Technology and social media often block deeper communication by giving couples a false sense of time spent together.” “]

2. Werk, werk, werk

Life is so dynamic, what with flourishing careers and businesses as well as the demands of home making and child-rearing. But busyness also often becomes a distraction and an excuse from focusing on the relationship.

[clickToTweet tweet=”‘Busy disconnects us from those that we love. When you’re rushing from here to there, there’s no time for our partners, children, family or friends. Busy becomes an excuse to not spend time with people we love.’ ” quote=”‘Busy disconnects us from those that we love. When you’re rushing from here to there, there’s no time for our partners, children, family or friends. Busy becomes an excuse to not spend time with people we love.’ “]

3. A Too Demanding Social Life

Especially in the Philippines where we have a strong family culture, your separate social lives can be very demanding. Chances are that they were already like that prior to marriage too.  Aside from your families of origin, there are also your friends and a work culture that extends beyond office hours. While maintaining all these relationships is important, it can sometimes result in taking away the couple’s focus on each other.

4. Me Before You

In a marriage, you have two individuals coming together as one amid their differences. Or at least, that’s how it should work ideally. But most couples are stumped as to how they can form a strong sense of “WE” in the relationship. And that’s understandable because neither of you have done this before! But there’s a need to know how to communicate more healthily, especially when your many differences start emerging.

Whether you’re just married, soon-to-wed, or have been married for N years, you might encounter one or all of the challenges Lissy shared above in the span of your couple life. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. What matters most is recognizing that there are doable ways to get your #MarriageGoals.

Stay tuned for Lissy’s tips on how just married couples can face these common challenges by recovering their connection with each other!

Lissy Puno is a Singapore-based counselling psychologist and author of the book, “Affairs Don’t Just Happen”, as well as creator of the journal “Stay Connected”. She works with couples in her practice and also offers couples weekend workshops called, “Getting the Love You Want” which will finally have its first run in the Philippines in July 2018.

The post Just Married, Now What? 4 Challenges Newlyweds Face appeared first on The Top Knotters.

If you’ve ever been to a wedding or any event, then you know that one of the most awaited parts of the program is when the food is finally served. You might even know one or two individuals who go straight to the reception (please don’t be that person!). It’s unnecessary for us to say it but we will anyway: food is incredibly important. We don’t just eat to live. Sometimes, we live to eat too. That’s why wedding food planning should never be left ’til the last minute! 

More than picture-perfect displays, quality food is important because it’s one way to show thanks to all your guests for making the effort to be with you on your big day. Also, it’s just in our culture to take care of our guests—and feeding them well is the best way to do it! Wedding food planning allows you to do this on any budget. We asked Alu Aluzan-Aran, a Food Biz Conference producer and a foodie-at-heart, to share with us her tips for planning the food selection for your wedding.

Wedding Food Planning 101

1. Choose a reputable caterer

Ask your friends for referrals and look up reviews (Check out The Top Knotters Marketplace for some). Also try to recall weddings or events you’ve attended wherein you personally enjoyed most of the selection.

2. Decide on a theme

Try to work around a theme or cuisine like Filipino, Italian, or Spanish to help you choose dishes that complement each other. Sometimes wedding food planning can be overwhelming because there are so many choices available. Setting a limit can guide your decision-making. But in the end, it’s still up to you!

3. Think quality, not quantity

If the food tastes good, is clean and presented well, then it doesn’t matter if you only have a limited selection. For appetizers, you can have a soup and a salad, or soup with bread and cheese. For the main entrees, it’s good to provide at least one fish, chicken, and pork option each to suit the dietary needs of your guests. You can offer rice and/or pasta for your carbs selection as well. Just try to avoid food that are all brown and that can spoil easily. You may have a combination of a roast, grilled, fried, or entrees with sauce.

For dessert, you can offer a few slices of cake or pastries that can be decorated to match the theme. Or you can also choose to have seasonal desserts. A DIY Halo-halo station in the summer is always fun to have. Turn it into a S’mores station during the -ber months for a novel experience.

4. A little extra

While wedding food planning, consider if you can stretch the budget a bit more for the extras. Instead of the usual iced tea, you may opt to serve a fruit drink with a cute stirrer, or craft beer. Some brewers can even customize beer bottle labels for you. How’s that for Instagrammable? Just be mindful with the amount of sugar you’re serving your guests!

You can also serve some nibblers for when guests are just arriving at the venue. This can be a combination of chips, nuts, and candies. I personally enjoy even simple candies that come with quotes selected by the couple. Such a small detail can help keep the guests entertained while waiting for the program to start.

During the Reception

You may be done with wedding food planning, but the work doesn’t end there! Below Alu also shares some invaluable tips on what to do during the reception to ensure that the menu is executed as planned. Take note!

1. Temperature is key

Remind the catering staff to keep the hot food hot, and the cold food and/or drinks cold. Changes in temperature can cause the food quality to deteriorate and worst for it to spoil.

2. The all-important Food Dispatcher

Assign one friend or family member to be the food dispatcher. He/she will check if the food is presented well and are in clean containers, if they are in their right temperatures, and if all servers are dressed and groomed properly. It’s not a heavy nor glamorous task, but it is still incredibly important!

Wedding food planning, or planning the menu for any big event, is a crucial part of the process. It not only uses up a huge part of the budget, wedding food planning also affects every single person in the guest list. So make it count! We’re grateful for the invaluable advice Alu gave us in terms of planning the menu and making sure things go well on the big day. Happy feasting, everyone!

Alu Aluzan-Aran is a lecturer at Enderun College, a writer, a Food Biz Conference producer, and a foodie-at-heart. If you want to learn how to write about food in a delicious and mouth-watering manner, you can join her food writing workshop, “The Write Mind”, tomorrow, September 30, 1:00 pm, at  the EDSA Shangri La Hotel! It’s an absolute must for for Marketing and PR practitioners, Copywriters, Bloggers and food business managers. For inquiries, you may text or call 09176398089 or email courageasia.pm@gmail.com.

The post Wedding Food Planning: Have a Great Menu on Any Budget! appeared first on The Top Knotters.

So, how do we go about finding joy in marriage? We asked for tips from happy couple Ninay and JQ Quimpang. Ninay’s an HR practicioner while JQ is an events host and inspirational speaker. People around them know them to be a fun-loving couple. Married for 8 years, having passed the so-called 7-year-itch,

Here are Ninay & JQ’s actionable tips on finding joy in marriage.

1. In everything you do, keep your love tank full.

“There is joy in loving, in giving. You cannot give what you do not have”. 

This is based on Gary Chapman’s premise on the 5 Love Languages. While there are different kinds of love, there is a kind of love that is essential to our emotional health, and that is the need to feel loved.

Here, he quotes Dr. Ross Campbell on the concept of the love tank.

“Inside every child is an ‘emotional tank’ waiting to be filled with love. When a child really feels loved, he will develop normally, but when the love tank is empty, the child will misbehave. Much of the misbehavior of children is motivated by the cravings of an empty ‘love tank.’”

Guess what? even adults need their love tank filled. That includes you and your spouse. Here’s a little chart we found on the 5 love languages and what you and your spouse can do to fill your love tank through it. But first you must each know what your main love languages are.

2. Make your marriage a daily personal decision.

As with love, marriage is a choice, a personal choice. It’s one you must choose to make every single day. Be conscious of this and take it to heart.

“You made a vow to each other during the wedding rights. Everyday is a renewal of marriage vows – for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, etc”

Finding joy in marriage is in reminding yourself of that decision you made for marriage.

3. Remember that you are God’s gift to each other.

And what do you do with such a special gift?

“Value your spouse as if he or she is your priceless treasure”

4. Always start & end your day with a grateful heart.

“Every gising is a blessing! When you wake up each morning, thank the Lord. Wake up smiling.  Everyday, you begin by counting your blessings and end with how you become a simple joy to others”.

Fill your heart with gratitude and you’ll find yourself waking up and sleeping with a smile on your face. Won’t that make your spouse’s day to wake up & sleep next to a genuinely smiling face? Take a few seconds to pause and think of the blessings of each day. If you can’t think of anyting, be thankful for your spouse! — or be thankful for your spouse that he/she has you!

5. Discover your “Sweet Spot”.

And it doesn’t only mean each other’s sweet spot individually, but also your sweet spot as a couple. Finding joy in marriage can literally be about finding joyful things to do together as a couple.

“Find something you have in common and grow together doing those things again & again.”

6. Encourage one another.

 “Always have faith in each other. Be your spouses #1 Fan. Don’t give up on each other.” 

You’ll be stuck with each other 24/7 — well, every day at least — if not in body, in spirit.  You know each others’ hopes, fears & dreams. Only you can have the greatest impact in supporting & encouraging your spouse. Take every chance to do it and show it. Even if it isn’t so, support each other as if you only had each other. You are, after all, now that one new complementary whole.

7. Trust in God’s plan. 

“Whatever it takes! We will come everything through prayers”

There are things you can control, there are things you can’t – not even your amazing spouse can do everything. Well thought out plans might not follow through or at least not in the way you want. But as you do all you can as a couple to plan and prepare, there will always be a better plan. And it’s all in God’s hands.

Prayers do wonders. Overcoming everything through prayers doesn’t necessarily mean your prayers will be answered. But the case may also be that it’s in your prayers that you will find the answers. Remember, prayer is a two-way dialogue. In this case, three way when you pray together with your spouse – which is a very beautiful thing to do. 

8. Prioritize your personal relationship with God above else.

When you get married, your spouse will now have priority over your family, friends, relatives, work. But above anything else, even above your spouse, you must always put God.

Something to think about: Who makes you whole? Is it your spouse or is it God? God brought you to your spouse not to complete you but to complement you; two ‘wholes’ shaped in a certain way to fit together to make a totally new whole.

“Always hold on to the fact that it is God who made you whole, even before entering married life.”

When you think about it, since you will be marrying the one that you love, finding joy in marriage might not be that difficult. In a nutshell, it shoudn’t be too difficult if you both put God first, have a grateful heart, choose to love each other daily and be each other’s number one champion & advocate. There will just be times that we might get caught up with the day to day drearies of ‘adulting’ responsibilities. So it’s good to check on ourselves as individuals and as a couple on how we’re doing with these 8 tips should we find ourselves losing grasp of finding joy in our marriage.

Married life is a wonderful ride. Happily ever after doesn’t have to be so elusive when times come that you seem to lose sight of it. A whole lot of love and a little bit of effort could be all you need to keep you both along your jolly way.

The post 8 Actionable Tips For Finding Joy In Marriage appeared first on The Top Knotters.

No matter how much you’ve looked forward to your special day, there will come a point during your planning stage when the music fades and you feel like giving up. Our guess? That point came while agonizing over either your guest list or your suppliers. So we’ve taken upon ourselves to compile our very own bridal fair cheat sheet, and hope it saves you some money on painkillers. As for your guest list, well, that’s another story.

Bridal Fair Cheat Sheet

1. Do your home work (At home, where else?)

While you should keep your mind open to new ideas at the fairs, it can be a bit overwhelming and confusing if you don’t have an idea of what you want. Our readers recommend doing most of your research and deciding on your budget, theme, favored suppliers, etc. beforehand. So even though we promised you a bridal fair cheat sheet, there’s no getting around the homework. Sorry! (But it’s for your own good, we promise.)

“Get referrals from the married folks.” – Yve, married

“Drop by at the fairs when you’ve narrowed down your choices through referrals from married friends. Book them there for the discounted prices. Also for the free makeup trials on your top 3 hair and makeup artists.” – May, married

“If you pick the wedding coordinator first, they can recommend the suppliers they know and trust. Also, organize your brochures from the fair at home and see which you’ll consider. Visit, contact, or check them out at the next fair before you make a decision.” – PM

2. Feed the fiance (and bring reinforcements)

“Kain muna before anything else. Mahirap mag-isip or mag-decide kung gutom.” – Bodit, married

“Prepare the husband! During our first bridal fair, we hadn’t even gotten through one aisle when my fiance wanted to leave already. He got overwhelmed. So bring girlfriends along as well.” – Clarissa, married

You might not have said your vows yet, but planning the wedding does foreshadow having to love each other “for better and for worse”. Our next tip in this bridal fair cheat sheet? Give your fiance a leg up by making sure he is well-prepared prior to the fair, both physically and mentally. And if that doesn’t work, send for back-up. (Don’t forget to treat yourself too! You’ll burn off those calories quick enough.)

3. Have a battle plan

Different people have different goals when it comes to bridal fairs. Is it to get ideas or to canvas for suppliers? Is it to claim discounts on your chosen suppliers and do the make-up trials and food tasting? Whatever it is, make sure you know yours—and stick to it! Also, once at the actual fair, make sure you ask the important questions to maximize your face time with the suppliers.

Come prepared! Set goals and do your research prior to going. If you intend to look for specific suppliers, keep your eyes on that.” – Elda Almario

“Don’t go there without having a firm grasp of the basic concept of your wedding. It’ll help you choose which booths to spend more time on. Plus, don’t hesitate to ask! You’ll get a better feel of whom you can work with if you talk to people.” – Dessie, married

“Have a list of questions to ask prior to booking. Also, check their cancellation clause. Most of the time, the cancellation clause is one sided: a [verbal] promise not to cancel is not enough.” – Summer, bridal fair organizer

4. Learn to say “no” (or “not yet”)

There are many great bridal fairs throughout the year, so our readers recommend going to more than just one. Don’t feel pressured to book everything on your first! Take time to think things through before you do sign off on something so that you only end up with deals and suppliers you absolutely love.

“Check all options and discuss the different offers before settling with a supplier. Don’t be swayed to pay [if you’re not yet sure] during the fair since some offers still stand until months after.” – Diana Hicarte, soon-to-wed

“Don’t bring money or your credit card if you don’t have a target supplier yet.” – Analyn Bejasa

“Because my fiance is an OFW, I attended bridal fairs alone. Once, I booked a very cheap package for entourage flowers but when I sent the pictures to him, he didn’t approve of it. I ended up having to upgrade, which costs more. That was when I learned my lesson to always consult him and to not decide right away.” – Kristel Dianne Ramos

5. Love your decisions

Booking suppliers is good practice for getting married. Once you’ve signed those contracts, you have to see them through. So we hope you’ve really prayed and thought hard about them (with the help of our bridal fair cheat sheet, of course) because you’re tied to your dream team ’til death do you part!

“After booking them, don’t look for other suppliers any more. Focus on them and follow their work so that you’ll be more in love with what they do.” – Joanne de Leon-Agregado

“Research and compare first [when choosing suppliers]. Never stop asking questions and set your budget limit. Once you decide, stop comparing and move on to the next assignment.” – Jami Malonzo

6. Beyond the fair

“For my major suppliers (food, photo, video), I didn’t book them through the fairs. Instead we really reached out to them beforehand because we were sure they were who we wanted.” – Evan Mae Cavizo-Mamon, married

Of course, not all suppliers have to or can be found at fairs, which is why our bridal fair cheat sheet goes beyond that too. So many overseas brides can go with planning their wedding without attending a fair once. Use your typing and Googling skills to your advantage by researching online, getting referrals from other couples and checking supplier’s client reviews, and initiating conversations with your dream suppliers for good deals. Shameless plug: Check out the Top Knotters marketplace for suppliers with great reviews!

As you plan for your wedding, make sure you give enough time for your marriage too. The wedding will last for a day, but your marriage is for eternity. Most people look at the Pre-Cana as an unnecessary requirement but it can be enriching to your marriage if you choose the right one.

“The most important thing you can do is research and get a good premarital counseling class. Your wedding will not be perfect! If the chiavari chairs you rented didn’t have ivory ribbons tied to it, who cares?! None of the guests will notice. What’s more important is your marriage.” – Sheina, soon-to-wed

There you have it: the best tips from our readers, both newlyweds and soon-to-weds, for a fool-proof bridal fair cheat sheet. Memorize it by heart or print it out and tape it under your shoe (Have you ever done that trick before? We haven’t either.) so you don’t forget. We hope it helps!

Got any more tips to add to out bridal fair cheat sheet? Share your advice in the comments section below!

The post Bridal Fair Cheat Sheet: 6 Steps to Conquering Your Next Fair appeared first on The Top Knotters.

The perfect wedding dress sometimes seems more like a mythical creature when you’ve tried on twenty, thirty RTW gowns and find you still cannot make up your mind between that princess ball gown or the sexy lace mermaid dress. Some brides have worn two dresses on their big day—probably because they couldn’t decide on just one. But for those of us who can’t afford that kind of luxury (because we need to be practical adults every once in a while), choosing a bridal gown that will flatter our God-given features seems almost impossible.

While there is no one formula for a gown that will magically transform you into Pia Wurtzbach, we’re sure every bride—with a bit of guidance and a whole lotta faith and patience—can find success in choosing a bridal gown that will suit her personality, motif, body type, and budget. It has been done before, believe us! So we invited four of wedding industry insiders to give us the low down on some basic bridal silhouettes and their personal opinions as to which styles suit which body type.

Know Your Gown Silhouettes When Choosing a Bridal Gown

1. Empire

Cut right below the chest and gently flaring out, this style is ideal for creating an illusion of longer legs and hiding the stomach and hips.

2. Sheath

Also known as the column, this shape flows almost straight from the neckline down, with some tapering at the waist. It’s a style that’s ideal for brides with a well-proportioned figure.

3. A-line

This classic style has a fitted waist and flares out to an A-shaped skirt that flatters most body types as it falls on but doesn’t hug the hips.

4. Ball gown

Cut on or below the waist and flaring out into a big skirt, it’s a popular style among brides choosing a bridal gown because of its grandness which gives off that princess-y feeling.

5. Trumpet

The trumpet is a style that has a fitted bodice down until the mid hip section, gently flaring out into a skirt.  Choosing a bridal gown in this style will give the illusion of a long torso and long legs.

6. Mermaid

This style hugs the body from neckline, down until the knees, where it begins to flare out.

Try It Out First (Before Choosing a Bridal Gown)

Know the silhouette you want but think it’s not right for your body type? Don’t be limited by the tips above. The pirate code isn’t a solid rule book but more like guidelines.  And the same is true when choosing a bridal gown too! Our advice? Just be you!

In the end, you can’t go wrong with what feels good. Our number one tip for choosing a bridal gown is to just listen to your heart. Even if you don’t end up having supermodel legs, as long as you feel beautiful, you would’ve chosen right. The best of luck to you (and your bridesmaids accompanying you on your fittings)! Cheers!

Supplier Spotlight: Couturiers: Patty Valle | Clayton Vidal of Cecilio Abad Design Team | Nikolai Hernandez | Christine Lam

The post Choosing A Bridal Gown For Your Body Type appeared first on The Top Knotters.

Having been a bridal couturier for the past four years, Trizha now debuts with her first bridal collection.

“I have to say that my style has really evolved over the years. That I have found my aesthetic of modern simplicity.”

To showcase this, her debut collection features designs that are inspired by fairies & ocean waves.

“…How fairies just glide around freely and effortlessly; how the ocean waves gives comfort and serenity. That’s what I wanted to capture. I created light and airy gowns that won’t weigh you down using breathable fabrics such as tulle and chiffon, and lightweight laces. Just picture a fairy walking and twirling on the shore of the beach. That is the inspiration.”

Now, doesn’t that sound so magical and carefree? We love how this set beautifully infuses the elegance of lace with the lightness of tulle & chiffon. The lacey off-shoulder number is a favorite. But we also love the flexible pieces that transforms when paired with a longer skirt or cover up. We also can’t resist admiring the lacey one-piece suit that transforms exquisitely when donned with a wrap around.

Accentuated with such handsome floral headpieces & bridal bouquets, we’re able to see different options brides can choose from for the overall mood and look  that would go with or these pieces.

Trizha shares with us the type of bride she had in mind while designing her creations.

“My collection calls for brides who would like to go for a sexy, youthful and effortless vibe. Brides who are confident in their skin and would like to highlight their assets.”

We know as you dream of your big day, you dream of the perfect gown that will adorn you. Do you fancy picking out one from any of these?

Just imagine what it would be like to be a bride wearing one of these creations, exuding such charm & calm confidence — despite your nervousness combined with giddy excitement deep inside — as you walk down the aisle on your wedding by the beach, towards the man of your dreams.

Supplier Spotlight: Photography : Arlene Briones-Hidalgo of The Perfect Grey Photography & Boudoir Dolls | Flower Crown & Bridal Bouquet : Serge Igonia of Loi Floral Sense | Hair & Makeup : Tish Mahtani of Blushingbraid

The post Trizha Dimayuga Bridal Collection: of Faeries & Ocean Waves appeared first on The Top Knotters.

You must be thinking, isn’t that what makeup is for? To give me skin that is smoother than a baby’s bottom? Let me give you the cold, hard truth. Makeup can and should correct all your discolorations such as dark circles underneath your eyes, redness or age spots. But sadly, it cannot flatten out bumps and fill in lines on the skin. Though it can help in making them less noticeable, makeup cannot magically even them out.  But though not all of us have been blessed with  a naturally blemish-free complexion like Pia Wurtzbach, there’s no reason for us to panic (yet)!

Here are a few ways to achieve a blemish-free complexion and be a radiant, magazine-worthy bride on your big day:

1. Drink lots of water. (3x)

I cannot stress this enough!

2. Cut down on the dairy!

3. Wear sunscreen religiously.

You don’t want age spots on your wedding day, do you?

4. Use moisturizer.

Use a lighter formula if you have oily skin and one with a creamier, denser consistency if you have dry skin. Don’t neglect your lips either! Moisturize them regularly and exfoliate by gently rubbing them with a soft toothbrush.

5. Use eye cream twice a day.

Your under eye area is extremely delicate and tends to be dryer than the rest of your face. It can use all the help it can get.

6. Assess the things that regularly come into contact with your face.

Watch out for your hands, pillowcases, and makeup brushes. The cleaner they are, the less chances of you breaking out.

7. Do not try out new skin care or makeup products right before your wedding.

If you must, do it a few months before, so your skin has time to heal or get over an allergic reaction.

8. If you plan on getting a peel, do it more than a month prior to your wedding. 

This prevents flaky, dead skin or scabs on your face during your wedding day. Take a break from medication that causes peeling (like retinol) 2 weeks before the big day.

9. If a monster pimple tragically appears a few days before the wedding, whatever you do, DO NOT POP IT.

The scabbing will be more difficult to cover up with makeup. A quick trip to the dermatologist for a cortisone shot will help fix it.

10. And last but not the least, try to get as much sleep as you can the night before the wedding.

Being well-rested really makes a difference on how makeup sits on the skin.

Another jolt of reality: you won’t wake up tomorrow with blemish-free complexion if you do all these today. It takes time and some may take longer than others to see a difference (it took years for me to keep my acne under control!). But always remember, the bride will always be the most beautiful person in the room, perfect skin or not. Let’s raise a tall glass of water to that!

Now let’s test your knowledge and how well you absorbed our tips. Can you ace this quiz?

The post Blemish-Free Complexion: How To Achieve It On Your Wedding Day appeared first on The Top Knotters.

Every soon-to-wed couple wants to have the perfect wedding—one that’s solemn or sentimental at the right times, and lively and cheerful when appropriate. Most guests understand this code. But when some of your guests haven’t learned to go potty or tie their own shoelaces yet, it’s too much to expect them to do the same. Fret not! An adults-only affair isn’t your only option. With the right mindset and strategy, you can have a perfect and kid-friendly wedding too!

When managed properly, children can bring a unique charm and joy to any occasion, most especially weddings. Don’t miss the chance to see these balls of sunshine in the cutest suits and dresses! Here are some tried-and-tested ways for you to have a completely kid-friendly wedding.

5 Tips for a Kid-Friendly Wedding

1. Have a Kid-Friendly Menu

Photo Credit: Jose Villa on Snippet and Ink via Lover.ly

One way to keep children well-behaved is by making sure that their tummies are satisfied. But kids can be very picky when it comes to their food! So ask your caterers if they offer a Kid’s Menu. This will not only please your little VIPs, but also cut down your food budget since kids’ meals are cheaper than the normal plate. Win-win!

Another sure-fire hit is a dessert bar filled with a variety of treats that would satisfy not only the kids but also the adults on your guest list. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone! 

2. Keep ‘em busy!

Since kids get bored easily, make sure there are activities for them to do while the ceremony or the program is ongoing. It can be anything from providing coloring books or board games, to having them play junior photographer! This is an almost fool-proof way to keep your kid-friendly wedding exactly that.

Try out these free printable activity books here and here.

3. Set up a play area

If your venue (and budget) permits, designate an area where your little VIPs can hang out during the reception. Decorate this area with toys, books, and more fun activities. This way, they can also have a grand time at your kid-friendly wedding.

4. Get creative with loot bags

Loot bags are a staple at children’s parties. Why not prepare “For Kids Only” loot bags filled with different fun and yummy goodies? Inject your personality into it by filling these bags with not only food, but also your favorite childhood toys! If you are a 90’s kid, think about adding jack stones, yo-yos, Mik-Mik, Haw-Haw, Pintoora and the like! But we’d recommend staying away from the plastic balloons—remember how difficult those were to get out of clothing?

5. Give them a role to play

If you’re including kids in your entourage, find time to meet them or call them up to personally orient them about their roles. Accompany them during their fitting and have them practice their walk and smiles. Showing them how excited you are can help get them excited too. It allows them to prepare to do their part, and helps prevent sudden attacks of fear or shyness on the actual wedding.

But because they are kids, make sure you have a plan B! Maybe their dad or mom can help them walk down the aisle, or a favorite adult of theirs can help cheer them up before the procession.

The best way to know which idea will work is for you to put yourselves in the children’s shoes. We were all kids once (and maybe still are kids-at-heart) and have been in these situations at some point too. Just think of what you would have appreciated then. We’re sure that, when you make these small adjustments to have a kid-friendly wedding, the children (and their parents) will appreciate how much you treated these little ones as VIPs too. Hurray!

Are you planning to have a kid-friendly wedding too? Share with us your own tips in the comments section below!

The post Kid-Friendly Wedding: 5 Ways to Manage Your Little VIPs appeared first on The Top Knotters.

There are millions of pages and threads devoted to discussing bridal makeup. If you’re not careful, you could get sucked into a time vortex just reading one article after another. But since time is gold and we have limited supplies of both, we thought you’d like to hear from some of the country’s most sought-after makeup artists and get the answer once and for all. Airbrush or traditional? It’s not as easy as you would think. Read on for precious insights, straight from our Top Knotters!

Bridal Makeup Battle: Airbrush vs. Traditional

The Case for Airbrush Makeup

At The Top Knotters, we’d never recommend for you to go with the trend if it weren’t suited to you. So even though airbrush for bridal makeup is hot, it’s not something we’d instantly force upon you. But with that said, the benefits of airbrush makeup seem to outweigh its cons. Here’s what our five industry experts have to say about it.

The Pros

The Cons

Getting Away with Traditional Makeup

Fret not, though! Despite all the raves about airbrush makeup, a lot of artists and brides still use traditional bridal makeup. It’s tried and tested, and it’s still here to stay.  The following are its pros and cons, according to our Top Knotters. Find out if it’s for you!

It’s All About the Bride!

In the end, it’s as they say: “It’s the Indian, not the pana!” Makeup results vary, not just on the tools used, but also from artist to artist and bride to bride. A good MUA should be able to competently use both airbrush and traditional makeup. And even then, they all have their signature looks. That’s why reviewing portfolios and getting a test done is crucial. But above all, it’s really what the bride needs that matters most.  Bridal makeup should always be centered on the natural beauty and personality of the bride herself. So go ahead, let this serve as your guide but choose the bridal makeup that’s best for you. We’ll support you all the way!

Supplier Spotlight: Makeup Artists:  Toni Aviles | Mayone Bakunawa-Balbarin | Madge Lejano, The Makeup Studio | Jasmine Mendiola, The Beauty Strategist | Mariah Camaya Santos

Which would you choose on your big day? Vote and let us know in the comments section why!

The post Bridal Makeup Battle: 5 Professional MUAs Compare Airbrush and Traditional Makeup appeared first on The Top Knotters.