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Page 1: Bridal Guide 2014
Page 2: Bridal Guide 2014

O b ste trics & G y n e c o lo g y B oard C ertified S pecializing in

W om en’s H ealth C are C oncerns

643 C halan S an A ntonio, S uite 108 Tam uning, G uam 96913

Tel: 648 - B A B Y (2229) w w w .S hiehC linic.com

T h o m as Sh ieh , M D , F A C O G B oard C ertified F ellow U niversity of H aw aii K api’olani M edical C enter for W om en & C hildren A ssistant C linical P rofessor John A . B urns S chool of M edicine

• P ap S m ears & A nnual P hysicals • E arly G yn C ancer S creening & Treatm ent, H P V V accination

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A dvancing W om en’s H ealth

G reig h I. H irata, M D , F A C O G B oard C ertified F ellow M aternal F etal M edicine/G enetics U niversity of S outhern C alifornia C edars-S inai M edical C enter R otating S pecialist

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

W O M E N

’ S H E

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Y S I C I A N S

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March 2014

An annual publication of the Pacific Daily NewsMarch 2014, Volume 15

Publisher & PresidentRindraty Celes Limtiaco

EDITORIAL

Managing EditorDavid V. Crisostomo

Magazine EditorHannah Cho Iriarte

Visual EditorCid Caser

Photo Editor Masako Watanabe

Custom Content/Digital CoordinatorKarla Borja

ADVERTISING

Advertising DirectorJay Fermin Medina

Digital DirectorKaren Gayle

Creative Services ManagerRena B. Santiago

TheBridal Guide

o n t h e n e t

L o g o n t ow w w. G u a m P D N . c o mt o s e e t h i s y e a r sB r i d a l G u i d e , b e h i n d t h e s c e n e so u t t a k e s f r o m f a s h i o n s h o o t s , a n de v e n m o r e g a l l e r i e so f w e d d i n g s

12 Steps to “I Do”

Page 6,7The right rock to make her

say yes

Page 8Picking the perfect petals

Pages 10,11Sweet dreams

Pages12,13,14

Fabulous gowns

Pages 16-29

On the coverModel: Camarin MendiolaGown and accessories:World Bridal Micronesia Inc.Hair and makeup:Sontana Bo James BrubFashion and Beauty Director:Hannah Cho Iriarte

Cover design by Cid CaserPhoto by Steve Hardy/For The Bridal Guide

Contributors

Page 30From the fall of Saigon to falling in love

Page 32Do over

Page 34,35Wedding Albums

Pages 37,38

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For the ul t imate planning guide, v is i twww.guampdn.com and cl ick on ‘Bridal Guide’

Set your budget1

Your planning road map fromengagement to marriage

8Plan your

honeymoon

7Pick your

cake & caterer

Pick your weddingparty3

2 Select your theme & locations

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4

5

6

9

12

Book vendorsat Weddings inParadise show

Begin your beautyroutine

Going from Miss to Mrs.Get your paperworkin order

Enjoy yourbig day!Shop

for your wedding gown

10 Pick your

stylist

11Do your finalcheck

Page 8: Bridal Guide 2014

here are lots of ways to get a girl tosay yes — get down on one knee ina restaurant, take her to a secludedspot for an intimate moment, even

announce your love to the world witha proposal on a billboard (not always recom-mended). But, there’s one thing every proposalneeds — the ring. Before you ask for her hand,make sure you’ve got the ring that will make herswoon — and say yes.

How to buy the perfect ringIf you’re going the traditional route, diamonds

are a must-have for the engagement ring. But notall diamonds are equal. Here is what you shouldtake into account before you buy.

The four C’s

Cut There is an array of dia-

mond shapes — from princesscuts to emerald cuts — butthat’s not the only thing youshould take into account. Lookat the quality of the cut. Cutsare graded from ideal to poor,based on how much light theyreflect. A well-cut gem willmake even small s tonessparkle — but the shine comesat a cost.

ClarityThe most ex-

pensive dia-monds have thefewest imper-fections insideand on thesurface. Be-fore purchas-ing, you canask aboutthe dia-m o n d ’ sgrade andcompare it to other stones of thesame grade. But keep in mind thatmany of the imperfections in lower-gradediamonds are invisible to the naked eye. So

buying the most expensivering doesn’t necessarily meanyou’re getting a more beautifulone.

ColorDiamonds can range from col-

orless (the most expensive) tolight yellow. If you’re going forsparkle, a colorless diamond —which reflects the most light —is the way to go. But noteveryone wantsthe brightestand whitestd i am o n d .Choose what

you think she wants, not justwhat is considered the mostvaluable. And while white dia-monds are the most well-known,the stone comes in a variety ofcolors — everything from blackto pink.

Carat The size of the diamond is the

first thing she — and everyoneelse — will notice. That does-n’t mean bigger is better —but it’s important to know whatcarat — or weight — you’regetting. If you’re on a budget,a bigger stone might mean sac-rificing quality in clarity or cut.Compare prices before shellingout big bucks for a Cadillac-sized ring. Also, keep in mindthat while some girls want the bigrock, others might be more inter-ested in something subtler.

Choose the perfect bandThe kind of ring and setting you

choose are also critical components. Ifyou’re looking for something traditional, goldoffers a classic look. Depending on what it’s

alloyed with, gold can come inwhite, yellow and rose. Al-

though the gold standard is24 karats — or 100 percentgold — pure gold is typi-cally too soft for jewelry.More durable options are18-karat gold — which is 75percent pure — or 14 karatgold at 58 percent pure. The

more expensive platinum, whichgives off a white sheen, is a popu-

lar choice and considerably harderthan gold. It’s often 90 to 95 percentpure.

The right matchTake a look at what’s already in

your lady’s jewelry cabinet. If she’sgot a lot of large or ornate pieces, you can

be certain she’ll like a big, showy rock. Ifyou never see her wear jewelry, think aboutsomething that she’ll be comfortable wearing.

Know her ring sizeBefore taking home the perfect ring, make

sure you’ve got the correct ring size. The eas-iest way to do this is borrow one of her rings(make sure it’s one that fits her ring finger),and take it to the jewelry store.

Paying for itBuying that engagement ring isn’t just an

emotional investment — it’s a financialone. Before putting down a lot of cash, de-cide on a budget and stick to it. Whenyou’re in the store, be wary of salespeopleupselling you on a ring you can’t afford.

By Erin ThompsonFor The Bridal Guide

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On the netThe Diamond Buying Guide: www.adiamondbuyingguide.comThe Knot: www.theknot.comGem Encyclopedia: www.gia.edu

Blue Nile: www.bluenile.com/diamonds/diamond-education

American Gem Society: www.americangemsociety.org/diamond-buying-101

Price Scope: www.pricescope.com

T

Photos by Masako Watanabe/The Bridal Guide

Let it shine: A selection of en-gagement rings and weddingbands from Vince Jewelers.

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Whether you havegrand designsfor botanicalbliss, or a pref-

erence for sweet simplicity, thereare a few important steps to takewhen it comes to choosing theflowers for your wedding.

From quirky craspedia to ro-mantic roses, flowers are a time-less design piece that will leave alasting impression on your guests.

Couples traditionally use freshflowers for the bouquets of thebride, bridesmaids and attendants;for corsages of the mothers; andfor the boutonnieres of thegroom, groomsmenand fathers, saysE u g e n eAflague, co-owner of

the floral design company BlackTie. Couples may also choose togive flowers to their grandparentsand godparents.

Additionally, couples often useflowers to adorn the ceremony andreception sites. Even the weddingcake may be bedecked with freshflowers instead of a traditionalcake topper.

Choose your florist

Melanie Toves, florist manag-er at My

Secret Garden, recommends cou-ples begin working with theirflorist at least six months aheadof the wedding. But first, you haveto select one.

To start, narrow your searchdown to two or three profession-als. Maybe you loved the floralarrangements a t yourcousin’s wedding lastsummer. Or

perhaps you like a local florist’swebsite.

Next, set up an introductorymeeting to discuss your designideas. After face- to-face meet-ings, choose the florist you feel

Bouquet from Nichol 's BoutiqueMasako Watanabe/The Bridal Guide

Bouquet from Diana’s Floral Studio Steve Hardy/For The Bridal Guide

n C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 1

Bouquet from My Secret G ardenSteve Hardy/For The Bridal Guide

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will best capture your vision. Onceyou’ve made your decis ion,Aflague says most florists willhave you sign a contract and placea deposit.

Establish your budget

“The first thing my clients want totalk about is the budget,” Toves says.“I’ve had clients spend anywherefrom $500 to $2,000, depending onthe number of attendants and thestyle of the wedding.”

The types of flowers you choosewill also dictate how much youspend. “Flowers range from around$2 to $30 per stem,” says Aflague.

After discussing your ideas, yourflorist will help you establish a re-alistic budget. And if it’s limited,don’t worry. Your florist will steeryou toward flowers in your pricerange.

Design your arrangements

Once the budget’s set, it’s time toset up your design meetings. “Planfor around two to four meetings withyour florist,” Toves says.

Aflague recommends bringingpictures to your design meetings toillustrate the look you’re going for.“Many brides will bring imagesthey’ve seen online or in magazines,”he says.

Flowers are typically cho-sen based on budget, colorscheme, the client’s prefer-ence and the venue, saysToves. Your florist will guideyou toward the best choices.

Many florists offer mock-upsof the arrangements to help you fi-nalize your decision, says Aflague,so when the big day finally arrives,your wedding will be as beautiful asyou imagined.

By Jackie SmallFor The Bridal Guide

n F R O M PA G E 1 0

Bouquet from Diana’s Floral StudioLouis Paulino/For The

Bridal Guide

Bouquet fromMy Secret G ardenSteve Hardy/For The Bridal Guide

Left : Bouquetfrom Black TieFloral DesignsSteve Hardy/ForThe Bridal Guide

Bouquet from BlackTie Floral Designs.

Henr y Oftana/For The

Bridal Guide

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Ranging from show-stoppingmasterpieces to simple de-lights, wedding cakes offer

you a chance to have some fun inthe run-up to your big day.

Get an ideaStart by nailing down your

theme and color scheme. For awedding that looks well planned,décor should flow together. Thenhit the Internet and magazine racks.Whether you have a dream cakein mind or have no clue when itcomes to creative confectionary,sifting through images will help.

Once you’ve chosen a cake dec-

n C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 3

Hyatt Regency GuamTel: 647-1234Website:

www.guam.regency.hyatt.comPhotos by Steve Hardy/For The Bridal Guide

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Finding the perfectcake for your big day

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orator, show him or her the picturesyou’ve selected. Get the decorator’s in-put and listen to how he or she can adaptor combine your inspirations for a cakethat’s uniquely yours.

Choose your decoratorAsk friends and family for recommen-

dations. Wedding cakes don’t comecheap, so it’s important you’re happywith your baker. Make an appointmentto meet the staff and make sure you’recomfortable with them. Look throughimages of their work to ensure you’ll besatisfied with the final creation.

Find your flavorIndulge with your planning partners

and bite into the many different flavorsof wedding cakes. White and yelloware traditional, but that doesn’t meanyou can’t go with chocolate, red velvetor lemon. Try to go with somethingyour guests will enjoy. Flavors can al-ways be enhanced with differentcreams and frostings. Try to have theflavor complemen the rest of your wed-ding spread.

Take a lookA few of the island’s top bakers have

created some gorgeous cakes to helpget you started. A few couples alsoshare their dream cakes to help youfind yours.

Before meeting the decorator

After you confirm your wedding themeand venue, book an appointment withyour baker three to six months in ad-vance of your wedding date.Decide on a budget before the meet-ing and stick to it.

For the cake

l Look at magazines or on the Internetto get ideas.l Go into the meeting with ideas forstyle and flavor. Make sure the cakematches the theme of your wedding.l Have an idea of how many people itwill need to feed. l Talk with the decorator about caketoppers.

For the decorator

l Ask for, and call, the decorator’s ref-erences.l Ask about delivery and if there areextra charges.l Make sure your cake decorator has abusiness license and sanitation permit.l Make sure to talk through the pay-ment schedule with the decorator.

n F R O M PAG E 1 2

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Laling’sTel: 477-4737

Email: [email protected]: www.lalingscakes.com

Photos by Masako Watan-abe/The Bridal Guide

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SugarnomicsTess Yao

Address: 951 Marine CorpsDrive, Tamuning, GU 96931

Tel: 649-2253 (cake)Email:

[email protected] by Masako Watanabe/

The Bridal Guide

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Whether you cry, shout orsmile, you know when

you’ve found your wedding gown.It’s the gown you’ll wear whenyou pledge to love and honor yourspouse till death do you part. It’sthe gown you’ll wear when alleyes are you. Finding that perfectgown starts here.

Flip through these pages for in-spiration and find the gown thattakes your breath away.

For more photos, log on towww.GuamPDN.com and clickon “Bridal Guide.”

The Bridal Guide

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Models: Lirone Veksler and Micah Carlos

Wardrobe: World BridalHair and makeup: Makeup byIowani J. Unpingco, hair byChristina Brownlee Keyes

Bouquet: My Secret GardenLocation: Umatac Bay OverlookCar : Super formance MKII I Co-bra No.1 of 20 courtesy of Dr.

Thomas ShiehPhotographer : Steve Hardy,

IMG Studios

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18 Models: Camarin Mendiola (2013 Miss World Guam)and Hayato Atal ig

Wardrobe: World BridalHair and makeup: Sontana Bo James Brub

Bouquet: Black Tie Floral DesignsLocation: Pr ivate residence

Photographer : Steve Hardy, IMG Studios

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Model: Al ixes Polendey Scott (2013 Miss Universe Guam)Wardrobe: World Bridal

Hair and makeup: Skye Shin, Entre NousBouquet: Diana’s Floral Studio

Location: LeoPalace ResortPhotographer : Louis J. Paulino, Innovision

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Models: Misak i Igarashi and Jon MateoWardrobe: LeoPalace ResortHair and makeup: Skye Shin, Entre NousBouquet: Diana’s Floral StudioLocation: LeoPalace Resort chapelPhotographer : Steve Hardy, IMG Studios

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Models: Kasandra Quintal and Brannon PerezWardrobe: LeoPalace ResortHair and makeup: Sontana Bo James BrubBouquet: My Secret GardenLocation: LeoPalace bowling al leyPhotographer : Steve Hardy, IMG Studios

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Model: Chantel TingzonWardrobe: Courtesy of Steve Hardy

Hair and makeup: Iowani J. UnpingcoBouquet: Nichol ’s Boutique

Location: Masso River, Pit i ; and Ga’an Point, AgatPhotographers: Masako Watanabe, The Bridal Guide

and Steve Hardy, IMG Studios

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Model: Taylor Jul ienWardrobe: World BridalHair and makeup: Makeup by Kyle Stephen Mesa, hair by Christ ina Brownlee KeyesBridesmaids: Hair and makeup by Christ ina Brownlee KeyesBouquet: Black Tie Floral Designs Location: Plaza de España, HagåtñaPhotographer : A.H. Oftana

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Hair and MakeupEntre Nous SalonSkye ShinFiesta Resor t, Tumon Tel : 647-6687, 646-5880 ext. 1889,649-7593Email : [email protected]

Sontana Bo James Brub

Iowani J. UnpingcoTel : 483-1682Email : [email protected]

Christina Brownlee KeyesEmail : [email protected]

Kyle Stephen Mesa

LocationsLeoPalace Resort221 Lake View Drive, YonaTel : 471-0001

Talo Verde EstatesTamuning, Guam

Sella Bay trail headAgat-Umatac, Guam

Masso RiverPiti , Guam

Ga’an PointAgat, Guam

Plaza de EspañaHagåtña, Guam

PhotographersA.H. OftanaTel : 929-5400Email : [email protected] site: www.oftana.com

Louis J. Paulino, InnovisionTel : 687-7706Email : [email protected]

Steve Hardy Photography, IMGStudiosTel : 482-1116Email : [email protected]

Masako WatanabePacif ic Daily NewsTel : 479-0425Email : [email protected]

Special thanks toJanelynn Quichocho, World BridalJeorgette Cruz, World BridalJason JD I r iar te, Guam International Fi lm FestivalChet Neri , LeoPalace ResortJon Mateo, LeoPalace ResortShasta Cejoco, Hyatt Regency GuamDr. Thomas Shieh, Dr. Shieh’s Cl inic& Associates, Inc.Joe Marchal, Internaional SportsCenterJerry Rocco

Fashion and Beauty DirectorHannah Cho I r iar te

ModelsLirone VekslerMisak i IgarashiAlixes Scott

Camarin MendiolaChantel TingzonTaylor Jul ienKasandra QuintalBrannon PerezHayato Atal igMicah Carlos

GownsWorld Bridal Micronesia, Inc.Tumon Bay Business Center Suite 2F919 Pale San Vitores Road Tel : 647-0003 Email : [email protected] [email protected]: www.worldbridal.co. jp

LeoPalace Resort221 Lake View Drive, YonaTel : 471-0001Email : [email protected]: www.guam.ne.jp

TuxedosWorld Bridal Micronesia, Inc.Tumon Bay Business Center Suite 2F919 Pale San Vitores Road Tel : 647-0003 Email : [email protected] [email protected]: www.worldbridal.co. jp

LeoPalace Resort221 Lake View Drive, YonaTel : 471-0001Email : [email protected]: www.guam.ne.jp

FlowersDiana’s Floral StudioBehind Atk ins Kroll in Tamuning Tel : 649-0411Email : dianas.f lor [email protected]

My Secret Garden230 West Soledad Ave. HagåtñaGuamAcross the Agana Boat Basin Tel : 477-7736Website: www.mysecretgardenguam.com

Black Tie Events & Floral DesignsVictoria Building 110 San Ramon,Hagåtña, Guam96910 Tel : 475-4843 Cell : 777-1024

Nichol’s Boutique207A, Route 4, Hagåtña Tel : 472-2840 Fax: 477-0739 Email : [email protected]: www.nicholsboutique.com

CakesLaling’s Cakes557 Chalan Macjana, Agana Heights Tel : 477-4737 Email : lal [email protected] Website: www.lal ingscakes.com

SugarnomicsTess Yao 951 Marine Corps Drive,TamuningTel : 649-CAKE (649-2253) Email :[email protected]

Hyatt Regency Guam1155 Pale San Vitores Road, TumonTel: 647 1234 Email : [email protected] Website: www.guam.regency.hyatt.com

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Lylan Nguyen and Phat Le havebeen partners for the last fourdecades — in business, familyand love. Nguyen and Le, whoseparately emigrated from Viet-

nam in the 1970s, arrived on Guam with fewresources, little knowledge of English and noidea they would find, in each other, their part-ners for life.

Far from homeLe arrived with other refugees in Guam in

1975 after the fall of Saigon. A member of theVietnamese navy, he was concerned aboutreprisals from the commu-nist government.

“His father saidyou better go, be-cause, it’s not going tobe a good place foryou after the commu-nists come,” Nguyensays.

In his first years onGuam, Le found jobswhere he could —working as a farmer,waiter — doing what-ever could put food onthe table. While the tropi-cal weather was familiarand the people were friendly, adjusting to Guamwas a challenge for Le. He had trained in SanDiego during his time in the navy, but stillstruggled with English.

“He was kind of lonely, far away fromhome,” Nguyen says. “And he didn’t knowwhen he was going to see family in Vietnam.”

All that changed in 1977, when he metNguyen while she was working at a restaurantin the ITC building.

“When you see someone who speaks thesame language, you feel close to them,” shesays. “It can bring out a friendship.”

A special bondNguyen had arrived that year from Vietnam,

where she had worked at an American militarybase exchange. She and Le bonded over theirshared war experiences — and her cooking.

“He really liked the food I cooked,” shesays.

The two began dating, started a family, andby 1981, they had saved up enough money to

start their own business — a grocerystore called Dededo Retail Store. Lemanaged the day-to-day operations,while Nguyen oversaw their householdand helped out with the accounting.Running a business took practice anddedication.

“At first we needed to learn,” shesays. “We had to buy a lot of books onhow to do it.”

All for loveAlthough the couple began their

business life and family soon aftermeeting, they didn’t tie the knot untilyears later. Nguyen says the delay wasmore practical than emotional.

“At that time, we were still new to the is-land,” she says. “We didn’tknow what to do.”

They finally said “I do”in an informal ceremonyin 1984. There was nogown and the couple cel-ebrated with only about15 friends at a restaurant.

“It doesn’t matter,” shesays. “True love. Truehearts understand eachother. We were willing toshare the life together. Itdoesn’t matter up or

down, poor or rich.”

Family f irs tNo matter what challenges come their way,

the two remain committed to working outtheir differences through honest com-munication.

“If you don’t speak it out it’snot healthy,” Nguyen says.

The two credit their suc-cessful relationship to al-ways putting other ’sneeds first.

“I think about mywife and my chil-dren,” Le says. “Idon’t think aboutmyself.”

While theirb u s i n e s sthrived,the Lea n d

Nguyen raised a son and two daughters.Nguyen says they didn’t put pressure on theirchildren to take over the family business. Theyhave gone on to see their son become a lawyerand one daughter graduate from West Point.

“It’s a dream to us,” Nguyen says. “I havereally good children. I have to say, we are avery, very happy family.”

By Erin Thompson

For The Bridal Guide

Phat Le and Lylan Nguyen sit down to dinner in 1992.

The Le family enjoy quality time together.

From left, Dianna Le sitting on Phat Le’s lap,

Dannis Le, Lisa Bolden and Lylan Nguyen.

P h a t L e a n d L y l a n N g u y e n c e l e b r a t e f o u r d e c a d e s o f p a r t n e r s h i p

From the fal l o f Saigon to

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Even withthe per-fect dress,the beautiful flowersand the romantic firstdance, there are boundto be some things you

wish you could have done differently. So you can learn from their experi-

ences, here’s what some brides — and agroom — would change about their bigday if they could do it all over again.

Don’t go into debt

l Laura Gutierrez, human resources managerl Married to Chris Gutierrez, owner and instructor of Conde Koma Brazilian Jiu-JitsulWedding date: June 7, 2008

Gutierrez knows every bride dreamsof having the most beautiful wedding, nomatter what the cost. However, sheknows that the financial aspect is oneof the most important parts of planninga wedding.

“No one should have to start their newlife as husband and wife in debt,” Gutier-

rez says. “For me, I feel that I got a lit-tle carried away with some items. I lookback now and realize that I could havedone without some things.”

While Gutierrez loved the second dressshe purchased, the live musicians at theceremony and the upgraded glasswareand linens, she knows it wasn’t those de-tails, which came with hefty price tags,that made her wedding perfect.

“It was my amazing wedding party andfamily that were there for us that made itperfect,” Gutierrez says.

To avoid any money mishaps, Gutier-rez recommends setting a budget withinyour limits and sticking to it.

“You don’t want to continue the stresswith more debt after your wedding day,”Gutierrez says. “You’ve already complet-ed the greatest challenge: finding yourlife partner.”

She also suggests prioritizing yourbudget based on the top three to five“must-have” items on your list.

“Spend more on what’s important toyou and cut back, or eliminate, the thingsthat aren’t.”

n cont inued on page 35

34

If I could

R o b e r t & J e n e e H o f f m a n

C h r i s & L a u r aG u t i e r r e z

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Have enough t ime to plan

l Jennifer Mendiola, teacherl Married to Mark Mendiola, University ofGuam’s endowment directorlWedding date: July 28, 2002

Jennifer Mendiola had about four monthsto plan her wedding.

“If I could do it over, I would have moretime to plan,” Mendiola says.

From the start of her planning in April toher wedding in July, Mendiola remembershaving to rush everything. For her, the hur-ried preparations made the outdoor weddingceremony especially difficult.

“It rained on our wed-ding day,” Mendiola says.“We had to figure outthings last-minute, suchas who was going to bringthe canopy.”

Looking back, Mendi-ola feels she could’vebeen better prepared if shehad more time to plan.

“If we had more time,we would’ve shoppedmore regarding a place tohold our reception, wewould’ve done more withthe wedding favors and wewould’ve been able to takecare of other things,” Men-diola says. “My biggestsuggestion is to take sometime to plan your wedding.It’ll pay off in the end.”

Take t ime for yourself

l Robert Hoffman, Sinajana mayorl Jenee Hoffman, human resourcesl Wedding date: November 12, 2013

Robert Hoffman remembers the crazinessof his wedding. From greeting the guests tothanking everyone for coming, Hoffman saysit’s easy to get lost in everyone else on yourbig day.

“It was a great day for us and everyone wewanted to have there was there,” Hoffmansays. “But we were so busy making time forothers that we didn’t really make any time forourselves.”

If he could do it again, Hoffman wouldfocus a bit more on his own wedding expe-rience, including giving his wife time for herfather-daughter dance.

“Everything just happens so quickly andso fast, but it’s important to remember it’sabout you two and everyone celebrating yourmarriage,” Hoffman says. “When it comes toplanning your reception, make sure you maketime for things that are important to both ofyou, such as the father-daughter dance.”

Some things are out of your control

l Shelly Calvo, businesswomanl Married to Paul A. Calvo, executive vice presi-dent and general manager of Calvo’s InsurancelWedding date: December 12, 2010

For Shelly Calvo, her destination weddingceremony was all she could’ve dreamed for.

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” Calvo says.“I was just so focused on the fact that I wasgetting married to the love of my life. That’sthe true meaning of getting married.”

When it came to her reception back on is-land, the only thing she would’ve changedwas beyond her control.

“The weather wasn’t fa-vorable,” Calvo says. “Itwas the day of the tsunami.We had to do the receptionsetup all over again thenext day.”

While there are somethings you might not beable to avoid when itcomes to your wedding,Calvo’s best advice is toplan to avoid any majordisaster.

“Planning ahead willsave you a lot of moneyand headache,” Calvosays. “A lot of the time,it gives you room tomake better choices.”

Get a good photographer

l Danielle Leon Guerrero Gutierrez,dance instructorl Married to Howard Gutierrez,real-estate appraiserlWedding date: June 9, 2012

From the dress to the peo-ple who attended, DanielleGutierrez loved how herwedding came together.

“You just really getcaught up in the whirl-wind of the momentwith the man you loveand getting married tohim,” Gutierrezsays. “That’s theonly thing thatmatters.”

But in allthe excite-

ment, the small details of the wedding day canget lost. Because of this, Gutierrez knowshow important it is to have a good photog-rapher to capture your big day.

“A big investment is a photographer,”Gutierrez says. “No matter the price of thephotographer, get the best.”

For Gutierrez, the wedding photographershould be one of the things you’re willing tospend most on.

“The flowers go away, the table pieces goaway and the cake will go away. But yourphotos and videos won’t,” Gutierrez says.

“You’ll always have the memories to lookback on and those videos to reminiscethrough.”

By Amanda BlasThe Bridal Guide

n cont inued from page 34

H o w a r d &D a n i e l l e G u t i e r r e z

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37Melissa and John Camacho

Wedding date: December 21, 2013Ceremony: Mt. Carmel ChurchReception: Borja residence, Yigo

Photographer: John Balbin

Wed

ding

Alb

ums

Jesse Pinkstonand

Derick SantosWedding date: Febru-

ary 25, 2013Ceremony and recep-tion: Meskla on the

CovePhotographer: MyongHong, Prodigy Studios

Irene Ebuen and Rhoan SahagunWedding date: May 31, 2013

Ceremony: Saint Anthony and Saint Victor Catholic ChurchReception: Hotel Nikko Guam

Photographer: Steve Hardy, IMG Studios

For more wedding albumsubmissions, go

to guampdn.com

Page 38: Bridal Guide 2014

Joleen and Keith BazaWedding date:  October 12, 2013

Ceremony: Nuestra Señora De La Paz y Buen Viaje

Reception: Polaris PointPhotographer: Ray Calma Photography

38

Wedding Albums

Jenee and RobertHofmann

Wedding date: November 12, 2013Ceremony: St. Fidelis Friary

Reception: Westin Resort GuamPhotographer: Expressions Studio

Boots Bonifacio and Jeffrey Lee LambrechtCivil ceremony: June 1, 2013, at Meskla on the Cove

Wedding date: July 6, 2013Ceremony: Parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary Antipolo City, Philippines

Reception: La Huerta Estate, Antipolo City, PhilippinesPhotographer: George Padua

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Open Mon-Sat 10AM-6:00PM Sun 1PM-5PM

Tel: 649-3831

Located at the Harmon Industrial Park

[email protected]

we accept:

Page 40: Bridal Guide 2014