Wedding Date...but not quite

Today was supposed to be our wedding date, but of course with Covid-19, it was pretty much postponed a month ago to next year. Have to wait another year, which just drags and halts or planning processes. I guess luckily I moved all my essentials to the new place, so technically things would have been what they'll be like after we were married, just missing the official signing of the documents...Like I've said in my previous post, at least we're healthy and safe, and at least weddings can be moved unlike things like uni placements overseas etc

To commemorate this 'supposed wedding date', still ordered some cake (yay for Koi delivery). Both were really nice and not too sweet. Also had UberEats with local Korean food, bit more expensive, but trying to make it the most of the situation.

White peach and french earl grey

White Noise (as seen on MasterChef but cake version)

Also, thanks Shirley for these surprised housewarming succulents, they're so cute!

Hope I don't kill them (thank goodness for Blair's knowledge of taking care of plants)

Another highlight catching up with g8s, and playing Codenames online.

We both absolutely hate summer, but postponed for another 9 months...so another waiting game. Might sound ranty, but glad to still have some work, still healthy and Blair to keep me company during self-isolation.

Wedding Postponed + COVID-19 Thoughts

Wow, what a week, month, year. From bushfire, to floods, to coronavirus.

I have A LOT to say and so many thoughts bottled up, but haven't had the time to write them down until now. Whilst there may be a lot of negativity, I have to remind myself that I am still grateful to have good health and shelter over my head. So here we go...

First of all, wedding is postponed. A week ago (18th March) was supposed to be 'one month to go,' and on that night they banned gatherings of over 100 people. Blair did mentally prepare me that this might happen, since beginning of March, Ireland, Estonia, NYC amongst other countries/cities already banned gatherings over 100 people. Even just last week, for overseas people it was a 14 day quarantine, and this week it has changed to complete travel ban and weddings only can have 5 people. Everything is changing every hour of every day. Blair also did mentally prepare me beginning of February that our honeymoon may be cancelled, as even in Feb cases were popping up in Europe, which is now the new epicentre. Initially I was really sad, but since March it's gone exponentially worse, which obviously forced the government to ban travel.

So, even before the 100 people ban was implemented, we were in the process of postponing the wedding. It's just the mental energy and effort needed was too much for me to bear. Again, before the 100 people ban, I had my breakdown on March 8th, because I knew Aus would ban gatherings, and it was just so disappointing and frustrating. Been planning even before we got engaged in Feb 2019, and now the planning has to continue to Jan 2021. The process of redoing invites, chasing up RSVPs, sorting out details all over again and reconfirming everything is just time wasted to me. I was hoping to invest my time this year further building my relationship with Blair, the church and with God. Tbh, I am so over planning. I didn't even bother to start planning a runsheet, since once things were getting bad overseas end of Feb and beginning of March, I knew in my heart, the 'peak' would hit before our wedding. I really don't care if it rains, hails or shines on the wedding celebration day, or if a million things go wrong. I just want it to be over and done with. It's been dragged out for so long. I guess postponing it might mean my relatives may be able to come from overseas. I'm also glad that all the vendors relaxed their strict cancellation/rebooking policies, and we could retain our deposit and postpone to another date free of charge. Also, everyone was someone free again that date. We both absolutely despise summer, and no doubt will suffer in the heat, with melted make up, and sweat, but compared to this crisis we are currently facing, it's literally no big deal.

This ordeal has been a good reminder, particularly for me, to not focus about making it the 'perfect' or  'dream' wedding I had imagined when I was a young girl, but to remind me it's the days and years which are the most important. I was happy to settle with a registry wedding, but before the Government even announced a 5 people wedding, The Uniting Church of Australia already banned any events, official or unofficial. Since our pastor has his celebrant licence under the Uniting Church, it means we can't sign the paper or else it would be illegal. Getting a 'normal' celebrant isn't meaningful to us. So I guess the Uniting Church will lift it's ban once coronavirus has subsided. Hopefully it doesn't take until Jan 2021... Legally and for logistical purposes, we want to sign it ASAP.

With rumours last Wednesday of a potential full lockdown last Friday, Blair and I weren't taking any chances of being separated indefinitely. We already secured a rental apartment for mid March, so last week we already started to pay rent. This past weekend was literally emergency moving. Multiple Ikea trips to buy essential furniture. Moving the TV, storage shelves, heaps of computers/screens, and mattress in storage from Blair's house, moving a spare dining table and lots of bits and pieces from my house. Only moved my work clothes and some home clothes (since no one can go out, so no point moving 'going out' clothes). Luckily Blair moved all his computer gear since he needs to WFH and run multiple online tutorials from USYD and UNSW. I'm so thankful for my parents helping to clean the apartment, building and moving furniture. Timing wise, things worked out well since the bed we ordered beginning of the year was already ready to be picked up the day I moved in. Panic bought a fridge last Friday (apparently the whole truck was full of fridges, since people panic buying and need to store more food), but thank goodness we have a fridge to store basic food necessities. If we were looking for big pieces of furniture now, it would be so risky going into shops furniture browsing, and I wouldn't be surprised if they halted or slowed production in this crisis. The couch we ordered a month ago had a projection time of 4 months to make, so won't arrive till June, and probs not even later if production is halted. Due to panic moving, our home feels more like a hotel since the apartment is fairly new, and we are both way too busy to personalise it, or take knick knacks from our homes to make it more homely. Covid crisis, panic moving, apartment mess everywhere. I'll clean once we're in lockdown.

I'm thankful we didn't purchase any property, since heading into a recession and possibility losing jobs we would not be able to repay the mortgage. Even if we can't repay the rent in time, we can always ask our parents for help.

In an ideal world - but there is no ideal world, Covid 19 has been said to be economically bad as The Great Depression and WW2, and the world hasn't seen anything hit quite as bad. Anyways, in an ideal world, the 'order' of things would be to get engaged, bridal shower, get married, honeymoon, move in together. Well literally nothing is ordinary right now, with projected 2 million Australians (1 in 10) to lose their jobs. So it looks like once things start to ease, it'll be already moved in, signing of the registry/officially married, bridal shower, wedding + reception celebration, no honeymoon. The date was chosen to fit around Blair's teaching schedule and PhD commitments and for me to accumulate leave. It looks like we'll be heading into a shutdown soon, so it'll mean I'll have to use up all my annual leave, and then won't have enough for when next year comes around. No one even knows how long the shutdown would last for. Lucky I accumulated my leave from last year...I guess if I run out of AL, it'll just be leave without pay. It's ok if I was still living with my parents, but not with rent to pay...I obviously don't have the luxury of wfh, and still see people whose face is 10cm away from me. My risk of catching it from some random person at work is pretty high, so I'm glad we have this apartment, where I can isolate myself, and I don't risk infecting my parents.

Unfortunately I haven't had a single successful holiday since working. HK/Japan trip cancelled last year due to HK protests, now Coronavirus and travel ban around the world. So much money lost from honeymoon, almost all the hotels are non refundable. Some made an exception to refund the money, which was good. I should've cancelled our Qantas flights before the travel ban was implemented, because they are now offering only credit vouchers no matter what type of ticket or booking conditions you purchased. Our were refundable, and just had to pay a cancellation fee. Now, they're only offering travel credit which needs to be used in a years. Our flights just to and from Europe were not cheap, around $2.3kpp, and I don't think we have the time to fly somewhere in 2021 before the travel credit expires...so it's a sunk cost. Most of the small European flights in between countries also giving travel credits for cancelled flights. I booked through like 3 different airlines, so I doubt I will ever use them again for European flights, since who knows, some of them may just be bankrupt by the time we reach the other side of the curve, or they may not fly between the cities. Most of the flights I booked even before the crisis, only had flights to the cities I wanted around 2 to 3 times a week only. Another sunk cost, but as Blair mentioned, it's really our flight credits/non refundable hotel money keeping those families alive. At the end of the day, holidays are really a luxury and definitely not a necessity. I must admit, I'm so glad I did most of my travelling to Europe and America in 2018, and Asia in 2017. Can't go anywhere now for a long time...

I'm actually genuinely worried I'll lose my job. If there's a shut down, it means I can't go to work, and once I exhaust my AL, then go with leave with no pay, which may mean the company may start making people redundant. Again, depending on how long it'll go for. I guess in these tricky situations, it's good to work for a global, corporate company, as they probably have some back up finances compared to a small independent shop whose boss is the owner. At the same time, our global head office is in Italy, and oh gosh, the amount of deaths even with a full lockdown with military guarding the streets is just unimaginable. You see and hear it on the news, but it's just so crazy how it's spreading there...I think I'll tell my future kids ti have a job which allows you to work from home...It's also really sad to see people lose their jobs in a snap of a finger in some many areas of the work force....I'm glad I still have my job, for now...I wish I could help Blair since his tasks have increased 10x, by moving everything online in just 2 days was crazy, and so many things stuffing up, student complaints, and that's no even to starting with the PhD. We're glad that he managed to get his data collection last year, as it involves a lot fo travelling interviewing people first hand experience working remotely (and the irony now is that everyone is forced to work remotely). However, the uni's are making people redundant soon, which means less job prospects next year for when he finishes his PhD...I really hope at the end of this we are both not unemployed, one or half an income is better than nothing. Again, it's a good reminder to us to really trust the plans God made from us, and a reminder of Matthew 6 to not worry about the troubles of tomorrow. Me being always super stressed about everything doesn't help, but everything is out of our control. Just have to make the best out of an bad situation.

I'm thankful to have Blair to keep me sane throughout all this. Wedding planning is already stressing in itself, just in Coronavirus and things just explode...

Also happy that Dandelion's wedding and Happy Apple's sister's wedding could go ahead without any big dramas. Not gonna lie, it's hard to want something that I can't have right in this current climate, but it's understandable for the government to reduce weddings to 5 people now, and really important to implement social distancing. It's really in the best interest of the whole world. It's so weird seeing no chairs in the food courts and taped off with security guarding the area, shops notice outside saying how many people can be inside a store at once, and really being 2m away from everyone. What a weird time we live in...Stay safe everyone and please keep on social distancing.

Korean Wedding

First time going to a relatively traditional Korean wedding. It's interesting to see how different people/cultures do weddings, and just seeing how things are run. It was quite a cute wedding, but mainly in Korean, with some spoken English and some English translation on the screen. They chose some songs with English and Korean lyrics to sing. The sermon was quite short and also in Korean. The songs their friends sang sounded nice and cute but didn't understand. Still the First time going to an outdoor reception as well. Random thoughts in no particular order:

- Apparently according to my optom partner, it's very traditional to not have any bridesmaids/groomsmen, and both the groom and bride walk up the aisle, unlike the 'normal' way of groom meets bride at the alter/front.
- The invite didn't mention anything about gifts or money. Pretty much the invites I've or parents received for the last 10 yrs say don't gift us anything, but if you want gift money. I guess in Western culture people gift presents, and Chinese you normally give money in a red packet. Korean you just put money in envelopes, and they provide it for you at the front.
- Very traditional wedding if parents also wear traditional clothing.
- They also hired traditional stuff like clothes and props with the kneeling on mat thing, like the Korean version of a Chinese ceremony?
- Another Korean thing, they all speak Korean to each other even though their English is relatively good.
- It seems like taking a polaroid and sticking it into their guest book is becoming quite popular.
- Me being unnecessarily observant, I find Korean people in general are very rich. Fancy cars and designer handbags.

caaake

Maybe I leave to early before the cake actually gets served, or maybe for the receptions I've been to, no one knows how to serve it, cause Asians don't really serve cake(?) Idk. I guess maybe Western places divide up the cakes for you, but I've never been to a Western reception so idk about that. I'll update you guys if I ever go to a Western reception and they serve the wedding cake. I feel like it's mainly there as a centrepiece, but how can you not eat it?? That's what I find absurd when you pay 3 figures for a cake and not eat it...My 21st cake was 3 figures, and also had another cake which the venue gifted, so I ended up having my cake leftovers for dessert for the rest of the week, but for a wedding cake, I don't feel like I would be able to eat the whole thing for a week since it's meant to be shared with others, and I love sharing cake with other people.

Outdoor reception is so cute

I like how they didn't allocate names to tables, more of a communal thing. I guess for a buffet style food, you don't need to be at the same spot since it's not served in courses.

yay for Korean food (don't judge how much I eat when hungry)

There's something just nice about homemade Korean food. It's flavourful yet less oily compared to restaurant Korean food. I actually prefer home style Korean food, on the rare occasions I get to try someone's mother or grandmother's cooking.

Ty to BW for taking me along. It's definitely interesting attending weddings from other cultures. To all friends who read this, please invite me to your wedding, hehe.

First Reception

I love going to weddings, if you didn't know already. When I was young, I used to just tag along with my mum. I just like seeing other people happy and just good feels. It's always so amazing seeing a couple united under Christ. 

I liked the songs they used during the ceremony, and matching dramatic Christian music to walking down the aisle. First time going to a wedding with no program, but I guess cause they have big projector screens so can save paper.

Also first time going to a reception. There were so many tables, 27 tables of about 12 ppl each table. I  think about half of it were friends of their parents. 

Flowers which match the bridal bouquet as table decor, and they had cute bird salt and pepper shakers as bombonieres.

menu

Haven't had Chinese food in a restaurant in a while. It was mini servings for each course. It was nice, but not super filling. I guess the older you get, this sort of not-too-full stage is good, cause bloated stage is bad. (Can't believe as a kid I would always eat until I was bloated).

One bottle of red and white for each table plus oj. One of her friends spray painted all the bottles and did the table number deco. I feel like if you have friends who are willing to do stuff, you save heaps of money, but if you're like and you don't really have friends, then you either do it yourself or pay someone to do it. She now has over 54 bottles in her house, and once they touch it scratches easily. We were joking how whoever is getting married next can reuse the table deco. 

I do find the 'younger generation' are a lot more frugal, so I guess it's become more of 'the norm', but what is normal anyway? It's cute how people help each other out in weddings. Like even how to plan a wedding. Who needs a wedding coordinator /event planner when you can just ask people who have been married before you. Like I was pretty much the first out of my circle of friends to have a 21st party, and thinking of things to do etc, whereas people after me can use those ideas but don't have to think as much as to what they want to do. I feel like weddings are quite similar to 21st, just like 10x bigger/more expensive...actually my 21st wasn't cheap either...At this rate, if/when I get married, I can probs just borrow stuff from other people if they haven't chucked it, then use my 21st probs for photos....anyways....that's in the super distant future and I just need to graduate first...

King Dynasty Restaurant

cake

People were right, the cake doesn't get eaten. There just wasn't an opportunity to cut and distribute the cake...maybe at Western receptions they serve cake after dessert maybe...? It's a nice and simple cake, looked like chocolate inside when I walked past it sliced through...I guess there's no point getting something which taste good quality since people will leave before it's even cut....are fake cakes even thing...? I guess there was a lot of elderly who wanted to leave early, so they left as soon as they started the dance floor, but couldn't dim the lights or else they would trip walking out...

The best part about the reception imo are the speeches and first dance. The speeches were really touching and funny at the same time. Like her dad was quoting AMP statistics about how kids are expensive to raise ($500 000 each), so $1mil for 2, and saying what you can do with a million dollars and all these investments. At the end of the day, children are worth more investing into than the other stuff. Even though her dad isn't a Christian, I think you don't have to be a Christian to know that yes you can invest in materialistic things, but will it fulfil you? Not saying having children would fulfil you, but parents always say it's worth it. Too bad I don't have any life long close friends....which is the same reason as why I didn't have speeches at my 21st cause I have no friends...well I'm grateful that the friends I do have are still close. 

They didn't use Perfect for the first dance haha, but used a HSM 3 song, Can I have this dance? It was so sweet, and they had lifts as well! You can be a good dancer, but it's really the choreography which makes you good. It's such a cute song.

I'm just thinking how did I used to memorise 3-5min dance routines, and 2-3 routines each time (some girls have like 10 routines), but like partner dancing, all eyes are on you, and I'm like, how do you remember the steps? I guess with practice my brain would start working again in that sort of 'arts' since my brain is like always trying to memorise optomoptomoptom.

i remembered i had a dance lesson this morning! actually, i woke up 5mins before it started, so madly ate something and dashed out of the house. last week i missed out on half the dance, so i'll only be in it for half of it, oh wells, i guess less stress on my brain to memorise more things lol. the top for our new dance costume is from the shops, but it's pretty cool. something i wouldn't normally wear going out since it's a crop top, but i guess going to parties etc would be perfect.

everyoneee is getting married. my ex-youth leader got married today. she left our church about two years ago, since she broke up with another guy in church (going to do a post about people dating..lol, i have no experience), but long story short, she started dating again, and in less than two years she's married.

i think i have some idea on what i would like for my wedding after being to quite a lot now, and seeing so many people's wedding photos. you can easily see what you like/don't like. personally, i don't like pearls, beads, glittery stuff for wedding dresses. i don't like bling, but if you have nice crystals in small amounts and if it works with the dress then it looks good. i don't like lace, but wedding lace is a different story. i love wedding trains!

more and more young people are going away from the traditional asian dinner reception. i love my western food (: and now there are more babies/kids. one minute your someone's bridemaids, then you switch places and your the bride, nek minnit your kids are besties.

these marriage thoughts are also influenced by my cousin who's here for their engagement shoot. lol, thinking to far into the future.

thanks Better for visiting and for the shout (: so nice seeing you (:

my cousin is coming over next week to take wedding photos, since he met his gf while studying here and his gf was also from hk and came over here to study. he's finally getting married! he's been dating that girl for around 10 years, ever since i was in primary school. i can't believe that girl can put up with him all those years, he's one of the fussiest guys i ever know. has to eat fresh food (ie no leftovers), picky eater, so slow and fussy. eg, just recently, he whatsapped my mum to see if we have Pantene at our house for him to use. dude! you're getting free accommodation/food, what more do you want?

also, around a month ago, another one of my cousin's got engaged. he's a tad more complicated. he lives in canada so he wants his wedding there, but reception will be in hk where most of the family is. that'll happen next year, going to miss another relo wedding, before the other cousin ie the above cousin is so slow at preparations.

cousin 1 (it's actually quite inadequate to number my cousins since i still have not met all of them) is getting married in nov next year. on the last day of exams, so if i don't have exams, i still want to go! i love going to weddings (: then i'll spend nov to hopefully feb and spend chinese new years there, and hopefully go around america during that time. i seriously do not understand how people get bored overseas. spending time with so much family, family friends, friends, and by yourself. last time i went for a bit over a month, everyday was jam packed and exhaustingly fun. if i get three months to spend overseas, easyyyyyyyy. (inb4 i'm bored to death during the 3rd month).

my uncle bought back 10 boxes of packed durian from malaysia back to hk. people said it was delicious, but it was a day old, and according to my uncle, it was over ripe and no where as good as eating it falling from a tree. =/

i kind of hate it when i'm invited to a party which i would love to go, yet some other close friend has their birthday on that day....going to have more dilemmas growing up, which party/wedding/reception should i attend if they clash on the same day and both are close friends? #firstworldproblems. should just enjoy the simple uni life. lol jks, uni's going to be hectic.

i really miss cheap and delicious food from hk.

i think phys lab is a tad less stressful than chem. they allow you 20mins to be late, and partner work. despite me hating group work, i'm quite hopeless in labs, but i still like labs (:

oh, and sorry Renee. i had my lab book today and realised i had scrap paper after i left uni...not sure if scrap paper would have been much use....i have yet to go buy some exercise books.