Clash of the 'Titans'

Movie title: The Wedding
Tentative Date of Release: 21st Sep 2013, Sat
Tentative set: Nativity Church, Singapore
Cast:  FG (Future Groom a.k.a The Fiance)
          FB (Future Bride a.k.a yours truly)
          Mom
          FMIL (Future Mom-in-Law)
Supporting Cast: Dad
                            FDIL (Future Dad-in-Law)
Soundtrack: 'It's Complicated' by Avril Lavigne
Alternative title: Clash of the 'Titans' ><
Coming soon provided the FG and FB is unsuccessful in their eloping attempt. (Heck, I've even given him my house key so it should be really easy!)        
     

Hufh. Nah, it's not that bad, but as with everything in Life, we gotta take it with a pinch of humor, right? Humor aside, wedding plans really are starting to be consolidated.. and phew, let me tell you my friend, it has not been an easy ride >< (oh, wait, this is just the beginning of the ride.. huhu..)

First, we both come from diverse families.. He, a Singaporean-Chinese-Filipino. Me, Indonesian-Chinese-with-parents-from-different-provinces. And, we both agreed that our wedding will really be something to make our loved ones happy, since both of us don't actually feel that it's a big deal. (For me, the 'big day' was when he proposed..so sweetly and so privately and so funnily.. that's the one moment that I will tell my daughters and grand-daughters =D )

So, if we want to please both parents it will be something like this:
1. ROM + grand church wedding + wedding march in Filipino tradition (for FMIL - devout Filipina Catholic)
2. Chinese lunch/ dinner reception (for FDIL relatives' and colleagues who are more traditional, also for FG & FB friends and colleagues)
3. Pekanbaru (Mom's hometown) wedding banquet  (Mom relatives, friends & extended family)
4. Jakarta wedding banquet (Dad relatives, friends, business associates..he has made it known that relatives alone will number around 200.. I don't know where he will procure them from >< )
5. Philippines eating & karaoke session (for FMIL relatives)

...Truly a nightmare in cost and logistics >< The thing is, we do want to make both parents happy.. They mean a lot to us, and I do really like my FMIL & FDIL, just as my Fiance get along very well with my folks. Originally, our plan was to ROM in 2013, and everything else in 2014 so we have time to plan for the logistics and save for the cost.. but complications soon arise...

FMIL: "No lah, the ROM should straight away be followed by church wedding! You should be married in the eyes of God."
(ok then, ROM + church wedding in 2013)
Dad: "Yeah, good, I support! Not right to just ROM quietly.. If Bryan wants to marry my daughter, he better be prepared to admit it to God, right? Must tie him down in HOLY MATRIMONY! That's why it's called HOLY, so he won't take a mistress! Oh by the way, you better record the vow ya.. Make sure he remember what he says to you..'
(Errrr... ok, note to self: prepare tape recorder for FG)
"By the way, daughter... since your Mom and I are more than willing to bear the cost for the Pekanbaru and Jakarta wedding... can't we have it right after the church wedding? In 2013? I mean, it's like to announce it to friends and relatives here right.. Not good for you & Bryan to live together before people know, right..."
Me: "Errr......"
That would mean my poor FDIL and his relatives will be left out until 2014! (He's a kind, more quiet man that does not want to make things complicated for us.. precisely why we really want to fulfill his wish!)


In the end, I cried on the phone and sort of threatened my Dad to just get married n everything in 2014, the key phrase being "...and then you'd have to wait longer for grandchildren..."
Dad:"Alright, alright, don't cry.. it should be a happy occassion for you.. ok, ok 2014..."

After that, my Mom called and told me about the perfect garden party she has envisioned for the Pekanbaru segment..
Mom: "Daughter! It's gonna be so cool! In Singapore you can't have this sort of thing, right? In Indonesia, we can, because we have LAND! LAND! What? You want to have it in September? Why?? Why not November??? In September our new house is not finished yet! Must finish construction of our new house to receive guest! What? It's September next year? Not this year? Ohhh.. Why so long??? Can't you ROM earlier in the year????"

>< yeah, they are in the middle of moving house...but man.. to think that my wedding date would depend on the speed of the construction!

Oh well, eventually, FMIL said it's enough to have a lunch reception after the wedding, inviting FDIL's relatives.. no need Chinese dinner. And no need to think about the Philippines. Dad & Mom said, okay, no need so grand a wedding.

Phhhhheeeeeewwwwwwww. Thing is, I've always thought as our both set of parents as quite down-to-earth and happy-go-lucky. I used to hear bits here and there about weddings nearly cancelled because one set of parents feel insulted about the other parents' action, or relatives grumbling and gossiping because they weren't given 'face'.. but I thought, "Nah, both our parents are cool and modern enough..."

Well readers, if there is one event designed to bring out the 'Titans' inside our usually easy-going parents, a wedding it is!

Wish us luck!