While couples typically celebrate anniversaries intimately, with just each other, the Husband and I decided to throw a celebration, one with our families and another with our closest friends; friends from before we got married. This is because we realise that they are our pillars of support. We would not have made it here without them.

Our families were so encouraging and welcoming. Our friends were in it for the free food. And now, here we are, 10 years later. Still going on strong (I think?).

If you're expecting some sappy post for the Husband here, you are so wrong. I continue to be the same person who absolutely hates talking about feelings and all that corny stuff in public HAHAHA.

OK la. I give a bit.

Dear readers,

I think it's safe to say that every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day. Sorry to break it to you, bride-to-be, but THAT is no easy feat. There's more to wedding planning than venue, invites and catering. Your beauty prep timeline is also very important to ensure you look amazing and enchanting on your big day.

Having said that, I know that planning the wedding alone is already stressful, so think about your beauty prep as a way to relax and unwind. I know I had so much fun and felt so good doing my bridal beauty prep and when I accompanied my sister for hers as well!

I am writing this on the fourth week of the Movement Control Order (MCO) period because Mai asked me to blog but not about the MCO. So here's a brief recap about what happened just a few days before the MCO: My sister, Syuhada, got married! Alhamdulillah and congratulations.

Anyway, it got me to thinking about what I should write about and I thought, why not write about the things my sister and I did to prep her for her wedding! It's fun and something joyous to share during this troubled times. And some of the things can be done at home too! So have fun and enjoy!

1. Eat Healthy

I did not have any kind of diet routine for my wedding but my sister did have one for hers. The reason is because my metabolism rate is really high and also I have the opposite of stress-eating. So when I am stressed out, I lose my appetite. This is very unhealthy. So instead, I'm going to share my sister's diet.

As a Muslim, it is sunnah for us to fast on Mondays and Thursdays, so my sister did that. It's also a great way to do Qada' fasting. She actually woke me up one morning to sahur with her so I fasted too. Thank you, Syuhada.

"I went on a healthy diet - no sweet drinks, reduced my coffee intake and drink lots of water," says Syuhada. It's about being healthy because you would feel good when your insides are well taken care of.

By the way, Dr. Syuhada is a Medical Officer in the Hepatology ward. Lol.

2. Workout

Again, I did not have any kind of workout routine for my wedding. However, at that time, I was regularly playing futsal for my college, so I was super fit and healthy.

But for my sister's wedding, we were both already working. So after office hours, I would head to her place and we would do a bunch of workout videos together especially Blogilates' Bridal Bootcamp. We also did lots of cardio and worked out the sweat.

"I would do 10 - 20 minutes workouts that targets specific body parts and also 20 - 30 minutes run on the treadmill," my sister adds.

I think it's important to stress that when we say workout, it doesn't mean get skinny. It means get healthy. Your wedding day is a long day and you need the stamina to get through it and looking super amazing in your dress is just an added bonus!

3. Face

Some of us are lucky and already have great skin. So if you are the lucky few, you just want to maintain it. Do not do anything weird or try new things. There's a reason your skin is amazing, do not change your regime. Alhamdulillah, I too am the lucky few. So for me, I just went to Sothys and did their Lifeline Energizing Intensive Treatment and Hydra3ha Intensive Treatment on alternate weeks.

If you have major skin concerns like acne and uneven pigmentation, it’s best to get the situation under control well in advance. Visit your dermatologist or skin therapist and device a plan for you to get gorgeous.

In preparation for her wedding, my sister did facials almost weekly starting from two months before the wedding. The reason is because she broke out a lot before the wedding. She went for different types of facials at different places including Hannan Medispa, Herbaline, Wiwinmakes and Banyan Spa. She did extraction, peel and oxygen therapy as well as many other things to achieve that bridal glow.

Just make sure you do not do any extractions or anything extreme from one to two weeks before the wedding because some things require downtime for recovery. Don't go overboard with the treatments either, because flare-ups post-facials are likely.

Other than going to facials, your daily beauty regime is also very important. If you’ve been slacking on your skin routine, now is the time to start incorporating a more strict system. Cleanse, tone, moisturise and wear masks everyday. And don't forget to put on sunscreen every morning.

I will be blogging about my daily skin regime soon!

4. (S)pa-rty / Body


Okay. It doesn't have to be spa-rty, but we did have one! So for Syuhada's bachelorette party, we went to Ozmosis Health & Day Spa in Bangsar for the Classic Bridal Shower. There were 6 of us and Ozmosis prepared EVERYTHING including the decorations.

Syuhada and I also headed to Hammam Spa, Publika for some hammam and gomage. Every time I go, I would feel super clean and my sister felt the same way. Rasa macam tak pernah mandi sebelum ni.

There are so many other body treatments you can do. A more traditional one would include a full body massage and a floral bath. Both my sister and I have never done that but we really wish we did. Our problem was we didn't have enough time to do so much. Although, I did have the traditional Malay massage before my wedding. And it hurts! Well, beauty is pain and no pain no gain.

Planning the wedding is a lot of pressure and you need to de-stress for the wellness of your mind, body and soul. Going for body treatments is just one of the many ways you can relax and unwind.

5. Hair

Evaluate your hair needs. What style are you wearing? Try it out a few weeks before and make sure your hair is ready to be styled on the day.

My sister and I wore the hijab on our wedding day but you have to still take care of your hair. About two weeks before the wedding, my sister joined Jasyu, Mai and I at Hairkunist Hijabis, Melawati Mall after work to do our hair. It was actually an impromptu thing. Jasyu was there, colouring her hair, so all of us met up and did ours too. We did a scalp treatment to ensure we have healthy scalp and hair.

I also went to the salon for a hair wash the morning of my wedding. My makeup artist was so happy because she wanted to do an updo beneath my hijab so the veil would sit perfectly and due to the hair treatment, it was so much easier for her to style my hair. Win!

6. IPL Hair Removal & Waxing

I understand different people prefer different things such as shaving, waxing or IPL/Laser Hair Removal. If you are shaving, I recommend you do it the night before so that you do not have any stubbles from growing hair. For waxing, it is advisable for you to wax 72 hours before to ensure you do not have any redness due to irritation. If you're doing IPL/Laser, you should start about a year before as you have to go monthly and it only becomes permanent after many sessions. Cost wise, of course shaving is the cheapest followed by waxing at a salon which can be around RM200 - RM300. IPL is very costly. Laser is even more expensive. So, yeah, it's your budget and your choice.

My personal experience before the wedding, I never shave. Instead, I wax except for my underarms and upper lip which I started with laser and now I do IPL. Laser for upper lip and underarms cost me about RM700 per session. Also note that I did my laser with a very reputable cosmetic surgeon who is a Founder Member and Past President of the Malaysian Association of Plastic Aesthetic & Maxillofacial Surgeons (MAPACS) from a private hospital which is also why it was very expensive.

My first brazilian wax was a week before the wedding at STRIP Solaris Dutamas which cost me RM120. After that I continued at STRIP KLCC because I always go to KLCC.

Honestly, waxing hurts so much more than IPL and I am so glad I have stopped waxing and changed to IPL for everything but it does hurt the bank account. My first brazilian IPL was with STRIP KLCC and it was very expensive for a package of 7 sessions. However, I have now changed to Japan IPL Express and it can be really cost effective. For underarms, I paid RM99 for 12 sessions as they had this promo last year. That's RM8.25 per session!

A reminder for all of brides-to-be, please wax your fingers! I actually did not before the merisik and I am forever regretting that when I see the photos! But thank God for photoshop. My sister waxed her hands along with doing her nails.

7. Nails

Before you go ahead and do your manicure, you need to first determine what is the colour of your henna. If you are wearing white henna, then yes. Go ahead and do your mani pedi and I recommend French manicure to go with the look. My sister opted for this.

However, if you are wearing the traditional red henna, only have your nails cut and filed and clean your cuticles before henna but do not have all the oils and buffing on your nails. Your pretty buffed fingernails will not hold the henna. The henna won't stick so it would look blotchy and ugly. This has happened to my friends. Luckily for me, I did not have time to do my nails before my wedding. So my henna turned out perfectly.

8. Lash Lift

For Eid 2018, I learnt about lash lifting. I was very amazed by it because it's our natural eyelashes and there's no adding of synthetic things. I have done about 5 lash lifts and it gets better and lasts longer every time. I pushed my sister to do lash lifts in 2019 and she absolutely loves it too!

So about a week before her wedding, I managed to fit us in for a last minute lash lift appointment. It lasts about a month (or three in my case, after 5 sessions) but it's most gorgeous when it's freshly done. So set your appointment within the same week as your wedding for the best results.

9. Teeth


Your smile is one of the most important aspects of your bridal look—just think of how much you'll be grinning in all the wedding photos! So it's very important for you to get that sparkling smile just in time.

You should start by checking in with a professional. You should have a frank discussion with your dentist about what's making your teeth look dull and what you can do to get that gleaning grin. In high school, I wore braces for about 2 years and so my teeth is quite even. My orthodontist is Dr Eddy Ong of Ong Dental Surgery, Ipoh and his schedule is always FULL. I went to the clinic and told the receptionist that I really didn't mind any dentist as they have my full history on record but they gave me Dr Eddy anyway who did not charge me to clean my teeth as a wedding gift! I feel so blessed! My sister did the same for her wedding as well.

Teeth whitening is a bit costly (around RM1,000 - RM2,000) so opt for scaling (cleaning) if you don't have the budget. The Husband didn't go to the dentist but he used a special whitening toothpaste for that pearl white teeth.

While teeth whitening is often essential for showing off your whitest smile in your wedding photos, you should choose a method that works best for you—that means assessing any existing dental damage and consulting your budget.


10. Internal Beauty - Faith & Emotions

We’re living in a time where people are obsessed with planning the perfect wedding instead of planning for a perfect marriage. We should remember that a wedding is just one day – whereas marriage is for the rest of your life.

Before marriage, we have to go through a wedding crash course, kursus kahwin. I did a thorough research on the places that give the best course and for two days, I actually learnt a lot! I know a lot of people go through the course just for the sake of getting the certificate but that should not be the way. Put some heart in finding the suitable course for you and open your heart and mind when you listen to the lectures. The Husband and I practice some of the advise we received at the course even to this day.

The prayer of Istikhara (solat Istikharah) should also be undertaken in the selection of your spouse, asking Allah's guidance in choosing. I remember the clarity I felt after I did the prayer and I knew in my heart that The Husband is truly the one for me.

The reality is that marriage comes with some difficulties and some trials, so it is important that the we recognize the importance of comprehensive marriage preparation.

Hope this list helps!

I know this blog post is a few months late as our anniversary was actually in January. This year, we celebrated our fifth anniversary which never ceases to shock the world. Because five years of marriage! So how did we do it?

I honestly have absolutely no idea. We are not as we seem and even our closest friends get shocked by what happens behind closed doors. But isn't that how every married couples are like?

What I can note is that over the years, I find myself saying, "And that's why I'm married to him." Raja Nadhil Aqran is not as he seems. Don't believe his quiet and nice exterior, he can be garang when he needs to be. Haha. But he understands me and respects me and treats me as best as he can. I know that occasionally, people tell him to reign in on his wife, but he knows who he married and usually is a very chill person. We value our privacy and we are selective in the things we share to the outside. And that is also what makes our marriage perfect.



Anyway, let's stop talking about him and all the things that make him a great husband (or the things that don't). I am so not into the whole declaration of love thing. I'm shy. Haha.

During the New Year's, Nadhil wanted to go for a quick getaway just for fun. We ended up checking in at Colmar Tropicale in Bukit Tinggi and had a chill night reminiscing on our 2016 Eurotrip. While the resort was inspired by Colmar, a French countryside, it actually reminded me a little of Brugge, Belgium because of how small and cozy it is.


We checked in and headed for some pizza as we were starving from the one-hour journey. And then we headed back to our suite to freshen up for dinner. I wore a gold sequin jacket (totally over the top) just for the sake of celebration. We went to the French restaurant because only the finest for us, duh. Lol. And we just had so much fun on the short romantic getaway.

After dinner, we watched some performances in the middle of the square before we called it a night. Well, I called it a night. Nadhil ordered supper.

We woke up in the morning fresh for a morning of OOTDs and Starbucks coffee before we headed back home. While it was a non-eventful occasion, a quick getaway is amazing for that downtime you need to unwind.

Where's your favourite short getaway?

Teh Tarik For The Soul is a laid back program by DnT Bureau of LAWSOC, known for their sharing sessions. In the coming week, the Husband and I are invited to be the speakers at the session on early marriage. We do see it as an honor. However, we are very reserved in our opinions because we are a very different kind of couple compared to the usual early married couples in IIUM:

We do not encourage nor discourage early marriage.

Putting all jokes aside, I have been asked numerous times about juggling marriage and studies. While I have drafted numerous blogposts in response to FAQs and the challenges of early marriage life, I have failed to post any due to fear of offending anyone.

But after taking a lot of jabs and snide comments, we've decided to speak at the session. I will tell you the details on Instagram when everything is confirmed.

I've always wanted to go to Paris with the Husband and have a dinner date at 58 Tour Eiffel and then walk along the Seine river. So romantic! Our time has yet to come. Instead of my dream, we just stayed in KL and had fun enjoying our time together as we had a very busy schedule and also Ebby and Sha 's wedding was on our anniversary as I said on Celebrating #EbbySha 's Wedding on Our Anniversary.

This is #syadhil before we became #syadhil. Haha.

This interview was done by iMoments after our solemnization. Sorry if I sound weird. I actually, am weird. Lol. I've prepared for this post since I've received the videos but I just never came around to it. But the holidays makes it easy for me to seat down and do some editing. It's not perfect, but it is enough to get the message across.

This is a question that have been posed to me numerous times before. I have failed to answer the question because I really don't know.

So then, how did we end up getting married at 20?

The ultimate question people sometimes ask when planning a wedding is: Do you need a videographer for your wedding?

Yes. You need a wedding videographer, especially during the solemnization. You'd want to be able to see the moments. Especially if you're like me. I wanted to know about everyone who came and what was happening at my wedding. But, of course, this is my opinion.

On the downside: You’d think it was difficult to find a wedding photographer. But finding a videographer was worst. 

CONCEPT

The concept was formal, relaxed and contemporary. 

At first, I thought of going all out English style but then again you can’t have a wedding without a pelamin, they said. My initial idea was to not have one. But we had one anyway due to popular demands.

Oh, boy. This is going to be a long one. Are you ready for it?

I had been dreaming of the perfect wedding dress since I knew about wedding dresses. It's your once in a lifetime dress! It was very difficult for me to make a choice on the designer as well as the design. At one point, I didn't even know what I wanted. I just wanted to have every gorgeous dress I could find!