Tag: Relationships

marriage, Practical Advice, Practical Living, Relationships, Spiritual Reflections

Post-Wedding Reflections

IngridNieto.Com

43350150_10157407532297366_5580998358325002240_n

If you asked Ingrid three years ago if she envisioned herself tying the knot, she would outright tell you–NO. It’s been an interesting journey from being a lovestruck teenager who couldn’t wait to find true love, getting my heart broken, being made to hope and then finally surrendering to God in the area of relationships. I settled into my single life, enjoying and living every moment of it. I wore the NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth) tag like a badge of honor, thinking “No man has ever come close and all the others who tried were just not serious.” I envisioned myself devoting my life to media and ministry, traveling the world and just living the single life to the hilt AND THEN DAVE HAPPENED. If you watched these videos, I talked about how I came to a point of confusion. How I was already happy as a single but then I began developing feelings for Dave. I asked God if I was sinning and during my plane ride to Singapore then, I felt the Lord assure me that it was okay. That Dave was from Him. Some people thought our romance was a whirlwind: We became a couple in October 2017, Dave proposed in January and we tied the knot on the exact day of our first year together.

Looking back, I really saw God’s involvement in everything: from the schedules, to the suppliers, the venue, financial provision and the availability of people we chose to be a part of our wedding day. The wedding planning was also an avenue for God to teach us about the essentials of the covenant of marriage. See, we had a very intimate wedding of just 80 guests. Of course it was daunting to put the guest list together. “Baka sumama loob nito pag di natin siya ininvite.” “Should we include him/her? Kilala ba niya tayo talaga or baka acquaintance lang?” Dave and I both are practical with our finances. We could have gone with a 250-person guest list but how would that affect our life after the celebration was over? We wanted to cover our bases, meaning after ng wedding, kailangan sigurado na may pambayad kami ng housing and utilities namin, our transportation, basic needs and the other things for us to build our home. There is nothing wrong with those who choose to splurge on their wedding day–that is your wedding, this is ours. That is your budget, we also have ours. 🙂

I guess through this whole process, one thing I can impart to fellow brides (and grooms) is to not be pressured to mount an extravagant wedding just because someone you know did so. Do not be pressured to avail of all the wedding trends just because a lot of couples have been getting them too. One question that I found very helpful every time I was tempted to avail of a wedding add-on was this: “Will the wedding not push through, if this were not included?” (Hindi ba matutuloy ang kasal kung wala yan?)

It’s been several weeks since we said our vows. As we joyfully build our home together, we’ve been affirmed that we made the right choice to prioritize our life after the wedding day, without any fear of huge debts or the fear of not having enough to sustain our daily living.

 

marriage, Relationships, Video Blog

#WeddingVlog03 The Marriage License Process | INGRID NIETO Vlogs

IngridNieto.Com

You can’t get married if you don’t have a marriage license! 😀 Before applying for anything, we suggest securing all of the requirements since that takes a bit of time. You need to furnish a certified true copy of your birth certificate and CENOMAR, which you can order online and pay via credit card from http://www.psaserbilis.com.ph. You can get your barangay certificates and CTC/cedula at the barangay hall (at your place of residence).

One of the requirements for the marriage license application is the pre-marriage counseling certificate, meaning you have to attend the pre-marriage seminar first at your City Hall and then get the certificate right after. You will need to submit this along with the other requirements. Just so it’s easier, here’s the step by step process:

1) I called the city hall, asked for the available slots and paid for the pre-marriage counseling fee (P100)
2) We attended the scheduled seminar from 8am-12nn. While waiting for the certificate, we were taught how to fill out the marriage license application forms (4 copies, hand-written by both the groom and bride)
3) Once we received the certificate, we went to the cashier, paid for the fee (it’s P200, folks. Please make sure you check the change given to you and keep the receipt) and went to the City Civil Registrar section and submitted the requirements:
-Pre-Marriage Counseling Certificate
-Birth or baptismal certificate (both the bride and the groom)
-Cenomar (both the bride and the groom)
-Barangay Clearance
-CTC/Cedula
-1×1 photos (bride and groom)
-Marriage license application form

4) We were then given a reference number and had to come back after 10 days to get our license
5) After they post the notice for 10 days, return to the City Civil Registrar and then give your reference number. The marriage documents will be handed over to you, sign the receiving log and off you go! Please take note that the marriage license is valid only for 120 days. You have to get married within that allotted time or you will need to reapply again.

Kindly check the website of your own city hall, just to make sure. There are also additional requirements if you:
a) are a widow/widower
b) are a foreigner
c) have gone through divorce or annulment
d) are 18-25 years old

Practical Advice, Speaking, Video Blog

HAVE YOU TRIED CONFRONTING SOMEONE?

IngridNieto.Com

Confrontation is always seen in a negative light. When you say CONFRONTATION, images of cat fights, screaming and insults may come to mind but it doesn’t always have to be violent. Confrontation can be used to clarify things, communicate feelings so things can be better.

Practical Advice, Relationships, Video Blog

ON GOSSIPERS AND RUMORMONGERS

IngridNieto.Com

It’s important to be careful and discerning of things we are told. No matter how tempting it is to get into all the juicy details, there are three sides to every story. When you are on the receiving end of gossip, it’s best to pause and ask yourself:

  1. What do I get out of this information? How will it help me if I know this?
  2. Am I directly involved? Can I talk to the person to clarify the truth?
  3. Is it necessary that I spread this around?

Also when it comes to gossipers, remember that if they can gossip about others, they can definitely gossip about you.

Relationships, Spiritual Reflections, Video Blog

GOD WROTE OUR LOVE STORY

IngridNieto.Com

So for the first time ever, I introduce you all to my boyfriend Dave! In this video we talk about our journey as we sought God, surrendering control and letting Him just write our story.

A lot of you are probably wondering: “Wasn’t she a #HappySingle? What made her get into a relationship?” I asked myself the same thing when I was discovering my feelings for Dave. I’ve come to a point in my single life wherein I was already okay with just me and God but sometime in 2016-2017, I opened myself up to the idea of relationships but struggled with it. In my head I was thinking: “Lord, okay… I’ll be open but I don’t want to be with someone who will hurt me. You know how I’m scarred by the stories of my friends when it comes to adultery, third parties/infidelity, etc.”

I was fearful. I held on to the single life like a shield until it became an idol in my heart, which God had to break. In 2014, prior to surrendering in the area of relationships to the Lord, one of the last entries I had in my prayer journal was for my God’s best. I forgot all about that prayer when I embraced being single for the Lord. When Dave laid down his intentions, I revisited my past prayer journals and came across THAT PRAYER. I teared up upon realizing that Dave was all of that and so much more. As our friendship deepened and as I got to spend more time with him, I saw how the Lord mindfully molded his character, skills and love for the Word. Wish I could say more but the videos below are here to explain everything. 🙂 Enjoy watching and God bless you!

*Special mention: Greenhills Christian Fellowship, Metro 9 and Balai Indang. :p

HappySingles, Video Blog

HANGING OUT? NO-LABEL RELATIONSHIP?

IngridNieto.Com

Ever come across people who say they’re just “hanging out” with someone but they’re actually acting like a couple and doing things that are supposed to be for those who are in a LEGIT RELATIONSHIP? How about those who say “We don’t want to put a label on what we have right now.” Ugh! This month’s Happy Singles video says it all. ENJOY!

Practical Advice, Video Blog

PARA SA MGA SINGLE THIS VALENTINE’S

IngridNieto.Com

Got no date this Valentine’s Season? Still single? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Watch the video to see what you can do to combat loneliness and avoid self-pity this love month.