this is the kind of look and feel that i wanted... simple yet elegant..

instructions on making a hand bouquet

STEP 1: Preparing the Flowers

Use your hands or a stem stripper to remove excess foliage and thorns, and pull off damaged or unattractive outer petals. Fill a sink or bucket with water, and holding the stems underwater use the stem cutter or knife to cut the stems at an angle about 2 inches from the bottom. Allow the flowers to drink for a few seconds with the stem ends underwater, then place the stems in a bucket filled halfway with cool water until you are ready to use them. Note: If you're working with roses and the heads aren't open yet, you can force the blooms open by placing the stems in a bucket of hot water; but only do this for a couple of minutes just before you are going to use the roses, or you might kill them otherwise. Keep the stems long while you work with them and trim them to a shorter length when you've finished constructing the bouquet.

STEP 2: Assembling the Flowers

Take one stem at a time with one hand, and use your other hand to hold the flowers in place. Assemble four flowers at an even height in a square shape -- these will be at the center of the dome. Arrange the other flowers one by one around the center flowers to create a dome shape. Note: To better see what the bouquet will look like in your hand, stand in front of a mirror as you construct the bouquet to observe how the shape is progressing.

STEP 3: Securing the Bouquet

Use a rubber band or floral tape to bind the stems at the spot where they naturally join (about 3 to 4 inches below the flower heads). Repeat the binding toward the end of the stems, leaving about 2 inches of excess stem beneath the bind to trim later. Either place the stems in water and wrap them later or continue to Step 4.

STEP 4: Finish the Handle

Cut the stem ends so they are all the same length, about 7 to 8 inches long. Dry off the stems with a paper towel. Cut a length of ribbon about three times as long as the length of the stems. Tuck the end of the ribbon inside the top bind and start wrapping in a spiral down the length of the stem. When you reach the bottom, wrap in a spiral back up the stem. At the top, tuck the cut end of the ribbon underneath and secure with a couple of pins pushed through the ribbon and into the stems. If you'd like a bow, cut a separate length of ribbon and tie it just beneath the flower heads.

STEP 5: Preserving the Bouquet

Wrap the bouquet in tissue. Store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to leave for the ceremony. For ultimate freshness, it's best to make the bouquet the morning of the wedding. Once the bouquet is constructed, keep the bare stems in water as long as you can and mist the heads well. Then when you're ready, wrap the stems.

************************************************************************************
it's easy right?~ haha i am seriously going to consider making my own hand bouquet.. hopefully it doesn't look too ugly.. :S i am also considering to make my own invitation cards... will see how it goes for this.. :) bought our wedding band last sun at campass point (met joey there too) gold heart jewellry.. we chose the ring with a simple design since h cannot wear any rings or necklance while he is working.. initially wanted to get a platinum ring because it will not turn yellowish if the ring were to be worn everyday.. but the design were so limited~! was kinda disappointed that we have to get white gold rings instead.. custom-make rings take abt 2 months which will not be in time for our solemnisation.. :( mr h finger is so small~! the smallest ring for guys were at size 16.. he wears size 15.. lol.. the rings are ready for collection now.. mr h now have to try the size again.. if its too big, we have to send the ring in for alteration.. lol.. :)

Task completed:
1) gown
2) venue
3) date
4) solemniser
5) make up artist
6) wedding band
7) ROM online registration

Task pending:
1) hand bouquet (trial and actual)
2) white heels
3) mr h's shirt
4) name list
5) invitation cards

there's still sOooOoo much to do... new things kept popping up to be done.. let's hope there's nothing that we have overlooked.. :)