DISCOVERY WEEKEND

[playingmonalisa]

Hi just recently attended DW, it's worth it. The objective or focus of the retreat is on the two of you. We are discouraged to mingle with other couples during the activity to spend more quality time with our partners. To discussed things that were never talk about, they gave us tools on how to handle confrontaion, they are married couples who shared their experiences, to write love letters and so on. Sharing with the whole group is very minimal. It's more on the two of you sharing and talking, guide questions will be provided. For the price it's a reasonable price considering the location is ok, the rooms with air con and we are well fed. After the DW, we told ourself, wedding preps is fine but we were convinced that marriage preps is what's more important.

[meg1104]

^ Happy that you enjoyed your DW!

Your realization is so true also! Most couples focus on the wedding preps, to think that it is only for 1 day (wedding).
A lot of people forget the marriage preparation which is for a LIFETIME.

[emilyenchanted]

we just came from DW cebu! the experience was truly eye-opening and enlightening! no regrets talaga that we spent time and money for it we are now sure more than ever that we want to take our relationship to the next level na. socialization with other couples are minimal talaga so you focus only on your partner talaga!

[iamlanie]

sorry for the ignorance.  how soon do we have to attend DW or CEFAM? my wedding will be on feb 2014.

[andee_gurl]

Anong mas okay, CEFAM or DW?

[bagaholic_chewy]

We attended DW way back in 2007. Kami ni hubby (well, bf ko that time) e hindi rin comfy magshare ng intimate info with other people, and that was my worry before we went to DW.

What I liked about DW: hindi required ang mag-share ka sa group ng sensitive or intimate details. Minsan they ask for volunteers so kung walang magvolunteer then wala. Merong minor sharing sessions, pero very light topic lang naman. Yung ibang couples, especially sa end ng retreat, gusto magshare ng realizations nila so tumayo sila sa harap. As for us, lahat ng napagusapan namin ni hubby, between the two of us lang. Shy-type kami e, hehe..

During sessions, usually a DW couple facilitator will give a short talk muna. They'll share their own experience related to the topic. After that, you'll be given a guide then you'll spend the next hour or so with your partner, paguusapan nyo ang topic. Di ka nila papakialaman, unless tatawagin mo sila for guidance. Some topics discussed are finances, family background, future plans, etc. I believe this is especially good for couples na medyo madami pang hindi napaguusapan talaga. Tsaka practice din ng communication skills ninyo as a couple. Madali to for us ni hubby kasi we're used to talking na, and most topics, we already talked about prior to DW. But we observed some couples who struggled with the one-on-one conversations with their partner.

At the end of the retreat, there were some couples in our batch who decided to postpone their wedding. Two couples stood up in front of the group to share their realizations (which I found very brave of them to do). It turned out, they had a lot of "non-negotiables" pala, and they were so caught up with wedding preps that they somehow forgot to prepare for the marriage, so they opted to take things slow na muna and take off from their DW experience to further improve their relationship before taking it to the next level. In our case, time spent at DW affirmed our decision to get married. And I really recommend this to my friends who plan on taking their relationship to the next level.

Important to go to DW with an open mind and an open heart. And be honest when discussing things with your partner. Otherwise, it will defeat the purpose of you attending DW.

[iamlanie]

OMG, sis. so brave of them to do it talaga! im a bit afraid baka mamaya, sa DW, biglang marealize din namin to call the wedding off eh dami na gastos. waaaah

[meg1104]

^ Kaya advisable sana to attend DW early. Sana nga kahit hindi pa engaged eh. Kaya lang, reality is talagang halos lahat, engage na when they attend, may wedding date na nga.

[bagaholic_chewy]

^^ basta relax lang, if you and hubby-to-be will both be open and honest lang, then you have nothing to worry about. Sabi nga ng facilitator, no right or wrong answers naman e, kasi depende talaga sa couple yun. Kanya-kanyang dynamics yan. DW could strengthen you as a couple pa, IMO.

^ I agree. Ideally, DW should be even before couples get engaged. Para malaman din nila if ready na sila to take the leap to the next level. But yeah, reality is engaged na ang uma-attend. Yung iba nga one month or so to go na lang before the wedding.. hehe..

[anirthak09]

what's better to attend? catholic engaged encounter or discovery weekend or cana seminar? thanks!

[rikki21]

I would also like to ask the same question posted above,  which is better, catholic pre Cana seminar or Discovery weekend?

I've read good feedbacks with Discovery weekend. H2B and I plan to attend it next month maybe. Are we to early? Our wedding is on Jan 2015. If we won't take the DW or pre Cana seminar next month, next available date is Dec 2014. Baka too late naman.

[Papiseed]

I think some churches accept DW in lieu of Pre Cana Seminar and i think DW is better kasi mas personalized yung session.

[SweetheartKo]

Mga sis, may website ba itong mga to? How can we see the schedules, details and other stuff? Thanks!

[Girltalker2]

OMG, sis. so brave of them to do it talaga! im a bit afraid baka mamaya, sa DW, biglang marealize din namin to call the wedding off eh dami na gastos. waaaah

This is the reason why I posted the thread --- "are you ready for marriage".

Because in hindsight, I thought WE were ready.  He wanted to marry, NOW NA.  Something like that.  As if 150% sure.  Initially, I wanted to pursue pa my career, pero he was able to convince me.  Kaya kami nagpakasal. I was sure about him and he was as well about me.  But it turned out, we were not ready (in hindsight lang).

Never ever make an excuse na dahil ang dami nang nagastos, kaya bawal na ipostpone or hindi ituloy ang wedding.  Pera lang iyan, you can still earn it.  But the lost years if you marry wrongly, mahirap maka recover. Tapos ang pagpapakasal sa Pinas ay isang trap.  Mahirap magpa annul, unless willing kang maging corrupt at magbayad ng judge.

As to nakakahiya man, hindi na bale. Mas sad later on in life if you end up alone or have to go through the trauma of separating because of infidelity, gambling or violence.

Kaya nga lately hanga ako sa celebrity sports couple golfer McIlroy and tennis player Caroline W. Nasend na invitation, big wedding events all planned, announced. Yet they called it off this month.  The guy wasn't ready.  Kung sila nga celebrity couple, kaya nila gawin, tayo pa kaya na mga ordinaryong tao.

 

[jentotmd]

yes sis you're right, read on mga sis sa thread na pinost ni sis Girltalker2:

http://www.femalenetwork.com/girltalk/index.php/topic,283965.0.html

[deathwatchspider]

Mga sis, may website ba itong mga to? How can we see the schedules, details and other stuff? Thanks!

here sis. http://discoveryweekend.org/

[Girltalker2]

Ang mahal pala ng DW. 6K! Cheaper yung sa CEFAM, but I dunno kung ok din.

If DW or CEFAM can really prepare you as a couple, 6k is nothing compared to the amount you are to pay for the photographer, the venue, and the gowns.

[Papiseed]

Mag sched na kami for July session

[meg1104]

^^ I have to agree! What is less than 10k to prepare for MARRIAGE - a LIFETIME of commitment compared to the gowns, photo/video, caterer that will only be used for A DAY.

The program will really help the couple decide and the benefit that you'll get is PROPORTIONAL to what you will give /offer. DW can work if you take the program seriously, kung talagang pag-uusapan niyo lahat ng masinsinan and honest kayo sa isa't-isa.

Also, CEFAM's program is of course cheaper because it's live out - sa DW you have to stay there Fri - Sun. Shorter version also ang Cana ng Cefam.

Please don't ever think na super aga niyo mag DW. It is actually the best time! Yung wala pang preps na iniintindi. Yung wala pang nade-deposit. Kasi at the back of your mind "bakit ko hindi itutuloy - ang dami na namin nagastos sa deposit" Tapos busy na sa preps, kung ano-ano na iniisip. So, sayang lang ang DW.

And yes, the church and QC hall (during my time) accepted our DW certificate as Pre Cana for both. So wala na kami inulit puntahan. Just call Lala of DW office kung sakaling may problem sa certificate kung malapit na kayo ikasal (in case, super aga niyo nag DW).

[SweetheartKo]

Mga sis, pwede kaya mag pa reserve at mag bayad online, wire transfer etc? Wala kasi kaming mauutusan eh and we are both overseas. Thanks!