The moment we booked our hotel for the reception, Mark and I
decided to get the Honeymoon package
on their wedding packages. However, after checking the rooms that are inclusive
on their packages - everything had changed and we decided to shed and invest
more peso power for our hotel room accommodation. Being an internet savvy bride
to be, I found great deals online but quite hesitant to buy groupons since I have
heard and read a lot of negative reviews from these fad websites.
Good thing, a friend of mine, recommended this reputable
website (which I also confirmed from the hotel that they do accept bookings
from this website) and I was able to book their LIMITED early bird rates.
Though the taxes are not published on their website, the total charges we are
going to incur are still way much lower as compared to their original rates.
Unlike other websites, booking.com doesn’t charge your
credit card right away. You will only be billed on the day of your check in.
Here are the pictures of the rooms we were able to book thru
Booking.com
Hotel Name: Berjaya Manila Hotel
We booked 2 Deluxe Rooms (one for my family, then for h2b's family) - for wedding preps
Then 1 Suite for the night after the wedding. ♥
If you may notice, both of these rooms are almost the the same. The only difference is that the Suite has a separate living room, and of course, bigger. The rooms are quite promising and I must say the rooms we were able to book are quite enough for our families.
Last Saturday, Mark and I went to Great Eastern Hotel to RE-book the Grand Ballroom for our reception venue. We finalized the contract and signed the contract again for the 3rd time. Good thing Laila, our account executive was really accommodating and was kind enough to reconstruct our contract with lots if erasures. I must say that the appointment was a real success and we were both happy that no one had booked this function hall yet. So this is it! I can already imagine Mark and I going down the grand staircase as a part of our grand entrance. Woot woot!
Of course, I wouldn’t miss taking pictures of the Grand Staircase again. I even took pictures of the super old school souvenirs that are already included on their wedding packages (sorry, Mark and I are not a big fan of dust catcher souvenirs), & the wedding cake that we’re going to get from them. We’re also planning to upgrade the utensils they are going to use per table.
Hotel's Glass Elevator ;)
Currently preparing for a Debut! ;)
I just love their chairs. ;)
We got this cake. The cake that was included on their package was just an icing cake. Mark and I opted to upgrade our cake to a 3-tiered fondant cake. It would look a lil bit like this. Color would be changed to brown and pink. But what I don't like about this cake is the cake topper. hehe. :D (We had to add 2665 to get this cake. )
Their super old school souvenirs. hehe. Couples can also opt to upgrade their souvenirs to crystals.But of course, since this is included in their wedding packages, we were left with no choice but to choose a design.We're thinking of using these souvenirs as an added decoration on the cake table.
It really is hard to work on the draft guest list – but it’s quite harder to admit that the number of guests is continuously increasing, or somehow exceeded from what we have expected. Haha. Up to this moment, I just can’t imagine that the 100 pax that Mark and I had set in mind to invite on our wedding day, is already a whopping 170 guests and counting. Oh dear Lord, please spare us from the wedding expenses. :D But don't get me wrong, I'd love to see these people on our wedding day. Mark and I would highly appreciate if of all them would accept our invitation. ♥
Anyway, since the number of guests is over and above from what we are expecting, Mark and I had a change of plans AGAIN, and decided that we have to book a bigger function room. The empress ballroom which we booked 2 months ago is quite small for the number of guests we are expecting. With that being said, we’re going back to the first function room we have ORIGINALLY reserved with Great Eastern and that is the Grand Ballroom! Say hello to the winding stairs again! ;) This is what Mark and I really wanted anyway. We weren’t really happy with our plan before to switch from Grand Ballroom to Empress Ballroom, that’s why the two of us are too happy to come with the decision to book the Grand ballroom again. :D Who would resist with this function room anyway? The winding staircase, the 2 floors function hall plus the high ceilings? See below: D
The winding staircase that Mark and I are raving about! ;)
I am so eager to post reviews about our major suppliers but since the wedding day is not yet over, I can’t do it yet since technically, we’re still on the planning stage. Hehe. But let me rundown and carve up good things about our suppliers ;)
Don Bosco Church – Mark and I booked them last March, and we can say that the associates on the church are really accommodating. However, we weren’t able to talk to the person in charge of weddings, since she usually arrives between 2 to 4 PM. (we went there at exactly 9:00AM) haha. I heard that Ms. Ging (person in charge) is really nice and they really make the wedding ceremony worry free.
The moment we booked them for our 2012 wedding, the person we transacted business said that we should already submit the marriage license & certificates 2 weeks after the date of our reservation. Being baffled by the requirements she told us, Mark and I already wanted to back out and check NSDG instead. However, with my inquisitiveness, I told the girl that we cannot present the requirements yet, since the validity of the license is only good for 2 months. And so she checked her records again, and she just found out that she inadvertently reserved us for May 2011 wedding. Haha. After she found this slip, she immediately gave us questionnaires that will be asked by the parish priest to Mark and I for our Canonical interview which is scheduled on December 6. =)
Rates
(non-air-conditioned) – 17,000
Air-conditioned – 22,500
Reservation is only 2,000 & yes, they do accept pencil bookings
Inclusions:
·The wedding ceremony within the Holy Mass.
·The registration forms, marriage certificate, red carpet (center aisle), nuptial and unity candles and booklets (for the couple only).
·Flowers in the center aisle and around the altar.
They recently updated their package rates, since the rates posted on their website includes the organist & soloist.
Taken from my Phone's cam. Don Bosco lights up the altar during masses & weddings. Take a look at the picture below to give you a glimpse of how it looks like ;)
Lovely Altar!!!
Church set - up (Photo courtesy of Mr. Google)
Great Eastern Hotel – after going to Don Bosco, we immediately went to GEH, hoping we could reserve our wedding date too. I was informed by the receptionist that the reservation fee is 10% of our total bill. Since I have been exchanging emails and calling the hotel before we went there, I have already partially computed our total bill, so I thought that reservation would be 10K. In contrast with the reviews I read online for GEH, I would like to express that the attendants are really nice and 100% accommodating. They were kind enough to answer all my inquiries even if our contract with them had too many erasures due to my numerous change of mind. Haha. We initially booked the grand ballroom (the one w/ winding stairs) but we went back to have it changed to Empress Ballroom. So again, changes have been made w/ our contract again. I looked at the other contract on their folder, and good gracious, the couple’s contract was too clean. As in no erasures. Hihi.
MV Dela Cruz – Balo – MV will be our HMUA artist during our pre nup and wedding day. She was referred to me by a GT sis (Female Network). MV or Maricar is so nice, and always replies to my inquiries. (whether email or via text message). She does make up for passion, and she uses high end, and branded make ups ONLY. =) Since this isn’t her full time job, her rates are 100% tempting. I’ve seen her works on her FB account too!
Rachebeli Wines – I learned about Rachebeli through GT Forum – one sis posted a topic about this and I tried to lurk and back read all the replies. Curious as I was, I checked their website and was really impressed by their products. I shoot an email asking for their promo (they had a summer promo the time I emailed them) and they instantly replied within 24 hours. They also reply fast via text message. Mark and I are lucky enough to avail of the Bride’s package & double the freebies promo. In order to avail of their promo, couples must book a total of 30 cases . Good thing the time I booked them, slots were available & there was a volunteer consolidator. Our freebies?: 24 customized labeled chocolates worth 1200. (such a great steal, isn’t it?)
Velvet Musical – since organist is not included on Don Bosco’s package, Mark and I have to find something that can make our wedding ceremony more solemn and lovely. Hehe. I first heard Velvet Musical played during Mother’s day and I was truly touched by the way they played (that time, I didn’t know that the name of the quartet band is Velvet Musical) – The moment I saw their contact info on Metro Weddings Magazine, I immediately emailed Sir Edwin but that time, I didn’t know that they were the quartet band who played in SM. I only found it out when I checked their website and recognized their faces. Sir Edwin is super magalang, most especially over the phone. He loves saying ‘PO’. :D
Reservation is only 2,000 and dates are interchangeable.
Rate for Quartet: 12,000 (church and reception) – with unlimited songs ;)
Picture Capture – I got them through an online buying site, and was able to get their promo rate for only 5,000. Their original price is 10,000 for 3 hours. I was planning to book our photobooth during wedding fair, and I find this deal more affordable rather than getting a 20% discount from the fair. So this is also a steal for us. Reservation must be made at least 2 weeks before the wedding, but the owner was again, kind enough to pencil book our wedding date. ;) They are easy to reach via text message, and the owner was very accommodating too!
Ysabela Florist – Ysabela florist is one of the best and nicest suppliers we have talked to. They are too kind and so patient with all my requests and inquiries whether it be email or text. Ysabela was referred to me by a GT sis too. They were able to customize a package for me good for wedding entourage and reception flowers. I gave them my budget, and they are very much willing to work on it. Just like what the owner said to me over the phone, when I called them last March “Lahat po napag uusapan Ms. Kat” ;)
Norly Dizon – To be honest, I never had plans hiring an emcee during our wedding day since what Mark and I really wanted is to have someone host our wedding party who knows the love story between us. But due to the good reviews I have seen online (FYI: I’ve never read negative reviews about him) All the brides really loved how he handled the guests and to top that, he’s a good singer too! And so I was persuaded to book him even 10 months before the wedding. Norly is just so in demand, and I made sure that we book our wedding date 100% on time. Luckily, due to our early booking, Norly gave me a freebie. ;) A female receptionist!!! See picture below:
Nope, Angel Locsin is not the receptionist!!! ♥
Reservation: 50% -- so that would be 4,000 to block off the date
Total rate: 8,000
Zandel’s Mini Cooper Rental - Unlike other brides, I included bridal car on our major supplier list. I searched online via Sulit.PH and to Mr. Google, and had too many options in mind. But since Mark wanted to inject something unique, I opted to have a Mini cooper as our bridal car. They reply fast on email and text, but you have to call them because they reply kind of vague via text message.
Reservation: 3000 – to block off the date; this is refundable
Total rate: 6,000 (good for 4hours, flowers and driver) – Pearl white mini cooper
Rosy’s Bridal Shop – I’ll make this short, True to its tag, the owner and the manananahi are very accommodating -- They kept us calling 'apo' and 'anak'.
Time flies so fast and up to this moment, I still can't believe that I am already going to marry the 'man of my dreams' (naks - cheesy!) Up until now, I still feel that I am mommy and daddy’s girl, and cant’ do something on my own. As if I am trapped with the memoirs of my childhood days. (Emote much) ♥
Looking at the countdown timer I have on my blog, I can feel that it's getting nearer and nearer. I can still recall, the time I started this blog, the timer was more than a year, so I am still undecided to generate a timer on my blog. But here it is: Mark and I are getting married in 9 months and 28 days. Woot woot! Ohhh, we just can’t wait!
Wedding countdown as of July 29 2011 ♥
We’re actually complete with the suppliers we need to book, and we’re pretty glad that Mark and I were able to do such things even without hiring a professional wedding planner! All we need to do right now is to take our time, and cherish the moments we have as a BF-GF couple. Because come the wedding day, our lives would totally be different. ;) Our next major step, which is on September, is to take care of the documents needed by the church. (Baptismal & Confirmation Certificates). – okay, this is really getting so exciting. I can feel that we’re already getting there!
So here are the rundowns of the suppliers we were able to book. =)
Church: St. John Bosco Parish Church, Makati City
Reception: Great Eastern Hotel, Empress Ballroom, Makati Avenue
The style of our wedding party is actually different from the ones I have witnessed. Most of the parties I have attended are buffet which I find too classy. Honestly I am no fan of buffet set up since I hate falling in line. There will come a time that guests would pile up and line gets too crowded if it’s already eating time. And it’s somehow a shame for me to get lots of foods when I know someone is waiting for his/her turn to get the ladle I am holding. So I am left with no choice to stick with the ‘Lauriat’ style setting for a wedding reception, and felt really fortunate that this is the kind of food that GEH is offering; mainly because it’s a Chinese restaurant. -- Owned & operated by Aberdeen Court.
Another fear I have in mind right now is the reception set-up included on their packages. Their rates are reasonable but with that being said, we can’t expect too many amenities like other hotels could offer. But who cares anyway, what’s important is we get to save more money and cut down the costs for our wedding expenses.
When we booked them last March, Mark and I reserved the Grand Ballroom, which is actually the best function room they have. It has a winding staircase which I’ve been raving for quite some time. We upgraded everything from food to cake and down to the flower set up. That time, I was thinking, 10,000 for a flower set up is already reasonable since the banquet specialist told me that the function room would be full of flowers.
However, as the wedding day gets nearer and nearer, I am becoming more meticulous and so conscious with the decoration for the function room. I tried to search pictures online, and was not so happy with the decoration they have done on previous events. The flowers are just so off and really not my type. The curtains & drapes looks contemptible. Shall I complain about it? Just like the old saying goes: You only get what you pay for. So I don’t think I have the right to be nitty-picky at all. But wait, this is my wedding and it MUST be perfect in my eyes; not to my guest’s eyes.
So I decided, just lately, that we can still avail their services, but take off the flower set up package, and hire someone who is already trusted in the reception-styling industry. What I am thinking is what we just need is a simple centerpiece ( brown & pink ) and a table number with our pictures on it. We need not too many decorations on each table since serving of food would be Lauriat style. Good thing Ysabela Florist was kind enough to customize a package that would suit our budget!
12 centerpieces
Decoration for couples table & Presidential table
I am also thinking to fill the dance floor with balloons! Sad thing we cannot have a fog machine since the room has a smoke detector. But we might opt for a bubble machine instead ;)
Does it look like a children's party? :D I hope not!
No need for a curtain and the like – a simple set up is more alluring to the eyes.
Below are the sample set up pictures that I have seen online for a Lauriat style wedding reception.
This is the set up I am eyeing for, simple yet too elegant! :) But of course, centerpieces would be added on the Lazy Susan. We're planning to add mini photo frames and table numbers too.
I super love this set-up. Pink!
These function rooms look so elegant even without drapes and curtains hanging on the ceiling. Maybe because it's the simplicity that makes it elegant.
Here's how the Empress Ballroom function room looks like without a set-up.
So I am already imagining the dance floor full of balloons ♥
Yesterday, Mark and I went to Great Eastern Hotel, to check how the Empress Ballroom looks like. We finally decided, as in 100% not to rent the grand ballroom as to save wedding expenses. Honestly, I liked the Empress Ballroom and was actually happy with our mutual decision. Though it doesn’t have the winding stairs I’ve been dying to use on our wedding day, the Empress Ballroom looks better than what I have imagined. It can accommodate up to 220 guests, and has a big platform for the presidential table. The only downside for the function room is the chairs that will be used on the wedding day itself, so I am still thinking if we should upgrade the seats - okay, so here I am again, I just hate the work upgrade… I’m more practical already. =)
So moving on, we told the banquet specialist to change the contract and along with that, we also downgraded the reception set up. (From 10,000 to 6,800) We’re thinking that 6,800 rate is already enough since the function room we are going to rent is much smaller as compared to the Grand Ballroom.
10 more months to go before our wedding day, and I think we're almost complete with our wedding checklist. But of course we haven't booked these suppliers; because most of them require us to make a down payment 6 months before the big day.
So let me rundown the dream team we have booked and we're going to book in the next 4 months.
Church: Don Bosco - we already made a down payment last March amounting to 2,000. This is actually the lowest down payment I have checked because most of the churches I have called requires a 50% down payment.
Churches I have inquired: Manila Cathedral (10k downpayment); Malate Church (50% downpayment); Guadalupe Church (7,500 downpayment)
The lower the down payment, the higher the balance would be. So meaning, we still have 20,500 balance w/ Don Bosco. :D
Reception: Great Eastern Hotel - the first time I called GEH, they told me that the down payment for blocking the date would be 20% of the total bill. I already estimated that our bill would go beyond 70K for 100 guests, so I was thinking that we have to down 14,000. So 2,000 plus 14,000 (of course we have to block GEH and Don Bosco at the same time) would be 16,000. However, when Mark and I went to GEH, they told us that they accept pencil bookings, but we opted to make a down payment instead. Good thing Laila (the banquet specialist), who was so friendly & very accommodating allowed us to give 5,000 only for the down payment.
The moment we were able to block the date with Don Bosco & GEH, Mark and I felt the this is it moment. :D Because we were able to accomplish the most crucial part of the wedding planning stage. -- reserving the church and reception. ;)
Gowns/Suits/Barongs: Rosy's Bridal Center - Honestly, I am not the type of B2b who would splurge something on a dress that can only be worn once. Perhaps twice, on our renewal vows. But I don't think my body built would still be the same 2 years from now. On that note, Mark and I opted to look for a bridal shop that provides quality gowns & suits.
They didn't require us to make a down payment but they told us to come back on February for the gown fitting. However, being a paranoid and super OC bride-to-be, I just said we'll come back on November.
Flowers: Ysabela Florist - I have been exchanging emails and text messages with the proprietess of Ysabela Florist, and I can really tell that she is very accomodating. I don't know much about flowers so I don't know if her rates are more affordable as compared to others. I've set a budget of 7k for the entourage bouquets, but her rates are actually lower from what I have expected.
Bridal Bouquet - 1,200 x 1 = 1,200.00
1maid of honor - 600 x 1 = 600.00
4 bridesmaids - 400 x 4 = 1,600.00
4 groomsmen - 50 x 4 = 200.00
2 flower girls - 300 x 2 = 600.00
3 secondary sponsors (male) 50 x 3 = 150.00
3 secondary sponsors (female) 75 x 3 = 225
Total of: 4,575
And to top that, they are giving us a free throw bouquet and loose petals. :)
Photo and Video Services: KikongManlalarawan - I am very fortunate to have an office mate who is a professional photographer. The discount he gave me is tantamount to the normal rate of an amateur photographer. :D
However, he has a condition with the rates he gave me. He told me not to tell anyone the rates he quoted me. Even Kiko was shocked with the original quote he gave. LOL
Inclusions:
- a whole day of pre nuptial photo/video session*
- post processing of all shots - edit and layout
- at least two professional photographers on wedding day with Kiko as the main photographer
- one framed photo canvas print at least 16 x 20 in size
- one main album with at least 150 photos mostly in 5R (5x7) prints
- a DVD containing all shots (printed and not printed) edited, in JPEG (approx 1MB per photo).
- delivery of album, prints, DVD within Metro Manila**
- Audio Visual Presentation featuring photos and videos from
prenup sessions, wedding ceremony and two MTV’s
- Full video coverage including editing
All the while, I didn't know that we can afford an onsite video editing (this was actually Mark's frustration), thank you so much Kiko for being so kind. :)
Strings: Velvet Mood - this was actually the only option I had in mind. Sir Edwin is very accomodating.
Downpayment required is only 2,000 and date is changeable. They do not limit the number of songs they would play unlike other strings. Couples can request songs, and can modify the repertoire.
Quartet Instrumental (4 instrumental artist-performers) or
Trio Instrumental plus 1 singer (male-tenor) or (female-soprano)
Local rate / Manila
church ceremony only... 11,000 Php (net)
reception performance... 11,000 Php (net)
ceremony and reception... 13,500 Php (net)
Guest List: Frankly, I didn't know that making a guest list is difficult & to be honest, we cannot invite all our friends, because the number of guests would surely soar up. We originally wanted to have 80-100 guests, but as of right now, we already have 180 guests. -- but we haven't informed them yet. We will notify them 6 months before the wedding. And since we are having a tight-wedding budget, we would be strict with the RSVP thingy. :D. We scrutinized the people we've known for quite some time and would only invite true friends who will be there not just on the ceremony & reception, but friends who would be there even after the wedding day.
Wines: Rachebeli Wines - This wasn't actually part of the plan, but Mark and I think that it would be elegant if we give wine for our _________.
We still have a long way to go, and our wedding checklist is not yet complete; but I can pretty tell that we're already getting there. We must face the reality that it's getting nearer and nearer, and we are very much excited about it.
With all the stress and sleepless days (not nights because I sleep during daytime:) come the wedding day, I will be stress free already. Because I've had enough stress during the planning stage. :)
It pays a lot if a bride-to-be knows something about flowers. – This is a great help most especially in choosing the right flowers on their wedding day.
Sadly, I am not that well-rounded with the varieties of flowers. If prospected suppliers would ask me what kind of bouquet I want on my wedding day, I will definitely stutter and would end up saying: ‘Basta po kulay pink’. (Pink, as in Santan?) :D –
Yes, there are thousands of flowers that B2b’s can choose from - there are: Gerbera, Carnation, Mums, Sweet Williams, Machola and so much more. Clueless as I am, I didn’t even know that these flowers exist; as the flowers I’m only familiar with are: orchids, sampaguita, yellow bell and bougainvillea (I even searched google for the correct spelling of this flower. LOL)
So right now, though I already have a supplier in mind, (Ready to meet them in Mid-September for the contract signing) I am still a bit puzzled whether to hire them as well for the reception set-up.
Originally, Mark and I decided to have GEH adorn the function hall on our wedding day. Their package ranges from 6000 to 10,000) and since I do not know much about flowers, I guess it’s not a bad idea to choose the 10,000 package :D . The banquet specialist (Laila) promised that the venue will look super bongga, which I really liked. But here’s the catch, we cannot choose what kind of flowers they are going to decorate the whole function room. She said that our motif would be followed (starting from drapes, curtains down to table covers) – but I’m pretty scared that the flowers they are going to use wouldn’t match our wedding colors.
Sample: (Basic set up ) -- sadly, I don’t have any samples from their 6,800 – 10,000 rates.
Here's a glimpse of how GEH grand ballroom function room looks like without a set up
Winding stairs - isn't it lovely? ☻
Taken from my camera ☻
Another supplier which we have in mind for the venue set up is Ysabela’s Florist. They do drapes & venue set up of course. However, looking at the 2nd quotation they have sent me, their rates when it comes to venue set up is definitely 100% more expensive as compared to GEH set up rates. Let’s do the math:
That would be 22,700 plus the 560 corkage fee from GEH. – okay so this one is so totally out of our budget. Yes flowers do bring up the mood for every occasion, but this is way too costly for the budget we have set on venue decoration. But if their rates are negotiable, then there’s no reason for us not to book them ;) – it remains to be seen though.
