I Can Hear The Bells!

Finally booked the church today! Woohoooo!!! Got the date we liked, too! And we also deposited our first payment for the rings today. Yeey!

I can totally hear the bells!!!

And just because, I recorded this cute song from "Hairspray" on my iPhone and tried my best to sound like Tracy Turnblad! Heheheee...

"I Can Hear the Bells" from HAIRSPRAY (this was me singing.)

And this was the original (from the Original Broadway Cast, not the movie version):

Marissa Jaret Wonokur as Tracy Turnblad

I was lucky to have seen the show twice. The first time on Broadway in 2005 and the second time (I was with Jayron) was the local production here in Manila by Atlantis.

On a more serious note.... Here's a recording of h2b and I, singing a duet. We had to learn this song because a few years back, a couple requested that we sing this at their wedding. We fell in love with the song ever since....

Here goes:

Jayron and Vanene singing "Ako't Ikaw"

Revised Wedding Budget

H2B and I decided to cut down our wedding budget to....(drumroll please....).... One hundred and fifty thousand pesos!!!

I know, I know... You're thinking, "Are you crazy? That's impossible!!!"

Well, we will make it possible! ( ok, it would be "around" 150k...haha!)

Since the big bulk of expenses would be the reception, we decided to look for a much cheaper caterer. And venue, of course. (Daza Park still on the top list).

This would be a real challenge! Game on!!! Woohoo!!! 😄

Damask... I love!

I'm falling in love with damask these days, so I thought of adding it to the motif. Got an approval from h2b! :-)

Here are some photos grabbed online:

Love love love!!! Got excited again! :-)

"Dizizit" Venue Hunt # 6: Daza Park Pavilion, Camp Aguinaldo

As of the moment, this has become our number one option. A couple wrote about this on their wedding blog and I am sooooooo glad that they did!!!

Lookie! Lookie!

The photo on the upper left was actually grabbed from the blog I was talking about. The rest of the pics were ours when we went to check out the venue. Loved the gazebo! And it has built-in Christmas lights on the pillars which we can use! Loved that it has a bridge too!

And the restrooms are nice and clean!

Rental is P12,000 (night time) and P10,000 (daytime) for civilians. It would be much cheaper if someone from the military will endorse you, but I don't really know how much.

VERDICT: As I've said, this has made it to our TOP option. But the reason why we haven't booked this yet, is because we still wanted to try out the in-house caterer and consider Tejeros Hall. We're so excited!!! Yiheeeeee!!!

"Dizizit" Venue Hunt # 5: Tejeros Hall and Main Restaurant

TEJEROS HALL

We liked it!!!

But then again....it is too expensive! P40,000.00 if your caterer is from outside, then P15,000 if you get their in-house caterer. Use of Tiffany chairs included. But we checked out the menu and didn't liked it so much... It is newly-renovated so it's really nice. This would be perfect sana for our Broadway Music-Themed wedding!!! Waaaaaahhhh!!!!

VERDICT: Too expensive if caterer is from outside, so we will be trying out their in-house caterer and schedule a food tasting with them soon.


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MAIN RESTAURANT


This is just below Tejeros Hall. Rental is P21,000 if you have an outside caterer, then P6000 if you get their in-house caterer. Covered monobloc chairs included.

VERDICT: Also nice for an intimate wedding reception. The verdict would be the same as that of Tejeros Hall.

THE Church: St Ignatius Cathedral, Camp Aguinaldo

We still haven't booked this church yet, but this is our "This is it!" church. Small and with aircon, too! We sometimes hear Sunday mass here with Rex and Engel. Rate is P10,000 with aircon, with priest, no flowers. P8,000 without aircon, with priest, no flowers.

Here are some photos grabbed online:

"Dizizit" Venue Hunt # 4: Greenmeadows Clubhouse

Hay naku. Medyo na-stress ako dito....

First, we asked the guards at the gate just in front of Christ the King. Then we were told that pedestrians are not allowed to enter that gate so, we had to take a cab.They were already asking a lot of questions, like what's the date of the wedding, etc etc etc... Anyway, we finally got the cab and passed by the guard house, and they asked the same questions!!! The date of the wedding... kung sino na nakausap sa office... etc etc etc.... Duh! Eh in-interview na nga kami before we took the cab and they were doing it again! Then they said our date was already booked and I said impatiently that the reason why we are going there is because we will be inquiring and look for available dates! So finally, they let us in. Haaaaay!

When we reached the clubhouse office, parang tinatamad makipag-usap yung taong napagtanungan namin! We felt like they didn't want us to rent out the place!

I forgot where I put my notes but this is what I remember: rental was P24,000.00 plus P2000 if you bring your own sound system. They have their own sound system for rent for P5000. You're not allowed to add in some mood lights kasi hindi raw kaya ng power.

When we checked out the hall, I thought it smelled funky. Hmpf.

Jayron and I both like the ceiling. The clubhouse is smaller than Christ The King Parish Hall, so it would be a plus for a more intimate wedding reception.

I also grabbed this pic from a friend's wedding reception album:

We liked the idea that there's this fountain outside.

VERDICT: Since na-stress ako dun sa manong guards and sa tao dun sa office, plus I really like mood lights and since we can't bring in some lights, it was a NO for me. But I think Jayron's still considering this venue...

"Dizizit" Venue Hunt # 3: Christ The King Parish Hall

It's too huge! But we liked that it has a stage. The manong caretaker was also very friendly and answered all our questions.

The hall actually looks almost like the Verandah at Oasis minus the drapes. And at a much cheaper rental price! The rate was P25,000 and additional P500 for each outlet being used (for electricity). You can also bring any caterer here. Medyo turn-off lang yung CR. Hindi masyadong maganda.

VERDICT: We liked the venue. This will be one of our options.

My First DIY Attempt

I got addicted watching videos on YouTube on how to make fabric and paper flowers. Just tried a few and this is how they turned out:

And since we wanted a music-themed wedding......

Oh, I wish mom's still alive! :-( she's really good at DIYs.... I was thinking of her the entire time that I was making these flowers.... I miss her so.... :-(

Food Tastings 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Food Tasting # 1: HIZON'S

My friend Aubrey, who is also a bride-to-be, dragged me to Hizon's Food Tasting at Oasis with her mom and kuya. She's already booked with Hizon's and they will be having their reception at Oasis. She'll be getting married two weeks after Jayron and I would get hitched. How cool is that! Looks like the UST Singers will  be busy singing for two weddings that month then! Hahaha! (Jayron and I are former members of the UST Singers and Aubrey is a current member. Needless to say, we get to have UST Singers to sing at our weddings for free!) :-)

For those who would like to book them for your own wedding or any events, check out the choir's website http://ustsingers.com/ and Facebook Page.

Now, back to HIZON's Food tasting.... (LOL!)

Super enjoyed filling out the score sheet! I loved the crispy asian salad (and how the salad was served) and the appetizers. The main dishes as well. Service was excellent, too. But I didn't like the dessert that much. Desserts are important for me since I'm such a sweet tooth! h2b, too!

VERDICT: Food is great, but their rates are beyond our budget, so... NO.

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Food Tasting # 2: SHEKINAH DISHES

Here's a sample setup from their Facebook Page, and I love love love!

Went to the food tasting with my college friend Eli. We both liked the food, but the way it was presented to us was a turn-off. Medyo cold na kasi and parang ang sad nung ambiance ng function room where the food tasting was held. There was an on-going event (a debut) and they showed us the buffet tables:

VERDICT: Nalungkot ako lalo... So.... NO.


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Food Tasting # 3: RichGold Weddings

Went to their food tastings twice. The first one was with my two cousins. It was held at Oasis. Our AE showed us their sample setup (there was an ongoing wedding):

VERDICT (on first food tasting): I already discussed via Viber with Jayron and we decided to book RichGold if the food was ok. May promise naman yung food and i love love love the dessert!!! PLUS there are so many freebies:

1. 3 Layered Fondant Cake or 100 pcs cupcakes,
2. 6 inches diameter cake for the ceremony,
3. mobile bar for 50 pax,
4. overnight stay at Water Front Manila pavilion Hotel,
5. Bridal Car (Benz E220 with flowers, fuel and driver for 3 hours),
6. Photo Booth for 2 hours,
7. a professional emcee.

So, there. I ended up paying the fee to pencil book our date. But honestly, I think what made me decide on this was because of the freebies. It still didn't have a "dizizit" feel....

VERDICT (on second food tasting): This time, h2b was already back from SG. We went to RichGold's Grand Food Tasting with Rex and Engel. The food was still the same. I wasn't impressed. And Jayron, Rex and Engel didn't like it, either. To add to my disappointment, the dessert (which I loved on my first food tasting) didn't taste the same! They weren't as yummy as before! :-(

So.... we decided to cancel our reservation with RichGold.

And the search for the "dizizit" caterer continues.....

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Food Tasting # 4: Ibarra's Catering

Super enjoyed this Grand Food Tasting Event! It was like a real party with hosts, mood lights, table setups, photo booth, mobile bar... the works! Here are some more pics:

VERDICT: Loved the setups. Liked the service. Loved the food, especially the appetizers. Didn't like the dessert. Price is still beyond our budget. So.... NO.


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Food tasting # 5: Kusina Ni Kambal

This was at Fernwoods. Jayron and I went there with Rex and Engel. The first thing we noticed was that the waiters were not too attentive. We waited for quite some time because no one was telling us if we should proceed to the buffet table or wait to be served. Plus they didn't serve Engel his soup. We actually felt like gatecrashers. And our AE had this "duh" presence, like I didn't know if she just wanted to stare at us eat and didn't want to sell their products/services. She didn't have the initiative to tell us what we were eating. We still had to ask. And I was the one who started the conversation pa. Diba she should try to convince us to book them?

VERDICT: Loved the food. Everyone's favorite was the Lengua! Yummeeee!!! I also loved the carrot cake. Pero yung iced tea...duh. Parang walang lasa. But overall, ok naman sila.

But since the price is still beyond our budget..... NO.

Bridal Fairs 1, 2, and 3

Wow, I haven't updated this blog for quite some time. Already went to 3 Bridal Fairs.

The first one was at The Fort "Weddings and Beyond"

The second one, was at "Before I Do" Megamall. Jayron was in SG for an opera ("Manon Lescaut") with the Singapore Lyric Opera that time, so I went to the fair with our best friends Rex and Engel. Here's a souvenir photo by Tinkerbooth :

The third one, was at "Themes and Motifs" at MOA.

...... and finally ordered our rings! Got them at Marry Me at a super, super good deal!!! Woohoooo!!!

Nice-to-have # 1: Sky Lanterns

This. I want.

I got the idea from my friend Engel. They had sky lanterns when his brother got married. Since we can't afford fireworks (coz my super dream wedding is supposed to have fireworks), sky lanterns are also equally nice and less expensive! I saw from sulit.com that they only cost around P40/piece. Yay! :-)

But this is ACTUALLY what I want....

This is actually how I have always pictured my wedding to be like...

Small, quaint, and simple. Only with super close relatives and friends around. Good food, good company. And almost everyone would know each other. I don't like traditions. I don't like doves flying around my wedding reception. If I would be releasing doves, I would rather release them from outside the church right after the wedding, so they could fly around anywhere they want like they are supposed to. I don't like to let my bridesmaids catch a bouquet because every time I attend a wedding, I would always go to the powder room to avoid the bouquet so I wouldn't have to catch it and go through the embarrassing moment of having a stranger pull up a garter on my leg in case I did get to catch the bouquet. I just think it's too tacky. I don't want to eat a piece of cake while everyone's watching and taking pictures. I don't want that dance with dad because I know I'll just end up crying and will miss mom more. If I would be dancing with dad, I would choose an upbeat ballroom melody to dance to and just make everyone laugh instead of making them cry. I have always wanted a garden wedding or a beach wedding for as long as I could remember, but then I found out that the Catholic Church doesn't allow weddings outside the church. So, beach or garden wedding was off the list. Church it is. But I want a small chapel. I don't like a big church with long aisle (I might trip! Hahaha!) and the church would look empty because the guests would just be occupying around 5 or 6 rows of pews.

And so, I saw this featured wedding by R.A.W. (Really Awesome Weddings) and I think it's just PERFECT!

Aawww... Everything's just so pretty! Look how happy the guests are! Everyone was laughing and smiling. It's just like a huge family dinner at a nice restaurant!

And the bride's dress is just so simple, but pretty!

Yep. This is what I want. But I'm guessing 100 guests for my wedding won't do....

P.S.
You can check out more photos of this wedding here: Lemuria Wedding, R.A.W.

Passion Cooks: My Dream Caterer!

I was doing some more internet browsing and came across this caterer: Passion Cooks. I was very much impressed with their setups that they immediately became my DREAM CATERER!!!! I'm still waiting for them to email me the rates, but I have a feeling that it would be way beyond our budget... :-(
Here are some sample setups from their website:

Yup, they are so good with themed setups! And since Jayron and I are both musicians, we wanted a music-themed wedding reception (if it would fit the budget). Here are some music-themed wedding ideas I saw online (not from Passion Cooks).

Some more music-themed wedding ideas:

Passion Cooks would be the perfect caterer for us!!! I am so sure that they will do a nice job with a music-themed wedding!

Question is....can we afford them????