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????

Color Inspiration # 2: Teal and Yellow

Husband-to-be voted for this over Purple and Yellow. Rex also voted for this. And I have a feeling that my sister (who will be my maid of honor), will also vote for this:

Color Inspiration # 1: Purple and Yellow

What do you think of this?

"Dizizit" Venue Hunt # 2: Oasis

Jayron finally agreed to visit Oasis during our free time yesterday. And because the contact person, Joice, was so kulit, texting, emailing, and calling all the time to follow-up when we will drop by and visit, I made sure Oasis would be the next venue to check out (and because it's very accessible by the LRT from Cubao, where h2b and I both live). From Gilmore Station, we walked under the scourging heat of the afternoon sun to Oasis and waited for Joice at the office (we were both relieved they had good AC). She showed us the rates (which she already emailed) and also the table setup samples. Then we went to the upper floor to The Verandah:

(photo from email)

Very spacious, with a view of the garden. For 2013 (until November), their rate would be Php 196,000 net for 5 hours use of The Verandah, for 150pax. 

Joice showed us The Orchard next:

It would be spacious enough for 150 guests, but we didn't like the view too much. You'll see more of the LRT station than of the garden and some old buildings from across the street which are kind of an eyesore. But then again, you can always pull down the blinds. :-) The rate for The Orchard for 2013 (until November) is Php 135,500 net for 100pax. Additional P625/guest, which will add up to Php 166,750 for 150pax. If we opt to exclude the cake and photo booth from the package, it would be 6k less. Still pricey...

Here are some more photos from the email Joice sent me:

COMMENTS:

The place is nice, but I think we can still find some other venues with lower rates.

SDE: Michael Francis Dela Cruz... P/V: Blessing Photography

I'm still not sure how I am related to Mikko (Michael Francis Dela Cruz), whether he is a cousin or a nephew. We have a huge family that sometimes, it gets confusing. Hahaha!

But one thing I'm sure of, Mikko makes GREAT videos! I still don't know how much he will charge me for this, but he's surely my only option for now!

Here are some sample videos:

1. Joven + Hazel SDE - YouTube  --- I don't even know the couple in this video, but I cried while watching this!

2. PJ + Gail SDE -YouTube          --- Another video which made me cry! Haha!

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Photo/Video Coverage: BLESSING PHOTOGRAPHY

...by my awesome uncle, Uncle Whelsky! (Ruel Villaluna) "Kamag-anak, Inc." na ito! Uncle Whelsky called me on my cell the moment he got my text about the engagement. BLESSING PHOTOGRAPHY covered the weddings of three of my cousins already. I like how the team, lead by Uncle Whelsky, would  gather in a small circle and pray, right before they start shooting for an event.

Here are some sample photos:

My cousin Lala's wedding back in 2008:

Manoy Kawooh and Myra's Pre-Nup (2011):

"Dizizit" Venue Hunt # 1: The Village Patio

This was the first venue we checked out since it was just in the neighborhood. We own a music school at Maginhawa Street (CRAVE School of Music, 154 Maginhawa St. Sikatuna Village, Diliman, QC ---> you can check the school out and enroll for music lessons! [wink! wink!] ) so we pass by The Village Patio every time we go to CRAVE. So, one afternoon when Jayron and I both have a couple of hours free, we walked to the venue to check it out.

Looking at the photos on their website, http://tarlaquenacatering.com/ , the place became one of our options. Here are some photos from their website:

But when we went to visit the venue, we both found it hard to visualize our reception there. Well, I have read only positive feedback from Village Patio brides' blogs. And all of them decided to book the venue because when they visited the place, they were prepping it for a wedding so they saw how the venue looked like with the table set-ups and all. I texted the contact person, Riza Mayuga, if we could go back and visit again when they are prepping for an event, and she said it would be ok.

So, we're still not crossing out The Village Patio from our venue options list. They quoted P133, 500 for Wedding Package I, good for 150pax. Music and Basic Light Effects, Photobooth, and Chocolate Fountain, are already included in the package.

The Wedding Budget

The day after the proposal.....

Me: "Pwede ba'ng 250k lang ang budget?"


Our two best friends, Rex and Engel, laughed at me the minute I said those words. Yes, I said I was browsing through wedding ideas, venues, etc., but didn't bother looking at the rates.

After a month of doing some research and inquiries, I finally gave in to the fact that a 250k wedding budget would be almost impossible, not with the suppliers we have in mind.

Engel promised to take care of my wedding dress, though. And Rex would be sponsoring Jayron's (my husband-to-be!) suit. One of our friends, Mikko, who is currently studying culinary arts in Australia, said he'll do our wedding cake (music-themed, since h2b and I are both musicians). And then my cousin said he will take care of the bridal car.

We will still try to make the 250k budget work for 150 guests. But in case we really need to stretch the budget, definitely we won't go beyond 300k. We want the wedding to be simple, and we don't want to spend too much for a one-day event.There are more important things to save for....