Our Venue Search Adventure Part 1

Finally we are over with the venue problem! After budget setting, data gathering of all possible venues near NSDG, several phone call inquiries, making up our mind if we will go for garden, hall, tent penthouse or ballroom type.

We really wanted a garden reception but because of the unpredictable weather we decided to go for a closed venue. We even encourage ourselves that having a garden reception would give us the ff: no peace of mind – because of the weather, madudumihan ang gown ko, baka malamok, etc etc . . . because of these reasons we erased all the open garden receptions. We ended up visiting the following:

Btw, I prepared some Venue Questionnaires before going to the place. You can download the file at our wedsite - http://raymond-rhia.weddingannouncer.com at the Download page.

One more thing, to view the venue pictures juct click on the venue name or right click the venue name and select open in a new window to display the images in a different window.

LEPANTO PENTHOUSE
Date of Ocular: Feb 26, 2006
Capacity: 180 – 200 guests
Peso Power: 14K (‘til the break of dawn)
Location: BA Lepanto Penthouse, 8747 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City
Contact Person: Ms Reby Nuguid
Contact No: 818.1982

Lepanto Penthouse was the first venue Memond and I visited, since that un ang alam naming puntahan and that is the nearest place for us to visit.

I’ve heard of the place from the w@w e-group but didn’t pay attention to it, kala ko malayo sya sa NSDG. When I paid a visit at the bridal fair at Megamall, Abi (of Affairs yta) presented their OTD package to me she mentioned to me Lepanto and asked her where it is located. She even showed me the pictures and described the place. Overlooking Ayala daw sya and kakasya naman daw ang 200 guest. I actually like Abi to be our OTD Coordinator, parang ang gaan ng loob ko sa knya and chika kmi kaagad, kaso she’s off our budget. Mahal tlaga services nila, pero mukhang sulit. I took Abi’s word so I added it kaagad sa list mga prospected venues nmin. I read past posts on the e-group to look for the contact no, person and how we can get there. Sarap tlga maging w@w member – answer to all our queries. Right after getting the infos I need tawag ako kaagad and set sched for ocular. Atat eh. Hehehe

Come Feb 26, 2006 Memond and I went to see the place. As we reached the place parang there’s nothing special. Just typical old building, pero well maintained. So we talked to the guard na receptionist and looked for Ms. Reby. After a few minutes umakyat na si Ms Reby to assists as and she brought us to the 21/F then used stairs to the Penthouse. The place is a ballroom type. We liked the place, nagandahan naman kmi. Minus ganda points lng tlga ung mababa ang ceiling nito pero bumawi naman ang overlooking view ng Ayala and the the place is very private. Pero over all nagandahan tlga kami. One more thing Ms Reby is very accommodating and sobrang ma chika. She even showed us the pictures of his son’s wedding held there at maraming side kwentos pa.

For us the 14k peso power is good enough. All in all na un. But if we go beyond 12 MN, Php 200 per hour ang charge – other than this wla ng extra charges pa. One function per day lng. There is ample parking; basement 1 & 2 is provided for us, since our wedding falls on a Sunday wala daw kmi kalaban, pag aari nmin ang buong bldg. No accredited caterers pero Ms Reby prefers Swan Catering. There’s a big kitchen with complete kitchen needs where the caterer can prepare the food kase dating resto pla sya. There would be someone from their office during the occasion. May genset in case of brown out. In terms of restrictions hindi naman actually bawal ang on the spot cooking pero she discourages it kase bka mangamoy food daw bisita kase the place is closed. As much as possible no candles or kung meron man dapat daw sna may holder. Given all this we had our on the spot pencil booking which is good for 1 month. She requires 50% as reservation fee.

We never thought that there’s such a place located along Paseo.


BRAMANTE BALLROOM & POOLSIDE
Date of Ocular: March 4, 2006
Capacity: Ballroom: 300 – 350 guests; Poolside: 200 – 250 guests
Peso Power: Ballroom: 12K; Poolside: 10K (4 hours) (end of tawaran portion)
Location: Bramante Piazza Renaissance Tower, Meralco Ave., Ortigas, Pasig City
Contact Person: Ms Gina
Contact No: 634.5270

Originally scheduled for ocular on the 27th of Feb 2006. I decided not to push through with the ocular and we were rushing to go home ng province (Pampanga) ni Memond instead because my dad was rushed to the hospital early in the morning.

After a week and knowing that my dad is already in good condition we continued our venue search. I’ve heard of the Bramante from my fellow w@w Karen. She even sent me some pictures. So I was inspired to visit the place. Ang ganda and it’s actually cheap. Kaya lng it is open, takot tlga kme bka umulan. According to Grace Flores (another fellow w@w) Bramante has also it’s Ballroom. So at first Memond is hesitant to check out the place hanggang sa mapapayag ko sya to check out the place sabi ko kasi there’s also a ballroom where we can also possibly have our reception, buti naman – sya may hawak ng manibela eh. Hehehe.

Maligaw-ligaw pa kmi sa kakahanap ng Renaissance Tower to think sa Ortigas ako work. Hehehe. Ang dami naming tinanungan before we reached the place-just making sure that we are on the right track. Dami pla paikot-ikot doon sa mismong place. Hehehe. As we reached the place d namin alam kung saan kmi kakatok. Hay. Such an adventure. Until we finally found Ms Lea then after a few exchange of words she gave us a tour. Nauna kmi sa ballroom at ang laki nya ha. It’s actually nice kaso may konting amoy na we didn’t like, and the carpet is dugyot, the restrooms are located outside the ballroom at dko nagustuhan kasi may out of order and hindi masyado malinis, hindi mukhang mabango. At ang rate 14K hanggang umabot sa 12K palabasin na lng daw na may kilala kming resident sa Renaissance.

After which we preceded sa Poolside. There was actually a wedding set up going on. The place was really nice and we find it cheap - 10K lng daw, kaya lng nga takot kmi bka umulan. They can provide tents daw in case umulan kaya lng extra charge na 10K-ang mahal! The backgrounds of the poolside are tall nice buildings of ortigas parang ang ganda-ganda nun sa gabi. Again, na turn-off nanaman ako sa sa restrooms nila, pang pools lng tlga.

In terms of parking there is enough parking space kaya lng additional charge pa un. If I am not mistaken Php 35 for 3 hours, Php 10 succeeding hrs. Sympre ayaw naman naming magbayad pa ang guests so additional expense nanaman un.

Overall maganda naman ung place-the ballroom and the poolside kaya lng ung dadaanan on way sa venue itself the lobby, stairways, facades are not that nice-obvious na luma na ung building and the elevators are not functioning at hindi na daw nila papagawa un. Kawawa naman ung mga guests naming oldies on their way up. One more thing Betterpan is their exclusive caterer.

MAKATI PARK & GARDEN
Date of Ocular: March 4, 2006
Peso Power: 5K (for Makati Residents); 7k (for non-Makati Residents) (4 hours)
Location: West Rembo, Makati (I dnt knw the exact addy)
Contact Person:
Contact No:

After our ocular at Bramante diretso na kmi sa Makati Park and Garden. Memond and I have actually been here. Medyo makasaysayan sa amin ang place na ito. This is the place were he introduced me to his parents and family. Hihihi. It was Dominic’s (Memond’s nephew) 7th birthday party then. The place was ok naman and it is cheap compared to the other venues we visited, and Memond is a Makati resident kaya mas mura.

Wala kmi actually appointment or contact person here, basta pumunta na lang kmi. Good thing there is a wedding set up on going by Auffrance good for 180 pax. As per our observation mejo masikip na sya, what more kung 200 guests pa. So hindi na kmi nagtagal doon, konting picture taking and then on to the next venue na.


SANTUARIO DE SAN ANTONIO HALL
Date of Ocular: March 4, 2006
Capacity: 200 – 250 guests
Peso Power: 15k – full hall; 10,500 – half hall (for 3 hours)
Location: McKinley Road, Forbes Park
Contact Person: Ms Susan
Contact No: 843.8830-32

This is the venue na pinaka-nahirapan kmi nag hanap. Learned the place from Mayen (another fellow w@w) Memond actually know where SSA Church is. When I called Ms. Susan she instructed me that the hall is just right beside the church.
When we reached the church mega tanong kmi sa mga guards at hindi nila alam where their hall is tinuro kmi dun sa kabila. Pagdating nmin sa kabila tinuro kmi sa pinuntahan naming una. Hay, pabalik balik kmi. Para kmi trumpong paikot-ikot. Hehe. Ang alam pala ng mga guards is Parish Center not hall. Hehehe. Until finally we reached the Parish Center. Ms Susan is not around, nakauwi na daw so a lady from the accounting office (forgot the name) assisted as to the halls. We actually liked the place kaso namamahalan kmi, parang kulang kasi ang 3 hours celeb for us e. 5k per hour kase sya if we go over the allotted time. The place is so peaceful, paglabas mo ng hall overlooking sya sa garden. Sabi nga ni Memond parang retreat house, parang very silent kase eh tapos mejo madilim. Sa personality naming 2 parang hindi babagay ang ganitong klase ng venue. Parehas ksi kming mainggay and makulit. Hehehe.

One more thing parang di advisable for us to have our reception there as in magkatabi kase sila ng SSA church (and it’s actually a part of it) kase may church na kmi. Baka sabihin ng mga guests "bkit hindi na lng sila dito sa simbahang ito". If we will transfer naman sa SSA church, we cnt afford it – may kamahalan eh.

So that ends our venue search adventure. We have decided to go for Lepanto Penthouse. Finally may venue na kmi! Yehey!

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