OFF Mode on Wedding Preps

No . . . no . . . no . . . we are not calling it quits. I’ll just be on a time out mode on the wedding preps for a month. Why o why? The training budget was just approved and I’ll be participating SAP’s SCM Order Fulfillment training for more than a month (April 24 to May 26), a week review for certification exam (May 29 to June ). (ang tagal!) This thing requires a full time attention and dedication so as I can pass the certification exam. I hope so!

Surely, I will miss doing the preps! Reading emails from w@w egroups ( I’ll surely miss you guys!) Update our blog and wedsite will be on off mode to. Hay! I do hope I will still find time to do this stuff and continue scouting and meeting suppliers on weekends even just for a couple of hours. (tumawad pa . . . hehehe)

Back to: http://raymond-rhia.weddingannouncer.com

Meeting with the Photographers & Videographer

NEIL JINGCO of Grasshopper Creative Studio
Date & Time: April 18, 2006/ 2:00 PM
Meeting Place: Bo’s Coffe/Robinson’s Galleria
Contact No: 09178544345
Website: http://neiljingco.fil.ph/
Sourced out from: fellow w@w member (sorry I forgot your name sis!)

After seeing Neil’s online sample, I considered meeting this guy. I find his works nice and affordable rates as well and with nice freebies. I scheduled meeting with Neil via text on the same day I met him. He even suggested that we can meet somewhere na lng. Sympre Galleria na kaagad sasabihin ko at sa Bo’s Coffe kase tago. Hehehe.
I went to see Neil with Tzehh (an officemate whose also a bride 2b). It was actually office hours during the meeting. Takas lng kme. Hehehe.
Neil was easy to talk to, on time pa siya. I guess I expected too much from him. The sample he was bringing was not as good as what I saw in his site. The digital layout he presented was just the parents’ album and I find it not that pleasing. The guest book is nice enough but it’s only a spring bind. One more thing he had higher rates - d daw updated ang site nya.
Sa sobrang kuripot nmin ni Tzehh d man lng kmi nag order even just a cup of cofee. Hahaha!

GEL MOTILLA PHOTOGRAPHY
Date & Time: April 20, 2006/ 1:00 PM
Meeting Place: Bo’s Coffee/Robinson’s Galleria
Contact No: 09179181411
Website: http://www.gelmotilla.com/default.asp
Sourced out from: fellow w@w member - Ade, Geri & Ihrene

I was inspired with Gel's work when I saw samples of Ade Pre-Nup & Geri's Wedding. From then on I considered Gel as back-up photog. I was more convinced when Ihrine booked him :) Scheduling meeting with Gel is also via text. (Pero medyo matagal sya reply . . . hehehe) Amidst his busy sched buti pumayag sya to meet us (again, with Tzehh plus chuwariwariwap - Abi & my Sis) again in Galle. Hahaha! At hindi nanaman kmi nag order ng coffee! Hahaha!

The meeting was more of a Q & A and kwentuhan. He seems to be shy at first tapos as the conversation goes along nawawala na ang shyness nya. He was not bring samples along with him. Pero ok lng I saw some of his works in his site and they are great! Buhay ang pictures. Once he finished a digital layout pakita daw nya kaagad sa akin. Kinakabahan daw sya kapag w@w member kausap nya kase daw bka may masabi syang di maganda or hindi madeliver ang gusto ng client masiraan na sya. Hehehe.

Sna by the time pagbalik ni h2b - para ma-view samples nya eh open pa rin ang Dec 3 sched nya. I really want Gel to be our back-up photog plus pre-nup plus AVP -wherein he can add on old pics and voice over - d lang limited sa pre-nup shots nya.

SHIERIDAN PAMINTUAN
Date & Time: April 20, 2006/ 7:00 PM
Meeting Place: Bo’s Coffee/Robinson’s Galleria
Contact No: 09173598492
Website: http://www.shierdan.com/
Sourced out from: fellow w@w member - Ihrene Gorospe

(Left to right: John, Dette, Me, Sheridan, Tzehh & Mark)

Sa Bo's ulit. D pa kaya kmi ma banned dito? Hehehe. Tzehh set the meeting with him. Though we already booked Dan, I still wanna see his samples khit I saw some over the net. Wala lng ako magawa. Hahaha! I even convinved John & Dette to come with us (aba my plano na rin cla pakasal!) Hehehe. Oh no! ako lng walang partner. Huhuhu . . . I told Dan na pwde na nya akong sales partner. Hehehe. At ang sagot naman sa akin oo, para I can offer rebates! Hahaha! We had a very cool meeting with Dan. I agree that he really is a marketing grad. I was impressed with his work and how he presents and markets it. Galing tlga! I feel sooooooo excited to have our own video na. Hehehe.

Back to: http://raymond-rhia.weddingannouncer.com

Our Videographer: Shieridan Videography

The third wedding partner we booked.

I heard so much of him thru w@w e-groups. Haven't met and seen his actual crafts in person just over the net and I was really amazed! Ang galing! He is exactly the videographer we are looking for, and have a very affordable rates.
I trusted also the feedbacks coming from the group . . . just few exchange of SMS with Dan last April 11, 2006 and we are already booked. Buti na lang he is still availble on our wedding day. (Ihrine, thanks for sharing Sheridan's service with us)

Cheers & Thanks to you Sheridan! We are looking forward and excited to work with you!

Sheridan's Craft Sample: http://www.shierdan.blogspot.com/

Back to: http://raymond-rhia.weddingannouncer.com

Food Tasting with MIL 2b

Since Memond will be far away from us for 3 months his mom and I continued the wedding preps. Our first bonding together ever.

First Taste: ROBERT CAMBA CATERING
Address : #12 Resthaven St., Baler, QC
Contact Person : Ms. Connie
Contact No : 412.4115
Website : http://www.robertcambacatering.com/home.aspx
Food Tasting Schedule : Every Saturday (12:00 NN – 6:00 PM)
Our Schedule : April 1, 2006 – 12:00 NN
Package : Silver Package (200 guests - 75,000 (P375/head); All tiffany chairs

I have known this caterer from a Bridal Fair at Megamall and signed up their inquiry form during the exhibit. After a few weeks, Ms Connie called me twice and convinced me to have food tasting with them. By the time we booked PSE Auditorium I gave her (Ms Connie) a call and I asked for food tasting schedule.

MIL 2b and I reached the place at around 12:30 PM. Food tasting started at 1:00 PM. Chika ditto and doon muna with Ms Connie, 1 Pm na kmi nka pag food taste – actually it was lunch. Hehehe.

The taste?!?? Hmmm . . . the food is descent. It tastes good, but there is nothing special with the food, nothing to be craved of at hindi mo rin masasabing masarap (o maselan lng ako sa food?)! Sabi nga ni MIL 2b – the usual food, lutong bahay. I find it NOT ideal to be served to our guests. Maselan pa man din kaming mga kapampangan sa food. So we have to be very choosy in terms of this one.

Second Taste: ELOQUENTE
Address : # 70 Yale St., Cubao, Quezon City
Contact Person : Jeric
Contact No : 09228723007 / 439 3711 / 421 9490
Website : http://www.eloquentecatering.com/index.htm
Food Tasting Schedule : by appointment
Our Schedule : April 7, 2006 (12:00 NN)
Package : Wedding Anthurium Package (200 guests – 56,000 (P280/head)
10% Service Charge

Again, sourced out from Bridal Fair at Megamall years way back . . . can’t remember. I just kept the flyer and menu list when I happened to pass by of the said fair. Just kept it for future reference up to the point na outdated na pla sya. Hehehe.

We considered this catering service ever since we stared our wedding preps, kasi their package is affordable. Base on fellow w@wies feedback (sp mondola – thanks sis for the feedback & set-up pictures) the food is really masarap and affordable. Buti na lang Jeric is a Sun Cellular subs. I can call him anytime without charge. (salamat sa Service Unit . . . hahaha!)

I had an early lunch break for this activity (buti pinayagan ako sa office. hehehe). I met MIL 2b somewhere in Cubao. We reached the place around 12:30. Jeric (the owner) was there to assists us. Jeric is easy to talk to. I find him ok. As he serves the food, may katapat na explanation kada putahe. Why the grilled fish is served w/o sauce? – para daw matikamn ng husto ang meat ng fish. Why the veggie served w/o the pork tenderloin? – para malasahan daw ng husto ang freshness ng veggie. Etc . . . etc . . . (lalo tuloy ako na-inspire with him to put up my own catering service . . . ma-inspire daw ba at I-compete sila?! Hehehe)

Now, I can say I was really impressed with the taste of the food! Masarap tlga! Even MIL 2b liked the food! Sa dami ng sinerve sa amin-ubos! Hahaha! We wanted to ask sana for more questions kaya lng may iba png dumating na clients and they are finalizing details. So we decided to go na . . . kase late na ako sa office. Hehehe.

We might be considering Eloquente as our caterer. :)

Third Taste: DEXIE’S CATERING
Address : # 10 Corona St. cor. Colby St., Brookeside Hills Subd., Ortigas Avenue, Cainta
Contact Person : Arnold
Contact No : 655.5867 / 655.7496
Website : http://www.dexiescatering.com/
Food Tasting Schedule : by appointment
Our Schedule 1: April 21, 2006 (6:00 PM); PAOC
Rescheduled Date 1: May 6, 2006 (12:00 NN); Mt. Carmel
Reschedule Date 2: May 7, 2006 (6:00 PM); Ramon Magsaysay Hall
Package : Emerald Wedding Package

Sourced out from the internet, I didn’t give attention with this caterer (ewan ko kung bkit) until one day Charie, a friend from my previous employer convinced me to try their service (Dexie’s handled their wedding). She gave me nice feedbacks about this vendor and masarap daw tlga food nila, one more thing family friend nila one of the owners na ginawa nila ninong. She can help me daw with discounts. Hehehe. A friend from w@w to recommended their service, since that they had their reception in PSE at super ganda ng set up and sarap daw ng food (thanks Thess for the pictures, tips and for answering my queries).

So when I inquired Dexie’s aba antay na pla nila ung call ko and mahigpit na akong pinagbilin ni Charie. Hehehe. Wala pa man Arnold offered me of course a special discount. I won’t disclose the special rates :p. Then he scheduled me at once for food tasting and at the same time set-up ocular at PAOC. Ma-chikka and madali kausap si Arnold, close kmi kaagad. Hahaha!

Schedule 1: April 21, 2006 (6:00 PM); PAOC - Naku d kmi natuloy MIL 2b Blood pressure ay tumaas. Then so I requested for a resched.

Kahit na Off Mode ako with the Wedding Preps sige pa rin para matapos na kmi with the caterers . . . d tuloy ako nakapag aral. Hahaha!
Rescheduled Date 1: May 6, 2006 (12:00 NN); Mt. Carmel - this time natuloy kmi kaya lang . . . hehehe. nalate kmi ng dating. 1:30 PM na kmi nakarating tapos nakaligpit na and naibalot na ang sobrang food. Hehehe. So while we were there nagparesched kmi ulit which is the following day.

D nanaman ako nakapag aral . . . wala rin sa mood dahil sobrang init. Summer na sumer na tlga.
Reschedule Date 2: May 7, 2006 (6:00 PM); Ramon Magsaysay Hall - this time sobrang aga naman namin. usapan 6 at 5:30 PM nandun na kmi. Kasama nmin si Den (SIL 2b) and Faye (Niece ni H2b - one of the flower girls). Hay grabe! Though we were early Dexie's bookeeper entertained us, kaya lang we waited for so long. 7:10 PM na kmi na kapag food taste at sobrang nagutom kami. Kainis! sana di kami pinapunta ng ganung oras.

Food verdict???! We didn't like the taste of the food :( Ung chicken pastel dinudugo pa sya. Hay . . . kundi lng ako nagutom dko maubos un. Hehehe. Tagal pa man din nmin nag antay. Hay! Sayang. Tiffany chairs pa amn din na lahat ang chairs nila.

H2b and I decided to go for Eloquente na. Check na lng nmin set-up nila with PSE Auditorium this coming June, then by that time cguro mag DP na kmi.

Back to: http://raymond-rhia.weddingannouncer.com

The Venue: PSE Auditorium

Yes! Finally! After a long search we found the reception venue for our wedding! Whatta feeling! Memond and I felt so much happiness! Tapos with the blessing of MIL 2b pa. Eto na tlga, wala ng atrasan. Hehehe.

PSE Auditorium is my ideal and I believe the perfect place for our special day! Gustong-gusto ko tlga dito. Nagpapaatras lng kasi tlga sa amin is the cash bond. Base on feedback with my fellow w@w a week after makukuha na sya ng buong-buo at madali lng kuhanin. Then I started convincing Memond to consider the place. Pumayag naman. **wink**wink**

The day after our ocular (Mar 30, 2006), early in the morning I called PSE Auditorium Admin Assistant – Ms Rowena for further inquiry. Unfortunately she’s not around. Buti na lng Maricar (their Receptionist) is kind enough to entertain me. So she sent me the Reservation for Application Form via fax at the same time the rates and terms and conditions. Sagot ako kaagad sa form. Excited eh. Hehehe. :P

The following day - Mar 31, 2006 I came back to the place and passed the form and negotiated with Ms. Rowena. She quoted and presented me this and that. Then I paid the 50% down payment sa may basement. Maligaw-ligaw pa ako – dko akalain na may office pa sa basement kase parking space na un eh. I even thought na baka nililigaw pa ako ni Ms. Rowena. Hehehe.

Here are our rate reservation details:

Venue Rental:
P4,000/ hour
We reserved 3 hrs only, which is the minimum – same rate applies if we exceed over the reserved time.
Basis of 50% down payment

Set Up Fee:
P 100/hour (w/o aircon)
We reserved 4 hours for the set up of caterers
*All in all 7 hours reservation (set-up & event proper)

Fountain Rental:
P 400/hour
We reserved 2 hours only. First hour on arrival of guest. Second hour departure of guests. D naman kasi kita kapag nasa loob na ng venue. Sayang naman. Hehehe.

Personnel Fee:
P 140/hour/head (4 personnel: 1 security guard, 1 technician & 2 janitors)
Total of 28 hours. Since our event falls on a Sunday, the personnel fee is double pay. They will be around from the time the set up started until the event finishes. Ito ang masakit sa bulsa. Ang mahal! D na makakatikim ng tip to. Hehehe

Electricity:
P100 or actual consumption - whichever is higher.

Cash bond:
20K (ang mahal!)
Refundable a week after the event (buong-buo if no damages made)

Total Venue Rental Fee:
P 17,220

Note: Balance to be paid a week before the event

Back to : http://raymond-rhia.weddingannouncer.com/

Our Venue Search Adventure Part 2

After learning that Lepanto wasn’t a good choice for MIL 2b (dahil masunuring bata kmi ni Memond . . . hehehe), again I have researched for possible venues thru net and of course done thru with my very best reliable source the full of wealth info – w@w e-groups.

Again, I came up with a list of all possible venues. Out of the 7 venues I inquired only 2 have available slots for Dec 3, 2006. Whew! Valle Verde 6 Club House and PSE Auditorium. Dahil sa sobrang na-tense na ako, I immediately called MIL 2b and scheduled for ocular. Pati sya nag worry na rin at tignan na daw nmin PSE kasa nauubusan na ng venue. Kinabukasan nag ocular na kmi at sinuggest that our first stop is PSE. Actually at first MIL 2b is hesitant to look at the place kase parang there’s nothing special with the place kase daw it is an office building parang not an ideal for reception. D nga nmin ma-convince before ni Memond to look at the place eh. Hehehe.

It was March 29, 2006, 12:30 PM when MIL 2b and I went ocular for PSE Auditorium since she has an appointment with her client there, pinagsabay nanamin. Siningit ko sa lunch break and pag ocular. Buti na lng I am just 10 mins ride away from the place. I bought along with me pictures of Valle 6, just in case.

The good thing is nagustuhan at nagandahan si MIL 2b sa place. Khit di nya masyado nakita ung place because there is a graduation function currently on going. Dun na daw! Ibook na! At hindi na raw naming titignan ang Valle 6. Picture pa lng kase hindi na sya nagandahan. Whew! Buti naman. Sobrang nakahinga na ako ng maluwag. Hehehe.

My second venue list consists of the following:

KASALIKASAN
Rate: 25k
Capacity: 250 pax
Contact No: 818.1602 loc. 3201-02
Address: De Jesus Oval, Bonifacio Global City
I’ve seen this place on pictures and it was perfect for garden reception, but for Memond and I, garden reception is a big NO! NO! But still I included it in our list since that MIL 2b wanted to see it, may nakapag-kwento daw kasi sa knya na it’s sooo nice.

VALLE VERDE 6 CLUB HOUSE
Rate: 11k + 3k for cash bond (30% discount if endorsed by a resident)
Capacity: 200 pax
Contact No: 631.3970
I have seen the place in pictures from an ex-officemate wedding, some from fellow w@w Ann (thanks!). The place is not that bad. We just didn’t like it’s exterior feature. But it’s ceiling and all glass façade is nice!

A friend of mine from Valle even offered help in case we like the place to avail the 30% discount.

CORINTHIAN GARDENS CLUB HOUSE
Rate: 13,500
Capacity: 200-300 pax
Contact No: 634.7280
Contact Person: Ms. Miriam
MIL 2b recommended this place. She has been here and she knows someone from here and the place is ideal for reception tlga.

Thanks to Ihrine Gorospe for giving me the contact nos and some details.

MANILA POLO CLUB
Heard of the place several times on tv. Kapag may kinakasal na sikat or kpag may big time events. Seen the place in magazines and I find it really nice and class.

The place is tied up with Makati Skyline as its exclusive caterer; since these 2 come together the place is for free!

Rochelle Pantangco, another kind friend from w@w introduced this place to me. She even offered help on inquiry and if ever on member endorsement. So nice of you Rochelle – Thanks sis for making inquiries for me!

WEST GREENHILLS CLUB HOUSE
Rate: 13,500
Capacity: 200 pax
Contact No: 722-1487
I don’t have any idea how this place looks like. Just got info from Ihrine Gorospe (ulit). Try ko lng daw bka sakali.

PSE (Philippine stock Exchange) AUDITORIUM
Rate: 4K/hour + 20k cash bond
Capacity: 200-250 pax
Contact No: 636.6596
Contact Person: Ms. Rowena Martin
I have been in this place several times because of the tiangge being held every payday. I never thought that events/functions are welcome here until I joined w@w.

PSE has been a part of my 1st list since I started scouting for venue. Because of the cash bond, ni-let go ko na lng tlga sya.

I got an email from Geri, another fellow w@w and convinced me consider PSE. Thanks for convincing sis!

Thanks to Thess Labilles too for sharing her pictures of PSE.

Back to : http://raymond-rhia.weddingannouncer.com/

He is leaving again . . .

Whaaaaaaaaaaat????!!! My babes is leaving me again! He will be out of town for 3 mos na walang uwian, be back on June pa-after my birthday! Huhuhuhu. Paano na ang wedding preps? All we have is church.

Madaya ka mahal ko!!!!!!!! You are leaving me in the middle of preps! I can’t do anything. No choice! Call of work! Hay!

Given this scenario – in behalf of him is his Mom. Mahigpit akong ipinagbilin na samahan at tulungan sa preps! Buti naman his mom is game with wedding preps. Itext ko lng daw sya at tutulungan ako. Hehehe.

Thanks to MIL for the support and for being my new wedding preps partner!