St. James The Great Parish in Alabang

[Baby Madeline]

^We also wanted an airconditioned church because H2B can't tolerate humid weather talaga. So instead of having our wedding in Tagaytay or Baguio (we are just after the cool weather), we thought it's relatively cheaper pa din if we have our ceremony at St. James. Kaso nga lang, since our wedding is on a Saturday, bawal talaga ma-late at sana di masyadong mahaba ang homily ni father kasi may 6pm mass  We have to leave the church by 5:30pm, boo!

By the way, St. James brides, would you remember how was the pre-cana conducted?  What I only know is whole Saturday siya. I have no idea on what things to expect. We'll be requesting for an earlier schedule before H2B leaves for his studies abroad para pagbalik niya, canonical interview na lang.  ;)Share your experiences naman. Thanks!

[wahmproject]

^naku sis, hindi ko na maalala gano but its just a typical small classroom set up. there's one speaker about what marriage entails, duties of both husband and wife, etc. And I think there's another speaker for responsible family planning. Nakakatuwa lang kasi you will also see the other couples who are getting married there.

[Baby Madeline]

^Thank you sis! Oo nga, nakakatuwa nga na makilala yung ibang mga future St. James couples. Ang ayaw ko lang e baka may surprise quiz o kaya recitation. 

[1.3.13]

StJames is uber expensive i paid 28kmy wedding wil be this Jan 3 i got the 10am slot. Flowers at 15k i was able to deal all asters all medium sized topiaries from the start til end of the Aisle. Precana was half day we did this mid november, it was like a family planning session together with some biblical reviews, the instructor was the head of couples for christ, the certificate of attendance will be honored at the civil registry in the alabang palengke nso site. So do not apply for your wedding license before the pre cana, it will be very easy for you to get it together with 2 pcs of 2x2 pics, cenomar, birth certs and filled up form. Before that we also attended an nterview with the priest i think first sat of nvember, this is a one on one session with the priest we were there for 2 hours, si fiancee muna then me then together, be very careful what you share kasi kaya kmi tumagal nalecturan kmi ng mahaba abt living together. Hope this helps. And yes you cant bring your flowers to the reception they said it will be offered during the masses for the week.

[1.3.13]

One last thing i forgot they now have a suppliers mtg, my coordinators and videographers were req to attend this half day seminar, the photographer is from Naga so they are ok if you just send a representative. Madami ng bawal and instructions on where the photogs and videogs can syation themselves esp during the vows. They are also very particular to use only liturgical songs form the march up to the very end of the mass.

[MaitaOfMakeupOnDemand]

Hey, I haven't checked back in here in a while but I'm glad that there are replies to this post already.

Question. If flowers are not my priority kasi 1 hour ceremony lang naman, will the church allow me to trim the aisle with tulle? Or kailangan na kailangan na all decorations come from St. James suppliers?

[Baby Madeline]

1.3.13: Thanks for the reply! We're scheduled for pre-cana na next month (around 9 months before the wedding). H2B has to leave na kasi and won't be back until August. Good thing they agreed to schedule us even if our wedding is on September pa. At least when he comes back, we can apply na for our marriage license and undergo the canonical interview na lang.

Talaga? Only liturgical songs are allowed? I just inquired a month ago from Ms. Aycie and she told me that allowed naman ang love songs for the bridal march. Not really a biggie for me but I was kind of conditioned myself na that I will be walking down the aisle with this particular song. Oh well.

How about the personal vows? Did they change their policy na rin with this? She told me allowed naman as long the officiating priest will allow it and that part won't be just included in the misalette. Thanks!

[chubbycheeks17]

read from an fb post of our prenup p/v, MyPhotato - dami na bagong rules sa St. James Alabang. bawal na mag laptop sa loob ng church and isang photog and isang video na lang pwede umakyat sa wedding rites. bawal na mga butterflies effect. namamatay lang din kasi daw. pacheck nyo na lang sissies sa wc nyo the deets about all these.

[1.3.13]

KMV attended represented my suppliers, said that initially during vows just 1 photo and 1 video. However S. James contacted each ofthem stating that they can now have 2 each in the fromt line. It was the Priest btw who told us all liturgical songs, and Aycie is now replaced by smebody i forgot the name, this girl was the one who called us last week reminding us abt our banns and marriage lcense to be submitted 2 weeks before the wedding. Re church flowers Lucille said you are not required to have flowers on your wedding day, so the couple can decide, however if you need or want flowers the only supplier honored there are the church volunteers from the Mother Butlers Guild.

[1.3.13]

I forgot to ask abt the personal vows, we are bringing in our own Priest kasi. I can ask i will go there next week. Let me know if may mga gusto kyo ipatanong

[MaitaOfMakeupOnDemand]

^sis, please ask if I can decorate the aisle with fabric na ako magdadala kasi kung bawal, pagiisipan ko pa what do with the aisles. Nasasayangan kasi ako magbayad for flower, eh 1 hour lang naman ang ceremony.

[nutata]

St. James is not as scary as everyone thinks. Standard rules sila, yung wag lang bastos and P/V during specific parts of the ceremony (readings, consecration, homily, etc.). Minsan kasi masyadong aligaga ang P/V sa production and di nila napapansin nakakabastos na pala yung palakad lakad, paharang harang, and pag-tutok nila ng camera. There are specific places your P/V cannot go, but these are the same din in other Catholic churches, so if your suppliers are sanay na, they will know.

There's space outside with an outlet and pews for your P/V editors. This is NOT A PROBLEM. May water dispenser pa nga dun. The 1 P/V each for wedding rites is no problem either Kasi depende yan sa P/V niyo if kalat kalat sila (lakad ng lakad) or bastos sila all over the sanctuary tapos ayaw umalis after the rites. We've seen more than one videog/photog up there during the rites, and dahil discrete sila and hindi nakaharang/nakakagulo, walang naging problem.

The seminar can be attended by your coordinator, di na kailangan the P/V, but they all will have to print out a permit and submit all their names on the day so the guard can give them an ID. They allow vows and confetti (wag lang poppers, petals are fine). They're extremely strict lang pag may mass after your wedding, so take note of their mass schedule. Bawal ang photo ops outside pag may mass after.

What they're strict about in major terms is basically respect They have preferences (haha yung mga di nila type na photogs) so ask them so you know. Make chika with the guard and the manongs and they'll tell you naman

[muy003]

I also want to be married here, kaya lang daming taga north ang magrereklamo sa layo.. Mostly hubby's side, Ill have to figure out the logistics pa din!! Grrrrrr ganda kasi dito eh! I really like.

[MaitaOfMakeupOnDemand]

^ sis, my h2b's family is from Diliman and/or farther north. I'm sure they will go to your wedding na walang problema if you really want to get married in St. James One day lang naman eh.

[1.3.13]

They allow vows and confetti (wag lang poppers, petals are fine). They're extremely strict lang pag may mass after your wedding, so take note of their mass schedule. Bawal ang photo ops outside pag may mass after.

- sis when was ur wedding the priest and aycie specifically told us kasi na petals or confetti can be thrown outside and not nside

[nutata]

^Not ours The wedding was a few days ago. Bawal talaga inside Haven't encountered churches lately na pwede pa rin inside. Although meron pa rin na kahit outside hindi na pwede, like at Forbes and Lourdes in Tagaytay.

[1.3.13]

thanks sis. So I can throw anything outside right lol

[mejologz]

Hi girls!

Me and my wife are opting to get married in August 2014 in this church, tanong kung sino contact person dun and i prefer email as 8 hours time difference ako sa Pinas. Please help!

[akireyhoj]

Hi! how much na fee dito? ok lang siguro wag na mag avail nung flowers no? ang mahal naman kasi masyado eh.. dito namin balak magpakasal ni bf...

[muriel1]

hi sisses, meron ba nakabook na sa church na ito dito for 2014 wedding? meron na ba updated raets or 28k pa rin wihout flowers? kealngan ba talaga parishioner or pwedeng endorsed by a resident to get the parishioner's rate?