OTD Wedding Coordinator (Part 4)

[jcgirl]

To those asking about Events Embassy, I have to share our experience with them. 

Events Embassy (Cathy Ebuen) was recommended by our photographer. We booked Cathy right after our first meeting as she seemed to be very knowledgeable about her work and she had nice recommendations. We also liked that she had a big team (8-10 persons).

During the preparations, I found that she did not reply to my text or whatsapp messages immediately most of the time. And when she did, she replied curtly and not to all of my questions. I did not call her attention naman to my concerns since I was pretty much hands-on with the preps and we got her for on-the-day coordination only. When we booked her, she promised to send template excel files for guest lists, etc. but we never got them until maybe a week before the wedding. The files she got to send were very simple word files which would not have been of much use anyway.

She joined me for my first meeting with the caterer and had some nice recos. Our next meeting was a week before the wedding (both of us had crazy schedules then and we adjusted the meeting times), for which she was almost 2 hours late (her earlier bride was late, she said). During the meeting, I even had to provide her my own print outs as she seemed to be unfamiliar with most details even if i cc'd her to most of my emails with my suppliers.   

My last meeting with her was the night before the wedding and we just did a rundown of the preps and the reception. She disclosed that there was another wedding that she was coordinating on the same day as ours, but assured me that she would attend to both weddings. I assume this second wedding was booked after us, as we were not told about another wedding when we booked her.

On the day of the wedding, the team arrived without her. My fiance and I were assigned an assistant each and there were advance parties in the church and reception venue. I did not see Cathy except outside the church right before the ceremony, when she asked to have her photo taken with me (posted on facebook, of course). That was it.

Of course, as the bride, it was not until after the wedding that I heard about how the members of the entourage felt about the coordination (or lack of it). My married friends commented how the team members seemed to be just going along with the flow like "headless chickens."They noticed how the team did not even have walkie-talkies, or a posted schedule in the hotel just to let everyone know what's happening next and to lessen everyone's stress.

After the wedding, my (now) husband complained about his assistant leaving him during the preps. I understand his best man was more helpful pa daw. Cathy's team members are nice, young kids. They did a respectable job naman for on the day coordination, considering some last minute adjustments in the program. Cathy also assigned us choreographers who managed to teach us to dance a bit. 

My biggest beef, though, was that they lost a tote bag that's pretty important to me. It's not expensive but I got it from a trip abroad so it has some sentimental value. The assistant assigned to me borrowed it from me in the morning (I later learned it was to store the groom's things in), and I readily agreed.

It was not until a week after the wedding that i realized it was missing. And not until another week that it was confirmed that the team lost it. Initially, Cathy said the assistant assigned to me told her it was turned over to me. I then sent her a screenshot of the list of the items turned over to me, which of course did not include the bag. My husband also recalled that his assistant was holding that same bag during the latter part of the program.   

Cathy apologized and offered to pay me back. I declined. I was just extremely disappointed that her excuse was that it had rained during the program and that because of the rain, the team members weren't able to check if all our things were turned over. I was disappointed too at how my concern was not acted upon right away and how I had to send actual proof that the item was not turned over before she admitted it was their fault. In the first place, there would have been no need to borrow that bag had her team been prepared with contingencies like an extra bag, for instance.

Also, looking back, she should have been in our wedding like she promised. She said she was going to go back and forth between her two weddings for that day, but like I said, I saw her for that photo opp only. Truth be told, I do not think we got our money's worth.






   

[Chili1113]

OMG jcgirl!!! I am so sorry to hear about your experience with your OTD.

Can I just say is that I have a very very big issue with suppliers who accept more than 1 wedding per day and plan to shuffle back and forth between 2 weddings. This is especially unacceptable in they promise to be there the whole time. First of all Cathy should have been there from start to finish. I bet that had you known that she would show up only right before your bridal march, you would never have hired her. I mean she doesn't have to be there every minute of the day, but she should be at your wedding and working only for you on that day.

I also had a bad experience with this and this is the reason why I cancelled my 1st videographer. I found out in another forum that they accepted another wedding on my big day, even if I had them state in my contract that the owners should both be there. Apparently they planned to only follow to my wedding and send crew ahead of time.

All  have to say to any supplier out there who may read this, is that your gotta QUIT this double booking practice.  It is OK to have multiple events in a day provided that you have separate teams for each event, and that you inform the couple  of this, and do not make false promises. Dishonest suppliers who HIDE the fact that they had booked 2 weddings is an even bigger disappointment. tsk tsk

Grrrrrrrr sorry but this is just so annoying!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder how rampant this double booking practice is in the wedding industry?

[sparklingjewel]

Jcgirl big hug to you!! Nastress ako reading your story!!! Huhu. Really disappointing

Chili1113, i've heard about this issue not just with Dreamechanics, some really do it to accommodate more bookings which is bothersome if they advertise at point of booking na one event per day, no? Growing businesses i guess so they find it hard to turn away interested clients but i totally agree it shouldn't be done. Bad business practice. It's as if you didnt pay them a whole big amount for them to focus on your wedding.

[shygirlme]

^^^hugs sis! nakakaimbyerna yung ganyan klaseng coord! i remember Ayie from Imbitado told me madami nagtatanong sa kanya bakit hindi sya nag team B sabi nya gusto nya naging hands on sa wedding. kaya hindi din sya sumasali sa mga bridal fairs kasi syempre if may magpabook sa kanya sa fair tapos booked na sya on that day ayaw naman nya madisappoint yung client lalo if dumayo sa fair for her.

when I got Imbitado,admitted ako I didnt expect so much from them. actually I had no idea pano gagawin nila sa wedding ko. hindi ako ganon ka OC e basta walang maging problem ayos sakin. But on the wedding day itself, pampered ako! wala ko naging problema. ang cool lang nila. I have friends na naririnig ko nagsasabi about their otd na hindi nadeliver ng ayos on their wedding day siguro kasi they expect too much? ako kasi on the day naglet go talaga wala naman naging problem.

overseas bride pala ko. i only got OTD kasi gusto ko hands on ako. eh maresearch naman akong tao. buti nalang may 'runner' ako sa pinas. either my mom, sis, sis in law or my MOH. sila taga bayad ko ng down payment.

kaya madami nagulat nung nagtanong how much OTD namin. ang mura daw pero ang ganda ng service. expected nila nasa 20k pataas ang Imbitado.

[caleeice]

Also posting here my review of our OTD to show my gratitude for her service and to pay it forward for all the help I got here in GT!

COORDINATOR
OTD Coordinator: Hazel Escarilla
Rating: 5/5
Our wedding was really fun and stress-free! My aunt also shared that some of our relatives told her that our wedding was one of the most organized weddings they have attended. Credit goes to our OTD coordinator Hazel Escarilla and her team!

I'm not sure if she's ever been mentioned here before, but she deserves to be! She is an accredited coordinator of Glass Garden. I got to know her and witness how her team worked when my cousin got married a month before I got engaged. Mum and I noticed that my cousin's wedding was really nice and organized.

Our first meeting with her was already productive. Hazel was already taking notes when we were discussing things with her even if we just met her just to see whether it would be in our best interests to book her. She already gave her suggestions and would give constructive comments for us to consider. When we were discussing her packages, I was initially considering her partial coordination package. However, she was the one who suggested that I only needed OTD services because I do not live overseas and that I am a very hands-on bride.

When we booked her and had another meeting, she was reviewing her notes with us. She would also share her experiences just so we'd have an idea what or what not to do.

During preps, I would text her if I have questions and she replies within the day. When our photographer got sick, I also informed her and she replied right away and said she'll call me. She no longer called that day because it was already late (I think it was almost 9 PM when I sent the message) and apologized when she called me the following day. She was asking me the status of the situation, what my plans were, etc. I was already on top of everything, so I said that everything's okay and we just need to book and finalize with our new photographer. I sent the finalized contract and just told her to confirm that we want the lead photographer to be there. She said she'll also confirm this with our photographer. When we were suddenly informed by our church a few days before the wedding that our coordinator, photographer and videographer all need to sign a permit, I informed Hazel right away. She called the church then me that she will go there to sign the permit. It was the first time daw that this policy was implemented.

She gave me a workbook complete with check lists, suggested song lists, budget table, etc. During our last meeting, which was 3 months before the wedding, we finalized our plans for the day. She then sent me a personalized check list based on our last meeting. We then had to check whether the items are already okay or whether we're still working on it or if we're doing away with it. We also had to send electronic copies of our invitations, misalettes, program, among others. She reviewed our contracts and called our suppliers. She then sent us a list of food for the suppliers via email. When the food for suppliers alone reached PHP33,000, my husband replied and said that we preferred to give packed food instead of allowance because packed food will come from our ninang. Hazel called concerned suppliers to negotiate and sent us the revised file. SO we only had to pay around PHP6,000 to PHP7,000. That was huge savings! So we have to commend her for that.

She came in early during the wedding day. She used the personalized check list when she was doing an inventory of the items. They were the ones who removed the items from the balikbayan boxes and placed it on the bed for the photographers and videographers. I was also assisted by her or one of her team members throughout the day. Before going to church, she was personally with me. She also briefed my husband, both our parents and me before the ceremony.

She was on top of everything so I honestly don't know if there were any hiccups during the day regarding other suppliers. hehe!

I've repeatedly thanked her after the wedding for a beautiful, smooth-sailing and stress-free day! I highly recommend her for brides to be!

[tan.denise54]

Hi Sis! Getting discounts from other suppliers via Kutchie makes sense. But I think you have to know if her suppliers list fits your taste as well especially her list of photographers and videographer unless she can assure you that she can get discount from any supplier that you want. Hehe.

If you're an overseas or really bride, I think full coordination will be helpful. But if you have time to research and contact suppliers, I think you can still get the OTD. There are a lot of other overseas brides here to who got OTD coordination but I'm guessing they are always researching here in GT. Hehe

Anyone had Ms Kutchie of Getting Married? Her full is 97-100K and OTD is 47-50K. Sabi kasi nila if you get her, malaki din discount sa ibang suppliers if siya mag coordinate.

May I asked you guys if better to take full coordination para stress free or OTD nalang? If at the end of the day decision parin ng couple.

[jcgirl]

Thank you, Chili1143, shygirlme and sparklingjewel! Just paying it forward kasi i learned a lot by lurking here in GT hehe. We found our photographer Ram and videographer Brian of Vidlens here
Ayie of Imbitado was also the first coordinator referred to us by our photographer, but she was already booked on our date.   

[vanyei]

Booked absolutely knot thanks for your feedback here in GT!
H2b also felt we're in good hands after meeting Ms. Kimmy

[ghelyn30]

^yay sis! Another AK Bride here. When wedding mo sis? Nakakatuwa naman!
Happy preps! =)

[msdianne]

Yes fiancé decided to go on full coordination since I'm an overseas bride and he doesn't want to be bothered with my stress since worrier ako sobra. I'll meet her this August to start the preparation. We'll go through ️Discovery Weekend first that time before all the preps will start. We just have the church reserved palang Sanctuario De San Antonio the rest zero parin. The wedding will be in September 2016 pa naman.

Reading all of these tips and advice really help me too. I still have a log way to go...

Hi Sis! Getting discounts from other suppliers via Kutchie makes sense. But I think you have to know if her suppliers list fits your taste as well especially her list of photographers and videographer unless she can assure you that she can get discount from any supplier that you want. Hehe.

If you're an overseas or really bride, I think full coordination will be helpful. But if you have time to research and contact suppliers, I think you can still get the OTD. There are a lot of other overseas brides here to who got OTD coordination but I'm guessing they are always researching here in GT. Hehe

[sparklingjewel]

^msdianne Hello fellow Kutchie bride! Enjoy your preps! Good idea to go through DW before preps para lang sure. And dont worry 14 months is a long time to plan.

[msdianne]

Thank you sparklingjewel. You've been very helpful also sa mga queries ko Praying for your wedding it would be smooth absolutely Kutchie Z is amazing from friend's wedding that I attended. Kahit ano supplier kaya niya gawan ng magic from low to high end.

[sparklingjewel]

^Yup sis, Kutchie is one of the suppliers I am not worrying at all about. Nakarami nadin akong napuntahan na wedding where she was the coordinator and they were all flawless. The couples also had only good words for her. Super happy you got her for full coordination, wala ka nang kastress stress dyan. Hehe ako partial lang pero I am confident padin she will have a major impact in making our imagined wedding come to life.

[vanyei]

^yay sis! Another AK Bride here. When wedding mo sis? Nakakatuwa naman!
Happy preps! =)

December 12 this year, just a few more months to go!
Thanks sis! Happy preps to you din

[marchbridetobe]

Hi sis vanyei, welcome to the club of AK brides! sis ghelyn30, I messaged you sa fb. Ikaw yung palaging naglalike sa posts ng AK sa page nila di ba? hehe.

[fluffyfluff]

Mga sis hinge naman ako opinions niyo, I'm torn between SMA, Imbitado and Absolutely Knot and di ko alam sino pipiliin.

Initial plan kasi namin na OTD lang kunin pero nahihirapan na kasi ako magikot and ocular kasi sakitin ako and after every ocular o lakad namin nilalagnat ako kaya we decided na best na mag full coordination nalang para less stress sakin din dahil bawal ako ma-stress and mapagod according sa mga doctor ko

Like ko lang na si AK affordable and marami syang kasama sa full package nya and Imbitado naman is a  GT/ W@W bride kaya parang merong same ground and both have RSVP included in their package na while gusto ko naman kay SMA is super bilis nya mag reply and I really like that in a supplier.

Hope you guys can help me! Thaaanks!

[avane]

^have you met with all of them, sis? it would help you decide. gaya ng laging namemention dito, big factor na makajive mo personality ng magiging coordinator lalo na kung full planning pala tinatarget mo. I was an SMA bride and was super happy with how my wedding turned out. Sheena was more than an OTD coordinator to me, so much more siguro kung nakafull ka sa kanya. Imbitado and SMA both have several post-wedding reviews here and in W@W, importante din na talagang marami proof nang they can really execute well, not just sa planning stage. Haven't included AK sa options ko before kasi recently ko lang sila nababasa dito sa GT pero looks like dumadami na din brides nila dito because of good reviews after meeting up with their head kaya best to go with your guts after meeting them all. Goodluck, sis, and watch out sa health ha, preps can be really stressful pero fun. Sarap ulitin eh wag lang yung gastos. 

[ghelyn30]

December 12 this year, just a few more months to go!
Thanks sis! Happy preps to you din

Yay sis! Don't forget to give reviews / feedback after your big day! Abangers kami! hehe! =)

Happy preps sis!

[sevenstars]

fluffyfluff, I agree that meeting them in person if you can is a good way to decide. One tip I do have is that people seem to focus mainly on the organisational/logistics skills of a coordinator -- I think it can be equally important to make sure you have the same taste, especially if you'll be relying on them to suggest venues, suppliers, etc. It's usually a good sign if they regularly work with other suppliers that you're considering. (I found my planner/coordinator by looking at who my caterer usually worked with.)

[fluffyfluff]

Thanks sis sevenstars and avane for the rep! No, I have not met with them, I shortlisted them based on gut feeling when I read reviews here in GT hehe Mahirap talaga kasi para sakin healthwise lumabas labas para makipag meet and ganun kaya mostly talaga ng communication thru email and SMS ang gusto ko. Pero tignan ko kung kaya nila sana na medyo malapit samin that would be great.

Sa totoo lang, i want to do everything myself para talagang hands on pero hirap na talaga ako, mag attend nga lang ng bridal fair or ocular ng venue nilalagnat na ako or nag nauseate na ako kaya medyo nakakalungkot lang. :/