Who are your wedding suppliers? Part 8

[Tinsflor]

Cost wise almost same din naman ang cost namin either of the two. how's your experience with Manila Pen? Strict ba sila with the food/styling etc?
It's really true what they say the more malapit na ang wedding ang dami mo naiisip gawin or i change 😂  (sayang lang my non-refundable reservation fee, if ever!)

Hi dsexy!  We're holding our reception at Manila Pen this October.  How many guests do you have?  They recently increased their wedding packages by a very substantial amount.  I think the minimum guaranteed revenue now for the conservatory is set at 1M and Rigodon at 1.4M.  The price for a sit-down 5 course menu in excess of the first 100 guests is about 4300Php (including taxes and service charge).

I would suggest that if you have more than 150 guests, you will save a lot of money by sticking to your original plans.  I got a quote from Bizu before because I got this crazy idea of having them do our cocktail and after-party buffet and from what I can remember, it's just about half of what the pen is offering now.  I don't know, maybe I'm just having major buyer's remorse right now because I know what we can get elsewhere with the money we're spending there, but if you can manage to keep your guest count low and choose the Intimate Wedding package instead of the pricier one, you can stay within the minimum revenue allowance without any overages.

Anyway, they're only super strict when it comes to bringing in caterers especially beverages from outside.  So absolutely NO to mobile bars, etc.  Prepare to budget an additional 200-250k on cocktail food and drinks for about 180 guests too.  I asked about bringing in Bizu for cocktail and after party buffet and was told that they will only allow it if they can't offer the same food that Bizu is proposing.  They'll usually agree to waive the corkage for 12-20 bottles of wine and 5-8 bottles of hard liquor depending on your guest count.  Other than that, you WILL have to get your drinks from them.  A glass of coke or sprite is 220 pesos na!! A bottle of local beer is 300!!  Grabe, it's making me so angry again. hehe.

They also don't allow outside food for your suppliers but they have a separate cafe for employees and vendors.  The catch is that it's about 350php per meal per supplier.  So if you have a big team (styling, lights and sounds,P/V, etc.) you will need to purchase approximately 80-100 cafe stubs from them.

They're not strict about styling at all.  Their new packages allow for midnight ingress for the stylist's team to do their prep work provided that there's no event scheduled for that ballroom the night before your wedding.To save more money, you can always opt to use the flowers and "styling" that they offer in their packages.  But keep in mind that the styling inclusions in the packages are very simple and basic.  When I saw the pictures of the flowers and styling they have, I immediately went on a hunt for a stylist.  You will also most likely want to get your own lights & sounds supplier because their in-house sound system isn't very reliable according to my vendors.

I hope I didn't dishearten you from what I've said though.  I'm still very excited about holding our reception there, but the extra costs just won't stop adding up.  So my advice is if your heart is telling you that you want to hold your reception there, and you don't mind forfeiting your deposit to your current suppliers, go for it.  You must really REALLY want to have it there in order to justify the expenses involved. Of course on top of this, you get good service, good food,  a very elegant ambiance, and like what Chili113 said, the prestige.  

[chyttyn05]

Hi guys! Just want to share our wedding suppliers. Our wedding is on December 2016. 5 months na lang pala. 😁

Church: Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Reception: Manila Polo Club
Caterer: Hizons (no choice kami. Hehe)
Coordinator: La Belle Fete
Gown: Mak Tumang
Suit: J.E & Co.
Event Stylist: Badang Rueda
Photo: Foreveryday
Video: Ghe Consolacion
HMUA: Say Santayana
Entourage: Paolo Blanco
MOB/MOG: Paolo Blanco
Strings: Mla. Philharmonic Orchestra
Emcee: Roxanne Maruyama


Anyone here na kinuha si Roxanne Maruyama as emcee? Yung mga unang choices ko ay hindi na available on our wedding date though sinuggest naman yan ng coord namin. Sana maayos lang. 😄

Medyo madami pang kulang lalo na yung sa hotel. Need to book na pala para mura pa yung rate. Peak season kasi ang december.

Happy preps! 😄

[Chili1113]

Tinsflor: Whoa!! That's nearly double the minimum revenue when I was inquiring with Manila Pen. Although it is about time they increased since all the other Hotels I inquired with (Raffles-Fairmont and Marriott) had a minimum revenue of 1M (not including Sofitel-they were the cheapest by far).

Don't regret na=) Hehe there are times I still wish I had my wedding in Manila Pen. I think my money would have been better spent in Manila Pen Conservatory. Although I agree cocktail food and beverage budget  would certainly balloon-- not to mention the crew meals pala!! My cousin spent the same amount for her Manila Pen wedding several months before mine,  and I have to admit, the food alone was so much better than my Polo Club wedding no matter how much I tried and tried to upgrade our menu!! ! Plus no matter what, you can't compare a country club venue/events venue to other 5 star hotels in Makati.

[Ms.Lav]

Hello mga sis. Newbie lang po. May 2017 wedding ko

Church: Christ the king
Reception: The Glass Garden
Caterer: Josiah's Catering

Yun pa lang as of now

Hi sis, same tayo ng venue & caterer ☺️. Jan 2017 bride here, mauna Lang ako ng konti sayo 😊
Sis, who is your assigned Event Specialist in Josiah's? Nag final food tasting na ba kayo and detailing?

[nerakmd]

Hi! I'm also a February 2017 bride!

Church: Saint John Bosco Church, Makati
Reception: Blue Leaf Pavilion
Caterer: K by Cunanan
Lights and Sound: LST Mobile
Wedding band: Totally Mesmerized
Photo: Team Benitez
Video: Motion Diaries
Bridal Gown: Veejay Floresca
Groom Suit: Cornell's
HMUA: Bea Almeda
Flowers: Weddings by Vatel
OTD coord: EMS by Anna Sotto
Bridal Car: Bridal Car Phil.
Photobooth: Flipbooks

Hoping to book our entourage couturier this month. And I still cant decide what cake to get.. thinking of getting a naked wedding cake.  I'm having panic attacks na. Hahah! Only 6 months to go!

[kaitlynmischa]

^^I agree with all of you sis, it will certainly balloon kapag hotel ang reception. Imagine Edsa Shang lang ako, but the crew meal is 550 per head, cocktail will cost me 80k at the minimum to 150k. There are wins and losses talaga in choosing the right venue. I guess the best advice is to follow your heart. If you have the means then go! 

[Chili1113]

^Its the drinks that are the killer in a hotel. P300 a beer and like P230 or so for a can of soda!!! My cousin solved this by only serving red and white wine at dinner which they paid corkage for. Everything else was cash bar until the after party... where that had a few bottles of hard liquor served to guests that stayed behind. It was a weekday wedding so very few people stayed.

I think its OK to do a cash bar as long as the guests are served something  like wine na free flowing naman plus we were offered iced tea also. Wag lang cash bar lahat ng drinks there has to be something offered man lang! Teehee i attended kasi a wedding in Edsa Shang and cash bar lahat ng drinks so everyone just had water to drink and nothing else.

[Tinsflor]

Don't regret na=) Hehe there are times I still wish I had my wedding in Manila Pen. I think my money would have been better spent in Manila Pen Conservatory. Although I agree cocktail food and beverage budget  would certainly balloon-- not to mention the crew meals pala!! My cousin spent the same amount for her Manila Pen wedding several months before mine,  and I have to admit, the food alone was so much better than my Polo Club wedding no matter how much I tried and tried to upgrade our menu!! ! Plus no matter what, you can't compare a country club venue/events venue to other 5 star hotels in Makati.

Chili113:  Big hugs to you! Thank YOU!! Reading what you wrote helped me affirm our decision.  The pen was our only choice, we didn't look anywhere else na because I told him that for very sentimental and nostalgic reasons, this hotel holds a special place in my heart. I want to be free from "regretting", and instead be thankful. 

Your cousin and I have the same idea when it comes to serving alcohol.  We have a round of non-alcoholic drinks included in our package for dinner so we'll just take advantage of the waived corkage for wine and serve that throughout the night. we'll limit the beverage menu to beer, wine, soda, coffee/tea. We've set a budget of 125k on drinks and I don't even know if this is enough for 180 guests.  What do you think?  If or when we reach that limit, we'll make it a cash bar na.  I don't know kasi how cash bars are received in Manila.  Here in LA, it's super common to have an open bar for the first 2 hours, then cash bar after, and none of the guests seem to mind.  I feel like it's different there, no?  Do people really expect that alcohol and drinks will be free-flowing throughout the night?

[dsexy]

After a long deliberation with my fiancé and family plus non-stop computing for expenses 😂 We are set to transfer our reception venue to Manila Peninsula! Just a quick advice to all future brides to please check all possible options for your big day to avoid additional expenses, meaning the Non-refundable reservation fees! 😭
Anyways we got a great package and lots of freebies too. At first I thought hotel rates are expensive that's why we didn't even bother to check but then I've realized actually it's just the same with my previous suppliers. Plus I won't have to worry about hotel preps/bridal car and etc. they're all covered. 😊
We also checked Makati Shangrila and they're cheaper compared to Pen, also the Rizal ballroom is amazingly huge than Rigodon and they have lots of freebies and gifts for the wedding couple which is really nice. It's just that I find it a little bit over dated compared to Pen and I wanted the classic romantic vibe of Pen 😊
Thanks to Chili1113 and Tinsflor for all the inputs👍🏼

^Tinsflor: For how many guests did you book? I have about 300pax & buffet setup. I'm just worried that the place will be so Masikip na.

[chrislovestintin]

Tipid mode for our 8th wedding.  Lakas na ng gastos sa schooling ng 3 kids 

Star Wars Wedding

Ceremony: Samanea Garden, Acacia Hotel
Reception:  Grand Acacia Ballroom
OTD: Events Simplified
HMUA: Dred Postigo
Video: Rewind Media
Main Photo: Red Juan
Forist: Arleen Manlangit
Gowns: Desino Dulce
Suit: LOGQ by JC Ulanday
Program Host: Vet Lauzon
Strings: The Wedding Carolers
Flower Preservation: Purpleknot


Looking for:

Back-up photo (our usual back-up is expecting a baby na 
Lights and sound/LED Wall
band
Prenup location
cake
souvenir
Bride & groom's shoes


*Not gonna give invites na. E-invite na lang.  hehe.  Lam na nila yun sila-sila din naman yearly ang attendees.

[shygirlme]

^since Acacia hotel ka sis ayaw mo don na mag prenup? free prenup nila kung don naman reception mo.

[chrislovestintin]

Thanks sis Shygirlme

Ginamit na kasi namin siya last year sa wedding movie and teaser video the Spy vs Spy. hehe.  Sa full movie namin, wala ata kaming natirang parts ng Acacia Hotel na hindi nagamit 

We need mas malawak na location to achieve our theme for this year. 


https://vimeo.com/146053347

[shygirlme]

^try mo din versailles sis? alam ko nagpapa prenup sila don

[hermione28]

Sharing our wedding suppliers on our wedding July 25

Church: Santuario de San Jose Parish (Greenhills)
Reception: Valle Verde 6 Clubhouse
Hotel Preps: Oakwood Premier Joy~Nostalg Center Manila
Wedding Coordinator: Imbitado Events
Caterer: M Catering & Fine Foods
Florist and Event Stylist: Dangwa florist
Photographer: Ram Marcelo Photography
Videographer: Vidlens Productions
Bridal Gown: Sincerity Bridal from Contessa Bridal
Bridal Robe and Train Extenstion: Louver del Castillo Couture
Entourage Gowns & Vests: Louver del Castillo Couture
Hair and Make Up Artist: Eds Go make up studio / EGmakeupstudio
Emcee: Darlene Tan-Salazar / The Wedding Tip Sheet
Lights and Sounds: Rejectkrew Professional Lights & Sounds by Elmer Bautista
Musician: Madz and Dzhei- Events Singers and Hosts
LED Wall: Metrotech Projector
Photobooth: PicMe Photos
Mobile Bar: KLINIQA Mobile Bar
Hors D'oeuvre: Candy Club Party Couture
Life Size Letters: Limeworks Life-Size Letters
Invitation: Solidprints & Your Choice Shop Online
Souvenirs: Towelcupcakes Souvenirs
Prenup Stylist: Indie Hippie Style
Wedding Caricature: DesignKWAGZ Digital Caricature

[nikkipedia]

^hermione28 hi sis! best wishes! remembered that it was your wedding last Jul25, we were in Ph din that time to do some preps... lovely wedding! napanood ko kay Vidlens yung sde and std nyo:)

sis! i'll wait for your M Catering reviews ha! who's your ae pala? can you share with me your food menu too? we had our final ft and detailing na last month but I need to remind pa my ae sa mga napag agreehan namin tia!

[hermione28]

hi sis nikki! ikaw yung taga abu dhabi diba? thank you sis, masaya lang yung wedding, walang iyakan. I guess people are expecting us to get married and they are just happy for us, 8 years na kasi kame. sanay na yung mga tao. haha.

I hate to say this, but they are the worst supplier on that day. Well, hindi naman big issue siguro, but maybe they are the worst kasi all the suppliers are superb! 

[nikkipedia]

^sis can you please share with me baket di nila nameet expectations mo? kung pwede sana into details... haha bigla kasi ako kinabahan. kasi i met my ae na and worse, kinalimutan nya mga requests ko na inapprove nya before our final detailing.  how's the food pala?

oo sis, i am the one from abu dhabi it shows in the video na super happy nyo on your wedding day!
sis, i must stay you have booked the dream team na suppliers so mataas talaga expectations mo:)

[hermione28]

thanks again sis. i still can't stop watching the SDE! haha. Oo sis dream team talaga, lahat sila ok talaga. Si M lang talaga ang complain ng relatives ko.

And true, sa styling meron ding hindi nasunod sa pinag usapan namen. I'll make a full review, pahupain ko lang yung wedding high. baka kasi puro nega masabi ko sa review, haha.

Kasi sa totoo lang, wag ka kabahan, during and after, it doesn't really matter. E ano naman kung yung centerpiece na gusto ko, iba yung nailagay nila? After all, no one even noticed it, ako lang naman. Yung mga ganung issue ba? So wag ka kabahan, there is no perfect wedding. 

Yung food, sa totoo lang di kame masyadong naka-kain, enough lang. Saka for me masarap pa din same nung food tasting.

[HandC2017]

^congrats on your wedding sis hermione28! Watched your SDE and ang gandaaa! I especially loooove your gown! Princess na princess ang dating! Ganun din ang peg ko

Anyway, im also an M Catering bride and like sis nikkipedia im worried also recently kase parang andaming brides na nagbook sa kanila in WaW pero konti pa lang yung mga graduate na na makakabigay ng review. Dec 2017 pa naman ako but sobrang hindi na nagrereply si AE ko sa mga text and email ko kaya nakakaworry

Palipasin mo muna sis at fresh na fresh ka pa from your wedding! Congrats again and enjoy!  We'll patiently wait for your supplier reviews and ratings here in GT or in WaW

[ayouweinlove]

^wow congrats sis hermione28! I watched your sde and you're so pretty and blooming. you're an eds go bride di ba? she really did a great job in enhancing your features.