D-Cat-Dat-Got-D-Mouse

Preps, Church, Reception

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:40:00 +0000

This is really looong overdue, but better late than never, right? ;-p Our wedding day wouldn't have been as memorable and worry-free without the behind-the-scenes support of this talented group of people who are trully masters of what they do. (Caveat: Since our wedding day was almost a year ago, some of the prices and the details/offers may not be current anymore so just reconfirm w/the related supplier :-))

Preparation Venue: Salcedo Residence, Canyon Woods

Rating: Exceeds Expectations

Cost: 14,000 (3D/2N stay) for 15 people sleeping overnight

Inclusions: use of 2 storey house w/basement (6-7br), utilities, cooking utensils, basic beddings (bring your own potable water, toiletries)

Experience: This was one of the items on my budget that got shortchanged when I overspent on other stuff. We decided to just get one house for both our families/entourage since we didn't really believe in the "not seeing each other before the wedding" tradition for the bride & groom. As it turned out, the house was big enough to contain our large family plus the suppliers, w/o me and my hubby bumping into each other :-) We were very fortunate for having found this house. It was spacious, well-ventilated, had lots of natural light and the view from around it was simply spectacular. Photo-ops were plentiful, as you can see from our pictures. At first, I was a little put off by the green paint but it turned out okay in our pictures :-) The interior was even better. The owner was easy to deal with, replied promptly through email (we didn't even meet) and quite understanding regarding the maximum occupancy limits since we had a lot of suppliers coming in. They have lots of experience with being a venue for wedding preps so they know how many people can potentially converge on the wedding day. Lastly, since we were also trying to cut down on costs for supplier meals w/o sacrificing quality, my MIL decided to just cook breakfast/lunch for all of us - the house had all the cooking utensils needed, even big pots and pans. We just brought condiments/ingredients and we were all set. Some houses in Tagaytay do not permit cooking, so this was one other plus for us :-)

Notes:

1) Bring additional pillows/blankets.

2) Ask if the caretaker can "air out" the rooms beforehand, especially the basement w/c is seldom used as it smells a bit musty

3) Bring extension cords so you have leeway in positioning the various electric fans

4) Try to walk around the vicinity if you have time to relax and look for scenic spots for picture taking

5) You can avail of the spa/massage services at the clubhouse but you have to inform the owner to get permits beforehand

Church: Chapel of the Transfiguration of Jesus, Caleruega

Rating: Exceeds Expectations

Cost: 15k (plus 1k for rental of addtl cottage w/aircon)

Inclusions: church rental, entrance fee for guests, basic sound system, mass paraphernalia, altar boys, free use of one cottage directly facing the church

Experience: We chose this chapel because of its structural beauty, the solemnity of the ambience, and its closeness to nature. The area (Tagaytay) is memorable for us as a couple and when we first visited the church, we knew it was the one, despite the potential issues with logistics and transportation, which we prepared for accordingly. Administrative support on requirements and fees were efficiently provided by Ms. Sally and we've always found them to be quite easy to talk to. On my wedding day, the solemnity was preserved despite nearly 200 people converging on the place due in part to the great weather (partly cloudy, partly sunny, windy) and the beautiful chapel grounds, which enchanted our guests, warding away potential boredom. We had no issues with the sound system, acoustics were fine inside the church due to the small space and ventilation was adequate (with fans and side windows). Seating was amply augmented by monobloc chairs on the sides but most of our guests preferred to stand near the entrance and side passage ways.

Notes:

1) Ask about the discount on reception venue rentals for alumni of Dominican order schools (eg UST, Dominical College, etc) since they don't broadcast this

2) Check the sound system beforehand - we brought our cds for a sound test and found that their two cd players had trouble reading ours. They also don't have mp3 players. On our wedding day, we brought our laptop and just connected it to the switchboard in the loft so we can play our mp3 songs. Bring your own cables and jacks. Speakers were working fine though, only 4 mics were provided (2 for the choir, 2 for the officiant and the lector) But since the space is small, our 15-member choir didn't have any difficulty projecting, no need for additional mics

3) Organize the parking. Ask your coordinator to talk with the chapel guard on parking assignments, especially for VIPs, elderly guests. Our coordinator placed long ropes with vehicle tags/names on the side road to prevent parking issues.

4) Call ahead to confirm that the cottages (if needed) will be ready for use on your wedding day. We had reserved them for last minute touch-ups for our entourage and guests on the wedding day but they weren't ready (open) when we arrived prior to the ceremony. We had to look for the guard to open it and he had to reconfirm with the admin. So please have someone remind the administrators beforehand.

5) Maximize the grounds for photo ops. Aside from the church itself and the roofdeck, there are other places (hanging bridge, koi pond, various grottos and ledges, etc) that can provide unique photos for you and your h2b and your guests.

Reception Venue: Ladera Golfers' Lounge, Splendido Taal Golf and Country Club

Rating: Exceeds Expectations

Cost: 30k

Inclusions: 5 hours venue rental, linen, chairs & tables (choice of Tiffany or Ladera style), service crew, tents (in case it rains), basic sound system and lights

Experience: After scouting around Tagaytay for venues, we finally settled on Splendido since it was the best fit for us in terms of proximity to the church, scenic "wow" factor, coverage in the event of rain (it was August!) and ample parking. It was also quite easy to spot since it was close to the main highway. All in all, we're quite happy with what we got. Our guests, even those flying in from abroad were impressed by the view and the architecture. Administrative support prior to our wedding day was a bit slow due to the change in AEs but we just persisted on calling, following-up and setting up meetings to ensure we were on the same page. It was a bit of a hassle but no big deal really (I am OC, after-all ;-p), and on our wedding day we had no complaints. Service was impeccable. No delays and they delivered & executed our plans well. No observable glitches, even until now, our guests have given positive feedback on the venue. My only regret was not being able to have pictorials a bit earlier on the greens and on the verandah overlooking Taal but this was our fault as we enjoyed ourselves too much on the Caleruega grounds :-)

Notes:

1) On every meeting, write down verbal agreements and have these signed by you and the AE to prevent fallouts and confusion

2) For evening reception, you have to plan where to have your sunset pictorial - near the Church or on the reception venue - we didn't plan for this unfortunately :-) Splendido has a lot of unique photo-op areas. I so wanted to climb up the bell tower for some unique shots but it was dark already by the time we arrived ;-p

FINALLY (D CAT WEDS D MOUSE)

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:34:00 +0000

Teaser shots from our main photographer, Pat Dy ...
Some shots of my bridal march taken by our photojournalist friend, Rem Zamora ...

Our tribute AVP for our family and friends made in Singapore (in betweeen job hunting and learning Mandarin) by my sister with the help of my MOH ;-) Had we more time and resources (try editing 100MB+ video materials with regular processors and RAM and see how far you go ;-)) we would have included more pictures of our other relatives and friends, and something for our suppliers as well. We hope our heartfelt personal thank you to them on our wedding day was enough :-)

Our evening capper - our onsite wedding video by Jason M.. I insisted on the song despite it being a bit overused for this kind of thing, but it was the song that embodied most what our wedding meant to us - no matter what happened, what didn't happen, or what could have happened - it was a beautiful day for us, and based on initial feedback, for our guests as well :-)

More pictures, stories and ratings to come :-)

WHAT LIES BENEATH ... ;-)

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:50:00 +0000

I didn't want to post this before because I felt that the "before" and "after" looks were too disparate as to be embarrassing already hehe, but I wanted to pay tribute to my HMUA, my incredible topical cosmetic surgeon, Toto Bagamasbad. I booked him without a trial and have not regretted it since ...

My post-8-hour overtime, bleary-eyed look. I hope I look much better now, even w/o makeup, thanks to my stress-free days as an unemployed bum/wedding planner ...

Moi, 5 minutes after Toto finished ... makeup is still settling - I tried to capture the same positioning and lighting to have a better comparison w/the "before" look. I felt kinda weird then, since it's more makeup than I'm used to, but it didn't feel cakey and crease when I made some experimental funny faces, just to verify that the old me is still underneath ... ;-)

Me and my mom at my cousin's wedding reception, 6 hours after

Closeup in ambient light

With my 16-yr old goddaughter, 9 hours after

Basking in fluorescent light at home, 12 hours after ... I was loathe to take it off ;-)

Before I heard of the popular MUAs at w@w, I never thought bridal makeup would be so expensive ... I figured I would spend around 3-5k max in a reputable salon ... and didn't see how paying 10k more would be a wise investment.

I now know the difference.

1) Good makeup will provide complete coverage, w/o looking fake or "too much" - If you're like me, with dark pimple marks that fade ever so slowly, this is important. When I had salon makeup before, they said they can only cover so much before it would be too heavy. Now I know that's false. It can be done, with good tools and a skilled artist.
2) Good makeup doesn't fade after 5 hours ... once you're covered - you STAY covered, even through the passing of many hours and the trickling of sweat ...
3) Good makeup merges with the skin so that you don't feel conscious wearing it. I wanted airbrush makeup before since they said it felt so light but alas, it wasn't an option for me because of my pimple marks ... It was a load off my chest when Toto's regular makeup didn't feel too alien on my skin.

Lastly, good makeup highlights your own unique beauty and doesn't turn you into something that you're not.

Actually, h2b thought my makeup was a bit heavy, but then, he's never seen me on full foundation coverage before hehe. But he has acknowledged that I photographed well in it ... I guess it's a tradeoff - of course we need makeup that will look "natural" on our wedding photos and video, which entail us sacrificing our light, "everyday" makeup for heavier coverage in person on our wedding day :-)

WEDDING "DO'S"

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:26:00 +0000

As d-day approaches, my world has shrunk into a whirlwind of activities all revolving at an increasing pace around the axis that is our wedding ...

I haven't paid much attention before to my wedding "look" - in the naive, makeup-free days before I became affianced (is that the right word?), I thought I'd look as I'd always have on my wedding day, just with more color and with a fancier hairstyle than my usual pony ... oh, but how I've changed since then, harhar :-)

Below are some wedding "do's" that caught my eye ... w/c appealed to my sense of style and would blend well with my romantic, flirty gown and our fun, summery theme ...

Classic low bun w/braid to add a softer, feminine touch ...

This reminded me of Helen of Troy - but a playful Helen, because of the ribbons ;-)

More apt for a bridesmaid probably, but uber cute for a bride w/a garden wedding

Below are some potential hair styles at the reception, for a more laid-back and fun look ...

"MINI-MICE"

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:09:00 +0000

Our caketoppers from Angelkind were finally finished last week ... can't wait to see the actual clay figures (our friend will be bringing it back on August pa, sigh) ... seeing the pics made me long to see our cake as well, which led me to imagine eating sweets with reckless abandon again, even if for one day hehe (b2bs, you know what I mean) ...

PHOTO-PHOBICS' PRENUPS BY E.B.ESCUDERO

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:08:00 +0000

On the 1st weekend of May, we were finally able to push through with our prenups (Background: I won one of the UP prenups by EBE in the w@w auction - I bid, on the remote possibility that I could convince h2b of the merits of doing a pre-wedding photoshoot - since he's notoriously camera shy, but on the day itself, I was pleasantly surprised by his "openness") I guess it helps having an experienced and creative photographer who knows how to put an awkward couple at ease :-) (Tenkyu sir EBE!)

The day started off innocuously enough, with EBE explaining to us how a prenup works - what we should and should not be doing, with tips on pretending that somebody with a 10 megapixel camera is not chronicling your every move ...

She: Hah! You can't back out now!

He: What did I get myself into? :-(

We had a couple of shots at the UP "lagoon" - ironically, in our 5-yr stay on campus, we rarely went there together, probably due to its reputation as a "lovers' nook" and due to the risk of being unmercifully ribbed by our classmates should we be spotted there as a couple. I wanted to pose by the UP Oblation but any resulting pictures would be decidedly too risque to show to anybody ... so we just regressed for a while and immersed ourselves in the chance to fool around in the lagoon, which we never did when we were students ...

"A Walk to Remember"

Luneta? Lorien? UP lagoon! San ka pa? ;-)

She: kunwari daw may pinag-uusapan tayo ...

He: e ano pa nga ba ginagawa natin?

One of our favorite candid shots

The next phase of our prenups was shot inside the Collge of Business Administration (CBA) - (tnx Mam Glo for granting us permission!) Luckily, it was Friday afternoon (summer) and only a few students were around to witness our antics.

She: Hehe, terno kayo ng "Bastion of Apathy," parehong may spikes

He: Lagot ka sa akin mamaya pag di na sya nakatingin

Inside Starmall, oops, UP CBA pala ;-p

(we liked it so much better when the walls were still a dull, aging grey, it had more character then)

Couple of Accountants

Lambingan sa Tambayan ... ng JMA (hehe, lighting was much better here than at JPIA's)

Foolin' around (still at JMA, don't worry JMAers, we cleaned up after our shoot ;-p)

Finally at JPIA

Feeling Highschool Musical

Stairway moments - we had a lot of these back then ... :-)

It took us an hour to "warm-up" - this shot shows how relaxed we are - finally! ;-)

Shadow Kiss

Kissing didn't seem so awkward anymore (inspite of the the 10MP SLR camera pointed right at 'ya!)

3rd flr Back Lobby (again, quite memorable for us)

Our college has (gasp!) an elevator! So much has changed in the 7 years since we've studied there. Of course we couldn't resist taking advantage of the shiny new metallic frame :-)

It was nearing dusk when we emerged from the building and the last few shots are in tribute to the magnificent UP skyline and the majestic Acacia trees we so dearly miss from our collge days ...

Denouement at Dusk

(Our favorite shot of all)

All throughout the shoot, we were never entirely relaxed but towards the end, we got a bit more comfortable with being followed around by a camera. Still, I would recommend prenups for all couples, since it's their chance to experience being photographed continuously, which is great practice for the wedding and it gives them the chance to bond with their photographer, though in our case, he was sadly unavailable at that time.

A few tips for prospective "prenuppers":

1) Research the place and the shots you want to be taken (in our case, it was UP or nothing, and we kinda already knew the places where we wanted to be photographed at)
2) Psyche yourself up for the shoot (invoke memories/fantasies, whatever it takes to get you in the mood)
3) Practice posing (this will help eliminate the awkwardness)
4) Talk to your photographer (build rapport, share your ideas, don't let it be a one-man show - after all, it's your shoot)
5) Enjoy the experience! Shed your inhibitions and insecurities. Trust the photographer to find the most flattering angle for you and focus on reliving memories and having fun, no matter how uncomfortable or awkward you may feel at first :-)

ROUTES TO TAGAYTAY

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:01:00 +0000

Alternative routes to Tagaytay

Detailed Tagaytay Map from E-Z maps

(click on images for larger view or to download)

YOU'RE INVITED!

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:51:00 +0000

The story of our invites involved a long and tiring process of frustration and subsequent elimination. At first, we didn't want to go to Recto-based suppliers, due to a perception of substandard output quality. In the end, due to several mishaps with other printers, we ended up with Printlane (they have shops in Recto and Cubao), where we surprisingly found both the flexibility and quality that we wanted at a reasonable cost.

It was a challenge trying to merge the classy/simple design that he wanted versus the casual and fun summer theme that she (moi) wanted. Luckily, my sister was able to piece together our seeminly unmergeable demands :-)

envelope flap w/our favorite quote

main invite

entourage page

rsvp card

DIY map

THE SCENT OF SUMMER

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:16:00 +0000

It took hours of debates (one-sided monologues actually) a couple of aspirins and several drops of eye-mo before we finally settled on a theme ;-) Being two highly polarized individuals, the hours we spent "communing with our inner child" yielded only a general ambience rather than a specific theme like modern filipiniana, chocolates, travel, beach, etc.

As mentioned in an earlier post, we fell in love with the vibrant hues of coral pink, amber and apricot yellow and settled on a summer garden atmosphere. Come rain or shine, we want our reception styling to capture the light, cheerful and carefree feelings evoked by a clear summer day, and based on the sneak peak our stylist Teddy provided , I think we're almost there :-) You can almost smell the citrus fruits, apples and roses ...

HAVIN' YOUR CAKE & EATIN' IT TOO!

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:30:00 +0000

Having overspent (he said) on some elements of our wedding - which is actually money well-spent (she said) - I had to restrain myself from going overboard on the others just to keep the peace :-)

So the gameplan was: go for simple AND delish. However, having "simple" doesn't mean we have to settle for those pretty but barely edible fondant concoctions so popular for weddings. And since going for all-edible cakes from wickedly hedonistic pastry shops will simply bankrupt us, we opted to settle for just small portions of our tried-and-tested favorites.

In the end, we got an unassuming satellite cake from Bizu composed of 3 different flavors, which we know we'll love. Fortunately, Audrey and team Bizu were creative and flexible enough to agree to incorporate the above design in our wedding cake. Can't wait to see (and taste!) the end product :-)

OUR SPLENDID NEW VENUE

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:37:00 +0000

Finally conceding defeat to the unpredictable Tagaytay weather, we decided early on to start looking for a covered reception venue, for our own peace of mind, and for the convenience of our guests .... our options were sadly limited - we wanted a spacious covered venue, with ample parking and which is, at the most, only 15 minutes away from Caleruega

Fortunately, the newly-constructed Splendido Taal Country Club was already open, albeit still a few weddings shy of gaining the "experience" we wanted in terms of handling such events. Still, it had all the elements that we wanted, plus a bonus: a view of the majestic taal volcano.

The place was very homey and relaxing, fitting the casual and intimate ambiance we wanted for our wedding.

The main entrance hall

Parking lot

Cocktail area

Bell

Tower

Fountain at the courtyard

Ladera Golfer's Lounge (interior)

Veranda

View from the top

Taal view

Spectacular greens

CAKE TOPPER CRAZY

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:03:00 +0000

I'm pretty sure all brides feel an instinctive need to add a personal touch, a unique stamp to their wedding which will differentiate it from all WGB (weddings gone before).

Obssessive-compulsive bridezillas would want to personalize EVERY little detail. More rational ones would settle for a few tastefully chosen elements. On my good days, I'd like to think I belong to the latter category :-)

Of all the items in my "nice-to-have" list, a customized cake topper is among the few that I'm trying valiantly to fit inside our budget. After seeing and falling in love with Karla Magbanua's sugar creations and Charity Rue's clay couples, who can fault me?

Those cute, cartoony sugary creations from Claycakes are guaranteed to melt hearts left and right. I'm just not sure if Karla will consent to create just the toppers or if those sugar-based confections can be preserved at all.

Fortunately, happy raves from w@wies Berna and Leslie brought Angelkind Creations to my attention. Just look at the level of detail in each topper - my mind is positively spinning with possibilities! :-)

Obvously, I'm not a fan of life-like caricutures, though Angelkind offers that as well :-) Aside from these adorable "smilies," there are also "doll" and "cupcake" styles which simply cannot fail to illicit smiles even from the most jaded wedding guest :-)

Her prices are actually not that steep compared to other similar manufacturers and if you have a friend in the US, you can save on shipping costs. If ever we decide to have one of Charity's unique creations, our klutzy black lab Ginny will definitely be a main fixture :-)

OUR ALTERNATIVE STRINGS

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:30:00 +0000

Wedding music was previously a big dilemma of ours - though we both appreciate and sometimes crave for the usual sentimental love songs, we are, at heart, more of the alternative_rock kind of people. (One of us is just pretending though, guess who, haha)

Obviously, the songs we wanted were not in the standard repertoire of popular musicians and choirs - and having specially arranged pieces would seriously deplete our budget.

Fotunately, a former officemate (my eternal gratitude to you Fritz!) introduced me to vitamin record's string quartet albums ... and several p2p downloads later, we had our ideal playlist! (hey, to be fair, I bought some of the hard-to-find ones in the US)

If you want to hear samples, please visit my multiply account :-)

ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL ...

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:48:00 +0000

I love my engagement ring - as all b2bs do. It symbolizes the exceptional courage and sheer chutzpah that males of our species manifest by willingly ending their bachelorhood and irrevocably binding (or promising to bind, rather) themselves to us worthy females for the remainder of their lives.

Size, carat, weight and brilliance are secondary to what it represents: a choice, wisely made ... a tantalizing promise, freely-given. It is the embodiment of commitment ... and of pride in us, their partners-to-be-for-life.

Of course, the fact that the itsy-bitsy flash of brilliance is now proudly and prominently displayed on our ring fingers denotes a corresponding promise on our parts as well. Sigh. It signals the end of our carefree days of being a "prime catch," in our own respective ways. Yep, we've been caught and taken off the market ... and are most probably utterly reveling in our new status as wedding planners! :-)

I just hope I can manage to squeeze in my dream wedding band in our budget :-)

PRE-WEDDING JITTERS (of another kind)

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:59:00 +0000

An Apple A Day ...

I've always taken my relative good health for granted - my annual "ailments" can be counted on one hand - seasonal cold being the most frequent and perennial baby fat (wink!wink!) being the most persistent :-) 3 years ago, at the young, giddy age of 25, I'd never been hospitalized, never been operated upon and never had to curb my sinfully eclectic diet and similarly sinful lifestyle ... (hey, consecutive years spent doing overtime in audit, sales finance and planning equate to an equally driving need to compensate through food and gimmicks!) ...

And then the bomb fell on my head, literally. Late in 2004, I started experiencing polyuria - excessive urination and polydipsia - excessive thirst (Don't be impressed, it was necessity that drove me to brush up on my medical vocabulary!) At first I ignored these symptoms and tried to cope with the long commute to my office in Laguna by taking frequent "pit stops" to "unload" and "refuel" :-)

By 2005 it had become too inconvenient and I subjected myself to medical examination. Diagnosis: Diabetes Insipidus. Yup, there is another kind of diabetes ... one that occurs in a measly 0.01% of the world's population ... instead of the hormone Insulin, I lack Desmopressin - the dictator that commands our kidneys to concentrate urine so that the bladder can, metaphorically, "hold the fort."

Next ensued the search for the culprit: Kidneys - fine, Blood - normal - nothing left to check, really, except for (drumrolls please...) my brain. I'd suspected it for years ... now I know for sure I had a screw loose ... :-) Morbid humor aside, my neurosurgeon was impressed - he wanted to take a picture of the teeny weeny mass nestled cosily beween my hypothalamus and pituitary glands (it was quite rare for a "baby tumor" to be photographed in full glory - I'd had to autograph my MRI for him). Anyway, surgery and blasting it to bits with laser were not safe options (given the size and the location) so I had to periodically ingest hormone supplements to restore my urine function to normalcy (yey, no more broken sleep and embarassing outdoor accidents!).

More than a year passed by without any further incident and I reverted to my relatively normal lifestyle, subconsciously forgetting about my achilles heel - until another symptom arose - highly irregular periods. Having to undergo another round of tedious tests did a thorough job of sobering up my usually effervescent psyche.

I am about to be married. I want to have kids immediately after. Now I might have to choose between postponing the wedding or walking down the aisle going skinhead with a face bloated from surgery ... and there was also a question mark on the baby production line inside my body...

I was kinda depressed for a while ... wedding preps ground to a standstill ... my work productivity suffered a bit ... but then I realized, despite everything, I was not alone and won't ever be so. I was surrounded by people who love me no matter what. I only had to look around to be reminded of my many blessings. And I started to fight back, adopting a healthier lifestyle in preparation for any future battle with sensitive surgical procedures. I started reading up too - knowledge is indeed a great fear-extinguisher.

Call it divine intervention, renewal of faith, or whatever, things started to fall into place again ... so far, my test results are encouraging - so no need to postpone tightening the noose on my h2b (harhar) :-)

But my unsolicited advice to everyone reading my monologue is: don't ever take your health for granted! Prioritize getting or staying fit. It's the best gift you can ever give yourself and your loved ones. So take that first step - if an apple a day is what it takes ... life is too short for regrets :-)

MAP: TAGAYTAY

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:39:00 +0000

General map for famous sites and landmarks around Tagaytay ... again, we hope to post a more comprehensive one in the future :-)

MAP: CALERUEGA

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:04:00 +0000

Slightly better than the map from the Caleruega website .... we'll post a more detailed guide in the future :-)

OUR MOTIFF: "COLORS OF SUMMER"

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 05:39:00 +0000

Coral Pink, Amber and Apricot

brings to mind:

... juicy pomelo and orange slices, mango shakes and fruit parfaits
... lazy afternoons under a shady tree while listening to the symphony of sand and sea
... carefree laughter and animated conversation over latte's and fraps
... memories of sweet smiles, promises fulfilled and bonds strengthened

we hope to imbue our wedding with the refreshing, invigorating and cheerful emotions of a SUNNY (hopefully, with fingers and toes crossed!) summer day :-)

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:02:00 +0000

CALERUEGA-PHILIPPINES
Address: Brgy. Kaylaway, Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas
Email: caleruega_philippines@yahoo.com
Website : http://www.dominicans.ph/caleruega/index/index.htm
Mobile :0921-270-9890
Contact Person: Ms. Jackie , Ms. Melda, Ms. Cristalle

SPLENDIDO TAAL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Address: Taal Ridge Road, Laurel, Batangas
Telephone: (0920) 9471840; (02) 529-8213 local 222
Contact person: Jonahvie Rodriguez
Website: http://www.weddingsatsplendido.com/index.htm

JASON MAGBANUA – WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER
Address: Unit6 Star Centrum Condominium, 317 Gil Puyat Ave. Makati City
Website : http://jasonmagbanua.com/blog/
Mobile : 0920 960 2127
Landline : 632 817 1989

PAT DY PHOTOGRAPHY
Address: 2nd floor, Wilson Square Building, Wilson St. corner P.Guevarra St., Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines
Email: patdyphotography@yahoo.com
Website : http://www.patdyphotography.com/Index.html
Mobile : (63) 917 899 1275
Landline : (632) 727 4381
Contact Person: Kakai Salvador

FLOWERS & EVENTS
Address: 1380 San Marcelino St., Malate Manila;
The Podium, L/F Themes & Motiffs, Ortigas Pasig
Email: mail@flowersandevents.com.ph
Website : http://www.flowersandevents.com.ph/home.html; http://teddymanuel.multiply.com/

Mobile : (63) 916 554 8993; (63) 917 434 5502 (brother)
Landline/Fax : (+632) 404.2638; (+632) 498.1718
Contact Person: Teddy Manuel

VELUZ
Address: 1311 Pres. Quirino Ave, Manila
Email: veluzreyes@gmail.com ; veluz@veluz.biz
Website : http://www.veluz.biz/
Mobile : (63) 916 681 9432; (63) 917 840 8790
Landline : (+632) 563 8692
Contact Person: Niko

MANILA CHAMBER SINGERS (MCS)

Email: manilachambersingers@gmail.com

Website : http://mcsphilippines.multiply.com/

Mobile : (63) 0928 502 3542 (63) 922 922 7705 (63) 926 701 6028

Contact Person: Raymond Caunca

SENSITIVITY LIGHTS, SOUNDS, LCD RENTAL

Address: 55 Umbel St. Roxas Dist. Quezon City

Email: sensitivity_lightsandsounds@yahoo.com

Website : http://mrsensitivity.multiply.com/

Mobile : (63) 916 681 9432; (63) 917 479 6190

Landline : (+632) 412 8250

Contact Person: Juancho L. Fondevilla

BIZU PATISSERIE (Phil. Pastries Inc.)
Address: 2/F Pacific Hardwood Building 2138 Pasong Tamo, Makati City

Email: audreytanco@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.bizupatisserie.com/home.aspx

Mobile : (63) 917 541 2646
Landline: (+632) 812 6451 (+632) 812 6027 (+632) 893 4645
Contact Person: Audrey Tanco

ANGELKIND ARTISTIC CREATIONS

Address: P.O. Box 15480Philadelphia, PA 19149
Email: charity@angelkind.com; angelkind@comcast.net
Website: http://www.angelkind.com/index.htm
Contact Person: Charity Rue

JOEL “TOTO” BAGAMASBAD – MAKEUP ARTIST
Mobile : (63) 917 485 6952; (63) 920 924 6708

EVE INC. (EVENTS INCORPORATED) - event planners and coordinators

Address: 929 A Negros Street Sampaloc, Manila
Mobile : Li Regio - (63) 916 520 3156; Beniedick Quintos - (63) 916 450 2445
Landline: (632) 7134161
email: events_incorporated@yahoo.com

MELISSA FERRER-LITAO (EMCEE)

Telephone: 831.6533; 0917.8292309

Email: missy_ferrerlitao@yahoo.com

Website: http://missyspeaks.i.ph/

DRAGON FIREWORKS
Address: 5/F Room 502 Anita Building,1300 Quezon Avenue, corner Timog AvenueQuezon City, Philippines

For wedding, corporate, and special event inquiries:

Telephone Number: (632) 372-3508 to 10 / 4961744Fax Number: (632) 372-0809

E-mail Address: info@dragonfireworks.com ;

Webiste: http://www.dragonfireworks.com/

TIFFANY & CO.
Store Locator : http://www.tiffany.com/Locations/Default.aspx?isMenu=1&

WEDDINGS AT WORK
Website : http://www.weddingsatwork.com/index.shtml

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD!!!

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 02:30:00 +0000

Update: As we've changed our reception venue from Plaza de Aza to Splendido, we've also had to let go of Josiah's. Instead, we'll be getting Splendido's in-house caterer. More on this on later posts, after we've conducted our food tasting.

Having sampled the wares of various caterers in the industry during company-sponsored events and weddings of friends, I kinda had an idea already on what to look for and who to avoid ...

After attending a couple of foodtastings and comparing packages of a few choice caterers, we finally settled on Josiah's, simply because they offered the best deal, provided the quickest response and had the most flexible terms. Of course the food also tasted great :-) (for me, the lengua and grilled sole fish dishes are definitely worth the calories!)

MY GOWN and MS. V ;-)

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:48:00 +0000

Admittedly, I classified my wedding dress in the lower half of my budget list - I wasn't too keen on spending for something that will be worn only once - but as my h2b pointed out (with just enough snottiness to make me want to inflict bodily harm on his person) - hiring top-notch photo-video suppliers ups the bar on looking (and feeling) our best on D-Day ... and so commenced the seemingly neverending story of my search for THE gown ...

I painstakingly browsed through nearly all the bridal magazines on the planet and scoured the galleries of top wedding designers from all over the world ... only to end up picking a gown from a Hollywood tabloid ... darn it :-)

Who'd have thought I'd find the perfect blending of all I wanted in one Oscar dress? Flowing lace, daring back, a short train and most importantly, provision for invisible tummy support? ;-) With just a few minor adjustments, this was it for me :-)

Next ensued the search for the perfect gown designer - I'm not picky - all I need is somebody with a good eye for what will work for my body type, someone with the courage to tell me if something I'm insisting on will make me look frumpy. To cut to the chase ... I found all these attributes in Veluz, a much-sought-after designer in the w@w community. Of all the designers I visited, she was the only one I felt I could express myself with the most.

Here's Ms. V's initial sketch for me ... :-) (I opted to add a bolero to look a little more demure, at least for the church ceremony ;-))

PHOTO-VIDEO TANDEM

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:16:00 +0000

These two guys are our main splurges ... there are a lot of other talented digital chroniclers out there, but these two made my skin goosebump with their work (in a good way of course!) ...

Jason Magbanua - unarguably the best videographer in the industry ... take the foolproof test: try muting the sounds and see if the video clip still "speaks" to you. Of all the wedding clips I've viewed, Jason's works are consistently among, if not THE, best. Check out his sample videos here.

Pat Dy - it was a little intimidating getting him for our wedding. I (the congenital klutz) + my h2b (the photophobic) + fashion photographer = disaster??? We sure hope not! I'd nearly fried my brains searching for the ultimate wedding photographer - after the initial lightheadedness caused by maniacally poring over countless galleries and portfolios faded - I've learned to separate the really good photographers from the rest. Only a few have a natural "eye" for capturing moments ... of all those who have the knack, though - Pat has the most kickass album design and layouting skills I've ever seen! In the end, it will all come down to your personal taste - and for us, Pat was IT!

Here are some of his sample photos nicked from fellow w@wies Isis, Mandy and Cherilyn:

from Isis, taken at UP College of Music, Diliman

from Mandy, hotel preps in Alabang

from Cherilyn, MMLDC, Antipolo

PLAZA DE AZA ROOFDECK, CALERUEGA

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:50:00 +0000

UPDATE: Due to weather concerns that can't be ignored, our reception venue has been moved to Splendido (please see related post). Regretfully, we had to let go of our vision for Plaza de Aza.

Despite the existence of a multitude of other wedding venues, some more picturesque, and functional than Plaza de Aza, we're 99.9% sure it's THE one for us :-)

Firstly, it's more convenient for everyone to hold the entire shindig in one location ... and the place, though bare, is far from blah, especially with the open-air, country charm exuded by the entire compound.

tuktok snacks bar

exit and entrance to Plaza de Aza

lefthand view of roofdeck

righthand view of roofdeck

The view of gently rolling hills brings to mind images of Middle-earth (hey, Frodo!) and with a little sprucing up, the place can be brought to its full potential ...

We just need to offer a lot more prayers - and a few more eggs - to forestall disastrous downpours ... ;-)

TRANSFIGURATION CHAPEL, CALERUEGA

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:57:00 +0000

We had our first glimpse of Caleruega on one of our many Tagaytay weekend getaways ... and ended up booking the church right then and there ... more than two years before our wedding (yup, crush mo pa lang sya, mgpa-book ka na ... it's THAT popular!) :-)

So why did we choose this remote chapel - with all the logistics, cost and weather issues looming over our nuptial horizon? The moment we entered the quaintly picturesque church, we felt the same punch in the gut you feel when you've had an epiphany. Peaceful, solemn, and poignantly beautiful, the ambiance fit perfectly with the small, intimate wedding we had envisioned.

from dinolara

From a klutzy bride2be's point-of-view, the short aisle is perfect for precluding cliche'd bridal walk jitters ... (though the rolling and hilly landscape might cause other disasters of the Jack-n-Jill type ...)

from dinolara

If you're a "camera-hog/model-wannabe" bride, every nook and cranny of the entire compound is a photo-op in itself ... (just ensure enough eggs have been offered as insurance for divine intervention on the fickle Tagaytay weather)

For the grooms - well, let's just say, the smile on your lovely bride's face as she walks down that pretty aisle overweighs the minor hassles and extra funding you'll have to cough up :-)

"ALMOST ... BUT NOT QUITE"

noreply@blogger.com (SilverWings) — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 08:57:00 +0000

10 months after my ex-boyfriend jumped me from within the sallow green walls of Lung Center to whisk me off to Baguio and back for a shanghai-type proposal in his car, I am neck-deep in wedding paraphernalia and ideas (unwittingly collected from a dozen bridal fairs and well-meaning friends and acquaintances)

I never expected the complexity of planning a wedding nowadays ... esp. if you're an OC bridezilla, incapable of not personalizing most of the details :-) But on some days, even the staunchest bridezillas get headaches :-)

On those days, I take a look at this picture taken by my sister and take a breather. I take stock of the important things and immerse myself in the wellsprings of love and laughter in my life - you know, House MD, shopping, soft, moist bibingka, creamy hot cocoa, Brad Pitt and Jude Law, to name a few :-) I remind myself (forcefully, sometimes!) that it is our wedding and not anybody else's. I tell myself that perfection is not the goal. Providing unforgettably happy moments for us and our guests is. Almost there ... but not quite yet :-)