Preps, Church, Reception

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)

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 ... ;-)

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"

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"

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

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 :-)