Supplier's Ratings
These are our thoughts and views regarding the suppliers we got for our wedding. Note that these are based on our own personal experience...so baka iba iba experience natin. :) In any case, hope this helps anyone out there who're planning their wedding...Ratings:
- 1 (no, huwag po)
- 4 (hmm, sige kung walang choice)
- 5 (hohum, pwede na)
- 8 (ok sya, sulit naman)
- 10 (ok sya, delivered as expected)
- 10+ (ok na ok sya, delivered above expectations, book nyo agad)
Here goes...
CHURCH
*** Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
*** Dona Juana Rodriguez Avenue, New Manila, QC
*** 724-5938
*** Rating: 10
*** Peso Power: 10,000 for church rental, including priest, church
decoration (elegant white calla lillies. P500 for the tulle).
*** PROS: Quiet area. Ample parking. Long aisle (which we didn't
consider actually, ang gusto ko shorter aisle). But the long aisle
didn't feel that long when I was walking though...and yung ringbearer
namin na feeling namin hindi aabot sa dulo ng aisle ay umabot! Hehe.
At first, nung nagbabago-bago pa kami ng date ni hubby, akala namin
ang taray naman nung nasa admin office. :) Pero hindi pala, mabait din
sya actually. Helpful din yung head sacristan na tumulong sa amin
tungkol sa misalette.
*** CONS: Medyo open area, anyone can enter, so may mga "sabotage"
photographers present -- those who enter the church, take pictures of
the entourage and the people present, and sell these pics for 50-100
pesos each at the reception venue.
RECEPTION VENUE
*** Fr. Mark Horan Hall (Mt. Carmel Multi-purpose Hall)
*** Dona Juana Rodriguez Avenue, New Manila, QC
*** 724-5938
*** Rating: 10
*** Peso Power: 10,000 including aircon.
*** PROS: simple area, very near the church. Price includes lights &
aircon na. I think nag-increase na ata sila ng price to 14K though.
Accommodates upto 300 people (we had 250 guests). Has nice chandelier.
*** CONS: see CONS in Church section above
MARRIAGE PREPARATION
*** Discovery Weekend
*** discoveryweekend.org
*** Peso Power: P4,800 for a couple
*** Rating: average 7.5
*** Comments: We took this April 2005. A lot of people have raved
about Discovery Weekend, saying it really helped them decide to get
married. So I came in with a very high expectation (kc that time, I
wasn't 100% sure if marriage was the road I wanted to take, and I was
hoping for the seminar to somehow enlighten me), while hubby came in
not really wanting to attend some spiritual retreat. In the end, he
found the weekend very helpful and enlightening, while me, ok lang.
Hehe. Let's just say that the weekend will force you and your partner
to really open up about how you two feel about a lot of things -- in
our case I felt na napag-usapan na namin ito before, so although our
communication lines were open, after the seminar I wasn't 100%
convinced na yes ito na nga, but I wasn't unconvinced either.
MARRIAGE LICENSE
*** Manila City Hall
*** Peso Power: P120 pesos for the form
*** Time needed: Half day off, and some patience for the bureacratic
process of lining up
*** Rating: 10
MARRIAGE BANNS
*** Bride: Sacred Heart Church, Sta. Mesa (P1,300). Rating: 2
*** Groom: Montalban (P500). Rating: 5
*** Comments: I found that the marriage banns fees imposed by Catholic
Churches are a bit discriminatory. I paid a higher fee because a) I
was a girl, and b) I was getting married at Mt. Carmel Shrine. I had
complained about this to the Archbishop's Office (a token complaint, I
have no intention of following up).
Anyway, just something to watch out for.
STRINGS (CHURCH & RECEPTION)
*** Classic Unlimited
*** contact person: Janice Dadap, 63917.822.1057, 632.453.7271, jdadap@yahoo.com
*** Peso Power: 8K for Trio, 3K for Sound System
*** Rating: 10+
*** Pros: Janice was easy to talk to. Her husband Jeremy is the one
who actually plays the instruments (he plays for San Miguel
Philharmonic). They also provided the sound system, which was ok.
(They can also provide lights if needed/wanted). They can go the extra
mile if needed -- Classic Unlimited even played the two Chinese songs
we requested (even though nung una hindi namin mahanap yung music
sheets for these, Janice eventually found a way to play them). My
parents thought the music was great. They also practiced a bit with
one of our friends who sang beautifully in the church.
WEDDING RINGS
*** Nueva Goldsmith
*** 565 Nueva St., Binondo Manila
*** Peso Power: 11k for two plain (no rock) white gold wedding bands
with name and date engraving
*** Rating: 9
*** Pros: our wedding bands were simple, which was as we liked it. We
didn't want something flashy, and both of us were not really used to
wearing jewellry. They are easy to talk to, can customize rings, and
they deliver on time.
*** Con: I felt na baka pwede pang itawad yung price ng ring hehe.
PHOTO & VIDEO
*** Ariel Javelosa Photography
*** www.arieljavelosa.ph
*** Peso Power: 55K package for photo, video, studio prenups, photo
only AVP, tarpaulin, signature frame, 8x10 album, wide screen and
projector
*** Rating: 10 (hindi pa tapos, haven't seen all the pics/video yet)
*** Pros: Easy to talk to. We chose Ariel Javelosa partly because we
managed to talk to him at his studio when we were scouting for
suppliers. He said he makes it a point to take the bride/groom's
picture with their family, because it will be the last time that
they'll be together as a family (kc next time, "family" will mean the
new husband and wife). Basta, he said it much better and na-touch
kami, and we felt he cared for us. Haha. Of course, ok din kasi yung
photos and videos na nakita namin. And ok naman yung na-assign na
photographer sa min.
*** Cons: If you want Ariel himself to be the photographer, mahirap
ata yun kasi busy din sya. As for us, hindi yun big deal. Medyo may
"set formula" din sila how to pose, etc, pero the photographers are
helpful and encouraging naman :)
CATERER
*** Batis Asul
*** http://www.batisasul.net/
*** Peso Power: initially, 275/person package
*** Rating: 10+
*** Cons: At first I though magkaka-problema kami with the caterer. We
booked them March 2005...by Jan 2006 we were asking for a food tasting
pero hirap sila mag reply via email (di pa kasi ako nakaka-food taste,
si hubby lang nag taste nito kasi I was out of town then). When we
asked via phone, sabi nila they'll just inform us pag may food tasting
na. Pero wala, hindi kami na inform agad, and we had to take the
initiative to call and follow up for the food tasting. Also, yung
sylvannas nila medyo payat :) Oh, and yung basic package would include
just some votive candles as table centerpieces.
*** Pros: Masarap food (nachos, beef stroganoff, salad, chicken
tropicale with mashed potatoes, pasta, fish fillet with tartar sauce,
sylvannas). Refillable Iced Tea. Generally affordable. Ino, the AE who
assisted us after Feb 2006, was really helpful and accommodating.
Kahit harassed sya and kulang sa tulog eh natulungan naman nya kami,
and naayos nya menu namin (with the menu additions we requested), and
nandun din sya on the day of the wedding. They also accommodated our
request to have some candles put in the reception restrooms (para may
konting ambience naman sa restrooms). In the end eh naka-2 food
tasting kami in the month before our wedding.
RECEPTION CENTERPIECES & BACKDROP
*** Balay Kandila
*** contact person: Roland, 0915.566.7914, www.balaykandila.ph
*** Rating: 10+
*** Pros: Very easy to talk to si Ronald. We booked him during the
last few weeks leading up to our wedding, kasi nag panic kami na
walang magandang centerpieces yung reception tables namin. He gave us
a package for 23 tables, 2 VIP tables and the really nice candle
backdrop of the presidential table. Maganda sya actually, sayang di
lang masyadong na-emphasize kasi nawalan kami ng budget for spotlights
and lighting. Hehe. Pero maganda.
*** Cons: Di masyadong na-emphasize kasi nga nawalan kami ng budget
for spotlight and lighting, na kelangan sana to really enhance the
design that Balay Kandila did. A bit pricey din when you think about
it...
*** Pictures: http://talon-na.blogspot.com/2006/02/caterer-setup.html
WEDDING CAKE
*** Cakestop by Mary Ann Cuenca
*** Contact Person: Mary Ann Cuenca, 0919.852.5588
*** Rating: 4
*** Comments: We found her in the bridal fair held at Enterprise
Center October of 2005. She makes cakes for Kink Cakes daw, and one of
the things which made us decide to get her was that she makes
customized cake toppers. Meron pa daw nagpagawa sa kanya ng cake
topper na 2 silang nagbabadminton, she said. Sige, sold kami. We
wanted a unique cake topper kasi.
*** Pros: Madali kausap before the wedding. ok na rin price, not too expensive
*** Cons: During our meeting two weeks before the wedding, she wrote
the following down:
-- flavor ng cake namin would be cinnamon walnut (enthusiastic pa kami
sa pagreply na yep cinnamon walnut ang gusto namin),
-- it would be a 3-layer cake with 2 layers edible (she even took
pains to explain na sa isang layer, not the whole layer would be
edible, just the top part, para maging stable yung cake),
-- and the caketopper would be the groom carrying the bride (similar
to the picture on our souvenir).
Ang end result:
-- Nagulat ako na maliit yung cake (pero sige na nga, baka mali ako,
mahina ata ako sa measurements. This is as compared to the impression
I got as compared to the cake displayed during the bridal fair ha)
-- walang cake topper. as in. walang kahit ordinary bride-groom
caketopper. kahit anong cake topper.
-- pag kagat namin sa cake, ang flavor ay ... butter something.
definitely not cinnamon walnut.
-- only 1 layer was edible (pero meron sinamang isa pang cake which I
guess would be yung kapalit ng 2nd layer na dapat ay edible)
In fairness nasundan naman ang motif namin na blue/light blue. Pero di
natupad yung ibang pinagusapan, nakaspecify pa naman talaga sa receipt
na "cinnamon walnut" and "w/topper". Di ko na din finollow-up with
Mary Ann though...the day after eh honeymoon na namin, and we came
back one week after pa. Parang too late to complain na, because ano pa
gagawin nya diba? Ok na din. Maybe lesson here is to specify all
details when following up. Another thing that was a bit irritating was
that she texted us a week before the wedding to follow up on the full
payment of the cakes (we got the 3 layer wedding cake and 8 mini-cakes
for the sponsors).
BRIDAL CAR
*** Mercedez Benz bug-eye (found through w@w classifieds)
*** contact person: Eric De Leon, 63919.8336624, 632.920.8535
*** Peso Power: P5,000 for 5 hours and P800 in excess of 5 hours,
includes driver and flowers
*** Rating: 10
*** Pros: Mabait naman driver, nice car, no hassles in negotiating
ENTOURAGE DRESSES
*** Darhleen's, Fashion since 1976
*** 3222 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd, Sta. Mesa (beside Metrobank & Pureza St)
*** 7147788
*** Peso Power: average of 1.2K for a bridesmaid dress, 4.5k for the
groom's suit
*** Rating: 10+
*** Comments: The fit varied actually -- the groom found the suit
really nice (nawala yung beer belly nya). The bridesmaids dresses were
ok also, one of the junior bridesmaids natuwa kasi kasyang kasya on
the first fit. Meron atang di rin nag fit na damit, pero mostly ok
yung fitting nila. And helpful and accommodating din yung staff nila.
Generally affordable, since di naman sila couterior talaga (you can
choose a design from a magazine and show it to them to copy). There
are a lot of gowns on display in the shop -- nag-inspire sya ng
confidence kasi pagpasok mo sa shop, kita mo na marami na syang
nagawang pulidong gowns
BRIDAL GOWN
*** Tita Baby from Montalban (Ninang ni Groom)
*** Inclusions: Bridal Gown, 1 bridesmaid dress, 1 flower girl dress,
1 mom dress. Tiara, Veil, Garter, secondary sponsor veil, matches.
*** Rating: 8
*** Comments: Ninang ni Groom, so partly labor of love na din ito.
Pretty naman yung final product, although on the days and weeks
leading to the wedding I wasn't really sure what to expect. Not really
well versed in latest fashions, and like Darhleen's, di sya couterier
-- you choose the dress design from magazines and show it to her. So
in effect, she can't really tell you na hey, hindi bagay sa iyo ito.
You decide for yourself. Also, hindi sya nagmamadali...nasukat ko na
yung gown a week before the wedding, medyo may adjustments pa nun.
Hindi rin masyadong nasunod yung design na gusto ko, kasi hindi sya
masyadong familiar sa ganun design (kasi on a whim eh nakita ko yung
fluffy ballgown sa isang pic and yun yung pinili ko, e hindi pa uso
yung fluffy ballgown na ganun, so ang unang tanong nya sa akin eh, ah,
pano gawin yun. Yikes). So actually nag panic ako ng konti sa part na
ito, to the point na I was considering of buying a ready-made dress
pag di ko talaga nagustuhan yung fit ng gown. Well anyway yung final
product eh nasuot ko na on the day of the wedding -- it needed some
safety pins to make the fluffy gown fluff (tama ba yun). Medyo hindi
rin swak yung boobs part, hehe, pero what they hey, pwede na. Buti na
lang may nasuot na ganitong klaseng gown si Francene Prieto kasi nung
nakita nya sa TV eh naintindihan nya kung how it should look.
BRIDAL SHOES
*** Confetti, available in SM, Galleria, etc.
*** Rating: 8
*** Comments: Nahirapan ako maghanap ng wedding shoes -- gusto ko kasi
closed toe na may slingback na medyo makintab/glittering. Well, who
knew na sobrang uso ang mules and open toes pag dating sa wedding
shoes? I bought the shoes on the Tuesday before the wedding. Ok naman,
although maluwag din pala so parang mules din yung dating. Hehe. Pero
serviceable. Ok naman.
HAIR AND MAKEUP - ENTOURAGE
*** Mia de los Santos, 0917.856.2204
*** Rating: 10
*** Pros: Affordable sya (around 700 per head). She's actually a
friend of a friend, one of my friend's classmates in college. She
works in a different field (IT), pero she studied makeup in a
prestigious school (sorry, I forgot where). Madaling kausap, friendly
din. She did one of my better prenup makeups (my first). Sayang lang
during that time I felt na hindi ko masyado gusto yung makeup ko
(asiwa pa kasi ako sa makeup eh), which is why I looked for another
makeup artist. Pero sabi nung isang friend ko, maganda naman daw yung
makeup nya. And because she's easy to talk to, I also got her as HMU
for entourage. One of my entourage who's getting married next year is
also considering her.
HAIR AND MAKEUP - BRIDE
*** Mayone Bakunawa, 0917.810.6291
*** Inclusions: Bride, 2 moms, groom
*** Rating: 10+
*** Pros: One of my friends got married last January 2006, and she was
really beautiful -- simple, no-makeup look that really emphasized her
beauty. At first I was trying to scrimp on the HMU budget, pero in the
end, I booked Mayone (even without a trial makeup), all because nakita
ko na pretty nga yung friend ko na kinasal nung January. We eventually
did a trial makeup a few days before, and on the day itself, maganda
nga yung makeup. She was also prepared, very easy to talk to. She'll
also put you at ease. Very pretty girl. Hehe.
ENTOURAGE FLOWERS
*** Charlie Mejala, 0919.306.3786
*** Rating: 10
*** Pros: He'll ask you for your budget and he can work within that.
Easy to talk to.
*** Cons: Hindi sya full time dito, more of sideline to his day job.
Medyo nalanta rin bouquet ko as the night went on (yung lillies ata
mabilis malanta), but it's no biggie for me. Flowers arrived fresh
naman.
WEDDING GIVEAWAYS - SOUVENIRS, SPONSORS, ENTOURAGE
*** Papemelroti (engraved coasters souvenirs)
*** Head office: Tomas Morato, Branches at malls, papemelroti.com
*** Rating: 10
*** Pros: Ito medyo tinamad kasi kami maghanap sa Divisoria.
Papemelroti has lots of choices, and you're assured of worksmanship &
quality. Hassle free.
*** Cons: More expensive than if you've sourced this yourself.
*** SM Department Store (Megamall)
*** Rating: 10
*** Comment: Ito one of those last minute crammings din. We bought
some fans to give out sa church (kasi baka mainit). Tapos, we bought
some cigars for male sponsors (which turned out to be a booboo, kc
ibig sabihin pala ng cigar eh may baby on the way? aba malay ba namin.
napag-tsismisan tuloy kami. haha)
*** Tabora, Manila & 168 Mall, Divisoria
*** Rating: 10
*** Comments: lot of cheap stuff. We bought some abaca bags for the
papemelroti souvenirs we gave away, and ribbons to tie it all
together. There were also very affordable wooden picture frames na
maganda talaga, which we gave as gifts to some people. If you have
more time to spare, I would recommend looking through here for cheap
DIY supplies.
SAVE-THE-DATE
INVITATIONS
THANK YOU CARDS
*** Do-it-ourselves
ON-THE-DAY WEDDING COORDINATOR
*** Fraida Oronce (based in Montalban, PM for contact info)
*** Rating: 10
*** Comments: The groom's cousin. At first we were wondering if we
needed a coordinator...halfway through the preps we decided not to get
one due to budget concerns...three-fourths of the way we decided we
had to get one due to sanity concerns. Good thing it turns out one of
hubby's cousins actually does wedding coordination and hosting (as a
sideline) -- we met her around 2 months before the wedding. Super
helpful nga na may coordinator -- on the day itself you can't really
follow up on suppliers or organize the guests, etc. So on the day
itself, one thing less on your mind if there's someone who can do all
these. Plus points pa if may experience na sila handling weddings
before -- they'll know what to watch out for, and they'll have
checklists of tasks, items and who's responsible for them.
WEDDING HOSTS
*** Fraida Oronce (groom's cousin) & Borgz Pelias (bride's friend)
DRAWING OF THE COUPLE
*** pencil drawing c/o Bambi Flores
*** link to picture: here
*** We displayed some more prenup pictures and photos of our parents
on their wedding day at the reception "sign-in" area, using those
wooden dividers with photo frames.
OTHER USEFUL REFERENCES
*** theknot.com
*** weddingsatwork.com
*** kasal.com
*** w@w yahoogroups
*** google!
*** some prenup pictures courtesy of talented
photographers/enthusiasts: JB Sanchez, Manny Ignacio, Jay & Mayeth Lunas,
Marco Tomimbang & Elbert Sy
posted by xieurx @ 2:02 AM
1 comments
We were officemates and barkada.
Frisbee, diving, hiking, and trying to pose for cute couple shots
We're now married!
