SHORTLIST: Caterer

• Passion Cooks - Sobrang accommodating ng PC during the Weddings & Debuts Bridal Fair in Megamall last Feb. They gave me the rates and nag-take down notes ng LAHAT ng kelangan kong quotations na pwede nilang i-send (upgraded styling, ceremony setup). Sinabi ko din sa kanila yung concern ko na i read na yung mga nakikita kong pictures ng styling nila lahat us upgraded so wala akong idea sa ichura ng basic and prices ng upgrades. Lahat ng concerns ko ni-note talaga nila and assured me na they will send an email. After a couple of days, I received an email with everything that I asked for. May this-is-it feeling talaga with them. I felt na stress-free ako pagdating sa caterer if sila ang iboo-book namin. If hindi lang talaga sila super expensive (they are the MOST expensive of all), I will definitely choose them. It all comes with a price!
• PESO POWER: 1,145 + 10% Service Charge

• K by Cunanan - Major turn off! Though highly recommened in GT, PC, and friends, I felt like I wasn't accommodated probably because matagal pa yung date namin? I don't know. I had some questions about the ceremony setup and basic styling and all they said was, for all other questions (aside from the rates), please send us an email. EH NANDUN NA KO DIBA. UGH. Crossing them off my list because of that. Sobrang layo from how Passion Cooks entertained me.
• PESO POWER: 1,040/head + 10% service charge + 12% vat

• Purpledish - they were originally one of my top choices. However, all recent reviews are mostly negative :| And not just with the food but with the service. 
• PESO POWER: 994/head (149,000/150 pax) + 10% service charge = 1,093.40/head

• Josiah's - Hay Josiah's. I don't even know how to start. So we had our food tasting last March 19 during the Wedding Expo at SMX. Pagdating namin dun, our contact, Lady asked us to fill out the form with the wedding details. Then afterwards, sabi sandali lang. Eh sobrang tagal naming naghintay, pero okay lang kase I understand na busy sila pero inisip ko sana while waiting pinakuha na rin kami ng food para hindi kami nakaupo lang sa table at naghihintay, pero okay lang naman kahit matagal talaga kami naghintay. Then pagbalik, Lady handed us the prinotout of the 2017 rates, so medyo binasa ko konti, and then, loooong dead silence and she just stared at us as if implying na okay na, nabigay na yung rates, you may now go. That's how they made us feel. Then ako na, ako pa, ang nagsabi na, "So, uh, pwede na ba kaming mag-food tasting?". She said sure, and that was it. Ni hindi kami binigyan nung form to rate the food, ni hindi kami inupuan to discuss details, or pakitaan kami ng styling and stuff. I felt again, na dahil December 2017 pa kami, hindi kami ine-entertain. I felt really bad :( Pero hinayaan ko na lang. Then nung patapos na kami kumain, malaman laman ko na yung katabi namin sa table December 2017 din pala ang target date. Iba nga lang yung AE na nage-entertain sa kanila. Pati mga waiters and yung nagse-serve sa buffet eh mga naka-simangot. In all fairness, nasarapan ako sa food ng Josiah's. Sayang, sayang na sayang talaga kase I was not expecting much pero nasarapan ako sa halos lahat. They could have been a contender, kung kaya pang i-customize ang menu at i-negotiate ang rates. Sayang.
• PESO POWER: 1,100/head (165,000/150 pax all-inclusive)

• Hizons - negative reviews, negative reviews everywhere! :S
• PESO POWER: Didn't even ask, didn't even inquire.

• M Catering - rates are okay, but not much reviews but they can customize according to your budget, this is now one of my top choices, but will need to attend a Food Tasting first. Packages can be customized according to budget. A fellow WaWie even got her package for as low as 550/head (pero syempre maraming tinanggal). Mostly positive reviews so it's definitely one of the top choices!
• PESO POWER: 750++/head, 1,095++/head

• Ma Del's Cuisine - good reviews, budget friendly, but limited reviews. Will need to attend a food tasting first. But this is without doubt our top choice for now. It's super budget friendly, their most expensive package (710/head) is super complete course na from appetizer to dessert, I don't need to trim down the menu para mapamura ang rate. Also, their styling is also good (as per reviews and their FB) and so far wala pa naman akong nabasang hindi nasarapan sa food nila. The only negative review (and deal breaker for some brides) is the contact person Anj is reaaally hard to contact.
• PESO POWER: 560/head, 635/head, 710/head (2015 rates)

FINAL RANKING:

1. Ma Del's Cuisine

2. M Catering

3. Passion Cooks

4. K by Cunanan

5. Josiah's

6. Hizon's

7. Purple Dish

XOXO,

A little too early? :|

So a lot has happened!

I've already attended three bridal fairs, collected TONS of flyers and brochures, and spent HOURS walking round and round aisles and halls! Nakakapagod din pala, but sobrang fulfilling bride-to-be feels! :D

Here's just a super-duper quick recap of what transpired the past three months :)



February 20, 2016 - Weddings & Debuts Bridal Fair
SM Megamall
- I was able to get my ring size - 4.5! (which will turn out to be a fail, come next bridal fair! haha!)
- Canvassed Wedding Rings (didn't really see anything we both liked)
- Got rates of The Mango Farm (originally my top choice) and other garden venues
- Inquired on event styling rates for ceremony set-ups (EDIT: I didn't know then that the caterer can also do the ceremony setup so I inquired with florists and event stylists. LOL)



March 19, 2016 - Themes & Motifs Wedding Expo
SMX Convention Center
- Food Tasting with Josiah's 
- Got my ring size, this time, it's a 5! Then with another ring I reeaaally liked, it's 5.5! Anubeeeeyyyyyy!!! (EDIT: MY FINAL SIZE IS 5.5! This is my size with Diamond Fire!)
- Canvassed invitations, giveaways, others
- Got rates for different caterers - Passion Cooks, K by Cunanan, and others



April 16, 2016 - World Trade Center
- SUPER FAIL. I checked the exhibitors list and got excited coz almost all the event venues I wanted to check out and talk to would be there. None of them were.
-  Canvassed Lights and Sounds Supplier. As advised by GTalkers, I need that for the garden ceremony
- Canvassed Strings/Ensemble - a nice-to-have, but not really necessary :) 


WHAT TO DO NEXT BRIDAL FAIR:

- Canvass Lights and Sounds
- Canvass Strings/Ensemble (duo, string quartet)
- Schedule Food Tasting with some of the well-known Caterers 
- Canvass Photo + Video
- Avail free trial HMUA! 


UPCOMING 2016 BRIDAL FAIRS / WEDDING EXPO:

I Do Wedding Fair 
May 14-15 2016
SM Megamall Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City 
http://idoweddingfair.com

Save The Date: A Bridal and Debut Fair
May 23-24, 2016
SMX Aura Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City
http://www.savethedatefair.com

Getting Married Bridal Fair
May 28-29 2016
SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City 
http://www.gettingmarriedbridalfairphils.com

The Philippine Wedding Summit - Themes & Motifs 
June 25-26 2016
SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City 
http://themesnmotifs.net

Brides and Beyond
July 2-3, 2016
Enderun Tent, Taguig City
https://www.facebook.com/bridesandbeyondph/

Before I Do Wedding and Debut Fair
July 9-10, 2016 | September 24-25, 2016 | November 25-27, 2016
Megatrade Hall 1, 5th Level, Building B, SM Megamall
http://www.beforeidobridalfair.com/

Wedding Expo Philippines 28th and 29th Editions by Themes & Motifs
September 10-11 2016
SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City 
http://themesnmotifs.net


SOURCES:
http://eventsvenue.com.ph/2016-wedding-fairs/
http://www.kasal.com/html/wedding-event/bridal-fair/wedding-events.html


THOUGHTS:



During the first two fairs, I felt that some suppliers were not (very and sincerely) accommodating since our target date is December 2017 pa. Sure, it's like almost 2 years away, but I had questions, queries and clarifications. These suppliers were Josiah's (full review on my next post!), K by Cunanan (had high expections, extremely disappointed), and other suppliers (event stylists, florists, L/S, full band). I know preps usually start at least one year, but is one year + ten-nine months really too early? Is it because rates would increase the following year and some suppliers don't do a price lock? Is it because I don't have a ring on my finger (yet) so I don't look like a legit bride-to-be? Or am I just one eggzoited bride and I shouldn't really be there this early? :(

Putting all that aside, I must say I still enjoyed (and am still enjoying!) going to these bridal fairs. It's part of the wedding preps stress and even though we haven't booked a single supplier yet, our shortlist of potential suppliers becomes smaller and smaller. Every after fair, I collate all the brochures for suppliers we want and need, and review them again along with the new ones. We have a long way to go but at least we're getting somewhere. Our target is to book all major suppliers before the year ends, so by this time, I should really be able to cut down our options.

To all other brides-to-be, I say it's never too early for wedding preps! I think it's totally okay to attend all fairs even when you're not planning to book anything pa. It also helps to come prepared with questions to ask each specific supplier and to be ready with your pegs. If you have pictures to show them, mas maganda! Some of them can give you better on-the-spot quotations when they know exactly what it is that you want. And of course, you'll get huge discounts (that they won't normally offer) and reeeally awesome freebies! Especially if you book on the spot! :D

Really excited to attend the next bridal fair! This time I will definitely sign up for FREE TRIAL HMUA! :)

XOXO,

8th Anniversary :)

#EightYears

Thanks for the flowers, Love! :)

XOXO,

W@W!

Officially a W@Wie! :)

XOXO,

My First Wedding Dress Sketch!

My very first and very own wedding dress sketch c/o Bride House Philippines!

It was my first time to visit a bridal boutique and while I've already browsed through HUNDREDS of wedding dresses on Pinterest, I still don't have a specific peg--simply because I don't want to be disappointed na baka yung dream wedding gown ko e hindi pala bagay sakin. I have a lot of body issues ("chismis", as Bride House would call it) that of course I want to conceal when I'm wearing my wedding dress. And true enough, all brides do, and Bride House knows exactly how to hide all that chismis!

Below is my wedding dress sketch based on how I described it (sweetheart, A-line na medyo ball gown, super minimal embroidery and beads, and see-through top na as if the lace is invisible). Aaaand a little chika here and chika there and voila! My sketch is done! My thoughts? Honestly, it looked...generic. But don't get me wrong! I loooooved it! Kaso it's hard to imagine it from a sketch and besides, my goal for visiting Bride House sana was to fit some RTW (ready to wear) gowns para nga malaman ko what would suit my body type best. Unfortunately for me, there was another bride there scheduled for her second fitting and there weren't much gowns to see anyway (I think I only saw two that I liked). While it was overall a satisfying visit, I still wished I could have tried, or at least they could have offered, for me to try at least one gown. :(

Still, I highly recommend Bride House PH! It's quite popular in the GT forums and the price range is just right (RTW starts at 25k). This one below is priced at 35k complete with all the accessories (veil, secondary veil, cord, arrhae holder with coins, arrhae pillow, ring pillow, petticoat, garter and hair piece - copy pasted from GT). This is definitely on my shortlist but due to budget considerations (I still think I can get a decent gown in Divi for less than 20k), this is not on top of my list. Buuuut! I jokingly asked my sister (my Matron of Honor) to sponsor my wedding gown, and I think she agreed naman? Hahahaha but I asked her din to pay for the venue so of course if kaya nya ang venue ako na magbabayad ng gown ko! Haha! Will see how this would turn out.

Excited to have more sketches and of course, to finally, FINALLY try RTW gowns! 
EEEE I'M EXCITEEEED!!! xD

XOXO,