Wedding Preps: Gown, HMUA, P/V

Our agenda for today is to meet our shortlisted photo/video suppliers: Lyf nd Foto and Vignette Photography. We're also scheduled to meet Tito Boy at his shop later in the afternoon and we plan to invite him for dinner. Since there was still enough time, I sent an sms to Val Villarin (Hair and Make-Up artist highly recommended by Tito Boy) to check if he's available for a meet-up that day. After a few minutes, I received a call from Val saying that he has a wedding event that afternoon in Roxas Boulevard and he's available to meet me in Starbucks.

Our first stop was to visit the studio/office of Vignette Photography. This was near Robinsons Mall Manila. We got to review and study their sample works and ask questions. We scheduled the appointment but forgot to mention that we would want to personally meet with Danny and Bogs Ignacio. So when we got there, it was only Ate Fe (sister of Danny Ignacio) who welcomed us. Same with previous supplier meetings, we didn't pay the initial downpayment right away but told Ate Fe that we'll get back to them within the week.

After lunch, we met with Val Villarin :-) We decided to book him right then and there because if Tito Boy is going to create my gown, might as well get someone who can work alongside him. Plus, Val Villarin is also highly recommended in W@W. His rates are also reasonable compared with other HMUA proposals. We told Mama Val that we were just at Vignette's studio that morning and he said that Bogs Ignacio was the photographer of the wedding that afternoon. Naturally we asked feedback and Mama Val gave positive reviews on Vignette. He said that he has worked with them on several weddings before and that Bogs is really good in his craft and easy to deal with. After our meeting with Mama Val, Richard said that he's now inclined to get Vignette. I agreed with him and we went back to their studio to pay the initial downpayment.

Then, off we went to Cavite to meet with BKS. Earlier that day, I actually sent him new pegs. These pegs are more modern in style and I got the designs from Veluz FB page and Cecilio Abad multiply site :-) I also included gowns that I saw from Tito Boy's FB page. So he sketched a new design for me. This time it has a second look for the reception. We both loved this better than the 1st one! After several talks and discussions on my gown, Richard's barong and the entourage attire, we sealed the deal with BKS :-)

He had to attend to several clients after us so it was around 7pm when we left his shop. We had dinner at PF Chang in Alabang Town Center. Tito Boy is just hilarious! He shared with us his experiences with brides, how he started in the industry and suppliers he has encountered.

All in all, it was a very productive day. So now we have booked the following suppliers for our wedding

Pre-Cana Seminar Part 2 / Wedding & Beyond Bridal Fair

We attended the 2nd part of the pre-cana seminar. This was from 1pm-5pm at the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal National Shrine. I was also able to get my baptismal and confirmation certificate.

After the seminar, we went to NBC Tent to attend Weddings & Beyond bridal fair.

We only stayed for an hour. I was glad to see that Richard was more engaged/participative and did all the talking with the suppliers hehe. I was just tagging along behind him. Before, it used to be the other way around ;-)

Our goal was really to check out potential photo/video supplier. Here's our shortlist: Lyf nd Foto, Lito Genilo's Smartshot Studio and Vignette Photography. We told them that we'll decide within the week. Good thing, they've agreed to still give us the bridal fair rate.

We also saw the booth of QP Designs. Since we have decided on the design that Richard picked yesterday, we paid the initial downpayment because they were giving a 20% discount for on-the-spot bookings.

So now, we have our supplier for the wedding invitations :-)

Wedding Preps: Caterer, Florist, Invitations

Caterers I have shortlisted (in no particular order) based on W@W feedback: Center Table, Eloquente, Passion Cooks, K Cunanan, Quido's and Queensland.

I sent K Cunanan an email last year but never got a reply.

When I attended a wedding expo last January, I was able to attend the food tasting session of Center Table Catering. And I loved the food and the set-up!

Quido's and Queensland was recommended if you're working on a tight budget. I also saw Quido's Catering booth at the January wedding expo. I liked the fact that their standard/basic buffet package already has tiffany chairs for all the guests. Quido's is located in Muntinlupa and Queensland in Las Pinas. Both very accessible from where we live.

Passion Cooks was prompt to reply. But I found out that their lowest rate (per head) is a little above our budget. Plus there weren't that many freebies/inclusions in the package.

Eloquente was not only recommended in W@W but also from our friends who got them as caterer. Their packages are reasonably priced, menu looks great compared to Quido's and Queensland and they have a lot of freebies/inclusions.

So we decided to schedule food tasting with Eloquente Catering. Our contact person was Ms. Bheng. Food was delicious, considering that the menu they served us was for the first package. We were actually thinking of getting the 2nd or 3rd package. After lunch, Ms. Bheng gave us a detailed costing for the package we've chosen. She also introduced us to Ren of Amaranthus Florist, one of their partners.

Ren showed us pictures of his Caleruega flower set-up/arrangement and the swags/drapes for the reception. We were both impressed! I have been worrying on how to dress up our reception venue since it's very plain. With Ren, I have a florist and events stylist all rolled into one :-)

After the discussion, we told Ms. Bheng and Ren that we'll get back to them the following week. But we felt that we have just found our caterer and florist for our wedding :-)

Our last stop was the Invitations. We went to Makati to check Printed Matter and QP Designs. While browsing the catalogue in QP Designs store, Richard pointed out a design that he liked. It was simple, classic and elegant. Very much like my gown haha! It didn't reflect the gold color in our motif though. It was off-white and has a silvery shade. We requested for a quotation on the invite and told the store personnel that we'll come back soon to confirm.

Wedding Preps: Gown, Invitations, Wedsite

Since May 1 is a holiday, Richard and I decided to schedule an appointment with Boy Kastner Santos. I learned about Tito Boy in W@W and read a lot of very positive reviews and feedback about him. Also, a good friend and officemate shared her experience when she visited the shop of Tito Boy in Cavite. Even before we went there, I sort of had an idea already about his personality, his style and price range :-)

We arrived past 10am and saw that he had several clients lined up. Even with his hectic schedule, Tito Boy was very accommodating. He asked for my pegs and when I showed him my portfolio he said that the styles I've picked are...well...shall we say, outdated and old-fashioned. He said it in a nice way though and I liked that about him. He's honest but not too criticizing of my taste. But he was right. I got my designs online and they're basically your typical wedding gown style. I just typed a-line wedding gown or strapless wedding gown in Google search and downloaded pictures that I liked. I just feel that the gowns featured in wedding magazines and bridal fairs are a little too much for me. I don't think I can pull off a frou-frou skirt/ruffled skirt or a heavily beaded gown.

Pegs

I asked Tito Boy if he can come up with a design for me. After studying my frame, he began to sketch my gown. When he showed the design, guess what, we loved it! :-) I think he also based the design with my pegs. He had an idea that what I wanted is a simple, classic but elegant wedding gown. He kept it simple, classic and elegant but with a modern touch. Tito Boy also suggested a champagne-colored wedding gown so that it matches our color motif of Gold and White. After discussing with us the rate for my gown and for Richard's barong, we agreed to set another meeting to firm up the details.

Next in our agenda is to check the invitations store in Alabang Town Center. I had Written in Ink (WINK) and Jay Cee Kay on my list. We couldn't find WINK in ATC but saw Jay Cee Kay. There was one design I particularly liked from the catalogue but it costs Php180/set. With 100 pieces minimum order, this will amount to Php18,000. Hmm...we'll scout for other suppliers first before deciding on the invites.

Later that afternoon, I decided to work on our wedding website.  Please click the link to check it out.

http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding/UserViewWebsiteIntro?wid=1b2848591de0d50c&pid=c04a8af37ad8ec1b&themeCode=

or type http://www.weddingwire.com/richarddiana

Med Consultation, Invitations

Now that I'm about to have my own family, one item I included in my pre-wedding to-do list was to see an Ob-Gyne. I would want to get pregnant soon and wanted to know if there's anything I should be doing right now to ensure I deliver a healthy baby and not encounter any pregnancy-related complications in the future.

To cut a long story short, I didn't like the Ob-Gyne (at Makati Medical Center) and just told myself to schedule another appointment with a different Doctor, preferably one referred by a friend.

Another agenda I had in mind was to check samples of Invitations. I went to see Printed Matter in Glorietta and QP Designs in ParkSquare. Printed Matter was more modern and edgy in style while QP Designs is more traditional.

There were designs that I liked from both stores and will just ask Richard to come with me to check them out.

Pre-Cana Seminar Part 1

After a year of being engaged, it's time to get serious with the wedding preps. We haven't really accomplished much last year except for booking the church and reception venue.

I called Caleruega to check if they have any schedules for the pre-cana seminar but was told that they're very busy with school retreats. Next I called Don Bosco church but they said that they only accommodate couples who are getting married in their church.

Finally I called Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal National Shrine and was informed that they have pre-cana seminar scheduled on April 15 and May 6.

The April 15 session was for the whole day (9am-4pm). It was a meaningful session where the couples were asked several questions about their relationship, challenges, likes/dislikes etc. It was more of a sharing session.

Weddings & Beyond Bridal Fair

The first bridal fair I've attended for the Year 2012 :-)

Went all by myself because Richard had to attend his class in UST. He's a part-time Professor at the Graduate School by the way.

There were the usual suppliers. This time though, I was able to attend the food tasting session of Center Table catering. Two thumbs up! The food was delicious and set-up was fabulous. Wished Richard was there with me.