Head Table Style

 Our theme is sort of winter wonderland + starry starry night .
Here are the choices:

1. Principal Sponsors Table (Head Table) - Overhead flower with Garland Crystals in the Middle.

2. Principal Sponsors Table  (Head Table) - Overhead flower with White in a Test tube in the Middle.

3. Principal Sponsors Table  (Head Table) - Three OverHead Flowers

Our Dilemma : AE of Oasis Manila

So we already booked Oasis Verandah as our venue for the wedding reception. The person assigned to us was Cathy Marquez.

So here are the problems we encountered with her (Cathy Marquez):

1. She was not a pleasant talker.  It was so hard to talk to her. I don't know why. Usually AE's should be lively and pleasant right? But with her, I thought she had a problem with me or something.

2. She told us that she will inform us for food tastings but she never did. When we visited oasis again that was the only time she said that there will be food tasting the next day.

3. She told us that she will be texting us about the church number but she never did.

4. I emailed her like twice for clarifications but she never responded.

5. She was a bit arrogant for an AE (I guess). We texted her so many times and even tried to call her if OASIS is open on Feb 1, 2014 (since we thought that they might be closed since Jan 31 was holiday) but she did not reply. So we just decided to go to OASIS on Feb 1, and we thought she was not there; but she was there! We told her that we have been texting and calling her. And she just said "I'm so busy".  That was it.

I thought it was only us who had a problem with her. But I found out that it was not only us.

Here are some screen shots:

 

Wedding Step 1: Wedding Reception Hunting

I started with reception hunting. Why did I even start with reception hunting instead of church hunting first? Here are my psycho reasons:
1. Finding a good wedding reception venue is difficult for December to January weddings. December is the new June and January is the new August;
2. Reception Venue is more expensive compared to Church. I would like to find a decent reception venue at an affordable rate.
3. Guests spend more time in reception compared to church. Admit it.
4. There are several churches everywhere in Metro Manila.

So there you go.

I started hunting for reception venues by searching for reviews online, blogs, websites. I started emailing them and asking for their rates.

Here are some of the the event places I have requested for rates:
1. Gazebo Royale
2.  Loft at Manansala.
3.Terrace Garden
4. Oasis Manila
5. Lights and Love Event Place
6. Glass Garden
7. Fernbrook
8. Ibarra
9. Mango Farm
10. Makati Enterprise (did not reply)
11. Patio de Victoria
12. La Castellana
13. 1 Esplanade
14. White Space (did not reply)
15. Edirun College (did not reply)
 
Prior to that, since I wanted my wedding to be on December 20, 2014 and all event places I have mentioned above were fully booked so  I requested rates from the following hotel:

1. Shangrila Hotel
2. Hyatt Hotel
3. New World Hotel
4. Mandarin Oriental Hotel
5. Pan Pacific Hotel
6. Traders Hotel
7. Inter Continental Hotel
8. Diamond Hotel
9. Dusit Thani Hotel
10. Oakwood Premier Joy Nostalg
11. Sofitel

Oakwood Premier Joy Nostalg offered the cheapest rate.  Honestly, we would be going out of our target budget if we would opt a Hotel as a reception venue. Well,  if there will be only 130 guests, then,  hotel would be the best option. Furthermore, I realized that hotel reception venues are limited. They have so much rules, etc. 

So we have decided to change our wedding date to January 10, 2015 so that we can have an event place for our wedding reception.

So there...I made an excel file where I listed the name of the reception venues; rates, contact numbers, email addresses, location, pros and cons, available or not.

After thinking thoroughly, I (yes, only me), decided to opt for OASIS MANILA - Verandah.

Here are my reasons,
1. I love crystals. I mean, I love shimmering objects. Thus, my only choices for wedding themes are:
Gatsby, Winter Wonderland and Starry Starry Night.

2. La Castellana, offered a very affordable rate like 20K for the place rental. But the ambiance of the place is too old. 1 esplanade is too big and I did not feel opting for 1 esplanade.

3. Almost all offered garden wedding. (it's hard to have a themed wedding with all the garden ambiance around you.

4. Makati Enterprise would be a great place to exploit for such themes, but they did not reply.

5. White space is too big.

6. Loft at Manansala, the location is not okay for me.

8. Glass Garden fully booked. 

7. Ibarra offered affordable rates. My friends said it is too far. Lol!

Wedding Planning Check Lists

Let me start by saying "Yes, I am getting married". My wedding date is on January 10, 2015. Almost 10 months from now.

Actually, Jan 10, 2015 was not my first choice. My first choice for our wedding date was Dec 20, 2014 - an auspicious wedding date for a couple born in 1986 and 1985. But unfortunately, almost all event places were fully booked and the churches as well! Only hotels were available for wedding reception which was not okay for me. So we (me and nan) decided to move the date to an auspicious weekend date in January 2015. So Jan 10, 2015 it is.

Okay....

So I am an overseas bride. For an overseas bride like me wedding planning can be very overwhelming.


So here are the lists I needed to complete four months before the big day:

Church
Reception
Motif
Caterer
Videography
Photography
Hotel Preparation
Coordinator
Bridal Car
Rings
Wedding Gown
Groom's Suit
Wedding Shoes
Groom's Shoes
Entourage Gowns
Lights and Sound
Photo booth
Wedding Singers
Invitation
Wedding Favors
Token for the Entourage (secondary sponsors, bridesmaids, groomsmen)
Token for the Principal Sponsors
Emcee
Florist/Event Stylist
Boutonnieres/Corsage
Brides' Bouquet
Bridesmaids Bouquet

Optional
Mobile Bar

So far.. here's what I've got:
Church
San Sebastian. One of the nearest churches from the reception that was not booked yet.

Reception
Oasis
We booked this first since it was my first choice.

Motif
Winter Wonderland Theme : Silver, Blue and White

Caterer
Hizon

Videography
Joaquin Ambata

Photography
She and Him

Hotel Preparation
(Don't have yet, probably Manila Hotel, Diamond Hotel or Sofitel)

Coordinator
E-ventz Ezzentials

Bridal Car
JCA Bridal Car or Don Roberts. I want the 1932 Studebaker.

Rings
Don't have yet

Wedding Gown
I've been looking for a wedding gown style/design since May 2013. I already compiled like 20 designs. I am not sure which one will suit me.

Groom's Suit
(dont have yet)

Wedding Shoes
I'm choosing from three designs.

Groom's Shoes
(dont have yet)

Entourage Gowns
I only have the styles/designs. Do have the couturier yet.

Lights and Sound
I just canvassed for the rates of this.

Photo booth
(included in the oasis package)

Emcee
(dont have yet)

Wedding Singers
(Dont Have Yet)

Invitation
DIY

Wedding Favors
DIY

Token for the Entourage (secondary sponsors, bridesmaids, groomsmen)
USB flash drive I guess

Token for the Principal Sponsors
These are my choices:
Female Principal Sponsors (Ninangs)
- perfume
- pillow 
- drawer box of chocolate
- wallet from charles and keith
- wallet from mango
- glamour box (lipsticks, powder, blush set, etc)
- wine stopper

Male Principal Sponsors (Ninongs)
- wine
- wine and chocolate
- coffee maker
- tea infuser
- wine stopper


Florist/Event Stylist

Still looking. Maybe by the end of this month since I am still creating the plan for the reception details.

Boutonnieres/Corsage 

Crystal Boutonnieres (DIY)

Bride's Bouquet

DIY or going to purchase 

Bridesmaids Bouquets 

DIY or going to purchase

Optional
Mobile Bar
Still searching which will fit our budget.

Floor Plan for the Reception (Oasis Manila - Verandah)

Here are the three choices (I drew) for the reception floor plan (at Oasis Manila - Verandah)


1. This is my first Choice - Reception Floor Plan

2. Option 2 - Reception Floor Plan

3. Option 3 - - Reception Floor Plan

By the way, if you are wondering how Oasis Verandah looks like. Click Here for Oasis Verandah