Reception Detail: DIY Ring Napkin

I have decided to make a DIY ring napkin for my big day.

DIY Silver Mesh Napkin

This goes along with the menu card and with the theme (winter / starry theme)

I will be using silver mesh wrap which I bought for only 22USD for 10 yards. Take note, I will also use this mesh for my DIY Menu Card .

Silver Mesh Wrap

I cut the mesh into 5 rows (for 1.4" diameter ring napkin). Using double sided tape I taped both ends.

DIY Ring Napkin Silver Mesh

3 Row Ring Mesh Napkin

 Just as easy as that you already have your own Ring  Napkin without breaking the bank. By the way, if you are wondering how much is the price one this kind of ring napkin you may check out amazon. One with velcro is around $0.80 per piece. The 100 pieces secured with hot glue is around $32.00 

I was able to make 170 pieces of Silver Ring Napkin for 22USD. Plus, I still have extra silver mesh wrap for my other DIY's like place cards, menu cards, etc.

 UPDATE:

Here's what it looked like in the actual set-up.

 

How to Make Your Own DIY Menu Card

These days I'm doing nothing at work. In order to make my life productive, I have started making the menu card. Walang menu card na ibibigay si Hizon's Catering sa package. So we need to pay P5000.00 for customize table card and table menu which looks like this:

By the way, the set up I chose from them is Silver and White Theme:

So instead of opting for customize menu cards from Hizon's Catering, I decided to make DIY menu cards na lang. Kasi malaki masasave ko. Libre printing sa office so gamitin ko na lang.

 By the way, this is my menu card inspiration:

I downloaded Free Calligraphy fonts from: www.dafont.com, http://www.fontspace.com etc. I installed the fonts I downloaded and started typing.

 Below is a screenshot of what I did (menu card):

I'm only using MS-Word for this.

Since trial muna. I printed it in a draft paper just to see how it would look like.

Then, for the "rhinestone" above (menu card inspiration), para low budget, when I went back to Philippines last June 20, 2014 I bought faux crystals/gemstones from Quiapo. Around Php 25.00 for 35 pieces for small ones and Php25.00 for 20 pieces for big ones. I bought 3 packs for small ones and 4 packs for big ones. around 185 pieces na faux gemstones.  

 I also bought silver mesh wrap for Php960/10 yards ($22USD). Take note, the mesh wrap can be used as ring napkin, wrap for unity candles, wrap for matches, wrap for tea light holders, etc.

Using double sided tape (courtesy ng office) and scissors, I attached the rhinestones to the paper. Looks like this:

DIY Menu Card

So mukhang okay naman ang scratch paper ko. I'll just add light blue lining para ma-incorporate ang motiff. I'll make an update as soon as nagawa ko na ang final DIY menu cards.

And since walang ring napkin ng guest, yung sa VIP tables lang. Yung silver mesh wrap ang gagawin ko ding ring napkin para ma-achieve kahit papano ang inspiration set up (menu card and napkin ring)

DIY Ring Napkin

Trial for DIY Menu Card

Calculation:
For 170 Menu Cards
Natural White Paper - Php 45.00 each = 270.00 (6 packets)
Lining - Php 100.00 (2 packets) (crumpled aluminum foil).
Faux Stones - Php 175.00
Silver Mesh Wrap (10 percent of 980.00) - Php 100.00
Double Sided Tape - (free) If you are going to buy around Php 90.00
Printing - (free)
Design - (free)
Total of Php 645.00

It's just almost 13% -14%  ng Php 5000.00

UPDATE: DIY Final Menu Card

 

Big one for VIP's , small one for guests.

*Note: It is easier to make the big one.

So here's the final set up.

DIY MENU CARD (silver or crystal theme)

Here's how to make wedding program booklet.

Food Tasting: Hizon's Catering

Among the accredited caterers for Oasis I chose Hizon's Catering. I really wanted Passion Cooks or K by Cunanan. Kaya lang, Passion Cooks is not accredited by Oasis so may corkage na 30K. Then K by Cunanan naman too late ko na nalaman na accredited ang supplier na yun since our previous AE of Oasis (Cathy Marquez) was  amateurish. Anyway, so ayun. I chose Hizon's Catering to be our caterer for the event among Tamayo's Catering, CVJ Catering, Lina Vitan, Richgold Catering, Swan Catering, Kusina ni Kambal and Josiah's Catering. I was contemplating if I'll go for Josiah or Hizon's. But when we were told na Josiah's Main Warehouse is in Marikina, ayun, I decided to go for Hizon's Catering na lang.Tamayo's catering has great foodies kaya lang yung set-up nila is so heavy for my winter theme.

Let's go back to the story, so before pa mag "final food tasting", my H2b requested a food tasting for Hizon's Catering. So his parents and him went to Oasis for the food tasting. Unfortunately, kulang daw ang food nila nung araw na yun. So mga deserts lang natikman nila almost. Also, they wanted the bride to be there sa food tasting. So nag schedule kami ng food tasting para sa final menu. I booked a ticket to Philippines just for the food tasting.

So ayun na, food tasting day na. The Hizon's Catering Warehouse is so damn far. By the way, their address is at: #22 Renowed Lane, Sanville Subdivision, Project 6, Quezon City. Even we used google map, we had a hard time going there. Kasi 1.) Sobrang layo 2). Pasikot Sikot ang daan to Sanville Subdivision 3). Hindi ako familiar sa Project 6 (although, sa QC ako nag aral ng highschool) and sa may Commonwealth kami nakatira dati 4). Malayo sa main road 5).Hindi Commercial ang area

So we were supposed to be there at 10:00am pero syempre nawala kami, we arrived 30 mins late. But I texted the person in charge (Tin) na malalate kami but she did not reply. Ewan ko lang ha kung it is just me. Eto kasi ang natutunan ko when kapag nagschedule ng meeting. Kapag malalate ka, kailangan mong sabihan ang tao na malalate ka. Kapag dadaanan mo ang isang bagay at kukunin mo lang sa isang tao, sasabihin mo kung ilang minuto na lang para makapaghanda sya na tumayo sa isang spot na yn. So kung nag sms sayo ang taong imemeet mo then obliged kang magreply just to let the person know na narecieve mo ang message. Unfortunately, hindi ganoon ang person in charge sa amin. O well, ganun ang life talaga. :)

Okay, so meeting na with the event planner. We introduced ourselves and had a little chit-chat. Then, we waited for a while para i-serve ang food. Sa isip ko "okay, this is it, our final food tasting". Aba, final ha? So sinerve na ang food sa amin.

Binigyan kami ng dalawang choices per dish. Originally, eto ang pwede sa listahan na binigay sa amin.

  Appetizer lang ang maraming choices. Although, sa "FINAL FOODTASTING at HIZON's Catering" na yun, walang appetizer na sinerve. At wala din desserts na sinerve. Dalawa lang ang sinerve per dish at dun kami pipili sa original na choices na binigay sa amin (see picture above).

SOUP Hizon's Catering

 Pumpkin Soup (Hizon's Catering) - "Roasted Vegetable Soup"

Cream of Mushroom soup(Hizon's Catering)

Between the two, we chose  Pumpkin Soup. It was nice. Although may cream of mushroom soup na masarap naman tlaga. Last time, when I went to Malaysia, may natikman akong cream of mushroom soup na masarap talaga. Unfortunately, yung cream of mushroom soup ng hizon's catering may kulang or sobrang tapang. Ayun, so Pumpkin Soup was okay for me and for my H2B. 

Pasta Dish (Hizon's Catering)

They gave us two choices: carbonara and pasta neopolitina. I think their carbonara is good. Their pasta neopolitana is not good. I hate pizza hut's pasta (here), but I think pizza hut's is better than their Hizon's Pasta Neopolitana. 

Chicken Dish (Hizon's Catering)

They gave us two choices: chicken sambal and chicken with gravy.

Hizon's Catering Chicken with Gravy

Hizon's Catering Chicken Sambal

Between the two, we chose chicken sambal. Chicken sambal yung dish nila na masarap siguro sa lahat. Their chicken with gravy is just normal.  Plus, the "lengua" looking ingredient taste like Mcdo's halal lengua (dapat bacon kaso lasang lengua).

SALAD (Hizon's Catering)

They gave us two choices: grilled salad and peach mango salad. Okay, so the grilled salad looks good, but it did not taste good. Amoy sunog (since grilled nga), then walang lasa tlaga masyado. So we opted for mango salad.


Fish Dishes (Hizon's Catering)

We chose  the one with mustard. Para mabalance naman. Okay breading ng may mustard compared dun sa isa na malambot na super and super oily for a fish (nakakasuya).

Vegetable Dish (Hizon's Catering).

They gave us buttered vegetable and mixed veggies with sort of lumpia sauce. We opted for the normal one - buttered vegetable. May "toge" kasi ang mixed veggie nila so hindi sya friendly sa mga oldies. Plus malasa din sya, eh creamy na ang carbonara and malasa na ang chicken sambal (parang same ng sauce sa mixed veggie LOL), so pinili namin ang plain - buttered vegetable.

Pork Dishes (Hizon's Catering)

They gave us roasted Pork and Pork Belly with mango salsa. For me, masyadong matamis ang mango as salsa ng pork. Mas okay na ang plain na roasted pork with sawsawan. Pero masasabi ko lang sa pork dishes nila. Hindi ito parang  Cooking Master Boy, na mapupunta ka sa ibang mundo at magbibigay sayo ng ibang high kapag natikman mo since parang generic lang naman.


Beef (Hizon's Catering)

The upper part is beef teppanyaki and the lower part is beef with gravy. Okay, so yung beef tepanyaki nila masarap. Kung mahilig ka sa Japanese cuisine, masasabi mong ito ang lasang pinoy na teppanyaki, it does not taste like an authentic Japanese teppanyaki.. So ang lasa ng teppanyaki ng Hizon's Catering ay lasang pinoy talaga. We opted for beef carving with bbq sauce and mushroom gravy para me carving station naman.

So ayan ang food na natikman ko sa Hizon's Catering, ang dapat na "final food tasting" ay parang hindi final food tasting. Wala akong natikman na dessert since wala naman ng binigay. At hindi na ako nagsabing nasaan ang dessert?Nasan nga ba? listahan lang ng dessert binigay.

Verdict: Okay, regarding sa services nila (sa FINAL FOOD TASTING), ang masasabi ko hindi masyadong "pro". Why?
1. Hindi complete ang food. Appetizer and dessert wala.
2. Professionalism sa meeting kulang.
3. Then, ang choices ng food na binigay dalawa lang.

Food, ordinary lang halos na food nila. OMG. Since andito na ako, Sige go na lang. Hindi ko alam kung napadala ako sa reviews ng iba na okay sila. Pero ayun, hindi sya ganun kasarap. Pero okay naman ang food pero ordinary lang talaga sa panlasa. Hindi mo masasabing "patok" talaga or yung kapag matikman mo food yung mapupunta ka sa ibang mundo or ibang high ang mararamdaman mo. Yung kapag natikman mo yun yung tipong di mo makakalimutan, ganun ang food na sinasabi ko. Unfortunately, normal lang ung food sa Hizon's Catering. Hindi sya below average but hindi naman din sya yung masarap na masarap talaga.

Mahilig talaga kasi ako kumain. Kahit sa Manila pa ako, mahilig ako dumayo kung saan saan para matikman lang food. Pumupunta kami (kasama ko kung sinong friends) na dadayo para matikman lang yung ganito or ganyan na pagkain. Mahilig din ako sa buffet at kung ano pang food trip. Hindi ako mapili sa food kaya natrytry ko kung ano pwera nga lang kapag me chocolates at peanut kasi allergic ako. Then, kahit nasa SG na ako, I would save up per month para kumain once in a while sa buffets and restaurants dito. Actually, ng wala pa ako highblood, mahilig din ako mag try ng ibat ibang drinks. Kaso nga lang nag kahypertension ako so kelangan ko maintain na food/alcohol intake.

If you haven't chosen a caterer yet, advice ko lang. Wag kayong pumunta sa super laking caterer, kasi in the end nagiging generic lang ang food kasi nga madaming Cook/Chef nun. Unlike kapag isa yung main chef tlaga, may taong nakafocus sa lahat ng food at nacocontrol lahat so masarap talaga yung food.

here's our Final Menu