Manila Wedding: Save the Date

What is Save the Date Card? Save the date card is not that important. It is an informal notice you send out to your guests so that they can prepare for your big day. It is considered as a pre-invitation card - a great way to announce your wedding day.

As for me and my h2b, save the date cards will be very useful since most of our relatives are residing in northern part of Samar. Our out-of-town guests who will be flying in (to Manila) for our wedding day can buy tickets months prior to our wedding - it is cheaper to buy tickets in advance.

Wedding Reception Details: MoodLighting Hunting

So I have been busy hunting for mood lighting suppliers or should I say lights & sounds suppliers. I got a huge lists of suppliers from eventpilipinas.com & weddings at works.

Moodlighting is a big thing for the reception (but not all) 1. because we only have few flowers as centerpiece. 2. there will be no curtain on the wall for the vip table 3. I want to have a winter feel in the venue and lighting effects can change how the room feels or looks like.

Sample:

This is me at Suntec, palaboy mode. As you can see, nilagyan lang ng led strip light ang gilid ng wall pero nagiging dramatic ang effect.

Mga ilaw sa isang conference room sa Suntec. The lights are controlled by dimming controller. 

Above sample naggawa ng lighting effects. Lighting is an element of design that can change how a person feels. Light/lighting is an element of design which is not only use for visual comfort (for you to see) but to also get predetermined responses from the lighted ambience. For example, sa office usually dapat bright lights para gising ang mga nag tratrabaho. Kapag gusto mo ng tahimik na mode, then babawasan mo ang intensity ng ilaw. So ganun, the quality of lighting affects the behavior of the person as well as the impression. Besides dun, it also enhances the aesthetics  of the room.


Here are some samples how mood lighting changes the look of the reception venue:

By the way, I just took the pictures above online.

So ayun I'm busy hunting for lighting suppliers. Actually quotations plang muna hinihingi ko. Since duo ang magbibigay ng entertainment you have to mention with the suppliers kung ano ang needed sa kasal sa entertainment part. Kasi may ibang suppliers na nagbibigay ng sobrang equipment na hindi naman masyado ng kailangan sa kasal. Then, yung iba nman nag bibigay ng konteng lightings lang. So ayun, mas okay na compare and compare..

Ang mga nakukuha kong quotations ngayon is from 10K to 21K; so yun ang range ng rental services ng lights & sounds for wedding receptions sa ngayon + suppliers meal.

Wedding Planning Step 2: Church Hunting in Manila

So we already booked our wedding reception venue. The next we did was Church hunting. Around early November of 2013 I started researching online for the churches near Oasis Manila. The nearest church in Oasis is Mt. Carmel which is just a stones' throw away from Oasis Manila. Apparently, we knew it was already booked on our preferred time and dates since the day we went to Oasis Manila to booked them, the couple who booked the pavilion (PM time) in Oasis Manila also booked Mt. Carmel Church. Too bad. Makakatipid na sana for the service from Church to Reception. Oh well, life is life.

So I made a tabulation through excel. I searched online for the churches near Oasis manila using the following keywords: "churches near oasis manila", "churches in san juan", "churches in manila", "churches in cubao". Then, I also checked the lists of churches that was given by lights of love events place during my reception hunting period.

Here are the following:
Churches in Quezon City
Immaculate Concepcion Parish
-364-9862
-Damar Village, Sgt. E. Rivera St., Quezon City
Most Holy Redeemer Parish
-716-0464; 715-6798
-1 Brixton Hills, Araneta Ave., Quezon City

National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes
-731-9306
-Kanlaon cor. N.S. Amoranto Ave. (formerly Retiro St.) Sta. Mesa Heights, QC

Our Lady of Fatima Parish
-712-1668
-37 Cordillera St. Brgy. Don Manuel, Quezon City

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine
-725-1508; 724-5938; 727-0814
-Corner 4th & 5th St. Broadway, New Manila Q.C.
-New Address Dona Juana Rodriguez Ave. (Formerly Broadway Avenue) New Manila

Sacred Heart Parish
-923-0685; 415-4353; 929-0419
-28 Scout Ybardolaza, Kamuning, Quezon City

Sto. Domingo Church
-712-6271; 712-6272
-537 Quezon Ave., Quezon City

Churches in San Juan
Mary The Queen Parish
-722-9711 to 15
-Madison St., Greenhills West, San Juan

Santuario de Santo Cristo
-724-5466 to 69
-183 F. Blumentritt St., San Juan, Greenhills

Santuario de San Jose Parish
-725-2044; 724-4139
-Cor. Buffalo and Duke St., East Greenhills, San Juan

St. John The Baptist Church
-725-7731; 725-3524
-26 Pinaglabanan Street, San Juan, Greenhills

Churches in Manila
Santisimo Rosario Parish
-731-3062
-UST, España, Manila
San Sebastian Basilica
-734-8931 to 34 loc. 120
-734-8908
-Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo Manila

As you can see I listed out the travel time to the reception venue from the church. So kung super layo ang travel time from church to the reception venue hindi na namin pupuntahan to check out.

In order to know the travel time you may check out google direction map .

Anyway, so we went to Santuario de San Jose Parish around late November 2013, unfortunately, they the only allow reservation 1 year before the event; So we had to wait for December 1, 2013. Kaya lang Dec 1 was my niece baptism and birthday; so the next day tumawag kami; unfortunately, may naka reserve na for Jan 10, 2015 4pm.

Church hunting again. Lahat ng Cubao Churches were fully booked.

We ended up at San Sebastian Church. We immediately made a reservation - paid the down payment (10k). By the way,  the rate of San Sebastian Church as of 2013 is 25K per hour. They are quite strict with the time. Kaya yung mass talaga including picture taking is only one hour. So if you want to have a longer picture taking and longer ceremony you might want to opt for two hours which will cost you 50K. As for us, one hour lang yung binook namin, but we chose 4:00pm wedding para wala ng kasunod. Thus, may time kami for picture taking outside the church.

Crystal Boutonniere

So we don't have the lists of groomsmen nor godparents (ninong) yet. But we set 8 numbers of (godparents); and around 10 guys for as secondary sponsors, groomsmen, best man, and junior groomsmen. I have decided to opt for non flower boutonnieres - crystal boutonnieres.

Something like this:

But of course, I am going to incorporate our motif. So 6mm white bicone crystal beads, blue 8mm crystal bicone beads, and silver ribbon.

for now; I only have this; since I'm still waiting for the blue crystal beads to arrive.

A plan.. All things starts with a plan. I had to make a plan so that I won't be wasting the silver coated wire - It is expensive you know. LOL!



Here's an update:

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.