Couture and Reception Venue

Yey! Two other major suppliers booked yesterday and today. By booked meaning not just pencil-booked anymore but that we were able to make the necessary downpayments already.

Happy with Ville Sommet, for our reception. This place was Hubby’s first choice (because of the very nice scenery, he says) and my second choice. My first choice was Splendido for three reasons: it’s cheaper, less hassle because the caterer is in-house (I don’t have to go about food tasting with accredited suppliers) and I heard that food is good. However, Splendido is already booked for our wedding date. Thankfully though Ville Sommet is still open for our wedding date, so, hurray! I laughed out loud as Kat commented “Para kang reyna dito Marj on your day”. The weather on the day we made our ocular visit was quite gloomy. Yet still we were charmed with the place! The pictures we took didn’t quite give the place justice though.

pathway to Glasshouse, passing by the Trellis

And this afternoon, I visited Patricia (Richie) Ortega-Torres’  workshop where I was entertained by her very accommodating assistant, even giving me swatches so that I’ll have some idea of the fabric that Richie will use on my gown. Got my measurements as well. Diet na to!!! =D

Richie Ortega-Torres

(note by wifey: I had the same post on my heartstrings blog)
 
Finally, I had my wedding gown designs!! These are by Richie Ortega-Torres. When I saw her creations on the internet, I fell in love with them. And when I met her, the two of us just hit it off; the two of us instantly connected and established rapport. That connection turned out to be priceless I guess; I tried to contact 2 other designers but I lost heart to them because they didn’t have the professionalism, bubble and openness that Richie had with me.
Help me out on the decision-making, will you?
Gown choice A (front):
Gown choice A (back):
Image of the sheer-style shoulder of Gown A:

 

Gown choice B (front):

Gown choice B (back):
Lovely aren’t they?

Caleruega

Choosing the best wedding church location was quite a challenge for us. Atsushi’s family will come from Japan and mine from Davao hence we want a venue that would be most convenient for our guests. Fernbrooks was originally considered but my choice reception room was already booked and our company will be having our Christmas party there so somehow, the place has lost its magic for me. I was already considering some churches in Makati and Quezon City and Manila. But if truth be told, for safety reasons, I hesitate to have our wedding in the thick of Metro Manila.

When Maha and I met during my Japan visit last September, I told her about my dream wedding locations – beach wedding in an Island in Bohol and a solemn one in Caleruega – both of which I considered impossible because of the travel. But then Maha pointed out that Caleruega is actually the practical choice since guests can just directly drive from the airport to Tagaytay. Plus, it’s safer as compared to Manila area. The idea then got stuck on my imagination. Hence, when Hubby agreed, I was really happy!

Last Saturday, Kat, Rey and I then went to Tagaytay to do our ocular visits of the place as well as other possible reception venues and guests’ accommodations. The day started out as a rainy one hence the mist and fog were so thick we had difficulty seeing the car ahead of us. It was quite a dangerous drive and so I am really grateful to Rey and Kat for still pushing through with our trip.

When we got to Caleruega, it was like being in heaven after that foggy and dangerous trip haha.

Suffice it to say, I fell in love with the place.

(the back of the church)

(church grounds)

(the church front)

(the church altar)

(wifey by the church door)

Contact details:

Caleruega Philippines, caleruega_philippines@yahoo.com, +63921.270.9890 ; +63921.830.4226;  (+6343)706.0348

Dino Lara and Jason Magbanua

Took a day off yesterday so as to meet Dino Lara in person and to visit Jason Magbanua’s office.

Dino was real nice. And sincere. He got me emotional and teary-eyed as he relayed to me his suggestion on my dilemma of a possible evening wedding in Caleruega. I wanted for me and Atsushi to have shots with the Caleruega landscape with the sunset. However, since our slot in Caleruega is at 6pm, that would mean me and hubby will have to meet before the ceremony. Dino said that usually, he would encourage for the couple not to meet before the wedding; he says there’s this unforgettable moment when the church door opens and the groom sees the bride for the first time. That got me teary-eyed, the way he said it. So then that would mean I will not have my sunset. But he suggested that we can still capture that “unforgettable moment” during our photo-shoot by adding some drama. He described how it would be done and again, he got me teary-eyed because with the way he said it, I can picture the moment and well, I get emotional. haha! I paid half of the downpayment then and tomorrow the other half.

By the way, here is an amazing interview with Dino Lara! http://www.interviewsbycrashtaylor.com/2009/02/02/crash-taylor-interviews-dino-lara/

As for Jason, too bad Jason was in Iloilo at the time of my visit hence I wasn’t able to meet him. I hope though we’ll have a chance to meet before the wedding day. At his office, I watched samples of his cinematic highlights (approx. 20 min video of the entire event which comes as a package together with the onside video) and the more I watched, the more excited I got as I imagined how it would be on our wedding. =D

Anyways today, I deposited my downpayment to Jason Magbanua. So there. Yey!! Got our choice videographer and photographer!

Dino Lara Photography – dinolaraphotography@gmail.com; +632.8834408 (landline), +63920.9125069 (mobile)

Jason Magbanua Wedding Videographer – jmdvinfo@gmail.com; +632.8171989 (landline), +63928.4704145 (mobile)