Category Archives: wedding reception ideas

Getting Married Bridal Fair – K by C and MPO

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Attended my first ever bridal fair. The bridal fairs last year coincided with my trips abroad hence now is just my first time. It was quite exciting. And productive.

Booked! K by Cunanan. Will probably opt for the box of wine freebie – as long as the wine they’re giving out is Asti. Otherwise, we might consider the additional desserts.

I just loved (!) their display set. Love the queen anne’s lace arrangement!! The books are yet another centerpiece idea. Hubbie and I are bookies (although I’m nowhere near half a bookie as Hubbie is) so this set-up is totally appealing to us.

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Booked! Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, Quartet. Hubbie and I love music hence having good music is a must for us. I only booked the male singer though. Their female singer (sampler) belted out Lea’s “Two Words”. Sure she would be great during the reception wherein the place is quite huge. But not in Caleruega. Previously, Hubbie and I didn’t like Bernie’s female singer as well. Although MPO’s singer is better than Bernie’s I think, still, it was a bit too strong. I want it to be sang as softly as Lea sang it. Or the way I sang it… hehehe joke. Anyways, we’re still on a search for the best female singer.And oh by the way, we got a discount of 1000php owing to booking them during the fair.

Wishlist: Hacienda Isabella

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Hacienda Isabella is one really beautiful place. It’s one place that would be perfect for photoshoots and dreamy honeymoons (considering the bedrooms! hehe). I fell in love with the place more and more as I come across pictures of it every now and then in my research for wedding details. Hubbie shares my feelings and views on the place as well. Beautiful.

Yet, we had to forego the place. We were almost about to make a go for the place until we’ve decided to set aside a weekend day to check out the place and see it for ourselves. And as we drove on and on, my heart got sadder because even when we haven’t seen the place yet, I know that we have to forego it simply because of its distance from Caleruega. To top it off, our wedding is in the evening hence the long and winding and tricky road to Hacienda Isabella might leave a lasting (and negative) impression on our guests. We presume the guests are real hungry already by the time they’re on their way to the ceremony.

Of course, foremost to us is the comfort of our guests.

But without a doubt. Hacienda Isabella is a beautiful place for a wedding. Perhaps, if your wedding is early in the morning, then, perchance, the Hacienda can be a perfect location for your reception.

Do check out below some of our photos. Courtesy of my friend Rezza Flauta-Chua. Our thanks to Rezza and her hubbie JJ and their really smart niece Maki for setting aside time to accompany me to Hacienda Isabella despite their busy schedule.

After visiting Hacienda Isabella, we drove to Ville Sommet as well just to check out the place again. This time, I felt the “this is it” moment with Ville Sommet. This time, i’m settled. Albeit at the back of mind is the thought that the place sure is really expensive (considering the minimum amount 900 php per head they require for the catering).

Oh yeah. I asked uber smart 5-yr old Maki to help me in judging whether to select Hacienda Isabella or Ville Sommet. After we did our rounds, Maki confidently selected Ville Sommet. That made me smile. Sometimes, kids’ judgment has to be trusted. ^_^

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Another thing I have to let go with Hacienda Isabella is that a lot of my favorite Dino Lara pictures were taken from this place.

Hacienda Isabella are renting out rooms though for honeymooners and out-of-towners so you just might want to consider the place for your stay.

One happy note: Yey, I was finally able to know how to make a slideshow in wordpress. I really love wordpress!!!

wifey’s note: all posts with “wishlist” are not what we hope to receive on our wedding. Rather, they are stuff that we would love to have but we’ve found we cannot have for our wedding anymore owing primarily to practicality.

flower talk

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Not until Dylan Gozum (of Vatel Manila) pointed it out, did I realize that not all brides are particular with the types of flowers that will be used in their wedding. I thought all brides were as stringent as I am. And I thought all brides were strict on the symbols and meanings of flowers. But apparently no.

Flowers just make my day. They just about complete my birthday and any special event I have, one of which is our civil marriage. The flowers caps the event and at the same time bouys me up some more. In all sense, i’ve come to associate flowers with special and happy events.

Of course, foremost in my selection is the beauty of the flower. But then since almost all flowers are beautiful to begin with, I think the competition will just have to be meted out with the symbol they portray.

Although yellow is such a happy color, I definitely wouldn’t want to have them on my wedding as yellow flowers generally symbolize jealousy. I don’t want any calla lilies on our wedding as well as they are also associated with funerals.

Initially, I have this list as a guide in checking my florists’ proposals:

Tulips generally symbolize fame and perfect love whilst orange tulips in particular means energy, enthusiasm, desire and passion.

Stargazer lily symbolizes wealth, prosperity and aspiration. I love its scent as well!

Peony for romance and prosperity, good fortune and a happy marriage. I am so happy when Macy Dy (of K by Cunanan) confirmed that having peonies for our centerpieces in the reception would not entail flower upgrade. Yey, happy!

Hydrangea, symbolizes friendship, devotion and understanding.


Iris, symbolizes faith, wisdom, cherished friendship, hope, valor, promise in love.


Rununculus, means “I am dazzled by your charms”

I figure that florists would need filler flowers on our bouquets. Hence, I’ve included Forget me nots, which is quite literal really in what they mean – please don’t forget me.

Orange rose, symbolizes enthusiasm and desire. Yes, it has to be orange. No red please.

Yet another filler flower – Heather for admiration and goodluck.


In general, Carnation means bonds of affection, health and energy, fascination, admiration whilst white carnation signifies sweetness and loveliness, innocence, pure love.

For all we know, somebody some time ago just came up with the flower meanings out of mischief. But then again, if flower lovers in the cyberworld agree that so and so flowers has this particular symbol and meaning, it’d be fun to play along with the game. After all, it somehow helps knowing that as you walk down the aisle, you are surrounded with such positive forces albeit it may just only be symbolic and a made-up one at that.

Later, when everything has been fixed, I’ll post articles of my florists to give them due credit.

candles, in our colors!

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A “pick-me-upper”: finding something that has our colors.

I had no idea what to give my colleague who was my “baby” in our seniors’ Christmas party exchange gifts. Asked hubbie for inspiration ideas and he threw in candles among others. When I went to “Our Home” store to look for home decor ideas, I came across this candle.

Pretty, ne?

Well, suffice it to say that within 10min, I had it gift-wrapped after finding the suitable ceramic stand. =)

Hmmm…this one would be great during cocktails..!

Thanks to Hubbie for giving me the gift-idea. =)

wedding centerpiece inspirations 4

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I just fell in love with these. By Pat Pastelero, Spruce Floral Designs.

from thefloralist.tumblr.com

from thefloralist.tumblr.com

Richie Ortega-Torres first mentioned her to me the first time Richie and I met. But at that time, I was already in contact with Dylan of Vatel Manila whom I’m so much a fan of and whom everybody else in W@W is raving about. However, at the time that Richie and I were talking, I forgot that Dylan will only be providing the entourage flowers. Also (and I think this was more the reason), I had this concept that we cannot afford Pat anymore, considering the budget we’re running.

Right now however, I still haven’t seen the florist whom I’d like to prettify (some more) our ceremony place.

Until I encountered Pat, or more like, Pat’s work. 

I loved her arrangements so much that I inquired, even when it was with trepidation that we may not be able to afford her. No harm in asking, anyways.

And as I wait for her reply, I can only hope….

wedding centerpiece inspirations 3

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This arrangement is really lovely. Why again? Yes, it has our colors.

from BRIDES

Ville Sommet has a high ceiling. I haven’t really paid full attention to it yet but yes, some worry about this high ceiling does start to burn at the back of my mind. (I think reading Markus Zusak’s “Book Thief” the whole day has affected the manner with which I write haha).

Anyways, I digress again. So back to the ceiling. Friends in W@W gave an excellent suggestion – have alternating tall and low flower arrangements to help in reaching out for the ceiling.

from BRIDES

from BRIDES

And please, can anyone tell me what is the name of this flower??? If this flower symbolizes something positive, then it’ll be perfect to adorn our tall vases. Any advise on this, pretty please?

from BRIDES