Majayjay Bed & Breakfast

I read about Majayjay Bed & Breakfast in a Bride and Breakfast post (read post on Majayjay wedding here) and I really thought the featured wedding was beautiful. Good thing the venue Majayjay B&B had a facebook site!

I have started communicating with the owner, Ms. Encar Ordonez, but I have yet to visit the place, so let me just share with you photos I got from their website and FB page. I have tried booking a room early this year but they seem to be always fully booked, especially on long weekends.

You can't blame me for considering this for my wedding, right? See that backdrop?
Lovely. Emotional. Humbling. Perfect for an intimate wedding.

No need for dressing the place up really. But then, they can transform it into this:

Long tables, simple white lanterns hanging overhead, clean table setting, I am so digging this. For my wedding though, I still prefer folding chairs.

But I heard these chairs would up to the cost so that's something a kuripot bride needs to reconsider.

As to the rates, FB page says, rent for the garden venue starts at P12,000 for three to four hours. I think this is inclusive of electricity consumption already. But it's best to get in touch with the owners/managers to better negotiate. And hey, that would just be a lovely excuse to go visit this place. Got to do it soon.

Time flies--fast!

Time, indeed, flies fast.

Yesterday, 14th of November 2015, was supposed to be our wedding day. And would you believe I only remembered tonight? Simply because Rye and I have decided to move it to a later date. And my fault really, as the date is an indefinite one still. Lots of issue but mostly the lack of time as I am now an employee (again) and strapped to my desk but more so because of finances. Having a baby is a real budget blower. The kuripot bride is really being challenged.

Just around this time last year, I sincerely thought time was on my side. I had a good 12 months of preparation ahead of me, I was jobless with no particular sked to follow. I could do it, right? Wrong. I got soooo occupied. Looking back, I cannot really recall how and where time went. So the wedding yesterday did not materialize. Where was I instead? I was at Valle Verde Country Club, participating in Bo Sanchez's Crash Course for Book Writing. Well, at least, I spent the day in an equally engaging manner.

I have been meaning to update the blog and keep you posted of the places I've been to lately that could pass up for wedding venues, particularly Club Balai Isabel. But since it's pretty late and the baby might wake up any moment now, I got to park this one and save it for my next post. Promise, I'll be back with details and photos.  

Sta. Elena Fun Farm: Getting Started with Venue-Hunting

This is a super, super late post but one that is still relevant since it is still appropriate for our target theme.

Sta. Elena Fun Farms, also known as Holy Carabao Farms, was actually the first picnic or farm-style venue that we went to. This was around the second half of 2014.

I read about it in Rebellious Bride, where the bride really wanted a farm wedding and it was non-negotiable. Good for her that she chanced upon this place in Laguna.

Source: http://www.rebelliousbrides.com/2011/09/rebellious-bride-beverly.html

http://www.rebelliousbrides.com/2011/09/rebellious-bride-beverly.html

I loved their wedding and all the details that they injected into it. If you want to read more about it, the bride's own recount of the event is here: http://www.wstorehouse.com/Blog/fourth.

My favorite part was probably when the  bride rode a carabao cart to the ceremony venue! Sooo cute!

So, I immediately told Rye about it and off we went to Laguna to see the place for ourselves.

This greets guests as they enter the farm premises. Upon seeing it, I grew more excited!

There was also this area where guests can boat and fish. I didn't feel like paddling so I opted to just try fishing.

That's the Kuripot Bride with the future mom-in-law

No fish favored our bait though so we gave up and just checked other parts of the farm.

Indeed, Sta. Elena Fun Farm was first: definitely a farm and second, it was fun! Wide grounds, horses, carabaos, ducks, cows, and even rabbits! Feeding of animals was allowed and there were lots of areas where kids can freely run around and play. Horseback riding and carabao-cart riding were also allowed. There was even a zipline!

There was a pavilion where guests can opt to take their meals. The farm had no restaurant or cafe yet so bringing in of food was encouraged.

Tables and chairs inside were a combination of wooden benches and these:

I liked that they had the type of tables and benches that we wanted. Only minor cleaning and retouching of varnish or paint were needed and they would be perfect for the wedding.

We also toyed with the idea of holding the ceremony in the Amphitheater. Pardon the photo, but at least you get the idea.

See the bridge? That's where I planned to walk to the tune of Pachelbel's Canon. Oh well, a lot of brides have walked the aisle along this tune so we might change it.

Package:
Since this was the first major venue we visited, we had no idea as to how much rates go. Upon inquiring, I was informed the whole place can be rented for P30,000++ for a maximum of 6 hours, inclusive of ingres and egress.

Said rate includes the use of pavilion, restrooms, electricity, and grounds for the ceremony or even reception. Guests may also try fishing, boating, animal-feeding, and horseback riding for free, at least before the ceremony starts.

Use of tables and benches is already included in the package. However, they charge P5,000 corkage fee for the caterer, which I think is unfair since they do not have any resto or cafe within the farm.


Rye's Thoughts:
He liked the place so much he wanted us to book or at least pay the downpayment. His family resides in Binan Laguna so he didn't really find the place far.


My Thoughts:

What I really liked about the place was the vast grounds. We can push through with the picnic affair that we wanted without much constraint as to space. We can get very creative without spending too much on decor. The caretaker even told us we can do barbecue! Sounds fun!

However, as with other outdoor venues, contingency plans for rain should be in place. I also liked the amphitheater but we will have to consider the number of guests that it can accommodate.

As to the rates, P30K was pricey for me. Since it is an out-of-town venue, we will have to shell out funds for transportation, preps, and even accommodation which will further increase the overall cost. Some guests may also find it inconvenient, especially those who will only be commuting.

Also, the place had no holding room or any area where we can prepare. While the restrooms were clean, this would not be sufficient to get everyone groomed and made-up. So, hotel preps will definitely eat up on our budget if we will push through with Sta. Elena Fun Farm.


Verdict:
Hard to make one yet as it is the first venue we checked. If budget were not an issue though, this would definitely make it to our Top 5!

Baby's Breath: Perfect for the Kuripot Bride

Baby Y's baptism will be tomorrow and we are all sooooo excited!!!

Lots of items have not been crossed out of our to-do list yet and we have tons of errands to run this afternoon. I am just waiting for TitaBa as I write this piece so she can drive me to Dangwa after a quick lunch. We intend to buy Baby's Breath for the centerpieces. Why? Primarily because I learned they come in real cheap. About P80-100 per bundle! Yup, that cheap!

Naturally, I am considering Baby's Breath for my wedding, both for the bouquet and centerpieces. Or maybe even for the aisle! And if they, indeed, cost this low, that would allow us room for creativity, as budget wouldn't be much of an issue.

For the wedding, I am digging arrangements like these:

For my bouquet, I wouldn't mind holding something like these:

And since I prefer sunflowers, it will be nice to carry a bouquet similar to these:

Simple but classy. And that vibrant splash of yellow will be perfect for the picnic wedding Rye and I are envisioning. 

I am not artistic. But I have friends who are and my sister is, too. It's such a relief knowing they can always DIY my bouquet for me! I have yet to inquire about flower arrangement rates from suppliers but they can eat a good chunk off our wedding pie. Being able to source cheap but good flowers will definitely be a blessing.  

Note: All photos were taken from Pinterest. Forgive me if I cannot credit the photo owners or those who pinned above photos.

Venue Hunt: Aquaboy Resort and Parks & Wildlife

Pardon my lack of consistency but, really, I have been very busy with work and Baby Yo I could not find time to update my posts. Not to mention we are also prepping for Baby Yo's baptism and all the DIY projects my sister wants to undertake.

Anyway, this will just be a quick quick post about the venues we've been to these past weeks.

Aquaboy Resort
This is a private resort located in Zabarte, Fairview. However, it has been opened to the public so there were a lot of guests when we did our ocular. There was nothing really special about the place. There was just a pool, a conference hall, and some rooms which we didn't bother checking anymore. What I liked though was the vast open grounds that would have been perfect for a picnic barbecue themed event.

Published rates were at P30,000 which practically allows you exclusive use of the resort. However, I felt like the place was not being maintained well. The area near the pool smelled strongly of chlorine. Or maybe this was due to the number of visitors they had that day. Plus, the location was really far.

Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife
Since we want a picnic-themed wedding, a park seemed ideal. Now, this park is located in QC and could be accessed from North Avenue or Quezon Avenue. It is very near where we live and if the wedding could be held here, that would really be convenient for us.

So, I called to inquire about the rates and what venues were for rent. I was giddy with excitement when I learned that the Fishing Village could be rented for the whole day for only P1,700! Great deal, right? Even if it was just an open area which would mean having to rent industrial fans, costs will still be within our budget. I was already thinking of all the money we could save if we get a venue as affordable as this one. But of course, we had to see the place first.

When we went there, I immediately knew it wouldn't do. Open air, so heat and insects will be a major concern. Industrial fans won't do. Too much inconvenience. The concrete slats of the flooring were also not heels-friendly. We were also told that the park closes at 5pm. Party could last until 6pm only. Clearly, the cheap price tag was not enough for us to book the place.

On the way back to the car, we passed by Bulwagang Ninoy--three-floor structure with a roof deck and an area overlooking the man-made lake of the park. A potential venue, I thought. Unfortunately, it was not for rent.

Venue Hunt for a Picnic-Themed Wedding

Rye and I are aiming for a farm-style wedding but farms will most definitely be outside Manila. The thing with out-of-town venues is the added costs which I am not so keen on including in the budget. The next option then is to settle for garden venues or resort-type places within Metro Manila. I am somehow appeased with the thought that instead of a farm-style wedding, we will just have a picnic-themed event.

For the coming weekend, we have arranged to do an ocular of the following venues:

• Parks & Wildlife in Quezon City, which is very near our place of residence; 
•  Makati Parks since I’ve read a  few blogs suggesting it as a viable wedding venue;
• La Mesa Ecopark in Fairview
• Aquaboy Resort, Fairview
• Maria Luisa Events Place, Novaliches

Venue Hunt: Sitio de Amor

Sitio de Amor is a multi-hectare farm resort in San Pablo, Laguna lovingly designed and built by owners Jorge and Amor. We haven’t been to the farm but I am so rooting for the treehouse and infinity pool I saw on their website.

Photo credits to Sitio de Amor's website

Photo credits to Sitio de Amor's website

The place has a well-manicured lawn. I can already picture the arrangement for the ceremony on a cool December afternoon, just a few moments before sunset. Or an early dinner affair around this infinity pool.

And then, there’s this pavilion with wooden tables and chairs that will just be perfect for the picnic theme reception that we are planning to pursue.

Photo credits to Sitio de Amor's website

Photo credits to Sitio de Amor's website

I am not sure if I mentioned it previously but I prefer benches over Tiffany chairs. This set-up is just perfect for what I have in mind.

Photo credits to Sitio de Amor's website

Package:

When I inquired about the rates, my heart sank… P60,000 for venue alone. Plus out of town fee of suppliers, our transportation cost, accommodation and food expenses. That seems like P100,000 additional for all these. I don’t think I am willing to spend that much. The guests may not also be amenable to traveling all the way to San Pablo. Sigh… Another sigh… 

Rye's Thoughts
Too far and too pricey. He did like the pavilion though.

My Thoughts
I so want something like this... But I am not willing to let go of an additional P100K for the venue... I wish Manila is hiding a gem like this. I definitely need to continue searching for venues.

Verdict:
Mrs. Amor seemed like a sweet lady as we spoke over the phone but at this point it wouldn’t be wise to spend so much on venue alone. We might try visiting the place for a short vacation though.

Food Taste Date Reloaded Part 2: Manila Catering and CVJ Catering

Manila Catering

This is the same group behind FISH, Our Kitchen, and Azaya Resort so I expected a bit more from them given their background in the industry.

I was searching for to-go food for the baptismal party of Baby Yo when I chanced upon Manila Catering and decided to attend their Food Tasting event at the Gazebo Royale last Sunday. We live very near the venue so I also invited my two sisters K and G to come along, to which they excitedly agreed of course. I was excited for them too as it was their first food tasting event.

We got to the venue a little after lunch time and K and G were eager to start off with the food tasting as they haven’t eaten yet… only to be disappointed after. This was my plate. Forgive the plating, a little messy I know. But I wouldn’t have minded had the food tasted good. Sad to say, nothing excited my palate. 

                From pasta, clockwise: Penne in Pomodoro, Carbonara, Korean Beef Stew, Beef Curry, Pork belly,                    Chicken Teriyaki, Baked Chicken

If I really had to choose, the chicken teriyaki would have to be the best dish on this lot. I got only a very small portion, it doesn't even seem visible on my plate. I know my messy plating is to blame for that. Anyway, nothing tasted really special and I thought the dishes were just glorified carinderia meals. Definitely not the type I will serve on my wedding. Most were too salty for my liking. Forgive me if I sound mean, but I'm just trying to describe the taste as honestly as I can.

There was also a salad bar but I was running low on tummy space so I decided to skip that part. Desserts were fruit tarts, mini silvana balls, and choco mousse. All tasted fine, with the mousse being extra sweet for my liking.  

Drinks came in two flavors: dalandan and four seasons. They also have mocktails and we got to try all three: Mango, Watermelon, and Citrus. Of the three, I enjoyed only the citrus variant. The other two tasted strongly of powdered juice with slices of lime or watermelon mixed in.

Package:

Their highest package was priced at P930/head plus VAT. This already includes a 3-layer cake, doves, bridal car or emcee, wine, tables, chairs, linens, centrepieces, and basic styling. 

Rye's Thoughts:
He enjoyed the citrus mocktail but he wasn't paying P930 for that alone. 

My Thoughts:
Price-wise, they are cheaper than Shekinah. The problem is, I wasn’t that excited with their dishes. My sisters weren’t also. We couldn’t remember a single dish we seriously enjoyed.

We also didn't connect with our AE. He was able to address most of our concerns but there was just something that felt off. It didn't take long for us to decide Manila Catering wasn't for us. After the meeting with our AE, we hurried off to our next destination.

Verdict:

Not for us

CVJ Catering

We were actually scheduled for an ocular of Light of Love events place but CVJ happened to have a food tasting event at the time so we were invited to sample their dishes as well. We came in a little before 3pm and the event was about to close so some dishes were no longer available, much to the dismay of my sister G. She said we should have just visited Light of Love first instead of Manila Catering. 

Having been to two food tasting events already, I was no longer keen on trying more dishes. CVJ was also not among our options. But since we were already there and our AE was still not available for discussion, I got myself small portions of the remaining dishes.

Service was already slow. Maybe because the event was drawing to a close already and they were exhausted by the time we came. I was a bit turned off though. Imagine some waiters sleeping on the buffet spread during your event. This was just a food tasting event. I’m sure an actual wedding will even be more demanding. If this was how their servers worked, CVJ is definitely off the list.

As to taste, I couldn’t comment much except that none of those I tried caught my attention. My sister G who loves to eat didn’t enjoy the dishes either. We liked the iced tea though. It tasted like pineapple juice was mixed in. desserts came in a number of pastel-colored sponge cakes, cake pops, and silvannas. The colors were cute but that’s just it. Nothing really tickled my fancy.

I didn’t get their rates anymore.