Balai Isabel--A Potential Venue... Not!

I once had the chance to join in our company's Performance Assessment which was held at Club Balai Isabel. It is a residential resort right on the shores of Taal Lake, with vast grounds, its own pools, cafe, and even a church within its premises! 

During our stay, I found the grounds to be perfect for an outdoor wedding and the facilities and accommodation to be satisfactory. Food was so-so though so an outside caterer may be necessary.  

It was a bit popular as a wedding venue so I included it in our list of to-see venues. However, life got in the way (as usual) and plans of ocular visits were postponed. Plus, we got distracted with other venues nearer our place.

Then, just last week, an officemate passed me a 2-page write-up on Balai Isabel. Wondering why, I quickly ran through the article and was shocked to read about a theft that happened recently in the place! During a wedding! And victims were guests of the couple. What a heartbreak! With the rates they charge, safety and security should be a priority.

What's even sadder is no matter what the management of Balai Isabel will do, the horror the robbery caused may forever mar the memory of the wedding. So, that concludes our consideration of Balai Isabel for our wedding. Defintely a no.

Our group was probably lucky to have not experienced theft during our stay. This may also be just an isolated case. Still, I'd rather not risk our wedding. 

Anyway, here's the  article for your own appreciation. 

Experiencing Majayjay Bed and Breakfast

Finally got to visit Majayjay BnB!

And since it would probably get us 4 hours one-way, we thought it best to stay the night and experience what this BnB has to offer. We originally planned on going last February 8 but since it would be little sis and mom's birthday the following week, we decided to move our visit and spend Valentine's weekend there. So, come February 13, we crammed all our bags, fruits, a cake (which we didn't really like by the way) and all six of us including Baby Y in our ever reliable Alto. Car-stuffing or not, we were so ready for our road trip slash overnight getaway slash birthday celebration slash Valentine's date slash ocular inspection.

Long, winding roads and 5 hours later, we finally reached our destination. Check in was a breeze. Fortunately, the owner, Ms. Encar (yes, a celebrity and widow of columnist Minyong Ordonez) was there to greet us and showed us our Kubo cottage.

Kubo cottage, yep, that's right! And it wasn't a surprise that this was their most requested/popular room.

The cottage houses five for P5,000 and that comes with buffet breakfast for 5 as well. It can accommodate more. I think even for a group of 10, the cottage will still be roomy. You will need to pay P500 additional for every person in excess of 5. There was no airconditioning but it got very cool at night so it was not really an issue.The cottage has its own living room, kitchen, and restroom. The bedroom is surrounded by screen to keep mosquitoes from getting inside the sleeping area.

But our favorite part of the cottage was the view. Imagine waking up to this every morning. And can you see that little brook below? You can actually hear the rippling of the water all the way to the cottage.

Rye started taking photos the next morning after we had our fill from the buffet breakfast. As seen in photos from the BnB's site, the garden would make a perfect setting for the reception and even the ceremony. It was even more charming in person.

The garden was divided by the steps and that lovely arc. I was thinking one side of the garden could be arranged for the ceremony while the other half for the reception.

Good thing about the place  was there will be little to no need for decoration. The greens, flowers, and the backdrop of Mt. Banahaw will do the trick.

See that arc?

I really think it's gorgeous. The white flowers are perfect to make the ceremony right on that spot. I can picture Rye and I exchanging vows under it.

Overall, we loved the place.

Since it was a BnB, we won't need hotel accommodations for the family or other guests who may want to come the night before or even stay the night of the wedding. I also liked that Ms. Encar has no issues on which caterer we want. No corkage fees either. Yey!

This was perfect for the farm theme that we are aiming for. And the best part of all was the brook just below the Kubo cottage. Oh well, the "trek" down the slope was a bit challenging but it was all worth it.

We were thinking our guests may want to experience this too. At least those who will decide to come earlier. We can even set up a photo booth here. I mean, it's not everyday that you get to attend a wedding that comes with a brook, right? Pools and beaches have been more common so this will definitely be a refreshing change.

Oh, we're all sooo excited already! We would have booked the place then but we still had to settle the date (again) and find a caterer who won't charge us an arm and a leg for its out-of-town services, unless we can find a good caterer within Laguna. Ms. Encar suggested Chef Mau Catering which is based in Liliw, Laguna. Will need to write about it in a separate post though.

The real downside? Travel time.

We have managed to identify three routes (so far) but all three take an average of 3-4 hours travel time. Guests definitely need private transportation to get to the area. And we are not sure yet who among our guests will be willing to spend 8 hours travel to and from the place plus another 2 hours maybe for the wedding itself.

On a brighter note, the distance will help us streamline our guest list. But I'm afraid the final list might get too short. It would still be more fun if a lot of our friends and family could join and celebrate with us.

A Potential Venue in Tanay

Photo credits: Website of 10 cents to Heaven

I chanced upon this photo while searching online for farm resorts near Metro Manila. And I was like, could this be it???

I immediately saved the photo and searched further on its location. Turned out this is in 10 Cents to Heaven, a camp/resort that we have been meaning to visit when we drive to Marilaque again. Some of my friends have stayed in this place over the Christmas holidays so I can ask for their comments. I have also shown the photo to Rye and we will do a quick trip this weekend to further inquire about their rates.

I am so hoping we've found our venue.

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.

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!

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.