{Total Recall} A W@Wie Wedding

One of the secrets of enjoying wedding preps is to bond with bride-to-be's. Everyone knows that I am a loyal W@Wie and that includes visiting or gatecrashing a w@wies' wedding. 

A few days before the wedding, w@wie April shared some concerns about her On-The-Day Coordinator. It turned out that w@wies Tin (ni Marvin), She (ni Jack), Kaye (ni Randy), Aweng (ni Thessa) and Laey (ni Mikel) made themselves available to be April and Manny's coordinators for their big day. 

Of course, we went to the reception venue, Enderun, for moral support. We call it W@W Love.

The reception set-up was done by Amante Fleurs. It was beautiful.

Ms. Benz taking a picture of Tin (ni Marvin). Caught on camera na hindi nagttrabaho si Tin. Haha.

W@wies Neren (ni Benjie), Joyce (ni Rainier), Charm (ni Ray) and of course, my then fiance, Peejay (behind Charm).

After checking the set-up, we decided to do more chika at the courtyard. The weather was perfect. It was not-so-hot and windy afternoon.

Ms. Benz and her long-lost daughter, Charm.

W@Wies Krystle and JP. (the most kwela and kulit couple!)

Neren and Benjie took this time to do an ocular visit and to talk to Amante Fleur about their set-up,too.

Mimma and Charm checked the candy buffet.

Joyce and Neren with April (3D version!)

Me with April & Manny

Former W@Wie turned supplier, Anna of Aisle 1401 joined us for some chitchat.

She (ni Jack) arrived from the church and said that guests were on their way to the reception venue.

One last picture ala Familia Zaragoza before we left.

After visiting the reception venue, Peejay and I ate at Friday's with Joyce and Charm. I think they did not have any plans of diet-ing. Hehe.

Group picture! 

Supplier Update.V3

Just giving you a heads up on our booked suppliers. :)

1. Wedding Venue: Enderun Courtyard & Atrium

I've always dreamed of getting married in a garden and although Enderun Courtyard doesn't have a garden setting, its outdoor set-up is something I've envisioned.

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2. Wedding gown & suit designer: Boy Kastner Santos

Well, what can I say about Tito Boy? His charisma, sense of humor, passion, and dedication are only some of the many qualities I love about him. He always finds time meeting up with his brides even if he lacks sleep. He has a big heart. Just last December, he made the gown of a bride who's getting married this month because the original designer disappeared. Winning the W@W Supplier of the Year did not stop him from being level-headed and adorable.

*Tito Boy will also make dresses for the girls in our families.

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 3. Bridal Bouquet & Boutonniere: Dylan of Vatel Manila & Etc Handmade Goodness

I'm splurging on this because it's worth it. I think Dylan is the busiest supplier of all time. Because all the brides adore his works, he is already fully booked until June 2012. Etc Handmade Goodness is the DIY arm of Vatel Manila. They will be making Peejay's boutonniere and I know it will be fabulous! Check their works by clicking this link!

4. Hair and Make-up Artist (HMUA): Rae Venturanza

From the time I browsed her portfolio, I knew that I would get her. When I met her at the W@W Christmas party, she had the warmest smile. Check out her works here!

5. Photographer: Jaja Samaniego

Her crisp, clean and feminine shots caught my attention. When I met her at Tito Boy's thanksgiving dinner, her friendly personality even made me more convinced that we should get her as our main photographer. Her closeness with Tito Boy is also a plus. Mas masaya pag friends ang mga suppliers kase hindi masyadong pormal ang mga tao. Here's her portfolio: http://www.jajasamaniego.com/

 

6. 2nd Photographer: Alex Ruelo of Imaginenation

I participated in last year's W@W Auction and we got Alex as our back-up photographer. I don't really know Alex but Peejay knows him from CCF PhotoMin (both of them are members) and has seen his works so I trust that he will deliver. I also checked his portfolio and he's very talented. He studied photography in New York and he is being trained by none other than John Mateos Ong of Imaginenation. Check his works here.

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7. Videographer: Stephen Prado

Simple. Neat. Creative. Those are the three adjectives I could say about Stephen's style. He was trained by Mayad Academy and I am just excited to do our concept shoot. Oh, and he gives discounts to w@wies too!

To watch his videos, click here!

8. On-The-Day (OTD) Coordinator: Kredin of Events Engineer

When Kredin showed me 10 documents of what we would need to accomplish, I knew that I should get her. Although I only got her for OTD, she included me in her facebook group to make sure that I am updated all the time. Her willingness to listen and to embrace our ideas is impressive and I cannot wait to work with her. To know more of their services, click this link: http://www.kredin-eventsengineer.webs.com/

9. Lights and Sounds: Cybersound Pro

They will be supporting both our ceremony and reception and I can't wait to see their set-up on one of the w@wies' wedding at Enderun. Here's their website: http://cybersound.multiply.com/

10. Wedding rings: Titanium Jewelry (A.J.R. Yates Company)

Peejay never had problems in ordering the engagement ring from them. They've got excellent customer service so we don't mind ordering our wedding rings from them even if they're based in the US.

11. LCD & Projector: NM Digital Enterprise

We're getting their 4000 lumens & 8X8 screen.

Norvin Gumayagay

3097 A. Bautista St. Punta, Sta. Ana Mla.
Mobile: 09224155242/09997953498

Email:gumayagaynorvin@yahoo.com

So, a lot of w@wies have been asking what DIY stuff we're going to do. I think I'm going to blog about this once we're done with everything. We're also pencil-booked with some suppliers and I'm going to include them as soon as I get hold of them.

For now, we are happy with our major suppliers and we can't wait to see them do magic on our special day!

A Sumptuous Lunch @ Enderun

Last Saturday, we had our food-tasting at Enderun. Since it's going to be our 4th anniversary on December 17th and we barely have time to celebrate, we decided to schedule a sit-down lunch instead. We chose Banquet #1 menu (to those who are Enderun brides, you know what I'm talking about) Of course, I won't publish the inclusions to surprise the guests, but here's a teaser of the menu:

Rating:
5 stars - Excellent
4 stars - Very Good
3 stars - Good
2 stars - Needs Improvement
1 star - Not Good

(Photos by Peejay)

Verdict: 5 stars
Although I am not a fan of cold food, Peejay and I like it especially the bread -- it has a different, crunchy taste.

Penne Pasta with Artichoke and Red Pepper, Rocket Pesto

yummy bread (it came with the penne pasta appetizer)

Verdict: Peejay - 5 stars; Dei - 3 stars
Peejay eats pumpkin soup so he finished his bowl; while I didn't. I think it's the first time I ate pumpkin soup and I just find it weird, that's all.

Lemongrass-scented Pumpkin Cream Soup with Coconut Milk

Verdict: 5 stars
The chicken meat is soft and the mushrooms are well-cooked. The sauce is not too salty and not too sweet.

Cajun-spiced Chicken Roulade with Forest Mushroom Ragout

Verdict: 5 stars
Being a fish lover, this is non-negotiable for me. I love this to bits! Peejay almost ate the "design veggie" he thought it was a side dish. LOL.

Steamed Whitefish Fillet Duglere-style

Verdict: 5 stars
We love cheesecake! And this dessert is not too sweet, which I LOVE. Peejay thought I ordered chocolate cake for dessert but I cannot eat the sweetest dessert yet. (been sick for a week now) but he finished his share.

Baked Mango Cheesecake

Overall, we are happy with Enderun's food. We booked the venue without food-tasting but it was all worth it. I'll be posting some pics of the venue when I get the pics from Peejay but we are already excited for the big day. I'm sure the guests will love the food! :)

Garden or Church?

Since yesterday, I have been worrying or thinking too much (?) about where to hold the ceremony. I've always wanted to have it in a garden, that's why we chose Enderun. Lately, I have been having problems in looking for tent and chair suppliers. Also, sound system is an additional cost. I looked at our budget tracker again and I realized that we are almost going over the budget.

One of the w@wies, Isa, suggested Fort Andres Bonifacio Evangelical Church (FABEC) for the ceremony. It is inside the Philippine Army base at The Fort and 5-10 minutes away from Enderun. I don't want to get married in a church simply because my dream wedding is at a beautiful garden. I also don't like the look of the white, shiny cloth at the altar. (although Isa reassured me that they are lenient in terms of decorating the aisle). But looking at the cost, I'm thinking , Is my dream wedding really worth it? It's true that not all your dreams come true. In my case, I'm trying to have a mind set that the most important thing is not the venue, but to get married with Peejay. 

So, I'm accepting the possibility that we might get married at FABEC. Peejay and I will visit the place sometime soon.

Wedding Venue: Enderun

Enderun was not really my first choice becauseI fell in love with Light of Love instantly! Its Atrium is just so enchanting and elegant. The downside is the price. It was more of a want than a need. Fortunately, I read a few information about Enderun thru W@W. It's a culinary school located at Upper McKinley, The Fort. I started checking pictures on the internet and thought that I'd give it a try. Iyett, Enderun's AE, was so nice and accommodating. In fact, she pencil-booked us right away even if we haven't confirmed anything yet. With several exchange of emails, Peejay and I decided to visit the place.

The Courtyard

The Atrium

My beloved officemates: (L-R) Marl, BR and JC

Me at the stairs

With my love, Peejay

We were impressed with its tall ceiling and wide space. It has free parking, consumable food, and nice walls (it only requires minimal decorations). Most of all, we had "this is it" feeling when we were there. The next day, we booked the place. We can't wait for next year! :)