Again, I would like to thank the entire W@W community (esp. to Ms. Benz and Sir John), without you ... I won't be able to organize my own wedding. You're a big help talaga ... if included kayo sa rating ... I'll give an 11. (1-10, 10 is the highest). I present to you my long overdue supplier rating of our wedding last October 28, 2006.
Here's the list of my suppliers ... all comments are based on our personal experience and opinions of guest, friends and family ... I would like to thank them from the bottom of our heart.
Hotel Preparation: THE GREAT EASTERN HOTEL
Website: www.greateasternhotel.com
Rating: 8
Positive Notes:
- better spacious and airconditioned room than the old building.
- lobby at the West Wing is very spacious, good for pre-wedding photos.
- has big ballrooms (advertisement lang just in case you need big spaces for any occassions)
- accessible to Crossings Dept. Store for last minute stuffs to buy.
- Complimentary breakfast good for two
- near Twin Hearts and Windmills and Rainforest (that's why we had our preps here)
Negative Notes:
- Parking is ok pero masyado matarik ... sumasayad yung bumper ng car kung mabilis ka bababa ng carpark nila.
- Nasira sila sa akin when I booked the Presidential Suite for my wedding preps (the biggest room there in the hotel) kaso yung guest ng owner ng Great Eastern checked-in 4 days before my Oct. 27 booking ... na-delay ang flight nila kaya na-extend yung stay nila sa hotel ... ayaw lumipat nung guest sa ibang rooms kaya para di nalang ako ma-stress hinayaan ko na sa kanila yun at hinanapan nila ako ng new room to have my preps. Blessing in disguise, dinala nila kami sa West Wing sa newly renovated part ng Great Eastern kaya tuwa naman kami.
- If you're planning to eat sa Gullivers ... make sure you have the patience to wait for your order...ten years ata kami naghintay ng order namin. Mas mabilis sila pag room service.
Church: TWIN HEARTS PARISH OF THE HEARTS OF JESUS AND MARY
Rating: 8
Positive Note:
- They are very prompt to inform us the schedule of Pre-Cana, Canonical Interview, Last day of submission of documents etc.
- They grant all your request ... not all pero lahat naman ng sinabi ko sa kanila nangyari :)
- The church itself is not too spacious and not too small for all our guest. Pero nung wedding namin napuno ng tao yung Twin Hearts.
Negative Note:
- Hindi masyado well-informed or well-trained ang staff nila for church coordination. Yun nalang pagwalisin niya ang mga abay ko mula sa pinto ng church up to sa dulo ng altar ... gawain ba yun ng matinong tao? If I were kasi in his shoes, I know magagalit ako pero I would just let it go. wala na magagawa eh ... saka wala naman atang kasal na walang shower of petals ... bumaba tuloy rating nila sa akin ... it should've been 9.5 pero 8 na ngayon.
- Yung mga paparazzi na photographers na I don't know kung may cut sila or what ... pinipilit nila na pabilhin sa guest namin yung mga shots nila eh hindi naman siya ang official photographer. Ms. Dodo told us na wala daw ganun sa Twin Hearts ... dinidiscourage nila yung mga outsider na photographer ... pero on our wedding day itself, ayun may isa na umiikot dun na di naman namin official photographer na shoot ng shoot tapos pipilitin nya mabenta sa mga guest namin yung pictures na tinake nya susme!
- Pag may naiwan kayo gamit from your wedding, don't worry they will keep it pero they won't inform you that they have it ... 5 days na nasa kanila yung mga wedding paraphernalia ko di manlang kami tinawagan na nasa kanila pala ... heller???
- We have no problems in getting our marriage certificate... pero naman hindi ka lang naman nila iinform na tapos na yung certificate hehehe ... you need to call them.
Reception Venue: WINDMILLS AND RAINFOREST
Rating: 8
Positive Notes:
- Ms. Nora is very professional, she works on your budget, explains the inclusions on your package etc.
- Her staff is so easy to deal with. Kaya wala kami masyado nagkaroon ng problema sa kanila when it comes to services.
- Inclusions are interior decoration, flowers, wines for toasting, doves for dove release and sound system.
- The place itself is so nice ... parang mini Fernwood. Garden set up pero covered and airconditioned ang venue.
- The food is good ... food tasting palang I know our guest would love it.
- Bottomless ang drinks (except for wines). Sa iba ata hindi bottomless ang drinks.
Negative Notes:
- Dati sabi sa amin ni Ms. Nora, parking wouldn't be a problem, pero yun ang naging problema ng iba namin guest kaya na-late sila ng pagdating sa reception.
- If you're planning to have 200 guest or more ... I won't recommend this venue. Kasi based on our experience, yung ibang guest namin nasa likod na and medyo pababa pa yun level sa may likod. So di nila masyado makita yung program. Yung iba tuloy umuwi nalang di na nagtagal. Di na nga namin napansin na nag-uwian na dun sa lugar na yun dahil even us di namin sila makita.
- Medyo na-late yung serving ng food sa Presidential table as well as the VIP table sa tabi. Mas nauna pa nakakain yung mga nag-buffet.
- Maraming corkage fee ... so if you're an OC person and you have a lot of suppliers in mind na di pasok sa package niya, better get another venue. Mas mapapagastos ka sa mga pinapasok mong suppliers (example: cake, wine, lechon etc.) kasi may fee bawat isa.
- Di masyado na-appreciate ng mga guest namin yung choco fountain kasi hindi pa tapos yung wedding program namin eh pinatay na nila yung choco fountain. So akala nila di na pwede kumuha ulit. Eh kami astig kami, pinabuksan namin ulit ni Jason ... eh di pa namin natitikman yun eh.
- Medyo delayed ang refill ng pagkain ... as told by some guest ...
Bride’s Attire and Entourage’s Gown: I DO BRIDAL COLLECTIONS BY: JUN RICAFORTE
Rating: 9
Positive Notes:
- Package includes arrhae, cord, veil, symbol holders, hairpiece, bag and shoes for the bride
- If you get the whole entourage package, he’ll give you a great deal.
- Works on your budget and open to your ideas.
- He can adjust his design to your needs ... I have 3 revisions for my gown, wala ng design revision fee.
- Accessible ang shop niya sa house namin.
- Malinis sila gumawa, pag may problema inaayos nila agad.
- Free wedding announcement in Philippine Star.
- Siya ang pumupunta sa wedding mo to assist you sa gown mo.
- Everybody loves my gown so I think I’ll give him 9 for the rating hihihi...
- Pinasadya niya yung hairpiece ko kasi I wanted a hairvine, kaya pinasadya niya yun sa All About beads.
Negative Notes:
- Make sure yung design na gusto mo eh yun na yun before the production. Kasi pag nagpa-add ka sa design ng gown mo, may additional na agad. After you change your mind hindi na niya ibabalik sa dating rate yung gown mo.
- Madali siya mag-change ng day for your fitting ... Jason talked to him about this because yung ibang abay namin nagli-leave pa para lang mag-fit ng gowns nila tapos bigla niya iniiba yung sched ng fitting. Kaya if you’ll gonna sched for your gown fitting kulitin nyo siya palagi and confirm kung libre siya that day or not.
- Medyo mataray si Mr. Jun pero you can work on him well... business is business ... yun lang. hehehe!
- Pumalpak sila sa corset ko ... yung sa ibaba hindi ma-hook papunta sa harap kasi super taas nung pagkakabitan. Buti nalang nagawan ng paraan before my wedding kundi bababa talaga rating nila. In fairness, hindi kasi sila Mr. Jun ang may gawa nun, may supplier siya na gumagawa ... kaso ang nagkamali yung isang staff nya nagbigay ng maling measurement ata. Kaya ayun ang nangyari ... sa may boob area medyo maluwang pa nga... imbis na mapush up ang boobs ko, lalo dumapa. Buti nalang di ko na pinatanggal yung foam sa may gown ko kaya di nahalata.
- Magaling si Mr. Jun mang-stress ng bride ... pero it’s all worth it hahaha! Lagi ako nawiwindang sa kanya (and he knows it) pero ok naman outcome.
Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom (bags of MOG is included in the package)
Maid of Honor
Bridesmaids (yellow pouch bags are also included)
Secondary Sponsors (yellow pouch bags are also included)
Groom’s Attire and Bride’s Male Family Attire: TESORO
Rating: 9
Positive Notes:
Since Dad has been their loyal customer, nakakuha kami ng great deal. Instead of having Jason’s barong for 8k, naging 4k plus nalang. Half the price di ba? So as my dad and brother’s barong din. They love they’re barong. Malinis ang gawa ... after 2 weeks nakuha na nila yung barong and pants nila.
Negative Notes:
Yun nga lang, Jason wanted sana a Mao collar (chinese collar) even kina kuya at bunso yun din gusto. Noted pa yun ha. Nung nakuha na nila yung barong, hindi naman Mao collar ang ginawa kundi yung simple collar lang. Pero ok pa din...bumagay naman sa kanila yung barong nila.
Male Family Member of the Bride
Photographer: PAUL VINCENT PHOTOGRAPHY
Website:www.paulvincentphoto.com; http://paulvincentphoto.blogspot.com
Rating: 10
(Note: Wala pa yung photo album namin but we give him a rating of 10 for professionalism and good work I’ll work on a new rating if we already have our coffee table album)
Positive Notes:
- Magaling sa motivation ... making his clients at ease sa camera niya.
- Good quality ang photos niya.
- He knows his craft and very artistic ng shots niya. We love our photos. Sabi ng mga friends and family namin para daw kaming artista wahahaha! (friends talaga namin kayo!)
- Very professional, always on time... reminds you of what you need and what you look good on ... mga ganun ...
- W@Wie Supplier of the Year 2006 (whoopeee)
- Paul and Ivy became one of our kakulitan buddies sa text ... they are very prompt on answering your inquiries.
Negative Notes:
- So far wala... but we expected to have 3000+ photos that day dahil 3 photographers sila, pero yung Main Photographer (which is Paul) lang pala ang pinakamaraming shots talaga. Still waiting for the outcome. Di pa nga kami tapos mamili wahahaha!
- Since sila lang ni Ivy gumagawa sa production nun... medyo matagalang production. Sabi ni Paul 5 months prior to submission of selected photos. Kung ipapasa namin yun this January eh July pa namin makukuha. As long as maganda ang outcome walang problema sa akin ... pero wag nyo naman paabutin sa wedding anniversary namin hahaha!
Videographer: SHIERDAN PAMINTUAN
Website: www.shierdan.com
Rating: 10
(Note: Just like Paul, wala pa yung video namin since we haven’t pass him our requirements for the video (quotes, baby pics etc.) and I think 5 months in a process yun. Pero we are giving him a rating of 10 na din. Will give separate rating pag nakuha na namin yung video.)
Positive Notes:
- I saw his works sa website niya, and hindi naman nalalayo ang works niya sa iba.
- Nominated as W@wie Supplier of the Year for 2006
- Sabi nila very serious daw si Dan sa trabaho...eh bakit nung wedding namin ang ingay niya hahaha! Ok nga tong si Dan super kalog... saka pag bad trip ka he’ll do something to make you feel better.
- All request can be granted kung may time siya... if you see his bookings ... super duper wala na ata siyang pahinga.
Negative Notes:
- Since mag-isa lang siya (and kasama niya pala si Jen) medyo yung production takes long ... ok lang as long as maganda pagkakagawa niya. Wahahaha!
HMUA: EJ Litiatco
Website: http://ejblitiatco.blogspot.com/
Rating: 10
(Note: Just like other W@Wies who got her ... she’s your instant bestfriend)
All Positive Notes:
- TMU palang 10 na rating ko sa kanya.
- The price is just right. She’s also very professional. When I advised her to be at the hotel at 6:00a.m nandun na siya ng 5:00am. Kakatuwa no?
- 3 weeks before our wedding she’s been constantly texting me to remind me to moisturize my skin, sleep early, eat right para daw no breakouts sa skin on the wedding day itself. Well, it shows sa pics and it works on me ...
- I love how I look that day ...everybody tells me that I’m so pretty. (*blush*)
- She uses high end make-ups ... she uses hypo-allergenic brushes and sponge. Her things are always clean that’s why you’ll be allergy-free when you’re done with your make-up.
- She took care of me until the end of the ceremony. Super duper naging instant Maid of Honor ko siya dahil and Maid of Honor ko super duper busy.
- Words I can associate with EJ is pamper, caring, friend.
- Mara and Taday did a good job as well. Taday is very good... I just picked the photo of the hairstyle I wanted. Pag-upo ko ginawa na niya agad, super bilis hahaha! Paul took a photo of it and ayun... ang ganda.
EJ Litiatco
her sister and assistant, Mara
Taday (in gray shirt), hairstylist
Cake Supplier: SUGARBOX
Website: http://ilovesugarbox.com
Rating: 10
(Note: I Love Sugarbox!)
Positive Notes:
- Nominated as W@Wie Supplier of the Year
- Ms. Emily is very professional ... easy to talk to. Lalo na when I text her, it was like texting lang a barkada of yours. Ganun siya ka-kwela.
- Her price was just right. We love our minicake tree as in. Kahit nagbayad kami ng corkage fee sa Windmills, its all worth it.
- Her cakes are super sarap. Fondant cakes are dry cakes pero sa kanya hindi ganun ka-dry. Di rin ganun ka-moist kasi baka bumagsak yung cake mo pag moist ang cake.
- The cake topper was so cute at hindi namin yun nakuha... may kumuhang iba. Huhuhu!
Negative Notes:
- I expected the color of pink in our cake would be in fuschia, pero ang ginamit ni Ms. Emily is baby pink. Pero ok lang hihihi.
Invitation: VPROJEKT DESIGN AND CONCEPTS
Website: http://vprojekt.multiply.com
Rating: 10
All Positive Notes:
- Ms. Trina is so easy to deal with. Very professional. Very prompt in answering your email and text messages.
- Her creations are so amazing. You won’t go wrong with her. (Note: But we’ve chosen a simple invitation. Hindi kasi namin priority ang invitation)
- She does not only do invitations, but also gift tags, place cards, missalettes and scrapbooks.
- The price is so reasonable. Saka pag nagkulang yung invites namin, isang tawag lang sa kanya she’ll print it right away kahit walang downpayment. Gagawin na niya ready for pick up.
- Her place is so accessible...
Wedding Paraphernalia: HOME AND BRIDE ESSENTIALS
Website: http://www.hb-essentials.com
Rating: 10
Inclusions: Symbol holders (ring, arrhae and bible holders) & Unity Candles Set
All Positive Notes:
- Very professional and I love her craft. Super machika and talagang bow ka sa works niya. When we saw her folio, super na-confuse kami on what to get.
- Hindi siya hihingi ng downpayment sa iyo not until she bought the materials. Pag na-compute na niya ang cost saka niya itetext or itatawag sa iyo kung magkano lahat-lahat ng babayaran mo sa kanya. Gagawin niya yung order mo as soon as you pay your downpayment.
- Wala naman kami problema sa pick up kasi siya ang mag-aadjust para sa client niya. That time, Jason is near ABS CBN, nagkita sila sa Starbucks sa ABS-CBN mismo. Oh di ba ang galing?
- Prices of her creations varies with the client. Just like ours, we just wanted a very simple but pretty items with a tough or our motiff ... It only cost us less than 3,000 for everything. Akala ko nga aabot ng 5,000, di pala hehehe.
our ring holder
our bible holder
our coin holder
Wedding Rings: SUAREZ WEDDING RINGS
Website: http://suarezweddingrings.com
Rating: 10
All Positive Notes:
It fits our budget, nice design of rings, fast service kasi in less than a month gawa na agad yung rings namin. Suarez is locate din gateway, malapit lang sa place namin ni Jason.
Flowers: FLORA@ELEVEN01
Rating: 10
Inclusions: Bride's Bouquet, all female entourage's Bouquet, All male entourage Bottonaire
Positive Notes:
- Very Professional si Mr. Rex Rosario, he’ll give suggestions pa with the flowers he’ll gonna use sa wedding mo.
- Hindi niya na-anticipate na tataas ang prices ng flowers ng October 28 dahil malapit na ang All Soul’s Day nun. Nalugi siya sa akin pero hindi na niya ako sinigil ng additional. Super duper bait niya.
- When he arrived at the hotel yung dulo ng yellow roses ko sa bouquet medyo nag-wilt na and nangitim. Ginawan niya ng paraan na mawala yun. In other words, di niya pinabayaan na ganun nalang ang itsura. That’s a plus for me di ba?
- Everybody loved their (entourage) bouquet, kahit mga Ninang namin, they’re raving about it.
Entertainment: The Velvet Mood by: Gary Silang Cruz
Rating: 10
(Note: I’ve never met Ms. April (wife of Mr. Gary Silang Cruz) in person. All our transactions are thru email and text only. Payments done thru bank. Pero super duper galing nila)
Positive Notes:
- They play good ... almost all the songs I’ve chosen to be played on our wedding and reception were played. And ganda ng renditions nila grabe.
- When my father in law sang a song for us, they played it well kahit impromtu yun. Kaya tumaas nanaman ang rating nila.
- When I’ve heard them playing my bridal march super kinilig ako. Kasi super duper ganda ng boses and ewan ko lang ... but when I hear violin playing super parang nasa cloud nine ako ...
- Even our emcess doing speeches, nagpiplay pa din sila sa background ng instrumentals ... homey and cozy ang feeling ng mga guest namin.
- Sobrang professional sila as in ... they’re on time talaga. Never silang na-late.
Bridal Car: AdeB
Rating: 10
All Positive Notes:
- We hired their E320 Mercedes Benz ... but on our wedding day, we got a Limo hihihi. Pinagawa daw kasi yung E320 kaya yung Limo ang pinagamit sa amin. How sweet.
- Ms. Lester (yes, she’s a she) very professional kausap sa phone. Since malapit sa house nila Jason ang AdeB, all transaction was made in their office.
- Super malinis ang car nila ... their driver’s are so courteous. He even helped me get out of the car and helped Ms. EJ to fixed my veil nung magmamarch na ako.
- Super safe mag-drive si Manong.
Souvenirs: UNIQUE NOVELTY AND TOY CORP.
Website: http://untc.multiply.com
Rating: 8
Positive Notes:
- Nalaman ko ang UNTC thru a W@Wie also. When we got there they have this huge showroom. A lot of stuffs to choose from.
- Very accomodating si Ms. Shiela Hwan, siya pa nag-assist sa amin ng Mom ko in choosing my souvenirs.
- Meron na rin siya ribbons and tulle for packaging kaya no problem about that already.
Negative Notes:
- I think fault na namin to... I ordered 150 picture frames from UNTC pero some are not in good condition. Yung iba medyo corroded na yung handle ng frames ... yung iba hindi balance yung tayo ng frames.
Wedding Cord, Kissing Bells, Missalettes, Pens for Guest Book: ANA CRE
Website: http://ana-cre-by-arc.blogspot.com
Rating: 10+++++++++++++ (love your own hehehe)
Positive Notes:
Ana Ruby is my very creative cousin, also my Maid of Honor who did all my kissing bells, Wedding Ceremonial Cord, Pens and Missalettes. She’s been doing this since we were still teenagers. Siya lagi yung gumagawa ng mga trinkets, souvenirs sa mga birthdays and debut. First time niya nag-handle ng wedding nung wedding ko. And ganda-ganda ng cords ko and kissing bells (siyempre love your own hihihi). She also does bracelets, earrings, necklace ... she once did ceramic painting (like what they have sa malls right now)
kissing bells
Ceremonial Cord
Misalletes
All in all ... I'm 95% satisfied with my suppliers. So I hope my supplier ratings helped you decide on which supplier to get for your wedding day. Happy Preps!
(all photos by: Paul Vincent Photography)
