Venue hunting

Although it has been 5 months since we've found our reception venue, I still want to share our experience. We knew that we wanted our venue to be Intramuros..it's historical and a bit cheaper than having it in a hotel.But since our wedding will be on November, and the weather as unpredictable as it is..we decided to have it indoor.So that it will be stress free. So one saturday morning we went to Intramuros and parked our car in front of the Manila
Cathedral. We booked our reception venue 1 week earlier than our church, so we didn't know that we were going to be wed in Manila Cathedral.

Going back, our first stop was La Castellana. We were amazed at once. And it was just so beautiful. The lights...it was a mix of indoor and outdoor. We went up to see the bridal suite..and wow it was like a hotel room!!! Of course we knew that it would be a bit pricey and we weren't surprised..50k for weekdays and 60k for weekends..for the venue alone. Although we knew it was more than what we can afford, we asked if our date is still available..and I guess it wasn't really meant for us because it was already booked..

Next stop was Villa Immaculada..well since the only allowed caterer was Tamayo's we knew it was going to be a bit pricey. Good thing was it was already booked.

Surprisingly we thought we were planning early..turns out it was already late. We went to Patio Victoria and the garden was really beautiful. But we didn't want to have a garden wedding..so we checked their indoor venue. Nothing special to it. It wasn't as beautiful as the garden. We still asked if it was available..and guess what? Booked.

So moving on..the frustration is now starting to get to us. Because not only is the budget holding us but the availability of the venue. Illustrado was our next stop. I know this place because my tita got married here. I knew it was beautiful and the food was also good. But when we looked at the price list.. oh my gosh!! Our jaws dropped..it was more than what we can handle..the only good thing was it was still open..

The other venues wherein the Intramuros Administration is handling where all outdoor venues except the one is Plaza San Luis in front of San Agustin Church. So went inside and inquired. Well what's new, Teatrillo was already booked. But to our surpirse, Casa Blanca was still open and 17k only!! So we checked the place..the first thing that we noticed was there were a lot of columns. But the place was beautiful. It was an old white spanish house. We loved the lights and the windows, although they cannot be opened. The azotea outside was also beautiful because we can put the buffet table outside.

We didn't booked casa blanca right away..we still checked out other places. But eventually we came back and booked it. And now, we are happy with our decision. We don't even notice that there are a lot of columns hahahaha

The entrance to Casa Blanca

The Azotea

Casa Blanca with Guardia Sibil posing

The beautiful lights

Church Hunting

From the start of our preparations, we’ve had our heart set on either Caleruega or St. Scholastica’s College retreat house Tagaytay. Although a Tagaytay wedding is what we really want, we knew that it will cost more than what we can and it will be such a hassle for all our guests. So we decided to have our wedding in Manila. And we exactly knew where we want to have our wedding, Abbey of our Lady of Montserrat. Louie is a red lion since grade school so we knew that we wouldn’t have a problem since only Bedans are allowed to be wed in the Abbey. Imagine our dismay when I called the Abbey only to found out that weddings are no longer allowed in the Abbey. Sadly, we had to scout for another church. We were set in having our reception in Intramuros, so we had to find a church that is near Intramuros. Our first stop is the Ermita Church.

I love the paintings on the ceiling, it’s just like the ones in the abbey. It has a long aisle which every bride wants. But we just didn’t feel it. We wanted our church to be as special as the abbey is to us. So we went on with our church hunting.

Next stop is Sta. Maria Goretti Parish or more commonly known as the Pope Pius in UN Ave.

Unlike the Ermita Church, Pope Pius has a short aisle. But the good thing about the Pope Pius, for 15k it is already air-con. Flower petals are even allowed. It has even good parking space. But we still didn’t feel it. So moving on to the next church…St. Peter the Apostle in Paco, Manila.
Upon entering the church, we liked it right away. The aisle, the altar, the stained glass on the sides.. and even the price, 18500 with aircon. We went to the office to ask if our date is still available, and it was! So we asked to be pencil booked since there were still other churches we were going to visit. The only glitch that we saw with this place is the parking. The church is just beside the school, and the office said we can use the school parking if there is no affair in the school for that day..so problem solved! But we didn’t want to be impulsive and made sure that we’ve checked all the possible churches. Next stop…St. Vincent de Paul Parish inside Adamson University.
It was in this church that my uncle got married that’s why I knew that it has a sentimental value to it. Although the altar is beautiful and the aisle is quite long as well, we didn’t quite feel it. But it was exactly the price that we wanted…10000. But the ambience outside was just not wedding-y so we decided to move on to the next church..San Miguel Church in Malacañang.
It’s fairly cheap (6000) considering the very beautiful altar..but we didn’t get to go inside it was closed at the time. The staff was not so friendly that’s why maybe we opted to move on with our church hunting. Next stop… St. Jude Parish..just a few blocks from San Miguel Church.

Louie loved that the aisle is short...contrary to what I wanted. Even if the church was not airconditioned..the atmosphere inside the church was colder than usual..maybe because of it's high ceiling. The price was also very friendly being only 9000. But the parking outside was so hard since the parking space was only small. Plus we didn't really feel being wed there..and so that was the end of our church hunting.

We didn't went to Manila Cathedral since I found out that the only available time was 6pm. So we decided to go on with St. Peter the Apostle. We have 1 week to go back and pay the reservation fee for the date to be blocked. I went home excited to tell my mom that we found a chuch. And when I got home and showed her all the pictures, she then said "Have you tried Manila Cathedral?" I said "Yeah, but the only availalbe time is 6pm." And then she said "It's ok at least it will be a little colder and it will be a walking distance from your reception. Besides, Manila Cathedral has a wow factor." And what else can I say, it seems her mind was made up. And so I had to tell Louie the whole story and as understanding as he is, he just said "Ok."

So, after all that hard work, we ended up in the church we didn't even thought of visiting. But I must say, I am happy with our decision. I guess mothers really know what's best for their kids. And now, everytime I pass by Manila Cathedral...I say to myself..I am marrying the man of my dreams there. :)

In The Beginning...   I've created this blog to help me share all the ups and downs during our preps for our wedding.  I found it very useful to read stories from other brides to be and thought that maybe I should start my own blog...to return the favor.  So it begins here...