Fernbrook Gardens
Husband-to-be and I went for an ocular, and the lady guard (who turned out to be a kabayan from Isabela) was really kind to tour us and tell us the pros and cons of the venue. When I asked the concern of the sound systems (which would seem to clash with one another when there is more than one wedding happening at the same time), she was honest enough to say that it actually is a problem, but they can control it naman by requesting sound operators to tone down. Nga lang, I don’t think that would be enough. We also saw the chapel that Fernbrook offers so that the reception would immediately follow the ceremony without the hassle of travelling pa. We went to the office to inquire about the rates and packages, and woah, rental only would cost more than a hundred thousand pesos! *laughs* Packages range from 300+ thousand to 500+ thousand pesos for 100 persons only, depending on package inclusions (photo and video, catering, lights and sounds, and fireworks are usually included). Quite expensive din pala, I realized. Still, it was my major option. We decided to bring our mom for another ocular the next possible day, so we could get her opinion.
Since this is the first on the list, you could’ve guessed already that we did not push to go for Fernbrook. The day came when mom was available for an ocular, so we brought her there. She was disappointed, to be honest. She did not like the fact that there were too many plants, that the floors aren’t flat (rocky), and that there were too much decorations. She wanted a more elegant, more simple, and a more exclusive feel to the wedding. That’s when husband-to-be and I realized that, oo nga ano. It was going to be a military wedding, and as much as I wanted to play with the wedding, I think I shouldn’t. It might sound too formal or boring, but there are many ways to amp up a wedding, and we’re sure to find out how. So Fernbrook got crossed out.
Bellevue Hotel
We were escorted by (of course) a pretty lady for an ocular of the ballrooms. We were given a copy of the rates and packages (which range from less than 400,000 pesos and up, depending on the menu). To be honest, this time, I was the one who got disappointed. The ballrooms look worn out, and they made me claustrophobic. That time, there were going to be three events, and all were busy setting up. Maybe I just didn’t get the chance to see how it looked like with all the lights on, but still, I noticed that the facilities are getting old and dusty. I have no question about the menu and package inclusions, just the overall feel of the ballrooms. We didn’t rule out Bellevue at first, but we wanted to check out other hotels as well. So off we go, and there I was google-ing using my phone and Crimson Hotel popped out. It was near Bellevue so we decided to drop by.
Crimson Hotel
We were greeted by a gorgeous and huge lobby. The design was overwhelmingly contemporary and elegant at the same time. Since the hotel was new, the ambiance was refreshing. We were presented with the packages and the price range doesn’t go far with Bellevue’s, but Crimson’s packages are more sulit, I think. Plus we noticed the many inclusions in the buffet menu. (We prefer buffet menu over sit-down for guests to enjoy the dinner food.) The ballroom was directly adjacent to the lobby, so we had the chance to look inside immediately. There was going to be a wedding reception that day, so we got to see how the tables look like when arranged. The ballroom was spacious—for a 150-pax reception. We were planning for 250 to 300-pax, and that worried me. I thought 250 to 300-pax would be too much for that amount of space. But then we had the option to lessen the number of guests, so it wasn’t so big of a problem.
One thing that worried me was that they cannot ensure us a price lock. The rates presented to us were 2013 rates and they cannot promise that they would be able to come up with the 2014 rates soon, and if they would be able to offer us a price lock. That, and the parking, and the location of the lobby—all point to a Hey, don’t decide just yet.
We called it a day after that. We actually passed by another hotel but were quite tired to check it out pa. I just told mom, “Ma, iyon yung hotel na sabi mo mukhang dull yung ballroom,” at least it looked dull basing from the pictures we saw on Google Images when we searched for “alabang hotel reception.” *laughs* Mom just dismissed the thought then off we went back home. That hotel was Acacia Hotel Manila. Little did we know, we would have to go there days after and would finally decide to book it for the reception, but that would be another story. I’d like to give it the honor of a separate blog post. *wink*
Husband-to-be already had to go back to work (or should I say, school? *giggles*) the day after so that ended our reception hunt with him. At that point, all we knew was one thing: We would definitely be having a hotel reception.
Till the next post…. Good vibes!
P.S. We happened to pass by the Filinvest Tent the next day of the search (when husband-to-be wasn’t around anymore). You need pala to send a letter of intent pa to get the rates. The venue was soooooooooo huge but super bare. Tent nga, diba. Their in-house caterer is Acacia Hotel. Just at the first look, I didn’t want our reception to be held there, maybe because I thought mamumulubi ako sa payments for the decors/event styling, and I can feel the rent would be really expensive, too.
- Gero