Excited Much?

People are always shocked whenever they would hear that I’m already planning for my wedding as early as now. Ang tagal pa naman daw ng kasal ko, madami pang pwedeng mangyari. Even Mox tells me that it’s still too early to prepare every time I would beg him to accompany me to bridal fairs or food tastings. After all, two years is more than enough to plan a wedding right?

Well, this can be true, but from what I learned from my fellow brides at W@W—an online community for soon-to-weds—it’s never too early to start wedding preparations! Planning a wedding doesn’t necessarily mean we would book suppliers immediately. It entails research, research and even more research! We must first create a budget plan, draft the initial guest list, think of a wedding theme and/or motif, do ocular visits on possible churches and venues, and look for affordable suppliers that fit the budget. And only then can we finally book our chosen suppliers. Oh diba, ang dami pa palang dapat gawin. Parang di kakayanin ng isang taon ito… Or maybe that’s because I'm just being OC. Haha.

There are many advantages in planning your wedding early. One, you can reserve your date early with your chosen suppliers, meaning less chances of losing your non-negotiables to other brides. This is very helpful, especially for couples who wish to get married during the peak months of December and January. Agawan na kasi yan ng mga magagaling na suppliers eh so kelangan mabilis kang gumalaw. Parang race lang eh noh? Hehe.

Two, you can lock the rates of your suppliers. Every year, suppliers increase their rates by at least 10%, which can be a big deal for budget brides like me. By booking early, you would be able to lock their current rates, so you won’t be affected by any price increases. But keep in mind that there are some suppliers who do not allow price locking, so best ask them beforehand if they do.

And three, by booking your major suppliers early, you can concentrate more on the minor details of your wedding. You will have more time to make DIY projects, which will not only make your wedding unique, but can also cut down the wedding expenses. Pwede na rin yung pangbonding moment niyo ni hubby. Hehe.

The only downside of booking your suppliers early is that you may feel “booking remorse”.  It is the sense of regret after having booked a certain supplier, especially if it was an impulsive decision. It may be because you have read negative feedbacks on the supplier or you feel that you can find a much more affordable option. The only way to avoid booking remorse is to just trust that your supplier will deliver on your wedding day. And it never hurts to pray. Hehe.

Of course, there are times when I would feel embarrassed whenever people would comment on how early I’m preparing for our wedding. Baka kasi isipin nila na masyado naman akong excited. But come to think of it, there are some who are even more excited than me. I even feel pressured sometimes because there are brides who are getting married in the latter half of 2014 and yet they are already in the process of booking their suppliers. Feeling ko tuloy nahuhuli na ako sa wedding preps ko. Haha! During last weekend’s bridal fair, I even saw a bride scouting for suppliers for her wedding in 2015. Oh diba, talk about EARLY preparation!

Kami na ang excited magpakasal. Haha!

Food Tasting # 3: VS&F Classic Food International

Aside from scouting for prospective suppliers, Mox and I also attended VS&F’s grand food tasting during the bridal fair last Saturday. We were already hungry because we haven’t eaten anything yet, but we thought we should just wait for the food tasting so that we wouldn’t spend money on food. Oh diba, tipid moves for the win! But we had to wait for the unveiling of the Kitchen on Wheels—VS&F’s mobile kitchen for out-of-town weddings—before the food was served. Good thing the waiters served some dumplings and sushi with chili sauce during the launch so at least our hunger was alleviated a bit.

VS&F's Kitchen on Wheels

At the food tasting, all of VS&F’s tables were set up to fit the nautical theme so we weren’t able to see other actual samples of their setups. Their motif was navy blue, red and white; their centerpieces were wooden model ships; and their table numbers were glass bottles filled with sand. Hmm, maybe I could use that as an inspiration for my own table numbers since ours would be a beach-themed wedding. I’ll take note of that for my future DIY projects.

Unlike the last two food tastings we’ve attended, which were buffet setups, VS&F used plated service, with different set menus for each attendee. Frankly, I like that better because I don’t have to put all entrees in my plate just to taste them; I could just take a bite from Mox’s plate. Less food equals lesser chances of throwing up from overeating. Haha! Sadly, I don’t have any pictures of the food because cameras weren’t allowed inside the fair so hopefully my descriptions would be enough to satisfy your curiousity and hunger.  Hehe.

For the soup, I had the Cream of Spinach while Mox had the Seafood Chowder. The cream of spinach was surprisingly good considering I don’t like spinach, but the seafood chowder was the clear winner.  The soup was thick and creamy, and there were bits of crabmeat, squid and shrimp in the soup. Sabaw pa lang, nakakabusog na!   

For the salad, Mox had the Asian Salad while I had the Waldorf Salad with Caramelized Walnuts. The Waldorf salad was delicious! Aside from the usual leafy greens, the salad also had apples and potatoes. The sweetness of the caramelized walnuts balanced the sourness of the mayonnaise, so there was no umay factor. The only downside is the salad was in a cocktail glass so it was difficult to cut the potatoes and apples into bite-sized chunks.

I could not remember most of the main courses, except for the beef dishes. I had the Roast Beef with Gravy while Mox had the Lengua with Mushroom Sauce. I was disappointed with the roast beef because it tasted bland, even with the gravy. Puro taba pa yung karne! The lengua tasted much better because the beef was very tender and the sauce was creamy, although I couldn’t taste the mushroom in it. Oh well, my taste buds are not that sophisticated anyway. Basta masarap, okay na yun sa akin. Haha!

We were supposed to have entrees that were cooked on the spot, but since the AEs were so busy attending to other people, they forgot to bring it to us. Well, we were too full to eat anyway so no harm done. There was also a dessert bar with six kinds of desserts, but we couldn’t really tell which was which because there were no names. But one thing was for certain: they were all delicious. :)

VERDICT: In terms of food, VS&F was a winner. There were so many dishes that we liked. However, I couldn’t say anything about their setup because I have yet to see other actual samples. But based on their nautical setup during the event, I think they are very flexible and can easily adapt to whatever theme or motif you have in mind, albeit with extra charge. But once again, their packages, even the cheapest one, are still way beyond our budget, so it’s a NO for me.

VS&F CLASSIC FOOD INTERNATIONAL

VS&F Compound, Winston St., cor. Fortune St., East Fairview, Quezon City

937-1037 / 937-4989 / 938-8814

info@vsfcatering.com.ph
 

Bridal Fair Madness

Last Saturday, Mox and I went to the 20^th edition of Themes & Motifs’ Wedding Expo Philippines at the SMX Convention Center in Mall of Asia. It was our first time to attend a bridal fair together so I was very excited to show him around, look for possible suppliers together and let him carry my bag full of brochures for a change. Lagi na lang sumasakit balikat ko dahil dalawang bridal fairs na ang nilibot kong mag-isa habang buhat-buhat ang malaking bag na yun. So now, it’s his time to shine. Siya naman dapat ang magdusa. Haha!

It was easy to go around the fair because the suppliers were sorted according to their category. For example, all caterers were grouped together in one row, while the photographers and videographers were all located in another row. I particularly had fun at the row where the photobooth suppliers were located because most of them offered free trials so we got lots of prints to take home as souvenirs. Oh yes, the camwhore in me is very satisfied. Haha! I wanted to try all of the photobooths there but Mox was already tired from “smiling” (or at least doing his version of a smile) so I had to stop. Here are some of our photobooth pics at the fair:

From Studio On Wheels

This is actually a photo magnet from Clip Photobooth :)

From Pose and Print

From BaiCapture

From Fantasy Kiosk

Fron Lenscape

From Giggles Photobooth

I was supposed to have an airbrush makeup trial with one of the HMUAs there, but Mox was already getting cranky from standing too long that he demanded to go home already. We even had a little argument because he asked why I had to go around each and every booth to get fliers when our wedding was still so far away. What’s with men and the lack of enthusiasm with the wedding preps? Hay, mga lalaki talaga oh.

P.S. Okay, scratch my last sentence. I just learned that Mox was asking a friend earlier about her caterer for her wedding. Apparently, he plans to schedule us for a food tasting in the coming months. Finally, he's now opening up to the thought of actually preparing for the wedding. :)

Church Hunt # 2: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Despite our busy schedule with the food tastings, Mox and I were able to squeeze in a few hours to scout for possible churches. On top of our list was Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine in New Manila, which was five minutes away from Oasis, where we had our food tasting with Lina Vitan.

Mt. Carmel is a favored choice for weddings because of its large, ornate array of stained glass windows, giving the church a romantic and serene atmosphere. Another major plus is its long aisle, where brides can truly savor the moment of walking down the aisle. Meanwhile, the reception can be held in their function hall, which is just behind the church, so it is very convenient for guests who do not have their own transportation. 

Photo from Blissful Wedding

The wedding rate is P15,000, but you have to hire their in-house choir for an additional P4,000. If you want to use your own choir, you must pay a P1,000 penalty. They also offer a stress-free wedding package that includes the use of their function hall. The package also comes with most of the amenities that a couple needs like photo/video and caterer.

VERDICT: Unfortunately, Mt. Carmel did not hold the same appeal to me as it did with other brides. It was my first time visiting the church and I was blown away by how large it was... and not in a good way. Sure, it is a beautiful and majestic church, but there is no "This is it!" feeling for me. I only want a small and intimate wedding, and Mt. Carmel is too grand for my taste. Also, I'm scared the church might look empty with only 130 guests. Baka kailangang pa naming humatak ng mga random people para magmukhang puno ang simbahan! Haha.

Another thing that I didn't like was its long aisle. Unlike most brides, I am scared to walk down a long aisle with everyone's eyes on me. Nakakapressure kaya yun at nakakatense! I'm very shy so the thought of being the center of attention for the day makes me nervous. Yes, I'm the bride that doesn't want to be the star. Weird right? I'm also notoriously clumsy. Expect me to trip at least once while walking, and to think I'm already wearing ballet flats or flipflops for that matter. What more if I'm wearing a long gown with a train and high heels? The chances of me tripping will double! Nakakahiya kung madapa naman ako sa gitna ng paglalakad diba? Added stress pa yun! So to minimize the risk of any unwanted accidents, I would rather have my wedding on a church with a short aisle. At least, ilang steps lang ang kailangan para marating ang altar. Haha!

Still, Mt. Carmel remains on our shortlist because it is  located near Mox and me (he's from Pasig and I'm from Marikina), and it has its own function hall, which is a non-negotiable for me. We will search for other churches, but if we still don't like them, then Mt. Carmel will be our church of choice. Basta ang importante, sa simbahan ako ikasal. Hehe.

OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL SHRINE
Broadway, New Manila Quezon City
348-4291 / 724-5938 / 725-1508

Food Tasting # 2: Patio de Tata Roque

After our food tasting with Lina Vitan, it was now time to go to Patio de Tata's food tasting at their commissary in Marikina. I printed some directions courtesy of Google Maps to aid us on the way, but I was pretty confident that we would be able to find the place easily. Ako pa?! Eh laking Marikina ata ako noh! Kaya, no, we would not get lost! Ah, the famous last words. Once again, my navigation skills were useless. We took one wrong turn and that was it: we got frickin' lost in my own hometown! Ang yabang ko pa, nawala rin naman pala kami. Bwiset.

After going around in circles for what seemed like the nth time, we finally found the commissary! Yey! The commissary is very pretty and can actually double as an events place. There were already a few people sitting at the tables and a wedding singer provided the entertainment for the event. Compared to Lina Vitan, Patio de Tata's setups were more creative and dazzling. I particularly liked their parasol centerpiece in one table. They also had a sample setup for the couple's table, which was very elegant. Sabi nga ni Mox, parang pang-kasal talaga. Haha.

The couple's table

Patio de Tata also had more entrees served during the food tasting. My plate was already filled with food and yet we haven't tasted all the dishes served. Since we were still full from the previous food tasting, we weren't able to really enjoy our meal. Masakit pa kasi mga tiyan namin eh. Also, since we got most of the entrees in one go, we couldn't distinguish one dish from another. Nagkahalo-halo na kasi mga lasa nila. Some tips for future food tastings: Never get all entrees at once. Chew slowly and truly savor the food. Kaya nga food tasting ang tawag para matikman talaga ang pagkain. Take down notes, because with all the food that you'd eat, you would bound to forget some of their names. And the most important tip of all: Wag maging masyadong matakaw dahil baka sumakit ang tiyan at maglabas ka ng sama ng loob ng wala sa oras. 

What I loved about Patio de Tata's food tasting was the wonderful array of desserts there. There were so much to choose from: from creme brulee to blueberry cheesecake and strawberry panna cotta; from cream puffs to choco eclairs and mini mocha cupcakes; from creamy buko pandan to leche flan. There were some banana and mango crepes as well. For someone with a sweet tooth, this was pure heaven. Ang sasarap nilang lahat! Get ready to drool people.

They also served sushi and mixed green salad in cute cocktail glasses. The sushi was okay although the maki tasted a little bit bland. But still, the presentation was uber cute! :)

For all those party people, don't worry because Patio de Tata got your back! They also have a mobile bar where people can all get drunk with their colorful cocktails and other alcoholic concoctions. But we didn't drink anything because we're already bursting and one more sip could lead to vomiting afterwards. Yeah I know, it's gross.

VERDICT: For budget-conscious brides like me, Patio de Tata is one of the caterers that give you the bang for the buck. Their packages are very affordable and if you're really good, you could even haggle for some freebies. I wanted to book Patio de Tata that day, but unfortunately they are not yet open for 2014 weddings. So in the meantime, let's look for other caterers, but Patio de Tata will remain in my shortlist. :)

ADDENUM (MAY 2012): I just learned that Patio de Tata now accepts 2014 bookings. I'll attend their next grand food tasting in July to once again taste their dishes and see if they are up to our standards. And yes, this time I will take down notes. :)

PATIO DE TATA ROQUE CATERING
26 Capt. Miyong Street cor Santisimo, San Roque, Marikina City 
401-4781 / 401-4782 / 546-8820
patioroque@yahoo.com 

Food Tasting # 1: Lina Vitan

*Disclaimer: I am no foodie expert so if you’re looking for a more comprehensive food review, then I’m probably not the right person to turn to. Hanggang "masarap" at "hindi masarap" lang ang alam ko eh. Haha!*

Mox and I were supposed to go to three food tastings last Sunday, but unfortunately our stomachs could only take so much food so we decided to forfeit our invitation to Hizon’s and just go to Lina Vitan’ and Patio de Tata’s events. We were also able to visit a few prospective churches along the way, so all in all, it was a very productive day (but more on that later).

Lina Vitan's  food tasting was held at the Oasis Gallery in New Manila. We were among the first ones to arrive, so we first took an impromptu tour around Oasis. The Pavilion was being set up for a wedding that day, so we went to see how it looked like when it’s decorated. Dakilang ususero ang drama. Haha! Although I have to admit, the Pavilion looked smaller than I expected. Mas malaki talagang tignan pag asa pictures.

Anyway, going back to Lina Vitan, their setup was simple and nice, but nothing out of the ordinary. I don’t know if they only showed their basic styling during the event, but I felt it was kind of dull. Maybe some DIYs would help add a bit of pizzazz to the styling. I liked their setup for the purple motif, but their balloon centerpiece for the white table looked a bit too children’s party-ish for me. 

My favorite Lina Vitan setup

Cute centerpiece :)

Sorry, pang-children's party ang dating nito. :(

Singit pa si Mox sa picture.

Our table at the food tasting

Close-up of the centerpiece

Now comes the fun part: the food! During the food tasting, Lina Vitan only served one entrée for each category, except for the salad, appetizers and desserts. According to one of their AEs, this was just to give the clients a taste of their dishes. For a more comprehensive menu, you can schedule for a food tasting at their office.

Here was our menu for our food tasting:

• APPETIZER: Asparagus Tips Wrapped in Ham with Cream and Tomato and Cream Cheese Bruschetta
• SOUP: Cream of Potato Soup w/ Leeks 
• SALAD: Mixed Green Salad and Potato Salad 
• BEEF: Roast Beef with Buttered Vegetables 
• FISH: Cream Dory Fillet with Tartar Sauce 
• PORK: Honey Pork Spareribs Barbecue
• CHICKEN: Creamy Chicken Ala King with Crust 
• VEGETABLES: Fresh Chinese Lumpia with Sweet and Sour Sauce
• PASTA: Pasta with Tomato Pesto Sauce and Carbonara Sauce 
• DESSERT: Carrot Cakes and Brownies 

The appetizers came in after we’ve already eaten the main dishes so I was only able to taste the tomato and cream cheese bruschetta. The cream cheese was a perfect complement to the sourness of the tomato, but it would be better if the tomato and cream cheese was spread all over the bruschetta instead of just being piled at the middle. I didn’t like their cream of potato soup with leeks because it was too bland. Walang kalasa-lasa talaga. Their potato salad was okay though, but nothing that special.

Our appetizers and the mixed green salad

Salad, desserts and soup

For their main courses, I especially liked their roast beef with buttered vegetables and honey pork spareribs barbecue, while Mox was raving about their creamy chicken ala king with crust. Their beef was very tender and the corn and carrots were a nice touch to the dish. The honey pork spareribs taste similarly to tocino, but I like tocino so I’m not complaining. Some people might find it too simple for a wedding though.

I don’t usually eat vegetables, but I liked Lina Vitan’s fresh Chinese lumpia because the sweet and sour sauce was able to mask the bland taste of the vegetables. I wasn’t too excited over their desserts because there was nothing with chocolate, but the carrot cake was delicious because it was moist and chewy.

My plate :)

Mox's plate :)

VERDICT: There were some hits and misses, but overall we were satisfied with the food of Lina Vitan. Still, we’re looking for other options because they are still out of the budget. And so, it's on to the next food tasting for the day: Patio de Tata! But that deserves another blog post. Hehe. 

LINA VITAN CATERING
40 Judge Jimenez St., Kamuning, Quezon City  
922-9975 / 412-0796
vitan_catering@yahoo.com 

Food Overload, Here We Come!

Finally, the day that I have been waiting for has finally arrived: It's our food tasting day! Grabe, di ako mapakali! Sorry, it's our first time to go to a food tasting event so expect me to be mucho excited about it. :)

Because we have three grand food tastings to attend (Lina Vitan, Hizon's, and Patio de Tata Roque), I also listed three essential things to bring today:

1. Camera - to take pictures of the delicious food. But mainly because we are camwhores. Haha! Of course, I don't know if we are allowed to take pictures during the event so guerilla mode na lang siguro.
   
   
2. Maps - Since I am a certified failure in giving directions, it's better not to take any chances. Thanks to Google Maps, I  printed out maps with specific directions going to the respective venues: Oasis Manila for Lina Vitan, Light of Love for Hizon's and Marikina for Patio de Tata Roque. Ang laking tulong talaga ng Google.
   
   
3.  Our hungry stomachs - 'Nuf said. :)

We are ready to eat!

I'll post a longer entry on this once I get home later. In the meantime, let the food tasting adventure begin! :)