Defining what gives value for you when it comes to your wedding venue…
There’s a quote by Ludwig Wittgenstein, an Austrian-British philosopher, which says: “The aspects of things that are most important for us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity”.
And I think it is true for most of us. We are often focused on the big stuff, and the bigger picture that we often forget the very essence of why we are doing it in the first place.
We are unique individuals and we have different views on what is and what is not valuable for us. Even you and your partner can have varying opinions on this matter. So it is best if you talk about it and write down all your thoughts.
While doing so, here are some tips which may come handy in scouting for your venues.
Make a list. Sit down and talk with your partner.
Make a list of all the things you want your venue to have and find a common ground. Some of the factors which you may want to consider are the following: ample parking space, clean wash rooms, great ambience, good lighting (for your wedding pictures and video), proximity of your ceremony venue to your reception venue, proximity to where your guests will be coming from, and good acoustics.
Having a list will also save you a lot of time and energy because then you would know exactly where to look and what to look for.
Research, Research, Research. Nothing beats good research. May it be online like forums and wedding blogs, through print materials such as wedding magazines, or even through interviews of people who have experienced planning their own wedding.
A good research is a powerful tool in getting the best value for your venue.
Don’t get too excited and impulsive in choosing your venues. Yes it’s true that you should also consider your gut feeling but hey, it would make a whole bunch of difference if you support it with good research.
For your reception venue, equip yourself of useful
information before visiting or talking to a venue’s sales representative. Their
intentions may be good and there are a lot out there who
are really sincere in helping you out but let’s face it,
their opinions are not that objective and of course
they would highlight the positive features of their venue. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t believe them, because what they will tell you are also useful, but you shouldn’t rely on it alone. And most importantly don’t make decisions based on pressure. That’s why it is advisable to give yourself and your partner enough time to prepare for your wedding. That way you will have the time you need to do research.
Make a checklist of all the important questions you would like to be answered regarding the venue. One bride told me that it would really help a lot if you write every question that pops out of your mind.
That way you don’t have to keep calling the venue for information that you could have asked when you and your partner did the ocular. She shared that she usually remembers a good question to ask before she goes to bed, and she writes it down and compiles all the questions before calling the venue or doing an ocular visit.
Make a comparative table of venues. This will help you when you have several venues that you like and you and your partner can’t decide. Write all the pros and cons of the venues you are eyeing and compare them with the others.
Here is an example of a comparative table.
Parking
Space Ambience Capacity Time Frame Venue
A 50 slots w/ aircon 100pax 6 hrs Venue
B 100 slots w/o aircon 200pax 4 hrs Venue
C 60 slots w/ aircon 150 pax 6 hrs The Value-for-Money Bride
“I have just the right budget and I want to make sure I get the best value for my venues.”
The criteria on your own comparative table would depend on the features of a venue that are important to you and your partner.
Quality of Service is also an important deciding factor in choosing the venue. Good customer service is always worth the money because it is one of the things that you and your guests will always remember about your wedding.
Ask for venue packages, like a ceremony package that includes the use of their red carpet, choir, sound system, entourage coordination, and free floral arrangement for the church, or a reception venue package that includes the catering and other amenities like bridal car, and bridal suite. Packages are great ways to cut cost and stress on your part because you don’t have to scout individually for the things that are already included in the package.
But of course, before choosing a package, evaluate carefully if the package fits your needs.
Below are examples of reception venues that may work well with your budget:
Oasis Manila – Lounge P25,000 / Gallery P35,000 / Pavilion AM (4hrs) / PM (5hrs) Weekday: P50,000 / P60,000 ; Weekend: P55,000 / 65,000
Perfect for a garden wedding, as well as a beautiful indoor reception, Oasis Manila offers ample parking space, stylish structure, accessibility, and good customer service that will give you your money’s worth.
Palacio de Maynila - P224,000 for 150 pax / P265,440 for 200 pax / P334,880 for 300 pax This wedding venue is strategically located along Roxas Blvd., easily accessible through public transportation. Spacious and fully air-conditioned, this venue also offers a great view facing the Manila Bay.
Light of Love - Love P50,000; P8,000 / Integrity P40,000; P6,000 / Atrium P50,000; P8,000 / Trust P100,000; P16,000 / Loyalty P80,000; P12,000 / Cherish P40,000; P6,000
For those who seek a private venue with a great garden, Light of Love has six venues that you can choose from depending on your preference and budget.
La Castellana – Standard Rate for 4hrs: Weekday Rate (Mon-Thu) P55,000.00 / Weekend Rate (Fri-Sun) P 65,000.00
A promise of exclusivity through celebrating one event at a time is what sets La Castellana apart from other special events venue. Located inside the
historic walled-city of Intramuros, its traditional wooden doors open up to a chic Spanish inspired architecture, which is a tribute to heritage, history and architecture.
Gazebo Royale - Weekdays(AM; PM) / Weekends (AM; PM) Champagne Hall P80,000; P90,000 / P85,000; P98,500 // Phoenix Avenue P50,000;
P60,000 / P55,000; P65,000 // Bamboo Grove P18,000; P20,000 / P20,000; P22,000
Gazebo Royale is a special events venue located along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City that features 3 venues that can suit your individual taste and needs. Their venues have spacious floor areas perfect for dancing. And the surroundings are adorned with pretty lights and garden landscapes for photo opportunities after the party.
Here’s a list of churches that you can also put on your list:
St. John Bosco Parish
Address: A. Arnaiz Avenue corner Amorsolo Street Barangay San Lorenzo Makati City
Rate: With aircon: P17,000 / Without aircon: P15,000 Binondo Church (Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz)
Address: Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo Rate: P 15,000
St. Pancratius Chapel (Paco park)
Address: 959 San Marcelino St. Paco, Manila Rate: P 15,000
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
Address: Mahinhin St., UP Village, Diliman Quezon City
Rate: P 8,500 (inclusive of flowers on the altar, red carpet, candles, organist and singers and priest to provide the rites.)
Nuestra Senora de Gracia Parish
Address: 7440 Bernardino St., Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City
Rate: P 13, 000
One of the wedding elements that really eat out a large part of your budget is your wedding venue or venues. And you are really blessed if you have a big budget to spend on it.
If you already have specific venues in mind, then the next most important thing that you have to make sure is the availability of the venue on your wedding day. Even with a big budget, there is still a big possibility that you won’t get your dream venue if you don’t book it early. Six months to one year is an ideal timeframe to book the venues of your choice, both for the ceremony and reception.
Now if you don’t have target venues yet, here are some tips that may help you in choosing the right venue that will give you your money’s worth.
If you wish to splurge, splurge on the ambience.
If there’s one element of a venue that could be a deciding factor, it’s the over-all ambience of the place. A venue with a good ambience will make you and your guests feel comfortable and your celebration even more memorable. One good example would be Fernbrook Gardens in Portofino South, Daang Reyna, Las Pinas. The whole place makes you feel as if you’re in a grand palace. They also have a chapel inside the venue and a man-made river with gondola that can add a special touch to your celebration.
Make a check list as well. Just because you have more freedom and choices because of big budget, it doesn’t mean that you would not be meticulous in your venue search. Write down all the things you want to achieve in terms of your wedding venue and check if the venue fits your criteria.
If you have a specific theme in mind and you want to create a unique ambience for your wedding then renting a big air-conditioned tent is your best bet. A tent is like a blank canvass and would be perfect if you want to put your creativity and imagination to the test. You can put swags and other designs and make it appear like your very own venue that no other couple has ever used before. For a choice like this, it would be best to hire a stylist to help you achieve the look you want. Examples of air-conditioned tent venues are the NBC Tent in the Fort Taguig, and Rockwell Tent in Makati City.
Be Hands-On. You may have your own coordinator, but even with your busy schedule, find time to personally visit the venue. You may have hired the best coordinator out there but still it would make a big difference if you put your time and effort in
checking
out the place to see if it
really is ‘the one’ place where you’d like your most important day to happen.
Also, don’t rely on online pictures from venues’
websites. Most of what you see in the pictures is computer edited or not updated. Seeing the actual and updated look of the venue is still the best way to evaluate if the venue will give you your money’s worth.
If you are planning to invite prominent people on your wedding, then consider the security of the venue as well. Also check if they have enough parking spaces especially if you are going to have a big guest list.
If you wish to make your guests really comfortable all throughout your wedding, pick an
air-conditioned church as well. They may be a bit pricey compared to non air-conditioned churches, but if there’s one thing that you can splurge a little extra on, it would be the comfort that you and your guest would feel during your most important day.
Below are examples of reception venues that can work well with your budget:
Rockwell tent - Standard Rate (Whole Day) P 125, 000 + VAT
The fully air-conditioned tent can comfortably house up to 500 guests in a lavish sit down dinner, and the spacious tent can be a
playground for the ever imaginative bride-to-be as she makes her dream wedding come to life.
NBC Tent - Standard Rate (Whole Day): P 195,000 + 12% VAT
For a wedding like no other, the tent can comfortably house 800 guests in a sit-down dinner, with its look and feel designed according to the couple’s liking. It features a kitchen mess hall, spacious comfort rooms with an adjoining powder room for the ladies, spacious reception area and ample parking spaces for guests at the Fort Strip.
Fernbrook Gardens – P 130, 000 - P160, 000 + VAT
Fernbrook Gardens is a European-inspired wedding venue that lets you experience a magical and dramatic ambiance making your fairytale dreams come to life.
Blue Leaf - Standard Rates: AM(5hrs) /
PM(5hrs) Jade Day: P70,000 / Evening: P90,000 Silk Day: P80,000 / Evening: P100,000 Banyan Day: P90,000 / Evening: P110,000 Jade and Banyan Day: P140,000 / Evening: P185,000 Located at the posh neighborhood of Bonifacio Global City’s McKinley Hills, the Blue Leaf has three contemporary Asian-inspired pavilions designed with spacious interiors against a backdrop of luscious greeneries. The pavilions are fully air-conditioned, has a sound system, a lounge, caterer’s area, an LCD projector with 8’x8’ screen, spacious parking area, and security, engineering and maintenance staff during the event.
Fernwood Gardens - Fernwood 1: P50,000++;
P86,000++ / Courtyard: P45,000++; P74,000++
/ Cycad Garden: P46,000++; P79,000++ / Coral Tree: P50,000++; P86,000++
You don’t have to go out of the metropolis to find the perfect venue for a garden wedding.
Fernwood Gardens give you the beauty of the out-of-town scenery within the immediate reach.
In the midst of Fernwood Gardens’ exquisite nature-inspired landscape stands a quaint nature
chapel and baroque-styled gazebo both splendid for wedding ceremonies.
Here’s a list of churches that you can also put on your list:
National Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Adress: 8002 Manlunas St., Villamor Airbase, Pasay City
Rate: Wedding with aircon: P 40, 500 / Wedding without aircon: P 27, 000
Sanctuario de San Antonio
Adress: McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City
Rate: Standard rate parishioners/non-parishioners P20,000 / P25,000 reservation deposit: P5,000
San Agustin Church
Adress: Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila Rate: P22,000 / Video Electricity: P1,000
Christ the King Parish
Address: Greenmeadows Ave., White Plains, Quezon City
Rate: P 25,000
Shrine of Jesus: The Way, The Truth and The Life
Address: SM Central Business Park, Reclamation Area, Pasay City
Rate: P25,000 for 1 1/2hour wedding The Splurge-on-the-Best Bride
“I have a great deal of budget and I am willing to spend it for the best venue there is.”