The Romero-Groleau Wedding Scrapbook

Final 450 wedding photos to select from!

2007-12-02T19:29:00.000Z

Nostalgic me :)

2006-11-11T17:27:00.000Z

For Mimi, I am glad that our friendship has stood the test of time and distance. You truly are an amazing friend - not just for your artistic talent, but looking back I am glad that you were always there to celebrate the milestones with me. The first one was our 1st communion, may belo pa tayo nun and now, for my wedding!

We are so honoured that you lent us your song when you made our Show with it. It is just so beautiful and poignant! It gets me teary-eyed watching how we were really in good hands with Lem and you. You said, 'it's because of the subjects'. Well I am glad you knew all your subjects very well. You knew who to point the camera at and you knew what things we loved. So, for Francois-Xavier and myself, Lem and you really captured every little thing we wanted to remember of this perfect day.

One of my favourite shots which you took was actually at the Hyatt staircase. I felt so relaxed and at ease because I knew it was you looking through the lens. Deep within, I was thanking you for making it seem so easy to smile and enjoy posing for the camera!

***

Seeing you at the wedding brought back a lot of good memories in UPIS and with the barkada. It could have been just hanging around after class or at Jen's place in UP Campus. I remember you were a big fan of San Miguel and though I was probably the most famous slowpoke in UPIS, I tagged along with you. When we reached high school, I was still a slowpoke while you pursued your dream to play for the UP women's junior basketball league!

When we were kids, I thought it was the coolest thing that we were experiencing similar moments in our lives. Our families' stayed in the US way back in 1987, yours in California and mine in New York. Then we had new siblings almost a year apart and our families moved houses almost at the same time too. Our lives were peppered with so many good memories and you saw me through bits of heartaches :) too (boys, friends, Aninag! -- not exactly in that particular order!). I was glad that we still had slumber parties even if they became rare and far in between.

Just a few months ago, I found the best friend pendants we gave to each other in highschool. It was nice to see them after being hidden for so long. Anyway, sure, we grew up and had varied sets of friends. We had quite different interests but I always enjoyed spending time with you.

***

Our lives have changed and I am glad to see that both of us have pursued our dreams. Now, we have our own respective best friends :). I remember meeting Lem during your ZS tambay days. How uncanny that in 2000, I also introduced you to Francois-Xavier just outside your tambayan. Mwahahaha.... who would have thought sa simbahan din ang aming tutuluyan? Eh kayo? (wink wink)

***

A toast to you, Mimi! (Pahiram ng picture from your shoot!) For all the wonderful memories and may you reach greater heights in what you are passionate about! We hope to see Lem and you share your fantastic gift not just at home but also all over the world!

Big hug!

(Side note: The next time I see a Nativity scene, I will be thinking of Veluz and you :). I honestly have no recollection of being a shepherd or a tupa on any schoolplay but maybe in our past lives -- Veluz, you and I were three little sheep!)

Wedding Notes - Part Two

2006-11-11T15:19:00.000Z

Here is one of the portraits in a series taken by Karl de Leon. I just love those cheerful blue eyes!

***

I remember how I shivered and had goosebumps on my arms the first time I fitted a gown and had a veil placed on my head. I was with Katie and Anna at Perfect Bridal on Holborn Street, Aberdeen at that time. That day, we probably went to three other bridal stores for me to fit gowns but it felt like a normal shopping trip until I had that veil with pretty sparkling swarovskis carefully set on my crown. That was the first time reality hit me that I really was getting hitched!

Six months later, on the 28th October 2006, I left Hyatt Regency Manila in a Jaguar, accompanied by my parents. There was traffic on Roxas Boulevard going to Intramuros but it was alright, we had half an hour to travel the short distance to San Agustin Church.

When we arrived, people were milling inside the church as the entourage prepared for the procession. I saw Francois-Xavier turn his back as soon as the bridal car was in front of the church. I giggled as he was probably warned that he was not supposed to see me! Calmly, I gazed outside and scanned for friends and family who were just arriving.

***

As I stood at the back of the church, a long illusion tulle veil was finally placed over me as I prepared for my bridal march. It felt so divine to be embraced by the soft fabric and feel protected from the penetrating gaze of the people in the church.

I took in the grandeur and elegance of the San Agustin altar which was illuminated by the chandliers and the bright lights of the photographers. I saw the signature draping tulle and the secret that Francois-Xavier kept from me -- white calla lilies adorning the sides of the ground I was to walk on! (During the initial preparations, I wished very hard that it would not be mums that they will put in the church!)

People coaxed me to walk slowly. Time stood still as I took one step after the other, letting my gaze fall on familiar faces of dear friends and relatives. Almost halfway, I suddenly panicked seeing that I have reached where my parents were waiting for me. I steadied myself, let my parents walk with me and this time, I locked my gaze onto the man I was to marry.

The mass was very intimate. The 1st reading which was in French was solemnly read by Claire while Sandino's voice echoed as he read our 2nd reading in English. Bishop Oscar, my uncle, celebrated the mass and gave a very moving homily. He also invited our parents to give us their blessings before we exchanged the sign of peace. Jondi, my kinakapatid, ensured that the mass flowed smoothly and that the traditions were done spontaneously. Tisha, Francois-Xavier's host sister and Ina, my sorority sister, said the other parts of the mass. Philip's powerful singing, accompanied by the Da Capo Instrumentalist, tugged at the heartstrings.

For sure, Francois-Xavier and I were left with a warm, fuzzy feeling that we were surrounded by people who love us and care for us. This is what made our wedding beautiful.

Finally, Bishop presented us as husband and wife!

We had our share of fun when we exited the church and were greeted with flower petals, bubbles and to our surprise - bits of confetti. (The confetti was the not-so-fun part as it was probably worse than bigas when it hit us. I had bits and pieces of unglamorous Smart prepaid cards stuck on my hair and on my skin! So be warned, if you are planning your wedding!)

As customarily done now, we did the dove tradition outside the church. We let the doves give bisous to each other before we raised our arms and set them free. As the crowd cheered, Francois-Xavier's poor dove got startled and flew and hit the church wall! Fortunately, it found its wings again and perched on the strands of lights on the side of the church doors! The Mrs., like an obedient partner, followed right after!

Our day had just started and it was turning out to be a hilariously fantastic day! Click here for the photo gallery during the ceremony!

Wedding Notes - Part One

2006-11-11T13:09:00.000Z

October is known to be right at the climax of the typhoon season in the Philippines. Just weeks before our wedding, Milenyo swiftly cleansed the country including the unsightly billboards along EDSA, C-5 and the SLEX. So, on that blessed Saturday, I thought that the sun and a spray of clouds in the morning sky were quite unusual for the days preceding All Saints.

Francois-Xavier and I woke up on our wedding day in separate Junior Suites at Hyatt Regency Manila. His was on Room 534 and I was on Room 634. We agreed that we would not see each other until the ceremony and so I warned him that I was going down for breakfast while he was going to go for a swim. The plan was pretty good because although Hyatt was not that big, we managed not to bump into each other even on the lifts!

For the preps, I wore my bargain find from Oasis :).

When I got back to my room, it felt a bit bizarre that it was the wedding day and everything was so quiet. The phone was not ringing, nobody was coming over to ask about last minute wedding details. It felt like something was up, that this was only the calm before the storm. Fortunately, there was nothing to be worried about!

The flurry of activities started around 9.30 AM when Kaye, my Maid of Honour arrived to join me for the hair and make-up preparations. The coordinators soon trickled in to help prepare the materials for the church and the reception. Soon, Mama, Maman and Agnes arrived to have their make-up done. By noontime, it was only Sweetheart, Mommy Binky and Dardsie left to be made up.

To show you our perfect day from the eyes of two young, talented and amazing photographers from the Philippines, please go to our show.

Feeling a bit teary-eyed? I do hope that those would be because of how beautiful those poignant seconds were captured!

We are so grateful that everything went smoothly during the day. I loved looking at the photos as the families were getting ready for the church. While I was having some bridal pictorials, I saw a great-aunt, one of our ninongs and his kids walks past me. It was half an hour before the ceremony and they were still wearing their street clothes. THAT did not even worry me anymore ;).

More photos on the pre-wedding ceremony courtesy of Mimi and Karl.

The bride with her childhood best friend, Mimi.
With Veluz Reyes, the wedding coutourier.

Snapshots from the Civil Wedding of Francois-Xavier and Rosanele

2006-06-01T21:44:00.000Z

27 May 2006 Saint Herblain, France

Dive buddies !

2006-04-22T11:34:00.000Z

Where everything started...:o)))

Prenup photos by Mimi and Karl

2006-04-17T18:04:00.000Z

W@W request on HMU

2006-04-17T17:32:00.000Z

Noel Jimenez, Filmore St., Manila

Elsa of La Manila (Beau Monde), Greenhills

Lorie Abraham, Quezon City

For the Frenchies ! (sorry for the English speaking visitors :o)

2006-04-16T13:47:00.000Z

Bonne nouvelle ! Nous avons trouvé à Divisoria ...
- fameux marché, ou bazar, de Manille, que j'espère pouvoir vous montrer quand vous serez tous aux Philippines en octobre
regardez ici quelques photos prises samedi matin :
http://butandben.blogspot.com/

...DES EVENTAILS ! pas pris de photos, mais ils sont beaux. Et utiles...va faire chaud pendant la messe le 28 octobre, j'hésite encore à commander des bassines d'eau pour se tremper la tête tous les 1/4 d'heure !

Plus sérieusement...je vous invite à découvrir notre blog de préparation de mariage : Bambi l'a créé pour partager avec tous nos préparatifs, et permettre une communication efficace pendant les mois qui nous restent, avec les différentes personnes qui nous aident !
N'hésitez pas à le lire et ajouter vos commentaires, questions, idées...
Merci !

HMU trials !

2006-04-16T13:35:00.000Z

4 or 5 nominees for the HMU (actually...I still don't know what HMU means...will have to check with the bride ;o)

First two photos of the nominee number 4 (or 5 ? hehehe)'s work

And a photo of the WINNER's work !! I won't tell who is the winner ! I just tell you that after one afternoon, a meeting at 7pm with a supplier and a dinner at Le Souffle for Dino's birthday...it still looked nice...

Souvenir treasure chest :o)

2006-04-16T13:27:00.000Z

After our early morning flight back from Bicol, we just ended up in Divisoria last Saturday morning, looking for ideas for our wedding souvenirs !

Here is a photo of our wedding treasure chest :o)

Hyatt Proposed Menu

2006-04-04T10:11:00.000Z

Smoked Tanguigue on Sour Cream Dressing and Cilantro Dressing and

Cilantro Pesto with Bouquet of Crispy Greens

***

Light Cream of Asparagus and Oyster Mushrooms

***

Beef Sirloin in Rosemary Crust with Madeira sauce Wild Mushroom Risotto

***

Mango Parfait with Grand Marnier Cream and Orange Compote

Coffee or Tea

Sofitel Hotel Philippine Plaza

2006-04-02T23:43:00.000Z

This is our backup plan. We hope that everything will go well wherever we choose our reception venue. Hoping for the best with Hyatt.

Measurement Chart and directions to Veluz Las Pinas and QC offices

2006-04-02T23:26:00.000Z

Dear entourage member,

Please take note that we need you to personally go to Veluz for your dress fittings. See attached measurement chart and sketch for directions to Veluz' offices. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send FX or myself an email. Or post a comment on this site and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Las Pinas map

Quezon City map

April 6 to 12 schedule

2006-04-02T23:01:00.000Z

April 6
Bambi arrives at 8.45 AM

KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES, KL 0803
From: AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (AMS) map Departs: 2:05pmWed, Apr 5
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (MNL) map Arrives: 8:45amThu, Apr 6
Set backup plan, maybe visit Sofitel (Westin)

AM: Proceed to QC

Get Certificate of Freedom to Marry from UP Chapel
Meet with Cissy and cake designer
Set appointment with invitation printer?
Visit Mimi's shop in Congressional Road
Book Charlie's Pritchon
Set appointment with Mel Cortez (April 6 or 8)

PM: Proceed to Manila/Makati

Meet Veluz after lunch (to discuss gown designs)
Have THMU with Noel Jimenez in Makati (must get directions to get to his place)
Evening, go to Chocolate Kiss and watch the performance of Da Capo

April 7

AM: Proceed to Makati

8AM French Embassy appointment
Go to San Agustin Church afterwards: ask about map sketch to church, organ, music, flowers, permit of priest, confirm date for canonical interview, marriage banns
Go to Hyatt Regency Manila: food tasting, discuss issues about wedding cake, bridal car and rooms

PM:

Meet with Veluz for FX's fitting
1st Fitting with Veluz
Fit another TMU appointment?

(Sorority dinner)

April 8

AM:

Schedule another appointment? (Pre-nup photos with Mimi?)
Meet with Mimi or Mel Cortez for photography

PM:

2:30PM Confirmation of FX at San Miguel Church
6:00PM Omar's celebration dinner at Legend Villas

April 9

Trip to Divisoria for souvenir ideas and fans
Dive?
Witness wedding mass in San Agustin Church to check choir? organ?

April 10

10AM: Meet with Penk Ching in Tomas Morato area
2PM: Chocolate Fountain (get contact information)
4PM: 2nd Fitting with Veluz
6-8PM: Meet with Alex Franco

April 11

Finalize suppliers (cake, music, invitations, souvenirs, flowers...)
Get HMUA
Contact entourage and ensure that they meet with Veluz for fittings
Meet with Kaye and other members of entourage if needed

April 12

Free for additional appointments
4PM: 3rd fitting with Veluz

April 13-15

Trip to Donsol

April 16

Return to the UK

Cake Designs

2006-04-02T21:48:00.000Z

My cake preference would be:
-3 to 4-tier cake (smallest layer for us to keep for our 1st anniversary)
- all edible layers (whether fondant or refrigerated cake)
- texture is nice in Sev and Nel wedding cake, i like the swirls too
- i like alex franco's use of fresh flowers to decorate the cake
- with the flowers, maybe some pearls on the fondant would like nice (such as the gerbera cake by judy unson)
- budget between PHP10-12000 only

Sev and Nel wedding (fotogra.ph)

Alex Franco cakes

Judy Uson cakes

cake from fotogra.ph

Charlie's Pritchon

2006-03-26T22:20:00.000Z

YES! I finally found it! It's a classic. This is something I must have for our wedding!

2006-03-25T23:30:00.000Z

The History of San Agustin Church (Article from AugNet.Org)

http://www.augnet.org/OrderStAugustineSECTION5/OrderHistory/OrderPlaces/Asia-Pacific/Philippines%20Places%20Header/0333-Intramuros01.htm

SAN AGUSTIN, INTRAMUROS, PHILIPPINES - 01
San Agustin Church at Intramuros in Manila is the oldest Christian sanctuary in the Far East. As the oldest stone building in the Philippines, it marked the start of using permanent materials in contrast to the local architectural tradition of using lightweight construction materials.The city of Intramuros (Latin for "inside the walls") began in 1570 as the centre of government of the Philippines. The Augustinians immediately in that year built there the Church of San Agustin (Saint Augustine), which was a temporary structure of bamboo and thatch.
Land for the building had been donated by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the founder of Manila who had led the expedition to the Philippines from Mexico in 1565.
Fire destroyed the church in 1574, and again in 1583. The techniques of cutting stone and of mixing lime with sand allowed a different design for the next church.
In 1586 the Augustinians approved designs for a church to be made of stone cut at the Guadalupe, Meycauayan and San Mateo quarries. It was to be the first stone church in the Philippines to be built according to the blending of the architecture of Mexico and Spain. It has been described as "a permanent miracle in stone".
The church was designed according to the plans approved by the Royal Audencia of Mexico, for the Spanish settlement of the Philippines was initially in the control of the Spanish authorities (audienca) in Mexico. Likewise, the design of the church was derived from other churches that were built by the Augustinians in Mexico.
The Church of San Agustin was built by Juan Macias, from Spain. It was begun in 1586, and completed in 1606.
Pedro Galende O.S.A., in his book San Agustin, Noble Stone Shrine (see footnote), adds that the Augustinians "who came from Spain and those born in Mexico had a great opportunity to observe and study the Latin American monastic architecture which they later used in the Philippines. They took into consideration the quality of the local stone and the weather conditions which required them to sacrifice aesthetic requirement for durability."
The facade originally had two towers. Unfortunately, the left tower is now missing. It was taken down soon after a earthquake in 1880 split it in two.
When Manila to the British forces in 1762, the sailors invaded the church and the adjacent Monastery (convento) of Saint Augustine. Books, manuscripts, gold and precious stones, ivory images, vestments, silver marcos and two portable organs were lost.
Luciano Oliver later renovated the church in 1854. Sixteen glass chandeliers (see photo, at left) were imported from Paris in 1873.
In 1875 two decorative painters from Italy, Giovanni Alberoni and Cesare Dibella, worked for the Church in fifteen months. Their work resulted in a superb trompe l'oeil vault with floral patterns, geometric outlines, classic themes and religious images.
The splendid trompe l'oeil barrel vault and dome helped to magnify the skills of two Italian decorative painters. On to that plain surface, they managed to sculpt and gave life to the ceiling with their paint brushes.
They filled every space with wonderful floral motifs, geometric patterns, classic architectural themes, coffers, and religious images. They successfully achieved this on the trompe l'oeil ceiling in a way that highlighted the spatial geometry of the church.Without a doubt, the Church of San Agustin has one of the most artistically decorated interiors among all of the old colonial churches in the Philippines.
In 1898 the military forces of the United States of America attacked Manila after they had defeated the Spanish fleet. San Agustin became the refuge of the sick, old, women and children.
Governor Jaudenes of Manila prepared the terms for the surrender of the city at the Chapel (capella) of Our Lady of Angustias within the Church of San Agustin. Soon, the Americans held the Church and stole books, food, money and statues from the monastery (convento).

In 1941 the Japanese bombed Intramuros. The Church of San Agustin is also the only colonial church that has retained the vaulting (ceiling) with which it was originally built. This was despite the destructive forces that shelled the church during WW II.
The next year, they occupied Manila and made San Agustin a strategic post and a concentration camp for prisoners. The Church again became a shelter for hundreds of families and religious priests of various communities.
It was the only building still standing when Intramuros was almost totally destroyed during the liberation of Manila from the forces of Japan in 1945. Afterwards the Americans seized the church. Many of the church's items were stolen and lost. The second floor of the adjacent Monastery of San Agustin was totally destroyed, and its walls and the roof were heavily damaged.
In 1945 the church was made into a parish. In 1960 an annex building was reconstructed to house the offices of the parish and as quarters for candidates of the Order of Saint Augustine.
In 1976 the monastery was repaired and converted into the San Agustin Museum. At about the same time, the Church of San Agustin was declared as national landmark.
In 1993 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) listed San Agustin as one of the "baroque Churches of the Philippines." In 2000 Jaime Cardinal Sin, the former Archbishop of Manila, canonically crowned the image of Our Lady of Consolation, which is kept in the Church of San Agustin.
The Church of San Agustin is filled with many smaller chapels which house richly decorated altars. Over the centuries, these chapels served as burial sites for prominent residents of Manila.
A side chapel next to the main altar is dedicated to the Spanish Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the founder of Manila. His tomb there was violated by the invading British forces in 1762, when they were searching for gold and treasures.
The pipe organ that had been installed at San Agustin Church in the 18th century was restored in 1998, at a cost of P4.5 million.
This project was aided by the Spanish Embassy through the efforts of the Ambassador Delfin Colomé, and by Instituto Cervantes, the Agencia Espa¤ola de Cooperacion and the many private benefactors of the Church of San Agustin. It was directed by Father Pedro Galende O.S.A. (see footnote).
The Church of San Agustin in the only surviving one of six colonial churches that once were located in Intramuros. It is, indeed, the mother of all Philippine colonial churches. There are efforts to have the Church of San Agustin declared by the Holy See as a minor basilica.
This is the same status as the church that contains the statue of the Santo Niño in Cebu, which also has been conducted by members of the Order of Saint Augustine for over 400 years.
Adjacent to the church in Intramuros, some of the large Monastery (convento) of Saint Augustine was converted in 1973 to become a museum for religious artifacts and art treasures dating back as early as the 16th century. Here one can spend an entire day to cherish and absorb the remains of the religious history of the Philippines.
The Church of San Agustin is still conducted by members of the Order of Saint Augustine.

18th Century Pipe Organ (http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/wwp905/html/FungYu.html)

The 18th Century Pipe Organ, apart from generating "acoustic energy"; it was also housed in a historic church, a place of "spiritual energy".San Agustin Church at Intramuros in Manila is the oldest Christian sanctuary in the Far East. As the oldest stone building in the Philippines, it marked the start of using permanent materials in contrast to the local architectural tradition of using lightweight construction materials.The city of Intramuros (Latin for "inside the walls") began in 1570 as the centre of government of the Philippines. The Augustinians immediately in that year built there the Church of San Agustin (Saint Augustine), which was a temporary structure of bamboo and thatch. Land for the building had been donated by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the founder of Manila who had led the expedition to the Philippines from Mexico in 1565. In 1993 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) listed San Agustin as one of the "baroque Churches of the Philippines."

2006-03-25T23:22:00.000Z

On-the-Day Programme

Hyatt Regency Manila, 28 October 2006

On-the-Day Coordinating Team: Karmina Abesamis, Dino Romero, Kara Galicia
Reception Program Coordinator: Sharon Gil and Arnaud Vielle
Overall Coordinator: Lianne Mirano

Preparations

Hyatt Regency Manila (8 AM to 1PM)

Bridal Party
- HMUA, Photographers, Bridal Gown Designer (AM)
- Flowers to be distributed for bridal party
- Check on Transportation to and from Intramuros
o Cars for Bridal party (groom, bride)

Logistics
Church
- Prepare flowers for the church also (1.30 to 2PM)
- Offertory gifts, fans and missalettes should be in the church
- Bubbles and petals
- Doves in a cage

Reception
- Cocktail and Dinner reception: Set-up room with flowers
- Pritson to be delivered
- Wedding cake
- Chocolate fountain to be set-up
- Champagne/wine
- Check cocktail and dinner menu, crew meals, kids’ meals and vegetarian meals are also available

Arrival of Hotel Guests
- Request for Early Check-in for Guests arriving on that day
o Shuttle bus for guests staying in hotel (check with Hyatt)

OTD Team
- Prepare emergency box (adhesive tape, markers, pins, stapler, glue, guest list)
- Tips (I suggest Omar and/or Arnaud to be in charge)
- OTD team should have walkie-talkies and one car

Persons-in-charge
Mimi Abesamis
And OTD Team
- HMUA
- Decisive Moments
- Veluz
- April and Karen Yu
- Hyatt Regency
- Charlie’s Pritson
- Belgian Fondue Tower
- Moet and Chandon supplier
- Alex Franco cake
- Chamdor wine suppliers
- Hyatt Regency
- Jaguar

Church

San Agustin Church (2 to 4PM)
- Entourage should be at the church by 1.30PM
- Prepare flowers for the main church aisle
- Offertory gifts (flowers, fruit basket)
- Groomsmen to usher guests to their seats
- Bridesmaids to give away bubbles and rose petals
- Distribute missalette, rose petals and bubbles to guests upon arrival
- Access to Choir/Organ Loft, rehearsal for Organist?
- Quartet to set-up
- Bubbles and petals
- Doves from Hyatt Regency
- Bride should be at the church by 2.15PM
- Order of wedding pictorials (to be called out by OTD Coordinator or lector) – I think this will have to be quick if guests are expected to welcome the newlyweds outside the church?

Omar Romero, Lianne Mirano, Arnaud Vielle, Sharon Gil, Victor Romero

Wedding Pictorials
Intramuros, Manila Bay (4PM to 5PM)
- FX and Bambi go for wedding pictorials with photographers

Decisive Moments, Driver?

Cocktails

Kundiman Boardroom, Hyatt Regency Manila (5PM to 6PM)
- Quartet to play during cocktails? (Check logistics if easy for group to set-up and move to Sampaguita Ballroom afterwards)
- Expect guests to arrive at 4.30PM in Kundiman Boardroom
- Cocktails served at 5PM (three choices of canapé, fruit punch plus pritson)
- FX and Bambi have a quick meal before heading down to the Cocktail area at 5.30PM
- FX and Bambi stay in Cocktails area, parents advance to the Sampaguita Ballroom
- Set-up guest list with sitting arrangement for Dinner in the Cocktail area, emcees to direct guests to move to the ballroom in batches
Quartet, OTD Team

Dinner (please fill in details of program)

Sampaguita Ballroom (6PM onwards)
6 to 6.30PM
- Parents welcome all the guests as they enter the reception area
- Groomsmen and bridesmaids to man the reception table
- Best men and maid of honour will be the Emcees and be in charge of the program
6.45 PM
Before Dinner
- Grand Entrance of bride and groom (serenaded by John Lesaca) or some other gimmick
- Introduction of the VIPs
- Prayer (Bishop Oscar)
7PM
Dinner is served
Starters and Soup
- Bride and Groom to go around the room for photos with guests
- Ice breakers for guests? (trivia, game or just eat quietly?)
- Need to map-route of couple, so must see floor plan from Hyatt
7.45 PM
Main Course (Music from Quartet)
- Serve wine/softdrinks during main course
- during clean-up, serve Champagne/Sparkling Wine (Chamdor) and dessert from set menu
8.30 PM
(performance from John Lesaca?)
(AVP Presentation: childhood photos, first encounter, travels, civil wedding photos?)

The Toast
- Bestman
- Parents’ Speech (who gives what, translated?)
- Couple Replies and thank guests

9.15 PM
Dessert
- Bride and Groom stand-up for cutting of the cake and champagne toast (?)
- Ask single female guests to get cake favours

9.45 PM
The Toss
- Bouquet Toss
- Garter Toss – Round Game

10.15 PM Give away souvenirs, Wedding Cake is served

Quartet, OTD Team,

Dancing

10.30 PM
- First Dance (is it groom and bride)
- Money Waltz
- Switching of partners, groom and mom, bride and father, etc?
- Mobile disco (get selection of French and popular music too)

Open Bar

11 PM
- Wine Bar (good only for 60 people, so suggest to set this up after 10 PM)
- Chocolate Fountain (nice-to-have for those who stay later, serve at midnight?) – so we just get a tiny one…

Post-Wedding Travel

No worries for the OTD Team!

2006-03-25T20:06:00.000Z

Flower girl dresses (turquoise, yellow)

2006-03-25T19:50:00.000Z

Ideas for Bridesmaids gowns

Corsage for secondary sponsors

2006-03-25T19:41:00.000Z

Sounds delicious....

Alex Franco's package includes:

Heavy sponge-all butter based prune cake or different
flavors. Options to choose from: prunes cake, chocolate cake,
apple walnut, apple cinnamon, walnut caramel, pecan caramel,
carrot cake

Chocolate mousse fillings with fresh mangoes and Australian
caramel sauce on all layers
Ceramic wedding couple
Miniature doves in bird cage with flower arrangement
16 pullouts with wishes
U.S. made whipped cream on all icings
1 free chocolate cake if you order 5 layers cake
Chocolate fudge brownies as give-aways (up to 30 pcs)
Steel-based stands (free rent)
Choices of fresh flowers (additional charge to client) - The catch... :(
No delivery charge within Metro Manila

You'll have to visit his website to see the cakes.

2006-03-25T19:30:00.000Z

Flowers for Table Arrangements

Red Roses and Mini Gerberas

Loreto Asiatic Lilies

Blue Iris and Yellow Gerbera

Rananculues (renoncule)

Astronaut - two-tone asiatic lilies

Bromeliads

2006-03-25T19:21:00.000Z

Our Invitation (by Chinggay Labrador)

2006-03-25T14:34:00.000Z

Suppliers' Checklist

1. Invitations (Lianne Mirano/Patricia Labrador)
- Money envelopes for money dance

2. Church
a. Venue San Agustin Church Manila
b. Flowers April and Karen Yu
c. Fans for guests Divisoria?
d. Readers TBD
e. Music Organ: Victor Eclar Romero, Instrumentalist: Da Capo?, Vocalis: TBD
f. Misalette (Janis Dombrovskis)
g. Order for photo session OK already
h. Candle, cord, veil, ring pillows c/o Veluz
i. Arrhae two-pound coins
j. Entourage list Still need a bible bearer!

3. Reception Hyatt Regency Manila
a. Cocktails Kundiman Boardroom
b. Dinner Sampaguita Ballroom
c. Décor for ballroom and Flowers - April and Karen Yu
d. Charlie's Pritchon
e. Program
- Hosts Sharon Gil and Arnaud Vielle
f. Cake Alex Franco

4. Attire Veluz
5. Photography/Videography Decisive Moments

6. On-The-Day Coordination Team Karmina Abesamis
Event Style I like: Marj and Carlo Amaya wedding:

7. Sound System and Lights
- sound system and video presentation materials Hyatt

8. Souvenir coins (Designed by Janis Dombrovskis) TBD

9. Bridal car Jaguar

10. Rings

11. HMUA Noel Jimenez or Madge Lejano

12. Documentation (Omar Romero)
a. Documents - SAC - inquire if there is a special permit needed for a guest to play the organ
b. Chancery documents
c. French Embassy

13. Bridal Registry
15. Gifts
16. Preparations Hyatt
17. Guest accommodation Legend Villas and Hyatt Regency

2006-03-25T13:35:00.000Z

Selection of Bouquets

1: Sunset bouquet with gerbera and roses
2: Bouquet of pink roses, I'd prefer natural orange and pale yellow roses
3: Burnt orange calla lilies with dark red roses
4: The trimmings look nice, flowers are okay to but should match our motif (for entourage)
5: Lovely bouquet of multi-coloured gerberas (for entourage)

Wedding Motif

2006-03-23T13:27:00.000Z

Colour motif

How does one decide the colours for a wedding? Why is a colour theme so important? We realised that colour is one of the first things that every supplier ask about. It was quite futile to meet with the dressmaker, the event stylist and even the cake designer when we haven't even decided on what colour motif we were going to have.

So, lesson no.1 for us was to rule out colours we don't like. Even more fun is choosing which colours blend and what complementary colours we would like to accent our overall theme with.

Fortunately, we stumbled upon a BBC website which is helpful in giving me some colour blending advice. http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/design/colour_wheel.shtml