The Beautiful Shangri-La Mactan

October 30 - November 2, 2009

A few blogs ago, I complained about the service of Shangri-La Mactan. I couldnt believe that such a beautiful place could have such horrible service... I never was the complaining type, but I loved the city and the venue so much that I pushed to make it work. I sent a polite but disappointed e-mail to their customer service and was greeted with a positive reply. We were endorsed to this lady and ever since then, our wedding journey has been smooth sailing!!! Coleen Rosario... for any Shangri-La Mactan events, I suggest contact her directly! She is quick to respond, easy to talk to and understanding of your limitations. An added plus: she has this warm and cheerful demeanor that makes working with her light and effective. I have put her contact details just in case. Coleen Rosario +63-917-576-2016 coleen.rosario@shangri-la.com

So anyway, Eyebrows and I visited Shangri-La Mactan a second time mainly to seal the deal with our venue. Eyebrows was still unsure of whether this was our place. I think it was because our first visit was not a very positive one... (Eyebrows is a very visual person. He's gotta see it as it is. If the place isnt presented well, then there's no way he can see its sparkle.) He wasnt 100% on the ballroom, since it was being renovated the last time we were there. He wanted a beach wedding, after all we were flying to a beach - it didnt make sense to get married in a ballroom. But it was too expensive... There were still so much hanging questions.

I on the other hand loved the venue the moment we stepped in. It was exactly what I was looking for - and indoor ceremony venue with an awesome view. A beach resort with a ballroom. A classy yet relaxing place to hang with our family and friends. Despite our initial bad experience with the service and presentation, I felt like this was our place. It's just that gut feeling a girl gets sometimes. But, I must admit, Im not one to simply decide on gut. I needed to be assured we would be taken care of (especially since neither of us was from Cebu) and that the ballroom would suit our style.

So ur second visit was mainly to see the ballroom, meet Coleen, and decide on whether this was our place.

With Coleen on our second visit to Shangri-La Mactan

When we got to the Shang, we were greeted by Coleen and her manager. They appologized for our previous experience, and we let it pass as no big deal. This time around, we were simply blown away. First, Coleen definitely knows her stuff. Our questions were answered precisely. She even showed us samples of wedding cakes and floral arrangements. Then she took us around to see the venues for a second time.

The landscape of Shangri-La was awesome. Despite the hot hot weather, we enjoyed the stroll around the beach.

Cowry Cove

The Cowry Cove where we can stay up at night partying by the beach!!!

One of the many pools at Shang. Relaxing, eh? :)

The beautiful beach! A place to hang with friends the day after!

The Ocean Pavilion was as beautiful as ever.... with a view of the blue ocean.

Eyebrows standing at the altar area... practicing! (yihee!)

Then, the newly renovated Mactan Ballroom.

Enjoying the ballroom

Wow. It was more beautiful than we imagined! The main ballroom looked new and elegant, but not stiff. The cocktail area was enclosed but had a ceiling-to-floor view of the garden. The chandeliers were huge and classy.

The entrance to the ballroom

On top of that, the place was prepared with sample chairs, table arrangements and linens (I didnt even expect that!) for us to choose from! AND... Coleen asked the kitchen to make us customized purple drinks for our cocktails for us to taste. Now thats service!

The "his" and "her" chairs

Our customized purple drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic?) I love it!!!

Options for linens, arrangements, napkins.... Eyebrows likes the frog fold. Go figure. LOL!

So all in all, we are contented with Shangri-La Mactan. All thats left is to finalize the costs and sign the contract!!!! HERE WE GO! :)

Cebu 2nd Visit (Venue and Suppliers)

October 30 - November 2, 2009

It was a long Philippine weekend so we decided to schedule our second Cebu visit. It was just perfect. We're loving this place more and more! It's becoming such a memorable city for Eyebrows and I, every visit we make is a joyous one. I know it, this is our place.

Since every visit is also a costly one, I tried to maximize our time and get our schedule organized beforehand. Here was our schedule:


MAIN PURPOSE (of this visit):
1. Finalize on the venue, or at least be able to decide if we're 100% on Shang or not.
2. Meet with wedding planners and hopefully decide on one.
3. Get a feel of our options for other suppliers (ex: make-up, flowers, lodging, music, transportation)

THINGS WE ACCOMPLISHED (during this visit):*I'll talk a little more about this on a separate blog*
1. Saw the newly renovated Shangrila ballroom and loved it!!! We're deciding on the Shang.
2. Found an awesome travel agent who seems easy to work with.
3. Found a wedding planner we believe we can trust.
4. Got really good feedback on our prospective hair/makeup and flower suppliers.
5. Got additional options for cheaper lodging
6. Got leads for transportation suppliers
7. Got leads for music suppliers

NEXT THINGS TO DO (within the rest of 2008):1. Finalize requirements from the Shangrila and sign the contract.
2. Finalize requirements from the Wedding Planner and sign the contract.
2. Finalize requirements from the Photographer and sign the contract.
3. Finalize requirements from the Videographer and sign the contract.
4. Coordinate with the Florist on the concept and cost, schedule a meeting for 2009 to view a sample.
7. Coordinate with the Travel Agent on additional options for Lodging and Transportation
5. Look for Music suppliers (Jazz, DJ, etc)
6. Complete Will you be my... and begin on the other DIY stuff
7. Other low priority stuff: Wedding gown, Hair/Makeup, Guest List, Entourage, Invitations,

Im so proud of us, cuz not only were we able to accomplish the 3 purposes of the visit, we were also able to enjoy Cebu!!!!

Cheers to beating the Manila storm, really yummy reasonably-priced food, never repeating a restaurant (yet), chillin at Tinder Box (if only there was one in Manila), partying at Vudu with non-stop drinks, top knotch DJs (woot! woot!), free food and drinks at the Marriott, sightseeing historic spots, shopping at Cebu's Divisoria, meeting my cutest inaanak, and still finding time to talk and relax... CEBU ROCKS! :)

Long List of Cebu Wedding Planners

Ive started scouting for wedding planners... since we will most probably have it in Cebu, it makes sense to get a supplier from the area. With the help of Shangri-La Mactan, we've gathered a LOooooooooNG list of options!!!

CEBU WEDDING PLANNERS

Ms. Claire Villaflor
President
Events Depot
101 Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City
Telephone number: +63 32 4161519
Mobile number: +63 921 2858600
Email add: rightconnect_wedding@yahoo.com.ph

Ms. Stanz Catalan
Grupo
2/F I2 Building Asiatown
IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City
Telephone number: +63 32 4158056
Mobile number: +63 917 6262600
Email add: stanz_c@yahoo.com

Mr Ritchie Mendoza
Cebu Events Maker
4th Floor, Mendoza Building
622 Zamora Street, Centro, Mandaue City
Telephone number: +63 32 4228048
Mobile number: +63 920 9222781
Email add: cebueventsmaker@yahoo.com

Ms Connie Te
Precious Moments
Singson Compound
A. Abellana Ext, Guadalupe, Cebu City
Telephone number: +63 32 5161707
Mobile number: +63 917 3277778 / +63 922 8617177
Email add: chershed_moments@yahoo.com

Mr Bong Abella
Koncepts and More
27 Almendras Compound
Almendras Steet, Mabolo, Cebu City
Telephone number: +63 32 2318888
Mobile number: +63 920 9014104
Email add: konceptsandmore@yahoo.com

Ms Maria Gila Benedicto
Rent An Angel Weddings
313 Sikatuna Street
Zapatera, Cebu City
Mobile number: +63 918 9089587
Email add: rent_an_angel@yahoo.com.ph

Mr Joey Alberto
Creative Freeway
934-N Salinas Drive Ext Lahug
Cebu City
Telephone number: +63 32 4147340
Mobile number: +63 916 9915504
Email add: jp_alberto@yahoo.com

Bonneville Zubiri Almendras
I Do Events
22 Quirino Street, Villa Aurora Subd.
Mabolo, Cebu City
Telephone number: +63 32 2319258
Mobile number: +63 917 6202664
Email add: bo_almendras@yahoo.com

Ms Floralyn Sevilla
Abbysean Events and Need
38 Figueroa Street Corner B Aranas, Cebu
Telephone number: +63 32 2648272
Mobile number: +63 915 2728445
Email add: ralynsdesign@yahoo.com

Ms Tisha Mae Sanchez
Bliss Unlimited
Telephone number: +63 32 4228199
Mobile number: +63 917 6266211
Email add: blissunlimited@gmail.com

Ms Mellany Cular
Kasal ATBP
Mobile number: +63 9238239933 /+63 9274576929
Email add: kasal_atbpcebu@yahoo.com, mellany_cular18@yahoo.com.ph

Ms Snoogie Mata
Snoogie Wedding and Events
Mobile number: +63 9173209699
Email add: fdreynes_mata@yahoo.com

Since we obviously cant meet ALL of them, I based our initial shortlist on those who responded the quickest and most comprehensively. Im thinking... we will be coordinating with them from another city all together, I dont want to have to deal with the headache of chasing for a response each time, right? So, here's our initial shortlist...

TOP 3:

1. Ms Tisha Mae Sanchez, Bliss Unlimited
2. Mr Ritchie Mendoza, Cebu Events Maker
3. Ms Floralyn Sevilla, Abbysean Events and Need

Next in Line:

4. Mr Bong Abella, Koncepts and More
5. Ms. Claire Villaflor, Events Depot
6. Ms Mellany Cular, Kasal ATBP

Cebu Ocular - Shangri-La Mactan

SHANGRI-LA MACTAN
August 8, 2009

After a late Friday night, we attempt to get up early for our Saturday ocular meetings. Thankfully, Barce was nice enough to offer to take us around with their driver which on retrospect saved us a lot of headache! You see cabs and tricycles don’t seem as easy to find around Mactan Island. So it would have been horrible jumping from resort to resort without a ride.

Our first meeting was at Shangri-La Mactan – and we were impressed the moment we set foot on the lobby. The entrance was very open and the overlooking landscaped garden and sea was refreshing. We proceeded with the ocular of 4 venues: the Marquee, Ocean Pavilion, Beach Front and mini-Ballroom / Mactan Ballroom. The Mactan ballroom was under renovation to be completed by September 2009. Below is a summary of the pros and cons of each venue.

Marquee:

1. SIZE (-) - Very large venue, it can probably accommodate 1000 guests and we are only planning on 300. They say they can decorate the venue so it doesn’t look too empty. But then Ive heard of someone who’s had it there and even with the decorations, 300 guests will make the venue look to sparse.
2. LOCATION (-) – Vary far from the Ocean Pavilion, which is where we plan to have our ceremony. Guests cannot possibly walk from the Pavilion to the Marquee, and since most of our guests will not have cars then I can just imagine the logistical nightmare of having it here.
3. TIME (-) – Since it is a tent and not sound proof, we still have the 10:30PM curfew. Not an option.

Ocean Pavilion:

1. VIEW (+) – It’s a perfect cross between and indoor and outdoor venue. The venue is surrounded by glass so you still get an amazing view of the garden and sea.
2. WEATHER (+) - But the place is enclosed to protect us from the heat and the possibility of rain (God forbid…).
3. COCKTAILS (+) – Its got an open garden right beside which makes a perfect place for guests to spill out to and have cocktails after the ceremony
4. SIZE (-) – It can only accommodate 100 guests. This isn’t so bad since we’re not expecting everyone to attend the ceremony
5. SHORT AISLE (-) – I would love for a longer aisle to have our entourage and myself walk on. Wouldn’t that be grander?

Beach Front

1. VIEW (+) - Its got white sands and blue waters, really beautiful. This is Eyebrows’ ideal venue.
2. LOCATION (+) – Its really near the Pavilion, so guests that attended the ceremony can easily get to the reception
3. FOOD (-) – Food will be served BBQ buffet style but costs double the price of food served in the ballroom. That just doesn’t make sense? What will the BBQ – eat all you cal foie gras?
4. TIME (-) – They’ve got a 10:30PM noise curfew, by 10:30 we still haven’t finished eating! The whole point of a beach wedding is the dancing afterwards, and if we cant have the dancing there then… that’s just disappointing
5. WEATHER (-) – Obviously, it’ll be a huge problem if it gets too hot or too wet.

Mini-Ballroom / Mactan Ballroom

1. LOCATION (+) – Its not as near to the pavilion as the Beach Front, but not as far as the Marquee. Guests should still be able to walk from the ceremony to the reception.
2. FOOD (+/-) – According to our contact, Shang is not able to provide a sit down menu for over 100 guests – really? I imagine it should be possible for the ballroom. Im not convinced that they cant do it. For the price, they ought to be able to.
3. TIME (+) – Since the ballroom is completely indoors, we should be able to party till the sun rises as long as were willing to pay the extra fees
4. WEATHER (+) – Well, it is indoors so rain or super shine it shouldn’t be a problem.
5. VIEW (-) – Although we were not able to see the actual Mactan ballroom (since it was being renovated), we imagine it to be the way all ballrooms look like, elegant and formal. It would just seem like a shame come all the way to Mactan but waste the awesome view. Plus thing is that its newly renovated!


Given all these, we’re thinking of having the ceremony at the OCEAN PAVILION, the cocktails at the GARDEN beside, and the reception at the MACTAN BALLROOM.
In terms of facilities, I am quite impressed… but so far, my experience of their service has been HORRIBLE!!!
1. Our ocular was set on a Saturday, but we arrived of a Friday and thought to have our ocular earlier. I called Shangri-La to see whether this was possible, they informed me that they would call back a few hours later to confirm. I waited the whole day and they never called back.
2. I called 3 days before to set an appointment for the ocular. Upon arriving, I was informed that no one from events was available to tour us. WHAT??? They had someone else entertain us instead.
3. The ocular went well, we were quite satisfied with the venue and requested for additional proposals so we could begin a rough costing. 1 week later – still no proposal! So I called to follow-up. 3 weeks later, still no proposal!!! You call this 5-star service???
Despite the crazy costs, I love the venue and we’re quite set on Shang Mactan. But with this kind of service… Im definitely having second thoughts…