Meeting our Wedding Planner - Bong Abella

Meeting Bong Abella, our wedding planner for some updates

We're so blessed to get a wedding planner that frequents Manila. When I found out he was in town again, we met up at Cyma, Greenbelt for some dinner and chit chat. It was nice to be able to share with him my vision for our wedding and to get his inputs as well.

We Finally Found Our Wedding Planner!

After several meetings with one too many local Cebu planners, we finally found the one! He is decent and respectable, direct to the point, organized, easy to talk to and trustworthy. Best of all, he seemed really excited for our wedding and had awesome ideas and inputs. He's not as cheap as others in Cebu but still quite reasonable, considering we came across one that cost over PhP100k! He was recommended by our wedding videographer (Mayad Studios) and Shangri-La Mactan.

Our planner... none other than Bong Abella of Koncepts and More.

Notice the cool coincidence! Eyebrows and I are both wearing purple -- the color theme of our wedding! Hahahaha!

After a breakfast meeting in Cebu and a dinner meeting in Manila, we finally signed the contract.

Contact Details:
Address: 27 Almendras Compound, Almendras Steet, Mabolo, Cebu City
Telephone: (+63 32) 2318888
Mobile: (+63) 920 9014104, (+63) 915 3862529
Email: konceptsandmore@yahoo.com

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! :)

Planning for a Wedding Planner

In my attempt to be more organized, I sent out a list of requirements to our initial shortlisted wedding planners and ask for a more customized cost. He's the requirements I put together. Anything I missed out on??? Suggestions are most welcome... :)

Preparation (3 months ahead)

• Unlimited consultation
• Schedule a Pre-planning and Getting to know you (inform planner of wedding details)
• Oversee RSVP of guests (follow up calls, coordinate with travel agent, etc)
• Assist in bringing together the wedding theme/motif/décor (considering suppliers)
• Final meeting with suppliers to finalize details
• Coordinate and monitor suppliers, ensure completeness prior to wedding day
• Assist in ceremony/reception program
• Assist in orchestration of music

Pre-Wedding (2 weeks ahead)

• Exposure to all suppliers and decors prior to the wedding
• Finalize suppliers (ensure that all suppliers and DIY stuff are ready as planned)
• Safekeep all DIY stuff and in charge of bringing props to venue (ex: program cards, escort cards, give aways, secondary sponsor props, etc)
• Wedding Rehearsal (oversee ceremony rehearsals, briefing/orientation entourage)
• Facilitate the program briefing (with host/s, readers, and other persons concerned)
• Smooth flow of transpo and lodging of guests to and from Mactan (Friday-Sunday)

On the day

• In charge of all suppliers (band, flowers, food, liquor, makeup, photographer, videographer, technical team, waiters, etc…)
• Ensure proper set up the venue as agreed upon (DIY stuff, flowers, design, etc)
• Ensure technical set-up (sound system, microphones, band/sound, AVP, etc)
• Supervision of hair/makeup, entourage flowers, departure of bride/groom for ceremony, pictorials (post-ceremony and table to table)
• Schedule and coordination transpo of guests and suppliers on the day (transportation management)
• Schedule and coordination of break and meal time of couple and service crew
• Distribute "misalettes" / program flow to guests
• Organize the processional and the recessional flow (Que entourage for walking down the aisle)
• Coordinate with wedding participants (ex: readers, offertory, singers, secondary sponsors, etc)
• Provide ushers/usherettes (What outfit are they wearing? Can they speak fluent English?)
• Implement program flow/ wedding schedule
• Decide for the couple in case of rain (Implement Plan B)
• Oversee registration booth and escort cards
• Register all received gifts
• Attend to inquiries/problems
• Distribute giveaways
• Oversee food service
• Oversee liquor count/excess cake/food/giveaways
• Handle final payments of all suppliers

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

Brainstorming Suppliers

Brainstorming Suppliers

I have come across tons of options for suppliers in the net, magazines, expos and through word of mouth. Ideally, I would want to get someone who's work I have personally seen. But for now, Im keeping my options open. I guess to help me organize all these famous wedding suppliers Ive been hearing about, I thought to keep a running list.


Wedding Planner:
For now, Im considering getting a wedding planner who will work with me on the wedding day itself. Mostly because I am a very hands on bride, but also cuz I am beginning to realize that I actually do enjoy the stressfull planning (how strange...). I figured the planner I'll be getting depends a lot on the venue. I dont have much names on hand, but I figured I'd get to that later on.

1. Amanda Tirol - Boracay wedding
2. Calrice Avinate - W@W top 10, 2008
3. JP Montilla - Recommended by Antonio's, for a no worries wedding
   

Gowns:
20 wedding magazines and 1,000 webpages after, I think Ive figured out what type of gown I like. I've pretty much put aside the idea of something Greek-inspired and am going with something more bold and elegant. Im thinking A-line, silk, flowers, lots of cloth, minimal to no beading, mid-length train, shoulder-length veil -- romantic style. This isnt carved on stone though, every other day I seem to change my mind.

1. Richie Ortega - This idea came from Jacqui, googled him and I love his designs. They're unique and sometimes daring. Definately an option.
   
2. Ivarluski Aseron - Another idea from Jacqui, still gotta see more of his work though.
   
3. Puey Quinones - Sometimes I fancy the layered ruffled skirt. Plus, I came across the gown for Chesca Garcia -- elegant!
   
4. Oscar Peralta
5. Patrice Ramos - Diaz - maybe a little too much beadwork for me, but worth considering. I like what she did for the Chris.
6. Kristel Yulo - I've seen her entourage gowns (again, Chris' wedding), its in theme with what I want. Although she's more expensive than I imagined, Im still considering.
7. Cecilio Abad - W@W top 10, 2008. Was looking as some pics over the web and he just might be exactly what Im looking for! He uses a lot of silk. Elaborate skirts. Lovely.
   

Although I wasnt in town to witness the Philippine fashion week, I did keep up to date over the net. There were a few designers that caught my eye and I thought to list them down just in case I dont find what Im looking for from the above big names.

1. Martin Bautista
2. Edgar Madamba
3. Boying Eustaquio
4. Popo Go
5. Marc Rancy
6. Benjie Manuel
7. Jaz Cerso

Photography:
If our schedule and budget permits, I'm pretty sure about Mangored. I'm picky about pictures.

1. Mangored
2. Raymond Isaac
3. Jomel Gregorio
4. Paul Vincent
5. Terry Uy - Jill's suggestion, cheaper but good. More traditional style, but he seems to capture the moments.
   

Videography:
Just the same, my ideal for videography is Magbanua. Need to book that ASAP.

1. Jason Magbanua
2. Mayad Studios
3. Threelogy
4. Phoeben Teocson - Another suggestion from Jill. Cheaper but quite talented.
   

Catering:
Food is top priority for us. Ideally, we'd want a set menu with yummy food. We went to this wedding once catered by Cibo and the food was awesome. Since then, Ive made a mental note to consider them for our wedding. Thing is though, not all venues allow you to bring your own caterer -- so again, this is put on hold for now.

1. Cibo

Flowers:
Flowers for me is a low priority item. I want a nice and natural looking venue and simple but very elegant flowers. Plus, you cant go all out in everything, right -- unless you're willing to shell out for it. We've given it some thought, and we've decided to be practical.

Invitations:
Another low priority expense item. With invites, I believe less can sometimes be more.

1. Margie Damian (GA Printing) - reasonable! And thats exactly what Im looking for.