Rai and Marc

Posts Tagged ‘tagaytay’

Church Stylist: RCJC Flower Shop

Package Deal: Aisle arrangement made of Baby’s Breath and Luminaries with candles; Candle arrangement with Baby’s Breath, candles included. Offertory basket and red carpet is free.
Package Price: Php7,000

The Good

RCJC Flower Shop is located in Mendez so if you have a Tagaytay wedding, you don’t have to worry about extra charges. Ms. Cora is very easy to talk to and she replies to my texts in a timely manner so that is a big plus.

The Bad

The price for the luminaries and flower arrangement was quite out of my budget considering that Baby’s breath are known to be cheap flowers. But according to Ms. Cora, Baby’s breath supply is low during first week of November (All Saint’s Day) and that is the reason for the expensive arrangement. I would not want any other flowers for the aisle, Caleruega is already beautiful, and I don’t want to let go of the luminaries either so I accepted the price. Somehow I was expecting the aisle arrangement to be filled with the little blooms but what I saw is close to a Baby’s Breath Cloud bouquet. Too little for an aisle arrangement. I don’t know, guess my expectation was too high.

The Ugly

Ms. Cora must have forgotten the tulle aisle runner.

Heart Ratings

Service: (8/10)

Product (flowers and arrangement): (6/10)

Bang for the Buck: (6/10)

Overall Satisfaction: (7/10)

Rai and Marc’s recommendation: Tagaytay weddings should book RCJC. But make sure to list every single detail and double-check with Ms. Cora.

Wedding Cake and Cupcakes: Joy San Gabriel

Package Deal: 1 pc. 6″ Fondant Wedding Cake for cutting, 160 pcs. cheesecake cupcakes (mango, blueberry, strawberry flavors); Cake toppers provided by the couple
Package Price: Php6,500 for cutting cake + Php70/pc for cupcake + Php10/pc cupcake container + Php5,000 deposit for the cake stand

The Good

Ms. Joy is very easy to talk to and she can handle your request well. We had several cake tasting (yes, several) and we think that her cakes are consistent that is why we booked her. We love the cheesecakes the most, and if we see her in bridal fairs, I always drop by to grab a couple of pieces. She offers advice if you are unsure with your cake design, and she also makes sure that you get the most out of your budget. Example, we want our guests to be able to takeout their cupcakes if they choose not to eat it during reception so we asked Ms. Joy to include 160 pieces of the containers. She advised that the containers will go to waste if the guests decide to eat them right away, so she told us to just provide the containers if the guests request for one. We can then return the unused containers to her, and pay only for those that were used. Smart and economical.

The cake design is also not too bad, we just want a simple cherry blossom cake so I don’t think it is too difficult to do. And methinks that a cake should be delicious first, the looks come in second.

The Bad

Ms. Joy sometimes have a tendency to forget to reply to your texts so it is better to call her.

The Ugly

Nothing ugly to say about her and her cakes.

Heart Ratings

Service: (10/10)

Product (taste and presentation): (9/10)

Bang for the Buck: (10/10)

Overall Satisfaction: (9/10)

Rai and Marc’s recommendation: We can guarantee that her cakes are very, very good. If you choose to book Ms. Joy, make sure to bring your pegs for the design.

Entourage and Guest Accommodation: Yellow Coco Tagaytay

Package Deal: Overnight rental of 4 villas
Package Price: Php8,000/night (Grand Villa good for 12 pax); Php6,000 (Apitong villas good for 8 pax)

The Best

When we arrived at around 11PM in the evening, we woke up Rose, the caretaker, and she is still accommodating when we asked her if we can check-in even if it is late. Read the horror story of Rosemont Garden here.

Liane was allowed inside the room so I can say that this is the best thing about Yellow Coco.

The Good

Very nice location, about 5 minutes away from Colossian Gardens and 10 minutes from Caleruega. We liked it because the villas are cheap considering that the location is in the heart of Tagaytay City. Breakfast included.

The Bad

The beds are quite small for two, the blankets are thin and the bathroom could use a better water heater. The rental does not include gas for the stove, which you have to pay Php150 per small tank of LPG.

The Ugly

We did not stay long enough to see anything ugly.

Heart Ratings

Service (how we were entertained during our stay): (10/10)

Service (how we were entertained before our stay): (10/10)

Product (the house and facilities): (5/10)

Bang for the Buck: (9/10)

Overall Satisfaction: (8/10)

Rai and Marc’s recommendation: If you are on a budget and/or travelling with pets, we recommend this villa.

Preparation Venue: Rosemont Garden

Package Deal: 2 nights house rental good for 12 pax (3 rooms with 3 T/B, a bathtub, free use of kitchen, refrigerator and stove with gas)
Package Price: Php10,000/night (Price subject to change)

The Good

Rosemont Garden is well-situated along Aguinaldo Highway, a ten minute ride from Caleruega. The place has a very nice view of Taal Lake perfect for picture-taking and the early morning breeze is so very Tagaytay that I have to wear my jacket during preps because I get chills whenever the cold breeze hits my face and back.

We were also allowed to use the kitchen and gas stove for breakfast so it was convenient for us to buy in nearby Mendez market and have home-style meals.

Another big plus is the backyard which is also great for picture-taking.

The Bad

Pets are not allowed in the house. Liane has to suffer the harsh cold air because she had to stay outside and Liane is never at ease when we are not around so I guess that’s why she was barking all the time. I admit she was very annoying that time but it was their (Karla’s) policy not to let pets in.

The Ugly

This is when things turned very, very ugly. At around 8PM of the wedding eve, I decided to fill the tub with water for a warm bath to relax. I figured that I have to be in bed by 9PM so I can have a six-hour sleep since I have to be up by 3AM. However, I noticed that the water is yellowish and smelled like rust. So I thought that the house must have been unused for a few days, the yellow water must have been stagnant in the pipes so I drained the water, cleaned the tub, and started filling it up again. It was almost 9PM but I thought that I can still manage to lose an hour of sleep. When I came back to check the tub, the water is still yellowish and the water had stopped running. So I checked the sink and all the other bathrooms and to my horror, all bathrooms are waterless! Just imagine my horror at that time.

At 9:30PM, I went outside and woke up the caretaker and told him that we don’t have water in the house. I think he just checked the pump or something, but never came back to me to inform me what happened. At around 10:15, I texted Karla to inform her of the situation. At this point, I am already in tears and starting to panic. I have to be up by 3AM and it’s 10:30PM already! So at around 11PM, I called my hubby because he was at Yellow Coco that time, and asked him to pick me up and told him we need to immediately find another place to stay. Fortunately, there are still vacant villas in Yellow Coco so we booked one more villa.

I think it was already 12:30 midnight when I slept, and woke up at 3:30AM. By 4AM, we were back in Rosemont for the preps, and there’s still no water. When hubby asked the caretaker to check, he turned on the pump and the water is back.

In fairness to Karla, she did not know that there was no water reserved that time because there was supposedly water delivery scheduled that day. She apologized but I was so freaked out that time, I felt so bad for this unfortunate event. I didn’t have time to get angry or complain. I think it was Karla’s best effort to help me find another place because she texted me and said that she can offer a new place for us.

One more ugly thing that I should mention is when Liane was at the basement, she pooped. I was expecting the caretakers to help me cleanup (good thing it was a solid poop) but they just watched me. Didn’t even offered newspapers to wrap the poop in, I have to ask. I know this is my responsibility as Liane’s mommy but at least I expected them to offer something I can use to cleanup. Guess they do not like pets at all. So if you are bringing pets to the house, make sure you bring warm clothing for them because they have to stay outside. In the cold.

Heart Ratings

Service (how we were entertained during our stay): (3/10)

Service (how we were entertained before our stay): (10/10)

Product (the house and facilities): (5/10)

Bang for the Buck: (9/10)

Overall Satisfaction: (6/10)

Rai and Marc’s recommendation: The water issue might be an isolated case, but all in all, Rosemont Garden is very well kept house and offers excellent view of the Taal Lake.

Chocolate Cake and Choco Beans Supplier: Theo Broma Belgian Chocolates

Package Deal: 12 pcs. 3.5″ Perfection Minicakes (Primary Sponsor Gifts), 30 pcs. Chocolate Beans (Supplier Gifts)
Package Price: Php165/pc for Perfection Minicakes, Php70/box for Chocolate Beans

The Good

We booked this supplier because we love their chocolates! Rich, velvety smooth – it’s a sin on a plate (naks!) and lovely packaging. Plus it’s free delivery within Metro Manila.

The Bad

The gift tags used were cheap paper with ink. I could have used our “thank you cards” instead if Val Bunao provided them before the wedding. And methinks that the choco beans are a bit over-priced but not the cake.

The Ugly

Beware of diabetes.

Heart Ratings

Service: (10/10)

Product (taste and presentation, packaging): (10/10)

Bang for the Buck: (8/10)

Overall Satisfaction: (10/10)

Rai and Marc’s recommendation: If you love chocolates then book them. Buy in bulk then re-pack to save more.

Here is our video same day edit (SDE). Actually, a different version of the song was used here – very different from the one we watched during the reception.

Video: Val Bunao
Music: Stolen by Dashboard Confessional

Litrato Photobooth

Guest Souvenir: Litrato Photobooth

Package Deal: Photobooth with personalized layout and backdrop, single 4R prints, standees included. Good for 3 + 1 (free) hours of unlimited shots. Stop time included.
Package Price: Php6,500 + Php 2,000 (Out of Town)

The Good

We booked this supplier the last minute when we found out that we do not have time to look for souvenirs anymore. Since we got them during bridal fair, we got 1 hour as a freebie. Unfortunately, the OOT charge was not waived but even so, they are still way cheaper than the other photobooths.

The print outs are not so bad. We initially liked Baicapture at first, but because they cost Php5k more, we decided to book Litrato even if the printouts of Baicapture is better. The management folks are very accommodating and easy to deal with as well.

The photobooth crew is also nice when we had time to take our pictures. Wala namang nagreklamo about the person manning the booth so I guess that’s a plus for them.

The Bad

If I had not remembered that we booked them, I would have entirely forgotten them. It was about 4 days before the wedding when I texted them and mentioned that I have not provided them the photo that will be used for the layout. We did not receive any reminders from them aside from one email that came a few days after we booked them. Good thing that the layout came the next day after I sent them our photo.

Also, I wish they had prepared a couple more studies of the layout because we received only one design. I don’t have time to deal with the layout because we have to get it done before we leave for Tagaytay.

The Ugly

Some guests say that the props smell bad. I wish they sprayed antiseptics before and during the event so the sweat will not stick into the props. And they had only a few props to choose from.

Heart Ratings

Service: (10/10)

Product (props, printouts and layout): (7/10)

Bang for the Buck: (8/10)

Overall Satisfaction: (8/10)

Rai and Marc’s recommendation: They are best if you are on a tight budget. Don’t forget to ask them to disinfect the props first.

Bridal Car: Beetle Limo

Package Deal: Rental of Black Volkswagen Beetle Limousine for 6 hours including driver and gas
Package Price: Php17,000 – 10% Discount

The Good

The Beetle Limo is one of the suppliers I want to take off the list. First, it was expensssssiiiiiveee. The price we paid for 6 hours rent of limo is twice the price we paid for 3 days rent of Nissan Urvan. It was not practical, and we can do without it. Heck, Don Robert’s cars are half the price, and still we can use the extra money for other stuff.

So why get it in the first place? For the sake of tradition. Marc’s parents used a VW Beetle for their bridal car. And we want the same too. When we saw the beetle limo in a wedding fair, we just knew we had to get it even if it means stretching the budget (wedding budgets are meant to be stretched, anyway). Come to think of it, this is the day when we can indulge ourselves and have a reason to ride a limousine. A modified Volkswagen Beetle Limousine!

A little bit of trivia: Beetle Limo is the only company that offers beetle limo in the Philippines.

Kuya Jimmy is the driver assigned to us. He is very nice, wears proper chauffeur uniform, very polite and on time. He makes a lot of kwento while I was waiting in the car before the bridal march, which is good so I won’t get nervous. We even asked our photographers to take Kuya Jimmy’s photo with us and the car so we will have a souvenir. We might not get a chance to ride a limousine again.

The Bad

There are no flowers included with the package because according them, out of town wedding packages do not include flower arrangement. Though I am not sure why. If you want your bridal car to have flowers, you might need to get your florist to do it.

The Ugly

The air conditioning feels like it does not exist. It was so hot inside the limo when we got in after the church ceremony that I keep adjusting the aircon knob so the air hits my face. Unfortunately, it won’t move. The temperature seems to be a little better when we arrived at the reception waiting for our grand entrance.

One more ugly worth mentioning: We forgot to use the sun roof and have picture taken inside the limo.  This is our fault. *pouts*

Heart Ratings

Service: (10/10)

Product (meaning the car itself): (7/10)

Bang for the Buck: (4/10)

Overall Satisfaction: (8/10)

Rai and Marc’s recommendation: If your budget will allow, take the limo. If you are not part of the alta sociedad like us, this is the only chance you will get to ride this expensive car.

Mobile Bar: Shakers Big Punch 808
Contact Person: Ryan M. Rano
Contact Numbers: 0927-3063-290 / 0923-5925-633 / 930-8671

Package Deal: Free flowing (unlimited) cocktails for 5 hours for 75-100pax + 5 bar games
Package Price: Php11,000 + Php 1,000 (Out of Town Charge)

The Good

I think that SBP808 serves the usual cocktails, but they gave them slightly different names. I was not able to drink a lot because of the stuff we have to take care of, but the two shots I managed to taste is good.

My direct contact is the bar owner, Ryan Rano. He is very easy to deal with, very easy to talk to and flexible with the payment terms. I booked them the last minute but they were able to schedule our party. The bar crew is so accommodating.  After the party, I asked them if a lot of guests were able to enjoy the bar and they said that mostly the guests near the bar were able to. They even offered some of the guests to bring home the mixed drinks, and offered me the drinks as well. The bad news is I can’t find empty bottles to hold the drinks so I had to let go. Note to self: bring Tupperware stuff to parties.

The price is very affordable too. Compared to other mobile bars, they offer almost half the price for unlimited drinks. According to Ryan, they don’t join much on bridal fairs because they might have to increase their price if they do so. I even attempted to get discount but again, their prices are already very affordable.

During the program, we used their bar games instead of the traditional bouquet and garter toss. The single gents had Tower 808, where they have to finish 8 shots of different drinks (strawberry juice as chaser, then the rest are mix of kamikaze, gin, vodka,  etc.). The last to finish is the guy who ‘caught’ the garter.

For the ladies, they had Flaming Shots, and the last to finish represents those who ‘caught’ the bouquet. The two are then asked to play the game where they had to sit on the guy’s lap. I really don’t remember much on this part of the program, I was dying of envy – I want my cocktails!

I think the guests loved the bar based on the photos posted on their Multiply website. I can see why Francis is wasted that night, hehehe. Though I have yet to ask them what they think of their service.

The Bad

I did not see anyone having bar games, except the games we included in the wedding program, the Tower 808 for the single gents and Flaming Shots for the single ladies. I think the games were not offered.  That or I just did not see them enjoying the games.

The Ugly

None. I do not see anything that may cause nightmares.

Heart Ratings

Service: (10/10)
Product: (10/10)
Bang for the Buck: (10/10)
Overall Satisfaction: (10/10)

Rai and Marc’s recommendation: Get Shaker’s Big Punch 808 on your next party. Your guests will sure have a blast.