Mt Carmel's Complete Wedding Package

In the era of value meals and promo bundles, it now seems that more and more things can be had for far cheaper and easier when bought in bundles. It started out that only venues and restaurants wanted to bundle, as it is easier to sell these on non-peak days (weekdays and mornings). It is easy on the suppliers as well, and much easier for the client to have only one person or entity to communicate with.

Now, with the cooperation of various suppliers, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, looks to launch its very own 'package deal'. As I am one of the main architects of this project, I will not critique it but only try to promote it. So whether you are planning to get married soon, know of someone who's planning to get married soon, or just curious please take a look at the package that we have prepared. Please click here to visit the Carmel Events Website.

For inquiries please call (632) 583-6416

On Choosing a Restaurant for your Reception

For most newlyweds, having the reception at a restaurant is the most practical solution. From grills with wonderful outdoor views to great Chinese restaurants. But what should you look for when looking at a restaurant for your Wedding's Reception.

Firstly, and probably quite obviously, the restaurant should offer food that is to your taste. Primarily, since these are restaurants, the food should be good and on time. One good thing about most restaurants is that they are usually pretty accessible, with good parking and public transport. Most restaurants with the resources to handle weddings have packages and be sure to check these out as they are mostly cheaper than trying to put together everything yourself. One often overlooked feature is that the restaurant should have at least pretty good looking interiors. I've been to some very nice restaurants in the most unusual surroundings but it's what is inside that matters most. With that in mind you should also look for a restaurant which has good security, you would not want any of your guests getting robbed outside or by bystanders inside the restaurant, of course reputation of the restaurant is also an important consideration.

The absolute best part about having your reception at a restaurant is that you know all the food already, you may have eaten there before, and you know what is good and what is just okay. And if there some unexpected guests, it is easy for the restaurant to adjust, since everything is right there. And more often than not, it is also the cheapest option. Some even offer eat all you can and drink all you can. Having a restaurant as a reception venue does satisfy completely the food aspect of the reception, as there is very limited privacy in restaurants and also even the most beautiful function rooms cannot begin to match that of a hotel's ballroom or the ambiance of that garden venue. Pound for pound though having your reception at a restaurant makes a lot of sense especially in these trying times.

Requirements for Church Weddings

This might be a little off topic, but hey, I haven't seen any postings out there regarding this topic, so I decided to help and post this list of Wedding Requirements for most Catholic Churches in the Philippines.

1) Baptismal Certificates (Recent with "For Marriage Purpose")
2) Confirmation Certificates (Recent with "For Marriage Purpose")
3) Certificates of "No Marriage" CENOMAR from NSO (for singles)
Certified True Copy of Marriage Certificates (For Civilly Married)
4) Recent 2x2 Photo
5) Recent Residence Certificate
6) Valid Marriage License from Civil Registrar
7) Attendance of Parish Pre Cana Seminar
8) Permission of the Parish Priest of the Bride
9) Delegation form for invited officiating Priest
10) Publication of Banns - In the Parishes of the Bride and Groom
11) Canonical Interview with Parish Priest.

Other requirements for Special Cases:
1) For Mixed Marriage: Permit form the Chancery Office of the local Diocese
2) For Marriage between a Filipino and a Foreigner: Civil Status at the Foreign Embassy and Permit form the Chancery Office of the local Diocese

Tips in Selecting a Reception Venue

Ok, so I probably should have thought of this earlier, but I think with much more experience at this, I have become more qualified to make these recommendations. The following is my guide to selecting a reception venue that's perfect for your needs:

1. Budget - Of course, this is the first thing that you should set and most importantly stick to, below are some price ranges for different types of venues.
Garden: Rental fees for garden type weddings in Manila ranges from 60,000-180,000.
Hotels: There are not rental only of hotels, but rather packages. A bit more expensive.
Packages start at around 300,000 for 150 guests.
Multi purpose Halls/Tents: Some are purposely built for weddings and some aren't but most are air-conditioned. Rental varies from 2,000 for a Multi purpose hall inside a
village up to 50,000 or more for purposely built Tents or Halls.
Restaurants: This is an excellent alternative if you are on a tight budget, and want good
food. Prices of course vary.

2. Location - It would not make sense in selecting a location that most your family and friends will have a hard time traveling to and from. You have to consider what modes of transport are readily available to your guests and what the venue offers. For example, if you know that most of your guests have their own vehicles then a venue with ample parking space would be good, conversely, if your guests will have to commute then choosing a venue with good access to public transport will be more appropriate. It is also best to try to find a venue where there is not too much traffic especially just before the time of your reception, in my opinion this is the reason that most guests try to leave early, because they want to avoid the traffic.

3. Amenities - Of course, what you want is what you should get. Before booking any venue please check out all the amenities that they offer. You might end up paying extra for something that you could have negotiated earlier. Remember, you are most powerful when you have not committed anything to the venue yet. Shop around and don't be shy to ask for free stuff, in fact they want you to have those stuff because believe it or not those of us in the wedding industry want the best for our clients.

4. Check out all the rules and terms - Some venues will ask you to pay a cork age fee for some items or unaccredited suppliers or electricity. Also please read all the contracts so that you will not be surprised. Some venues want to have some sort of monopoly having their own accredited suppliers for catering, photo, lights, sound systems, etc. Learn all the ins and outs of each venue.

5. Try to find some referrals. If you know somebody who has had experience with a venue either attending or throwing a party at a venue, try to get their inputs. This first hand experience is invaluable in your search for a wedding venue. If you have a wedding planner, he/she might have some suggestions, and always remember to keep an open mind.

6. Decor, decor, decor. Having a more expensive venue may not be as expensive if your thinking about the additional decorations that you might want to add. For example, you won't be needing as much flowers to decorate a garden venue (duh!) as you would a tent or a hotel. Also, creating beautiful lighting effects might only be possible in an enclosed area, meaning that open air gardens won't be as effective. Keep in mind that an aesthetically pleasing venue sticks to the minds of your guests and will keep them saying what a beautiful reception.

7. Comfort and Ease. Almost none of the other things matter if you are not personally comfortable with the venue. Meaning, that the venue puts you at ease either by great aesthetics or great service and even better if both are present. So what is it about choosing a venue that puts you to ease? Well, this really varies from person to person. Your preference should really dictate what venue you choose, it is also a reflection of your personalities. Along the way to choosing your perfect wedding venue, always remember that life is a journey and not a destination, so don't be afraid to indulge yourself even though you know that this particular venue isn't quite right for you don't be too hasty and just live the experiences one at a time.

Father Mark Horan Hall

The Father Mark Horan Hall is located in the side of the Mount Carmel Parish Church in New Manila. It is run completely by the church. It is a great option for those who do not want to travel far from the church and risk traffic and as a major plus, it has ample parking spaces as well. It's main rival (due to vicinity) is the Oasis, which is a beautiful garden venue although it is not air conditioned. I always stress the air conditioning because even on a good day a venue without air conditioning is going to be at the very least a bit uncomfortable (unless you're in Baguio or Tagaytay perhaps) for guests in Barong, suits or gowns. Back to Fr. Mark Horan Hall, the facility is fully air conditioned, and has a built in sound system and stage. There are also some chandeliers hanging on the ceiling. While I won't divulge the pricing of the venue rental of the Fr. Mark Horan Hall, I will say that the price is just about the price you would expect to pay for a good sound system with a stage, that alone should suffice. I've seen beautiful decorations made in the Fr. Mark Horan Hall but it really does vary depending on your caterer. Catering packages for the Fr. Mark Horan Hall are also some of the cheapest that I know of and as a plus the Fr. Mark Horan Hall has its own Tiffany Chairs, which on some other venues your caterer might charge you extra for, but here it is all inclusive. Maybe I am endorsing this venue a bit too much, but other than the lack of a picturesque photo opportunity spots outside, I cannot say that anything else is lacking with this venue plus I cannot over emphasize the cheap price of rental, which includes, a sound system, stage, LCD projector screen, tiffany chairs and air conditioning, plus ample parking space which is within the compounds of the church.