Searching for Venue - The most challenging part in planning your wedding...

On my last post, my heart is with The Greenery Bulacan for the wedding venue. But when I googled and searched again, I found lots and lots of wedding venues in Tagaytay which is actually cheaper compare to the Greenery. I am also considering to get outside caterers which is I know this will spend us too much money because of the corkage fee. Besides, the package I got from The Greenery is too much compare to Passion Cooks which is for me the best catering set-up I saw in most wedding. They are doing a personalized and themed designs for the venue and ceremony.

So here are the lists of the wedding venues I've got and their rates:

1. FERNWOOD (as of August 2010) Venue Rental Only

I. MORNING FUNCTION (9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.)

Venue 1- P60,000.00 + VAT
Venue 2- P55,000.00 + VAT
Venue 3- P56,000.00 + VAT
Venue 4- P60,000.00 + VAT

II. PM FUNCTION (6:00 p.m. -11:00 p.m.)

Venue 1- P97,000.00 + VAT
Venue 2- P84,000.00 + VAT
Venue 3- P89,500.00 + VAT
Venue 4-P97,000.00 + VAT

NOTE: 50% deposit of the total guaranteed cost, balance to be settled 3 months prior to event date
*ADDITIONAL PHP 8,000.00 FOR DECEMBER and JANUARY EVENT.

St. Francis of Assisi Chapel--------------------Php 26,500.00
P9,500.00- must be settled in Mt. Carmel Proj.6 (documentation, priest, and other services)
P5,000.00 -use of A/C for chapel (optional)
P12,000.00 -Floral arrangement for chapel (in house florist only)

ACCREDITED CATERERS

CENTER TABLE CATERING: www.centertablecatering.com
MANDARIN ORIENTAL: www.mandarinoriental.com/manila
JOSIAHS CATERING INC.: www.josiahcatering.com
SHANGRI-LA RESTAURANT
JUAN CARLO THE CATERER: www.juancarlothecaterer.com
VIA MARE: www.viamare.com.ph

2. IBARRA's GARDEN (as of August 2010)

Standard Wedding Package (150 pax) - Php 82,320 to Php110, 040
Deluxe Wedding Package (150 pax) - Php 124, 320 to 165, 640

Address: 525 Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila, Philippines
Tel Nos. 522-9999/ 523-3788/ 524-7655
Email: ibarrasgarden_mla@yahoo.com

3. Jardin de Marimar (as of August 2010)
Antipolo City

Galera - 100 pax for Php 7,000
Pergola - 60 pax for Php 8,500
Estacion - 150 pax for Php 10,000
Galera - 100 pax for Php 10,000 - 18,000
Intramuros - 70 pax for Php 11,000 - 17,000
Terraza (partly covered) - 120 pax for Php 13,500 - 25,000
Ylang ylang - 150 pax - Php 15,000 - 23,000
Plaza (covered) - 150 pax - Php 17,000 - 28,000
Paradiso - 200 pax for Php 23,000 - 35,000
Sevilla-aircooled (fully covered) - 200 pax for Php 25,000 - 37,000
Sevilla-airconditioned (fully covered) - 200 pax for Php 35,000 - 50,000

4. The Greenery (as of January 2013)
Baliuag, Bulacan

Essentials package - Php 149,000.00net for 150 persons
Glamorous package - Php 164,850.00net for 150 persons
Unforgettable package - Php 187,350.00net for 150 persons

VENUES Rates:
Grand Ballroom (capacity 450 pax) - Php 60,000
Lobby (capacity 150 pax) - Php 50,000
Fine Dining (capacity 50-60 pax) - Php 30,000
Lighthouse (capacity 600 pax) Php 60,000
Floating Gazebo (capacity 100 pax) Php 30,000
House of Greens Php 60,000
Open Garden Php 60,000

ACCOMODATIONS:
I.VILLAS
A. GRAND VILLAS ***** P 20,000
B. SINGLE ROOMS ***** P 4,000

II.DOLLHOUSE
Bar at the first floor
Rest Room
Master Bedroom ***** P 3,500
Single Room ***** P 2,500
Attic Room ***** P 4,000
2nd Floor at the dollhouse ***** P 8,000

I like it soo much! But there are lots of reasons why I force to get another venue for our wedding. If you will not avail their catering service and other tied-up suppliers, you will then realize that the the corkage fee is too much. Too much and enough to add this budget on my wedding gown and dress of my families.

The Greenery will only allow catering service from its accredited caterers.A Php 20,000.00 catering fee is required to be paid by the client. A corkage fee of Php 1,500 will be charged for every 12 bottles of alcoholic beverages.

The Greenery has arrangement and tie-up with different suppliers. Should the client wish to bring in a different supplier other than The Greenery’s designated suppliers, corkage fee will apply. Below are the list of products and services that are subject to the fee:

Photo and Video – Php 3,000
Mobile Bar – Php 3,000
Sounds and Lights – Php 3,000
Additional Menus – Php 500/item
Lights – Php 1,000
Photo booth – Php 1,000
Chocolate Fountain – Php 1,000
Sound System – Php 3,000
Musical Band – Php 1,000
Balloon Arranger – Php 1,000


5. Olive LAGarden (as of January 2013)
Covered hall (capacity 200 pax) - Php 20,000 maximum of 8 hours

JOSIAH's Catering josiahcatering.com
SWEET ONION sweetonion_ccs@yahoo.co
IGNACIO's Catering gnacioscatering.com/contact.html

6. GAZEBO ROYALE

They have a very nice venue, photogenic in all shots while I am checking it over the internet and mostly a good review. The reason why I didn't chose this it's because it is very common as a wedding venue like Fernwood, Fernbrook and Glass Garden. But I admit, those are really nice!

The Champagne Hall is a beautifully landscaped 900-sqm area that can accommodate 700 guests. It features a waterfall for a truly relaxing ambiance while capiz lamps and ceiling decors accent the Hall, creating a perfect setting for any occasion.
Rates for the Champagne Hall: 400 Guaranteed guests
WEEKDAYS (Monday-Thursday)
AM slot - Php 80,000.00
PM slot - Php 90,000.00

WEEKENDS (Friday-Sunday)
AM slot - Php 85,000.00
PM slot - Php 98,500.00

The Phoenix Avenue, a 400-sqm area surrounded by luscious greens, interesting water features, and ambient lighting, is ideal for smaller functions of up to 280 guests.
Rates for the Phoenix Avenue : 200 Guaranteed guests
WEEKDAYS (Mondays-Thursdays)
AM slot - Php50,000.00
PM slot - Php60,000.00

WEEKENDS (Friday-Sunday)
AM slot - Php55,000.00
PM slot - Php65,000.00


The Bamboo Grove is an air-conditioned glassed-in area that gives guests an interesting view of the landscaped surroundings from within. It is ideal for intimate functions, such as birthdays, corporate affairs, with up to 60 guests.
Rates for the Bamboo Grove: 50 Guaranteed guests
WEEKDAYS (Mondays-Thursdays)
AM slot - Php 18,000.00
PM slot - Php 20,000.00

WEEKENDS (Friday-Sunday)
AM slot - Php 20,000.00
PM slot - Php 22,000.00

The Manila Catering
Eloquente Catering
Simply Delicious Catering - got their rates and it is so afforadable. If ever I will choose Gazebo Royale as my Wedding venue then I will 100% get them. For 100 pax rates is from Php 77,000 up to Php 120,000 and have lots of food choices and packages.

CVJ Food Catering
Josiah’s Catering
Verleo Catering
Hizon's Catering Services 

7. ROSEMONT GARDENS (rates for 2014)

Tagaytay

Rate: Php 50,000 for the venue, ceremony and preparation house

-  bedrooms good for 12 pax

What I like on this place is you can do altogether in one place. This is like a vacation house rental where you sleep a night with your family to avoid hassle on preparation on the wedding day. Aside from that, they have a beautiful view of Taal Volcano. If you will try to search other venues with Taal view, they are expensive and you have to rent a hotel nearby for the wedding preps. 

Although there are lots of areas still need to fix and put more design to qualify on my taste for my fairy-theme, I am confident that my wedding will still turn on the way I want it to be because I have a good and trusted team. Passion Cooks for the catering and props designs, Photography of Blacktie Project and DSL for Videography. As long as you have an experienced team who will make your wedding a beautiful and unique one, I think I am ok on Rosemont Garden. So far, my husband and I are 100% sure on this. Hopefully on my next post I will book those 4!