Prenup Shoot: DONE!

Yes! Just before Oct. ended, we had our prenup done. I honestly wanted it to be shot two months before but due to some reasons, it was postponed for a month.

We had our shoot taken at La Mesa Watershed in Quezon city. It was a perfect place. Secluded, serene and beautiful. Actually, it's a bike trail but photoshoots can be held there with request. You can't just walk-in.

I didn't know it was that big. A tour guide will be assigned to escort your team or else you'll get lost in the woods.

The spots I saw on a prenup that was also held there were freakin' far! It's 6km from the gate. You'll need an SUV type of vehicle to take you there. A car won't do, the road has high humps.

When we reached the location, we needed to trek for like 20-30 mins to reach the lake. The exhausting walk is  really worth it when you see the calm lake. Amazing. Our photographer Benjie Tiongco, had an occular of the spots that he wanted to take pictures at. Remembering the shoot, the sun was scourging hot. It's 3pm & our sweats are dripping while posing for the camera. But it was an adventure for me. :)

We had 4 locations at the Watershed. My favorite was at the stream -- super perfect! We ended the shoot at the tower near the gate. It was already dark, just in time for the lighting effects.

It was an awesome and fun day. All praises to the great mind, hands and eyes of our photographer Benjie Tiongco. He's really talented. We've seen all the pictures on his camera during the dinner after the shoot. Raw but not a shot needed an enhancement. I'm still amazed until now. Now we're waiting for the delivery of the pictures. I think he said it will ready a week or two before our wedding. Oh well.. I still have the hangover from the shoot. :)

Here's the only picture he sent us so we can use it for the photobooth layout:

Photobooth: Pose and Print

We booked them last June 26 Bridal Fair at World Trade Center. There were only few photobooths to choose from. We got their promo package of 2 hours + 1 hour FREE of Photo Magnets for 8k. Free customized tarpaulin plus the usual amenities. We paid in full so less pa ng 200 pesos. 7,800 total. :)

Here are their sample photos:

Caterer: Queensland Catering

Finally! We had our caterer booked yesterday. From hundreds of choices, we came down to one -- Queensland Catering.

They offer good food and elegant setup for a low price. Their wedding packages start from P350++. Of course we're not just after the food but the setup must also stand out. We'll be having 200 guests and being honest to myself, we cannot afford a 200k+ food budget for Josiah's or K by Cunanan. They were our top choices, in dreams I suppose. But Queensland's food isn't that far from those caterers. When we had our initial food tasting at Ysable's Garden las January, their Baked Norwegian Salmon in Parmesan Cheese and Chicken Flambe were my top picks. They got my taste buds all giddy. 

Their setup for a Children's Party 

Videographer: BlackTie Project

The reason why we choose them was because we wanted the best Same-Day edit video. Siyempre, minsan ka lang ikakasal. Photos and videos are the only ones that will be left after the wedding so they better be worth it.

What we did was to note the shots that we want to be taken during the wedding. Some part of their videos kasi medyo di ko gusto. Like yung may voice over ng priest. I want it to be just the music that you'll hear. 

I don't know if couples who book Black Tie really request for specific shots or they just leave everything to the Video guys. To tell you the truth, I'm directing my own Same-Day edit in my head. I think it's good. Haha! So I want our videos to be something like what I have in my head. :)

Photographer: Benjie Tiongco

I was actually eyeing for Imagine Nation. I ask for their rates and they emailed it to me with the list of their photographers classified according to their rates. I found Benjie Tiongco and searched for his website. He's so good. And he improves in every new album he posts. I asked for his rate. A good one with Free Pre-nup pa. He's so nice. We paid our DP last Dec '11 para maprice lock if ever he would come up with updated rates. Whenever I have questions, I would just FB message him and he would reply. 

Church: San Sebastian Church

December 2011 when we started looking for churches. Our first choice talaga is San Sebastian. I've never been there before pero I fell inlove with it kahit sa pictures lang. Si Kim naman had been there once and he said nga na super ganda ng church na yun. Well, I felt relieved din at least we had the same choice. When he informed his dad about our plan to get San Sebastian, he didn't agree because of the traffic in that area. 4pm kasi ang start and medyo panget na ang flow ng traffic sa oras na yun. Nasad talaga ko pero we still searched for another church na more proximate sa venue. 

We thought of Manila Cathedral. We went there personally for their requirements. STRICT KUNG STRICT. And daming Do's and Dont's. Before ka pa makapagpareserve ng date, you need to attend their policy seminar. So we were scheduled on a Saturday at 9am. Came Saturday, 8:30am nasa Park and Ride pa lang ako waiting for hubby. Nagmamadali na kami dahil baka hindi na umabot. Worst, I couldn't move from where I was standing dahil naputol ang strap ng sandals ko! 8:45am, hubby came na and we bought pa slippers at 711. No choice na talaga kami kaysa magyapak lang ako. Pang lalaki pa design and size. :D Past 9am, nasa sidecar palang kami.  When we arrived at Manila Cathedral, sorry, hindi na kami pwedeng humabol. Re-schedule na lang the following week if we want to. Pero nooo. We have to book a church na that day and the venue as well. Feeling kasi namin, every day that passes, may nakukuhang weekend slot so nagmamadali kami. 

2nd stop, we went to Malate Church to inquire. Around 10k ang rate that time I think. Inclusive na lahat. May wedding din that time so we took a sneak peak on the event happening. Parang I couldn't imagine myself walking on its aisle. It wasn't my dream church. :( Ayoko. So we thought of another church. 

Next stop, Shrine of Jesus beside SMX. Proximity to Palacio de Maynila--Check! There was also a wedding happening that time when we had our occular. Bakit parang ang iksi masyado ng aisle? And their speakers, sobrang lakas at meron sa labas? So everyone hears your vows na parang di na intimate and private yung dating para sakin. We were losing hope on finding the right church. I felt bad na rin for letting go of Manila Cathedral dahil nafeel ko na siya. So Kim called up his dad. I was praying talaga when he was talking to him na sana pumayag na sa San Sebastian. After his call, we went to San Sebastian and booked Nov 24! :) 

Later I found out that turning down Manila Cathedral was really a blessing. All their scheduled weddings from I think March 2012 up got cancelled because they had to renovate the church ASAP.