meeting with Skyline and The Gancenias

I promised to make another post with regards to the meeting with Skyline, Buddy and Cathy Gancenias so here’s an excerpt from Wednesday’s email:

I’ll start with Cathy first- Basically we discussed the flowers that she intends to use for your wedding. Definitely no mums but if ever, she will get the nicer ones. These mums are the ones less used in church set up. The flowers will be liliums, roses, gerberas, calla lilies and for your bouquet the mini callas in orange (imported variety). In my opinion, these choices are okay, considering your requirements of elegant and beautiful. I've discussed with her our conversation on the centerpieces of callas in long clear vases with pebbles or other fillers and she has envisioned the look we wanted. She also said that she wanted berries as fillers for your bouquet. In our discussion, she said that white callas will be used as centerpieces for the guests and for the presidential set up, she will use orange flowers, with touches of yellow and red, which are replicas of your accent colors. I agreed with that and I think it will create a focal point in the reception. For the church, she will use a combination of the flowers and that instead of the tulle used in the church, she will bring her own. When we went to skyline for food tasting, we first viewed the church as it has an ongoing wedding. And the flowers in the church are very disappointing. They are wilted, looks old, not fresh and poorly arranged. Of course, I will ask for a lay out or design from her so that you will know exactly what she will do. For the entourage, she will use callas as per your requirement or if you want, we can have the entos have gerberas with roses (to break the callas), mothers will use liliums (they are pretty flowers) and for you the mini callas. If you want all entos including mothers and sponsors will carry white flowers para sa iyo lang ang orange.

Reception - There was a set up at Father Blanco's yesterday and the motif was an orange hue but not rust orange. The presidential set up used tiffany chairs and for the guests, the usual mono block with white skirt and orange ribbons. Personally, I do not like ribbons on chairs. Its so common and very 80's. If you which to decorate your chairs, I’d like something updated, like green stalks, flowers or twigs or maybe a butterfly stocking. Anyways, I already know where to put the luminaries. It will be at the entrance where all guests come in and where you and Irvin give us the grand entrance. In the pictures you sent, I saw red luminaries and I think it’s dramatic and maybe you would like them red. For your gazebo, I will have to coordinate with your chosen florist and Skyline because the design that Skyline normally creates is also outdated. I was thinking less fru-fru but more elegance in the form of candles and hanging lamps or flowers. But the flowers have to be minimal. I hope you can imagine what I’m telling you. The fountain area can be kept bare and instead of flowers I want it lit with candles of different sizes. I think it’s more elegant, less fru-fru and has drama into it. Don’t worry, I’m not being theatrical, but aside from the presidential set up, the fountain area is a good focal point.

She stressed that the flowers are guaranteed fresh and the creative presentation will be that of your liking. Payment terms are 25% upon booking, 25% one mo. before the event and 50% upon delivery of flowers.

I met a coordinator that day, which I believe is handling on the day preps only kasi the way I looked at it, she has no control over the lay out of the reception. Anyways, she asked me the date of your wedding and i said Oct. 1, and without batting an eyelash she immediately said, rather sarcastically, "well you should have a plan B kasi it’s the rainy season". I wanted to tell her, but of course I know, but I opted to smile. But in reality, I have a plan B, just in case. But you know, I told Irvin and your Mama that nothing is impossible with prayer. Let’s pray for good weather as early as now.

Food Taste - As I've told you, there is a function last Saturday so we were able to sample their menu. For the food taste, only main courses are sampled. The menu of the event were Blue Marlin in Garlic, Chicken Ala Kiev, Lasagna and Lengua Financiera. I then opted to sample: Grilled Beef Vermouth, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Seafood Ala Pobre and Fettuccini Puttanesca. Irvin, your mom and I loved the Lengua but your Mama and myself wanted the pastel variety, but the thing is, we are hesitant that not all people eat Lengua, so we opted for the beef vermouth. The Seafood Ala Pobre is really good and it has shrimp and blue marlin but your Mama said na baka tipirin tayo sa shrimp kasi mahal, and per Irvin you really wanted the blue marlin, so we went with that. The blue marlin was also good. Irvin chose Lasagna over Puttanesca and for chicken, the obvious choice was Cordon Bleu. All the food items were good. Soup is served only for the presidential. However, I don’t know what soup. I’ll just ask them.

In the amenities for the wedding package, I told skyline that there's a possibility that we will not use their centerpieces and some other items and we wanted something in exchange. Sabi they will confirm with their boss first. Basically, here are the items we're not getting from skyline:

guestbook and pen (very ordinary kasi)
cake
doves with cage
emcee
centerpieces and floral arrangements for presidential set up
torch parade


Buddy -His reality videos are very nice and hi-tech. He made a good oral presentation and he emphasized capturing the moments. I liked his system of having a shot list, that way he won’t miss out on good photo op locations and highlight what is needed. For the concept of the video, you may have to discuss that with him or meet with him if there is still time. He mentioned that the early booking is necessary for him to conceptualize the video in collaboration with you and Irvin.

We were not able to buy paper last Saturday. As it turned out, half day ang DELPA. Anyway, we have time.

There you go! Irvin and I are in the process of deciding right now. By the way, I also got other quotations via the e-mail.