Personal Blog: How we planned our Civil Wedding in Three Weeks

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Marriage is the beginning of the family and long-life commitment. And even though the world is going through a pandemic, a lot of couple planned their wedding especially practical couple since they can save more due to big events restriction. But before the special day, couples will go through stress because of granular restrictions. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, wedding events are very limited and couple are lucky enough if their wedding date falls in GCQ (General Community Quarantine) classification.

My husband and I got engage last September 24, 2020, our fourth anniversary, and planned our wedding to happen on September 24, 2021, our fifth anniversary. We had 1 year for the preparation for our church wedding which is plenty of time, but 3 weeks before our wedding, there’s a lot of active cases of Covid-19 and still at MECQ (Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine. So on September 5, 2021 we decided to have a civil wedding instead of a church wedding, fortunately on the next day September 6, 2021, the government announce that Metro Manila will be under GCQ (General Community Quarantine) – this is the classification that we are waiting for since our bookings was really meant for GCQ, but we stick to our plan that we will push through with civil wedding since we prioritise the safety of everyone.

CEREMONY

We have 3 weeks to prepare and the first thing we do is look for a Marriage Officiant, I search via facebook and found Heart Focus Event Mngt, they offer Civil Wedding and Church Wedding Packages. Here’s what we avail:

CIVIL WEDDING CEREMONY
Inclusions:
– Ceremony
– Officiant
– Marriage License
– Filing of Document Releasing
– Certificate of Marriage
– CTC
– Transmittal/Endorsement for PSA
– Transportation

Requirements Needed:
– Photocopy of Birth Certificate
– Original CENOMAR (We request a new one via PSA Online)
– 1×1 picture
– Photocopy of valid ID
– Marriage License Application (sent via messenger: PDF file)
– Parent’s consent for 24 years old and below

Rates:
Civil Wedding in their office
*Php 4,000 (regular filing)
*Php 5,500 (rush filling)

Outside office but within QC area
*Php 4,500 for regular filing
*Php 6,000 for rush filing

Note: Transportation excluded if outside Quezon City

Upon submission of requirements, a 50% downpayment is needed and full payment will be settled on your event. They also offer wedding packages but we only avail their civil wedding ceremony package. On our wedding date, the Marriage Officiant was on time and I can say that we have a smooth transaction with Heart Focus Event Mngt and I really recommend their service.

If you wish to book for their services, click this —> Heart Focus Event Mngt

To Ms. Irynne Tubar, if you’re reading my blog, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! 🙂

VENUE AND CATERING

We set aside our venue and catering for our church wedding and look for a new supplier for our civil wedding. At first we plan to use our house as a venue since guest are limited and we can save money. On the other hand, we should prioritise our safety since we have senior citizens at home and we can’t say that every guest is healthy (no offense!).

Then we found Meyers Place & Catering Services who offers promo. Here’s the package inclusions:

  • Venue – 3 hours is not bad since we don’t feel like in a rush. They have 2 available venue (not sure if there’s more though) 1st floor and second floor; we booked the second floor since the first floor is already booked. Second floor is more like a rustic theme and first floor is way better for our Pastel Theme hehe. Few days before our civil wedding, organiser told us that first floor is available since the event is rescheduled. Yay!! How lucky!!
  • Styling & Backdrop – includes stage backdrop, elegant centerpiece and clothed tables according to motif. There’s a lighted buffet table, ghost chair, complete set of dinnerware, flatware & glassware. Food attendants and waiters are in trained uniformed. Gift, cake and souvenir table are also provided. Set-up is beyond my expectations and I like the same set-up for our church wedding venue.
  • Catering – its a buffet style setup and I can say food is good and guests enjoyed their late lunch. Buffet includes steamed rice, choice of 1 pork or beef, choice of 1 chicken, choice of 1 fish, choice of 1 vegetables, choice of soup and dessert and iced tea for the drinks. (Note: we didn’t have food tasting)
  • Freebies – 1 layered cake and 1 hour photobooth; not bad right? Basic sound system, LCD projector with white screen and red carpet is also free to use.

The package cost Php41,999 (USD839.98) good for 40 people. Not sure if this is still applicable since we avail their BER months promo. You may check their official page at Meyers Place and Catering Services Inc. located at 99 Dapitan corner Biak na Bato Brgy Sto. Domingo Quezon City.

INVITATION

Made a DIY invitation via Canva. Be sure to avail canva pro.

HAIR & MAKE-UP ARTIST

Be #JANified. Book Jan Efraim, he is a freelance hair & make-up artist. See for yourself, it’s all worth it and highly recommended.

WEDDING DRESS

My simple white dress from Shein cost Php406.00 (USD8.12) after discount and sandals form Hue Hue Manila cost Php1,390.00 (USD27.80 at B1T1 promo) and I am using it once in a while.

WEDDING RING

Cartier inspired wedding ring from 13tine’s Handcrafted Jewelries by Trecetine. Jewelries made from Philippine Gold.

PHOTOGRAPHER AND HOST

We want to be practical and decide not to hire a professional photographer for our civil wedding. A close friend of ours, Carlo Belaro took beautiful photo of us and our whole civil wedding. Thanks to him for those photos of memories.

My sister, Celine Reyes and my cousin, Gem Reyes host our civil wedding program. Not their profession or forte but did it for us. I love you both!

WEDDING BOUQUET

Last minute cramming will complete the preparation, night before the wedding my sister and cousin bought my wedding bouquet at Dangwa. I chose dried flowers because it will last longer and great value for money. The bouquet cost Php1,200-Php1,500 (USD24-30, forgot the exact cost, hehe peace).

GAMES & GIVEAWAYS

Celebration is much fun with games like Bring Me (Prize: Chips or Chocolates), Rock Paper Scissors (Winner takes all Php20 (USD.40) each guest) and BINGO Php500 or USD10 cash – 2 rounds blackout) and I prepare my own pastel loot bag packaging with pastel mask from Culture Supply and Co, hand sanitizer from Loved by Iammarhiz and chocolates inside for all the guest plus wine and body wash for our Principal Sponsors.

Wedding preparations should not supposed to be stressful and pricey. You just have to look for the right supplier who will make your dream civil wedding possible. And being with our family and friends on our special day makes our wedding perfect. Plus, keeping us safe because we all know that Covid-19 is still around.

All thanks to God for being with us all throughout and blessing to become one, of all the billion people in the world we found each other. To all our guest who find time to witness our wedding, thank you so much. Our heart is happy and beyond grateful!

ECQ Reflection: How quarantine affects our travel goals?

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The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is defining global health crisis which leads the countries to limiting travel, quarantining citizens, cancelling large gathering events and other ways to slow down the spread of the virus while they were treating patients and looking for treatment.

One of our concern is our travel plans, especially in between dates of quarantine. All flights are cancelled and passengers are allowed to rebook or refund their tickets. But how will you depend your decision for these options? What will be your emotion?

Refund your ticket

Are you one of passenger who will request for a refund and credit back to your bank accounts? Since we don’t have specific date and time when this will end, maybe you decided not to take risk of your health and spend it more to our everyday needs. Or maybe you want a refund because you’re no longer connected to your travel partner? Kidding aside, but this could be possible due to quarantine.

Will you also refund your ticket through travel fund? Airlines also allow passengers to refund their flight tickets through travel fund. Passengers can use their travel fund as payment when they booked a new flight. I haven’t tried this because we decided to rebook our flights.

Rebook your flight

Since airlines allow us to rebook our flight with minimal cost or no cost at all, you chose to rebook it on the next holiday or long weekend and hopeful that your flight will no longer be cancelled and the pandemic is over.

In my personal case, we already rebooked our flights. Fortunately there were no additional cost. Our flight airline is Cebu Pacific and it is very easy to rebook the flight through their manage booking if your have an online account on them. But if you have no luck in using their manage booking, you can still reach them through their hotlines and agents will gladly assist you. Be also aware that it will took you half an hour to an hour waiting for agents to assist you so I suggest you use landline phones instead of cellular phone.

Seat Sale

To give you an idea if you haven’t check the flights fare, most of the Philippine destinations are on sale or much cheaper than the usual fare price. Philippine Tourism is recommended if quarantine is lifted to support our economy.

Hope this pandemic will be over soon so we can go back to normal and continue to tour around the Philippines and international countries. Let’s continue to pray for a better tomorrow. See you all on board soon.

Travel Blog: Things you should know about Golden Bridge, Vietnam

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Vietnam is one of the popular travel location in Asia. Aside from Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh you can also visit Da Nang. Da Nang is located in South Central Coast of Vietnam and this is where you can visit Sun World Ba Na Hills, conveniently located 20km away from the center of Da Nang City. Sun World Ba Na Hills is Vietnam’s leading tourism and entertainment destination. Perched at an altitude of 1,414m above sea level, Sun World Ba Na Hills is a fairy land in the clouds, with a spectacular natural landscape and a mild, comfortable climate. Experience four seasons in one day, seasonal festivals and events’ live entertainment, international cuisines, and thrilling riles and attractions. Ba Na Hills came from the word “Banana” because of many banana trees in the mountain and Ba Na is the Katu meaning “my mountain”.

How we get to Ba Na Hills, Da Nang

Because there’s no direct flight from Manila, Philippines going to Da Nang, Vietnam, we planned to visit Ba Na Hills during our Indochina trip. Our last destination in our Indochina trip was Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam so we searched for the directions how to get there and the most convenient way is via plane; Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang. I booked our flight via Skyscanner and the cheapest roundtrip flight is around $60. We choose the earliest flight going to Da Nang and the latest flight going back to Ho Chi Minh, and yes we did this as a day tour trip. We also booked our day tour via Klook which cost us around $52 with no hassle. After we arrived in Da Nang, we ride grab going to the hotel pick up location of our tour. By the way, here’s the inclusions of our day tour package:

  • Hotel pick up/drop off in Da Nang city center only
  • Roundtrip transfers between Da Nang and Ba Na Hills
  • English speaking guide
  • Ba Na Hills admission ticket transfer by cable car
  • Bottled mineral water and wet tissue
  • Lunch buffet
  • Insurance provided by the operator

Heading to “Gateway to the Heavens”

From Hoi An station, it will take 15 minutes cable car ride to reach Marseille station. This station is the lower part of Ba Na Hills where you can find the Golden Bridge, Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden, Ancient Wine Cellar, Linh Ung Pagoda and many more.

  • Arriving at Marseille Station

Golden Bridge

Opened in June 2018, the Golden Bridge has quickly become an international phenomenon and is an icon of Vietnam. A visit to Da Nang is not complete without a walk across the Golden Bridge. Please expect that a solo picture with the Golden Bridge is impossible due mass of tourist, but you can enjoy the cold temperature while crossing the bridge.

Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m – 7:00 p.m

Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden

Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden consists of nine gardens, each with their own unique theme: Love Garden, Secret Garden, Legend Garden, Memory Garden, Heaven Garden, Osaka Garden, Thought Garden, Mo Spring Garden and Sacred Garden.

Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m

Ancient Wine Cellar

The ideal place to store wine with a temperature always at 16-200C. Explore the wine cellar dug 100m deep into the earth, enjoy intense European wines and shop for unique souvenirs.

Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m (until 6:30 p.m in peak season)

Linh Ung Pagoda

Never got the chance to reach this place because we only have an hour to enjoy Golden Bridge, Flower Garden, Wine Cellar and other beautiful spots in this area.

After exploring the the lower part of the Ba Na Hills you need to get back to Marseille station and go up using escalator going to Bordeaux station and have a 3 minutes cable car ride going to Louvre station. This is the upper part of Ba Na Hills where you can walk around the French Village and enjoy the rides and games in Fantasy Park.

French Village

Classical and romantic France village on the mountain top – complete with unique renaissance architecture, a church, boutiques, sidewalk cafes and international restaurants. The structure is really classic and who would have thought that you could stay in one of those. Yes! There are hotels in this French Village where you can relax and experience the romance of nineteenth century French style.

They recommend the 4-star Mercure Danang French Village Bana Hills Hotel. Get ready to relax and indulge as you enjoy the hotel’s luxurious spa, gym, indoor swimming pool, bar, shops, cafes and restaurants.

Particularly, hourly room service server at the price just from 435,000VND ++ / 3 hours

Fantasy World and Alpine Coaster

Enjoy the unlimited indoor rides and arcades. Families can enjoy this attraction.

As per our tour guide, the peak season of Ba Na Hills is from May-August and the waiting line for cable car is approximately 1 hour before you can ride. On our recent tour, there are mass of visitors but luckily the waiting line for cable car is less than 5 minutes, but it still depends on the number of visitors so expect long waiting line in cable car and in other attractions. We enjoyed Ba Na Hills and I highly recommend this place, it’s all worth it.