The Planning of a Simple Wedding

Joenary + Erlyn Wedding

Their Love Story

Joenary + Erlyn. Their love story started with a casual encounter with technology - the cellphone. They had a common friend who played cupid and exchanged their numbers and then the rest, as they say, was history.


Wedding Planning Process

We started planning for the wedding of Erlyn and Joenary on the month of June on the year 2015. They wanted to get married on December on the same year. She came to me with an estimated 100,000 pesos budget. I knew very well that it was way too small to pull off the elegant wedding that I would want them to have so I negotiated the price to prepare a buffer fund of 50,000 pesos so we can give them a simple yet classic wedding. They obliged.


The Challenges

During the planning process, there were so many challenges that took place.

The very obvious challenge is the budget. How were we going to work within the specific amount that they could afford.

But aside from the monetary restrains, the biggest challenge was the recovery of the bride from a vehicular accident that happened in the month of July.  Even with an injured leg, she was determined to walk down the aisle on her wedding day on the month of December of the same year. She didn't want to postpone it and followed through the course of treatment and series of physical therapies in a span of 5 months.


Street-wise Wedding Planner

My main strength in planning a wedding is my natural skills in bargain hunting without the quality suffering.

It is very beneficial to be a street-wise wedding planner when you are in the events industry. It is the only way you can survive such stiff competition in the market. My team has so many competitors but even with the competition there breeds the surplus amount of wedding vendors that made pricing more affordable to everyone. And because we have the connections and know-how on which places to go for the best bargain but quality deals, we nailed the budget requirements for each wedding supplier needed.

With just the specific amount of time and budget given, me and my team were able to pull off the simple wedding that they wanted. We were able to meet all the bride and groom's expectations and requests to make their wedding as flawless and as memorable as possible.

In the photo is me (in the green floral dress) and my ever reliable business partner Joan. We both planned the wedding together with the bride and groom and gave them the worth for their money.


After the reception, everyone went home happy and with all praises for me and my team. We heard so many compliments from the guests and family and relatives of the couple. Such a reward for hard work! The best and most fulfilling feeling is when the client and their families appreciate you  with all honesty for your job performance during their wedding! It is simply cloud nine!


I could not write every detail as to how we had done the wedding planning as it was. It was tedious but also fun! I could not thank my crew enough for being so flexible and hard workers the entire time! My crew had been so amazing doing so many tasks! Thank you so much guys!!!

In this photo, my team of decorators posed for a quick photo on stage. And yes, that's me in the middle. My other crew members were behind the camera or somewhere in the vicinity at the moment this picture was taken. We were a team of 10 in this wedding.

If you want to know how we were able to pull off a 100 thousand pesos budget wedding, send an email to leahjacobeweddings@gmail.com. I will gladly share you some wedding planning tips!

Happy Wedding Planning!

For appointments and free initial consultation, email Leah Jacobe at leahjacobeweddings@gmail.com

Featured Wedding: Mund + Raga Wedding

Among the many fantastic and fabulous weddings that I was able to take part in the year 2015, my sister's wedding was my favorite! Basically because blood is thicker than alcohol! My little sister got married on a beautiful Saturday afternoon of December 5, 2015 and we planned the entire wedding starting from the month of April of that same year. We had to plan that long because she and her fiance worked in the Middle East so both of them could not have planned their wedding hands on in the Philippines. It was indeed a great advantage on their part to have a sister who also happens to be a wedding planner. 

The Wedding Planning Process

My goal for her wedding was simple - the best wedding within their spending budget! As the wedding planning started, we put first things first - the booking of the church along with the required documents needed to book the date. The Catholic church do not allow booking of the wedding date without having the Interview with the Priest but because of their case, we promised the church that the first thing they would do upon arriving in the Philippines was to have the interview with the priest. So we were booked on the next available date that fell on a weekend to accommodate out of town guests to attend the wedding. 

As a seasoned wedding and events planner, I have had an endless list of wedding suppliers in Davao that I recommended to them. Like any of my clients, I pointed out the pros and cons of these wedding suppliers and the couple will have to decide which one fits them best. Among the list of my recommended wedding suppliers, we have come up with the best day ever - in the life of my little sister who is now a "misis" !!!

The BIG Wedding Day

December 5, 2015 was the day that the Lord had made for both of them to finally marry each other with God's blessings.


About ten (10) days before the wedding we sent out these beautiful formal invitations made by Amelie Khiene of Timeless Paper Ideas. The wedding motif was coral pink and she got it just perfect like that!

The day started with a warm sunshine waking up our lack of sleep consciousness. We picked The Pinnacle Hotel for the reception of the wedding. 

  

  There, we were glammed up by Arnel Accion of Style Gallery Salon. 

The whole preparation was documented by the talented Master of Wedding Photography Mr. Val Adonis San Diego of the VA San Diego Studio Team of Photographers and Video Editors.

St. Paul Parish was the church of choice because that was the church where we all grew up with.

We chose the theme Classic Romantic but it turned out like a Garden Themed Wedding. Still, we were not disappointed with the lush floral set up of the church and the reception hall by the renowned florists and decorators led by Glenn Estipona of the Events Library.

My sister's wedding gown was from Bridal Glitz and Glamour Designer Studio in Manila. The groom's barong was from Onesimus Manila as well. The fabulous dresses of the mothers were designed and created by Crislene Plus Dress Shop along Mabini Street, Davao City. The entourage dresses and men's barongs were rented at Wedding Bells Ecoland.

This towering 5-layer fondant cake below was baked and artistically and delicately created by Jackie Martinez of the Crafty Cakes and Cupcakes. It was heavenly delicious as well. 

Since the mother of the groom was also a master baker in Kabacan, North Cotabato, a taste of Raymund's Bakeshoppe was made available to the guests through the cupcakes that also served as souvenirs.

 

Wait there was more! Truly we were all in the events industry as the sister of the groom, Cecil Villaruz was very very crafty with her hand made the pillows that served as souvenirs to the VIPs and entourage.

 

The Events Team was of course my team of energetic, enthusiastic and attentive coordinators. Well, as much as am the best wedding planner (self-advertising ;-) ) I am also an expert at being the Master of Ceremony for different events so it is safe to say that perhaps my sister chose me to host their wedding reception because she journeyed with me throughout my emceeing career path. So here I was in this pretty coral pink corded lace dress enjoying the shared lime light with these two adorable love birds who just tied the knot that day.

And since I had the power to create fun, I made the single ladies jumped with so much fun during the tossing of the bridal flowers!

I also made my mother groove to the mash up dance mixed by the legendary DJ (also my partner in life) Norman James, while the groom and groomsmen entertained the grand opening with an upbeat mashup as well, two of them were my brothers. So basically, every one in my family has a talent for showmanship. Yes, we are all "Artistahin" in our own little way!

Other wedding suppliers that I need to mention as special thanks for making this glorious day great are the following:

Photobooth: The Red Carpet Mobile Studios

Van Rental: Henry Guiral

Makeup for Guests: Maricel Wenceslao

Accommodation: Ecoland Suites

Lechon: RPG Lechon Hauz

Balloons: Lolo Ben's Balloons

It was indeed a very beautiful wedding to remember in my family! I loved the stress of the last two weeks, the buzz in the house with so many relatives who came from far away places, the sights and sounds before and after the wedding. Truly, the occasion was a blast! Amidst all the beautiful wedding photos, this one is my favorite of all:

Minutes before heading to the church, this was the only decent photo that I had with my little daughter, Emmanuelle Michaela, before she threw a haywire of tantrums upon arriving at the church. Nope, she never walked down the aisle with mommy, she just cried herself to sleep in the nanny's arms inside the church, how perfect is that! Nonetheless, I should say it was a perfect day for my little sister who is all grown up and about to start her own family!!!

Best Wishes Raga and Congratulations Mund! We love you!

Photo credits to different owners. 

Wedding Styling and Decorations

Happy New Year 2016!

This may be 5 days after New Year's day but what the heck it is still the 5th day of January of the brand new year of 2016!!! How was your Christmas and New Year celebrations?? As for my wedding team, we have been quite hectic with our series of wedding events and because the year 2015 was so great to us, we are giving back to the future clients as well. This year we are promoting the "Bride on a Budget" theme.


There are many soon-to-wed couples wanting and wishing for a beautiful wedding but have reservations over the amount of money they can splurge for their wedding decorations. This year, 2016, we are going to help soon-to-wed couples to achieve their wedding decorations and inspirations without going off their set budget.

Our Wedding Styling and Decorations Package will start at fifteen thousand pesos (P 15,000) for the Standard Package. This will include the following Wedding Decorations:

Church Decorations:

- mother candle with flower arrangement

- two candle stands with flower arrangement

- 6 pairs lighted aisle stands with flower arrangement

- altar flower arrangement

Bridal Car Decoration

- 1 bridal car decoration

Reception Decorations

- stage backdrop with flower arrangement according to theme

- natural stage lighting 

- ceiling drapes

- VIP table decorations

- Guests table centerpiece

- Welcome table flower arrangement

Entourage Flowers

- Wedding Bouquet

- Groom's Boutonnières 

- Maid of honor bouquet

- Bestman Boutonnières 

- Bridesmaids mini bouquet

- Groomsmen Boutonnières 

- Mother of the Bride Bouquet

- Mother of the Groom Bouquet

- Father of the Bride Boutonnières 

- Father of the Groom Boutonnières 

These are the basic inclusions of the Wedding Decorations Package. If you are willing to splurge a little more than the basic package, there are other inclusions with it. We can provide you with the Complete All-In Wedding Package that includes the following wedding essentials:

ü  Venue for Preparation and Reception for 100 guests*** (to be discussed)

ü  Photo-Video with Prenup Session

ü  Wedding Florist and Design for Church, Reception and Entourage Flowers

ü  Makeup Artist for 10 persons on Wedding Day

ü  2 layer Icing Cake and 50 Cupcakes

ü  50 pcs Souvenirs

ü  50pcs Invitations

ü  Wedding Planner and Coordinators

ü  Emcee and Spinner

ü  Attire Rental: Barong and Gown rentals

·         Bride and Groom

·         Best Man and Maid of Honor

·         3 Groomsmen and 3 Bridesmaids

·         3 Flower Girls and 3 Bearers

2 cushions, 1 kneeler, 3 flower baskets, cord, veil

   Mannequin for gown

ü  Bridal Car

ü  Wedding Essentials

·         Bible

·         Coin and Arrhae

·         Veil

·         Candles

·         Garter

·         Cord

·         Guestbook and Pen

·         1 bottle of wine

·         Bursting balloon

·         Party Poppers

Email me at leahjacobeweddings@gmail.com and let us have a little chit chat about your wedding planning details! All the best in this year of the red monkey!!! God bless.