The Wedding Fact Sheet

Because of the dangers posed by global warming, pollution and other environmental ills, there is an increasing clamor for green-themed or environmentally-friendly weddings.This is the case if you and your partner are cause-oriented or want to push your favorite advocacy.A case of dedicating your wedding to Mother Nature, to bring in good karma

Having a “green wedding” is not as hard as you think. It’s all in the details. Here are a few ways you can do so:

1. Choose a location that evokes the beauty of Mother Nature. A beach or a garden is a good example. Many people exchange vows in these venues without maximizing the good it can do to the environment, so think about how you can work around a motif that is “eco-chic.”

2. Wear vintage or your mother’s/grandma’s wedding gown. Aside from being budget-friendly, recycling wedding gowns promote conservation of the Earth’s scarce resources. You just have to think of having an old gown properly cleaned and altered.

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I tried eyelash extensions four years ago, when it wasn’t yet so common in today’s salons. I actually wanted them during my wedding day but the crazy schedule prevented me from having it done. So I had to content myself with curls of mascara from the make-up artist.

Given the time though, I would opt for extensions on such a special day as a wedding because they really have a way of enhancing and opening up your eyes. No need to put on a mascara too.
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Based on reports from the Department of Tourism, a big group of wedding professionals from California planed into town recently and looked at the prospects of the Philippines as a wedding destination. They only had good words for it.

“A basic wedding in the US costs around $ 50,000, while in the Philippines you can hold weddings for less than half of that, with a honeymoon holiday thrown in the package,” Richard Markel, President of the L.A.-based Association for Wedding Professionals International, was quoted as saying.

Outside of the US continent, Hawaii is a popular wedding location for Americans, but still expensive. With the recession in full swing, either people are cancelling weddings or holding it in other locales.

Distance notwithstanding, I do believe the Philippines has got what it takes to be a cheap, affordable wedding destination for the following reasons:

1. Availability of inexpensive talents who can do all the work. Be it a singer, a band, a florist or even a fire dancer, labor is relatively cheap in these parts. The choices are simply diverse and impressive too.

2. Existence of all-in-one packages which can make tying the knot relatively hassle-free. Major cities have professional organizers and coordinators, or if you don’t want to hire one, there are one-stop shops for this purpose where you can get everything you need – from gowns to catering to wedding accessories – in one roof. Okay, don’t forget the one who will take care of your wedding papers too.

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‘Rachel Getting Married‘ was one of the few movies I watched during this long Holy Week break. It’s a quality film that allows us a peek into the dynamics of family relationships and the intense preparations that go with a wedding. Anne Hathaway was a revelation here as she eschewed her usual sweet roles and played the family black sheep and recovering junkie.

What’s good about the movie is that you will have your own idea here about making wedding toasts and the what kind of music goes into the ceremony. I totally liked their Indian theme and the choice of lilac as their wedding color. Those Indian saris really looked good on the characters and the blue elephant wedding cake was awesome.

Another interesting feature of the film were the wedding vows made by Rachel and her partner Sidney, a musician. Here’s a transcript:
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I got a chance to peek at the bright & colorful Dashing Diva salon at the Beauty Bar of Robinsons Midtown, Manila. I promised to myself that I will drop by one of these days, if only because of the free martinis during Happy Hour. That rocks!

I think that their manicure rates, from P250 to P300, are way higher than the regular neighborhood parlor rates, but no harm in trying if they make me feel like a diva, LOL.

What’s interesting is that they have parties fit for bridal showers and such. Useful if you want to destress and bond with your bridesmaids.
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If you’re planning to hold a big wedding in the heart of Manila, Palacio de Maynila is definitely one of the places to consider. It’s one of the newer places in town, especially designed to hold events. It is airconditioned, parking is no problem and they have accredited caterers to see to it that your reception requirements are met.

Here are some important facts about Palacio de Maynila, plus its wedding packages for 2009:

Floor Area : 800 square meters

Capacity : 400 to 500 guests

Service Area : kitchen – approx. 200 square meters

Parking : 53 slots for Palacio, plus 369 slots for the adjacent Bay
Park, its sister company
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On April 19 and 19, 2009, the Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu City opens its doors for grooms and brides-to-be with the third edition of the “Weddings at Marco Polo Plaza.”

With the theme “New Beginnings,” betrothed couples will get a chance to meet the best designers, stylists, florists and photographers, as well as makers of jewelry, giveaways and invitation cards in one place, at one time.

For the second year in a row, the Marco Polo Plaza is partnering with the Cebu City Civil Registrar’s Office and the Cebu City Health Office to bring future brides and grooms to the bridal fair.
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