I'm officially a Joaquin Ambata Films Bride!

Yey! We already booked and signed a contract our videographer last night at SM Megamall. He was the first videographer that we have met and we instantly booked his services. Yes, we are officially a Joaquin Ambata Films couple. :)

I have actually hesitated on booking J.AM because from our conversation last Sunday, our wedding date have already been booked by other couple but he offered his second team if we are really interested on getting his services. I was actually saddened with the information:  in Aisle 1401 our date was also booked by other couple and if we decided on getting J.AM, it will not be personally handled by Wax.

But yesterday, Wax contacted me through email and asked if we are interested in getting his services. I honestly told him that we are hesitant on booking him because he will not be the one to handle our wedding but his second team. He gave the assurance that even if he will not be the one in charge, he will bring the best team and the output will be the same with his own work. In order to be more convinced, I decided to meet him with the soon to be ex-bf after office at SM Megamall.

I prepared more than twenty questions in order to fully understand the services we are going to get just in case we book J.AM. The meeting went well, he was a good conversationalist in person and know his craft very well. He almost answered all the questions I prepared and have explained very well all the aspects that will make a beautiful wedding video film. The soon to be ex-bf was also very keen on the details and also asked questions every now and then.   

I initially wanted to have the SDE services only because it was the only services that is within our set budget. Though I secretly want the whole package but the price is more than doubled the budget that we have set. I also did not plan to sign a contract yet because I wanted to study everything, compare rates again with other suppliers. Though I really love J.AM wedding video films, I am not getting bored on watching his crafts.

The soon to be ex-bf have decided to book J.AM's highest package and insisted we sign a contract already. Waaahhh! Impulsive decision again? I don't think so, I initially contacted Wax last year, month of October and until this day I was impressed with his works. But to get the highest package means utilizing our photography budget as well. The soon to be ex-bf reminded me that if there is two things that we should splurge, it will be the food and the photo and video coverage.

We have signed the contract and committed to deposit the reservation fee (half of the set reservation fee) next week on or before Friday, the other half will be deposited on May.

I am a J.AM bride and I love it! But of course I love the soon to be ex-bf the more. We are more than the allocated budget but I know God always provides. :) We have waited for this day to come for almost a decade, we deserve to have the best suppliers in town.  

Wedding Host Penciled Booked

One month have passed but we have not accomplished any progress on our wedding preparations. March was indeed a very busy month:

March 4, 5 & 6, our company held its yearly kick off and planning at Subic Villa.

March 17, 7th day celebration of my soon to be ex-bf's nephew who is also my godchild.

March 19, our family celebrated the 48th birthday of our dear mother.

March 24, after more than three years we have finally celebrated my father's "babang luksa" or the gathering to end the mourning period of the clan over the death of their departed family member. We have actually planned to celebrate it earlier many times but there were events that hindered it from happening like sudden death of my grandmother last 2010 and my grandfather just last year.

March 28 - 31, long weekend in observance of the Holy Week or "Mahal na Araw." Our family went to a pilgrimage at the Regina Rica, Tanay Rizal on a Holy Thursday and visited the newly renovated RAVE Rainforest at Pasig City on a Black Saturday.

To celebrate Easter, the soon to be ex-bf and I watched the third series of John Loyd Cruz' and Sarah Geronimo's romantic comedy: It Takes a Man and a Woman. A feel good movie with valuable lessons: "Piliin mong magpatawad, piliin mong magmahal.", a piece of advice from Laida Magtalas' mother.

This April, it is our target to book three of our major suppliers; caterer, photographer and videographer. I do not want summer to end without those suppliers being settled or else the pressures will be hard to handle come month of June.

Last night, while I was reading entries on the very reliable female network/girltalk about wedding suppliers, the soon to be ex-bf read about Joy Catubig and have asked me to inquire about her rates. She was the wedding host and singer we encountered last year, on the grand food tasting of Patio de Tata Roque at Marikina. She was also with her partner, Dennis d' Menace back then. 

I immediately googled her name and sent an inquiry on her facebook page. Luckily, she was online and quickly replied on my inquiries. She already has pencil booked someone on our wedding date but she told us that she will give the slot to the first one who will confirm the booking. She have four packages: 1. hosting ( inclusive of program planning and if NEEDED, free singer during reception.) only, 2. hosting  with two hours customized photobooth, 3. hosting plus sounds & lights inclusive of wireless mic and bubble machine, 4. hosting with two hours customized photobooth plus sounds & lights inclusive of wireless mic and bubble machine. I have asked her if Dennis is inclusive on all her packages; she have asked me to pray for Dennis to have no gig on that day in order for him to be included in the freebies. 

We immediately booked package number four last night and confirmed to send the signed contract and deposit slip of our reservation fee this week. This is what you call impulsive booking. It was unplanned, fee for the emcee was not even included in our budget. But even hosting fee is not included in the budget, if we utilized our budget for lights, sounds, and photobooth, we are still within the budget.   The soon to be ex-bf insisted on booking her right away, oh well, we both are afraid to have the other one who have penciled booked on the same date with ours get the confirmation.

In order to convince myself that we did the right thing on booking a supplier without having a comparison on what others have to offer, I indulge myself on reading reviews and ratings for Ms. Joy Catubig. The only negative review that I have read is she has long introductory messages. But going through the reviews, I am more than convinced we have made the right decision. :)