The Time For Receiving – of Cash and Registries at Wedding Receptions

by Dino Santos

The Mango Farm venue has been witness to many wedding receptions, and the gift-giving that comes along with it. A wedding is one of the few occasions in life where people shower you with gifts of unusual value, and you have to know the precise way of asking for them. One rarely needs a second set of silverware, or a third microwave oven for that matter, and this can happen with wedding gifts, as has happened before.

Organize the gift giving. This is a delicate matter, where even the most innocent suggestion can seem crude, tactless and vulgar. Avoid this at all costs – and there you have an intricate puzzle that needs to be solved, unless you really want that fourth refrigerator in your kitchen.

Your presence is your gift.

 

Cash

Asking for cash instead of gifts gives the suggestion that your wedding guests have no idea of what you really need. However, if, as newlyweds, you really have no idea what you will need first, cash is the better option. Then the time-honored tradition of the Chinese can kick in.

As Filipinos, most of us have Chinese blood anyway, so it is a great fall back. The red envelope given during Chinese weddings carries a wealth of customs with it though. For example, the newlyweds must give back more money in the wedding of a currently unmarried guest. Counting the money in front of the gift giver is in good taste too, for accounting purposes. Amounts with the number four in it are frowned upon, whereas 8's are in great demand.

The Chinese may not have everything right, but a lot of it sure is.

Event sweeteners in pickle jars

Wedding Registries

The Mango Farm Venue has also witnessed many wedding registries. For couples who know exactly what they want, a wedding registry is the perfect choice. Assigning a store, or several stores for that matter, for guests to buy outright or chip in assures the couple that there will be no overlapping of gifts, and that each gift will be useful one way or the other.

Online wedding registries are the rage at the moment. Some registries even offer to create a website just for the newlyweds, complete with all the information about the wedding. For one thing, this saves the couple from the embarrassing occasion where they tell their guests what they want. With the freedom, cash instead of gifts can even be possible.

 You could create the website yourself if you are up to the task.

But supposing the online wedding registries are out of the question, an easy way out to inform your guests that there is a wedding registry is to course it through the best man or the maid of honor. Through word of mouth, the registry is publicized without being tactless about the whole gift-giving topic.

Plants as give-aways.

Remember to Say Thank You

Saying thank you for that splendid oven toaster is too real to be handwritten on your thank you note. As much as possible avoid even hints of gifts being too generous – it is better to say that the presence of your guests in the most important day of your life is much appreciated, rather than the exact value of the gift.

This just about covers the more important parts of gift-giving in weddings. On to the next thousand steps of your wedding, because the road goes ever on.

Hoolah skurts in the breeze.

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Sit-Downs and Buffets at the Mango Farm Venue

by Dino Santos

A wedding is a thousand and one decisions -- no, make it a thousand and two. You may have forgotten all about the wedding feast, but your guests surely won't. Of course, you always have the option of letting your caterers do their job, because after, all, it is their job, but you may want to have a hand in the arrangements too. From food selection to the style of serving, these all count towards a wedding celebration that is truly yours.

And so the question -- are you going to have a sit down dinner or a buffet? Try to look back at all the weddings the two of you have ever attended, and you come closer to a decision. Although your budget is a factor, it does not tip the scales. The cost of your menu determines the price of your catering service, but it does not tell you which is better for you, if it is really going to be a sit down dinner or a buffet.

 Peach pinwheels on powderblue 

Formal or Casual in the Mango Farm Atmosphere?

The main difference between the two is the ambiance. Being seated throughout the whole dinner gives a sense of being slightly pampered and spoiled, while standing up to fill up your plate feels slightly more casual, even if you are dressed up to the nines for both scenarios.

Now, think of your guests. If your more youthful guests need some reminders to behave during the reception, you may want to go formal. If most of the people you have invited are of the older generation, they may appreciate the pampering.

The Mango Farm venue can accommodate both atmospheres. This difference between sit-downs and buffets points you in the right direction, but you need a couple more things before the final decision.

Moroccan lamps, amorphous chopping blocks, Mexican votive holders, chipped faux pewter, moss, hydrangea

Of RSVP's, Seating Arrangements, Menus and Waiters

One characteristic of sit downs is attendance. Formally turning down the wedding invitation becomes terribly important, or else your companions at the table will be one seat short at the table. Some on the spot thinking may be needed from your maid of honor or best man, should a problem come up in this area.

You have to be precise with your seating arrangements for sit down dinners, especially if you have to think of some of your guests with special dietary requirements. With a buffet, people only choose the food they like, so this isn't much of a problem. Buffets are also easier on seating arrangements – you can probably get away with table assignments.

Finally, for sit-downs, make sure you have enough waiters at the event. There is nothing worse at a wedding reception than having to wait a long time for your turn to be served. With buffets, you should also consider several stations instead of one long buffet table – the lines will be shorter, and your guests get to dinner faster.

Topiaries - they still work! (Styling by Gids Hermosa)

A Mango Farm Wedding Reception to Remember

Most Mango Farm accredited caterers can deal with both scenarios -- however, you still have to answer the real question, which is, if this is the way you really want to celebrate your wedding. That is all you really to answer. Great company, good food, and a fantastic venue for your wedding reception. Whichever way you go, with these ingredients, you are all set to celebrate your wedding the way you want. Make it as memorable as you can. The celebration should last you a lifetime.

Driftwood (locally known as kakawate) and cymbidiums (Styling by Vatel Manila)

Uhm... well, just enjoy the scene! (too many elements to list)

White folding chairs. Now, guess what? There are hard-plastic versions of these wooden chairs! And picture-wise, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference!

So who's invited?

Who's invited at the Mango Farm Venue? Are We Really Obliged to Fill Up the Town Hall? One question a would-be couple should always be prepared to answer is the guest list. In the course of each one's life, many people become important – however, the seats are few. While the Mango Farm venue is large enough to accommodate as many people that can fit in the two and a half hectare property, it is still a good idea to start with a definite number of people invited to the wedding reception, and work at the guest list from there. You have many different points of view regarding this. These are the three different cases. Both bride and groom only wish to have a few friends invited in the first place. Second, one of them is networked to the hilt. The third scenario is that both of them can run for mayor in their respective home towns, and it is mainly that last scenario that poses the problem of numbers. How many guests, especially when the Mango Farm venue can probably hold a small town gathering?

Remember the Budget 

The number of guests defines the budget. If you are willing to spend only so much for the wedding reception at the Mango Farm, then the question is answered. However, if both really are going to run for some elective position in the next general elections and money is no object, then sky's the limit. (Ok, that's quite a stretch - but apt for the current politically charged moment :). Open the doors of the Mango Farm, and welcome the whole world to witness and celebrate your nuptials. In some cases, though, privacy is an issue. Still, the Mango Farm is bordered by thick vegetation and perimeter trees that assure privacy to the newlyweds.

The Dreaded Guest List

How perfect the world would be if the final guest list of the couple fit the budget with room to spare. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case. Several days of hemming and hawing may take place before the final guest list is done, and more because the wedding is ready to take place than it is because of any agreement from the two. The seating arrangement is another issue entirely. Four Weddings and a Funeral has a delightful spiel on the subject – about singles in a huge romantic celebration, or being old and out of place in a setting full of promise, plus a huge serving of dry British humor.

 

You never really know what can happen in a wedding, in spite of all your preparations. Except that you are going to get married.

Celebrate Your Marriage

True love comes rarely, and when it does, it is cause for a celebration. Don't let the little details get to you! After the wedding banquet, carry on your wedding celebration just you and your one love for as long as you live :)

Your Wedding Soundtrack

Must Have's and Must Not's in Your Wedding Song List in the Mango Farm Venue

One can get crazy in choosing the repertoire of wedding songs. Even the most tone-deaf in Manila will hum a romantic tune once in a while, and though we are not as obsessive as Gloria Pritchett in celebrating the first kiss, first tryst and so on and so forth, some songs are dearer to the hearts – especially of newlyweds – than others. Not all are suitable for public consumption though, and there have been Filipino weddings that are remembered best not for the fantastic wedding reception at the chosen venue, but more for the colorfully picked wedding songs.

Gerard and Vanessa | "This is not the end" | same day edit from John de Guzman | Cinemaworks on Vimeo.

Music for Picture Taking at the Church

One portion of wedding songs where the couple has free rein is the taking of pictures while still in the church, though after the wedding ceremony. For around thirty photos or more by all the wedding photographers, one is not limited to church songs to fill in the time. One of the worst songs to be sung in this interim is a choral rendition of Lift Up Your Hands as performed by Basil Valdez. The line “Cast your burdens upon me, those who are heavily laden” does not really promise much hope for the future of the couple. Ngayon at Kailanman may be a better choice for a wedding song while still in church, if one were really a die-hard Basil fan.

Another common mistake is Rey Valera's Sinasamba Kita. While the title does connect the church venue, worship and love, a closer look at the lyrics shows obsession, rather than a healthy two way relationship. Side A tones down a bit on this obsession with their more romantic Forevermore, and could still pass through the religious atmosphere even with the pop influence. You could even consider an oldie but goodie Panalangin by the APO Hiking Society, if you want the worship theme to be more visible.

Vicky and Peter: Same Day Edit from For You Are Mine on Vimeo.

Music for Celebration at the Mango Farm Venue

Once you get out of the church and into the Mango Farm, your options widen. With no priest or stern faces of Jesus, Mother Mary and all the saints, you could even play No Diggity without any qualms at all. Just don't have it played several times in a row for a half-hour remix. There are other songs in the world after all.

An opportunity to play music is while the guests are still arriving from the church. Hold back from playing any dance music this early and remember that the party is just beginning. Stick to the classics – jazz, Bach or Mozart from a string quartet does wonders to your guests' appetites. This is fill-in music, so keep the volume down but the excitement still up for the occasion. After the speeches and the tinkling of glasses, then you can put on your dancing shoes and play Annie Batumbakal, In the Mood or Dancing Queen as loud as you want and to your heart's content. The Mango Farm venue can take it. And the trees love music too.

Hitting the Notes in Your Repertoire

One way not to make mistakes with the wedding songs in your repertoire is to sit down with your beloved and list down all the songs you want played, from the church to the Mango Farm venue. Don't worry, you are sure to have more songs in your list than you really need. Then pass down the list to your best man and maid of honor to take out the uncool songs. You may even want to ask the management of the Mango Farm if they have suggestions to further remove songs from your list – after all, the venue would have more experience in the matter than all of you.

Just remember to hit the major notes – love, hope and celebration, and you won't go wrong with any wedding song played in the Mango Farm.

Ron and Anna | Same Day Edit "Mango Farm" from John de Guzman | Cinemaworks on Vimeo.

Parking

Driving is already hard enough in Metro Manila. The rush hours are terrible -- you could be stuck in traffic for hours all because an ice cream cart is slowly plying its trade in a narrow stretch of road. But that is already an uncommon occurrence -- more frequently, buses and jeepneys speed up and slow down at every imaginable stop there is, keeping your foot light on the gas pedal and heavy on the brakes.

Celebrations and Heavy Traffic Go Hand in Hand

And heavy traffic is so much a part of daily life that you might forget it come your wedding day. If you are getting married in a church inside Manila, always add a couple of hours of travel and leave room for error. The bride, the groom, the priest and the choir, even the ninongs and ninangs coming late are realities in any wedding. Your outdoor or indoor reception venue is on a schedule too. You may have to adjust the appointment accordingly with the management.

Try to avoid scheduling your personal celebrations alongside any of the festivals in the city, and there are many of them. A week before the wedding, a final check with the local MMDA and baranggay officials of your parish church for any problems or festivals can be a huge help in averting traffic delays. For everything to go smoothly, allow for error when your guests need to travel by car – which is why your choice of outdoor or indoor reception venues in Manila relies heavily on your church of choice.

But that is just half of it – parking is your next hurdle.

The Problem with Parking

Most reception venues in Metro Manila, whether indoor or outdoor, can cater to several occasions at a time. Hotels and restaurants rarely close their establishments off completely for one single occasion. So at any given time, there will be other clients and customers of the venue, and this takes away potential parking slots for the guests you included in your celebration.

What this means is at least half an hour of trolling the parking lots at a crawl, looking for empty spaces. Your guests might even resort to street parking, which leaves their cars prone to several dangers in the city. This headache intrudes on your celebration, on the very day you are the happiest. But there is something you can do about this.

Where Parking Is Not a Problem – The Mango Farm

At the Mango Farm, you have at least 60 open parking slots for your guests. Taking into account that your guests may come in pairs, that accounts for 120 people all in all. If you invited even more people, the Mango Farm parking spaces can be stretched up to 90 cars with selected grass parking areas – a small enough sacrifice for you and your guests.

The most important part here is that all these slots are reserved for your guests. Everyone will have a parking space immediately upon arriving at your outdoor or indoor reception venue, unlike in other establishments. At the Mango Farm, everyone can park inside, free of charge. That alone is more than you can expect from almost all other reception venues in Metro Manila.

From Altar to Celebration

From Altar to Celebration – The Road Leading to the Mango Farm Venue

It is a matter of pride and wonder that even in this day and age, couples still have church weddings. Papakasalan kita sa lahat ng simbahan goes one of the oldest Tagalog promises of suitors to their ladies, and while impractical today, shows how deeply embedded the strength of the institution is in the hearts of future spouses. The choice of church is still, in spite of the added costs, essential in the keeping of lifelong vows that will keep a couple faithful and loyal to each other for as long as the two shall live, through the simplest exchange of I do's.

The Mango Farm Venue and the Church

And then off to the venue of the celebration, of course. The church and the party go hand in hand. The match becomes convenient when the church and venue are close to each other, keeping travel time to a minimum. But as you can see from the map, it doesn't have to be so. The Mango Farm has been the site for the reception of church weddings as far as the Archbishop's Palace on Shaw Boulevard. Judging by the distance, the Mango Farm has an effective radius of around 17 kilometers – more than enough to cover most churches in Quezon City.

The support of the newlyweds' friends and families are just as important to the success of the marriage as the blessings of the church, and that support formally begins in the wedding reception. As far as promises go, the community is also making one for the couple.'

The Message of the Church

Choosing which church for what venue is beside the point – besides, it sorts itself out eventually. It may take some haggling or compromise, or it may be the easiest decision the young couple are going to make. The choice of church, on the other hand, comes from the history of the couple, the groom or the bride.

The groom or the bride could have grown up in the same parish. A school nearby implies the couple could be childhood sweethearts – or at the very least, known each other way back in the day. A large cathedral implies the support of the parents of both sides, perhaps with political, financial or popular ties. The choice of church speaks a lot about the young couple.

But, as the words of John Lennon go, all you need is love. The church and venue may vary, but one thing remains. In both places, wherever they may be, this promise deserves a celebration of love.

Promises at the Mango Farm Venue

Read up on the Mango Farm. Better yet, reach them at + 632.645.6993 (land line), + 63.908.882.3929 (mobile phone), via email at info@themangofarm.com or better yet, visit the venue at 22 Shield St., Kingsville Court, Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines. The truth of the matter is, pagkahaba-haba man ng prosisyon, sa simbahan din ang patutunguhan. And, if we might add, then the Mango Farm afterwards. It is the place to keep promises, for each other, and to your closest friends and families.