Themes & Motifs Bridal Fair: Caterer, Musician and Make-up

This morning, I headed to nearby SMX with three things on my wedding checklist: caterer, make-up artist and musician-- but only after my eyes and fingers were going numb from hours of playing Batman: Arkham City (wonder if, once I'm a full-time husband to my lovely wife, she'll still let me play video games, surf the net and watch series 'til I fall asleep *crosses fingers*).

Anyhow, it was pretty easy to find the suppliers that I wanted to meet and book with. Center Table Catering for the food, Jeng and Carlan for the make-up and SJT Strings for the music. We've been to their shops in previous fairs, so it was more of a formality and ensuring that they're ours for our December wedding.

First stop: Center Table Catering

Millet (extreme right) is our Account Executive :)

They had this little stall along other caterers who were busy trying to woo me away with flyers, freebies and what not. What they didn't have though which could've made me change my mind was food tastings, or at least a sample of their products. That, plus Fernwood is a stickler for suppliers and we're only able to work with the accredited ones.


I looked for Millet, but she was busy speaking with another couple. The guy looked 35-ish, the girl, probably around the same age. They looked nothing alike so there goes the saying that if the couple don't start looking or resembling one another, they're not going to last very long.

Told them that I'd go around and check the other guys on my list first and come back later in the afternoon. I checked how much the down payment was going to be and left for the nearest ATM.

Second stop: SJT Strings 


After weeks of YouTube-ing their performances, this was practically a no brainer for us. They have budget-friendly rates and I opted for the P 11,200 package which includes: piano, string, flute and singer. I asked Giselle, the account executive, if I could have 2 singers instead to which she said they normally don't do but since I was being all polite and makulit, she agreed to drop the flute and throw in another singer.

So for our wedding, we'll have a male and female singer! Yey! :)

Being pop music afficionados, the fiancee has her heart and mind set on a bunch of Lea Salonga broadway songs that make me puke. I on the other hand, have Pinoy mush in mind.

"Mahal Kita" by Maricris Garcia, "Sa Piling Mo" by Regine Velasquez, "Forevermore" by Side A and "When I Met You" by APO.

Settled the P 2,000 down payment and went on my way to the next and final stop on my list.

Third stop: Jeng and Carlan

Okay, while walking around to the back, left area of the SMX Convention Center, I saw a beautiful, tall Chinita wearing a black dress smiling at me. She was with another Chinita, short-haired this time, and thought hey, this must be my lucky day!

Nah, just playing, those ladies are pppppprrrrreeeettttttyyyy. Or maybe it's the make-up. Either way, if they can make themselves look pretty, then they can make just about anyone pretty right? Right? I have no idea about the intricacies of cosmetics, but they do come highly recommended so I decided to book them right then and there.

They're a little pricey, with their standard rate at P 17,000 for the bride + 2 pax and a bonus (the groom, me). Good thing they gave me a discount. Anyway, even without it, I'd still book their services based on the reviews I've read online alone.

Our account executive is Emily, and she's pretty nice and easy to talk to. While we were talking, Carlan was right behind us attending to this horizontally challenged lady (bride to be) who wasn't wearing any make up at all. A couple of minutes later, the lady went from flab to fab.

I think Carlan did that thing wherein you play with colors/ shadows to make the cheeks look thinner from a certain angle? Amazing. New age artisans right there.

And they're pretty nice ladies too!

Settled the P 8,000 down payment, but couldn't inform them which of the two (Jeng or Carlan) we'll be getting for our wedding. Will leave that unenviable task to my fiancee.

Booked. :)

I took a photo of Emily, with Carlan and the big lady at the back but it was deleted. Oh well.

Fourth-First Stop: Center Table Catering

Now, back to CTC.

The couple who was there earlier finally left, leaving the account executives to themselves. They were laughing, chatting while I saw Millet looking left and right before finally locking onto me and smiling.

"Ayan! Kala ko nag book ka na sa iba!" she said.

Nah, I'm pretty much decided at that point. Same with the fiancee. We talked, laughed a big at and worked on the contracts. Down payment was P 10,000 for a guest list of 170 pax. Like I said, we're not really going for a big wedding, we prefer an intimate one with close family and friends, but we're definitely not going to hold back on trying to make it memorable for everyone.

But honestly, it is starting to get real pricey. My credit card feels like a whore from all the times I've used it the last couple of weeks.

A good whore, serving a great, bigger purpose. ;)