Feature from columnist Reggie Aspiras at the front page of Lifestyle section of the Phil Daily Inquirer today at page C1 ,as she featured the Manila wedding reception of Senator Chiz Escudero and Actress Heart Evangelista Thanks so much Miss Reggie for this wonderful feature #chizheartlovefinally #chizheart21515
Successful weddings require a lot of work and no one knows this more than wedding planner Kutchie Zaldarriaga of Getting Married Philippines. She successfully orchestrated the Manila reception of newly married couple Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and actress Heart Evangelista at Blue Leaf Filipinas, Parañaque.
I was impressed with how smoothly everything flowed despite the huge number of guests. This prompted me to approach Kutchie to ask how she managed to do it all while looking cool as a cucumber.
“My job was to orchestrate all the details of the day,” she explained, “to make sure it’s a smooth ride for everyone, most especially the couple.”
From a list that Kutchie submitted, Chiz and Heart picked Bizu to be the caterer. They based their decision on how Bizu set the table during the food tasting, as well as the cutlery used and the tenderness of the steak served.
Audrey Tanco Uy, Bizu private catering manager, said it was easy working with the bride. “Heart wanted to be sure that the food is delicious. She also wanted the food to look beautiful. Presentation was as important to her as the taste.”
As for Chiz, Audrey recalled: “He worked on his wedding possibly the same way that he works in the Senate. He was very quick in asking questions about the catering flow. I was constantly on my toes. He said Heart had an image of her dream wedding, which we tried to approximate as best we can.”
The challenge was to keep the affair as orderly as possible. The main hall could accommodate only 750, so the rest of the guests were seated in different areas and function rooms.
Bizu had the gargantuan task of simultaneously serving 300 plated meals and buffet-style setups for 800.
“Senator Chiz did not want long lines so we had to be very strategic with the number of buffet stations,” Uy said. “For the plated menu, we were given only one hour to serve the four-course meal because we had to be finished by the time the wedding concert began.”
Tips:
Kutchie had her own set of pointers for wedding receptions:
Date: Better on a weekend to ensure good attendance.
Venue: Consider location and distance from the church to the reception. It should be convenient for the guests.
If it is a garden wedding, there should be a plan B, a contingency.
Number of guests: As determined by the budget. Find a good caterer. Best to serve cocktails at the onset, then move on to dinner with a varied selection. Do not forget the drinks!
Kutchie had more tips for those who want a “beautiful yet economical wedding reception”:
Stick to a theme that has readily available materials in the market.
Book a venue that requires minimal styling.
Book a caterer with loaded package inclusions.
Make the reception program meaningful and significant by adding your personal inputs, like performing at your own wedding rather than hiring talents.
Keep things simple but elegant and tasteful.
What makes a perfect wedding reception?
Kutchie: “The couple themselves must be very active in reaching out to the guests. It is important that the guests feel very welcome.
“There should be great food, music and reception program.
“A good team of wedding suppliers with the common goal of making it a smooth ride for everyone.
“Hire the best professional suppliers, those with a lot of passion in their hearts. You can see that in the output of their work.”
You may want to watch the special TV coverage of the Chiz-Heart nuptials on March 1 and March 8 at 10 p.m. on GMA 7.
Call Kutchie Zaldarriaga, wedding planner, at 0917-5949172; visit www.gettingmarriedphils.com.
Read more: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/185547/behind-the-scenes-chiz-heart-nuptials-manila-reception#ixzz3TDbvB9pS
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