Sanding - Signed, Sealed, Settled!

Hey again everyone more like anyone!

Its been close to a month since my last update where I shared with you my whirlwind experience of booking the outstanding Jentayu Gallery to make magic at my reception venue. And at that time, I had no actual venue confirmed or secured, so it was really a gamble just to secure Jentayu for my date. I was not even able to work out my total package cost or details of the items that I would need, haha. But all that is finally about to change! 10 months after I first started this search, I am so relieved and excited to share that my sanding venue for saturday is BOOKED!

The final lap before reaching our conclusion was not an easy one. We had basically pretty much settled on The Joyden Hall, except that my parents were still keen on somewhere located further east so we did do one last site recce for The Begonia Hall at D'Resorts Downtown East.

Those are the only 2 decent pictures of the place that I can find online, sorry.

Getting to the hall itself was quite a journey. From the north to the far east is already quite a distance but the thing about this hall is that it is located pretty far from the taxi stand, carpark and drop off point. As such we had to walk quite a distance to get there, making it one of my concerns for this venue already. I mean, if we who have no illness and difficulty walking already find it uncomfortable what more the elderly guests or those on walking aids. I definitely don't want them hobbling away or suffering just to get to the venue!

Once we reached the building with the hall, we noticed there was only one lift up to the hall on the 2nd floor. So again, this was a red flag in terms of accessibility. Nevertheless, I didn't want to strike this venue off yet - afterall, if it did match up to the way The Joyden Hall made me feel and it is in the east, its a win-win for both my parents and I. On the 2nd floor there is a expansive seating area or lobby which honestly is ideal for guests to mingle or to just hang out through the event without crowding the actual reception hall.

We met up with the consultant there who was very polite and warm. He showed us first to the additional rooms - prayer room, family room and bridal changing suite before taking us to the actual event hall. The rooms were huge! They were almost like smaller function halls so you can imagine that they would be able to comfortably fit in quite a number of people. All these additional rooms are fully air-conditioned and are inclusive in the venue hire cost. Definitely a plus point!

When we got to the actual reception hall, I must say that it was pretty nice. It gave off a really warm vibe cause of the dim yellow lighting and it was fully carpeted. There were also inherent light fixtures - about 4 long chandeliers across the room. The room itself was a little odd shaped to me cause it seemed very much longer than it was wide. The maximum capacity of the room is 30 tables and the dais can either be placed along the length of the room or at either end. All in all, it really was a decent venue. The consultant then explained that for the price we pay we would get the hall, the additional rooms and time the day before for set up! This is a great deal because usually event halls will consider all these as added cost.

By this point, I could honestly say that it was a tough choice. In my heart of hearts, I know I love The Joyden Hall more because the hall is bigger and the high ceilings and you can refresh your mind on my gushing with this post. But I know that a venue in the east was something my parents wanted, and this was not the worst hall ever so why not, right? Decisions, decisions....

BUT! It suddenly got a whole. lot. easier. Our consultant then dropped a bomb on us by letting us know that by the way the surrounding area of D'resorts (Asli Village and EHub area) would be undergoing a major renovation starting November 2016 to approx. November 2017.

Yup, that was the sign I needed. It was not meant to be. There was no way we would agree to have our wedding surrounded with construction - neither my parents nor I would take that sitting down. And with that, I scheduled my appointment with my consultant from The Joyden Hall secure my date and make my deposit. Of which she replied that my date was still available (Alhamdulillah!) but, another couple is looking at the same date, so I would need to get it done as soon as possible. So, to the other couple...if you happen to come across my blog and read this...I am so sorry! I wish you all the best in your wedding planning and that wherever you end up having your reception, it will be full of love and barakah!

So I did what was needed, put my deposit down and, ta-dah!

I am so pleased to say that as of today at 4.30 pm, I can finally look forward to having Jentayu's stunning work in this beautiful hall with these dramatic high ceilings!

For more information on my research on The Joyden Hall, please look back at this post on it where it is far more detailed. I did not want to go on and on again about it to spare everyone the extensive post!

And now, 15 months away, I am left with my last major vendor to settle - catering! Now this would be an adventure, cause for the first time ever, I have no clue where to start. I have nobody in mind, no particular idea of what I want, no ability to discern between the qualities of nasi minyak?! Hahaha.

In any case, its really been heartening to see the numbers pick up on this humble BTB blog of mine, We've surpassed a thousand total views! A big hello and thank you all for taking the time to read my rambling. Don't forget to leave a comment or drop me a line through the Talk To Me tab. I'll be glad to link up other fellow BTBs so do let me know your links too!

Love,
Z

Just A Quickie

Hello again everyone!

As mentioned in my last post, we had decided on the nikah venue and Alhamdulillah, we have managed to secure the venue without a hitch. The team at Royal Plaza on Scotts has also been so patient and accommodating in acceding to my requests and being open and forthcoming in discussions on the room layout and itinerary. Being able to envision the day in its actual venue makes the wedding planning experience so much more real and exciting!

Moving forward, the top of the priority list is to secure the venue for Saturday as well and hopefully Azli's family to secure Sunday's venue as well. Since the school term is starting soon, and I foresee another 5 month hiatus from wedding planning, I've asked for my sisters help with sussing out just a couple more venues in the East - Begonia Hall @ Downtown East and SIA Sports Club. My family is actually pretty settled on The Joyden Hall but my dad still feels that where possible he would rather have a location in the east. So hopefully by the time we hit the 1 year mark in October, we would have secured all 3 venues so we can finally move on to other vendors like decorations and catering, InsyaaAllah.

I'll definitely try my best to keep this page updated as the wedding planning progresses despite my hectic schedule. In the meantime, I have updated the Get Connected tab (finally), so now you can just click to be directed to the vendors listed down so far!

Love,
Z

Balmoral Hall, Royal Plaza on Scotts

Holy cow, it has been a good 5 months since I have updated anything on this page. If there are readers out there, don't worry, I didn't die. Its just that honestly, since my last update of booking Colossal Weddings as our photographers, absolutely nothing has progressed.

My parents and I have been briefly throwing ideas around for the nikah venue and arrangements since the start of the year. As you all know, there are 3 events in totality for the wedding - the nikah on Friday, my side's sanding reception on Saturday and my man's side sanding reception on Sunday. This would be my first entry on the nikah itself as all this time we've been researching more on the Saturday event given that it is bigger and more difficult to manage. In selecting our nikah arrangements, we had to be very clear on what our specifications for the event were - timing, budget, guest list, etc.

My man and I wanted to nikah on the weekend of 27 October (Friday), specifically because it means something to us. It would be our 100th month together and we think that it is important that the date holds a special meaning in our hearts. However, having a nikah on a Friday does pose some logistical limitations. Firstly, it being a weekday, the event has to be an evening one seeing as everyone's gonna be working. Why is this an issue? Because, my family is not open to having it at my house due to the relatively large number of guests that we are expecting for the nikah itself - about 120 or so. So if we can't have it at my house, we are only left with 2 other options which is at a mosque or at a separate function hall altogether.

Initially, I was so on board with doing it at the mosque really. I love the narrative starting to bina masjid in a masjid itself yknow? Like where better to start building your paradise than in the home of God himself. And here comes the big BUT, we have to consider that the masjid is and ultimately will always be first and foremost for the purposes of supplication and that we are not the only ones using it. Having it in the evening would mean it would tend to clash with either the maghrib or isha' prayers - unless we have it between the 2 times which only leaves us about less than half an hour. My dad and I agreed that squeezing it in the short time frame was not something that we wanted, because the nikah is what means the most to us. Furthermore, we have an obligation to our guests to serve and feed them decently which I do not think we can fulfill in that short time frame.

So, all in all, after the long story, I guess you'd be able to conclude that I've got to find a whole new hall or function room for my nikah event. My dad has always wanted my nikah event to be in a small room in a hotel - something quite exclusive and intimate I suppose? So he suggested that I take a look at the Balmoral Hall at Royal Plaza on Scotts. And as usual, as with all BTBs, we are so busy that we often subconsciously leave all wedding planning tasks to the bottom of our to-do lists. But luckily, it was so coincidental that a couple of weeks after my dad brought this venue up, RP on Scotts was having a wedding showcase and I got their mailer invite! It was a sign.

So I told my man that we have to go and check this out, and got us registered. Eventually the weekend came for us to check it out. And oh my god, was I floored or was I floored?!

Look at those gorgeous floor to ceiling windows all round! And the decorations that come with it (either purple and silver on top, or white and gold below) are so pretty and girly just like what I love?! I also love how the decorations on the walls and the dais area is not too gaudy and kept simple. Below are some images to show you what the hall itself looks like without the full on decorations and the adjacent poolside. (This is so good for the makciks and aunties who love to linger around!)

To be honest the hall is not very big. It would probably only be able to accommodate about 10 round tables including the dais. But having that wall of clear glass windows really just opens up the entire space! They did have some food from the menu for us to sample as well, but I didn't take any photos. All I can say is that, the price is steep, BUT for the amount you are paying per pax, it is worth it. For the view, the poolside, the hotel room that comes with it, the doorgifts and invites, the extensive menu and central location - I think it is a reasonable price tag. Of course if it is within appropriate means based on your own budgetting lah.

So after months of negotiation, back and forth on the proposed packages. Removing and adding this and that, working out logistics and number of pax. and exhausting other potential possibilities, we have decided on Balmoral Hall @ Royal Plaza on Scotts as our solemnization venue! I cannot even express how relieved I am to finally have one of our venues decided on. Even better, because this comes as a package, it kills many birds with one stone - caterer, decoration, etc. In fact, I have pretty much nothing left to worry about for my nikah except the invitations and doorgifts. (Oh and the kadi booking of course! Haha,)

Through these past 2 months, any time I meet up with my girl friends and they check in on my wedding planning progress, they are more panicked than I am that my venue is not booked when we are just a few months away from the 1 year mark. In fact, for a couple that's getting married next year, we are really quite far behind in terms of planning. My man suggested that once Ramadhan is over, we could really set aside a few hours every weekend with our laptops and devote that to wedding planning, and I could not agree more really.

So that's that then. I have arranged the meeting to be next week, with RP on Scotts to secure the venue and put down my deposit. InsyaAllah, all will go smoothly and this will be another step closer to getting our big day(s) put together!

Till next time, Ramadhan Kareem my sisters and brothers!

Love,
Z

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back.

Since the new year has started, it also means that the new school term has started. So, as you can expect, I have been pretty much swamped with work for the first couple of weeks of 2016 - resulting in close to zero progress on the wedding planing front. Now I know why my dad was pushing me to make the most of the 2015 end year break to get started. To some people, starting planning and making bookings 2 years ahead may seem too early but my man and I agree that for us, given our busy schedules, it definitely was a wise move.

Despite the hectic start to the year, Azli and I did manage to make some progress on our bookings. We have officially secured Colossal Weddings as our actual day photographers! This booking was a fairly straightforward and fuss-free one because my man and I pretty much had our hearts set on them from the very start. The moment we scrolled through and laid eyes on the magic made by Afiq Omar and his mega talented team, every other photographer portfolio that came our way paled in comparison.

Some of you may be wondering why we chose Colossal Weddings, given they are fairly new to the wedding photography scene. This is true to a certain extent, but for those of you who have been doing some research on them or considering them for your own wedding, you'd know that Colossal Weddings is newly formed arm of one of the most well-reputed nightlife photography companies in Asia - Colossal Photos. So they do have experience taking photos in crowded, unruly, noisy, messy places with poor lighting (haha, abit like our malay weddings, no?)

all images retrieved from Colossal Weddings

Also, the team is lead by Afiq Omar, whose work, as you can see, is pretty jaw-dropping. And the team is a group of really talented guys, including Azli's childhood friend, Nasri Ibrahim. All in all, the reason is really simple, we are in love with their work and we have full trust in their craft.

For 2017 BTBs who are interested in engaging them, I believe they are having a 5% off promotion now for the first 10 couples to sign up! (make that 9 since one spot has already been grabbed by yours truly, haha) Their packages are quite versatile, ranging from those with pre-wedding shoots included to actual day packages that cater to single or double photographers and between 10 - 15 hours. We opted for The Colossal Package, which includes two photographers for 15 hours, a flushmount album, a photo canvas and 2 framed photos along with our digital copies. Their payment schedule makes their packages much more affordable - 30% retainer/deposit, 50% after the wedding and 20% upon collection of deliverables 2 months after the wedding. Another plus point! I love vendors that offer a non-cash mode of payment, because I am one of those kiasu people who just do not feel safe carrying tons of cash on me. Colossal Weddings only accepts bank transfers & cheques, which make me feel more secure! Those who are still on the fence, please make an appointment to meet up with them at their office on Arab Street where they will be more than welcoming and willing to show you their work up close. I dare you to walk away after that.

Right, well that was our one step forward, now for the 2 steps back - otherwise known as the major headache bane of my existence and wedding planning. THE VENUE.

Yes, I know that I said this was the first thing that needs to be settled, and yet here we are. Basically, I think for my side we have narrowed it down to 2 options - The Joyden Hall and The Star Gallery. From my previous post, I think you can tell that I was definitely swooning over the latter. Sadly, they have a list of approved caterers that we have to use, and the caterers are pretty pricey. Not only that, these caterers don't exactly cater malay wedding style food, you know? So it seems like a no brainer that I should go for The Joyden Hall, where they allow external caterers at no levy and where I know malay weddings have been done before. Right?

Alas, just like all things that we love and cannot get, we will refuse to let go till we try everything we possibly can. I wrote in to The Star Gallery to ask if they can make an exception for me to allow an external caterer in. So far, the response I got was a phone call after a couple of weeks to let me know that "in principle, we will allow it" but they need some time to get back to me with a list of T&Cs that I have to abide by. Which probably means a levy, and a lot of limitations in terms of what and how my caterer can bring in their food. And just a recap, this venue is already the more expensive of the two mind you. SIGH.

So, I am now just awaiting an official response from The Star Gallery on this caterer issue, and a good time to talk to my dad about these developments to see what he feels about it. To be honest, it seems so ma fan to work my way around all this red tape with The Star Gallery, that a part of me feels like I should just settle for The Joyden Hall? After all, it is a decent venue which does not have as many loops to jump through. We'll just have to wait and see I guess. And this is just one venue, we have not even come anywhere close to this progress for our nikah and groom's side venues.

So, I guess that's pretty much it for now. I can't move on to other key vendors like deco and food until this venue is finalised. InsyaAllah, we will be able to secure the right venue soon enough so that we can move on to other decisions like our other vendors and our nikah venue and arrangements.

Till next time dolls!

Love,
Z

The Limiting Factor

Good morning dolls! Woke up this morning finally feeling inspired to blog. Over the past week, I've gotten a start on my research for a suitable venue for my side's sanding event. Now, some of you must be wondering why I started with venue, when most CCs only allow bookings 6 months prior to the date. Which brings me to the key message of my post today - Always start with the limiting factor.

Limiting Factor (noun)

The piece of the puzzle that would affect how you move and select all the other pieces of your puzzle. 

Okay lah, this post will make a lot more sense with some context right?

If you take a look at my checklist you'll see that in totality, we actually have three events to plan for. For my man's side, of course I won't be involving myself much. This leaves me with my side's sanding event and the nikah event. So I chose to start working on my side's sanding event first.

*teacher mode on* Here boys and girls, we have example numero uno of what a limiting factor is:

If I were to start with my nikah event, I can start with thinking about bridal house for outfit. But, I need to know how many outfits I will have for sanding, to know which package I am looking at with the bridal house. So, it depends on the sanding. Neeeeeext! Okay, let's do catering then. Next to make up, makan is important always (golden rule of life #692). But! catering for a small group would be quite expensive, usually catering can be done with the sanding catering as a package. So, it depends on the sanding. Okay let's do venue then! Mosque or function hall? Target date is a Friday, so mosque might be ootq (out of the question, teehee) considering Jumaat prayers at Zohor. Function hall it is! Eh, but that means, need to book venue for this small event? Might as well do at the same place as sanding and top up abit for extra hours right? So actually it all depends on the sanding.

So between my 2 events, the event that would affect the other event's planning is the sanding, which makes it…? The limiting factor! 

Alright, so that's why I chose to work on the planning of my side's sanding event before I work out my nikah event. If you have noticed my blog title banner, it would describe my wedding as "not-so-conventional". The reason I labelled it as such is because my side alone would be inviting a large guest size of about 1800 to 2000 pax, and my dad is not too keen on having the event at a CC because we would need a seating capacity of about 450 to 500 pax. We also do not have a void deck, so that's quite ootq (should be pandai by now ah).

Let's start with bridal house. I will be going to my top choice bridal house for their open house later this week, and really my outfit choice won't bear much consequence on the choices of my other vendors. Okay, settled for now. Moving on, to catering. Yes, many caterers would be able to cater for a large number of pax, but how many venues will allow these caterers to come in? So, it depends on the venue. Next, let's check out decorations. But, some venues do come with decorations in their wedding package already right? So why am I searching? I guess, it depends on the venue.

*teacher mode on* Okay boys and girls, did you spot the limiting factor? Very good.

As you can see, finding the right venue is important for me because it would dictate the direction for me to take in selecting caterers, decoration vendors and even things like invitation cards, wedding cakes and door gifts because some venues do include these in their wedding packages. How has the search been so far? I must say, not too bad. I've looked at a number of options and even ruled some out.

Here's a list of venues that are in consideration:

1. Hotels: Fairmont, Fort Canning, Furama Riverfront
2. Function Halls: The Joyden Hall, The Star Gallery
3. Country Club Ballrooms: Orchid Country Club, Serangoon Gardens Country Club

I would love to include more about the venues specifically in this post, but girl gotta gather more info first lah. Plus, I'll be meeting with the teams from some of these venues this coming week, so my post on venues will be more worth reading once I get the juicy details. Until then, I hope that this post will help those who have no idea where to begin their research. Remember that starting with the limiting factor will be able to direct your research better subsequently and prevent you from doing unnecessary work by researching and contacting vendors that you may not even have to!

& of course, for those of you who may still be struggling to understand what I have been going on and on about and still figuring out where to start, feel free to leave a comment or drop me a line okay? Teacher explain to you again slowly.

XOXO,
Z