Where to do wedding preps

When planning a wedding, brides or grooms sometimes neglect to include in their plans where they will be doing their wedding preparations. Will they do it at home? At someone else's house? At a hotel?

Some considerations in looking for a venue for your wedding preps:

1) Is it near your wedding ceremony/reception venue?

2) Does it have enough and space to accommodate several suppliers and your wedding entourage?

3) Will there be enough natural light for putting on your make-up and your pre-ceremony portraits?

It's a good thing that most Metro Manila hotels offer yearly memberships that have discounted room rates and other services/freebies that you can use throughout the year even after your wedding.

Here are some of them:

A few weekends ago, I decided to take a much needed breather and stay at the Peninsula Manila with my family. I used my free hotel stay voucher and even got my free cake. :-)

The superior room (per night, PhP 13,000++). Superior rooms facing the garden starts at PhP 14,000++

Although a superior room would do ok for the members of the entourage or even your groom during his preps, I would suggest a bigger room (a suite would be ideal) to accomodate your make-up artist, hairstylist, videographers, photographers, entourage and other suppliers.

The day we checked in, cocktails were being served at the upper lobby area. (I even bumped into Jason Magbanua, who probably didn't know I'm one of his blog stalkers. Haha.)

The magestic iron sculpture by National Artist Napoleon Abueva.

Alice and the Mad hatter were probably here a few minutes ago...

The Peninsula Manila hosts a number of restaurants and bars that you and your guests could try during your stay.

Probably one of the most photographed hotel staircase in the country. A favorite area for bride and groom portraits.

The pool area which the kids loved.

Birthday dinner at Escolta.

My free 2lb cake!

Some photos of the buffet dinner...

And buffet breakfast...

One of my favorite childhood breakfast treats, taho (soybean custard with tapioca and caramel syrup)!



Every Sunday morning, Old Manila opens its doors to kids!

A play area.

Books and toys.

The kiddie buffet.

An area where the kids can watch their favorite movies or cartoons.

There was even a balloon twister! I like that the Pen is such a family-friendly hotel.

Wherever you decide to do your wedding preps, make sure it's where you'll feel right at home. :-)