Rewind ~ Bridal gown hunt - Day 2

Day 2 ~ Take a read on my opinions about the bridal shops that I have visited. I hope it could be useful for those brides who are searching :)

Bridal shops:

5

Location: Desa Sri Hartamas

Website: http://www.thatspecialoccasion.net/index.html

Why I chose to visit: To get consultation from designer on the type of dress which is suitable for my body shape.

My Experience: Kris Wong, the owner was very relaxed and attentive to my body concerns, so he sketched up some designs, which I liked very much of course, but the cost of the gown design that I chose is way above our budget. We viewed some of his existing bridal and evening gowns, and we found that his workmanship is exquisite, especially the cheongsam! Nonetheless, I decided then that, this would be my last resort if I couldn't find my gown in any bridal shops. His consultation time with you is strictly based on appointments only, so please call up to make an appointment with him and not show up impromptu (his door bell rang in the middle of our discussion, he just ignored it and said, that person doesn't have an appointment. LOL) 

*photo taking is NOT allowed in bridal shop*

6

• Tom Collection

Location: SS2

Website: http://tomwedding.com.my/

Why I chose to visit: Good reviews on gown selections

Experience: The sales assistant was kind enough to accommodate some time for us without making a prior appointment. Very good service upon arrival - tea was served, books of photographs were shown and sales person explained package etc. The interior of the shop is really unique - Balinese feel. The sales person is really pretty too. She took us upstairs to view the gowns, but they have a separation selection of gowns - VVIP, VIP etc. She had a hard time recommending gowns to me, and insisted me to try on whichever gowns that I liked. I tried 5 gowns in total, it was just OK - very common in my opinion. The material & quality of all the gowns I tried on, feels like it has been worn and altered a million times, and I was turn off by it. But their service is almost impeccable, not sure about the after sales service though.

*photo taking is NOT allowed in bridal shop*

7

Location: SS2

Website: http://valeriefan.com/

Why I chose to visit:  Curiosity 

Experience: Good service upon arrival - we were warmly welcomed, seated and water was served, books of photographs were shown. They took the time to understand my requirement of the wedding gown. Loved the changing room - spacious and furnished with cushy carpets. Really liked 2 of the gowns that I tried, but they didn't screamed "THAT'S THE ONE!!" to my face, so I didn't make any bookings here. Limited choice of wedding boleros and short tail evening gowns. They do provide custom made services here, but I didn't inquire about it. Valerie is also a shoe designer, thus you may custom make your shoes here.

*photo taking is NOT allowed in bridal shop*


-to be continued Day 3~

Rewind ~ Bridal gown hunt - Day 1

Day 1 ~ Let's look at the bridal shops I have visited. I hope it could be useful for those brides who are searching :)

Bridal shops:

8

Location: Puchong & SS2
Website: http://twoofus.com.my/blog/ & https://www.facebook.com/twoofusbridal

Why I chose to visit: Less popular compared to other bridal shops - was hoping to find a different/unique gown. Also, had positive reviews on their honesty. 

Source: http://www.malaysiabrides.com/forum/topic/30664-two-of-us-bridal-gallery/

Experience: They gave me a good head start in finding my wedding gown, as this is the first shop I've visited. They have lots of new gowns, with their in-house designer working on new designs almost every month. Pricing is reasonable, no haggling required - what you pay is what you get. One of the few honest bridal shops I come across in terms of sales & products. Would have booked them, but couldn't find any dress that I truly love.

Contact: Katherine (+6 012 327 5366) / email: two.of.us.bg@gmail.com

*photo taking is allowed in bridal shop*

9

• Victoria Wedding Gallery

Location: SS2

Why I chose to visit: Recommended by my cousin

Experience: Overall, it was just OK for me. The gowns are pretty dated (in my opinion). One of the owner didn't allow me to try on more than 3 gowns, unless I sign up a package with them - they were conversing in Chinese, expecting I couldn't understand the language. We didn't get much attention from this particular one owner, because we were looking to just rent a gown. Honestly, I've seen better bridal photography, I guess Abbey is overrated - just my opinion. I've read many positive reviews on this shop, probably I would be treated differently if I was looking to sign-up a deal with them?

*photo taking is NOT allowed in bridal shop*

10

• Wedding Isle

Location: Jalan Kemajuan, Seksyen 12

Why I chose to visit: Recommended by my cousin

Experience: Found a potential dress I loved, but they wouldn't alter the length of the dress. The gown rental price was very affordable, out of the many I've tried, I almost booked one of it, but because it was my first day shopping, I wanted to see more choices. I came out of the shop happy, because I found a dress that I would return to book, and am pleased with their personalized services. However, they have very limited evening wear, and for this, they suggested Marry Merry. Their package is pretty standard, haggling could work.

*photo taking is allowed in bridal shop*

11

Location: 3 Two Square, Seksyen 19

Why I chose to visit: Looking for a bargain

Experience: You can find everything here, from invitation cards, car rental, Chinese tea pot sets, bridal shoes, florist contact etc. Bear in mind that the gowns here are marked down/stock clearance from Pretty in White & That Special Occasion. Unfortunately, I didn't find my gown here :(

My mum & I were pretty exhausted after a whole day of wedding gown shopping, but it was a great experience for both of us.

*photo taking is NOT allowed in bridal shop*

-to be continued Day 2~

My wedding experience...

It was only last Saturday, that we celebrated our wedding with our closest family & friends. We wished our families from afar could have celebrated with us in person, but nonetheless, they were in our thoughts the entire time.

Our guests described our wedding as "beautiful, lovely, fun & elegant". That's all the bride & groom need to know/hear - sometimes, a wedding will not go exactly the way you wanted it to be, it's how you deal with the changes. In our case, there were things that did not went according to plan, but we were too happy to be bothered by it. Below are the things that were a little off track, but somehow managed themselves around us.

Church

--------

• We were 10-15 minutes late for the church ceremony (luckily Fr. Tan wasn't angry at us) - Fr. Tan skipped the 2nd reading, due to time factor.
• After the ceremony was over, we couldn't take much photos inside of the church, because there were guests seated for the next wedding.
• The bride's march-in song was slightly off tune in the beginning.

Tea ceremony

------------------

• My hubby's parents wasn't familiar with the tea ceremony culture, so there has been some awkward moments, but they eventually got back on the right track.
• Non-relatives started to serve the bride & groom tea, which makes it a little awkward as well, but we just go with the flow :D
• I only brought a casual top to change for lunch (forgotten to carry my shorts along), thankfully, one of my bridesmaids offered me her dress that she was supposed to wear for dinner - Bless her soul.
• Luncheon in Dynasty Dragon, Berjaya Times Square was served a little late.

Dinner

-------

• It was raining - traffic was pretty bad (was worried for our guests).
• Champagne did not POP the way it should be, probably because my hubby was aiming to pop at the bunch of nicest/most helpful groomsmen (LOL).

These are things that we couldn't care much, because it worked out well by its own. We ended our wedding celebration with a BANG!, thanks to our marvelous emcee & band.

There is nothing I would change to make our wedding better, because we are beyond blessed that we have such supportive family and friends to help us out, without expecting anything in return. 

I've heard from a lot of people say that, the bride will be most stressful on her wedding day. Let me tell you, this is not necessarily true, when you have wonderful people who are always there for you. 

Tip: 

-----

• Invite people whom you trust or genuinely helpful into your bridal party.
• Do not be afraid to delegate.
• Always be appreciative for the things your bridal party/helpers.
• Be positive and don't try to control everything.
• Only the bride & groom matters, all other things will fall itself into place.
• Lastly SMILE, SMILE, SMILE.
• Honestly, just enjoy your day! Think beautiful thoughts, don't worry about anything else in the world - just you and your hubby that matters.

Words can never express how thankful we are for having our bridesmaids & groomsmen by our side. Not forgetting our family members who helped out financially, physically & spiritually.

It was the best wedding I've attended - my OWN wedding *big smile*

Church reception

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLOG), Puchong was our initial choice to have our wedding ceremony. At that time, we found that our wedding date was still available for booking, although I saw another application with the same date, in progress on the clerk's desk. But the clerk said that the applicant have not paid the booking fee, so handsome quickly took out his wallet and paid RM 100 to secure the date (actual amount to pay is RM 500 - covered for admin fee & church deco only). This church is well-known for its very strict dress code and the existence of red tape. Well, I can confirm to you that it's true! 

Our personal experience of red tape in OLOG includes:

1) We are not allowed to contact the priest directly, instead we have to call the clerk to state our intentions of meeting up with the priest. Once the priest confirmed his available date, the clerk will call us back to inform date and time of the meet.

2) The clerks were quite reserved when we first started asking questions about wedding matters. But, they were more approachable when we are actively involved in church activities. (the church strongly encourages its people to join and be active in the community)

3) Dress code for the bride (or ladies for that matter): no plunging necklines, no bareback, no spaghetti straps, covered shoulders & knees, no slippers/sandals.

4) We are required to show a picture of the wedding dress to the priest for approval (before the wedding date), before confirming it with the bridal boutique.

5) To have weddings here, there are a lot of imposed charges, and what I am most upset about, will be mentioned below.

After some realization, handsome and I agreed that the traffic and the long journey from Puchong to Banker's Club is not worthy. So, we approached Church of Holy Rosary, KL and guess what, we managed to contact the priest directly on his cell phone! Our first impression of our priest, Fr. Tan was serious/no-nonsense, but once we get to know him, he's in fact a pleasant and funny man. We felt comfortable talking and asking him questions about the wedding protocols. The priest and the administrative officer were ever so helpful. No red tape, quite lenient on the dress code (as long as decent), and only RM 100 admin fee for weddings, no other charges.

Now, back to point#5 above mentioned, since we have informed OLOG four months ahead of our wedding date, that we intend to have our wedding mass in the Church of Holy Rosary, we expect the church to return the RM 100 deposit that we initially paid, since there were hardly any paperwork to process. Unfortunately, the priest do not allow refund, not even half! On top of this, the church charges RM 50 (deducted from the RM 100) to courier our documents to Holy Rosary *disappointed face*

Conclusion, these experiences had challenged us as a couple, to make decisions and go through thick and thin together. 

Venue visit #5: Bankers Club KL

It's time to reveal our venue of choice *drum rolls* ... Bankers Club KL!

I know, I know...it has one of the worst traffic in KL, and limited parking spaces made available. But we fell in love with the decor and we felt so comfortable by negotiating with PIC Mr Shangkar because he's understanding and so flexible with our requests. I've researched about weddings being held here, and overall there seemed to have plenty of positive reviews from their food right down to their services provided.

The atmosphere and the decor is definitely one of a kind for weddings. The pictures you find on the internet about this place is exactly just that. Bankers Club is a penthouse inside Amoda Building, situated opposite of Berjaya Times Square and in front of Lowyat Plaza, hence the heavy traffic and limited parking spaces.

Whenever our family and friends learnt the location of our wedding reception venue, we can see that they were annoyed about the traffic and parking issue. But in fact, we have no regrets choosing Bankers Club, because the venue represents us as a couple. Both of us loved the venue and the service, and we want our guests to experience a new change other than hotels and Chinese restaurants. In terms of pricing, we categorize this as intermediate between Chinese restaurant and hotel standards. Below are some pictures from one of the previous wedded couple, for more photos, you may visit her blog at: http://wedding.ahdear.com/blog/default.aspx?id=1&t=KL-Wedding-Dinner-Part-1

Photo source: http://wedding.ahdear.com/blog/default.aspx?id=1&t=KL-Wedding-Dinner-Part-1

Photo source: http://wedding.ahdear.com/blog/default.aspx?id=1&t=KL-Wedding-Dinner-Part-1

Venue visit #4: Dynasty Dragon SS2 Mall (closed)

Let's move on to venue number 4 - Dynasty Dragon Seafood Restaurant located in SS2 Mall. They have other outlets located in IOI Puchong, Berjaya Times Square, Summit USJ, Klang Parade etc. In our opinion, the outlet in SS2 Mall has the biggest advantage for us, in terms of food reviews and location. 

We arrived and parked, but had difficulty finding the restaurant, which is located on the top floor of the building. The mall itself looks new but empty. Our biggest concern was, the restaurant may close-down in a couple of months due to lack of patronage in the mall.

The restaurant in use is nicely decorated, clean and bright. The flooring was tiled all the way (the reflection of the ceiling lights were pretty intense for me), including the banquet rooms. They have a small rooftop pool outside of the restaurant, that can be used for cocktail hour on a non-rainy day. Three small banquet rooms can be opened up into one big room, which is appropriate for our intimate reception. One big banquet room can accommodate up to 25 tables, whereas the common area (outside of the banquet rooms) can accommodate up to 45 tables. This suggested that if we decide to have our celebration in the banquet rooms, we might be able to listen to another wedding celebration/commotion going-on in the common area (which is why I'm opposed to sharing banquet halls with other married couples or walk-in guests).

Price wise is acceptable, considering the good food reviews we found from the internet.

Verdict: I believe this venue can be considered if we were having a big celebration. Although they do have a smaller banquet hall outside, the stench of cockroaches is unbearable, and my hubby saw a rat running in the area (eeks!) In addition, we can't accept the layout of the smaller banquet hall although it's more private compared to the banquet rooms in the common area.

Here are some references you may find useful:

• http://www.dynastydragon.com.my/en/branches/sstwo-mall/profile
• http://www.nikelkhor.com/2012/02/dynasty-dragon-seafood-restaurant-ss2.html
• http://miss-munyee.blogspot.com/2011/03/congratz-to-alvin-melody-d.html

Venue visit #3: Imperial Garden Restaurant (PJ)

It's now onto venue number THREE - Imperial Garden Restaurant (Petaling Jaya). This venue is located opposite the Asia Jaya LRT station. This restaurant is parked under the Tai Thong Group, thus you can't really go wrong with a strong name like Tai Thong. We truly liked this venue for the following reasons:

• Existing/standard decor is beautiful - elegant, vintage Oriental theme
• Good reviews on the food they served (yes, even for wedding servings)
• Non-halal 
• Location is out of KL city (ample of parking & easy traffic)
• Charges nett price and cheap

Drawbacks:

• Venue needs to be booked way in advance
• A certain number of tables need to be committed (25 tables minimum)
• Narrow hall & walkway
• Their first dish presentation may be a little over the top (for me)
• Tables may need to split into separate rooms (depending on the total number of tables you require)
• May have to share walk-in entrance with walk-in customers, unless you booked the entire restaurant

Building is visible from Federal Highway - located on the top floor of Intan Square

http://www.taithong.com.my/

Verdict: We couldn't secure our preferred date, so we have to forgo this venue. Plus, they require us to make bookings for at least 25 tables, which is not relevant to us, as we wanted an intimate celebration with our close family and friends.

Venue visit #2: Rama V, Jalan U-Thant, Kuala Lumpur

Our next stop brings us to Rama V, located in Jalan U-Thant (near the US Embassy) - location wise, is OK since the road there is usually empty on weekends. What we liked about this venue is the uniqueness of the whole wedding concept/idea. This venue serves Thai food, which is my handsome's favorite food! If you are looking for something unique and memorable, this venue is definitely the perfect choice!

Menu has its own specialty, with reasonable prices and good reviews!

Rama V Fine Thai Cuisine
5 Jalan U-Thant, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 2143 2663
Fax: +603 7803 6891

Opening Hours:12pm-3pm, 6.30pm-11pm 

Some references for you:

• http://www.magicalshots.com/portfolio/2010/lisajohan/index.html
• http://www.smashpop.net/2011/04/page/3
• http://kampungboycitygal.com/2011/09/seventh-anniversary-dinner-at-rama-v-fine-thai-dining-restaurant-jalan-u-thant/
• http://beanpro57.blogspot.com/2009/06/your-one-stop-entertainment-for-wedding.html
• http://www.lotsofcravings.com/2009/07/rama-v-jalan-u-thant.html
• http://deepesthopes-inlife.blogspot.com/2010/11/rama-v-fine-thai-cuisine.html

Verdict: Although we loved this place and the staffs/service, we have to forgo the idea due to several objections from family members of not having traditional Chinese dishes served throughout the night :( 

Venue visit #1: Hotel Millennium Kuala Lumpur

So we have decided on the budget, now let's begin planning our dream wedding!

Besides setting/allocation the budget, you and your fiance should also discuss on the type/theme of your wedding. For us, we just couldn't decide, because there's just too many options and ideas online. The possibilities are endless! So, we decided to let the venue of our choice, determine our wedding theme.

The FIRST venue we visited was the Grand Millennium Hotel Kuala Lumpur, located next to Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. We were lucky to see the actual decor of the venue, since a wedding dinner reception was to be held on that day. If you are looking to host a small wedding function, this venue can be considered, as their wedding ballroom could cater up to 22 tables only. The nine-course dinner menu is standard, with prices starting from RM 138++ per pax onwards (quotation based on November 2012). 

Here is what they quoted:

Custom designed dummy wedding cake 

Free flow of soft drinks throughout dinner 

Corkage waived on one bottle of hard liquor or wine per table 

Complimentary one night stay in Bridal Suite with breakfast for two persons 

Flower bouquet for the bride 

Standard floral corsages for the bride and bridegroom’s parents 

Standard flower arrangements for cocktail tables at reception area entrance of 

the ballroom, aisle and centrepiece 

Complimentary usage of one LCD projector with screen 

Champagne fountain with sparkling juice for toasting 

A selection of wedding favours for guests 

Two “double swan” ice carving 

Wedding invitation card 

Complimentary usage of function room for welcome tea ceremony 

VIP parking for the bridal car at the hotel’s driveway

Verdict: We loved the idea of having the dinner reception in their Chinese (non-halal) restaurant, Lai Ching Yuen, but their response to our inquiries took too long, and sometimes, no answer. We believe their salespeople are mainly focus in selling the ballroom wedding packages. It was disappointing, but I guess it was a blessing in disguise, because the layout of the restaurant would be a hassle for us to mingle with our guests. In addition, the hotel is located in the heart of KL city, which is a minus point, as guests will have difficulty arriving/leaving the hotel. During our wedding, we wouldn't want frustrated guests complaining about the traffic or parking. Overall feedback I found online, we would rate this venue for wedding: 4 out of 5.

Here are some related links for your reference:

• http://www.tripadvisor.com.my/ShowUserReviews-g298570-d301433-r114873783-Grand_Millennium_Kuala_Lumpur-Kuala_Lumpur_Wilayah_Persekutuan.html
• http://www.malaysiabrides.com/forum/topic/6226-grand-milleniumkl/
• http://www.emotioninpictures.com/marcus-janices-kuala-lumpur-wedding/

http://www.millenniumhotels.com/grandmillenniumkualalumpur/meetings/weddings.html

http://www.millenniumhotels.com/grandmillenniumkualalumpur/meetings/weddings.html

Budget...Budget...Budget...

Ok ladies and gentlemen,

I know, I know, you've heard this plenty of times, but I must stress that the MOST crucial thing before we start any sort of planning is to SET A BUDGET! Unless you have unlimited budget (don't we all wish...), with no budget set, it's like planning a wedding to disaster! You can get pretty good templates from these sites:

• http://theweddingnotebook.com/wp-content/uploads/site/downloads/the-wedding-notebook-wedding-budget.xls  (I created my own budget planning based on this template)

• http://www.weddinary.com/files.php?force&file=banners/TS102264315_518660338.xltx

I personally prefer to jot down as many details possible in the budget template. In that way, I shall not miss out on any payments, I know how much balance money to spend on which area, or to trim down the cost in which area, and it is also useful as reference to resolve discrepancies with vendors (if any).

Here's an idea of my budget breakdown for your reference (you may adjust to suit your needs):

Rings:- 10%

Photography:- 10%

Beauty:- 5%

Flowers & Decor:- 3%

Ceremony:-2%

Reception:- 48%

Attire:- 13%

Technical:- 7%

Stationary:- 1%

Misc:- 1%

Personal tips to avoid overspending:

• If you find something you like, DON'T buy it immediately. Go home and sleep on it. Eventually, you will know if you really NEED it, or it's just something that you want.
• If you truly need it, THINK AGAIN, is it worth your money, or you can find the exact same thing for a cheaper price in flea markets, E bay, or at other retailers? 
• Once you have decided that you can't live without it, try to BARGAIN for a good deal, be it a special discount or ask the sales person to throw in some free stuffs.
• In another matter, you may apply the Law of Attraction and work a little closer to get the item you want. Remember, Law of Attraction will NOT work if you just sit and do nothing, it comes with a little effort.

IMPORTANTLY, DO NOT PURCHASE MORE THAN YOU COULD AFFORD! You don't want to be in debt after your wedding, because your wedding will be the BEGINNING of your married life together. You can spend that extra money on your honeymoon or the new house you just bought.

Blogger back in ACTION!

Hi lovely readers,

Sorry I've been MIA for a while now. Thanks to an encouraging comment I received last week, that I realized I've been neglecting my blog for way too long. Now, let's get it BACK TO ACTION!

OK, so what I've done for the past few months in planning my wedding will be shared here with you, for those who will find these information useful, do leave a comment or two :)