Wednesday 26 June 2013

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:

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.

Tuesday 25 June 2013

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!
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.millenniumhotels.com/grandmillenniumkualalumpur/meetings/weddings.html


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

Friday 21 June 2013

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:




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 :)