This is not a review. This is not about an impression of how beautiful a particular place is, saying how delicious the food was, or an impression of a particular product. This is a story about a couple who just walked in at a bridal expo and walked away last September 30, 2014 with a dream wedding reception to be held at the Oakwood Premier Joy-Nolstag. But they never knew what they were really in for.
I was there to be a silent witness.
Back in 2014 in celebration of their 5th anniversary, Oakwood Premier Joy-Nolstag decided not to just promote the hotel as a venue for celebration for intimate weddings, but to have something impactful and meaningful. So they decided that instead of placing ads in magazines and websites, they gave away a reception of a lifetime.
The plan was just a reception that is good for a hundred guests, but when it was found out that Gino and Cindy were expecting and was not planning for a grand wedding because of the coming expenses, Oakwood Premier just felt the need to step it up, sweeten the pot, and get some sponsors for the couple.
They got Atmosphere Creatives with the help of celebrity stylist Ms. Debra Bernales to do the save-the-date shoot, and Ms. Anna Angeles of Ix-Chel Style Manila and hair stylist, Ms Steph Escobido to beautify both the bride and groom for the shoot and the wedding.
When they found out that the couple won’t be having a church wedding, they also extended the ballroom and held the ceremony there. Ivory and White Bridal Store took care of the wedding gown, Nice Print Photography for the stills, TME Flowers and Events for the beautiful flowers, and Edroy Lim of Black Tie Entertainment to host the reception.
It was a bit surreal attending a wedding of a couple I’ve never met, but like a lot of weddings, I was also waiting for what is coming next.
I was told that a hundred and twenty guests can fit inside the grand ballroom of the hotel, but only at least 75 guests arrived including the sponsors and the media, so there was still plenty of room and plenty of food.
Personally, I rarely like buffets but this was an exception. Deviled Eggs with caviar, pasta salad with cheese and ham, cobb salad, seasonal mixed lettuce and choice of dressings and condiments, mushroom cream soup, fillet chicken breast with smoked ham, pan seared red snapper with lemon sauce, beef fricadelles with mushroom sauce, chive fried rice, buttered vegetables, spaghetti pesto, and, of course, the desserts. I’d say the deviled eggs were worth more than just one visit and I had more than what I will admit.
Even if the couple opted out of the cake and wine ceremony, no wedding today will be complete without a beautiful wedding cake. Gino and Cindy’s were created by Cake Concepts.
I have been to a lot of weddings; from the simplest garden wedding to the most extravagant, but nothing really compares to this experience. A simple couple who opted for the simplest of unions but was given an almost fairytale wedding. You can really sense how happy and grateful the couple was. I know that weddings are expensive and when I kindly asked for a rough estimate, I was told that this one had already exceeded half a million pesos! A very lucky couple indeed!
So here is where the story ends. So when in Manila, try and visit a bridal expo and who knows, maybe this time it would be your turn to get your dream wedding.
More about Oakwood Premier’s food? Chec out Oakwood Premier’s Nostalgia Dining Lounge: A Blast From The Past
The Dream Wedding by Oakwood Premier Joy–Nolstag Center Manila
17 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1600, Philippines
Tel: (63-2) 637 7888 / (63-2) 910 8888
www.oakwood.com
