A special day in a girl's life is when she first falls in love, first kissed a boy, first…read moreheartache, graduations, 18th birthday, wedding proposals but nothing beats "Getting Married". I told myself that I wouldn't get married to my boyfriend before (my high school sweetheart) until we have everything we need to start a family. Even though love is so true, I still didn't think that marrying before thirty was a good idea...but because love was indeed so strong and so pure, I walked down the aisle when I was 25 years old. Five years earlier than my estimated time to get married, haha. Since my husband and I grew up in Las Pinas and almost all that we know resides in this city too, we decided that it's only right to do the wedding here. We looked at amazing venues and decided that Ysabel's Garden was the place to be.On the biggest day of my life, the place was beautifully set up and felt surreal; more of like the wedding was being done in a magical garden, roses were everywhere and the elegant tables and chairs were set up neatly and professionally. The food was incredible and even during picture taking with newlyweds; guests would say their best wishes followed up by praising the food. It was an unforgettable night and I was very satisfied with the service, the ambience and the overall scenario. Truly one of the most cherished moments in my life.

This used to be Queensland Catering's exclusive venue for their events, but I think they're now…read moreopen to just renting this space out to other events with different caterers. On the ground floor is their showroom where you can take a peek at how they style their more upscale events, and an entrance to their vast garden (can accommodate up to 300 guests), two smaller function rooms are available at the second floor, and another bigger one at the third floor (for around 150 persons). My mom celebrated her 50th birthday there, and she felt like a blooming debutante as she walked down the spiral stairs from her dressing room (which is quite nice and comfy) as her guests welcomed her in the garden. I recently attended another event at the third floor, and I saw that they have updated their look, with damask table cloths and glass (glass-looking, but they're actually plastic) chairs. The place already looks elegant even with minimal styling.

I have had the opportunity to work part time with the ladies of Bride's Maids and Co., and if you…read morewant a worry-free, hassle-free and memorable wedding, put these lovely girls to work and worry only about your life after your wonderful wedding day. The team will sit down with you and plan everything with you. With over 18 years of experience, this wedding planner team has a veritably impressive list of suppliers that will take care of everything for your special day: caterers, fashion designers, florists, events planners, lights and sounds, dj or band, host and the arrangements in the church. They also deploy a dedicated team during your wedding day to make sure that everything is taken care of- from preparations, to pre-wedding shoots, all up to the day itself. While DIY weddings are much more popular these days (and it's okay, especially if you have supportive friends and family who are willing to pitch in their help), but if you have the resources, you can easily sit down and relax and let a highly-professional team handle all the worrying. You can count on Bride's Maids and Co. to make sure that all your guests are well-ushered and well-attended to, and that all details of your special day are being taken care of. Bride's Maids and Co. even handles events such as parties, birthdays and special occasions in your life. Give them a call the next time you have an event, and they will help you out with the nitty gritty details.

It's always nice utilizing a new venue, especially one that's not too fancy, as there is more…read morepotential to execute ideas for events. Different looks and themes can easily suit simple venues, thus making it more versatile and could easily be offered to clients. This is the case with Blue Leaf Filipinas. Conveniently located along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, it has several halls that could accommodate more than one thousand guests if all function halls are utilized. There are also smaller function rooms on the second floor and an al fresco area which could also be used. Just recently, our group had organized a social event to celebrate Chinese New Year at Blue Leaf Filipinas. We utilized all three halls and had 800 guests, set-up for dragon dancers, trussing for aerial dancers, plus a grand stage. Despite all this, it was still quite spacious. Considering there were so many people, it remained relatively cold in the venue and despite a good percentage of guests who had a little more alcohol than they could take, the toilets were kept clean and orderly by the maintenance personnel.

I've attended a lot of weddings over the years and aside from the food and celebration of my…read morefriends' eternal vows of love for each other, I always look forward to the venue. For me a venue is integral to the celebration especially since guests will be coming in from different parts of the city and their comfort and accessibility is one of the priorities in my list. The Blue Leaf Filipinas is one of the venues I highly recommend. I've attended a wedding here just last February and I was glad they chose that venue. They have a huge garden for cocktails while guests wait to enter the function rooms or have their pictures taken at the photo booth if available. The function room is big enough without being too crowded and has enough room for a dance floor. The venue also offers ample parking space and a valet service, which is definitely a must for me. If you're willing to shell out some good cash for your wedding or any event, I highly suggest The Blue Leaf Filipinas for this.

I'm lucky that I get to do a lot of the things (and earn from them) I'm passionate about and one of…read morethem is photography. I was hired to do event coverage and took photographs of a birthday party and was glad it was held at R Space. Being located along Reposo (wow, how old am I and why am I calling it Reposo?), parking was quite a challenge. It's wonderful that they have valet services, so I made it on time. I could say that the venue is quite nice, despite the low ceiling at certain parts. There's also a small private room that could be used as holding area, but that day was used by no one else but me. I was told that the small room can be rented on it's own for meetings and small gatherings. All in all, it was a good party and the guests enjoyed themselves singing along to Side A and dancing to the beats of the DJ that carried on after. As for me, well, I'm just happy I was able to again take photographs and capture memories.

Rita Neri is one of the premiere event planners in the Philippines so when she opened up R Space…read moreEvents Venue, we knew we could only expect the best--after all, she's got her name stamped on it. Located in the heart of Makati, the space is easily Waze-able and Google Maps-able, so it doesn't take a scientist to figure out where this place is exactly. Designed with an old world European feel, the space is small though is the perfect setting for intimate events and celebrations. Whether it's a wedding, a debut, or even a corporate event, Rita Neri and her team of expert planners can easily whip up a beautifully decorated and thought out space to save you all the trouble. It's definitely a combo deal, from the events team to a fabulous events space, it's your special day so all you have to do is sit back and relax.

Planning weddings is something I have much passion for, despite it's many challenges. Lots of…read morecouples nowadays want to find the intricate balance between the fast-paced life and relaxation, structure and freedom, convenient but private. This is pretty much one of the reasons why The Blue Leaf at McKinley Hill is a venue of choice for quite many couples for their wedding reception. A space that could comfortably fit 200 people standing, the garden by the driveway makes for a wonderful cocktail area, with cabanas that can be comfortable and convenient. It's a secluded patch of green that's not far from the bustling Bonifacio Global City. The versatility of the venue allows for functions for events with guests that go from anywhere between 100 up t0 400 guests with the two bigger function halls combined. What's also great about Blue Leaf is that they have provisions for almost all add-ons like draping and additional electricity for a minimal fee. They are also quite flexible with some rules and regulations, depending on the requirements of the event at hand. It's no wonder that many couples still choose to have the feast for their wedding here, or even families holding special occasions, and companies hosting events for launches, appreciation parties, and many more.

The first and only time I was inside Blue Leaf was during former DTI and DepEd Secretary Jesli…read moreLapus' birthday party in 2013, and that turned out to be a great night. The venue was amazingly decorated, and the ambience was perfect for the event. I learned later on that the Blue Leaf is basically a shell, a chameleon, designed to change its interiors depending on what you need it to be. This made me respect it even more, because anything that can morph from a laid-back dinner party, to a hypeactive children's birthday party, and to a rip-roaring, crazy college party is amazing in my book.

My cousin had her ceremony and reception here and it was beautiful. I loved how the place felt like…read morea giant garden. As soon as you enter the place you are greeted my vines and walls of flowers and trees. The outside is surrounded by plants and a stream as well. My only complaints are that it seems a little old.....they could have spent time updating the building. There were visible cracks and such in the walls and ceilings. Personally.....I also did not like the flow of things. There were various weddings and parties occurring at the same time and little direction from staff on where to go. I was lost for about 5 mins because the guard at the front refused to give me detailed directions on where my cousins wedding was....I missed the beginning of the ceremony. Other than that the place really is beautiful.

If you happen to pass by Daang Hari road in Las Pinas, you'll be greeted by a picturesque view of a…read morebig glass dome structure. That's Fernbrook Gardens, one of the most coveted events venues here in Manila. It's perfect for those princess-themed parties and fairy tale weddings. The cost for the rent of the venue (it has four fully air conditioned function rooms) is pretty steep, but some brides don't mind as long as they can have their happy ever after at that Byzantine-inspired castle. It's convenient for weddings because there's a beautiful chapel (Notre Dame de Vie Chapel) inside. And if they have some money to spare, they can avail of the gondola ride (it's so perfect for photo shoots) for an extra fee. Two of my friends got married there, and even guests like me felt like royalty. A maiden dressed in a puffy medieval dress greets you and the doorman plays the trumpet upon your entrance. They were so in character that they still played the trumpet even when they saw me pass three times, I had to stop them on the fourth one. If you want to check the place out, masses are celebrated in the chapel every Sunday morning.

Discovery Suites is a venue that not a lot of people consider when thinking of places to hold big…read moreevents or celebrate special occasions in the Ortigas area. This is sad as Discovery Suites is grossly underrated. Another friend of mine celebrated her debut here and everyone was pleasantly surprised by how lovely this ballroom was. It truly is a hidden gem. My friend had all the necessary parts of a typical debut mapped out as part of the program and everything was executed flawlessly as the service here is exemplary, the ballroom spacious, and truly a sight to behold.

Had such a fun night out with my cousins at F-Taste of France last Friday--walked in and…read moreimmediately felt the cozy, welcoming vibe. The place is tucked right in the heart of Makati with free parking which was a huge win after circling forever elsewhere. Food came out quick and tasted amazing (that foie gras appetizer and the steak frites were spot on), drinks were strong but smooth, and the staff were genuinely friendly--our server even remembered our names after the first round. Perfect spot for a chill celebration without feeling overcrowded. Left happy, full, and already planning the next visit. Highly recommend, 5 stars no question!

Best place in center of makati Free parking…read moreGood food, good service Hight recommended