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Ultimate Barn Wedding Planning Checklist

How do you plan a barn wedding?

Plan Barn Logistics and Budgeting
Consider Weather and Outdoor Concerns
Hire Vendors
Design the Venue
Send Out Invitations

Are you and your future spouse into rustic, old-fashioned, and casual get-togethers? A country-style barn wedding should best suit your interests. Barn weddings are unlike any other wedding. From planning all logistical aspects down to the nitty-gritty of sending out invitations, take a look at this comprehensive barn wedding planning checklist to ensure a hassle-free celebration.

Plan Barn Logistics and Budgeting

A barn is an intimate and unique place to hold a wedding. Nowadays, more and more people are looking to find a venue like no other where they can take breathtaking photos. Barn weddings are an incredible choice in terms of wedding venues. They offer amenities unlike any banquet hall or traditional events space.

When it comes to budgeting a barn wedding, you must be flexible and open to extra costs. Be ready for the price of lighting, backup tents, and commercial cleaning. In addition to that, make sure you are equipped with industrial extension cords to accommodate the needs of the vendors. You may coordinate all of your logistics planning with the manager of the barn venue and align all your requirements to ensure a worry-free celebration.

Consider Weather and Outdoor Concerns

Barn wedding venues like the Old Grove Farmstead are located in the midst of lush greens and tall trees to mimic the feeling of being in an actual barn. Given the location, you must consider the weather conditions of the country depending on the season. If you are celebrating mid-May to November, expect rainy days ahead. On the other hand, a summer barn wedding presents a flawless celebration. Choose a barn that provides climate-control through AC units to combat inclement or sunny outdoor weather.

Having industrial fans in the venue can provide air circulation during the summer. Otherwise, include functional yet stylish paper fans for your guests. These fans can also serve as giveaways. On a final note, you must consider the weather and outdoor conditions when choosing the guest dress code. For the summer season, avoid requesting the gents to wear suits and ties as this can be extremely uncomfortable.

Hire Vendors

After considering the logistics and the weather conditions, move on to one of the exciting parts of barn wedding planning: hiring catering services. For barn weddings, farmstead cuisine presents the most suitable and tasteful dishes. Whether you wish to have food served buffet-style or cocktail-style, a barn that can accommodate a total of 300 people will surely be able to hold plenty of food station vendors. Compared to a buffet-style, a traditional plated-style menu eliminates waiting time in lines and reduces waste. Normally, a traditional plated menu will consist of appetizers, the main course, dessert, and drinks.

Choosing between the two styles of food serving can be quite tricky. There are plenty of factors to consider, including serving amounts and the preferences of guests. In addition to that, you must pay attention to food with allergens.

Design the Venue

When you hear the word barn, you initially think of random and leftover farming accouterments such as hay, boots, and pieces of logs. While all of this makes for an operational barn, faux barns created for weddings provide a decent venue for formal celebrations. It may not have the same amenities as traditional events facilities, but it is more conducive for wedding receptions. Create your own designs or find a local vintage rental shop to find the must-have rustic decorations for all barn weddings. Here are some prime examples:

Tarnished brass lamps
Wooden water or whiskey barrels
Wooden benches and mason jars
Chalkboard signs
Distressed furniture and faded couches

Send Out Invitations

Invitations are deemed one of the most essential parts of planning a wedding. Set the tone for guest expectations and prepare them for the occasion. Take note, your invitation is the first impression your guests will have. With that, make sure to use the right template, colors, as well as materials. Stick to lace hessian or burlaps and paper twines for a vintage and rustic look. For gifts to your bridesmaids and groomsmen, wrap them in newspapers or put them in crafty boxes to achieve the shabby chic look.

Key Takeaway

A barn wedding holds plenty of opportunities for breathtaking photos. Although barns are unique venues to hold a wedding reception in, barn wedding planning can be quite tricky in terms of logistics and budgeting. You will have to consider the needs of your vendors, guests, as well as the outdoor weather conditions. Nevertheless, taking planning seriously and letting the barn venue management know your plans should create the best experience for you and your future spouse.

6 Ideas For a Rustic Farmstead Wedding

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What are some rustic farmstead wedding ideas?

Comfort Food Menu
Retro Soda Pop Bottles
Lace Draperies
Table Lantern Centerpiece
Rolling Bar Cart for Charcuterie
Use Plenty of Wooden Decorations

Beach and rooftop weddings are some of the most popular venues for wedding commemorations. But celebrating at a farmstead provides a one-of-a-kind breathtaking experience for the couple and their guests. Barns weddings are perfect for couples who love to be enveloped in nature and who find solemnity in the rustic vibe that farmsteads exhibit. From table decorations to buffet setups, here are some rustic and fashionable farmstead wedding ideas you can incorporate into your theme.

Comfort Food Menu

Sumptuous meals and great desserts are the secret ingredients of any memorable wedding. There is nothing that makes guests happier than piling their plates with classic comfort food and going back to the buffet table for some more. To serve the best menu for your barn wedding, make sure you obtain catering from professional services. They should be able to help you come up with the best dishes, regardless of whether you wish to serve Filipino comfort food or other international culinary dishes. Here are some of the dishes that no Filipino can ever say no to.

Lechon

Is it really a Filipino celebration if there is no lechon (roast pig) on the table? Labeled as the National Dish of the Philippines, lechon is essentially a barbecued pig served on top of decorative banana leaves. They are roasted in a rotisseries movement over a pit of charcoal. Request your caterer to cut the lechon into pieces as the buffet opens so that it is easier for guests to get a portion.

Adobo

A true Filipino party is incomplete without the presence of chicken and pork adobo. The term adobo is a method that refers to simmering pork and vegetables in a marinated sauce.

Sinigang

Another popular comfort food in the Philippines that you can definitely find in every restaurant and carinderia is sinigang. There are three popular versions of sinigang: beef, pork, and fish. A medley of vegetables like tomatoes, garlic, and onions are also included in the mix. Broth is added to enhance the sour taste of the dish.

Kare-kare

Kare-kare is best enjoyed with spicy bagoong. It is a thick peanut stew made of oxtail, tripe, and pork leg. Some vegetables such as eggplant and string beans are tossed into the stew to complete the entire taste of the dish.

Halo-halo

In Filipino culture, sweets and desserts are not less important than meat, fish, and rice dishes. One of the most popular desserts is halo-halo. There is nothing more refreshing than halo-halo, especially if the wedding celebration is held in the afternoon.

Retro Soda Pop Bottles

Choose to serve drinks in soda pop bottles or anything that looks like a milk bottle to relive the days when farmers would drink milk fresh from their cows. Put the drinks in a wooden tray and use funky paper straws. Serve fizzing refreshments for your guests in soda pop bottles for a rustic and vintage feel. If you are looking for more, print out a couple of your pictures and paste them onto the surface of the bottles. Make sure the type of sticker paper you use is waterproof.

Lace Draperies

For table skirting, use tulle or lace draperies for a vintage effect. Usually, it is the responsibility of the caterer to provide the tables, chairs, utensils, as well as table napkins and skirting. To ensure everything goes as planned, make sure to tell the caterer about your table skirting requests. For the buffet table, instead of using table skirting, opt for a burlap or runner to differentiate it from the rest of the tables in the venue.

Table Lantern Centerpiece

Lanterns look lovely and romantic during both the day and the evening. They make great centerpieces that go well with vintage lace table draperies. You can either look for rustic-looking lanterns that will match well with the farmstead or use the color of the wedding theme. To make the table decoration extra dainty, put in flowers, leaves, and a couple more candles around the lantern. Lanterns are versatile decorations. You can even hang them in entryways.

Rolling Bar Cart for Charcuterie

Make the after-party more fun by setting up a charcuterie bar together with the drinks. Use a rolling bar cart as a grazing table where you can display bite-sized munchies as you allow the drinks to flow. Serve a variety of cheese, meat, bread, and fruits as well as pizza or candy. Place the charcuterie boards on rolling bar carts and station them near the buffet table.

Use Wooden Tables and Chairs

You can either use normal wooden tables and chairs or get creative with wine barrels and wooden round chairs or benches for a rustic and shabby chic wedding reception. If you wish to put large groups in one table, you can use two large barrels to hold a rectangular piece of wood to fashion a make-shift dining table. Otherwise, a single barrel can hold a circular piece of wood for smaller groups.

Key Takeaway

If you have already decided to have a farmstead wedding, use these ideas to pull off a shabby chic and vintage theme. Mix and match modern with rustic through decorations. Lastly, make sure to plan the event well with your wedding planner and caterer to align the decorations and design with the theme of the celebration.

Ultimate List of Wedding Trends This 2020

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What are the top wedding trends for 2020?

Sustainability
Fabric Flowers
Micro Weddings
Photobooth Trends
Minimalist Wedding Dresses
Beach Weddings
Long Tables
Various Menu Options

More couples have been straying away from classic wedding traditions in exchange for new ways to express their personality and style. There are hundreds of new wedding trends that come and go, and it can be quite overwhelming to choose just one. If you are looking for ideas to make your wedding one-of-a-kind, here’s a list of the ultimate wedding trends you can incorporate for your special day this 2020.

Sustainability

Nowadays, people are giving importance to reducing their carbon footprint and protecting the environment. Sustainability is being considered in almost all aspects of people’s lives, even at events such as weddings. Although there is no such thing as a perfectly sustainable event, here are the elements of a wedding you can apply to reduce your carbon footprint:

Venues

One of the biggest ways weddings can cut down on energy is to get married outdoors. There are tons of breathtaking sceneries you can choose from such as farms, vineyards, gardens, and beaches. If an outdoor wedding doesn’t suit your taste, then consider holding your ceremony and reception in one venue. This saves your guests from a long travel time and reduces the amount of pollution you emit into the air.

Clothing

When thinking about sustainability and clothing, you may want to consider renting out gowns instead of having custom made clothing for your entourage. You can also choose for your entourage to wear their own clothes, but with a specific color aligned to your wedding theme. If you are confident in your sewing skills, you can even buy fabric and sew the entourage’s outfits for a more heartfelt touch.

Invitations and Giveaways

More couples are trying to be sustainable by making conscious wedding choices, such as in terms of invitations and giveaways. Instead of going for classic mail invitations, paperlessness is becoming more common, especially in this digital age. For giveaways, people have been giving out items that their guests will find useful in their everyday lives.

Fabric Flowers

One of the best things about using fabric flowers at your wedding is that they don’t wilt like traditional flowers. Guests can even use this as decoration for their own homes afterward. You can either get these silk flower bouquets done at a shop or have them done yourself for a more meaningful wedding.

Micro Weddings

It is very common for couples to go all out at their weddings. But lately, people have been doing less for more. One of the main things couples do for micro weddings is inviting a maximum of 50 people or less. This is a good, cost-effective approach to planning your special day. Fewer people to invite requires less food, invitations, and less preparation. Micro weddings value connection by inviting people that you value and have only been in touch with recently.

Photobooth Trends

Photobooth companies have been evolving their technology and services for all kinds of events. Aside from just the common method of getting your picture taken and having it printed out, there have been more innovative and creative styles done in photobooths. You can now set up photo booths that generate GIFs, 360 camera shots, and even the famous Boomerang.

Photoshoots done in a more professional setting have also been a trend. Some couples are getting more creative with extravagant backdrops and backgrounds. You can opt for this trend to ensure that your guests have an enjoyable experience that can make lasting memories.

Minimalist Wedding Dresses

Wedding dresses are known to be extravagant. Some come with a long tail, veil, and embroidery. With the rise of minimalism, a number of brides are opting for simple white dresses that can stand out just as much. Minimalist wedding dresses are a good option for brides celebrating their special day at the beach because of their lightness and simplicity.

Beach Weddings

More couples have been opting to celebrate their wedding at the beach because of the lovely scenery it gives while tying the knot. This can also double as your honeymoon and reception destination. You can never go wrong with the fresh air, blue skies, and the beautiful scenery that the beach offers.

Long Tables

Wedding receptions are a time for you and your guests to start celebrating a new chapter in your lives. Make it a magical night to cherish new memories. When surrounded by all the most significant people in your life, you want to ensure that they’re all having an excellent time. For a more intimate reception experience, you can opt to use long tables.

Long tables are a perfect way to easily converse with your guests. This also saves you time in planning and organizing the table arrangements. Not to mention it is also fun to decorate because it is easily customizable. From monochromatic decor, jewels, wood, or colorful linen, designing long tables will surely make you happy.

Various Menu Options

How food is served at weddings is becoming grander by the year. Aside from the venue and the entertainment at your reception, your menu will also be remembered. Couples are now selecting meals and service styles that speak to their personality. There are more flexible choices for how food is served at weddings such as plated dinners, the classic buffet style, and standing arrangements.

Securing a high-quality catering service for your wedding reception can definitely make your reception a great one. Catering services have been more flexible and accommodating in terms of meeting their customer’s needs. If you want the food at your wedding to be served well, consider hiring a quality service provider with good reviews and a diverse wedding catering menu.

Key Takeaway

Looking for ideas and concepts to incorporate into your wedding can be quite overwhelming. But with the rise and increase of wedding trends, there is surely something out there to suit you and your partner’s personality.

5 Filipino-Chinese Dishes To Welcome The Chinese New Year

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What are Filipino-Chinese dishes for the Chinese New Year?

La Paz Batchoy Noodle Soup
Pork, Beef, and Shrimp Siomai
Lumpiang Shanghai or Spring Rolls
Kiampong Fried Rice
Pancit Noodles

The presence of the Chinese has been so deeply ingrained in Filipino food and culture that locals in the country started calling the fusion of dishes as Filipino-Chinese cuisine. Chinese dishes are popular for their rich flavors and affordable ingredients. Given the Filipinos possessing a penchant for anything worth their cents, the Chinese dishes presented a perfect fit for the local mindset. With that, here are some of the famous Chinese-influenced dishes that every Filipino dining table can have for all types of celebrations.

La Paz Batchoy Noodle Soup

Batchoy is a hearty and scrumptious soup dish every Filipino can enjoy. It is made of chicken and pork soup with a thick noodle base. It also has strips of pork, chicken, and liver topped with fried garlic, onions, crushed chicharron, as well as a whole egg. The dish is often referred to as La Paz Batchoy due to its origins in the district of La Paz in Iloilo. The batchoy dish became so popularized that consumer retail companies created instant noodles for those who wish to have easy access to its comforting flavors.

Pork, Beef, and Shrimp Siomai

Siomai is a dumpling of Chinese origin. It is often made with pork, beef, and shrimp wrapped in wonton wrappers. It can also be combined with extenders like green peas or carrots. The dish is either steamed to maintain the softness of the wrappers or fried to create a crispy exterior. Siomai is commonly dipped in soy sauce with calamansi topped with oil and spicy garlic mix. The bite-sized dish can be seen in every busy corner or area around the country. They are either consumed as a merienda snack or paired with rice that makes a hearty lunch.

Lumpiang Shanghai or Spring Rolls

Similar to siomai, lumpiang shanghai or spring rolls are a combination of veggies and meat wrapped in flour wrappers to keep the ingredients together. Lumpia was brought to the country by Chinese immigrants from the Fujian province of China. It quickly became popular not just within the country, but around Southeast Asian countries as well.

Frying the lumpia in oil is the traditional way to cook the dish. The flavors of the meat together with spring onion, carrots, and oyster sauce is truly a delicious explosion. Another way to enjoy the dish is to prepare it wet, with beef and dried prawn floss. It is referred to as the wet spring roll.

Kiampong Fried Rice

Kiampong or Kiam Pung fried rice are Hokkien terms that translate to “salty rice”. It is basically Chinese flavored rice with meat and vegetable toppings in soy sauce. Other locals would refer to the dish as adobo rice without the veggie ingredients. Each Filipino has their own way of making Kiam Pung. This depends on their city or location as the dish is passed on from one generation to another.

The grains of rice are cooked in a rice cooker while other ingredients are cooked all together. After both have been cooked, the rice and mixture of ingredients will then be added to a pot set on medium heat. Soy sauce will then be added to mix the whole dish together and create Kiam Pung. You can use either shrimp, pork, beef, or chicken as the main ingredient as each delivers a unique taste.

Pancit Noodles

In Chinese culture, noodles symbolize longevity. It is a long-standing tradition to serve pancit during Chinese New Year celebrations to welcome good luck. The dish is also a huge part of birthday celebrations as a form of wishing the celebrant a good and long life.

Apart from these beliefs, Filipinos have learned to love the dish so much that it can be seen in streets and malls alike. The typical Filipino pancit consists of noodles, a mixture of vegetables, meat, as well as soy sauce. The word pancit is derived from the Hokkien “pian I sit” which translates to “something conveniently cooked fast”.

There are numerous variations of pancit originating from different regions in the Philippines. Among the popular ones are the pancit Malabon, lomi, sotanghon, bihon, and palabok. Often, you will notice at least two types of pancit are served on a Filipino dining table or buffet set up. Indeed, the locals can never get enough of the flavor-filled dish.

Key Takeaway

There is no doubt that several types of Filipino food have known origins in the Philippines. But, there is also no denying that authentic Chinese food has formed a niche within the local cuisine. Regardless of that, the Chinese-influenced dishes have become a part of every Filipino dining table during celebrations and even on normal days. From the pancit to lumpiang shanghai, an occasion or gathering is not truly a celebration without the presence of Chinese-Filipino cuisine.

4 Chinese New Year Catering Ideas For Your Company

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What are some catering ideas for celebrating Chinese New Year in the office?

Pescetarian Breakfast Buffet
Lunch Noodle Buffet
Afternoon Dumpling Buffet Party
All Rice Dinner Buffet

Attract the right zen to flow into the office for the coming year by celebrating Chinese New Year with a blast. Serve lucky foods like spring rolls, dumplings, and noodles to welcome prosperity. Search for reliable catering services in Manila to cater to your small gathering or huge organizational CNY celebration. Enjoy an enhanced all-Chinese food buffet experience.

Whether you are organizing breakfast, lunch, or dinner in-office celebrations, here are some Chinese New Year catering ideas that correspond to particular Chinese beliefs.

Pescetarian Breakfast Buffet

As the lucky Chinese saying goes, “Niánnián y?u yú”, which translates to having more than what a person needs. The popular quote is well related to eating fish to welcome the start of the Lunar calendar. Steamed fish is considered as one of the luckiest fresh produce consumed by the Chinese. It is seen as a way to welcome a beginning.

Fish is closely related to surplus, which also entails prosperity in business, love, and life. Commonly used kinds of fish are the crucian carp or karpa (which brings good luck for the coming year) and catfish or hito (for wishing a year of constant surplus).

There are various ways of cooking fish such as boiling, steaming, and braising. It can include sauces like chili as well as garlic soy. Among the three methods of cooking, steaming is more popular to fully obtain the health benefits of fish. Here are some Chinese fish dish recipes that the catering service provider you hired can deliver to you.

Chinese Ginger-Soy Steamed Fish
Pan-fried Fish with Soy Sauce
Sweet and Sour Fish
Chili Ginger Steamed Fish with Grilled Chinese Brocolli

Lunch Noodle Buffet

For happiness and longevity, serve noodles for lunch in the office. The length of the noodles used in the soup or dried dish is symbolic of the eater’s life. It is widely known in Asian countries that serving noodles to a birthday celebrant prolongs his or her life. Serve at least three varieties of noodle bowls or dishes to cater to all the taste preferences of your employees. Here are some prime dishes you should try:

Chinese Beef Noodle Soup
Shanghai Scallion Oil Noodles or Cong You Ban Mian
Bacon Pan Fried Noodles
Cantonese Wonton Noodle Soup
Biang Biang Noodles or Chinese Hot Sauce Noodles

As a word of advice, let your catering service provider know why maintaining the length of the noodles as it was originally bought in the market or hand-made with flour is necessary. The uncut version of noodles delivers more luck than ones that are cut in portions. The act of cutting the noodles nullifies the luck than comes along with eating the dish.

Afternoon Dumpling Buffet Party

Chinese dumplings are made to look like silver ingots shaped like boats with two upward facing ends. It has been said that the more you eat dumplings, the more money you can make in the new year that is coming. Another belief related to eating Chinese dumplings to celebrate CNY is that one’s skin will become fairer. The Chinese people take pride in creating dumplings on normal days and most especially on huge celebrations like the Lunar New Year.

Serve the best form of dumplings in the office for afternoon snacks made with the lucky number of 5 pleats. Make the CNY celebration grand by hiring a catering service provider that specializes in international cuisine to have the best dumpling experience. Here are a couple of dumpling dishes you might want to include in the buffet menu:

Xiao Long Bao Dumplings
Mandu Dumplings
Gyoza Dumplings
Banh Bot Loc Dumplings
Guo Tie Dumplings

All Rice Dinner Buffet

Rice is a symbol of wealth, prosperity, and health. For dinner celebrations, choose to include glutinous rice cakes and sweet rice balls on the dinner buffet menu. Glutinous rice cakes symbolize a higher income or position, which makes a great encouraging message for your employees as the Lunar Calendar begins. It is made of sticky rice, sugar, chestnuts, Chinese dates, and lotus leaves. Another suitable rice-based Chinese dish to serve is the sweet rice balls or Tangyuan. It symbolizes togetherness, unity, and reunion. Celebrate the previous year’s teamwork by serving this sweet rice treat.

Should you wish to include Filipino viands with umami ingredients to balance the sweetness of the glutinous rice cake, simply ask your local catering service provider for suggestions. They may have a couple of great-tasting dishes on hand that pair well with the Chinese sticky rice.

Key Takeaway

The importance of Chinese culture does not end in Feng Shui and astrology, the country also gives high regard to major celebrations like the Chinese New Year. Take catering ideas from a local catering service in Manila to serve the best buffet menu at your in-office party.

Why Filipino Wedding Traditions Should Be Preserved

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For couples in the Philippines planning to spend the rest of their lives together, it is necessary to know the importance of Filipino wedding traditions. Over the centuries, Philippine wedding ceremonies have developed a blueprint. And although these celebrations have gone through a number of variations, the mainframe remains the same.

As long as the country and its people continue to practice these traditions, it will never be consigned to oblivion. From offering respect to your spouse’s family to perpetuating a part of the country’s cultural identity. Here are some of the main reasons why Filipino wedding traditions should be preserved.

Honor and Respect for Local Religion

Church weddings solidify the union of a couple under the blessing of a priest. In the Philippines, religion is so embedded in the lives of Filipinos that it influences local culture in almost every facet. This can be particularly observed in local wedding traditions. For Catholics, marriage is believed to be a gift from a higher being. The declaration of love and commitment in front of a presiding priest is said to strengthen the foundation of any committed relationship.

Proper Transmission of Wedding Customs

Traditional marriage ceremonies are passed on from one generation to another. Despite the new trends that occur, Filipino traditions are still common and practiced by many couples. Here are some of the traditions done to prepare for your wedding day.

Approval Of The Girl’s Parents

Before proposing, the man in the relationship should ask for the approval and blessing of the bride-to-be’s parents. This custom, also called pamanhikan, is done as a sign of respect to the future bride’s family. It is still practiced nowadays especially for those asking for a girl’s hand in marriage with a secure plan for the future.

Consultation Of Families

After the blessing is given, the proposal for an engagement can be realized. Once the girl accepts the proposal, the families of the bride and groom may proceed to discuss the details of the wedding.

Uphold on the Sanctity of Marriage

Filipino wedding traditions are also done on the day of the ceremony. One of the most common traditions is the use of lasso or rope to symbolize the everlasting union of the bride and groom. It is placed around the couple’s shoulders in the form of the number “8”, which represents the sign of infinity. Here are other Filipino wedding traditions you should uphold.

Barong Tagalog For The Groom And A White Gown For The Bride

For the groom, the traditional barong is normally worn to pay tribute to the traditional heirloom. The bride can usually be seen wearing a white wedding gown.

Lighting of Candles and Unity Candles

Catholic wedding ceremonies require the lighting of candles. The most special of which is the unity candle. The candles signify the union of families in the presence of God. It asks Him to guide the newly wedded couple.

Coins and Veil

Wedding coins or arras are unity coins that symbolize prosperity. The coins could be 13 pieces of either silver or gold coins that have been blessed. Often, dove figurines are found inside with a bell and a couple of other little trinkets that fit into the container.

Continuity of Filipino Wedding Reception Customs

Similar to cultures around the world, Filipino wedding receptions present a venue for relatives and friends to join the newly wedded couple for a night of celebration. From emotional and heartfelt speeches to delicious Filipino food, customary activities performed before still transpire up to this day. The speech typically comes from the bride and groom themselves as well as the maid of honor and best man.

There is no set of particular menu items for Filipino weddings. Despite that, what is a local wedding without a Filipino dinner buffet? Find the best catering services that can craft you a menu full of lechon, kaldereta, and dishes from other cuisines.

Key Takeaway

There are plenty of Filipino wedding traditions drawn from local culture and religion. From rituals, readings, to taboos. Continuing to practice local wedding culture will allow the preservation of the traditional blueprint of betrothal in the country. Each ritual signifies the importance of marriage and the values that come along with it in the union of two individuals’ hearts.

How To Host a Baptismal Celebration

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What is the step-by-step process of hosting a baptismal celebration?

Choose the Venue
Write Down Your Guest List
Select Your Menu
Enlist the Help of Others
Choose a Theme
Find the Perfect Cake
Recap Lists and Finalize

Congratulations on having a new member of the family! If you are a first-time mother or a sister trying to help prepare for the celebration, then you have come to the right place. Baptismal celebrations are the time to invite family and friends to gather for a party to support the newly baptized member of the church. Baptisms are sacred sacraments. They are given to infants as a way to welcome them into the Catholic way of living. With that in mind, here is a step-by-step planning process for a hassle-free celebration.

Choose the Venue

In choosing the venue, you must greatly consider the number of guests invited. The main reason why almost all planning templates have the venue at the top of the process is to allow time for performing oculars. Visit the venues you have in mind to see if the ambiance fits your personal preferences.

Another important factor to consider when choosing the venue is the safety of the space. Take note of the kids that will be joining the celebration. The place should have a clean and comfortable toilet, washroom, and changeroom. Finally, consider the buffet and table setup you will be having at the venue. Your initial count should fit into the space of the venue while leaving room for walking and foot traffic.

Write Down Your Guest List

While some people prefer to choose the venue first, others would rather write down their guest lists. Regardless of which one you choose to prioritize, the important matter is that they both remain at the start of the planning process. When writing down the guest list, you must separate the immediate family members and relatives from your friends and acquaintances. Make sure to put your sponsors at the top of the list to prevent overlooking their names. Finally, give the utmost importance to the godfathers and the godmothers.

Select Your Menu

Carefully consider the viands, beverages, and desserts you will put on the menu. Once you have written the menu for adults, plan the kiddie meals. A reliable catering service provider will be able to provide you with a menu that will entice the tastebuds of the children. Here are some of the unique and tasty dishes you can add to your menu that suit most adult taste preferences.

Chicken Breast Cakes with Teriyaki Sauce
Wellness Pasta or Spaghetti
Korean Pork Spareribs
Salmon with Tequila Cream Sauce
Mixed Vegetables in Oyster Sauce
Beef Brasato

Enlist the Help of Others

If you are the mother or the father of the infant to be baptized, seek help and support from your relatives and friends. Take note, the parents are supposed to attend seminars and talks to prepare them for becoming responsible Christian parents. Moreover, baptisms are unlike any other special occasion.

Baptism celebrations can be extremely chaotic. As you meet and greet other guests, your infant may want something that could hinder you from entertaining them. With that, you should have a point person or a coordinator that will guide the guests to their respective tables as well as accommodate all of their needs. Enlisting the help of others also entails you hire catering services to provide food and other services for lights and photography.

Choose a Theme

Services that provide catering in Manila should be able to provide you with brilliant theme ideas and suggestions. They are also equipped with the right knowledge in table displays as well as plating preparations to make the entire setup look professional. Wish to incorporate cartoons, lots of vibrant colors, or baby pictures? All you have to do is provide the caterer with the details and they can make it happen for you. Have your coordinator, party planner, and catering services align with your process. Ensuring that everyone is on the same page as yours will allow you to have the best baptism celebration for your baby.

Find the Perfect Cake

There are plenty of christening cake ideas to choose from. You can go for two-tiered cakes with a crucifix, bible, and rosary embellishment. Or have it as high as a five-tiered cake with a miniature infant resting on top of it. Despite the number of cake designs and layouts to select from, make sure to choose the one that symbolizes your belief and that reminds you of your child. Others would go so far as to print the infant’s portrait on top of the cake, while others would have cartoons as themes. Whatever you go for, try to coordinate the cake with the entire theme in place.

Recap Lists and Finalize

The final step requires you to recap on the lists you have made. From the list of guests, the menu, the venue, and the services you will avail of like a reliable catering service. Resend RSVP deadlines to those guests who failed to submit it on the initial deadline. Contact your suppliers and providers to ensure their presence on the day of the event. Finally, do not stress yourself out too much. Have your point person or coordinator do everything for you under your consent. This way, you can focus on other important matters.

Key Takeaway

Take note of the steps in planning baptismal celebrations. They are as tedious as planning a debut or black-tie soiree party. Make sure to seek help from professional service providers to prevent any unexpected accidents from happening. On a final note, enjoy every moment of the celebration. Notice how your child will react to people gathering around to play with them. These are the precious moments you can never reenact.

21st Birthday Party Ideas For Guys

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What are birthday ideas for guys turning 21?

Host a House Party
Do Charity Work in Your Community
Throw a Black Tie Soiree
Hold a Rooftop Party

Whether you want to celebrate and keep things light or go all out and have fun, ensure there will be sufficient food and drinks for everyone. Take the debut planning process and tweak it according to your preference. Scratch 18 roses and increase 18 shots to 21. From throwing a house party to a black-tie soiree with a buffet setup, here are some birthday party ideas for the guys turning 21!

Host a House Party

Unlike having a party at a restaurant or a bar, you have full control of everything during a house party. The drinks, food, lights, and even music. A house party will give you the freedom to celebrate however you want to. With that, you should plan for the party to prevent it from ending disastrously. Here are a few things you must remember when throwing a house party.

Set the vibe with mood lights

Rent strobe lights or ring party lights to set the right mood. Take inspiration from your local dance club or bar and incorporate the vibe into the area of your house you wish to set up. A disco ball should do perfectly if you are going to set up a dancefloor where everyone can enjoy dancing the night away!

Line up the booze

Plan alcoholic drinks, fruit punches, and other beverages you wish to serve. Before you hit your local liquor store, make sure you consider the attendance of your guests. Prevent having to run back to the store because the drinks are not sufficient for everyone celebrating your birthday with you.

Establishing house rules

Make sure to establish house rules. Prevent your guests from visiting the rooms they are not supposed to. Another house rule that you should be firm upon is cleaning as they go. With this, you maintain the cleanliness of your house and avoid having to clean the morning after.

Have a party playlist

Of course, what is a house party without a great playlist? If you are not hiring a DJ, make sure to set up your sound system and test it to prevent technical difficulties later on. Queue songs beforehand and make sure at least one person will man the sound system to adjust the song as well as the volume if necessary.

Come up with drinking games

There are plenty of drinking games you can find online. From beer pong, flip cups, to card games, make sure to allocate space, especially for the games. This way, the dancefloor, the game area, the bar, and buffet tables are separate from one another. It will be easier for you to handle each area.

Do Charity Work in Your Community

Are you into community service and love volunteer work? Holding a small charitable event in your community or within your chosen institution remains a great way to celebrate your manhood. Choose to hire a catering service to provide food for your invitees. Regardless of whether the attendees are adults or children, a local caterer will be able to provide you with a suitable menu. Finally, invite your family and friends over to help you with the activities you have planned for the attendees from the charitable institution. Indeed, there is no better way to celebrate your birthday than with the people you love while doing charity work for your community!

Throw a Black Tie Soiree

If you cannot think of a manlier version for a debut, you can call your formal celebration a black-tie soiree or black-tie event. A black-tie soiree is an event wherein every male is mandated to wear black bow ties or neckties. The event originated in British and American conventions during the 19th century wherein the dress codes were often tuxedos, dinner suits, or dinner jackets with black ties. Moreover, it is a semi-formal Western dress code for formal evening events. For women, they typically wear muted-colors like beige, gray, or midnight blue. Similar to a regular debut celebration, you can begin with a grand entrance, have a song and dance performance, and of course an after-party!

Hold a Rooftop Party

Rent a rooftop space or make use of your connections to score that spot for free on your special day! It does not matter how you acquire the space, the thing that matters the most is how you will maximize the area to accommodate your guests. Apart from the headcount to ensure the rooftop area can house your guests, prioritize the buffet table setup. You can either have cocktail tables or the normal 8-seater tables and a long buffet table for all the viands as well as beverages.

Key Takeaway

Growing into the next phase of adulthood could either be a huge pressure or relief for men. A young man’s 21st birthday is no ordinary birthday. It is a significant turning point for a boy to turn into a young adult. He is now able to legally partake in adult activities. With that, ensure the safety of the birthday celebration with these wholesome birthday party ideas for guys!

Useful Tips For A Bride Planning Her Own Wedding

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What are some tips for planning your own wedding?

Set a budget and stick to it
Do bridal research
Join online forums and groups
Attend bridal fashion events
Make a priority list
Choose your service providers carefully

Congratulations on the engagement! You are one step closer to having the wedding you have always dreamed about. If you wish to plan your own wedding, here are some helpful bride planning tips.

From budget and guest list concerns to a wedding gown or dress selection, this article will give you tips that can help you out. Have an enjoyable wedding experience the moment you open your eyes in the morning all the way until you close your eyes wearing the wedding ring.

Set a Budget and Stick to It

When setting the budget, you must carefully consider the venue, guest list, caterer, wedding dress, and miscellaneous fees. Budgeting can simply include approximates to the initial expenses you list down. Along the way, you will most likely find other important expenses to include on the list.

The process of budgeting continues until after you have made transactions and purchases. With that, having enough wiggle room for unforeseeable expenditures will allow you to strictly stick to your budget. On a final note, recognize that your budget will either dictate or influence every choice you have to make. Often, couples choose to overestimate rather than get caught wondering how to cover for other expenses.

Do Bridal Research

Fire up your laptop and do extensive research regarding anything and everything about weddings. From the weather, dates, flowers, themes, and other aspects of a wedding ceremony. Refer to some of the checklists you can find online. Gather all the information you may need like helpful tips and pitfalls to avoid. Find what you are not looking for in wedding books, brochures, and especially online.

When doing research, you should be able to trim down the long lists of information to ones that are applicable to your needs. In some instances, you will come across templates for wedding planning that include factors you may not require. Unknowingly including those factors in your list might be confusing to you and divert your attention to things that matter the least.

Join Online Forums and Groups

There are plenty of wedding forums, discussions, and group chats available online. Often, members consist of brides-to-be, wives, wedding planners, and financial advisors as well as vendors or photographers. Choose active, popular ones, and up to date communities to obtain faster and reliable responses.

Say you wanted to inquire about the planning process. You will obtain immediate and diverse responses that enable you to find the best possible advice and suggestions. Aside from obtaining solid advice from other brides, you will also have the opportunity to connect with caterers and vendors.

Attend Bridal Fashion Events

You may feel overwhelmed with the options presented to you while planning your wedding. This could be in terms of the number of wedding gown inspiration ideas you have pinned to your boards or screenshots of details saved on your phone. The moment you realize you are having a hard time choosing, take a step back and go back to square one. Your wedding dress should fit your personality, not what you think will gain attention and likes on social media.

One of the few things you must consider is your comfort. While a low back or turtle neck will look gorgeous in pictures, will you be comfortable wearing either? Consider the activities at your wedding. You might look amazing in the pictures yet be feeling uncomfortable and uneasy half of the time.

Finally, have your dress designed and tailored to your movements. Are you the type to move your arms around? Might as well skip the off-shoulder wedding dress. Find a piece that will allow you to move around, dance all night, sit however you want, and most importantly, be able to eat.

Make a Priority List

Some brides would put the guests first before the venue. These are couples with a large group of friends, colleagues, as well as massive families. Others would choose to celebrate their wedding intimately by inviting those who hold a special place in their hearts. Whatever floats your boat, here are possible wedding expenses that you should consider adding to your priority list.

Bride’s dress and groom’s suit
Entourage attire
Hair and makeup artists
Church and reception venue
Photographer and videographer
Wedding coordinator
Catering services
DJ, band, and performers
Giveaways
Wedding cake
Getaway vehicle
Venue decorations and lights

Choose Your Service Providers Carefully

If you think that choosing the venue and location is a tedious part of wedding planning, wait until you encounter issues with your service providers. Avoid those backing out at the last minute by establishing a professional relationship with them. Instead of just talking to them over the phone, pay their office a visit. Talk to them personally and tell them your wishes. With that, they will recognize their services are vital to the wedding’s success. Here are some of the important vendors you might need to work with for your wedding.

Photographers and videographers
Catering services
Florists

Key Takeaway

Not all bride planning tips are a one-size-fits-all kind of template. Every bride’s priorities are different, and no single advice should tell you exactly what to cut from the wedding priority list. A final tip: the key to keeping track of everything is to organize. Have plenty of time to plan for the wedding. If you are stuck with the question of where to begin, make a priority list. It should help you align your budget and strictly stick to it.