New Book - The Power 7 Wedding Suppliers

Book Launch Themes & Motifs’ Wedding Expo Philippines (19th Edition) September 10, 2011 SMX Convention Center. In a pioneering effort to celebrate the wedding industry, Thunderbird Resorts worked with seven of the country’s most esteemed and in-demand wedding suppliers and showcased them in the book entitled Thunderbird Resorts presents: The Power 7 Wedding Suppliers.

These suppliers—who are nothing short of visionaries—represent the growing breed of creative individuals that are lending their own form of artistry into the industry. They are wedding coordinator Ernest Pascual, photographers Dino Laraand Oly Ruiz, bridal couturier Veluz Puno-Reyes, florist and event stylist Teddy Manuel, wedding stylist and caterer Kaye Cunanan, and wedding videographerJason Magbanua. The suppliers collaborated and brought their artistry to the resort’s properties in Poro Point, La Union and Binangonan, Rizal. The book contains anecdotes from each supplier on how they jointly conceptualized the themes and worked on creating a complete vision of a dream destination wedding befitting Thunderbird Resorts’ mantra to “create extraordinary experiences”.

Debuts- 60's Diners Theme and Colors Theme

Not even  the typhoon last weekend will  take a dim view of my two gorgeous debutantes : Jia Kho and Zian Serenilla. Im so blessed to work with a great team Christine Ong-te and Peaches Go-tiu for flawless coordinations.

ZIAN SERENILLA - 60's Diners Theme
NBC Tent / 28 August 2011/ Peaches Go- Tiu - Coordinator

vintage transistor radio, old vinyl music record serve as table number printed by Prinsonalities

wooden softdrink case sandae glass with red success roses, box with red gala roses and mini mirror balls, LED mini lamps, illuminated box, 

Coke is it! and gumball dispenser

 plaid print in red and white reminds of a diners table

ikeya lamps for vip for retro feel of that era

white resin folded chairs from Likha 

caddilac insdie NBC Tent

Staging and Dance Floor by 4th Wall

JIA Kho - Colors " Paul Smith" print Theme
Palacio De Manila / 27 August 2011 / Christine Ong-Te

colored jellies to be illuminated by LED

LED wall that open and closes for Jia Grand entrance while LED dance floor  in colorful geometric patterns by Mark Tan and Gown by Francis Libiran. I Framed the LED wall with Paul Smith prints and giant circles on both sides.

guest centerpiece in whimsical arrangement. mixed of paper pompoms and paper flowers.

VIP table - clustering of vases in lilac, purple, fuchsia and green flowers. 

cute table number prepared by Chrsitine Ong-te

picture montage forming a "J" shape

colored circle cutout for ceiling treatment and lighting by Mark Tan

The party lasted until dawn.. guests truly loves them  and  it twas well attended. 

To my lovely debutantes  HAPPY 18TH!

BonBon Moss Terrarium

I've been craving these for a while now. Hope they work!

I got the brass frame from Dapitan and instantly i know i will try to make a Terrarium.  I went to a glass store and asked them to put glass on it. Now its like a small greenhouse perfect for enclosed Terrarium. 

waking up this morning with mist on the sides of the glass..

 With a crate of live moss from Holland, pebbles, carbonated charcoal ( you can buy this in fish pet shop) sphagnum moss ( our local flakey looking moss) and potting soil. Just put it on layer, the pebbles for irrigation then the spagnum moss to hold the soil then the potting soil. Roughly 1/4 of your container are the living ground of your moss. Finally the live moss on top. Watering is just once a month.. coz evaporations keep the moss moist make sure its indirect sunlight too.. Just leave it alone garden!

decorative bone of china bird and birdsnest

top view of the terrarium

You may add nice figurine.. a golf ball maybe for more whimsy look.. I might add some ferns and podocarpus soon when i hve time to visit Manila Seedling Bank.  For now i just want a touch of indoor garden in my room. 

A Smaller glass or bottle a nice favor too for wedding!

W@W Chat (Episode 3 | Teddy Manuel)

I had a chance to have a Podcast interview with Benz and Abet Rana of Weddings@ Work.. Feel free to download the link and available via iTunes. Get upclose and personal with me as i share some tips and suprising revelations. I hope you guys have fun listening!

W@W Chat (Episode 3 | Teddy Manuel) click this for the Podcast..

Classic blooms, modern forms

by Alex Y. Vergara Philipine Daily Inquirer

Classic blooms, modern forms

You can update classic floral arrangements by combining them with “sleek” modern pieces such as linear and mirrored vases. With a bit of imagination, you can even go for sculptural floral arrangements using such staples as long-stemmed calla lilies.

For our ongoing series of ideal table settings, floral designer and events stylist Teddy Manuel drew inspiration from an uptown New York wedding. Since it could work for a semi-outdoor lunchtime party, he went for an “airy” feel by combining flowers with vibrant hues in blush, baby blue, purple, hot pink and splashes of white.

“Normally, you just stick calla lilies in vases,” said Manuel. “This time, I twisted them into C shapes and put them inside short, transparent and geometric glass vases to make them look more sculptural.”

Sculptural arrangements

His other floral arrangements were short and bushy, consisting of baby blue and purple hydrangeas, purple agapanthus, hot-pink roses and stargazers and lavender alstroemeria. Apart from the calla lilies, Manuel used white orchids and pink snapdragons as accents.

“I then grouped the various floral arrangements by height,” he said. “Most of the flowers were sourced from the Philippines except for the purple hydrangeas. They’re all classic blooms given a new twist.”

Manuel also did sculptural arrangements using intertwined and twisted calla lilies, which he placed underneath several cocktail tables in another area of the room. Instead of the old practice of making the newlyweds go from table to table, he set up a cushioned bench on a raised platform a few feet behind the presidential table where the couple could sit and have their pictures taken with several sets of guests.

He also drew inspiration from the Sulô Riviera’s Manansala ballroom’s neo-baroque interiors. This was evident in a pair of small chandeliers, which he retrofitted and turned into table lamps. For a modern touch, he ditched traditional light bulbs in favor of LED lights made to look like candles.

“This ballroom has a very impressive chandelier,” he said. “I had this idea of putting up a smaller pair of chandeliers as part of the table arrangement to connect all three.”

Manuel, a trained aeronautics engineer, toned down the look further by opting for textured and semi-translucent white table linen with swirling leaf patterns and lined underneath by silver fabric.

He also spruced up the backrest of tiffany chairs provided by the hotel with champagne gold silk tassels. To distinguish the couple’s chairs from the rest of their guests, Manuel borrowed a pair of black chairs with circular designs in silver also from the hotel.

Thematic

Manuel had shown an early interest in interior design, but in his desire to land a “more stable” job, he took up aeronautical engineering in college.

“I used to draw inspirations from images I saw in interior design magazines and tried to copy them at home when I was younger,” he said. “I’ve been in the events styling business for almost a decade now.”

As far as weddings go, the trend now is to go thematic, he said. Manuel also does debuts, anniversaries and corporate affairs. He has done everything, from Grecian to woodland, but his favorite theme is still Filipiniana.

“I always love doing Filipiniana-themed events with a twist,” he shared. “There was a time I drew inspiration from award-winning furniture designer Kenneth Cobunpue. Instead of using lots of flowers, I went minimalist and used intertwined abaca.”

During the wedding reception of actress Roxanne Guinoo and businessman Elton Yap, Manuel surprised the couple by producing a series of giant balls made of intertwined steel containing lit faux candles made of LED. From the floor, the biggest ball rose up slowly to the ceiling before the couple made their grand entrance.

“It was my take on the giant ball that rises yearly in Times Square to welcome New Year,” he said. “That’s why this business is more than just about flowers. You also need good technical support to make sure your ideas would work without anybody getting hurt.”

Multi-tasking

Manuel’s interest in interior design never left him even when he was already working as a ground crew for one of the country’s airlines. When one of his friends asked him to assist her with the floral arrangements for her wedding, he gladly accepted.

“Back then, there was no such thing as a floral designer or events stylist,” he said. “Everyone was simply known as a florist.”

From then on, he continued to moonlight as a florist while working full-time as part of the ground crew. Apart from his two jobs, he was also taking up his MBA at the Ateneo. He eventually had to choose.

“I was multitasking for more than two years, but it soon became unmanageable as more and more people started calling me to do their flowers,” he said. “Since I was at the office most of the time, they had to call me there. I decided to resign.”

Manuel took up a floral arrangement course at the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center and never looked back. Through the years, he supplements and updates his knowledge by reading up and attending informal seminars abroad.

Apart from doing renderings to present to clients, Manuel does a mockup of the actual floral arrangements for them to see. Once the contract is signed, he photographs the arrangement and files the images.

His team of florists will execute them a day or two before the wedding. Apart from several florists, Manuel also has people who do linens, accessories and carpentry work. He beefs up his core staff of 13 people depending on the need.

“I do renderings and mock-ups to minimize if not eliminate surprises,” he said. “At the end of the day, the couple has the final say. I want their personalities to reflect on the event itself. Our job is to simply guide them, provide them with the best options and execute what has been agreed upon.”

EVENT STYLIST Teddy Manuel of Teddy Manuel Flowers & Events (tel. 0916-5548993; flowers&events@yahoo.com)
VENUE Manansala Ballroom, Sulô Riviera Hotel,
Matalino St., Quezon City (tel. 924-5051)

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
The Sulô Riviera Hotel Tina Cuevas (Executive Director)
Lloyd Bonilla (Banquet Sales Manager)
Cecilia Agbulos Mejia (Marketing &
Communications Manager)

Rita Neri Event Planners (tel. 0920-920 9615)

New home! Starting July malate office and Telephone numbers: South SYQUIA unit 114, 2021 M.H. Del Pilar St., Malate Manila / TEL: 354.1676 & 480.1719

"For decades, Syquia Apartments has been home to many artists, photographers, writers, and the like. It is a hub of artistic Manila. The price of the real estate may not rank up there with the likes of Forbes or Ayala Alabang, but there is actually a waiting list for people who want to live in the building. This is because the residents of Syquia are a somewhat close-knit community, and part of the value of the property lies in the "neighbor" factor. So before one can reside inSyquia, one must apply and be approved by all the current residents in the building" www.feanne.com

New home! Starting July malate office and Telephone numbers: South SYQUIA unit 114, 2021 M.H. Del Pilar St., Malate Manila / TEL: 354.1676 & 480.1719

Preston Bailey in Manila

Preston Bailey NY celebrity floral/event designer just arrived in Manila and welcome by Rita Neri with Nerissa Neri.  We are all excited to see him on his talk and book signing at the Peninsula on May 30! Welcome to Manila Preston!

Celebrity event stylist, PRESTON BAILEY will be in Manila on May 30 to give a talk and do book signing as part of Rita Neri Event Planners 18th Anniversary celebration.

• Preston Bailey’s talk will start promptly at 2:00 PM. The doors to the ballroom shall open at 1:30 PM. First-come, first-served seating.

• Guests are requested to arrive early in order to find good seats. Please be advised that latecomers shall be seated in the best place available with minimal disruption to the presenter and to other guests.

• Books of Preston Bailey will be available for sale during the event. Book-signing will follow after the talk.

Wedding & Event Affiliates Discounted at P3500.00 Only - Call & Register Now!

Contact 893-0534 / 0920-9209615 or e-mail us at info@ritanerievents.com or ritaneri_events@yahoo.com

Details of Kate Middleton's Bouquet

I was caught in cramped traffic in EDSA while the live telecast of  Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding yesterday. Helpless it may seem i just hve to browse my Facebook account to catch up with the updates. True enough all the updates were there as in every quarter of a minutes!

I was dying to see Kate's gown, her bridal bouquet and the ceremony set decor! I had a glance over my iPhone4 but the picture were small! then i realized the bouquet were really small and looks like a corsage. Im trying to decipher the flowers used in an instant t'was predominantly Lily of the valley twas wired forming a almost rain drop shop shape quite modern compared to cascading bouquet. When i got home I read other flowers used were white Sweet Williams, white hyacinth and Myrtle.

Yes theres a flowers named Sweet William really perfect for Prince William.  The overall look is SIMPLICITY yet elegant! the gown made by Sarah Burton, Alexander MacQueen's successor with a nice lace sleves and bodice compliments the texture of the bouquet. Although small bouquet, I think Kate did her research about victorian meaning of flowers its not how big the blooms are but the hidden meaning behind it!

Victorian meaning of flowers:

Lilly of the Valley - Return of happiness, purity of heart and sweetness
Sweet William - Gallantry, smile, finesse
Myrtle - Love ( the stems from a myrtle planted by Queen Victoria in 1845 are traditionally used in all royal weddings bouquets ) 
Hyacinth - Constancy of love.


The bridal bouquet made by Shane Connolly, also decorated Westminter Abbey with maple trees! Twas gorgeous!

Congratulations to future king and queen!!!

What can you say aboout Kate's bridal bouquet? You want that kind of bouquet on your own wedding?

Snip-Fold-Twirl Paper Flowers

I just want to share the project im doing right now. With Easter in mind and a wedding after that week its truly spring time! not in the tropics where i live in. But its not an excuse to create spring colored flowers and crafts that meant for this season.  I have an upcoming wedding of Tine Diestro  lifestylebyfeliz.com/ - fashion stylist going to tie the knot with Jayjay Lucas http://jayjaylucas.com/blog/about/ a spunky photographer. Both of them are artists and creative and im so blessed they entrusted me some details of the wedding. The bride got lots of vintage stuffs the she will incorporate in the wedding this will be part of the table setup.

One unusual element of the wedding is the Paper flowers! which is remarkably whimsy and cost effective. Try to use variety of papers for texture and shades of same family of colors. Im sure your faux flower will be mistakenly real!  For additional instructions pls open this site  http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/diy-paper-flowers

Bouquet of paper flowers

Carnation -crepe paper

daisies

lisianthus

fillers - curly tissue paper

liliums

Let me know if you have other "unusual" ideas for wedding details you've done or planning to do?

Roxanne Guinoo and Elton Yap 23 Jan 2010

Heartfelt....


 "At the NBC Tent, Teddy Manuel did a fantastic job at the NBC tent for the dinner reception. The focal point was a globular structure in the middle of the dance floor. It was truly breathtaking and befitting the grand event" - Jason Magbanua 
Roxanne and Elton Video (SDE) by Jason Magbanua

Did you know it was all scented blooms? a floral note of white hyacinths the sweet scent of yellow freesias..and a delicate smell of syringias (lilacs) ...its like a bottle of perfume bouquet!!! Photo: Lito Sy

Photo: Lito Sy
Gown by: Pepsi Herrera
Make up by: Juan Sarte
Coordinator: Chinkie Uy
Video: Jason Magbanua
Event Director: Juno Oebanda
Church: Sanctuario De San Antonio 
Reception: NBC Tent