REAL WEDDING: Farah & Afiq, 20-21st Oct 2012

THE SOLEMNIZATION CEREMONY

Puan Siti is a returning client, which I had the pleasure of planning her son's wedding in 2007. Farah is her eldest daughter and of course, Puan Siti wanted the event to be filled with flowers; from the Solemnization Ceremony to the Wedding Dinner Reception. The Solemnization Ceremony was held at Villamay, Shah Alam, where they offer wedding packages for guests below 200 pax (buffet service). Kasih Hall 1 is where the ceremony is held and Kasih Hall 2 is the dining area where it can seat 60 guests comfortably and another 5 tables in the outdoor dining area. 

Decor for both Solemnization and Reception was done by my trusted Arjuna Cipta, who delivered everything and more towards their work with a passion. Flowers used were Roses, Eustomas, a bit of Hydrangeas, Gerberas, Cymbidiums and Baby's Breath as fillers in pastel colours of Pink, Butter Yellow, Pistachio Green and Peach. For Villamay, Arjuna Cipta decorated the seven hantaran trays from Bride to Groom, large pomanders at the Dais (pelamin), Main Table decor & complimentary guests table centerpieces as well as doily bunting at the outdoor dining area. 

Needless to say Puan Siti was beaming with pride when her guests commented on how beautiful everything looked!

Mini Cakes for Main table guests by Pink Oven Cakes

Menu Card for each guests by Parfait Prints

Indoor dining area

Signage by PDP

THE RECEPTION

Held in the Cindai Ballroom,Cyberview Resort & Spa, Cyberjaya. Cindai Ballroom's maximum capacity for banquet is 350 guests (35 tables inclusive of Main Table) but it is one of the ballroom that has it's own ambience which is cozy, warm and has an intimate feel to it. It is one of the most sought-after venues in KL and my advise is to about 8 months to 1 year lead time in securing the event date with Cyberview for your event if you're planning to have a Saturday event.

When Farah described her likes and dislikes for the decor, instantly I had an image of manicured garden with hedges in my mind and add a whimsical fun into the decor, Farah asked if we could have a Giraffe incorporated into the decor. After discussing with Arjuna Cipta, we came up with the sketch and also to bring in the 'garden' into Cindai Ballroom. Lo and Behold, a seven-foot Giraffe was placed at the Dais! The decor included the Main Dais, 1 VIP table and Sweetheart table where the Bride & Groom sat together alone, and the Main Entrance (which sadly, I forgot to take pictures of!).

There's also the self-serviced photobooth where Parfait Prints printed the Backdrop for guests and by using their own camera, props for the photobooth were made by the Bride herself.

Puan Siti made my job easier by trusting me and leaving me to decide on what's best to do on the event day. All went well for the dinner (even though it rained hard before the event) and I have the Mother of the Bride, smiling away for the night!

Individual Menu Cards by Parfait Prints

For guests above 250, the 8 point bunting is complimentary from Cyberview

Bridal Bouquet by Willows

Photos below were captured by Saffandi Photo

Where to start in planning your wedding

 Photo from Wedding Song Music

Where do we start after he proposed to you and you have told your family the good news?

Well, the DATE would be a good to start you off with. In Malaysia, there season of getting married is usually around the school holidays which is in March (1 week), May-June (2 weeks) and November-December (5-6 weeks). There are also the long festivities break such as the Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidil Fitri which you can set your wedding date around those too.

However, the down-side is that for CNY break usually coincides with Valetine's Day and to those who do not know this, the cost of flowers will go up to 100-300% from the normal price. The high cost will take effect ONE week prior and ONE after Valentine's Day. If you decide to do it during the school break and if your guestlist is more than 350 pax and if you are staying in the Klang Valley/Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya, you are advised to search and book your venue 6 months to a year PRIOR to your event date! There is a shortage of venues around the Klang Valley and those impromptu wedding planning will cause you further headaches.

After the date, the next important thing is your guest list. This will give you a rough idea on the estimated budget for your wedding as the banquet or catering will cost about 60-70% of your total expenses. This can also aid you in selecting your venue or to have it in the comfort of your own home.

Stay tune for the next topic!