AAAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH! Tagaytay Highlands

If we didn't absolutely love Madre de Dios...

Seriously, is it just me? Or is Tagaytay highlands a pain to work with when serving two choices

of entrees for plated menus. Some people are allergic to stuff... It's taken them 6 months to reply

to our last email and even then - they sent us exactly the same menu they did 7 months ago. :(

Okay fine, we can do chicken with prawns since those allergic to prawns can eat fish - our

second option (if they'll let us like we talked about before we booked). But, the fish dish comes

with CHICKEN WINGS as a starter....

So after waiting 6 months for the chef to finally come to work (that's what my account holder

would tell me in the email "Mam, I'll ask as soon as he arrived"  - we get exactly the same menu.

She lives!!!! Tagaytay Highlands has responded...

After six months and countless follow-ups, our account holder from Tagaytay Highlands has finally replied to our email.

We were requesting for options for plated dinners - and being able to offer our guests some sort of choice. 

The thread died suddenly in August 2010. After all this time, we're still apparently awaiting the response of the Chef - and she'll get back to me as soon as possible.

The wedding is in October, so we still have a few months to sort it out. :)

Planning a wedding has taught us a few things so far - one of them is that patience is truly a virtue.

Reuniting with my My Wedding Dress...

I just got back from fitting my dress.... and it's like magic.  It just feels sooo good to be able to try it on again after an extremely long and trying time. John and I ran into some major setbacks with paperwork two years ago. Disheartened, I called to ask if they could just hold the dress until the dust settled. We finally got the IND's approval last Christmas and so we're back on track and better than ever....  :)

They're just amazing people!

Four reasons why I love them:

1. Personal involvement - I ran into Veluz' blog while I was searching for a wedding dress designer.  It just feels like a lot of love goes into each dress, and she takes the time to get to know her brides. It a wonderful feeling to think that we're not just case file conforming to a standard design. Meeting her team sealed the deal, they're all very pleasant and very hospitable. I love the way they'd offer coffee as soon as we step in and ask how we have been. They're so reassuring.

2. Creative collaboration - She's not afraid to convince me to step out of my comfort zone. Veluz caught a glimpse of a peg I had collected with Delft Blue inspired embroidery on a dress. I thought wedding dresses were supposed to be cream or white. 

Veluz was quite excited about the prospect of doing a Delft blue theme instead, that she scrapped the embroidery work that I was originally supposed to approve already and designed a new one. I was hesitant at first, but when someone is that excited... it's hard not to fall in love with the concept.  The Dutch design on a very Filipino dress is another way of honoring my heritage as well as John's. 

3. Veluz and her team still remember me (and the cookies!) two years after I went MIA. We were at the stage of approving the embroidery when I disappeared shortly after delivering my apology cookies in 2009. It was so nice of her team to all greet me by name, and reassure me that they all believed we'd pull through.

4. They kept my dress - I couldn't believe my eyes, seeing it last week. Fitting it felt even better. This is my dress - and I know it when I see it. It still fits perfectly, and it looked amazing. It felt so nice to wear it again, that they had to ask me twice if I'd like to change back into my old clothes. :)

Even at this stage, the dress is one of the most expensive things I've ever purchased for myself... but Veluz and her team's creative input, enthusiasm, and the wonderfully gracious hospitality makes it all worthwhile.

I can't wait for you guys to see the dress. I love it!!!! I really do... 

Veluz Reyes' Website

Veluz' blog