Ysabel's Garden, Queensland Catering - Cassandra's First Birthday

Having a baby is already celebration-worthy. But your baby turning one year old tops the list of all celebrations.

Last January, my daughter turned one year old. Not that it was somehow imposed in the family, but we really wanted to celebrate this milestone in her life big time.

Since we were in Hong Kong, we already agreed that we would hold the party in Manila this February to celebrate it with our family there. Also to take advantage of the holidays during the Chinese New Year so we wouldn't have to file too much vacation leave credits.

I thought that having already prepared for the event financially, all the other preparation will just be a walk in the park. But just like any event, it wasn't and I thought wrong.

CATERER/VENUE

Remotely, I started calling suppliers, especially possible caterers/venue. In reality, I just contacted 3 caterers, Gilligan's Island Restaurant in West Gate Alabang, Bali Garden, and Queensland Catering Services in chronological order.

Gilligan's all-in price wasn't actually expensive. At the rate of P30,000, I could already hold a party for 100 guests. They would give me the second floor and would allow other suppliers, like food carts to come in without any corkage fee. To me, that was an advantage. However, when they already e-mailed me their menu so I could choose already, I did not find their menu so palatable. What they could offer were all Filipino foods. Thinking thoroughly, I said I could maybe accept it, but since it was a children's party, I was looking for some pasta. So I asked if they could prepare spaghetti, but the manager honestly said they don't serve that. Without thinking again, we decided we have to find a different caterer.


e-mail to royalsilverback@yahoo.com

I thought I would already be a “suki” of Bali Garden when I asked Edmond for their children's party package. If you've read my wedding blog, it was where we held our reception and they already have in-house catering services.

It was reasonable enough. He said I could split the food orders from the children's menu (starts at P240/head) and the regular menu (starts at P480/head). At P32,000, the decoration is already included. With that package, I wouldn't have to mind the balloons/flower arrangement already. If you look at the the photos of their actual children's party on their Facebook page, any parent would say they would like to celebrate it there.

Yet, thinking of our past experience with Bali Garden, I knew I still had to make calls. The last caterer on my mind was Queensland. I wasn't able to write about it, but I hired them as the caterer for my daughter's christening last year. I was pretty satisfied with their service that time. The food was nice and the servers were very accommodating (maybe because it was their job, haha). After confirming that my preferred date is still available and have already chosen the food as per my liking, I had made the down payment immediately.


click here for Queensland Catering Services 


Ysabel's Garden, their own venue, is not as striking as compared to Bali Garden. They just have function rooms and a small garden. Their garden can just hold 15 tables (10 pax each) and a buffet table. But when all are in place already, not much space can be used for the program. Since I didn't have that 150 guests in mind, I just opted for their function room. When the balloon arrangement was already in place, I was actually surprised at how that simple function room can turn nice as well.

Since some of the gusests didn't know how to get to the venue, I had to make a map. I googled for their map to no avail. Hence, improvising.

CAKE

When my daughter's fascination for computers started, it was Barney whom she took interest in. She would always run to us whenever she saw us opening the laptop or already in front of the PC. We would know that she would want to see Barney and sing I Love You. On average, she would watch the I Love You video on YouTube ten times before she gets satisfied. Since her interest with Barney was that strong, I knew I already had a motif for her party.

Online, I searched for a cake supplier who can do Barney cakes. In Manila, there are a dozen of them you can choose from, and I didn't know who to start calling. When I started googling it, the first one on the list are suppliers from Sulit.ph. I checked it out and got four suppliers. I checked the costs and designs on each of the suppliers' Multiply page and made international calls to them, to make sure they aren't one of those bogus sellers/suppliers there are online.

After considering the price and all, I've chosen Sand and Stars. They are a home-based business in Pasig who specialises in party cakes/cupcakes. Looking again and again at their page, I was convinced they aren't fake. As part of their ordering system, you have to make a down payment first to block off the date which I did. 


click here for Sand and Stars 


Later on, I started doubting them, it took them a day or two to confirm my payment via a deposit on their BDO account. They also told me they couldn't check who deposited the money so how could they really tell it was me who did it. On top of it, they said that they are the ones trusting me on picking up the cake on the day we agreed so I shouldn't be worried.

The pick-up day came, exactly the same day as her birthday party, and my friends Karen and Ong were having a hard time locating their address in Pasig. With all fairness to the supplier, he contacted me early in the morning to confirm that the cake is ready for pick-up and was constantly calling for their location. But then in the afternoon, Karen said their store is closed already and that nobody was answering, I started panicking. I was thinking that it might be just their front to set up a cake store in the address but nobody is actually there (my imaginations, haha). After a few stops and calls on the way to the venue, Karen confirmed that they've already gotten the cake.

When they arrived at the venue and saw the cake, I thought it wasn't so bad. The cake was P1,500. It was a tower of 8in cake on top and 25 Barney cupcakes on the 2nd and 3rd layers. Those who've tasted the cake said it was delicious. Not a bad call.

One turn-off though, the Barney decor on the top of the cake didn't look like Barney himself but looked more like Grimace with Winnie the Pooh's clothes.

LOOT BAGS

After getting a supplier for the cake, I started problematising the loot bags. Should I go straight to Divi after landing on the 2nd February or should I just do the transactions online?

With help from my ever-reliable friend, Von, I was able to get in touch with a supplier. I have no other experience with on-line buying/selling, so this new way of business is so foreign to me. You have to put in a lot of trust to the supplier and even that will not assure you your orders will be delivered or not. Still, with hesitation, I made the payment thru Gcash to the supplier.

Fortunately, on the day we arrived from HK, the JR Express delivery guys were already waiting by our gate.


I was pretty amazed and happy that my first on-line buying experience was successful and bogus-free. I opened the package to check if everything was there, and the bags, crayons, and coloring books were there.


Thanks to Cristina Tamayo.

click here for Jiestine's Partyshoppe

BALLOON ARRANGEMENT

To make the venue more appealing and have the Barney vibe, I had asked our friend, Adrian, to help us with the balloons. 


He has handled numerous balloon arrangement for birthdays, debuts, and other events. 

Debut Set-up

1st Birthday Party Set-up

Thanks, Aeds. 
For enquiries, you may contact him at 0905-3444544.


PHOTO BOOTH

Before, I was thinking if I should hire a Barney mascot or not. Then I thought that the party wouldn't actually be a children's party given the fact that all those invited are adults who will bring along their babies. Literally, babies who are 2 years old and below. And since everybody will find a magician host corny, I just have to choose something else that those adults would love during the event. 


Without much choices and as suggested by my friends, I've decided to hire a photo booth for the party. It was my husband's cousin, Aika Jordan, who referred the supplier to me. The supplier is Cob's Photo Toy Box. 


click here for Cob's Photo Toy Box

Their rate per hour is P2,000. Since the venue is out of their way, they charged me additional transportation fee of P1,000. All in all, their services just cost me P5,000. It was worthy, seeing all the guests have enjoyed, from the little kids to grandmothers present at the party. 

It was indeed stressful and tiring after the party. Yet, it all evaporated when I saw that it was a good party after all especially after seeing our relatives and friends whom we've not seen for quite some time. And most especially after realising that my daughter has truly turned one and I couldn't take the time back when she was a still a baby. It is all plain happiness and content. She's been a blessing to us, especially to me and my husband. So, one of the many ways to show our love for her is through this party which we will all look back with a smile on our faces. 


Again, thank you to all those who've come to share with us this moment in her life. 


P.S. Our special thanks to Von for the impromptu hosting. Sorry. I love you. :)

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