Peso Value: Php XXX,XXX++ for 110pax (August 2012)
Ratings: 4/5
Inclusions:
- Overnight stay for two in a Standard King room upgraded into King Deluxe
- Breakfast in bed for two
- Use of function room for five (5) hours
- Complimentary food tasting for four (4) persons
- Five-layered fondant cake
- Doves in a decorated cage
- Complimentary one (1) round of strawberry juice
- Standard individual table centerpieces
- Personalized menu card
- Elegant floral arrangement for couple's table
- Presidential table arrangement with personalized place cards
- Elegant floral arrangement for buffet table
- Complete PA and sound system
- Guest book and signature frame
- One (1) bottle sparkling wine for toasting
- Waived corkage for two (2) wine bottles (750ml/bottle)
- Waived corkage for one (1) roasted pig/lechon baboy
- Gift for couple
Following our ceremony venue booking, Roan and I had to deliberate on our reception venue options. Although Tagaytay is a really good venue for garden wedding receptions for its cool weather, Roan and I opt of this preference. Here are our reservations:
- Getting married in December would mean cool, breezy weather. Getting married early in the day would mean a dewy morning. Yes, our reception isn’t until lunch time, but guests having to walk on moist grass in stiletto heels and floor-length dresses aren’t going to work.
- As you well know, the weather in the Philippines had been really crazy nowadays due to climate change, so assumed that the weather on our wedding day will be unpredictable.
Given these reasons, we decided against having a garden wedding reception. Our next dilemma was whether to book a venue with reception package or not. With Roan being away most of the time, I encouraged him that we avail of the venue with reception package instead of otherwise because it's going to be difficult doing all these physical preparations by myself when I also have a day job on top of everything. It took weeks for me to finally convince him to agree, but I don't regret doing so because it had been really helpful. I had to justify how convenient it will be to have a single contact person (Account Executive) for a group of different suppliers in a reception package than painstakingly looking for individual suppliers. I know there are advantages and disadvantages in choosing individual suppliers for one's dreaming, but this option just won't work for Roan and I, hence we ended up looking for hotels with wedding reception packages.
Roan and I deliberated between Taal Vista Hotel, Hotel Kimberly, Summit Ridge Hotel, but in terms of proximity and inclusions, we ended up with the latter. Taal Vista Hotel would have made the cut, but since it is situated in a prime location overlooking Taal, their rates are relatively higher than Summit Ridge's. Although we're getting in Tagaytay, we did not take this 'overlooking view' into consideration because in reality, most of our guests (except those relatives who haven't returned to the Philippines for ages) may have seen this in other opportunities. After all, the newlyweds are supposed to be the 'stars of the night', aren't they? Except we had a lunch reception.
Anyway, we placed our reservation as early as August 2012. Now here's the part where I emphasize why we didn't give them a perfect rating. We were unaware that at the time of our booking, their Account Executive (EP) has already resigned, and we were caught during their transition phase. A few months later, their Sales Manager (AAR) took over the responsibility, and boy was the beginning of a rollercoaster ride. AAR had been delinquent in responding to our messages (both texts and emails), and one day, on our scheduled food tasting with them, I found out that she wasn't replying because of her father's demise. Okay, don't get me wrong. According to her colleagues, she had been out-of-office for weeks, and no proper endorsement whatsoever had taken place, thus her staff didn't know about our visit. Good thing DS assisted us on AAR's behalf during our food tasting, and despite her lack of knowledge with our account, she had been very accommodating. She took note of comments and recommendations thrown at her during our food tasting, and reciprocates them with affirmation. Again, two or three more months after, JMBO came into picture. Apparently, she's the new replacement for EP; however, when I was trying to get in touch with her in preparation for our room reservations, she has already resigned. Then, Mary Jane Garin took over in June 2013. Imagine how many Account Executives have handled our account in a span of ten (10) months?
It was such a relief that Jane took over the role of Account Executive six months to our wedding because this was the time when it's important to take note of special instructions/details. Along with King (of Cravings), both of them closely worked together to make our reception.
Advantages:
- Ample secured parking space for guests
- Indoor wedding reception
- Spacious (with no pillars) ballroom that can accommodate up to 750 pax
- Hotels make it easier for you to plan your wedding most especially for couples who are in a long-distance relationship or one/both are working/living abroad
- Guests are entitled for discounts on room rates (up to 30%) if they will book at the hotel under the couple’s wedding account
Disadvantage:
- Unable to choose preferred supplier over what is included in the package
Contact Details:
Summit Ridge Hotel
Km. 58 Gen.Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Maharlika West, Tagaytay City
(02) 240 6888
0922 852 6800
www.summitridgehotel.com