Makati Park and Garden: Review
Makati Parks and Garden (or Makati Park, if you consider it a mouthful), is one of the places you go to unwind without spending if you’re tired of malls. Located along JP Rizal Extension in West Rembo, across University of Makati, many consider it one of Mayor Binay’s best projects. The grounds are massive, well-lit, and peaceful. And the best part is you get one more choice for a reception venue.
makati park
If you’re (1) a Makati resident and (2) a bride or groom on a budget, then I’m sure this venue is in your reception shortlist; if not, it definitely should. Why? For a LOT of reasons. Let me explain each one:
BUDGET
Rate – P6000. Need I say more? Beat that.. (then again, if you’re a non-Makati resident, they raise it to 12k, brrrr). 
LOCATION / PROXIMITY TO WEDDING VENUES
Right along JP Rizal Ext., Makati Park is a few minutes away from EDSA and an easy access from Pateros, Taguig, Mandaluyong, and some parts of Manila. You can have your pick of nearby churches such as Nuestra Señora de Gracia in Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Mater Dolorosa, St. John of the Cross Makati, Saint Michael Chapel, etc. You can have preps at EDSA Horizon Hotel, Baluyot Mansion or if you prefer, some hotels in Ayala or those along Makati Avenue – Burgos.
VENUE
For its price, this is absolutely a great deal.
Artist Pavilion – Although the left and right wing structures might give some of your guests a limited view of the presidential table and would be less engaging than those closer to you, you are at no disadvantage here. The airconditioning is quite cool, you have ample space for the buffet setup and the catering staff, plus the large grounds outside the venue would give any wedding couple complete satisfaction in my view at least hehe..
(You can have another option holding a garden wedding on the other side of the park but I don’t know much info about this yet.)
PARKING
Definetely no problem here, you get a huge parking lot for all your guests and much much room to spare for children to run around. May security guard pa on the entrance
PHOTO-OPS
You have the whole park for photo opportunities here. Though of course, this is a public park and some park visitors might stare a bit, but who cares!! It’s your big day!
shot taken outside the artist pavilion - makati park
If you have extra cash for a more expensive hotel venue, then good for you!! But if you’re choosing on saving that extra money for the days, years after your big day, then go ahead and make the most of your being a Makateño!
Click here or here to see a sample of a Makati Park Wedding.
Contact details:
Makati Parks & Garden
JP Rizal Avenue, West Rembo, Makati City
Phone: +63(02)899-8915
Budget Factor: Five stars! 6k for a Makati resident, 12k for a non-Makati resident
Shutter Factor: No problem with this, lots of shooting opportunities.
Atmosphere: Breezy, peaceful
Possible Church Venues:
Saints Peter and Paul Parish
Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine
Nuestra Señora de Gracia (Guad)
Mater Dolorosa Parish
Saint Michael Chapel
St. John of the Cross Parish
Possible Prep Venues:
Edsa Horizon Hotel
Great Eastern Hotel
Baluyot Mansion
Note: I only included proximal venues here
–For bride & grooms on a budget looking for very affordable photo-vid packages, visit www.litzv.com. Packages starting at 17k, photo-vid service only at 10k. 
thanks for visiting my shutterbride blog! –
Storybook: Saint John Bosco Parish – Makati Park
Joel & Len
02-08-08
Ceremony: Saint John Bosco Parish, Pasay Road, Makati City
Reception: Makati Parks & Garden, Makati City
Photos & Layout by: Litz V Photo-Video Studio
Click here to read my review of the Makati Park & Garden.
–For bride & grooms on a budget looking for very affordable photo-vid packages, visit www.litzv.com. Packages starting at 17k, photo-vid service only at 10k. thanks for visiting my shutterbride blog! –
Storybook: Mater Dolorosa – Makati Park
Nonoy & Veron
Gimoro-Grajo Nuptials
12-27-08
Prep: Baluyot Mansion
Ceremony: Mater Dolorosa Parish, East Rembo, Makati
Reception: West Rembo, Makati
Photos & Layout by: Litz V Photo-Video Studio
Click here to read my review of Makati Parks & Garden.
–For bride & grooms on a budget looking for very affordable photo-vid packages, visit www.litzv.com. Packages starting at 17k, photo-vid service only at 10k. thanks for visiting my shutterbride blog! –
4th Philippine Wedding Congress 2009
Come and attend the WC09, the only bridal convention in the Philippines on July 24-26, 2009, Friday – Sunday, at Megatrade Hall 2, SM Megamall.
Admission is free when you register online. Click here to register.
Happy canvassing!
Great Eastern Hotel – Makati (Review)
I’ll start this blog by saying that I’ve known and heard about Aberdeen Court – slash – Great Eastern Hotel since my high school days pa, and notoriously so. Haay, memories… those nights when i felt that i own the house and everytime my whole family had gone out to cover a wedding ’til the last hours of the evening. Coverage nights, I would always watch TV with gusto till my eyes felt heavy but then the thought that I’m all alone would start to creep me out and lose sleep all the same. When my folks finally come home, madalas kong naririnig… “haaii, aberdeen uli...”
great eastern hotel
For years, I’ve heard about their clients complaining about the staff and the food of the hotel, but I never really experienced this firsthand until I attended one of my classmates’ debut which was held there. Actually the food was fine, and so was the venue, the atmosphere, but I would never forget the scene when I saw our host’s mother in a heated loud argument with the hotel staff amid the disco dancing frenzy. Ohhkay… So why is it that a huge number of our weddings still get shot there? Because they’re the most affordable hotel venue that I know of (at least in the Makati area ha). I never really paid attention to them until recently when I took the reins as wedding photographer and shot really posh and extravagant- looking receptions of real wais couples at Great Eastern Hotel. When I found out their rates, I was dumbstruck!! Now I know why they’re so popular, and now I’m having thoughts whether I will disregard everything I thought about them and let go all of my previous plans and have my reception there. Ok, enough blab and let’s go into detail!
amazingly affordable, but service-wise, take a risk
Great Eastern Hotel has been around for quite a while. It looks decent and looks fine actually It’s located along Makati Avenue and is easily accessible. It’s somewhere between JP Rizal and Kalayaan Avenue and is right across the new A. Venue Events Mall. The 2nd floor (and its the abysmal darkness) creeps me out, but then again who cares? 
The glass elevator looking out Makati Avenue is pretty cool, and the rooms depending on which you prefer, is homely and well, downright affordable! If you have second thoughts holding your reception here, you shouldn’t have any if you plan to rent a room or two for preparation (95% I’m aiming for this one.) Having your honeymoon here ain’t gonna hurt your credit card much either.
As of July 2009, according to their website, their room rates are as follows:
|
Superior Room Single PhP 1,500.00 net |
Deluxe Room Double PhP 1,800.00 net |
Suite Double PhP 2,600.00 net |
Presidential Suite PhP 7,600.00 net |
deluxe or suite rooms will do for prep
large windows and sheer draperies give you good ambient lighting for portraits (hello sir toto!)
And now, let’s talk about reception proper. Below are the details of the Great Eastern Hotel – Makati wedding packages:
(Rates as of July 2009)
SUPERIOR WEDDING PACKAGES – P25,140
- Use of Function Room for 2 Hours
- Karaoke with One(1) microphone
- Wedding Cake (2 Layes)
- One round of assorted softdrinks
- 50 pieces of giveaway
- Flower per table
- Doves
- Guestbook
- Bridal Toast
DE LUXE WEDDING PACKAGES
Superior Wedding Packages
Plus
- Bridal Car*
FESTIVAL WEDDING PACKAGES – P27,220
Superior Wedding Packages
Plus
- Overnight stay at the Great Eastern Hotel
HONEYMOON WEDDING PACKAGES – P29,465
Superior Wedding Packages
Plus
- Overnight stay at the Great Eastern Hotel
- Bridal Car*
PREMIERE WEDDING PACKAGES – P32,775
Superior Baptismal Packages
Plus
- Overnight stay at the Great Eastern Hotel
- Bridal shower for ten persons
- Bridal Car*
Other Amenities
- Photo and Video Coverage
- Venue Floral Decorator
- Skirted Chair
- 30 Seater Luxury Coach
——-
SAMPLE MENU (for Superior Package)
- Assorted Cold Cuts
- Birds Nest Soup
- Chicken Imperial
- Seafood Dumpling Deep Fried
- Lapu-lapu Fillet in Pickle Sauce
- Tender Sliced Beef in Vegetables
- Mixed Meats Chow Mien
- Aberdeen Fried Rice
- Sesame Balls
- Passion Fruits with Almond Jelly
Rates are good for 100pax, terms are 20% reservation, 80% 2 weeks before. Drinks are one round only. Use of function room is for 2 hours only, they charge you 600 for every extra hour. Unless you have a very good coordinator and emcee, 2 hours won’t be enough for you, so expect to pay extra. On which function room they give you, that depends on how many guests you’ll be having.
If you bring 200 or more guests and spend more than 60k on food, they will offer you one of their Ballrooms which is quite grand with a winding staircase
If you compare it with other hotels, GEH’s rate is unbelievably low!! I actually couldn’t believe it myself, but you might be asking, what’s the catch?
Well, contrary to my assumptions built over a decade, it ain’t half so bad in looks and taste. The rooms and function rooms are spacious and royal hindi ka mapapahiya dito (at least sa food and venue), and it definitely doesn’t look cheap, no no, not at all! What’s the catch then?
Sadly, based from years of personal experiences and loads of feedback from couples, it’s the service. They have improved over time and I still could be wrong about them at baka natsatsambahan lang everytime we shoot there, and you can call it trivial, but haii, it cud drive the guests and the couples nuts. the last time we shot there, guests are complaining that they’re almost done with their meals pero the drinks haven’t arrived yet. During cake-cutting, wine toasting, and dove release, it should be routine that an attendant would assist them with all these. but despite our constant nagging, no knife, no spoon, and no one cared to come forward to even help drag the doves out!!
Then again, this won’t stop me from considering them (although by reading this they might reject me someday hehe). They might have some faults, but if you’re into a tight budget and you still prefer a decent hotel reception then by no means don’t let this affect you! I guess you will just have to make sure they attend to you properly during reception
Likewise, if you want to have a presentable civil wedding, GEH-Makati is a great deal.
Bridal car included in some of their packages
Click here to see a sample of a Great Eastern Hotel Wedding.
Contact details:
Great Eastern Hotel
7842 Makati Avenue
Makati City Philippines
Phone: +63(02)898-2888
Fax: +63(02)899-3196
http://www.greateasternhotelmanila.com
Budget Factor: Five stars! Definitely a great deal!
Shutter Factor: No problem with this, lots of shooting opportunities.
Atmosphere: Class, decent to grand function rooms, but service might lag sometimes
Possible Church Venues:
Saints Peter and Paul Parish (a block away, along Burgos)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine
Nuestra Señora de Gracia (Guad)
Saint Andrew Church (Reposo St.)
Note: I only included proximal venues here
–For bride & grooms on a budget looking for very affordable photo-vid packages, visit www.litzv.com. Packages starting at 17k, photo-vid service only at 10k. thanks for visiting my shutterbride blog! –
Toto & Lei
12.27.07
Ceremony: Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, Makati
Prep & Reception: Great Eastern Hotel
Photos & Layout by: Litz V Photo-Video Studio
Click here to see my review of Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine.
–For bride & grooms on a budget looking for very affordable photo-vid packages, visit www.litzv.com. Packages starting at 17k, photo-vid service only at 10k. thanks for visiting my shutterbride blog! –
For years I’ve overlooked this church because, first off, it’s not too visible. Compared to other churches, its facade is too elevated one can hardly see it. But now that I’m scouting for a church for MY own wedding, it has been ranked first in my canvassing I’ve shot quite a number of weddings on this church but it’s only been lately that it has tickled my fancy. If you’re a practical bride on a budget, this church deserves a second look.
The church interior is surprisingly large
Situated near EDSA Guadalupe a block or two away from MMDA headquarters is the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine. It has just been turned from a parish into an Archdiocesan Shrine a couple of years ago. You can’t expect a facade as grand as Nuestra Señora de Gracia or a huge parking lot, but budget-wise it’s manna from heaven! If you’re a member of the parochial community, you can get as low as 4500, but if you’re not from these parts, you can get a decent church ceremony for 6500. And if you’re really on a toity-toit budget, it’s very close to affordable prep n reception venues such as Great Eastern Hotel, EDSA Horizon Hotel, Makati Park, to name a few.
Photography-wise, this church ain’t too bad. The white walls, glass-stained windows, an elevated altar, and a wide aisle are good signs of a good shoot. The church interior, contrary to how it looks on the outside, is quite spacious and laaaarge. There’s plenty of room to move around. The indoor balcony is just as huge, with a left and right wing for other angles.
big balconies, yeesss
As of June 2009, rate is 6500 (or 4500 if you’re a parishioner) which includes ceremony, carpet, flowers (plastic lang pero who cares ulit), verry very nice usherettes, lights, organ, church singer. In short, it’s a steal You can have a whole choir for a higher rate.
As a final note, the church people are very lenient so photogs can shoot as many as they can. Huwag lang kayong ma-late sa ceremony dahil baka mapaikli group pictorial kapag may kasunod na misa o kasal.
Like I said, looots of affordable reception and prep options to choose from. Most couples we’ve shot hold their reception (and if applicable, preparations) at Great Eastern Hotel in Makati Avenue, EDSA Horizon Hotel at EDSA Boni, Makati Park in JP Rizal Extension, Baluyot Mansion in Cembo, Parc House EDSA, Max’s Restaurant in Jupiter, etc.
Click here to see a sample of an Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine wedding.
Contact details:
1923 Orense St. , Guadalupe Nuevo Makati City
Tel No. 882-8095
Budget Factor: Aprub! About 4.5 / 6.5k. For that amount, you get a very accessible ceremony venue with proximal commendable venues as well.
Shutter Factor: Church is not too elaborately designed on the exterior but large and spacious enough inside. The very accommodating church people give your mediamen freedom to shoot and move around, provided they follow the usual guidelines. This guarantees a lot of good shots.
Atmosphere: Very spacious, good ambient light, polite usherettes (very good sermons too)
Possible Prep Venues:
EDSA Horizon Hotel
Great Eastern Hotel Makati
Baluyot Mansion
Makati Palace
Best Western Astor Hotel
& other Burgos Hotels
Possible Reception Venues:
Edsa Horizon Hotel
Great Eastern Hotel
Makati Park
Max’s Jupiter
Note: I only included proximal and affordable venues here; posh establishments not included.
–For bride & grooms on a budget looking for very affordable photo-vid packages, visit www.litzv.com. Packages starting at 17k, photo-vid service only at 10k. thanks for visiting my shutterbride blog! –
