(via Business World) Bridal custom is much in demand in the Philippines and competition is all the more fierce with the proliferation of wedding venues that cater to the whimsical (or magic realist) fancies of a couple tying the knot.

Mandarin Oriental Manila has decided to step up its game by providing that extra little something that can’t be had elsewhere: two clothing designers are exclusively part of the preparations — Monique Lhuillier by way of a table collection for Royal Doulton, and Estien Quijano, who lends a hand with the themed banquet sets unique to the hotel.

As an added perk, an ongoing promo dubbed “Our Wedding Proposal” offers a couple registered at the hotel with the opportunity to win a free P500,000 wedding reception in a raffle draw, and an invitation to the hotel’s bridal fair on March 20 and 21. The promotion is open to all engaged couples who confirm their weddings with Mandarin on or before April 15 — even if the wedding is set for 2011.

“When the themed venues came in, 2008-2009, we really felt it. We worked at being accredited at these places — we do outside catering… But when you opt for a venue outside the hotel, you have to pay for the venue as well as the catering, the photographer, all this, but the hotel is a one-stop shop, the ballroom is dressed already. We give more, the clients get more,” said Cyndy Austriaco-Cuna, Director of Conferences and Banquets for Mandarin Oriental Manila. [READ MORE…]

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more about the bridal fair:

Guests can also sit in different talks held by Max Factor, Elizabeth Arden, and LuxAsia on bridal beauty; couples-to-be can also consult with Feng Shui master Joseph Chau on auspicious dates and compatibility.

Mandarin Oriental, Manila also announces a special raffle draw open to all engaged couples who attend the grand wedding fair and who book their wedding at the hotel. First prize is a voucher for a PHP500,000 banquet, to be applied to the couple’s wedding function. Also at stake is a weekend stay at the Mandarin Oriental Club, as well as a dinner for two at The Tivoli. The wedding banquet must be held from May 1, 2010 until December 31, 2011, and confirmation with the hotel should be on or before April 15, 2010.

Entrance to the bridal fair is free, but requires registration.

For inquiries, call 750 8888 or email momnl-socials@mohg.com. One can also visit the hotel’s Facebook microsite at www.facebook.com/MandarinOrientalManila.

Globe Telecom — in cooperation with W@W — cordially invites you to join The Proposal movie promo.   You must be a registered member of the Globe Community to join. If you aren’t a registered member you can click here to sign-up.

BEST. PROPOSAL. EVER.

Guy and Gal have been going out for a year when Gal thinks of throwing Guy a surprise party. She goes through great pains of organizing the awesome event, inviting all their friends and keeping everything top secret. She thinks she’s successful, especially when his face genuinely lights up as they all shout, “Surprise!” at the big reveal.

Then, just as she’s glowing in triumph, he turns to her and uncovers an even bigger reveal: Guy gets on his knee and asks her to marry him, whipping out a beautiful diamond solitaire as the entire room erupt into another round of “Surprise!”

Turns out, Guy knew all about the party after all, and it was Gal who got way more than she bargained for.

You think you can top that? Send the BEST. PROPOSAL. EVER. and you could win a gift certificate for a prenup pictorial with Chito Cleofas and many other prizes!

If I didn’t know my brother any better, I’d say he’s tripping into playing Santa in August by finding who’s “naughty” or “nice.”

But Fol Rana, Jr. is a passionate photographer & a true gentleman at work. Enough said. *nakana! Ayos ba yon, kuya?*

Bridal Boudoir, in layman’s term, is a sensual pictorial of the bride. Yeah, kinda like a massage without oil and sans body contact. It’s not for everybody though.

Any why would a bride want to do this? Fol cited these usual reasons said to him:

• I want to give a great gift for my groom on our wedding night
• I am tired with just the usual prenup and engagement shoot
• A perfect first anniversary gift to my husband
• A totally different way of seeing myself
• I want to reward myself
• I want a little adventure
• I want to feel pampered, beautiful and sexy
• I have been waiting for this
• I want my grandkids to see that I was hot

Oh, did we tell you already this Marathon Boudoir Shoot is FREE? But do note there are limited slots so the sooner you gather your guts, the better.

Check out the poster or click this link for details.

On Friday, these iPod Nanos will be handed to three “Stars of the Night” of the party:

• a male wedding supplier
• a female wedding supplier
• and a W@Wie!

It’s our way of saying thanks to those who will go the extra mile and dress-up for W@W’s 10th Anniversary Celebration.  But the story of how these colorful iPods  got in our hands is another story of the W@W’s community spirit that’s worth telling.

Funding for these prizes are courtesy of the generous event organizer/wedding suppliers (our gratitudes to Ces, Ai, Cecilio & Phoeben!) who pledged cash donations for the celebration.  Since only the Online Apple Store offers iPod engraving and it comes out cheaper when ordered in the US-based site, a former W@Wie turned N@Wie (thanks as usual, Grace!) ordered them for us.

The package was then delivered straight to the US-address of another W@Wie (salamat, Janet ni Abe!) who was scheduled to fly to Manila in time for the anniversary.  The iPods were then picked up for us by the messenger of a W@Wie-turned-wedding planner (wave your hands, Clarice!).

This long iPod journey speaks of the love and goodwill fostered here in the W@W Community. Kind gestures that sound too good to be true; but it does happen in this part of cyberspace.

Now these iPods can’t wait to be with their new owners.  Will you be the one?

The invite conveys the first impression of what the wedding will be to any guest who receives it.  But nothing diminishes the look of a very nice wedding invitation than with shabbily done inserts, and that includes the map!  Good thing there is now a company here in Manila that specializes in maps that goes with the wedding invite.

Inspired by dainty artwork seen in Couture Maps by Stephannie Barba, now comes “Merry Maps” by Busy Bee Designs.

• Interested to order?  Know the ordering instructions and design fee.
• Better yet, get it for FREE by writing a blog post telling them why you deserve to win a Merry Map design.

Check out the mock map they especially made for W@W:

Thanks, Dot!