Better Days EventWorks

USING TALENTS

When there is a creative talent in the house, why not use it?

What a crafty and talented mother of our debutant! She created the give-aways (scented candle and beaded trinkets) and the 18 rose candles. Each of the eighteen Candle Sponsors used this to light the 18 candles.

More than that, the love between the mother and daughter is so evident and clear. Crystal!

At Better Days EventWorks, we take extra care in bringing out the 'best' people who will be part of the big day - be it client, family, or friends. Their choice is our priority

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For unique crafts and giveaways, please contact Ms. Jho Ybañez at 0917-543-3118. She is on Facebook as JHO BEADS and CRAFT STORE. Her physical store is in Baliwasan, Zamboanga City.

A Baptism . .

Most of the time, the church altar and the baptism ceremony area is devoid of decor, somewhat neglected.

The chapel in-charge commented, "Uy may decor. Nabigla ako, akala ko wedding. Maganda rin na may decor."

How a simple touch makes moments extra special . . .

A Family Photoshoot
For a 25th/Silver Wedding Anniversary

《Concept & On-Site Shoot Coordination》
Better Days EventWorks
by Saym & Bylna Aradji

《Photographer》
Fotografia
by Richard Ledesma

SPECULATIONS AND CONFIDENTIALITY

It is sad when you hear talks about the bride being pregnant before the wedding. This happens when the wedding seems to be done in haste, maybe as late as two months of wedding preparations.

Unknown to many, wedding preparations have begun even a year before the set wedding date.

At Better Days EventWorks, we work in silence, almost never posting about our clients, events and activities. We never want to create social media publicity and hype when private events are underway. The main reason? We value our clients’ privacy. We do not want to pre-empt the actions of our clients or take away that anticipation from them.

Many of our clients would ask suppliers to refrain from posting about the event, especially ATM (At The Moment). Most of the time, it is the photographers, videographers and HMUAs (Hair & Make-Up Artists) who have access to the client and, of course, the coordinators. We give it all to the client to be the first to post about their special moments.

There have been instances that we prepared NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) for our clients, requesting for confidentiality about the details of the event, including client anonymity in the reservation and booking. Many times, it is ‘c/o Better Days EventWorks’ only.

Ultimately, we aim for trust and confidence . . .

FOR THE PROSPERITY DANCE

We found these oriental-designed money envelopes. It is not your usual screaming-Chinese angpao in fiery red glossy paper with gold characters.

Although angpaos are supposed to be red for good luck and prosperity, a change of color won't hurt. For as long as the giver has a good heart and the best of intentions, the newly-weds will surely have a good start with their journey to forever.

These pins, we always look for sturdy and shiny ones. Some are so 'china-china', they tend to bend or break easily and are dull and rough. We also go for just the right size, one that can hold the angpao and the fingers can hold, too. Well-wishers can attach the envelopes in a breeze, easy-peasy.

Just don't include the skin when pinning the angpao.

Do take your time;
Don't be in a hurry;
Do watch your step;
Don't step on the bridal gown;
Do smile and talk to the couple;
Don't forget to congratulate the couple and wish them all the best in their married life.

You have the permission to dance with the couple. Do enjoy!

STRONG AND CONSTANT

One morning, out of the blue, I received this message from a former bride.

We thrive on such comforting words, not fortune, not for fame.

Saym and I remain steadfast in our hearts, faithfull to our beliefs and dedicated to our craft.

Thank you so much.

Happy HARI RAYA PUASA!

VINTAGE FINDS

The words are barely clear as this was handwritten in 2003. It goes . . .

Together with their children,

Clarita Chiong-Lim
Anita Chiong-Wee
Ernesto O. Chiong
Juliet Chiong-Ong
Evelyn Chiong-Ramos-Yeo
Robert O. Chiong

Miguel & Conchita Chiong
Request the honour of your presence
In the celebration of their
Golden Wedding Anniversary
As they renew their marriage vows
On Friday, the 26th of September,
Two thousand and three
At two o'clock in the afternoon
Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
La Purisima Street, Zamboanga City.

Reception follows at 6:30 in the evening
Convention Center, Garden Orchid Hotel
Gov. Camins Avenue, Zamboanga City.

As wedding planners, we are sometimws asked about invitations. We would gladly do the wording and the editing for you if given the chance.

How should the bride hold her bouquet when she marches with her father & mother?

At Better Days EventWorks, we have devised our own 'style'. When this trio walks down the aisle, we do hope that it looks effortless, comfortable and picture-perfect.

ONE BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE
from a Mother to her Daughter

Her 18th birthday came in 2020, during the 1st few months after the pandemic was declared. That's why the unusual celebration of a 20th birthday, a two-year delay.

We did her first birthday, as well, when Better Days EventWorks might have been the only one in Zamboanga City. We could safely say that she was our 1st Birthday event.

The mother's message was brief but the 232 words beautifully captured those 20 years, not even a photo can.

Such is our hope for every message delivered in our events - It is not in the length but the content so full of heart.

KEEPING-UP

Gadgets are an integral part of an event organizer's life. They make one's work easier, more efficient, and effortless.

These newly purchased Walkie-Talkies are essential for communications. Although we can run an event without them, we still feel confident when we have these around on hand.

BDE has always provided candle lighters for the secondary sponsors. It used to be matches, and then we moved on to Cricket butane lighters.

We recently received two electric lighters as a gift. Thank you Kerwin Baldovino Photography sa maagang pamasko.

COLOR OF THE YEAR 2024
That FUZZY Feel

PANTONE, the world's leading color expert, has released the color of the year 2024. On Thursday, December 7, Pantone declared PEACH FUZZ.

A warm hug, a reassuring smile, a comforting shoulder, a helping hand – This is reconnecting with humanity and all that we have lost.

May 2024 be that year for all of us.

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In our events, BDE takes into full account the colors and motifs that our clients have chosen. Colors help bind all the elements of an event into one cohesive look.

ONE OF A KIND

When the mother of the bride is an artist, you would want to highlight her talent.

Here is a mother's work of love. We requested her to paint a purple-inspired design, the motif of the wedding, that would go on the wedding invitation.

Working with Zamboanga's best invitation-maker, PPS (Print & Paper Specialist), we were able to come up with this invitation cover. To protect the mom's artwork, we asked PPS never to use this design. Indeed, the collaboration was one-of-a-kind as it was a first for this tripartite.

We would like to think that the design was a commissioned art piece. Asking an artist to create an artwork for your personal use could be expensive. But think about it, if you have all the resources at your disposal, why not? Rather than copy what is common anyway, dare and be inspired.

This was unique and different but at the same time endearing, sealing a mother's love for her daughter's very special day.

At BDE, we offer possibilities and opportunities that are meaningful and sincere.

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The artist is on Facebook Sandra Jam. She is Zamboanga's Gem,
Ms. Sandra Jamiro-Marquez.

We have also collaborated with her on another invitation for a 25th wedding anniversary. BDE is so grateful and blessed to have a precious talent like her.

ATTITUDINAL

It is very difficult to be with people who complicate our work. No matter how much diligence and effort we put into perfection, some people are not just willing to cooperate.

They refuse to be punctual. They are not committed to the obligations by virtue of the bookings and reservations they accepted.

We are never lacking in reminders, details and confirmations. You should learn to listen and be attentive during meetings and discussions.

Nothing should be left to memory and chance. Take down notes, review chats and scan your text messages. Please, just a little effort on your part.

If you do not understand, ask.
If you are unsure, clarify.
If you have complains, say it.

Find it in your heart to admit your mistakes, be accountable and take responsibility. Never shift the blame on others just so you can get off scot-free.

THE BANQUET

We love clients who want to fully satisfy their guests gastronomically. When food and drinks is your number one priority, you can never go wrong. We love you more for considering those serving in the event. We appreciate this thoughtful gesture.

We highly encourage event hosts to order food and drinks based on your number of guests. Do not rely on the complimentary percents and pieces. These freebies will not be enough for all your guests. The miracle of a multiplication will never happen.

To the vendors of food and beverage stations/buffets/bars, we feel you. When the client orders for show and not actually to satisfy their guests, this puts you in bad light.

'Kulang, tinipid, namera' are the usual comments of guests. How we wish we could announce the real situation, that the client ordered only 50% or way below their expected guests. How we wish we could find a way to absolve you from culpability ahora mismo, on the spot, right there and then.

We also encourage the vendors to have a realistic estimate of the food and beverage you provide based on your package. Surely, a 'good for 50 pax' clause does not mean 50 pieces only.

Focus on your items and never on the decors. Yes, presentation is part and parcel but your product should be front, back and center. Unless you just want to make up for bad quality and poor quantity . . .

We also encourage other suppliers present during the event (photographers, videographers, performers-musicians, singers, dancers, magicians, sound/lights/tech equipment operators and emcees) to please refrain from partaking of these specialty food and beverage stations/buffets. They were ordered for the guests and we are not included in the headcount. We are not guests but event partners.

If you have noticed, we at Better Days EventWorks hold this very seriously, intentionaly. We never eat and drink with the guests, even if our clients tell us so. We provide snacks and drinks for our staff before the start of the program.

However, we make sure that our event partners- the suppliers and vendors, are all fed during the preps and after the event. We do the headcount, we monitor and we order for ALL. We have never prioritized, reserved tables and kept food for ourselves.

We do not cover ingress and egress, though. This is now the look-out of the team owners, to make sure that their staff are taken-cared of.

ALWAYS - We are on-call and on our toes every second that the event is running. Stopping work to eat is a big NO.NO.

EXTRA & HIDDEN

We at Better Days EventWorks appreciate suppliers/vendors/hotels who declare extra charges. Our clients, mostly first-timers, are unaware of such corkages, electricity, time extension and other dues and fees.

It will be a highway robbery when our clients are presented the list after they have signed the contract and made their downpayment. They should be fully-aware of all expenses they will be incurring should they book the venue. No hidden charges please.

It is also part of due diligence for event planners to inform their clients of such additional expenses, even after the client has booked their venues. We have encountered several clients who got unpleasantly surprised.

Clients should also be aware of the amenities and complimentary items they will be receiving from the venue based on the number of heads/pax they booked. Usually, here are the freebies:

1. Bridal Car
2. Room Accommodations
3. Basic Sound System
4. Backdrop & Letterings

Allow us to give a fair warning : There are coordinators who include in their ‘packages’, free bridal car and hotel room. It seems so generous.

Truth be told, these freebies are not provided by the generous and cheaper coordinators but by the hotel. No extra money is shelled out of their pockets.

Furthermore, the reservation/booking fee is always deductible. Do not believe that it is not.

Believe in us. Believe in Better Days EventWorks.

PANTONE Color of the Year

Waiting with much anticipation for the release of Pantone’s Color of the Year 2024.

We noticed that for three years now, since 2021, Pantone has made the grand announcement every December. It used to be in November.

As of now, the Pantone website still features the 2023 Pantone Color of the Year – Viva Magenta. The first ever color-of-the-year released by Pantone was Powdery Cerulean in 2000.

There are several color-of-the-year forecasts. However, we only look to PANTONE in this direction.

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"But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise, it's not lapis, it's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns."

Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep)
'The Devil Wears Prada'

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In our events, BDE takes into full account the colors and motifs that our clients have chosen.

GETTING MARRIED IN DECEMBER - JANUARY

Our Dear Brides,

We cannot do anything if the Christmas decors of the church clash with your wedding motif and theme. Your church stylist cannot meddle with church property.

The church cannot remove them at your whim and request. What you see has to stay as is, before, during and after your wedding ceremony. No movement whatsoever of existing church Christmas decors.

D.I.Y.

When some clients choose to DIY some of their event essentials, it makes us nervous. Some DIYs are prone to look like school projects or purok efforts. Not that we don’t appreciate them. It’s just that nowadays, everything is so polished and masterful – perfect!

A bride of ours decided to crochet her bouquet. I secretly was teary-eyed when I first saw it during the preps. All the effort that went into each loop, each knot! And when she marched down the aisle, with her precious bouquet tightly clutched by her hands, what a perfect vision!

We realize, that aside from the outcome itself, it is the story behind every detail that matters most. When hand-made, it is filled with so much love and pure intentions.

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For your crochet bouquet, please visit the FB Page
BEADS & KNOTS / 0917 708 9884

https://www.facebook.com/beadsandknotsshop

YOU ARE INVITED

The production of the invitation is like a ping-pong rally. It is an endless communication and monitoring. Back and forth, back and forth – we are the net between the client and the printer.

It is tiresome, checking every draft given by the printer and sending it to the client. They say that two heads are better than one and more eyes can see, even 4-eyed ones.

Together with the client, we check and review the wording, grammar, spelling, placement, spacing, and all the finer details that go into an approved draft. We go through the assortment of papers and boards to choose from, the colors and textures.

In the end, it is the client who okeys and we say GO PRINT to the printer.

The invitation is the first glimpse of your guests to your event. Knowing this, BDE does take invitation matters seriously. Yes, many printers do not know the difference between Nuptial and Nuptials. More than the client’s approval, we see to it that we are the most satisfied.

And by the way, it is not just the invitations. The same process goes for all the other printables.



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The attached photo is a screenshot of the current folder of our client on our desktop as we are about to start tackling the invitation.

As usual, we have blued some details to protect our clients’ privacy.

So, let the game begin. Here we go!

Never, in our 22 years, has any bride or groom submitted the personal vows this early - 2 weeks before the wedding day.

And this is our groom, at that. Amazing!

We have always asked our couples to give us a copy of their personal VOWS. We make sure to have our own print-out on the day of their wedding.

You just do not know, just in case . . .

THE GOLDEN SHEARS

These 'scissors' are reserved for Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies only.

We do not use just any for the honored guests to hold. Even this detail counts.

HOW WE DO CAKE DETAILING

We make sure that the client's specifications and our approved suggestions are communicated to the cake artist.

Quotations and recommendations from the cake artist are likewise declared to the client.

So, we come up with this cake board. No detail is left to chance and memory.

THE WEDDING REHEARSAL

For as long as we can remember, we have always made it a must to conduct a wedding rehearsal, whether it is a Catholic Wedding, a Muslim Wedding, a Christian Wedding or a Civil Wedding.

We always have our couple's back. This wedding will most likely be their first and hoping it will be their last. We would not want them looking lost, clueless, blank and ignorant of what's going on during the wedding ceremony.

While others would probably want to concentrate on the dance rehearsal only, more important for us is the ceremony rehearsal. It is afterall a wedding and the ceremony is the most important, more than the reception. No wedding reception will ever take place without the ceremony first.

We actually have this Guide to Wedding Rehearsal booklet. We devised and wrote it ourselves, constantly editing and improving it through the years. This is how we plan for weddings. We always give priority to the ceremony, never taking it for granted.

NOTE: On the photos are three booklets.

1. The lilac on the left is our very first (1st decade 2001-2011) and the most comprehensive. It would take almost 3 hours for the practice, which included all the members of the entourage.

2. The middle tiffany blue is from our 2nd decade (2012-2022). Members of the bridal entourage were still required to attend, except the principal sponsors.

3. The third one is our most current, post pandemic (2023) in sky blue. Required to attend are the couple and their parents. Members of the entourage are welcome to attend.

WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT

It is difficult to put into photos what Better Days EventWorks is all about. More difficult is to advertise the work that we do. For the photographer, for the videographer, for the florist, for the stylist, for the performers, for the hair and makeup artists, it is very easy because there are the visuals. For us, it is more complicated than just showing photos to prospective clients.

I was once asked by a speaker in a seminar on Advance Wedding Planning what it is I am selling in my business as a wedding planner.

It is peace of mind . . .

Showing you here a clip from our most recent event. Please wait for 2:06 of the video time.

This is the only proof that we did our job well and that we are the best at what we do. No picture or video could ever give justice to the work that we do. Only this, the words from our bride.

We meet and discuss the needs and wants of the clients. We deal with the various suppliers suppliers, get quotations and do the detailing. We manage guests to the event. We help oversee the banquet. We establish timelines and schedules. Better Days EventWorks is the glue that binds all the elements and details as one whole masterpiece.

We give our all to make every event a succees. We are on top of everything. We leave no stone unturned. We are with our clients way before, during and after their event. On their special day, we are physically with them from the preparations, dress-up, to the ceremony down to the reception and program.

We offer trust and confidence to our clients and suppliers. Peace of mind is what we are selling. When you have Better Days EventWorks as your event manager, planner, coordinator, organizer, you will have the special day you have hoped and prayed for and more. We simply make YOUR DAY BETTER than the rest.

SPECIAL CREDIT to Cinesur Films for the video clip. You guys never cease to amaze us with your talent. You make every video special, always different from your last. Always, the Moments Forever . . .

Better Days EventWorks - Shane and Clara.mp4

UPDATED RATES

Part of our event management is to secure bookings for our clients. We make sure to request for the current rates of our event partners.

TO OUR EVENT PARTNERS | SUPPLIERS | VENDORS

Please bear with us when we always request for your rates. Medjo makulit, but better to be sure.

There are times when we only want to be updated for our record and filing purposes and for future referrals.

Whenever it is for a booking, we always furnish our clients with the correct information on your rates.