R/R: Reception Venue and Caterer: Ibarra's Garden and Catering by Ibarra's

Ibarra's Garden and Catering by Ibarra's
Website:  http://www.ibarraspartyvenues.com.ph/


Peso Power: xxx xxx
Our Rating:  1.5/5

Irish said:  ''I could say a lot of things about this and I would go on for a day so I'll just highlight the those that angered me the most (yes, I came to that extent).  I was honestly quite disappointed when I finally met the team that assisted us from the time of the food tasting to the second visit/ocular up until the reception itself because during the course of email exchanges my husband and I had with them they sounded all nice (and who would have thought that we are in for some serious trouble if all you see from their website are photos of happy couples and guests and a perfectly executed wedding reception?).  I am going to start with their physical location which is kind of a sorrow for someone who could not find a decent place to park his car.  The parking space was well, small and the next thing one could have for a space is the busy jeepney-laden street of Padre Faura.  Second, their people.  I was particularly irked about their banquet/sales specialist/staff or whatever they call themselves for not having the heart and ears to listen to our preferences.  I was particularly very floored when they gave us the wrong cake design when in fact in our exchange of gazillion emails we have specifically told them what we want.  Third was their non-compliance.  It was included in the package that they should provide fifteen flower centerpieces but all I saw was the huge one in our table and the ones at the buffet (which doesn't count as a centerpiece).  Good thing there were the ones that were made by our florist.  Like what I have said, you'll probably get tired of reading this if I continue on.  However if there is one thing positive I can cite, it was the buffet spread and the food in general which have had nice compliments from our guests.  Ask me if they have my two thumbs up?  Well I'd rather have my fingers cut.''  <ouch!>

Noel said:  ''This place is a no no.  If there was one thing I regret on my wedding, that was choosing this place over the venues we went to at Intramuros.  From the staff, to the place, to the way how they handled our wedding,  our money was not worth it.'' 

A Gathering in the Garden

I was already back in Saudi when Noel and Mama looked for possible reception venues.  We thought that it would be a lot more convenient for the guests if we get a place near UST Church.  After going to three venues in Intramuros (Patio Victoria, which he said won’t be a nice place because it’s outdoors and we have a morning wedding; another venue which has a little parking space and Tamayo’s which unfortunately was already booked for December 22, 2012), they went to this place in Ermita called Ibarra’s Garden.

“The place is nice, you’ll like it.”, he said on an SMS message that he sent.  The least that I could do was to turn to Google and check how the place looks like.

Ibarra’s Garden is a “classic antique house built in the 1920s inspired with American Art Deco and a quaint garden converted into an ideal place for social events”.  When I looked at the photos in their website, I thought that it was a great venue considering the number of our guests.  I instantly had this vision that rather than holding the reception on a hall in a hotel somewhere, having a house (literally) for a venue would somehow make our families, relatives and friends feel more comfortable and welcome.

Thanks to Mama who did not have second thoughts and reserved the place right away! :)  I’m excited to see it myself when I go home!