Wedding Reception at the Pergola [Happy Details]

Now that we have finally posted about our happy day, it's time to talk about the details. If you've been following this blog since we got engaged, you probably noticed that though we had a ton of stories to tell, we didn't really post about the specifics. That's because we chose to keep it all to ourselves so our wedding could still have the element of surprise. Well, we can talk about everything now, yay! p.s. Please read our note about suppliers.

Like the church, the reception venue was one of the things that we covered at length in this blog. It's the second most important part of the wedding, and it took a lot of time and effort to pin down. We chose the Pergola, mainly because it was a blank canvass, it fit our budget, it was modern and bright, and it had amenities we liked. [See these past posts for details: Venue Hunting in Roxas Boulevard, Reception Venue - Check!]

The Pergola with our entourage outside waiting to do their grand entrance (thanks Noel for the pic!)

Now is the time to talk about our experience with them before, during, and after the wedding. The only advice we can tell other couples considering the Pergola as a wedding venue is to ask every single question there is that could be asked regarding the reception. Be specific, especially when it comes to lights and sounds. We chose the venue-only package for flexibility. It included use of the venue for five hours plus four hours ingress time. The only add-on we got was additional colored LED par lights to keep things from looking too flat. However, we mistakenly assumed that they would be able to handle all our sound requirements. The thing is, we hired a band for the wedding, and we didn't really know that they would have specific sound requirements, which required additional fees with the Pergola. The venue-only package came with basic a sound system, but a band just required more. After weighing things with our coordinator, we decided on hiring a separate sound supplier to make things easier. 

We actually have no complaints whatsoever about the Pergola's service. They were very easy to talk to and they replied promptly to all our emails. Our coordinator also had no trouble working with them. The reception went smoothly. The Pergola people, Ms. Lynn and Noel, were there looking after things the entire time. Noel even took pictures of the place before anyone else got there, as well as behind-the-scenes pictures during the event, which we're really grateful for. 

The place looked great with our caterer's styling and the additional lights. Our guests and suppliers were also able to make full use of the place's different areas. People were hanging out in the cocktail area; the buffet area was spacious so nobody felt crowded while getting food; the trellis was used by our photographers, coordinators, and the band; and my husband and I were able to get some privacy getting ready before the program in the couple's room. 

Lastly, just remember to be prepared to fork over additional money or let go of your deposit for an extension. We enjoyed ourselves so much with our guests that we extended our reception to one more hour before calling it a night.