After almost 7 years, we've finally decided to tie the knot - and twice, too!
We're celebrating the Hindu wedding in India on the 27th of March and will have a Catholic ceremony in the Philippines on the 3rd of April. We would love to have you come and celebrate with us.
For those who'll be making the trek, we hope this site will give you enough details. Neither one of us, unfortunately, is as organized as we'd like. Thankfully, our families have taken the lead on this and we're extremely grateful!!
For those who'll be joining us in spirit, you will certainly be missed! We'll make sure to make it a year-long celebration so that we can enjoy this moment together in one form or another.
Request: We would really appreciate it if you could let us know if you can join us! Formal invitations will make it we promise, but until then, please post a note (via comment link below) to let us know either way!!
The Mussoorie Wedding
We'll have a party on the evening of March 26th, starting at 7:30 PM (2009, of course).
Weather: This is a funny time for Mussoorie; the days should be pleasant to slightly chilly, while the evenings and mornings will probably be chilly. Bring some warm clothes.
There is also some chance of rain, so it might be useful to have umbrellas, or raincoats.
The wedding ceremony: starts at 12:30 PM on March 27th. Snacks will be served, followed by lunch at 2:00 PM.
Both the above will be at the Carlton's Plaisance:
The Library Bazaar, which is also known as the Gandhi Chowk, is one of the two points at which you enter Mussoorie. The Plaisance is 2 Km from the Library - take the road towards Happy Valley, or just ask for directions to the L.B.S.N. Academy (the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy) - the Plaisance will be on your right before you hit the Academy.
The attire: Formal compared to the beach wedding. But feel free to put your own interpretation on that. Western or traditional Indian attire are both welcome, as are Samurai wedding robes.
The food: Let us know if you have any restrictions; vegetarians will of course not have any problems. But if you're a beef-only person, you're probably out of luck.
The Boracay Wedding
Boracay is one of the most amazing places in the Philippines - you're sure to fall in love as soon as you catch sight of the clear blue waters and sugar-white sand.We will have a small get-together in Boracay the night before the wedding, April 2nd, starting at 530pm at the White House Beach Resort (Station 1) - pizza, beer, barbecue - to start off the festivities. Nothing formal at all - in fact, would encourage folks to wear whatevery they'd be most comfortable chilling in by the beach at night.
The Catholic ceremony will be held at the Holy Rosary Church at 3pm on April 3rd and will immediately be followed by cocktails and dinner at the Discovery Shores Boracay Resort & Spa. You certainly will have time to run back to your respective hotels to change between the wedding and the reception!
The motif: emerald green and ocean blue
The attire: beach formal -- best description pulled from the net so far?
"Beach formal would most likely be a nice modest sarong or sundress, worn with a nice scarf over the shoulders or a sheer type shawl for a woman, and a button down or pull over shirt with dockers or khakis for a man. Think of dressed down, country club, resort type, after dinner casual attire. And that is about the same thing as beach formal. Simply put; No ragged, stained or holey clothes. Keep it clean and neat. Cover the body modestly, out of respect for the sacred occasion, regardless of how informal the ceremony may be."
The food: We will have a nice selection of items that will be served during the reception. However, if you have any dietary restrictions, certainly please let us know so we can make sure you'll have more than enough to eat when you're there!
WARNING: March and April are some of the hottest months in the Philippines. It can easily get up to 40 Celsius (over 100 Fahrenheit) so dress accordingly, bring loads of sunblock, and stay hydrated!!
Getting To Mussoorie
By Air : Indian Airlines connects Jolly Grant Airport, 24 km from Dehradun, with Delhi. Use taxis to get to/ from the airports. Let Vikram know if you'd like help booking your trains or taxis.
From DehraDun, you have about a 1 - 1:30 hour drive to get to Mussoorie.
By Train:
The Ruizes and I are taking the train from Delhi to Mussoorie, and are taking cabs on the way back.
You have to take the train from Delhi to Dehradun, which is 34 Kms. from Mussoorie.
My favorite train is the Shatabdi. The seats are very comfy, recline quite far, and you get served good food during the journey.
Other options are:
- The Jan Shatabdi
- The Mussoorie Express
The Jan Shatabdi:
The Mussoorie Express:
- leaves Delhi at 9:15 PM, reaches DehraDun around 8 AM; this railway station is quite dirty
- leaves DehraDun around 9:30 PM, reaches Delhi at 8 AM (but I hear that this train is usually very late, generally up to a couple of hours off its schedule); this train is clean - but the station it reaches is quite dirty
The Indian Railway website is www.indiarail.gov.in. It isn't the easiest site to navigate - let me know if I can help get you your tickets.
By Car:
You can always take a taxi (I wouldn't recommend driving). It should take about 5 - 8 hours, depending on traffic. I can help get this set up for you.
Getting To Boracay
Boracay is one of the 7,100 islands in the Philippines and is located about an hour's flight away from Manila, the capital. How to get there - Some folks say you can take a ferry from Manila to Boracay but I believe it takes at least 10 hours or so to get there that way. Most efficient way - fly from Manila to Boracay! It only takes an hour and multiple carriers have hourly flights that start as early as 530am daily.
Available Airlines - Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Zest Air are the 3 biggest domestic airlines, in order. You can purchase tickets online, but prices should be around $100 to $150 roundtrip.
Philippine Airlines: http://www.philippineairlines.com/
Cebu Pacific: http://www.cebupacificair.com/
Zest Airways: http://www.asianspirit.com/
NOTE: Take the flight to Caticlan rather than Calibo if you can. Caticlan has a smaller airport but is closer to Boracay. Calibo will add another 3-4 hours to your trip to get to Boracay. Be sure to check, however, that the Caticlan plane (smaller) can handle your luggage. Typically, they give you a 10kg allowance. Anything higher than that, and you'll have to (1) notify the airline and (2) pay an extra fee. I suggest you travel light =) If you're coming into the Philippines from another country, Philippine Airlines will typically have flights that can service your route. However, if you find that there are no direct routes, you can fly into Singapore, Tokyo, or Hong Kong then book a forwarding flight into Manila. We also found this amazing website that seems to have better fares than the usual (orbitz, cheaptickets) - http://flights.airlinecodes.co.uk/search.php?action=search#. It will scroll through several ticket sites and return the applicable routes by site / price.
Getting to Boracay from the Airport - The only way to get to Boracay is by riding a bangka in Caticlan. If you are flying into Calibo, you'll have to take a 1-2 hour ride from the Calibo airport to Caticlan, then take a bangka ride from there.
Your hotel stay may include the bangka ride from Caticlan to Boracay so make sure to check. If not, please email Amanda Tirol (amandatirol@yahoo.com), our awesome Boracay wedding coordinator, and she can make the necessary arrangements. Roundtrip tickets should be between $15 to $20. Also, if you need a ride from Calibo to Caticlan, you can also course your questions through to Amanda.
Mussoorie, Queen Of The Hills
Some photographs of the Plaisance in Mussoorie, where my parents live. The wedding will be held at the Plaisance.
These are photos of the Plaisance in winter (around February). Yes, be ready for the cold there. But most probably, it will be warm during the day, under the sun.
And some photos of the Plaisance when it isn't snowing. We won't see any snow at the end of March, but it will still be a little chilly.
Some good resources with information on Mussoorie:
The Uttaranchal official guide - for a quick overview
If you only have a short time in Mussoorie, I'd recommend doing the following:
- Walk along the Mall road. Lots of shopping here
- Visit the Kempty Falls
- Check out the Sir George Everest House - where India's first Surveyor-General had his lab/ house. Guess which mountain is named after him?
- Eat Paranthas at the Chaar Dukaan (literally translated, the 'Four Shops') in Sister's Bazaar
- Visit Surkhunda Devi, and Dhanaulti. The drive reminds me of some parts of Italian Switzerland
Boracay - Beach Paradise
We won't attempt to recreate the many sites that describe Boracay and its hot spots, but here are just a few things to consider:
1 - Discovery Shores is in Station 1 (you'll learn more about Boracay's 3 stations by exploring the added links)
2 - If you're interested in staying in Discovery, then please send a note to Amanda (amandatirol@yahoo.com). We have discounted rates (significantly lower than rates published on their website). She can send you the rates via email.
3 - The Holy Rosary Church is closest to Willy's and is about a 10-min walk from Discovery Shores
4 - Bangkas dock closest to Station 3 and is one of the most crowded of the stations. Has great hotel deals, though!
5 - Amanda might be able to get you good deals from these hotels: The White House, Residencia de Tirol, and Seawind so make sure to check back with her (amandatirol@yahoo.com)
6 - Don't forget to grab a few fresh fruit shakes from Jonah's!
1 - Discovery Shores is in Station 1 (you'll learn more about Boracay's 3 stations by exploring the added links)
2 - If you're interested in staying in Discovery, then please send a note to Amanda (amandatirol@yahoo.com). We have discounted rates (significantly lower than rates published on their website). She can send you the rates via email.
3 - The Holy Rosary Church is closest to Willy's and is about a 10-min walk from Discovery Shores
4 - Bangkas dock closest to Station 3 and is one of the most crowded of the stations. Has great hotel deals, though!
5 - Amanda might be able to get you good deals from these hotels: The White House, Residencia de Tirol, and Seawind so make sure to check back with her (amandatirol@yahoo.com)
6 - Don't forget to grab a few fresh fruit shakes from Jonah's!
Some websites and so many more if you search boracay in kosmix.com - http://www.kosmix.com/topic/boracay
http://www.smarttravelasia.com/boracay.htm
Delhi and Agra
I'm switching this section around, to talk about Delhi and Agra. Almost everyone thinking of going to India for the first time is also thinking of visiting the Taj Mahal, which is in Agra.
Starting with Delhi first - I'm not as conscientious as Carina, and am going to use Wikipedia as my crutch. The Delhi page is very detailed.
- Weather-wise, Delhi will be hot when you arrive
- I kid you not, you are in for an epicurean journey the likes of which you may have never before experienced. Definitely try out:
- Kareem's. There are two locations, one in Old Delhi near the Jama Masjid, and one closer to where most of us will be staying. For those familiar with Shalimar in the bay area..... I'm really sorry, but after Kareem's, you'll weep with joy, and angels will sing over you. Shalimar will never again taste as good
- Salim's, if you are staying near the Greater Kailash regions in New Delhi. Really good Tandoori Chicken!
- Sagar Ratna for South Indian food. They are a chain, with restaurants everywhere
- You must try out Indian Chinese food. You could also wait till you get to Mussoorie, to try out this amazing cuisine. In Mussoorie, I'd recommend the Tavern restaurant
- There are a lot of places to see in Delhi. A small sampling -
- The IIT campus. Hey, I have to talk about my old school :)
- The Jama Masjid - Asia's largest mosque
- The Red Fort
- Humayun's Tomb (Humayun was one of the mughal emperors, and had a good eye for architecture and the arts)
- The Raj Ghat - memorial to Mahatma Gandhi
To see the Taj Mahal, and Agra, you should set aside one full day. I'd recommend renting a cab for the day (let me know if you'd like help). Yoshi, Emil, the Ruizes and I are taking a day to visit the Taj, you're welcome to join.
About Manila & The Philippines
If you're flying in from overseas, you'll have to land in Manila before taking a short flight out to Boracay. Manila is a very densely populated, traffic-ridden, crazy place - but if you're into fantastic food, great shopping (bargains + luxury), and loads of friendly people, this is the place for you.
A few key things to know before you go out there -
1 - Everyone understands English and probably 95% can speak it in varying levels of eloquence
2 - Filipinos are extremely friendly and will go out of their way to help you so don't be afraid to ask questions!
3 - Although progressive, it is an emerging country so try to stay in popular and populated areas and keep a watch out for your things at all times
4 - Tipping is accepted but 5% over your bill should be sufficient
5 - 80-85% of Filipinos are Catholic (and practicing). Although the wedding will happen before the Lenten Week (April 6th to the 12th), I suspect the city will be crowded because of the summer break and holidays taken in anticipation of Holy Week.
If you do decide to stay in Manila during Holy Week, stores and restaurants will have shorter hours from Good Friday through Easter Sunday (10th to the 12th of April). Also, you might catch a few fervent practitioners with thorn-crowns on their heads or carrying large wooden crosses. There are a few who choose to worship in this manner - take pictures, by all means, but please remain respectful at all times.
And with that - if you only have a spare night or two, here are my recommendations for lodging, food, and activities:
Hotels - stay in Makati City! Prices aren't the cheapest, but hotels are comfortable and close to the best restaurants and shopping areas. Three spots to choose from:
(1) Manila Peninsula - http://www.peninsula.com/
(2) Makati Shangri-la - www.shangri-la.com/en/property/manila/makatishangrila
(3) The Renaissance Hotel - www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mnlnw-renaissance-makati-city-hotel-manila/ (if you have marriot points, a night's stay would cost you only 20,000 points!)
Transportation - I wouldn't recommend that you drive in Manila - traffic can get crazy plus normal traffic rules aren't exactly enforced. To get to your hotel from the airport, contact your respective hotels and get the transfer arranged before you land. Otherwise, get a limo / taxi from one of the official companies at the airport.
If you're staying in one of the hotels above, you shouldn't need a car (and really wouldn't want to drive one) while you're there. Three big malls - Greenbelt, Glorieta, and Rustan's - are located within walking distance of the hotels above and you can spend days getting lost in there!
If you're feeling adventureous (and ONLY if you have a local with you), you can try riding a jeepney (a Filipino "bus")!
Activities - shopping, shopping, shopping! When you're done with that and are willing to take a 30-45 min drive to inner Manila, check out Chinatown and Intramuros with Carlos Celdran (http://celdrantours.blogspot.com/2007/01/tours-tours-tours.html). He'll give you a walking tour of some of the oldest parts of Manila (and I believe the one in Chinatown is a food tour, too!) - I've been on one tour and would love to do all of them - he's extremely eloquent, funny, and entertaining. If he was my history teacher, I'd have gotten better grades!!!
If you do find yourselves in Intramuros - don't forget to visit the San Agustin Church and the Manila Cathedral - tourist favorites.
If you're in town for longer and are interested in playing a round (or two!) of golf, definitely send me a note. There are many championship courses within a few hours drive of Manila. People from all over Southeast Asia travel to the Philippines just to play so it would be a shame if you missed it!! Email me directly with your preferred times and I can arrange the flights for you: carina_ruiz@yahoo.com
For the bargain shoppers, don't forget to travel to Greenhills (http://www.greenhills.com.ph/)! It's a 20-30min car-ride north of Makati (or maybe double that with traffic) but it's worth the trip. Whether you're interested in authentic or "copied" goods, no one can match their prices (which are all negotiable). They sell everything from knick-knacks to south sea pearls, designer bags to complete knock-offs, electronics - you name it, they have it.
Food -
All the malls have great restaurants, but here are a few that you can try:
1 - Razon's halo-halo (http://www.backpackingphilippines.com/2007/04/razons-halo-halo-and-pancit-luglug.html) - Halo-halo is a Filipino dessert that's perfect for the summer weather - and Razon's is the absolute best! I don't believe there's a stand-alone Razon's store, but most of the mall's foodcourts should have it. If you catch sight of one, make sure to stop by and order their halo-halo!
2 - Gerry's grill (www.gerrysgrill.com/ph/) - Filipinos make awesome grilled food. Home-cooked grilled food is still the best, but Gerry's food comes as a close second. Don't leave without trying their Adobong Kangkong (kangkong in soy sauce and garlic) and Inihaw na Liempo (grilled pork) - yum!!
3 - Le Souffle (www.lesouffle.com.ph/) - a local favorite for fine dining.
4 - Max Fried Chicken (www.maxschicken.com/) - I love their half-spring chicken - the size is perfect for a nice meal. I always make it a point to visit whenever I'm in town - I love their chicken!
Loads and loads of restaurants and can give you recommendations if you prefer authentic and fancy Chinese, Japanese, Malay, Indian, and Thai food!!
A few key things to know before you go out there -
1 - Everyone understands English and probably 95% can speak it in varying levels of eloquence
2 - Filipinos are extremely friendly and will go out of their way to help you so don't be afraid to ask questions!
3 - Although progressive, it is an emerging country so try to stay in popular and populated areas and keep a watch out for your things at all times
4 - Tipping is accepted but 5% over your bill should be sufficient
5 - 80-85% of Filipinos are Catholic (and practicing). Although the wedding will happen before the Lenten Week (April 6th to the 12th), I suspect the city will be crowded because of the summer break and holidays taken in anticipation of Holy Week.
If you do decide to stay in Manila during Holy Week, stores and restaurants will have shorter hours from Good Friday through Easter Sunday (10th to the 12th of April). Also, you might catch a few fervent practitioners with thorn-crowns on their heads or carrying large wooden crosses. There are a few who choose to worship in this manner - take pictures, by all means, but please remain respectful at all times.
And with that - if you only have a spare night or two, here are my recommendations for lodging, food, and activities:
Hotels - stay in Makati City! Prices aren't the cheapest, but hotels are comfortable and close to the best restaurants and shopping areas. Three spots to choose from:
(1) Manila Peninsula - http://www.peninsula.com/
(2) Makati Shangri-la - www.shangri-la.com/en/property/manila/makatishangrila
(3) The Renaissance Hotel - www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mnlnw-renaissance-makati-city-hotel-manila/ (if you have marriot points, a night's stay would cost you only 20,000 points!)
Transportation - I wouldn't recommend that you drive in Manila - traffic can get crazy plus normal traffic rules aren't exactly enforced. To get to your hotel from the airport, contact your respective hotels and get the transfer arranged before you land. Otherwise, get a limo / taxi from one of the official companies at the airport.
If you're staying in one of the hotels above, you shouldn't need a car (and really wouldn't want to drive one) while you're there. Three big malls - Greenbelt, Glorieta, and Rustan's - are located within walking distance of the hotels above and you can spend days getting lost in there!
If you're feeling adventureous (and ONLY if you have a local with you), you can try riding a jeepney (a Filipino "bus")!
Activities - shopping, shopping, shopping! When you're done with that and are willing to take a 30-45 min drive to inner Manila, check out Chinatown and Intramuros with Carlos Celdran (http://celdrantours.blogspot.com/2007/01/tours-tours-tours.html). He'll give you a walking tour of some of the oldest parts of Manila (and I believe the one in Chinatown is a food tour, too!) - I've been on one tour and would love to do all of them - he's extremely eloquent, funny, and entertaining. If he was my history teacher, I'd have gotten better grades!!!
If you do find yourselves in Intramuros - don't forget to visit the San Agustin Church and the Manila Cathedral - tourist favorites.
If you're in town for longer and are interested in playing a round (or two!) of golf, definitely send me a note. There are many championship courses within a few hours drive of Manila. People from all over Southeast Asia travel to the Philippines just to play so it would be a shame if you missed it!! Email me directly with your preferred times and I can arrange the flights for you: carina_ruiz@yahoo.com
For the bargain shoppers, don't forget to travel to Greenhills (http://www.greenhills.com.ph/)! It's a 20-30min car-ride north of Makati (or maybe double that with traffic) but it's worth the trip. Whether you're interested in authentic or "copied" goods, no one can match their prices (which are all negotiable). They sell everything from knick-knacks to south sea pearls, designer bags to complete knock-offs, electronics - you name it, they have it.
Food -
All the malls have great restaurants, but here are a few that you can try:
1 - Razon's halo-halo (http://www.backpackingphilippines.com/2007/04/razons-halo-halo-and-pancit-luglug.html) - Halo-halo is a Filipino dessert that's perfect for the summer weather - and Razon's is the absolute best! I don't believe there's a stand-alone Razon's store, but most of the mall's foodcourts should have it. If you catch sight of one, make sure to stop by and order their halo-halo!
2 - Gerry's grill (www.gerrysgrill.com/ph/) - Filipinos make awesome grilled food. Home-cooked grilled food is still the best, but Gerry's food comes as a close second. Don't leave without trying their Adobong Kangkong (kangkong in soy sauce and garlic) and Inihaw na Liempo (grilled pork) - yum!!
3 - Le Souffle (www.lesouffle.com.ph/) - a local favorite for fine dining.
4 - Max Fried Chicken (www.maxschicken.com/) - I love their half-spring chicken - the size is perfect for a nice meal. I always make it a point to visit whenever I'm in town - I love their chicken!
Loads and loads of restaurants and can give you recommendations if you prefer authentic and fancy Chinese, Japanese, Malay, Indian, and Thai food!!
Acknowledgements & Gifts
So many people to thank!
First off - huge thanks to our families! Absolutely none of this could have ever happened if not for the attentiveness of our moms (Anu Maa and Mama Carrie), the impeccable taste of our sisters (Anna and Ate Jazz), the silent support of our brothers (Josh, Rahul, and Kuya Dino), and the immense patience of our dads, (Ajit Daa and Papa Godo) - thanks!!!!
Invitation Art - Larsen Garma
Larsen was gracious enough to create two amazing pictures - one of a Filipino groom and another of an Indian bride - for the invitation, after my insistent begging. He is probably one of the most gifted artists I know. We only exchanged a few emails and yet he captured the mood and the detail that I had intented. Vik and I are both ecstatic to have an original!!!!!
Invitation Design - Margaux Anel-Tiangco 
First off - huge thanks to our families! Absolutely none of this could have ever happened if not for the attentiveness of our moms (Anu Maa and Mama Carrie), the impeccable taste of our sisters (Anna and Ate Jazz), the silent support of our brothers (Josh, Rahul, and Kuya Dino), and the immense patience of our dads, (Ajit Daa and Papa Godo) - thanks!!!!
Invitation Art - Larsen Garma
Larsen was gracious enough to create two amazing pictures - one of a Filipino groom and another of an Indian bride - for the invitation, after my insistent begging. He is probably one of the most gifted artists I know. We only exchanged a few emails and yet he captured the mood and the detail that I had intented. Vik and I are both ecstatic to have an original!!!!!
Invitation Design - Margaux Anel-Tiangco Dra. Margaux (Margorgeous to her friends) has an awesome eye for detail. As soon as we received the artwork from Larsen, I quickly sent her a note to ask if we could work on the design together -- and she accepted immediately (on her birthday!!!!) - thanks!!! It only took her a few hours to work on it - check it out! I absolutley love it!!
Boracay Wedding Coordinator - Amanda Tirol
Any wedding in Boracay should definitely go through her - she knows all the details and definitely has the capability and quick sense to make things happen. Thanks so much, Amanda!!
http://www.boracayweddings.com.ph/boracay.html
Philippines Photographers - Mimi & Karl
They are definitely the best wedding photographers in the Philippines! Plus, anyone who can appreciate Vikram's Chuck Norris jokes certainly gets high-scores in our books!!
Wedding Gown Designer - Veluz
Any dress would look horrible on me, but Veluz's design certainly made me feel like I had a fighting chance =) Thanks, Veluz and Nico, for making time for us in December what with all the 40+ weddings you had to work on!!!!
http://veluzreyes.blogspot.com/
GIFT REGISTRY?!
We are very grateful for all your wishes, specially for those who are traveling to the out-of-the-way locations we picked. We are perfectly happy with just the wishes. However, we have been repeatedly reminded that we need a registry, so here it is....
Despite Carina's incompetence in topics related to "Gift Registries", we have finally made progress on the Registry. My initial choice was to have a pool for a Maserati... rejected. As a second choice, I spent 2 hours coming up with (what I believed was a) very reasonable and comprehensive list of things we could do with.... denied again. Apparently, game consoles, BMW M3 steering wheels, Xbox Live memberships and a fridge-equipped la-z-boy were not good ideas.
To make it easier, we're just putting down a few places we could go and buy stuff from. We don't have an actual list of items in those places, just gift cards. Hopefully this makes it more convenient for everyone. And here they are...
You could address these to:
Thank you!
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