Thursday, July 25, 2013

How to Maximize Your Photobooth Rental

Photobooth has become a regular extravaganza during special occasions especially weddings and birthday parties. It's a great alternative to giving a pre ordered souvenir which we're not sure if the our guests will like or even use.
 
 
Being a fan of photobooths, I rented a photobooth for my daughter's 1st birthday as we want our guests to have a souvenir photo from the party. The rental was good for 2 hours with 30 minutes stop-time option. I decided to rent it only for 2 hours (compared to 3 hours during my son's 1st birthday two years ago) because we're holding the party at a pizza chain and the party reservation is only for 3 hours.

Anyway, when I reviewed the DVD copy of the photos from the party and counted the total prints, I was disappointed that there's only less than 40. That means we paid Php100 for each print and for me I could have bought a really nice souvenir with that amount.
 
From that experience that I came up with a list that I will arm myself with next time we will rent a photobooth service. I want to maximize it; ensure all my guests have at least 1 print each to take home and get the value for my money.

1. Inform your guests in advance (perhaps when you email the invites or through your event invites in FB) that you have hired a photobooth service.

2. Encourage your guests to line up and have their photos taken while waiting for the program or party to start.

3. Get a package with a stop-time option. This is to ensure your guests are with you during the highlight of your event and not lined up for wacky photos.
 
4. Base the hours of rental with your party duration. If your party is at a fastfood chain like Jollibee which is strictly 2 hours only, get a 2-hour package only. In fact, a 1-hour package would probably be OK.

5. Choose a layout of only 3 or 2 photos per print. It would not only make the prints less crowded but would also make the queuing time shorter ergo more photos printed!

 
6. Skip the Customized Backdrop option unless it's free. In one of my kid's events, I just used a generic backdrop of the photobooth provider and it looked just fine. Believe me, your guests will care more on how they look at the photos than what's the print behind them. This could easily save you Php500. 
 
7. Occasionally ask your program host or emcee to announce when the photobooth is still open, especially when there's less people waiting their turn.

8. Come up with a game or contest during the party for the "Wackiest Photo" taken from the photobooth. If you have an LCD projector, flash the photos and let your guests be the judge.


Hope other mommies find this helpful. Have a great time posing!


Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Baptism Ceremony at Christ The King (Greenmeadows)

Christ The King Parish Church at Greenmeadows is one of the most popular christening venues among residents of Quezon City and Pasig City. Aside from it's location which is near Libis where rows of restaurants offer bapstismal reception, Christ The King Church also has a huge parking area.

I would say this church is for parents who can afford a more expensive baptism ceremony. The location of the church itself in the posh Greenmeadows somehow foretells the fee for the ceremony which is pegged at Php600.00 for the first pair of sponsors. Additional sponsor is charged Php50.00 per head. This is for MASS baptism and is held every Sunday at 10 o'clock in the morning only.

For those who wants a solo baptism (which is what I will recommend), there is now a separate room for this called a Baptistry.
 
Back in 2006 when our eldest was baptized at Christ The King, solo baptism was available only to those who can bring their own priest and have the ceremony held on weekdays. We had no choice but to get the mass baptism where the whole ceremony was unorganized and quite in chaos because the officiating priest chose to stand at the altar and have the children brought there for the rites instead of going around. So imagine the horror for those with an army of godparents! The next candidate for baptism was already at the altar while the godparents of the previous child are still trying to make their way back. There was only 1 assistant too and nobody was guiding parents/godparents for the rites and keeping order.

Solo or special baptisms are held Mondays to Sundays except holidays for the fee of Php3,200. They require 50% non-refundable down payment for you to nail the date and time of the ceremony (9:30am, 10:30am, 11:30am, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm).
 
Requirements are as follows:
 
1. Photocopy and Original copies of Registered Birth Certificate
2. Photocopy and Original copies of Marriage Certificate of parents
3. Attire: Baptismal clothes and white cap.
4. Bring your own candle!
 
Church Contact Details:
 
CHRIST THE KING PARISH
Greenmeadows Avenue, Quezon City
Tel. Nos. 633-0280 and 638-4838