As we showed you in Part 1 of our “Where To Say I Do In PH: Wedding Destinations For Balikbayans” special, saying your “I dos” in the Philippines also gives you a lot of flexibility in planning your wedding. The 7,107 islands in the archipelago are filled with possibilities—from a grand church wedding in the heart of the city, to an intimate beach wedding at sunset, and many other options in between.
But let’s admit it: When we think of PH destination weddings, beach weddings immediately come to mind. So for the second part of our wedding destinations story, we highlight more beach destinations you can fly your wedding party to, as well as some useful wedding planning tips.
Palawan
Palawan’s beauty is world-renowned, and areas like El Nido, Coron, and Puerto Princesa attract tourists from all over the globe. So if you’ve always dreamed of getting married on a private island, a destination wedding in Palawan can turn that dream to reality.
El Nido Resorts is a group of four private island resorts that have 50 accommodations each for guests. They can not only plan a solemn and intimate wedding ceremony, but also arrange activities to extend the celebration. Meanwhile, resorts like Club Paradise and Two Seasons Island Resort in Coron are also on their own island and require a minimum two-night stay.
But be prepared to spend at least PHP500,000 for an intimate wedding. The wedding package at Two Seasons Island Resort covers everything the couple needs for the wedding ceremony and reception, the couple’s accommodations at the resort’s Sandbar Bungalow, and a 3D/2N stay in six bungalows with a minimum of two guests per room. Fees for the buffet setup are dependent on the menu and number of guests. All this is on top of other wedding expenses like airfare, bride and groom’s attire, hair and makeup, and more.
Palawan also has options that don’t involve air or sea travel to private islands. Astoria Resort and Princesa Garden Island Resort in Puerto Princesa are great venues for both grand and intimate weddings. There are also resorts in other municipalities like Sabang and San Vicente, but getting there may require a minimum two-hour drive from Puerto Princesa.
For those that require a church ceremony, the Two Season Island Resort in Coron has the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, while El Nido has the Lagen Island Chapel perfect for very intimate weddings. Those tying the knot in Puerto Princesa may do so at San Pedro Parish.
Wherever you decide to hold your wedding in Palawan, transportation may be a big consideration for your guests. Think of factors like sudden weather and wind changes affecting flight schedules (or worse, causing cancellations), seasickness when traveling to the private islands, or car-sickness on long drives, especially if you have many children or elderly in your guest list.
As for suppliers, while it’s certainly possible to fly them in from Manila, you can be smart about it. “Hire lights and sounds from suppliers who are local to the area since they have the bulkiest equipment to use,” advises Lobelle Magbitang of Events by Lobelle, a Manila-based wedding planning service. “Destination weddings make it hard to have a Plan B for when the couple, guests, or suppliers forget things.”
It would be worth exploring suppliers like Celebracion Weddings and Events for wedding planning, CM Studio Palawan for photography, and Tanya Ong for makeup, all of whom are based in Puerto Princesa.
Boracay
White-sand beaches and gorgeous sunsets have given Boracay worldwide acclaim, so if you have many non-Filipinos in your guest list, it may be worth introducing them to the Philippines by holding your wedding in Boracay.
If you require a Church ceremony, take note that the island has only one Catholic church: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, which can accommodate 100 guests.
Certain restrictions have been imposed since Boracay was rehabilitated and reopened in 2018, and as a result, not all resorts are able to offer beachfront wedding ceremonies. Only those who have private beach areas—such as Shangri-La Boracay, Movenpick Boracay, and Crimson Resort and Spa—are able to do so, and these resorts also have ready-made wedding packages.
Still, the famed Boracay sunset is a picturesque backdrop to your wedding, even if you don’t feel the sand beneath your feet as you say your vows. You can have a rustic-themed wedding at Discovery Shores Boracay, which has an elevated view of the white-sand beach. The Lind similarly has indoor venues that open up to a view of the sea, and an infinity pool deck so you can take in the ocean air during your wedding festivities.
There is a wide range of hotels and resorts to choose from in many different areas of the island, so you can narrow down your choices by considering the size of your guest list and the hotel’s amenities instead.
Given the restrictions the island has imposed, it’s best to source local suppliers who are sure to comply with those regulations. Boracay-based photographers Donnie Magbanua and Enrico Nepomuceno, makeup artists Ella Capistrano Orea and Madge Lejano of Makeup Studio Boracay, and wedding coordinators Amanda Tirol and JML Wedding Planning and Events all have first-hand experience in working with the new rules.
Cebu
Cebu has its fair share of resorts ideal for a beach wedding, too. Shangri-La Mactan, Movenpick Mactan, and Crimson Resort Mactan are all near the Mactan International Airport, making these venues easily accessible to guests and suppliers flying in.
Cross the bridge to get to Cebu City, and your options expand greatly. You can choose a venue based on the size of your celebration and your wedding theme. You can hold a garden wedding at Chateau de Busay in Lahug, or dress up event spaces like Paradise Garden Events Pavilion and Oakridge Pavilion to bring your theme to life.
Hotel venues like Marco Polo Plaza, Radisson Blu, and Waterfront Hotel and Casino come with their own wedding packages, which could be helpful if you want just one contact person as you plan your celebration while away from PH.
There are also many beautiful churches in Cebu City where you can say “I do,” from the historic Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, to the elegantly minimalistic Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod, to the bright and airy Sacred Heart Parish.
Aside from turning your dream wedding to a reality, Cebu-based wedding coordinators Joyful Weddings and NM Events Planners can also help you source many local suppliers, especially caterers that can provide all of the best food that the Queen City of the South has to offer (including lechon, of course!).
Many talented fashion designers also call Cebu home, among them Cary Santiago, Jun Escario, Ronald Enrico, and more. Makeup artists like Eunice Enrera, Nikko dela Peña, and Shyra Qyumbi can complete your bridal look.
The special moments of your big day can be captured through the lens of Cebuano photographers Christian Toledo and Joseph Requerme, and the teams behind Rock Paper Scissors Studios and Rainbowfish Studios.
Bohol
Panglao Island in Bohol, which is a 1.5-hour flight away from Manila or a two-hour boat ride from Cebu, is also a good option for couples who want a beach wedding. The Bellevue Resort has a luxury view deck that offers a 360-degree landscape view of the island, an ocean view deck, a vast garden, and a private beach strip, letting you explore different themes in a single venue.
For its part, South Palms Resort has a 1km stretch of white sand beach that is exclusive to its guests. “I liked the exclusivity that it gave, plus the privacy that it provided us and our guests,” says Kriztel, whose wedding at the resort had 70-80 guests.
You also have many options for a church ceremony, as Bohol is known for its old stone churches. Panglao Island has Panglao Church and Dauis Church, while Tagbilaran City has the historic Baclayon Parish and Tagbilaran Cathedral.
While the venue may customize their services according to your needs, you may still have to bring in suppliers from elsewhere. This was Kriztel’s experience, as she recounts, “For the alcohol, we had to ship some drinks from Cebu, since the stuff we wanted weren’t available locally.” It helps to coordinate these details with the resort or your wedding organizer.
Some Bohol-based suppliers are Headmasters Philippines for hair and makeup, wedding planner Joyce Bella, and photographers Ford Manlupig and Vhince Chiu.
FINAL TIPS
No matter the destination you choose, planning a destination wedding in the Philippines may come with special considerations when you’re based abroad. Keep these tips in mind.
Choose suppliers who can work with your time difference. Kyla points out that the time difference makes it difficult to negotiate and finalize terms with suppliers. “I made it a point to pick suppliers who I found were very easy to talk to and work with. If they did not reply to me within two days, I took it as a sign that they might be harder to work with in the long run since I’ll be working with them from overseas.”
Plan ahead and plan as a team. Pia says, “This relieves couples from the pressure of booking everything all at once. It’s beneficial both mentally and financially, since you would have time to allocate enough funds.” Planning ahead also helps you get access to better deals, as prices tend to increase when you book close to your wedding date.
Have a representative. In Kyla’s experience, she couldn’t have planned her wedding without the help of her parents. “If you can, it would help to have a family member or friend from Manila to help you do the things you can’t from far away.”
Maximize the time you have at your chosen destination. The wedding celebration doesn’t have to be just a one-day event. “Make sure that they all have accommodations to consider and activities to look forward to,” Lauren suggests, as her own wedding festivities lasted all weekend.
