Filipinos are always up for family reunions, and a wedding is a great excuse to throw one of the biggest reunions of all!
Being surrounded by family and friends—many of whom may fly to the Philippines just for your wedding—is a great reason to tie the knot in the motherland. And if your other half has a different nationality, it’s a great way to introduce them to our culture.
It’s also much cheaper to get married in the Philippines, compared to where you and your future spouse are based abroad. Sarah shares that it was easier for her non-Filipino husband’s family to fly to the Philippines than it was for her family to renew their US visas. She also says, “In the US, we would have to get separate suppliers for wedding coordination, venue, catering, open bar, floral arrangements. It would have easily cost USD20,000, and that’s not considering our number of guests yet. Unlike in the Philippines, we had all-in-one options.”
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.
That said, KUBO is doing a two-part story on the top wedding destinations in the Philippines. For the first part, we’ll begin with Metro Manila and three destinations that are within driving distance from the PH capital.
Metro Manila
If your wedding dreams include walking down the aisle at a beautiful church, then partying at a glammed-up venue afterwards, Metro Manila presents a wide range of options.
Manila is home to many iconic churches in the Intramuros area, such as the San Agustin Church and the Manila Cathedral. From your ceremony, you can choose from hotels such as The Manila Hotel, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Okada Manila, and Conrad Manila to have the stunning Manila Bay sunset as the backdrop of your reception.
But you don’t have to limit yourself to Old Manila. Santuario de San Antonio at Forbes Park in Makati is a stone’s throw away from Seda Hotel and Shangri-La at the Fort in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, and from many hotels like The Peninsula Manila, Dusit Thani Manila, and Makati Shangri-La in the Makati CBD.
Tying the knot in Santuario de San Jose in Greenhills, San Juan also gives you many nearby options for your reception, among them venues like Oasis Manila and Greenlounge Events Place, and hotels like Marco Polo Hotel and EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in the Ortigas area.
While the proximity of the church to the reception venue is certainly good to consider, it would also be good to look at the venue’s proximity to the airport if you have a good number of guests flying in. Manila Marriott Hotel is less than 1km away from NAIA and its Grand Ballroom can accommodate as many as 3,700 guests! Its team of Marriott Certified Wedding Planners are also equipped to coordinate all types of weddings.
Metro Manila isn’t just bursting with venue options, it is also home to most of the wedding suppliers in the Philippines. That makes it very convenient to tie the knot here because you won’t have to worry about suppliers charging out of town fees.
Coordinators like Christine Ong-Te Events and Day One Project can help with the nitty-gritty details of planning your wedding and building your dream team of suppliers. Photographers Pat Dy and Jaja Samaniego can capture your big day with stunning photographs, while Nice Print Photography has both photo and video services that are the favorite of Pinoy celebrities.
Having your glam team in the metro also makes it easy to get all dolled up. Makeup artists like Chinky Tanjangco, Nikki Duque, and Pong Niu can work their magic so you can put your best face forward on your big day. Fashion designers Francis Libiran, Vania Romoff, and Veluz have ready-to-wear bridal collections, but can also create a gown that is uniquely your own.
Every memorable wedding needs great food, and Metro Manila is not short on caterers. Clementine focuses specifically on weddings, while others like Bizu Catering Studio, Hizon’s Catering, and Juan Carlo Catering are prominent for not just weddings, but all kinds of events.
Having all of these options may be overwhelming, so you may decide on a key point and have everything else follow from there.
Tagaytay
Tagaytay may just be 65 kilometers (1.5-2 hours) away from Metro Manila, but its cool weather and proliferation of boutique hotels and restaurants make it an ideal destination for intimate weddings of 100-200 guests. It provides the perfect backdrop for rustic and garden weddings.
Its proximity to the metro also makes it easy for couples to revisit their wedding venue as the years go by. “I wanted a place my husband and I and our future kids can go back to as a tradition every year, a safe haven of sorts and not just any ordinary hotel,” says Pia, who got married at St Benedict’s Parish in Silang, Cavite.
Getting married in Tagaytay gives you access to many other churches in Tagaytay City and in the surrounding areas of Cavite and Batangas. Some of the popular options include Ina ng Laging Saklolo, Our Lady of Lourdes, and The Transfiguration Chapel of Caleruega.
The same is true for wedding venues. Pia’s reception was at Angelfields, which is a great option for couples who want to be surrounded by nature. Tagaytay Highlands, Hillcreek Gardens, Fernwood Gardens, and Narra Hill are also popular venues, not to mention the many hotels and restaurants like Antonio’s and Sonya’s Garden that can also easily host your reception.
Tagaytay is easily accessible for both your guests and suppliers alike, so you can conveniently book suppliers from Manila. “The key is to get a good coordinator to assist you,” Pia advises, so that couples don’t have to stress about everyone’s move from Manila to Tagaytay. You can also talk to Tagaytay-based wedding coordinators like Amazing Events by R.A. and Princess Apple Events about sourcing local suppliers so you don’t have to worry about the travel time from Manila to Tagaytay.
Baguio
If most of your guests are not used to the tropical weather, the cool climate and mountain views make Baguio a great wedding destination.
Since Baguio is 245 kilometers (roughly 4-5 hours) away from Manila, you can grab the chance to turn your wedding into more than just a one-day affair. “It was the perfect venue to extend everyone’s Christmas vacation, and our guests were so happy [about that],” says Lauren, whose wedding was held in the first week of January. They had a weekend-long celebration by hosting a golf tournament, a bowling party, and a welcome dinner for all guests the day before the wedding.
Alphaland Mountain Lodges has a beautiful open-air chapel that can give you a sea of clouds as your wedding backdrop and can accommodate 200 guests. Baguio Country Club and The Manor at Camp John Hay are also ideal venues for both your ceremony and reception, although those who require a church ceremony may first exchange vows at The Baguio Cathedral of Our Lady of the Atonement, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, or St. Ignatius de Loyola Chapel located inside the Philippine Military Academy.
Working with Baguio-based suppliers allows you to work with professionals who know the place best. Uncomplicated Weddings and Events offers planning and coordination services, while wedding photographers Owen & Nikka know all the picturesque spots for your wedding photos. Baguio is also famous for its Panagbenga Festival (flower festival), so flowers from local florists like Miel’s Flowershoppe can surely be the highlight of any Baguio wedding.
If you have the chance to fly to the Philippines before the big day, make it a point to go around the city after meeting with your suppliers. “Visit Baguio, just the two of you, and enjoy the local scene while holding oculars and meetings with potential venues and suppliers,” Lauren advises. “It’s really important to experience the city and appreciate it for what it is, so you can share what you love about it with your guests, too.”
Batangas
When it comes to finding a wedding venue in Batangas, it helps to start with your theme to narrow down the many options available throughout this huge province.
If you want a beach wedding, consider resorts like Cala Laiya and Acuaverde along the shores of Laiya in San Juan, Canyon Cove Hotel and Spa in Nasugbu, and Club Balai Isabel in Talisay.
On the other hand, if you want a garden wedding, there are many intimate venues throughout the province, like The Farm at San Benito, Cintai Coritos Garden, and El Jardin de Zaida.
But it was family ties that led Kyla to choose Lipa, Batangas as the venue of her destination wedding. She says, “Casa Luminaria, my grandparents’ vacation house, is located here, and I grew up spending long weekends and holidays there. I spent a lot of time with family and friends there too, so when I started to look for a venue for my reception, it was an obvious choice.”
Choosing your family’s hometown gives you a great opportunity to introduce your partner and their family to the local culture while celebrating your heritage at the same time.
Batangas is also home to many beautiful churches. Some popular choices are San Guillermo Parish in Talisay, San Juan Nepomuceno Parish in San Juan, Parish and National Shrine of Padre Pio in Santo Tomas, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Lipa City, and the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Batangas City.
Since Batangas is just 100km away from Manila, it’s easy to source Manila-based suppliers that can make the two-hour drive to the province. Similarly, it’s fairly easy for your loved ones to travel to Batangas, whether it’s for an intimate wedding of 30 guests or a grand one with up to 100 guests.
Check out Part 2 of “Where To Say I Do In PH: Wedding Destinations For Balikbayans” here.
