Five romantic places perfect for weddings

If I will be given a chance to plan my wedding all over again, it will definitely be in one these locations. Here are five of the best places here in PH to tie the knot by Lamudi Philippines. 

June is here again, and this means many engaged couples will get hitched this month. To make their job easier, Lamudi Philippines rounds up the top five best locations to get married, ranging from an island resort to an art sanctuary amidst a forest reserve.

1. Intramuros, Manila

Perhaps the most popular wedding venue in Metro Manila, the old walled section of Intramuros (which literally means within the walls) is home to two beautiful churches (one of them is a UNESCO World Heritage Site), cobblestone streets, and even a golf course. The best thing about the place is that plenty of reception venues surround the churches, from secluded gardens to converted Spanish-era houses.

2. Camp John Hay, Baguio

This former base in the City of Pines has a hotel, amphitheaters, secret gardens, picnic grounds, a butterfly sanctuary, and even a convention center, so would-be married couples need not ferry their guests from the church to the reception venue. Temperature in the city average 25 degrees Celsius in the daytime, so expect the weather to be pleasant most of the time.

3. White Beach, Boracay Island

Ranked the 12th best island in the world by readers of American magazine Condé Nast Traveler, Boracay’s long stretch of sugary white-sand beach and azure water would provide a perfect backdrop for any wedding. And as an add-on, none of your guests need to wear chiffon dresses or tuxes, and they will love you for it.

4. Cebu City

The Queen City of the South is a popular place to get hitched. One of Cebu’s very first luxury hotel, Marco Polo Plaza, sits atop Nivel Hills and offers would-be couples and their guests a spectacular view of the city. Honeymoon would not be a problem, either, as Cebu City is minutes away from luxury resorts, dive sites, and even whale shark sanctuaries.

5. National Arts Center, Los Baños, Laguna

Conceptualized like an art camp for young artists during the time of President Marcos, the National Arts Center’s various buildings are scattered across 13.5 hectares of forest reserves on the slopes of Mount Makiling. Its Saint Marc’s Church is perhaps its most interesting draw—an open-air structure designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin.

our lovely family

my wedding tale :)

We already celebrated our first year together, but I haven’t really updated my blog in the strictest sense that it should convey what transpired and what I felt during that day. This may be late but still here goes my wedding tale. J

June 19, 2011 – bride and groom are not supposed to see each other a day before the wedding so after helping me arrange the things that I have to bring in the morning of June 19 Rommel and I enjoyed the last day of our singlehood apart. J My sisters and I checked in at the Citystate Hotel around noon then we made sure that we have everything we need before we went to a salon for last minute beauty treatments. I have been running through my checklist for days and I’m glad my OCness worked. After checking that everything is good, we went for lunch then proceeded to the salon and had our hairs and nails done.

Since its a Sunday, we went to church, sang with our choir for the last time before I become a MRS. Then our family ate a happy and sumptuous dinner before going back to the hotel. This time our official hair and fashion artist, AL joined us in the hotel.

Good thing that in the midst of excitement and jitters I still managed to get a good night sleep.

The big day – June 20, 2011 – woke up early, around 7am. Leia and I took our complimentary breakfast courtesy of the hotel while the others (regine, monik, leia, kuya obeng)ate Jolibee meals (it’the nearest chain in the hotel) for breakfast.

At 9am Nicole my cousin-in-law started her task of working wonders on my face J Al and Nicole were busy making sure that my mother, my sisters and me will be very beautiful that day. My coordinators/choir mates and very good friends arrived to the venue to check that everything is already set.

The fun starts around 11 am when the photographers and videographers arrived.  I really enjoyed it since posing for pictures is really my thing, and this is the first time that I felt that reality is slowly sinking in especially when Mama and I posed for the camera. I’m in the brink of tears, thinking that soon I am no longer just a daughter but a wife too. Other than the wedding catharsis that’s engulfing me, everything else went by smoothly.

The photographers and the coordinators were very efficient in timing and making sure that Rommel and I will not see each other, I don’t even have to worry about anything because even the tiniest details were already taken cared of. J Their seamless attention to particulars made my wedding day a worry free day.

My cake supplier is one of the major glitches (see separate post – cake disaster) but I refused to be angry, after all things like that really happen. It is still a small problem compared to what others have experienced during their wedding (e.g. Ondoy). 

to be cont.

cake disaster :(

I am writing my wedding story on a separate post, as I was reminiscing everything that happened during that happy day I remember one major glitch that almost ruin the experience.

a sad glitch :( the cake supplier - although the cake tastes good and fantastic I am still overly disappointed. I know a part of the blame is on me because I selected the all-edible cake combination. Three layers of delectable all ready to eat marshmallow icing frosted vanilla cake - my ultimate preference. Violet and pink with a candy bride that sits at the top layer and a candy groom at the middle layer - my personal choice for a design that also depicts a story.

 I am a cake eater so my focus is on the cake-eating experience and since the supplier is supposedly a better judge in the aesthetics of the cake she should have suggested that an all-edible cake in marshmallow icing is small and cannot support itself. L she should know best and must offer better options to her clients. Good thing that Kuya Roy (Rommel’s chef cousin) gave us a wonderful gift – 50pcs of violet frosted cupcakes sitting atop a cute white and glass cupcake stand. We did not expect it but it saved us because the small 3-layer all bread cake was very small on its high pedestal. 

Haaay, buti na lang the LORD is good and the master of all things, He saw the whole thing before it happened so He gave my cousin-in-law the resources and the will to bake the cake for us. Thank you po. :)

a year after

Already celebrated our 1st year together. :) time passed by really fast and now we're already a family of three.


Before we'll spend the night talking, laughing, watching movies or just simply cuddling, now we'll spend the night. the dawn and our early morning taking care of Paige, changing diapers and singing lullabies :) Rommel and I used to have fun together but now we are experiencing sheer happiness and delight whenever we see our baby smile :)


Its been a good year, sometimes difficult, most of the time we fight, but at the end of the day its still our love for each other that matters - and nothing is greater than that. :)

the fruit of our Love :)

Acknowledgements

I haven't been able to thank the people who have played a very big part in our wedding. the freebies that I got from talented friends and families, that indeed made our wedding the best.


To Mr. Al Eufemio - for fixing my hair as good as the best and hi-paid professionals around. I had 2 different hair styles during the day itself and 4 hair do's when our prenuptial photos were taken. He even joined us in Lamesa Eco park in Quezon City as my hair, make up and wardrobe consultant. :) I wore a little black dress that was really a SKIRT - (brilliant diba), something violet because it's me so there has to be something violet.
I also wore a blue gown that Al designed for my sister's debut (and I am so happy that it fit me Regine wore that when she was 18 and I am already 26 haha!). And last but not the least a modern Filipiniana ensemble that he designed for a school fair. He also chose the right pieces for Rommel so he will look dashing in our photos and to make sure that his attire will go perfectly with mine. :) A big thanks and lots of hug AL for lending us your talents for FREE!

1st set :)

To Ms. Nicole Yabut - kuya Mike's better half, for making sure that I will look pretty on our wedding. She even bought new make ups that she can use to paint me beautifully. and of course again its all for FREE. we even have practice make-up sessions just to make sure that we have chosen the right shade. Happy!


To our choir mates the Pintig Choir - not only for singing but for being my on the day coordinators. Some of them even came from professional wedding organizing outfits and I am proud to say that everything went well in our wedding. Glitches (if there were any) did not even reach me. That's what worry free is all about. Thanks Guys! Ate Dyesa, Kuya Marlon, Ate Marj - main coordinators and to all the others who played small but very crucial parts in our wedding.


To Maybel Dejasco and Tin Tuguigui  - for the arts and photo editing :) 


to be cont.