blog, Sacramento Wedding Planner

Thinking about planning a destination wedding?  Most couples begin their search by looking at places like Hawaii, Jamaica, Mexico, the Caribbean, etc. when planning their destination wedding. My guess is that not many people  jump to the thought of having a wedding in the Philippines. It’s surely easy to overlook! It is not commonly recognized as a tropical paradise that everyone should visit, wedding or not. However, I think that we have missed an amazing little gem in Southeast Asia!

Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to have been invited on a Wedding Planners’ familiarization tour of the Philippines through the Association for Wedding Professionals (www.afwpi.com) and subsequently spent ten days island hopping with eighteen other wedding professionals from around the globe. I can assure you that every one of us gained so much more than we could have ever anticipated while visiting this beautiful and intriguing country which is comprised of over 7,100 islands!

During our ten days, we paid visits to resorts, churches, historical monuments, amazing landscapes and even better shopping! If I had to pick my favorite location that we visited, I would definitely go with the amazing  Shangri-La resort on the island of Cebu. Closely following in second place, was the Amorita Resort on the island of Bohol, where we also visited one of the most amazing churches I have personally ever seen. I also have to add that I was in awe when we visited the Chocolate Mountains and I was in heaven when we had lunch while floating up and down a beautiful river with lush surroundings and waterfalls. And when we visited Sophia’s Garden in Tagaytay I was ready to buy it and live there forever…or at least for a month. They offer unbelievable rates to rent out the beautiful house on the property and the bakery which offers fresh goods is just up the walking path,  lined with tropical flowers and charming landscape. Ahhh….paradise!

In addition to the beautiful islands and resorts,  you will run across some of the most hospitable people you will ever meet in the Philippines. At every stop along the way, we were treated like royalty. The locals love and appreciate the business from other countries and it shows through in their service. From fireworks shows to musical and dance performances to gifts and drinks ready at the door, they welcomed us with open arms! At several points during our trip we all felt a bit like celebrities! The resorts were certainly showing us their best in hopes of promoting themselves, but I assure you that even without all of the frills, their willingness to please ensures top notch service anywhere you go! Although, at times, I’m not sure that I would have even noticed if the service wasn’t great, simply because I was so overwhelmed by the beautiful surroundings while dining on the beach, near a pool or in a luxury resort.

It’s difficult to describe the beauty, just as I assume it will be difficult to sell the Philppines as a destination wedding spot. My feeling? It should not be overlooked! Although the flight is quite long, what you experience when you get there is WELL worth it! From custom wedding dresses made over night and delivered to your hotel in the morning for $50 to the amazing beach-side ceremony and reception locations and the unforgettable presentations, it is surely something to consider! The cost savings is tremendous and the scenery is out of this world!

If you’re looking for more information, visit our web site at www.sacramentoweddingplanning.com and contact Plan A Events today! All of the Wedding Planners on our tour are now fully educated on planning weddings in the Philippines and have materials to offer anyone thinking about a Philippines wedding. We have seen the best of the best location-wise and have amazing local wedding vendors that we can refer you to. You’ll have many questions, without a doubt! Be sure to look to an expert for assistance when planning your Philippines wedding!

MABUHAY!