Top 10 Garden Venues
By John & Benz Rana
Many brides-to-be dream of having a garden wedding. Garden weddings have been THE ‘dream wedding’ of choice until beaches became an option. If you are part of the 84 percent of the country’s total population who are Roman Catholic, the bad news is your wedding ceremony must be held inside a church. The good news is you can always settle for the next best thing - a garden reception!
Since wedding suppliers can practically consider wedding venues as their work stations, we asked more than a few to name their top 10 garden venues. Since most wedding professionals we asked are Manila-based, it’s quite understandable that their choices are those situated within the capital or in nearby out-of-town locations. We’re sure there are other noteworthy garden venues elsewhere in the country that are just waiting to be discovered by us Manileños.
For now, let’s focus on the voted venues. Describing the locations is our friend, Tisha Rosales, whose company, Balay Kandila, has vast experience in styling these wonderful garden venues and couples can greatly benefit from her firsthand know-how of the locations.
Ville Sommet
53 L.E. Rizal, Barangay Sicat, Alfonso, Cavite
551.3422/23 loc. 123; 833.9490; 0917.8323908
www.villesommet.com.ph
Maximum capacity of 350 guests
Breathtaking surprise. The downhill view when you enter this mountain hideaway literally takes your breath away. The Glass House makes the most of the rolling terrain. Picturesque pocket gardens await wonderful photos. An awe-inspiring mango tree rests by the lake. It is said that only God can make a tree as spectacular as the Ville Sommet mango tree.
Tagaytay Highlands
Brgy Kalabuso Tagaytay City
046.4830820; 0917.8826885
www.tagaytayhighlands.com
Maximum capacity of 300 guests
The timeless charm of Tagaytay encapsulated. The moment you enter the gates of this mountain hideaway you know you have arrived at the core of Tagaytay. Nowhere else is the air as fresh as the smell of pine wafts dreamily everywhere. Imagine enjoying all these on your wedding day. What more can you ask for?
Puerto Real
c/o Intramuros Administration
Palacio del Gobernador Bldg.
Intramuros Manila
527.3096; 527.9012
Maximum capacity of 1,000 guests
Old Manila come to life. Whether for 150 or 500, Puerto Real appears cozy. Perhaps it’s the enormous Intramuros wall dominating one side of the garden that dwarfs the actually huge venue or, maybe it’s the unobstructed sheer expanse of the garden, providing a clear view of everyone present that makes the venue feel intimate despite its size.
The best part: the cobblestone pathway from the tunnel. One can just imagine the days of Old Manila come to life. Beautiful romantic pictures await newlyweds as they walk hand in hand along weather-beaten paths.
Oasis Manila
169 Aurora Blvd. San Juan, Manila
721.4585; 726.6832; 724.5016
www.oasismanila.com
Maximum capacity of 450 guests
Refreshing Respite. Its name best describes its essence. In the midst of the concrete jungle, the garden of Oasis beckons to nature-loving city folk. The place presents a refreshing respite from traffic and city life without having to leave the city. It is an appealing choice for get-togethers.
Father Blanco’s Garden
Gen. Luna St. Cor. Sta. Potenciana,
Intramuros Manila
527.7553; 527.7551
Maximum capacity of 800 guests
Dramatic Backdrop. The bonsai are really spectacular, if one takes time out to walk around. The ruins serve as a dramatic backdrop for truly memorable wedding photos.
Sonya’s Garden
Brgy. Buck Estate, Alfonso Cavite
0917.5329097
www.sonyasgarden.com
Maximum capacity of 300 guests
Stylishly quaint. Perfect for a small wedding party made up of friends and family trekking the distance of Tagaytay just to be with you, the garden is a marriage of different personas. Quaint and quiet, stylish but down to earth, natural yet well maintained, Sonya’s Garden is a top choice for garden weddings.
Baluarte San Diego
c/o Intramuros Administration
Palacio del Gobernador Bldg.
Intramuros Manila
527.3096; 527.9012
Maximum capacity of 1,000 guests
Peak at the past. A window to our Hispanic past, the walls of Baluarte de San Diego make a perfect backdrop for Fil-Spanish-inspired garden weddings.
Gazebo Royale
29 Visayas Ave. Quezon City
920.6503 to 05; 454.3615
www.gazeboroyale.com
Maximum capacity of 700 guests
Garden weddings made possible all-year round. For those who won’t compromise their dream of celebrating their wedding in a garden despite the unpredictable weather, Gazebo Royale is the place for you. Beautifully landscaped gardens protected by high roofs make picture-perfect backdrops for your most romantic day.
Coconut Palace
CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd. Pasay City
831.1756; 832.1898
Maximum capacity of 1,000 guests
Versatile. Whether a classic garden wedding, a luau, an English garden, a Japanese garden, a wedding at dawn…you can have anything you want at the Coconut Palace. A huge plus is the fact that the Coconut Palace accepts only one wedding per day. Hence, stylists can begin setting up at the crack of dawn.
Fernwood Gardens
1 Cenacle Drive., Sanville Subd. Proj. 6, Quezon City
926.2493; 925.0020; 426.0968
www.fernwoodgarden.com
Maximum capacity of 900 guests
Urban legend made real. Fernwood Gardens is a lush, tropical forest in the midst of a crowded city. It is a real gardener’s masterpiece. Anyone short of a bonafide green thumb like Al de Veyra would not be able to succeed in building and maintaining a truly beautiful garden venue like Fernwood.
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