A
setting of sand and sea, palm trees and starlight
is hard to beat.
An
Island Wedding in the Pearl of the Pacific by
Metro Weddings I do
July-December 2003 Issue
For
drama on shore, consider a full-length train.
On Grace: White satin gown with beaded bodice
by Edwin Tan; on Ariel: ‘Barong’
and black slacks by Silk Cocoon. Make up
and grooming by Yvette Lao.
By
nature, an island wedding is a departure from
tradition, says Rita Sanson, whose family owns
and runs Pearl of the Pacific in Boracay. "Here,
it's about the tropical setting," she explains.
"People
who choose to get married here tend to be nature
lovers, they're freer and more independent-minded."
And the weddings follow suit. "People who get
married here want it different," Rita adds. "They
want it in their style."
With the help of friends Louie Cruz, the party
impressario, and florist Mita Rufino and Bamboo,
and a host of workers, the pearl demonstrated
the possibilities in a series of wedding set-ups
expressly made for "Metro Weddings 'I Do'."
The
range of styles is impressive, utilizing a surprising
number of elements: sunsets and sandcastles, starlight
and palm trees, starfish and pearls, horses and
a teepee. A ballroom may be more manageable and
certainly more controllable, but a setting of
shore and sky is tough to top
A
Pearl of the Pacific ‘cabana’ is transformed
into a dazzling setting for a champagne dinner.
Alternatively, it could serve as the couple’s
table at the wedding banquet with other tables gathered
round. The raised bamboo floor is lined with ‘banig.’
Cushion covers are also ‘banig.’ Flower-filled
iron candelabra hangs from the roof, tented with
white fabric. An antique iron cauldron is filled
with water and candles floating on flowers.
A
Pearl reception setup facing the resort’s
magnificent view.
The resort built a teepee just to show the
extent of possibilities for an island wedding.
The
Pearl’s Mary Mother and Queen of All
Nations Shrine designed by Bobby Mañosa
Setting up the luau. Tripods of bamboo are
the candelabra.
The
first set-up was the most formal, a grand banquet
in the Pearl's imposing, Willie Coscolluela-design,
thatched-roof main hall at beachfront. Red roses,
capiz shell lanterns and mile of pearl garlands
had a very romantic effect that was also reflective
of the seaside setting.
The
resort’s main hall decked out for a
wedding. The couple can sit on the elevated
portion at the center under a rose thronged
‘chandelier’ hung on fabric.
A luau set upon the beach the following night
was almost as grand though a tad more casual,
with low dining tables allowing guests to sit
on the powder-soft sand. Bamboo torches assembled
into tripod served as centerpiece "candelabra".
Ginger plant leaves lay the length of the dining
tables. An elevated banig-lined dais was to hold
the couple. There were antique iron cauldrons
filled with water and floating flowers and candles.
The set up was so thoughtful and thorough as to
include normal height dining tables and chairs
for those who prefer to (or can't) sit on the
sand. To one side of the setting was a trademark
Boracay sight. In the late afternoon, after school,
kids build sandcastles and other sculptures on
the beach and fill their hollows with candles
at dusk. It's a very pretty sight.
The
Pearl not only has one of the widest beachfronts
in Boracay, its property reaches far inland and
goes up a hill. Deep inland, in forested area,
there is an impressive shrine designed by Bobby
Mañosa all decked out for a ceremony.
At
the top of the property, overlooking the ocean,
there is a wood pergola which they decorated with
flowers and furnished with a marble-top table
and antique-style chairs. This would make a lovely
setting for a private dinner for the wedded couple
or a pre-wedding bridesmaids' tea party.
The
possibilities and variation are endless. If a
luau is too casual for your wedding banquet but
the idea appeals to you anyway, throw one for
your rehearsal dinner. Louie Cruz suggests one
of the pre-wedding activities be sarong painting
or tie-dyeing for attire to be worn at luau.
The
Pearl’s beachfront all set for a walk down
the aisle.
It's
these details, that make the island wedding so
special, he says. "By the mere fact that the bride
is holding a coconut instead of a champagne glass
or that she's taken off her shoes, the whole feel
of the wedding is changed."
What's
it going to cost?
Pearl
of the Pacific has set packages for weddings of
a minimum of 80 to 150 persons. The packages are
inclusive of floral centerpieces for all tables
and decoration of reception venues, complimentary
accommodations for the couple in the Maharlika
Premier Beachfront Suite for three days and two
nights with daily breakfast at the Princess Rita
Restaurant or in the suite. The couple will also
get a 15% discount on other food and drink they
consume themselves and a bottle of Champagne.
A
set menu in Package A includes a Thai beef salad,
Carrot & Pumpkin Soup, Grilled Seafood Skewers
with Pesto, Grilled Chicken Breast with Mango,
mashed potato, paella, and an ice cream and fruit
dessert served in coconuts. This costs P530 per
person. The buffet version is P640 per person.
The
set menu in Package B is P860. Buffet Menu 1 includes
several salads and desserts, and is highlighted
by pork, chicken and marlin selections from the
grill, as well as main courses like Caribbean
Spiced Free Ranged Chicken, Braised Pork in Tomatoes
with Kalamata Olives and Chorizo. It costs P1,085
per person.
A
standard room at the Pearl is $120 a night. A
deluxe room is $150 and a suite is $200.
Pearl
of the Pacific - Manila Office
Address: R&G Tirol Bldg., 831 EDSA, Quezon City
Telephone Nos: (632) 926-0162, 924-4480, 924-4483
Fax No: (632) 924-4482
This article and its photos are republished with
permission from Metro Weddings I Do (July - December
2003 Issue). Photographs by Jovel Lorenzo. Models:
Grace Tagle, Ariel Atendido.
