Of the chain of Peninsula hotels around the world, The Peninsula Manila has the distinction of hosting the biggest number of wedding receptions in a year—over 140, says general manager Sonja F. Vodusek.
“The Peninsula has earned a reputation in the city as the premier wedding destination. I think it’s the attention to detail, the creativity, and the execution that our team is known for that makes brides feel comfortable with us. The last thing you want on the day of your wedding is to worry if things are in order. Brides know the hotel is going to take good care of them on their special day.”
Obvious choice
For model Rissa Mananquil, who tied the knot with Ateneo men’s basketball team manager Paolo Trillo on Oct. 15, 2011, the hotel was an obvious choice. It was at The Pen, after all, where the couple met. Then president of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines, she was organizing an anniversary bash for the PMAP, while he, co-owner of the bar Fiamma, was a sponsor of the event. Thanks to other events at The Pen, “our relationship grew stronger,” says Rissa. “So we have so much history in this hotel. The Pen was our only choice and I look forward to celebrating more occasions with the hotel.”
Partnering with the five-star hotel was a seamless experience for this bride who describes herself as “OC.”
After getting engaged in December 2010, Mananquil worked fast to secure her venue. “We booked the place late January or early February,” she says. “We were happy to get the dates we wanted.”
Everyone’s happy
On the big day, the couple exhanged “I Do’s” in an intimate civil ceremony at The Conservatory, then simply walked down the hotel’s winding staircase to their reception—The Pen’s Rigodon Ballroom, where 400 close family and friends partied with the newlyweds in a space complete “with a dance floor and room for a bar. So everyone was happy!” says Mananquil with a hearty laugh. “When you deal with the right people, it takes out half the stress for a bride and groom. It gives you more time to focus on other things, like planning for a future beyond happily ever after.”
Brides-to-be can enjoy the same flawless event-planning as Mananquil did through special wedding packages prepared by the Peninsula Manila. The packages, promoted in a recent wedding showcase at the Rigodon, cover all bases of a truly unforgettable day—including a fancy bridal car, choice of string quartet or sound and lighting equipment, and in the case of “The Peninsula Wedding” package, a photo booth with unlimited prints, full customized print layout, personalized backdrop, DVD archive, and an onsite technical assistant.
Celebrating your wedding at the Pen also comes with one extra touch, a “perk” that can only be described as priceless. Once the bride and groom enter the luxurious lobby, the orchestra welcomes them with a rousing rendition of Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March,” and the hotel’s guests give the newlyweds a standing ovation. “It really happens!” says Vodusek of the warm applause. “That’s our most unique touch.”
Call The Peninsula Manila’s wedding consultants at tel. 887-2888 extension 6573; e-mail wedding pmn@peninsula.com.