A wedding here in the Philippines is a full-blown production—hence the growing number of bridal fairs, those one-stop shopping events for everything couples will need on their Big Day.
It’s an exciting pre-wedding activity, but it’s also an entire day of threading your way through rows and rows of booths, and stressing over which suppliers can cater to your wants and needs.
The Peninsula Manila, which is holding its fourth “Weddings at The Peninsula” bridal fair on Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m.-
7 p.m., offers a more intimate and personalized affair for soon-to-wed couples.
Start at the Rigodon Ballroom, where guests can taste food and dessert options prepared by The Peninsula executive chef Patrick Boucher, and choose from the different floral creations of creative director Anna Faye Rosal.
Bulgari, one of The Peninsula’s partners this year, will also be showcasing its Bridal Jewelry collection.
In The Conservatory and Upper Lobby, “wedding specialists” will be waiting to answer any queries and take guests around to meet suppliers of cakes, formal wear, jewelry and registries, such as Rustan’s Weddings and Beyond.
Dream dress
Ladies will enjoy picking out their dream dress at the 6 p.m. fashion show, and meeting the featured designers: Francis Libiran, Rhett Eala, James Reyes, Jun Escario, JC Buendia, Candy Dizon, Cary Santiago, Joey Samson, Jojie Lloren, Randy Ortiz, Dennis Lustico, Puey Quiñones, Ivar Aseron. Rosa Clara gowns will also be on display.
The men, on the other hand, can look forward to the cocktail tasting, sponsored by champagne house Moët & Chandon. Wedding menswear will also be featured in the fashion show.
“Peninsula bride” Rissa Mananquil-Trillo, who was wed in The Conservatory in 2011, says one of the biggest things that helped her and husband Paolo in preparing for their wedding was attending Weddings at The Peninsula.
“It was the only bridal fair we attended. We all found our dream suppliers here,” said Trillo. “I decided to go to just this one bridal fair because I knew that the suppliers were already pre-selected. I trusted that they chose the best of the best.”
Luxe packages
This year, The Peninsula is also launching its Luxe Wedding Package. It includes a five-course sit-down gourmet dinner for 100 guests, a glass of Dom Perignon for each guest, Rolls-Royce limousine, two-night stay at The Peninsula Suite, cake by Penk Ching, a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes for the bride, and La Mer bridal spa party for 10.
Full details on the package will be revealed on April 13.
Special prizes will also be raffled off at the fair: dinner buffets at Escolta for two; afternoon tea for four; three-hour prenuptial shoots in Salon de Ning; overnight stay in a deluxe room with buffet breakfast for two; Sexy Solutions treatments; round-trip tickets for two to Tokyo via Cathay Pacific and Dragonair; and a chance to win a honeymoon at The Peninsula Hotels in Shanghai, Bangkok or Tokyo.
“There is so much more that goes on when it comes to weddings here in the Philippines,” said Sonja Vodusek, The Peninsula Manila general manager. “We do take it as a big deal here, and we put a lot of effort into this event.”
For more information, visit www.peninsula.com