Wazzup Pilipinas!
From our first meeting one special night at Makati's newest hotel-like serviced residence they call One Pacific Place Serviced Residences, I knew the wedding would be very special.
I met with Miss Rhoda and Miss Mimi a few weeks ago and was told that they organized a surprise wedding proposal for their children. I was so excited to be part of this momentous event between two lovers so I didn't hesitate to jump in headfirst and let my camera take shots while I witness what seems like a fairy tale story done in real life.
The proposal was something out of a romantic movie or maybe from out of our favorite tele-serye. What was so real that night was the excitement that surrounded the venue. Everyone wanted the best for the couple.
The organizers also told me that they were gearing up to have the wedding sometime in April – less than six months away. They had their grand vision and plans to make it truly special. Now, after a few weeks, I received a call inviting me to once again continue my coverage of a fabulous bonding taken into insurmountable heights.
It was off to The Lakeshore, that prime real-estate haven located in Mexico, Pampanga - to plan for a dream island wedding that is soon to unfold and make our hearts beat as one with the couple.
The family surely had a crystal clear vision from the very first day they realized their children were about to take their love even further. The intention to come out with a stylish and sophisticated wedding was evident. I once dreamed of a venue filled with peonies, a neutral blush palette, chandeliers, soft wood touches, candles galore, and of course sparkling red and white wines for my guests, but I guess their plans were more elaborately enchanting.
Everyone's mission was clear. We are about to write one of the most memorable moments in the couple's life. We have to ensure every pertinent detail were delivered to make every moment of the big day magical and stress-free.
Having trouble finding the perfect venue for your dream wedding? Look no further.
The Lakeshore is the perfect venue for a dream wedding. It boasts of high-end amenities and features that are tailor fit for any event. Its serene and classy environment features spacious community parks, lakeside restaurants and shops, multiple-featured clubhouse, air-conditioned chapel, school, water sports facilities, and the magnificent 12-hectare man-made lake with an island in the middle as the main attraction.
The lighthouse is the first thing that will greet you when you go visit the lakeside enroute to the island. It actually has real working lights on top. Guests can walk up towards the highest part of the lighthouse and admire the scenic lakeside view which offers you a stunning view of the island.
I went up there, took a lot of photos, and can’t help but smile whenever I think about being a part of such a special event in the lives of two strangers.
You can ask the staff there to take you to the island - that paradise that will soon be the venue for a spectacular wedding between two hearts that are now ready to tie the knot and beat as one.
The boat was a red and white beauty! I can imagine already how the bride will look like aboard the boat while being ferried from the shore to the island that will probably be illuminated only by torch lights and decorated by an assortment of fragrant and colorful flowers.
It will be a splendid sight. All the guests will experience the same - something that is rarely done so it will be totally amazing especially for the people who will be riding a boat for the first time.
It was a quick trip from the shore to the island.
There is something really magical about the island. The island offers amenities to successfully hold whatever event you can dream of that is possible in the given area. It has a pool big enough for a large group, several tables for group picnics or parties, a grill area, and they said you can also go fishing.
Fish for your thoughts, you can go and imagine the most wonderful setup for a celebration like using fireworks, candle light dinners, pool party, and a lot of other interesting activities.
I can sense that our very special lady of the day is pleased....but you can also feel her anxiety. Who wouldn't be so nervous in planning for a perfect wedding?
The Lakehouse Grill and Souvenir Shop also houses XOC - short for Xtra Ordinary Cuisine Resto Grill. The restaurant serves meals for the entire day, and also accepts reservations.
We had our "merienda" at the XOC restaurant and enjoyed their Seafood Spaghetti and Sloppy Joe hotdog sandwich and fries.
They were all good enough to satisfy my hunger. The whole afternoon spent going around the facilities of The Lakeshore brought out a big appetite.
The Lakeshore Country Club clubhouse provides luxurious amenities to the homeowners. They have a gym here containing several machines to keep you fit, trimmed or muscled. They have two pools and one of them is an infinity pool.
The amenities are exclusive for the homeowners.
Nearby is The Lakeshore Tent where several functions can be held.
The Lakeshore Tent is colored in hues of white and blue. It is a spacious venue where people can gather and run all kinds of events.
We were also toured at the Villas where houses were available for rent for only Pp 4,500 per overnight stay. You are given a free two hour visit at the island as a perk. Though you better reserve ahead of time to ensure the island is available for use.
The house was amazingly spacious and cozy for its price. A fully furnished and air-conditioned house with three bedrooms and two toilets plus some appliances? Wow! It was a steal!
The Villas were surely very affordable. The Italian-Mediterranean inspired houses have been masterfully designed by architects so you can fully live a life to the fullest.
The serene and tranquil area is not yet crowded with neighbors. There were still a lot of empty spaces available where you could live comfortably away from the stress and hustle of the urban jungle.
And the day slowly ends in a crawl towards darkness illuminated by hundreds of lights normally seen during the holidays. The pine trees resemble our Christmas trees that made it look like we were in a merry wonderland.
The lighthouse shines out two bright white lights projecting out and circling around to brighten up the nearby areas. It is surrounded by pine and palm trees equally decorated by Christmas lights.
The lakeside was a picturesque image of romance - so intimate yet awesome!
It makes my heart so incredibly happy to see plans for a great wedding such as this that's soon to be seen its fruition sometime April 2014. One where I just know all the dreams that danced in the couples’ heads during the planning process came to life even more beautifully than they could have imagined.
In my role as an “online historian” that's documenting these events, I sincerely appreciated the value of having the family’s trust from day one.
I imagined everyone set a timeline and had weekly “to dos” and watched it all slowly come to life. They started right away by confirming their hand-selected vendors and tying up any lose ends with the venue – all very important elements to executing an event like this in a few months.
I somewhat witnessed what the family contributed during the planning process and realized that both families were probably so busy participating in their "wedding of the year" - a union between their cherished children who both grew up so fast and now soon will raise their own families. Sometimes, its a cross between two emotions seeing your son or daughter move out from your home and eventually become independent together with a special someone.
For the couple’s special day, they will transform an island into a romantic and memorable venue that will sure to leave long lasting memories for the bride and groom as well as their guests for years to come. Cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres will be served underneath the gorgeous star-filled skies with sweeping views of the magnificent lake.
The Lakeshore island was a pleasure to visit. It was the perfect backdrop for the couple’s elegant affair. I sure hope that the dream island wedding prospers into everything they want it to be. Marriage is a sacred ceremony between two souls that have accepted each one's wholeness. It should be remembered with fondness and cherished forever.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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