After living together for several years without church blessing, twenty-three couples finally exchanged their vows in a free mass wedding hosted by Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa. (Contributed)
Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Cebu hosted a free mass wedding dubbed “Of Veils and Trails” for 23 couples.
Working together with the Association of Barangay Captains, and under the guidance of the Office of the Mayor, 23 couples from Lapu-Lapu City were selected to experience this once-in-a-lifetime event.
The couples have been cohabiting for some time without church blessing, with the oldest couple already living together for the last 33 years.
The couples walked down the aisle at the resort’s iconic Ocean Pavilion, decked in bouquets of deep-red roses by Pink Flora.
The blue waters of the Mactan Channel, as seen through Ocean Pavilion’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows, served as a dramatic background to the ceremony officiated by Pastor Jaime Luyao.
Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Cebu General Manager Marco Vazzoler, Resident Manager Marie-Laure Fleury and Director of Sales and Marketing Albert La Fuente, together with Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, stood as principal sponsors. Friends and families of the couple also witnessed the ceremony.
Stringed Ensemble serenaded the couples as they exchanged vows and put on the wedding bands provided by Metro Jewelry.
Following the ceremony, the hotel hosted a lunch reception at the resort’s Mactan Ballroom, styled by Simple Wishes.
“We are privileged that our business allows us to witness and become part of people’s special celebrations. It is our honor to create beautiful lifetime memories with you,” Fleury said as she welcomed the couples.
Hosted by Ryan Uybengkee, the reception opened with the traditional cake slicing ceremony, symbolic of the couple’s commitment to support and nurture one another.
The couples received mini individual cakes by Cake Couture and Marissa Unchuan, two of Cebu’s top wedding cake providers.
Stanz Catalan, one of Cebu’s leading wedding planners, orchestrated the whole event.
Capturing the day’s emotions were partner photographers from Rock Paper Scissors Photography and Light & Shade Photography. To conclude the celebration, Digital Minds presented the wedding video, which delighted the couples and their families.
Other partners who supported the community wedding included Gari son and team, SayCheese Photobooth, Happy Living, New Datche, RBJ Events Provider, and Jerks AV Rentals.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
