A Tagaytay Wedding: San Antonio de Padua and Taal Vista

Weddings tend to be a very sentimental occasion for me. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I cry somewhere between that second the door finally opens to the giddy bride and when she starts to take her first baby steps to the altar. But I don’t expect any tears during speeches, especially not one that I am supposed to give.

This one became the sole exception.

Beautiful fountain and entrance at San Antonio de Padua Tagaytay

Two firsts I admit to:

One, this is the first wedding where I am part of the entourage and I missed the walk, and I mean both the entourage and the bridal walk. I am not proud to say that, and the possibility of it tore my heart to pieces as we cut vehicle after vehicle (Sorry! We NEVER do this on regular days.) to brave the horrendous post-Christmas Tagaytay traffic from our hotel in Alfonso – a stone’s throw from Nasugbu, Batangas – to the San Antonio de Padua Church in Silang – a route that normally takes only maybe, 45 minutes to an hour tops with traffic.

Left: Bumper-to-bumper traffic going to Manila/ Silang/ Taal Vista.
The traffic going to the church was actually worse than this one.

It was the longest one-and-a-half hours of my life, and I kept wishing that the priest would come in late for the ceremony so I could at least see one of my bestfriends strut her stuff on the aisle. I arrived 20 f*cking minutes late and had to sneak in during the first reading.

Ginormous Christmas tree and registration table fronting the Taal Vista ballroom 1

Lia had to stay in the car with her Daddy, aunt and cousin during the ceremony
to avoid distracting guests with her mommy-only tantrums.
Looks like she didn’t mind staying in the car at all.

Two, this is the first wedding that I came without a cheat sheet for my reception speech – even though I was informed by the bride weeks prior that do or die, I shall be giving that speech. Not the maid of honor, not any of the secondary sponsors or any other fellow bridesmaid. Me. And I hate giving speeches because I tend to blab and people go into major zzz’s. Which is probably why I cried. Haha.

The bride specified, “Kahit maikli basta ‘wag mo kong sisiraan.” Smartypants, eh?

Christmas is in the air at Taaal Vista!

I had a few lines scribbled on my phone’s memo tool, but I haven’t really figured out the right words to say everything I want to say. Seeing Apple in her squeaky clean white gown, all prepped up and beaming at the altar though, the words just fell into place, no matter how impromptu or mish-mashed it was.

Taal Vista Hotel lobby

You see, this is the girl I went to concerts with in high school till college. This is that friend I call on at 10pm (on weekdays!) to engage in an elaborate discussion of Smashing Pumpkin’s Disarm with. I was a regular ~~epal~~ at their family occasions; I may have even spent more time with her relatives and her siblings than I did with mine during my teens. We mourned together during her first major heartache, and I cried with her in spirit as I prayed during mass for her recovery. Now she’s all grown up. A woman ready to break in her wifely shoes, with a guy who’s hands down, one of the kindest (lawyers) ever spawned on Planet Earth. A guy who made her a better person, and whom she made better too. Who wouldn’t be over-the-top happy for her?

Some of you are probably waiting for my usual (trivial) comments about the church or the food. And I tell you both are unforgettably good. The church is (Sorry, Kups) a pain in the ass to locate that if not for the loud magenta Uy-La’O nuptials banner (not theirs) posted every kilometer or so, we would’ve presumed we’re lost. But I completely understand how ~~the coordinator~~ they could’ve picked it over Lourdes Church, which is in near proximity to the reception in Taal Vista Hotel. Tucked away in a simple, quiet town, its vintage charm is a heartwarming sight amid frigorific Tagaytay. It exudes serenity and class. It is intimate and private, just as Apple and Renel usually preferred things to be. Truth be told, it has one of the most beautiful church interiors and backyards I’ve seen, outdoing even the famous Nuestra Senora de Gracia and NSSH.

Pretty church backyard

It also has one of the most unique Catholic marriage rites I’ve witnessed: the couple faced guests while serenaded by the priest with a song about saying “I do” as well as “What Matters Most”, complete with piano accompaniment!

Beautiful inside and out. San Antonio de Padua Church in Pooc, Silang.

Taal Vista is as expected, lavishly exquisite: Spacious ballroom, minimalist, classy setup, and lush food offerings. It is finesse to a T. We loved the mains particularly the mouthwatering US tender steak and seafood thermidor, and the superbly creamy, soft, meaty beef lasagna.

Classy, elegant setup and decadent fare. Pre-dinner reception at Taal Vista Ballroom 1.

Props to the bride and groom for such a beautiful, beautiful wedding. I love you both even if I had to humiliate myself in front of 200 complete strangers. And as I say to newlywed friends, welcome to the club, and I hope you enjoy your stay (or at least try your bestest to).