Of Veils and Trails

SHANGRI-LA’S MACTAN RESORT & SPA, CEBU UNVEILS WEDDINGS IN PARADISE THROUGH “OF VEILS AND TRAILS”

May 9, Saturday, was a day of joyful romance as Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Cebu restaged Of Veils and Trails, a graceful wedding fair in the city’s most elegant address for weddings.

After its successful debut last year, the hotel restaged Of Veils and Trails this year to re-engage couples seeking to fulfill their dream wedding.

The wedding fair opened with registered couples taken on personally guided tours around the resort as pictures of their perfect wedding were presented at the resort’s most sought-after bridal venues.


Flaunting the beauty of a tropical seaside venue, the iconic Ocean Pavilion, as styled by Pink Flora, was swathed in bouquets of deeply rich red roses – a perfect contrast to the serene cerulean waters of the Mactan Channel.


For couples who wish to have the sun, sea and sand not as mere accents, but focal points in their celebrations, the beachfront was dotted with decorative white twig trees adorned with white hanging lamps and confetti. AW Flowers accented the area with a splatter of red roses and petals and a red nautical-inspired cake by Marissa Unchuan.


To celebrate at nature’s threshold, the Ocean Terraces took on a pure and pristine feel with rows of sail-white flowers and furniture pieces amidst the lush greenery and gentle breeze of the ocean.


A garden setting against the chandelier-draped Mactan Ballroom was both romantic and whimsical, as designed by Simple Wishes. Columns of fresh greens entwined with falling crystals and rose buds stood high above tables laden with roses of the freshest colors – sunny yellows, peaches and pinks. Tasteful flatware and refined table accessories completed the fancifully chic ambience.

Couples were then ushered to The Marquee, where they conferred with Cebu’s finest wedding professionals – from florists, hair and make-up stylists, pastry artists, decor providers, printers, photographers, videographers and bridal jewelry suppliers to lights and sound experts.

While last year’s wedding fair showcased Cebu’s most respected fashion artisans, this year’s celebrations put on stage Cebu’s pool of talented entertainers. With music an important element to any celebration, solo performance by On the Cover, Jake Juleous Gacang, Session Four, John Walt & Axel and Kate Torralba captured the romantic spirit of the day. A finale performance gathered all entertainers for a fitting rendition of “Marry You” to put everyone in a celebratory mood.

The main highlight for this year’s fair was the food showcase staged by the resort’s culinary team.


“We appreciate that weddings continue to merge the couple’s personal style with traditional touches, and wedding menus are no exception. A wedding menu can take many forms, from a simple self-service buffet to an elaborate five-course meal. Our food showcase will demonstrate our culinary team’s creativity, ensuring that our reception menus are as unique as every other element of the wedding,” said Executive Chef Frank Bohdan.


Five stations were put on full display as part of the food showcase. On the table for the Philippine Romance station were homegrown favorites that have become part of any Filipino household celebration – Empanada (stuffed pastry), Pancit Palabok (rice noodles in thick shrimp-flavored sauce), Tokwa’t Baboy (boiled pork and fried tofu), and live stations for Bibingka (rice cake) and Lumpia (fresh spring roll). The station served to evoke childhood memories for couples wanting to add nostalgia and share their story through dishes inspired by their own family’s kitchens.

For couples who want to make the reception personal and play up on their favorite ingredient or food item, the chefs demonstrated the versatility of Lemongrass. At the Lemongrass station were Minced Wagyu Beef Skewer with Curry Spice, Minced Australian Lamb Skewer with Moroccan Spice, Tomato Relish and Mustard Seeds, and Minced Seafood Skewer with Citrus-Lemon Aioli, among others.


Going local and fresh is always a good option when planning a menu, thus, the chefs presented Cebu’s succulent mangoes in a flair of mango-inspired dishes – Prawn Cocktail in Mango Salsa, Shredded Chicken, Soba Noodles and Seaweed with Teriyaki Mango Dressing, Crab and Mango Cocktail, and Chili Garlic-Marinated Mushrooms in Mango Balsamic Vinegar.

Taste buds were taken on a Mediterranean fling with the colorful, vibrant tapestry of the Mediterranean station. Braised Lamb with Thyme, Ravioli Seafood Butter and Sage, Turkey Meatballs in Pistachio Sauce, Eggplants Parmigiana and Spanish Paella were some of the dishes that displayed the aromatic, hearty, well-balanced attributes of Mediterranean cuisine.


A whimsical cupcake tower served as the final centerpiece in the food showcase, with two lovely ladies in cupcake gowns adding a playful touch.

The afternoon was fulfilled with lucky couples winning privileged honeymoon stays at fellow Shangri-La properties, such as Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa, Philippines; Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu; Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu; Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang; Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong; Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai; Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok; Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur; Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore; Shangri‑La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Sultanate of Oman; and Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi.

Of Veils and Trails was a blissful success. To thank the couples for choosing to celebrate their nuptials at the resort, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Cebu presented couples who confirmed their wedding arrangements on the day special savings on reception packages and several perks and benefits.

“Wedding etiquette dictates only that couples throw a gracious and thoughtful celebration. The most important goal of any wedding is that it expresses the couple’s taste. Of Veils and Trails is meant to give inspiration to couples as they orchestrate their ‘forever’,” concluded Albert Lafuente, the resort’s sales and marketing director.

To realize the wedding of their dreams, guests may contact Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Cebu at (63 32) 231 8165.

For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.