Garden wedding at Angel Fields

Monsignor Arnel Lagarejos mentioned to me that there are lesser people getting married these days, inside the church.

More and more couples are opting for a garden wedding.  Some call it  a Christian wedding, others simply non-denominational. Catholic priests cannot officiate the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony outside the church no more. Not on the beach. Not on the rooftop, by the cliff, on the ridge, not on Mt. Pulag. They also cannot marry same sex couples because the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony is specific—to sanctify the union of a man and a woman.
Many same sex couples choose garden or beach weddings for their romantic ceremony.

There’s a fairly new events place in Silang, Cavite, along the Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay Road called Angel Fields. It’s owned by Bernardo “Bernie” Concepcion, former president of Swifts, and one of the children of industrialist Jose Concepcion, fondly called Joecon of Concepcion Industries (Condura, Carrier, RFM, Selecta, etc).

My daughter attended a garden wedding at Angel fields a month ago. My niece mentioned to me that several of her friends had their wedding there too kaya daw yung photos pare-pareho na. A few times, I’ve also seen vehicles lining up to enter the complex. ibig sabihin marami ng dyaan nagpapakasal.

According to Chian Callaghan, owner of Narra Hill (events place in Laurel, Batangas with stunning Taal lake view), the rent of venue here at Angel Fields is P285,000.
Maybe the garden area rents for less.   Angel Fields has a garden good for 500 people.Comparatively, Chian rents out her Narra Hill banquet hall for P165,000 good for 200 persons.

 

Entrance to Angel Fields

angel fields, cobbled stones

I have always been curious what the imposing structure was. It could be seen from Sta. Rosa Road. The following week, on my way to Tagaytay, I decided to swing by to satisfy my curiosity.

angel fields, driveway

The place is certainly huge, parang isang barangay. Well, 10 hectares.

We were on our way out when I noticed ducks. Oh ducks. Ducks mean so much to me. When I was small, my father raised ducks. He had a duck farm. angel fields, ducks on the pond

I got off the vehicle and took photos. The owner, who was there giving instructions to the workers saw me but he was nice enough to let me be.
angel fields,

Seven Peking ducks. I would like to have Peking Ducks too, not roasted but live, alive and kicking and swimming like them! Here I am again, gaya-gaya puto maya.
angel fields, Peking Ducks, pond

I met his friend Rachelle who is always there at the site to help Bernie oversee the 10 – hectare estate. According to her, Bernie purchased the 7 hectare property 15 years ago. He kept buying till the place ballooned to 10 hectares more or less. Everything there is his idea and one could tell that money is no object. This was validated by Rachelle. She said when he likes something, he doesn’t take into consideration the cost. Kaya naman ang ganda nung lugar.

That’s him, the one wearing a hat.
angel fields, Bernie Concepcion

Rachel was very accommodating, she showed me around.
Stylists and waiters were all busy prepping-up the venue for a 5 pm wedding that same afternoon. There’s the owner again. He’s so hands-on.
angel fields, wedding set-up

The toilets are classy. The use of mosaic marble stones even on the ceilings clearly says it all, hindi nga sya budget conscious. Pagka ako naman I compute right away how much it would cost me.
angel fields, toilet

The restrooms look elegant in actual.

angel fields, toilets for the event hall

The use of stained hardwood made the ceiling look grander. angel fields, grand ceiling

One could tell that the owner has deep spirituality. He’s religious daw according to Rachel.
angel fields, Bible verse

Imported from France, a Holy Family Sculpture. Maybe there would eventually be a church in the complex called Holy Family.
angel fields, Holy Family sculpture

They will open a souvenir store and restaurants soon. For now, there’s just a small table selling wedding souvenirs.
angel fields, wedding souvenir items

Oh, yun pala, si Jeffrey at Maria ang ikakasal. Nung araw hindi uso yung merong mga pangalan like this. This was made by the events organizer / stylist.
angel fields, Jeffrey and Maria board

There’s another wedding at Angel Fields on the same night but since the place is huge, they would not be able to encroach on each other’s event. This one is in a garden tucked away in the woods.  It’s way down and deep into the property.

Stylists were working on the curtains for the bride’s dramatic entrance.
angel fields, wedding

The staff of Joshia’s Catering was setting up the buffet tables.  The waiter told me there would be 165 guests.
That’s a good number. Intimate lang. Hindi parang convention.

angel fields, table setting by Joshia's Catering

 

Rain-rain go away…

angel fields, chairs

Tent
angel fields, reception tent

A simple and plain garden could turn into something magical with the use of lights at night. Sabitan mo lang ng Christmas lights yung mga puno, romantic na rin ang dating.
Angel fields, garden reception

angel fields,  garden reception

I suppose this is were the bride would “walk down the isle”.
angel fields, planters

This candle holder / flower stand was provided for by the events stylist.
angel fields, candle and flower stand

They were making a makeshift altar for the wedding ceremony.

This is were the bride and groom would read their vows na isang buwan nilang sinulat, kinopya or ipinasulat. They have to read their kodigos with feelings. Pa-emote-emote.  They will promise to each other Forever and Ever.
Nung ikinasal kami wala namang vow-vows. I DO lang and the repeat after me portion. Parang mas effective pa yon, kasi couples stayed together longer.

angel fields, makeshift altar

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