Wedding Prep Update #3

CHURCH
The church is essentially the most important item in our wedding preparation checklist, or for any Catholic Wedding ceremony so to speak. It is the place where we will exchange our vows of eternal love, where God will give His blessing to us through the officiating priest, and where He will make Ness and I become one in His eyes and in front of our families, friends, and the community.

Because of the important role that the church plays in making our wedding successful and significant, it goes without saying that the process of selecting the perfect church for our wedding is one lengthy and challenging ordeal. There are hundreds of churches to choose from in Metro Manila alone. We also have to consider the location, the architectural style, even the color of main door and the length of the aisle.

We tried also to consider a location which served as a "stage" that witnessed our blossoming relationship. The Pasig area is one of our most memorable areas, so it was the first stop for "church-hunting". Our first choice was The Nativity of Our Lady Church in Industrial Valley, Marikina City (just beside Pasig City). However, we found out that the whole Diocese of Antipolo, where the church is situated, does not celebrate weddings on a Sunday. So it was a major disappointment for us. We have to look for another church.

San Miguel Church, Manila

We have tried the popular churches such as San Sebastian Church, Manila Cathedral, and San Agustin Church. However, we realized these churches are already run-off-the-mill or, in Filipino speak, gasgas especially when it comes to weddings. We wanted our wedding to be unique in every aspect, so we looked further and found this simple yet beautiful church hidden from the concrete jungle that is Manila.

The San Miguel Church perfectly exudes our idea of a perfect wedding church. It is nestled in a quiet and considerably peaceful community just beside the Malacanang Palace. What makes the church extraordinary in our opinion is its simplicity and rich history. Former president Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Romualdez were said to have married here in the mid-50s. It was one of the churches I've been to during one of my personal visita iglesias, and I agree with Ness' description of a quiet neighborhood and simple but magnetic aura of the church. This perfectly fits our "unique" criterion. And we have not heard of big weddings here in recent years. It's time for San Miguel Church to make a major comeback this year when Ness and I will exchange our vows there!

I have to give credit to my baby who worked hard to discover this lovely church. I love only you beh, 104 days to go!