Our Road to the Altar: WANTED: The Perfect Church

Hello, dear readers!

So as you know, Kelvin and I have decided to get married in Batangas. So last month we, along with my family, went around looking for the best church and reception venue.

Before we even hit the road in search of THE CHURCH, there were a number of things that Kelvin and I had taken into consideration. If you are reading this and you are planning your own wedding, you may find these tips helpful:

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1. The budget – I’ve looked and asked around and found out that church rates range from P5,000.00 to P30,000.00 depending on the location and size of the church. In Manila, some of the best places to get married in are St. John Bosco Parish, San Agustin Church, St. Therese Shrine, Malate Church, and Manila Cathedral. Obviously, the bigger the church is, the more expensive it is; these big churches' rates can range from P25,000.00 to P30,000.00. Some churches, depending on the number of reservations, will require that reservations are made at least 2 years before the wedding date. Churches in the provinces, are of course, way cheaper than the ones in Manila. Another popular place to get married in, is Tagaytay City. I’ve also asked around and found out that the churches in Tagaytay are more affordable than those in Manila, with prices ranging from P10,000.00 to P15,000.00. Churches outside Tagaytay are even more affordable, with rates dropping to as low as P5,000.00. Since Kelvin and I are on a limited budget, we were sure that we wouldn’t want a church that would charge us more than Php 10,000.00.

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2. Headcount – Couples who are planning to get married will also want to consider the church’s capability to hold their desired number of guests. You want to make sure that the church you've fallen in love with will be able to comfortably hold all of your guests. The last thing the couple wants to see on their wedding day is a horde of guests trying to get comfortable on the steps or sides of the church. Kelvin and I are looking at 150-200 guests for the wedding so we want to make sure that the church can accommodate about 200-300 guests.

3. Photos/Video Coverage – Make sure to ask the church about their protocols when it comes to photo and video coverage. I found out some time last year that some churches will not allow photographers and videographers to record from the altar as this compromises the solemnity of the altar.

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4. Church Amenities – Couples also have to make sure to ask about the parking, air conditioning, carpet, and other decorations.

Parking - If most of your guests will be bringing their own vehicles, make sure to ask the church and check if there is ample space for your guests to park. You may also want to check the distance from the carpark to the church. Just think of all the ladies who will be wearing sky-high heels! You may want to consider getting a valet attendant if the parking area is a bit a ways from the church.
Air Conditioning – If you’re planning to get married in the summer, you may want to consider getting a church with air-conditioning facilities. Just think of your enchanting entourage wearing their long gowns, dresses, suits, and elaborate ensembles. :)
Carpet – If you are the fancy type of a bride and would want to walk down the aisle on a lovely shade of red carpet, make sure to ask the church if they have one of those, as not all churches have that fabulous red carpet most brides want to walk on.

5. Officiant – If you’re planning on inviting your favourite priest to bind you and your fiancé in the sacred bond of marriage, make sure to ask the church if you can bring your own priest. There are some churches who are quite strict when it comes to these things especially if the priest that you are inviting does not belong to the same ordinate (Franciscan, Benedictine, Capuchin, Military, etc.)

6. Vows – If you’re also thinking of reading your vows in the church, make sure to ask the church as not all churches allow the couple to read their vows during the ceremony

7. Music – make sure to also ask the church if they will allow you to play non-religious songs during the bridal procession and the communion.

8. Significance to the couple - As beautiful as the church may be, it's a huge bonus if the church holds a certain significance to the couple. In this case, the church that Kelvin and I chose has a strong significance to me. This is the church where my parents got married in. This was also where my mom's sisters got married in. This church saw me in my younger years spending my vacation months with my cousins. It witnessed my grandfather's devotion and dedication to the Lord. I've never met my maternal grandfather, you see. He passed away from a heart condition when my mom was twelve. So the church serves as my only link to the grandfather I never met. This church is so dear to my heart as this church witnessed weddings, baptisms, confessions, and wakes of my family's dearly departed.

The moment Kelvin stepped inside this church, he fell in love with it. The church was not too big, nor too small. It was the perfect fit for an intimate wedding.

The rate was not too bad, we might be able to book the church for as low as eight thousand; it can also comfortably accommodate a population of three hundred, and has air-conditioning, red carpet, and a lovely parking area!

Here are some pictures of us as we toured the church in Lipa.