Destination Wedding Bohol
Introduction to Bohol
Located in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, Bohol is a popular tourist destination that’s favored by locals and foreign visitors. Famed for its scuba diving spots and wide array of natural attractions, this charming island is a perfect tropical getaway for the entire family.
Bohol’s capital city is Tagbilaran but its claim to fame is the famous Chocolate Hills in the town of Carmen. The Chocolate Hills is a natural phenomenon featuring over 1,000 hills that look like chocolate kisses from afar. A public viewdeck gives visitors a bird’s eye view of this mysterious geographical formation. The collection of hills is called such because during the dry season, the hills go grass-less and reveal its brown soil, making them look like a thousand chocolate kisses.
But the most popular tourist site in Bohol to date is definitely the powdery, white sand and crystal blue waters of the famed Panglao Island, which is reachable through a bridge from the mainland. This enchanting island is packed with private and public beaches, such as Alona and Dumaluan that have immaculate coastlines.
The Panglao International Airport opened in 2018 and offers direct flights to and from Manila (the Philippine capital), Davao (from Mindanao), and chartered flights from Seoul, South Korea.
Why Choose Bohol for Your Destination Wedding
The island of Bohol has become popular as a location for destination weddings. Its beaches are undoubtedly beautiful, providing an idyllic backdrop to exchange vows in front of friends and family. But aside from the bountiful beauty of the island’s coastlines, Bohol boasts of having the best of both worlds, making any wedding memorable and hassle-free. Here are the top reasons why Bohol is the perfect place for a destination wedding:
Unlimited Venue Options
Because Bohol is a top tourist destination in the Philippines, there are countless hotels and resorts on the island that cater to wedding celebrations. Whether you’re looking for an ultra-exclusive venue for a small party of 25 guests or a grand celebration with 500 guests, Bohol has the venue for you.
World-Class Suppliers
Bohol is home to world-class entertainers, stylists, fashion designers, make-up artists, photographers, and every vendor you need for your wedding.
Perfect Weather
During the dry season, Bohol has the perfect weather for the dreamiest beach wedding. For several months of the year, you can choose the date of your wedding and rest assured you will have the most ideal weather to celebrate your union. Even during the rainy season, there are still some days where the sun shines all day long, and even if it doesn’t, there are many venues on the island that offer spectacular indoor settings that are just as grand as a beach location.
Wealth of Activities
Bohol is the perfect place to bring your entire family and friends for a wedding weekend. You won’t run out of things to do and see in Bohol, as there is so much to do and so much to experience for the entire family to enjoy. Take a countryside tour and visit the famed Chocolate Hills, the Mahogany Forest, the Bohol Bee Farm, and the Tarsier Sanctuary. A Loboc River lunch cruise is also a great experience to enjoy, as well as island hopping around the many islands that dot Panglao Island.
Can Double as a Honeymoon Destination
You won’t need to travel to another destination to have your honeymoon. Bohol can double as your honeymoon after your wedding celebration. Luxury hotels have private villas and accommodations that cater to honeymooners, as well as special packages that are exclusive for couples, which make Bohol the perfect place to begin the rest of your lives together.
For those who want to have a traditional wedding ceremony in a Catholic church, Bohol is also the perfect place in the country to have such. Bohol is home to spectacular churches, where some of the churches have been declared as national historic landmarks. Bohol’s old stone churches make for the perfect Catholic wedding ceremony.
Best Time of the Year to Do a Wedding in Bohol
The best time of the year to have your wedding in Bohol is the dry season, which is from November to April. The weather is perfect for a beach wedding celebration, as the breeze is cool during these months, rather than hot and humid. The hottest and most humid time of the year is May, so even though it’s absolutely sunny during this month, you might want to think about having your reception indoors as it can get pretty hot and sticky.
The months of August to late October is the rainy season in Bohol so you might want to reconsider your wedding date or talk about contigency plan with your wedding planner if you’re thinking about having your wedding at this time of the year.
Most Popular Wedding Venues in Bohol
As mentioned, there are plenty of hotels and resorts in Bohol today, giving you limitless possibilities when it comes to your wedding venue. Let’s take a look at the most popular wedding venues in Bohol:
1. South Palms Resort
One of the most exclusive and luxurious resorts in Bohol, South Palms boasts of having the longest beach among all resorts on the island. Each and every suite and villa in this resort is situated a few meters from the beach, giving each guest beachfront views and access. It’s a vast property, complete with 2 pools, a gym, tennis court, basketball court, and restaurant. Its expansive beach and grounds create a private atmosphere that will make you feel like you’re the only guests in the resort.
South Palms offers two wedding packages: the Basic and Premium wedding package, where a ceremony is held on the beach as well as the reception. However, if you wish to have your reception indoors, you can also do so by choosing between the resort’s two conference rooms.
2. Bohol Beach Club
Established in 1984, Bohol Beach Club is one of the pioneers of luxury resorts on the island. The resort has 3 pools and vast gardens, offering plenty of space for guests to roam around and enjoy their time in this tropical haven.
They have 2 wedding venues to choose from: the Taclobo Pavilion (which is their largest function room) and The Courtyard, which is a large open-air landscaped area. Couples can also opt to have their wedding on a private spot along the resort’s 1.5km stretch of private beach.
3. Amorita Resort
This award-winning boutique resort is situated on a cliff overlooking Alona Beach and Siquijor Island from afar. With two infinity pools, a spa, gym, and an in-house PADI dive center, Amorita is perfect for a packed wedding weekend with family and friends.
The resort offers two venues for a wedding celebration: on their Cliff Deck, or at their private beach. They can accommodate a party of 100 to 200 guests, and their wedding package includes buffet dinner, welcome lunch for the couple, and accommodation at their Pool Villa.
4. Eskaya Resort
Eskaya is another boutique resort on Bohol that offers luxury living. They have a limited number of private villas, all of which have private pools, and defined as being single-detached thatched villas made with natural materials such as bamboo, wood, and cogon.
The resort features their very own 600-meter private beach, which makes for the perfect location for an intimate beach wedding ceremony. Or you can also choose to have your celebration in the resort’s 39-acre premises. An events manager will be assigned to you so you can create a customized and personalized wedding package.
5. Mithi Resort and Spa
This luxury resort is located far from the crowds of Alona Beach, giving it a tranquil environment that’s perfect for relaxing. The resort offers two wedding venues: the man-made Dream Islet, or the Garden Square, which is an open-air pavilion. Among the inclusions of their wedding package are a bridal car, styling services, a 2-layer fondant cake, complimentary accommodation for the couple, among others.
6. The Peacock Garden
An award-winning boutique resort on the mainland of Bohol, The Peacock Garden is a beautiful resort with a European flair. The property is perched on a hilltop offering spectacular views of the Bohol Sea, which can also be viewed from the balconies featured in each room. With plenty of facilities meant for celebration, such as a private music and dance hall and an infinity pool, the resort is ideal for a wedding weekend filled with activities for your entire wedding party.
The resort offers wedding packages that can accommodate a party of 50 to 100 guests. Couples can also have the option of exclusive use of the entire resort.
7. BE Grand Bohol
This internationally recognized resort features over 100 rooms and suites, as well as 19 residential villas, making it an ideal resort for your entire wedding party.
Situated on a hilltop, BE Grand Bohol offers scenic views of the blue waters ahead, creating the perfect backdrop for your equally spectacular wedding. They offer wedding packages that are completely customizable so you can enjoy a personalized wedding ceremony and reception according to your specific needs and tastes.
8. The Bellevue
An eco-friendly resort, The Bellevue takes pride in their ASEAN Green Hotel Award for their much lauded sustainability practices. A luxury resort offering 3 wedding packages, they can accommodate a wedding party anywhere between 50 to 100 guests. Among the inclusions of their packages are a dinner buffet, spa services for the couple, a complimentary overnight stay for the couple, as well as a bottle of Moet and Chandon for the couple toast.
9. Pure Shores Bohol
Located in Anda, Pure Shores is a private luxury villa featuring 5 bedrooms, an infinity pool, a landscaped garden, and a dedicated in-house staff. A private resort all to your own, it makes for the perfect venue for an intimate wedding celebration with close family and friends. The gardens can accommodate a party of 25 to 120 guests. So whether your have a small or big wedding, Pure Shores is the perfect spot for your exclusive wedding party.
How to Reach Bohol
There are two ways to reach Bohol is you’re coming from out of the country. You can take a flight to Manila, which is the capital, and from there, take a flight directly to Panglao International Airport. Or, you can take a flight to Cebu, which is nearer, and take a ferry or flight to Bohol.
If you’re coming from a different part of the country, there are several flights to and from Bohol. There are flights from Mindanao which go directly to the Panglao International Airport, such as from Davao or Cagayan de Oro. If you’re coming from Negros and other nearby islands, there are ferries that go to Bohol on a daily basis.
Hiring a Wedding Planner in Bohol
Hiring a wedding planner in Bohol will save you time, money, and costly mistakes. Time, because if you have a day job or business, chances are, you won’t have the time to fly to Bohol on a regular basis. Ocular visits, meetings with suppliers, food tasting, and the like can take so much of your time that it can be a burden to you both physically and financially.
A wedding planner saves you money because he or she will know all the suppliers in Bohol, are equipped with bargaining skills, and have the goal of keeping things within budget at all times. They’ve also formed relationships with vendors, so they can easily negotiate prices, as well as know the quality of their work.
A wedding planner can also act as the peace mediator before and during your wedding. When things don’t go right, as there will be instances that are out of your control, you wouldn’t want to be right there on people’s faces in your wedding gown, do you? In cases where things are going awry, such as a band canceling at the very last minute, or the best man losing your wedding rings (yikes!), your wedding planner will be the one to make things smooth running as it should be.