About a month ago, environmentalist friends Rina and Don tied the knot at Casa San Pablo in Laguna. I found their wedding venue so great that I ended up interviewing owner Boots Alcantara after the dinner reception for this article published in Sunday Inquirer Magazine.
It was our first time to visit Casa San Pablo, which is one of the destinations in the famous Viaje del Sol route, a popular art, culture and foodie destination tour.
Casa San Pablo has sprawling gardens, Baguio-like pine trees, vine-covered trellis hanging from the balconies and beautiful blooms, making it an ideal place for a garden wedding.
The venue provides a fun, homey, laid-back vibe. There are loads of picture-perfect spots ideal for pre-nup or wedding photography, from the wooden hammocks in the garden, spiral staircase, and colorful cottage doorways.
Aside from the natural beauty of the place, quirky country details and well-placed decorations add a unique charm.
Boots styled the event himself, using Paete-style taka, fresh flowers from the garden, and other decorations they had on hand that matched the Filipiniana theme.
The food was also excellent. I particularly liked the lechon and the tilapia in beer batter with mango salsa. Guests who arrived early were also treated to suman and hot chocolate.
Small candles in jars were strung on trees and lined the pathways at night, adding to the romantic atmosphere.
It really was a lovely wedding. Rates are pretty reasonable too. For those interested, check out Casa San Pablo’s website for details and instructions how to get there.
Casa San Pablo is located at Barrio San Roque, San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines · 0917-8126687 · Fax 724-7023 · info@casasanpablo.com/casasanpablo.boots@gmail.com
Wedding photos by Kara Santos; Photobooth pics by MyPartyRocks Photo Booth.
Why, thank you Nina :p Yeah, the lechon was to die for. Forgot to take pics of food. Too hungry when dinner was served. We all kept going back to the buffet table for more. 😉
Looking gorgeous, Kara! 😀
Casa San Pablo is the most relaxing place I’ve ever stayed in. And yes, the food! OMG! That lechon and the hot chocolate is unforgettable!
Hi – I’m Don’s cousin from Seattle. What beautiful images! Don and Rina are very lucky to have such a talented friend as you to help them capture their wedding day in such a memorable way. Keep up the wonderful photography!
Arlene
Thank you Arlene. Am glad you liked the photos. Hope you’ve seen the very cute video of the couple put together during the wedding that you can watch in Rina’s blog . http://wolverina.wordpress.com/
Hi Kara! We just stumbled upon your blog. Thank you so much for posting. Your images are so wonderful. You captured the charm of our place, even we are captivated by what you see. Please come and stay with us again. There have been quite a few changes since you were there. We have an all-day breakfast cafe now and the second pool is now open again. Hope to see you soon.
Hi Boots. Wow, thanks so much for your kind words. We really love Casa San Pablo and enjoyed our stay when we motorcycled back there last October. We’ve been meaning to do the seven lakes tour you recommended. We’ll be sure to drop by again one of these days! 🙂