Mabuhay and Servus!

We are thrilled to invite you to our Filipino-German wedding ceremony to the Philippines! Since we already got married on May 17, 2023 at the civil registry office in Vienna, but there was no party yet, we are inviting you to join our tropical wedding celebration on the island of Negros in the Philippines on May 17, 2025!

Schedule

For everyone, who plans to combine the trip to the Philippines with vacation, we have created a program around the wedding day. Depending on your plans, you can join us for the 3-days-program or just for the wedding on May 17, 2025.

• May 15, 2025

  17:00 Arrival of international guests and welcome drinks at the pool bar of Solaj Beach Resort

• May 16, 2025

  10:00 Activity – it’s still a secret, but be assured that we will let you experience something great 😉

  18:00 Dinner at the house of Janette’s family

• May 17, 2025

  14:00 Church ceremony at Dauin Church

  16:00 Reception at Solaj Beach Resort

  18:00 Dinner and party

• May 18, 2025

  09:00 Breakfast for everybody who is staying at Solaj Beach Resort

Dresscode

Come as you are or as you feel comfortable! We know that wearing formal clothes in the tropical heat might be exhausting, so we decided to not have a strict dresscode. Nevertheless, for the official ceremony your clothing should be appropriate for a catholic church. Later during the party, you can wear whatever you like. Since there is also a small swimming pool, don’t forget to bring your swim wear 😉

Wedding Gift

Traveling to the Philippines and joining our celebration is the greatest gift we can imagine! Since you might spend already enough to go there, we are just happy with your attendance at the ceremony!

Music

We are planning to have a live band, but for the breaks in between their sessions or the time afterwards, feel free to add some songs to our shared party playlist of Spotify!

How to get there

From Europe, the easiest way to fly to the Philippines is via another Asian country or the Middle East towards Manila. Your destination airport will be Dumaguete (DGT). There are a few daily flight from Manila (MNL) and 1-2 daily flights from Cebu City (CEB). From Manila to Dumaguete it takes approx. 1 hour by airplane, flights are operated by Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.

To reach Manila, you can easily connect via Bangkok (Thai Airways), Singapore (Singapore Airlines), Hongkong (Cathay Pacific), Taipei (China Airlines or Eva Air), Dubai (Emirates), Doha (Qatar Airways), Muscat (Oman Air), Bahrain (Gulf Air) or Abu Dhabi (Etihad). Unfortunately, there are no direct flights anymore from Europe to the Philippines. Most European tourists can stay in the Philippines up to 21 days without visa.

Where to stay and how to get around

The ceremony and party will take place at

St. Nicholas of Tolentino Church, Dauin and Solaj Beach Resort, Zamboanguita.

From the church to Solaj Beach Resort it takes a 10 min car ride (9 km). Unfortunately, Solaj Beach Resort is a very small venue, which is good for a private party, but not offering enough rooms for everyone to stay. Therefore we recommend to stay in any of the airbnbs or resorts nearby. We can also arrange rooms in a big airbnb house directly next to Solaj Beach Resort (the house can take up to 28 persons, mostly in larger rooms for 3-8 persons. If you are interested to stay there, let us know).

St. Nicholas of Tolentino Church, Dauin

Solaj Beach Resort

Flyer of the airbnb next to Solaj Beach Resort:

Otherwise, the nearest resorts are:

• Mahi Mahi Dive Resort (approx. 300 m)
• Thalatta Dive Resort (approx. 600 m)
• Wellbeach Dive Resort (approx. 1 km)

If you are staying in a resort, they should be able to pick you at Dumaguete Airport. Using public transportation is a bit complicated, since you first have to take a tricycle towards Dumaguete City and then go by bus or jeepney. Otherwise, getting a rental car is also a good option. Since there are no big rental car companies at Dumaguete airport, we recommend to contact an old friend of us, which has a car rental business now. You can contact him in Facebook https://www.facebook.com/danielautomotors/.

Activities within the Visayas region

Negros Island

• Snorkel or dive at the tropical reefs of Apo Island (day trip from Negros Island, around 30-60 min by boat)
• Visit Dumaguete City
• Enjoy the worldclass macro and critter dive sites around Dauin
• Drive to Siaton and relax at Cocoo’s Nest, a small resort with a nice white beach where you will sleep in open bamboo huts
• Go on a doplhin watching tour at Bais City
• Drive to the mountains and relax in one of the hot springs

Siquijor Island

• perfect for a 2/3 day trip from Dumaguete City (takes by ferry approx. 1 – 2 hours)
• visit the beautiful white sandy beaches at Tubod Beach or Paliton Beach
• get a rental scooter and cruise around the island
• explore Cantabon Cave (with a guide!)
• enjoy the great view at the Mt. Bandilaan, the highest point of the island
• refresh yourself in the turquoise water of Cambugahay Falls
• get a relaxing foot fish spa in the spring near the Old Enchanted Balete Tree

Cebu Island

• Snorkel with the whalesharks at Oslob
• Jump into the refreshing waters of Tumalog Falls (near Oslob)
• Dive with the tresher sharks in Malapascua Island (at the very north of Cebu)
• Visit Cebu City
• Dive with thousands of sardines at Pescador Island and Moalboal

Bohol Island

• Visit the Chocolate hills and Tarsiers (world’s smallest monkeys)
• Have a blast at Alona Beach

Further hotspots in the Philippines

• Boracay Island: Beautiful white sandy beach, but also a lot of resorts and tourist. The Mallorca of the Philippines.
• Palawan: Island group in the very west of the Philippines. Amazing limestone formations, beautiful beaches and an underground river are well known. Fly to Puerta Princesa or El Nido to see this place.
• Coron Bay: The northern part of Palawan. Beautiful limestone formations and worldclass wreck diving (lots of wrecks from WWII). Fly to Busuanga.
• Banaue Rice Terraces: World Heritage Site in the very north of Luzon. Can be combined with a visit at Baguio (“summer capital of the Philippines”), a city in the mountains and thus with a bit milder climate.
• Siargao: El Dorado for surfers with nice beaches and rocky islands.

The both of us will be in Negros from the beginning of May 2025 until the wedding, since we still have to attend some organizational appointments in advance. Let us know in case you are around a few days in advance, so we might be able to meet already before the ceremony.

We are looking forward to see you in the Philippines and enjoy this celebration together with you! If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to contact us!

See you soon!

Janette & Matthias