Fall in love with these 10 small wedding venues in Cebu

Finding an intimate wedding venue in Cebu can be a bit of a challenge. What can we say? Filipinos love big celebrations that involve the whole (extended) family, and most places tend to cater to that.

But hey, not all hope is lost.

If your dream is to celebrate your wedding with only a handful of your closest friends and family, these small wedding venues might just do the trick:

1. For a vintage touch: Circa 1900

check out more of Izzy and George’s wedding here.

Hidden at the heart of the metropolis, Circa 1900 has been the backdrop of many intimate weddings — and for good reason.

The place sits on a huge property that features two colonial houses from the early 1900s: Casa Uno and Casa Dos. With their capiz windows, classic hardwood floors, and high ceilings, these restored houses gently take you back to simpler, more romantic times.

Fancy wearing a Filipiniana-and-barong ensemble? Circa is the perfect place for that.

Another thing that we love about Circa is its wide selection of spaces for intimate weddings. You can have a small ceremony on one of their balconies, throw a party in their lush gardens, or have a cozy get-together indoors — all of them are great choices.

Lastly, Circa’s location near the city’s uptown area makes it a convenient venue for you and your guests. It’s only a short drive from churches like St. Therese, Sacred Heart, and Redemptorist, so you don’t have to go far to enjoy an intimate reception with your loved ones.

If you’re keen on sprinkling some old-world magic into your wedding without traveling far, Circa 1900 is your best choice.

2. For an exclusive wedding by the beach: Shangri-la Mactan’s Ocean Pavilion

check out more of Cathy and Mark’s wedding here.

• Capacity: 20-50 guests
• Typical budget: Starts at P100,000.00
• Location: Punta Engaño Road, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines 6015 
• Contact: (032) 231 0288
• Facebook page: Shangri-la Mactan’s Ocean Pavilion

Nestled in one corner of the sprawling Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa, the Ocean Pavilion looks like a place straight out of a storybook.

We love how the little slants of light come through the Pavilion’s glass panels. Its unique architecture also combines the best of both worlds. On one hand, you get to say “I do” with an unparalleled view of the horizon, and on the other, you’re safe and cozy indoors.

The best of both worlds, indeed.

With Shangri-La’s 5-star hospitality, you’ll also have everything you need for a fun celebration. You can start with pre-wedding cocktails at CHI Spa Tea Pavilion, throw a memorable after-party at their 350-meter beachfront, and then spend a relaxing night in one of their luxury suites. Plus, their wedding packages already include an English-speaking minister — so, really, what more could you ask for?

For stunning city views: Chateau de Busay

• Capacity: 100-350 guests
• Typical budget: Starts at P75,000 
• Location: Lower Busay Nivel Hills, Cebu Transcentral Highway, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
• Contact: (032) 401 0564
• Facebook page: Chateau de Busay

Located just 30 minutes from the city center, Chateau de Busay can literally elevate any intimate wedding.

Their Garden and Upper Halls have an open layout perfect for intimate, rustic-themed ceremonies, but if we had to choose, their City View Garden and Gazebo takes the cake as the best venue.

This spacious area features Cebu’s famed mountains on one side and a panoramic view of the city on the other. If you want to incorporate fireworks into your event, Cebu’s night sky makes a great background for that. You can watch the show from Chateau’s rooftop, too.

While Chateau de Busay can cater to a larger crowd, they do offer intimate packages for as few as 10 guests. You might have to ask whether there are several weddings booked on the same day as yours, though. Because of the open layout of the event spaces, noise from another wedding’s program might overlap with your own. If you can help it, book the Chateau during the off-season. Say, September to November?

If you love garden weddings that come with romantic views, Chateau de Busay is our best bet.

For a beachfront wedding that won’t break the bank: Chateau by the Sea

• Capacity: up to 350 guests 
• Typical budget: Starts at P60,000
• Location: Barangay Buot, Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City, 6015 Cebu
• Contact: (032) 505 7701
• Facebook page: Chateau by the Sea

If you’re saving for things other than your wedding ceremony but still want a tropical beachfront wedding, Chateau by the Sea might be a great option.

This venue provides all the ingredients to a classic beach or destination wedding: the sea breeze, the sound of the waves, your guests in easy-breezy wear, cocktails at the lounge, and that sunset beachfront ceremony — all at a much more affordable rate than the other resorts in Mactan island. 

If you have guests coming from other parts of the country, the Chateau is just a few minutes’ drive from the Mactan Cebu International Airport, so they’ll have ample time to get ready for your wedding if they’re flying in on the same day.

Chateau by the Sea also has a stunning boardwalk and marina, so make sure to have some pre-reception cocktails there, too!

For a cozy mountain getaway: Sileo Bed and Breakfast

• Capacity: Up to 50 guests
• Typical budget: P75,000
• Location: Gaas, Balamban 6041 Cebu City, Philippines
• Contact: 0919 000 7186
• Facebook page: Sileo Bed and Breakfast

Hidden in the hills of Balamban is Sileo Bed and Breakfast. This spacious rest house overlooking Mt. Manunggal takes you away from the chaos of the city and lets you enjoy rare foggy mornings, pine trees, and panoramic views of Cebu’s hilltops.

If you want your guests to experience the sunset in Sileo, make sure to start your ceremony early as it’s a 45-minute drive from the city on a good day. Don’t worry though. The Transcentral Highway’s breathtaking views will make them forget about the long drive. 

Once you arrive, Sileo welcomes you with all the trappings of a mountain getaway: comfy furniture, five spacious rooms decked with king beds, an infinity pool, plus generous verandas where you can watch the sunrise.

Sileo also has in-house staff ready to assist you and your guests, so you can have a laid-back time with your loved ones.

For casual tropical weddings: Bluewater Maribago

• Capacity: up to 1,300 guests
• Typical budget: Starts at P100,000
• Location: Buyong, Maribago Mactan Island PH, Lapu-Lapu City
• Contact: (032) 402 4100
• Facebook page: Bluewater Maribago

Bluewater Maribago is a homegrown staple for family vacations, quick getaways, and of course, intimate weddings.

While this venue can cater to up to a thousand guests (we know, it’s a lot!), you can definitely keep your list nice and casual with only your closest family and friends. In fact, that’s what Bluewater Maribago does best: casual, no-shoes-allowed, laid-back tropical beach weddings.

You’d love this resort if you’re into everything local, be it in decor, cuisine, or ambiance. It thrives in relaxed celebrations such as barefoot beach weddings and picnic receptions by the grove. 

If you want to get a taste of what they can offer for their themed wedding dinners, check out Allegro, their 24-hour restaurant which offers a mix of Filipino favorites like dinuldog, pumpkin puree with moringa leaves, and Sugpusoy, their signature pan-seared seabass. Yum!

If you want the island all to yourself: Bluewater Sumilon

• Capacity: 200 guests at the beachfront
• Typical budget: Starts at P200,000
• Location: ​​Sumilon Island, Oslob, Cebu 6025
• Contact: +6332 353 5578
• Facebook page: Bluewater Sumilon

Out of all the postcard-pretty places in Cebu, Bluewater Sumilon might just be our favorite. Located in Sumilon island just off the coast of Oslob, Bluewater Maribago’s sister resort offers privacy like no other. 

You can have your ceremony right on Sumilon’s famed sandbar, or you can celebrate with friends and family on the island’s lagoon beach. The resort also features an infinity pool with a stunning view of the sea and neighboring islands.

And then there’s our favorite: the sunset. Nothing quite beats watching the sun dip below the horizon in Sumilon. It’s really something else.

If you’ve always wanted to have an island paradise all to yourself on your wedding day — look no further than Bluewater Sumilon.

For a sophisticated urban wedding: Oakridge Horizons

• Can accommodate: 120 guests with social distancing
• Location:  5/F Block 88, Oakridge Business Park, 880 A. S. Fortuna St, Mandaue City
• Typical budget: Starts at P50,000.00
• Contact: (032) 344 3571
• Facebook page: Oakridge Horizons

Most locations within the city can feel hectic and cramped, but not Oakridge Horizons. True to its name, this venue is all about space and natural light. You get more than 700 square meters of pillar-less floor space overlooking the city. This literally gives you and your wedding photographers a lot of room to play around when it comes to your wedding portraits.

Aside from its airy interiors, Oakridge Horizons is located at the heart of Oakridge Business Park in AS Fortuna, making it accessible to most places in Metro Cebu. If you’re feeling a bit snacky or need a caffeine boost, you can quickly grab a coffee from the shops in the area.

Being close to everything doesn’t mean you’ll be lacking privacy, though. Horizons has its own outdoor terrace and entranceway, providing that air of exclusivity to you and your guests. 

Plus, Horizons can be transformed into whatever theme you imagine your wedding to be. Those Tiffany or Banquet chairs you’ve been putting on your Pinterest board? Yep, they definitely have those.

For a northern retreat: Kandaya

• Capacity: 30-300 guests
• Typical budget: Starts at P175,000
• Location: Brgy. Agujo, Daanbantayan, Cebu 6013, Philippines
• Contact: 032 260 3150
• Facebook page: Kandaya

It’s one long drive up north, but like most places on this list, Kandaya is always worth the journey.

Kandaya is a luxury resort right at the northernmost tip of Cebu. The place is spacious and features modern Cebuano architecture, paired with an uninterrupted view of the sea. It also has luxurious pool villas, generous rooms, and even a stable of horses.

Its main beach, Balas Beach Front, features a stretch of white, powdery sand and is perfect for bigger events. However, if you’d like a more intimate gathering, the Datu and Bangka Lounges might be a better fit. You can also hold your wedding in the resort’s light and breezy Pavilion, which has access to their garden.

If you think your guests won’t have anything to do during your destination wedding weekend, think again.

The resort has a spa, a yoga studio, an MMA Kombate studio, its own boats for island hopping, and other entertaining activities. Most of all, you have the option of enjoying all these amenities yourself. Isn’t that the ultimate luxury?

For panoramic cliffside weddings: Crimson Mactan

• Capacity: up to 100 guests
• Typical budget: Starts at P165,000
• Location: Seascapes Resort Town Mactan Island, Lapu-Lapu City, 6015 Cebu
• Contact: (032) 401 9999
• Facebook page: Crimson Mactan

If you’re thinking of understated elegance, Crimson definitely tops our list. Because the place isn’t huge, it immediately cancels the possibility of a big reception (which can be a good excuse to keep your guestlist nice and small *wink*).

Crimson also has a unique cliffside spot overlooking the Hiluntungan Channel, idyllic for a sunset ceremony. Want fun and chic prep photos? Any of Crimson’s 40 private villas can become instant backdrops for that.

The resort also boasts of the “best infinity pool in Mactan,” which adds just the right romantic reflection to a poolside reception. They have an award-winning spa too. Pre or post-ceremony massage, anyone?

Cebu is the perfect place for the small wedding of your dreams

Cebu may be known for its big, festive gatherings, but if you look closer, you’ll find places for small and intentional weddings in its nooks and crannies. If you’re ready to turn your intimate dream wedding to life, let us know and we’ll help you capture all the little moments on your big day.