Actually, The Harbor Garden is a huge, fully air-conditioned tent with a 2,100-square-meter hall that can accommo-date 2,000 persons in a classroom setup. Theater style, it can seat 2,500 persons. Banquet style, the place can comfort-ably seat 2,200 and 2,800 for cocktails.
Its humongous space affords the place infinite possi-bilities in terms of indoor and outdoor settings.
Amid nature’s picture-perfect setting, wedding planners can literally have a field day planning and ma-king dream wedd-ings come true at The Harbor Garden. Likewise, the tent structure makes possible a variety of themes. Recently, a Victorian-style theme party for a silver wedding anniversary was held here. Think amazing lace and a room full of blooms. There are many bookings for weddings scheduled this year and the next.
"Since it is a covered tent, there are no problems even if it rains," Yasmine Hidalgo of Westin Philippine Plaza assures couples getting married this monsoon season. Yes, no "wading" blues even if Signal No. 3 is up in Metro Manila.
She adds, "All the pathways that lead to The Harbor Garden are covered."
Then, too, the tent has its own grand entrance – here comes the bride alighting a horse-drawn carriage. The entrance allows guests to be conveniently ferried to/fetched from The Harbor Garden. The parking area is right in front of the venue.
Last May, The Harbor Garden hosted the star-studded Luna (Film Academy) Awards. Other big events that were recently staged here include Westin’s Seasons Auction for UNICEF, Bridal Fair, Kiddie Fair, Taekwondo, and Run Westin Manila. There were also such corporate events as the Samsung launch, Anvaya Cove of Ayala Land, and the Ferragamo fashion show.
The place can be rented for P180,000 for the whole area and P90,000 for half the site.
But how’s the food at The Harbor Garden?
"We offer international cuisine," says Yasmine. "Clients can choose from set or buffet menus. Prices range from P800++ to P2,000++ per head."
What’s on the wedding menu – or should we say menus?
Just to give you an idea of The Harbor Garden’s luscious offerings, one set menu has clear broth of chicken with wanton and shredded vegetables, pan-fried almond crusted swordfish fillet with coriander and lemon butter sauce saffron raisin rice, a medley of seasonal vegetables and, for dessert, oven-baked apple tart with pistachio ice cream and chocolate wafer.
A wedding buffet menu at The Harbor Garden consists of soup, a selection of breads and rolls, cold items, salads, hot items, desserts, assor-ted fruit tartlettes, and coffee or tea. Some buffet menus have carvings, like whole glazed Virginia leg of ham served with pineapple sauce or roast striploin with shiitake mushroom served with red wine sauce.
The Harbor Gard-en further sweetens up its wedding package menus by throwing in the following amenities: overnight accommoda-tion in a Westin executive floor room, late check-out until 4 p.m., buffet breakfast for two at the Westin Executive Floor Lounge, chauffeur-driven bridal car with flower arrangement, three-layered fondant wedding cake, cake table decor, ice carving, a bottle of sparkling wine for the couple’s toasting ceremony, flower centerpiece with candle lights on each guest table, special flower arrangement for the couple’s table, 50 pieces of souvenir tokens, a decorated cage and doves, guessbook, a program host, signature frame, complimentary use of piano and pianist, one round of soft drink, Nestle pink lemonade, beer, complimentary two bottles of Johnnie Walker Black, a gift certificate for an overnight stay for two in a de luxe room on the first wedding anniversary, a gift certificate for lunch or dinner for two at The Cafe Plaza, complimentary massage for two, 20 percent discount on Health Club facilities, 10 percent discount on Head Zone’s wedding package, among others.
Now, who wouldn’t say "I do" to all this?