From New York to Cebu: How a Couple Engineered Their Perfect Island Wedding

For New Yorkers Maulik Joshi and Erika Sabalvoro, choosing a wedding location was straightforward. After getting engaged in Paris in 2024, Erika, who was born in the Philippines, wanted to bring their celebration to her homeland. They selected Cebu, the nation's second city, for its international airport and stunning beaches, aiming to create a vacation-like experience for their 73 guests in January 2026.

Planning from 8,000 miles away required strategy. They gave guests a year and a half's notice and chose the Shangri-La Mactan resort for its experience with large, cross-cultural weddings. "They were pros," Erika notes. "Their detailed planning kits and quick responses made us confident." The date, just after the New Year, presented a challenge as it's a peak season in the predominantly Catholic country. They navigated this by securing the resort's on-site chapel for their ceremony, blending Catholic tradition with Maulik's Hindu heritage.

Erika defined their vision as "botanical minimalist," using local coconut leaves, white orchids, and fragrant calamansi fruit to complement Cebu's natural beauty. Fashion paid homage to her roots: Erika wore a gown by Filipino designer Francis Libiran and later changed into her grandmother's Filipiniana dress. Maulik and his groomsmen wore traditional embroidered barong shirts.

The couple learned practical lessons, advising others to arrange vendor payments well in advance due to local banking nuances. Their menu celebrated Filipino flavors with Cebu Lechon and halo halo, while a custom photo backdrop featuring a Central Park bench and a Paris street sign wove their New York story into the day. The celebration, which moved indoors for a late-night party, proved that with meticulous planning, a deeply personal destination wedding is more than possible—it's unforgettable.