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Vow Factor: New Wedding Venue Alert - Élan by the Bay

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781672435051_DSC3985.JPEG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">The Manila Bay sunset serves as a natural backdrop at Élan by the Bay, a new events venue that combines open-air spaces with waterfront views.</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>There’s a certain point in almost every event today when people instinctively reach for their phones.</p><p>Sometimes it’s during the first dance. Sometimes it’s during speeches. But at Élan by the Bay, it happens before the program even begins—right around sunset, when conversations suddenly pause, and everyone turns toward the horizon.</p><p>No cue needed.</p><p>That, perhaps, is what makes the venue different.</p><p>In a landscape filled with enclosed ballrooms and heavily transformed spaces, <strong>Élan by the Bay </strong>takes a quieter approach. It doesn’t try too hard to impress you the moment you walk in. Instead, it slowly reveals itself through the experience of being there: the sea breeze moving through the space, the changing light against the glass walls, the calm that settles in once the city noise fades into the background. And maybe that’s why it works.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781673081378JAR_1457a.JPEG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Floor-to-ceiling glass walls blur the line between indoors and outdoors, allowing guests to enjoy sunset views from nearly every corner of the venue.</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Originally meant to be a home</strong></div><p>The venue was never originally intended for events.</p><p>“It started as a rest house for the family,” shares General Manager <strong>Jose Gaerlan</strong>. “A home away from home.”</p><p>Designed by architect <strong>Ed Calma</strong>, the structure was envisioned as a seamless interaction between architecture and the natural surroundings of Manila Bay. The lines are clean and modern, but never cold. Large glass facades open the interiors to the outdoors, making the sea and sky feel like part of the design itself.</p><p>At some point during the process, the owners realized the space had the potential to become something more.</p><p>“There was an urge to share it,” Gaerlan says. “To open it to people looking for a venue that felt different from the usual.”</p><p>That original intention—to feel like a lived-in space rather than a commercial venue—still comes through today.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781673103938JAR_0164a.JPEG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Throughout the property, carefully framed sightlines draw attention back to its most striking feature—the bay itself.</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>A venue that doesn’t need heavy transformation</strong></div><p>One of the more interesting things about Élan by the Bay is that it doesn’t demand excessive styling to feel complete.</p><p>For planners and stylists, that changes the way they approach the space entirely.</p><p>“We wanted to create a strong foundation,” Gaerlan explains. “Something that creatives can build on instead of needing to cover up.”</p><p>The venue naturally lends itself to modern and minimalist aesthetics, though not in a sterile way. Tropical florals, organic textures, soft neutral palettes, and details that mirror the tones of the bay all seem to work effortlessly here. Nothing feels disconnected from the surroundings.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781672870156Elan_-006.JPEG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">The driveway at Élan by the Bay sets the tone for the venue’s contemporary architecture, originally conceived as a private family retreat overlooking Manila Bay.</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>The Manila Bay sunset does a lot of the work</strong></div><p>Of course, the real centerpiece is outside.</p><p>The venue’s location beside Manila Bay gives it unobstructed sunset views that naturally become part of the flow of an event. Guests move outdoors almost instinctively during golden hour, drawn by the changing colors across the water.</p><p>“We encourage people to stay outside during that time,” Gaerlan shares. “It changes the atmosphere completely.”</p><p>And it does.</p><p>There’s something about a sunset that softens even the most structured events. Timelines relax. Conversations linger longer. The mood shifts naturally without needing direction.</p><p>At Élan by the Bay, that moment feels built into the experience.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>More than just weddings</strong></div><p>While the venue easily fits weddings and milestone celebrations, it has also hosted brand launches, corporate functions, and more intimate gatherings.</p><p>“It suits events where the vibe matters as much as the purpose,” says Gaerlan.</p><p>That line stayed with me because it perfectly captures what many venues are now trying to achieve. People still want beautiful celebrations, but increasingly, they also want spaces that feel relaxed, personal, and reflective of how they actually want guests to experience the day.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781672943454Elan_-063.JPEG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Guests gather on the venue’s expansive lawn overlooking Manila Bay during the official launch of Élan by the Bay.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div><strong>Food as part of the experience</strong></div><p>Another thing Élan by the Bay takes seriously is its culinary program.</p><p>The venue works with a carefully curated roster of accredited caterers, including <strong>Bizu Catering Studio</strong>, <strong>Chef Jessie Sincioco</strong>, <strong>K by Cunanan</strong>, and <strong>Juan Carlo The Caterer</strong>, among others.</p><p>According to Gaerlan, the process went beyond selecting recognizable names.</p><p>“We wanted partners who understood not just food quality, but hospitality and guest experience,” he says. “People remember how they were taken care of.”</p><p>It’s a detail that often separates a visually beautiful event from one guests genuinely enjoy.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781673717801_DSC3876.JPEG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Signature drinks by Manila Craft were served during golden hour, highlighting the venue’s relaxed approach to entertaining by the bay.<br id="isPasted"/></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><strong>Small corners, quiet moments</strong></div><p>Beyond the main event areas, there are smaller parts of the property that quietly become favorites throughout the evening.</p><p>A short boardwalk tucked between the garden and the sea. An outdoor deck on the second floor overlooking the bay.</p><p>“These usually end up being where the most meaningful moments happen,” Gaerlan notes.</p><p>Not necessarily during the formal program—but in between. A conversation. A pause. A photo someone takes without planning to.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Why venues like this resonate today</strong></div><p>Gaerlan believes today’s couples are gravitating toward venues that feel more authentic and less manufactured.</p><p>“They want spaces that feel like an extension of their personality,” he says. “Something beautiful, but still comfortable and familiar.”</p><p>It’s a noticeable shift from the era when grandeur alone defined luxury.</p><p>Now, people seem more drawn to atmosphere. To spaces with natural character. To celebrations that feel connected to their surroundings instead of completely removed from them.</p><p>“It’s something we never get tired of,” Gaerlan adds. “Every day it’s different, but it always brings people together.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781673696540Garden 1.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">The expansive waterfront lawn at Élan by the Bay offers uninterrupted views of Manila Bay, creating a natural setting for outdoor ceremonies, cocktails, and celebrations.<br id="isPasted"/></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>The column: The Vow Factor</strong></div><p>In every celebration, there’s the wow—and then there’s the why.</p><p>The venue, the styling, the spectacle—these are easy to see. But what sets a celebration apart isn’t just how it looks, but what holds it together: a clear point of view, a thoughtful choice, a new voice doing things just a little differently.</p><p>&quot;The Vow Factor&quot; looks beyond the obvious—spotlighting emerging talents across the world of weddings and celebrations, from photographers and videographers to stylists, planners, and caterers, alongside new venues, destinations, and evolving services shaping how we celebrate today. Written by Marbee Shing-Go, whose years in weddings and travel as an editor and producer have shaped a distinct perspective on the industry, the column brings a considered eye to what’s new, what’s next, and what truly matters.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781673380539marbee shing go the vow factor metrostyle column.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div>

<p>With its open architecture, curated culinary partners, and unobstructed sea views, Élan by the Bay offers a more relaxed and personal approach to events</p>

With its open architecture, curated culinary partners, and unobstructed sea views, Élan by the Bay offers a more relaxed and personal approach to events

[The Vow Factor] A New Venue Along Manila Bay Where the Sunset Becomes Part of the Celebration

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[The Vow Factor] A New Venue Along Manila Bay Where the Sunset Becomes Part of the Celebration

Marbee Shing-Go

Published June 17, 2026 01:20 PM PHT

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Updated June 17, 2026 01:23 PM PHT

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