In Dagupan, busy wedding venues are afloat

DAGUPAN CITY has been promoting a river cruise through Dawel River. EV ESPIRITU/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON

DAGUPAN CITY—Some of the busiest wedding venues here are floating.

More couples have been exchanging marriage vows aboard hut-like boats while cruising on the serene Dawel River.

Rose Teng-Mejia, city tourism officer, said at least 19 weddings have been solemnized by Mayor Benjamin Lim at the river cruise site in the last three months and many more are scheduled.

“I guess they chose the place because of its intimacy and uniqueness,” Mejia said.

The city’s river cruise, which was launched in May 2011, starts from a dock at the foot of Dawel Bridge and inches its way toward the inner parts of the river lined with mangrove patches.

Aside from the refreshing view of mangroves, passengers of the thatched-roofed boats are treated along the way to a view of fish ponds where the famous Dagupan bangus (milkfish) is grown.

The river cruise, which Lim said was patterned after the Loboc River cruise in Bohol, is an offshoot of the dismantling of fishing structures in the river systems here in 2010. This coastal city is crisscrossed by seven rivers.

Mejia said some of the wedding ceremonies were held at the dock. She recalled one wedding ceremony on a boat that had around 40 guests. “It was very solemn and intimate,” said Mejia.

She said the wedding ceremony began as soon as the boat left the dock and was over by the time the boat returned to the dock after 45 minutes.

Mejia said couples also prefer the venue because it’s free. “We do ask for voluntary contributions,” she said.

She said people who want to book a wedding or other events at the dock can contact the Dagupan City tourism office. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon