It is not so difficult for an American to get married here; I have a post from 2010 where I covered the process I went through. The key is to have all the required paperwork in place, you can find that on the PI government site "Getting Married in the Philippines".
There is some running around you have to do but make it like a project with steps to completion. Let me know if I can provide any details, and good luck.
As for getting married in other places, I can tell you getting married in California leads to costly divorces.

 

I was talking with an American/Filipina couple about this just last week. They have become totally exasperated with the mind numbing experience and idiotic official interference of trying to arrange it all here. They gave up, and are going to Hong Kong to tie the knot. Easier, quicker, and much of it can be dealt with on line before you get there.

 

I know an Australian that will get hitched this Saturday. He has been here for around 3 weeks. I'm invited to the wedding and it will be a civil union. If I get more details I will post.
Ron

 

Getting married here can be pretty exasperating, at times. It seems DSumaguete has gotten much smoother since we went through it 9 years ago, possibly due to the way I reacted to some of their BS. If you are not in a hurry it seems to go a little easier. An article here that may interest you;

Getting Married in the Philippines

Larry

 

My Dumaguete end of the marriage experience wasn't a problem.

Running between Cebu City and my wife's province far from Dgte chasing down paperwork to satisfy the US Consulate was the real hassle

 

So what paperwork required to satisfy the US consulate did you have to chase down? Satisfy the consulate for what?

All we needed was a birth certificate.

Larry

 

The Cebu consulate wanted proof of relationship, we did not bring any with us and had to return to Dumaguete and then back to Cebu. It may depend on who interviews you but they can withold their signature so you are at their mercy but they wanted much more than just a birth certificate.

 

But it was still worth it, besides I am not too keen on quikee mariages.

 

This is the first I have ever heard of that. I will change a few articles to reflect that.

Along with regularly giving incorrect info, the Cebu Consulate does like to flex it's muscles at times.

Thanks,

Larry