Easy Kind of Love

Mike and Joan Lo
Canyon Woods Chapel
Splendido Taal

The wedding of Mike and Joan was simply beautiful, laid-back and fuss-free.

This is one of the few cases in which I got to meet the groom prior to the bride. You see, Mike was the best man during the wedding of Jonathan and Kris Que. I met Joan for the first time during my trip to the US last year. Greeted by a warm smile, I felt an instant connection with Joan who gave me a free rein on the wedding planning. But, needless to say, I consulted with her and sought her approval on many details, as a matter of course.

In contrast to most couples who spent months dwelling on the nitty-gritty of their big day, Mike and Joan merely had a simple request—to make their wedding as relaxed and stress-free as possible. Just like with other couples, I asked them for pictures on how they envisioned their wedding to be—a good starting point on what ideas to give them. Then, we came to a moodboard consisting of dominantly lilac and silver— an appropriate combination and perfect choice of our wedding colors. The invitation by Amis Print consisted of a silver portfolio with the main invitation glued, and four inserts (entourage, reception page, map, and accommodations) neatly stacked together. Vintage curled graphics were used as design element.Our pretty bride (who can easily be mistaken for a movie star) was made even more beautiful by the Madgician herself, Madge Lejano.Veluz Reyes made sure that the gown complemented the innate and simple beauty of our lovely bride. The one-shoulder, dropped waist, tulle masterpiece was embellished with lace cutouts and beads. Purple long gowns with different necklines were made for the gorgeous female entourage. Joan’s bridesmaids surely knew how to ham it up for the camera.Gina de Guzman of Petals Galore provided the flowers for the entourage and the bride. The bride clutched a hand-tied bouquet consisting of deep purple calla lilies, violet lisianthus, and white cymbidiums. Meanwhile, the entourage members carried all-white bouquets of roses, carnations, and lisianthus accented with green ribbons.
Joan took her turn for some bridal portraits. She is a real charmer as seen in these beautiful photos. Truly lovely, isn’t she? On the other hand, Mike also had some portraits before heading to the church.It was breathtaking to see Joan during her bridal walk. She was really beaming with happiness. It was sheer bliss! All the wedding guests would agree that Fr. Dacanay’s homily was most memorable and touching. Just look at the raw emotions displayed during the ceremony.
After the ceremony, Nelwin Uy maximized the picturesque Canyon Woods for the couple portraits and some entourage pictures as well.It was during the shooting of the couple’s portraits when Mike and Joan read their secret messages—engraved on their wedding rings— for each other. Mike wrote, “Never for granted” on Joan’s ring. On the other hand, Joan’s message for Mike was, “My greatest adventure.” Awww.... sweet.A special menu for the sit-down dinner of more than 250 guests prepared by Splendido Taal boasted of tigress (Chinese spoon) adobo, green mango and cheese spring rolls; cappuccino mushroom; green and red corals topped with shrimp pesto and mango drizzled with Caesar dressing and mango puree; grilled fillet of fish over truffle-laced mashed potato in dashi broth; watermelon citrus sorbet; and paella a la Cristina with chorizo chunks and pollo Iberico on potatoes Anna. To make it more laid-back, the couple opted for a dessert buffet which served San Marco, mango sansrival, chocolate ganache cake, assorted fresh fruits, mango panacotta in shot glass, and caramel crème brulee with sliced kiwi. Since the main dining area could only hold a hundred guests, we had to set up white tents for the guests who were seated outside. The tables were decorated with flowers in varying shades of violet—neatly placed in wooden boxes. The same graphics from the invitations were printed on paper with which the boxes were wrapped for accents. White lamps were also placed on the tables. Joan got her wish for a “cartoonish” cake which basically summed up the story of how she and Mike met, the things they did together, and lastly, the wedding proposal. The cake was done by Penk Ching.
One of the highlights of the program was the “kissing showdown” game of the married couples. Just look at how “game” these couples were. At one point of the program, emcee Cristina Canada-Lazo asked the newlyweds to do the traditional first dance. It was followed by the dance of the groom and his mother, then the dance of the bride and her father.
After the program, guests stayed on for a night of listening to good music, dancing, and drinking.Mike and Joan, thank you for the wonderful opportunity of planning your wedding. You guys are simply one of the easiest couples to work with. It was indeed a pleasure to be a part of your beautiful celebration. Rest assured that when I go back to the States, I will be “claiming” my free tour of Castro. Click here for Jason Magbanua’s onsite avp.
Click here for wedding pictures from Nelwin Uy.

Click here for prenuptial pics from Nelwin Uy.

Click here for Bride and Breakfast's article on Mike and Joan's wedding.

Be Inspired

Today, I decided to bloghop. Now, check out our beautiful weddings as featured in the wonderful pages of Bridalbook.ph.

I have been blessed to have clients who placed their full trust in me – not only in coming up with unique and exquisite details for their weddings but also in my skills in coordinating a beautiful wedding. (Warning! If you are a future bride, this post might give you a hard time choosing what to have for your own wedding. Always remember, the key to a successful wedding is not having a lot of details but pick details which would work and something that your guests would remember about your wedding.)

For their wedding, JG and Trina highlighted their love for out-of-town destinations--they got married in Cavite, and had their reception in Tagaytay (one of their fave date destinations!). Their wedding details in bold sunset colors (that matched their sunset garden theme) made the view in Balai Taal, their reception venue, even more breathtaking. The feel of their wedding was reminiscent of the many out-of-town dates they had--except on that day, there weren't just the two of them to share in the bliss of their love.

Lea and Johannes' wedding perfectly captured the tropical ambiance they wanted--and more importantly, it let them share with their guests the atmosphere in which they fell in love. )

Katrina and Laurence wanted to add a breath of fresh air to their otherwise traditional wedding. By using green and cream as their motif, the couple turned their nature-inspired wedding into an extraordinary event.

Being a laidback couple, Luizelle and Rico wanted their wedding to be timeless and elegant, but also relaxed and cozy. They achieved that cool yet classy wedding vibe with much help from an enduring music genre: jazz!

Karen and Jasper tied the knot with an oriental-themed wedding in early 2010. Their union was a true testament of how the most unexpected things in life--like their love--can also be the most gratifying.

The relaxed and laid back Tagaytay wedding of Jeanne and Peter.

A candy-themed wedding was an almost automatic choice for the Patrick and Candy. They incorporated a lot of candy treats in the décor and food--apt for a sweet beginning.

Judy and John's relationship was no longer a secret. They declared their love to the world in 2006, when they were married in the US, and again in 2008 during their renewal of vows in the Philippines.

Jill and Choy both love shopping and feeling good by looking good, so their wedding was a fun, fashionable event. Their wedding wear was created by top designers and their grand entrance at the reception was a fashion show with their entourage. The bridesmaids were dressed in bright yellow empire-cut gowns, and the groomsmen were dashing in their suits. During the reception, Jill and Choy gave away prizes from their favorite boutique, Zara. All in all, their wedding was not only fashionable, but it was fun for everyone.

A Vintage Vineyard Themed Wedding for Erin and Christian that has inspired a lot of brides.

Elaine and Paul tied the knot in early 2010 with a teal wedding in Tagaytay. And while Paul's proposal was a most unusual one, that didn't mean that they loved each other any less.

Judee and Erwin wanted a classic, romantic wedding that channeled understated elegance. After crossing out 50(!) proposed wedding themes, Judee and Erwin decided to have a white-and-blue-themed affair reminiscent of Greece's prime tourist destination--Santorini!

Ailenne and Mike celebrated their wedding with an affair with heartwarming details, which made all their loved ones feel at home. The couple held their intimate wedding in the morning, and they complemented the warm sunshine with a cheery blue and yellow color palette and refreshing spring theme

People often forget that a wedding is more than just a celebration of two people coming together--that it is also a celebration of families uniting. Sabs and Mike, however, did not. Theirs was the first wedding for both families, and the couple wanted to make the celebration really heartfelt. Moreover, Sabs and Mike both came from tight-knit families, so they decided to have their relations play active roles in the celebration

Angela and Patrick are so in love, and their wedding perfectly captured how they felt about each other. Their Parisian-themed wedding was one elegant affair as it came alive with details in rich hues of red and purple with gold and black accents. The décor cast a spell of romance, but it was the couple's special connection that proved love was definitely in the air.

Donna and Mike are two very different individuals who stayed together despite the obstacles posed by their a long distance relationship. In the end, they conquered their challenges and committed to a new life together with their casino-and-beach-themed wedding.

Because their love story took many long years to finally come together, Jackie and Herbert knew that their wedding should be a momentous event. They pulled out all the stops for their wedding, coming up with a "vintage opulence" theme to show how special it was.

Kathleen and Jeff tied the knot on a rainy day, but not even the weather could dampen their mood. Their special day was filled with surprises that made their wedding truly memorable.

Friends-turned-lovers Rhea and Vince tied the knot with a tiffany blue and brown color motif. Their simple and classic affair was made warm with lots of blooms in soft hues, embellished candles and accents, and DIY projects.

Program colleagues turned lovers Shermaine and Antoine exchanged I do's in Tagaytay with a whimsical Mediterranean-themed wedding. Filipino wedding tradition, modern twists, DIY projects, and sweet Belgian treats made their November destination wedding a unique and harmonious fusion of cultures.

Meg and Bem had a stunningly coordinated Mediterranean-themed wedding, which was produced through the collaboration of many sought-after suppliers, to whom the couple had given complete creative freedom for the design. The November affair was a perfect example of a well-thought-out and flawlessly executed theme.

Sig and Allan's bright and cheery, yellow and pewter-themed wedding had DIY elements inspired by the queen of arts and crafts, Martha Stewart. The sunny touches set the tone, not only for the reception, but also for the entire nuptial rites. The wedding ceremony was kept light-hearted and warm, with the bride eliciting a few giggles as she said her vows of promising to laugh at the groom's corny jokes, and to support all his dreams, even his showbiz ambitions.

When Ann and Paulo tied the knot, they incorporated a vintage French garden theme into their wedding. With a celebration filled with charm, romance, and whimsy, the couple's wedding served as the perfect beginning to their love-filled ever after.

Colleagues turned lovers Mega and Zenon tied the knot with a celebration featuring a peach, orange, and yellow color motif. Marked with chic details and heartwarming treats, their December destination wedding was nothing short of unique.

Tin and Uno tied the knot with a unique Filipiniana-themed wedding that cast a spell of romance with its rustic charm. With personalized details dotting the affair, the wedding was kept modern and ultimately close to the hearts of the couple's loved ones.

Mish and Karl exchanged I do's last 1.11.11 with a pink and black-themed wedding. Their elegant affair--which featured classic details with a twist--was one well-coordinated celebration.

Myrvi and Avinash tied the knot in Bohol with an affair that celebrated different cultures. With an elegant champagne gold color motif, the couple's wedding took on a colonial theme that was posh and refreshing as it was warm and intimate.

Janet and Abe exchanged I do's last December with a winter-inspired affair. Powder blue, white, and silver details helped them channel their chosen theme. The couple presented the perfect contrast against their wedding month's nippy weather by holding a warm and memorable affair with a casual ambiance and nostalgic details.

Long-term couple Davelyn and Mike returned to Baguio--the place where their love story began--to exchange I do's. Their affair was marked with a nippy weather, dreamy details, and a heartwarming program.

I thank the people behind Bridalbook especially the writers for the support you have given Events! Events! We hope that you continue to inspire a lot of soon-to-wed couples with your various features.

I promise to blog in detail these weddings. In the meantime, this I have to ask, “after reading this post, have you been inspired?”

Heart-warming Homecoming

Roger and April Gandionco
Chapel of the Transfiguration
Ville Sommet

The wedding of April and Roger was heart-warming, sentimental, and overflowing with love.

It was eight months before the wedding when I met April. That was the time when she had to go to the States for her residency training. Roger, whom I met only a few days before the wedding day, was also based in the States finishing his residency program. April, the ever so gracious bride, placed her full trust and confidence in all her wedding suppliers. They, in turn, put their best wares out, and just did what they do best.

Every piece of stationery by Printsonalities—from the invitations to the missalettes—was emblazoned with the iconic representation of Spanish gates. Teal and Tiffany blue were the major wedding colors with silver as the metallic accent. A monogram was the other design element used for all the printed wedding materials.

April was a vision of pure bliss in her tulle and silk taffeta Veluz creation. The shirred-tulle top was encrusted with lace trimmings, seed pearls, organic beads, and Swarovski crystals. The gathered skirt was highlighted with hand-pleated hemline.The shoes by Niko featured the same lace trimmings found on the gown. Niko also provided pillows for the rings and the arrhae.The arrhae holder was actually a small jewelry box bearing the same color motif glued on top of the pillow. The matches reflected the same patterns found on the invitations while the silver tapered candles were tied with teal taffeta ribbons.The heavily beaded votive candle holders for the offertory were tied with the same ribbons accentuated with pearls and crystals.Madge Lejano made sure April looked her best,while hairstylist Steve Pagsanjan used lace trimmings with beads and pearls to highlight the hairstyle of the bride. A vintage brooch completed the look.Gina Galang of Royal Flower Shoppe beautifully arranged a hand-tied bouquet of white tulips and white hyacinths. The stem was covered with ivory grosgrain ribbon and accentuated with pearls and crystals.The female entourage wore teal long gowns in silk charmeuse.They carried hand tied bouquets of white roses, carnations, gypsophilia, and alstromeria - with gold beaded bracelets which served as lovely tokens by the bride to her lovely entourage. While the flowergirls were lovely in their pistachio green flowy dresses.Before heading to the reception venue, the couple spent some time with Pat Dy for their portraits. Just look at how glorious these portraits are. I love, love, love these portraits—they simply ooze with the love that the couple have for each other.At Ville Sommet, cute silver champagne buckets filled with M&M’s and containing the escort cards were laid alphabetically on the registration table. Guests were requested to look for their seats. They were also asked to write their wishes for the newlyweds and hang them on the wish tree provided by K. by Cunanan Catering. It was a sheer delight seeing these written wishes with the flickering candles amidst the clear crystals and white orchids falling from the steel branches of the wish tree. Clusters of white flowers filled the VIP tablescape.Menu cards containing the same pattern from the invitations were placed for each of the seated VIPs.Pistachio green napkins were rolled and placed with silver napkin rings. Fruits were also used to adorn the tables.Provided by the couple, green candle holders with gold trimmings added color and charm to the tables. Vintage frames were used as place cards.The same variety of flowers and fruits was used for the guest tables.The cake by Janet Madlangbayan reflected the graphic element and the intricate monogram found on the printed materials.The food by K by Cunanan was a “smash hit” among the guests especially the dessert buffet spread which consisted of flourless chocolate cake with vanilla sauce; strawberry and cream cheese crepes; lemon and mint-infused fruit compote; and kiwi and mango panna cotta.The program was interspersed with sentimental speeches from family and friends.
To Roger and April, thank you for believing in the competence and expertise of your wedding suppliers, including yours truly. Every soon-to-be-married couple should learn a lesson from you on how to just enjoy their wedding day. We pray that both of you successfully complete your respective residency programs. Love and inspire each other constantly. Have a blissful and contented married life!

Photographs taken by Pat Dy.

Click here for Jason Magbanua’s onsite avp. "Jason, you nailed this one capturing the essence of the day - relaxed, laid back and hassle-free." Watch the same day edit to see one of the most emotional and heartwarming bridal marches I have seen.