A Destiny Written In The Stars: Allen & Eder's Happily Ever-After..

      Weird as it may sound but in my present age, I still believe in the idea that our destinies have  already been laid out for us even before we are born... That in some mystical ways, there is that ONE person predestined to become part of our lives someday.  Bear with a hopeless romantic who never gets tired  of writing about love and magic, but this faith in destiny led me to the right man I would spend my lifetime with...

Eder, our beautiful bride.... (picture courtesy of SideDish Project)

     Believe it or not, you may have already met your destiny and not know it yet… In a place, at a moment you least expect it. You could have bumped into this cute guy at a café, unaware that fate is already working its magic on you. The charming lady in red you’re seated next to may be the woman you’re going to marry soon, or that schoolmate you used to hate will end up growing old with you in the next years to come…

     That is destiny. It’s your fate written in the stars… No matter how much you avoid it, it is bound to happen..

      For Allen and Eder, destiny played a little too early… Ten years to be precise. These two started seeing each other way back in highschool... They were even probably each other's first dance at the Prom...

     

the lovebirds... (picture courtesy of SideDish Project)

Who would ever think you’d end up marrying that guy from class, the one who keeps stealing glances from the corner. Most people would agree that young love may be the most exciting of all. First love, first date, first kiss, first dance, our firsts never fail to “make kilig.  But then, when you fall in love in high school, the odds of ending up together for good is almost next to impossible. You have too much to look forward to in  college, a lot more girls and guys to meet in school or at work. The effort of  staying in love and keeping the fire burning in the years to come creates  a bigger tougher challenge..

Not with Allen and Eder.. This September couple defied all the odds and got through ten long years  just fine. For sure, there were petty fights, after all, there is no perfect relationship. But as I said, their love for each other triumphed over the adversities... The way I see Allen look at Eder with so much tenderness is enough to assure me that our bride is in good hands.  So is Allen whom Eder talks about with so much ardor. 

What can I say, they’re made for each other… It was just a matter of time before Allen sealed the deal and decided he couldn’t let this girl get away anymore.  The moment he felt prepared for a bigger and more serious life ahead, he knew in his heart that  it was Eder he wanted to spend his life with....After ten long years, he finally found the courage to take that leap and go for the win.

Preps Days…

It was Allen who first took interest in The Wedding Village. A friend of our former couple Al & Laiza, he sought our services for their September wedding. But it was Eder who was more on-hands  with the details. Even thru text messages, she was able to course the little particulars she had in mind.

They both wanted a simple wedding which by far reflects their modest personalities. Despite the meek details, she had a laidback “old-school” theme in mind, with dark violet and gray to fill in the color motif. They preferred not to splurge on the wedding but they didn’t compromise on the niceties either. 

WEDDING DAY….

La Traviesa Resort

      It was a fairly sunny morning when we got to La Traviesa Resort. Our beautiful bride stayed at the hotel the night before, with the rest of her folks. It was a picture of a perfect happy family. They were all very warm and welcoming. There was that expected anxiety from each member as the hours neared. The excitement increased as noon approached.

 

   
    Eder’s suppliers were mostly friends, people whom she trusted with her heart. Her beauty-fairy, make-up artist Gayle Zabala, together with good friend Ozzie Tulabot, were the first ones to arrive. The mood in the room was very light as they exchanged banters and laughter as Gayle started prepping her up.
 

our exquisite bride before the ceremony... (courtesy of Side Dish Project)

 

a sweet moment between the sisters.... (by Side Dish Project)

the beautiful ladies with our lovely bride... (by Side Dish Project)


 The bed was beaming with vibrant colors from the flowers and other accessories, ~ with purple dominating the color scheme. 

On the other side of the bed was her elegant wedding gown, done by Carl Arcusa...

Mhelan Narciso and the rest of the Side Dish Project Team came in next. These guys made the most out of the beautiful scenery La Traviesa had to offer and didn’t waste a minute clicking those flickers away. 

While my other team from the Wedding Village worked on the reception area, Aann and I headed back to church after dropping by at Leighton Hall to supervise the set up for evening program.

Everything was in place. Everything was exactly on time. That, except for the humid  weather that brought gray skies along with it and worries of heavy rains in the afternoon.

THE CEREMONY.

The church started filling up with guests and sponsors, mostly dressed in violet hues. The mood was light despite the terrible heat that didn’t dampen the anticipation as everyone awaited for the couple.

Our groom Allen was obviously filled with different emotions as the bridal march seeped in from the orchestra…


 He was ushered along the altar together with his equally proud parents… The whole entourage followed after.

After a good minute or two, the wooden doors of the church opened up to reveal our exquisite bride, looking so divine in her white laced gown… All eyes were on Eder as she walked slowly towards Allen. 

a minute before she walked down the aisle... ( by SideDish Project)

the beautiful Eder with her loving parents (by Side Dish Project)

It’s always the same scene in every wedding. The groom anticipates, nervous yet excited, teary-eyed yet happy, but despite the typical sight, the intensity of love that radiated from Allen that moment was distinct. It was a raw reflection of his pure love for the woman of his dreams.  His eyes focused on what was waiting for him behind those closed wooden doors. You could almost read his thoughts… After all, the most special girl in his life was finally becoming his, forever. 

 

the wedding ceremony (by Side Dish Project)

The wedding ceremony went well. It was a beautiful solemn rite, witnessed by the people closest to them. Tears welled up  and there was also some chuckles along the side as these two exchanged vows. Though as expected, in the middle of the ceremony, heavy rains started pouring in. It was raining like crazy but it didn’t dampen the sweet mood inside the church. It was all smooth sailing until the end.

The priest almost forgot to announce the first kiss so  Allen definitely made up for it. Cheers filled the church as they were finally introduced as husband and wife...

the first kiss as husband and wife (by Side Dish Project)

THE AFTER-PARTY…

The couple proceeded to Leighton Hall after a short series of shots from The Side Dish Project. It was still raining but the couple was up for anything the suppliers asked. 

Eder and Allen made a quite different entrance in the hall as they both rendered a song for their guests. The crowd cheered on as the bride and groom went on with the wedding rituals. 

Leighton hall was transformed into a beautiful Violet-hued setting. Simple yet pleasing to the eye, as styled by the people from Baloy’s Catering. There was a ladder filled with pictures, lamps and trinkets showing the couple’s happy times together…

the wedding program

Some of Eder and Allen’s friends sang for them as the evening crept in. The guests all enjoyed a festive  array of courses while the host, Mr. Thoto Ferido led the lively program until the very end. 


The guests went home with special honey sticks placed in beautiful “sinamay” tube baskets which were personalized for the couple, while each sponsors got a bottle of  wine in cute burlap sacks…

the cutting of the cake ( by Side Dish Project)

the give-aways... (honey-sticks) (picture by Side Dish Project)

The event was truly a very successful one and though exhausting, the feeling was overwhelming especially for the whole team of The Wedding Village. Not to mention the familiar faces that greeted us along the corridor as the guests bade goodbye. It was beautiful. It was exactly as we planned. It was worth it..

To Eder & Allen, we could only wish you the best of the best... Stay in love  and show everyone that "forever" still  does exist...

     It was a privilege being a  part of your day… From The Wedding Village team, Ms. Aann, Marwin, Jates, Lianne, Rommel, Leihson and me, thank you very much for the trust…

Jerome and Joyce's "Once In A Lifetime Fairytale"...

They say, almost every girl dreams of a fairytale wedding...

photo by Shutter One Photography

Well, that may not always be the case.  In fact, that isn't how it started with Joyce, our first bride for 2015.

Never in her wildest dreams did Joyce  imagine she'd be getting married like this.  Back in the days, she was even resolved to the idea of having a kid without the need to go through anything complicated such as  marriage. She  isn't the mushy conventional  type. She does not conform just because. At one point, she thought her plan was resolute.... that wasn't  until true love led to make her see things in a much more different perspective...

Someone once advised me, "Marry your best friend if you can."  Although I have guy friends that I'm close to and I can't imagine getting married to any of them, I'm thinking that wise woman  probably meant, marry someone whom you can share your all without any hesitation, a guy you can depend on just like how you are to your own best friend.  Someone who knows you inside and out and  will accept you for who you really are..

That's more of a hint on how our couple's love story began..  From being office mates to  friends sharing the same carpool at work, they were just ordinary buddies who used to hang out doing all sorts of things barkadas do until they started secretly developing feelings for each other, slowly falling in love without even realizing it.

       There was no courtship nor any formalities. For a certain while,  "pakiramdaman" became the ultimate challenge. They both woke up one day with that familiar warm feeling in their hearts, knowing fully well that it was only a matter of saying it outright, ~ ~ that was enough to  seal the deal. Love was undeniable, and no matter how much they tried to avoid it, love was inevitable.

at Al Mamzar Beach, Dubai

Opposites attract, as is the saying. Jerome is  the quiet one while Joyce is the rather outspoken type.. Our bride loves the beach (and I mean love!!) while Jerome prefers the earthy outdoors, being the man that he is.. Joyce is amazingly good (and fast) at shopping while Jer is the more meticulous one. But despite their differences, they couldn't mesh better than they already do. They suit each other just perfectly.

JANUARY 3, 2015.  Our very first wedding for 2015..


We were so captivated by the scenery when  we arrived at Two Gardens at exactly 8 in the morning. The chilly morning breeze smelled of fresh pines, the crisp divine scent of nature wonderfully relaxing. The villa literally looked like a picture straight from a  magazine ~ a paradise of  lush greens, tall pine trees, beautiful flowers of different kinds and colors, well-maintained green meadows, and a picturesque stone house that served as our couple's home the night before.

a humble shot from my phone...

   

the Pine Gardens..

the relaxing veranda...

the couple's home for the past two days...

The place was so peaceful and calming.  My excitement level went up 10 notches instantly as I met Joyce and Jerome who were headed for breakfast at the beautiful veranda upstairs.

   I shamelessly gave our bride  a hug when I saw her. Having planned this wedding with her from the very start  felt like I was marrying off my sister that day... It was just downright special.

Joyce knew exactly what she wanted and was  unwavering with how she envisioned her wedding to be. She had her eyes set on a romantic Filipiniana-themed garden wedding, with nature to set as a beautiful backdrop to what will be one of the most meaningful moments of their lives...

The preps started kicking in as the suppliers arrived one by one.. The very first to arrive was Julius of Amante Fleurs, who personally delivered  the gorgeous  flowers. Joyce's bridal bouquet was a mixture of blue and white  roses.

             The entourage's flowers were a combination of yellow chrysanthemums, gerberas, green button chrysanthemum pompoms and calla lilies among others. Every bouquet was particularly designed with care. I only have praises for  Amante Fleurs.

Next came the Shutter-One Photography Team headed by Wally Cunanan who were all very  professional and easy to work with.  The mood was light so we were all smiles that morning as the cool breeze greeted us on our way to the house.


The hours went by so fast that before we knew it, it was time for the "moment" to start...


Friends and family started arriving around 1:00 in the afternoon. Everyone was in  awe at the beautiful paradise that welcomed them. Tiffany chairs surrounded the small altar where the couple held their vows.

the Groom,. (pics by Shutter One)

(photo credits to Marietesz Gatmaitan)

Chrysanthemums, daisies, lilies and hydrangeas of yellow, white and lavender colors simply beautified the aisle. The natural charm of Two Gardens didn't need much  ornaments  as it was already breathtaking to look at. A beautiful trellis adorned with white & blue flowers stood at the center as friends and family gathered altogether. (pics to follow)

our beautiful  Bride.... (by Shutter One)

At 4:00 in the afternoon, the ceremony commenced.  One by one, the entourage, were ushered to the ceremony garden. Jerome together with his parents slowly walked to the altar, donned in an elegant art-laced barong tagalog.

The most anticipated moment of all was when Joyce finally made her bridal walk..  As "A Thousand Years" played in the background,  our beautiful bride Joyce  gracefully and slowly descended from the Villa's brick stairs  in her exquisite white lace mermaid gown by Mitch Desunia which  emphasized her curves,  holding her gorgeous blue & white rose bouquet, quivering nervously but never faltering.

She  seemed to walk afloat as she headed to the altar. She was a vision as she took her steps down the aisle where peach rose-petals were scattered over the "natural green carpet" nature has provided.  With Jerome's  familiar sweet smile eagerly awaiting her, Joyce was a  picture of serenity and happiness.

Joyce descends from the stone staircase down to the aisle...

A lovely kind-hearted lady whose perception about love & marriage changed after finding THE man truly destined to be her other half.   It was a very heartfelt exchange of  personal vows before Pastor Marlon Arcilla who officiated the Christian ceremony, even the guests were in tears as they all witnessed Joyce & Jerome say  their "I Do's"...

the couple's first official photo as husband & wife... ( by Shutter One)

After the beautiful garden ceremony, a festive  celebration  followed  at the Pine Gardens  adjacent to the ceremony venue which was transformed into a  "Filipiniana" themed wedding party, with hues of royal blue and silver dominating the area...Chandeliers and  votive candles added warmth and romance to the feel of the place, which I may add was a chilly 22 degrees that night...

photo credits to Ms. Marietesz Pilapil Gatmaitan

 
Joyce and Jerome were both very particular with everything concerning their wedding, first ~ their Filipiniana theme which radiated their love for everything Pinoy, even up to the songs they personally handpicked one by one...  It explains why their first dance was  "Kahit Maputi na Ang Buhok Ko by  Noel Cabangon, and their beautifully done Same-Day-Edit Video  from the Shutter One team  with  the song "Ikaw At Ako"  by  Johnoy Danao  serving as the background. A short Same-Day-edit photo slide was also provided by Shutter One with "Kung Akin Ang Langit" by Mcoy Fundales & Clara Benin which highlighted the most memorable moments of the day.  It was truly heartwarming to do a "Pinoy" themed party for a change. It was a breath of fresh air. I guess it hit us right home...

Joyce & Jerome before the wedding.... ( photo by Shutter One)

 A scrumptious array of courses and mouthwatering desserts awaited the guests, all carefully done by Center Table while the lively program was hosted by none other than Iris Cruz who made the celebration  enjoyable.. I even  noticed guests coming back for a second round. The Zuppa Toscana soup and chicken-potato salad with walnuts were the biggest favorites of all. How I wish I had my fill of their delectable salad as it remains my fave up to this day. Just thinking about the soup makes my mouth water... (sigh)

Having been given the opportunity to help plan this wedding alongside Joyce was a privilege I will always look back to. Joyce was such an ease to work with as she had that friendly and  easy-to-get-along kind of aura in her that's hard to miss. She was approachable, considerate and down-to-earth.

photo credits to Beck Mike Simone

I wish for  more fun weddings like these in the future, and brides as nice as Joyce... (Lately, we've been lucky to work with the nicest brides ever). But then again, I will surely miss doing preps with her... For the meantime, enjoy the few pictures I was given firsthand. More beautiful pictures to follow. Kudos to  Shutter One Photography for the awesome pictures, Centertable Catering, Stohenky (the ever dependable sounds & lights provider), Amante Fleurs, Anne Garcia, and the rest of the suppliers who made this event successful..

From the bottom of our hearts, Aann and the whole team of the Wedding Village would like to  thank you Mr. and Mrs. Jerome & Joyce De Pedro for entrusting us your wedding..  May you live a wonderful, love-filled and harmonious life ahead, wherever life takes you two, you have our best wishes at heart...

our photobooth shot... thanks to Watty Ramone Delos Reyes  of Wattyshots...

                                                                                                   ~~~xoxo~~~~

                                                                                                   The WeddingVillage Team...

A Wedding, Nine Years In The Making...

December 6, 2014. What seemed to be a worrisome day  for most turned out unexpectedly bright... A super typhoon was all over the news but I must say, this couple  was extraordinarily lucky for having been blessed with a beautiful sunny Saturday.


I met Meliza and Aleksi a few months short before their wedding.  They have been engaged over a year ago but only started with the preps a little late..

Meliza has been a long time friend of my partner Aann, and Al was someone

I knew by name since he was one of the closest friends of my Ninang's son. But it wasn't  until after the wedding that I found out their "kilig" love story.

photo by Side Dish Project...

The first time I met this couple, I already had a feeling that this would be a fun wedding. Laiza as we call her, was the beautiful, quirky, down-to-earth kind of girl while Al exuded a shy yet gentlemanly personality. From just one look, it was obvious that these two really suited each other perfectly well. Being the usual observant that I am, this pair was evidently very in love with each other. From how Al secretly throws his beautiful girl a loving look, and how Laiza speaks of Al with so much ardor, telling me nonchalantly how kind and wonderful a man he truly is.

photo by SideDish Project

I'd like to think this wedding was 9 years in the making. Let's start  with how Laiza and Al met each other in highschool, back when they were just budding adolescents who knew not much about life just yet. Who would ever think that you would end up with your biggest crush in  school, right? Laiza recalls how Al caught her eye for the first time, luckily, their teacher introduced them to each other. I can imagine how it must have felt when Al asked her to dance at the prom. It's like a better and more real version of "Got To Believe",
I must say.  And from there, their love story started, went on for nine full years until they reached the altar together. To have withstood  time that long could already be considered an achievement.. It's not everyday that you see highschool sweethearts still being together, successfully making it thru college "alive" and  very much in love than before. Sounds too good to be true.

THE WEDDING DAY...


Laiza was in her usual bubbly self, excited yet filled with too much emotions that morning. Her whole family was at the hotel to see her get ready for the big day.

 The atmosphere in the room was amazingly light and happy. They were exchanging banters and laughing, it felt like time wasn't of the essence...

Alfred, the hands behind the beauty

 One thing I noticed, Laiza made it sure she had her closest friends to share with her this very special day.


Laiza's good friend  Alfred Daryl Moran, did her hair and make up. I then realized, what would be more better than entrusting your bestfriend with your looks on your wedding. For Alfred, this wasn't just business, she is family.. He made sure the bride stood out like a celebrity after a few hours of gentle & careful prepping.


Of course, the entourage and the couple's family wouldn't come just second. Karl Paolo Balao, also a friend of the bride, made sure they all looked exquisite. On how he worked his wonders on such a limited time is hands-down amazing...(pictures to follow)

wedding accessories...

the invitation...

 The lovely bridal bouquet and  flowers for the whole entourage were intricately done by another friend of hers, florist Carloh Magno, who also decorated the church... My favorite was the orange gerberas he placed in cute transparent balls (they looked so chic)...

flower girls' baskets... (by Carlo Magno)

the "all white"  bridal bouquet by Carlo Magno

the "flowers in a ball" for the entourage... (by Carlo Magno)

 Laiza arrived at the church, a few minutes before 3:00. Just In Time..  I together with Alfred, took Laiza to church aboard a beautiful 2010 white luxurious BMW.. The soft light beaming from the chandeliers  highlighted the beautiful flowers adorning this dainty old church...

Everyone looked so elegant as they eagerly waited for the ceremony to start.. Familiar faces filled the church as the wedding slowly commenced. When the music started, the entourage were ushered one by one as they marched down the aisle. Our handsome groom Aleksi, stood by at the altar, filled with so much anticipation as he waited for his beautiful princess to start her bridal walk...

As the wind blew thru her long veil, Laiza slowly started the most meaningful walk of her life... Donned in a curvaceous lace wedding gown, her beauty glowed and captivated  everyone in the church. She was such a sight to behold. Aleksi was quite blown away when he saw her, a gorgeous vision in white, probably more than he imagined. It was a dream come true, and so much more... Laiza, being the crybaby that she is, couldn't  control her tears from streaming down as she inched step by step to her real-life prince charming and the "happily-ever-after" that awaited  her.

Rev. Fr. Eleomer Dendiego, one of the principal sponsors, officiated the ceremony. He gave out a very meaningful homily, one that was filled with his own spontaneous jokes that made the crowd chuckle.

 When it was time for Laiza and Al to exchange their vows, the bride overwhelmed everyone with her honest declaration of love, she even managed to make the guests cry and laugh at the same time. By far, one of the best speeches I have ever heard a bride say... (thumbs up)

Laiza & Al exchange their vows before everyone else...

When the priest announced the first official kiss, the church was filled with cheers as Al and Laiza exchanged a loving kiss for the first time, as husband and wife...

their first kiss (photo credits to Ms. Esmin Faminialagao)

 *****more pictures to follow*****

            A festive dinner  followed at the Sahara Grand Ballroom of  Oasis Hotel, as more than 300
friends and relatives made their way to celebrate the couple's wedding.

The registration area  for the guests..

 A friend of the bride, Mr. Thoto Ferido, hosted the program, and a few friends surprised the crowd with some song numbers. The room was filled with people who mattered most to these two and they couldn't be any happier. All these memories were captured by the Side Dish Project who also played a well-captured Same-Day-Edit video in the end. (pictures to follow)

the beautiful couple

Aleksi's father was the only one who unfortunately failed to be at the wedding as he got called back to work a few days before the event, but he still managed to leave a loving message to the newlyweds, together with a few friends of the couple who weren't able to make it. Laiza even got to sneak in a surprise birthday video and a cake for her groom who celebrated his 25th birthday yesterday.

joined by one of their entourage and closest friends....

The wedding went by fast but every memory was definitely worth all those months of planning.

photo credits to Side Dish Project...

 It was indeed a very lovely wedding, a heartfelt union between two highschool sweethearts who found their destinies 9 years ago and decided to start a whole new chapter in their lives together, for good..

photo credits to Side Dish Project

We can't be any more thankful to you both for trusting us, The Wedding Village, with your special day. In behalf of Aann and the whole team, we are privileged to have been part of what we consider one of the most memorable weddings we've ever done.. Thank you Laiza and Al, and good luck to the both of you... You have our best wishes at heart, may you live a long harmonious married life until your very last days.