A Down-pour of Love... Wendelyn & Kenneth's....

In a world where everything is fast paced, once in a while, love slows us down to make way for destiny to do its magic...

Kenneth & Wendy... (by Reflective Chemistry)

I met Wendelyn thru her sister Dr. Wilsie Walinsundin who became my friend thru an online wedding community... We shared the same wedding date and so we would always be updated with each other's preparations.  From there, our friendship ensued. Four years after, it was her sister Wendelyn's turn to walk down the aisle.. I was more than humbled when I got the offer to coordinate Wendy's special day, considering they could afford wedding biggies in the industry. Upon meeting our bride for the first time, I knew God gave this to us for a reason...

Sealing the deal with Wendelyn had been a breeze. She was giggling all the time, obviously a very happy woman who radiated a very sunny disposition. It isn't everyday that we get the chance to work with a bride-client as nice as she is.And so I promised her, I would do everything that I could to help make her day as beautiful as she would imagine...

She was an overseas bride so we would update each other thru emails. Preparing for a wedding while you're miles and miles away from home can be a challenge.But she had a lead on how she wanted her wedding to look like, thanks to her sisters who were more than willing to help, everything had been efficiently handled.

WEDDING DAY..

We arrived at Oakwoods Hotel  to an already busy crowd. The anticipation in the room was undeniable. Wendy was very radiant, and that signature smile we loved was what welcomed us when we got there.

our beautiful bride Wendy, always armed with a smile...

the Salas family... (courtesy of Reflective Chemistry)

 I must commend how warm the family had been to everybody including us.. The dad was beaming with pride as he looked at his daughters being prepped up, occasionally teasing his wife and daughters, adding a lighter atmosphere.. Same with the gracious mother who lovingly took to other matters that her family needed. I was more than pleased to be in a room filled with so much love, I told myself, this is a picture of a family that most people would only dream of..




 The color motif  was a combination of midnight blue and bright yellow. The flowers and the entourage's gowns looked magnificent as the lovely hue complemented each other..

gorgeous flower baskets for the little girls

my own shot of the lovely handheld bouquet from Amaranthus for the mothers...

the wedding gown....

          Wendelyn looked stunning in her wedding gown, heavily beaded at the top, but snugly fit at the body, emphasizing her tall yet slim frame, with cascading ruffles that seemed to flow to the ground...

She was the picture of sophistication. A  resplendently beautiful bride anticipating her "forever" that lay ahead...

the bride with the backdrop of the city.....

the gorgeous Wendelyn up close...

winning this girl's heart is like winning the lottery....

                 

  The church was already filled with family and friends as the clock struck one...

The highlight of this wedding was the bridal walk that everyone looked forward to... Our beautiful bride waited in the car as the ceremony started...

When the moment came for her grand entrance,  I ushered Wendelyn to the steps, awaiting for her cue to the middle part of "Turning Page"...This was the moment she had been waiting for.. I was just as nervous as hers, literally holding my breath as the automatic door slowly opened, revealing for the first time our gorgeous bride in all her exquisite glory.. She took her time, with eyes welling up in tears of joy as her loving parents waited for her halfway down the aisle.. I have no idea who was singing Turning Page but I must say how angelic it had been sang, I felt teary-eyed  as I watched our bride walk, (this never fails to happen to me every time)...

Wendy does the most meaningful walk of her life...

It was the groom's turn to take the audience's eyes off Wendy when  he failed to  hold back  his tears when he saw his stunning  bride walking towards him. It must have felt like a dream, a heartfelt surge of emotion
that only proved how much love Kenneth has for Wendy..... To meet someone, fall in love, and marry the one person destined for you is a lucky streak indeed,  a gift that not everyone gets to have...

the groom, John Kenneth couldn't hold back his tears.. He was just so taken with the moment...

From there, a very solemn ceremony took place.

finally, they are now one...

The wedding reception that followed was just as splendid as the ceremony itself. The Fortune Hall at Elements - Centris was transformed into a stylish ballroom with elegant finishes and centerpieces to complement the motif of the wedding.

Tall standing vases filled with white calla lilies and stargazers adorned the tables, the whole venue looked very warm and romantic.. The food from Eloquente was also lavishly delicious.

   Special mention to Las Gitaras who provided great music and  the very spontaneous Ms. Jem Santiago who served as host for the evening, the reception had truly been a success.

At the end of the program, a series of AVP's were shown, courtesy of Reflective Chemistry's very own Drew and Czy  who did an amazing job at capturing all the beautiful moments of this occasion.. They made sure they got all the angles covered, in fact, almost all the pictures in this blog were done by the team.

So were the crew of Wang Videography who gave out a touching same-day-edit video clip a few minutes before the program closed..
.

 It had been a very lovely wedding, and blessed at that, considering that it was spared from the heavy rains that the news had previously forecast. But I doubt if any heavy downpour could mar the exquisiteness of it all... I'm glad we became part of this unforgettable event....

it's a wrap, everyone!!!

From the whole team of THE WEDDING VILLAGE, we wish you Wendy and Kenneth a blessed and wonderful marriage ahead... Cheers to you guys!!!
 


P.S.  Special thanks to Ms. Drew of Reflective Chemistry  for these beautiful  pictures....

A Spring of Love ~ Tetes & Christian...

It wasn't in my list of plans to become an events planner really, at least not when I was  younger... It's true that you don't know where life is gonna lead you... Fast forward to two decades, now I have finally found my niche ~ events planning... The "chic-ness" of it all drew me in...   

        

And may I add that never in my wildest dreams did I think I was ever going to coordinate Theresa's wedding...

    Theresa and I know each other way back since elementary. We never really got to hang out.. I am a few years older than her and her sister Joan. It was her cousin Rio that I am  good friends with since Kindergarten days. Tetes has always been known for being brainy just like Joan, both being consistent scholars. A simple girl who was kinda hush-hush most of the time, reserved and pretty much the serious - responsible type, that's how I'll always be reminded of "Tetes"....


The wedding was almost completely set, save for some final details when I confirmed her booking. I knew by heart that I was in for a dazzling event... Definitely, I was not mistaken... I know the Libertinos to be very involved & intricate with details, especially the bride's mother, Tita Chary. Anything that concerns her daughters will have her full support and attention..




MARCH 17, 2013.

the bride...

The team arrived at Island Cove Hotel to a very relaxed bride, already prepped up and completely done with her hair and make up... It amazes me how composed she was as she posed before the cameras without a hint of wedding jitters.

 The ever-so elegant girl I knew never changed after all...


A few more details to check and we were off to the church to look after the flowers and ceremony set-up which was carefully carried out by our trusted florist, Martha Manalili...

The motif was  a combination of  green and yellow-gold which gave off a "summer" feel, reminding me of fresh grass and yellow daisies..

One by one, the guests, sponsors and entourage arrived at the church...The groom was obviously excited as he paced to and fro, waiting for the cue to start... It was a beautiful day to get married...

When the time came for Tetes to do her bridal walk, we ushered her in.... And from the steps of the church, she slowly emerged as the curtains dramatically opened up for her, revealing the lovely bride in her beautiful gown, looking so regal and calm... She took her time as her parents met her half way to the altar until they had to give her away to the handsome groom waiting for her at the end of the aisle...

the parents wait for her half way down the aisle...

everybody listens to the homily of Fr. Ted Bawalan...

 It had been a very solemn wedding ceremony officiated by none other than Fr. Ted Bawalan himself, witnessed by friends and loved ones, people who mattered most to the couple... An hour later, Theresa and Christian shared their very first kiss as husband and wife, marking the start their lives together..

the first kiss...

The reception that followed was slightly different from how the church ceremony had been simple and formal. The after-party turned out so casual, light and fun-filled.

 The Tejeros Grand Ballroom looked grand yet whimsical as  balloons were splayed all over the floor mirroring clouds of yellow and green. Beautiful chandeliers lighted the room, giving off a grandiose feel to the place.. Right in the middle of the balloon clouds, Tetes and Christian shared their first dance  after which the wedding traditions followed.

 

the couple shares their first dance

The program was hosted by the bride's sister, maid-of-honor Joan, and  Paolo Mandingiado.. 

There was an overflow of sumptuous food for everyone as the on-site video of the wedding was shown...  Everyone had a great time. It was a relaxed atmosphere... A great way to cap off what had been an amazing occasion...

Truly, I am very happy to have witnessed how this  simple girl from school took on a new role in her life. I will forever be grateful for being part of her unforgettable day...

From the Wedding Village team, we wish you wonderful years ahead, Tetes & Christian.. And oh, cute babies to follow... (wink)... Good luck, guys!!!

Heart's Day 2013

Every year, my husband never forgets to give me something special on Valentines Day... May it be a dozen flowers, a cake or a simple gift, he has remained thoughtful just like when we were still starting..

For this year, he surprised me with not just 2 dozens of  yellow-orange roses, but also a big beautiful balloon bouquet  which he ordered from my good friend Bernadette... A nice idea by the way to shift from the usual flowers we often see during this season....

the gorgeous balloon bouquet...

I brought these home from the office with a grin on my face and a familiar feeling from way back..

imagine bringing all these home...  Sweet!!!

Happy Valentines day it was, indeed...

A Match Made In Heaven

dinner time is fun with Marvin & Ivy...

The night before this wedding, Aann and I decided to take the kids for some quick night out/dinner to unwind before our big event. But we opted to go to this resto at Oasis Hotel where our clients  Marvin and Ivy were checked in just so we could drop by for a short sort-of-ocular. We ended up eating, chatting  and laughing at the Presidential Suite with the couple and their families who brought in a lot of food. It was Chingching and Tara's very first ocular with their moms.  The mood was so light and laid-back, no stress here. It felt very much like home (and may I add, I had the best sinigang na ribs that night).

They say save the best for last.. And best it had been indeed  for us.... For our last event this year, we closed this month with Marvin and Ivy Krisbelle's beautiful Christian wedding which we are proud to say we have fully planned and coordinated.. 

reminds me of a scene from Twilight...

It was a beautiful sunny day,  a few days shy from New Year as Marvin & Ivy received the blessing of matrimony three years since they had  been wed in civil rites. But looking at this couple would make you think, they're still on the honeymoon stage. Both of them coming from very religious families, they knew that God's blessing  was the only thing amiss in their union, and so they decided to have it before the year ended.

Pamela  enjoying the preps

Morning of the wedding, Pamela and I took the reins with the hotel preps while Aann and Lala supervised the set up at the venue..  We fetched the flowers and the lamp posts we borrowed from florist Martha Manalili's place and  proceeded to Oasis Hotel..  The flowers were all  very gorgeous especially the flower baskets of the little girls.

the gorgeous bridal bouquet

the beautiful  bouquets for the principal sponsors by Martha Manalili..

 We couldn't get enough of the place as we viewed it from the balcony of the presidential suite.. We might come back here for a good swimming/bonding session with the team.

the view of the gigantic pool & slide from the balcony at the presidential suite

 the spacious kitchen area of their presidential suite

 The mood inside the hotel had been filled with laughter, silly banters from the groom, and obvious excitement from everyone as anticipation started building up.  I must say, we  had a blast with the  preps especially with the part where we had to help our lovely  bride Ivy do her "bathtub scene" with the Freshminds photographers. It was gorgeously done...

Heart doing her magic on Ivy...

  I had fun taking pictures of the accessories and the bride having her make up done. She's just very lovely to look at...

the pillows...

the rings..

a peek at her beautiful wedding gown..

   Marvin and the boys had their moment with the camera as well.  I applaud these guys for being so cool as  the photographers at Freshminds didn't  have a hard time making them pose... This shot by the way was just from my camera so we'll have to wait for the more awesome shots soon..

the boys...

  After making sure everything was in-check, Leih and I left for Antel while Pam stayed with the bride.From there, we helped the other two finish the smallest details left to be polished before everyone started coming in..
        At the stroke of  4, the wedding march started... The sun was still a little high as everyone walked down the aisle.. The  ceremony  was held at the grounds of Antel Grand Village, specifically at the man-made resort beside the Grand Ballroom.. The place was mesmerizing, with lush green and trees,  fine white sand, blue waters and a bright sunny sky for its backdrop. We adorned the aisle with lamp posts and big  purple candles, rose petals & an  intricate trellis at the center. Nature was so alive, love was brimming in the air.

The Wedding Village (ehem)  at work.  'gotta make sure the bride's well taken cared of...

Our beautiful bride Ivy making the most important walk of her life..

When the violin started playing, " A Thousand Years", the gates opened as our beautiful bride slowly took her walk  in her stunning wedding gown... The long veil followed as she sashayed her way to the altar... She walked towards her teary-eyed  groom  with her face ever so radiant.. Ivy seemed to float with her beautiful long white gown, with her angelic face cradled by her luminous veil. Everybody was all eyes on Ivy. This was her walk, her day, her moment.  (My most favorite scene, so far)... The faint smell of the garden and the waters merged as the  cold wind slowly blew...

the very solemn wedding takes place...

With this magnificent background, our lovely couple exchanged their  vows and "I Do's"... Picture perfect. The ceremony  took less than an  hour to finish, yet it was perfectly done...

the couple and the bride's family...

         The ceremony ended just in time when the sun was about to set... The hue of the skies merged beautifully as they posed for more pictures and the guests started to proceed to the Ballroom for the reception.

the gorgeous table set up by CVJ Catering..

a closer look at the gorgeous  flower arrangements on the tables...

 sexy Annalyn & the Amazing Fate Band..

A bigger surprise awaited at the celebration that followed. The ballroom of Antel Grand had been transformed into a purple & magenta-colored party venue, with tiffany chairs, beautiful flowers, candle-lit lamp posts, votive candles, petals and an oustanding set up design courtesy of  CVJ Catering.

 A full band led by Royal Carribean's very own Annalyn Orquin played at the right side of the couple. This was one  party we will never forget... The music was so alive that it added energy to the program. The couple then showed everyone their first dance, afterwhich was followed by the remaining reception rites and a very bountiful feast. A group of adorable children also gave a surprise dance number for the couple.

the beautiful wedding cake..

nice color contrast, ei?

Halfway thru dinner, Marvin surprised his wife with a special surprise song number as he sang Janno Gibb's "Falling"... He was quite prepared for it and astounded us all with his great voice.. He had also been very cooperative with the  sexy dance and  games which I may say  added a fair amount of "oommph" to the event.

the garter game begins...

the couple gives out their messages after dinner..

 The food was superb, very delicious and sinfully pleasing... All the guests enjoyed the great  program which was hosted by Ms. Jenny King herself, the wonderful music and good food. The couple couldn't be any happier.. The band played old-school music as well as modern party songs even after the party ended...

The Wedding Village Team (minus Leih), Aann, Pamela, Lala & Me enjoying the party...

 By far, it had been a very tiring day, but nevertheless, one of our most successful weddings ever.. It feels great to witness true love unfolding before you. To our beautiful couple Marvin and Ivy, we only have the best wishes for  you.. It was great knowing you, guys...

our beautiful couple

Your wedding was amazingly stunning...... And it's an honor having become a part of it...