Dream come true… The wedding of Richella Castro and Oliver Nuñez

(This content originally appeared in my column at the Cebu Goldstar Daily Newspaper)

Richella recalls being very nervous until the time she began walking down the aisle. “When I saw my gorgeous groom, I knew I was good to go,” she says. “He brings calm to my life. My only fear was I would rush too fast down the aisle to him!”

It started as a fleeting teenage romance for Richella and Oliver who met at a common friend’s house. Richella was immediately intrigued by Oliver who she thought was “handsome and shy but welcoming and warm.” It took Lee few encouragements of a mutual friend to finally start the courtship plan as that was his first time. But once they went out on their first date, he realized he had found his soul-mate. “I knew she was perfect for me and we were meant to be together,” he says. “I feel so complete with Che and I love everything about her. She is very smart and even though we are two different personalities, me being a rock star and Che is a social city girl, we just get along so well, we balance each other nicely.”

They weren’t interested in a big glamorous showcase; they simply wanted to follow what they want - and that is a modern-day minimalist wedding celebration. “We wanted a wedding that was more modern-day-like and less extravagant, and it was great to have the whole experience. However the couple had also considered some of the traditional way of celebration at an intimate church of the Alliance of Two Hearts. “The way our parents and our grandparents got married and it was great to be able to keep that tradition going.”

The ceremony was important, and the couple describe the moment it was over as “surreal.” “All of a sudden in the blink of the eye, my life was completely changed,” Lee says. “It was a wonderful feeling, a feeling of elation and relief that it’s finally happened, and all this hard work has paid off.” Che adds.

Che and Lee were both on hand to greet their guests at an open-air reception at the Chateau de Busay gardens. At the reception, they relaxed over a buffet chosen for its casual appeal. A saxophone player and wedding singers set the mood. The couple danced for the first time as husband and wife to the tune of “The way you look tonight”.

The bride’s best wedding moment was during the toasts. “The speech he wrote for our wedding…the toast he offered to me” Che’s voice wavers for just the slightest of moments. “I have never felt so honoured in my life.”

Yes, there were a few hiccups along the way, - during the dress-up, when her designer was late in delivering her dress and when the coin bearer accidentally splattered all the 13 coins inside the church aisles. “But it just added to the charm of the moment,” says Che.
“What stood out was the commitment and effort everyone made to come and share the day with us,” she continues. “It was so heart warming to see everyone from different parts of our lives, all coming together in celebration of us.”

Lucky circle of Love

(This content originally appeared in my column at the Cebu Goldstar Daily Newspaper)

As the popular song goes, “Lucky I’m in love with my best friend; Lucky to have been where I have been; Lucky to be coming home again”…

Sometimes one has to travel far away to discover that happiness is waiting at home. That’s certainly true for fish dealer and young businessman Mark Edward Nepangue and Singer/Music Teacher Eda Mondigo, who first crossed paths more than 15 years ago when they were still in the same neighborhood. The late Mrs. Nepangue (mark’s mother) spotted Eda first, and was delighted when she learned Eda was almost the same age as her son Mark. Courtship followed as orchestrated by Mark’s mother. A few years later, they fell in love and became a couple. It was never easy for them growing up together and going through a lot in the relationship. They broke up and got back together for several times. The last one hit her hard and made Eda leave the country to work overseas. So she left, then he followed her to win her back (again) – and so the circle goes (again).

After dating again for a year, Mark and Eda spent an evening with Eda’s family for dinner. “Everybody was so happy and seemed excited”. So at the back of my mind I had an idea why and what was going to happen”, smiles Eda. “There was nothing to do on that very moment (everyone important and close to her heart were there gathered) except ask someone to marry you,” chuckles Mark. “I’ll never forget his words,” says Eda. “He said ‘we’ve been through a lot and I know I’ve hurt you before but now I want to prove to you and to your family how much I love you, will you marry me?”, ’ Of course I accepted.”

Mark and Eda had no reason to delay their wedding so in six months, with their family and friends in attendance, they tied the knot. They chose April 24, 2009 as their wedding date.

A glowing Eda arrived at the newly renovated Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral wearing a Jonas Navarro & Lane Dominguez creation. A champagne- colored French lace and silk gown adorned with beads, Swarovski crystals and blush pink cabbage roses and a big bow. Eda’s entourage preceded her, her two maids of honor, six bridesmaids and three flower girls in a combination of royal blue and fuchsia colored gowns. Mark also wore a champagne colored creation of Jonas and Lane which complimented Eda’s gown.

For Mark and Eda, the same deep sense of harmony that had characterized their wedding plans permeated the atmosphere as the ceremony began. “As soon as I walked into the church I felt as if all my nerves lifted. I felt so calm and relaxed and that was confirmation for me that I was doing the right thing, then I started singing my own bridal march song entitled Someone Like You”, recalls Eda.

At the reception, for a very special moment the bride and groom lingered on the dance floor while the bride was serenading the groom again for their first dance. That was specially captured by Lightzone Photographers and Master Videographer Dino Angelo Ojerio. A few moments later the rising tempo caught them up and swept them to the rousing performances of the “On-The-Cover” band headed by Junnie Tampos. The music brought the guests to their feet and everyone broke into joyous dancing. “It was amazing!” exclaims Mark. “It was like a frenzy of excited people.”

On her part, as she looked back on their wedding day, Eda says it seemed utterly surreal. She admits her favorite part was the ceremony. “We both experienced a unique feeling during the ceremony,” she recalls. “It felt climactic, like two souls being joined as one”.

The Team:

Planning & Coordination – Belle Mariée

Bridal Gown & Groom’s Tux – Jonas Navarro

Flowers – Kayes

Photography – Lightzone

Video – Dino Angelo Ojerio

Cake – Alice Aguirre

Make-up – Emme Ayag

Choir – Voices of Praise

Entertainment – On The Cover

Workplace Romance

(This content originally appeared in my column at the Cebu Goldstar Daily Newspaper)

What started as a workplace romance ended with a wedding at the Archbishop’s Chapel and a reception at the gardens of Chateau de Busay, shared with friends and family. “Having everyone together, smiling and happy was really wonderful,” Mayel says. “It was really the people who were there who made it special”.

Ask anyone in human resources and you’ll likely hear the same answer: workplace romances are seldom ideal. But when Joseph Ferdinand Aviso and Maria Lourdes Aguilar laid eyes on one-another, the fact that they worked for the same company was a minor detail that never once became an issue. The company has no policies about workplace romances, but when the relationship became serious, they both made sure it was never going to be a problem that would affect their work.
“Mayel is simple but bright, strong-willed and, of course, very beautiful,” reflects Joseph. “But we also have a great and unique connection. Despite our differences in backgrounds and upbringing, we share a strange number of likes and dislikes, and ways of thinking about things. It is really uncanny.”
Although they have been together for more than 4 years, the actual wedding planning was just barely 2 months. The couple opted to have a traditional ceremony at the Archbishop’s Palace Chapel and wedding reception at the gardens of Chateau de busay.
On April 25, the planning paid off. Given away by her parents, Mayel walked down the aisle to the song “When God Made You” by the Sonata Singers.
Joseph was overwhelmed by emotion waiting at the altar for the first glimpse of his wife-to-be. He was not disappointed, saying that he “could not have asked for a more beautiful bride.” “She was smiling ear to ear and I was so happy when I saw her,” Joseph recalls. As their family and guests gathered around them, Joseph and Mayel exchanged wedding vows. “We wanted a ceremony that wasn’t stuffy, and with everyone around us, it felt intimate, jovial, fun and happy,” he explains.
At the reception, after they were introduced as the new Mr. & Mrs. Aviso, Joseph and Mayel took their first spin around the dance floor to the tune of Fra Lippo Lippi’s “Beauty and Madness” which the groom picked for his bride.
The entire celebration was filled with emotions. There were times when people were crying because the day was filled with so much laughter and fun, and there were times when they were crying because it was so emotional. These emotions were specially captured by both the photographer – Aileen Siroy (a very close friend of the groom’s family) and videographer – Dino Angelo Ojerio who showcased the on-site (SDE) video presentation as the last and one of the most awaited part of the reception agenda.
After the speeches were over and appetites were sated, the Sonata Singers took over the party mood. The family and guests – young and old joined and danced the night away.

As Joseph and Mayel finished telling their love story to me,
there is a moment of unspoken synchronicity, of destiny fulfilled.
Then smiling, they walk away hand in hand, as they will likely still do many years from now,
when they are accompanied by their great grandchildren.

The Team:
Planning & Coordination – Belle Mariee
Flowers – Simple Wishes
Photography – Aileen Siroy
Video – Dino Angelo Ojerio
Cakes – Alice Aguirre, Kusina Habana, The Cupcake Theory
Make-up – Romero Vergara
Entertainment – Sonata Singers

What comes before happily ever after? The morning of you big day…

(This content originally appeared in my column at the Cebu Goldstar Daily Newspaper)

“I remember waking up and lying there. I was really calm and just thinking—this is it, this is the day.”

How should a bride start the morning of her wedding day so that it will become a celebration rather than an intense preparation for the main event?

None of the tasks for the day can be done in advance. Neither the hairstyle nor putting on the wedding dress can be done ahead of the wedding day. Therefore every little inch of the to-do-tasks has to be planned ahead in order to get a good-night’s sleep without worrying if there is something that was missed. It is also very important that the excitement and anticipation doesn’t turn into nervousness and tension!

Usually, the make-up artists and stylists meet with the bride in advance to discuss about the dress the bride will be wearing and whether she likes to have a dramatic look or natural make-up and then a trial is set.

Make-up and photos.
If there’s one lasting reminder of your wedding day, it’s going to be your photographs.
So you want to make sure you look great in them—that last minute blemishes are concealed, that your hairdo lasts and that you’re able to maintain your bridal loveliness throughout a long day or night.

A bride’s hair is her crowning glory and the decision about how to style it also follows closely on the style direction of her wedding dress. We know you have a million of other details on your mind so The Wedding Belle narrowed it down to three:

Classic – the Audrey Hepburn hairstyle that is an inspiration of the timeless look.
Modern – The look that is very organic, free and very personal. A complete work of art where in the style isn’t so perfect, a few bumps show and a few strands went astray. Fresh flowers and darker lip color can add to the modern style.
Romantic – The princess look that is created in a fairytale beauty in fantasy weddings.
It can be inspired by the wedding saying: “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

The wedding-day morning has to become a celebration of beauty for the bride. As she begins her own personal makeover to prepare for her wedding day, the transformation should not just be a wedding preparation – it should also be enjoyable. After all, it is not just about her getting great hair and make-up applications but also a boost for the entire day!


Bride: Jenny
Make-up artist: Emi Ayag
Photos by: Allan Restauro, Jaggy Navarro
Location: Waterfront Hotel, Lahug, Cebu City

Sunset at the beach

The Wedding of Cebu’s premiere wedding cake designer Kerri Gail Ong to young businessman Mike Guico

By: Joan Pearl A. Lapus

(This content originally appeared in my column at the Cebu Goldstar Daily Newspaper)

Larger than life, the centerpiece at the Rosal Ballroom of the Shangri-La Mactan in Cebu was the 7-layer cake that the bride herself made and hand-painted with the help of one of her bridesmaids. From the engagement to the wedding day, everybody was expecting big from Kerri’s wedding cake being one of Cebu’s premier wedding cake maker and designer who graduated at California Culinary Academy and Wilton Cake Decorating Classes.

Mike Guico and Kerri Gail Ong were college friends who fell head over heels in love.

Although they did not realize that while being in school together. It was only after they both returned from their studies abroad. Mike went to Australia to further his studies, while Kerri studied in London before finally pursuing her passion for cake decorating in California. Their paths crossed again and they were inseparable since. Mike finally got his dream girl and Kerri’s dream came true when Mike proposed to her over a romantic setting overlooking the city in Hong Kong.

The intimate Christian Wedding ceremony was held at the Ocean Pavilion of the Shangri-La Mactan in Cebu and was attented by one hundred fifteen people. After saying their lifetime vows to each other, they spent some time as a couple, while friends and families proceeded to the cocktails. It was a surreal setting as it started to drizzle in the misty green and the sun was setting.

An intimate setting for the reception was created by Shangri-La with table centerpieces matching the wedding theme – Sunset at the beach. For the wedding favors, Kerri crafted a capiz shell with the guests’ names which we used instead of putting place cards on the tables. Individually hand-made embellished evening bags were the gifts for the ninangs while leather wallets were given to the ninongs.

Prettiest and imported blooms composed the bouquets made by Simple Wishes for the entourage and the bride. The gowns were made by Jonas Navarro. With his ability to bring out the best in every bride, Jonas used an ivory-colored luxury chiffon and and demure French lace. Embellishments of pearls and swarovski crystals added a touch of romance.

The event’s photographer was Rolando Pascua. With an approach that is personal and professional it is no surprise then that Rolando is recognized as one of the most reputable photographers in Cebu garnering excellent reviews and recommendation from his peers and satisfied newly weds.

At the end of the night it was very heartwarming to hear guests say, “this is the most intimate and most romantic wedding I’ve attended”.

Message from the writer:

This is the first article for my wedding features here on Gold Star every Tuesdays. This comes to you bright and early in the year with hopes that we can help you start in planning the dream wedding of your life. In this column every Tuesday, you’ll discover many more established players in the wedding industry. We also hope to tug at your heartstrings with the love stories of couples in real wedding features.

Belle Mariée

French: Belle mariée (běl, ma-ree)
English: Beautiful Bride (beau.ti.ful) [byoo-tuh-fuh l], [brahyd]

The beautiful bride is lit from within with intelligence
The beautiful bride possesses an affable character
The beautiful bride is compassionate and is good natured
The beautiful bride has an amazing personality and is easy to talk to
The beautiful bride exudes greatness from inside
The beautiful bride has dignity and a nice personality
The beautiful bride has a great sense of humor
The beautiful bride is graceful and classy
The beautiful bride gives attention to detail
The beautiful bride knows what she wants
The beautiful bride wants something out of the ordinary
The beautiful bride does not compromise her standards

The beautiful bride exudes the aura of a woman head-over-heels in-love


For the beautiful bride who wants something out of the ordinary, Belle Mariee also offers a one-stop concept as a designer bridal boutique complete with professional consultation on your total wedding look.