Fairytales have always fueled my passion for many aspects of my life, including my writing career. Even though fairytales have harnessed unrealistic expectations of how love should be, I still clung to the dream that I would get my Happily Ever After one day.
So, it wasn’t to anyone’s surprise that the theme of our wedding was inspired by everything magical, whimsical, and romantic! Though this was the goal, we always knew our journey as a couple and wedding planning was anything but a fairytale. But, as I wrote in my wedding vows, “I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
After a decade of being together and a year of planning, we realized that fairytales took a lot of work.
Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork
We wanted our wedding to be emblematic of our own story; something that we both worked for towards that fairytale ending—minus the grandiose, horse-drawn carriages and evil stepmothers, of course! Making this dream a reality took more than a year and a lot of tedious planning! I blame Disney and storybooks for leaving out the part that even fairytales needed some elbow grease. Go figure!
One thing we made sure of is that planning was something we equally partook in. For my then-fiancé and I, it was a chance to do a husband-and-wife-in-training of sorts; budgeting, decision-making, communication, and all that jazz!
As the adage goes: “The journey is more important than the destination”. In a span of 17 months, we were all over the place trying to make our dream come true, while also strengthening our dynamic!
Even though there’s a stigma that the wedding is all the bride’s vision, the prince charming can be as hands-on as the princess in your story!
Our Fairy Godparents: Suppliers, Entourage, Guests, and Everyone in Between
Eventually, the big day came faster than we could say Tale as Old as Time. Indeed, a day like this took more than just a flick of a wand, and we had amazing teams and individuals to thank for it! Even though COVID-19 is the real villain, these hurdles were merely stepping stones to making our fantasy come to life. We had a supportive family, a cooperative entourage, and a supplier list poured out from our own hearts—each one beats the bibbidi-bobbidty-boo lady any day!
Making Our Own Magic
We didn’t have the bells and whistles as all storybooks suggest, but our magic is found in the details!
✓ A macaron tower and cake;
✓ An heirloom tiara gifted by hubby’s family;
✓ Entourage lined up wearing Disney Princess-inspired colors;
✓ Guests present in our online live stream;
✓ Our dog of honor walking the aisle in her Tinkerbell dress
✓ Invitations designed by our bridesmaid with handmade paper and hand-drawn illustrations;
✓ A vintage photo booth and vintage car;
✓ Our first dance with the band’s rendition of Beauty and the Beast.
Getting married in the church where my parents exchanged their vows is another wistful detail. And, it is a beautiful coincidence that both our ceremony and reception venues were rich in history—a topic we both enjoy! Paco Park is the initial burial site of Jose Rizal, Gomburza, and the colonial elite (Plus points for its horror stories… another topic we thoroughly love!). Apogee Events, on the other hand, is a restored antique house, another component of the old-world charm we sought for.
Everything was personal and intimate down to the very last detail, just the way we liked it.
One for the Books
Even though not everything turned out exactly as we imagined like the sudden rain, best friends being unable to attend or how we had to change my flowers at the last minute, our story was just as enchanting because it was written by the original author of our love story! No fire-breathing dragons or an eternal rose, just unconditional love and a partnership centered on Him.
Take it from me, those fairytales? The real-life fairytales that take loads of work?
These are the best kind.
Suppliers:
Church: Saint Pancratius Chapel, Paco Park
Venue: Apogee Events & Lifestyle
Coordinator: To the Bride & Groom
Photo: Blank Space Photo
Video: Aurum Wedding Films
Band: Sound Salad
Florist: Gigi Events Ph
Preparation Venue: Adria Residences
Caterer: Passion Cooks Catering
Cake: DIM Macaron Tower & KO Patisserie Macaron Cake
Lechon: Zubuchon
Photobooth: DJ Coki Photobooths
Host: Queen Justine
HMUA: Ellen Drilon & Olivia Aranas
Bridal Gown: Gowns & Goddesses
Entourage Gowns: Babylyn Inocencio
Souvenirs: Pamana Abel
Wedding Essentials: Bee’s Knees MNL & Little Suc
Wedding Rings: Ty Po Huat Goldsmith
Bridal Car: Bridal Car Philippines
Livestream: Itarget Events
Invitations: The Minimalist Concepts
