Michelle and Jay

Jay and I crossed paths in 1997 when I was a high school freshman and he, a senior. We never saw each other again after he graduated, until 2006. I sent his sister a text message and it was him who was using her mobile phone then. We met with some friends a few days after that first SMS exchange, and then the next day we went on our first date.

We started talking about getting married on our first year in the relationship. When we had an engagement dinner at our house, in front of family, he bent down on one knee and presented me with the most gorgeous ring I have ever seen!

Wedding planning started some 16 months before the day but we still sought the on-the-day assistance of Events Malditas to ensure everything went as planned. Our photographer was Black Tie Project who we booked 14 months before our wedding. They were joined by My Photato.

I wanted a fresh look and had airbrush application done by Carmie Locsin. Alex Leyson styled my hair in a low bun with some curls on the side. My 3 sisters and Jay’s sister and sister-in-law were made-up by Jorelli San Juan.

Jay’s suit was custom-made by Onesimus. He chose a Chinese-collared suit in black which he saw from the internet and had it copied. On his left chest was a boutonnière that I made.

AvaBridal made my wedding gown – sweetheart neckline with lace and beads on the front, and fitted down the hips. My bouquet was made from buttons which took me roughly 7 months to finish. I placed a photo of my late father and my late maternal grandmother so they could also be part of the ceremony.

We had our ceremony at the Santuario de San Jose Parish, and it provided the perfect venue to exchange our I dos. I walked down the aisle with “Sing me your song again, Daddy” sung by Jay’s cousin. It made my mom, myself, and Jay teary-eyed.

Our color palette was black, light pink and white. Our bridesmaids wore black gowns, while the flower girls wore pink. The groomsmen and bearers wore “Barong Tagalog”. The entourage flowers were provided by Amaranthus Florist, and had a mixture of roses, carnations and gerberas to name a few.

We were showered with rose petals on our exit, and the guests had ribbon wands which my sister-in-law made herself.

Our DIY invites were printed by Wingdingz. We had white gold wedding bands made from my dad’s old rings, which were given to us by my mom as her wedding gift. My ring’s engraving was “I found love”, while Jay’s, “Love was you”.

We wanted an indoor venue with a high ceiling and so we booked the Philippine Stock Exchange Auditorium. Amaranthus Florist provided the drapes with round lanterns and hanging crystals. The lights from Rejectkrew created a romantic ambience, and their music set the mood. Our guests were served with cocktails while waiting for the program proper.

We DIYed a backdrop of fabric ribbons for the photobooth from iFlick. Our caterer, K. by Cunanan Catering cooked up a delish feast, both for the eyes and mouth. They also provided a message tree where guests could hang their notes and wishes for us. The tables were adorned with calla lilies, pale pink hydrangeas, vintage lanterns and candles.

Richard Agtarap hosted the program which started with the introduction of our wedding party. For the cake, we had a cupcake tower by Hearts and Bells and were in 2 flavors – dark chocolate and carrot and pineapple, which also served as one of our souvenirs. Because we also wanted to give our guests something they could use, my sister also DIYed a planner which had some photos either of us or by us.

Our moms delivered a short speech, as well as two of our principal sponsors. Our friends surprised us with a few videos.

We finished the reception with a Same-Day-Edit video by Kris Matanguihan Videography. The room went quiet while watching it on an 8”x8” screen provided by NM Digital Enterprise. After the formal reception, we went to Elbow Room for our after-party.

Photos by MyPhotato.

Ms Gingham says: Isn’t it amazing how two paths can cross in a lifetime? I think Michelle and Jay’s story is so beautiful. Look out for their wedding video on the blog next week!

Michelle says: “I’m Michelle and I recently got married to the love of my life Jay on June 8. I’m 27, and even after the wedding, I’m still in a long distance relationship with my hubby. He’s in Taiwan while I’m in Australia.”