This year seems to be a year of marriage. One minute I have friends and classmates gushing about fabrics and reception venues, the next, they’re walking down the aisle.
Just last December 17, another one of them joined the club: my sister-in-law, Grace, who married her boyfriend of seven years, JB. Theirs was a match destined for the final plateau. Classmates since college and bonded by a common love for game consoles, gadgets, eat-outs and travel, the two officially became a couple after graduation.
JB proposed during Grace’s 27th birthday in Calaruega, and the wedding was held after 18 months of wedding planning.
The final preparations were held at Ascott Makati, where we also had a filling breakfast buffet before the final wedding touch-ups. You may view my recount of Ascott’s breakfast buffet HERE.
Pichur-pichur muna. At Ascott Makati.
The wedding, a festive blend of yellows and whites, was held at the picturesque Nuestra Senora de Gracia Church in Guadalupe. And what a big tearjerker the ceremony was. My MIL kept crying from the beginning of the bridal walk till the end of the ceremony. Virtually all the bride’s relatives – from her grandmothers down to her aunts – spilled the saline all throughout the ceremony.
Even Jigs, who walked alongside Grace and their mom (in place of their dad, a seafarer, who unfortunately wasn’t able to come home in time for the wedding ), began wiping his tears as soon as the door opened to the bride. Despite Grace’s self-proclaimed stubbornness and the squabbles these siblings share (and I tell you, with how alaskador Jigs is, these had become a normal scene ’round the house whenever we visit for the weekend), I know Jigs has got big love for his sister. He does, even if he doesn’t say it.
As for me, I tend to fall for that dramatic bride’s entrance in ALL weddings that I attend (Don’t we all do?), so the tears don’t really come as a surprise.
And the bride, who fought the tears as she inched slowly to her groom to Shania Twain’s From This Moment On, finally gave in as she was kneeling down the altar, listening to the choir sing Lead Me Lord.
Reception followed at the posh The Loft at Manansala in Rockwell, where guests were treated to an evening of food fare, fun games, live performances (including an acoustic guitar rendition of Canon in D by a common friend of the couple, plus surprise guest appearances by Aileen Papin and Gary Cruz) and five (Yes, five.) AVPs. By the end of the evening, guests were exclaiming that it was the best wedding they’d ever attended.
Aileen Papin and Gary Cruz
Here’s the couple’s SDE by Mayad Studios:
Not endorsing or anything, but the food by Centertable Catering was incredible! I’ve been to several weddings and this is by far, the best set I’ve tasted (even better -much, much better – than the food during our wedding, haha). Here’s a quick rundown of the smorgasbord that evening:
The floral centerpieces and venue styling were just as vibrant and magnificent. But of course, the bride handpicked every single wedding detail and knowing her, she wouldn’t really settle for less 🙂
- Appetizers: Tortillas with Chili Crab Meat; Crackers and Breadsticks with Heart of Artichoke Dip
Dips had nice texture, and a subtle, exquisite flavor. Chips and crackers were light and crunchy.
- Vegetable salad with tuna and fruits
Ingredients were very organic, fresh, and complemented each other well.
- Sopa de Pamplina with Bread rolls and butter
I’m not so hot about the soup (it kind of tasted like sinigang), but I figured the odd tang may just be a simple case of acquired taste.
- Pasta Carbonara
The flavor was like a mix of pesto and carbonara in one. Unique and simply delicious!
- Main Course:
Creamdory in White Sauce
Incredibly tender fish meat. Actually tasted like chicken. Walang langsa at all.
Roast pork with vegetables
Pastel de Lengua
Chicken barbecue fillet
- Lechon by Elarz
The meat was tender and juicy, and the skin was downright crunchy. Also worth mentioning is the fact that Elarz is different from Elars. While Elars may be the original branch (Elarz just earned the rights for the original recipe later on after court hearings), I’ve been reading a lot of reviews favoring Elarz over Elars. Also, we’ve tried Elarz in 2009 and in 2010 (in another wedding) and the taste and quality has remained consistent.
- Desserts: Mango Crepe, Egg Custard, Chocolate Eclair, Mango Eclair
The floral centerpieces and venue styling were just as vibrant and magnificent. But of course, the bride handpicked every single wedding detail and knowing her, she wouldn’t really settle for less 🙂
With a star-studded cast of suppliers that included Chito Cleofas, Mayad Studios, Diana Kwong, Sweet Casuyon, w@wie Awards 2010 supplier of the year RejectKrew, and Centertable Catering, among others, the wedding couldn’t be any more perfect than it was.
To JB and Grace, here’s to a lifetime of commitment, love and babies!
