Attendants and Their Dresses: Mismatched But Trendy & Cohesive!

Because we are quite old (but look young lol) when we got married, we wanted to forget tradition and not have attendants to stand by our side during our wedding. But I felt that I owe my single friends some kind of participation in the biggest day of my life, more than just being there to give us gifts. So finally, I decided to have five (5) bridesmaids - Tes Calingacion, Marie Olivare, Del Ocado, Aimee Fernandez & Charina Jornacion and five (5) groomsmen - Jomar Ramiso, Leonilo Cabuyao, Aries Leonor, Mc Joseph Casimiro, and Aaron King Fernandez.

Despite my hesitation for having attendants, I was very sure that I want our bridesmaids to feel comfortable in their dresses! With their varied ages, tastes and styles, however, it would be a daunting task to satisfy each of the girls and still have a cohesive attendants' look on our big day. The solution? I provided each of the girls with the fabric (in the same color) and I let them choose their own styles!(and their own tailor and paid for their dresses as well! lol). The result was amazing as the girls look beautiful, confident and radiant during our big day!

For the groomsmen, I provided each of them with the vest in the same fabric and color as the bridesmaids and neckties in either red, blue or yellow colors. And to complete the Philippine Flag motif ensemble, the groomsmen were asked to wear their long sleeved white polo and black pants! The groomsmen were handsome in their own right!

And our wedding? Well, it is trendy (and didn't cost us much!). Yes, mismatched attendants' dresses are "in"!

Our Wedding Photo Wall

Despite our small wedding budget, Raymond and I wanted our big day to be unique and memorable by incorporating wedding elements that would easily jump a recall to our guests. So instead of opting for photo booths which I've seen in almost all of my friends celebrations and not just weddings, I was drawn to the idea of having a personalized wedding photo wall!!

Photo Walls are quite common in many foreign weddings I've read about, but haven't really seen one here in the Philippines, at least at the weddings I have attended.

I was very happy that our ninong Pert Delacruz of Jopers Inc.(who gifted us our framed wedding invitations) just knows exactly how to construct an amazing photo wall. And he made it for us for free!

Ms. Lyra Paz immediately sent me two wallpaper designs to choose from. It was exactly what I have in mind, different picture frames design that matches our framed wedding invitation that Delfin (also of Jopers Inc.) have made for us. We chose the pink shade wallpaper and just requested to indicate the words A JOURNEY TO FOREVER Raymond & Mhe-anne September 21, 2013 Tagaytay, Philippines in the final lay out.

Our photo wall was a sure hit! Many guests have told me that it was such a great idea and their first time to see a photo wall on weddings!

Our Maid Of Honor: Jean Fabre Marcaida!

I knew right away that Jean Fabre Marcaida is my Maid of Honor for our wedding! She is my second mission companion while in Tayabas, Quezon and we got on like a house on fire then and after mission when she decided to work in Manila from Cagayan de Oro.

during our prenup shoot at the Manila Philippines Temple

With our names intertwined, Jean really is my alter ego who can make life easy for me during my special day [sans a wedding planner!]! She has always been the helpful type and has an eye for details, the perfect fit for a maid of honor who traditionally leads the bridesmaids, organizes pre-wedding events and stands next to the bride on the big day.

picture by the Wedding Wall

As expected, Jean lived up to her role as a Maid of Honor! She was the one who accompanied me to Ilaya, Divisoria to buy inexpensive but beautiful dresses for flower girls, ring bearers and groomsmen! She also planned an intimate belting out -to -the -tune kind of bridal shower!

with the Best Man, Franco Advincula 

During the wedding, Jean looked after my needs from cellphone loads to buying the trail mix for our pica - pica. And last but not the least, she did such a sweet wedding toast during the reception!

Thank you Jean for making our wedding day my best day ever!

Alternative To Bouquet Throw & Garter Toss: Human Chairs!

Since there’s always a little risk for the lads and lasses determined to get the garter and bouquet in their clutches, we threw the idea of bouquet and garter throwing haha. Nah, seriously, because of our ages, our "not so young" single friends at our wedding reception may find it awkward to be invited to join in the traditional bouquet and garter throws. Besides, it would be quite difficult to throw my magic wand bouquet at that!

So, we played the HUMAN CHAIRS instead. And we're so glad we did!

We called the Groomsmen [who was supposed to approach the stage dancing “Gentlemen”]and called in the Bridesmaids & Maid of Honor who danced to the tune of "All the Single Ladies".

We asked the men to form a circle and to be in a sitting position as if they are “proposing”. Music is played. The ladies go around the circle while dancing and when the music stops, the ladies have to sit on the men’s lap. The lady who doesn't have a seat have to leave the dance floor, and will pull one of the single guys to leave, and so on until only two girls left. The last girl who is not able to sit on the last guy's lap receives the bouquet and she picks a single guy of her choice who should receive the garter.

Ping Olivare was the last girl standing and her chosen partner is Jomar Ramiso. Let's see if they will be the next to tie the knot!!

Our Principal Sponsors

For LDS weddings which is usually held inside the temple, there are only two witnesses who signs the marriage contract. So when we handed out our invitations, we hand-picked sixteen (16) of our friends VIPs to sit at the Principal Sponsors table during our planned ring ceremony and wedding reception.  They will be special witnesses and include my high school scholarship sponsor former Senator, (1) Atty.Jose D. Lina, Jr.; Pres. Sergio Osmena High School Alumni,  (2) Ms. Loida Morante from Australia; incumbent Congressman of Cagayan de Oro City and my boss at the Bureau of Immigration and dean at the San Sebastian College of Law, (3) Atty. Rufus Rodriguez;  incumbent Representative of the Second District of Zambales and my former classmate (4) Atty. Cheryl Deloso – Montalla; Philippines Area Legal Counsel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter – Day Saints, (5) Atty. Douglas McAllister and his beautiful wife, (6) Ms. Janice McAllister; incumbent Congressman of the First District of Agusan Del Norte, (7) Atty. Lawrence Lemuel Fortun with his wife (8) Ms. Therese Fortun; incumbent and the outgoing Municipal Mayor of Sta. Maria Laguna, couple (9) Atty. Antonio Carolino and (10) Atty. Cindy Valdecantos – Carolino; re-elected Municipal Mayor of Rizal, Cagayan, (11) Atty. Joel Ruma with his beautiful wife, (12) Atty. Brenda Ruma; sponsor of our wedding invitations and photowall, (13) Mr. Ruperto Delacruz and (14) Ms. Susie Delacruz and last but not the least of our couple pairs of sponsors is (15) Mr. Manny Baul and (16) Ms. Theresa Baul.

But three (3) days before the big day and without yet the sealing clearance to allow us to marry in the temple, we were constrained to have a civil wedding ceremony instead of just a ring ceremony, in the same venue. This means that the eight (8) friends VIPs sitting at the Principal Sponsors' table, regardless of age, suddenly become our instant "ninongs" and "ninangs" officially.

L-R Ms. Therese Fortun, Mayor Cindy Carolino, Ms. Loida Morante, Ms. Janice Mc Allister
Atty. Douglas Mc Allister, Mayor Tony Carolino, Mr. Pert Dela Cruz & Cong. Lawrence Fortun

We are so happy and privileged to have these distinguished and honorable friends as our "godparents", whose marriage we will emulate as we go through our married life. We will keep their advice to heart so we can be together ... forever. 

Guestbook Alternative: Guitar

Our Guitar Guestbook Alternative

Music played an important part of our dating years. Raymond used to bring me to Yamaha World Band Explosion concerts in 1991. He is also a lead soloist of the band Radio Crave and plays the guitar very well. When we met again last year (July 2012), he serenaded me and composed songs for me that truly brought back memories of yesteryears. To incorporate music in our wedding events, I thought of a Guitar as Guestbook alternative.

Bridesmaid Aimee Fernandez with our Guitar Guestbook.
 Picture taken by Groomsman Mc Joseph Casimiro

I have an old guitar I wasn't using much but didn't want to let go, do the trick. Then got some pens from National Bookstore that could write on all surfaces like wood. Viola, I have a guestbook that doesn't cost anything but was a sure hit! 

Our Guitar Guestbook Always Put Us In Tune!

More, I don't need to find a place where to store it since I can line it up with Raymond's guitars and could right away reminisce our big day!