Wedding Union, Fusion of Tradition!

This is going to be such an inspiring wedding for brides on a budget. When I first saw the pictures, I didn’t think that this was the type of wedding that would have the budgeted feel. It’s classy and elegant, yet fun and homey at the same time. After talking with the bride, I realized that she wasn’t kidding when they said they really made the most of their moolah! Daniel and Jennie decided to have one splurge each: the venue for Daniel and the photographer for Jennie. What a smart strategy (future brides, take note)! I love how everyone was involved in the preparations which made it so beautiful. This is a wedding that not only celebrates the couple but family and tradition as well. I bet some of you are thinking, it’s easier said than done. Guess what? Daniel and Jennie did it. Here’s the proof…

Unique Wedding Element: The log-cutting ceremony is a German tradition representing the couple’s ability to work together.

Unexpected circumstances can actually make a wedding even more fun. Our bride shares: We had made a funny mistake with our turns which ended up with our backs to the audience, so we had to do a “take two” and start all over, but it was okay… it was typical “us” to commit such a blooper.

From the couple:

Why is the wedding so “Daniel and Jennie”?

Our wedding was a fusion of both our cultures, which is German and Filipino-Chinese.  Germans tend to celebrate weddings into the wee hours of the morning (like 3 or 4am), so it is important to us that the reception place we chose has no four-hour limitation.  Hacienda Isabella fitted the bill and more! We love the open space that the venue offered and the wonderful details the place had. For the church, we both wanted a church that is less “commercialized” and offered a quiet atmosphere. Daniel came from the countryside in Germany and it was important to him to have this homey, little town feel, which San Antonio de Padua had.

We really wanted the wedding to represent who we are, so we tried to show that in the different elements of the wedding and got as many friends and relatives involved.

Lastly, the wedding was “us”, because it had elements of goofiness and casualness as well! One of our Polish guests spontaneously started a game of musical chairs, because she said it was part of their country’s tradition to do so. So in the end, it was a mash-up of all these happy, wonderful things.

What was your favorite part of the wedding?

Daniel and I both agree that it was when we first saw each other at the church and when everyone was chilling out after the reception. We also enjoyed working with Nelwin Uy, our photographer, and feeling like models for the day! We also thought that the speeches our parents gave were oh-so-special, as well as the father-daughter / mother-son dances because it gave us a moment to reflect on the special occasion with our parents.

Do you have DIY projects in your wedding?

We had a couple of things which we personally DIY’d, and a lot of other things which my relatives and friends DIY’d. Daniel and I DIY’d our save-the-date cards and our website. And because we were expecting a number of international guests, we also sent out newsletters to guests updating them of the wedding plans, giving them Philippine travel tips, etc. The whole wedding truly felt like a family effort! Most of our family was so involved in contributing something, like the desserts, décor and items in program.

Bridal Gown, Entourage Gowns, and Groom’s Barong: Enan Almado / Male Entourage Barongs: Kultura Filipino / Hair and Make-up: Angie Cruz / Church:  San Antonio de Padua Quasi-Parish / Reception and Main Course: Hacienda Isabella / Cake: Red Ribbon / Venue Styling:  Mint Cec (Bride’s cousin, Sand Chua) / Photography: Nelwin Uy / Video and Photo Compilation: Once Wedding Specialists / Wedding Invitation Design: Gayatri Kolharkar / Wedding Invitation Printing: Written in Ink / Souvenirs:  Abanico fans were DIY, materials were sourced from Divisoria;  Potted succulents were sourced from the flower stalls near the Tagaytay rotunda / Bouquets and Corsage: M.R.S. Flower Shop / Coordinators:  Once Wedding Specialists

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