On September 13, 2019—a Friday the 13th—not a single unlucky event transpired as Cayo and Gretchen began their married lives together at the Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish. How could it, when every detail was so meaningfully put in place by the couple? The entire wedding was an intentional nod to the past, a celebration of the present, and a glimpse of the pair’s personalities coming together for their future. Read about their interesting story below while you go through the shots of Nicolai Melicor.
Because Cayo and Gretchen met on a Friday the 13th nearly six years prior, the selection of their wedding date was no coincidence. What was a happy coincidence was the repeated occurrence of the number in their lives. 13 was the groom’s basketball jersey number growing up and it was also Gretchen’s softball jersey number in her youth. When they met after college years later and became Ultimate Frisbee teammates, it was so important to both of them that they even squabbled over the number. Now Gretchen wears 13 diamonds on the half eternity wedding band around her ring finger.
Another nod to the past was the couple’s church selection, which was where the groom was baptised and heard mass all throughout his life. The wedding was solemnized by Bishop Socrates Villegas, who officiated the bride’s First Communion, Confirmation, grade school graduation mass, and high school graduation mass and also surprised the couple with his presence on their wedding day (perhaps the only “unplanned” element of the day)!
For Gretchen, a writer and a managing editor of an online magazine, putting the look of the day together was almost second nature. Styling was seamless, clean, and minimalist with hints of purple incorporated in the entourage gowns, the wedding logo, and branding (designed by her sister and Maid of Honor), as well as in the flowers and event styling. Of course, every beautiful element was chosen with intention, like the song played during the couple’s first dance, their custom giveaways made in collaboration with Black Coffee PH, and their beautiful cake baked by a good friend of the bride. Gretchen also wore a stunning-yet-sweet Rosenthal Tee gown with an exaggerated bow detail at the back.
When we asked Gretchen which elements were most meaningful to her, she said other than the date and church selection, the presence of her dog Booboo on the day meant a lot to her.
Gretchen happily shares that her groom Cayo was very much hands-on in the coordination with suppliers leading up to the day. This combined with Gretchen’s thorough preparation made it easy for her to relax.
