King and Queen of Hearts

July 15, 2010 / Posted by in Real Weddings, Video

After that power outage yesterday, I simply couldn’t wait to write again. Contrary to many peoples’ preference, I love rain. But the dark clouds have passed and today we welcome sunshine-filled things, one of them Arthur and Sheilan’s wedding. This is our first Cebu wedding feature and it definitely doesn’t disappoint. A celebration that speaks of romance, drama and a feel of royalty. The elements contributing to the overall feel of the wedding were exquisite. Sheilan, the breathtakingly gorgeous bride pulled of the term “the more, the merrier” with regards to her choice of crystals. The embellishments on her gown and hairpiece created a dreamy, princess-like aura. Don’t fret Arthur, I haven’t forgotten about you! Props to the groom for appropriately choosing a tux that matches his bride’s look. I love so many things about this wedding and I think you will too.

I love the gray gowns of the sponsors. The color, style and fabric reflects Cebu’s artistic culture.

These flower arrangements are so perfect. Tall, lush and pretty always does the trick. I really like the fact that it doesn’t look like your typical wedding arrangement, and was very tastefully done.

Here’s a peek at the couple’s onsite video. The song used was Michelle Tumes’, Lovely. Although I’ve heard this song so many times, it simply never gets old. This one is worth your while!

If Cebu produces weddings as picture-perfect as this, Bride and Breakfast will surely have a feast. Congratulations to you Arthur and Sheilan!

Photography: Nelwin Uy / Makeup: Wenwen Zaspa / Video: MG Digital / Church: Sacred Heart / Coordination: Shirley Grace Ong

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I Heart J.Crew! I Really Do!

July 12, 2010 / Posted by in Fashion, Video

I love New York. I know people normally say that, but if you dig deeper on this so-called love, it’s quite a whole different story. People can love New York for its energy, culture, diversity of self-expression, fast-paced lifestyle and many more. I, on the other hand, love New York because of an unconventional reason—I love all the fabulous bridal stores! Sigh Just the thought of being surrounded by all those pretty things makes my heart leap for joy! Like a kid goes crazy the moment they enter a toy store, I confess that bridal stores have the same effect on me. So when I found out that J.Crew, one of my favorite (more affordable) imported brands, was opening a Bridal boutique in Madison Ave., I added it to my “must-visit stores when in New York” list. However, I wasn’t sure when my next trip to the Big Apple would be so I decided to look for the next best thing. If it looks this fun on video, I am dying to visit it sooner than later. Oh what a happy day! This video inspired me so much, I got quite a few styling ideas brewing in my head, but those will just have to wait until my next post. Today we take a little bridal field trip… enjoy!

To see more of the store click here.

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Modern Match Made in Manila

July 7, 2010 / Posted by in Real Weddings

When it comes to hair, I tend to stay on the safe side, a classic bun or anything tied. I have great admiration for brides who look good  even without sporting an up do on their wedding day. And wow, this bride really made a statement! From her gown to her accessories to her haircut, I am loving everything. I found myself smiling as I looked at the candid moments captured by the talented Erron Ocampo. If only pictures had sounds, I’m kinda sure I would be hearing laughter, hoots and a cheering crowd. You must see for yourself…

No wonder I loved Denise’s gown, I myself am a huge fan of Amsale. Excellent choice, bride! The headpiece from Lo Boheme makes the outfit look modern, unconventional and fun.

Don’t you think this could totally work as a brilliant ad for oil paper?

Who wouldn’t love a couple as playful as these two?

The bridesmaids looked like pretty tulips against the garden backdrop. Cuteness!

From the bride:

JJ and I are from New York so having the wedding in the Philippines was a huge decision in itself!  Many of our friends have or will be getting married, and none have dared a destination wedding, not to mention one that is all the way on the other side of the world! The wedding was heartfelt and personal to us because we only had 100 guests, which consisted of our closest family and friends. It was a huge blessing to have each and every person there to support and celebrate our marriage with us. Our favorite part of our wedding was definitely seeing all our hard work manifest itself through the venue’s decor and ambiance. While our guests were in a different room for cocktails, our coordinator had us peek through our bridal room window to see the main reception room… and the second we saw it, we were both in awe of how gorgeous it looked! To think that we planned this day for two years, and it came out so beautiful! We loved the dessert buffet setup, especially because we both have sweet teeth. We also wanted a modern but welcoming environment, and instead of a traditional presidential table we opted for a laid back couple’s couch, decorated with lamps highlighting a quirky backdrop. We were so happy with the all of the vendors’ work and talents.


Bride’s Attire: Amsale / Groom’s Attire: Edwin Valerio / Entourage’s Attire: Jay Bari / Hair and Makeup: Jesy Alto and Raymond Ko / Ceremony Venue: St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, Fernwood Gardens / Reception Venue: Fernwood Gardens / Reception Décor and Flowers: Scenta Flora / Wedding Planning and Coordination: Weddings by Victoria / Catering: Via Mare / Wedding Cake: Bizu Patisserie / Invitations: Momental Designs / Photography: Erron Ocampo /  Videography: Threelogy / Souvenirs: Fotoloco

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Cool, Casual and Candidly Charming Engagement Shoot

July 2, 2010 / Posted by in Engagement Shoots

Unassuming, natural and effortless. In my opinion, these are the hardest words to achieve in an engagement shoot. With all the hype on the thematic feel, many couples feel that simple just won’t do the trick. But here’s where we got it all wrong—simple does the trick to the nth level! And with just the right splash of style and a hint of “ooomph” (thanks to the bride’s great fashion sense), the simplest can look the “wow”-est.

The wedding of Andre and Pia was actually one of the first weddings we’ve featured in B&B (to see, click here). We just can’t get enough of this couple because even their engagement shoot is pure gorgeousness! I guarantee that when you look at these photos, you’ll feel like jumping and running around like a kid again—it’s so fun and filled with love! But wait, there’s more! I am totally digging the fact that two of their closest friends, Cookie Moreno and Gino Angeles—who just do photography as a hobby—came up with this amazing set of pictures. Minimalist and fresh, Andre and Pia’s engagement shoot definitely stands out even without trying.

In case you want to know, this is my favorite shot.

Yes, Andre and Pia… we heart you (two) too!

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Wedding Union, Fusion of Tradition!

July 1, 2010 / Posted by in Real Weddings

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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