Dreams do come true! ❤

It's been a month since our wedding day and we still have the biggest smiles on our faces whenever we remember the day we became husband and wife. HUSBAND and WIFE! 

We used to just dream about the life that we now share. At very random occasions (while doing laundry, prepping dinner, driving to Ikea, choosing the fresher lamb chops at the meatshop), we would suddenly stop and look at each other - still in disbelief until one utters, 'asawa na kita?!'

In the midst of all the stress and busyness of wedding planning, it was when my Tita Sara prayed with me two nights before the wedding that the proverbial light bulb clicked on - I was reminded that our wedding wasn't about the program, the gowns or the decorations, but rather about thanksgiving and commitment to God, as we declare our love for each other, in the presence of the people who also love and care for us. We could've gotten married at a garage and we still would've felt the most blessed people in the world!

~And He has made everything beautiful in His time ~

For us, everything that transpired that day was magical. Our ceremony was delayed for over an hour because we had to wait for the pouring rain to stop. When some were saying that the rain wasn't going to stop soon, I had unexplainable peace in my heart - convinced that God was only pouring out blessings and it was going to clear. And indeed the skies cleared and as we were exchanging our vows, the sun started to set. :)

We're very blessed to have very reliable and talented suppliers and friends and we want to acknowledge them here.

Rev. Lito Villoria of GCF South Metro

For our union to be solemnized by the current Resident Pastor of the church that was home to me for 9 years, was a tremendous honour. Pastor Lito shared with us very valuable lessons during our counseling and the message he shared at our wedding ceremony truly made an impact on us as it was so real and relevant. 

Jorge & Olie Palmos of Jorge Palmos Couture

Many of our guests gushed about Palmos' creations but more than their beautiful works, I was mostly impressed by their humility, the love that they put into their work and their sincere care for their clients. They really go beyond what is expected - from the design collaborations, to finding the right materials and colours, the fittings, assistance during the preparations, and even acting as our PA/make up artist at the photo shoot.

They made my beautiful gown and Edward's suit, the dresses of my mum, sisters, Edward's mum, Maid of Honour, Bridesmaids, Jr Bridesmaids, Flower Girls and Ninang Celia.

Pam and Dazl, our Wedding Coordinators

Pam was Edward's colleague at TeamAsia. We contacted her only about 2 weeks before the wedding and she immediately said yes even before telling her what our budget was! Thanks Pam and Dazl for all your help (also re-touching my makeup for the reception!). We couldn't have done it without you. You were both so relaxed but you delivered so well and have already done what was needed even before we asked! 

Daniel Lei and team of DLS

Working with the very young and talented team of DLS was extremely enjoyable! Our pre-nup shoot was done with ease and heaps of fun, even on a hot sweltering afternoon. There were 9 of them pro photo/videographers working to document our special day and they made an absolutely great job putting together the SDE. We haven't seen the official wedding photos and videos yet but we're so sure that they're all going to look superb! Can't wait to see and share them!

Sharon Cobrador of Tagaytay Highlands

We checked in at Tagaytay Highlands the night before the wedding and the atmosphere was so beautiful and fresh, it felt like we were in another country! I showed some photos to my colleagues and they were really amazed with the view at the ceremony that some thought we just had a fake backdrop! =)

Sharon, the wedding specialist at Tagaytay Highlands was extremely helpful. She did everything she could to grant our many special wishes. All their staff, from the security guards to the waiters and masseurs were very courteous and helpful too! Excellent excellent service!

Cora Perey of RCJC Flower Shop

I love flowers and pretty decors so I was very particular with the colours, types of the flowers and the arrangements. I'm glad we had Tita Cora of RCJC to work with. I fell in love with my bouquet, I wish I was able to keep it for a longer time. I walked down the aisle crying due to a mix of emotions - a small part of that was because I saw the beautiful set up of the ceremony for the first time and it was beyond what I dreamt of! I only met with Tita Cora once prior to the wedding to discuss what I wanted, emailed some pegs and she just got it! It made such a great impact to the whole feel of the wedding.

Moe San Juan and fellow Musicians

Our very talented musicians were Music-majors at St. Scho. They were Edward's good friends and played for us in exchange for extremely friendly talent fees! I also found out when I met with them after the reception that the keyboardist was in the same Sociology class when I was at St. Scho. We were blown away with how well they performed! Edward and I are both music enthusiasts but we weren't really OC when it came to the wedding music. We made a few requests - for the ceremony program and some for the reception but we left the rest up to them and glad we did 'coz their repertoire really got us into the groove!

My sisters, Cha Cha and Jassie

I've known for a long time that I wanted my sisters to sing one of my favourite songs (they sang A Long And Lasting Love) during the contract signing but I only asked them two days before the wedding. :) Whenever Jassie and I are asked to sing, we also only practice a day or a few hours before the event to keep the feel of the music and words fresh and that's what I wanted for my sisters to feel also. It was my ate Cha Cha's first time to sing in front of a huge crowd which made it extra special.

Meg, our Emcee

Meg was also a good friend of Edward's from St. Scho and her precious gift to us was hosting the wedding reception. She told me she's already written 12 pages of spiels only a couple of days after I sent her the program (she works as a writer at a major TV network in the Phils). Meg was an amazing emcee - very engaging but not over the top! It was a breeze collaborating with her. 

KR of Kookies~Rock

KR was also Edward's friend from St. Scho. She's a full-time professor of Interior Design and we're grateful she was able to find time to bake yum cookies for our wedding favours. She also made Edward's cheesy message for me in 2011.

Hans of Dragon Fireworks

We thought of having fireworks as a surprise to our guests a week before the wedding but because of the weather forecast, we held off contacting Dragon Fireworks until my bridesmaid, Stella told me that rain isn't usually a problem! I rang Dragon Fireworks 24 hours before the wedding and they assured me that they can fire regardless of rain so we decided to go ahead. It was definitely one of the highlights at our reception. With such a short notice and given that they were based so far from Tagaytay, I'm very thankful for our contact, Hans' responsiveness and professionalism.


**** More thank you's***

The Entourage

We truly value the friendships that we share with our groomsmen and bridesmaids. John, Roni, Djock, Wilkins, Carlo, G-Boy, Leah, Cheska, Stella, Daye, Mae and Lou... you have all witnessed our story and supported us all the way. That we know we can rely on people like you for anything means the world to us. You've been a great inspiration as you are all achievers in your own ways. Thank you for your input on our wedding. 

Principal Sponsors

Our Ninongs & Ninangs are really like our second parents and we look up to them with lots of love and respect. Thank you so much for being our guides and counsellors and making us feel beloved. 

My Parents and family

I think I may have missed saying this to my parents at my wedding speech... Mummy and daddy, you've been the best parents to me. Thanks for allowing me to be independent - I know it was hard to let me go as an 18 year-old living abroad and now as a 25 year-old being married. Thanks for trusting me to make my own choices in life. Knowing that you're always there to back me up, always made me felt secure. Thanks to my brother, sisters, sis and bro-in-law for looking after me and Edward. We love you!

Edward's family

Thanks to Edward's parents, grandparents, siblings and the whole clan for accepting me as part of the family and showing me nothing but love and respect ever since. Edward's siblings are now all 6 feet tall and over but til now they still see me as their big sister, always speaking to me with courtesy - lots of 'po' and 'opo' in every sentence!

All our Guests

Having a small wedding (for Filipino standards) was one of the best decisions we made. We both have very big families but we really only wanted close family and friends to be with us on our wedding day. Every single person who was there is very special to us. Thanks to everyone who made the time and travelled far to witness our wedding, especially to those who flew in from the US, Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Dubai just for the wedding. Your presence was very precious to us.


Finally, I want to thank Edward for being so hands-on with the whole planning and execution. There were instances when I was turning into a Bridezilla but he was very patient with me, loving and supportive. From designing our invitations, to contacting suppliers, layouts of our eye candies, travelling to the overcrowded Divisoria market just to get me my special requests (imagine carrying 40 metres of heavy burlap cloth, 140 glass bottles, table and photo wall decors, boxes of candles and glasses, umbrellas, etc on public transport!), turning into a carpenter with his dad to build our photo wall, signages and ceremony arch, putting together our AVPs and ensuring that I was always happy and content! I was a very blessed bride and now a very blessed wife. :)

Our Wedding Vows ❤

Whenever we talk about our wedding day with our guests, our vows always come up as the highlight. The very different personalities that Edward and I have showed when we exchanged vows - evident just by the choice of language.

Edward had a letter sent to me a couple of hours before the ceremony started . Every one around me was shocked at my reaction when I saw and read it - I was bawling my eyes out! The photographer even bantered, he thinks the letter was rubbed with onion extract. 

Reading that letter just brought a flashback of memories of the wonderful feeling that I always have while reading Edward's letters and poems. It also made me even more expectant to hear what he had put together for his vow.

We were asked by a few guests for a copy of our vows (actually, just Edward's but I'll just share mine anyway, hehe).

My relatives from overseas marvelled hearing the profound Filipino words of Edwardo. :)

Edward's Vow

Jei Ann, 

Nandito tayo ngayon, sa harap ng Panginoon, ng ating mga magulang, kaibigan, at mga taong malalapit sa atin, na simula pa noong una ay bahagi na ng ating kwento.

Ang kwento natin, sa marami marahil ay kwento ng pag-ibig. Subalit sa akin, ito ay kwento ng aking buhay. Maraming yugto, pero mananatiling tayong dalawa lang ang tauhan, hanggang sa ang aklat nating dalawa, ay isara ng ating Panginoon.

Ikaw ang lahat. Ang lahat lahat sa akin. Magkasabay nating natutunan ang mga bagay na kung sa sarili lang natin ay hindi natin mawawari. Magkasabay nating natutunan ang kahulugan ng pag-ibig. Ikaw ang nagpadama sa'kin ng pag-ibig na alam kong kahit saan mang lupalop ko hanapin, ay hindi ko matatagpuan.

Salamat sa panahong hindi mo ipinagdamot upang mas magbunga ang mga hinabi natin. Salamat, dahil noon pa man, kasama na ako sa ga pangarap mo. Salamat sa maliliit na bagay, na kung sa iba manggagaling ay hindi magiging kasing kabuluhan. Salamat sa mga payo at pagpapagalit. HIndi ko ipagpapalit ang mga diskusyon at sagutan natin sa kasiyahan, kung di lang rin ikaw ang panggagalingan.

Salamat dahil halos kalahati ng buhay ko, kasama kita at insirasyon. Umiikot ang mundo ko sa "tayong dalawa". Hindi ako ako kung ako lang. Hindi ako ang kung ano ako ngayon kung wala ka sa buhay ko. Salamat sa tyaga, pasensya, salamat sa pagiging totoo, at sa pagsama sa'kin saan mang pihit ng tadhana, maging sa kalungkutan, kagipitan, kasiyahan at maging sa walang katuturang kulitan.

Salamat. Salamat hindi dahil sinusuklian mo ng pag-ibig ang pag-ibig ko sa'yo, kundi dahil hindi mo tinatanggihan ang isang bagay na buhat pa 'nung kamusmusan ay alam ko nang ialay. At iyon ay ang pag-ibig ko.

Sa pagbubukas ng bagong yugto ng ating aklat, ipinapangako ko ang walang-hanggang kasiyahan na madadama mo sa piling ko, at sa piling ng ating mga magiging anak. 

Ipinapangako kong tulad ng mga pangarap natin, bago dumating ang araw na ito, tutulungan kitang matupad ang buhay na pinapangarap mong matamasa. Ilalaan ko sayo ang oras na ipinagdamot sa'tin 'nung tayo'y magkalayo pa.

Alam kong ipinaubaya sa'tin ng Panginoon ang araw na ito, sapagkat tunay ang ating pag-ibig. Walang hihigit pa sa pag-ibig ko sa'yo. At kung daratnan ako ng wakas ng aking buhay, alam kong ang mga ala-ala ng pagmamahal mo ang mga huling larawang makikita ko.

Tatapusin ko ang panunumpang ito sa mga salitang, "Ako ay sa'yo, asawa mo, kaibigan mo, at kababata mo, na iibigin ka ng buong puso, sa hirap, ginhawa, hanggang sa huling hininga ng aking buhay."

- Edward

Jei Ann's Vow

My love,

Believe it or not, I can still remember where I was, how I felt and the thoughts that came to my mind the very first time I found out that you had a crush on me. That was 16 years ago, baby, and until I know I still feel giddy as a kid every time I get the chance to talk about you and who you are in my life.

I am savouring this moment and memorizing this unspeakable feeling when my dream is finally coming true. As a girl, long before Pinterest was invented, I have had pictures in my head of how I wanted my wedding to be like. My preferences have changed over the years but I have always known it was going to be with you.

Of course I am biased but I believe that ours is one of the sweetest love stories that God has ever written and I'm glad that you are staying in the picture and that you've also made it easy for me to stick to the character of His story. 

Remaining true to this was not without challenges but it was definitely an easy commitment to make, because you have shown me that what we have was heaven-sent. 

Your friends and peers know you as the guy with many talents but to me, the greatest strength that you possess is how you love.

Thank you for also making it easy for me to love, trust and have faith in others because when I gave these to you as an innocent teenager, you have returned them with sincerity. 

We've had countless disagreements in varying degrees but as we are slowly mastering the art of finding a meeting point, I want to thank you for hearing me and I promise to continue to hear your heart.

I will help you achieve your dreams and purpose by constantly reminding you of your place in God – the authority, grace and empowerment that you inherit by being a child of our Almighty Father.

Today, as we are literally surrounded by the people that we love, I promise to help make it effortless for you to love and enjoy life. I vow to submit to you as your wife. As they say, with authority comes responsibility so when needed, I will remind you of your duties as the leader of our household but I promise I will do this in the gentlest way I know.

We've had many adventures, baby and I’m excited to see what else is in the next pages of this story because I know that nothing comes close to what we are yet to experience together in marriage.

As you become my husband, I can promise that nothing will change… In good times and in bad, rain or shine, I will continue to fall in love with you over and over again, as I admittedly have in the last 4,365 days of my life.

- Jei Ann

Instagrammed wedding photos by our guests ❤

Wedding Layouts by Edward ❤

Formal Wedding Invites

This is what most of our guests would have received by now.

Design by Edward. Wood version made in the Philippines. Paper version printed in Melbourne (see heART ATTACK!).

We personally put these together, but not without the help of our dependable friends in Melbourne. 

Typewritten envelopes, sealed using wax and a metal coin.

Labour of love. :)

Our Venue

Posted by Jei Ann

Why Tagaytay Highlands?

Scouting for a suitable wedding venue was a challenge, although heaps fun, as I live so far away and Edward wanted to leave this up to my liking. Thanks to mum and ate for being ever so patient with contacting several wedding venues and suppliers.

It was daddy who compelled (any other venue was second best) encouraged us to contact Tagaytay Highlands. The first time I've been was 6 years ago. I absolutely love the place. It's like a small city within a big city with the breathtaking view of mountains and fresh breeze of tropical trees - also apt for Edward who is a nature-lover!

You'll know what I mean if you check out www.tagaytayhighlands.com. :)

Here are some photos of our ocular in November.

Our Motif

Coming up with a theme didn't take long. We both love this palette. :)

with love, 
Ewak & Jei Ann