By Vennette Lailani Seprado
One of the loveliest faces in Philippine cinema– Iza Calzado, married her long-time beau, Filipino-British businessman, Ben Wintle in the beautiful island of Coron, Palawan on December 19, 2018. The couple’s close friends and family attended the ceremony and reception held at the exclusive Club Paradise Resort. Guests included celebrity dermatologist her BFFs and co-sang’gres from the hit Filipino TV series Encantadia: Karylle Tatlonghari, Sunshine Dizon, and Diana Zubiri. Vicki Belo, Tim Yap, Divine Lee, were also in attendance as well as the adorable Scarlet Snow Belo who served as a flower girl.
Literal Slice Of Paradise
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The couple exchanged I do’s at sundown with the perfect view of the mountains and the calm sea behind them. Ace events stylist Gideon Hermosa transformed an area of the resort’s golden sandy beach into an earthy, bohemian set-up with simple wooden benches, an S-shaped aisle of floral arrangements and a teepee-like structure that served as a wedding canopy decorated with a profusion of tropical flowers and roses.
Fairy Queen Bride
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The bride’s most notable role on television was that of a fairy queen, Amihan in the series Encantadia. It’s no surprise why Iza was chosen to play the iconic role. She isn’t only an acclaimed actress; she’s also considered a classic beauty. On her big day, Iza glowed like the fairy queen she so effectively portrayed in the expert hands of a celebrity makeup artist, Juan Sarte who enhanced her natural beauty. Hairstylist, Celeste Tuviera created a half braided hairstyle for the bride’s long wavy locks secured with a custom hair comb made from shells, pearls, crystals and a starfish in keeping with the theme’s relaxed seaside vibe. Video footages showed the bride looking radiant as she walked down the winding aisle to meet her groom clad in a beachy khaki suit.
Loving Lace
For a celebrity who has worn countless couture creations, nothing is more sentimental than a wedding gown created by one of her longest and dearest friends. Esteemed designer Rajo Laurel whipped up a stunning lace gown for the bride to capture her free-spirited nature and elegance.
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Laurel found the special double Chantilly lace fabric at Sophie Hallette’s Couture House in Paris that led him to the process of creating the bride’s bohemian bridal frock with a classic twist.
The uncomplicated lace gown had long sleeves, a deep V-neckline with a wrap bodice and an overlapping skirt that created a sexy slit. The bride, styled by Kat Cruz completed her bridal look with a pair of diamond stud earrings and bluish nudist sandals by Stuart Weitzman.
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Gideon Hermosa and Teddy Manuel collaborated on the bride’s modern bouquet that had roses, pampas, calla lilies, ferns, and succulents. A personal touch was added with a heart-shaped locket containing photos of Iza’s beloved parents who sadly passed away a number of years ago.
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The Bride Tribe
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The tropical mood of the event didn’t prevent the bridesmaids from looking ultra-cool. Sunshine Dizon, Karylle Yuzon and Diana Zubiri-Smith, her co-stars from the hit fantasy series as well as the rest of her bride tribe wore unique creations in shades of sand by Martin Bautista. They completed their looks with matching denim jackets from Levis, sunglasses from Rayban and carried bouquets in muted shades of white, nude and greens.
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The Reception and The Details
The couple maximized the Instagram appeal of their wedding by appointing Teddy Manuel to create a cocktail area bordered by wheat colored pampas, dry palms, and an imposing peacock chair by Vito Selma as the centerpiece.
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Their magical reception set up was under a tent of chandeliers and fairy lights. Four long tables formed a square border around the central dance floor that had a print of the couple’s initials and their chosen emblem – the seahorse which symbolizes monogamy. Each table had rows of silver Tiffany chairs and a canopy of leaves, white orchids, and glass orbs.
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Their three-tiered lemon and French vanilla naked cake by Naked Patisserie was minimal and beautifully decorated with roses in varying shades of blush and lilac.
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The couple entered their festive reception dancing with their guests holding sparklers to greet them. Crooner Ogie Alcasid serenaded the couple but perhaps the most touching part of the evening was Sunshine Dizon’s bequeathal of a special gift from the bride’s late mother – a diamond bracelet left to her safekeeping until Iza’s wedding.
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The three-day affair celebrated not only the union of the couple but the friendship they shared with the people closest to them. The thoughtful details seen throughout their wedding are reflective of their personalities and love of nature.
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Congratulations to the newlyweds!
