#WERealWeddings featuring IAN FREDERICK A. ILAGAN and JULIAN ROSE D. ORIAL
I met Ian when I was 19 in college, not having had a boyfriend before or not even had been asked out, I made quite a funny misunderstanding with what turned out to be our first date. He had asked if I wanted to watch The Lego Movie, and I thought to myself “Is it a date? Maybe it’s just two friends hanging out, that’s possible right? I mean – he has a lot of other female friends and they hang out all the time!” So I played it cool, breezy. But I went too cool and breezy that I ended up accidentally inviting two of my sisters to tag along with us to a movie date – a story that he likes to tell every now and then. It was a perfectly silly start to a relationship.
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We grew together in college, witnessed by our peers, professors, and families, all of whom we made sure to be present on the day we say “I do” to one another. Ian has a good rapport with the faculty because he was a great student and met their high expectations. I, on the other hand, struggled to stay focused on schoolwork and had little confidence in understanding lessons. Despite how different we were, we were able to make each other grow in ways we never could have imagined. I was able to have a sincere appreciation of what we do in our classes and Ian had become more socially active in various circles, growth that everyone around us noticed as well. We expressed our appreciation and love in various ways, bringing food to one another when class schedules were tight, giving trinkets when famously difficult exams were coming up. I looked forward into bumping into him in the hallways just to give him a quick hug, and then we’d be off to our classes. We cheered for each other for our successes and were there for one another through hard times. We weren’t the type to make loud grand gestures, we didn’t do grand displays in public. Our love was cute and quiet, assuring and strong. Going out on dates never felt dull. It was always what we needed it to be. It can be relaxing and quiet, and it can be a dynamic adventure of exploration. Even as our relationship was growing, and we were starting to transition outside college, we still kept the trivial habits alive. We would always start our day with a good morning message and end the night with a routine of sending good night emoji stickers to one another. It’s a small gesture, but the day never felt complete without them. We do these trivial things because that’s the way we say “I love you” to one another. We kept this up for 5 years until we no longer had to message online because we could say them in person.
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The day of our wedding is a culmination of all the days we chose to keep choosing each other. It was like a snowball going downhill, carrying all the small things that we did consistently and kept growing through time. We invited guests who have been there from the very beginning of our relationship, those who have witnessed our growth as individuals and as a couple. To treat them to a quick round of reminiscing, we opted to have a small display at our receptions entrance of the trinkets we collected throughout the years. It had anniversary scrapbooks, Valentine’s Day date proposals, and other trinkets that we’ve collected throughout the years. We’ve always had our closest friends experience our small and big milestones with us and be part of our story. We hoped for our guests to experience the journey that they have been with us, from the clumsy young couple that we were to the couple who we are now. We kept the décor whimsical to signify the love that started when we were younger, how it filled us with wonder, and combined it with serious tones of dark colors to show the maturity that we now wish for our guests to see. Now, as husband and wife, we start a new chapter carrying with us the closest people who were there from the beginning.
Ian and Jules’ DREAM TEAM Church: Our Lady of Lourdes | Ceremony: Los Arboles | Caterer: K by Cunanan | Coordinator: Events Management Services | Cake: Cake Studio | Invites: Print Divas | Bridal Styling: The Wedding Stylist | Floral and Event Styling: Robert Blancaflor | Photographer: Fresh Minds Digital Photography | Videographer: Fresh Minds Digital Photography | Gown designer: Paul Tenorio | Suit designer: Cornell’s Tailoring | Digital Monogram: AnimatePH | Preparation: Quest Hotel | Hair and Makeup: Noel Jimenez | Dip Supplier: Nico Del Castillo | Lights and Sounds: Artuz101 | Choir: One Dad Voice | Band: Sound Salad
WE Real Weddings 2020 is available for download at Magzter https://www.magzter.com/PH/Manila-Bulletin-Publishing-Company/Wedding-Essentials/Bridal/ and Press Reader https://pressreader.com/@nickname20499275/csb_4Mmm9ej97op1pDkGkyqUWO9Fl0Ix1Q-EyFkaLpF-URGGYsEU4q0PdhUZQXC73WwbBGl3urczQrQrA983-sAdFA