Dancing with Fate

#WERealWeddings featuring RIEGER CRUZ and CATHERINE DAVID

Summer in Boracay isn’t exactly the setting that inspires stories of love. Even less perhaps is the kind of love story that leads two to the altar. And yet, that was where our story began. If its beginning was any indication of how it lead us through, then we just made true the age-old adage that “love overcomes all”.

With Rieger based in Singapore while I was starting a business in Manila, we maintained a relationship without ever clearly defining what it was. Every time he visits his family in the Philippines, he made sure he makes time to see me. Apart, we kept connected online. There are times when, coincidentally, we were in the same place at the same time with our families. Times when fate really played Cupid. But distance has always been the silent challenge to our relationship. Until Rieger made the decision to stay in the Philippines for good.

This was the time we made it all official. Four years later, basking in the sunset over Santorini, I found myself nodding to the man on his bended knee, speechless and overwhelmed. Planning started immediately and it was easy for us to agree on a January date, a garden reception in an out-of-town venue that doubles as a quick getaway. As one who does events professionally, I was ready with pegs, booking suppliers and so sure about the destination – the cool city of Tagaytay!

But fate is ever so mischievous. On January 12, 2020, a few hours before Rieger’s flight to Manila from his bachelor’s party in Bali, he sent me news that Taal Volcano had erupted. Desperately wishing that this is just a low-intensity volcanic activity, I was trying to keep it cool. Until flights got cancelled, including Rieger’s, I asked in tears: “What’s going to happen?”. Ever the optimist, Rieger said, “Think positive. We still got two weeks!”

From that time on I barely slept, just constantly checking on the news and praying that the situation gets better. It was a nightmare I wished to wake up from. But I woke up to even worse news that Taal’s ashes have now covered the entire city. To make matters worse, Rieger was still stuck in Bali.

Friends and family started calling to give words of encouragement but at the same time trying to find out what our next moves will be. I wasn’t sure how I would respond to all these. I was still trying to hold on to our original plan.

Finally, I mustered the strength to deal with the problem. There is nothing we can do to control a natural calamity. We had two options: to postpone the wedding or to take it somewhere else. And so we decided to get married as scheduled and move our wedding further north. With very limited time on our hand, we started planning our “new” wedding. Booked St. Joseph The Worker Chapel in Pampanga and confirmed with the Hilltop Mimosa in Clark for the reception venue. While I was doing the replanning, Rieger finally got a flight back to Manila via the longer route Bali-Singapore-Clark-Manila.

With only a week to spare, Rieger and I headed to Clark and worked out the finishing touches to our alternative plan. It was only after we had announced the change of venue to everyone concerned did I feel relieved. All was well, finally.

On January 24, I walked down the aisle in that little chapel lined with trees and greens from the entrance all the way to the altar. Our colour motif of green and grey went well with our original plan of a garden-feel ambiance of timeless romanticism with modern elegance. The grey suits of the groomsmen and the sage green gowns of my entourage complemented the overall look of the ceremony.

For someone who does not dance, Rieger’s surprise number was truly an effort of love. It was a gesture I would always treasure and tell people about. I just know that however fate brings us to a test, I can bank on this man to dance  with me.

Rieger and Catherine’s DREAM TEAM Church: St. Joseph The Worker Chapel, Clark Pampanga | Reception Venue: Hilltop Mimosa, Mimosa Clark | Caterer and Cake: Bizu Catering Studio | Coordinator: Ernest Pascual of Bespoke Manila | Stationery: Amis Print | Event Stylist: Il Fiore Flower Boutique | Photography: Jaja Samaniego | Videographer: Jason Magbanua | Gown designer: Pronovias | Suit designer: Ermenegildo Zegna | Designer Entourage: Maureen Disini | Bridal Robe: La Tercera | Bridal Shoe Designer: Jimmy Choo | Make up artist and Hair: Madge Lejano | Hosts: Bianca Valerio and Rico Robles | Music: Church Choir: Animo Choir and Strings | Music: Reception: Anne Clerigo | DJ: Marc Naval | Jewelry Designer: Radiant Lux