Featuring David Henry D. Hizon and Monica Bea B. Araneta
David and Bea’s love story is the kind that feels hand-drawn by fate; soft, nostalgic, and sprinkled with magic. Their journey began the old-fashioned way: a blind date set up by a friend who believed two people with shared passions for Japanese culture and gaming might just spark.
“I’m a single-since-birth kind of girl, and David was absorbed in work and video games,” Bea shared with a laugh.
That first date stretched from 6 p.m. to midnight, hours spent talking about anime, art, food, and everything in between. But what sealed it was one serendipitous detail: Bea’s Loewe x Studio Ghibli bag and David’s Totoro keychain. “It was the cutest sign,” she recalled.
Their connection flowed effortlessly after that. As their dates grew, she introduced him to art and conventions, while he opened her world to culinary adventures. “We were comfortable, fun, peaceful… and best of all, we were just ourselves.”
After three years, David proposed in the most David way possible, during an omakase lunch, hiding the ring inside a cupcake. “Imagine if I choked!” Bea joked.
The lighthearted surprise quickly turned emotional when he knelt and asked the question she had secretly hoped would happen “just us two.” A small family dinner followed, making the day even more intimate and meaningful.
When planning the wedding, they made a promise: it didn’t need to be perfect, just right for them. Everything reflected their story. Bea stitched their monogram into her gown and tucked a handwritten message for David into a handkerchief, while he kept one of her early letters in his pocket.
Her walk down the aisle was set to Merry-Go-Round of Life, a nod to Howl’s Moving Castle, a love story that echoed their own.
The reception bloomed into a whimsical Studio Ghibli world featuring My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Howl’s Moving Castle.
Their favorite colors, green and red, grounded the palette. Bea illustrated every visual element, monogram, menus, name cards, while David crafted a menu filled with his signature dishes. “We wanted a visual and appetizing feast,” she said. And of course, Totoro made an entrance.
When asked to describe their wedding in one word, Bea smiled: “Super Us!” It was magical, heartfelt, and wildly authentic. As David watched her walk toward him, eyes locked, he knew, this was the moment he’d waited for all his life. Together, they’re ready to create even more worlds, hand in hand.
David and Bea’s Dream Team:
Church: Christ The King Greenmeadows
Ceremony: The Blueleaf Cosmopolitan
Caterer: Hizons Catering
Coordinator: RC Ramos of COTE Events
Cake: Sugarbox Cakes
Invites: Print Divas
Event Stylist: Gideon Hermosa
Photographer: Metrophoto
Videographer: Jason Magbanua
Gown designer: Mark Bumgarner
Suit designer: Bianca Cordero
Visuals: Always in Motion
