The start of always

Featuring Patrick Louie Lim and Mariella Reyes

For Pat and Mariella, love began not with a grand gesture, but with the quiet familiarity of friendship.

Their story traces back to their college days at De La Salle University, where both were initially accepted into a double-degree program.

As fate would have it, they eventually dropped the program and shifted to the same course, finding themselves spending even more time together. What began as casual conversations slowly grew into a deeper connection.

“The familiarity with each other helped ignite something we never felt before,” Mariella recalls. “The foundation we built as friends, then close friends, and eventually best friends made taking that leap into something more feel very special.”

Their first date carried the nervous excitement of two people stepping into new territory. “It was awkward in the sweetest way,” Mariella shares with a laugh.

“We both knew we were about to take the leap from friends into something more real.” Yet the simplicity of their time together, talking on a bench after class or exploring new food spots, became the heart of their relationship.

Years later, Patrick planned a proposal that Mariella never saw coming. Disguised as a surprise party for someone else, the day began casually with lunch and coffee.

When the moment finally arrived, Patrick revealed the true reason behind the gathering and asked Mariella to spend the rest of her life with him.

Soon after, their families appeared, turning the intimate moment into a joyful celebration.

Their wedding day honored cherished traditions that made the celebration deeply meaningful.

Before the ceremony, Mariella followed time-honored customs: her father gently brushed her hair three times, she sat on a red cloth during her makeup, and her younger sister accompanied her under a red umbrella as she walked to the bridal car.

Before leaving, Mariella tossed a fan behind her, a symbolic gesture caught by her sister.

The reception reflected the couple’s joyful personalities and love for memories. One of their non-negotiables was a photo booth.

“We love taking photos, so we wanted our guests to have memories they could bring home,” Mariella explains.

A video retelling their proposal and tinghun allowed guests to witness the journey that led to their wedding day, followed by heartfelt speeches from family and friends.

For Mariella, the day was simply unforgettable. “Our wedding was everything we hoped for and more,” she says.

“Seeing Patrick again after not seeing each other for three days was so special. And during the quiet car ride back to the reception, we just talked and took everything in together.”

After years of friendship and love, their journey had finally led them to the moment where forever truly began.