A Homey Wedding

#WERealWeddings featuring MIGUEL CARINO and ISABEL AGONCILLO

A month and a half shy of our scheduled wedding on May 01, 2020, the government enforced an Enhanced Community Quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Metro Manila and some other provinces were locked down until the end of April. Moving the date of our wedding was the only option. We agreed to have it as soon as possible on a much smaller scale. It meant not celebrating our day with everyone we originally invited and having it with only our closest family members and friends. Even with that, Mico and I were ready to get married.

June 26 was the only date both our Presider and the church were available to take our booking. Mico thought that the date was just a regular ordinary day. I thought, with everything that was going on, “ordinary” was how I wished it to be. Then we remembered that June 26 was the feast day of St. Josemaria Escriva (my favourite saint), the patron saint of ordinary life. To me, that made it pretty special.

With everything adjusted to the new date, we were making arrangements and starting all over from scratch. The thing with the alternative plan, we only have a small number of guests to work on so arrangements were easier to handle. There was not much fuzz to worry about. Mico and I had always planned to do away with the traditional wedding fare (lengthy cocktail hours and a program full of games). We wished to put in great live music, lots of food, flowing drinks and more time with our guests. We were happy that things are doable with the new setup.

Old Filipiniana was our theme. Mico, in his stylish barong and me, in my ecru silk organdie gown, blended so well with the old Spanish summer palette we chose to have as our colour motif. Our moms and sisters’ mix-matched gowns had the same romantic hue. My bouquet and flower arrangements were consistent with the colour scheme as well.

 To achieve the natural look I wanted, I wore my hair down and put on a “no make up” make up with accents on the lashes and brushed brows. I liked the simplicity of the overall look made on me.

In compliance to safety protocols, we opted to be home for all the preparations. It was a good time spent with my grandparents and the whole family. Though it got almost everyone teary eyed, we all enjoyed the exchanges and bonding moments. The special breakfast of homemade favourites was truly a treat.

The ceremony was held at St. Benedict Parish in Nuvali. The simple celebration was officiated by Bishop Mylo Vergara, Mico’s uncle. The exchange of marriage vows was done in a private moment with Bishop Vergara. It was unlike the usual ceremonial exchanges done in a congregation. It was very personal and sacred. It was that moment that made it uniquely ours.

We headed back home after where we had set up drinks and dinner for everyone present. Our own DIY bar had cheeky sign and ingredients for guests to enjoy. The single-layer pistachio confection cake decorated with flowers was center to most of our photo shots.

Mico and I love the Spanish charcuterie in Alabang, The Black Pig. We asked them to setup the buffet table at home. The spread included our favorites: terrine of duck foie gras and figs, toasted brioche and truffles, deboned suckling pig, confit salmon and apple tarte tatin and petit fours. Their head chef even surprised us and threw in other delicious salads and sides. The sangria he served for us was a delightful plus. The night ended with unscripted toasts, a little dancing and a lot more drinks and laughter.

I am happy that conditions were such that everything had to happen this way. After all, no other venue can be more memorable for our wedding than the warmth and love of our very own sweet home.

Miguel and Isabel’s DREAM TEAM Church: St. Benedict Nuvali | Ceremony: Roman Catholic (c/o Bishop Mylo Vergara) | Caterer: The Black Pig | Cake: Bizu | Stationery: Print & Co., designed by Ja Bautista | Event Stylist: Gathered Creative Co. | Photography: Jaja Samaniego | Videographer: Taavi Films | Gown designer: Martin Bautista | Barong designer: Francis Libiran | Hair and Makeup – Nicole Ceballos and Bryan Resurreccion | Female Entourage: Micah Lacap Designs | Male Entourage : Cornell’s