Through It All

#WERealWeddings featuring RENZ PAOLO BAGUIORO and JONNALYN IZRA A. BATALLONES

Sugba Lagoon in Siargao was supposed to be just one of the many vacation destinations we had in the past four years we have been together, but June 07, 2018 was different. He proposed to me and we got engaged that special day. We set our wedding for February 08, 2020 to give ample time to plan it out carefully.

Renz and I share a passion for travel so we envisioned our wedding venue to be at least in a nearby countryside, away from the city. Our likeness for the simple and relaxed was so evident in the choices we made on what we wanted to include in our wedding plans. We wanted minimal but elegant and a relaxed and cool atmosphere for our venue. Silang, not only because it is my hometown, it’s accessible and has a cool climate that best fit what we were looking for.

But Mother Nature had other plans. About a month before our wedding date, Taal Volcano dramatically spewed ashes and covered the whole town of Batangas and nearby provinces including Cavite (where Silang is). Of course, Renz and I started worrying but never wanting to give up on our plans for the wedding. We thought it should still be feasible to have the wedding as planned but with a fewer number of guests to invite. But the situation only intensified each day we were there and it seemed impossible to push through with the original plan.

I wasn’t at all surprised when Renz decided to move the plan to be held in Manila. It was very hard to let go of a wedding dream but it was the best action we could take at the time. Making reservations and confirmations for a new venue was equally difficult as everywhere we go was already pretty booked up. We shared tasks and worked out the important arrangements separately. My mom and my mother-in-law did the necessary hotel bookings while Renz coordinated closely with the other suppliers. At the end of each day we reconvened to make final decisions and confirmations.

Support from family was so much welcome. With the help of an uncle, we got us booked in a church located in a private village where he lives, the church of Our Lady of Beautiful Love Parish in Merville, Paranaque City. With less than two weeks on our hand, we were lucky to have closed the deal with Makati Shangri-La for our reception and bridal suite.

The new arrangements were a total revision of the original one. We had planned for a rustic themed wedding with string lights, simple vases and greens. We ended with chandeliers and elaborate flower arrangements on tables. The only item that remained unchanged was our gift to our Principal Sponsors – a ground coffee and press set from Tagaytay’s iconic Bag of Beans.

After all that we went through, Renz and I settled to what was given us for the wedding. We thought it was truly a pouring of wonderful blessings even amidst the tantrums of Taal. One guest said and I will always remember it to heart, “we are ready to die with you!”

With such a commitment and love from friends and family, how can we fail?

Renz and Jonnalyn’s DREAM TEAM: Church: Our Lady of Beautiful Love Parish, Merville Paranaque City | Reception: Makati Shangri-La | Coordinator: Marj’s Weddings and Events | Cake: Penk Ching | Event Stylist: Flowers by Rosabella | Photographer: Polk Studios | Videographer: Mayad (Director Carl Tejada) | Gown designer: Rosa Clara | Suit designer: Caballero – Men’s Custom Tailor | Lights & Sounds: RGB Lights and Sounds | Band: Manila Wedding Singers | HMUA Bride: Christopher Fajardo (Tope Hair and Makeup Services) | Hair and Makeup (Entourage): Donna Aronzado | Bridal Shoes: ALDO | Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan| Wedding Bands: Goldenhills Jewelry