A Bohemian & purple wedding: Sarah Meier (supermodel / MTV veejay) & Banjo Albano (event producer)

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(onsite video by Threelogy)

(excerpted from mb.com.ph) The date was set last March 3, for the Albano-Meier nuptial. It was a Bohemian and purple motif church wedding at the Caleruega Church in Tagaytay. Reception was held at at Hacienda Isabella.

Others may not know, but Sarah Meier and Banjo Albano are already married. They had their civil wedding in New York three years back. “We’ve been together for five years, two and a half years before the civil wedding. I’ve been married for three years. We met each other in New York,” Sarah revealed.

“We feel we need to do the church wedding. After being together for three years, you want to go the next level of commitment and you know, iba naman talaga if you are blessed in the eyes of God. It’s been such a wonderful spiritual journey—getting to know my husband on a higher level. They explained what it really means to be man and wife. Not just being live-in partners or married by some judge. It’s a Catholic wedding. When you get to know the true meaning of what it’s like to be husband and wife, to be married in the biblical teachings, ang sarap talaga ng feeling,” Sarah enthused.

“This is what we think what we want to say to the world that this is really ‘til death do us part,’ wala na talaga. As in we don’t believe in divorce so I’m happy like this is where I’m supposed to be,” she added.

Sarah also told the Manila Bulletin that she and her husband already have a three-year-old daughter. And she’s absolutely the flower girl. Rajo Laurel is making our dresses,” Sarah said.

A few guests, only 200 people, are invited to their church wedding. They want it intimate and they decided to just throw another party in Manila after their wedding in Tagaytay.

“Cindy Kurleto is my maid of honor. She’s in Peru now and will be here before my wedding. I’m very excited,” Sarah happily said. [FULL ARTICLE]

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Related links:

Jay Contreras & Sarah Abad’s Rockstar Wedding!

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celeb_jaysarah.jpg(photo by Edwin Tuyay) Last February 12, Jay Contreras (frontman of the band Kamikaze) married Sarah Abad (sister of actress Kaye Abad) in a ceremony held at Paco Park.  Their color motif?  BLACK.  The entourage and wedding guests were all wearing dresses and suits in that color yet the general tone didn’t look morbid at all.  At best, it came out unconventional and fun simply looking at the pictures.  Even the bride’s gown was accentuated by a black waistband which looked elegant.  The groom’s long hair was even braided while the couple’s tattoos provided a refreshing contrast to the typical wedding photos.

Their chosen wedding ceremony venue was a bit controversial for a few as we read some comments in couple of personal blogs who have posted about this celebrity wedding. A few felt that having a ‘cemetery’ for a venue was a bit too weird or creepy for their taste. So we feel a little clarification is in order:

[source: wikipedia] “Paco Park  was once Manila’s municipal cemetery during the Spanish colonial period.  But burial or interment at the place already ceased in 1912. Descendants of those who were buried in the park had the remains of their ancestors transferred.  A Roman Catholic chapel was built inside the walls of the Paco Park (Chapel of St. Pancratius).  It has since become a very popular venue for weddings and receptions for couples who prefer a garden-like settings.”

Here are a few more links to see the wedding pictures of Jay & Sarah:

Below is the Jay & Sarah’s onsite wedding video as edited by Marvin Gobaco of MG Digital.

A Pre-Valentine Marriage Proposal in Manila’s post-911 airport!

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(photo courtesy of Business Mirror)

(MANILA | excerpted from Inquirer.net) People at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were treated to an early Valentine’s Day drama on Thursday after a male nurse used the airport’s premises to propose marriage to his girlfriend of two years, a flight attendant.

Eugene Padua, 26, of Taytay, Rizal, a nurse at UST Hospital, proposed marriage to his girlfriend, Marian Ocampo, 23, of Zambales, a flight attendant of Asiana Airlines of four years, right at the NAIA Terminal 1 arrival area.

Curious passengers and airport personnel who were in the area kept their distance as they watched Padua formally ask Ocampo to marry him. The flight attendant accepted.

The airport security office gave its go-signal to the marriage proposal on the condition that it be quick and would not disrupt operations.

Tirso Serrano, MIAA (Manila International Airport Authority) assistant general manager for corporate development and public affairs, said it was not the first time that someone proposed at NAIA.

“Proposals being done at the NAIA prove that we are the friendliest and most accommodating airport. Proposals done at the NAIA are starting to become a trend and we are happy to be a part of a memorable moment in their lives as a couple,” he said. [FULL STORY]

Hong Kong celebrity couple tied-the-knot in Manila!

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[via China Daily] Finally after nine years of courtship and one year of registered marriage, Hong Kong TV celebrity Dickie Cheung and actress Zhang Qian had a formal wedding ceremony to mark the occasion held in the Philippines on January 12, 2009.

The local government has extended a warm welcome to the two, in particular to Zhang Qian, who was tourism ambassador to the Philippines last year. With assistance from the authorities, the ceremony was held in the 400-year-old San Agustin Church in Manila, and ended off with a large firework display, Cheung told the Ming Pao Weekly.

Popular TV hosts Dai Jun and Li Jing hosted the event; among the celebrity guests invited to the wedding ceremony were Andy Hui, Edmund Leung, Han Hong, Sammi Cheng and William Soo.

The couple has invited nearly 200 guests to this all-expenses-paid event, Cheung says.

Decked out in local traditional wedding dress, the two lovebirds had a pre-wedding photo shoot on Saturday (please see above) at the exclusive Club Punta Fuego in Batangas, a port city near Manila. Their outfits were provided by the Philippine Tourism Authority and were designed by a Filipino designer using pineapple fibers.

Dickie Cheung and Zhang Qian started dating in 1999 as co-stars on the TV serial “The Legend of Chen Mengji”. Zhang Qian was reported to be pregnant in mid-2007 but had a miscarriage in her eighth month of pregnancy in early 2008.

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The couple is the second HK-based Chinese celebrities to wed in the country in recent years, the first being Nicolas Tse & Cecilia Cheung who were wed in a private ceremony in Amanpulo back in 2006.

Zhang Qian wore a white wig during their wedding ceremony. She later told reporters that it was her idea to wear a white wig and have the white head decorations to symbolize the Chinese saying “white hair till old”.  Having their ceremony held at the centuries-old San Agustin church is also symbolic because the structure has been through many natural disasters in the past, but still, it stands strong today.  They hope that their marriage would be the same too — by being able to go through challenges but remain strong.

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Here are more news and photos about this celebrity wedding:

Act N@W!

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(photo by Mot Rasay)

Newlyweds@Work (N@W) is a spin-off eGroup of W@W.  Last December 20, the N@Wies shared their blessings and the joyous Christmas spirit with some less-fortunate children.  We are hoping that the endeavor was just the beginning of a regular slew of activities aimed at extending a helping hand to those in need.

It was a fun event and looking at the pictures, it’s truly heartwarming to see the kids happy. See their happy faces here:

It’s important to note that the N@Wies did this project without prodding from either me or Benz. Each N@Wie contacted people for his/her personal network and pulled together their resources to make this undertaking a success.

To all the people and entities who donated in cash or in kind, MARAMING, MARAMING SALAMAT PO! 🙂

Themed Wedding: Star Wars

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’tis the season of Pinoy weddings.  With a number of weddings to attend to this month, what makes one different from the other? It’s the theme, baby!

Check this one out. It’s a Star Wars-themed wedding of Tiger Garrido and Issa Litton.

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(photo by Pat Dy)

dThe bride’s unique bridal gown was designed by Michi Calica and the moon-shaped ‘Death Star’ wedding cake was delicately whipped by Bizu.

There was even a lightsaber duel between the bride & groom as they made their Grand Entrance. A squad of Stormtroopers were there to stand as guards to the newly-wedded jedis. 🙂

More photos from this wedding are posted in Pat Dy’s blog. Check out the onsite video here (utilizing the music from “Episode I – The Phantom Manace” soundtrack) by Jason Magbanua to see the details in this unique theme wedding. 🙂

Real couple: Barack & Michelle Obama

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This relaxed 1992 wedding portrait sits on the Obamas’ living room mantel. [source: People]

Barack Obama, 47, inspired a lot of people all over the world when he was elected the 44th president of the United States of America and being the very first African-American to do so.  Even his marriage is admired by the people who supported him.

He and his wife Michelle, 44, were married in October 3, 1992. In an interview, Michelle talked about her husband’s wedding vows: “Barack didn’t pledge riches, only a life that would be interesting. On that promise he’s delivered.”

One observation says the greatest benefits of the Obama presidency is hidden in plain sight: the relationship between Michelle and Barack. They provide a great role model of a healthy relationship, at a time when such models are sorely needed.

Here are some articles about the Obamas’ relationship/marriage:

Presidential daugther Luli Arroyo set to wed next year?

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luliluigi.jpgLast Friday, reports came out that presidential daughter, Evangelina Lourdes “Luli” Arroyo, 37, will tie the knot with J. Aloysius ‘Luigi’ Bernas on January 9, 2009 in Bohol (inset: Luli & Luigi with designer Rhett Eala in the middle in this file photo courtesy of Inquirer).

(excerpt from Bohol Chronicle) Luli, who holds a masters degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, is the only unmarried child of the President.

Luigi, reportedly around ten years older than Luli, is a son of lawyer Antonio Bernas and a nephew of Ateneo Law School Dean and 1986 Constitutional Commission member Fr. Joaquin Bernas.

Asked to comment regarding the reports of her Bohol wedding, Luli told ABS-CBN News in an e-mail that she never talks about her personal life. “My personal life has never been open to media and that doesn’t change.”

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At present, there are conflicting reports about the supposed presidential altar date.

Wedding Photographer’s Review: Canon 5D Mark II

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Oly Ruiz of Metrophoto gave us a heads up of his review of this new Canon camera.  Metrophoto has been one of the W@Wie favorites since they first appeared and participated in the free prenup sessions during last year’s W@W Christmas Party.

Here’s Oly talking about the general conditions when Metrophoto tried the new toy.

“Metrophoto was very blessed to get the chance to use and review the Canon 5D Mark 2 in just only a few weeks after its announcement. Thanks to John Chua and JayR Romero, we are the very first wedding photographers here in the Philippines (probably just second in the world after Steve and Jen Bebb’s review) to be able to get a hand on the only existing 5D Mark II in the country. 🙂 Isn’t that just pure awesomeness? 😀 We had the camera the entire Saturday for our very magnificent engagement session with Migs and Denise where we shot on the sailboat in the murky waters of Manila Bay and then continued on to Nasugbu in Batangas where rain caught up on us and ruined (well, more of enchanted) our supposed-to-be sunset setting.”

See & hear the review in the video below.  The clips were taken by Shierdan Pamintuan (another guy who also had a taste of being a W@Wie favorite!) and his wife Jen.  Dan came along for the shoot to also check the video capabilities (full 1080p HD movie recording) of the new camera.  We’ll link his review here as soon as it’s up.

For the resulting images from this prenup shoot and additional tech review about Canon 5D Mark II, read Oly’s blog entrty.

Flashdrives as wedding gifts!

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We’re here in Boracay right now to witness the beach wedding of Mimi + Karl — destination wedding photographers.  Naaaaks! hehehe. We heard the ceremony later is going be short so there will be more time to party, party, party!

But this post is not about their wedding per se.  It’s about our little wedding gift to them. Please don’t get us wrong. We’re not the type who brags about what we give to others.  It’s just that the mini-M+K clay figurines are just to irresistible not to blog.  Here’s how they look…

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Aren’t they cute?  These were custom-made for us by Clay Creations by Aileen.  But the coolness doesn’t stop there.  These aren’t just useless trinkets that would gather dust in time.  They are actually handy, his & hers, USB/thumbdrives.  Just pull their little heads out and wallah!

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If you got friends and family who’s celebrating their birthdays or any other special occasion, this could be a gift idea worth considering.  Oh, and they can also make your personalized wedding caketoppers.  To see some of their work, visit their claycreations.multiply.com.

Little gown for the Little Bride!

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Sasha Bridals and its sister company, Bumblebee & Co. — baby & kiddie costume maker — synergized and brought together their respective expertise to create this mini-bridal gown.

Mind you that it’s no ordinary flower girl dress. The attire will be a definite standout for a little girl who is equally as important as the bride herself.  It’s the perfect outfit for the adorable daughter of any mommy bride or the favorite niece of the couple.

See here other adorable images of this mini-bridal creation.

Papal Blessing for your Wedding!

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(photo courtesy of Dino Lara)

Above is a photo of Larry & Whally who displayed their Papal Blessing Certificate during the ceremony of their August 30 wedding.  The couple is one of the numerous W@Wie couples who got themselves the certificate directly from the Vatican.  This was made possible when Gen (ni Rod) — a W@Wie based in Rome — offered to request the Papal Blessings on the W@Wies behalf.

What exactly is a Papal Blessing? Also known as Benediction Papalis, this blessing is imparted by the the sitting Catholic Pontiff (Pope Benedict XVI in this case).  It may be requested by Catholics for any occasion such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. The certificate — beautifully printed on a parchment — is not the actual blessing from the Holy Father, but only a tangible reminder of it (more info about Papal Blessings here).

Due to the volume, Gen set-up this multiply site to accommodate requests, not just from W@Wies, but to others who might want to receive their own Papal Blessing Certificates or those who want give these as special gifts for the soon-to-weds or their loved ones.

Summit Media launches Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines

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marthastweartweddings-philippines.jpg(PRESS RELEASE) A woman’s wedding day is one of the most important events of her life. That is why a great deal of preparation goes into making this one day beautiful, personal, and memorable—not just for the bride and her groom, but for all who will share in the celebration.

To help every Filipina bride-to-be have the wedding of her dreams, Summit Media, the country’s leading magazine publishing company, brings Martha Stewart Weddings to the Philippines. With Martha Stewart brand’s signature creativity and style, Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines (the very first international edition of the title) will inspire a new audience of brides eager to make their wedding day truly special.

Martha Stewart Weddings is the leading resource for the bride who wants a wedding that is beyond the ordinary. Filled with fresh ideas, inspiring photographs, and how-to information, the magazine takes readers from the engagement to the honeymoon and beyond, into their new married lives.

Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines will take the best of the American edition and tailor it with ideas and inspiration developed especially for the Filipina bride.

The premiere issue of Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines features the best bridal ideas—from choosing a color scheme and theme for the wedding to selecting the wedding cake and bridal bouquet. This issue also helps brides look their best with a gallery of exquisite gowns and a feature on bridal hairstyles, as well as tips for the perfect wedding reception.

Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines is now available in newsstands and bookstores throughout the Philippines for P295 per copy.

Contact Details:

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• Read the short Q & A with Martha Stewart talking about the magazine’s Philippine edition and weddings in general.

• Read an actual review of the magazine’s premiere Philippine edition by wedding planner, Ms. Bleu of Weddings by Bleu.

08.08.08 – Auspicious, Olympic Weddings!

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Tomorrow’s THE date. It’s gonna be 08-08-08! Just within our online community alone, there are 34 W@Wie brides set to wed tomorrow! That’s almost quadruple the number of W@Wies married on 07.07.07 despite the triple 7 date falling on a Saturday last year.

We doubt if 09.09.09 (Wednesday) would even be a bit as popular. But 10.10.10 (Sunday) is showing a lot of promise as the next wedding date of choice, at least for Filipino soon-to-weds, since it sounds like ‘ten-ten-te-ten’ — a local kiddie chant/phrase that practically represents a happy wedding. This early, we already have members who are set to marry on that date.

But nothing beats August 8, 2008. It’s the very first time that over 30 W@Wie brides are marrying on the same date in W@W’s nine-year history. Add to that the other Pinoy couples outside W@W who also chose that date and you’ll see how busy tomorrow is gonna be for a lot of wedding suppliers. And the date’s popularity is not just here in Manila or the rest of the Philippines.

In the U.S., thousands are set for an 8.8.8 date referring to it as “the date of a lifetime.” There’s also the “Olympic Wedding” surge in China where thousands of Chinese couples are expected to tie the knot as Beijing formally opens the games tomorrow. There are even officially-issued, Olympic-themed wedding rings available these couples. See the designs of the his & hers platinum Olympic rings here and here.

Our best wishes to all 08.08.08 couples!

When a wedding got Jiggy with it!

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Exactly a month ago, GMA News reporter Jiggy Manicad married Marnie Pulumbarit in a ceremony held at Christ the King in Greenmeadows. To know how the two started as a couple, read about their “Choc-Nut love affair.”

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(the couple’s save-the-date layout by AdWorks)

We know that the groom is used to delivering spiels for his reports being a news correspondent. But Jiggy’s marriage vow was short and unrehearsed in a rare mix of Tagalog and English. Yet his simple words made the message more heartfelt.

“Marnie, matagal na nating hinintay ang day na ito. And maaaring ‘di ko mabigay sa ‘yo ang sun or moon; but I assure you of my fidelity, commitment, love and prayers. Mahal na mahal kita.”

Their exchange of vows was captured by Bob Nicolas in the same-day edit he did for the wedding. Personally, my favorite part of the video was when the groom turned off the lights in one scene. Here’s a direct link to Jiggy & Marnie’s onsite video.

Metro Weddings Directory 2008

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METRO WEDDINGS DIRECTORY
YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR PLANNING THE BIG DAY!

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SOURCING and SEARCHING

When we conceived of this special issue of METRO WEDDINGS, we kept in mind the jumble of confusion a bride experiences when planning a wedding. After the engagement, most brides don’t know where to begin and who to call. They pick up magazines like METRO WEDDINGS and get ideas. They enter a bridal fair and meet as many suppliers as they can. They go online to check company profiles, portfolios, menus and photos. They call friends and relatives who recently got married and ask for suppliers they can recommend. Usually the “working” brides dedicate their weekends for this, dragging their obedient grooms with them. Come Sunday, most brides have an information overload and often end up to be just as confused as when they began.

This is why we created a directory that not only has updated contact information, but a short description of each of the supplier’s strength. We tried our best to relieve you of the guesswork. We spoke to over a hundred suppliers and included here only those we felt confident enough to recommend to you. But we at METRO WEDDINGS also believe that a reliable source of recommendations are newlyweds who worked closely with suppliers. They know first-hand who gave the best value for money, who gave the best service, who surprised them with such creativity.

This is why for this special issue we have worked closely with Weddings@Work. If METRO WEDDINGS is the pioneer bridal magazine in the country, www.weddingsatwork.com is the pioneer online wedding portal in the country. Aside from their extensive list of suppliers, proprietors John & Benz Rana have created a community of brides who call themselves W@Wies. These W@Wies are brides who are planning their wedding or who are newly married. They are a close-knit community who chat, blog and discuss their plans online. Sometimes sharing secrets with fellow brides and other times dishing out the dirt on suppliers who have failed and disappointed them. Trickled on the pages of our directory are their comments on suppliers they highly recommend.

With all this information packed in this issue, we hope you find a little relief from all the stress in planning a wedding. We hope that your excitement remains, your frustration eases and your worries and anxiety disappear. Let this METRO WEDDINGS DIRECTORY be your comfort zone as your wedding day draws near.

Metro Weddings Directory 2008 is available on selected magazine outlets nationwide.

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O t h e r I s s u e s

Jan-Jun ‘05 | Jul-Dec ‘05 | Jan-Jun ‘06 | Jul-Dec ‘06 | Best of 2006 | Jan-Jun ‘07 | Jul-Dec ‘07 | Jan-Jun ‘08 | Directory ’08

Contact Information:

Editor in Chief: Romina Urra-Gonzalez | rominaweddings@gmail.com

Metro Weddings
ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.
4th Flr. Eugenio Lopez, Jr. Communications Center, Mother Ignacia st. cor Eugenio Lopez Drive, QC
tel: 924.4101 | 415.2272 loc. 4641, 4642 & 4667
email: metrowed@abs.pinoycentral.com