Christian and Rhea

Every time a couple avails of the Full package, it is my job to have a good grasp of their personality and the approach that they want. Personally, I love details, I love great lighting, I love having cocktails for the guests, I love standards, I love Martha Stewartish centerpieces… But then again it’s not my wedding. So my primary job is to make sure that we have the wedding that the couple wants.

Rhea was a typical bride. She had pegs and a more-or-less definite idea of how she wanted her wedding to be. Christian was a typical groom. He was quite involved with the wedding preps and would join the meetings but would just zone out when he does not enjoy the topic (like flowers, makeup, etc).

When Rhea and I were first discussing styling, she said she wanted Martha Stewartish centerpieces (kakatawa kasi Christian had no idea who Martha Stewart was). She wanted a formal ambience and I remember that she didn’t want to prioritize lighting.  We threw around ideas and agreed on the florists we would set appointments with. At one point Balay Kandila came up. She said she was familiar with them but the wedding styling they did that she has seen in the web is not just for her. Everytime we would discuss centerpieces, Christian would just not pay attention.

So we started meeting florists/stylists. Every time we would meet with florists, Christian would zone out. He would read a newspaper or a magazine. After meeting a couple of stylists, Rhea has more or less decided who to get but for just an additional option, we agreed to meet with Ronald of Balay. Ako naman, as excited as I was to see how her wedding would turn out with the florist that she chose, it’s always good to have more options.

So okay na. Since they’re both busy, we normally clump meetings together. I set the meeting/”demo” with the emcee and with Balay in one day so we can save time. We went to see Melissa Litao in Oasis Manila. Rhea, Christian, and I were already there and so was Melissa when Melissa learned that the coordinator for her wedding that day gave her the incorrect venue! Juice ko! Bottomline, she had to leave. So walang nangyari sa amin nila Rhe and Tian. I proposed that we go to a coffee shop to discuss and to wait for Ronald (our meeting with him was still 3hours away). On the way to the coffee shop, I called Ronald and learned that he was having problems with a setup. He wanted to cancel but I told him I couldn’t afford not to meet with him (kasi naman super hirap to arrange the schedule of the couple so sayang talaga yung araw na masasayang). Ninenerbyos na ako kasi baka walang mangyari sa araw namin. Mahihiya ako!

So off to the coffee shop we went. I discussed the status of the preps again with the couple while we were waiting for Ronald. When he arrived and started talking to the couple, lo and behold, Christian actually joined the conversation! He gave his inputs and then he discussed how he visualized the wedding reception to be. He even had a special church entrance planned for the bride! He wanted smoke and haze (lots of it) and a spotlight behind Rhea so when the doors are opened and Rhea comes in, the effect would be ethereal. For the reception, he wanted his own DJ booth, a very cozy backdrop, and lighted dance floor!

Ay sobra ako nagulat! Even Rhea was surprised! Christian, all the while, also had a definite idea of how he wanted his wedding to be. We ended up going with what Christian wanted (minsan lang mag-assert eh, pagbibigyan mo, kasal din naman niya! ) Rhea still got what she wanted. We had floral and lamp centerpieces and we just made sure all the stationery matched (invite, missal, table cards, place cards). But it was a party!! Christian got his party!

It was a wonderful beginning of their happy-ever-after.

All pictures taken by Pat Dy.