Shenanigans! That was the first word that came to mind when I saw this mischievous wedding (my second thought was, "What great sorcery is this?!"). They got away with so much irreverence and created their own wedding traditions that their them-ness shone through out the wedding. The whole celebration was neatly tied together (like walis tingting) under one theme and nothing was half-assed as seen in the details. Nothing felt too fancy and pretentious. It was what a fiesta should be - fun and crazy! Fiesta kung fiesta! I died laughing when I read on their invite that the dress code was called Magsasaka Chic (farmer chic).
Actually, nothing felt like your usual wedding. They didn't even get the usual wedding suppliers AND they never set foot in a wedding fair ever, didn't even buy one wedding magazine and got much inspiration from the Manila Fame furnishings expo and craft sites instead.
Then I asked Bride Bru about which parts of their wedding she considered rebellious and I loved her answer: Everything, hehe. Our parents let us be, I think they're just happy we're finally getting hitched.
And this, RB readers, is what can happen when your dear parents let you do what you want on your wedding day. HOORAY! Oh, I bet you guys are going to love every drop of rebellion oozing from this wedding!
Here's more from the bride Bru:
BRU: Marcus and I have been together for 10 years but it was only last year that my heart and mind settled into a happy, content place. That's when I decided to marry my long-time love, who patiently waited for me.
Since we're older and very unfussy, we both knew we did not want a glamorous fairytale wedding. You can say that we wanted an anti-wedding wedding. Choosing a modern fiesta theme was easy, since as artists we are way into kitsch and ordinary weirdness, as well as being very proud of being Filipino. The theme is a mix of contemporary and traditional and embodies our aesthetics. We like the festive casualness of a fiesta and how it brings people together.
I'm actually surprised that Marcus wanted a beach/location wedding since he's a cold weather dude. It was to keep our loved ones close by, so that they can't immediately escape and leave the wedding. So even the day after, our friends and family were with us.
THE INVITE
Our design and illustration company, Electrolychee, is also known for producing custom, one-of-a-kind wedding invites, but we ourselves didn't even want to make one for our wedding! Our printer and friend had to egg us about it. Our wedding invite's black & white comic format has lots of quirky personal touches. It's in Filipino too, and I love that a flower girl is described as the "tagapag hagis ng tamis at halimuyak" (bad English translation would be aroma dispenser).
 |
| Bru and Marcus lovingly included their 5 cats in the invites because they are considered family :) |
 |
| Quirky provincial roadsigns were included so the guests will see the landscape differently. |
THE WEDDING TAGLINE
Mahal Kita, Hayop Ka / Hayop Ka, Mahal Kita. The direct translation is, "I love you, you animal", but the context is more, "I love you, you bastard".
We're confident in our love and know who we are, that's why we had it engraved on our rings and stitched on our custom wedding scapulars.
NEW TRADITION: The First Crack
Instead of a toast or first dance, we decided to crack confetti eggs (cascarones) over each other's head, and guests had to do it too. It was hilarious since the eggs were tough to crack; we should have painted them instead of fortifying them with colored paper strips. Instant stress buster and ice-breaker.
THE WEDDING LOOT
The wedding loot were cheeky everyday Chinese-Filipino items that our guests could actually use: Katinko ointment, Good Morning towel, Hawflakes and handcrafted soap. The entourage get a special tabo/dipper each.
NEW TRADITION: Pabitin the Bouquet
This is an appropriated kid's party game. So instead of grabbing for treats, the single ladies had to reach for the strung bouquet (and console themselves with hard-won palengke/market snacks). Crazy fun.
THE OUTFITS
We both wanted to be comfortable during our wedding, so a barrio fiesta look was perfect. Marcus wore an embroidered tunic with bright pants, the walking stick was borrowed from my dad. My tulle and pompom skirt was made by dear friend and milliner Bonsai Fojas. My top was from the tiangge. Ella Aguila of Paper, Ink & Petals made my colorful Frida-inspired paper headpiece and bouquet. Our matching hand-stitched scapulars were made by artist Pergy Acuna of craft group The Speculiars. We also got our entourage and sponsors themed necklaces. Everything just looked so put together, and for under six figures.
 |
| Bru did her own make-up. She didn't want to melt under the sun but she did see her derma religiously. A very wise decision every bride or diva should make, according to the bride. |
FOOD AND MORE FOOD!
Good food makes for a great wedding. That's what we really spent money on. Nobody starved. We made sure guests had snacks as soon as they arrived from the church, including red hotdogs and marshmallows skewered into pineapples—an 80s children's party throwback. Most of the fare were fiesta staples mixed with Quezon province faves. Vegetarians and meat lovers alike couldn't stop raving about our pancit (noodle) bar, which recreates Lucban town's famous pancit habhab. Our friends sat on woven banig mats while our families were seated comfortably.
THE YEMA WEDDING CAKE
We asked my sister of The Bunny Baker to make our fondant cake toppers. Our cake was the sinfully yummy Rodillas yema/custard cake from Tayabas, Quezon.
TRADITION: GET YOUR GUESTS DRUNK
Assisted by our maiden of honor and best man, we did our Galahan rounds, a Quezon tradition where we give our guests a shot of Quezon lambanog/coconut spirit and then ask them for nest-fluffing money. Some had more than one shot, it was really smooth lambanog.
RB: What were the guests reactions to your one of a kind wedding (specially the oldies!)?
Bru: Loved it. Someone said "pwede pala ganoon", and why not? We're happy to say that this was one wedding that had parents and relatives staying late and dancing to 80s hip-hop and OPM.
I actually ended the night by jumping, full dress, into the pool with a lot of our friends and cousins. It was such a good time.
 |
|
Bru and Marcus gamely walking to TVJ's "Naaalala
Ka"
which segues to House of Pain's
"Jump Around"
|
CREDITS
Printer:
Dotgain Digital Printers
DJ: Arbiewon
FB: djarbiewon
Official photos by:
Brendan Goco
Additional photos & videos by
friends and family:
Franklin Villamin
Butch Terciano
Pauline Vicencio-Despi
Pilar Dolano
Food consultant
Chef Danny de la Cuesta
Comida Chefs, Comida Ilocandia
Catering
Nanay's Catering
Cristy Baranda
(046)414.0420
Reception
Los Balcones Private Resort
Tali Subdivision, Nasugbu, Batangas
Bride's paper bouquet and headpiece,
flowergirls' headbands
Paper, Ink & Petals
Ella Aguila
FB: paperinkandpetals
Rings
Aum Jewels
Paul Syjuco
Main lobby, Trinoma mall, Edsa corner
North Avenue, Quezon City
Custom scapulars
Speculiars
Pergy Acuna
FB: speculiars
Handmade soaps
Aromateria Scents and Sensibilities
FB:Aromateriaph
Follow us on Twitter! @RebelliousBride
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly the wedding I wanted. I am now looking for a private resort in Batangas as well, however, I am having a hard time checking for a nearest church. Thus, I would like to ask the name of the church where you celebrated your wedding? Many thanks :)
Tali Subdivision's small chapel. Tuklong Chapel 😊
DeleteSo much beauty in this shoot.
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful wedding!!and they're from quezon province like me!!
ReplyDelete