How A Long Distance Love Survived the COVID Pandemic?

In all my years as a wedding planner, I have probably met all types of clients. I would say most, if not all, were amiable, easy to get along with, and fairly reasonable with their demands during the wedding. However, there were two couples that really caught my awe and admiration - Robert and Chanetel and Kent and Erna. 

These two sets of lovebirds were maintaining a long distance relationship for a couple of years, especially during the COVID Pandemic. 

Why do they stand out? 

They were FAITHFUL

Well, first among the many reasons was that these couples shared a steadfast faith for their partners. They remained faithful and hopeful amidst the uncertainties happening in the world. 

In early 2019, these two couples sought my services as a wedding planner. Both of them preferred to have their wedding on the month April of 2020. Of course we were all excited planning two weddings as the months went along. But lo and behold the Pandemic happened! It was a month before their supposed wedding events that the nationwide lockdowns were implemented. 

Well, we all knew what happened on those months. There was absolutely ZERO events allowed on that year. Everyone lived in fear, anxiety and uncertainty. 

They were HOPEFUL

Nonetheless, Robert and Chanetel remained faithful to their promise to each other and patiently waited and weathered the storms. While Kent and Erna went ahead with a simple Civil Wedding while looking forward to their Church Wedding. They both had high hopes of the day they could finally tie the knot! They always knew that their 'Big Day' would come eventually.

They truly LOVE each other

And it did! Their Big Day came with a Big Bang!

As January 2022 came, Kent and Erna braved the Level 3 Alert and finally pushed through with their Church Wedding in Panabo City.

Meanwhile, Robert and Chanetel were legally married in an Online Wedding Ceremony that was valid in the US and they had a valid marriage contract registered in the US. On May 14, 2022, their civil marriage was blessed by a Minister from Chanetel's church in Davao City.

Both weddings were beautiful, meaningful, and memorable. They braved the pandemic, they braved the challenges and nuances that came with the wedding planning process, and they emerged triumphant in all these obstacles. 

Here are some of the magnificent snapshots from Joemar Faelnar Photography of the two amazing wedding events of these two wonderful couples:

Kent and Erna | January 29, 2022 | Madonna Hotel, Panabo City

Ecclesiastes 3:11
"He makes all things beautiful in His time."

Robert and Chanetel | May 14, 2022 | RGEMS Event Place, Davao City

Isaiah 60:22
"When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen."

And so I end this post with a wish that in my future events, especially weddings, I could meet and help plan weddings that are God-ordained and made in heaven. 

True Love is rare and precious. In a world of break ups, divorces, separations, and family disintegration, may I continue to meet and work with couples whose desire is only to cherish, celebrate, and immortalize their commitment to love each in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, until death do they part. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-13
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. "

How to Plan A Frugal (but not cheap!) Wedding

There are many ways to make your dream wedding come true without drowning in debt afterwards. Going frugal in your budget does not mean you will choose cheap wedding suppliers; being frugal bride and groom means allocating the budget to the top priority wedding suppliers.

Just recently I met the most frugal couple I've met in this life. We met two years before their wedding day when the couple reached out to me via email asking for wedding planning packages. We discussed what they wanted to inculde in the package and what things should be omitted. The bride has clear vision on what she wants for her wedding and how much they are going to spend for it. 

The Surprising Twist

Their wedding was nothing like mainstream weddings. It was extraordinary in so many ways. Here were the ways their wedding stood out from every wedding event I have ever handled:

FRUGALITY. 

SIMPLICTY. 

ELEGANCE.

Most weddings I've handled have all the bling, glitz and glamour but not this wedding. 

First, they have NO Best Man, Maid of Honor, Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Flower Girls and Bearer Boys. The bride requested her sister to secure the rings and the coins that will be used in the ceremony. 

Family of the Bride

Second, the bride only wanted Baby's Breath for the wedding aisle and nothing more. She had that radiance ever since that morning!

Third, the couple wanted corsage (buottonierres) only for everyone else, including the female principal sponsors which were usually holding a bouquet of flowers in my past weddings. Nonetheless, the principal sponsors were more than glad to know that the couple chose minimal fresh flowers to save on costs and spend the budget on something of more value.

Fourth, they had not printed official invitation cards but instead used electronic mails to invite everyone. They also wanted an unplugged wedding as indicated and it was a solemn ceremony! As their Davao Emcee, I reminded the guests to turn off their phones during the ceremony. Their guests were very supportive by not using their phones especially during the bridal march! They had AMAZING GUESTS indeed!

Fifth, the reception decors centered on the woodsy rustic theme. The bride loved wood and she drew what she wanted to include in their reception venue. I had to provide the nearest materials similar to what she envisioned. The entertainment did not involve a professional wedding band but instead it was composed of raw unadulterated presentations from the couple and their families! Such a talented family converging to another exceptionally talented family! 
 

And of course, I was the Master of Ceremony during their reception program. We talked over a couple of years ago and they specifically requested me to host their wedding! Being my expertise, I gladly accepted. Being a Davao Emcee, I want the clients to express their emotions just as it comes! Just look at those happy faces (including mine!) during the entrance of the newlyweds! I love to see newlyweds flashing their happy smiles and laughter because I irked them to!

One thing was TOP PRIORITY  for these lovebirds - FOOD!
Chippens Catering was known as institution when it comes to Catering Company in Davao City. They have been in the business since time imemorial. The couple wanted to satisfy the palate of their guests and leave them wanting nothing. So the majority of the budget went to the FOOD! Salome's Garden never disappoint!

With the expertise of Michael Creations Photography in collaboration with DeeGee Sounds and Lights and Leah Jacobe Weddings and Events Team, their happy wedding moments were beautifully captured, smoothly organized and well cherished and preserved for years!

Theirs was the most frugal wedding I was ever part with but with all the right reasons! They didn't go broke after the wedding and yet the had a beautiful wedding day to remember!

Cheers to more beautiful moments in your marriage! Toast to the newlyweds Lyell and JD Escoto!