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. "

Do You Still Need A Wedding Planner for an Intimate Wedding?

It has been a tough couple of years for all of us when the Coronavirus spread like wildfire worldwide. The pandemic caught us all empty-handed when it happened. The effects of the pandemic hit hard on the Event Industry, especially weddings, birthdays, and conferences particularly in my town, Davao City, Philippines. 

Let me brief you about my hometown - Davao City.

Davao City is a relatively medium-scale city when you compare it to the mighty capital of Manila. Our city mayor, Sara Duterte, is the daughter of the incumbent President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte. And she's one tough mayor, her words are the law and probably tougher than her dad in the way she carries out her leadership style. 

Now because of the pandemic, our city mayor saw the need to protect the interest of the majority by implementing strict rules on event management, gatherings, travel, and as such. She vehemently wanted everyone to stay home as much as they could to limit the spread of the virus. 

As a result, the Events Industry suffered much since the city ordinance imposed restrictions on social gatherings. Only a limited number of 25 people are allowed to attend funerals, birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations, and that includes waiters, caterers, photographers, event planners, DJ, emcees, etc. 

With this legislation in place, many event planners, venues, and event suppliers shifted their business to do something else to glide through this pandemic. 

Now, with the imposed limitation to the number of people in the event, do you still need a wedding planner to assist you with your wedding?

The answer is - it depends. 

Yes. You will still need a wedding planner if you are still busy with your job (i.e. Nurse, Police, Teacher, Essential worker) and have very little time to arrange the wedding by yourself. 

No. If you are a savvy bride/groom who can manage to pull off the planning, organizing, and communicating with the event suppliers by yourself. 

Why is it essential to hire a wedding planner at this time of the pandemic?

In my experience, it is essential more than ever to hire a wedding or event planner at this time of pandemic because of the many stipulations and requirements needed to comply to permit the event to happen. 

From Davao City Tourism Facebook post:

The Davao City Tourism Operations Office (DCTOO) reminds all Davao event venues, Davao event suppliers, including Davao wedding planners to get an event permit before their supposed date of the event. In this case, there's assurance that health protocols are met. And believe me, they will check the event venue, take pictures, and will even have a police escort to make sure that the event is adhering to the policies stated in the Guidelines for Conducting Events in Davao. 

In general, if you are planning the wedding by yourself, you will have to comply with these guidelines:

A. For the Event Organizer / DIY Couple / Client

1. ORGANIZER: Current year Business Permit, City Tourism Certificate, and DOT Accreditation
2. SUPPLIERS: Current Business Permit
3. TALENTS: Occupational Permit
4. FROM OUTSIDE DAVAO CITY: Special Mayors Permits or Occupational Permits and Current Business Permit
5. SPECIAL MAYORS PERMIT for Workshops, Training, Seminars, Congresses, Conferences, Conventions, Board Meetings, Colloquia, Conclaves, Symposia, Company/Government Recognitions, Press Conferences
6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SOCIAL EVENT - Debut & Birthday Parties, Wedding Ceremonies & Receptions, Engagement Parties, Wedding anniversaries, Family reunions, Bridal or Baby Showers.

Special Event Notice Link: https://forms.gle/Fi8ywKuc88ju5EeU8

B. Metting Incentives Conventions and Events (MICE) Venue

1. Current year Business Permit, City Tourism Certificate, and DOT Accreditation
2. Ensure that Event Organizers, Suppliers, Talents have current year Business Permits or Occupational Permits and adhere to guidelines and policies of national government agencies and the City Government of Davao.

Reminders:

For MICE applying for the permit will be at least 15 working days before the event.

For Special Events applying for the permit will be 5 working days.

These are just some of the obvious guidelines you must comply with to conduct events in Davao City in the time of Community Quarantine. In addition to these requirements, it is the responsibility of the Organizer/Couple/Client to also provide health protocol measures such as face masks, face shields, alcohol spray, foot bath, thermal scanner, and contact tracing device or sheet. 

We live in peculiar times but it doesn't mean we stop celebrating life's milestones. We have come this far, we can break through this pandemic with a little extra caution while we are still vulnerable to getting infected. The vaccination rollout campaigns have been very slow in the Philippines and add the fact that many anti-vaxxers are spreading fear and panic among those who don't understand how the vaccine works. 

So while we are working towards attaining herd immunity, following the Event Guidelines is our best shot at minimizing the risk of spreading infection in the gathering. 

So until God allows us to wander freely again, we keep vigilant, wash our hands, strengthen our bodies, and keep health protocols at all times!

Stay safe Everyone and May the good Lord protect us all!