Best. Wedding. Ever.

I have a feeling that the wedding 1 or more appropriately: reception we attended yesterday will be featured in the newspapers or magazines – it was quite a surreal experience – enough for me to blog about; well, plus of course the bride is practically family.

This post is for the girls, because I just know how you love talking about this sort of stuff, and let me tell you, as a guy, even I have the urge to share it with you… it was that good! This reception, has got to be the best I’ve been to.

It was the reception ceremony/party of the Litton-Garrido nuptials, held in Le Pavillon. Charissa (Issa) is a family friend, and I’m here to pimp the awesomeness of her party to everyone. You heard it here first (I hope).

I wouldn’t want to be the one to divulge the budget they had for this, but let me just say; there’s a “magic number” women talk about in context of wedding expenses… and if anyone’s wondering exactly how much that could get you… then look no further!

Introduction

Backstory

Let me start by establishing some history:

During my college years, I’ve had the honor(?) 2 or maybe I was just really a bench whore of being part of 5 benches:

  1. The “Fench” – which is basically a “default” bench us freshmen had in the new and confusing world of college… but turned out to be a very tight bunch.
  2. Berchmans – because most of the Lasallites were there, plus most of the [MIS] blockmates I was close to were there.
  3. The “Prime Lot” 3 which I’m not sure was the official name, but it was a name Boogie and I called it when we were talking about it – which I guess looking back, could be considered as the popular bench because all the Povedans were there 4 I know, I know, that’s very sexist and discriminatory, but I’m sure you all understand how college life is/was
  4. The “Rizal Study Foyer bench” – by virtue of hooking up with my Ex then.
  5. GSM (Galit sa Mundo) – The bench I ultimately most identified myself with.

Anyways, Issa was part of GSM, but we go back way further than that… how far? Try our mothers.

Back-backstory

My mom’s barkada was comprised of 4 women; Herself, Donna Briñas, Grace Litton (God bless her soul), and Olive Santico. Those four were thick as thieves. And through school, work, and family lives they’ve always been the barkada. So much so, that as far as Christmas celebrations went, the annual Christmas parties of their “group” always had the same weight as real family. Hell, the parties were done Christmas day itself, and it was never an issue.

So it goes without saying that ever since we were kids, the Littons, Briñases, Santoses, and Santicos have always been close family friends.

And we all fondly remember the Christmas night she brought her soon to be groom for us to make-kilatis 5 is that even a word? It was also a weird experience because Tiger was sooo different from her. Just imagine me and Cris… I would be Issa in that scenario (and Cris would be Tiger). But then given it’s us I guess I’m not surprised that they worked out as well.

The Invitation

So returning to the present, my Dad and I 6 Eventually went with Cris, but that’s neither here nor there get the invitation for her wedding, which was curiously of the Star Wars persuasion.

Now, being from Bukas Palad, I’m kinda desensitized with weddings because of the sheer number we’ve had to sing in. Hell, I even glossed over the fact that we had to wear coat and ties (which is why I was one of the few people in Barongs, but I guess ok na din para maiba hahahaha)

The only thing that was running through my mind at that point was: “Ok, I know Issa, there’s definitely a gimmick attached to this… but how the hell is she going to pull it off?” Not that I doubted her, she was notoriously known for elaborate full-on productions on all her events (birthdays, etc.) I guess it was just because it was a wedding now… and Star Wars? really? How can you possibly pull that off and not look silly right?

Boy, was I ever so wrong!

At the Church

The church ceremony was very simple all things considered. We were all looking for that Star Wars “element” as soon as we hit the Church floor… nada… At least… until the bridal march came (pay attention to what she’s wearing):

There it was! And damn, she pulled it off! Ika nga sa Men in Black; she made it look good! We were all getting excited now. The rest of the church ceremony was very simple… which just added to the anticipation: come reception; TODO NA TO!

The Reception

So we all get to the reception at Le Pavillon and we see this, this, and this in the outer-hall (or as I would like to call it, the “holding area”). There was also refreshments and pica-pica . Tenderloin kebabs, Paella rolls, etc.

Just waiting for them, alaga na ang mga bisita.

Then Aunt Olive told me to “take a pee” – so I can see the main hall – where the actual party was going to take place. I won’t spoil it now 7 take a look at the gallery pics AFTER you read this entry, but it was jaw dropping to say the least.

Raid

From inside the main hall, guess what comes out?

There be Storm Troopers here!

So all the guests have a field day cam whoring… myself included. I mean I prefer to be taking the pictures, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t get one taken with these people! Marc was gracious enough to lend practically everyone his lightsabers. I could just imagine how worried inside he must’ve been. Those are pretty expensive toys (probably 7-8k a pop)

Open the gates

So after what has probably been the best wait a guest could’ve possibly experienced. We were now officially allowed to “enter” the main hall:

And the rest of the “night” commenced.

I guess this would be the time to stop babbling and tell everyone to view the pics at the gallery for the rest of the story. This is one event where pictures really speak louder than words. Click on the picture below to see the rest of the event.

I could not possibly begin to tell people how awesome this event was. Not to mention how happy I am that another “one of us” 8 shet, napressure ako bigla, kelangan mauna ako ke Cesca! is getting exactly what they wanted; the perfect marriage to start what could possibly be the perfect “rest of one’s life.”


Big kudos to Issa! As a groom, I personally would like my wedding to be low-key, so I doubt I’d be doing anything remotely similar to that. But as a guest, by jove, you are the best host a guest could have. To think the whole “day” (wedding to reception) spanned about 8 hours (2:30 till about 10pm 9 at least we left at about 10 ). But no one noticed the time!

Bukas Palad was even slated to sing at Shangri La that night; I was supposed to follow… but halfway through the reception I was like “Cris, let’s just stay here nalang hahahhaha” I guess I really have a knack in making the right choices 🙂


I’m so happy for you dear! And to Tiger; panalo yung sinabi ng isang host:

Issa may be the bread… but you are the winner!

@ Tiger; take good care of her ok? Actually, I don’t have to tell you that, kse ikaw yung mabait eh hahahaha!
Ika nga ni Cesca, basta “yes” lang ng “yes”
– you should be safe from the wrath of Vader!

@ Issa, as ironic as it sounds: take it easy on Tiger! Hahahaha. Tulungan mo din ako pag ako na ikakasal!


The only thing I regret is not bringing my “big camera” (DSLR). I was literally a ninja as far as taking photos was concerned; making sure I was never in the way of the official [professional] coverage crew. But it would’ve been really easier if I had my D300 with my 18-200VR.

But just as well, I once again had a newfound respect for my LX3, because while the shots may not be as clean/sharp as they could be if I had used the Nikon, it still got the damn job done… ninjastyle!

Notes

Notes
1 or more appropriately: reception
2 or maybe I was just really a bench whore
3 which I’m not sure was the official name, but it was a name Boogie and I called it when we were talking about it
4 I know, I know, that’s very sexist and discriminatory, but I’m sure you all understand how college life is/was
5 is that even a word?
6 Eventually went with Cris, but that’s neither here nor there
7 take a look at the gallery pics AFTER you read this entry
8 shet, napressure ako bigla, kelangan mauna ako ke Cesca!
9 at least we left at about 10

2 Replies to “Best. Wedding. Ever.”

  1. Not sure what I’m more amazed by…that they managed to pull of a Star Wars-themed wedding in spades or that the bride was that much into it na parang from your story, sya pa yung promotor instead of the one who was just going along with the plan. The closest I got to adding a Star Wars element sa wedding ko was using the main theme nung introduction namin sa reception. hehehe. Thanks for the story and pics. And pakisabi na rin sa kanila na from one star wars fan to another, May the Force be with them.

  2. THANK YOU FOR POSTING THE PICTURES AND VIDEOS!!! Arg, I couldn’t wait to see the pictures after reading all the status updates about the wedding. Urrrgh, it sucks that I couldn’t be there for this! Please send the lovely couple all my best wishes. Eee, I’m so glad they ended up together. 🙂

    P.S. Trivia, alam mo bang ako yung nag-coin nung GSM na yan? Yung phones kasi natin noon (5110 ata) had “GSM” dun sa default display, so I started thinking of a backronym for GSM na bagay sa atin, hehe.

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