It has been sort of an annual tradition here in our column that we ask some of our wedding supplier-friends at the end of each year to tell us which of the weddings they’ve handled which they consider as their ‘Wedding of the Year.’

These professionals have rendered their services to various soon-to-weds many times over so picking one wedding among the various choices only means that a particular couple’s big day had that certain wow factor which made it stand out. That’s not to say that picking one is an easy task which could easily be done with the eyes closed. The suppliers usually have to pause and think while they replay each wedding in their minds. After all, more and more couples nowadays painstakingly plan their weddings not just to simply make it an event to remember, but to orchestrate THE event to remember.

For one’s own wedding to be picked by their wedding supplier is truly a validation of a job well done. Congratulations is in order for these newlyweds who made it to this year’s list. There’s nothing more unforgettable than special memories of the wedding day made even more memorable with a newspaper clipping in the wedding scrapbook.

Suppliers’ Top Picks

Martin Algarra & Juni Larrazabal
February 23, 2008
Sts. Peter & Paul Parish | Ormoc Villa Hotel, Ormoc City

(photo by Jake Cortes)

The church, the way it was decorated, was dream-like. The reception held at the bride’s family-operated hotel (Ormoc Villa) was grand and so well-planned down to the last detail. All in all, one can tell there was grandeur in the Algarra - Larrazabal Wedding.

~ Cecilio Abad
gown designer
cecilioabad.multiply.com

Glenn Pamplona & Janice Benavidez
February 16, 2008
Chapel on the Hill | Parasol Garden

(photo by Nelwin Uy)

Janice’s kalog and relaxed personality showed, and this overcame her reserved and controlled appearance. Her attention to detail made all the small elements come together perfectly in this Manila-Sound themed wedding, Glenn, a guy with a good sense of humor and a lot of creative ideas, was the hands-on groom since day one. Working with the couple has been fun and easy, and the outcome was memorable. The wedding was simply engaging, and so full of surprises. It was my first time to shoot a groom throwing petals in bed! The couple was relaxed the whole day, enjoying the company of their loved ones. This was not a small wedding, but it was nevertheless intimate, which we saw with the energy of their guests, who were clearly looking forward to that special day.

~ Chug Cadiogan
videographer
www.reeldealvideo.com

Paolo Aquino & Baby Amurao
March 7, 2008
Caleruega | Hacienda Isabella

We picked theirs as our wedding of the year simply because theirs was the most viewed slideshow on our website. We received quite a number of nice words and heartfelt appreciation for the photos. The wedding was smooth. Everything was great – the venue, the weather, and the supporting crew. Baby looked very gorgeous especially on her Veluz gown. Overall, we were so proud with the shots, the cool portraits, the small details, the candids, and the vibrant sunset to sum up the wedding.

~ Jayson Arquiza
photographer
www.redefineweddings.com

Tjerk Lambooij & Karen Pantig
May 3, 2008
Nuestra Se?ora de Guia| North Forbes Park Pavilion

For me, this couple represents the changing mindset of the new generation of wedding couples, those who are moving from the opulent to the practical. For their wedding, my assistants and I created a three-layer, all-edible cake consisting of Coffee Caramel, Strawberry Shortcake, and Cheesecake. We decorated the cake with a wedding couple handcrafted from fondant icing and fresh fruits and flowers.

For that one special night, we were able to astound guests with taste and proved that there was much elegance in simplicity.

~ Joy San Gabriel
cake confectioner
joysangabrielcakes.blogspot.com

Johnson Chug & Maria Theresa Cabañes
July 25, 2008
Santuario de San Antonio | Manila Hotel

(photo by Dino Lara)

The beautiful couple, their relatives and friends, the suppliers, the gorgeous best men, and the fact that it took almost a decade for this to finally happen made Jon and Maria’s wedding our biggest for 2008. By the way, Jon is one-third of the Threelogy triumvirate while CJ and I stood as his best men.

~ Bong Sare
videographer
www.threelogyvideo.com

Jerry Santander & Babsy Claire Rivano
August 30, 2008
Mary the Queen | Oasis Manila

Two people in love from different religious beliefs were united as one by two ceremonies, all in one day! This was a first for us, thus making it our wedding of the year. Truly, love knows no boundaries.

~ Paul Vincent
photographer
www.paulvincentphoto.com

Myrna Reaport and Ian Joemil Yao
September 7, 2008
The Glass Garden

(photo by Erron Ocampo of ImagineNation Beyond)

It’s not just the fun and laughter-filled preps, or the tear-jerking ceremony, or the beautiful reception, or how glowing the bride was that made me pick Myrna Reaport and Jom Yao as my wedding of the year, but the relationship I developed with this couple. They trusted me and my work on their most important day of their lives despite the fact that I am just starting on my own. They became not just my clients but real friends whom I can trust, confide in, and share things with and spend holidays or vacations with.

I was close to tears when Myrna made her grand entrance during the ceremony, not only because of how everything was so well put together, but also because I was watching two people who I have grown so close to and who are so meant for each other, take their vows for a lifetime together. It was indeed a very memorable wedding for me, as they are the first couple who has come closest to my heart and who has truly become part of my life.

~ Jesy Alto
make-up artist
www.thecolorartistry.com

Teody Cue & Tisha Sanches
September 8, 2008
Sacred Heart Chapel | Abaca Resort, Cebu

(photo by MangoRed)

Love. Conquers. All. Cane or no cane.

~ Jason Magbanua
videographer
www.jasonmagbanua.com

Mimi Abesamis & Karl de Leon
October 10, 2008
Elizalde Resort | Discovery Shores, Boracay

(photo by Jake Versoza)

I love their wedding! The details were carefully thought of, from the color scheme (marigold and pewter), bridal bouquet, to boutonnieres. The ceremony was modern Asian-inspired and the vows heartfelt. The reception setup was festooned with marigolds, chrysanthemums, cymbidiums, and oncidiums. The LED ice cubes were a craze! The grand entrance with the speedboat was one-of-a-kind. Of course, seeing intimate guests of fellow wedding suppliers enjoying themselves at Discovery Shores was a wonderful experience.

~ Teddy Manuel
event stylist
www.flowersandevents.com.ph

Jose Roy de Leon & Cynthia Robles
October 24, 2008
Santuario de San Antonio | Peninsula Manila

Roy and Cynthia would be one of our favorites. We met them in United States when we participated in a bridal fair held in Los Angeles. They were the first couple whom we had a series of pictorials – an e-session in Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas; trash-the-dress in Bohol and Los Angeles; their wedding in October; and their post-wedding pictorial in Boracay.

~ Lito Genilo
photographer
www.smartshotstudio.com

Russell Lino & Siegrid Bobadilla
October 25, 2008
Fernwood Gardens

Sieggy and Russ are more than just a MetroPhoto couple; they are now our friends and still very much die-hard fans for so many reasons. I think more than their wedding itself, which was one of the most beautiful and grandest that we had covered, it was the connection and the relationship that we had with them that really stood out for us to choose their wedding as the best for us this year.

~ Oly Ruiz
photographer
www.mymetrophoto.com

Doby Atilano & Jacque Dinglasan
November 11, 2008
Sta. Elena Golf & Country Club

It was quite unforgettable because their ‘bridal car’ was a chopper, which picked them up at Manila Peninsula Hotel and brought them to their reception at Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club in Laguna! Superb wedding indeed!

~ Charisse Tinio
photographer
www.exigeweddings.com

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