prep talk

Next to flowers, chocolate is the gift-of-choice during the Valentine season and for a good reason. It now came to symbolize sweetness and romance. Why, some even consider these sweet confections as aphrodisiacs. That may be the reason why more and more soon-to-wed couples are starting to incorporate chocolates in their wedding.

For this month's feature, we have interviewed three "chocolate connoisseurs" from the wedding industry to share with us how chocolates can be infused in your wedding.

Sweet Confections

Maan Sicam of Theobroma (842.6265 | theobroma_ph@yahoo.com) got into the wedding business when one of her regular clients ordered chocolates as giveaways for their wedding. The company has already concocted around 40 flavors and it is currently experimenting with some sugar-free variants. That is good news to weight-watching brides!

Frankly, prior to the interview, we did not know what Theobroma actually means. We found out that it is 'food for the gods' in Greek. Good thing we asked because for a while there, one of us thought it's 'better than sex' in Swahili. Doesn't matter, for either tag perfectly describes how their Belgian chocolates taste like. Okay, maybe not better, but it's a close second.

One chocolate confectioner who stayed true to the term 'home-made-goodies' is Maribeth Santiago of Chocolate Confections (850.9828 | chocolates@mydestiny.net). Forget the famous Forrest Gumpism. Here, you won't mind whatever you get from the box. Everything's just so gooood! There's rocky road, peanut caramel, almond hazelnut butter, peanut crunch, macadamia, hazelnut, pecan, almonds and walnuts. Too imported-sounding for your Filipiñana wedding? That's not a problem. There's dulce de leche, quezo, macapuno and even ube! Interesting flavors indeed. We've tried the one with the peanut brittle filling at last year's Wedding Expo and we can't get enough of it.

What's cool is that she will soon have the technology to put customize monograms on her Belgian confections. Your wedding favors can't get any more personalize than that! We can't wait to taste. er. we mean, see that one! Who ever said those fancy wedding graphics your fiancé painstakingly laid-out in PhotoShop are for the invites and missalettes only?

Cascading Chocolate

If you want your chocolate to play a grander role in your wedding, then why not consider having a Chocolate Fountain? Think of it as the event's centerpiece. It can stand in for the wedding cake only it's liquid but creamy and flowing. Imagine you and your wedding guests dipping skewered fresh fruits, marshmallows and pastries in layers of cascading chocolate (your choice of white, milk or dark Belgian chocolate) during your reception. just saying that makes our mouth water.

A wedding planner by profession, Bangs Zaldivar, of 1 Zaldivar Events (646.3487 | ww_chocofountain@yahoo.com), is the very first to market commercially the Chocolate Fountain for weddings. Since the time they started towards the end of last year, they have thus far served five events. The concept is relatively new for weddings in our country but we assess that the idea will catch on in a year or less.

The set-up includes "a used-skewer bin and paper napkins. A properly dressed chocolate guy mans the table to ensure cleanliness and proper hygiene observed." We failed to ask if the chocolate guy also sports the Max Brenner-do.

Ten Choco Tips

When we asked the three ladies if they have ever witnessed a chocolate-themed wedding, they all answered in the negative but they all agreed that having one would be an exciting idea. Maribeth further adds that she "would love to do one if there's anybody I can dare."

Whether you are having a chocolate theme or not, here are some suggestions on ways to put a choco touch for your big day.

Maan suggests:

FUN FACTS Filipinos are chocoholics in general. Here are some fun facts about our preferences: . Americans love vanilla ice cream, while Pinoys prefer the chocolate flavor. . M&M's® plain is tops for our white brothers, but we love M&M's® peanuts. . Filipinos prefer milk chocolate over the white or dark variant. . Choc-Nut is an all-time favorite by Filipinos; both young and old, rich or poor. Selecta® has even made an ice cream flavor inspired by it.

1. Insert paper-thin chocolate bites with your invitations. It could serve as a teaser on how sweet your wedding day will be.
2. Creatively use chocolate bars or blocks as place cards on the guests tables.
3. Pair truffles with your champagne for the perfect toast.
4. A chocolate-sauce covered wedding cake would look very tempting.
5. Have chocolate spoons ready for guests to stir their coffee with after dinner.
6. Chocolates are perfect wedding favors. It won't gather dust, for sure!

Maribeth suggests:

7. Create table centerpieces out of chocolates instead of fresh flowers.
8. Include chocolates as part of the dessert buffet or serve after dinner with coffee or tea.

Bangs suggests:

9. If you are tired of the usual cake-cutting ceremony, why not have a "chocolate dipping?" The couple will pick their partner's favorite fruit and dip it in the fountain and serve each other a bite.

For our own tip...

10. Why not be a little less-conventional try chocolate brown as your color motif. Our friend suggested that for our wedding and we were able to pull it off.

We could go on and give you tips on how you can further use chocolates for your wedding night, but we figured you already know that. *wink*

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