Expat Wedding on Marinduque Island, Philippines

When Dubai expats Pia Margarette Rebucas and Eugene Tolentino were planning their big day back home in the Philippines, they wanted an intimate gathering of their 50 closest family and friends. But they wanted more than a wedding; they wanted a big family gathering in a place nobody had ever been before. And they wanted that place to combine Pia’s love of the sea and Eugene’s love of the mountains.

When we saw the photographs by Nelwin Uy from their beautiful day, we couldn’t wait to share them with fans of Bride Club ME. Pia and Eugene are one of the most romantic and creative couples we have come across, filling their wedding day with countless unique, handmade/DIY touches against the stunning. whimsical backdrop of Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa. We are feeling very inspired!

The Proposal…

My fiancé surprised me by proposing over a romantic dinner at AT.MOSPHERE restaurant in Burj Khalifa on Christmas Day 2011. He spoke to the manager and arranged for my favourite song “Moon River” to play as he popped the question!

The Location…

We decided to go for a destination wedding in our home country, instead of a city wedding in Dubai. We dreamt of an exclusive island that none of our guests were familiar with. We also wanted a venue that would speak of our personalities: exclusive, laidback, relaxed, and yet uniquely charming. As soon as we set eyes on the picturesque Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa on Marinduque island, we knew we’d found the location to seal our love. The backdrop is very Santorini-inspired, with whitewashed buildings and spectacular mountain and ocean scenery. It was just perfect.

The Theme…

Eugene and I have been teased affectionately by friends and family as “The Love Birds” since we first met, so the theme of our day became “Love Birds on a Tree”. The idea symbolises a beautiful relationship on the sturdy foundation of a tree.  We also thought the decorative details would be charming when included on our wedding day.

The DIY/Handmade Elements…

We styled our ceremony and reception venues using non-floral elements – twigs, nests, lace, fabric, and special paper – for a unique, yet elegant setting. Everything had a personal and handmade touch – we handmade the buttonholes, bridal party bouquets, hangers, holders, labels, and signs. I could never have done all the DIY myself, so was very lucky to have a willing team of helpers and suppliers! I wanted everything to be in pastel colours, as it matched the bridesmaid dresses, ties, and centrepieces. We loved the way it looked when it came together. It blended so well with the breezy, relaxed feel of the island.

The Cake…

We chose a simple four-layer cake in pastel colours with macaroons, provided by the Pastry Chef at Bellarocca. Each layer had a different flavour filling: Carrot-Pineapple, Caramel, Butter, and Mocha. It was served to all our guests and everyone commented on it being perfectly baked.  The cake topper – two cute Kokeshi dolls made by Khristine Borbe – also went down brilliantly with our guests!

The Attire…

I chose two dresses. A full, strapless gown for the ceremony by Monique Lhuillier and a romantic, flowing gown for the reception by Aristeo Pico Haute Couture Designs in Jumeirah 1. My shoes were by Guiseppe Zanotti. Eugene wore an Armani Tux for the ceremony and a Boggi Milano Tux for the reception.

Most enjoyable part of the planning process…

Most couples find planning a wedding stressful to some degree, but I can honestly say that we enjoyed every second of the 10 months planning our wedding. It became a chance to escape from the monotony of our work here in the UAE. Of course being with our loved ones was so beautiful.

Most testing part of the planning process as an expat bride…

Planning a destination wedding from overseas scores a perfect 10 for difficult in terms of logistics, budget, and time. Not to mention the emotional side. My mom passed away three months before our wedding – and that was obviously the most testing part, but I got through it with the support of my loving fiancé, family, and friends. The very painful challenge became manageable. In terms of the actual preparation, we found different wedding blogs and websites such as www.brideclubme.com inspired us, helping the vision of our dream day to become a reality.

Top three tips for a bride-to-be…

1. As a bride, you will be the center of attention on your big day. Do not scrimp on your beauty regime, as records of the day will now be in digital HD!  Invest in a good make-up artist, hairstylist, dermatologist, and dentist.

2. Don’t be a bridezilla, instead be a bridechilla! Let go of the small stuff and trust your suppliers to deliver.

3. Enjoy your engagement by building strong habits as a couple that are vital for marriage, such as communication, pacing, and decision-making.

The brides little pink book 

Venue: Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa / Photographer: Nelwin Uy / Cinematography: Leo Nicolas and Ruper Nicolas of Notion in Motion / Event Stylist & Florist: Gideon Hermosa of The Events Studio / Invitation Design: Danika Navarro of Hello Rio / Invitation Printing: Kenstar Graphics / Calligraphy: Clarissa Ines / Make Up: Ana Isip / Hair stylist: Dave Grona / Quartet: TenStringedLyre / Cake: Chef Cris of Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa / Coordination: Kiss the Girls / Kokeshi cake topper dolls: Khristine Borbe

Watch Pia and Eugene’s wedding video below