Jeff and Lisa Photography

Part of what Jeff and I do is finding something about each couple to fall in love with. Euge and Em gave us so much to fall in love with that we had to use two songs for an on-site AVP for the first time. There was just no way of trimming down the photos, and this will be our longest post to date as well. I was going to blog this last week, but instead of editing out photos, I just kept adding and adding to it. Please bear with the loading time. There were just so many gorgeous handmade details, and so many things that happened. Their friends styled, coordinated, sang at, filmed, and catered the wedding, and the bride’s maid of honor and best friend since they were in second grade did her hair and makeup. This wedding was so. much. love.

Em emailed and booked us when they were still planning for a January 2014 Manila wedding. I already loved her then and was thrilled to find out that she was already on our blog as a secondary sponsor at one of our earlier weddings, but when she emailed me to tell me that they moved the date to just a few months away and it was going to be in Batanes with only family and their closest of friends, I think I whooped, hugged my laptop, and wanted to marry her. Haha. Jeff and I always wanted to go to Batanes, but what got me was the fact that we had a bride crazy and passionate enough to ditch her original wedding plans to have it the way she really wanted to, that suited them best, and a groom who loved her so much that he made it happen. When we met them for the first time, just a few weeks before their wedding, I was moved by how he talked about the wedding. It’s not unusual for me to cry at weddings, but that was the first time I welled up at a meeting. There was something about how he spoke about making her happy that just got to me.

We had a quick engagement shoot the day before their wedding. I’m including here some instant film photographs we took when we were going around Batanes as well. The place is breathtakingly, heartbreakingly beautiful, and Jeff and I will carry this experience with us forever.

This is a quote from Father Pedro Arrupe that we came across at their wedding that struck a chord with us:

What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekend, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.

Dear Eugene and Em, this will always, always be one of our favorite weddings. Thank you for sharing these days with us.

Styling: Alessandra Lanot, and the lovely bride | Dried lavender bouquet, boutonnière, flower girl bouquet, and church wreaths by Vatel Manila | Bridal Dress: Jot Losa | Entourage flowers: Alessandra Lanot | Coordinators: Darlyn Ty, Jean Madrid, Ann Gacutan, Jaz Santoyo | Invitation design and auxiliary photographer: Pocoy Calvento | Hair and Make-up: Meg Lachica | Videographers: Steven Flor, Louie de Leon, Rommel Lopena | Ceremony venue: Tukon Chapel | Music: Jean Madrid, Ryan Madrid, PJ Lanot | Reception venue: Fundacion Pacita | Catering: Chef Edward Bugia of Pino, Pipino, and Brgr Project | Cake: Joy San Gabriel