Where was the wedding held? What made you opt to go for a destination wedding?
We had our wedding in Villa del Balbianello, Lake Como, Italy. I’ve always wanted to get married under a tree or by a cliff overlooking the sea or a body of water so when we found Villa del Balbianello, we knew right away that we found THE place. The place was just so beautiful and it was such an amazing feeling to get married in a very romantic place and to be able to travel and celebrate with our families and closest friends.
How was it like planning a destination wedding? What were the biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
At first, we did not think we could actually pull it off. We had a lot of back and forth discussions, considered other options, until we finally decided to take a leap of faith knowing that it was not the normal, traditional Filipino wedding. Of course, just like any destination wedding, the main challenge we had was the logistics including our visa applications. Luckily, all of us were approved!
Who designed your wedding gown, and how did you come up with the style? How long did it take to create or find the perfect wedding dress?
I bought my gown from Rosa Clara. I loved that it was simple and it had a long detachable train. It only took me two visits to the store before I decided to buy the dress. I personally preferred RTW vs. custom-made because I felt it was easier and faster, and I could immediately tell if the style would suit me.
What lip color did you choose for the wedding day?
I chose a natural lip color so I would just look natural and fresh.
What was in your wedding day makeup kit/pouch?
I had powder because I knew I was going to cry and I had to make sure I can do some retouch if needed.
How did you choose your suppliers?
We did not know anyone from Italy so we based our suppliers heavily from reviews and their portfolio. We also preferred those suppliers who were from the area, already had experience working with the venue or have worked previously together. Our suppliers were so nice and talented! We did not have any issues with any of them at all.
How did you coordinate with guests and suppliers?
Thanks to technology, we talked over Messenger, Skype, e-mail, and Whatsapp. It made the planning so much easier.
What’s the inspiration behind your wedding look? Did you have any hair and makeup pegs?
I wanted to look simple and natural. I used hair extensions as advised by the hair stylist so they can do more with my hair. I based my makeup pegs from Pinterest or makeup of friends who had a similar complexion as mine.
How about in terms of fitness? What did you do months before the wedding to stay in shape and make sure your wedding dress fit perfectly? Did you enroll in a gym or fitness center? What was your diet like?
I played Ultimate Frisbee around 2 to 3 times a week for my exercise. For my diet, I chose salad as much as possible for my meals and lessened my intake of carbs as well.
Did you have your nails done? If so, where? Would you recommend this nail salon to others?
I used Orly Gel nail polish so I could keep my nail polish longer because we were going straight to our honeymoon after the wedding. I forgot the name of the salon but it was around Greenbelt area.
What was your biggest takeaway from your wedding day? Do you have any beauty-related tips (or tips in general) that you can share?
My biggest takeaway is that your wedding day will always be YOUR DAY no matter what happens. There will be external factors and situations where you will not be able to control and that’s okay. Just make the most out of it and savor the moment that you get to celebrate this special day with the people that matter the most.
“Your wedding day will always be
YOUR DAY no matter what happens.”
What were the preparations you did for your skin prior to the wedding day? Did you go to a skincare center regularly? What kind of services did you have done? Is this something you would recommend to other brides-to-be?
I did not go to a skin care center but I had to make sure I regularly washed my face and used SK-II products (Treatment Essence, Genoptics Spot Essence, and Stem Power Essence) every night.
What was the best beauty advice you received that helped you prepare for your wedding?
Not to stress too much about the wedding, avoid staying under the sun for too long, and to sleep early the night before the wedding.
Wedding Team
- Photographer: Sara Sganga
- Videographer: Francesco Fortino
- Wedding Coordinator: Sabina Domenici
- MUA: Pamela (MUA in Italy)
- Hair: Veronica (Hair Stylist in Italy)
- Gown by: Rosa Clara