Sometimes your perfect plan can change in an instant but that doesn’t mean it’s for the worse. Couples are still trying to make the best of the situation as the pandemic continues to this day. Take Marek & Jiah, for example. In a time of unpredictability, they decided that they were sure of one thing: they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together and no longer wanted to wait. That’s why Marek & Jiah kept their original date and chose to push through with their dream wedding at Villa Milagros. As time progressed, they allowed themselves to embrace both the uncertainty and the adjustments they had to make closer to the date-- like having an intimate wedding and only inviting their closest family and friends to comply with restrictions on venue capacity.
Knowing the risks for them and their loved ones, they went above and beyond to make sure that their New Normal wedding would be as safe as possible without sacrificing fun and their vision of the perfect wedding. Read on to know how they did it and get some tips on how to plan your own wedding in the midst of a pandemic.
TIP 1. MAXIMIZE YOUR VENUE.
One of the major steps that Marek & Jiah and their suppliers took was abiding by Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) rules on social distancing. First on their agenda was to make full use of Villa Milagros’ one-hectare property and sprawling and large garden venue by spacing out their guests.
Want to see their New Normal wedding setup? Here’s how Marek & Jiah did it. They held their wedding ceremony in the air-conditioned hall, North Wing; and their reception outdoors. But instead of limiting themselves to one garden, they used both Delia’s Garden and Sanse’s Garden.
TIP 2. SEAT YOUR GUESTS BY HOUSEHOLD
Only 5-6 persons could sit in each table a meter apart; and tables were amply distanced from each other to abide by social distancing rules. Guests in the same household were also seated in the same table during the reception to minimize the risk of infection among different families.
TIP 3. KEEP IT FUN, EVEN WITH FACE MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING!
What about photo shoots? You may ask. Creative shoots like these by Dan Rivera Photo show how masks don’t have to take anything away from your special day’s moments. Look at how #Teamgroom took advantage of our large gardens to remain socially distant while still having fun!
disclaimer: The groom and groomsmen are brothers living in the same household.
disclaimer: Groom and the groomsmen are observing social distancing on an open area during their photoshoot.
TIP 4. CHOOSE MASK COLORS THAT COMPLEMENT YOUR OUTFIT
For the most awaited wedding ceremony, even the groom and his parents were wearing masks while walking down the aisle!
But in case you were wondering, the bride and groom DID remove their masks for their first kiss as a married couple.
TIP 5. SELF-SERVICE SNACK BAR
Marek & Jiah liked to DIY things, including their self-service al fresco snack bar to keep hungry guests at bay while waiting for the reception to start. Guests could easily grab their own individually-packaged beverage and snacks. Little packets were made available so you can even grab a delectable cookie from one of the jars. Remember to put signs to remind your guests to sanitize their hands!
TIP 6. USE TECHNOLOGY
Since a lot of their guests are abroad and couldn’t come to the wedding in person, Marek & Jiah also arranged LIVE streaming of their wedding ceremony. Pre-recorded messages from other guests were also played during their program.
Marek & Jiah also created a Facebook group to track the number of guests attending and have an online space for everyone to post announcements and reminders before the wedding day. They also posted an online health declaration form for all their guests and suppliers, making contactless entry upon arrival at the venue seamless. Providing a Waze QR code online also helped their guests navigate their way to Villa Milagros on the day of the event.
Marek & Jiah also created a Facebook group to track the number of guests attending and have an online space for everyone to post announcements and reminders before the wedding day. They also posted an online health declaration form for all their guests and suppliers, making contactless entry upon arrival at the venue seamless. Providing a Waze QR code online also helped their guests navigate their way to Villa Milagros on the day of the event.
Following all the guidelines under the New Normal, Marek & Jiah were still able to make the most of the situation and still have the wedding of their dreams. Even during challenging times, creative solutions and compromises can always be found when it’s with the person you love the most. As Marek said "They say love is a choice and a commitment, but making a choice has not been easier than when one is enamoured by their beloved."
Enjoy intimate moments and create grand memories with your loved ones.
Let Villa Milagros help you make an unforgettable day.
Here’s the list of suppliers that made Marek & Jiah's dream wedding come true.
VENUE: Villa Milagros
CATERER: Alice Catering
PHOTOGRAPHER: Dan Rivera Photo
VIDEOGRAPHER: Woodstock Cinema
COORDINATOR: Lots of Love Events
LIGHTS & SOUNDS: iTech Digital Prod. Inc
PHOTOBOOTH: Flipbooks by Flip Productions
STYLIST/FLORIST: Smitten Floristry
HAIR & MAKE UP: Maria Cielo HMUA
CAKE: Love Lots Cakes
BAND: Manila String Machine
HOST: Martti & Gabby
CEREMONY CHAIRS: K&N Event Rentals
RECEPTION CHAIRS & TABLES: Forrent
COFFEE CART: Candid Coffee
Comments: no replies