Monday, August 04, 2008 Jonel, Melissa start new life together
IT WAS windy afternoon on June 21 when Jonel S. Arcenas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arcadio Nelia Arcenas of Arce Corp., and Melissa Rose P. Kwan, daughter of Engineer Roger and Perla Kwan of Precious International School of Davao, exchanged "I do's" amid the breezy ambiance of Waterfront Hotel.
A roofed structure standing against the pristine Pacific Ocean facing the hotel's sprawling garden was transformed into a flower-hedged canopy that housed the altar of that awesome wedding attended by no less than 150 guests, relatives, and friends of both families.
What made the ceremony memorable were the rite and the pre-reception surprises, which the wedding planner and the couple conjured together.
The five flower girls beautifully marched down the carpeted aisle oblivious of the ohhs and ahhs of the wooing crowd. There were no baskets of petals but the pretty girls kept twirling their fuchsia umbrellas bedecked with flowers on one hand and a crystal wand entwined with flowers too on the other hand.
They looked like little fairies in colorful apparels.
As the bride's brother started singing "Ikaw", copious smoke enveloped the bride, about to march into her waiting parents' arms, making her appear like an angel who just descended from thin clouds.
As the waiting groom nervously took her away from her teary-eyed father, hundreds of butterflies were released, some even perched on the groom's shoulders and back and on the bride's beaded tulle while the rest fluttered around aimlessly.
The solemn ceremony performed by Rev. Rufino L. Lagat lasted for an hour but the crowd's attention never waned.
The laconic crowd became highly jubilant when, after the photo ops, hundreds of deep purple, tangerine, and fuchsia balloons - depicting the wedding's motif - were simultaneously released. They looked like myriads of fireworks soaring high into the firmament seemingly bringing the message, "fly high, Jonel & Melissa!"
Even during the photo ops so adeptly handled by Roy Oliveros of Bride's Delight, the crowd cheered when Roy shouted "kiss!" and the four couples: the newly-weds, the candle, the veil, and the cord sponsors, all siblings of the bride and groom with their better helves, kissed. T'was a sight to behold, four love affairs retold and captured in pictures.
The guests were then ushered to the pre-dinner lounge to nibble chopped roasted cow and sushi while the others contentedly dipped mallows and other delicacies beneath the chocolate fountain enjoying a sip or more of the red aperitifs, sodas and juice.
When everyone was seated in the canopied ballroom stuffed with colorful giveaways, giant cake, goblets with ringlets, initialed fuchsia napkins and cutlery, the entrance of the newly-weds was announced by Ryan, the emcee.
The new couple then danced to the tune of "The Way You Look Tonight" rendered by a hired orchestra. The dance was impressively choreographed and all eyes were glued on the couple prancing their way into the new chapter of their life, together.
The principal sponsors, most of whom flew in from US, Australia, London and Cebu were, male: Dr. Jesus S. Artacho, Capt. Eustaquio M. Banzali II, Mr. Dominador P. Burbe, Mr. Wing Lip Chang and Mr. Rito C. Opao; female: Dr. Nerissa Tan, Mrs. Veronica N. Artacho, Mrs. Fe Corro, Mrs. Zenaida S. delos Santos, Mrs. Dominica M. Hau and Mrs. Constancia C. Komninos.
The best man was Alfred S. Arcenas while Micaella Ruth P. Kwan was the maid of honor. The groomsmen were Andre Bern V. Arcenas, Philipp L. Corro and James Trix M. Pichon while the bridesmaids were Eden Grace S. Arcenas, Julie Mae M. Pichon and Alissa Mae K. Sicam.
The flower girls were Mary Ann O. Arcenas, Mikaela Janael A. Kwan, Reychelle Moira K. Lagat, Reynette Micah K. Lagat, Pauline Mae P. Pedroso and Francesca Isabel Quitain. The bible was borned by Gino W. Quitain, the ring by Prince Jethro A. Gerondio, the coins by Cyan Xavier Capili and the token by Gio Rosendo Salcedo.
The candle sponsors/singers were the bride's brother, Michael Rogel and wife Jaja who just flew in from US. The veil was handled by Rey Lagat and wife, Minette Richelle, the bride's older sister who also flew from States and the cord, charmingly handled by the groom's brother Dexter Arcenas and wife Stella Marie who hail from Cebu.
Truly it was an unforgettable, impressive wedding carefully and meticulously planned from the smallest flower to the longest tulle.
