Strictly Formal Wedding

As soon as I arrived from the US, I noticed a wedding invitation sitting on the kitchen counter addressed to Mr. Edmund Yee.

I opened it and I recognized two names from the list of 16 principal sponsors, Elmer de Leon and Ito Ynarez, and one from the secondary sponsors, Carlo Quimson, the youngest son of Joey and Carol, and grandson of Nene Quimson. All the rest, I was not familiar with. I felt relieved after I saw the “We have reserved 1 seat for you”. That meant I was free. I didn’t have to go with my husband.

Three days later he told me that we were attending a wedding.
A—-“Ha? It says “reserved one seat for you”.
E—-“Hinde, katatawag lang ni Meynard, kasama ka daw?”
A—-“Tart, nakalagay one seat, siguro tinawagan mo at sinabi mo dalawa tayo. Wag, ang sabi isa lang”.
(I was actually trying to free myself up from potential bondage— that of wearing an evening gown because the required dress code was “Strictly formal, evening gown for women).

A—-“I don’t want to wear a gown. Masikip na lahat ng gown ko, ang laki-laki ng tyan ko. Nagka-problema pa ako ngayon, ayokong mag-gown”.

E—-“Sigurado merong naka polo lang dun, pwede namang hindi sundin yun”.
A—-“Nakalagay nga ay STRICTLY FORMAL. Basahin mo nga!”

I stepped on a chair to reach for the very top portions of my closets. I dragged the big boxes down to look for a gown that would still fit me. Wala nga. Ayaw masara yung zipper. With only few days left, no time to order a gown and I did not want to spend money to buy a ready made one, just to attend a wedding, unless it’s my wedding.

A few days before the wedding, I told my husband I wasn’t sure yet if I wanted to go because of the gown and stomach issues.

On second thought, what the heck, I would just sit down and no one would pay attention.

E—–“O, akala ko pupunta ka sa parlor?”
A—–“Ayaw kong pumunta parlor. Uupo lang naman ako, hindi naman ako ang ikakasal”.

This sage colored gown by Amir Sali was the only one that still fits me even if my stomach bulges to the max.

One of the things I hate in formal events is the need for a tiny purse. I do not have formal handbags. I thought of using this suede because it’s big enough for my make-up, perfume, shawl, medicines, etc. But this is not a formal bag.

My daughter lent me her super sparkly formal bag she recently bought in the US but has never used yet. I am the buena-mano.

Edsa pa lang traffic na. I spent two hours blow drying, curling it but by the time we reached SLEX, natuwid na.

Travel time to Angelfields was 4:40 pm to 7 pm from Ortigas Avenue.

We thought we were very late. Luckily the wedding ceremony was delayed because the one in charge of bringing the neckties for all the male sponsors accidentally left behind the neckties in the hotel. When we arrived, Pat Dy, Philippines most popular photographer was still taking photos of the couple.

There was no karatula outside to point us to the right wedding reception. I told Edmund we could be going to another couple’s reception.

Buti na lang his friends were right there at the door as soon as we entered the reception area.
Elmer de Leon (one of the principal sponsors), Raymond Puyat, and Zaldy Villa.

The mother of the groom, Mrs. Merita C. Ko.

With Det de Leon and Merita Ko. Payat daw ako sabi ni Merita, Dyos ko, ako payat?

We were assigned to Table 18 but we sat down somewhere else. There were a few tables that were empty.

I liked their simple table setting. The floral arrangements were not exaj. I do love flowers but I get irritated when couples flaunt their wealth by decorating the tables with over the top floral arrangements, some even overflow to the floor.

According to Det, the priest told them that due to so many so called wedding suppliers, the wedding ceremony becomes more complicated. I agree.

After more than half hour, the bride, Victoria and groom, Meynard, made a grand entrance.

At 3 pm, Edmund told me I didn’t eat lunch, baka daw magutom ako.
I was a little hungry when we reached Angelfields but I had no appetite.

The seafood paella was very good.

The lychee and vanilla sorbet was good except that it didn’t taste like lychee or vanilla.

I finished my serving of rib eye steak but I removed the fatty parts. The taste and smell of truffle flavor was evident which I liked a lot.

The desserts were not served. We got from the round buffet table.

They looked the same, they tasted the same.

I took a second and third look at the toilet signs to be sure. The drawings kasi look similar.

The groom with Edmund, Ninang Det and Ninong Elmer, and Zaldy.

Young sweethearts, Carlo and Gabbi.

My husband didn’t want to have his photo taken, makikita daw kasi bumbunan nya. Me naman, my stomach is beyond redemption. The “inhale” doesn’t work anymore. It’s always looking “exhale”. My daughter’s bag is too small to be a tummy shield.

Kilay, lashes and eye make up by Oyen.

We left Angelfields at 9:30 pm and arrived home at 12:30 in the morning!!!

Here comes another wedding in Tagaytay.

Edmund and I are discouraged to attend due to heavy traffic. What used to be a one hour trip is now three hours one way. At least the attire for this one is only formal, not strictly formal.