Come daydream with us as we go through Jaimee and Mikko's breathtaking wedding.
If you are an OG reader of our blog, you might recognize this sublime venue from Jaimee and Mikko's wedding. This is because our Maleficent editorial was shot here. Casa Marikit is one of our favorite Italian restaurants in the country, and we couldn't be happier to discover that J+M saw the potential of this beautiful place for their dream wedding. A place that feels like it's straight out of a fairy tale. And yes, it is not a traditional wedding venue. It's a restaurant. We've been pushing for "anti-reception" wedding venues and intimate weddings like a broken record for 10 years now. And if there's one thing that this pandemic did, is to really push couples out of their comfort zones.
Rebellious Bride Jaimee shared so many wonderful insights on their wedding. And our wish is that their story gives you hope and inspiration that a wonderful and meaningful wedding is still possible at this time.
We held our wedding last June 12, 2021, during our second year anniversary. Mikko and I really
wanted an intimate wedding even before the pandemic struck so cutting the guest list wasn't
much of a big deal for us. The challenge came in when our close family and friends— mostly
those who live in other countries and the elderlies— could not come because of the restrictions.
It sure did give us a bit of a heartache but we just had to move on from it.
We were able to overcome issues by first classifying if it was under our control or not. One big
issue that was out of our control during this period was the unexpected change in quarantine
schedules. We didn’t dwell on it as much but we sure did arm ourselves with back-up plans. On
the other hand, the guest list kept on changing because each person had their own issues with
their work or health. I would say that this caused me the biggest heartache but I still classified it
as something that I can control because it gave me a chance to invite other friends or relatives to
the wedding
Wedding planning, especially in the time of pandemic, is a true test of your partnership. It may
seem as a task or a stressor but try to refrain to see it as such. Always remember that this is your
day. You are not hosting a party or directing a show. You are inviting people to celebrate this
milestone with you as a couple.
Try to stay on the safe side and think ahead. I cannot suggest people to invite x number of people
but it would be great if you could stay close within restrictions. Be mindful of the high-risk people
in your guest list and consider having everyone tested, for your own peace of mind.
Most of all, if you really are feeling defeated, try to step back a bit and remember the very reason
why you are getting married and start from there again. Weddings shouldn't be all about the
spectacle but I have to admit that it’s easy to get caught in that rabbit hole. So just try to step
back and think of this beautiful union that you are about to have with your partner and try to
stick within the essentials
Having an intimate wedding felt so beautiful and sacred. We were able to celebrate with the
people who were truly a part of our relationship. They didn't just know us by name but they
know the hardships and challenges that we had to go through to reach our wedding day.
Everyone cheered for us, cried with us and felt the love that we shared on that special day. It was
truly a blessing.
Please share credits to your wedding suppliers and special shoutouts to MVPs that really helped
you execute during this hard times
I’d like to thank our video and photog team, Lula and Pearl, I am such a fan of their works and
talent. I would say that a big chunk of the wedding day is spent in front of the camera and I am
so grateful because the team was able to make me feel comfortable and they were very mindful of
my energy during that day.
To Mark, our main man, the
wedding coordinator, thank you for being a friend during this stressful times. Thank you for
listening to my whims and taking note of my numerous requests! The combination of your
assertiveness and bubbly attitude made us trust you and enjoy your company at the same time.
Of course, it goes without saying that Gideon Hermosa made this day extra special for us and
our guests. I've always thought that Gideon is the bride of brides because every girl dreams of
him as their wedding florist. But I would like to take this space and thank Gideon, again, not just
for his talent but for being such a beautiful person. He didn't just design the venue, he lessened
our stress by showing us that he is in control of the situation (mainly because we had rain scares
during that day). He is such a calm and down to earth person which made us admire and trust
him more. Ms. Angelica, our account manager from House of Hermosa was also a delight to
deal with. She accepted and replied to my every request with a smile and Gideon didn't fail to
execute my wishes and more. House of Hermosa is more than just Gideon’s talent, they have so
many VIP clients but they didn't make us feel any less. They make each wedding as beautiful and
grand on its own.
I would also recommend being hands-on on your detailing and planning. It’s true that this day
will go on so fast so make sure to savor every planning day. Know what you want and don't be
shy to voice it our to your suppliers. They are there to help you attain that design or peg that you
want however unique you want it to be. Be particular with your requests and communicate it
properly with them.
CREDITS
Venue: Casa Marikit
Coordinator: White Ribbons PH
Event Stylist: Gideon Hermosa
Photographer: Pearl Studio
Videographer: Lula Films
HMUA: Katch Mejias
Gown: Rosa
Clara
Second dress: Martin Bautista via Vestido Manila
Earrings: Sepa Cebu
Suit: Caballero
Cake: Petite Patty PH
Prints: Kasali.ph
Quartet: Manila String Machine
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