A night at the Opera

MANILA, Philippines — The woman who made so many look and feel beautiful, married the man who made her feel most beautiful and desirable, even on days when she felt at her ugliest.

“When I was at my ugliest, when I couldn’t even look at the mirror because I was so ugly in my mind, I would look at my reflection in your eyes, and you would always make me feel beautiful and desirable,” Dr. Vicki Belo told her husband Dr. Hayden Kho Jr. at their exchange of vows at the American Church of Paris.

In many of her interviews and speeches, the beauty doctor has not been shy to share her history. Dr. Vicki Belo was adopted and was in fact bullied for it. While she was nurtured in a very loving family with her Daddy Ike (Enrique Belo) and Mommy Nena (Florencia Belo), the thought of being given away left a deep scar on Vicki. She was made to believe by those who bullied her that she was given away for adoption because she was ugly and fat. This is why she decided to make everyone else beautiful so they will be loved.

So, you could just imagine how it felt for her when Dr. Hayden Kho Jr. made just one promise to his wife during his vow, “Walang iwanan.” Hayden was firm and kept repeating this phrase.

The most remarkable part of the wedding celebration was the church ceremony. Apart from the bride’s stunningly elegant blush pink Michael Cinco gown, their vow to be together in the presence of God gave us all who were there a glimpse of eternally true love.

Their love affair is nothing short of a roller coaster ride. Mocked and celebrated at the same time. In the end, their love and faith prevailed.

The wedding celebration in Paris, while extravagant, was a testament to their grand faith in God and how He has transformed both their lives. They wanted to gather friends and family to celebrate the happiness and love they now feel because they allowed Him to change them and they decided to follow His words.

 The Paris Opera House was the icing on the cake. After the guests wiped their tears from the solemn and heartfelt ceremony at the American Church of Paris, their jaws dropped as they were shuttled to the “Palais Garnier,” the most opulent location one can ever think for a wedding reception. As guests stepped off the buses that brought them to the reception from the church, one could see bystanders, locals and tourists alike, who were awed at the parade of personalities that strutted the red carpet on their way to the Opera.

The Opera was closed to tourists for two days, by the way, for the wedding preparations. The grand staircase, which would normally be closed to tourists, became the stage for the couple’s first dance. They danced to their own singing voices of Take Me As I Am from Jekyll and Hyde. The couple pre-recorded and sang the song, which made it all the more so personal and special. You could feel and see their emotions. All the guests were left speechless and I personally thought, “What more can we ask for from these two on their wedding?”

The generosity and surprise did not end there. Led by opera singers, the guests walked to the grand foyer where dinner was served. Grandeur and class greeted guests, you felt you were transported through time. I am still actually in awe over how beautiful the room was. Not that it needed more accent but the tables were adorned with the best available flowers by master florist Robert Blancaflor. Robert also provided Vicki with her bridal bouquet made of Lily of the Valley. The bouquet was simple that it did not take away the attention from the bride.

The couple were surrounded by people they value most. The room was filled with love. There were guests who flew in to Paris just to attend the ceremonies. Dubbed as the overnighters were BryanBoy Yambao, Jodi Sta. Maria, Piolo Pascual and Alden Richards. They were just among the many personalities, family and friends who came all the way from different parts of the world to be with the couple.

Festivities went on till the wee hours of the morning unto the after-party. Just when the guests thought it was over and they could now just bask at how beautiful the event was, they were led to another room in the Opera where a live band played Love Never Felt So Good and as a final treat, the couple led the crowd to another dance number. True to form, the couple made sure their guests had as much a memorable time as they did.

Lavish. Selfless. Generous. The couple surely knew how to end the party on a high note. I think I left the venue with my heels in tow, walking down the grand staircase to my waiting coach, which I hoped had not turned into a pumpkin yet.

The Princess found her Prince Charming and they lived happily ever after. - Photos by Cristalle PITT, Michael Cinco and Joel Serrato