William McClelland & Lauren Toole: A lovely Filipino wedding in South Carolina

When William Benitez McClelland married Lauren Masker Toole in South Carolina, USA, they made sure to incorporate Filipino wedding traditions for the veil, cord, candle, and arrhae in honor of the groom’s Filipino heritage. The Benitez-Liboro titas brought the wedding favors from the Philippines and the male relatives proudly wore their barong Tagalog during the nuptials.

Two years ago, the pretty accountant from the University of Virginia and the Yale-educated venture capitalist first met in the Nolita neighborhood of downtown Manhattan where they were originally residing.  A minor accident turned out to be fortuitous because it made them realize how much they cared for each other.  While in her apartment, Lauren accidentally fainted and hit her head. Alarmed, Will immediately rushed over to her place not only to bring her to the hospital but also to take extra care of her afterwards. Lauren felt the love and attention, but Will jokes that it was only because she hit her head and got confused.  

Nine months after they met, while at El Nido Resorts in Palawan, Will proposed during a romantic dinner on a private beach in Miniloc Island.  Looking back, they would laugh that the whole thing looked like a scene straight out of the TV show The Bachelor.

During the wedding ceremony officiated by Rev. George Moore, followed by a reception at the Legare Waring House, Charleston’s historic antebellum plantation home, the couple promised each other they would never be separated or ever be apart from each other on their wedding day. To ensure this would happen, they were either dancing or holding hands while surrounded by numerous delighted family members and friends during their special day.

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