Never too late for a dream beach wedding

MANILA, Philippines - Full of sunshine and warmth, outdoor weddings are ripe for an al fresco location such as a garden, a picturesque yard or the beach.

“We chose a beach wedding reception so we could have a relaxed setting after the ceremonies,” shared Zia and Uko Dictado, who cherished their first dance as husband and wife at the mesmerizing beachfront of Laiya in San Juan, Batangas.

The couple exchanged their vows at the Spanish colonial Church of San Juan Nepomuceno, which sits at the town proper, less than 30 minutes away from the shores of Laiya Aplaya — the same church where famous celebrity couple Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo celebrated their intimate wedding in 2009.

“My most memorable experience was the moment I walked down the aisle and saw Uko’s happy and glowing face,” beamed Zia, who was radiantly dressed in an ivory draped French tulle mermaid gown.

Uko, on the other hand, sported a khaki Italian wool slim-fit suit. Both gown and suit perfectly embodied the couple’s personalities while using lightweight, comfortable fabric to keep the laid-back, tropical feel.

The design and color of the entourage’s suits and gowns stood out without overwhelming the couple’s — electric blue draped silk and chiffon gowns for the bride and groom’s mothers, orange chiffon empire-waist dresses for the matron-of-honor, bridesmaids and flower girls and khaki slim-fit suits for the groomsmen.

Zia especially loved the flowers, which wonderfully complemented the gowns and suits and “gave the wedding a dreamy feel.” Orange roses, yellow bells, green cymbidium and lisianthus and carnations abound inside the church and the beachfront of Acuaverde Beach Resort.

At the reception, each guest received a pair of slippers with the couple’s monogram. “We gave the slippers to our guests at the beginning of the reception party so they could change into it and be comfortable on the beach,” Zia said.

After a long travel, say, from Laguna and Manila to Laiya, one thing that would certainly please the guests was food. The couple furthered, “In our opinion, it is much better to serve food that will be enjoyed by all rather than keep it with the theme or motif but not to everyone’s liking.”

At dusk, the sound of waves gently lapping the shore melodiously blended with the ballad and laid-back repertoire, while beach-side tables and cocktails lounge got filled with the guests. At the little stage, a five-tier white cake embellished with orange sea shells witnessed Zia and Uko enjoying every minute of their “happily ever after.”

“While we were having our first dance as husband and wife, all the lights went out then the fireworks started lighting up the night sky. For me, that was one of the most memorable and sweetest moments,” shared the doting husband, Uko.

The couple spent a year preparing for their dream wedding, with cues from an events coordinator and the help of families and friends.

“We were meticulous in the sense that we knew what we wanted and how to achieve it, but with the knowledge that the events coordinator and other vendors knew what they were doing, their inputs and suggestions were critical in making our wedding a beautiful one,” said Zia, who added that soon-to-be brides should not over-stress about every little thing.

It’s never too late for your dream wedding with the scenic oceanfront views, seashell bouquets and comfortable flip-flops. But more than the great silhouettes-against-the-sunset photos, it all goes back to happiness, faith, selflessness and common goals glued by love.