A Rich & Romantic Wedding Full of Heart and Filipino Heritage

A ride or die kind of love

Jonathan and Trasienne’s celebration felt like a dream you don’t want to wake up from. Set against the backdrop of a beautifully restored ancestral home just outside the city, their day unfolded like poetry: organic, effortless, and brimming with soul. From the garden ceremony draped in flowing fabric with cascading 'Ride or Die' calligraphy, to the moody, candlelit reception that followed, the event design captured that perfect balance of intimacy and drama. Beneath the towering white mansion and its lighthouse, swaths of fabric cascaded down to the altar, catching the light and the wind, transforming the space into something almost cinematic. Jonathan and Trasienne’s wedding wasn’t about perfection – it was about presence. It was about heritage meeting modernity, creativity meeting heart, and two people writing their own story in the most timeless way possible.

A Rich & Romantic Wedding Full of Heart and Filipino Heritage

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

We met through a cycling group during the pandemic — I was an ambassador for Specialized, and he was the photographer taking my photos for the brand. What began as a shoot turned into bike rides that felt more like dates, and the rest is history.

^{The Proposal}

While visiting my twin sister in Hawaii, he rented a motorbike so we could explore the island on our own. One afternoon, he led me to a secluded beach, and there, with just the two of us, he asked me to marry him.

^{The Engagement Ring}

The engagement ring carries deep history — a stunning yellow diamond that once belonged to his grandmother. It was brought from Europe after the Holocaust and has been cherished in the family ever since.

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

I’d describe our wedding day as sexy and effortless. There was no strict motif — I just knew I didn’t want anything that felt stiff or overly curated. I wanted the design and styling to feel organic, like it could breathe and unfold naturally, just as it was meant to.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

Since my husband and I both work in production, we approached the wedding like a creative project. We had a clear vision, but we also gave our collaborators the freedom to interpret it in their own way. It wasn’t about ticking boxes — it was about creating something that truly felt like us. Every vendor was handpicked — chosen for their artistry and how seamlessly they understood the kind of celebration we wanted.

^{The Location}

We got married at Villa Milagros, a beautifully restored ancestral home just outside the city. The mansion felt like the perfect setting — elegant but never overdone. It had a lived-in charm that drew us in, as if it already carried its own story, and we were simply adding ours to it.

A Rich & Romantic Wedding Full of Heart and Filipino Heritage

^{The Ceremony}

We held the ceremony in the garden, beneath flowing fabric that read Ride or Die — a personal touch that set the tone. Our pastor officiated the Christian ceremony while a string quartet played softly in the background.

^{The Cocktail Hour}

For cocktail hour, we set up a pink backdrop and had a DJ playing millennial hits — the perfect mix of fun and nostalgia. It instantly set a laid-back, feel-good vibe.

^{The Reception}

Our reception was held in a ballroom draped in fabric and bathed in moody light. The evening was filled with touching speeches from family and friends, and one unforgettable moment — my husband serenading me with a song.

^{The Special Touches}

Some of our favorite special touches included a long wedding cake lined with candles, my wedding bouquet — a mix of sampaguita and pearls, a dramatic Ride or Die fabric draped from the lighthouse like a waterfall as the backdrop to our ceremony, and a playful pink DJ wall that set the tone for cocktail hour. One of my favorite styling moments was how we used the architecture of the venue itself. Villa Milagros has a white mansion with a lighthouse, and we draped fabric from the lighthouse all the way down to the garden altar. It created this dramatic effect — like a soft, sweeping gesture that tied everything together.

A Rich & Romantic Wedding Full of Heart and Filipino Heritage

The way it caught the light and moved with the wind throughout the day was just magical, like the venue was breathing with us. It wasn’t overly structured; it swayed, danced, and created this dreamy atmosphere that felt alive and in motion. It gave the whole ceremony a sense of softness and fluidity — exactly the kind of effortless beauty we were hoping for.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

The most memorable moment for me was listening to the speeches from my siblings. We lost our dad during the pandemic, and it became a beautiful way of honoring him and everything we went through as a family. In that moment, it felt like he was with us, and I’ll always carry that with me.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

One detail I was really set on was having the veil feel like a true part of the dress — not just an add-on, but something that flowed with the entire look. Vania Romoff came up with the perfect idea: fastening it with delicate buttons along the sides. It created this fluid, almost otherworldly effect, as if the veil were floating. It added to that mysterious, romantic mood I wanted and made the entire look feel uniquely mine.

^{The Groom’s Look}

Jonathan wore pieces from Ched Studio and Ziggy Savella. Just a few weeks before the wedding, Vania and I made a last-minute decision to go with lace for my gown — which meant we needed something for the groom that would match its delicate texture. As if by fate, Ched Studio posted a short-sleeved lace piece around the same time, and I messaged right away to ask if it could be done in two weeks, but with long sleeves.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

Stop trying to fit everything into your wedding — instead, ask if it’s really you. Since my husband and I both work in production, we treated our wedding like a creative project. We had a vision, but we gave our collaborators the freedom to interpret it. It wasn’t about ticking boxes, but about creating something that felt like us. Sometimes, less truly is elegant — and yes, I had to stop myself from falling into the Pinterest black hole.

^{For On The Day}

On the day of your wedding, my biggest advice is to let go. Don’t get caught up trying to fix everything — just be present and enjoy it together. Perfection doesn’t exist, and that’s what makes it beautiful. It even rained right before I walked down the aisle, but our guests embraced it with us. Some things are simply out of your hands, and that’s part of the story.

^{For Post-Wedding}

Go on a honeymoon or mini-moon right after the wedding — seriously. Ride that wave of magic while it lasts. I went straight back to work and totally regret not giving myself that time.