So yeah, I got married today, day 364 of the year 2022.

I was 36 years, 2 months, and 9 days old. Mateo was 36, 5 months and 4 days old.

By then we will have shared as housemates a total of 5 flats together (Pobla, Naranghita, Binjai, Hampshire, Rosséllon) in 4 different cities situated in 3 countries. We will have celebrated 9 of his birthdays together (with the exception of that same year where I was one day late due to a visa hiccup).

..and I’d follow him everywhere.

The Announcement

There was actually none, other than announcing in Instagram and Facebook that I married Adriell Matthew in a chapel on the cornfields that day. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmy5Av8rlW1/

And believe me when I say that the other attempt before this wedding would have looked like this:

Gibraltar during covid times was lauded to be the Vegas of Europe a.k.a. just get married there! And so we contacted the wedding agency, city hall, started compiling the requirements and I applied for a UK visa.

Plus there’s the fact that almost my entire family (and Mateo’s too!) are BIG fans of The Beatles. It was our kind of music growing up with musically-inclined fathers.

But but but - it was not meant to be.

I got my UK visa just as I got to Spain, therefore I never got to use it. Finito. And so we had to do Plan E: try the Philippine track (again).

I think the entire ordeal of trying to get married (HAHA!) requires a separate blog of its own. In another time.

The Goal

• Clothes: Do not spend for new things just for this event, borrow or upcycle instead.
• Venue: NOTHING fancy, please. Do not spend, just serve good food and booze.
• Flowers: Forage.
• Entourage: None. Immediate family only.
• Hashtags: Por favor, no. But if truly needed: #PimentelDagasuan

Of course later after you’ve finished reading this article you will see the beauty of having people around who care deeply–wherein the goals may not be achieved, but the event has become a wonderful team building exercise for both families because you’ve learned to accept help.

The Chapel in the Cornfields 🌽🌾

I think in this wedding, this was top priority to book because it was either civil or church.

All else will just fall into place.

San Vicente Ferrer Chapel: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jBGgNAJdEz3nibKu9

Location: Linabo, Malaybalay, Bukidnon

Cost of ceremony venue: P11,900

Planning the wedding

Was definitely spearheaded by Mateo’s loving father, Papa Tobs! He arranged everything which is why the ceremony and the pre-requisites were completed with much convenience.

Thank you very much, Papa Tobs! Cost for wedding planner or coordinator: P0

The paperwork

Let’s start with the admin stuff because it’s tedious. And time really was a challenge again since Mateo was already living in Barcelona and I already had local and international trips lined up for both November and December. Many thanks to the fam for handling the legwork for us.

Orientation

• One with Population Development (turns out you don’t need this if you can prove living together for 5 years, you just need to submit to the city hall a notarized document)
• One with the cathedral (also called Pre-Cana)

Documents Required

• Birth certificate
• Baptismal certificate
• Certificate of No Marriage (I guess they just want to be sure lol)

Meeting the officiating priest

We paid a visit to Father Vir at San Isidro for a short interview.

First it was with me alone while Mateo had to wait outside for a bit. And then his turn. After that, he spoke with both of us asking if we truly understood the meaning of marriage and the holy sacrament.

Officiant: P5,000

We also donated rice for the kumbento. A sack costs P500.

The Pre-Cana

This is mandatory for church weddings.

Fee to be paid at the cathedral: P3,000

And a token for the one who administered the orientation at the cathedral as a thank you. We bought her a Christmas dinner basket for P500 as well.

Invitations and reply cards

Since we only had to create one message to two groupchats (Dagasuan fam and Pimentel fam), it was quite easy to get responses for it’s ALL YES.

P.S. We initially wanted the last day of the year so we don’t have to do a reception and just go to a New Years eve party after the wedding haha

But the chapel would not cater weddings on that day, therefore we had to opt for Rizal Day (December 30). And also very fitting because we chose to settle in Spain.

The Motif

Everybody’s question was: What should we wear?

Answer: colors of the earth. Think of a tree. Or a tall grass on a hill. Green and brown. As long as you’re comfortable and that such clothing would not offend the church.

The Ceremony and Mass

The Liturgy

The liturgy for the ceremony was prepared by Mateo’s dad, Papa Tobs. And here’s a photo of my dad, Papa Cris, studying the parts where we need to respond to readings in the mass. Trying to absorb it the night before LOL

My family (10 of us) checked-in on a hotel in the next town to ensure that the Pimentels are on-time. And we really liked the pool in Hotel de Susanna haha

Cost of 2 hotel rooms: P8,000

Cost of all meals and booze for an overnight stay: P5,000

The Choir

Mateo’s older sister Ate Aia has the voice of an angel. Combined with the acoustics of the open air chapel in the fields? IT WAS PURE MAGIC. Solemn. Serene. Moving.

I wish you could hear it.

The First, Second and Third Reading

The First Reading by my younger brother, Jayko

The Second Reading by Mateo’s brother-in-law, Kuya Anton

The Third Reading by Mateo’s other older sister, Ate Jehanne

The Responsorial Psalm by Mateo’s niece, Johanna

The Kiss

We had to do it twice because the first one was very high school!

The rings

I will never forget Mateo’s answer to me about this topic.

Sheena: Can we just buy one of those lollipop rings or one of our parents’ old rings so we don’t have to spend?

Mateo: I want to get you a ring that you will wear for the rest of your life.

💓

And so the search began.

I can’t recall how many rings I’ve tried on this finger lol and I AM VERY INDECISIVE so there’s that. This one is Bvlgari I think.

THE DEAL was: we pick each other’s ring as a surprise when we say I DO.

The crazy ring ideas

For a time though, I wanted this ring from Etsy lol

And it even got to this point. 😅

For Mateo: a Cartier from Singapore

I flew to Singapore in a 3-day layover from Manila to attend a close friend’s island wedding in Jakarta. So I took the chance to buy a ring tax free.

As this was my first time buying a PROPER ring LOL.. I have just learned that they give you all of those freebies. So I gave the perfume to Mateo, his dad and mom. :)

For Sheena: a Tiffany from Barcelona

And he gave me an Elsa Peretti! <3

The dress

The fitting was at Tito Thorax’s living room a month before. Mateo was there. We skipped the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride in the dress yada yada.

How it came to be: I wanted to wear a regular baro’t saya like we used to in elementary school for Buwan ng Wika. So I DM’d him in Facebook.

But he didn’t let me. Saying: THIS IS YOUR WEDDING. Wear something appropriate.

I’d usually force my thoughts about NOT needing to dress up, but this time the dress he picked fit like a glove so I shut up. He was right.

Second fitting

Also the day of the wedding haha.

He has a Filipiniana collection and I am so fortunate to be dressed by him. His only request was to buy two plastic containers so it’s easy to transport the dress from his house to the hotel where I will be staying with family the night before the event.

Dress and Attire: P750

Cost of alterations: P0

There was no alteration because I did not get to see the final dress up until maybe 3 hours before the ceremony lol. My uncle knows my size too well.

I actually had a crown in my bun, just couldn’t see it in the photos. Tito Thorax lent it to me and would often mention to the make up artists that his niece (me!) was a beauty queen lol. I think the college days of winning those beauty pageants was a glorious time for both of us. It was our WIN.

As for the veil, Mama Tabs gave it to us as a gift to keep. Thanks Mama Tabs!

Headpiece and veil: P0

Wedding accessories

From earrings to pearl necklaces and old school gwantes, Tito Thorax prepared it all and I just had to wear everything he suggested. All the accessories and parts of the clothes were in one plastic container so it’s tidy and organized.

We did have this coin thing (I don’t think I have a photo!) that Papa Tobs also prepared for us. They placed all of the event items in one paper bag to easily grab on the day! I think these were already ready way way a few weeks prior since it’s required.

The shoe!!

How could I forget, since I already gave away all of my shoes when we moved out of Kuala Lumpur, I had to buy a new pair 👠👠. I did, however, suggest to walk the aisle barefoot but was not allowed to. :p

Cost of white stiletto pumps: 3,100

The suit

Mateo used his only formal suit which he wears to work events. We bought it a few years back in Suria KLCC.

He also used his favorite walking/skating shoe: Vans. Which I thought was a nice touch. So we didn’t have to spend much except for the inner shirt. And maybe the new pair of socks?

Cost of Mateo’s get up: P3,995

HMUA

Also arranged by Tito Thorax to appear on my hotel door at 4am! I initially didn’t want to do any more hair and make up for the event since in my head it was just another day. The only difference was I had to wear a long white dress in a chapel. But he was right though, I needed make up since the wedding dress was a gown!

Cost for hair and make up: P3,000

Makeup artist for the entourage: P0

No cost because the ladies handled their own glam up.

The entourage

A total of 21.

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

None.

Maid of Honor

Manu was going to be the Man of Honor. He was also supposed to be at the Gibraltar wedding that did not happen.

Best Man

Luigi Azura was going be the Best Man. Mateo’s childhood bestie who lives across their house since time immemorial until today. The three of us were classmates since kindergarten until high school.

Guests

None.

Ninongs & ninangs

One male. One female. And it just so happens that they are married to each other. ☺️

And it was just perfect.

Ninang Joy is my ninang in my christening when she still in uni. She is my father’s childhood friend.

And she later married Ninong Ico, a cousin of Mateo’s dad, who also turned out to be Mateo’s ninong in his christening.

We were amused of that fact.

Ninong Ico was not feeling well that day so he was unable to go to the chapel. So after the ceremony, we dropped by their house and was able to get a complete photo of the four of us. It was a warm and loving moment.

Flowers at the altar and lectern

I really wanted to just forage in the jungles of Bukidnon or our backyards. :p We bought at a flower shop outside the cathedral near our house. But it took checking 6 different stores before making a decision. 🙃

Ceremony decorations: P1,300

Flowers at the reception

We didn’t have to pay for centerpieces because it was the lechon! and the green house was already surrounded with flowers and lettuce and the smell of freshly picked roses.

Reception decorations & centrepieces: P0

The bouquet 💐

If I had it my way, I’d just pick a couple of tulips. But Tito Thorax knew better what to blend well with the gown. He just asked for my preference in color and I said: brown and green. And would you look at that! :)

But also, look at how beautiful that waterfall of a bouquet is in action.

Bouquet: P1,500

Wedding party bouquets: P0

Wedding party boutonnieres: P0

Additional corsages: P0

The official photographers

..were my youngest sister Isha, and Mateo’s niece Johanna.

I should have asked Johanna and Isha to take a photo of each other holding the instax so I that I would have a copy that they were the official photographers in our wedding.

Oh wait! Maybe they do have photos but like normal teenagers, they probably took it with them to never see the light of day from the eyes of aunties HAHA

Cost of official photographer: P0

As for the photo album, my parents turned out giving us one as a wedding gift lol! So I just placed all the polaroids in there and left it in their living room so it’s easy to explain to relatives how the wedding went.

Prints and photo album: P10,400

Cost is for the 4 extra boxes of polaroid films we bought, as well as the two instax cameras (which we gave to them as a gift after the event). I like hitting two birds with one stone!

The official videographer

My brother Jayko, Mateo’s mom Tabs, and his brother-in-law Kuya Lendell used their Android phones to shoot videos. And my niece Fini, used my iPhone to shoot whatever!

As for same-day-edits, non por favor.

Cost for Videographer: P0

Transportation

A total of 6 cars arrived in the event venue.

• Toyota Revo of Papa Cris for the Pimentel delegation from the hotel in Valencia
• Toyota Innova of Papa Tobs from Malaybalay, also serves as the early errand car (like picking up flowers and lechon and whathaveyous)
• Toyota Wigo of Kuya Anton and Ate Aia to transport the rest of the Dagasuans
• A car rental. Because the Pimentel group is a big crowd lol. Also a wigo.
• Our godparents’ Toyota Fortuner
• And the officiating priest, Father Vir’s car.

Cost of car rental and gas: P4,000

Recycling the flowers

Mateo and I decided to offer the flowers to our dearly departed in the cemetery.

We are both OFWs with little screen time here, so we did a competition about who can find their grandparents’ grave first! LOL

Mateo clocked in 5 mins 20.

I clocked in at 8 mins 42. Must visit the dead loved ones more.

The reception

Reception venue with food and drinks: P15,600

Food and service was already part of the reception venue rental so we didn’t really have to do anything except slide them a DM of the dishes we wanted that will fit the total cost and asked to waive the corkage for lechon.

Cost for lechon: P8,000

Those who wanted alcoholic beverages could just order from the reception and put it in our tab.

Cost for the booze orders: P2,000

The cake

Mateo and I didn’t initially plan on getting any cake, but the Dagasuans surprised us with this lovely vanilla cake. <3

Cost of the cake: P0

Entertainment

Well, the reception venue prepared an acoustiv guitar and microphone in the mini stage but I think everyone was just too tired from waking up early and then needing to go to a cornfield that we downed a few beers and just went home to sleep haha

There was no DJ except the playlist of the lady from the kitchen counter in the reception. Which was pretty cool btw! It was Christmas season too.

Reception activities

There were 4 young ones in the family: Psyleer, Liam, Fini, Johanna, Isha and Umi (and maybe me, Sheena! HAHA) so we brought a few board games to play and also some stamps, washi tapes and stickers we bought from a Filipino artist who also borders on being a historian. So we bought a couple of her sticker sets to give out to the kids on this day.

You can check her work and online store here: https://www.jmepaints.com

P.S. If you must know, NO, we did not do any of the Filipino wedding traditions that involved doves, cake cutting, arm crossing champagne, dance with one two three people, etc etc. Just good ole conversation with the family and the owners of the restaurant.

The giveaways

Washi tapes and stickers!

Cost of giveaways: P2,500

Gifts (wedding party, parents)

We bought a coffeetable book for our godparents. We brainstormed around: What can you get a couple who has all the money in the world to buy anything?

So we opted for one that supports a local artist who featured indigenous people in the Philippines. Something that guests in their mansion could benefit of learning when they visit. We all have strong Bukidnon pride!

For our parents? We took them for a nice steak meal in Kalasungay.

The afterparty venue

We wanted to do bonfire, bbq and bring acoustic guitars to spend a night in the cabin in the woods. Bring boardgames, and do camping with the kids in cold Malaybalay weather. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go because it was raining all week and the roads going to the hill was unaccesible.

Cost of the afterparty venue for family: P4,000

Cost of groceries, booze and snacks: P3,500

Cost of meals at the cabin: P0

Why zero? Because the plan was to just bring the extra trays of food from the reception venue. :D We actually already asked to pack the extras. So we just decided to give it to other families.

The after after party ;)

To commemorate the event, and the norm that you should sleep outside your parents house on your wedding night or that you should “house” your new wife–Mateo pitched a tent outside his parents’ house. In the bemuda grass. With THAT moon. NOICE!

The mixtape

Finishing this blog post with the mixtape he sent me in the year 2014.

Thank you for reading. :)

Best regards,

Sheena Pimentel-Dagasuan