Edsel Bunao and Judy Garza decided to tie the knot last year in the relaxed and intimate city of Tagaytay that both of them had always thought of and wanted.

        Edsel and Judy, came from different places, but destiny, perhaps, guided them to meet in the same workplace where they became friends, fell in love and culminated in a memorable wedding on September 24, 2005 at the quaint Chapel of Transfiguration of Jesus at Caleruega, Batulao, Batangas.


Photo Caption: The happy couple, Edsel and Judy

        A native of Bohol, Edsel is the son of Genaro D. Bunao and Obdulia Bandala of the town of Jagna. He finished his elementary and high school at the Colegio dela Medalla Milagrosa in his province and went to Cebu to finish his college education at the Velez College.

        Judy is from Naga City and a daughter of Rogelio and Maria Salvacion Garza and educated in Catholic institutions. She is an alumnus of Colegio de Sta. Isabel (now Universidad de Sta. Isabel) in her hometown and took and completed her college course in Manila at the University of Santo Tomas.

        A year after, their wedding in Tagaytay is still well remembered for its elegance and the mood that personally touched everyone in attendance.
Photo Caption: The wedding cake

        With the expertise of a team of wedding planners and coordinators composed of Jojit Dy, Alfred Luna, Amy Pomoy, Ruziel de Los Reyes and Len Uruttia, the wedding of Edsel and Judy came out perfectly, full of fun and warmth.

        Everything was taken cared of and everyone was attended to personally from wedding preparation to post-wedding concerns.

        A day before the wedding, relatives and friends of Edsel and Judy were checked-in in hotels. To surprise them, they were welcomed with baskets filled with savory nuts, chocolates, bath and body products.

Photo Caption: Table setting to dazzle the senses.

        Prior to the actual event, relatives and guests joined the lovely couple in a night of dinner rehearsal to avoid hitches during the actual event.

Wedding
        The actual wedding was more colorful, elegant and personal, from attires of attendees to settings of venues.

        At the chapel’s entrance, the portraits of the couple and their parents in their wedding attires were placed on a table to greet the attendees.

        Judy was a radiant bride as she walked down the aisle in her elegant gown custom made for her by Priscilla of Boston while Edsel was dashing in a traditional Barong by King Philip as he waited by the altar. For something old, the bride kept an heirloom of silver rosary that day.

Photo Caption: Reception at Tagaytay Highlands.

        She was attended by her sister Clarissa, maid of honor, her best friend Jean Mancera-Mangapot, matron of honor, while the best man was Mark Tomabang, Edsel’s best friend.

        Janice Garza-de Guzman (Judy’s sister) and friends of the couple that included Regie Encabo (proxy for Alvin de Guzman), Chingay Guysako-Hernandez, Arnold Hernandez, Techie De la Rosa-Vinluan and Jun Abelardo served as secondary sponsors.


Photo Caption: Wedding ceremony at the chapel of Transfiguration, Caleruega, Batulao, Batangas.

        Bernard Garza and Pip Roldan, a brother and a cousin of Judy, respectively, as well as Ninoy Roco, Alex Bascug and Jeudi Cortez were the couple’s groomsmen.

        Grace Bunao (sister of the groom), Delta Joaquin and Marian Roldan (cousins of the bride), Emily Dizon and Cheryll Carancho (college friends of the bride) were the bridesmaids.

Photo Caption: The newlyweds with their respective parents Rogelio and Ma. Salvation Garza and Genaro and Obdulia Bunao and their principal sponsors Martin Bunao and Max Hernando (proxy for Felipe Bojo), uncles of the groom, Nida Roldan and Anna Britanico (proxy for Catalina Roldan-Mayes), aunts of the bride and Ryan Tulio and Linda Pijuan, friends of the couples.

        Nephews and nieces of the couple were the bearers---Joey Garza (bible), GM Bunao (rings) and Jann Garza (unity coins). Jessa Bunao and Mavel Lim, nieces of the groom, were the bell ringers.

        The flower girls included Ofil Bunao, Dianne Arbolente, Christine Lim (nieces of the groom) and Jasmine Garza (niece of the bride).

Photo Caption: The Garza Family - Jan and Jake Garza-de Guzman, Clarisse, Sr Pinky, Salve, the newlyweds, Rogelio, Jonas, Bernard and Sam Garza.

        Presided over by Fr. Noel O. Nacario of Naga City with his personalized homily, the wedding in Tagaytay became relaxed as laughter and giggles buoyed the solemnity of the ceremony with the soothing music of the Marian Evangelical Community Choir.

        Serving as the lector of the ceremony was Sr. Pinky Garza, the bride’s sister. Jonas and Maya Garza, brother and sister-in-law of the bride, and Sam Garza (another brother of the bride) were mass offerors. Tawi Gravela, Daisy Arbolente and Francis Roldan (uncle of the bride) were mass readers.



Photo Caption: The couple with the bride's grandmother Clara R. Garza

After the wedding
        After the wedding ceremonies, the couple treated guests and relatives with delicacies from their hometowns---pili tarts from Naga City and peanut kisses from Bohol---as a sweet way of sharing their happiness to them. In addition, personalized bottled water was also given away.

        Later, guests and relatives enjoyed the cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres at Midlands Veranda of Tagaytay Highlands, then, the party moved indoors for dinner, toasts and dancing.

Photo Caption: A loving glance between mother Salve and beloved daughter Judy.

        Francis “Jun” Hen decorated the venue in good taste using flowers and candles which was inspired by the beauty of Tagaytay overlooking Taal Lake.

        As the guests streamed to the grand entrance of the dinner venue, Edsel and Judy surprised them with dazzling showers.

        The formal dinner was opened with a prayer led by Sr. Pinky before it finally commenced.


Photo Caption: Father Rogelio standing proudly with his pretty daughter.

        The after dinner was more informal and intimate with personal messages from parents, siblings and friends. Jan de Guzman, sister of the bride, led the toast to the marriage.

        For the newlyweds, the most touching and heartfelt messages were delivered by the Garza couple. After which, they invited their parents to join them during cutting of cake and toasting of wine. Accentuating this moment of emotions, the Concertino Acoustic Ensemble quintet played the couple’s choice song “Grow Old With You” at the background.

        In favor of the charity, the couple decided to do away with wedding give-away and instead offered a donation to Clean and Green Foundation, Inc., their favorite institution.

Photo Caption: The couple with the bride’s grand uncle and aunts Leo and Fanny Guazon, Epifania Roldan Volante and Pura Roldan Caramat during their post wedding party at GIP, Naga City, October 2, 2005.

        If one has to remember what made the occasion more memorable were the things that marked the union of Edsel and Judy. Almost every thing used and given away during the wedding day is etched with their names on it---save-the-date magnets, napkins, fans, bottled water, treat sacks, wish cards, floral pens, wedding day bubbles, shadow box, unity candle, disposable cameras and many more.

        To start the party, Edsel and Judy danced to Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight” surrounded by young attendants with their wedding day bubbles. After the first dance, they treated their guests to a spectacular display of fireworks that lit up the sky.

        When the last lights of the fireworks disappeared, the guests kicked up their heels and joined the newlyweds on the dance floor. During the dancing, it came out that the biggest crowd pleaser was Jake De Guzman, the youngest guest and a nephew to the bride from New Jersey.

Photo Caption: Bride’s highschool barkadas and groom’s college barkadas, Jean and Lito Mangapot, Techie Vinluan, Chinggay and Agot Hernandez, Alex Bascug, Mark Tumabang, Kid Abelardo, Ninoy Roco, Xavier Olin and Jeudi Cortez.

        The occasion has become more personalized with the gestures of love that abound that day. Sr. Pinky composed a liturgy specifically for the occasion and Jean Mancera-Mangapot crafted black and white cross-stitch portrait of the couple as a present to her best friend and her husband. The USI Batch ’91 gave the newlyweds a unique “group card” that featured wedding greeting and wishes.

        Impressively, the party was the most exciting with the on-site wedding MTV immediately played before the crowd which was prepared by Jason Magbanua and his team. To remember the unique joy, grace and excitement of the special day, renowned photographer Lito Sy captured these moments on his lens.

Photo Caption: A joyful moment of the newlywed couple witnessed by loved ones and friends.

Post-wedding gatherings
        After the wedding, the newlyweds enjoyed their days relaxing at Bohol Beach Club, known for its white sandy beach. Then, it was time to go back to Jagna to meet more friends and family members of Edsel in a post-wedding gathering.

        To complete the introduction of the newlyweds, they flew to Naga City to attend to post-wedding gatherings of Judy’s friends and kin in her hometown.

        First, they were treated to a cocktail party that featured canapés, savories and various drinks which Judy’s uncle Tom Roldan hosted along with her visiting cousins from Sydney Australia. The gathering was held before the post-wedding party in Naga City.

        The next day, they attended a post-wedding celebration at the Grand Imperial Plaza hotel with family, close friends and colleagues of Judy’s parents. The occasion was held at the reception hall where every table was filled with votive candles and potted flowering plants from Jardin Rosal.

        Edsel and Judy were introduced for the first time in the latter’s hometown as husband and wife. They reprised the first dance they did during the wedding day to the same song of their choice.

        Judy’s mother led the prayer and her father delivered his welcome message and together they danced to Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World”. Her grandmother, Mrs. Clara R. Garza, gave a heartfelt thought for the newlywed couple as they were treated with a wedding cake topped with sparkling monogram initial of Edsel and Judy embellished with swarovski crystals.

        After the post-wedding affair in Naga City which was made possible by Judy’s kin and relatives, it was time attend to their own affair and new beginning. They flew to Paris, France and spent their honeymoon there.

        Edsel and Judy now reside in Virginia, USA where they work as clinical laboratory scientists for Carilion Health System.

        On their first wedding anniversary on Sunday, the couple has all the reasons to fondly remember that moment---it was memorable, happy and second to none as far as they are concerned.