A celebration of love

CHRIS and Bianca Zobel-Warns. PHOTO BY PAOLO PINEDA

I asked my husband Paolo what he felt now that his best friend, Bianca, was getting married, and he told me, he couldn’t be happier. He loves Bianca and totally gets along with Chris, Bianca’s fiancé. Both understand and love each other.

What more can a friend ask for?

Well, for my husband, babies, fast! So they can be friends with our kids.

Here is my diary of the wedding of Bianca Zobel and Chris Warns.

IÑIGO and Maricris Zobel, Bianca Zobel-Warns, Chris Warns, mother of the groom Marian and brother Gustav Warns. PHOTO BY PAOLO PINEDA

Jan. 4. We left for Calatagan, Batangas, all three kids in tow, and went straight to the “fiesta” being hosted by Chris and Bianca for their employees and staff in Calatagan. To me it was like a children’s party, only in the middle of a field. But other than that, that was what it was—a fiesta to say “thank you” to people who work for them. Families enjoying lechon baka, pizza,  doughnuts, hot dogs, dirty ice cream and everything in between, not to mention jumbo inflatables that my kids spent hours jumping on and running to their yayas’ dismay.

This party was actually what described Chris and Bianca best—down-to-earth, grateful and family-centered. I found it so touching that it was important to them to share this happy occasion with those around them.

Jan 5. Wedding rehearsals. It meant so much to Bianca that she and Chris get married in the bayan church, because this was the church where her parents, Iñigo and Maricris Zobel, got married in.

From the church, everyone went to the rehearsal dinner hosted by Susie Madrigal Bayot in her estate. It was family and wedding entourage getting together before the big day.

ANNA Ugarte. PHOTO BY PAOLO PINEDA

Capping the night was a beautiful fireworks display given to the couple as gift by one of their godparents.

Jan 6. The day of the wedding. Only the family and the entourage were in the church. To me, two words to best describe the wedding would be intimate and elegant. Chris and Bianca chose only their closest of friends to join the entourage.  Chris had a groom’s maid—Dina Tantoco—while Bianca had her bride’s men, the guys who are her best friends. It was an unconventional setup really. Aside from being very traditional, this made it also very personal—exactly just how Bianca and Chris wanted it.

The reception was Filipino-inspired, from the big bahay kubo to the most elegant décor.  This was thanks to the parents of the couple. It was the gift of Iñigo and Maricris Zobel, and Marian Warns (Chris’ dad, Bu Warns, who was there in spirit and truly missed), to Bianca and Chris, the first in their families to get married.

It was a truly wonderful occasion—we were blessed to have been part of—filled with loved ones’ wishes and good intentions as they start their new life together.