I can’t believe that my best friend’s eldest child, Kara, is getting married when I got a text message from Katrina Ponce-Enrile days after Christmas Day 2010.

I have known Kara since she was a baby, and her first “Titas” were me, Jackie Aquino and Randy Ortiz. We would be present at all her birthday parties until her teen years, and I had the chance to bond with her again when we were together in Rome last 2008 as part of the entourage of Ambassador Cristina Ponce-Enrile, when we had an audience with Pope John Benedict.

Kara flew in from New York, and during that time we got to update each other. I found out that in spite her grandfather being former Defense Secretary and now Senate President, like her mother, she remains down- to-earth and sweet, and her friends to this day are from her school days in St. Paul’s College.

She does not care for designer brands as long as she feels comfortable wearing them, and the only designer item she had was the Balenciaga bag her Mommy Katrina gave her.

Fast forward to weeks before her wedding day. Of course, there was a Bridal Shower with parlor games participated in by her “Titas”/Mommy’s friends vs. Kara’s friends. On the eve of her wedding day, I dropped by the Ponce-Enrile residence for the rehearsal dinner and was amazed by the huge tents set up that covered the entire garden.

Katrina was going around and making sure every detail was followed, working with bridal coordinator Bridesmaid and Co. One tent was for the ceremonial event, which also became the “floral workshop,” so it was kept cool all the time for the flowers.

The floor was covered with a plastic mat to walk on. The main tent wowed the guests, with its thematic mood lighting and elaborately decorated tables. Each flower arrangement had Tunisian lamps and candle holders, with a fabulous arrangement of pink and green milflores, carnations, agaphantus, pink and purple lisianthus, cymbidium, Ecuadoran roses, tulips, eryndium, brassica, rose cactus, corylus, rosemary, and gypsophilia.

All wines were from Napa Valley, California. There were several food stations—Filipino, Spanish, and Moroccan. The Moroccan food was prepared with authentic ingredients brought in by the groom’s family. Other than the buffet, there was shawarma, lechon, and roasted calf.

Moroccan mint tea

Giveaways of the wedding were, for male guests, authentic glasses with Moroccan mint tea, while the female guests got a Moroccan tea set with Moroccan mint tea bags.

Kara Nicole Ponce-Enrile and Moulay-Idriss Rhounimi of Morocco met in New York last April 2007, and since then it was like a fairytale courtship that finally led to their exchanging vows and “I do’s” last September 24, 2011.

No longer was the custom followed of parents choosing the bride for the Western-oriented Moulay-ldriss, who made the proposal himself. But beholden to Filipino and Moroccan customs and traditions, the wedding was celebrated like a great gala event.

Kara was simply radiant wearing a white French lace off-shoulder serpentine cut gown with minimal beadwork by Provonias, a bridal specialty store in New York City. The bridal bouquet was from Lily of the Valley. The groom’s barong in black piña, the male entourage in piña Barong Tagalog, and the purple ruched tulle jersey outfits of the female entourage were all made by Randy Ortiz.

The memorable event was held at the family residence of Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile and Ambassador Cristina Castañer Ponce-Enrile. A traditional solemn ceremony was held at the family chapel, opulently decorated with flowers and hanging Tunisian candle-lit lamps flown in from Morocco.

Principal sponsors of the wedding were Vice-President Jejomar Binay and Mrs. Milagros Dizon, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Ms. Teresita Sy-Coson, Sen. Francis Escudero and Mrs. Erlinda Bildner, and Congressman Alfredo Benitez and Mrs. Maria Nomura.

Also present were the family of Moulay-lriss, led by his parents Dr. Moulay Au Rhounmi and Laila Hajiba Chakor Almi Rhounimi. The female family members wore traditional Moroccan attire adorned with glittering jewelry, and just like my friend Katrina, the groom’s mother danced all evening.

The grand reception was honored with traditional toasts for Kara and Moulay, who had then changed into authentic Moroccan attire. The crowd listened as Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile gave a sentimental speech followed, by the groom’s father (who spoke eloquent French with a translator), who congratulated the couple, and finally Katrina, who welcomed the guests, thanked them, and invited them to partake in the evening’s celebration.