One went for old-world elegance; the other, for more laid-back and rustic Tuscany.
Two of Manila’s loveliest— actress-model Isabelle Daza and beauty entrepreneur Cristalle Belo Henares—both wed in Italy this month to their respective expat beaus, Frenchman Adrien Semblat and Aussie Justin Pitt, in styles that were a study in contrast.
Daza chose a more traditional silhouette for her wedding dress, a strapless Vera Wang tied at the waist with a mauve satin sash, and a layered tulle ball skirt.
Henares opted for a body-skimming and beaded lace Inbal Dror, with a scoop back and sheer deep-V neckline. The lace is an intricate overlay that bares the ecru layers of soft tulle. From afar, the ecru shade created a vintage feel.
The dresses of their respective bridesmaids were made by Filipino designers—silver-gray chiffon by Charina Sarte for the Pitt-Henares wedding, and mismatched summer florals by Vania Romoff for the Semblat-Daza party.
Mothers of the bride
Even the long dresses of the mothers of the brides couldn’t be more different: celebrity doctor Victoria Belo chose a celadon-hued Oscar de la Renta, while beauty queen-actress Gloria Diaz wore a custom ecru Albert Andrada with floral detailing.
Pitt and Henares chose a historic villa, the Villa Erba in Como, the lakeside destination made popular by Hollywood hunk George Clooney, as venue of their wedding. Crystal candleholders and flowers decked the two rows of long tables for the romantic formal dinner that followed the ceremony. Each chair was thoughtfully draped with a monogrammed shawl for the guests, to ward off the evening chill.
Semblat and Daza chose a medieval hamlet called Castello di Gargonza, located between Siena and Arezzo in Tuscany, as their venue.
Unlike the Pitts, the Semblats hosted their guests under the stars for the formal dinner, preceded by garden cocktails with long tables groaning with Italian cured meats and delicacies. The wedding cake was a simple two-layered creation decorated with fresh flowers, with a kooky topper: a bride dragging the groom by the foot.
Both grooms wore traditional tuxedos, with Semblat and entourage opting for tailcoats; he wore an orange tie, his crew, gray.