In time for Valentine’s, Butz Tenchavez and Ali Cedula exchanged “I do’s.”
Their romance started on social media. Butz had found Ali’s pretty face on a mutual friend’s Facebook account. Ali’s closest friends at De La Salle University were Butz’s high school batchmates at La Salle Greenhills, so their introduction was done easily through a group date. A whirlwind romance followed, dahlings.
Ali had no plans to be a bride this year, she told her pals, but Butz surprised her by proposing during a weekend with the family in Subic.
The couple had a simple, rustic French-theme wedding with a variety of green shades all over the venue; even the bridal entourage were all dressed in shades of green—a tribute to their La Salle roots.
Bridesmaids & Co., led by no less than Butz’s sister, Berry Tenchavez-Stehmeier, turned the Manila Polo Club into nothing short of amazing. Talented florist Zenas Pineda did the floral design which was enhanced by the lighting of Rene Gabriel.
Ali was radiant and stunning as she walked down the aisle in a Rosenthal Tee piece to meet her Prince Charming at the Church of St. John Paul II in Eastwood City.
The wedding reception started with cocktails at 2 p.m. Delectable cocktail food was spread at the Polo terrace.
As Mr. and Ms Tenchavez entered the dining area, they were met with sparklers and music by Mi Sonido’s.
The excellent dinner started with squash soup, crisp mixed salad, mouth-watering sea bass and deliciously grilled fillet-mignon. Dessert buffet was by Heny Sison, who also did the beautiful wedding cake.
Then it was rock ’n’ roll time to DJ Gos’ ’90s music mix, as guests shook the floor till way past Cinderella’s bedtime.
Saab Magalona’s Baguio wedding
Meanwhile, in Baguio, Saab Magalona got married with long-time love Jim Bacarro.
“We’re in the same band called Cheats,” said Magalona. “Jim is the guitarist-keyboardist-vocalist. I am also a vocalist. We’ve been together for three years, but we’ve known each other for almost 10. We chose Baguio because I wanted it to be nice and cool.”
She wore a gown by Sassa Jimenez, her blockmate in Ateneo before Sassa left to study fashion in the United States.
“I told her before she left that I believed she would make it big and that she would make my wedding dress,” said Saab.
She said she got Eric de los Santos to make the dresses of her bridesmaids. “He is so talented when it comes to creating dresses that are beautiful and flattering yet very comfortable,”
she pointed out.
Ziggy Savella made Bacarro’s suit.
“Our honeymoon right after the wedding was in Kyoto, Japan,” she said. “The trip was a gift from our principal sponsors, Gina and Dot Escalona (parents of one of Jim’s best friends, Ryan). We are also going to Europe sometime in September.”
Eligible bachelor’s latest squeeze
Erik Cua is an eligible bachelor at 33 years old. The nightclub businessman has just opened Temple in Greenbelt 2.
It takes its place among his other busy and popular establishments such as Gramercy, Aracama, Privé, Tide, and Valkyrie. Erik has been linked to several gorgeous women and his latest squeeze, I am told, is pretty Jam Chan, from the family running the leading furniture house.
Chicho Suarez is into real estate with Jacques Dupasquier, and I am told she has been engaged to shy Miguel Rodriguez of NightHawk Designs, the architecture firm.
They will reportedly tie the knot in January 2016. She proudly showed me her engagement ring.
La Senza hosts Bianca bash
Global intimate apparel brand La Senza hosted a fun bachelorette bash honoring radiant would-be bride Bianca Gonzalez.
La Senza pulled out all the stops and transformed its BGC store into a dream boudoir replete with girly dream-of-feathers, glitters, sequins in a room painted in shades of pink.
And just like any bridal shower, there were games; all the guests went home with swag bags from La Senza. One favorite activity was the Lingerie Guessing Game, which made the guests go, “Oh la la!” over La Senza’s sexiest lingerie.
But there were no macho dancers that would have brought shrieks of delight and shock from the female crowd. Oh, well.
Singer-comedienne K Brosas hosted the event, infusing the room with her vivacious energy and sense of humor. She ended the bachelorette bash by dedicating a song to her friend, who was really touched by the gesture.
Days later, Bianca and her beau, basketball star JC Intal of the Barako Bulls, exchanged marital vows in an intimate ceremony at El Nido Resort, Palawan.
They later held the reception at Smart Araneta Coliseum (where they first met).
Bianca was radiant in her chic, elegant gown by Rosa Clara, Spain’s couturier of royalty and the rich and famous.
Flowers on Bianca’s hair was by Robert Blancaflor. Samantha Eduque personally attended to the arrangements.
JC wore a Joey Samson outfit.
Après the fun wedding, the newlyweds stayed on in the breathtaking island of Palawan for their super loving honeymoon.
La Senza has branches at Abreeza Mall in Davao City, Alabang Town Center, Bonifacio High Street, Eastwood Mall, Greenbelt 3, Harbor Point in Subic, Power Plant Mall, Resorts World Manila, Robinsons Galleria, Shangri-La Plaza, Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, The Podium, and TriNoma.
Rosa Clara is at Residences at Greenbelt, Ayala Center, opposite Greenbelt 2, Makati.
