Not quite Mexican but just as memorable.

A few years back, in one of the usual D' Frendz gatherings, we started talking about weddings and what our ideal ones would be. Grace wanted something frou-frou and Victorian (not surprisingly), Rona wanted something in yellow (also not a surprise) and Bonique wanted something Mexican.

Mexican. That's definitely something new. When I started probing her about it, she said that she wanted a wedding that was very relaxed and casual, where guests can easily mingle and circulate, where people could have fun, and she wanted it be an occasion that people will fondly remember. At that moment, tequila shots and Pinata centerpieces were running in my head. Not to mention frijoles and gorditas on the menu.

When she announced her engagement about a year ago, I was just about ready to email my friends in Mexico and order Guayaveras for the guys and Ponchos for the girls. (SO Ugly Betty!) But before I could say "Guadalajara", the theme of the wedding changed. Not considerably, though. She still wanted it to be very relaxed and casual, very bright and airy, chic and elegant, and still an occasion that people will fondly remember.

And on the 5th of January, I was witness to and part of just that. At around 10am, a very relaxed and casual Bonique walked down the aisle of St. Michael the Archangel Chapel on her wedding day.



Bonique was a picture of happiness and radiance as she glided down while "Love Affair" was playing in the background. Having been part of the preparations since day 1, I know the stress and "tacky" moments that led to the wedding. But none of those were noticeable or visible during that moment. All I saw was one of my best friends, taking one step to forever. People applauded her entrance twice, and that almost brought me to tears.



I'm not a big fan of morning weddings, although I've organized my fair share of them. But this one was definitely different. Bonique and Vince's characters are such a perfect match for a day wedding. Their personalities are bright, happy and beaming - almost like the sun. And what better way to celebrate their first day as a couple than having the sun bathe light and warmth to the occasion.



The reception was a picture of casual elegance. Blue Leaf was a perfect venue because it was surrounded by glass that lit up the place beautifully. The natural light brought out the best in everyone, and everything. It also gave the reception a feeling of openness and people could easily walk around and circulate. The feeling was actually that of an elegant greenhouse.



The best wedding is one that's very personal. And Bonique's wedding was full of personal touches. A lot of it is probably because it was organized by people who are really close to her and have been with her since college. (That's us, of course.) No strange coordinators imposing what they want to the couple. No unknown supplier springing surprises on the day itself. We all chose suppliers and partners who we knew and were comfortable with, and this made organizing it much easier. Even if I was in HK during most of the preparation stage, everything still went smoothly on the day itself.

Everyone in D' Frendz was hands-on during the wedding. From Mona - the host with the most who easily handled each technical difficulty with ease, to Wena - our musical director who gave the priest a piece of her mind. (You go, Girl!) From Rona who serenaded the couple, to Lezyl and Grace who manned the reception table with me so ably. From Maricar - our resident make-up maven who kept everyone glowing throughout the day, to Alfie who played her maid-of-honor role to the hilt. (Despite the 3 inch heels.)



I wasn't able to stick around during the program proper since I had a meeting to attend. GRRR! Work never fails to get in the way of fun. But from what D' Frendz told me, it was a very personal and heart warming program. Rona and Ricky (aka Dedek) sang beautifully, Eunice recounted the couple's love story (having witnessed it from Day 1), plus there was a surprise number from Vince and Canoy. The speeches - I've been told - were words that came from the heart. Mona said that there were no dry eyes during the speeches of Vince's dad and Vince.



Even though the wedding wasn't Mexican in theme, I think it still captured what Bonique wanted her wedding to be. A wedding that was very relaxed and casual, where guests could easily mingle and circulate, where people could have fun, and it was definitely an occasion that people will fondly remember. I'm so tempted to say that I miss the Pinata centerpiece, but on hindsight, that would've been "tacky."

Post-wedding, Bonique told me that people kept on coming up to her saying that the wedding was so beautiful and so attuned to the personalities of both Bonique and Vince. And several times, she thanked me for helping bring her wedding to life and making sure everything proceeded without a hitch.

I should also thank Bonique. Being part of a day so heartfelt and so beautiful, being part of the culmination of a love that we've seen start and grow, being part of her wedding, is definitely something to be thankful for.