My brother tied the knot!

Everyone in my family had been waiting for the big day on the 23rd, that we all considered it one of the best Christmas gifts that we got. It was also a perfect opportunity to see some of our relatives that haven't seen in a while.

On the afternoon before the wedding, Mom, Kuya Toto and I checked in at the Bellevue Hotel, along with Ate Maui and her family, as we will be prepping up there early the next day. Dad, on the other hand, stayed at home to supervise other prep concerns with Tita Beng, specially because a bunch of our other relatives will be staying over there as well. But he did join us for dinner with the Ocampos at Poquito Mas at Westgate. Man, the sisig there was yummy. We immediately left after eating as our bride was getting pretty sleepy already.

Retired at our respective rooms after dinner. Kuya was supposed to be resting early as well, but he was still working on the AVP that they were planning to show at the reception. I think he fell asleep at around 2 in the morning. Unfortunately, all of us had to be up by 4am. But at least he finished the AVP, because Trixie came knocking at our door because one of the coordinators was already asking for it.

Walked to Ate Maui's suite, where a ton of people had already gathered. Jack and Ade (the coordinators) were there of course, as well as Gela's hair and makeup crew. Tintin and Trixie already got a head start, so they added me to the assembly line (hahaha). When I was asked how I wanted my hair to look like, I explained that I had a long neck with an undefined chin, so it's difficult to find the right updo for me. Plus the problem that my hair can barely hold a curl. It took at least 3 attempts to get the right hairstyle for me, but I have to say, this was the first time I actually liked how I looked with my hair up.

Returned to our room to change into my gown and found Kuya goofing around with Kuya Butch and Kuya Richie right before the Threelogy crew (the videographers) arrived. When I had returned to Ate Maui's suite to have her fix my obi belt, I came face to face with Trixie and realized that in some way, we did look alike, hahaha! So that's what their grandfather kept saying the night before.

After a little more prepping, Jack said that Mom and I can go ahead, as Kuya had already left for Fernbrook with his crazy best men. Immediately found Rosa and Aris by the time I had stepped out of the car, then we all walked to the chapel together. A few minutes later, I got a text from Tad, saying that because he couldn't get a cab to Fernbrook, Iam and Ge will be picking him up. Thanks, Iam and Ge!

I was sitting next to Tintin during the entire ceremony, and during all the marriage rites, Trixie and I held up our cameras and snapped away. Hahaha, even though my mom was in tears, I couldn't help giggling when she raised her handkerchief to wipe off her tears, because Dad raised his own handkerchief at the same time to wipe sweat off his forehead almost every time. Hehe, when it was time for the couple's first kiss as husband and wife, I was so glad that my photo didn't come out all blurry even though I was so giddy over them.

On to the reception. Boy, I was really starving that time, because I only got to eat half of an Egg McMuffin before I left the hotel. I was so glad that Jack decided to begin with tables nearer to the buffet (we were seated next to it, yay) for the pictorials with the bride and groom. Iam and Ge made quite the tag team, because after they had fallen in line, Ge went back to get more food, hahaha. I've been dieting for weeks for this event, so it's time for my appetite to catch up. Ugh, because of that, Tad took the most unflattering photo of me, hahaha! You can check it out in one of my Multiply albums.

My favorite part in the reception was the dance. Kuya and Ate Maui had hired Carlon to help them, and taught a simple waltz between Ate Maui and her dad, Tito Pete. People had expected the same waltz all throughout the dance between her and Kuya, but a few minutes into Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World," we suddenly hear the sound of a scratching record, then the music changes to "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," giving everyone quite the surprise as they danced the upbeat number, hahahaha! Even though they did rehearse it the night before, they still forgot some steps so they tried to improvise. I, on the other hand, rushed towards the carpet (not minding if I trip, ahehe) to cheer and take photos, ahehehe.

All in all, it was a great wedding. It's so funny how two different people such as Cads and Maui got together. It was hate at first sight when they saw each other at the guidance counselor's office for their respective exit interviews, right on until they started working together at Accenture. The simple invite to hang out at the Chicago Art Institute changed everything.

Super thanks to Jack Sy-Alba and Ade Sy Singson of About Events for keeping everything in order, Erwin and Bea of Angel Bar for the pre-nup photos, Dino Lara for the on-site wedding photos, Threelogy for the videography (with the super fast editing of the beautiful on-site AVP), Juan Carlo the Caterer for the yummy food, 15:58 for the flowers (my bouquet is hanging in my room for a week-long drying process), and Anne Chavez for Ate Maui's pretty dress for the reception. Naks, parang sponsors sa pag-plug ng mababait na suppliers, hehe.

So I do believe that the beautiful wedding my brother at sister-in-law had was Christmas enough for me. Post-Christmas na yung Noche Buena that we had at Tita Lyn's house, complete with second and third helpings, capping it with Tequila Rose and Bailey's with cherries and gossip and laughs galore, hehehe.

How did your Christmas go? =)