Cheng-Rico NUPTIALS: The ultimate wedding for the ultimate love
The Couple
This year aptly opened with what can easily be the grandest and most beautiful wedding for the Ilonggo Filipino-Chinese community here.
Matched with a perfect starry night, cool January evening and just the happiest of faces from about 650 guests, the Cheng-Rico nuptials lived up to what it was – Iloilo's ultimate wedding.
A fitting celebration to about 8 years of friendship and love, James Mark "Jimboy" Sihiyon-Cheng and Merci Ann "AnnAnn" Paloma-Rico began that day their new life together as husband and wife.
The exchange of matrimonial vows took place in the historic St. Anne Parish in Molo, Iloilo City. The bride was most radiant in a beaded-gown specially created by Alex Soncio of Alta Moda, a longtime family friend and college classmate of the bride's mother, Geraldine Paloma Malabute. It was also to be Alta Moda's creations for the rest of the entourage with the bride's look completed, thanks to the services of Pepoy Tancinco of Stretch Center.
The Church
Internationally-acclaimed University of San Agustin's Troubadours was the church choir in a touching ceremony witnessed by hundreds of the couple's family and friends. Flowers by Lynnie Denila adorned every aisle and the reception and more beautiful flower arrangements for Ann Ann herself and members of her entourage.
Reception followed at the Lizares Mansion Grounds in Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City, a grand event on its own. The best of Ilonggo bands and performers provided non-stop entertainment but it was to be the evening's surprise guest from the bride's uncle, Jose Alfredo "Jing" Paloma and the bride's mother that summed up the surprises of all surprises.
For the couple's first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Cheng, no less than Mark Bautista, one of the country's great performers and hearththrobs went on stage. A total of seven songs were sang by Mark, all favorites of the newlyweds.
"Tonight is a special night and my daughter deserves a special guest," bride's mother Geraldine said.
In the course of Mark's serenade, fireworks lit the sky as the couple was joined by other couples in the centerstage.
Couple's Family
"I am so happy. We are so very happy," AnnAnn repeatedly said to her well-wishers. Jimboy for the rest of the evening never left his bride's side, visibly all smiles and all happy.
To say that the food was great is an understatement for each course was a real delight courtesy of Ding Montelibano. And drinks literally overflowed from Italian to American wines and so much more with the students of John B. Lacson doing the mixing.
The great part of the entire celebration was overseen by the highly-professional and dedicated men and women of Events and Wedding Ensemble led by Dennis Ochoa. From the start of the bride's preparations to the church ceremony to the light cocktails served prior to the reception proper and to the actual reception, it was no hitch for the couple.
The beautifully-made chocolate-fondant wedding cake was some 5 feet high flown in from Clay Cake of Manila. Numerous other mini-cakes were also placed in each table, yet another treat for the guests.
The Entourage
A video presentation with the couple was shown that spoke of their undying love for each other and the happiness of being one.
AnnAnn thanked his father Rey Rico for his unconditional love while speaking to her mother in the most loving of thoughts - "You are my inspiration Mama and I love you very much." Ann Ann likewise did not forget her only sister Rachel, the Maid of Honor, "for being my strength and giving me the reason not to give up."
A special moment as well thanking her new "Mama and Papa" in Jimboy's parents for accepting her into the Sihiyon-Cheng family.
Jimboy for his part thanked his entire family for all the love and support alongside his in-laws Rey and Geraldine for likewise accepting him as Ann Ann's better-half.
To love and to cherish. For better or worse. For richer or poorer. Till death do them part. Mr. and Mrs. James Mark "Jimboy" and Merci Ann "Ann Ann" Cheng.
Theirs was the ultimate wedding for their ultimate love.