Recent close encounters with (not the third kind but with) newly married couples reminded us of two things. One: adjusting to married life is often difficult and poses a very real threat to your sanity (can we get an “Amen”?). And two: it’s been months since we promised a follow-up to this article on the challenges newlyweds face. For both, we are truly sorry. But don’t stay mad at us for too long! We’ll try to make it up to you by sharing these tips for staying connected with your spouse as relayed to us by Singapore-based counselling psychologist Lissy Puno.

Adjustment Period for Newly Married Couples

When two individuals become one and start living together, they naturally evolve and have to undergo an adjustment phase. During this period, differences arise and lead to struggles and conflicts. We’re sure you’ve heard at least one married friend passive-aggressively remark how you don’t really know someone until you marry them. Well we’re pretty sure this is what they meant. When these differences aren’t discussed, Lissy says, dissatisfaction starts to incubate. Rather than staying connected, couples tend to fight about it, withdraw, or shut down completely. All these causing a disconnection. This may then lead them to pursue “exits” in the relationship that pose further challenges to staying connected.

“Exits” to a Marriage: The Normal and Catastrophic

When it comes to these so-called “exits” to a marriage, however, it’s important to note that there are normal ones and catastrophic ones. Normal exits can mean that individuals choose to avoid the issue with their spouse by redirecting their energies towards their children, or work, their barkada or family of origin, even hobbies. While these are all good, they become an excuse to not prioritize the marriage.

“I remember when we were still newly married and we’d have a fight, my wife would leave the house and retreat to her parents’ place (We chose to live in the same neighborhood where we both grew up).” – Law

However, there is a worse kind of exit to a marriage. Examples of these catastrophic exits are affairs, addictions, mental issues, and the like. We hope that Lissy’s advice below can help individuals in their efforts towards staying connected with their spouses so that you can avoid taking either of these two types of exits, but especially the catastrophic ones.

Of course, it’s perfectly normal to seek these exits every once in a while. After all, it’s pretty rare for marriages to be walks in the park. Don’t let your friend’s Instagram stories fool you—we’re pretty sure she and her husband fight about things like closing the toothpaste cap too. But when the fighting gets too much, one or both of you need to recognize the importance of staying connected even when sometimes all you wanna do is gag your partner. Oh, that never happened to you? Me neither. I don’t know what this writer is talking about. But Lissy does though.

Staying Connected: 5 Tips for Newly Married Couples

Having authored the book, “Affairs Don’t Just Happen” and creating the journal “Stay Connected”, Lissy has had her fair share of experience counselling couples as they work towards resolving their marriage issues and staying connected. In fact, her well-lauded couples weekend workshop, “Getting the Love You Want”, will finally have its first run in the Philippines this July 2018. She gives us a sneak peek into her psychology as she shares with us some tips for staying connected to one’s spouse. If you’re single, keep on reading because you can also use these strategies to repair your relationships with other people you love! (But we’ll be praying that you get to work on these with a spouse in the future too.)

1. Say “I love you” every day

Don’t wait until Valentine’s or anniversaries to express appreciation for your spouse. Rather, show care towards them daily. Pay attention to the little things that they appreciate. Yes, that means taking a second to screw on the freaking toothpaste cap.

2. Take some time out

It’s easy to let the busyness of making a living and, eventually, taking care of children, to overwhelm you. But staying connected is vital to keeping the spark in your marriage! Don’t let your marriage take the backseat. If you want to keep feeling that kilig over your spouse, you need to work at it.

You don’t have to spend so much money or take too much time. Get creative! Whether it’s a steamy shower together or just a quiet night out on the porch gazing at the stars and talking about your childhood, make sure you take time at least once a week for just the two of you.

3. Get deep

When you get older, physical attraction in a marriage can fade so staying connected by other means is crucial. We’re such suckers for good conversationalists. Communicating our deeper thoughts, feelings, dreams, and passions with our spouses is therefore a pretty good way to keep us falling in love over and over again with the same person.

4. Learn the art of war

It’s not true that healthy couples don’t fight. Of course they do! You’re putting two completely different people together under one roof. There’s bound to be some resistance. (We’ve all seen it on Survivor, Pinoy Big Brother, and America’ Next Top Model.)

As couples, you need to work on areas of conflict, dissatisfaction, and frustration together and with effective problem solving skills. But you need to learn to fight fair.

5. Be grateful

This is easier said than done, especially when your partner is a bit of a nag or turns out to have horrible hygiene. But regardless of their flaws (and yours), do your best to cherish the person you love and make them feel special.

These are just a few of Lissy’s advice for staying connected with your beloved. We hope you can keep these in mind during the course of your happy (though sometimes challenging) married life. Remember that a loving relationship is possible for everyone. Let your marriage be the dream that you always imagined it would be!

The post Staying Connected: 5 Tips for Newly Married Couples appeared first on The Top Knotters.

When Prince William got married to Kate Middleton in 2011, the internet went rabid with posters that said, “Keep Calm. Harry’s Still Single.” We were definitely not calm as we watched the live telecast of Harry and Meghan’s wedding last night. In fact, our collective hearts were completely aflutter at the sight of our beloved prince finally getting married—to a woman who dared to give love another try. Sigh. Happy ever afters do exist. Tiwala lang!

We especially admired how, at Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding, it was evident that the royal couple put careful thought into their planning process. It wasn’t just a glitzy affair but truly a #WeddingWithHeart that oozed love and affection. If you’re planning your own happy ever after (whether with a specific guy in mind or just preparing for the hopefully-not-so-distant future), take your cue from Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding! And no, it won’t cost you 32 million pounds. In fact, we promise that some ideas might actually save you a buck or two!

Harry and Meghan’s Wedding : 4 Hacks for A Royal Affair

1. Go minimalist.

We have to talk about that dress. With the royal family’s bank account at her disposal, Meghan could’ve chosen an opulent number. Instead, she went very elegant with her silk gown with three quarter length sleeves and a bateau neckline. Mind you, it was custom-made Givenchy and had a five-meter train, but it still looked simple.

And while the chapel was elaborately adorned with beautiful fresh flowers for Harry and Meghan’s wedding, the bride actually sported a very simple bouquet. Many of the flowers were picked from the royal gardens, which is in keeping with the “picked-off-the-road” trend in floral arrangements. Definitely a more affordable (not to mention more eco-friendly) option.

The couple went with a humbler, naked cake adorned with fresh flowers. If you’re really looking to save, you could probably get your aunt to copy this look for you. No promises about the taste though (unless your aunt is Heny Sison).

Also at the reception, it was reported that bowl food would be served from food trucks. While this is probably in addition to a sit-down, serviced meal, you can recreate a more relaxed reception environment (and hopefully save a buck) by serving similar dishes that your guests will be sure to enjoy. Because who wouldn’t prefer bacon and sausage sandwiches over cream of asparagus soup? Let’s be honest here.

2. Be charitable.

We’re sure that you’ve read that, instead of asking for gifts, the royal couple requested for guests to make a donation to their favorite charities. But Harry and Meghan’s wedding is hardly the first charitable wedding we’ve heard of. Similarly, Prince William and Kate did the same when they tied the knot. Some of you might be thinking that of course they could afford to do that—they’re princes! It’s not something normal people paying rent can do.

But giving back and paying forward when you say your “I do’s” doesn’t have to be such a huge sacrifice. Although we really admire this couple’s decision to donate their entire wedding fund to help Syrian refugees, there are many doable ways by which your own wedding (and marriage) can be a blessing to others.

Consider donating money for wedding favors to a charity instead. One wedding we recently attended had the couple—both nurses—distribute lottery tickets as wedding favors. They did this to support the PCSO, which in turn supports charity patients at local hospitals. Read this for more ideas on how to give back on your wedding day.

3. Phone a friend (or a hundred)!

Contrary to popular belief, the wedding entourage isn’t just there to add to the pomp of the celebration—or to help you pay for your wedding. More importantly, they are there to support the couple in this long, arduous, sometimes dangerous journey aka married life. Because we all know that it actually takes a village to make a marriage work (aside from the couple and God of course). At Harry and Meghan’s wedding, the service order (or missalette) had these words printed  in the Pastoral Introduction:

You are witnesses of the marriage, and express your support by your presence and your prayers. Your support does not end today: the couple will value continued encouragement in the days and years ahead of them.

At one point in the ceremony, the Archbishop also addressed those present if they would support and uphold the couple in their marriage in the present and in the years to come. What a beautiful reminder to all of us of the reason we go to weddings in the first place! (And all along we thought it was for the buffet LOL.)

4. Guests who matter

The previous thought will come in handy when you’re editing your guest list too. Unlike Prince William who invited 1,900 guests to his wedding, only 600 guests were in attendance at Harry and Meghan’s wedding. Being only sixth in line to the throne, Harry didn’t have to invite foreign leaders for formality’s sake. So if you’re still asking if you should invite that distant uncle who can’t even get your name right, Harry’s got your answer.

On the other hand, you can still include your dear departed loved ones in your big day. From the engagement ring to the flowers to having one of the readings done by her sister, Princess Diana’s presence was intentionally included by the couple in their celebration. Read this next for more ideas on how to add memorials to your wedding.

On a somewhat related note, if you’re also having trouble choosing your entourage, you can take a cue from Meghan and do away with it altogether! Meghan reportedly didn’t want to have to choose among her adult friends, so she instead went with adorable bridesmaids and page boys. This is a pretty diplomatic way to go about it. Bonus points because your friends won’t have to pay for bridesmaid gowns which (let’s be honest) they won’t wear again.

5. Get Lit!

No, not that kind of lit.

While planning a gorgeous wedding can sometimes be all-consuming, this is our ultimate advice for a true #WeddingWithHeart. Prioritize the ceremony first. And we don’t just mean make the church beautiful and get an amazing choir. Rather, prioritize the liturgy.

One of the noticeable things about Harry and Meghan’s wedding was the fact that their service was so carefully considered. The reading from the Song of Solomon resounds in our heart particularly as we think of #TheRightTime.

My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land.

It was also evident in the way they combined their respective religious traditions, the choice of readings—even the vows. We were bawling by the time Harry placed the ring on Meghan’s finger:

“With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

Each word, chosen and uttered intentionally has so much meaning, especially on this day when man and woman come before God and their family and friends. So choose yours wisely!

There you have it: our four absolutely doable hacks to recreating your own royal affair in the vein of Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding! More than their clever #TipidTips, we hope that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex inspired you to keep believing in the power of love and the possibility of second chances. Now excuse the us as we sign up for yet another speed dating event.

The post Harry and Meghan’s Wedding: 5 Hacks for A Royal Affair appeared first on The Top Knotters.

Most just married or soon-to-wed couples are level-headed enough to know that married life is nothing at all like Cloud Nine (operative word: most). But the reality is, you’re never truly prepared for that first fight, first scream fest, or first walk out. So while we might not be there to literally hold your hand through the difficult first year of marriage (we have our own lives you know), we’ve taken it upon ourselves to do as much as we can to help.

Just Married: When the Honeymoon Ends

Marriage is a walk in the park. That is if the park were the Grand Canyon, and you’re forced to carry a 60L backpack while walking barefoot through the whole thing. In short, it’s friggin’ hard!!! And the first year is the hardest. Fights can start even before the honeymoon ends—and over the smallest things too!

“We had our first fight over salted egg. My husband was used to it being sliced, but where I came from, we peeled ours.” – Babes

“I was leaving for a work trip. My wife had taken a dump but the flush wasn’t working. Because I was feeling so much pressure at work, I ended up shouting at her over it. There was a lot of crying. I ended up missing my flight and rebooking for the next day. We laugh so much about it whenever we remember that fight.” – AE

While there are other more understandable reasons for fighting too.

“During our honeymoon, whenever we were going to sleep, my husband would turn his back toward me. I got angry and asked him if he didn’t want to sleep next to me. But he had just been used to sleeping on his side his whole life.” – Tin

“He forgot to pay his credit card bill. I’m very OC with managing finances. I couldn’t believe he could forget such an important personal task.” – Kitin

Whether it be petty or not, the truth of the matter is this: just married couples will fight. Over and over again. We asked Lissy about her thoughts on the challenges that newlyweds (and even older couples) face.

Just Married: 4 Challenges Newlyweds Face

Lissy explains that, because life spans have extended, there is also a greater challenge for couples to stay attracted to each other for longer. But with many distractions as well as an individualistic world view, couples often end up feeling disillusioned and even bored with the relationship.

“Much more work is needed to maintain the love, care, and intimacy [in a marriage]. After the wedding, the marriage begins and a lot of couples ask, ‘What now?’ They may need to deepen healthy and mature relational skills to keep their marriage safe and strong.”

1. Technology and Social Media

It’s funny how technology has made it easier for us to communicate with each other. (Holler to all the LDR couples out there!) But having so many gadgets and social media accounts can also be a hindrance to the relationship.

[clickToTweet tweet=”“Technology and social media often block deeper communication by giving couples a false sense of time spent together.” ” quote=”“Technology and social media often block deeper communication by giving couples a false sense of time spent together.” “]

2. Werk, werk, werk

Life is so dynamic, what with flourishing careers and businesses as well as the demands of home making and child-rearing. But busyness also often becomes a distraction and an excuse from focusing on the relationship.

[clickToTweet tweet=”‘Busy disconnects us from those that we love. When you’re rushing from here to there, there’s no time for our partners, children, family or friends. Busy becomes an excuse to not spend time with people we love.’ ” quote=”‘Busy disconnects us from those that we love. When you’re rushing from here to there, there’s no time for our partners, children, family or friends. Busy becomes an excuse to not spend time with people we love.’ “]

3. A Too Demanding Social Life

Especially in the Philippines where we have a strong family culture, your separate social lives can be very demanding. Chances are that they were already like that prior to marriage too.  Aside from your families of origin, there are also your friends and a work culture that extends beyond office hours. While maintaining all these relationships is important, it can sometimes result in taking away the couple’s focus on each other.

4. Me Before You

In a marriage, you have two individuals coming together as one amid their differences. Or at least, that’s how it should work ideally. But most couples are stumped as to how they can form a strong sense of “WE” in the relationship. And that’s understandable because neither of you have done this before! But there’s a need to know how to communicate more healthily, especially when your many differences start emerging.

Whether you’re just married, soon-to-wed, or have been married for N years, you might encounter one or all of the challenges Lissy shared above in the span of your couple life. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. What matters most is recognizing that there are doable ways to get your #MarriageGoals.

Stay tuned for Lissy’s tips on how just married couples can face these common challenges by recovering their connection with each other!

Lissy Puno is a Singapore-based counselling psychologist and author of the book, “Affairs Don’t Just Happen”, as well as creator of the journal “Stay Connected”. She works with couples in her practice and also offers couples weekend workshops called, “Getting the Love You Want” which will finally have its first run in the Philippines in July 2018.

The post Just Married, Now What? 4 Challenges Newlyweds Face appeared first on The Top Knotters.

There’s a certain excitement when you start dating someone. It gives you a rush as you tread on the unknown in hopes of discovering a priceless treasure. But we think the true test of a relationship comes once your adrenaline levels return to normal. What’s left after the high “kilig” getting-to-know moments? We can only hope that you have what Chip and Angeli have: an honest love.

Honest Love

When Chip and Angeli went to the prom together, they felt absolutely no spark between them. It was just the usual affair wherein your friend/cousin/parent finds a date for you so you can pretend to star in your very own prom movie. (Regardless if it’s “Jawbreaker”, “10 Things I Hate About You”, or “Carrie”.)

Eight years later though, when the two were merely Facebook friends, Angeli posts a random thought on her timeline. We assume she might have been ranting, which would’ve been completely forgivable for someone in her last year of medical school. Whatever it was, Chip saw it and for some reason decided to check Angeli’s relationship status. Seeing that she was single, he dropped her a line.

Soon enough, their conversations grew more interesting and came very frequently. And after three weeks of intense conversation on Facebook messenger, they finally went out to dinner and saw the movie, “Up”.

After four months of exclusively dating, they officially became a couple on Christmas Day in 2009. Chip referenced the movie “Love Actually.” Below is his super smooth line which you can copy for that moment when you want an answer to the question, “Are we or aren’t we?”

“You know, it’s Christmas. And on Christmas, you tell the truth. I’d like to know if you consider us a couple.”

Angeli responded with an “I’d like to think so” and the rest, as they say, is history. This was the moment that marked the beginning of a simply honest love. Theirs was a relationship that had its thrills. But more than that, they just shared a simple and easy kind of love that always looked forward to the future. And that was what made it last for more than seven years.

The Proposal

Chip finally decided to seal their honest love and propose when their families incidentally booked the same dates to travel to Japan. He asked for her hand in marriage from her parents two weeks prior to the trip (an experience he admits was nerve-wracking).

Chip had initially planned on proposing while they explored an iconic landmark in Tokyo but his nerves got the better of him. He ended up popping the question at a bus stop near Angeli’s hotel, before midnight and before the last train ride back to his place.

Because Chip was going on and on in a litany of “relationship realizations”, Angeli actually thought the was breaking up with her! Instead, he put a ring on it. (Avoid these 6 Marriage Proposal Don’ts!)

Angeli ended up answering with three questions of her own: “Singsing ba iyan? Tinanong mo na parents ko? Are you ready to take care of me?”  Because of this, Chip had to keep asking Angeli to marry him before she finally, finally gave her yes. 

On Choosing Hello & Co. Cinema

Chip and Angeli felt it was critical for them to choose the right videographer because they wanted something new and nothing cliche. They also had three main considerations: affordability, creativity, and rapport. Chip and Angeli narrowed down their choices to three videographers whom they met with personally just to get the right vibes. The couple also wanted to know if they could deliver their “How I Met Your Mother” theme for the prenup video.

The Top Knotters Moment

The couple shared how their first meeting with Phoebe from Hello & Co. Cinema was already a Top Knotters moment for them.

“She got us, she knew what we wanted, and we just loved her energy. We had no doubts when we shot for our prenup.  [The final prenup video] was superb. The SDE was also nothing short of amazing. Come to think of it, every step of the way was a Top Knotters moment.”

Chip and Angeli felt at ease while filming on the big day, so their honest love really showed through in the footage. They described the experience as “just like magic”.

“We loved how the SDE captured the delight of our guests. We knew we were the “bida”, but the occasion was a celebration of families and friends, and that was perfectly reflected in the video. It had just the right mix of excitement, drama and happiness.”

While a wedding definitely counts as one of those high “kilig” moments in a relationship, reliving it in the years after seems like a good way to sustain the excitement in an honest love. Make sure to save your own SDE in every device and press play for emergencies. You’ll thank us later.

Supplier Spotlight: Church: Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Muntinlupa | Reception Venue: Hampton Court, Hillsborough, Alabang | Preparations: Somerset Alabang Manila,  | Photo: Oak St. Studios | Video: Hello & Co. Cinema | Bridal Gown: Hannah Kong Designs | Entourage Dresses: Mara Chua | Groom’s Suit: Arvox Tailoring | HMUA: Jasmine Mendiola | Food: Conti’s Bakeshop & Restaurant | Catering: Silver Table Catering Event Services | Wedding Cake: CwazyBakes | Stage/Styling: Ovents by Osio’s Catering | Drapes & fairy lights: Amaranthus Florist & Event Stylist
Florist: Red-Beri Flowers | Band: El Acustico | Emcee: Moxx de Vera | Photobooth: Pose and Prints  | Lights & sounds: RGB Lights and Sounds | Wedding Coordinator: The Party Staple | Leather Keychain souvenirs: Shibui Leather | Souvenirs for Principal Sponsors: Carafe and glass set from SM & glass etching by Keepitsimple_ph | Souvenirs for Female Entourage: Lulu swing

Do you have your own honest love moment? Share with us in the comments section below!

The post Honest Love: Chip and Angeli (SDE by Hello & Co. Cinema) appeared first on The Top Knotters.

Will it be a happily ever after for these two lovebirds? Read on to find out what we think, and let us know if you see the same things happening too.

1. They will laugh ’til death do them part

A post shared by Pat + IG patdytravelsandeats (@patdy11) on Nov 14, 2017 at 4:55am PST

Even though Anne and Erwan’s wedding preview was excruciatingly short, we’re pretty confident in making this prediction. Anne hopping up and down on her bed during preps, or the couple teasing each other during the ceremony conjures up images of them contentedly laughing on the most ordinary days. Props to Anne for that operatic “I do”! A note for those who don’t have Anne’s curves or full lips: the funny girl gets the guy after all!

2. It’s a draw!

A post shared by Jim & Vicky Pollard (@jimpollardgoesclick) on Nov 14, 2017 at 9:15am PST

They say that, sometimes in marriage, there’s one person who loves more than the other. So the other person maybe gets off the hook a bit easier when it comes to doing the chores, etc. But we can see in Anne and Erwan’s wedding preview that the couple are evenly matched—even their presider makes sure of that. So what do we expect from this partnership? Well we can’t say for sure, but we bet Erwan will do his fair share of the house chores. He’s a damn good chef, after all. Now that’s our kind of guy!

3. Feeling like I hit the jackpot

A post shared by Pat + IG patdytravelsandeats (@patdy11) on Nov 11, 2017 at 6:22pm PST

Here’s the thing. While we don’t know them personally, it seems like Anne and Erwan are both incredibly kind, funny, real people. With their own flaws for sure (not that we see any but they’re supposedly human right?). But what truly touched us when we saw Anne and Erwan’s wedding preview was this: the feeling that they’re both the luckiest people in the world. 

Not all of us will end up marrying a famous actress or a hunky celebrity chef. But we sincerely hope that each one of us can find (or already has) the kind of love you feel you don’t deserve—but can’t help but accept and feel grateful for anyway. 

“such great heights” ? @jimpollardgoesclick

A post shared by Erwan Heussaff (@erwan) on Nov 13, 2017 at 10:40pm PST

So there you go, just some of our happy predictions for this addictive couple, based on Anne and Erwan’s wedding preview. We can’t wait for the complete wedding highlights video! (But you can check out other It girls Solenn’s or Belle’s since we have no choice but to wait.) Don’t forget to let us know in the comments section what other happy predictions you have for them!

Supplier Spotlight: Videographer: Jason Magbanua | Photographer: Pat Dy | HMUA: Robbie Pinera & Raymond Santiago | Gown: Monique Lhuillier 

The post Anne and Erwan’s Wedding Preview: 3 Predictions for Their Marriage appeared first on The Top Knotters.

For many of us, the road to forever is long and arduous, taking many unexpected twists and turns. We’re not just talking about all the bad dates you have to plow through (and pay for) to find Mr. or Ms. Right. Face it: once you’ve put a ring on that finger, expenses keep multiplying in the pursuit of  a dream wedding. But not everyone can afford to pay hundreds of thousands for one day—even a very important one. This reality was the seed of today’s feature: a Pampanga mass wedding organized by Events and Concepts by Voltaire Zalamea.

While we’re also part of a multi-billion peso industry, our priority at The Top Knotters is to celebrate #WeddingsWithHeart. Hence, we love featuring heartfelt occasions regardless of how many zeroes there are in the budget. This story, in particular, is something we feel really privileged to share with you today. Keep on reading to find out how dozens of wedding suppliers, all Top Knotters, joined forces (for free!) to give sixteen couples the Pampanga mass wedding they had never even dreamt of.

https://vimeo.com/237939520

The Force Behind This Pampanga Mass Wedding

Voltaire wanted to organize a mass wedding as part of his company’s CSR. They had done one the year before and had decided to do it annually during October.

This year, he had learned from a friend that the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) at the Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City, Pampanga was also planning to conduct a free mass wedding—but had no idea where to start. Like a superhero, he swooped in to meet with the council, and that was how it all began.

For the Pampanga Mass wedding, the PPC then screened eligible couples. They chose indigent members of the parish who either have been living together for more than five years, or would simply want to get married but do not have the resources.

Volatire and his company took care of making the actual event possible. However, he knew that it would take a squad of Top Knotters to make this Pampanga mass wedding magical.

“I asked the help of the suppliers if they wanted to participate.  They all gave their YES.” 

Everyone was willing to share and give back, no hesitations.

A Reason to Celebrate

One of the suppliers tapped was Chug Cadiogan, who made the SDE. We can just imagine how daunting it was to shoot not one but sixteen couples! But he pulled it off and, we can see for ourselves how even mass weddings can be stylish and intimate affairs.

We especially love what the celebrant at this Pampanga mass wedding had to say to the couples during his homily:

“…kapag may kinakasal sa simbahan, ang ipinagdiriwang natin ay isang tunay na pagmamahal na walang hangganan…”

“Hindi lang kayo ang may gusto nito…ang inyong pagmamahalan ay gusto din ng Diyos.”

Unforgettable Moments

We all know that, for the bride and groom, the events at their wedding are truly memorable. But it melted our hearts to know that even suppliers cherish these moments too. Voltaire shared with us how, when he handed a wedding dress to one of the brides, she started crying in front of him.

“Hindi ko po inakala na makakapagsuot ako ng ganitong damit at maaayusan ako.  Para akong artista.”    

Seeing the pure joy on the faces of the couples—and even the wedding suppliers who gave their services for free—was truly remarkable. Not a single centavo was spent by these couples at all.  Furthermore, all of the suppliers who were part of the Pampanga mass wedding said they were excited to be part of a similar event again. Now if that isn’t a #WeddingWithHeart, then we don’t know what is.

Pampanga Mass Wedding: The Superhero Wedding Suppliers

The next time you see the names below, show them some love and thank them for contributing to this beautiful wedding with heart!

Hair and Makeup Artists: Anna Tiglao , Dey Caisip , Joyce Tanedo , Mariah Santos  , Micah Wyse , Poklong Guina , Richard Strandz , Shayne Galang-Punsalan , Thea Santiago-Velez | Florists and Event Venue Stylists: Boiet Reymundo of Bridal Blooms (ceremony set-up) , Allen Uy and JP De Jesus of Blooms 2710  (reception set-up) | Bouquets by: Pancho Pantig of Plumeria, Lorenzo Gonzales of XOC Event Styling, Jannette Garbes of The Flower Garden, Bernard Dalusung of Country Blossoms | Photographers and Videographers: Smartworks Creatives, MS Creative Art Studio, Kquentors Multimedia, Studio Portraits, John Nicolay Photography, Paolo Feliciano Photography, Gleeful Moments Photography, Edwin Pangilinan Photography, Chug Cadiogan Cinema, Creator Studio | Designers and Stylists: Mich Viray of Casa Moda, Rich Sabinian, Frederick Policarpio, Glen Canlas, Jojo Macapinlac, Marlon Tuazon, Rop Syquia, Manelle Chamian, Jemi Nicdao | Caterers: Grand Palazzo Royale, Century Hotel, Teaspoon Café, Howard Dizon Catering, Remy Santos Catering Services, 25 Seeds and Café Fleur, Enzo Mobile Bar | Cake Artists: The Caking Giant, Sweet Maven, For Heaven’s Cake by A, Breads O’Cakes, Lailen’s Pastries, Guilty Pleasures by Finn, DDL Homemade Cakes | Musicians and Entertainers: Divine Majesty Male Choir, The Quintah Band | Lights and Sound System: Showbox Lights and Sounds, Cuatros Lights and Sounds | Events Management: Events and Concepts by Voltaire Zalamea | Prep venue at the Holy Rosary Parish Hall | Ceremony at Holy Rosary Parish | Reception at the Holy Family Academy Covered Court

Pampanga Mass Wedding, October 12, 2017: A project of the Holy Rosary Parish Pastoral Council and Events and Concepts by Voltaire Zalamea

The post Pampanga Mass Wedding: A Stylish, No-Cost Affair appeared first on The Top Knotters.

Clark and Millie first met in 2003. He was eighteen, and she, twenty-three. Over the course of the next year, they had a child and got married in civil rites but, before long, Clark had to leave for the US, only getting to visit his family every two years. Clark had long promised to Millie that they would get married in front of the altar. On July 12, 2017, he made sure that he would keep his word—even if it would be the last thing he did.

When we hear such moving and bittersweet stories such as these, we might wonder why some sorrow always accompanies love.

“Love, to be real, it must cost—it must hurt—it must empty us of self.” (Teresa of Calcutta)

This self-giving quality is something we admire in great love stories—whether fictional or true to life. And that of Clark and Millie is no exception. Below are some life lessons we learned from the star-crossed lovers.

3 Life and Love Lessons from Clark and Millie

1. Selfless = Brave

“God has a purpose for this…I learned about unconditional love. He showed me until the end what sacrifice and love really means.” —Millie

In today’s “me” culture, the most courageous and almost unthinkable acts are those we do, not for ourselves, but for others. You don’t have to join the army and give your life to keep the peace in Marawi (but we do salute our many soldiers who have). Rather, making sacrifices for the people nearest you can be just as brave.

What we especially love about the story of Clark and Millie was how Millie remained patient and caring towards Clark til the very end. It’s no joke to care for the sick (we salute our doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals too), but she did it with utmost grace—even though their wedding was her day too. While most of us tend to turn into bridezillas, Millie was the exact opposite. She was even willing to give up her dream of walking down the aisle, seeing how exhausting it would be for Clark. But Clark, bless him, bravely endured all that discomfort because he knew how much it meant to Millie. They were both thinking of the good of the other. If that isn’t love, then we don’t know what is.

(Be like Millie and avoid becoming a bridezilla by reading this.)

2. Love yourself too

“Had I taken good care of my body, we could have been together longer.” —Clark

While giving your all to care for the people you love is admirable, we cannot undermine the importance of loving yourself too. Be happy with your life! Pursue your dreams, eat healthy, get enough rest, find inner peace. While some of us might feel guilty at the thought of loving ourselves, doing so in the right dosage actually helps us love others better too. But don’t just take our word for it—even Justin Bieber said so.

3. Sometimes, “the right time” is now

The circumstances surrounding the love story of Clark and Millie are unique and beautiful in their own way—but there’s no need to copy it. We can’t help but think of many “what ifs” when it comes to theirs, the way we do when we see a good romcom and want the story to keep unfolding.

While whirlwind romances or engagements are not exactly for everyone, we want to give a shout out to couples or even single men and women who are still waiting for that mythical “right time”. Don’t wait for angels to come from heaven to tell you to propose to your girlfriend or start courting a woman you want to love and care for! If you’ve given it enough consideration and prayer, if you have nothing but the best of intentions for the other, then what are you waiting for?

(Hear Johnoy Danao’s “Right Time”, written especially for Nikki Gil’s wedding SDE.)

These are just some of the lessons we picked up from the moving love story and wedding SDE of Clark and Millie. We hope their example of unconditional love inspires you to take responsibility for yours too! Share with us your own insights in the comments section below.

Reference: 

Agoncillo, Jodee A. “Till death do us part: Groom couldn’t make it to reception.” Philippine Daily Inquirer, 30 Jul. 2017. Web. 2 Aug. 2017.

Supplier Spotlight: Photo/Video: Mark Vitasa Photography | HMUA: Karla Aporo Calica

The post Clark and Millie: 3 Life Lessons You Need to Learn Now appeared first on The Top Knotters.

No matter how much you’ve looked forward to your special day, there will come a point during your planning stage when the music fades and you feel like giving up. Our guess? That point came while agonizing over either your guest list or your suppliers. So we’ve taken upon ourselves to compile our very own bridal fair cheat sheet, and hope it saves you some money on painkillers. As for your guest list, well, that’s another story.

Bridal Fair Cheat Sheet

1. Do your home work (At home, where else?)

While you should keep your mind open to new ideas at the fairs, it can be a bit overwhelming and confusing if you don’t have an idea of what you want. Our readers recommend doing most of your research and deciding on your budget, theme, favored suppliers, etc. beforehand. So even though we promised you a bridal fair cheat sheet, there’s no getting around the homework. Sorry! (But it’s for your own good, we promise.)

“Get referrals from the married folks.” – Yve, married

“Drop by at the fairs when you’ve narrowed down your choices through referrals from married friends. Book them there for the discounted prices. Also for the free makeup trials on your top 3 hair and makeup artists.” – May, married

“If you pick the wedding coordinator first, they can recommend the suppliers they know and trust. Also, organize your brochures from the fair at home and see which you’ll consider. Visit, contact, or check them out at the next fair before you make a decision.” – PM

2. Feed the fiance (and bring reinforcements)

“Kain muna before anything else. Mahirap mag-isip or mag-decide kung gutom.” – Bodit, married

“Prepare the husband! During our first bridal fair, we hadn’t even gotten through one aisle when my fiance wanted to leave already. He got overwhelmed. So bring girlfriends along as well.” – Clarissa, married

You might not have said your vows yet, but planning the wedding does foreshadow having to love each other “for better and for worse”. Our next tip in this bridal fair cheat sheet? Give your fiance a leg up by making sure he is well-prepared prior to the fair, both physically and mentally. And if that doesn’t work, send for back-up. (Don’t forget to treat yourself too! You’ll burn off those calories quick enough.)

3. Have a battle plan

Different people have different goals when it comes to bridal fairs. Is it to get ideas or to canvas for suppliers? Is it to claim discounts on your chosen suppliers and do the make-up trials and food tasting? Whatever it is, make sure you know yours—and stick to it! Also, once at the actual fair, make sure you ask the important questions to maximize your face time with the suppliers.

Come prepared! Set goals and do your research prior to going. If you intend to look for specific suppliers, keep your eyes on that.” – Elda Almario

“Don’t go there without having a firm grasp of the basic concept of your wedding. It’ll help you choose which booths to spend more time on. Plus, don’t hesitate to ask! You’ll get a better feel of whom you can work with if you talk to people.” – Dessie, married

“Have a list of questions to ask prior to booking. Also, check their cancellation clause. Most of the time, the cancellation clause is one sided: a [verbal] promise not to cancel is not enough.” – Summer, bridal fair organizer

4. Learn to say “no” (or “not yet”)

There are many great bridal fairs throughout the year, so our readers recommend going to more than just one. Don’t feel pressured to book everything on your first! Take time to think things through before you do sign off on something so that you only end up with deals and suppliers you absolutely love.

“Check all options and discuss the different offers before settling with a supplier. Don’t be swayed to pay [if you’re not yet sure] during the fair since some offers still stand until months after.” – Diana Hicarte, soon-to-wed

“Don’t bring money or your credit card if you don’t have a target supplier yet.” – Analyn Bejasa

“Because my fiance is an OFW, I attended bridal fairs alone. Once, I booked a very cheap package for entourage flowers but when I sent the pictures to him, he didn’t approve of it. I ended up having to upgrade, which costs more. That was when I learned my lesson to always consult him and to not decide right away.” – Kristel Dianne Ramos

5. Love your decisions

Booking suppliers is good practice for getting married. Once you’ve signed those contracts, you have to see them through. So we hope you’ve really prayed and thought hard about them (with the help of our bridal fair cheat sheet, of course) because you’re tied to your dream team ’til death do you part!

“After booking them, don’t look for other suppliers any more. Focus on them and follow their work so that you’ll be more in love with what they do.” – Joanne de Leon-Agregado

“Research and compare first [when choosing suppliers]. Never stop asking questions and set your budget limit. Once you decide, stop comparing and move on to the next assignment.” – Jami Malonzo

6. Beyond the fair

“For my major suppliers (food, photo, video), I didn’t book them through the fairs. Instead we really reached out to them beforehand because we were sure they were who we wanted.” – Evan Mae Cavizo-Mamon, married

Of course, not all suppliers have to or can be found at fairs, which is why our bridal fair cheat sheet goes beyond that too. So many overseas brides can go with planning their wedding without attending a fair once. Use your typing and Googling skills to your advantage by researching online, getting referrals from other couples and checking supplier’s client reviews, and initiating conversations with your dream suppliers for good deals. Shameless plug: Check out the Top Knotters marketplace for suppliers with great reviews!

As you plan for your wedding, make sure you give enough time for your marriage too. The wedding will last for a day, but your marriage is for eternity. Most people look at the Pre-Cana as an unnecessary requirement but it can be enriching to your marriage if you choose the right one.

“The most important thing you can do is research and get a good premarital counseling class. Your wedding will not be perfect! If the chiavari chairs you rented didn’t have ivory ribbons tied to it, who cares?! None of the guests will notice. What’s more important is your marriage.” – Sheina, soon-to-wed

There you have it: the best tips from our readers, both newlyweds and soon-to-weds, for a fool-proof bridal fair cheat sheet. Memorize it by heart or print it out and tape it under your shoe (Have you ever done that trick before? We haven’t either.) so you don’t forget. We hope it helps!

Got any more tips to add to out bridal fair cheat sheet? Share your advice in the comments section below!

The post Bridal Fair Cheat Sheet: 6 Steps to Conquering Your Next Fair appeared first on The Top Knotters.

The perfect wedding dress sometimes seems more like a mythical creature when you’ve tried on twenty, thirty RTW gowns and find you still cannot make up your mind between that princess ball gown or the sexy lace mermaid dress. Some brides have worn two dresses on their big day—probably because they couldn’t decide on just one. But for those of us who can’t afford that kind of luxury (because we need to be practical adults every once in a while), choosing a bridal gown that will flatter our God-given features seems almost impossible.

While there is no one formula for a gown that will magically transform you into Pia Wurtzbach, we’re sure every bride—with a bit of guidance and a whole lotta faith and patience—can find success in choosing a bridal gown that will suit her personality, motif, body type, and budget. It has been done before, believe us! So we invited four of wedding industry insiders to give us the low down on some basic bridal silhouettes and their personal opinions as to which styles suit which body type.

Know Your Gown Silhouettes When Choosing a Bridal Gown

1. Empire

Cut right below the chest and gently flaring out, this style is ideal for creating an illusion of longer legs and hiding the stomach and hips.

2. Sheath

Also known as the column, this shape flows almost straight from the neckline down, with some tapering at the waist. It’s a style that’s ideal for brides with a well-proportioned figure.

3. A-line

This classic style has a fitted waist and flares out to an A-shaped skirt that flatters most body types as it falls on but doesn’t hug the hips.

4. Ball gown

Cut on or below the waist and flaring out into a big skirt, it’s a popular style among brides choosing a bridal gown because of its grandness which gives off that princess-y feeling.

5. Trumpet

The trumpet is a style that has a fitted bodice down until the mid hip section, gently flaring out into a skirt.  Choosing a bridal gown in this style will give the illusion of a long torso and long legs.

6. Mermaid

This style hugs the body from neckline, down until the knees, where it begins to flare out.

Try It Out First (Before Choosing a Bridal Gown)

Know the silhouette you want but think it’s not right for your body type? Don’t be limited by the tips above. The pirate code isn’t a solid rule book but more like guidelines.  And the same is true when choosing a bridal gown too! Our advice? Just be you!

In the end, you can’t go wrong with what feels good. Our number one tip for choosing a bridal gown is to just listen to your heart. Even if you don’t end up having supermodel legs, as long as you feel beautiful, you would’ve chosen right. The best of luck to you (and your bridesmaids accompanying you on your fittings)! Cheers!

Supplier Spotlight: Couturiers: Patty Valle | Clayton Vidal of Cecilio Abad Design Team | Nikolai Hernandez | Christine Lam

The post Choosing A Bridal Gown For Your Body Type appeared first on The Top Knotters.

On The Top Knotters, we feature weddings and engagements—so-called success stories in the department of love. But anyone who has ever attempted to get into a relationship or even just had a crush has most likely also felt the soul-crushing effects of heartbreak at least once in their life. It’s all sorts of salt-in-your-wounds, I-can’t-stop-bingeing-on-ice-cream, my-life-has-lost-all-meaning painful! And when it reaches such a low, we start doubting if we will ever find love again or if, indeed, love exists for such imperfect human beings such as ourselves.  Enter, Solenn and Nico.

We’ve all seen them pull pranks on, poke fun at, and profess undying love for each other on their Instagrams. So how can we not believe in divine providence when we consider the truth that, ten years ago, Solenn and Nico didn’t even know each other? And now look at them: they’re inseparable!  It must be true love.  So we’ve taken it upon ourselves to dissect their wedding film (which was as spectacular as can be expected from Jason Magbanua) to discover the secret to recognizing true love when it comes for us, bow and arrow and all.

Solenn and Nico Show Us 5 Ways to Recognize Your True Love

1. Your true love is your mirror.

“Have you ever sat down within a dinner just the both of them? They have their own language and humor. And it’s basically like Solenn is talking to herself but in male version.”

They say that opposites attract but most couples will attest to the fact that a relationship is more peaceful when you and your spouse share similar qualities, especially values. According to the maid of honor, Solenn and Nico are no different! From their love for a healthy lifestyle to their passion for helping the marginalized to their prioritization of family.  While you will most likely still find a thousand differences with your true love over the course of time, it’s important that you see eye-to-eye on the big things like faith, family, and even money.

2. Your true love doesn’t “need” you to fix him.

“I’ve always thought that it was in my destiny to end up with someone that needed fixing when, in fact, I was the one that needed it.”

While “charity” does translate to “love”, your romantic relationship is not an NGO!  If the person you’re considering now has some very serious and deep, unresolved issues, chances are, they’re not ready for you at the moment. It’s not your job to fix anyone. And if they love you, they won’t get into a relationship with you while they’re still in self-destruct mode. Good on you for trading up, Solenn!

3. Your true love reminds you of your worth.

“…You know how they all say that you can only be happy if you love yourself first. And it was thanks to you that I got to know that person, and that I realized that I also deserve good things.”

How many of us have often been tempted settle for a lukewarm imitation of “love”? How often have we entered a relationship that’s just okay (or even downright stressful) because we thought it was better than being single? Don’t be ashamed, it happens to all of us—even Solenn!  But true love not only wants the best for us but also reminds us that we are worthy of the best. Now, “best” might not necessarily equate to best looks or best bank accounts (although we’re pretty sure Nico has both), but you get our drift right? So don’t settle! Just. Don’t.

4. Your true love acts like it all the time. (And makes you wanna do the same.)

“Bebe, I won’t tell you anything new I haven’t told you in the past five years. But there’s one main  lessoned I learned from you and it’s that love—it is not platonic, it is not romantic. It’s something that you work for everyday. That’s why I promise not just to love you forever, but also to love you everyday.”

“I cannot promise you that I won’t hate you at times. But I know I will love you harder even when it hurts.”

Who wouldn’t turn to mush watching Solenn and Nico exchange such emotional and heartfelt vows?  Their promises remind us that love is not love if it is not acted upon. Your true love realizes this. And you do too. When you love someone and they, you, there is a constant giving, constant self-sacrificing. Not because you want to get something in return, but simply because you have committed yourself to loving the other and doing what’s good for them.

5. Your true love will prove to you that life makes sense.

“I promise to be there for you when you need me, but also to be there for you when you don’t need me. I promise to support you in every single path you want to follow, no matter what or how crazy it is. I promise to make the bed and help you with the house duties. And lastly, I promise that forever will make sense.”

So many of the couples we’ve talked to always display that sense of awe that they’ve finally married the love of their lives. Some of them never expected to end up with the other, while some thought the day for them to get married would never come. I guess it’s just one of those things that doesn’t make sense—until it finally does. So if you’re still on the road to your forever, don’t give up on hope just because you’ve taken a lot of detours.  Baka traffic lang sa Edsa! Hold on to the fact that, as it was with Solenn and Nico, forever will make sense for you too.

There you have it: five ways to recognize true love, courtesy of Solenn and Nico. Now this is by no means an exhaustive list. But we hope that it helps narrow things down for you a little bit! So stop picking off flower petals, asking yourself if he loves you or if he doesn’t!  Instead, arm yourself with this knowledge, guidance from trusted friends, and tons of prayers that you’re doing the right thing—and just take that leap of faith! Let us know how it goes. (Want more love lessons? Here are 7 Ways to Keep the Flame Burning courtesy of Juday and Ryan Agoncillo.) 

Which of these five signs do you think is the most important in recognizing your true love? Tell us in the comments section below!

The post Solenn and Nico Show Us 5 Ways to Recognize True Love appeared first on The Top Knotters.