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.

This is the strangely wonderful thing about life. No matter how much we try to plan our lives, we can only have so much control of the future. But the universe has its way of conspiring to take us where we’re meant to be–and with whom we’re meant to be.

Meet Marius and Leslie, whose story started in the confines of the workplace. Leslie probably never thought that the UI designer she was interviewing for the company she worked for would one day become her husband.

Everything makes sense

Marius likes to recall little details about that first day when he met Leslie, remembering how it all began. They started dating a year after and complemented their romantic relationship with a fruitful working one that saw them through two companies and countless freelance projects.

Beyond their harmonious working relationship, the couple still show signs of being truly meant to be. They both love music, food, travelling, and even sharing business ideas. With so many similarities and such an effective partnership, it just makes sense for them (and for us too!) to spend their life together as a married couple.

The vision for their SDE

The couple wanted to avoid the usual formula of a wedding video and wanted to make it look really natural.

“We wanted our video to be more about candid moments, capturing the genuine emotions, with some artistic shots. We wanted to make it authentic and meaningful.”

“It was important to get a videographer that really understood where we were coming from; who is also excited  to share in and execute our vision. When we first met Taavi Films at a bridal fair, there was an instant connection. We just felt that they got and understood us.”

Their Top Knotter Moment

Shooting throughout the day was fun, easy, and fast for the couple and their team. Because they had decided to skip most of the staged poses we see in wedding videos, they couple actually had extra time to mingle with their guests! They were actually 30 minutes ahead of schedule (an occurrence as rare as the super blue blood moon).

Marius and Leslie’s vision for their SDE paid off. All the scenes felt genuine, while the couple looked comfortable and sincerely happy.  They share their Top Knotter moments from Taavi Films below:

“When we first watched our wedding video, it was simply a confirmation of what we felt all along: that Taavi Films was the right choice for us. We felt that our video was so ‘us’, and captured the best parts and feels of our special day.”

“We kept gushing because, each time we’d re-watch it, we’d notice a nice little detail that they snuck in. These little details would bring us back to a special moment on that day, and it’s such an amazing feeling.”

Extra Memorable

Their special day turned out to be even more memorable when they were be serenaded by their favorite band, Ben&Ben.

“It was such a big deal for us to have Ben&Ben there, we were over the moon! Our wedding definitely wouldn’t have been as special and memorable if it weren’t for them. Their whole performance exceeded our expectations and was just the perfect complement to the best day ever.”

While none of us have control over how our life unfolds, we can always hope that what’s meant to be for us will truly come to pass. We’re taking our cue from Marius and Leslie, neither of whom expected a job interview to lead to something eternal. If you’re hopeless romantics like us though (fine, we admit it already!), you might say it’s destiny.

As the song from their SDE goes: “everything happens for a reason”. Don’t you agree?

Supplier Spotlight: Preps Venue: Velada Estate | Church: Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (PIHM) | Church Flowers: Flowers by Edmar | Bridal and Entourage Flowers: Duane’s Fleur Creatif | Venue: L’Aquinum Garden | Caterer: M Catering | Cake: Dr. C’s Cupcakes and Sweets | Photo/Video: Filterpan/Taavi Films | Band: Ben&Ben | Sound system: Audiotronix | Makeup: Makeup by Jem (Jem Biscocho) | Hair: Arianne Clayton | Gown: Benhur Dychangco | Coord: Absolutely Knot Events

The post Meant To Be: Marius and Leslie’s Wedding (SDE by Taavi Films) appeared first on The Top Knotters.

If you’ve ever been to Metropolitan Manila, chances are you know what waiting is like and are getting tired of it pretty fast. There’s the spiraling line to board the MRT, the carmaggedon on EDSA and just about every other avenue in the city, even months-long waiting just to renew your passport. But waiting can be a good thing too–especially when it’s for something truly worth it, something you’ve prayed long and hard for. Some people believe that that moment when you’re about to quit is the time to keep going, the turning point before all things work out for good. That’s pretty much true for Max and Cristal too, who, after overcoming their disbelief, finally tied the knot at their tropical island wedding.

https://vimeo.com/218320567

Theirs is a story that proves that waiting can truly be good–and that even the heartbroken shouldn’t give up on love just yet (or ever). Cristal waited for her soulmate despite her doubts and only truly believed when Max came into her life.  As for the groom. his heart had been longing for the woman whom he’d spend the rest of his life with.  There was nothing in their pasts that could prevent them from binding themselves to each other for the entirety of their futures.

Max and Cristal are two different and unsuspecting individuals brought together by fate.  To mark their love for one another, they chose to have an intimate wedding ceremony on an island, surrounded by their dearest family and friends. True to their laidback spirits, they made sure guests had a fun time partying and basking in the magnificence of nature in their tropical island wedding.

Max and Cristal’s Top Knotters Moment

While destination weddings are always a challenge, and outdoor weddings in the Philippines always hold an air of uncertainty, Max and Cristal’s carefree attitude was the perfect answer to the erratic tropical weather.  That, as well as their superb wedding suppliers.

Meeting with the videographer was definitely a Top Knotters moment for the couple. They wanted someone who could creatively execute the filming and give them helpful directions. They found their answer in Derek Yee.

Max: “Not feeling very comfortable in front of a camera, I was a little anxious how it would turn out. But Derek took my concerns very seriously and  calmed me down completely. The friendliness and open ear for my concerns really made me trust him, and that ensured a great atmosphere during the shoot.”

Another special moment with their Top Knotter was when the couple first saw their SDE at the end of their reception.

Cristal: “It was [unforgettable] when we saw the SDE photo and video on the spot, a quick glimpse of everything that happened during the day. We weren’t even aware of some of [the things that happened].”

In the presence of their family and friends,  Max and Cristal vowed to commit to and love each other ’til death do they part. It was definitely a night to remember and something that the newlyweds will cherish for all eternity. Overcoming their differences as well as the difficulties in their pasts, Max and Cristal are proof that good things happen to those who wait and keep the faith.

Share with us your “waiting” story in the comments section below!

Supplier Spotlight: Video: Derek Yee Video | Photo: Myio Okamoto Photography | DJ –  DJ Marc Marasigan | Floral and Set up Arrangements – Ken Hupanda of Dos Palmas Resort | Gown – Rue de Seine | Groom Men’s Suit – Kachin Dubai | HMUA – The Make Up Studio Team (Randy Sta. Ana and Aaron Lejarde) | Pastor – John Mateos Ong.

The post Tropical Island Wedding at Dos Palmas (SDE) appeared first on The Top Knotters.

Timing is everything, they say. Fortunately for Mark & Maan, their love endured to overcome a case of wrong timing. In their SDE by Jake Olaso, the beautiful simplicity of their wedding–and love–is crystal clear.  Their is a love that has not only helped them endure over time, but also transformed them for the better.

“Mahal kita. Walang pero, walang kasi, walang dahil. With you I have been the most selfless, the most understanding, the most patient that I have ever been. Our love for each other is far greater than all the things that pushed us apart. Totoo pala ang sinasabi nilang ‘Kung kayo, kayo talaga’. If it’s God’s will, it will happen.” – Maan

“Marami na tayong beses sinubok ng pahahon. Umibig, nasaktan sa di tamang panahon, pero hindi ko na palalampasin pa ang pagkakataon na makasama ka sa pang habang panahon.” – Mark

What’s wonderful about getting a videographer to cover your wedding is how the video will help you relive your wedding day and hear yourselves say your wedding vows no matter how many times you want to.

“I have been watching our SDE almost everyday! Turning 5 months and counting! Haha! Not because feel na feel ko, but because it lessens the “homesickness”. I am currently based in Singapore. Being away from Mark now, during this newly-married phase, is more difficult compared to being away from each other before we got married. Watching our SDE somehow eases that.”- Maan

Watching Mark & Maan’s same-day edit, we love how their videographer, Jake Olaso, captured the beautiful simplicity of their special day.  What he placed on the forefront were raw emotions–the joy of the couple and of the people around them as well.

Jake shared with us his brand of storytelling, which he used for capturing Mark and Maan’s wedding day.

“When in comes to storytelling, we really like to capture kung anong nangyari that day. As much as possible, very candid lang ang kuha namin. My directive  when it comes to weddings is not to disrupt the natural flow of the day, especially sa church. Sa prep, you can still ask the couple to move here and there, but sa church, we want to be as unobtrusive as possible. Challenge din ‘yun because sa church na ‘to, the aisle was very narrow. So we had to be conscious of where we were para maiwasang matakpan namin ung guests or co-workers namin. Lagi kong sinasabi sa couple ko na we always base our film sa mood ng wedding. In this case, combination siya ng happy and emotional, and we tried to bridge them together seamlessly. We want to translate what happened into something na mararamdaman din ng makakapanood.

The efforts of the team to capture the beautiful simplicity of Mark and Maan’s wedding paid off in spades.

“When we first watched our SDE, there were tears. Happy tears! It’s way better than what we imagined and even exceeded our expectations. Every time I watch our SDE, I always say to myself, ‘that’s OUR own heartfelt, handmade story, right there…’”

Not surprisingly, the couple were only too keen to share that their Top Knotter Moment was having booked Jake.

“Right from the very start, his services and work were truly praiseworthy. With Jake, we never felt that it was just ‘another wedding for him. He really has the heart for his client and that is something we really appreciate, and something that I bet every bride and groom would prefer.”

Telling us about their experience, Maan noted that while Jake was a college friend, she knew about how he valued professionalism. Despite their reservations about looking awkward in front of the camera, Jake simply asked them to be themselves.

“True enough, there was no awkwardness during filming. Everything felt natural.”

We just can’t help but delight in the beautiful simplicity of their day, as shown in the details–from their theme to the charming styling. Nothing over the top, all very subtle. Everything seemed designed to draw attention towards the couple and the love they were celebrating.  We also loved that extra detail on Maan’s bouquet, wrapped with a string of lockets.  It undoubtedly contained photos of significant people in her life–an especially heartwarming wedding memorial.

Love is so strong that it conquers all, even forces so unstoppable as mortality and time.

Supplier Spotlight: Photo: Jay Mayuga |Video: Jake Olaso Wedding Films | Catering: Halespot Diner And Cafe | Church: St. Therese Chapel, Crownpeak Subic Bay |Reception: El Kabayo Riding Stables, Subic Bay | Prep venue: Segara Villas Subic Bay |  Church & Reception styling, Invitations, and Wedding give-aways: Jill Doromal and the bride | Photobooth: LJ Media | Hair and Makeup: Wendy Legaspi Fernandez | Bride’s gown: Ivory and White Bridal | Groom’s suit: Uncle Jaime Famini | Entourage Inifnity gowns: Love, C Manila | Flower girls’ gowns: Tita Elsie Cuenco | Host: Lexy Grey | LED wall: LED Pro Supplier by SubicAds | Cake and dessert: Isabella’s Patisserie | Entourage loot bags: Jingprints

We love how this wedding was done in such beautiful simplicity. What about you, what did you love about this wedding SDE? 

The post Beautiful Simplicity: The Wedding of Mark & Maan appeared first on The Top Knotters.