Program colleagues turned lovers Shermaine and Antoine exchanged I do's in Tagaytay with a whimsical Mediterranean-themed wedding. Filipino wedding tradition, modern twists, DIY projects, and sweet Belgian treats made their November destination wedding a unique and harmonious fusion of cultures.
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Love Story
Shermaine and Antoine used to live in two separate countries that are very much far away from each other. But when they both chose Macau for their college exchange program, their paths crossed and paved the way to their happily ever after.
At first, Shermaine admits that they didn't talk to each other much since they each had different set of friends from different exchange programs, and they only had one class in common. One day in class, they were tasked form into groups, and create a tourism video for Macau. Shermaine and Antoine became groupmates and were assigned by the rest of their team to act as lovers in the video. "This is where it all began. We grew to like and know each other more and more and of course, fell in love," Shermaine shares.
But when the exchange program ended, the two had to part ways and go back to their respective countries. Realizing how special their bond was, they didn't go back home without having something to look forward to. "We planned to meet on 7-7-7 (July 7, 2007) in Macau at 5pm in front of the St. Paul's Ruins. So for a year and a half, we talked through Skype, email, and chat. Both of us anticipated the date as it came closer and closer. And on 7-7-7, we approached each other at the steps of the St. Paul's ruins," Antoine recalls.
After their magical reunion, Antoine landed a job in Shanghai, China. The shortened distance between them gave them the opportunity to see each other more often. A year later, Shermaine got a scholarship for a Masteral Degree in Marketing in a prestigious business school in Belgium, which made Antoine fly back to Belgium. "And we finally experienced a real relationship--without being afar all the time," Shermaine gushes.
Standing the test of time and distance, it was no surprise when Antoine popped the question to Shermaine one snowy day in Belgium on bended knee--surrounded with candles and roses.
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Wedding Preparations
After getting married civilly in Belgium, the couple flew to the Philippines to have a Catholic church wedding. While the couple observed Filipino wedding traditions, their whimsical Mediterranean-themed weddings also had some modern, creative twists. Instead of wearing the usual white gown, Shermaine opted for a pale turquoise number that was specially made by her mother. DIY projects also peppered the couple's November affair, making it warm and festive at the same time.
The wedding also exuded a chic, carefree vibe as dreamy shades of bougainvillea pink, turquoise, and citron yellow were used to color the event. And to infuse a bit of Belgian flavor into the wedding, the couple gave away delectable Belgian chocolates as souvenirs. They also included a Belgian style-drinking game in their program.
In the end, Shermaine and Antoine's union was not only a celebration of love but also of cultures.
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Read about their love story
