“Vision in white”
Sun.Star Davao, Dec. 29, 2012
The dashing Capt. Marvin
Inocencio proposed marriage to the love of his life, Joy Frances, not only once
but three times.
The first wedding
proposal happened years ago when they were celebrating New Year’s Eve outside
Joy’s family home. As they watched the motorcycles pass by raucously dragging tin
cans (Davao City has an existing firecracker ban), Marvin suddenly asked, “Will
you marry me?”.
The surprise suddenly
made Joy hesitant. After all, she was only 22 years old with a promising career
as an area manager for a pharmaceutical company. She was also still enjoying
their 4th month as sweethearts. But, Marvin assured Joy that he was absolutely
certain about his feelings and intentions for her.
“Marvin explained that
why should we wait a long time when he was convinced that I would be the
perfect wife and mother of his future kids?”, Joy recalls, this time, with
amusement. By Marvin’s constant prodding, Joy finally relented and said “yes”.
More
precious than diamonds
A few months after, while
on a visit to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio, the couple dropped
by the famed Kissing Rock. It was here
that the young soldier gave his PMA bull ring marking his second marriage proposal.
This time, Marvin told
Joy that no diamond can ever equal the four years of hardship he endured at PMA
to earn his degree. The Pangasinan-born Marvin graduated cum laude and graduated
8th in his batch. The bride-to-be was speechless and moved to tears.
That same year, Marvin and Joy had their civil wedding.
During their 6-year
marriage, Joy was a hands-on mom to daughter Francesca
Alexandra or Lexi while running a successful business, Party
Fanatics and DIY Party Balloons and Party Supplies. Joy also owned a jewelry
business which she inherited from her mom, Engr. Florentina Exaltacion-Salip
Ahmad. On the other hand, Marvin’s military career was also in the upswing as
he was promoted several times receiving accolades for his exemplary
performance.
Dream
wedding
After the birth of their
2nd daughter Mariana Atasha or Ariane this March
2012, Marvin asked for Joy’s hand in marriage for the third time, saying that
he wanted a church wedding. Joy was thrilled but was again worried. “I was
thinking of my figure because I just gave birth!”, Joy laughs.
“We also considered a lot
of factors such as my health and Marvin’s next assignment which would most
probably be in Luzon or Visayas”, Joy shares. They figured that organizing a
wedding outside Davao would involve more work, money and time. Most importantly,
the Inocencios wanted to receive God’s blessing in their marriage. So, finally,
the church wedding was a “go”!
Joy always wanted to have
a fairytale military wedding. “Since I was a child, I would dream of having a
wedding like that of the princesses I’ve watched in Disney movies”, the bubbly
Joy divulges. The creative bride wanted to have simple yet elegant decors with
crystals and dramatic lighting.
The couple agreed on
having minimal decors in the reception.
The groom only had one specific request --- all-white flowers which he
always envisioned for his wedding.
Vision in white
Wedding organizer extraordinaire Noel Tanza of Golden Touch was brought in and, as expected, magically executed the couple’s plans to reality.
At the Sta. Ana Parish Church,
the aisle was festooned with assorted white flowers and whimsical lamps which
gave a romantic glow to the Inocencios’ dream wedding. A white carpet with the
couple’s personalized logo was laid out for the couple and the entourage.
As Joy was about to march,
their five-year old daughter Lexi, the little bride, proudly held a sign which
announced “Here Comes My Mommy”.
The
bride’s shining and shimmering wedding gown was a beautiful collaboration by
Patahian’s Aztec and Popoy Barba. The duo also created the gowns of the two
mothers, little bride and the baby bride, 9-month old
Ariane. The entourage’s gowns, on the other hand, were by
the talented Marco Laurencio of Renaissance Haute Couture.
The
all-white theme was also reflected at reception held at the Marco Polo Hotel’s
grand ballroom. The couple had specific instructions to Noel, “No disco balls.
No extra big table centerpieces/vases. No twigs and other decorative extras. We
did not want crystals on the tables and covered walls”. All these requests were
considered by Noel. He and his wonderful team executed the Inocencios’ ideas in
amazing detail.
Towering cake
When it comes to cakes,
Marvin knows that Joy is totally in love with them. “Our daughters have their
monthly cakes and my birthdays are not complete without a cake”, Joy smiles.
So, when Marvin asked Joy
about her dream wedding cake, she told him straight, “I want a 10-feet 12-layer
wedding cake”. Of course, Joy did not expect Marvin to give her the cake of her
dreams. “It was not practical and too much to ask from him”, she says.
However, Marvin asked his bride to
draw her dream cake and gave it to Cake Temptations. “I really thought it was
not possible. I even told Cake Temptations to have their own design instead of
my own which had specific height, layers and diameter of each cake. I’m that
O.C.!”, Joy giggles. But, eager to please, Marvin insisted to go with Joy’s
initial design because it was her dream cake. “Until now, I still couldn’t
believe we had my dream giant cake on my wedding!”, Joy reminisces.
Military touch
Noel’s team headed by
Miles Pandian took care of the military program. “He worked closely with
Marvin, especially in implementing the military traditions such as the first
dance, “My Kaydet Girl”; the dance with Marvin’s Mistahs (classmates in PMA);
the slicing of the cake using the sword; “The Arch of Swords” in the church
(during the processional/recessional); and even the “order for push-ups” after
the church ceremony!”, Joy explains.
“The highlight of our
wedding is really the military ceremony. That made our wedding extraordinary.
One of our wedding godfathers told me months before, “Anyone can have a
luxurious wedding but not all can have a military wedding. So even if you will
just have a simple wedding, be happy because it is unique”, the jubilant bride
recalls.
Joy never predicted that
she will have the wedding she has always dreamed of as a child. She and Marvin
were already married in civil rites and have two kids. So, she thought that
spending for their dream wedding was not really practical. But Joy feels she is
blessed to have a loving and supportive husband. “He gave me more than what I
expected. In fact, he promised to marry me in church every 10 years!”, Joy gushes.
“I will never forget the
day I walked down the aisle and married Marvin. If we married in church 6 years
ago, I know I would not have had the same feeling. We were too young then. The
church wedding that we had was more of a renewal of vows and a commitment to
make our marriage and love for each other stronger. Having God’s blessing
through the sacrament of Holy Matrimony is the happiest decision we’ve made
this year!”, Joy enthuses.
***
Marvin and Joy consider
all their wedding guests as important. But, they would like to especially acknowledge
their principal sponsors, most of whom traveled from Luzon and Visayas just to
be with them on their Big Day, namely: Admiral Damian Carlos and Mrs. Merlita
Carlos; Lt. Gen. Jorge Segovia and Mrs.
Pia Segovia; BGen. Hernando Irriberi and Mrs. Aurora Carolina; Col. Cesar Idio
and Dr. Yolanda Tuason; PS Supt. Ronald Dela Rosa and Mrs. Pia Angela Lopez; Col.
Roberto Ancan and Mrs. Janet Ancan; Col. Gilbert Saret and Mrs. Christine Saret;
Col. Teopisto Cabagnot Jr. and Mrs. Mariane Manansala; Lt. Col. Cesar Molina
and Dr. Emy Molina; Lt. Col. Manolito Montiel and Cong. Maricar Zamora; Lt.Col
Raymund Dante Lachica and Mrs. Teresa Regis; PSupt. Roderico Roy Jr. and Mrs.
Ma. Salocin Musong; Gov. Arturo Uy and Mrs. Carnelle Canamaque; Mayor Voltaire
Rimando and Architect Charleen Alquiza; Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Dr. Lily
Mudanza; Board Member Joselito Brillantes and Mrs. Melinda Dela Cruz; Engr.
Segismundo Exaltacion Jr. and Mrs. Zaldinia Exaltacion; Mr. Louie James
Espanola and Ms. Liza Piamonte; and Mr. Franco Tito and Mrs. Marina Welborn.
E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit
www.momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com.
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