Fulfilled destiny
Wedding Essentials celebrates 15 years of being a testament to loving unions
“It is a good story if it’s like the Manila Hotel,” says the literary giant Ernest Hemingway. What happened over the last weekend marked a new chapter in the hotel’s history of good stories and grand celebrations.
Tadhana 2019, an event in partnership with the premier historical hotel of the country, the Manila Hotel, and the country’s premier bridal magazine, Wedding Essentials, made a toast to forever and ever under the roof of the Tent City of the hotel.
Envisioned by three good friends, fashion designer Edwin Tan, Wedding Essentials editor in chief Kitten Zapata, and the hotel’s late events director Natalie Ramirez, Tadhana aims to bring the grandeur and elegance of Filipino weddings back to the marbled floors and grand halls of the Manila Hotel. It has since become the most sought-after wedding event every year.
Now in its fourth year, Tadhana 2019 was extra special in celebration of the magazine’s 15th anniversary. The bridal magazine launched another title focused on the gentlemen, Wedding
Essential Grooms. It will be also be spearheaded by editor in chief Rey Ilagan, with the first issue expected to come out in the summer of 2020.
Another first for Wedding Essentials is the inauguration of Bridal Fashion Week Philippines (BFWP), showcasing bridal couture fashion and Filipino craftsmanship. For its first run, BFWP invited three of the top couturiers of the country:
Pat Santos, Albert Andrada, and Val Taguba.
Kitten was in tears when the video montage of past magazine covers was shown during the two-day event. Wedding
Essentials, best known for featuring real-life couples on their journey to unity, has turned the magazine into a chronicle of love and how essential wedding is to life and Filipino culture. “We are blessed that
Wedding Essentials has been there, giving inspiration and aspiration to all soon-to-weds,” said Kitten. “With the support of the Manila Bulletin, my publisher who believes in us and what we can do, Wedding Essentials will not go anywhere but up.”
For a decade and a half of being the style bible for marriage, Wedding Essentials has featured the best of bespoke fashion on its covers and glossy pages that are worthy of wedding fantasies.
‘Wedding Essentials is known for featuring real-life couples on their journey to being one, making the magazine a chronicle of love and how essential wedding is to life and Filipino culture.’