MAPA-ABELA
The Last Big Celebration
Miguel Mapa and Natasha Abela were friends in high school but got closer in college when they were both students at Ateneo de Manila University. Together for ten years, Miguel proposed on a Sunday, after Natasha’s hospital duty at dinner in their favorite place. “He made me choose where to eat but little did I know he already reserved a special area in the restaurant for us,” she says. As their dinner was about to end, they started speaking about their relationship before Miguel got down one knee and asked her to marry him. “It was the perfect moment,” she says.
Miguel and Natasha had the ceremony in the same church where their respective parents got married on February 29, a leap year date. “Yes, we will be celebrating our anniversary every 4 years,” says Natasha, laughing. She wore a Vania Romoff gown, which had parts of the old fabric from her mother’s own wedding gown. The reception took place at The Fifth in Rockwell, where they had the most amazing time celebrating with their closest friends and family, “just dancing and drinking the night away,” says Natasha. Coming from the same barkada, most of Miguel and Natasha’s friends knew each other. “It was one big party,” she says.
One of the last weddings before the lockdown (as a doctor, Natasha is proud to say no one got COVID), Natasha says it was an intimate big wedding. “The room was full but it was silent during each and every speech. It was really something special for the both of us personally for each guest to have a good time,” she says. After the celebration, there were a few challenges to contend with: cutting short the honeymoon because of the enforced lockdown and having to quarantine from each other while Natasha went back to work at the hospital. “Happily, we are now together again,” she says.
Wedding Gown VANIA ROMOFF
Makeup MIKKA MARCAIDA
Hair KENJIE APOSTADERO
Groom's Barong TIÑOS
Bridesmaid's Gowns MICH ARAULLO
Wedding Organizer BERLYN YAP
Wedding Stylist PAT PASTELERO OF SPRUCE FLORAL DESIGNS
Caterer MARGARITA FORES
Wedding CAKE JOY SAN GABRIEL
Wedding Band MEL VILLENA’S AMP BAND AND ROUTE 70
Wedding Host CHUCK ARANETA
Videographer IAN CELILS
Giveaways SOLID PERFUME FROM KINAY ESSENTIALS
Honeymoon FINLAND AND DENMARK