John, Isabel wedding: The bride wears flats!
For understandable reasons, when Isabel Oli (real name: Maria Olivia So) exchanged “I do’s” with John Paulo Prats not just once but twice last Saturday, May 16, she wore flats. You see, she stands an inch taller than John (height measurement confidential, even if it’s obvious).
“Even most of us ladies 5’5” and taller also wore flats,” said Sherilyn ReyesTan, John’s good friend and former neighbor who served as one of the Honorable Maidens.
The twin event was held in Batangas, first the church rites at 10 a.m. at the Nuestra Señora Dela Paz Y Buen Viaje, followed by, as the invitation described it, “a scrumptious lunch” at Nayomi Sanctuary Resort in nearby Balete town; and then the Christian rites at 3:30 p.m. at the Manggahan, followed by an “adult dinner” reception at the Main Garden of the same resort. Only close family members and friends were invited to the church wedding but more than 700 to the Christian wedding.
For the church wedding, Isabel wore a gown by Pronovias, then she changed to a gown by Vera Wang for the Christian wredding.
John and Isabel decided to get married twice as a nod to their religion. He’s Catholic, she’s Christian. The Prats were all accounted for, led by the groom’s parents Daniel Rafael and Alma, and so was the
family including her widowed mom Veronica (Isabel’s father, Jorge So, died last year) and her siblings.
The wedding(s) capped a twoyear romance that sealed John’s colorful single-blessedness. Before Isabel, John was romantically linked to Heart Evangalista (now happily Mrs. Chiz Escudero), Shaina Magdayao, 2008 Miss Earth Karla Henry and former Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Bianca Manalo. Isabel went steady with fellow Cebuano Marco Alcaraz (now Precious Lara Quigaman’s husband) and Paolo Contis (separated from her dancer-wife). She denied having been the girlfriend of James Yap (“Only friends”) who was linked to her before James courted Michela Cazzola.
“I’ve known John since he was about nine years old and her sister Camille who was a bit younger,” related Sherilyn (Mrs. Chris Tan). “We were together at the Talent Center of ABS-CBN. For seven years, we were neighbors in Sta. Mesa, Manila.”
Isabel is John’s avid fan. When they first met, John was already making a name as actor/dancer/ TV host while Isabel was not yet in showbiz. She was disappointed when she didn’t get John’s autograph and have a photo with him during that meeting.
“Their second meeting was at my husband Chris’ birthday party,” said Sherilyn. They were both fancyfree. They exchanged phone numbers and, you know what happened. “I’m happy for them,” added Sherilyn. “Bagay na bagay sila. They are close to their (respective) families.”
John stunned Isabel with a “flash mob” proposal at Eastwood , Quezon City, in September last year.
They are the 10th couple to wed this year, after Heart and Sen. Chiz (Feb. 15) in Balesin Island, Quezon Province; Yeng Constantino and Victor Asuncion (Feb. 14) at Hacienda Isabelle in Indang, Cavite; Patrick Garcia and Nikka Martinez (March 21) at Blue Leaf Filipinas, Parañaque City; Cesca Litton and Tyke Kalaw (Fbe. 14) at Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa; Gab Valenciano and Tricia Centenera (March 27) at Highlands Golf Club in Tagaytay City; Saab Magalona and Jim Bacarro (Jan. 24) at St. Ignatius Chapel, Baguio City; Eric Tai and Rona Samson (March 6) at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Cubao, Quezon City; Arthur Manuntag and Kathryn Sarmen (after having been civilly married for 25 years) at Shrine of Jesus The Way, The Truth and The Light Church Central, at Mall Of Asia (MOA) Complex, Pasay City; and Diana Zubiri and Andrew “Andy” Smith (May 10) at the Sampaguita Events Place, Quezon City.
Among the Principal Sponsors from showbiz were Boy Abunda, director Ruel Bayani, Ben Chan, Ramon Chuaying, Laurenti Dyogi, Edgar Mortiz, Martin Nievera, Christopher Tan (Sherilyn’s husband, a basketball player), talent manager Arnold Vegafria, former Sen. Miguel Zubiri and Maria Socorro “Cory” Vidanes. Sam Milby was a Best Man, Angelica Panganiban “Best Lady” and John’s sister Camille one of the “Honorable Maidens.”
Mr. and Mrs. John Paulo Prats will spend their honeymoon in Eubride’s rope.