Lalaine and Russ: A Beautiful Wedding in Napa (Oct 2012)

Getting There

I arrived in Pleasanton the day before from my week-long trip in New York. As soon as Jazel arrived from Seattle, she picked me up at my hotel, we had a quick lunch at Stoneridge Mall, then headed out to Napa in time for the 4:00 PM wedding rehearsal. We can’t be late or else the beautiful bride will not be happy We had a fun ride catching up on things. Well, I did not have much to share, not much has happened to me. Jazel had more exciting things to share that I cannot share here (nor with anyone else… haha, nang-intriga pa)

The Venue

Beautiful, isn’t it?

Mother and daughter walking down the aisle during rehearsal while Russ’ parents look on. Beautiful moment

Dinner with the family, close friends and entourage

After the rehearsal, the group went to this elegant Italian restaurant. Shared stories with old and new friends.

Russ thanking family and friends. Sorry, Russ I missed the beginning of your speech.

Jessica. Russ’ beautiful sister.

Listening intently to Jessica.

Bridal Shower

After dinner, Elaine suggested that we give Lalaine a bridal shower since many of us are from far away places (Jasmine from LA, Jazel from Washington, Aileen from Virginia, and me from the Philippines) and could not get together  weeks before. We decided to meet at Crush (and we got lost going there, haha!)

Hello, sexy ladies!

The bride with her bling!

Lalaine and her beautiful girls!!! Me, Marie, Lalaine, Grace, Jazel, Elaine, Jasmine

Pictorial before the Ceremony

Beautiful gown!

The beautiful bride and her flower girls

Katelyn. Love her smile and beautiful curls!

Hi Lalaine! Luv ya!

With the mother of the bride. Kanino pa ba magmamana ng kagandahan!

Love this! Miss you girls!

At the Ceremony

Could not take pictures, but snuck this one

Aunt Elsa: Take care of Lalaine, Russ! Walang solian!

Married!

Lalaine and Russ <3

Pictorial again after the Ceremony.

We tried to catch some of the light. Had a hard time going up and down the hill in my 3-inch heels. Well, Lalaine had a much harder time in her 4-inch heels! I should not be complaining.

Jasmine did my curls, Aileen did Jazel’s, Jasmine did hers, Aileen did hers. I wish I can style my own hair!

Cocktails

Hello!

Lalaine with brothers Ryan and Rommel

Great idea, Lalaine! Keep the kids busy so they won’t get bored

Hey, Russ. I’m taking Jack’s picture.

First dance as man and wife <3

Cheers! I wish both of you lots of happiness and beautiful kids

Change in outfit. Love the dress!

Outtakes

What we did before going to Meritage for the preparations for the wedding.

Jazel, Aileen and I took a walk around the area and took some silly pictures, haha! We decided we need some exercise!!!

Hot air balloons in the distance

Sino ba Nag-imbento ng LOVE??

Nice post from http://definitelyfilipino.com/blog/2011/12/03/sino-ba-nag-imbento-ng-love/

Boyfriend, Girlfriend, Relationship, LOVE…. Misunderstanding, Guilt, Cheat, SACRIFICES..

Na-inlove ka na ba? Nag-kagusto sa iba? Nanligaw? O di kaya niloko? Hehehe. In-love, napakasarap na pakiramdam. Parang lahat mawala na wag lang yung feelings na yun. Nakaka-adik, lahat gagawin mo para sa taong yun. Pero sa huli sakit at hirap pa din ang kinahahantungan. Oo,may mga ilang na ayos pero karamihan ay kasawian. Ito’y hindi nasusukat sa tagal ng pinagsamahan ng dalawang tao o sa kahit anong bagay/ugali na parehas kayo. Sa mga di pa nagkakaroon ng isang pormal na relasyon (BF/GF) ito yung posible nyong kaharapin pag nandun na kayo. At para sa may mga karelasyon, pwede nyo rin basahin. Hehehehe!

Sa relasyon ang unang 4 -6 na buwan ang pinaka masarap. Yung tipong sariwa pa yung nararamdaman nyo sa isa’t isa. Yung tipong gusto mo parati syang nasa tabi mo. Ayaw mo malayo sa kanya. Sa mga lalake todo effort pag dating sa mga regalo,lahat ng surprises gagawin. Ganun talaga ‘pag mahal mo. Pero di ba after nun dumadating yung mga pagsubok? ‘Yung ung tipong selosan, misunderstanding at yung pinaka mahirap yung nasasakal ka sa karelasyon mo o naiipit ka. Babae o Lalake iisa lang, lahat nagkakamali o kanya kanyang katarantaduhan. May mga relasyon na mabilis lang natatapos; ano ibig sabihin nito? Nagpalipas lang ng oras? Siguro di lahat,may mga iba na sadyang di lang para sa isa’t isa. May iba din na pinag bigyan lang yung partner nya kahit di nya ‘to mahal,paasa lang. At may ibang sadyang kumuha lng ng panakip-butas. Ang sasaket di ba? Pero ito ang katotohanan.

May ibang relasyon na sobrang tumatagal. 3 hanggang 5 taon, minsan umaabot pa ng hangang 10 taon, pero sa huli iisa pa din yung ending. Bakit? Di porket tumagal ka sa relasyon ibig sabihin nun ay kayo na talaga. Kung tutuusin, ito yung pinaka mahirap na stage. Kapag tumagal na kayo ng ganun katagal, nababawasan yung tamis o yung spark ng relationship. The feeling of love is still there pero nakakasawa kasi walang bago. Ayaw mo sya mawala,pero alam mo din na hindi nagwowork yung samahan nyo. Anu pa ba dapat mung gawin? Hehe. Hirap noh? Bakit ba kasi naimbento yung love?

Dumadating din na akala mo mahal ka talaga nya, nararamdaman mo yun sa tuwing magkasama kayo o mag kausap. Pakiramdam mo sya na talaga, kaya ikaw mamahalin mo talaga hanggat sa kaya mu. Lahat ng pag subok lalabanan kasi di ba nga sabi mo sya na. And then one day pag gising mo na lang mararamdaman mo na nanlalamig na sya sayo sa di mo alam ang dahilan. Minsan kahit sabihin natin na ilang taon na kayo, di pa rin malabong mangyayari to. Pipilitin mong ibaba yung pride mo para lang habulin sya at mabalik yung dati nyang feelings sa sayo. Kahit tinitulak ka na palayo, para ka pa din tanga na lumalapit at umaasang babalik sya. Ang hirap nga naman kasi walang kahit anong reason syang sinabi bat ayaw na nya, sasabihin lang na “I need space, o I need to find myself”, parang gago di ba? ‘Yung dating sinasabi nya sa ‘yo na “All I need is you” mapapalitan lang ng ganon sa isang iglap. Haist!

Nakita mo sya,

Nag-usap kayo,

Naging magkaibigan,

Nag ligawan,

Naging kayo,

Nagmahalan,

 

Sa huli ano?

Nagiyakan…

Di lahat nauuwi sa ganito sabi ko nga pero karamihan ganito, reality bites mga girls/guys.

Bakit ka umiiyak after nyo maghiwalay? Dahil mahal mo pa sya at dahil sinaktan/niloko ka nya.

So?? Bakit mo kelangan iyakan yung taong nanakit at nanloko sa ‘yo na dapat kamumuhian m0? Dahil mahal mo sya? Ano mas maganda, mag pakatanga o mag move on na lang? ‘ Di lang sya yung tao sa paligid mo. Always remember that. Kung mahal ka ng tao, di ka nya hahayaang umiyak o masaktan.. yun lang yun. 

Kung mahal nyo talaga ang isa’t-isa, sige ipaglaban mo. Pero kung wala pa din mangyayari, I think it’s time for you to stop. At least masasabi mo sa huli na “Ginawa mo naman ang lahat,ang kaso di lang sya nakuntento” .

Anong punto ko sa pagsusulat ng kwento ko? Simple lang:

Kung pakiramdam mo, buong mundo na ang tumututol sa ‘yo sa pag-hawak sa isang bagay, bumitaw ka na. Hindi lahat ng ganyan, pagsubok. Kung minsan, pahiwatig. Hindi kabawasan sa pagkatao ang pag-bitaw, minsan pagpapakita ito ng katapangan na harapin ang katotohanan na hindi iyan ang nakatakda.

What an interesting week this has been

ON LOVE

When love beckons to you, follow him,

Though his ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to him,

Though the sword  hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him,

Though his voice  may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.

Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.

He threshes you to make you naked.

He sifts you  to free you from your husks.

He grinds you until you are pliant;

And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge becomes the fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love’s peace  and love’s pleasure,

Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out love’s threshing floor,

Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not  all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you shall not say, “God is in my heart, ” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”

And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.

But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding of love;

And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; 

To rest at noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;

To return home at eventide with gratitude;

And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

- The Prophet,  Kahlil Gibran