Enliv's anniversary special for the couple Ed and Jude Bunao of Virginia , USA

Neither Edsel "Ed" Bunao nor Judy "Jude" Garza thought they'd find a soul mate in their workplace but that's just what happened when they met each other at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in 1997. Ed is the son of Genaro and Obdulia (Bandala) Bunao of Jagna, Bohol . He graduated from Velez College in Cebu while Jude is the daughter of Rogelio and Maria Salvacion (Roldan) Garza of Naga City. She graduated from University of Santo Tomas in Manila. After two years of friendship, Ed won Jude`s heart. Truly a romantic, he proposed to his ladylove on the occasion of his 30th birthday bash. A special dessert plate was served to Jude with the words Will you marry me written in luxurious chocolate icing.

For the couple who shares a love of scenic and romantic places, marrying in Tagaytay was a natural choice. On this day one year ago, September 24, 2006 , they were wed in the chapel of Transfiguration of Jesus at Caleruega and the reception was held at Midlands Veranda inside Tagaytay Highlands. A day before the wedding, the couple lodged their parents at Tagaytay Highlands and the rest of their families at Hotel Dominique. Tag that reads as "Welcome, Relax and enjoy, thanks for being here" was a festive finishing touch to the welcome baskets. A rehearsal dinner was held the evening before the wedding.

On the morning of the wedding day, while the bride and the mothers were being made up by CheChel Joson and her team, the groom was off with the fathers touring different places at the site. Two of the groom's nieces announced the start of the ceremony with their hand held bells. Then as the violinist from the Marian Evangelical Community Choir played Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's desiring the radiant bride in her Priscilla of Boston gown and Manolo Blahnik shoes joined her parents for the walk to the altar. The bride envisioned a classic white bouquet which florist Jun Hen created with lilies of the valley. The solemn ceremony moved some guests to tears. The newly weds were greeted by rose petals at the end of the aisle. After which a breathtaking white dove release ensued. It drizzled on their wedding day but as an old Roman proverb goes "Happy is the bride that rains falls on" the bride along with her groom remained calm and positive. Their rainy wedding day turned into the most romantic day of their life.

Their photographer extraordinaire Lito Sy not only worked through rain but helped it to be a special memory of their big day. He was full of ideas for great shots that even included the rain! One of the couple's favorite picture is them kissing under an umbrella as they left the chapel. By the time the ceremony was over, the weather had cleared. The couple headed for the reception in a white Mercedes Benz bug eye and guests followed along each enjoying the "Sweet Treats from the new Mr. and Mrs." goodie bags filled with Pili Tarts and Peanut Kisses, delicacies from the bride and groom's hometowns. "Refresh, Hydrate" bottled water were also given away. Their guests had come from all over that the couple wanted to make sure they'd be comfortable. Some of the guests came to Tagaytay for the first time especially for the wedding. Aside from the couple's families and friends from Bohol and Naga City , relatives from Olongapo, Antipolo and Cavite joined them.

Their college buddies from Agusan Del Sur, Cebu , Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga, and Pangasinan and their common friends, colleagues and former co workers from Manila came and celebrated with them. The bride's siblings and relatives from the USA , Sydney Australia and Dubai traveled a great distance just to be with the couple on their big day. The newlyweds pulled up to the Veranda in a golf cart adorned with white calla lilies. Between the ceremony and formal dinner, the guests sipped cocktails and nibbled on Roast beef rolls with asparagus, pickled sea foods and sliced lyoner sausages while delighting in the cool weather and the panoramic view of manicured fairways and lush landscape from the veranda. Guests found their seating assignments on ecru card stocks featuring elegant calligraphy.

The tables were decked with tall and stunning candelabras of pristine white calla lilies and roses among other beautiful flowers. For the finishing touch, drop crystals were used in the luscious arrangements that dazzled the guests. Candles in large cylindrical glass and small votive holders gave each table a romantic glow. An AVP was played dubbed as BOHOL and BICOL recapping childhood moments and the couple's later adventures together. The colorful streamer throws made their grand entrance unique. The guests could not stop talking about them! The guests enjoyed a cream of vegetable soup, freshly baked rolls and mixed Tagaytay green salad before choosing American Pot Roast with Cabernet sauce, Braised Fish Fillet, Beef with broccoli, chicken teriyaki, among others. Different wines were carefully paired with the entrees to accentuate their flavors.

The couple cut into their apple walnut cake and guests ate slices in addition to pieces of chocolate éclairs, tropical fruits and French pastries. The newlyweds believe that a wedding is more fun with children attending. They created kid friendly environment that included a table featuring story books, crayons, coloring books, stickers, activity books and wedding day Barbie dolls (gifts from the couple to the flower girls) the kids were occupied with their own fun. Simple changes with the menu were made to cater to their young guests` palate. Their charming three-tiered wedding cake topped with a contemporary and sparkling Swarovski crystal embellished monogram initials of the couple was a lovely focal point. They earned so many compliments on it. The couple's onsite wedding MTV by the country's most sought after videographer Jason Magbanua was among the highlights of the dinner. There was also an AVP put together by bridesmaid Ems Dizon featuring wedding wishes from the co-workers of the couple in Virginia (VA). It included a special wish from the couple's god puppy Tanner Kelley.

Everyone roared with laughter when they saw the four legged friend. Co workers of the couple from VA lit candles held in glasses and tied with sage bows to celebrate the couple's union on the actual day itself. Another hit during dinner was the "Share in Our Luck" envelopes. Inside was a scratch- off lottery ticket and a 2005 minted Philippine centavo coin and US penny. It became a conversation starter and best of all some of the guests won!!!

In lieu of the traditional bouquet and garter toss, games such as search for the bride and groom for the singles and a "quiz show" for the married couples were played. The couple decided to do away with the wedding give away and instead made a donation in honor of their wedding guests to their favorite charity, Clean and Green Foundation, Inc. Personalizing their wedding was a priority. Ed and Jude crafted some of the details of their wedding such as the wedding website, calligraphy, shadow box, floral pens and the list goes on. Since they had an out of town wedding, the Ed and June mailed save-the-date magnets and cards eight months before the wedding. The guests noticed the careful and detailed planning put into the wedding the moment they received the couple's double enveloped ecru invitations with gold trimmed edges engraved by Crane's fine stationery.

As a token of gratitude to their bridal party, the couple gave out monogrammed items from Tiffany and co, Eddie Bauer and Things Remembered. Moving speeches including one from the groom`s eldest brother welcoming the bride to their family made the affair memorable. Ed and Jude fox-trotted to Sinatra's "The Way You Look Tonight". Their young guests gathered around them with celebratory bubble blowing. The bride dancing with her father and the groom with his mother was among the personal moments of the affair. They danced to what a wonderful world by Louis Armstrong. The bride's uncle Magno Britanico sang the lyrics while the music was provided by the Concertino Acoustic Ensemble quintet. All throughout the festivities, there were little surprises for everyone. But the best surprise was saved for last. Before the program wound down, an AVP featuring live wedding wishes from the SIDE A band was played.

College buddies of the bride put it all together. It was a total surprise to the bride! (Bride is a SIDE A fan since her college days) At the night's end, guests gathered outside the veranda and watched the night light up in fireworks. The guests had the best of time! For Ed and Jude, the day's best moment was seeing each other for the first time at the chapel. As soon as they held each other's hand they knew nothing else mattered. Dancing ended the happy celebration. As the festivities quited down for the night, guests offered winks of gratitude for the couple having brought them to such a spectacular place. With picture perfect memories etched in the hearts and minds of their guests, truly, their wedding will be long remembered. It struck Ed and Jude that their most celebrated day had happened in a beautiful place straight off a postcard - and even more important, everyone they love came. What could be better than that? The destination wedding was everything the bride and groom have dreamed of. Jude was hands-on in her preparations and focused on the nitty gritty details of the planning.

A year before the wedding, Jude flew home and booked the chapel and reception site and interviewed wedding coordinators. For her, the best part was partnering with her fiance to create a wedding that melds both of their personalities. Ed said that their wedding was clearly the result of the painstaking yet rewarding preparations he enjoyed with Jude. He said their wedding suppliers told him that his bride is one of the most detailed brides they have ever worked with. Since the couple is based overseas, they hired the 3rd party professional wedding planners composed of Jojit Dy, Alfred Luna and Amy Pomoy. The group's efficient and creative coordination made the months of the couple's online planning hassle-free.

The wedding day was preceded by several celebrations such as a pre-wedding party in VA, a bachelorette party at Somerset Millennium and a couple's night out both in Makati . After the wedding, the couple enjoyed sightseeing in Tagaytay with their families. Then they flew to Bohol Beach Club and finally headed to Jagna for a post wedding gathering. Then they flew to Naga City and had a post wedding party at Grand Imperial Plaza hotel. The couple enjoyed a ten day honeymoon in Paris , France . They currently reside in their new home in Roanoke , VA where they work as Clinical Laboratory Scientists for Carilion Consolidated Laboratories at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Ed and June would like to thank all their family and friends who shared with them the most memorable evening one year ago today.

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