Alexis and Yvette planned a simple yet elegant Boracay wedding by the sea. Around 80 of the couple’s closest friends and family members witnessed the union capping the over a decade-long friendship of the bride and groom.

Being the first wedding for both of the couple’s families, Alexis and Yvette wanted to make it memorable not only for them but also for their guests. The bride was a vision of a sea princess in an exquisite Parrish Espiritu Carlos off-white gown of multi-layered chiffon reminiscent of the ocean’s waves.

Dashing in an embroidered white linen (also by Carlos), the groom waited patiently at other end of the aisle with his parents, Ato and Amee Atotubo. For a change, no children were part of the entourage. The couple’s friends gamely played the roles of the flowergirls and bearers.

As the guests were enjoying the beautiful sunset of Boracay and the sumptuous cocktails provided by the Boracay Terraces Resort, the newlyweds made their grand entrance via a speedboat. As soon as they positioned themselves by the entrance to the main dining area, they greeted and thanked everyone for coming all the way to Boracay to witness their union.

The reception echoed the colors of the beach with blue-on-white linens, white chairs, and white napkins. Native “sulo” were placed strategically around the dining area. Simple centerpieces on every table burst with yellow dancing ladies, white sand and different shells.

Female sponsors took home Nautilus shell sourced from Davao while guests got wonderfully crafted bag charms made from shells and crystals. The couple surprised everyone with a special choreographed salsa number for their first dance. A local fire dancer opened the dance floor. Truly, this is one destination wedding at its best.

Special Touches:
a) A special cord made from sea shells and white crystals, personally done by the groom’s aunt, Gwen Garcia, was a labor of love. Using the same materials, she handcrafted bag charms which served as souvenirs for female guests.
b) The couple’s monogram appeared in the invitations, misalettes, giveaway tags, name plates, flags for cocktail drinks, bottled water, and even in the beach umbrellas.
c) A special cocktail drink (in aqua, the wedding color) was concocted just for the couple.
d) Bottled water and abanico fans were given away at the church.
e) Instead of the usual pillows for the wedding rings, a white coral placed on a varnished coconut husk filled with sand was used to hold the wedding rings.
f) A local fire dancer was hired to provide entertainment.
g) Boracay locals built two sand castles which served not only as a cordon dividing the cocktail area and the dining area but also as a photo-op for the guests while waiting for the couple’s arrival.