LJ AND JIM: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

It was very serendipitous. I was in Exposed Down Under in Australia and got a call from LJ verifying for real that she was getting our services for her wedding.  I was ecstatic.

Laguna? Makiling? or perhaps Los Banos?

Nope. Laguna Beach, California.

Ooooh K.

Seriously, the weather was perfect last Thursday.  Very much in tune with the California vibe, everybody was just chillin’.  We all know how Jim is a clutch player but he totally lost in during his vows.  Pastor Rob (a former player himself before responding to his call to be play a more active role in the church) was a bit more anxious than usual.  It was his first wedding to officiate alone.  And it was a sweet first time because the couple was very dear to him.

I love celebrity weddings where there’s no paparazzi.  This was one of ‘em.  Save for the small ABS crew during the preps, it was a very private affair.  The way Jim wanted it.   The only other artista around was Rufa Mae.  But we got introduced so I have the liberty of calling her Peachy now. ;-).

The wedding was co-shot by Oly Ruiz, a cousin of the Moreno’s. 
Thanks to Mon Villacorta for the excellent second shooting and big props to Edelweiss and Noel who helped along in the shoot. You guys rock!

Enjoy the Same Day Edit!

I’s been a crazy busy trip so far with no room to breathe.   I’m quite fortunate to have worked with the bestest couples, the most awesome second shooters and assistants.   Things are slowing down at least this week. Allow me to share a still from last Thursday’s wedding.

She was just positively radiant!  Please stay tuned as I will be posting her highlights video real soon.

The next day, I checked in at this fabulous hotel in Long Beach where my equally fabulous bride, Charlene, did her preps.

Hotel Maya was something else.

Also watch out for her SDE to be posted soon.

Just several hours later, we were shooting a Save the Date video for Diana and Jose in Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas.  My groom saw elephants on the formations,I saw litlle cute bunnies and twinkies. No, I wasn’t high

They heighed me off to the airport right after and so now I find myself in Disney World in Orlando.  Excuse me while I go find and harass Goofy.

So much tears flowed during Erin and Christian’s wedding.

Erin’s Dad was sorely missed.

But her mom, her bro and sis, and of course Erin, knew deep in their heart that he was around, watching over them, smiling and perhaps shedding a tear or two as well.

Erin and Christian: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

The Caleruega-Splendido combination never fails.   You just got to love this quaint chapel in Tagaytay and the nice intimate reception venue only 20 minutes away.

My first wedding in the Transfiguration chapel was a decade ago and it still never gets old.  (though I am ;-))

ALLETH AND OLIVER: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

“Twas a very long engagement as Alleth said and she had all the time to figure out all the details of the wedding.  My favorite touch was the custom kicks made at the Chuck Taylor site.  I want a pair!

Check out the Hitchcockian cameo somewhere in the piece, the funky first dance, and wait, was that hesitation on Alleth’s part during the vows? (kidding!)

When the groom vows  to his bride that he will support her shopping sprees,  he probably …

1.  has a bad hangover from the night before the wedding
2. is making up for something
3. is truly, madly, deeply in love and means it.

With Carlo, I’m betting my  money on number 3.

The rambunctious bridesmaids were a joy to shoot (and watch).  Take a look…

Lyn and Carlo: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

I loved how this INC wedding ceremony was held in traditional Filipino.  Makes you appreciate the beauty of the language.

I had to whip up my translator and ask my big brother who is a Baptist pastor - “what is the direct translation of “uliran”  in English?  So you shall find out.

Melody and Marvin: Iglesia ni Kristo from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

There’s an old tradition in the Philippines which dictates that to prevent cloudy skies and rain on your wedding day, you offer eggs to St. Clare,  the patroness of good weather.

Some go a step further and actually offer eggs to the Monastery of the Poor Clares where the nuns put to good use the offered eggs.

Faith worked it’s wonders last weekend as Cecile and Jude’s big day was blessed with blue skies and shining sun.

Cecile and Jude: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

Check out the supplier cameos in the video including Christine Ong-Te and Francis “bridesmaids killer” Perez.

I met Kyla and Migs last year in New York City, the night after Kanye dissed Taylor onstage at the VMAs.  To this day I still regret not whipping out my 200mm and go all gangsta paparazzi outside Radio City Music Hall.

I digress.

Nine months later I barely recognize Migs in his barong and sans glasses.  Kal El took of his glasses and you bet he was Superman that day waiting for his Lois, Lana or Diana (depending which universe your follow.

Kyla and Migs: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

It was a treat and amusing to know that Kyla’s mom, Shirley, said that I looked liked an ex-boyfriend.  I could have passed off as a son had the union been consummated. Twisted right?

Wedding vows.  You get only one chance in front of hundreds of people.  Like all things in life you have to practice to make it perfect.

Elee and Ker were the sweetest and  most maalaga.  During the pre-wedding shoot,  we felt it was more of what they could do for us to make us comfortable in their expansive home.  But we made it clear, it was us, at their service.

The week leading up to the wedding all the way to the big day was a  bundle of emotions for the bride’s family.  Elee was saying neither of her parents were speaking to her or at least avoiding her.  Ahhh, the way parents cope.

Kindly take note of the nuances of the relationships with this piece.  It shows what we do best.

Elee and Ker: Same Day Edit from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

We also had a blast shooting this pre-wedding video. But I’m undecided if I enjoyed the shoot itself or the food fiesta more.

Elee and Ker: The Trailer from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

I choose these words to describe their video, no frills, no excess, just a simple and truthful presentation of the wedding day.

It was evident that since the morning we arrived at the hotel that there was no other better, more meaningful way to tell the story.

Watch for yourself..

Reina and Amar: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

PS.  Indians and Scots party harder like no other.  We couldn’t help but partake of the free flowing alcoholic beverages while swaying to Indian dance music.  Usher and T-Pain got nothing on DJ Anuraga.

Oh, Amar also shared with us his custom bottled bubbly during the dancing - Armand de Brignac, the finest champagne in the world - I’m partying with Jay-Z next time.