I love my job. Weddings are usually that particular time where emotions of happiness, joy and sadness come into play. I was touched when my friend Rachelle Almario called me to ask if I was available on February 11 to do the hair and makeup of her best friend Lisa Antonio. It was her wedding gift to them. This is the stuff I live for.
BFF. Warms my heart.
Lisa and I share 2 things in common, Rachelle is also one of my good friends and that we both just moved into the Alabang area recently, having our homes built within the same year in 2014. Lisa is an architect, she carries the lineage of the late National Artist Ramon Antonio and her famous aunts the Veloso sisters who are well known for their made to order clothes for Manila’s chic society. Her well appointed home with clean and crisp lines give you an indication of her choice in wedding style. The epitome of chic and sophistication echo the simplicity of her gown bought from Rosa Clara.
Channeling Audrey Hepburn
Calm and Relaxed.
Lisa conveyed her wishes to me by making her hair and makeup very simple, nothing too contrived just effortless. She looked to Audrey Hepburn and Carolina Herrera as her inspiration and immediately I knew what direction she wanted.
This is her other good friend Triccie Syquia who was part of her wedding entourage who I also had the pleasure of glamming up.
Thank you Rachelle and Lisa for the gift of friendship and I wish you and TBoy all the best on your new life ahead.
Photos courtesy of Lisa A. Rodriguez and Randolf Evans Photography. Hair by Tony Dusich
You never forget your first time experiences positive or otherwise, it never ceases to be erased in your memory. Sandy was my first bride and my first wedding experience as far as my makeup career is concerned, and it was truly memorable and fun. It’s been 4 years since her wedding and there are 2 additions to her family: 2 adorable female dogs, a Mini Schnauzer named Lexie and a West Highland Terrier Allie. Here she shares her thoughts about her most important day and her beauty favourites which have become her staples that make her feel confident and ready to face the work world.
1. For what kind of event(s) did you hire Acie to create your look?
My pre-nup shoot and wedding day.
2. What did you enjoy about working with Acie? What did you like about her makeup style, as well as her work style/ethic?
It was SO easy with, Acie! She asked me some questions about my style (wedding motif, wedding dress, etc) and what kind of look I preferred. I just told her that I wanted to look clean and fresh (sleepless nights should not show! Haha). That was it! But then again, I knew from the get go that Acie understood me and I personally loved her style so I was very comfortable and more than happy to let Acie do her magic on me. It was a joy having Acie part of my special day and will look back at the total experience fondly.
3. Can you share some photos with us of your look by Acie Fores?
Acie did my prenup makeup.
On my wedding day, Acie also made up my bridesmaids.Me and my gown; makeup by Acie.
4. What are some of your favorite makeup products/must-haves for daily wear?
Some of my recent favorites are:
Lips: MAC lipstick in my usual shade – Dubonnet BB2
Face:
Benefit’s POREfessional as my base / primer
Benefit’s ERASE paste concealer
Make-up Forever Pro Finish Multi-use powder foundation in shade Neutral Honey
Eyes:
Make-up Forever Professional Aqua Eyes – Water proof eye liner pencil (2L /brown shade)
I’ve been blessed this year with weddings and this is another pre-nup story I would like to share with you. I met this couple at the same Wedding Expo early this year and what can I say, she was my “buena mano“, which translates to may you have good fortune in the Latin American culture, or to be specific, to convey a wish that the first transaction of the day bring good fortune to both buyer and seller.
Rhea Lopez was so sweet when she came to my booth and she instantly liked my work after having gone around the expo to shop around. Her wedding will be out of town, and she sheepishly asked if I was available on her date December 29, 2013. Of course, I was available! I was so touched when she told me that among a sea of makeup artists that day, she liked my work because it reflected her natural beauty sensibility without having to look like Barbie.
I think I am on the right path here. Hahahaha!
Months later, she called to book a pre-nup shoot and, lo and behold, it was also out of town. She hired the services of Kenneth Uy Photography to do her photos and video and he suggested that to have a different look and feel, the shoot be done in Ilocos Norte! Mr. Uy had previously done a pre-nup there and he found so many interesting locations and backdrops that could add drama and nostalgia for this particular shoot. After a few calls and emails, we were on a plane headed to Ilocos Norte on July 19. I was with Gladys Tiosen who also provided the hair services.
Cape Boreador Lighthouse
First shoot of the day was at Cape Boreador Lighthouse. Immediately, one gets the sense of adventure as you are climbing the steps to this lighthouse. It is quite a steep ascent and bride and entourage managed to make it with a slight shortness of breath. What awaits the visitor is a sweeping magnificent view of the seaside.
Paoay Church
Mind you, getting to different locations in Ilocos Norte was not an easy feat, they are distanced very far apart. We shot in Bangui, where the famous windmills are located but we couldn’t go any nearer to the couple or we were going to be in the shot. This was one of the last few shots of the day and Mr. Uy did not want to lose the light, he shot this photo against the backdrop of the famous Paoay Church. As their saying goes, Kumakaway galing sa Paoay.
Love love love this photo.
Sand Dunes
Last shoot for the day. This is where many movies were filmed and story has it that the famous movie of Tom Cruise Fourth of July was shot in the early 90’s. This is where the shoot got edgy and very Vogue Like. The peg for this look was cowboy meets rebel. Hair was very loose and makeup was a carry over from the last two except Rhea requested for a red lip colour to show the edgy side of her. I say very bagay. The wind here was so strong and cold you needed a jacket to keep yourself warm.
The day ended with a lot of photos taken and it was mission accomplished. We headed back to Manila that early evening, and our brief adventure was rewarded with happy smiles and high fives among us.
Here we go… Another Prenup! It’s never enup hahahahaha!!! This time its for the De Chavez – Clerigo Nuptials. This couple is the most interesting one for me, they are both Geneva based, working in the World Trade Organization or WTO. Pam works in the Copyright Development Division while John is assigned in the Informatics Division of the same organization. They are a young couple at the top of the world so to speak, based on their stories, they seem so well traveled, Europe is their playground of choice. Try topping that! Love their website! I wish I could post it but it is a private one. They created it to chronicle their wedding timeline only to find out, it will be a memory bank of wonderful memories with the glorious sophisticated backdrop of Europe! So young yet so accomplished in their own right. It really is so inspiring to see this couple so grounded yet so determined to start their life with a sense of spirituality and respect for one another.
Lucky couple in the Swiss Alps
“Tuesdate”
I met this couple at a Wedding Expo at the beginning of the year and I must say I was the one who was honoured to be chosen by this wonderful couple to be one of their suppliers. First off, the date of their wedding. December 24 2013. Tuesday . Christmas Eve? Really? Reason why this date was chosen? John proposed on January 1 2013 a Tuesday. Tuesday is the day they allot for themselves to relax and devote to prayer time as a couple. John decided that to better remember their milestones as a couple, December 24 is pretty easy to remember right? Pasko na sinta ko!!!! Christmas and New Year are this couples’s anniversaries! Few couples start their marriage with God as the centre of their lives and this couple humbled me in so many ways. Most couples focus on the wedding day itself but this couple chose otherwise and decided to put their energies into the Lord as the centre of their marriage. What a great way to begin a a life together as husband and wife!!! Future couples out there take note.
Prenup Game Plan
The concept behind their prenup was a travel themed one. Land, Sea and Air to be exact. This was a perfect theme because it totally highlighted the couples’ love for travel. First Destination was Intramuros, Land. Location was at Fort Santiago, where I had my wedding reception in 1996. So romantic. Sigh…. Photography was done by the EverReady battery team of Jun Garcia ofExige Photography. Hair was done by Gladys Tiosen. This is how it turned out. Pam and John were such girl and boy scouts they were their own fashion and wardrobe stylists. Each look was perfectly orchestrated with the right outfit, the appropriate accessories and of course a winning attitude. I think they should consider getting a sideline and work with me on shoots!!! All photos below were courtesy of John Clerigo and Pam De Chavez taken from their website.
Fresh na FreshThe Blushing bride and so so in love
Shades of Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady talaga
Our Makeup look here was to convey the classic looking bride with makeup suited for a morning wedding. See the Makeup Chart for Makeup details.
Morning Bride. Look #1. Classic Bride. Kate Middleton was the inspiration for this look.
The Second Prenup Look was done at the Manila Yacht Club. For this look, makeup was more on the bronzy side and the hair was supposed to be loose with cascading curls perfectly setup by the bun from the first look. However, we didn’t expect the wind to be extremely strong in this place. We had to use a scarf to tie her hair which Pam brought with her. It was an impromptu prop. We had a good laugh on this take, the lashes were threatening to come off with the force of the wind!!! Love is in the air and so were her lashes. Hahahahahaha!
Second look for the “Sea” themed aspect of the shoot was more of a bronzy look with a reddish brown lip
The Look of Love. Nautical or naughty but nice?
The third and last look of the shoot was the “Air” themed shoot held at Villamor Air Base museum. It was a photo finish for all of us, because of the Manila traffic on a Friday, that held us back, but with luck and prayer, made it before closing time. The third look for Pam was more of a toned down smoky look but Pam requested a glam ponytail to match her gown of black and white, an epitome of sophistication.
Semi Smoky look
Focus your attention to the left. The rain was about to pour when this photo was taken.
Alas, rain had caught up on us and this was one of the few shots that was taken after the downpour. Pam had to change into a cocktail dress for this photo.
Rain was definitely pouring and so as not to waste any more precious time, looked for another place to shoot the remaining images.
Oh one more thing, they had a Save the Date Video Shoot the following week! Location was in Tagaytay Highlands, the venue of their wedding. It was a great day to shoot and John And Pam were eager to do this to maximise their time in Manila before heading back to Geneva. Hair was done by Gladys Tiosen. Video shoot was shot by Mr. Michael Roldan of Exige Weddings.
What a good looking couple they make. I love the crispness of the white outfits.Ready na ready for a closeup.Ako rin ready for my closeup
I am very excited for this wedding and even if it falls on Christmas Eve, this is one union I won’t forget. As the saying goes, when you put God in the centre of your lives, nothing will go wrong. I wish John and Pam the grace and love for one another to unite your hearts in unselfish harmony so that your needs and wishes for one another can be lived in a life that is devoted to serving Him. With a grateful heart, Congratulations to a wonderful couple. See you on the 24th. Cheers!!!
The very first time I heard of a Prenup before a wedding event was from a cousin of mine, Sandy Henson, who was getting married at that time to her longtime friend and soul mate, Fernando De Achaval in July 22, 2011. She asked me if I could do her Prenup. Prenup? I asked in horror. Why do you need me for a Prenup? Fernando asked you to sign a Prenup? On what grounds do you need to sign a Prenup? These were the thoughts racing in my mind and I immediately told her that a Prenup was such a tasteless way to start a wedding and that she should reconsider her wedding plans to him because I saw a red flag hovering somewhere there. The actual definition of a Prenup is a document that either party signs before a wedding to protect significant assets that one brings into a marriage, in the event of a divorce or separation. So formal and so business like. Not romantic at all.
I felt like I had to be an Ate to her and give her my 5 cents worth of marriage advice because I felt I had to tell her something is wrong. She laughed and told me to chillax because nowadays, a Prenup is actually a photo or video shoot not a document. Susme! Prenups by today’s definition are video or photo shoots of the couple in varying moments of love all captured in digital media for all to see and shown during the wedding reception. This becomes part of their wedding album. Huwow!!!! I never felt so behind the times, considering I’m supposed to know this right?
I said to myself, wow how times have changed; I never had a Prenup during my wedding in 1996 so this Prenup concept was a bit shocking to me. All that I had as a memento of my wedding was a wedding album with 5×7 photos inside it. No video, none of the social media posting that we do get today. I was getting over the shock but soon after felt relieved and excited to be a part of something romantic and magical, and so I agreed, and shock turned into excitement and being honored to be a part of this couple’s magical love train. The shoot was captured by no less than Jason De Guzman of Imagine Nation Photography and Manu Cuevas. Hair was expertly styled under the deft and skilled hands of noted hairstylist Alee Benson. Makeup Used was Nars Bridal Palette on her eyes, MAC Lingering for her brows, MAC Studio Fix Foundation in NC 35, MAC Blacktrack Fluidline, Orgasm Blush, Makeup Forever Sculpting kit and MAC Spice lip liner topped with Angel Lipstick.
Felt the love already. First few shots of the day and there is no feeling of hiya or stiffness between the two. Photographer Jason was excited to see the progress of the shoot.
Lovers Delight. This is one of my best photos. The bride used this for her profile photo in Facebook recently.
Last few shots of the day and they were still in good spirits. Jason couldn’t have captured it any better.
As I write this, Sandy and Fernando have been married for the past two years and I can testify that the mood and feeling captured in these few photos are still shared up to now. When I follow them in their Facebook and Instagram accounts, I see them express their love for one another by posting random acts of kindness , some may call it oversharing or TMI (too much information) but I commend them for keeping the flames of passion burning between them. Nowadays, love can be cheap and overrated, with expressions of motherhood statements about empty promises but not these two lovebirds.
Currently they are trying to expand their family and I wish them all the luck and happiness and I have no doubt it will be sooner than they think. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Love you both Sandy and Fernando. A huge thanks to you for making me a part of your wedding and your lovefest.
