Old World Charm

For a couple who loves Philippine history—and who have a long shared history of their own—it was but natural to tie the knot with a Filipiniana-themed wedding, infused with traditional elements and family traditions.
By Angel Constantino
Photos by Pat Dy and Patrick Martires

Published: Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines, September 2010 - February 2011
Section: Real Weddings

I felt so honored when my good friend and boss, Mia Custodio-Dizon, asked me to write this article about her wedding. I enjoyed sitting down with Mia and her then-fiancé, Patrick, and talking about how their love story unfolded. When the issue came out, she texted me, "Thank you so much for the beautifully written piece. You made us and our wedding sound amazing, but at the same time you kept the sincerity which had me so kilig. It really felt so personal yet professional at the same time, like you wrote it not only for us, but also for every Martha reader. Thanks for the extra effort. It meant a lot to me that a good friend wrote it, and wrote it well." :)

Below is an excerpt from the article:  

Dr. Patrick Dizon and Mia Custodio have been together for as long as anyone can remember. Their love story began in their junior year of high school, way back in 1993. They met at a soiree, which Mia attended in search of a prom date. Just two months after they met, Patrick and Mia became a couple. But it wasn’t until more than a decade and a half later (with Patrick now a medical resident) that the high school sweethearts finally wed.

Patrick proposed at the picturesque Fort Ilocandia Hotel in Ilocos. It was a special place that they both loved, as they had been there before on a vacation with Mia’s family. Patrick picked a spot on the hotel’s second floor balcony, and with the help of the hotel staff, prepared a beautiful set up with dessert, champagne, and rose petals that formed the shape of a heart. “I had no idea what was happening,” Mia says. “When I climbed the stairs and saw the walkway lined with candles, I stopped and started crying. It felt unreal.”

As Patrick and Mia are both history buffs who have always loved visiting old churches together, they very aptly decided to hold their wedding ceremony in San Agustin Church, one of the country’s oldest and most beautiful stone churches. Their wedding date, December 19, was already a special one as both Mia’s parents and grandparents were married on that same day. For another touch of history, their arrhae was composed of pre-war coins that were used in all the weddings in Mia’s family.

For Patrick, the highlight of their wedding was seeing Mia walk down the aisle. “When she appeared from amongst the crowd, I suddenly got teary-eyed,” Patrick shares. “It was that feeling of being overwhelmed that comes with believing she's the right person for me.” For Mia, the high point was knowing that all the people who mattered to them were present. If there’s one thing she was thrilled to learn throughout the planning process, it’s the fact that she and Patrick make a great team. “We have different strengths and weaknesses,” she shares. “But together, we get things done quickly. And the best part was that the daunting task of planning a wedding turned out to be so much fun.”

The Candy Team with the newlyweds :)

For more tips on how to plan a wedding that is beyond the ordinary, grab a copy of Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines!