Manila Bulletin

RALPH CHONG AND DIANE GOLLON

Polar opposites attract

We met in 2011 when we were both freshmen students in Ateneo De Manila University. Ironic as it was, we met in Chemistry class, but the chemistry between us took years to build. We stayed friends all throughout college, nothing more. Coincidentally, we both found ourselves in Japan last May 2015. Diane was with her friends, and Ralph was with his friends. An earthquake happened on the night we met up in Tokyo. Let’s just say that the earthquake literally shook us and played a part in how we are today. We got engaged in Paris in June of 2019 right before the pandemic. After a two-year engagement and a postponed January 2022 wedding, we finally tied the knot last April 3. To share more about our personalities, the perfect phrase is that opposites attract. Ralph is bold and can light up a whole room while Diane is more meek and gentle. Ralph is the ahia, the eldest sibling, while Diane is the youngest, the shobe of the family. Truly, the defining factor of why our relationship works is that we are complete opposites, and opposites attract. Our wedding mostly mirrored this idea. It was a juxtaposition of contrasting elements, all coming together and unifying into one memorable occasion.

The church ceremony was held in Santuario De San Jose, East Greenhills. We wanted to have the wedding at some place special, a place with personal meaning. We regularly frequent Santuario as a couple, and, as Ralph would say, it’s the church where he attended Simbang Gabi for 12 consecutive nights back in 2015, with his prayer being that Diane would agree to be his girlfriend. Truly, that wish came true—as revealed in our official hashtag #Dianesweredprayerofralph. The church ceremony was kept simple and timeless. The aisle was lined with clusters of gypsophila flowers and Ecuadorian roses in shades of white and blush pink. Diane’s bouquet consisted of peonies, roses, and dahlias in soft colors to reflect her simplicity and grace.

Meanwhile, staying true to the theme of our relationship, the opposite was done for the reception venue. We were incredibly grateful to know that we had a strong head count of 400+ pax. To show our appreciation to our guests for showing up despite the pandemic, we created a reception program and venue that we hoped would entertain them. The program was filled with performances from loved ones, including a special rendition of “From This Moment” from Ralph’s younger sister, Ria Cathrina, alongside dance numbers from the entourage, the couple, and even a surprise sultry “Versace on the Floor” afterparty dance performance from the groom and his jolly entourage. To compliment the colorful program, the grand ballroom of Shangri-la The Fort Hotel was adorned with jewel-toned blooms from Holland. A sea of red Ecuadorian roses, flowing purple orchids, fuchsia colored tulips, and burgundy dahlias were all nested in a 1,800sqm ballroom illuminated with nova chandeliers, crystal candelabras, and romantic fairy lights. Meanwhile, the food selection was all hand-picked to reflect our favorites. To start off the reception, canapes and our all-time favorite snack, Quisine kamote chips, were served. Staying true to our Chinese roots, we chose to serve a full-course meal by Canton Road. Part of the courses included dishes like Canton Road’s Signature Roasted Suckling Pig, Chashiu, and Roast Duck platter, accompanied by Wagyu Beef in Sichuan Pepper Sauce. We made sure to balance it out with healthier entrées like Seabass in XO Sauce, Prawn and Scallop E-FU Noodles, and Seafood Conpoy Soup. To cap off the dinner were our favorite desserts such as Classic Chocolate Mousse with Coconut Ice Cream, a hearty Black Sesame Walnut Soup, and their childhood favorite, Buchi. The true highlights of the occasion were messages from our loved ones. We enjoyed going down memory lane, listening to speeches from our parents, siblings, and close friends with their messages all similar in theme. Ralph’s best man Aldric described our dynamic perfectly: “Ralph and Diane are like Yin and Yang, and that’s why their relationship works.” Truly, the entire wedding planning wasn’t just done by us but both families were of great help during the planning process. The wedding wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for Ralph’s mom, Carol, who guided us each step of the way. She gave us the complete freedom to choose all our preferences and motifs but she was the catalyst to what made the event truly outstanding and memorable, always improving every element of the wedding. She allowed us to dream of what we wanted for our once-in-a-lifetime occasion and when challenges arose, most of which related to the pandemic, she taught us how to look back at what the essence of a wedding is all about us being in harmony with each other. If anything, the successful output is a result of how we both learned to focus on the internal, rising through all the external challenges brought about by the pandemic. We learned how to harness our strengths, Ralph’s boldness and Diane’s grace. We’re happy to say that all things fell into place, creating a solemn yet incredibly joyous celebration

REAL WEDDINGS

en-ph

2022-05-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://manilabulletin.pressreader.com/article/283124252503535

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