First person narrative by Aimee Alado-Blake, Gavin’s bride and Rawmag’s UK Legal Counsel
I am unsure how, where and when to begin when asked to write about the extraordinary journey of our love story (#GavTakesAim) (https://aimeegavinwedding.com/), as I can play around with a lot of variables (or multicollinearity).
Starting from the circumstances of our first meeting in London in February 2017, his proposal in Portugal in June 2019, and our Vatican wedding on the leap day of 2020, culminating in our renewal of vows ceremony on a Philippine island on Easter Sunday of 2023.
And of course, numerous trips together within the UK, to Paris, Brussels, Sofia, Athens, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and the Vatican, Switzerland, Canada, Brunei Darussalam, Israel and Palestine, Barbados, USA, Singapore, the Philippines (6x) and counting!
Although we are from different professions,, we’re not too dissimilar. Aimee - an international lawyer and Gavin formerly an engineer is also an accountant/finance professional. Other significant variables that factor are culture, background, heritage, country, and nationality, and let me say multiple jurisdictions, interracial marriage, religion, and others.
I am a believer of fate and destiny anchored naturally on my Catholic faith, which convinced me that our “uneventful” chance encounter in 2017 would lead to a relationship of a lifetime. The stars indeed aligned. This relationship has since then strengthened my faith and helped us navigate our human fallibilities. It has helped us deal with the pandemic in the last three years and kept safe our family and friends until the big event on the 9th of April 2023.
The (first) wedding date was originally scheduled for 12 April 2020 at Shangri-La Resort & Spa, Boracay Island, Philippines (“SLBO”) (https://www.shangri-la.com/boracay/boracayresort/). A choice of beach wedding versus a wedding in historical venues in the UK or Europe, Boracay was not my obvious choice being born and bred in the Philippines but I think Gavin really liked Boracay on his first visit in 2017.
I/we never realised that planning for a wedding would entail a LOT of work! Thank God, I listened to friend Maridee who suggested Amanda Tirol to be our wedding planner (@eventsbyamandatirol or boracayweddings.org).
For the rest of 2019, it became a preoccupation, more like another job, really, planning and preparing for the wedding. In the Philippines, a Catholic wedding ceremony is recognised as both religious and civil, i.e. will have a dual binding effect under the church and law. The only caveat is that you have to be married inside a church and not ‘outdoors’, i.e. beach or mountain or forest, nor ‘underwater’ for scuba enthusiast couples.
This presented us with a major challenge as it means that we cannot do a beach wedding. Or proceed to do one, albeit it will not be recognised as a legal marriage. And then there was the worldwide challenge of Covid!
As early as December 2019/January 2020, Covid-19 was emerging to be a worldwide concern. We were in liaison with Amanda during this time all too concerned with the impending Philippine (first) lockdown that happened on 14th March 2020. This meant that we had to postpone the first date but God knows to when?! I was the most devastated as my nature would dictate such a reaction when a plan gets postponed. And the uncertainty of how long the pandemic would last add more to this unwanted feeling.
Meanwhile, amidst all this ‘pandemonium’ we were gifted by ‘divine intervention’ to marry at the Vatican on 29th February 2020, when countries started to close borders and restrictions were getting tighter each passing day (the whole of Italy went into lockdown on 9th March 2020), we held our (1st) wedding and eucharistic celebration at the 1565-year old Parish Church for the Vatican City State, Sant’Anna dei Palafrenieri/Pontificia Parrocchia Di S. Anna, Città del Vaticano.
My grateful thanks to Monsigñor Jerry Bitoon, Father Stefano, and Father Erickson for making this all possible. Also, to (Tita) Lolita Valderrama Savage who stood as sponsor and arranged for the after-party and to our other witnesses - Ramon, Shane, Raul and Lars. Everything just happened perfectly, and I/we believe in accordance with God’s will that LOVE (in the time of COVID-19) had triumphed when the world stood still.
Fast forward three years later on 9th April 2023, and like the late Queen’s message of hope in April 2020 (“We will be with our families and friends again”), we gathered with our family and friends from different countries to witness our re-affirmation (renewal of vows) of our declaration made on 29th February 2020, at the world’s often voted best beach and island - Boracay Island, Philippines at the 5-star (more like 7-star) Shangri-La Resort.
The Philippines has many of the world’s excellent wedding (or any occasion) destinations! The places themselves are picturesque, blessed with the beauty of nature and impeccable Filipino hospitality and talent. All praises to Amanda’s team, all the staff of SLBO especially our own butler at the panoramic Tree House Villa, Playlife & Bordoy’s Photography team who edited this impressive same-day video (https://youtu.be/zTk3nxinZFE); my make-up artist - Angel; emcee Kate Chavez and other suppliers who made everything a “PERFECT production” where everyone had the best time of their lives.
Life is good, everyone should get one. And what makes life good is LOVE and HOPE. Whatever type or form of love (to your other half/significant other, family, friends or mankind in general), make sure you stay in LOVE and HOPEFUL.