LOOK: The elegant details of Jaz Reyes and Miguel Sotto’s Ting Hun
Digital creator and host Jaz Reyes and filmmaker Miguel Sotto celebrated their engagement with a dreamy Ting Hun, a traditional Chinese-Filipino engagement ceremony, at Lijiang, China on Oct. 30.
Jaz revealed on social media that they only planned the ceremony for three months. “I was initially apprehensive to bring my Filipino friends and family (and introduce) my Chinese side,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “I realized that contrary to what people may think, these two sides could not be more similar.”
Both in the creative industry, the couple made sure that every element of the celebration was intentional and gorgeously crafted. The photos they shared so far look straight out of a movie, with the breathtaking views of Lijiang in the background.
As the couple shared on Instagram, a Ting Hun is a “Chinese-Filipino engagement ceremony that symbolizes the formal union of two families and serves as a prelude to marriage.”
The ceremony, they added, often involves rituals for prosperity and respect for familiar values. Jaz was quick to clarify that the Ting Hun is not a wedding, but something that precedes it.
Here are some of the elegant details from Jaz and Miguel’s Ting Hun.
Beautiful and personalized looks
Jaz wore a cheongsam with the signature standing collar and intricate cutouts.
Brought to life by Indonesian designer Putri Mudita, the dress and its striking double train were embroidered with meaningful symbols of the couple’s personalities, making it uniquely theirs. Even their dogs were embroidered in.
Jaz's look was completed with soft, understated make-up from celebrity makeup artist Miz Raffy and customized shoes from True Story Evermore. The soles read “Bao Bei,” a Chinese term of endearment that means “treasure” or “precious.”
Miguel matched Jaz with an embroidered silk tangzhuang. The bridesmaids donned custom dresses from Emilia Atelier following Jaz’s brief of “modern Chinese,” the muted blue meshing perfectly with the warm greens of Lijiang.
The perfect venue
Lijiang, a city northwest of Yunnan Province, China, served as the dreamy backdrop of Jaz and Miguel’s Ting Hun. Jaz described it as “the perfect getaway from creatives to bask in the art of God’s hands: Mother Nature.”
The celebration was held at Banyan Tree Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the highlands of Yunnan Province. The breathtaking views of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, coupled with the town’s charming cobblestone streets and canals, made for a tranquil experience.
The couple let the venue shine with white flowers and red accents—the latter being in accordance with the Ting Hun tradition of using red satin cloth at the ceremonial table for gifts.
This color palette extended to dinner, where white tables and chairs were surrounded by luscious red drapery and flowers.
Star-studded guest list
Among the attendees of the intimate event are actors Kaila Estrada, Gabbi Garcia, and Khalil Ramos; and entrepreneurs Laureen Uy-Cruz and Miggy Cruz.
The stars all raved on social media about the beauty of the venue and congratulated Jaz and Miggy. Uy-Cruz called it “one of the best (Ting Huns) I’ve attended.”
Jaz hinted on Instagram that more photos are to come, and we can’t wait to see more of the ornate details and stories behind this beautiful ceremony.