LOOK: Angel Locsin and Neil Arce's intimate backyard wedding was just planned two days before the big day
Wedding timelines have stretched, dates moved, guest lists have been downsized—these are just some of the dilemmas most soon-to-weds have during the pandemic. What was supposed to be a big wedding last November became a small yet meaningful celebration for newlyweds Angel Locsin and Neil Arce.
"We were thinking, 'Should we do it small?' But that's not us eh. We're friends, we have a group of friends. We want everyone to be there. We want everyone to have fun," Arce told Metro.Style of their wedding.
"And you know, Angel didn't attend their prom. She didn't have a debut. So this is the only big party she's going to have," he added.
But because of COVID-19, the celebrity couple had to redo the wedding planning and move their wedding date to mid-2021.
"Better na safe ang lahat at confident na walang sakit, so I think best decision namin na i-move na lang 'yung wedding," the actress said in the same interview.
With the help of their wedding planner La Belle Fête, Arce and Locsin pulled off a more intimate civil wedding and a backyard wedding reception with only 10 guests present in just two days. Yes, two!
"Pwede ng peg sa Pinterest," Locsin wrote on her caption.
Below, look at the beautiful details of The Arces' wedding.
The bouquet
The laidback couple wanted a simple wedding to celebrate the occasion. "Nothing pretentious, warm, welcoming, not too feminine, raw and real," wrote La Belle Fête on their post.
At first, the bride didn't think she needed a bouquet for her civil wedding, but event stylist and florist Randy Lazaro opposed a "basic" wedding. And so, he created for Locsin a bouquet using white Hellebores, Astilbe, Bouvardia, Nigella, Italian Ruscus combined with Eucalyptus.
"The bouquet is unassuming yet with a distinct character that is truly perfect for Angel," La Belle Fête added.
The reception
This was the simplest yet classy backyard wedding, if we ever saw one. Following the ceremony, the couple and the guests headed to Locsin's backyard for a small celebration.
"What started out as 'pwede bang makihiram ng tables and chairs, a buffet table for our take out food,' nauwi sa napakagandang set up na ito," wrote Locsin.
The simple garden was transformed as if they were "dining under the stars," surrounded by greenery.
Instead of using flowers, which the couple is allergic to, Lazaro used herbs and plants as table decors. "As requested, the setting has less flowers, lots of greenery. Not too feminine, but full of character," said Lazaro.
Sustainability is also "front and center" at this reception. Locsin added that the table decors are now upcycled as home decors and for cooking.
"Hanggang ngayon nagagamit pa namin yung mga herbs and plants na you used as decoration since alam mo na nanghihinayang ako na patay na yung plants the next day," said Locsin in her post, thanking Lazaro.
The result of the reception was beyond what the couple expected: "It was warm, simple, and natural, lahat masaya, lahat nakangiti, just what they wanted," shared the event stylist.
La Belle Fête also added: "The setting was warm and organic but innovative and impactful. Most of all, it reflects the personalities of Neil and Gel."
Congratulations and best wishes, Angel and Neil! We cannot wait to see your Christian wedding!
Photos from Nice Print Photography