'The luxury bouquet': Bride walks down the aisle with onions in hand in lieu of flowers
Philippine history has its fair share of extravagant weddings—Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho's, Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes', and now, one couple's nuptials stood out for its luxurious choice of flowers.
Blushing bride April Lyka Nobis piqued the attention of social media users as her wedding photos were shared online. In the pictures, she was walking down the aisle holding a bouquet of onions instead of the traditional flowers.
Onions have been considered quite a luxury item in the Philippines as a kilogram of the produce is now more expensive than a kilo of beef rump or a whole chicken.
Nobis told The Philippine STAR that her choice to carry a three- to four-kilo onion bouquet was out of practicality. Even her bridesmaids carried a wreath with onions instead of flowers.
"I think mas practical to use onions since mahal siyan ngayon and after the wedding, pwede siya ma-take home ng visitors namin," she said.
The couple reportedly allotted P15,000 for the bouquets and saved a lot by repurposing them after the wedding.
"Pinamigay ko na mga corsage at wristlet, nashock mga principal sponsor at nag-enjoy," wedding coordinator Carl Michael Poblacion said. "Sabi pa nga nila may babaunin at pasalubong na sila pag-uwi sa Manila at may panggisa na."
Nobis wed her husband Erwin Vogel last Jan. 21 in Iloilo on the last day of Dinagyang festival.
Netizens were also amused with the choice, calling Nobis' carry a "luxury bouquet."
"Ang mahal ng bouquet niya sibuyas. Pag-aagawan 'yan ng single ladies," one user on Facebook said.
"In onion, there is strength and unity," another wrote.
"Mahal ang sibuyas pero dapat mas mahalin niyo ang isa't isa habang buhay," a netizen added.