 This is a story of the power of love in the midst of chaos.
Eli Pablo and Kathryn Louise "KY" Yap were meticulous planners. When they decided to get married at 3PM on 26th September 2009, they spared no effort (and expense) in planning their dream wedding. A super expensive wedding venue (Fernbrook Gardens), an ultra-chic wedding preps place (Vivere Suites), the best flowers, a bonggacious gown from Ammon Velasco, jazzy memorabilia, peacock feather-like fans for all the principal sponsors, an avant-garde main photography team and... oh yeah, twinkling blue shoes for this no-name photographer who likes taking photos of wedding shoes.
On 26th September 2009, Ondoy swamped Metro Manila in rain. Eli and KY's guests and godparents (correctly) decided to stay home rather than getting stuck in traffic and waist-deep waters. Early on, they were told that the way to Fernbrook Gardens was already impassable due to floodwaters, and the venue itself was already surrounded by the rising flood. Even the officiating priest was stranded in Paco, with clearly no humanly way possible to perform the ceremony.
I was a bit lucky. I lived 15 minutes away from Vivere Suites, and met my call time (11AM). However, MangoRed (the main photographer) and East Digital (the videographer) said that they just couldn't make it to the 3PM wedding ceremony on time.
At 12 noon, with their wedding plans in shambles, Eli and KY went out of Room 2017 into the hallway. They sat on the hallway, just the two of them, and had a good talk. I saw Eli comforting KY with sweet, loving whispers, holding her hands. KY was sobbing. And they prayed.
At 12:30PM, Eli and KY came back into the room. In the presence of the only people who were lucky to have gotten through to the hotel (KY's parents, Eli's mom, and close relatives), they announced that they wanted to get married that day -- it didn't matter where.
I started making phone calls. I asked my wife if our parish church was still "operational", and she said yes. I made a call to our parish office and informed them of the situation. They told me that there was a wedding scheduled at 4PM, but even that was in jeopardy because of the rains. I told them that i needed a church and an officiating priest, even if it was at 11PM; they told me to call back in an hour.
At 2PM, Eli and KY had a church and a priest. The wedding would push through at 8PM (after the church's regular 7PM anticipated mass). At around that same time, 1 flower girl and 3 ring/bible bearers arrived.
At 5PM, MangoRed (who had been informed of the change in the wedding time from 3PM to 8PM) arrived. They had to walk 1 hour under the rain along C5 just to catch up to the wedding.
The couple rode on a red 1967 Ford Mustang. It didn't have a bridal bouquet on the hood. It didn't matter -- they were getting married.
When we arrived at 7:30PM, the wedding coordinators asked me if i could scrounge around for a CD player, otherwise, there would be no music for the wedding -- no entrance march, no bridal march, no hymns during the ceremony, no songs during the pictorials after the wedding. I then remembered that: (i) i always brought along my laptop, that had a DVD player and iTunes installed; and (ii) i brought along an audio cable that could connect to the church's sound system. So as soon as the 7PM mass finished, and while the floral company rushed to set up the flowers along the aisles, i was able to set up Eli and KY's selection of songs for their wedding.
At around 8:30PM of 26th September 2009, Eli and KY were bound by God. It wasn't the wedding that they planned and dreamed for. But in their eyes, and the people who were lucky to have witnessed it, they couldn't have asked for more.
Love conquers all.
To a couple that defied Ondoy's wrath and wouldn't have "No" for an answer, may you have a long and happy life together.  | So sad. . but i congratulate them for their LOVE , , , God has a special reason why this happen. . .
God Bless them |
 | wow that is what you call LOVE!!! COngartulations and more power to the couple...May the LORD shower you with all the blessings from heaven... |
Comment deleted at the request of the author.  | Wowwwwww......Unforgettable Wedding....Congratulation and Best Wishes to eLi and Ky!....and Congrats to you too Archie...w/o your Help it wouldn't be possible too :) God Bless You Always |
 | I'm touched by this wonderful story, Atty. :) Your effort and everyone else made it really possible. Indeed, LOVE conquers all. Congratulations to the couple! :) |
 | oh wow...how sweet :-) that IS love :-) this is a really really romantic story. :-) you were a blessing to them sir. :-) congrats and best wishes to them :-) |
 | the true meaning of love ...
thanks for sharing atty ... |
 | true love always pushes through...god bless and best wishes...thanks for sharing... |
 | wow! that's one of the best true to life LOVE STORY I have heard/read. I thought it just happen in fairy tales |
 | wow! am touched. love, really, conquers all. you were a blessing to them, sir! :) to the newlyweds, congratulations. |
 | Huwaw! Im so touchd! That I know will strengthen their relationshp. God bless their love. |
 | i got goosebumps wen im reading this blog bro.. indeed.. love conquers all... good job bro! |
 | wow....very inspiring... truly, love conquers all... |
 | noynineinsg wrote on Sep 27, '09, edited on Sep 27, '09 i was teary eyed when i read this post.. God is so good.. truly, love conquers all.. Congratulations and Best Wishes to Eli and Ky! this just shows that no matter how hard the situations, with the power of prayers.. everything will put into place.. congrats also Atty for a very very job well done! *clap*clap*clap* |
 | nobs wrote on Sep 27, '09 inspiring! i've heard of the same thing from our parish priest this morning. A couple got married yesterday even when our church was submerged (chest deep). cheers to those who don't let anything get in the way of their love! :D |
 | Well done bro! Truly inspiring! May God bless you more.... |
 | wow!!!! love conquers all indeed. |
 | so sweet sir! got teary eyed after reading your blog. congratulations to all who contributed time and effort for this wedding to push through no matter what! |
 | wow very touching naman po ito na blog mo. thumps up to you attorney for the extra extra care you have given to the couple |
 | a very touching story~! best wishes for them! |
 | kudos to you RF! you made all things happen, too! congratz to the couple. bless you all! |
 | Indeed "Love conquers all". Thanks for sharing the story. |
 | congratulations to them! and, tho i dont know the couple, thanks so much for helping them out...i cant imagine how stressful it was for them (being a bride-to-be myself)...uve such a good heart... =) |
|  i cant imagine how stressful it was for them (being a bride-to-be myself)...uve such a good heart... =)  Yup, i really felt for them when i saw them in tears outside the bride's room. But when i saw the determination in the groom's face when he said that he wanted to get married, kahit na 11PM, i didn't want to fail them na. But honestly? I didn't believe that we could get a church to accept them on such short notice. I was able to convince the church to take us in after i told them that the couple were my "close friends". |
 | grabe...kuya archie...ur d best...ngayon ko lang ssbihin sayo to..m proud of u...really love moves in mysterious ways...congrats to d couple...they will never forget u...m really proud dat my sister found a great man like u....d sipsip yan ah...hahahha.... |
| grabe...kuya archie...ur d best...ngayon ko lang ssbihin sayo to..m proud of u...really love moves in mysterious ways...congrats to d couple...they will never forget u...m really proud dat my sister found a great man like u....d sipsip yan ah...hahahha.... Hinde, alam ko na sipsip ka. Malayo pa bday mo, huuuyyy! hehehe.
Thanks. Di ba lagi naman ako ganito when there are people in need? ;) |
 | you were a blessing to them too sir.. may God continue to bless your craft, and i pray for lots of wonderful years together for this one-of-a-kind couple.. so inspiring to all engaged couple like us! really, this will show you talaga what the marriage is all about.. its not the church, the reception, the flowers, and all that.. its you, your partner, and God.. :) |
 | kudos to you atty for making everything possible! you're really a blessing to the couple. To Eli and KY..Congratulations, looking at the other side of the coin you're both blessed to have a wedding meaning than ever. Have a blissful married life. God Bless! |
 | hands down to you Atty..nabasa ko yung blog nila the other day at nakita ko name mo as photographer..
I admire your passion as wedding photographer.. |
 | all the wedding suppliers have been the angel in disguise for the couple. as the saying goes, walang makakapigil harangan man ng sibat :D congatulations to the couple and a job well done to all who made the wedding fulfilled.. |
 | elijrpablo wrote on Sep 29, '09, edited on Sep 29, '09 And so my bestfriend and I are married... God indeed works in mysterious ways... Angels with lenses flew down from the heavens to conjure all hope and love to get it done...
At the end of the day, it really isn't about how expensive the venue is nor how nice the clothes are... Not the food, flowers, or car ... It's really just two hearts hoping, the Lord Almighty, and a couple of kindred spirits who are willing to brave the rain, walk the talk, and push forth to the battlecry "No matter what..."
To our family, friends and angels - Raymond Fortun & team, Randall & the Mango Red team, Cherryblocks, Ray & Bing Montes of Scenta, Ammon & team, Mich Lim and team, Hitched... thank you. Your teamwork and dedication to your craft was an amazing thing to see....
And to my Woobiedoo, the love of my life... we made it. It wasn't how we planned it to be, but it certainly was how He wanted it to be- simple, intimate, humbling. "No matter what" will truly be remembered by many. I love you.
Raymond - we really couldn't have done it without you. Salamat from the bottom of our hearts. Sana dumami pa lahi mo... Kitakits tayo sa celebrations... :-) |
| raymond42n wrote on Sep 29, '09, edited on Sep 29, '09 At the end of the day, it really isn't about how expensive the venue is nor how nice the clothes are... Not the food, flowers, or car ... It's really just two hearts hoping, the Lord Almighty, and a couple of kindred spirits who are willing to brave the rain, walk the talk, and push forth to the battlecry "No matter what..." Amen.
Funny how God works, no? You prepared so hard for the wedding, then He brings you back down to reality and gives the lesson -- marriage is between the couple and God. No frills, no expensive accessories, no state-of-the-art church. Now, with this experience, you have a strong foundation for your and KY's future as a couple. Keep the Lord in your midst always.
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 | naiyak ako, atty. they were lucky andun ka with them. =) |
 | wow. sobrang wow. :) i wish them the best :) |
 | i would like to personally thank you for staying with them. you sir are indeed a blessing to them. we wish you and the couple tons of blessing! GodSpeed! |
 | I cannot thank you enough for all the help atty! i'll see you around. -Teena |
| I cannot thank you enough for all the help atty! i'll see you around. -Teena Don't mention it. We do what needs to be done, for the good of the client. Thanks also for your and your team's dedication. Please send my regards to them. :) |
 | nice and touching story. hayan ang accenture employees, laging all systems ready! :-) |
| wow! this was really amazing story... you're such an angel helping out the couple on their wedding... good thing you're there... and I agree with you... love conquers all. |
 | i so love the story..love conquers all..:) |
 | wow! what a powerful story. at least their wedding is still the most unforgettable not because of the expensive details but because of the greatest feat they conquered out of pure love... God has blessed the couple so much it over-poured... hehe. :)
anyway, hats off to you atty! you really saved the day! honestly, naligaw po ako sa site nyo because of w@w announcing you as one of top 10 wedding suppliers! (clap! clap!) i was surprised coz i didn't know the infamous raymond fortun is a famous photographer?!? well, i'm scouting for a supplier to do photo-video for my own wedding next year. i love your photos and avp hybrids, but do you have samples of your album layout? hope we could get in touch po! :) more power! |
| raymond42n wrote on Nov 5, '09, edited on Nov 5, '09 do you have samples of your album layout? hope we could get in touch po! :) more power! Hi elena! Thank you for the happy thoughts on my work. Send me a message at raymond42n@mac.com and i'd be glad to send what you need. :)
I chuckled when you said "infamous". I would have accepted 'notorious' hahaha! Looking forward to hearing from you. :) |
 | hi joseph (eli pablo), just found atty raymond fortun's site by accident so i tried to see if your wedding story was here ... and it is! what an inspiring story! i like what atty fortun said "marriage is between a couple and God", and what a memorable way to honor that. with such a stormy wedding day, i am so sure your marriage will be nothing but smooth sailing... kudos!! |
 | Atty. Raymond, hope you won't mind me sharing this link on my facebook account. a very heart-warming love story indeed. it made me cry..a bit..hehe! thanks so much! am a big fan! |
 | hi Atty. Raymond, I'm also hoping that you won't mind if I shared this story in my Facebook... I'm inspired of their love story... you're so lucky to have witnessed their wedding. :) |
 | Goosebumps, Atty. Goosebumps.. |
 | Ang ganda... :) Nakaka-touch. The dream wedding is not how much you spent on it... it's standing at the altar saying your vows in front of God and the people that you love. |
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