Prepare for turquoise blue hues as our real wedding couple, Marius and Kristine, share the divine details of their stationery, wedding rings, dresses and delicate additions in an incredible setting. The celebration took place on the tropical Klub Keluarga Resort at Laiya Batangas in The Philippines and photographer Ivy Palomares was there to capture this utterly dreamy destination wedding. However, be warned, these photos may make you want to book a holiday ASAP!
In the Springtime of 2019, Marius and Kristine found each other on an online dating app. After three weeks of chatting constantly, they decided to meet up and went on their first date in a cafe located in Munich, Germany. "We agreed to walk to the park nearby for a couple more hours and chit-chat about our lives. Indeed, we had a wonderful time and from there on we started seeing each other regularly and the rest, as they say, is history," they said.
The proposal came along three years later, on their third anniversary. Marius organized a trip to Europa Park, Germany's largest theme park and set up an amazing dinner date. "It was a beautiful, romantic evening and the sky was filled with brilliant colours. He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I couldn't be any happier. It was a dream come true!" said Kristine.
The beautiful bridesmaid squad, made up of seven of Kristine's nearest and dearest, enjoyed some girly fun in the sun styling some flowy fabulous beach hats, silk robes and retro sunshades!
Marius the groom, donned a traditional Filipino barong Tagalog, which has a deep history and effortless elegance. All of the buttons must be fastened for a dignified look, as the wedding was held in the Philippines.
When it came to priorities for the couple's destination wedding, the guests always ranked on top. "We ensure that our guests are taken care of and keep guests happy. However, it's impossible to ensure everyone is always happy, especially at a wedding, and most of all, we should at least ensure everyone is comfortable. We wanted to concentrate on the people most dear to us and therefore decided to celebrate in a smaller circle, only close friends and family," the couple said.
How much we love a bride squad that can mix & match! The stunning ladies wear blue in various necklines and shades. They carried a simple, little bouquet of baby breath.
It is clear to see the natural backdrop of sandy white beaches and azure waters made for the dreamiest of backdrops for the magical day. Not only did the sound of the gently lapping waves create a serene atmosphere, but so did the colours. The couple explains their colour scheme and theme selection: "For our theme, we just tried to make it very us. Minimal yet classy and something we both loved which included a beach vibe. We chose a classy theme to complement the beautiful scenery with a simple and stunning ceremony arch. Calming Tiffany blue, sage green, lush white flowers with loads of greenery and sand beige – this entire colour palette really makes us want to relax and unwind."
Having all of their loved ones from Germany and the Philippines encircle them with love on their big day was undoubtedly the most precious memory of the day. "First of all, our wedding was not just our special day but also a reunion of our beloved first-time meet-up parents, loved ones and friends from Germany and the Philippines. Moreover, our wedding day was our fourth anniversary together which makes it so special to us. We got a bit nervous, it was not the bride who almost didn’t show up, for us it was our priest who was late and made us quite nervous," they laughed.
The beautiful bride Kristine walked down the aisle to She by Elvis Costello, the famous soundtrack used in Notting Hill.
When asked to sum up the dreamy tropical wedding day, they said: "The Philippines has plenty of natural beauty to offer, and we believe one of the greatest ways to show it off is to have a beach wedding with Klub Keluarga Resort in Batangas as the ultimate wedding destination. Moreover, Batangas is the province of Kristine, where she would like to showcase her town."
The couple was lucky to have exchanged vows in front of one of the most breathtaking sunsets. And although it took place on the sandy beach, it was not stopping our fabulous bride from wearing the most exquisite of ball gowns! "My wedding dress with delicate lace detailing matches with an elegant and sophisticated pearl veil demonstrating how beautifully a large, voluminous gown may compliment a beach location," said Kristine.
Bear in mind our real wedding couple planned their destination dream wedding abroad from their home in Germany, meaning it came with a few challenges. However, their advice below is golden for those who are in a similar situation: "Living abroad and restricting to our budget, the planning was quite challenging because we didn’t have a local wedding planner. So, we did everything ourselves, from designing our own wedding invitations, souvenirs, and ocean-inspired cake and sorting out the top supplier to bring out the best and captures the most unforgettable moments in our lives. Likewise, my wedding gown was totally customized, and all the measurements were administered online to my gown designer. Thankfully, my mother and my brother-in-law were in the Philippines to help us with site visits and food tasting too. It was nerve-racking but trust that all your planning pays off."
There is more where that came from, they also added: "Try all your food and enjoy your wedding meal. Unfortunately, we hadn´t eaten much during the reception and missed the cuisine we would like to eat. Invest more money on a photographer and videographer than on flowers at your wedding. Photos and videos will last forever and at the end of everything these are truly what left beside great memories. Moreover, the only tangible way to keep those memories to show your grandchildren one day. The feedback we got from the video was overwhelming and it moved almost everyone to tears. Lastly, enjoy every step of the planning process because it happens only once in a lifetime. It's a beautiful time with family and friends that pulls everyone closer together; remember to take a moment to appreciate it."
The wedding venue that stole their hearts for their intimate beach wedding was a perfect destination where sun-kissed sand meets an endless expanse of the ocean. "Klub Keluarga Resort in Batangas offers a stunning backdrop, with picture-perfect ocean views and beautiful blue skies. Likewise, it can magnificently bring to life the relaxed, low-key, yet classy set-up perfect for our dreamy wedding," said the newlyweds.
The most picture-perfect wedding cake embodies the turquoise waters. Marius and Kristine shared their first dance as husband and wife to 'You Are The Reason' by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis.
A very special thank you to the lovely couple and their photographer Ivy Palomares Photography for allowing us to witness such a magical wedding day abroad!
Thinking of tying the knot abroad? We have so many Destination Real Weddings for you to check out!
