On March 26, 2022, this woman achieved her rustic-themed dream wedding! All thanks to the lechon rolls she sold in less than two years.
“We got engaged no’ng June 2021. A month after no’ng nag start kami ng business. So right after no’ng engagement, wala pa talagang planning, kasi wala kaming pampakasal at all. As in siguro kaya namin magpakasal pero intimate wedding lang gano’n lang ‘yung idea namin. Pero siyempre ako, since babae maaarte ganyan may pa aesthetic, gusto ko rin sana ma experience ‘yung bongga na wedding,” Ana Nicole Lagmay-Bulanon told the Philippine STAR.
“During that time, though may stable kaming work, kaya lang kasi pareho kaming panganay. Pareho kaming breadwinner ng family. So hindi talaga siya gano’n kabilis makakaipon kami kung magbabase lang talaga kami sa monthly salary namin,” she shared.
But before selling lechons, Nicole started an online food business with her mom during the pandemic. In June 2020, she created a Facebook page to reach more customers.
“Way back, nagca-catering services na talaga si mama. Pero wala kaming mga gamit. It’s just the food. So si mama ‘yung magluluto then ‘yung mga celebrant, sila ‘yung nagp-provide ng mga gamit. So food lang talaga ‘yung sa’min,” she recalled.
The first few months of the food business went well. But after quite some time, Nicole decided to halt its operations and only accept bulk orders after several establishments started re-opening in the second half of 2021.
Until one night, she decided to cook a lechon roll for dinner and posted it on social media. Surprisingly, she received numerous inquiries from her friends.
“Tapos ‘yung mga friends ko, them knowing na nag e-exist ‘yung La Cocina, lahat sila nagtatanong. “Uy ibebenta mo ba ‘yan do’n? Uy benta mo ‘yan bibili kami ganyan ganyan. Sabi ko, “Hindi, ano, dinner lang namin ‘yan ganyan. Tinry ko lang,” she said.
“Nasarapan sila mama ganyan. Nagluto uli ako after two weeks. Tapos do’n na. Same feedback do’n sa mga friends ko na mag-oorder daw sila,” she added.
Nicole then encouraged her then boyfriend, Marlon, to start a lechon roll business after seeing the potential of the product.
Surprisingly, one of their lechon roll cooking videos went viral on social media! In August 2021, they received an influx of orders! At the time, they sold around 300 boxes per week and earned five figures per month!
This helped the couple pursue their dream wedding!
“Nakakaiyak kasi siya, dahil nga parang ‘yung wedding namin, dugo’t pawis talaga technically. Literal pawis na pawis ka kakaluto ng lechon. Pagod na pagod kami. Tapos ang ending, ‘yon. ‘Yung na na-achieve namin ‘yung dream wedding namin,” Nicole noted.
Their income from the lechon roll business covered almost half of their wedding expenses, which cost more than half a million! Nicole was indeed the happiest bride as she walked down the aisle!
The couple tied the knot in a garden wedding in San Pedro, Laguna last March 26, 2022.
“Feeling ko kung hindi nag-boom or hindi na-hype ‘yung La Cocina by Carla, baka nag-intimate wedding lang kami. Kasi wala talaga kaming budget para sa gano’n kabonggang wedding,” she stressed.
