If other brides are looking for a church with long aisle, this bride from Rizal is an exception to that!
Bride Lai Balderrama- Endozo said it was indeed a moment when she had a unique wedding entrance at a resort in Bohol last March 8, 2024.
“‘Yung island where the ceremony is, part siya ng resort. It was a man-made island, maliit na island, so wala talagang ibang way to get there but to ride a boat. Sinasabi [ng guests] ang ganda daw tingnan. Ang unique. Si husband, nag-share siya sa akin. Nung napalingon siya noong nasa boat ako, ‘yun daw ‘yung moment niya na naiyak daw siya” she told The Philippine STAR.
Lai said that she really felt the moment, “It was super surreal. Dati pinapanood lang or ini-imagine mo lang siya. Sobrang grateful lang talaga ako that it was made possible.”
Lai and her now husband Geff are childhood sweethearts. They first met way back in grade school.
“We’ve been together for many years na. Before we got married, 17 years na kami together. We met at school. There were times na may on and off. Syempre, bata pa noon. But yes, nag-continue lang din ‘yung relationship namin. Until college, until mag-work kami,” she shared.
Geff proposed to Lai in March 2022 after being in a relationship for over a decade.
Noting, “Siguro ‘yung secret is having our own separate lives pero we’re working on our relationship together. We are building ‘yung isa’t isa together pero at the same time, meron kaming sariling hobby, interest.”
“Madaming challenges. Even though matagal na kami, super dami pa rin pa lang challenges ‘yung pagdadaanan n’yo together pero we both know naman na there’s a lot more in the future. Pero right now, we’re just enjoying everything,” Lai added.
By profession, Lai is a bridal gown designer that’s why it was easier for them to plan their wedding. She also achieved her dream of designing her own wedding gown.
“Talagang very hands on kami doon sa wedding planning namin. Very specific talaga ‘yung planning namin. Talagang pinagplanuhan namin every detail. Especially, with the attires,” she said.
“It was really my dream, bata pa lang po. I dreamed about having this kind of business and also, I dreamed about creating and designing my own gown. ‘Yung process was very matrabaho. But when I saw it altogether na nung wedding day, grabe sobrang fulfilling talaga,” she added.
The couple first got married in an intimate church wedding last February 2024 in Cainta, Rizal, followed by their beach wedding on March 8, 2024.
When asked about her message to couples who are getting married, Lai stressed the importance of following their hearts in preparing their wedding.
“If meron talaga silang gustong mangyari sa wedding nila, siguro don’t listen to, doon sa opinion ng iba. Just do what you want to do. Don’t look forward sa wedding lang. For me, tingin din tayo sa marriage talaga. I mean, the wedding, syempre, highlight din ‘yun. Pero ‘yung pinaka importante kasi is ‘yung marriage eh and how you prepare for it,” she noted.
