Outfit: I Do Not Love You As If You Were a Salt Rose

Barely a day after coming back from Cebu, I found myself on the road again, this time to Tagaytay for the wedding ceremony of my friends Klassy and Eric (also known as the awesome people who let me crash at their San Francisco apartment). The ceremony is actually a renewal of the wedding vows they said at their city hall wedding in 2008, but you can’t really tell that they’ve been married three years from how happy they were all night. Klassy is one of the sweetest, most passionate people I know and I’m beyond happy that she found someone who is just as smart, talented, and loving as she is.

I don’t normally dress this outrageously for weddings, but Klassy writes for Refinery 29 so I knew she wouldn’t mind if I went a little crazy with my outfit!

Dress: J Crew
Leopard print vest: garage sale
Heels: Love Walks In
Shades: Anagon

The J Crew dress was a gift from my aunt, who bought it online and found out that it didn’t fit her very well. Though the dress fit me and my boobs quite perfectly, it’s been sitting in my closet for the better part of three years because I can’t think of an occasion where no one might get offended at the sight of my bare cleavage. If not for open-minded, non-prudish friends and their secular weddings, I’d probably never get the chance to wear it at all! I knew it would be freezing at Tagaytay at night, and I very nearly brought a boyfriend blazer to keep me warm. Fortunately, I remembered that I have this crazy leopard print fur vest, which is a warmer and more exciting option than a boring black blazer.

Marco doesn’t know this, but I secretly got kilig when I walked into our room and saw him in his suit. I mean, who doesn’t love a good-looking guy in a coat and tie? People need to invite us to weddings more often.

I cheated and went into the bride’s bedroom for a sneak peek of her dress and makeup. Klassy was the picture of bridal bliss, and I loved everything about her dress! Her shoes are Rodarte for Opening Ceremony, which she bought with the help of some extreme couponing. They were priced at $800, but she ended up paying just under $200 for them! This is the same girl who once bought a $6,000 Emilio Pucci gown for a mere $2 at an Outnet sale.

Eric looked awesome in a teal-gray suit and with groomed hair! I’m also digging the color and texture of his mom’s dress.

The groomsmen were dapper in khaki pants, colorful bow ties, and suspenders. Hello, Helga!

And then there was the bride. My favorite part of Klassy’s bridal ensemble was the veil, which was so original, unexpected, and flattering. Later on, I learned that Eric’s mom made it out of random tulle from Carolina’s.

The ultra-stylish reception was a book nerd’s dream. Antiqued books numbered each table and guests wrote their wishes to the couple on postcards patterned after Penguin classics. And instead of the usual fluffy tiers, the wedding cake featured their favorite works from Borges, Neil Gaiman, and Philip K Dick (I have read two out of three!).

Sometimes I think I’d like to stay a bachelorette forever because I’m afraid that marriage will mean trading a life filled with a million exciting possibilities for a life of domestic boredom (don’t even get me started about how much I dread the thought of having kids). But then I look at Klassy and Eric, and I am reminded that when you end up marrying the right person – that is, someone who loves you unconditionally and who treats you as an equal rather than a subordinate – marriage can be a beautiful thing. Congratulations on pulling off such a gorgeous wedding, and thank you for inviting me to be a part of it! <3

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