Four years after their first unexciting meeting, Don and Maricar exchanged "I do's" in a church full of bouquets of white roses
and almost 300 friends and relatives.
Uploaded: December 14, 2007
"We are all going to celebrate a wonderful event tonight," Don Allado told wedding guests, some of whom had come from the provinces and from the U.S. And Maricar added: "I'm so happy to have our family and friends with us on our wedding day. Sobrang well-appreciated 'yon."
Mark Anthony Fernandez (left) served as the proxy ninong for Senator Lito Lapid, who was stranded in Vancouver, Canada, and couldn't make it to the wedding. With Mark is ninang Angie Sison.
Ninang Maricel Soriano—here walking hand in hand with Senator Jinggoy Estrada, one of the ninongs—arrived early with her sister, Bec Bec. After the wedding ceremony, when it was time for the pictorial in front of the altar with all the wedding sponsors, Marya told the photographer: "Dito ako pupuwesto sa harapan, kasi maliit ako."
Ninong Manny V. Pangilinan (left), the big boss of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone company (PLDT) and Smart Communications, as well as the owner of the Talk 'N Text team for which Don plays, shared a hearty laugh with ninang Cory Vidanes, ABS-CBN managing director for TV production.
The late Jun Bernardino, former commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and Menchu Henson, wife of sports commentator Quinito Henson, were two of the major sponsors.
Don is the middle child in a brood of three boys, but the first to get married. Here, he's with the Allado family: (left to right) mom Joy Esther, dad Carlito, elder brother Bryan, and younger brother Andrew.
A funny thing happened on the way to the altar. Maricar—here flanked by her parents, Nelson and Senna de Mesa—walked briskly, in a most unbride-like manner. "'Yong entourage ko pala, noong nag-march sila, ang babagal. They were taking their time. Pero ako, 'yong bride na dapat mabagal, parang nagmamadali daw ako. Lahat ng madaanan ko na mga coordinator, bumubulong sa akin, 'Take your time, take your time.'"
Having to kneel down caused a lot of discomfort, according to Maricar: "Di'ba, ma-beads 'yong damit ko? So 'yon 'yong niluluhuran ko. Kaya pagtayo ko, I'm sure ang pupula lahat ng tuhod ko, kasi nakamarka 'yong mga beads."
Cord sponsor Tanya Garcia (left)—here with veil sponsor Angelu de Leon—organized the bachelorette party for Maricar at the Victoria Court in Pasig City. At the party, inside the Austin Powers Room of the motel, there were 17 giggling and screaming girls and one naked guy. Says Maricar, who received a lot of naughty items from her naughty friends: "It was so much fun. Super!"
Don and Maricar went steady for four years before they decided to tie the knot. "People thought we've been living together, but we were not," Don says. "Her parents wouldn't allow that."
"Bago ako bumaba ng wedding car, ninenerbiyos ako," Maricar reveals. "'Yong legs ko parang nagse-shake, parang ayaw lumakad. Pero during the ceremony, okey na ako. Relaxed na." Waiting at the altar with a wide smile on his face, Don let out a "Wow!" upon seeing Maricar walk down the aisle." Her beautiful French-lace wedding gown with duchess-satin lining was encrusted with Swarovski crystals. Says designer Avel Bacudio, who created the gown: "Nakatatlong palit kami ng pattern. Sobrang kulit ni Maricar. Kasi, gusto niya, mababang-mababa 'yong pagka-backless ng gown."
When the officiating priest said, "You may now kiss your wife," Don faced the people inside the church and motioned for them to clap their hands. When they did, he ever-so-gently kissed Maricar on the lips. Just minutes before the wedding, Don confessed to feeling anxious. "It's a new chapter in my life," he said.
The six-foot-high, five-layer fondant cake was much higher than the petite Maricar but a bit shorter than Don. (Far right) "Ang instruction sa amin, on the count of three, release the dove. Ako talaga, ang ganda-ganda ng pagkaka-release ko. Si Don naman... amazed na amazed siya sa paglipad ng kalapati. Pero 'yong dove niya... hawak-hawak niya pa rin. Kaya sabi ko, 'Hey, you're not paying attention!'"
Don and Maricar hammed it up with friends (left to right) Tanya Garcia, Ara Mina, Angelu de Leon, Tanya Liana, Troy Montero, and Aubrey Miles. "Si Ara Mina at si Patrick Uy ang couple sa bouquet and garter," says Maricar. "After their portion, nagsayawan na lahat. 'Yong area sa reception na malapit sa may band, tinanggal na 'yong tables and chairs para magkaroon ng mas maluwag na dance floor."
The newlyweds with Don's teammates and friends (left to right) Mark Andaya, Anthony "Jay" Washington, Sabrina Mesina, Asi Taulava, Mac Cardona, and Ren-Ren Ritualo.
The newlyweds (seated) with guests (left to right) Jimmy Alapag, LJ Moreno, Aina Gonzales, Rich Harding, November Tan, and Harvey Carey. "We had a lot of Fil-Am guests," says Maricar. "Sanay sila na ang wedding, e, party talaga, may sayawan. Super-nag-enjoy sila. Natapos kami mga three a.m. or four o'clock na yata."
