Wedding at Tregenna Castle, Cornwall

Meeting while working as nurses in a hospital in the Philippines in 2014, what started as a friendship between Nicca and Michael blossomed into a beautiful relationship. In 2017, the couple were living in the UK but holidaying back home in the Philippines when Michael proposed. “Amid the chaos of packing up to check out of our hotel, he popped the question,” smiles Nicca. “Laughter and tears followed!”

Guests travelled from the USA, Canada and beyond to St Ives for the couple's dreamy spring wedding. Blooms and pew bows in the prettiest pastel shades added elegance to the Sacred Heart and St Ia Catholic Church, while a scattering of flowers, candles and a cherry blossom tree made for a romantic scene at Tregenna Castle Resort.

Arriving in a white Jaguar to the ceremony, the couple – being the first Filipinos to wed in the church – presented their wedding traditions of their arrhae, candles, rope and veil to symbolise prosperity, light, and unity in marriage. “The ceremony was truly heartfelt. Happy tears were shed and giddy laughter echoed all throughout the church,” says Nicca. “The readings were all about different kinds of love – love for the family, love for God, love for the couple. That’s what this wedding was about: a celebration of love!”

Travelling in red buses to Tregenna Castle, the newlyweds and their friends were greeted with welcome drinks and canapés to the soundtrack of a pianist playing love songs. A buffet of banana blossom, chicken skewers, shrimp skewers, pulled pork, rump steak and sea bass was followed by Moomaid ice cream and heartwarming speeches. “There were no dry eyes,” says Nicca.

“Filipinos are emotional and sensitive people and when they love you, they love hard. The love shared among us and our families was very palpable that day... It made the wedding day extra special!”

The dance floor was heating up when the couple began their first dance, to Isabella Kensington’s version of Still into You. “Michael and I have been together for nine years; we’ve seen each other’s best and worst and as the song goes: ‘I should be over all the butterflies, but… after all this time, I’m still into you.’ The song really spoke to what we feel for each other,” says Nicca. “By the end of the dance, we included our daughter. It was so touching to have our own little family having fun like what we do at home.”

A surprise came in the form of a ‘money capes’ dance, a Filipino tradition that saw families, friends and guests pinning money to the couple’s clothing as they danced.

And the entertainment didn’t stop there, with games including scratch cards, a ‘ping pong twerk’, bouquet toss and thread the coin, with non-stop dancing and singing ensuring it was “a party all night long!”. Fuelled by pasties and halloumi burgers, Nicca remembers her guests all having so much fun. “To see genuine smiles and laughter was something else; all the moments of happiness, no matter how small, were my favourite!” she says.

When it comes to the planning, her advice is simple. "Choose your guests wisely. Only invite those who are close to your heart," she asserts. “And enjoy the day! Breathe in, breathe out. All your loved ones will be present. You’re marrying your soulmate; it will be your very best day!”