I touched down Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China a day prior to Aileen's altar date to Stephan. She is the vice-consul of the Philippine consulate in Shanghai and will be exchanging marriage vows with Stephan, a German architect in an American firm based in Shanghai as well. It was indeed winter
with temperatures ranging from 0 - 4 celsius. I stayed in a hotel along West Nanjing Rd. where Shanghai's high end shopping district (Nanjing Xi Lu) is located. By 10 o'clock the next day, I was at the La Residence Service Apartment along Zhen Ning Rd where Aileen was dressing up and where all her relatives and friends were staying. A Shanghai based young American-Chinese was commissioned to do photography along with locally based make-up artist, and videographers. Aileen's bridal bouquet comprised of white hydrangea, snap dragons, gypsophilas and two mini stargazer lilies. I created a simple wedding gown in strapless design along with a long-sleeved shrug with heavy embellishment pattern on the top area as well as the shrug in ivory color using silk dupion material combined with duchesse satin oversikirt with a cathedral train. A 120 inch sparkling veil added drama to her look.
The wedding ceremony was held at the St. Ignatius Cathedral (Xujiahui Cathedral), a magnificent historical church run by the Jesuits. I learned that the some sequences of the movie, "Empire of the Sun" was shot here. The principal sponsors comprised of ambassadors, notable politician personalities and Filipino businessmen in Shanghai.
From the ceremony, we all proceeded to the posh Jean George Restaurant and Bar located at "the Bund" area. There was cocktails and dancing and eventual dinner banquet. This was a celebration of merging two cultures in another land. And my
sincerest wish of a life happy ever after for Stephan and Aileen.
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