Metro in Love: Newlyweds Ritz Azul and Allan Guy

Going through a destination wedding amid the challenging setting of a pandemic is already a feat but to be able to hold another one three weeks apart? Epic!

Newlyweds Allan Guy and actress Ritz Azul were able to pull off a beautiful wedding set at Alphaland Baguio Mountain Lodges in Baguio on November 20, 2021 and weeks later, they promised forever to each other once more at Club Paradise in Coron, Palawan on December 11, 2021. Talk about two scenic destinations and one great love!

The bride looked radiant in her Mark Tumang bridal gowns be it in the Baguio or Palawan wedding while the groom looked handsome and in love in his Silk Cocoon barong. The husband and wife were impeccably styled by Cath Sobrevega.

Before the two arrived at their beautifully wedded bliss, they were strangers to each other first who were fatefully brought together by a simple dinner with friends organized by Ritz Azul’s The Promise of Forever co-star Paulo Avelino.

The Guy for Ritz

It was a seemingly trivial decision of saying “yes” to a dinner to her teleserye co-star and friends but Ritz did not realize that on that night, she would be meeting the non-showbiz “guy” meant for her.

“It was 2016 and nagkaroon kami ng teleserye ni Paulo Avelino so na-meet ko friends niya tapos nagkaroon kami ng dinner sa Makati and then na-invite si Allan to join them because close friend siya ng friends din ni Paulo,” the actress tells Metro.Style.

However, sparks did not exactly fly on that night. While Allan was charmed, Ritz found him a bit standoffish on first impression. “She’s always smiling and so she’s very warm, friendly and easy to talk to. Ako ang opposite niya,” Allan admits as Ritz nods.

“Suplado siya nu’ng una kaming nagkakilala. Nag-shake hands ako sa kanya, ayaw niya. Kumaway lang. Wala pang COVID nu’n ah? Ayaw niya,” Ritz laughs. But Allan clarifies it was only because he was too shy at the time. “Tapos napapansin ko siya, tingin lang siya nang tingin, iyong gustong makipagusap pero nahihiya siya so iyong ibang friends ko ang kausap ko palagi,” the actress teases.

Despite being shy, Allan mustered enough courage the send messages to the actress on her Instagram that night. It was an exchange of messages that went well into the wee hours of the morning. “From that day on, up to now, walang tigil iyong usap namin sa WhatsApp or text,” Allan shares, smiling.

From those conversations, the two developed a close friendship. “Nag-start kami as friends then nag-click iyong mga interests namin tapos iyong stories namin sa buhay. Maliban sa parents ko, nagkaroon ako ng ibang tao na pinagkakatiwalaan sa mga problema ko sa buhay. Tapos ayun, nagka-developan,” Ritz beams.

The friendly dates and Allan’s attention turned out to be his way of courting Ritz but she seemed clueless about Allan’s efforts that time. “Ang bait niya. Binibigyan niya ako ng mga gusto kong food like mani, chocolates. Akala ko mapagbigay lang talaga siya. Tinanong ko siya, ‘Nanliligaw ka na ba?’ Tapos sabi niyang ganu'n sa akin, ‘Ikaw na lang yata walang alam na nanliligaw ako,’” she laughs.

Allan agrees, saying Ritz was just too innocent to know he was already courting her. The groom recalls Paulo urging him to court Ritz back then though he asked if it was okay since Paulo and Ritz were being paired onscreen for a drama. “Okay lang iyon. Trabaho lang iyan,” the actor assured Allan.

The two were officially together in late 2017, a year after they met. It almost didn’t happen though, because Ritz was determined to focus on her career and family and also for fear of being distracted by a relationship.

“Noong sinabi ko kay Allan na ‘maghanap na ng mas deserve mo, baka pag hinintay mo ako, baka magtagal at baka mahabang panahon.’ Tapos sabi niya, ‘Hindi naman ako nagmamadali. Hihintayin kita pero hindi ako nangangako na mahihintay kita talaga nang napakatagal.’ Honest siya,” Ritz narrates. Allan says his honesty changed Ritz’s mind.

“Honest din ako eh. Well, hihintayin kita pero di ko rin ma-promise na baka may ma-meet ako along the way pero I’ll try my best to wait for you,” he shares candidly.

“Na-appreciate ko iyong naging honest siya kasi kung iba iyon, bobolahin ka. Plus, sabi niya susuportahan kita sa lahat ng gagawin mo and sa family mo, rerespetuhin ko sila tapos natuwa ako. Noong una, parang too good to be true tapos naging honest naman siya. Sige i-try natin. Natuwa ako na iba ito sa mga nakakausap kong lalaki ah. Tapos iba rin iyong feeling ko na, nahihirapan akong i-let go,” the beautiful actress admits.

With that decision, the couple stayed strong together for five years. Asked what they love most about their partner, the two thoughtfully answered.

“Honest siya. Then city boy kasi siya talaga eh, ako naman probinsyana so nagba-balance. Marami rin akong natutunan sa kanya sa sobrang inosente ko at sobrang probinsyana. Pagdating ko kasi ng ABS-CBN, medyo na-culture shock ako kasi ang daming malalaking artista tapos iyong fashion. Buti na lang dumating siya sa buhay ko, tinuruan niya ako unti-unti pagdating sa Manila, kung paano mamuhay at makitungo sa tao. Tapos noong time kasi na iyon, first time ko na iyong parents ko nasa Pampanga, ako nasa Manila as an independent girl. Naging magandang influence siya sa akin,” Ritz says.

Allan, on the other hand, has so many wonderful things he loves about his wife. “Good influence, caring and very thoughtful. Pinakaimportante din iyong sa family. She loves her family so much. Sabi ko nga sa kanya every time na nagkukuwentuhan siya with family… ‘di ba tayo as kids, ayaw natin nagkukuwento sa parents?! Siya alam lahat ng parents niya! Kaya bilib ako sa relationship niya with her parents,” Allan pensively shares.

Pandemic Proposal to Pandemic Destination Weddings

To Allan, there is no lingering doubt that Ritz is the woman he was going to marry, so he meticulously planned a proposal to happen in St. Moritz, Switzerland. They have already secured their Schengen visas and were all set to fly to Europe with Ritz not knowing that some of their friends will join them on the trip especially for the wedding proposal.

However, the pandemic happened and the earlier plans were scrapped. “Nalungkot ako so kinausap ko iyong dad ko. Buti na lang meron kaming farm in Batangas na merong old house and magandang view so inisipan na lang namin ng paraan na doon ako mag-propose. Kasama namin friends ko and iyong cousins niya. Umulan pa that time so hala paano iyan? Bahala na. Around 3:30 in the afternoon, biglang umaraw so nag-propose na ako kasi ang ganda ng sign. Lumuhod ako sa harap niya, nag-propose ako at nagsabi ng ‘Will you marry me?’ Tapos hindi pala niya ako sinagot! Niyakap lang niya ako kaya after ng proposal, sabi niya, ‘Hindi naman ako nag-yes ah?’” the couple collapses into laughter at the memory.

While Ritz joked, she actually also cried, and so June 20, 2020 marked the date the two became engaged. “May na-feel ako nu’ng day na aalis ako papuntang farm. Ayoko pa ngang mag-farm nu’n eh kasi pandemic nga, parang nakakahiyang bumiyahe pero medyo pwede na nu’ng time na iyon. Hindi kasi nakasama parents ko bilang senior sila. Hindi pa p’wedeng lumabas nu’ng time na iyon. Bago ako umalis, iyong Papa ko niyakap ako tapos ang drama pa, luha luha tapos sabi niya, ‘Basta kung anuman desisyon mo, lagi kitang susuportahan, lagi akong nandito para sa iyo,’” she shares.

Unknown to Ritz, Allan asked for permission from her parents, with him assuring Ritz’s mother that they would only marry the year after and not immediately.

Right after the proposal, the two worked on securing the schedules of the suppliers they liked for their dream wedding in Palawan. They were decisive and set on the wedding date: December 11, 2021 because it is palindromic (numbers that read the same backward as forward).

As the two inch closer to their planned Palawan wedding, a surprise development happened. “Six or 5 months before the wedding, iyong father ko biglang nagsabi sa akin na iyong lola ko na 91 years old gustong  makapunta sa wedding venue. Kasi sa father side ko, ako iyong unang ikakasal,” Allan narrates. “Medyo mahirap iyong location namin sa Palawan kasi may plane, land travel tapos boat,” Ritz interjects. “Tapos naka-wheelchair na lang. Sabi ng dad ko, why don’t we have an intimate wedding here near Metro Manila? Tapos iyong Baguio, how many hours na lang away from Metro Manila. So nagkasundo kami sa Baguio,” Allan says.

The sudden first wedding ceremony transpired in Baguio that was blessed with sunny yet cool weather, breathtaking scenery and complete attendance of their families, friends, loved ones and principal sponsors.  Though the Baguio wedding wasn’t in their plans, it was memorable for both. Their original and dream wedding in Palawan was also a success and filled with love and best wishes in a much more intimate setting.

The couple talked about their wedding highlights with their faces beaming with so much happiness and gratitude. “Sa Baguio, highlight iyong scenery and iyong feeling,” Ritz starts. “Iyong sa Baguio kasi, first kami doon sa helipad [for a wedding]. It’s never been done before sa Alphaland, lagi kasi sa chapel. Challenging iyong features ng kalsada at natatakot [sa heights] iyong iba pero sobrang ganda ng view. Nag-stay talaga lahat pati sponsors,” Allan shares.

The couple was extremely grateful for the perfect weather that happened on their wedding days. “Ang common denominator sa Baguio and Palawan was iyong weather. Sobrang laking bagay ng weather. A week before our weddings, meron nang nagbabadyang bagyo or uulan pero sa mismong wedding days naman, ang ganda ng weather at ang ganda ng sunset— perfect lahat,” the actress smiles.

While Allan stressed over the QR codes registration in Baguio, the only stressful moment that Ritz encountered in Palawan were seating arrangements and room accomodations. “Medyo light naman. Wala masyadong problema kasi lahat plantsado na last year pa. Iyong Palawan wedding namin kaya madali kasi relax na lang. Mag-enjoy na lang tayo, wala nang drama ito and chill na lang. Pero umiyak pa rin ako,” Ritz laughingly confesses.

Though everything happened amid the challenging times of the pandemic, Allan found the bright side of it. “Dati, you’re always out on meetings or with friends. The best thing when the pandemic started, we got to spend time with the family and just be with them. With the wedding planning, talagang magkasama kayo,” he says.

Asked about their honeymoon plans, the two were quick to reply. “Wala na! Dalawang weddings na,” Allan remarks.

“Work, work na!” Ritz laughs.

“Abangan ang third wedding!” Allan ends in jest.

Lead photos by @paolonierves of @mymetrophoto and @patdy11 of @teampatdy