Enrique Miranda and Ella Pangilinan on the cover of Metro Weddings Photo by Jaja Samaniego

Finally, the road to forever has begun for Metro Society cover couple Ella Pangilinan and Enrique Miranda as the two are set to share a lifetime of friendship and love together. Tying the knot at Puerta Real Gardens in Intramuros, there was a certain smile on Ella's face and a spark festooned in Enrique’s eyes as they exchanged their “I dos” in a classic setting.

Dressed up with floral decor by events bigwig and stylist Teddy Manuel, the venue was a stunning culmination of Ella and Enrique’s imagined ceremony, tucked in a time of purity, oneness, and partnership. With Filipiniana for a theme and a Spanish flair on the side, #EllayEnrique was a true foundation of converging personalities and cultures.

Ella graced the aisle with a gown that constitutes a Rajo Laurel touch, looking extra empowered and her loveliest. Originally tailored by National Artist for Fashion Design Jose 'Pitoy' Moreno, Ella’s terno is an outstanding revival of her mom Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan’s dress, which the actress donned in her wedding with husband Anthony Pangilinan.

The whole idea, according to Ella, is to inflame a fresh fashion to the ensemble while preserving its essence. “When we presented the gown to Tito Rajo, we were really more of just ‘how can we revive this, how can we make this happen?’ And it was really up to him on how he wanted to—as he said—‘metamorphosize’ it,” Ella shared in an interview with Metro.Style.

“We really trusted him completely with the whole process, and we knew that he would really be able to pay homage to the original design and the designer himself,” she said. “I think the dress is really beautiful on its own. I think I’m just going to be wearing simple jewelry—really—with it, but I think the rest speaks for itself.”

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On the other hand, Maricel harked back to the humble beginnings and origin of her fine bridal frock. “Thirty years after, passing it on to our firstborn is just something that’s awesome, I think. It’s really awesome and I really can’t believe we’re actually here doing this,” she declared in a sit-down talk with us.

“You honor your past, but you also celebrate the present without forgetting where you have come from. That’s a lesson that I always tell my children,” Maricel added, walking us through Pitoy Moreno’s work, who also happened to be her and Anthony’s wedding sponsor.

She continues, “It is a joy to welcome a new member of our family in Enrique... It’s a celebration because Enrique and Ella have really taken care of each other for the past six years, honoring us as family and parents. We have all the reasons to celebrate,” she stated.

Maricel was also absolutely proud of how the preparations for Ella’s wedding turned out to be a wonderful time for both parties. “My gosh, what a beautiful thing to just come together for [the wedding], with Enrique’s family and our family both working together to make this a wonderful affair,” Maricel shares.

Ella Pangilinan and her mom, Maricel Photo by Jaja Samaniego

With a line-up of top venues and suppliers like Palacio de Memoria (wedding preparation venue and reception), Amanda Tirol (events coordination), Jaja Samaniego (photography), NicePrint Photo (photography), Jason Magbanua (videography), Print Divas (invitations), Maria Farbinni (reception gown), and Vania Romoff (after-party dress), the Miranda-Pangilinan nuptials were truly a network of amazing possibilities and incredible outputs.

Avel Bacudio (entourage); Eve the Label (bridal prep robes); Gary Valenciano (ceremony songs); Project 201 (strings entertainment); The Authority Band, JC Sandejas, and Abdel (live music); Soundcheck (sound system); and Micole Tam, Stella Pangilinan, and Selina Bhang (designs and printables) also shared their talents and services to make the event memorable.

Sunnies and Atin (giveaways); Tabacalera (cigar); and bar, food, and beverage stations such as Goldilocks (cakes); Ralph’s (wines and spirits); Manila Craft (mixes and brews); WKND Coffee (coffee); Frabelle (food), Potato Corner (snacks); and Cibo (catering) had the guests relishing a good time, too.

Wedding reception venue (Palacio de Memoria), styled by Teddy Manuel Photo by Jaja Samaniego

As for Maricel’s message to daughter Ella, she simply says, “Thank you. She has done well and she has really made us proud—she and Enrique made us proud. And we feel so honored and respected. It is a big thing for parents to experience at this time.”

Rajo, meanwhile, takes pride in Maricel and Ella’s trust. On Instagram, he made sure to post Ella’s sublime number, taking note of the once-in-a-while opportunity. “Who would have thought that this little girl who would accompany her mother Mommy Maricel to me as we would draw together on my desk would one day be my bride?” the couturier put in his caption.

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“What a lovely bride she is indeed!” Rajo continued. “Thank you, Ella Pangilinan, for the complete trust and faith in all of us [at] House of Laurel. We are so grateful to be part of this incredible life highlight.”

During his exclusive interview with Metro.Style, Rajo imparted with us his earliest memories of Ella, too, one of which is when her mother Maricel would always tag her along in her fittings, fancying seeing Ella in her own style someday. “Ella always liked fashion, and I think Maricel saw that,” he spoke of it.

Ella, according to Rajo, has also been a blessing to him, allowing him to further his art. “She knows what she wants; she’s very clear. I just had to sort of put everything together,” he told us, paying tribute to Jose 'Pitoy' Moreno’s exquisite masterpiece. “This is a very clear example of a tangible passing of the baton,” he summed it up.

Ella and Enrique Photo by Jaja Samaniego

Ella’s luxurious look was of course another cherry topper to her reworked terno. Thanks to her talented glam team RB Chanco (makeup), Suyen Salazar (hair stylist), and La Mer (skincare), the gorgeous bride was such a breathtaking sight to behold.

During the big day, family and friends finally came together to celebrate and witness the merging of Ella and Enrique’s worlds. Among the celebrity attendees and society personalities spotted at the ceremony consist of the pair’s parents, Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano, the Valencianos, Karen Davila, Cristalle Belo, Metro head Christina Lopez, and Metro Society editor-in-chief Raul Manzano.

Anthony, Ella’s dad, waited for her daughter in the aisle and suddenly teared up at the sight of a grown woman in a gown his wife once wore to an occasion that is their wedding. Now, in Ella’s wedding, he acted a little tough and suppressed the tears, lest he knew that Ella is a keeper but is no longer a newborn for both him and Maricel to keep.

Ella and Enrique’s dreamy wedding day was indeed a dream come true for the couple. Dancing to an inner music that is love is the true make of any marriage, entrapped in a moment of astonishment and bliss at once. As Ella and Enrique aspired, the moments turned out to be a truly rewarding milestone for the relationship they nurtured throughout.

As Ella perceives it, she and Enrique are perfect for each other—one in essence, even. “We are not alike but we are aligned. We may be different but we have the same values. Maybe we don’t always understand each other’s work, but we are here to listen to each other.” Enrique, on the opposite end, thinks of one thing he looks forward to the most as their new chapter has started: “Just us, being together, just us.”

In the gallery below, see some photos by Jaja Samaniego from the #EllayEnrique wedding preps, ceremony, and reception:

Congratulations on your new chapter, Ella and Enrique!

Cover layout by Alphard Buenaventura

Photos by Jaja Samaniego

Related Story: Soon-To-Wed Couple Ella Pangilinan and Enrique Miranda Share Their Love Story