#RealWeddings: Love Truly Wins, Same-Sex Pinoy Couple Ties The Knot In Melbourne

Brooke Villanueva

May 24, 2019, 12:59 PM

Celebrity stylist Myrrh Lao To and his same-sex partner and designer Koko Gonzales exchanged their “I do’s” in Melbourne on May 17—a day before they celebrated their ten and a half years together—which was also the same day Taiwan made history as the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage and the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT) was commemorated.

The couple may share the same interests in travelling, eating, watching films, and spending quality time with each other and their families, but they can also be different in more ways than one. For instance, Koko loves the beach, while Myrrh hates the sun—but he is slowly starting to enjoy it all. Myrrh shares, “We have a lot of different preferences but what makes it special is that we’ve learned to balance each other that lets us share new things and experiences.”

Just like any other relationship, conflict is inevitable. But it’s all good, according to Myrrh. “We talk and we assure that what we want is only the best for each other, then we laugh about all sorts of fights we have had and that really helps.” For the two, there is no formula to keeping one’s bond strong with their partner. However, they have always made it a point that they are there for each other—from their darkest moments to their happiest times—making their endless cycle of love perfect for a lifetime commitment.

Myrrh and Koko tied the knot in an intimate wedding in Melbourne, with only six of their family and friends. Koko had two of his cousins along with their husbands present at the ceremony while Myrrh had two of his closest friends. “We made sure to keep it low key as we didn’t want any of our family and friends to feel the pressure of actually being there—visa applications, 8-hour flights and all,” Myrrh reveals. “My family set up a video call so they have sort of witnessed it with a #LoveWins art card that made me shed happy tears.”

As for the theme, it was nothing short of classic and remarkable. “During our preparation, we imagined our wedding photos hung at home,” he continues, adding that black is a color they both like for its elegance. “We were torn between having custom pieces done vs shopping but we made the perfect compromise. We each got a classic Yves Saint Laurent suit and had them re-worked to a fit we like. Our dress shirts were both from Dries Van Noten, I wore a Gucci grosgrain bowtie and Koko had on a Dolce & Gabbana bowtie. Koko’s cummerbund was by Neil Barret while mine was by LSW.”

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So far, Myrrh muses, the only thing that has changed since is the number of happy memories they have made in their relationship. “We’ve been living together for the past nine years and it’s just a wonderful fact that somewhere in the world, we are legally married. What’s even more fun is we got married in a place we actually love and we have beautiful photos that will remind us of that special day,” he said.

What’s next for them as a married couple, you ask? “Keep strong family ties, start a family together, share the love, see the world, and enjoy each moment as we maintain our strong faith in God,” concludes Myrrh, adding that they are also planning for another wedding ceremony in Manila. “It’s another ceremony and an intimate party we are putting together for our family and closest friends later this year.”