It was a ceremony not unlike a massive cinematic production. On December 30, Dingdong Dantes (Jose Sixto Rafael Dantes III), 34, and Marian Rivera (Marian Rivera Gracia), 30, tied the knot at a church in Quezon City in the Philippines.
Though tucked in a non-descript area of the city, the church suddenly became the centre of the world for Dantes and Rivera, and the legions of fans and guests who came to witness what was dubbed the showbusiness wedding of the year.
The scene involved a “cast” of thousands, including the who’s who of Manila’s elite. Even the President of the Republic of the Philippines, a close friend of the groom, took time out to attend the wedding as one of the principal guests of honour.
Dubai would play an important role in this wedding, as one of the emirate’s celebrated designers, Michael Cinco, a native of the Philippines, created the gown that the bride wore on her wedding day.
“I was in tears when Marian finally wore her wedding dress,” the designer wrote on his Facebook page. “She only had one muslin fitting...as per Filipino customs the family didn’t allow her to fit the wedding dress until the big day...i had sleepless nights and so stressed as im not used having brides without final fittings before her wedding...THANK GOD...it’s perfect [sic].”
Before doing a show in Dubai in November, Rivera made a trip to Dubai Mall and purchased a glittery pair of shoes from Christian Louboutin. It was also in Dubai where the couple shot their pre-nuptial video just a couple of weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the groom was dressed in a cream suit by local designer Randy Ortiz, who has been dressing up the actor for many years.
The wedding reception was held at the Mall of Asia Arena. According to organisers, the guestlist went a little over a thousand. It was there that Dantes jokingly remarked that after his wife’s eight bridal showers, it was now time for her to host her first baby shower, with the guests applauding thunderously in approval.
Dantes and Rivera first met at the auditions of the TV series MariMar, which aired on GMA. In August 2009, the couple formally announced they were a couple during Rivera’s 25th birthday celebrations.
The groom first made a proposal in Macau two years back, with just family and friends. What was originally planned as an engagement announcement this year became a second proposal on Rivera’s dance show, Marian, with the whole country as witness.
Highlights and sidelights
• Dantes arrived at the church on a shiny black motorcycle. Fans shrieked as he got off his bike and put on a pair of sunglasses just before entering the church, where he had been baptised. The bike was, by the way, a gift from the bride three years ago.
• Rivera made a stunning entrance, in a restored 1976 blue Mercedes Benz. She was assisted out of the car by Cinco and his entourage. Once fully out of the vehicle, fans went crazy at the sight of the bride who glowed and mesmerised in a stunning Cinco creation and a simple make-up that let her natural beauty shine through.
• The wedding entourage began their march to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.” A 60-piece children’s choir then ushered in the entrance of the bride, who walked regally down the aisle, looking relaxed as she smiled for the blinding cacophony of camera flashes.
• The bride and groom’s first kiss lasted for a little less than 10 seconds.
• Rivera’s gown had a three-metre train. The ensemble cost close to two million pesos, or a little over Dh200,000.
