forever begins 1/28/2023

Shai and Ivan met in college, studying the same course at the same University. Although at first, they were never fond of each other, they eventually became friends through mutual connections. After graduation, Ivan moved to the US, and Shai ran a family business in the Philippines. Although in different periods with different people in their lives, they managed to set up constant communication over the years until they became best friends. Shai and Ivan reconnected through old friends when Ivan returned to the Philippines. They discovered they had a lot of things in common; fondness and love for dogs, art, coffee, and future goals in life. Over time and unbeknownst to one another, their rekindled friendship had begun to spiral into a budding relationship, and as the years went by, the rest became history. After more than a year of dating, it became obvious that Ivan had found his twin flame. Although true to the couple's character, Ivan finally popped the question informally. Shai, on the other hand, didn’t think twice. Now on the cusp of a new chapter in our lives, we are happy to have you with us on January 28 to celebrate and share this moment with you, our friends, and our family.

You may notice that our wedding might be a little non-traditional. We are incorporating different aspects of Christian and Catholic marriages and blending in styles of both modern and traditional wedding practices of the US and the Philippines. You may notice slight differences in the wedding ceremony and reception from what you may be used to. One such tradition you may notice is the traditional Filipino Money Dance. Known as the prosperity dance, or sabitan ng pera in Filipino (Tagalog). It's a symbol of financial abundance in the couple's marriage. Practiced around the world, the money dance’s origins can’t be traced back to one place, with its details varying widely per culture. This includes everything from the bouncing bridal polka in Poland to the splendid money spray in Nigeria. During the money dance, wedding guests will form 2 different lines to dance with either the bride or the groom. During each person's turn, they pin their cash offerings somewhere on the bride or the groom and then share a dance. Sometimes guests get creative and will make sashes, hats, and many other unique things. After the guests finish pinning the money, they will share a dance with the bride or groom. It is usually a slow dance, but feel free to be creative and have fun! It is a time to celebrate! Come and share a laugh and a smile with us. Don't feel pressured; participation is optional, and any amount is welcomed! We just want to create fun memories with our loved ones!