For the few of us who are lucky enough in life, “love at first sight” is something a bit more than just whimsical fantasy. We at SDE Weddings, Toronto’s premier wedding videography and cinematography company, through our work with many couples on their wedding day, believe however that fate and love are more intertwined than what it seems, and “love at first sight” is not that hard to believe. For Anna and Christian’s co-workers, the moment the two were introduced may have been another day going through the rounds in the infirmary, but for Anna and Christian both, it was a little more profound than that. The millisecond moments when their twin glances had crossed paths would seem like an immemorial portrait of time standing still, giving birth to a whole universe born out of nothingness. Things would soon swiftly spiral for the two, and the northern constellations would find themselves aligning favourably for Christian, when during an intimate Christmas evening under a shimmering tree, Christian finally proposed to Anna and the two would share a many-minute long interlude of a deluge of tears before Anna would finally speak her hearts’ true intentions, “I waited a really long time for you.”. The idea of a person’s premonitions about life and love coming to fruition is something truly wonderful, and one of the greatest motivators for our work.


This particular story of Anna and Christian would see its climactic turn in a beautiful wedding day set on April 26, 2014 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Whitby, with a gorgeous evening reception an hour away at Toronto’s Grand Luxe Event Boutique on Bayview. For our diligent videographers however, work began a day earlier with the meticulous rehearsal sessions for the once-in-a-lifetime performance ahead for them. Rehearsals are usually optional, and the decision to have one is up to the couple, though our videographers do their bests in taking in as much information as they can to have the perfect shots ready ahead of time. In this case, the rehearsal really added a lot to our videographers and cinematographers’ inventory to work with, and the shots we had the day-of were perfect. On the dawn of the wedding day, our videographers made a mental note of capturing every detail of the morning’s preparations. In particular, Anna’s elegant silken organza wardrobe and diamond Jimmy Choo stilettos were discerning choices that stood out particularly. Coupled with Anna’s gorgeous eyes, the entire ensemble made the budding bride look imperviously radiant. At the alternate camp, Christian fashioned on a double-breasted waistcoat and a custom-designed suit with Christian’s full name inscribed in its inner fabric.

The couple chose to write heartfelt love letters to one another, to be read during this time. The preview video here shows Christian understandably fumbling a few phrases as he verbalizes his loves’ deepest feelings in plaintext form with no pretense. For the wedding procession at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, the couple chose to conform to Filipino tradition, and had a complete Catholic mass with a special sermon that likened Anna and Christian’s marriage to the biblical story of the wedding feast at Cana. The procession was accompanied by music performed by a string quartet, with the first communion of the newlywed couple done to the tune of Bach’s Air in G. In the end, Anna lifts a bouquet up smiling, hand in hand with her husband as they walk back down the aisle as a roaring applause is heard from the crowd.

For the evening’s celebrations, the couple chose Toronto’s Grand Luxe Event Boutique. True to its name, the event’s main hall and all its facets were luxuriously designed for Anna and Christian. Light magenta backlighting to contrast the overall theme of white and silver. Cleverly chosen ornaments were strewn about, velvet bowties, flowerpetals with mixed light-pink and ashen white hues and pint-sized indigo lamps were a fitting complement to the colorful atmosphere of the banquet hall. As the speeches were said in a stately manner, even a few of Christian’s accompanying groomsmen couldn’t help but get a bit teary eyed. The reception overall was very sentimental in tone, yet lively in spirit as the open dance floor looked like a neon light show till well into the late night hours. Anna and Christian, along with their friends and family, held on through the night in a celebration that felt like a reaffirmation of life, and of love. A fitting message to end the evening with, and left us here at SDE Weddings, Toronto’s premier wedding videography and cinematography company, all the more happier to have helped them in filming such an auspicious occasion. We wish Anna and Christian the best in the future, and hope that their boundless love remains just as it were at first sight.

Ceremony Venue: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church | 903 Giffard Street, Whitby, Ontario
Reception Venue: Grand Luxe Event Boutique | 3125 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M2K 1G2
Photographer: Christian Panganiban
DJ: Warren Woolridge
Makeup Artists: Mykal Mackinnon
Bride Wedding Dress: Essence of Australia
Groom Wedding Dress: Trend Custom Tailors
Wedding Decor: Doreen Quach
Wedding Cake: Irresistible Cakes Inc.
Limo: Park Lane Livery