An "Oceanic Opulence" Wedding Blending Jewish-Catholic Cultures on a Private Island in Palawan, Philippines
When Samantha first moved to SoMa in San Francisco, she had no clue that just three blocks away was her future husband, Steve. The two matched on Bumble early in 2021, with a first date they describe as “adorably awkward.” Over the next month, while Samantha was working 60 to 80-hour workweeks, Steve’s kindness shone through as he brought her food nearly every day, solidifying their feelings for each other. Soon, the couple was having adventures around the world, from Hawaii for Steve’s 30th to a trip to Costa Rica, where Steve popped the question, complete with a lakeside view.
With the bride-to-be’s Filipino heritage, throwing an epic wedding weekend in the Philippines was the perfect way to bring their loved ones together. For the family who couldn’t make the trek across the globe, Steve and Samantha had an intimate civil ceremony in Palm Springs. “The occasion was to honor Steve’s grandparents, who could not travel to the Philippines for the grand wedding. It was perfect practice for our magical wedding in breathtaking Coron,” the couple says.
The venue? The private island of Palawan, or more specifically, Coron. For the to-be-weds, there was no better place to honor Samantha’s culture and her Catholic upbringing with Steve’s Jewish traditions. A welcome party with a “Sunset Soiree” theme had guests wearing an array of sunset-colored outfits, while the couple stood out in pink. For many of their 160 guests, this was their first introduction to the Philippines, and that included traditional Filipino fans as decorations, a boodle fight for dinner and local flowers, fruits and lights. Samantha adds, “For entertainment at the welcome party, we had cultural dance performances, balut tastings, piñata and tinikling dance competitions for the guests. We also did human bingo, which had all questions regarding the couple, and the winner won a free one-hour massage at the resort.”
The sunset color palette continued into the wedding, but with a twist. Themed “Oceanic Opulence,” one of the most important aspects of the decor was the union of two different backgrounds. “This color story was symbolic of our blended cultures—the bright, joyful (red, orange, yellow) hues representing the bride's Filipino Catholic traditions, and the cooler, soulful (blue, purple, green) shades evoking the groom's American Jewish heritage,” the bride explains. The dress code for the guests included these shades, a perfect demonstration of “two contrasting worlds coming together in perfect harmony,” according to the couple. Steve’s Jewish traditions showed up in his attire with a yamaka along with a traditional Filipino barong, while the chuppah at the altar was where the two floral runners met, blending the sunset colors with the rich oceanic hues. Samantha even worked with a Filipino designer, Francis Libiran, for a custom-made gown of pearls, shells and intricate beads to showcase the island’s beauty, along with a 7-meter veil to complement her groom’s cape.
During the ceremony, they incorporated both Catholic and Jewish customs for a unique experience, like the Filipino Catholic veil, candle, coin and cord ceremonies. “One of the most touching moments was Steve's use of his grandfather’s tallit during his Jewish tallit ceremony—a sentimental nod to his roots,” Samantha recalls. “For all of our guests, it was their first time experiencing a Filipino-Jewish wedding, and we made sure every detail—from the men wearing barongs to the chuppah altar and the dramatic glass breaking—celebrated both of our cultures in a festive, heartfelt way.”
To enter the reception, guests went through a floral sparkler tunnel leading to a “To The Moon and Back” themed event with a celestial aesthetic. The bride changed into a flowy, sparkly white dress that was also custom-made in the Philippines and easier for dancing the night away. “We even played Hava Nagila during the Horah chair lifting and saw Steve and his mom share a heartfelt dance to a song from ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ a tribute to his Jewish ancestry,” says Samantha. Besides dancing, there was no shortage of entertainment at this party, with everything from TRON light dancers to a caricature artist and a holo foto photographer who gave guests 3D souvenir photo prints featuring the newlyweds’ logo. The reception also debuted the couple’s custom song, “Across Oceans of Love,” documenting their love story from the humble beginnings to the wedding day itself.
Some of the couple’s favorite moments from the weekend were the ones not even on the schedule. “One delightful, unplanned moment was when our friends and family—many of whom are DJs—jumped in alongside the professional ones we had booked, keeping the party alive until sunrise,” Samantha muses. “Watching the sunrise together, with cool, perfect weather and surrounded by our best friends, was nothing short of magical.” The wedding itself served as a family reunion for Samantha’s immediate family, her father having not seen her mother and sister for six years. “The dance floor was filled with laughter, shared memories and even a few happy tears as we all celebrated in our own unique way. Having all our closest loved ones gathered together on one exclusive island created an atmosphere that was impossible to replicate,” she adds.
With a grand finale of fireworks in the night sky, Steve and Samantha stood on the sand, soaking up every bit of their best day ever, even as it ended. With their one-of-a-kind event behind them, they cherish the memories and embrace all of its moments, both planned and unplanned. They say, “Our biggest advice is to trust and enjoy the process and never lose sight of your love for each other. For the wedding, relax and enjoy as you would as a guest – it will go perfectly imperfect. Trust that you did all the planning and that things will go as they're meant to be.” And of course, hiring the right dream team doesn’t hurt, either.