Cover Calanthia Mei and Philip Almeda-López Fuchs
Calanthia Mei and Philip Almeda-López Fuchs
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For Mei and Fuchs, the wedding was both culmination and beginning: a love letter spanning cultures, continents, and generations
One can often trace the grandest love stories to the most unexpected beginnings. For Calanthia Mei and Philip Almeda-López Fuchs, it was an orange sweater—Fuchs’s, to be precise, and Mei’s least favourite colour—that sparked a connection at a San Francisco gathering in 2018. What began as a curiosity deepened into an enthralling exchange on history and global affairs, a refreshing counterpoint to the tech-centric chatter of the room. This shared interest forged an immediate kinship. The very next day, a first date was set.
Their eight-year journey has been a symphony of evolution as individuals and as a pair. From San Francisco to New York, then to Los Angeles, with Manila ever-present as a cultural touchstone, their lives have seamlessly intertwined. Fuchs, an investor in green energy and infrastructure, and Mei, an innovative AI tech entrepreneur, have each carved out demanding, high-flying careers. Yet, despite equally demanding schedules, their bond remained unyielding.
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Above The bride in her wedding gown
The bride in her wedding gown
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When celebrating their union, Mei and Fuchs envisioned a crosscontinental love letter, where the West would gracefully embrace the East amidst the splendour of the English countryside. The setting chosen was the magnificent Somerley Estate, a grand 1792 edifice that keen-eyed aficionados of period dramas might recognise from the first season of Bridgerton. Somerley’s allure extended beyond its stately grandeur and renowned art collection; the estate’s owner, remarkably, already possessed an impressive Chinoiserie porcelain collection and adorned the house with orchids—elements that resonated deeply with the couple. As they describe, it was a natural canvas that required “no imposition—only enhancement.”
Above Christoph Fuchs, Hans Cristoph Fuchs, Cynthia Lopez Fuchs, Philip Fuchs, Calanthia Mei, Zhichun Mei, Wenzheng Fan, Nicholas Fuchs
Christoph Fuchs, Hans Cristoph Fuchs, Cynthia Lopez Fuchs, Philip Fuchs, Calanthia Mei, Zhichun Mei, Wenzheng Fan, Nicholas Fuchs
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Above The groom
Above Bird’s eye view of the Somerley Estate
The groom
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They aimed to craft an experience of “time-travel with a purpose.” Guests, drawn from 14 different countries, found themselves sipping tea-inspired cocktails from antique English teacups as the strains of jazz transported them to Thirties Shanghai. Every detail was designed to ignite wonder. This blend of cultural influences felt organic, reflecting their lived experience. Fuchs’s Filipino heritage, Mei’s Chinese roots and the decades spent navigating Western cultures in the US and UK are not disparate compartments but interwoven threads in their story. This was no mere theme, but a “manifesto for beauty without borders.”
The jade-green Picture Gallery at Somerley became a potent metaphor for their union. Here, under the watchful gaze of Van Dyck’s aristocrats, guests conversed animatedly in English, Filipino, Mandarin and German—a living conversation stretching across centuries and continents. Every design decision, from Chinoiserie tablescapes adorned with Ikebana arrangements and antique gold accents, to a garden installation framing their sweetheart table before a gold antique screen of plum blossoms, was a deliberate expression of their shared aesthetic. The plum blossoms, incidentally, were a subtle nod to the bride’s maiden name, Mei.
Above Christoph Fuchs, Hans Cristoph Fuchs, Cynthia Lopez Fuchs, Philip Fuchs, Calanthia Mei, Zhichun Mei, Wenzheng Fan, Nicholas Fuchs
Above Cynthia Lopez Fuchs, Philip Fuchs, Hans Cristoph Fuchs
Christoph Fuchs, Hans Cristoph Fuchs, Cynthia Lopez Fuchs, Philip Fuchs, Calanthia Mei, Zhichun Mei, Wenzheng Fan, Nicholas Fuchs
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Above The wedding reception: Chinoiserie bud vases with Ikebana-style arrangements in soft greens, whites and blues. Elongated candles created depth in the high-ceiling Picture Gallery
The wedding reception: Chinoiserie bud vases with Ikebana-style arrangements in soft greens, whites and blues. Elongated candles created depth in the high-ceiling Picture Gallery
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Above Louis Markham, Nicholas Fuchs, Christoph Fuchs, Philip Fuchs, Amaury Normand, Aman Gupta, Taahir Munshi
Above The newlyweds
Louis Markham, Nicholas Fuchs, Christoph Fuchs, Philip Fuchs, Amaury Normand, Aman Gupta, Taahir Munshi
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The festivities unfolded as a meticulously choreographed love story. Friday’s pre-wedding event, aptly titled “A Tale of Two Tea Parties”, celebrated their playful, exploratory side. It began with a quintessential English garden tea party, which morphed into a jazz-infused Thirties Shanghai soirée, inspired by the glamorous Macau casino scene from James Bond’s Skyfall. The evening blended Western flair, such as blackjack, with Eastern delights like mahjong. Saturday was a grand culmination where all their diverse cultural influences harmonised.
The sartorial choices for the bride were imbued with meaning. Mei’s ceremony gown was a two-year collaboration with Miss Sohee Couture. Michael Leyva crafted a magnificent gown adorned with 1,000 hand-woven Philippine pearls for the reception and first dance. Friday saw Mei in a romantic 3D gown by emerging Vietnamese brand Hacchic Couture. These three gowns showed that tradition and innovation can dance together beautifully.
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Above Lisa Periquet, Joanna Santos Ocampo, Mercedes Caedo, Marlene Mandal
Above Nenet Schmid, Richilda Almeda-Lopez, Alexandra Smith
Lisa Periquet, Joanna Santos Ocampo, Mercedes Caedo, Marlene Mandal
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Sundried Tomato Bruschetta
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For a couple leading such global, forward-thinking lives, their approach to tradition during the wedding planning was one of reimagining heritage through modern elegance. Instead of adhering to certain traditional rituals like the tea ceremony, they subtly weaved cultural symbols throughout the entire experience—from tableware and flower arrangements to stationery and penjing trees and fashion. They firmly believed cultural celebration could be incorporated into every detail rather than confined to isolated rituals.
In the weeks following their grand celebration, the “non-stop overachievers” embarked on their next project: moving into a new home in New York. While chaotic, this immediate dive into building a new life together felt profoundly symbolic. They’ve naturally fallen into the rhythm of co-creation, blending classic New York brownstone architecture with modernist furniture and cherished Asian antiques. It mirrors their wedding planning, continuing conversations about mixing cultures and choosing meaningful pieces, now shaping their living space.
In the simplest yet most profound terms, their wedding was “a lifetime promise wrapped in a single, perfect moment.”
CREDITS
Photographer: Rebecca Rees
Videographer: Pelosi Film
Venue: Somerley House
Bridal Fashion: Miss Sohee Couture, Michael Layva, Hacchic Couture
Hair and makeup team: MiaVita Makeup Studio
Wedding planner: The Bijou Studio
Caterer and menu inspiration: Goose & Berry
Custom bar & lounge furnishings: WedHead
Tableware: Duchess & Butler
Invitations, paper goods, table settings and florals: The Lucas Studio
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
