Cover Cara Tantoco and Miguel Dumlao at the reception venue, Blackbird at the Nielson Tower
Cara Tantoco and Miguel Dumlao at the reception venue, Blackbird at the Nielson Tower
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What started as a chance meeting evolved into a touching love story. Follow Cara Tantoco and Miguel Dumlao as they navigate long-distance planning, emotional vows, and a dreamy wedding
Cara Tantoco and Miguel Dumlao met during an orientation seminar on their first day of college. Tantoco, noticing an empty seat beside her, waved Dumlao over. Though this simple gesture hinted at a connection, her initial impression of him wasn’t romantic—she found him “very loud and unruly”. She thought, “Could someone keep him away from me for the rest of the year?”
Years later, Dumlao proposed to Tantoco at Liberty State Park, a place she had grown fond of during her visits to the US. The day was simple and sweet, filled with playful activities at the American Dream Mall and a picnic with Jollibee takeout. With the skyline of downtown Manhattan as their witness, Dumlao asked Tantoco to marry him.
“I thought she was going to say no,” he recalls. Despite her surprise and joking about how she didn’t like what she wore, Tantoco’s answer was a resounding yes.
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Above The bride and the groom
Above Sharing a kiss at Santuario de San Antonio Parish
The bride and the groom
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Above Sander Tantoco, Mons Romulo, Cara Tantoco, Miguel Dumlao, Jocelyn and Luis Dumlao
Sander Tantoco, Mons Romulo, Cara Tantoco, Miguel Dumlao, Jocelyn and Luis Dumlao
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Planning the wedding posed challenges, mainly because Dumlao was in the US while Tantoco was in Manila. Despite the distance, Tantoco took the lead in the preparations, bringing her vision to life. “I had only wished that he was experiencing it alongside me,” she admits.
Their wedding ceremony occurred at Santuario de San Antonio Parish, and the reception at Blackbird at the Nielson Tower reflected the bride’s desire for an elegant, non-traditional setting. “I didn’t want a ‘boxed’ wedding—a ballroom setting where I’d have to adorn the venue with flowers and whatnot,” she explains. With only 90 guests, the event was intimate, focusing on their closest family and friends.
Above The newlyweds with their entourage
Above Invitations designed by Kasali and Sprezzatura bridal shoes
The newlyweds with their entourage
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Above Ben Chan, Alice Eduardo
Above Atty Bobet Vera, Alberto Romulo
Ben Chan, Alice Eduardo
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Above A toast shared between Tantoco and Dumlao
Above The beautiful bride’s hair and makeup by Denise Ochoa
A toast shared between Tantoco and Dumlao
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One of the most emotional moments of the day was when Dumlao saw Tantoco in her wedding dress for the first time as the church doors opened. “I couldn’t help but tear up,” he confesses. “At that moment, I felt immense joy and love to see her walking towards me.” Tantoco, in turn, was deeply moved to see her husband-to-be tear up, knowing she had made the right choice. “Seeing him cry reassured me that this man loves me with all of his heart,” she says.
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Happy well-wishers
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Their first dance was to Heaven by Bryan Adams and sung by Grace George, a song with special meaning. As they embark on their new journey together, both husband and wife are excited about the future, viewing their marriage as the beginning of a shared adventure filled with love and mutual support.
“This isn’t my first time taking on a new adventure,” Dumlao says. “But this time, it’s a joint venture.” They wouldn’t want to embark on it with anyone else.
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Photography: Pat Dy
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at 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.
