Planning Stage

May 4th, 2024 — 9:00 AM

Rockwell, Matthew's Apartment

The morning began with quiet jazz and the low whir of the espresso machine in Matthew's kitchen. Angel was still asleep in the bedroom, buried beneath layers of linen and dreams, while Matthew stood barefoot on the tiles, sipping from a plain white mug and scrolling through a very specific tab on his laptop.

Wedding planners.

He didn't want a circus. God forbid there be fireworks or drones spelling out "Borja-Cruz." No, what he was looking for was something thoughtful, efficient, understated. But elegant.

He clicked through several websites, toggling between beachfront logistics, guest capacity calculators, and sample itineraries with titles like Modern Minimalist or Rustic-Luxe with Local Flair.

One tab was a bespoke planning group based in Batangas. Another was a wedding logistics firm run by two retired civil engineers who prided themselves on timelines and terrain adaptability.