By the time we decided to walk down the aisle, it was pretty much anticlimactic. A lot of our friends and family have married ahead of us, and we were together as a couple for over 7 years. Not everyone knew that it took so long because we saved up for everything, and it was no small feat having a large wedding in Manila. But we did it, and Mike and I are truly proud we got to do it on our own. It was a lovely December afternoon, and though we were a wreck from all the details we had to think about during the mass and the reception, it was one of our happiest moments. For almost 3 years, we wanted to marry, but couldn't. We enjoyed each other's company all the time, so it was fitting we also spent the rest of our lives together. Mike said a few hours before the mass, he had a beer with his best man Jimmy. It was to calm his nerves, he said. But as soon as he saw the chaos before the mass, he was nervous all over again! Maybe one thing I regret on that day was having him swear not to smoke in front of everybody. It was supposed to be funny, but I guess it was our joke which nobody else got. Nevertheless, Mike was being a real sport about it, and was willing to swear before everyone. Well, I'm proud to say he never smoked again after that day. As true as we swore to stay married, he also never took another smoke. We went to our Church and reception area last 2006 when we visited Manila, to show the kids. I'm glad we did go, because I still felt the magic and nostalgia of that special day when we entered those places. It was the last time Mike and I entered the places together. December 6 was a beautiful day. It's right up there with birthdays I had as a child and getting Christmas presents from Santa. He fulfilled my dreams that day, and I will always be grateful he did that for me.