(Photo by Lito Sy)

I first heard about Ms. Beth from a colleague in the paper I used to work for, who was a former editor of a bridal magazine in the 80`s.

That editor, whom WE`ll call J., explicitly told me to look for a florist whose name she forgot, but who had a flower shop at the basement of the Manila Pavilion because, she was very, very good.

As J is one to trust when it comes to style (and substance), I told her I`d go find her. Several months after, I remember driving to Manila Pavilion, and walking down to the basement alone, to look for this very, very good florist.

To make the long story short, I didn`t find her- or any shop for that matter, there that day.

Weeks later, Ms. Beth, whom I had worked with for a bouquet story, invited me to her newly renovated shop, at an upper floor of a hotel in Manila

WE: Ms. Beth, do you know a florist who had a shop at the basement of this hotel in the 80`s
Ms. Beth: Basement? Of Manila Pavilion?

WE: Yes, in the 80`s.
Ms. Beth: The only flower shop I know in the basement was mine.

That was in 2005. 5 years after, Ms. Beth continues to make beautiful wedding set-ups and is still, very, very good.

(Photo by Lito Sy)

(Photo by Lito Sy)

So good that actress Rica Paralejo tapped her, to execute the theme she has so wanted for her once-in-a-lifetime wedding.

From Rica`s pegs of what she had in mind for her dream wedding

Theme pegs

Tent peg

(Pegs courtesy of Rica Peralejo- Bonifacio)

Ms. Beth was able to interpret it to this:

Here`s a little Q&A WE did with Ms. Beth regarding the concept behind Rica`s wedding theme and set-up:

WE: Carla (Rica) had a beach wedding yet her pegs for her set-up was clearly autumn. How were you able to merge it?

Ms. Beth: When Joe and Carla (Rica) showed us the pictures of things that they liked, we were a bit challenged to come up with a theme. There were pictures of autumn leaves, bark, a cake with earthy patterns. Given those images, and the fact that the wedding was to be at a beach, we weren’t exactly sure of what they wanted at first. “Not tropical” is what I remember them saying during our initial meeting.

But as we were doing our research, I remembered a movie called the Nanny Diaries. In the movie, there were scenes of families retreating to their favorite beaches in the South Hamptons. Non-tropical beaches. And then an idea sparked in my head.

So I started looking for things that would take us to the beaches of North Eastern USA, especially Nantucket Island. What I found were weathered pails, drift wood and twigs, of course sand, shells and lots of candles. It fit the bill perfectly.

The thing about these elements however, is that they drown out into the surroundings. They could go unnoticed, which is something we really didn’t want. It was a good thing the Joe and Carla (Rica) were looking into fall colors. So we spruced the flowers up with oranges, reds, yellows and greens to brighten up the otherwise drab elements. We used sunflowers, pomelo roses, green belles of Ireland,etc…

WE: Speaking of flowers, how many types/ dozens were used for her wedding?

Ms. Beth: Around 40 dozens each of 10 different kinds.

WE:How was it working with a celebrity like Carla (Rica)?

(Beth Amat showing Rica Peralejo what a warm, but`non-tropical` beach theme would look like for her reception tables)

Ms. Beth: Unknown to many, Carla (Rica) is artsy-fartsy at heart. A peek into her home showed us that she loves to create things. To bring this side of her into the wedding decor, we detailed each table with rustic looking crafts. Since the couple wanted to add a personal touch and at the same time, let others in on the fun, they commissioned close friends and family to create the little trinkets.

(Wedding planner Teena Barretto checks out the hand-painted pots to be used for the table arrangements )

We coined the term Nantucket Rustic for the theme because it brought together non-tropical, laid back beach with art-inspired nostalgia. It’s the perfect theme for this wedding because it`s who Joe and Carla really are. Joe as the easy going and reflective one, and Carla as the warm and creative one. Two seemingly opposite personalities but actually perfect together.

(Photo by Lito Sy)

Check out Beth Amat`s `Classic Filipiniana` set-up in Wedding Essentials magazine January to June 2010 issue.

Available at leading magazine stands and bookstores nationwide.

Beth Amat/ Eve & Co.
(63) 919.717.1230; (632) 831.8326

Photo Credits:
Mock-up meeting photos courtesy of Teena Barretto and Beth Amat.
All wedding photos of Joe and Rica Peralejo- Bonifacio courtesy of Lito Sy

1. Rica Peralejo`s (onsite) wedding video
2. Rica Peralejo`s wedding gown
3. Rica Peralejo`s gown by Rajo Laurel