Our Story
We were friends for four years and started dating right before the pandemic.
When lockdown hit, we got into hiking, traveling up to Yosemite for our first big trip and doing the baby hikes there. We hiked around San Jose almost every week until Mika had to go home and our four years of long distance started. We should probably put “LDR” in quotes because we did see each other at least 3 times a year!
In our years of LDR, we’ve had the privilege of traveling to different countries together.
We always tried to find time to do short walks, hikes, or at least immerse ourselves in nature
So it was perfect when Gerome proposed to Mika at the Botanical Gardens in Singapore — the country Mika grew up in, keeping in mind her love for plants, specifically orchids.
For our pre-wedding photos, we traveled three hours outside of Manila and took a little “walk” along Tinipak River* in Rizal. Mika insisted it would be a quick trek that would require very minimal effort. She was wrong lol.
After three hours, three flights of makeshift wooden stairs, and some unpredictable rain, we knew we had captured the photos of a lifetime that reflect our journey as a couple—all thanks to our guide Ate Joyz, and amazing photographer (and bridesmaid), @seiahyuphotography. We’re so excited to share it with you today!
*This river is home to breathtaking limestone formations that may no longer be visible in the near future due to the upcoming construction of the Kaliwa Dam. We highly recommend visiting Tinipak River and supporting local tourism in the Daraitan area while you still have the chance to experience its natural beauty.
