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| Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion |
John Paul “JP” Visitacion had always been very focused even when he was a young boy growing up in Bacolod City, where he was born. When his parents moved their family to Davao City, he secretly nurtured his dream to finish his college nursing course and to work abroad.
It was while he was studying at San Pedro College in Davao that he met a pretty and shy nursing student, Claudette Rose “Chloe” Lee, the only daughter of Davao businessman Michael and Dr. Rose Lee. Chloe and JP quickly became close friends as they shared many things so dear to them. The two soon shared their dream of building a life together abroad after they finished their nursing course.
After graduation and passing the Board, JP landed a job as a nurse in New Zealand while Chloe worked as a nurse in Davao. The two sweethearts kept their love alive with skypeing and emails regularly. It was very difficult being away from each other, but they knew they had to be strong and focused to achieve their dream.
Finally, after three long years, their dream came true with a beautiful and elegant wedding at Marco Polo Hotel Davao. Chloe's relatives arrived from the USA to join in the celebration, while JP's family came in full force from Bacolod. Close friends and relatives of both families were the principal sponsors, with special “ninongs (godfathers)” Paul and Greg Beacham, John Foster, and Peter Chase from Perth, Australia, who all came to attend the wedding.
It was a strictly formal affair, with the ladies dressed to the nines in long gowns complete with “blings”, and the gents, either in tuxedoes or formal black suits.
Pastor Arnel Tan officiated at the wedding ceremony. There was a hush when Chloe appeared, looking so ethereally lovely in her stunning wedding gown as she walked down the aisle.
The mood at the grand ballroom of Marco Polo Hotel for the reception was festive as the bride and groom arrived dancing to upbeat music. (OMG, was that really JP dancing!) The hotel left no stone unturned to give the couple a truly memorable reception. Despite the more than 200 guests, the wedding was beautifully intimate and meaningful. It was absolutely a wedding to remember.*
