Hi Everyone!
Our wedding video is up on the Media page! We're sorry it took us so long to share it with you. This video captured so much love and fun during our special day. We hope you enjoy reliving the memories.
Love,
B+J
Hi Everyone,
We're excited to announce that our wedding day photos are ready to share. Head to the Media page under the Photos by Brett section to see them all. Looks like everyone had a great time. Enjoy!
There are many pictures, so please be patient while the page loads. You can also view them in our shared DropBox folder.
Love,
B+J
P.S. Video coming soon!
Photobooth pictures are up! Check them out on the Media page. If you want a digital copy of any of these pictures, just contact us and we'll send them to you. We also posted some pictures taken by Penzi, our wedding planner.
While we wait for our photographer's pictures, we posted pictures of the whole wedding weekend from family and friends. If you haven't already, please share your pictures with us via WedPics and enter the Wedding ID "BARBARAJIRARD". You can also download the WedPics app and upload straight from your phone. We'll continue to add more pictures as we get them, so keep checking back.
Enjoy!
B+J
Wow, it's over!
While we're still recovering and trying to relive every second of this epic weekend, we wanted to pause and say thank you to all of you who made it out to celebrate with us. You and your amazing energy are what made this weekend memorable.
We know you all took pictures and we'd love to see them! Please share your pictures with us via WedPics and enter the Wedding ID "BARBARAJIRARD". You can also download the WedPics app and upload straight from your phone. We look forward to seeing what you captured!
You know how much we love San Miguel de Allende, and we're glad that you now know what it's all about. We hope you'll return to this place someday.
We love you all! Stay tuned for pictures and videos from our amazing photographers and videographers! We'll also select some pictures from your submissions and post them in the Media page. We added some additional information to the Reception section, so check that out too.
B+J
This update is a little bittersweet because it's our last one before the wedding next weekend! To help you prepare for your trip, here are some friendly reminders:
- If you haven't already, check out the Schedule of Events so you know what we have planned for the weekend. You can read through all our prior updates as well for other useful information.
- There will be a brunch on Sunday. Make sure you get a voucher from Jasper during the welcome reception on Friday. One voucher per person required.
- Did you book your shuttle to/from San Miguel de Allende to the airport you are arriving at/departing from? For some of you, your hotel may offer their own transportation service to and from the airport. We're using BajioGo.
- Confirm your accommodations by contacting your Airbnb host or hotel.
- Cash! Make sure you have some Mexican Pesos with you. It may take 3-5 business days if you order through your bank. There is only one ATM at the airport but there are ATMs throughout SMA - a few are at the banks in the city center.
- Call you credit cards and bank(s) to notify them that you will be traveling to Mexico (specify the city or cities you will be traveling to). Some banks allow you to do this online, but this is important to do because you don't want to worry about contacting your bank when you're out of the country.
- Ladies, please bring flats to the ceremony.
- Even though San Miguel de Allende is in a semi-desert region where mosquitoes are not a problem, it doesn't hurt to exercise extra caution by bringing repellents and dressing accordingly. There are no known cases of the Zika virus in SMA.
- Please refrain from flash photography inside the church. We don't want to disrupt our photographers' work!
- And finally, we ask that during the wedding and reception to be mindful of our photographers. We don't want any photo bombers! We encourage you to take pictures with your phones and cameras because we would love to see our wedding from your perspective; but if you do see our photographers, please try to put away your phones/cameras so they can capture a good picture.
- Instragram: #BarbaraJirard & #HappilyEverAguilarSMA
Thanks and see you in San Miguel de Allende!
Love,
B + J
P.S. Stay tuned for post-wedding updates with pictures and video!
#HappilyEverAguilarSMA
#BarbaraJirard
The day cannot come soon enough! This has been our passion project for the last several months and we can't wait for you to see the final product. We're thankful that our wedding planner is still speaking to us. Soon enough we'll be able to sleep peacefully and enjoy a bowl of rice.
We added a page with the details for the weekend. Please check out the Schedule of Events under Our Wedding to see what's in store. We didn't list every little detail, though; we don't want to spoil all the surprises! We have one more important update for you guys, so please keep an eye out for it. In the meantime, let us know if you have any questions. For those of you arriving before Friday, send us a message to see what we're up to - we'd love to meet up with you. You can contact us at +55 777 232 3597 or via social media messaging.
See you all soon!
B + J
#HappilyEverAguilarSMA
#BarbaraJirard
We wanted to incorporate some local customs in our celebration, so we're having a callejoneada after the ceremony - or, a parade. Callejon is the Spanish word for a small street or alleyway, and a callejoneada is a walking serenade and folkloric event unique to Guanajuato. The tradition of the callejoneada was introduced to Mexico after the arrival of the Spanish.
Our callejoneada will be led by a mariachi band through the alleyways and cobblestone streets of San Miguel de Allende. Joining us in the parade are mojigangas - giant puppets which are typical in San Miguel's many parades and celebrations. You may see them around town during your visit. The callejoneada is meant to be a celebration after the wedding ceremony, so we will all walk through the streets while our groomsmen pass around shots of tequila. The weather should be nice and the walk not too long. However, ladies - please bring a comfortable pair of flats for the parade. We will provide bags to carry your heels in.
B+J
#HappilyEverAguilarSMA
#BarbaraJirard
And now, a mini-homage to our number one supporters. We are forever grateful for all that they have done and continue to do for us. Meet our amazing parents (from left to right):
Dom Cabantog: Has a fondness for slot machines, ice cream, and old tunes.
Luz Cabantog: Yoga and Zumba addict and active community volunteer.
Julie Aguilar: Lover of Korean pop culture and beauty products; best furbabysitter.
Conrado (Jun) Aguilar: The king of DIY and motorcycle enthusiast.
We love you!
B+J
P.S. More song suggestions please!
Getting in touch when you're out of the country can be a hassle when there's no WiFi, and it can be expensive if you use your regular American (or other) phone carrier for calls and data. Having a reasonably priced data plan is also beneficial because Google maps will help you navigate through an unfamiliar place (although Google maps has offline capability now). If you would like to get in touch with family members and friends while you are in SMA or use data for mapping directions and social media activities, below are some tips and suggestions.
- Mexico SIM Card can be purchased on Amazon. We've used this SIM card in Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, and Valle de Guadalupe. They have reasonably priced packages for calls and data. You will need to purchase this card ahead of time so you can set up your account. You will need to indicate on the Mexico SIM Card website when you will be arriving in Mexico so that your data plan can be activated. Just make sure to get the right size SIM card for your phone AND that your phone is currently unlocked. Instructions for placing calls and texts are on the website. All Verizon phones come unlocked. Otherwise, contact your service provider about having your phone unlocked. If you decide to get a SIM card, let us know your number! If you're there before or after the wedding, we'd love to hang out with you.
- Although buying a SIM card will allow you to constantly be connected, it is not necessary since your hotel or apartment will offer Wifi; there are plenty of cafes and bars in town that offer free WiFi as well. Map your routes and get in touch with people while you are on WiFi. iMessage will work, but Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber, and LINE are all good options if you are trying to get in touch with non-iPhone users.
Shoot us an email if you have any questions or to send us your Mexican phone number if you do decide to get a SIM card. When in San Miguel de Allende, you can contact us at +55 777 232 3597 (this number is also associated with WhatsApp).
Until next time,
B + J
P.S. More song suggestions please!
How about something a little more interactive this time: what song(s) would you like to hear at our wedding? Enter your song selection below. Feel free to refresh the page or come back at a later time to enter more songs. Please include Spanish songs! The more songs the better because this wedding does not end at 10pm!
We look forward to seeing all of your suggestions!
Love,
B + J
For the bashful, the name and email address fields are not required.
The Church
Our wedding ceremony will take place at Parroquía San Miguel Arcángel in the heart of San Miguel de Allende's historic center. Inspired by European archictecture, La Parroquía is an iconic landmark just across from the Jardin where many locals hang out. The church is interesting because the facade is 18th century neo-gothic, while the rest of the building is 17th century baroque. Some say the architect was inspired by Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, others say it was inspired by German and Belgian cathedrals. Either way, you can see why La Parroquía is so alluring and why it has become synonymous with SMA. We feel fortunate to get married in a church with centuries of history behind it.
The towering church, with its pink pinnacles, serves as a guide when you are navigating through the city's winding streets. If you have some time before or after the wedding, head over there and explore the church and surrounding area. You can also visit one of the city's many rooftop bars and restaurants for spectacular views of La Parroquía.
The Ceremony Mass
For those of you who are not Catholic or who have not attended a traditional Catholic wedding, check out the order of a Catholic wedding mass.
Additionally, there are Filipino/Spanish customs that we will be incorporating into the mass: coins, cord, veil, and unity candle.
The groom presents his bride with 13 gold pieces as a pledge of his dedication to his wife and the welfare of his children. A white cord is draped around the couple’s shoulders as a bond of infinite marriage and veils of white tulle are draped on the bride’s head and groom’s shoulders to symbolize two people clothed as one. Another tradition that symbolizes the unity of the couple is the lighting of a unity candle by two separate candles held by the bride and groom to represent the joining of the two families and invoke the light of Christ.
Stay tuned for a schedule of events!
Love,
B+J
Happy New Year, friends and family! It's now 2016 and the wedding is just around the corner! We can't wait for you all to experience this city and event with us. You've been getting some previews of San Miguel de Allende from our website and blog updates, and probably from your own research as well. To supplement, we just added a Media section to the website which features more pictures from our engagement shoot in SMA. Head over and take a look at the town you'll be visiting very soon. We will also use the Media page to post pictures and videos from the wedding, so check back afterwards. Let the countdown begin!
Love,
B + J
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with friends and family. This is a minor update about the major people in our wedding. Each person plays a unique role in our lives and our special day wouldn't be the same without them by our sides.
We'll be posting updates more frequently now that the wedding is less than two months away! Please stay tuned.
Love,
B+J
BRIDESMAIDS
GROOMSMEN
Geraldine Chua - Maid of Honor
Bride's Friend
Globetrotting foie gras maven
Joanna Viray
Bride's Cousin
Scotch drinking fitness junkie
Stephanie Barros
Bride's Friend
The Cat Lady, but a way cool version
Jenna Aguilar
Groom's Sister
Marketing guru in the making and cookie connoisseur
Jasper Aguilar - Best Man
Groom's Brother
Pug owner/enthusiast and former B-boy (breakdancer)
Edsel John Abuyen
Groom's Cousin
The Debonair Gentleman
Mark Cabantog
Bride's Brother
BMW & NBA aficionado, CPA, MST
Starting the Trojan/Bruin family rivalry
Anthony Santos
Groom's Friend
Avid airline miles collector and soon-to-be dad
Our reception will be located at the spectacularly romantic Casa Cariño. Casa Cariño is a private villa situated on a hill just minutes from Parroquía San Miguel Arcángel. It has incredible views of all of San Miguel and the Sierra Madre mountains from its multiple terraces and balconies. Like all of San Miguel, Casa Cariño exudes an energy that captivates. We fell in love with Casa Cariño through pictures and knew it would be the perfect venue the moment we stepped foot onto the property. We know you'll find this space just as enchanting as we do.
Click on the Our Wedding tab to see Casa Cariño's location.
Love,
B + J
It's been a while since our last update so we thought we'd tell you about a little trip we took to taste the food and beverages for our wedding. As the wedding day approaches, expect more frequent (and important!) updates.
We recently visited Valle de Guadalupe ("VdG") in Baja California to taste the menu for our wedding and to choose amazing Mexican beer & wine for everyone to enjoy. We are very fortunate to have Chef Diego Hernandez of Corazon de Tierra (our favorite restaurant in the valley) conceptualize and prepare the dinner menu. As you can see from the video, Chef Diego has worked with some of the world's top culinary talents and Corazon de Tierra was one of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants in 2014. We're so excited to share this meal with you! We also wanted to share with you a different side of Mexico, so read on for more about our trip.
Valle de Guadalupe is less than two hours away from San Diego and it's a place many don't imagine would exist in Mexico. VdG is Mexico's version of Napa Valley. It has gained popularity over the last couple of years and was featured in Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
This was our third visit and we typically drive down to San Diego, rent a car, and cross the border at either Tijuana or Tecate (check traffic!). Tijuana is a much faster route if you head out early enough (same for going back). A two-night stay is ideal as to not feel rushed.
Untouched by commercialization, VdG exudes charm. Almost all roads remain unpaved and sometimes even Google Maps can't tell you where to go - you have to rely on the many road signs. The architecture is a welcome mixture of modernism and hacienda, and the lack of traffic and street lights allow for the most amazing night-sky we have ever seen. We can't wait to go back!
Wine
The wine scene is developing and there are many wineries producing great wines for good value. Some of the ones we've visited in the past are listed below. You'll have to wait until the wedding to see which one(s) we picked!
Monte Xanic
Vinas de Garza
Las Nubes
Baron Balche
El Cielo
Casa de Piedra
Vena Cava
Adobe Guadalupe
Clos de Tres Cantos
Craft Beer
The craft beer scene is burgeoning, heavily influenced by neighboring San Diego's renowned beer scene. We tasted a good selection of beer at Cerveceria Rural from the brewers below. If you ever come across any of these, make sure to try them - there's a whole world of really good Mexican beers beyond Corona, Tecate, XX, and Modelo.
Food
The cuisine in the region stays true to the farm-to-table movement. In addition to Corazon de Tierra, some of our favorite restaurants in the valley include:
Finca Altozano: A small open-air restaurant located on Chef Javier Plascencia's own ranch known for it's grilled meats.
La Cocina de Dona Esthela: Mexican home-cooking at it's finest with long queues to prove it. Try the machaca, birria soup, and elote pancakes.
Deckman's: Located on El Mogor Ranch where diners are seated on the farm in which all of the ingredients are grown.
There are also many small, family-owned spots and street carts that offer cheap authentic eats.
We hope this sneak peak has piqued your interest and expectations. We cannot wait!
Love,
B + J
No time for side trips? It's okay! We can assure you that you will enjoy your stay in SMA. To help you make the best of your time there, we've put together a list of our personal recommendations as well as suggestions from various travel websites and blogs. Click on San Miguel de Allende at the top of our website to see what we've added to the following sections:
- Information and tips on Getting Around town
- Sights and activites in Things to Do
- Suggestions on where to Eat + Drink
As you will see, there's more than enough to see and do nearby and we recommend at least one full day to soak it all in. Happy planning and check back in case we add new things!
Love,
We're all about side trips. We get thrills from cramming as many destinations as we can in one vacation. Why not take this time as an opportunity to explore other areas of Mexico? There is so much to see and do; and to help you narrow down the options, we put together some side trips you may want to consider if you're thinking about extending your stay. Check out the Side Trips section to see what else Mexico has to offer! You can also view and download more detailed information for each destination from Visit Mexico's website.
We know you're excited about going to SMA as some of you have already booked your flights and accommodations, or are in the process of doing so. Stay tuned for our next update where we will share some of our SMA recommendations. We can't wait to celebrate!
Until the next update,
P.S. Visit the Travel page again for additional details on booking your shuttle to and from the airport.
SMA is a really popular wedding destination. During our last weekend visit, there were several weddings each day. If you are considering going, we highly recommend booking your flight and accommodations as soon as possible because things book up quickly! Volaris, Mexico's largest low-cost airline, is currently offering round-trip tickets from LAX for $239! Check out the San Miguel de Allende page for details and subscribe to be notified of new content.
Feel free to send us a message if you have any questions or concerns.
Love,
Dear Family & Friends,
We know what you're thinking: finally! Yes, at long last, we are finally getting married. Our relationship has endured longer than many marriages — nearly ten years. Needless to say, we are beyond thrilled that we will be able to share this long-overdue celebration with you.
Why San Miguel de Allende? We got engaged in one of our favorite cities in the world, Barcelona. We wanted to incorporate a little of Barcelona in our celebration — the old-world charm, amazing architecture, warm people, and culinary greatness. We're sure you'll love it.
Stay connected by signing up for our updates. Although we obsess over every minutia, we promise not to bombard you with them.
Until the next post,
P.S. To truly enjoy the photography, check out our website on your desktop browser.