Ten years ago, Yvette Reyes’ blind date started on the wrong foot because he made her wait for hours and that certainly turned her off. But her persistent friend persevered and asked Yvette to wait and be patient.
Singapore and Australian-educated Jem Jacinto, on the other hand, wasn’t in a hurry to meet his date as this same friend did not have a good batting average in presenting him with blind dates. He took his time going about his business and showed up many hours later. Upon meeting Yvette, he realized this was it!
At first, the pretty and petite Yvette was not too keen on the gregarious bachelor who made her wait on their first date but he sent her 99 long-stemmed red roses as an apology. Persistence on Jem’s part eventually won not only Yvette’s heart but her family and friends’ approval as well.
Several years passed and they had to survive a long-distance relationship when Yvette migrated to California. Soon after, Jem moved to New York to set up a furniture design and manufacturing company for the hospitality trade and this was a perfect reason for her to follow him.
Two years ago, the famed Plaza Hotel was the site of a romantic proposal with Jem presenting a beautiful round brillant diamond to his bride-to-be. He wanted the iconic hotel as a backdrop because this was one of the first places he had taken Yvette to when she first visited New York to be with him.
Wedding preparations had to be jumpstarted because the couple wanted to hold their wedding in Manila, with friends and family coming from all parts of the globe. Plans and ideas had to be directed all the way from New York, but it was all worth it when the wedding reception was held at the NBC Tent in the Bonifacio Global City at the start of 2013 because it was filled to the brim with a variety of family and friends who arrived from all five continents to celebrate a decade of love between Jem and Yvette Jacinto.
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