Viral #toknenengwedding bride and groom say the secret to a good wedding is to just have fun
Multiawarded filmmaker Arjan Rebeta and nurse and frontliner Khaye Medina-Rebeta were married on September 19, roughly a month after Arjan proposed. It wasn’t their intention but their wedding, dubbed as the #toknenengwedding, went viral because of its relatibility, simplicity, and creativity.
The couple had already been talking about getting married but unfortunately, Khaye tested positive for covid due to her work as a nurse. Once Khaye was cleared from the quarantine facility, Arjan surprised her with a formal proposal as a gift to his lady love. Arjan and Khaye quickly planned their wedding in just one month and they were in agreement to make the most out of the situation.
Their wedding ceremony was held at the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice inside UP Diliman and Arjan had joked, after visiting the church during planning, “What if we had our reception here?” Khaye realized it was a good idea: it’s right next to the church and it’s open air, safer than an enclosed space for an extended period of time.
Watch: Tokneneng Wedding: Arjan and Khaye SDE
Arjan and Khaye invited a few of their loved ones to their wedding and a drive by reception of street food, and some were too excited at the treat that they enjoyed the delicacy right there and then.
“Kailangan enjoyin niyo lang. ‘Yun ang pinaka-sekreto sa event. Magarbo man yan, simple man yan, ang importante, na-enjoy niyo. Kasi yan ang babalikan niyo eh. ‘Di ba laging advise na ‘pag nag-kakagulo kayo, balikan niyo yung memories niyo tulad ng wedding. Eh kung hindi kayo naging masaya during the wedding? Eh di hindi siya magandang bagay na balikan,” Arjan says.
“I realized nung mine-makeupan ako—ako pa nga nag-drive para mag-sundo sa mga supplier, naisip ko na minsan kailangan mo i-let go ‘yung mga bagay-bagay. Although important pa rin naman, pero you have to choose kung ano yung important sa inyo. So ako, priority ko na maging masaya on that day at i-look forward na makita si Arjan, ‘yun yung mas nangibabaw sakin. Kung ano man ‘yung details–wala namang perfect na wedding. At the end of the day, ‘yung iisipin mo pa rin yung i-b-bless kayo,” says Khaye.
Arjan adds, “Spiritual ka man or hindi, kailangan niyo siyang ipag-dasal. Kasi i–g-guide kayo eh. And kung makikita niyo sa buong process namin, mula proposal hanggang wedding, laging may pattern.”
“Sabi namin, Diyos na ang nag-guide sa amin sa lahat ng pangyayari. Nagtitiwala kami sa proseso, ipinag-darasal namin siya, kahit alam namin na problemado kami sa pera, problemado kami sa resources… Napapagaan ‘yung sitwasyon dahil may pinagkakatiwalaan kayo. Hindi niyo kayang i-kontrol [lahat] pero merong may kaya na i-kontrol ‘yung hindi niyo kaya. Dahil kaya Niyang kontrolin ‘yun, nandun kami sa, ‘Okay, enjoyin nalang natin ito.’”
