Marichelle Ligon And The Art Of Celebration

From weddings and anniversaries to birthdays and debuts, Marichelle Ligon shares invaluable insights gained from three decades of industry experience in event planning.

When it comes to life’s biggest celebrations, an expert planner is essential to ensuring a flawlessly executed event. Whether it is a wedding, anniversary, birthday, or debut, having a trusted partner to oversee every detail allows you to focus on what matters most—enjoying the moment. The hallmark of a dream event is the freedom to sit back and feel like a guest, fully immersing in the joy of the occasion.

Marichelle Ligon's lifelong passion for celebrations defines her 30-year career / Photographed by Toff Tiozon

Marichelle Ligon’s lifelong passion for celebrations defines her 30-year career / Photographed by Toff Tiozon

A Legacy of Elegance and Expertise

Enter Marichelle Ligon, a pioneer in Manila’s wedding coordination industry since 1994. Her career began unexpectedly, inspired by the 1991 film Father of the Bride. What started as a simple curiosity soon became a lifelong passion and career-defining journey. 

A wedding cake inspired by Issey Miyake's exquisite pleats, meticulously crafted by Heny Sison

A wedding cake inspired by Issey Miyake’s exquisite pleats, meticulously crafted by Heny Sison

Despite a brief attempt at semi-retirement, her strong client relationships and word-of-mouth recommendations kept her in demand. Through the decades, she has planned numerous milestone events, including high-profile weddings, each celebrated for their meticulous execution and elegance Her success is built on her reputation of professionalism, time management, and an eye for detail. She emphasizes early planning to avoid last-minute complications, ensuring smooth coordination with suppliers.

Effortlessly Elegant: Outdoor dining with stunning views / Photo courtesy of Marichelle Ligon

Effortlessly Elegant: Outdoor dining with stunning views / Photo courtesy of Marichelle Ligon

Her signature approach blends elegance with practicality, guiding clients through every step of the process. As we welcome in the new year, Marichelle remains optimistic that her commitment to quality and creativity will keep her a sought-after name.

Pristine and classic in white, styled by the late Jun Hen / Photo courtesy of Marichelle Ligon

Pristine and classic in white, styled by the late Jun Hen / Photo courtesy of Marichelle Ligon

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Expert Advice

In an exclusive interview with Lifestyle Asia, Marichelle shares her expert tips on planning a truly memorable and flawless event. She also reflects on the most luxurious celebration she has handled, her own personal take on luxury, and what has made her work a rewarding experience over the past 30 years. 

What are your top five tips for a newly engaged bride preparing for her dream wedding?

Hire a coordinator right away! The coordinator will easily guide and advise on anything event related from the ceremonies, suppliers, protocols, etc. Getting a coordinator also opens the doors for trusted suppliers to assure a memorable occasion without the stress and headaches.

Know what kind of celebration you want to do. This helps speed up and, at the same time, ease the planning process because everyone can focus on important details.

Keep communication lines open. Have open communication with the people you work with since our job is to listen, advise, and assist you. Clients have to be able to say what they want and what they are comfortable working with.

Have a budget in mind. It’s always best to have a cap and know how much the client is willing to spend.

Know your priorities. For example: food has to be a certain standard or quantity, décor has to be this much, performer has to be a quartet or band, gown or suit has to cost this much, etc.

What has been the most luxurious wedding you have ever planned?

“It was a small and intimate wedding of 50 guests but the client wanted to transform the venue into a dreamy experience. She carefully chose all the food and beverages, with the entertainment according to her liking. She spent Php 5 million for this relatively small number of guests. Everyone enjoyed the evening and, according to those who attended, it was a celebration that they will never forget. The client was very, very happy as well with the outcome. Cost was not an issue because the important thing was that all the guests enjoyed and everything that the client envisioned for her big day came true.”

What is your definition of a luxurious celebration?

“That cost and effort are not issues; that what really matters most are the thoughtful details created to bring a magical event to life and that the memories that will be created afterwards will always be cherished.”

How has your definition of luxury evolved over the years?

“Luxury is no longer about having things done lavishly. Luxury for me now is when everything is carefully curated and executed thoughtfully, elegantly, and naturally. The celebration has to be very tasteful and classy! It’s important to give guests that lasting experience knowing that when they arrive at the celebration and leave the occasion, they know that every single detail was especially chosen with their enjoyment in mind.”

What have been the most rewarding or fulfilling moments from all the weddings you have handled?

“Simply seeing my clients experiencing their dream celebration come to life will always be my most rewarding moment.

Receiving that very simple compliment from my client and the guests that I did a great job will always be a fulfilling moment.”

Banner photo courtesy of Marichelle Ligon.

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