Justine Burgos and Erik Dy went through a long journey before getting married as delays arose, but they proved the wait was worth it.
When Justine Burgos and Erik Dy fell in love, they somehow knew that was it–they were supposed to spend their lives together.
The couple met when Justine became a law intern at Erik’s work in a government agency. Erik currently works for the Department of National Defense as an assistant secretary and Justine now practices law privately while handling several businesses. The couple has an eight-month-old baby named Gael.
They spent six years together and finally got married, but getting to forever definitely wasn’t easy.
Sharing the same goals
Justine and Erik said that as a couple, they are very private and had a very limited semblance of online presence. However, what people don’t always see is that they have the same goals and they include each other in decisions.
These factors are significant as these are the reasons why their relationship makes sense. However, what stabilized their connection more is that they constantly show effort to be better towards one another.
Erik knew he wanted to be with Justine forever when she showed a depth of understanding for him. “She understands me the most, even during times when I could not understand myself,” he said. She sees life in a positive light and always believes in the good of people, events, and circumstances. He added that she is selfless and generous, and knew how to treat people well.
Justine knew Erik is the one because he never shied away from making her feel secure. “What made him different from anyone was how he made me feel secure not in ways most might think, like financially or with assurances of his commitment,” she remarked. “Rather, with making me feel part and parcel of his plans and his future.” She also told how he had the drive to challenge himself and “what others perceive as limitations.” She admired the way Erik desires to be successful to enable him to help more people in a more profound way.
Postponing the wedding several times
They initially had a civil wedding in 2022 but recently got married again on January 6 at the Santuario de San Antonio in Makati. Reception immediately followed at the Manila Marriott Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.
The couple described their journey into getting to forever. They said their dream wedding date was December 2022, but things didn’t quite go as planned.
“There was no proposal due to certain circumstances,” they both recounted. Erik had an understanding with Justine’s dad that marriage would only come after she was done with her bar exams.
Justine’s bar exam was supposed to be in 2020 but due to the global pandemic, it was postponed several times.
“We simply started planning in June 2022 for a civil wedding in September of the same year,” they said. They didn’t opt to get married in 2023 as Erik’s older brother was set for his own wedding that year and that would be sukob. It is, as Filipinos know, a superstitious belief that getting married in the same year with a sibling or the year when a relative dies would bring bad luck.
Baby Gael’s heartfelt entrance
The couple shared a few highlights from their church wedding, one of them involving their son, Gael. The little one literally “drove” down the aisle with a miniature car and it took weeks of preparation. There was just a tiny hiccup: he was in deep sleep on his parent’s special day!
“Usually, when his nap is interrupted, he would be cranky,” Justine said. “But in that moment we gambled by gently waking him up and placing him in the car. Thankfully, he was such a trooper.”
Gael put his hands on the wheel and drove down the aisle as planned. He smiled at everyone as he approached the aisle. Everyone’s hearts melted, including Justine, who was peeking through the stained glass of the church’s doors.
What made their wedding refreshing was that Erik bared himself to be fully seen by friends and family. “On this singular day, he allowed himself to be who he was when it was just us,” Justine added.
Justine shared another highlight, which was the couple’s first dance. She chronicled that they practiced their first dance in their wedding garbs for the very first time and it was very challenging and stressful.
Justine then suggested that maybe having her gown’s train sewed on the back of her dress would make things easier. They entered the hall, spun towards Erik, and embraced each other in their dance’s first few moments. And just like that, all of Justine’s worries vanished.
“We’re good”
Justine and Erik’s dance became a testament to the couple’s complete trust and commitment to each other. It proves that when you truly and irrevocably love a person, and they have proven themselves to you, you just know that you’re covered. You don’t have to worry, because you fully rely on them and show complete confidence towards them.
She described the moment as something that made her just let go that day. “I finally let myself feel that as long as we have each other, we’re good,” Justine said.
Justine and Erik shared the lessons they learned from their journey together. “Go all in,” they imparted. “Invest your time and effort and savor every moment. It will all be worth it.”
Banner photo from Mico Studios
COORDINATOR Christine Ong Te Events
PHOTOGRAPHER Mico Studios
VIDEOGRAPHER Jason Magbanua
CHURCH Santuario de San Antonio
VENUE Marriott Grand Ballroom
TRUSSES Stage Riggers
EVENT STYLIST Drew Menor
LIGHTS AND SOUNDS LX Pro
ALCOHOL Manila Craft
DJ Ace Ramos
BAND Uno Ritmo
HMUA Madge Lejano
BRIDAL GOWN Jo Rubio Atelier
BRIDE’S BAG Neil Felipp
BRIDAL SHOES Curated by Jefferson Si
GROOM’S BARONG stner Couture
ENTOURAGE GOWN Vee Tan
ENTOURAGE BARONG Boy Kastner Couture
CHURCH FLOWERS Flowers of May
SOUVENIRS Vela Studios
COCKTAILS AND AFTER PARTY FOOD Candy Rush by Ken
HOST Sam YG
CHOREOGRAPHER AND DANCE INSTRUCTORS Reigh Sy
INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK FILTERS Pocket Filters
CONTENT CREATOR Pocket Films
INVITATIONS Print Divas
CREW MEALS Carlito’s Catering
SAVE THE DATE AND LED ANIMATIONS Starts with Letter
PRENUP Jason Magbanua
SINGER Joey G
PRENUP HMUA Madge Lejano
BRIDAL CAR Don Robert
CUSTOMIZED ICE CREAM The Lost Bread
ICE CREAM LABEL STICKERS Dexact Printing
COFFEE BAR Caffeined Coffee
ARRHAE UNITY COINS Weddings at Work
