Eric Charles Uy says he knew his bride, Reena Ritz Tee was The One when he sat down to watch Wonder Woman again and Gal Gadot no longer looked as hot to him as she used to."
With that, I turned off the TV and gave Reena a call," he says.
Eric had met Reena through his cousin back in 2012. At the time, Eric was based in Guam, and Reena, in Hong Kong. His cousin had sent him a photo of herself and Reena, and Eric asked for an introduction. “He planned a trip to Hong Kong with his cousins, and we met over a hot pot dinner and drinks. After a few sangrias, we exchanged numbers and became Facebook friends,” says Reena.
IMAGE
The two started out as long-distance friends, and Reena soon became Eric's go-to listener whenever he had anything to tell anyone, be it news, gossip, or just regular everyday stories.“
It’s comforting to know that you have someone you can trust in all situations and when you are excited to share your day every evening,” says Eric. “I found myself thinking about her at random times during the day. At the grocery or department store, I’d end up asking myself: 'Is this something that she would like?'”
The couple chose the Sy family-owned Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club as the setting for their very intimate garden wedding as it had been the site of one of their first out-of-town-dates.
“We originally planned to have our wedding in the South of France last September. But because of the current pandemic, we postponed our plans to next year when travel is safe again,” says Reena. “I was based in Hong Kong, while Eric was in Manila. We used to fly back and forth to see each other, but during the pandemic, we were separated for nine months. After all the postponements and disappointments, we asked ourselves, ‘What are we waiting for? Let’s just do it, even if it is just the two of us.’ Shortly after, I packed up in Hong Kong, flew back to Manila, and had three weeks to plan this intimate wedding."
The bride is a former hotelier who worked for Shangri-La Hotels for over 10 years in the Maldives, Singapore, and Hong Kong. She’s currently a digital marketing consultant for startups and small- and medium-sized businesses.
The groom is a grandson of the late tycoon Henry Sy, Sr. and the son of Elizabeth Sy and the late Charles Uy. He’s currently vice president for technical services for SM Hotels and Conventions.
He says this about his grandfather being a role model for marriage:
"As a man who led by example, my grandfather really did not have to speak much about the importance of marriage. After all, his love for my grandmother endured for a lifetime—a rarity nowadays and most certainly for a man of his stature.
"He was a rock star in his own right and adored by many everywhere he went. But despite his fame and fortune, he stayed the course for my grandmother till the very end. She on her part, never wavered from his side through good times and bad times. His devotion and loyalty to her was never openly expressed as romantic, but rather as a subtle and enduring kind of love meant for the ages.
"He knew to leave a legacy of solid values intended to guide me into persevering on my marriage just as he did for the 70 years together with my grandmother."
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
