A couple in Pangasinan decided to make their marriage unique by exchanging marital vows at a cemetery with a Gothic-themed wedding.
Ronald Versoza, an engineer, married Marelinda Caranay on Dec. 29, 2023 at the Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park in Alaminos City, Pangasinan adorned with a unique setup.
The couple wore an all-black attire and required their guests to do the same.
The bridal car also appeared as a funeral hearse, complete with a coffin inside.
The wedding invite was also designed to look like a Gothic coffin. It also included a picture of two skeletal figures dressed formally, with the phrase “Till death do us part” written below.
The nuptial likewise featured funeral wreaths, candles used for the dead and two coffins that contained the bride and groom’s life-size images, respectively.
Here are some photos of the wedding celebration from Facebook:
A video of it was also posted on the Alaminos Channel, which dubbed it the “first black wedding in the city.”
Ronald reportedly said that black is his favorite color and that he and his lover have long agreed to make their marriage unique.
In another report, the groom said that the wedding theme reflects his personality as an individual.
“Kasi ‘yun po ang pagkatao ko, banda! Itim! Death!” Ronald was quoted as saying in Pangasinan News Daily. He emphasized that all was band-related.
He added that his bride accepts his personality and that he is thankful since she supports everything he wants.
Meanwhile, Arnold’s sibling, engineer Arnold Versoza, admitted that many of their relatives initially had negative perceptions about the Gothic-themed wedding.
He added, however, that the family still supports what Arnold wants in his own wedding.
“Whatever my brother wants, we support him. What we think right now is the symbol of love, what is the symbol of love? Did anybody realize why my brother chose this kind of wedding? This black wedding? Because until the end, their love will never die. That is what [was] in my mind when I received the invitation,” Arnold reportedly said.
The reception, which had a black motif, was also held at the memorial park.
Weddings are traditionally held in churches and judicial chambers, with the bride usually donning a white bridal gown.