Metro Weddings Exclusive: Nadine Samonte Shares the Details of Her Vow Renewal with Husband Richard Chua

Nadine Samonte and her husband, Richard Chua, are celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary today, October 30. But their anniversary celebration this year is extra special because the couple decided to renew their vows. 

“We got married 13 years ago on October 30, 2013. Others say that 13 is a bad luck number. But for us, it’s a good number,” Nadine told Metro Weddings. 

Nadine and Richard’s wedding 13 years ago was intimate, celebrated with only their nearest and dearest. She only wore a simple white dress for the occasion, but it was a truly special moment. What mattered more was the beginning of a beautiful marriage rather than the grandness of a traditional wedding day. 

Over a decade later, Nadine and Richard are still together, and from a couple, they are now a family of five. Life is great. But Richard thought of taking their relationship to yet another level by proposing to Nadine again. 

This is the best time for Nadine to look back at how far they’ve come and look forward to how far they’re still willing to go for each other.

Nadine recalled their whirlwind romance, starting with how they became a couple just one week after meeting back in April 2013. “As in nawindang ako,” Nadine giggled. “Hindi ko alam kung paano naging kami after one week.”

On their first monthsary, Richard proposed with a paper ring. “On our third month, he proposed with a real ring. And on our sixth month, we got married,” Nadine narrated. 

At the time, Nadine had just come out of a seven-year relationship, but her chemistry with Richard was so strong she was willing to take a leap of faith to start a life with him. That is, of course, not to say that their relationship was always smooth-flowing. There were times when Nadine felt scared about how their relationship would end up because of how things went by so fast. “Sabi ko, hala, hindi kaya after ilang years lang, maghiwalay agad kami nito? Hindi e. It’s not the length ng pagsasamahan niyo. Siguro [it’s about] ’yung dedication niyo sa isa’t isa and ’yung willingness niyo na mag-adjust talaga. Sabi nga rin niya [Richard], every day is an adjustment,” Nadine opened up. 

The initial stages of their life together as a married couple were spent on getting to know each other better. 

“S’yempre may mga challenges, na may mga gusto siya na ayoko. Gusto ko na ayaw niya. S’yempre from there, we had to adjust kasi we’re one na e, ’di ba? So, from there, talagang lots of understanding, lots of patience towards each other. S’yempre ganu’n naman ang marriage,” she shared. 

Ultimately, though, Nadine is just grateful to have found a partner she rarely ever fights with. “Nag-aasaran lang kami about small things,” she said. “Ganu’n lang. But we don’t really fight kasi nagkakaintindihan kami. Iniintindi namin ang isa’t isa.”

Today, Nadine and Richard are parents to three beautiful kids: Heather, 10; Titus, 7; and Harmony, 4. With these precious blessings, they have everything they could wish for in life.

But to make things better, Richard had an idea: he would propose again. 

Usually, vow renewals are celebrated on milestone years such as a couple’s 10th wedding anniversary. But at the time, everyone was still recovering from the pandemic, and she was pregnant, too, so it wasn’t an ideal time to hold such an event. 

But early this year, Richard proposed to Nadine again at home. Nadine recalled, “Nandun lang ako sa table namin sa bahay tapos lumapit ’yung husband ko. Sabi niya, ‘You know I love you so much,’ then sabi niya sa’kin, ‘Will you still marry me? Will you marry me again?’ Nagulat ako. [I was like] ‘Huh? Yeah, of course!’”

It was a simple proposal with just the two of them, but it was so meaningful for Nadine. She never imagined this could still happen for her and her husband. 

“Hindi ko talaga ine-expect na mangyayari pa ’yun sa’kin. Ito talaga ’yung unexpected and very… parang a dream wedding na nai-imagine ko, na mas higit pa sa nai-imagine ko ang mangyayari,” Nadine shared. “My dream wedding is just simple. Just wearing a long white gown with my friends, with my family. Pero this time, s’yempre, ’yung pagsasama namin, may bunga na, may bunga na ’yung pagmamahalan namin e, with our kids. So, for me, this is more than a dream wedding. This is blessed and full of love and blessings talaga ’yung mangyayari sa renewal namin.” 

Their vow renewal garden ceremony was held on October 29 at Villa D’este, an Italian-inspired events destination located at the heart of Tagaytay, which she fell in love with the moment she saw it. It had all the right elements that matched the vintage wedding vibe Nadine loves. “Maraming binigay sa’kin na locations. Lahat ’yun pinuntahan ko. Pero ’yung Villa Déste talaga ’yung tumatak sa’kin. ’Ah, ito na ’yun!’ Alam mo ’yung mararamdaman mo. Unang kita mo pa lang, ’This is it!’“ The couple worked with event planning team Events by Miss P and event stylist Mc Pascual, who ensured the occasion was executed dreamily.

Making the occasion extra special was the presence of their kids and their participation in the ceremony: Harmony was the bible bearer, Titus was the ring bearer, and Heather was the flower girl. 

A dream wedding could mean different things for different brides. Nadine, for one, had always dreamt of walking down the aisle wearing a long white wedding gown. And so, this vow renewal event allowed her to tap into her bride era yet again. Because this was the first time she would wear a wedding gown, she was hands-on with the details of her attire.

In the end, though, she decided to veer away from a pure white or ivory color and decided to go for a champagne-hued ensemble. 

Nadine worked with Mark Brides Manila, upon the recommendation of her makeup artist. It was important for Nadine to find the right designer to translate her bridalwear vision to life for this special occasion. 

Nadine said she received several recommendations, but then, when she saw the portfolio of Mark Brides Manila, she knew the search was over. “Sabi ko, ‘Ah, ito na ’yun! Ito na ’yun. Dito na ako kasi gusto ko ’yung style nila. Gusto ko ’yung very old soul pero very elegant,” Nadine said. 

The bride had specific requests for her wedding gown but still allowed the design team to get creative with the piece. The result of their collaboration is an off-shoulder, figure-hugging wedding gown in French lace; the mermaid-cut creation was also designed with a bustier detail for a sexier take. “The material comes with 3D-effect flowers and Swarovski crystals,” the designer told Metro Weddings.

Since this was a vow renewal ceremony, Nadine didn’t want a traditional veil that covered her face. Mark Brides Manila found a way around her request while still incorporating a veil element that would make her gown look more dramatic. “They suggested putting it at the back, and it’s so beautiful, and it’s so nice. May drama pa rin,” Nadine shared. “Sinabi ko kasi sa kanila na never ko na-experience magsuot talaga ng wedding gown and all, so they suggested na s’yempre, mas maganda na may veil pa rin.” Actually, Nadine had worn wedding gowns before for her acting projects, but of course, none of those could ever come close to the feeling of wearing the real thing to meet her husband by the altar.  

The wedding gown was so versatile that transitioning to the reception felt effortless. Nadine didn’t change her outfit for the reception, but her gown transformed into a strapless piece since it had detachable neck and off-shoulder strap details. For the after-party, she changed into a little white RTW dress, a number that showcased her personalized shoes by GIBI, a brand she has had a long relationship with as its endorser. 

Her bridal footwear was a pair of pointed slingback heels with lace and Swarovski crystals to match her gown. Nadine detailed, “I wanted something na may pagka-girly, naughty-cute style. So may ribbon siya sa gilid. Tapos sa baba, nilagyan nila ng stones and Swarovski with an R and N and then our date.”

It was the perfect pair of shoes to wear as Nadine steps into a new chapter with her husband.

A few days ago, ahead of their vow renewal, she shared that she and Richard were reminiscing about their relationship. “‘You know what? Grabe no, ang dami nating pinagdaanan.’ Sabi ko, ‘Yeah, grabe, 13 years pa lang ’yun ha!’ Ang sarap mag-reminisce,” Nadine expressed. “This marriage really made me mature. It made me stronger. Dun ko nakita at na-realize ’yung sinasabi nilang unconditional love.”

Photo and video: NicePrint Photo

Event planner/organizer: Events by Miss P

Event stylist: Mc Pascual

Caterer: Juan Carlo the Caterer

Venue: Villa Déste Tagaytay

Wedding gown: Mark Brides Manila

Bridal shoes: Gibi

Makeup artist: Cath Libunao

Hair stylist: Dominic Mangat

Lights and sounds: LSTmobile

Cocktails: Manila Craft

Invitation: Print Divas

Photos and video by NicePrint Photo

Special thanks to Charisse Tinio