Content creator and visual artist Jannie “mariajanniebee” Baluyan recently married tech entrepreneur Luis Buenaventura II in a deeply personal, art-inspired celebration at Shangri-La Makati, one that honored family memory, art, creative passion, and a love story that spans Manila to London.
Jannie, a solo mother and devoted breadwinner, is known online as @mariajanniebee. A civil servant, part-time model, and visual artist, she has carried her family with quiet strength while holding on to her love for beauty, art, and storytelling. The groom, artist Luis is one of the most prominent figures in Philippine fintech and blockchain: he serves as president of the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, led the crypto unit at GCash, co-founded the licensed crypto exchange BloomX, and is recognized as one of the world’s early NFT artists.
Friends and family crossed time zones and oceans to witness the couple begin their new chapter. A lot of guests flew in for the wedding from different cities across Canada, the United States, Qatar, Singapore, and Thailand. Among the familiar faces celebrating Luis and Jannie’s union were tech CEO Winston Damarillo and TV personality James Deakin, who served as wedding godfathers.
A Bridal Entrance to Remember
There was not a dry eye in the room when Jannie began her walk down the aisle. Instead of a conventional bridal march, she honored Luis’s late mother, Professor Villy ATH Buenaventura, by having her poem, Light Bringer, read aloud as she entered. The moment turned the ceremony into something deeply personal, a way of bringing a mother’s love, wisdom, and presence into the couple’s new beginning.
A Wedding Surrounded by Art
True to the couple’s identities, the celebration unfolded amid reproductions and references to their favorite Impressionist masters, including Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. Luis studied art, while Jannie is a painter, making the theme less a styling choice than a reflection of their shared language.
Photographs from the couple’s pre-wedding shoots in London, New York, and Paris were displayed throughout the venue. They were paired with poems from earlier generations, including works by Jannie’s grandfather, Johnny Baluyan Sr., and Luis’s late mother—creating an intimate visual and literary family archive.
The Bride’s Dream Gown
Jannie wore her dream Monique Lhuillier bridal gown from The Wedding Club London, a long-established bridal retailer with boutiques in Knightsbridge, South Kensington, and Birmingham. The Wedding Club is known for carrying sought-after international designers, including Monique Lhuillier.
The bride’s look was completed by stylist Eye Candy Manila and makeup artist Iya Gueco. For preparations, she wore a custom made House of Laurel dress, while Luis suited up in a custom look from Suit It Up Manila.
A “Cryfest” at Shangri-La Makati
Held in the elegant, grandiose setting of Shangri-La Makati, the wedding was described by guests as a beautiful “cryfest”, a celebration filled with tears, laughter, fashion, and heartfelt speeches.
TV host and actor KC Montero kept the program lively from start to finish, guiding guests through the emotional highs and playful moments of the night with his signature humor and easy charm. Adding to the grandeur was the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, whose live performance gave the wedding an unmistakably cinematic feel. With sweeping strings and elegant arrangements, the orchestra turned key moments, from the bridal entrance to the couple’s first dance, into scenes that felt straight out of Bridgerton. The visual experience was just as polished. WABS Lights and Sounds handled the ceremony’s lights, sound, stage, and LED production, transforming the ballroom into a warm, immersive setting that complemented the couple’s art-inspired theme.
The Stellar Supplier Line-up
Ceremony and reception: Shangri-La Makati
Coordinator: COTE Events Management
Host: KC Montero
Bridal gown: Monique Lhuillier, from The Wedding Club London
Groom’s suit: Suit It Up Manila
Prep dress: Rajo Laurel (House of Laurel)
Stylist: Eye Candy Manila
Hair and makeup: Iya Gueco and Renzo Lusterio
Entourage makeup: Jennie Areglado
Photography: Jaja Samaniego
Video: Nice Print Photography and Mayad Studios
Content creation: Mrs. Gipit and Nice Print Photography
Pre-bridal walk film: James Macaballug Photography
Lights, sound, stage, and LED: WABS Lights and Sounds
Music: Manila Philharmonic Orchestra
Photo wall: Lilio’s Dream
Leather stamping booth: Sky & Co.
Wellness booth: Katinko
Mobile spa: Luxe Lounge by MDPH
Roving photobooth: MIB PhotoMan
Onsite portrait studio: Studio on Wheels by Nice Print Photography
Claw machine: Send Joy Events
It was about a mother’s poem still lighting the way, a grandfather’s words still being read, a child watching her mother begin a new chapter, and two artists building a life together: one filled with color, memory, and love that refuses to be forgotten.
