Jake and Jori’s Montenegro Wedding: Two Grooms, Two Barongs and the Bay of Kotor 

When Ryan Jake Pisuña and Jori Blas Lazalita exchanged vows in Perast, Montenegro in June, they did so in matching Barong Tagalog coats by Flavo Rosa, the traditional Filipino formal wear that their families would have recognized instantly. The two grooms, originally from the Philippines and now based in Dublin, Ireland, had spent years exploring the world together before choosing a medieval coastal village on the Adriatic as the place to make it official. Instead of boutonnières, dried flower arrangements rested on each groom’s shoulders, placed there by florist Cveti Wed Studio in a deliberate nod to the Barongs themselves.

Front of Taipei 101

The engagement began four years before the wedding, on March 26, 2019, at the base of Taipei 101 in Taiwan. Jake and Jori had traveled to Taipei to mark their fourth anniversary together, a trip that fit a pattern the couple had already established: moving through the world, eating well and paying attention to the places they landed.

“We share a deep passion for traveling and experiencing new cultures through food and interactions with locals,” Jake says. “Over the years, we explored both local and international destinations together.”

In front of the tower, under clear skies, Jake got down on one knee and asked Jori to be his lifetime partner. Jori said yes. Four years of engagement and a pandemic later, they would end up in Montenegro.

Why Perast

Perast is not an obvious wedding destination. The town sits along the Bay of Kotor, a winding inlet on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, population several hundred, its baroque stone buildings climbing the hillside above the water. It is the kind of place you find when you are genuinely curious about the world, which describes these two grooms precisely.

Their ceremony was held at Monte Bay Retreat, and the reception followed at Đardin Wine Bar, both in Perast. GO Wedding Montenegro coordinated the full event, and photographers Alexandra and Vladimir Nadtochiy documented it. The couple’s total budget was approximately $10,000.

The Barong and the Dried Flowers

The most considered decision the couple made was also the most visible one. Jake and Jori wore cream-toned Barong Tagalog coats from Flavo Rosa, the traditional Filipino woven garment typically reserved for the most formal occasions, and dressed their guests in dark blue. The color palette was intentional: cream for the couple, anchoring the ceremony in their heritage without competing with the stone and water surrounding them.

“We decided to wear our traditional Filipino clothing to honor our heritage and culture and incorporated the colors to our wedding ceremony,” Jake says.

Florist Cveti Wed Studio suggested skipping the traditional boutonnières entirely and placing dried flower arrangements on the grooms’ shoulders instead, a choice that worked because of the Barong’s structure and became one of the wedding’s most commented-upon details. The ceremony space itself replaced the conventional arch with an arrangement of dried flowers, stones and sand, a composition that read as deliberately unforced against the backdrop of the bay.

“Our event stylist and florist had a brilliant idea to forgo the traditional groom’s boutonnières and instead adorn our shoulders with a lovely arrangement of dried flowers that perfectly matched our traditional clothing,” Jake says.

Walking Together

Jake and Jori walked the aisle side by side. There was no first look. They got ready together that morning, which set the tone for a day that consistently chose the collaborative over the conventional. Their first dance was to “A Million Dreams” by Sam Smith.

The reception at Đardin Wine Bar carried the same rustic summer quality as the ceremony: light palette flowers mixed with dried ones, a warm and specific atmosphere that the grooms had shaped together with their planner and florist over months of long-distance planning from Dublin.

Overwhelmed with Love

Planning a destination wedding from Ireland, for a ceremony in Montenegro, for a couple from the Philippines, involves a particular kind of logistical faith. Jake and Jori say the process was smoother than they anticipated.

“We were lucky that we didn’t encounter any challenges and just blessed to find the best wedding planner, photographer and suppliers,” Jake says.

What did catch them off guard was the volume of support that arrived alongside the planning itself. “We are very overwhelmed with the love and support that we are getting from our family and friends in planning our own wedding,” Jake says.

On Building Something That Lasts

Jake and Jori married after a four-year engagement that included a global pandemic, a cross-continental move to Dublin and the kind of sustained daily effort that long relationships actually require. Their advice to other couples reflects what they have learned in practice rather than in theory.

“To all couples out there, as your journey together unfolds and you both continue to grow, make sure to keep communication and growth at the forefront,” Jake says. “Open and honest communication is the backbone of a thriving relationship. Take the time to share your thoughts, feelings, and dreams with each other regularly. Discuss not only your relationship’s future but also your individual goals and ambitions. Remember, life will present challenges along the way, but facing them together with effective communication will strengthen your bond. Embrace the changes and growth that come your way, and let them be opportunities for you to become even closer.”

“By prioritizing communication and growth, you’ll navigate life’s ups and downs hand in hand, creating a stronger and more loving connection.” ❤️

FEATURED LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVE AND QUEER AFFIRMING WEDDING VENDORS

Photographer: Alexandra and Vladimir Nadtochiy

Videographer: Alexandra and Vladimir Nadtochiy

Wedding Ceremony Venue: Monte Bay Retreat

Wedding Reception Venue: Đardin Wine Bar

Florist: Floral Wedding Decor | Montenegro

Planner/Coordinator: GO Wedding Montenegro

Attire for Ryan Jake Pisuña: Flavo Rosa

Attire for Jori Blas Lazalita: Flavo Rosa