THE BRIDE and groom wore sneakers.

Although Oyo Sotto and Kristine Hermosa looked every inch the traditional celebrity newlyweds, a closer inspection would reveal otherwise.

?They were both wearing rubber shoes, except that Kristine?s pair had glitters on them,? recalled Malou Fagar, Sotto?s manager and a ninang (one of the principal sponsors) to the couple.

?Simple, funny?

It was ?a simple, funny? ceremony, Fagar recalled, but ultra hush-hush, as was the couple?s plan.

It was held at dusk on Wednesday (the groom?s birthday) at the beach resort Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas. The couple invited only close family and friends, related ABS-CBN president Charo Santos who was also a ninang.

?Very intimate,? Santos described the event. ?They said their vows at the ?magic hour.? It was beautiful.?

Santos described Hermosa as ?the picture of a very happy and lovely bride,? Sotto as ?gushing with excitement mixed with awe.?

It was Sotto?s first marriage, while it was Hermosa?s second (the first was with actor Diether Ocampo).

The bride wore a white gown (by Edwin Tan), while the groom donned an all-white Nehru jacket (also by Tan), said Fagar.

At the party, Hermosa changed to a dress by Francis Libiran.

Although it was a laid-back affair, Sotto was said to have made the pastor, Robert Gonzales, ?jittery.?

?The pastor thought Oyo was raring to kiss Kristine. The pastor wanted to stop Oyo. That was funny,? said Fagar.

But the most memorable moment came when the groom?s parents, TV host/actor Vic Sotto and actress Dina Bonnevie, delivered their heartfelt messages to the couple, said Fagar.

?Vic joked that he couldn?t really give marital advice to the couple, as his ex-wife Dina could readily attest to,? Fagar said.

She related that there was not a dry tear at the reception when a weeping Bonnevie said: ?Oyo would always defend me every time someone tried to hurt me. I am sure that Oyo would be just as loving to and protective of Kristine.?

Fagar said that Sotto?s older sister Danica teased her: ?Like mom, you?ve also lost your baby. He now has his own world, his own life with Kristine.?

The newlyweds will not be quitting show biz anytime soon, Fagar said.

?Oyo still has his show ?Midnight DJ? on TV5 and Kristine is still with ABS-CBN.?

The couple?s wedding was witnessed by personalities from the three top networks ABS-CBN, GMA 7 and TV5.

?There were only 200 guests or so. Everyone cooperated. They wanted to grant the couple?s wish for the wedding to remain private,? said Fagar.

Other principal sponsors were Senator Tito Sotto, Dr. Isabel Nazal, Johnny Manahan, Clarita Buencamino, Edmundo Jose Buencamino, Lucy Garcia and Marcelino Sotto Jr.

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