Wet wedding ‘just a test’: Filipino couple ties knot in flooded church during typhoon

A couple in the Philippines proved that not even a flood could wash away their love.

On July 22, 2025, Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar tied the knot inside the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, despite the venue being knee-deep in water.

Typhoon Wipha intensified seasonal monsoon rains across the Philippines, triggering widespread flooding, including in Bulacan. The couple, aware of the risk, chose not to postpone.

“We just mustered enough courage,” said Verdillo. “Today is a sacrifice in itself. But there will be more sacrifices if we don’t push through.”

Aguilar arrived at the church wearing a flowing white gown. She waded down the flooded aisle with her train floating behind her. Verdillo waited at the altar, wearing a traditional Barong Tagalog, soaked but smiling.

The couple has been together for ten years. The groom reflected on the storm as symbolic. “Challenges won’t be over. This is just a test, one of many we’ve already overcome.”

The Barasoain Church, a national landmark, stood firm amid the storm. Built in the 19th century, it has witnessed political upheavals, revolutions, and now, a wedding that defied nature.

Wedding guests stood in ankle to knee-deep water as they witnessed the ceremony. Men wore barong tagalog, and bridesmaids held their dresses above the flood line. Despite the conditions, love and laughter filled the room.

“You will see love prevailed,” said Jiggo Santos, a family friend. “Even against weather, storm, rains, floods—the wedding continued. It’s an extraordinary wedding.”

Social media quickly picked up the story. Photos and videos of Aguilar floating her way down the aisle went viral, showing how determination and love can rise above any storm.

The Philippines is no stranger to typhoons. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the country faces an average of 20 tropical cyclones a year. Typhoon Wipha was not expected to make landfall, but its effects were strongly felt in Central Luzon.

Despite travel delays and weather warnings, close friends and relatives showed up. Their presence highlighted the strength of community in the face of natural disasters.

For Verdillo and Aguilar, their wedding marks not just the beginning of married life but a promise to brave life’s storms together literally and figuratively.

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