“The most important moments are the ones that make you realize there’s no turning back. You’ve crossed the line, and you're stuck on each other's side now,” says Tokyo, a character in the hit series Money Heist. This quote could have been more true to any budding couples. And for healthcare workers and couple Inez Jade Quial and Andrew Rolio, they’re crossing the line to marriage in true Money Heist style.
Donning the iconic red jumpsuits and Salvador Dali masks, the Cebuano lovers got their dream pre-nuptial shoot with the help of photographer Hafid Caballes and his team.
“I believe that many couples are now thinking outside the box for their prenup shoot. that is why they opt to try out different concepts that are different from the usual dreamy and romantic vibes,” says Hafid. “I also think that it is a way for them to express their interests as a couple or to experience something new as they would still have the traditional theme during their wedding day.”
“I personally am a fan of Money Heist. That is why conceptualizing the different poses with the couple in the location were very easy for me. Binge watching the show inspired me to do cinematic feels and color grading, which I applied on how I edited the photos,” he continues.
In a conversation with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, Inez shares how she met Andrew and looks back on the day they did the “heist” of their lives, setting money flying in the air outside the Royal Mint of Spain, or so we think.
Can you tell us how you and Andrew met?
Andrew and I were college classmates at the Cebu Normal University when we took up Nursing. We became officially in a relationship after we graduated and passed the Nursing Licensure Exam in 2013.
What are you doing for a living?
Andrew and I were both healthcare workers, he is a critical care unit nurse currently based in London, while I’m a resident OB-GYN physician in one of the private tertiary hospitals in Cebu.
Let’s get to the fun stuff. Why choose Money Heist as the theme for the shoot?
It was my fiance who thought about doing the Money Heist as our prenup theme since he was a big fan of the drama series, especially during the lockdown. Honestly, I just recently finished watching the first two seasons right after we did the photoshoot, though he kept on suggesting to me to watch the show.
What do you guys find interesting about the show?
I think the fact that the heist was excellently orchestrated made us really hooked to the show. The Professor has a solution to every possible obstacle on their way, except that he didn't anticipate that he will fall in love in the middle of the heist. For us, it seems to be a clear representation of how love can still bloom in the middle of adversity.
How was it doing the shoot during the pandemic?
Honestly it wasn’t very difficult to shoot the prenup despite the pandemic most especially that Cebu City is currently on moderate general community quarantine (MGCQ). The location where we did the shoot, Temple of Leah, was not busy at all—in fact it was deserted. The only uncertainty that we probably had was whether or not my fiance could fly back home to the Philippines in time for the wedding preparation. But he did arrive in time!
What makes you and your soon-to-be husband unique from other couples?
I think what makes us unique as a couple is the fact that, despite our long distance relationship and our hectic schedules, we are still able to find time for each other. We never had any trust issues and we always support each other.
The two will be wed on Nov. 25. Best wishes to the both of them!
Coordination by Carlo Abaquita
Photography by Hafid Caballes of Pidography
Videography by Life in Motion Cebu
Styling by Geof Lagria
Beauty and grooming by Michael Nacis