From Creative Collaboration to Lasting Love: The Kristel Baflor and Nicko Dela Peña Story
In the world of cinema, love often appears as a sudden, perfectly choreographed spectacle impossible to overlook. For Kristel Baflor and Nicko Dela Peña, both highly respected makeup artists based in Cebu, their romantic connection developed gradually through repeated creative collaborations before they fully recognized it had been quietly growing all along.
A Partnership Forged Through Professional Trust
The couple first crossed paths in 2019 when Kristel was assigned to a Binibining Cebu candidate and Nicko served as part of the glam team. This initial meeting marked the beginning of what would become countless professional collaborations. Somewhere between managing extensive wedding timelines and establishing the deep trust essential to creative work, their professional partnership began to evolve into something more meaningful.
"I remember feeling intimidated at first because of his reputation," Kristel revealed during an interview with SunStar Lifestyle. "But once we started working together, everything felt surprisingly natural and effortless."
She further explained the turning point in their relationship: "We realized it was becoming something more significant when the idea of working without each other simply did not feel right anymore. It was the kind of genuine connection you rarely encounter more than once in a lifetime."
Building Careers While Building a Relationship
By the time their romantic relationship blossomed, both Kristel and Nicko had established themselves among Cebu's most sought-after makeup artists, helping shape how brides perceived themselves at the threshold of marriage. They built successful careers around transformation, guiding women to step into new versions of themselves with confidence and meticulous care.
When it finally became Kristel's turn to be a bride, one decision remained unquestionable: Nicko would handle her makeup. "No one understands my face better than someone who has worked on it and seen it every single day for years," she explained with conviction.
Navigating Industry Stereotypes Together
Nicko has always been recognized for his surprising gestures, according to Kristel. However, what truly solidified their relationship was the profound mutual understanding shaped by working within the same industry.
As one of the few men in a field still predominantly perceived as female-dominated, Nicko learned early how to navigate stereotypes with grace. "In the early days, I used to feel offended by certain assumptions," he admitted. "Over time, I understood our culture simply wasn't accustomed to seeing men in this profession. That realization shifted my perspective completely. I've embraced the opportunity to demonstrate that a profession has no gender. In many countries, male hairstylists, designers, and creative professionals are completely normalized."
This enlightened perspective contributed significantly to why Kristel always felt deeply understood within their partnership. "We comprehend the demands of our profession without needing lengthy explanations," she noted. "The real challenge was learning to switch off and protect our personal time since our careers are so thoroughly intertwined. We maintain profound respect for what each other does."
The Perfect Surprise Proposal
Given their seamless creative dynamic, Kristel often joked that there remained little Nicko could still surprise her with. Yet he managed to accomplish the one thing she insists rarely occurs: he caught her completely off guard with his marriage proposal.
In 2024, during a Japan trip for a client's prenuptial photoshoot, Nicko quietly orchestrated a proposal with their photographer friend during what was supposed to be a free afternoon in Shibuya. "Most of the time I can sense his surprises coming," she laughed while recalling the moment. "But that was the one occasion he truly caught me completely unprepared."
She had always anticipated a proposal would eventually come, as they had discussed it frequently and were already raising a son together. "But I did not expect it that particular day, in that specific moment, in that exact place. And I believe that unexpected quality is what made it exceptionally special and memorable."
A Wedding That Truly Reflected Their Partnership
When wedding planning commenced, Kristel knew she didn't want tradition merely for tradition's sake. She sought atmosphere, genuine emotion, and profound meaning. "Ever since I can remember, I've always dreamed of a candlelit reception without flowers—just the warm glow of countless candles establishing the entire mood," she shared.
This vision crystallized when she discovered a Victorian-inspired glass house in Bukidnon. On their wedding night, thousands of candles filled the space with warm golden light. Outside, mountain fog pressed softly against the glass, blurring the boundary between indoor celebration and natural landscape, creating an intimate and sacred atmosphere.
Their Bukidnon prenuptial photoshoot had already foreshadowed this aesthetic: Nicko wore an Edwin Ao white tuxedo against grazing cattle and distant ridges, while Kristel appeared in a Vee Tan corseted gown framed by open pasture and expansive sky—elegance beautifully meeting earth.
Redefining Wedding Traditions
One of the most widely shared moments from their wedding occurred immediately after their vows: Nicko instinctively retouched Kristel's makeup, a gesture that quickly went viral across social media platforms. "That's simply how we are, even when cameras aren't present," Kristel explained. "Seeing all the sweet comments and people expressing they wished they were in my position made me smile genuinely. Honestly, it just reminded me how incredibly fortunate I am."
The couple thoughtfully reimagined several Filipino wedding traditions. They prepared together, Nicko attended gown fittings, decisions were equally shared, and roles remained fluid throughout the process. They even incorporated "flower gays," honoring their creative community and chosen family.
The cake-cutting ritual received similar redefinition. Instead of keeping the moment exclusively to themselves, they invited all married couples present to share slices—a heartfelt tribute to the continuum of partnership that preceded them.
A Love Built on Shared Foundation
For years, Kristel and Nicko stood behind countless brides, helping create their special moments. In Bukidnon, they finally stood at the center, surrounded by wedding suppliers and friends who traveled despite stormy February weather.
The Dela Peñas stepped forward not merely as newlyweds, but as partners shaped by the very creative community where they initially met, learned, and built their careers side by side. "What makes us truly beautiful beyond makeup and our professions is how we function as parents," they shared collectively. "Kristel shines brilliantly as a mother, overflowing with care, while Nicko is a father who combines strength with fun-loving energy. Together, the love we share for our family and team constitutes what makes us authentically beautiful."
Kristel walked into a small chapel toward a love already proven through years of shared work, growth, and mutual support. All those years spent creating magic for other brides ultimately led to this culminating moment—when Nicko could finally make his own bride's dreams come beautifully true.
