Ria Atayde dismisses talk of wedding tension, recalls ‘beautiful night’

Ria Atayde addressed circulating talk surrounding her wedding to Zanjoe Marudo, calmly setting the record straight amid rumors of tension involving guests Robi Domingo and John Lloyd Cruz.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Atayde made it clear that nothing took away from the spirit or flow of the celebration. Rather than fueling speculation, she emphasized how protected and peaceful the evening felt from her perspective.

“If something happened between them, they kept it away from me,” she said. “It wasn’t something that disrupted the event or anything. It went very smoothly. It was a beautiful night.”

An intentional, phone-free celebration

Atayde also shared that privacy was a firm priority for the couple—something their guests respected wholeheartedly. From the outset, they wanted an atmosphere where everyone was fully present, not documenting every moment.

“That was what we wanted from the start. It was non-negotiable to have a party like that,” she explained. “Sometimes you watch same-day edit videos and everybody’s phones are up. Iba kasi ’yung feeling na you’re all there, enjoying the moment.”

The result, she said, was a rare kind of intimacy—one where laughter, conversation, and emotion were not filtered through screens.

A gathering of love and gratitude

Describing the ceremony as deeply personal, Atayde said the guest list was intentionally small, made up only of family and close friends who had walked with the couple through their journey.

“We’re so grateful that they all showed up for us,” she shared. “It was just a nice celebration of our love and of everyone who has been a part of our story as a couple.”

Where the rumors began

Speculation surfaced after showbiz reporter Ogie Diaz relayed an account alleging a brief confrontation during the reception. According to the report, the moment followed a lighthearted exchange onstage and allegedly escalated into a tense interaction near the bar area.

As of writing, neither Domingo nor Cruz has issued a public statement regarding the claims.

For Atayde, however, the focus remains unchanged. Her recollection of the night is anchored not on outside noise, but on the quiet joy of a wedding that unfolded exactly as she and Marudo envisioned—intimate, respectful, and filled with love.