The Groom from the North, The Bride from the South ( Crisostomo - Fojas Wedding, December 28, 2007)

This is my last wedding for 2007. Melanie is based in Melbourne, Australia while Jonathan is presently working in Tokyo, Japan. A North and South couple getting married along the earth's equator area. We thought we left early to catch up with Melanie's dressing all the way to Tagaytay. It was a bad start for me as my car was
hit by a driver using a red plate vehicle in doing transactions with the bank where I am a client as well. I just hope it was the municipal's official account with bank and not a personal matter by a municipal employee or officer ordering this ill-mannered driver to do the transactions and worse using a government vehicle. I couldn't stay and argue as I would be consuming so much time and might not be able to be in Tagaytay on time. I left it to the almighty to decide on this incident. I just have to be thankful that I will be able to provide the finances to have my car's body repaired. Well, traffic at SLEX is bad mainly due to the road repairs and widening. I wonder why our beloved nation has never recovered on road repairs and widenings. Its all for the betterment of people. Yeah, yeah, yeah!
We were headed for "The Boutique" Bed and Breakfast where Melanie and her family was dressing up. Luckily, we made it ahead of schedule. The suite was packed with relatives and suppliers. Mimi and Karl photography and videography was documenting the event, make-up artist Julie Baun doing the beautification of the ladies hair and faces. The bouquets created by Flowers of May were bright and noticeable. Lifestyle Party Planners headed by ChaCha Arevalo was running the event. The bride rode in a Benz limousine by Don Robert's Bridal Cars. By half-past three in the afternoon we headed for Our Lady of Lasalette Shrine in Silang for the ceremony . Reception followed immediately supposedly at the Lasallete Gardens but was moved to the Gymnasium as a precaution to the possibility of a rainfall fore casted by the weather bureau. We made it through with flying colors. But luck wasn't really on our side. Thinking that the Aguinaldo Highway would be a better route alternative back to Manila, we were wrong! We detoured back to Tagaytay due to the heavy traffic in Dasmarinas and went back to the highway bound for Sta. Rosa.

The Physical Therapists from Brunei (Barraga - Yacub Wedding, December 27,2007)

Chanda a Physical Therapist based in Brunei commissioned us to do her wedding gown seven months ago. Time really flies fast. I recall my sister Janet getting married to my now brother-in-law, Willy on the same venues. The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception or better know as the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral and the Manila Hotel seven years ago. Chanda was radiant in her make-up by Irene Manigo. The wowie famous florist, Mang Boy Mahusay did the bride and the entourage's bouquets. Seasoned Chito Ignacio was their chosen photographer and videographer. It was a bit gloomy as the rain started to pour even before we all got out of the hotel to proceed to the Cathedral. As the saying goes, "a wedding bliss". It was definitely a raining moment and not just a drizzle. Surprisingly after about a five minute travel approaching the church's facade, the rain suddenly stopped giving us the chance to step out of our car and eventually assist Chanda as she gets off from the BMW limousine.
We made sure that she was properly groomed, veil and train properly laid out before she commenced her bridal march. Irene was likewise on the move making sure that Chanda's hair and make-up got it last touches. It was a Thursday. We had to rush back to the office continuing the day's work and commitment with my other bride clients.

A Union in Historical Kawit (Sorino - Santillan Wedding, December 20, 2007)

Another testimony of a referral from a previous bride. Arni came to my office accompanied by a previous bride client, Almira Cruzat-Cagurangan. Though it was just and inquiry then, she eventually decided to commission me to do her wedding gown along with Marl's barong ensemble for the groom's attire. I realized the distance Arni had to travel just to see me for appointments and fittings all the way from Kawit in Cavite. Arni at present is based in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia who came home just to tie the knot with Arni. As my commitment stays, I delivered on time and not a bit of anxiety imparted to this simple, sweet, soft-spoken bride.

Come wedding day, we had to proceed to the hotel of the Island Cove Resort and Leisure were Arni has decided to stay for her wedding day preparation. I was with a team of wedding suppliers that that is a first time working side-by-side. Joshua Reyes, a Malabon based hair and make-up artist was her beauty vendor, Andre Photography, a Cainta-based photographer and videographer was doing the photo and video documentation of the wedding. A Cavite-based florist, "Flowers Are Us" was
commissioned to accentuate the entourage, decorate the church. I didn't get the chance to get identify with her wedding coordinator. I thought they weren't so remarkable enough to be noticed though I think these nice couple had one. Ceremony venue was at the St.Mary Magdalene Parish just a stone throw away from the historic Aguinaldo Shrine. Reception to follow immediately at Ibarra's Portico del Sol. My best wishes to Marl and Arni! CHEERS!

A Renaissance Inspired Wedding (Pastor - Bilasano Wedding, December 8, 2007)

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A charming bride-elect, Rica has chosen me to be her wedding gown designer many months back. An appreciative and easy to please bride, Rica was so easy to work with. Not a single moment I felt I would be reprimanded but rather she took every inch of the detail with a 100% trust and confidence. I know she was well prepared when she came to me in terms of what she wanted for her wedding as far as the
gowns will be concerned. Goes the same with the entourage where she gave me her full trust on what they would be wearing. It gave me all the inspiration to work diligently for her. Not a bit of stress has she given me and I know I did the same to her. Up to the very last hours of her altar date, there were minor concerns but it never allowed her to worry a bit. A real appreciative bride I must describe of her. As soon as we arrived at room 1801 of Bellevue Hotel, we were welcomed by Rica's accommodating coordinator. Vision and Ideas was her trusted coordinating group. True enough they lived to their qualifications as wedding planners. Smart Shot of Lito Genilo was Brian and rica's photographer as well as their videographer. I remember how Rica was raving about her pre-nuptial shots taken in Bangui, Ilocos Norte where the windmills were. Jackie Rivera created Rica's fabulous hair-do highlighted by a customized crystal tiara handcrafted by Ivy Riva Duenas of AMVY Accessories which definitely complemented the wedding's theme. Jackie also did Rica's fabulous make-up and Flowers and Foliage provided for the bride and entourage's flowers. All throughout the dressing time, I never felt an air of stress in the room. We eventually left the hotel headed for Brian and Rica's ceremony and Reception venue.
The most promising and awaited venue in the wedding industry. FERNBROOK! Arriving at the venue greeted us a horse-drawn carriage where Rica will eventually ride to be taken to the ceremony venue.
The Chapelle Notre Dame de Vie was 60% erected to my personal assessment. I couldn't comment so much with the place but to my disappointment. But Rica with a good heart just kept silent and smiled. I know she wouldn't spoil her day. At least the Victorian Garden 1 was prepared for the wedding banquet. I saw Alex del Rosario of Juan Carlo the Caterer but didn't get the chance to say hello. He's was so busy seeing to it that everything is in place and taken cared of. I even saw Ronald Rosales of Balay Kandila, chat for a while and tried to assess out the venue's
situation subjectively. Rica insisted that I stay though I thought I could really stay, but I have to run back to the office to attend to my staff's concern every Saturday. We still made it to a point that the bride was well groomed when she commence with her bridal march.

Young Medical Doctors Tying the Knot (Cruz - Tarca Wedding, December 7, 2007)

Another couple referred by a previous couple client, Christian and Liza. After Drs. Marie and Voltz wedding, they recommended me this time to these young medical praticioners undergoing their respective residency training. As always, EDSA Shangri-la Hotel was the hotel choice for dressing up for a Fernwood Wedding Event. Liza was preparing at her room 810 of the Tower wing. It was already the traffic season so we decided to leave the office at a much earlier time but the traffic was so consuming but still made it over two hours before Liza and Christian's departure from the hotel to St. Francis of Assisi Chapel at Fernwood. WPPP's president, Bern Mejias was busy taking pictures and his videographers in constant footage taking.


The bridal bouquet in amaryllis was eye-catching provided by Scenta Flora. JP Montilla of Complete Work, Inc was running the event while Toto Bagamasbad along with his solid team doing the hair and make-up for Liza and her folks. It took us some time before we reached the ceremony venue. The processional march started after sometime. It was a good thing that their reception follows at the Cycad Gardens also of Fernwood. Before I left the venue, JP and I along with my staff decided to take a peep on the fully air-conditioned garden reception hall with Josaiah's Catering as their chosen reception food supplier. Of course we waited till Liza and Christian was in the altar and everything in place before we left.

FWDP Continous to Move Forward!

My Okasyon models; Dr. Janny and Ms. Doya on the ramp for Okasyon's Divine line



With such a short time to prepare, me and my colleagues have found a way to pool ourselves together and come up with a worthwile activity for the year's end. Together with the newly opened OKASYON by Michelle Lim at the Robinson's place in Ermita we came up with an event which comprised of a two-segment fashion show showcasing FWDP's collection for Okasyon and a bridal fashion show also by FWDP.
Michelle Lim, FWDP's president inspired us to venture into another aspect of fashion
doing pret-a-porter collections as a retail opportunity. As the name of our association defines us, we are not just bridal wear specialist but as an all around focus in fashion specialties.
Our gratitude to our colleagues in the wedding industry namely, Steve Tamayo of Tamayo's Catering and Flowershop, Alan Borras of Passion Photography, John Parado, Arah Gecolea and Tina of Inxites Digital Video, Jong Mesina of the Write Impression, John and Benz Rana of Weddings at Work as well as the support of PAWP (Philippine Association of Wedding Planners), Racquel Mariano of Sunjewel Marketing, Joyce Aguilar of 2171 Floral Creations, Ivy Riva Duenas of Amvy Accessories and Eric Cabantog of Stefany's Lumban Barongs and Irma Contreras - Yu of Celebration Cakes whom despite their busy schedules whole heartedly shared us their compassion and support. Our gratitude also goes to REVLON for providing us with the make-up for the models, Hoffman LCD TV for providing us 6 sets for 42" LCD screens for the show, Blims Fine Furniture, Forever Flawless Moments, To the hair and make-up artists who unconditionally shared us their talents, To the models who where generous enough to lend us their services despite our budget constraints. My gratitude also goes to a my dear doctor friends Janny and Alan Serrano way back from medical school who chose to forgo of the day's gain to support me by being my model for the Okasyon segment. Same goes to Ms. Doya (Michelle's relative) who also wore my collection
and doing it very well. The plus size models of the show where likewise "scene stealers" headed by Reggie Soriano of Rio Tiaras modelling for Okasyon modelling to the tune of Madonna's "Vogue". Everything went smoothly though not likened to the caliber of The Philippine Fashion Week though I can say we had a wonderful time inspite of the physical stress but the tireless efforts by everyone made this event trully special and achievable. Hats of to my colleagues! Indeed we will move forward!

FWDP's Female members:(L-R)Carmen, Susie, Michelle, Delby

FWDP's Year Ender Events

PAWP's Christmas Party

I couldn't say no to JP Montilla,President of PAWP (Philippine Association of Wedding Planners) the only association of legitimate, full-time wedding planners
in the country. It was such a fun night as there were games, food , programs and of course my other colleagues in the wedding industry with the likes of Dino Lara, Jason Magbanua, Bernie Pasamba, Noky Gatmaitan of Printsonalities, designer Dennis Martin, Rachel Mariano of Sunjewel, Dominic Velasco of Imacron, Jong Mesina of The Write Impression, of course the Wedding Essentials contingent headed by Kitten Zapata and Mark Dy. Abner Co of Audio Compulsion, Joyce Aguilar of 2171 Floral Creations, Boyet and Jet Versoza of Josaiah's Catering, designer Oliver Tolentino just some friends I recall that I noticed It was last November 27 at the Manila Polo Club. As always, a glamorous and successful event for PAWP. CHEERS!