This is a year-in-the making wedding preparation. Lenna was a bride that I met thru internet inquiries. After a thourough correspondence she finally decided to commission me to do her wedding gown andthe entire female entourage attires. Coming all the way from Norway, she is presently connected with the Philippine embassy as a vice-consul. Lenna's acquaintance with the groom Marlon, dates back to their high school days.
There were a lot discussions that transpired thru the e-mail and finally she was able to make her choice of the design for her wedding gown. She chose a pure-piña wedding gown along with the gowns of the mother of the bride and groom. Of course, their wish is my command and took my time to meet their folks and attend to their concerns as well.
It wasn't just the bride and the groom that I can rave about but the moms as well. Never did I have a dull meeting with their moms. Also the aunt of Lenna, Ma'm Mila who stood as one of their principal sponsors. She also made it a point to wear a pure-piña terno-sleeved gown with hand-embroidery and full beadwork.
Come wedding day, it was very exciting for all of us. Luckily we arrived at Lenna's hotel room early as to the supposed call time. Everything was well and smooth from the photographers, to her make-up artist, to her corrdinators, florist and us of course.
Everything was really in order. Pictorials were even made at the hotel's mezzanine, lobby and the grand staircase. I was getting excited. It was just minutes before the actual bridal march and the bride should be leaving the hotel. We we're all made to wait for the arrival of her bridal car. I thought the coordinating staff made a lapsed judgement on the status of the bridal car's arrival. Unfortunately, the coordinator assigned was made to believe that the bridal car was very near the and the request of a hotel limousine had to be ruled out. Alas! the bridal car arrived at a quarter-past four on a scheduled four pm ceremony. Worse of it all, I learned that as Lenna and her mother, ma'm Lorna have ridden on the white bridal car. Refuelling had to me made plus the bridal car driver's non-familiarity on how to get to the church.
We soon realized that we arrived way ahead of the bridal car. We were rushing to approach an uphill facade of the church. The bridal march was definitely late.
Tension has build-up in the area as I can understand how some people were feeling stressd-out and worried about the bride's late arrival. I myself was feeling frustrated about the late arrival of the bride. It's a good thing the bride's commissioned coordinators have themselves composed for this kind of confusion. Its so unfortunate that the wedding coordinators are always to be blamed for untowardness and unforseen circumstances. No one has every thought of a stressful wedding procession. I admire the bride's composure for the incident considering it was her day and she wouldn't allow this to ruin her composure.The church ladies to my sentiments, added up to the incidents' stressfull scenario. The bridal march commenced even without notice of the bride's arrival.
It's was "grace under pressure"! Lenna arrived forty five minutes behind schedule, composed herself, appreared "stress-free" and dealt the incident like a true diplomat. Hats-off to the bride's mother who also very composed. I thought me and my staff were emotionally hit by this undexpected proceedings. The wedding coordinators did it splendidly! I cannot imagine the kind of composure they shoed in this kind of boo-boos. The culprit? who else? but the bridal limousine service. I was consoled when Lenna and Marlon informed me that it was just that incident that got so nerve wracking. From the ceremony, everyone proceeded to the reception and party started. Over-all, it was a well-celebrated event that is worth the efforts.
Photography: East Digital
Videography: East Digita
Wedding Coordinator: Junlyn Miranda
Hair and make-up: Irene Manigo
Florist: Robert Blancaflor
Dressing Venue: The Peninsula Manila
Ceremony Venue: Nuestra Sra. de Gracia (Guadalupe Church)
Reception Venue: Rigodon Ballroom, Peninsula Manila
Mary Tess is so easy to work with. She has given me the freehand to enhance and beautify the gown. She did not compromised the cost in coming up with a beautifully crafted wedding dress. A Dubai-based nurse, she has trusted us 100% to work on her gown.
