Bridezillas at Large!

This is probably and is most certainly the vocation and a noble career I have chosen for the years more to come.  I am a fashion designer.  And as my tag line says,  "Passion for Fashion".  Creating wedding apparels is something that entails somewhat a holistic approach.  I admit that in this field that I have chosen, it can be a hit or miss thing.  But someone like me who's been doing this for over two decades, missing can"t even be an option.
The internet is a powerful tool.  Likewise are recommendations or as the common term as we say "word by mouth".  I have always expressed my own way of gratefulness to people, clients,  former brides , etc. who believed not just on my craft and aesthetics but to those who respects the way I handle their concerns.  What a redundancy but then again I will and I am proud to say that I am a fashion designer with passion in creating bridal and other formal attires both for men and ladies.  And because of this, I believe people come to us not just with the fact that nowadays people know what they want and they come to us for further deliberation of their choices and sometimes be ready to be given comments and  even unsolicited advises from fashion designers like me who thinks otherwise.  Its part of the professional undertaking and the aim is always postive.
A designer within his capacity and competency should be able to know, suggest and recommend a design silhouette for a bride that chooses us to be their privileged designer.  Things have really evolved through the years.  I have always come to respect the bride's choice and tries so hard to share my expertise in all aspects of having a clothing made.  Some stubborn clients who thinks otherwise, or more of a wannabe designer can really be difficult for us. Sometimes my thoughts tickles me thinking that they should have gone to a seamstress instead and not feeling sorry for their ignorance.
I was raised well by my parents, along with the degree in Medicine that I earned, I learned to be pleasant, respectful, honest, sincere and to the medical side of it, treat every concern as urgent that should warrant immediate solution , focus and discipline.  I work hard not just for the money but for my passion.  I want to work that way and I shouldn't be regarded to  some clothes businessmen who poses as fashion designers but in essence, there immediate priority is monetary gain.  A rightful term as businessmen and not fashion designers.
Clients are important to all of us.  Unfortunately some colleagues of mine has good and not so good disposition about their egos when their design aesthetics is at stake.  Each one of us has the right to decide what disposition will it be for us designers.
We create magic with clients, though not to all as many clients have all their trusts given to their designers.  But there can be monster clients.  In the wedding industry in this country, they are tagged as bridezillas.
Do I need more to explain the term?  I guess not.  Stubborn , rude and attitudes with full of sarcasms are what we sometimes experience.
As a professional individual, I am shielded with my working contract .  Shielded only to those who pretend that they know a lot where in fact, their ignorance, bullishness and aggressiveness might just cause a blood vessel spurt inyour brain from stresses that we do not need.  This can be rare but the moment it hounds your day to day work, you loose your interest and inspiration. An intelligent designer may not take it personally and try to count the days as it draws near and finally its done and over. But beware! not all designers have the heart to be compassionate and understanding and could eventually make it for the client. With wedding concerns, I would say that most of my bride-clients , a good estimate of 90% are all based overseas and I never experience any form of harassment or stressful discussions with them.  That's why more often, I feel a bit emotional because they would simply fly in a few days before their wedding day and the rapport and bonding is physically short though the e-mail correspondence had been most cordial and exciting.
Oh no! not all the time.  I soon realized that Filipino bridezillas are scattered in this whole wide world.  It becomes even more difficult to handle.  But I can take it. So be it. I just have to face it head on.  But not until I begin to feel that I am not treated right and my patience has all been used up.
"The customer is always right", what an outdated cliche!  Respect is earned and can never be demanded.  I am such a good soul.  But sometimes your patience and understanding is really put to test.  They can be either bully , stubborn, feeling almighty and omnipotent.  My wish is that hopefully this people who gives us so much ordeals and worse may cross the line should be on the look out. We are paid to create what is commissioned for us to do and the amount does not include the quality of belittlement that these monsters extends to us.  Let me state my case briefly,  I am not a push-over, I know my job, I respond as urgently as a sent text shakes my mobile phone and I sincerely explain what should be shared .
Should I feel sorry for the pea brains of these clients when it comes to these concerns.  I love peace and that is most definite.  I can be sentimental every time a commissioned work is finished as I feel that the working relationship has come to an end and  will be missing the kindness and maturity of majority of my wonderful clients.
Whether it is being done intentionally or part of their rude identity, be prepared to wreck it with me.  I am a very rational individual wedding supplier.  If you cross the line , my very long and wide divided line, or my patience should require a nasal prong on an oxygen tank, then I will not be the one to regret this inhumane attitude of rudeness.  I can tolerate and tolerate very much.  But I hope my patience is not placed in at so much risk.  I am a decent designer- entrepreneur.  My kindness should never be put to test many times.  My humanity could be melted here and I will not allow it.
I am a good, kind, compassionate wedding supplier.  I care about my job and I do it the best way possible at all times.  Oh please, before you entrust your supposed hard earned earnings, make sure to read the contract very well.  It could guide you accordingly and very well so that ideal manners are well-exchanged.
This is me and I am dedicated to my job.

From Cambodia to Korea & Tagaytay, A Celebration of Love ( Kim - Sunga Wedding)

Another past wedding that I should have posted way, way back.  But its never too late to add this wedding event.

Jun Kim and Ana Janet Sunga are both based in Cambodia both on expat status.  Jun being a Korean national had a Korean wedding ceremony hosted in is native land.  Now its Ana's turn to have a wedding ceremony here in the Philippines and Tagaytay City was the chosen site of this Catholic marriage .  Ana is a lawyer who  happens to be the  sister of  Dr. Judith Rebosa , a medical doctor (specializes in Pediatrics) who is married to the brother , likewise a medical doctor in the field of specialty in Pathology ,of my former professor  in Legal Medicine and Jurisprudence, a very popular family name in this field of specialty in Medicine.  Some interesting associations.  Another overseas bride that had gave me such an easy time taking care of her concerns.  Since they had an all Korean costume attire during their first wedding ceremony, this time Jun will be wearing a barong that I was likewise was commissioned to make along with the entire female entourage and the mothers of the bride and groom.  It was so delightful to see Jun's parents gracing the occasion celebrating this milestone event along with the Sunga family.  I was very to lucky to do a one hit fitting for Jun's mom arriving on Christmas Day or just 2 days before the wedding day.

This was a December 27, 2011 wedding at 11:00 am and the event was more festive being a December wedding celebration.  My team was up there making sure that the bride along with family's attire for the wedding was being worn accordingly.  I have this tendency to be anal with my work checking things up to the last detail and having to have her wedding gown refurbished very well .  Brought with me our portable steam press and flat iron  which I seldom do thinking that the preparation venue are providing these pressing gadgets.  Just to make sure that we will able to flatten out all the wrinkles that have appeared on Ana's wedding dress.

I believe we were in the  Presidential suite of the hotel being in a very huge room to prepare.  After all the preparation at their hotel room, soon it was time to proceed to the church and Janet came down to ride in her vintage automobile.  Following her up to the church still to assist her and put her position in place, we waited till the church  doors opened  and Janet's moment  with her bridal march.  Our task ends here and soon it was time to head back to Manila. Oh well, decided to rest a bit and have lunch in Tagaytay.  Its always worth the trip being there. 

Ceremony Venue:  Our Lady of Lourdes Parish,  Tagaytay City
Reception Venue:  Ballroom, Taal Vista Hotel
Wedding Planner and Coordinator:  R&A Events Specialist headed by Ricci Ang
Photography : Dar Ramos Photography
Hair and Make-up:  Danny Capistrano

NOTE: Some photos were taken from  Dar Ramos Photography

A Friday Debut Celebration in June ( Eda Octaviano's 18th Birthday, June 21, 2013)

Mrs. Millet Octaviano accompanied her daughter Eda who is celebrating her 18th birthday in my office months back.  It was a trust at first sight.  My appreciation to Chacha Datu of Lifestyle Party Planners for recommending me to the Octavianos to make their event attires. Gowns, shoes and bags were to be customized.  I was asked to design a debutant's main gown in shades of lavander and purple, Eda's favored color shades.  Eventually this hues of color were to be made for Eda, Ma'm Millet and her sister Eloise.  For some time there was much silence in terms of  being in touch with them as often as possible.  Ma'm Millet I thought was into her deep thoughts if was attending to their concerns.  Little did they know that I was up and about doing the frou frou skirt of Eda.
A few weeks before Eda's event, we set a meeting for the second time .  It was my fitting date with Eda and was my time to attend to Ma'm Millet and Eloise attires for the event.  I can understand their sense of anxiousness pertaining to my coming up with the deadline for their concerns.  I committed a timeline for their remaining attire  requirements and finished everything a week before the event and was time to claim all the gowns, shoes and bags.  It was a good thing everything fitted in their van.  Eda's detailed skirt dress,  a real bouffant petticoat, Ma'm Millet and Eloise's gown, a real huge hard box for keeping Eda's dress after the event and the body form I was lending them.
The weather and the traffic situation in the city wasn't so cooperative.  It was raining and the horrendous traffic made it difficult for us to arrive on time.  There was no atmosphere of a panic mode in the Presidential suite they were into ( room 808) of the Bay Leaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila.  Realizing that our arrival was reasonable as they decided to have a final rehearsal again in the ballroom. In the meantime it was a good moment to chat with Ma'm Millet as we both sat in the receiving room of the their suite.  Soon it was time to  attended to their dressing up when Eda and Eloise came back and made  sure they were all  tucked  up properly in their dresses.

Everything went well.  I had a good bonding with Ma'm Millet and I wasn't able to leave immediately when she personally invited me to be with them for the actual celebration  and soon after,  I along with my staff were inside the ballroom seated in one of the tables in the ballroom filled with  Eda's schoolmates from high school and college along with the Octavianos'  friends and relatives who were all there to witness formal Eda's coming out in the society.  Soon I realized I was part of the reception which rarely happens.





                                           

 The program was very organized, even the cotillion dance was well executed.  The pacing of the program was not exactly fast tracked but I did not get the feeling that the program was getting boring like other debut celebrations that could get lousy because of the various sequence segments of a  typical 18th birthday celebration program..  Felt good and happy seeing the debut-celebrant  Eda carrying the gown very well and  with poise and  grace.  I had to leave earlier  realizing that I ran out of a medicine that I have to take at that hour.  Approaching Ma'm Millet to express my gratitude and gratefulness for all the trust and confidence she gave me  with their dresses and was time to say goodbye for the moment.
                                                       
                               
                                                    

Its the start of a friendship worth keeping .  Felt  the kindness and sincerity of Ma'm Millet.  An additional list of the wonderful moms that I've  kept and treasured all these years .  More than anything else, its a job properly done for me.  I hope to do even better in my future commitments. 

The Wedding of the Sister of My Friend ( Ramirez - Datu Wedding)

I haven't posted the past events that transpired in my career during the last two years.  So here I am remembering some memorable weddings not because they are grand or upscale but because they are worth to be stored not just in m blog but in my memory as well as in the diary of my passion as a bridal fashion designer.

Ma. Christina "Cricri" Datu, DDM

Doc Christina or better known as "Cricri" is the sister of a good friend Charito or popularly know in the wedding industry as Chacha Datu of LIFESTYLE PARTY PLANNERS.  Cricri's groom is Carlos but is casually called as "Dos".  Justifying Carlos' nickname came about because of his twin brother whom they call as "Uno" who stood as Dos' bestman..  No! its not complicated! ha ha ha ha ha.

Carlos "Dos" Ramirez (Groom)

Chacha finally brought Cricri in my office to plan for her wedding gown and I had this unconventional color of a duchesse satin which I got years back from a supplier who goes around with other designers as well to peddle his fabrics.  There was no second thoughts. Instantly Cricri and Chacha chose the fabric and had it tagged immediately for Cricri.  Yes they are special clients                                being the sister of my friend Chacha but they underwent the usual procedure of having attires made with no shortcuts or a
                                                        "diva" sort of treatment.

Charito "Chacha" Datu
(MATRON OF HONOR)
aka ( 1st Maid of Honor)

 Camilla Maxine "Ia" Datu-Arevalo
MAID OF HONOR

Carlos or "Dos" works in a call industry in our country and of course is doing his share of this preparation.

 Mico and Cassandra Marie Arevalo
JUNIOR GROOMSMAN AND JUNIOR BRIDESMAID

The entire entourage comprised mostly of siblings except for the secondary sponsors whom the couple chose and considered  as real long time friends.  I admire the secondary sponsors who made it a lot easier for Cricri with their fittings unlike other weddings I had in the past where the female entourage members makes it more difficult

                                                                                                    for us feeling more important than the bride
Everyone was compliant enough to come and fit their respective attires and made a very decent appointment which they attended.  Of course there as no such thing as a perfect fit but I made sure that everyone had their dresses adjusted accordingly.

                                                                Ma. Lareina Braganza
                                                                                  SECONDARY SPONSOR

                                                                                                                                                                             

(L-R) Sunshine Segunial, Chino Datu, Charisse Roxas
SECONDARY SPONSOR,  GROOMSMAN,  SECONDARY SPONSOR

It was an after Christmas day wedding event, December 28, 2011 at 3;30 pm at the Parish of St. Rita de Cascia with reception immediately followed at the Clubhouse of Philamlife Village.  Chacha's a very reliable wedding planner who assisted Cricri and Dos making sure everything fall into places. The preparation venue was a big room at the Linden Suites.  As always the room is so filled with people , siblings, friends, entourage along with suppliers like me.                                            

Cheska Baldoria
BRIDESMAID

                                                 

Tria Jardinel
BRIDESMAID

                                                   

 Cheska Felipe
BRIDESMAID

                                                   

Samantha Lim
FLOWERGIRL

                                                     

Chino and Chacha Datu

 I looked at the reception hall before we left after Cricri has commenced with her bridal  march.  Indeed a well prepared modest event with Juan Carlo, the Caterer providing the gastronomic delight.
I just loved Cricri's bridal bouquet made of peonies.  One of my favorite bridal flowers.  Chacha and Cricri
just made it happen not to forget Dos of course.

                       

A simple wedding that is not exactly simple! No its not confusing. Believe me!

Dos and Cricri's Dream Team:

Wedding planner and coordinator:  LIFESTYLE WEDDING PLANNERS

Florist: Notes and Flowers

Hair and make-up: Kit Salazar-Fabia ( a former bride as well)

Reception Caterer:  Juan Carlo, the caterer

Bridal Limousine:  Don Robert's 

Reception Emcee: Dr. Love Vaswani

Photo and Video:  Jed and Alex of Imagine Nation

"WEDDING INQUIRY", TO BE OR NOT TO BE, MY THOUGHTS........

 I am a responsible professional event (wedding, debut, special events) supplier. I am up and about with my replies to inquiries.

I treat every inquiry as if I am giving them pointers in considering decisions for their concerns.  It’s not just about being able to give your price quotation to every inquiry.  I am very thorough.  I'm sure other suppliers/vendors share the same sentiment when we are treated like a piece of s_ _ _ .  When they just stop following you up after many e-mails and exchange of thoughts and ideas.  When you thought and feel like it’s almost there and would be requested to send them your working contract or even set a personal appointment inquiry in your office or elsewhere and signing of contract to follow immediately.  Like they make a schedule to meet you up via SKYPE, but they themselves fail to come up with their presence and concern regardless of reason.  Or after a lot of correspondence via e-mail, they suddenly cease without any form of notice like vanishing in thin air.

I consider my professional undertakings real so I hope we suppliers are treated accordingly most especially when we are very responsive to them despite corresponding with them only on an inquiry status.

Some of us suppliers are guilty of doing the same to inquiring potential clients.  Of course like these inquiries, we provide all the reasons in the world to make an excuse why some of us do not respond.  It’s not of my interest to know why.  An indirect tit for tat experience with inquiries.  Likewise I hear stories from these inquiries that other supplier does not respond to their queries or it takes a while for some suppliers to respond.

Let us (suppliers / vendors) all take our job seriously.  Yes!  It would be better if we just delete our business e-mails if we are not conscious that e-mail inquiries should be addressed accordingly and with sense of urgency.  Too bad for suppliers like me who are very attentive and diligent with inquiries to potential clients.  I defy being typecast-ed with suppliers as such.

This is my cause and I hope future inquiries will be very professional as well. No! I refuse to give up.  It’s not a "c'est la vie" mode for me.  Oh yes, I can only be speaking for myself.  But that's how my mind is set about this concern.  Being a professional the moment you open your door to someone who is knocking and hoping they are accommodated properly.  

This is not about frustration.  This is writing about appropriateness, setting a good example and being dedicated not just to our craft but to our level of professionalism.  I continue to be optimistic.  One day, I will have to stop e-mailing lost-to-follow up inquiries.  I agree, it’s not just our (suppliers) fault.  Some irresponsible inquiring individuals should likewise be reprimanded for their uncanny behaviors towards us.  Sometimes you get the feeling that they are just toying on us or to put it bluntly, window shopping on suppliers.  Or I hope they are not part of us suppliers spying on other suppliers prices!  Oh no!  But this is not remote.  It’s starting to get complicated.  I am open to reasons, discussions, opinions, recommendations, and hopefully some conclusions.  Moving forward still and determined.  I am inspired to perform my task and excel on it.