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

The Debutante Diva (Denisse Manalo's 18th Birthday

Doing the final styling of Debutant by Toni Laprena

Nanan Vilalba doing the final make-up touches on  Denissse

 

Denisse with designer Joel Bautista

One of the  privileged celebrant I have ever met.  Denisse  after her high school graduation from Colegio de San Agustin in Makati  is continuing her college education at  the De La Salle University - Manila , my alma mater.  Among the grandest debut celebration I ever had as a debutante-client and witnessed spectacular performances  from the talents and dancers along with the celebrant which opted not to have a traditional cotillon dance number.  Her "fashionista" theme made her outdo herself as she handled and carried out well al the tasks prepared by their choreographer.  What a celebration it has been for a very supportive mom, Ma'm Maricon making sure that everything will be in place along with her meticulous touch with the preparation.  It was very proper to have her thoughts, considerations and dispositions positioned accordingly from which to have and which can do without.  Nevertheless, I'm very certain that it costed Mr. and Mrs. Manalo an arm and a leg to mount this fabulous event.Denisse, though a quiet type of  young lady though deep inside you will feel  the outpouring energy just like a regular youth transforming into a young lady has been thrown out from the safe confinements of her high school alma mater to a wider and more diverse college population and environment.

 Chacha Datu was the event planner in-charge made sure that the entire proceedings was carried out as planned and diligently,  Nanan Villalba did an excellent job on Denisse and her mom's  make-up in tandem with  ace hair-stylist Iwa Ajinomoto.  Sounded like a leading brand of monosodium glutamate but true to its output, Iwa did an excellent job with the hairstyling along with Nanan's  expert  and gifted hands that created the character-celebrant look as a real star Diva  for Denisse.

Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-la was the venue of this 18th celebration and Ronald Correos of 4th Wall did a fantastic  stage set up comparable to a weekend afternoon's show.  Bravo for the stagre set up along with the styling of the ballroom and its lay-out.  Toni Lapena and his team was the commissioned choreographer and was on top of his craft and was commendable as well.  It was a dream team that even made the event a successful and memorable one. Joel Felizardo was the  emcee-host for the programe and did a good job as well.  As part of the entertainment program, Denisse's mom , aunts and close relatives prepared a modern dance production that created a overwhelming cool reception from the crowd.  Huge efforts has been a pertinent factor for this event.

Weeks before this event Denisse and her dream team all flocked at the Acacia hotel to accomplish her pre-debut shoot.  Inxites Digital Studio headed by John Parado practically spent the whole day till sundown taking charge of the video aspect of Denisse  video footage requirements.  Reaching the topmost level of the Acacia Hotel to their helipad was the last stop for the pre-debut video coverage shoot.

Anthony and Irish Velasco of Shutters of Prey Photography  was not to be left behind as they were always on the go like John and his company from the pre-debut shoot till the day of actual celebration of Denisse 18th birthday or coming out party.  It was a celebration where I as her designer along with my other staff kept a very low profile giving importance and priority to attire changes which she did three times.  A very detailed type of skirt was the style I made for her in shades of pink and hot pink to fuchsia with diagonal multi- pleating and a laser-cut top embellisment to create a very special look and styling for her bodice.

  One of the few debut celebrations where I dedicated my self to full involvement of the event.  I ws supposed to leave after dressing up a celebrant for her march.  But with Denisse event, we were all very patient , waited and miraculously stayed on  for Denisse making sure that all throughout the event , there will never be gown malfunction incident which was given so much attention and diligence. Over-all, Mr. and Mrs. Manalo along with their son Mark had a very successful event that made a permanent mark on their minds that Denisse was very happy and everything turned out very well.
of the few debut celebrations where I dedicated myself to full involvement of the event.  I ws supposed to leave after dressing up a celebrant for her march.  But with Denisse event, we were all very patient , waited and miraculously stayed on  for Denisse making sure that all throughout the event , there will never be gown malfunction incident which was given so much attention and diligence. Over-all, Mr. and Mrs. Manalo along with their son Mark had a very successful event that made a permanent mark on their minds that Denisse was very happy and everything turned out very well.