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!

A Wedding from the City of Pines ( Ang - Soho Wedding, November 24, 2007)

From the time we met during the first appointment meeting, I felt there was a vibration jive. True enough Sunshine has chosen me to be her bridal gown designer along with the entire male and female entourage. TJ is a young businessman based in Baguio and Sunshine who recently acquired her license as a physician. It was a difficult time for Sunshine preparing her wedding and at the same time preparing for the board examination in Medicine. TJ on the other hand was busy shuttling from Baguio to Manila pursuing a special course at the Asian Institute of Management. I

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Since the couple was such a nice and cooperative couple, it became easy for me to assist them with their concerns. It was indeed a smooth sailing working relationship. We arrived in Baguio a day before their wedding date and saw to it to attend to some final troubleshoots with the dresses if necessary. We thought the scheduled typhoon would make it difficult for us to attend to our undertakings. Luckily, it didn't bring any inconvenience to the wedding. JP Montilla of Complete Work, Inc. was commissioned to be their wedding coordinator along with Lito Sy to take charge with Photography and Videography. The bride's bridal bouquet of white Ranus Ranunculus came all the way from Manila along with the mom's bouquet made of sweet peach colored Amaryllis.
Ceremony venue took place at the St. Joseph the Worker Parish and Reception at the Hotel Supreme accomodating about 750 guests. Marta Matute did the couple's wedding cake. Sunshine chose to wear an off-white gown in Italian silk Mikado to match up the tuxedo worn by TJ. As expected, everything went on smoothly from Sunshine's dressing up at the Camp John Hay Manor to the church to the reception. It was indeed a memorable not just to the newly-wed couple but to both families of TJ and SunshineTJ and Sunshine's Wedding Coordinator, JP Montilla of Complete Work, Inc.

Doctors in Love ( Santos Estrella - Robles Wedding, November 17,2007)

A Rheumatologist and a Pediatrician with sounding names as Paul and Pauline came to me as recommended by my previous bride and groom client , Doctors Dennis and Antonette Natino. My gratitude to them for their recommendation of me to this wonderful couple .
Pauline was at room 1513 of the Crowne Plaza Hotel dressing up for her wedding at the Sacred Heart Parish in Kamuning for their 9:00 am nuptial mass. Alan Borras of Passion Photography was covering the photography part of the event. Once again, Jackie Rivera outdid himself with the fabulous hair and make-up that created an Asian princess look for Pauline. At 5'7" height, Pauline looked stunning and regal with her bearing. I particulary liked the peonies as the bridal boquet provided by Angel of Hearts florist.

It was my first wedding at Sacred Heart Parish and the church was a revelation to me.
The altar was likewise grand in its look and appearance. This St. Luke's Medical Center consultants decided to tie the not here for sentimental considerations and not just because of the church's grandeur. Weddings by Victoria was running the event and was lining up the entire entourage on time as scheduled. Reception immediately to follow at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club.
An easy to work with couple, in spite of their busy schedules, they made it a point to find time to meet with me as it surprises me that though my office is based in Makati, they make sure to meet me coming all the way from Quezon City. It is just fit to equate their kindness as a way of making a point that their concerns are addressed until the start of the wedding march till they reached the altar. A wedding bliss indeed!