My First Deb for 2008 (Czarina Francisco Debut, January 12, 2008)

My first debutant client for 2008 is Czarina Francisco , a student from my alma mater, De La Salle University-Manila. It all began with my former bride-client May Ignacio.
Elaine, Czarina's mom is the brother of May's husband. Her event was held at the Emerald room of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. A charming young girl with of full energy and vibrance. The mom and daughter bonding was in full realization as we witnessed. My best wishes to the new young lady in the society!

A Nurse and an Airline Mechanic in London ( Palabrica - Servillon Wedding, January 10, 2008)

Thelma is a registered nurse and is tying the knot with Lorenz both based in London.
It was a long distance communication for us and somehow we both managed it pull things off. She came home as early as December to attend to some family matters and got the time check on her gown concerns after Christmas. I was happy that I was able to live up with her expections. It was a Filipiniana-inspired wedding gown that can be transformed to a western-inspired design. Dressing up at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel's Tower Wing room 927 in a bridal suite we saw Paulette Tan-Dimaano of Demoiselle her wedding coordinator. Parking was an ordeal at the hotel's basement due to a pharmaceutical company's yearly event celebration. She was dressed up already doing photo and video shoot by Ariel Javelosa. However, we checked her dress and made sure that she was able to wear to properly. Thelma was holding a bouquet of Holland cymbidiums provided by Tropical Blooms along with the entire female Entourage matching up her lavander and magenta motif. Hair and make-up was by Kuks Reyes. From the hotel, we left an hour before here ceremony time and proceeeded at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandond in Marikina City.
The church's doors were closed as we escorted Thelma to the door entrance and made sure that she was well groomed before beginning to march the aisle. Thelma and Lorenz's reception followed at La Veranda also in Marikina City

A Young Couple Tying the Knot (Fernando - Asuncion Wedding, January 6, 2008)

At 23 years old, Rommel and Herlyn are bent on being united in the sacrament of Matrimony. I'ved been meeting with this two energetic couple discussing their concerns particulary their wedding attires. At some points, there were playful stressing of ideas. I realized that at their time and age, 23 year old grown-ups are relatively young couples. I knew I were handling them right. We managed to come up with a finalized design for the wedding dress along with Rommel's tuxedo ensemble.
Sunday was their altar day and we we're at the Garden Wing of EDSA Shangri-la where Herlyn has stayed to dress-up. It was so inspiring to see Lito Genilo himself of Smart Shot doing the photo shoot his other crew taking charge of the video capturing . You can really tell an experienced wedding supplier. JP Montilla of Complete Work, Inc was their coordinator designate running the entire show. Herlyn's bridal bouquet really looked good comprising of about 2 dozens of Parrot tulips especially prepared for her by Ms. Evelyn Aldaba of Lily Flower Boutique. I appreciate other suppliers in their respective field who goes out of their way just to address the concerns of their clients. Freelance Greta Estoesta did the hair and make-up.
It was a pleaseant afternoon as we proceeded to Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish inside Philamlife Homes in Quezon City for the ceremony. A strectch limousine car from Adeb bridal cars brought the bride to the church and then again the wed couple for their reception at the Gazebo Royale where Hizons's catering has prepared a sumptous wedding dinner.

The First 2008 Bride ( Obana - Teodosio Wedding, Janaury 2, 2008)

Tagaytay has been a favorite wedding destination during the last five years. The Chapel of Transfiguration or more popularly known as the Caleruega Chapel is where
Jean has committed to exhange wedding vows with Alex. Jean has just ended her stint as an international flight attendant for Royal Brunei Airlines. Beacuse of her distance, we tried to maximize our way of communicating with each other.Anticipating the post-holiday traffic, we left Manila earlier and realized that the travel was smooth sailing. Not even the usual dilema of passing thru the SLEX area in San Pedro-Susana Heights gave us the scare of traffic. We arrived at the Nurture SPA where they were having their reception and dressing up area ahead of the call time. Jean was busy doing some photo shoots by Nice Print Photography. Video was by them as well. Gloria Sy did the fabulous hair and make up of Jean along with the entourage.

Flowers was made by Rubylyn Alvarez of Life Celebration. Their wedding invitation ( in a airline ticket pattern) came out very interesting and unique designed by Alex the groom himself and executed by Printed Matter. From the Nurture SPA to the Caleruega Chapel, Jean road in a vintage Studebaker from Don Robert's bridal cars. The trip and assistance was so compensating in a sense that the climate was so cool and windy and me along with my staff were enjoying the cool breeze. FL events an event group based in Batangas were the coordiantors hire that day. Aside from the strong wind, the weddingh march commenced very well and saw her off the marching aisle to meet Alex.

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!