A Traditional Catholic Wedding in Oman ( Sameer - Agustin Wedding, October 15, 2009)

Jane Agustin was a graduating tourism major when I first met her. She graciously accomodated my invitation to be my model for pictorials during my beginnings as a full time bridal gown designer and as an active participant in bridal fairs nine years back. She was the very first model to appear in my very first website design. After five years of absence, she suddenly called me to inform me that she is finally tying the knot. It was an overseas call all the way from Oman where she is based working as an flight attendant for Oman Air. The fortunate groom-elect is Faddi Sameer, a Catholic Iraqi physician likewise based in Oman.




Faddi and Jane had to fly here to make the necessary arrangments. So uncertain of the finality of their wedding preparations with the date and all, they gave utmost priority to Jane's wedding gown. I'm so fortunate Jane hasn't forgotten me after all. She is commissioning me to do her wedding gown along with her female entourage gowns. The energetic Jane has remained the same but more sophisticated now. She knows what she wants and has trusted me to collaborate with the design and making of the dress.
She got what she wanted. It was a happy Catholic wedding event in an Arab land. And love is in the air. Wishing Faddi and Jane all the married bliss.

Note: Photos taken from the Facebook site of Fadi Assad, MD

Two Anesthesia Diplomates, A Couple ( Garcia - Hernandez Wedding, October 16, 2009)

A one year and one month wedding in the making! Allan and Erika came to me in September 2008 for an October wedding of this year. I feel very blessed to keep on having wonderful clients. It was a 100% trust from day one. I was able to make a 1005 input on the wedding's concept and style as far as the attires were concerned.


Allan and Erika are both diplomates in the field of Anesthesia in the practice of medicine. It was a very swift working relationship that will surely make us miss them. I've been blessed with wonderful bride and groom clients in the many years of my career. They've been added to my honor roll of good clients. In reality, I haven't encountered many bridezillas in my long years of wedding apparels. To my recall only two or three in my ten years of recall. But of course there will always be the darling couples in my career and they continuously inspire me to further improve my craft.


It was a Friday afternoon, the weather is a bit challenging but the festive mood was very much in the air at Erika's ambassador suite. Jackie Rivera's never ending charade of comics has even livened up the room while doing the hair and make-up of the females in the suite.



This master of his craft didn't fail to achieve his task.
Everything was on schedule. We arrived early at the church. Members of the entourage and guests have started to arrive. Me and my entire staff were on her until the the church doors' have opened. Allan was dashing in his black tuxedo. The bridal march has commenced and it was time for us to assist Erika for the last time as a bride.
After Jackie's make-up retouch, we made sure that Erika is well groomed for this
emotional moment. This couple is a rare find. We will surely miss them.




Erika and Allan's Dressing venue: AMBASSADOR SUITE OF DUSIT THANI
Ceremony Venue: Santuario de San Antonio, Forbes Park, Makati
Reception Venue: The Blue Leaf Pavilion

Photographer: Imagine Nation
Videographer: Imagine Nation
Hair and Make-up: Jackie Rivera
Wedding Coordinator: Christine Ong-Te
Florist: Teddy Manuel
Invites: QP Printing
Caterer: Josiah's Catering
Limousine: Josiah's Catering

A Wedding for Good! (Sison - de Dios Wedding, September 19, 2009)

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

The Bride , The Groom, and The Bride's Bouquet ( Sare - Villacorte Wedding, September 5, 2009)

Joel and Michelle decided to commission me to do their attires for their wedding. It was a privileged indeed. Michelle have given me a peg to work on though eventually we both agreed to come up with another design. Joel had chosen an exquisitely designed piña - barong material for his ensemble. Michelle is working for a giant food manufacturing corporation and Joel is working for a multinational service provider here in Manila. Michelle had finally opted for a very expensive but appropriate bridal bouquet to perfectly match her gown. Its the "Lilly of the Valley" which I consider one of the most elegant, feminine and dainty flower for a bride's bouquet.



Come wedding day, was most exciting for the couple. More so for Michelle as I observe her ambivalence but at the same time emotional moments while preparing for her wedding. It was a moment worth the wait. We accompanied her to the ceremony venue and made sure that along with my staff, we were able to attend to her needs for that most special day.


Photography: Paul Vincent Photography
Videography: Ariel Javelosa Video
Hair and make-up artist: Jackie Rivera
Florist: Fine Flowers
Wedding Coordinator: Getting Married by Kutchie Zaldarriaga

Dressing Venue: 1108, Bellevue Hotel
Ceremony Venue: St. James the Great Parish, Ayala Alabang
Reception Venue: Ballroom of the Bellevue Hotel

A Wedding in Theme (Balo - Porto Wedding, September 5, 2009)

Alexa is a woman with such vibrance with her career. Patrick is likewise a busy professional. They have decided on a themed wedding depicting on prince and princesses. They formally tied the knot at the San Agustin Church with reception held at La Castellana.

A Garden Wedding in August ( Natividad - Rempillo Wedding, August 22, 2009)

Its was Michael and Katherine's turn to tie the knot. Anne is Michael's older sister from whom I had the privilege of creating their attires for their wedding years back. This is a testimony of satisfaction and I was trusted again to do Anne's brother Michael's wedding to Katherine, a soft spoken but real nice bride-elect.
It was just the right time when we arrived at the hotel where Katherine has decided to dress up. The coordinator has greeted us and welcome us to the room. It was a very commendable gesture.
A first glimpse of the bride finally made-up and dressed in her wedding attire was a revelation. Kathrina was so pretty and radiant in her dress. I myself didn't realize that the gown would definitely flatter her figure and create a beautiful and elegant bride. The hair and make-up was fabulously made. Jackie's skill hasn't tarnished a bit as a wedding hair and make-up artist. One of the underrated make-up artist and yet with world class craftsmanship. How can Kathrina go wrong with this talent? Photographers and videographers were busy documenting the wedding.
From the hotel, we proceeded to the ceremony venue still to assist Kathrina until she commences with her wedding march. Guest has filled up the garden chapel.
The weather cooperated well with them. As we left the chapel, I knew it would be a well celebrated wedding.

Michael and Kath's pool of suppliers:

Photography: Jorge's Portrait
Videography: Jorge's Portrait
Wedding Coordinator: Junlyn Miranda
Hair and Make-up: Jackie Rivera
Caterer: Josiah's Catering

Dressing Venue: Rm. 1104, Discovery Suites
Ceremony Venue: St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, Fernwood Gardens
Reception Venue: Main Garden, Fernwood Gardens

Twyne at Eighteen ( Christine O. Durmiendo Debut, August 15, 2009)

I've known Twyne (or Tintin), since she was a little girl. She's Romy and Ondette's daughter, dear friends that I've known way back in medical school. Oh well, there's got a lot to be grateful for getting into med school. I've met a lot of wonderful real people. Time flies so fast, I was surprised when Ondette called me that Twyne's 18th birthday was fast approaching and being her designer for so many years , once again, she has entrusted her daughter's ball dress fit for her 18th birthday.




It was a masquerade themed debut and I used colors that best describe Twyne. I also made the dress for the Ondette and Sophia, their youngest daughter and my "inaanak" as well. That's how bonded we are all these years. We do not frequent each other's company but the warmth of the friendship has stayed. It was a modest event. The venue was at the Plaza Ibarra along Timog Avenue in Quezon City. The food was great and was had so much choices and was more than enough for all their invited guests. Twyne saw to it that her party was planned very well. From the invites, to the physical set up and props of the event was meticulously handled by the celebrant herself. The cotillion dance was well executed. You will definitely see the closeness of their family with there relatives as this was an all Durmiendo - Olifernes Event Productions. Along with the other programs of the event, it was a success.

I can't do a Houdini this time. Its very seldom that I stay thru the entire celebration. But of course there will be exceptions. This was one of them. The turnout of this event is one to be remembered. I look forward to Sophia's turn.