Since husband-to-be (H2B) is much taller than me, I had to find ways not too look too tiny beside him, besides wearing high heels, of course. I did my homework and found out that the so-called serpentina or mermaid cut can give the illusion of height. The cut isn’t really my type at all, I’ve never really preferred wearing the cut unless someone made me wear it, but I’m now actually open to anything, just to look best on my wedding day. I realized it wasn’t too bad of a cut, and it’s actually something. Sabi pa nga, lakas maka-sexy! *laughs*
I have shared in my earlier blog entries about how I booked my wedding gown couturier/designer last January. Now, I’m about to explain why I had to let go of him/them and search for a new one (and make kwento how). But before anything else, I’d like to share my real peg for my wedding dress. (Yes, I already have a peg now!)
Since husband-to-be (H2B) is much taller than me, I had to find ways not too look too tiny beside him, besides wearing high heels, of course. I did my homework and found out that the so-called serpentina or mermaid cut can give the illusion of height. The cut isn’t really my type at all, I’ve never really preferred wearing the cut unless someone made me wear it, but I’m now actually open to anything, just to look best on my wedding day. I realized it wasn’t too bad of a cut, and it’s actually something. Sabi pa nga, lakas maka-sexy! *laughs*
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Before all of this happened (the wedding preps, that is), the idea of bridal fairs is just alien to me. I knew they existed, but only because I see billboards and posters announcing when they’d happen. I had questions like, “What happens in bridal fairs? Why do they call it ‘fair’ in the first place? Do you have to pay to join one?” Things like that. Doing research over the internet helped me partially understand, but not completely grasp the idea.
First, most of the time you could get in for free if you pre-register online. You’d be able to find suppliers and compare prices and works, get to talk to owners or reps personally and ask whatever’s in your mind, become aware of latest trends, and get discounts. Nobody ever told me it would be paradise. *laughs* Even before King and I got engaged, mom was very vocal about the thought of us getting married. You would often hear her say "Pag kayo kinasal ni King..." then a train of wedding details would follow. One time in 2012 when we were running errands in 168 Mall in Divisoria, we saw a designer's showroom. The name was Edward Teng. Mom went in and started asking the secretary about the dresses. One of the gorgeous dresses there when we inquired costs around 50-60 thousand pesos. I was overwhelmed. At that time, I dismissed the thought of having to spend that much, and besides I wasn't going to be married yet. Fast-forward to December 2013, when wedding preps needed to be done already. So I was thinking already, who would make my wedding gown? Yes, I don't want to buy ready-made dresses. If I'm gonna be dashing or ugly on my wedding day because of my dress, I'd like it to be more of my fault. LOL. Let's just say I really want it personalized. Being an online person, I took refuge to the ever glorious internetzzzz. I found out some names of famous designers in the wedding industry these days: Veluz Reyes, Cecilio Abad, Edward Teng (familiar name!), Jazel Sy, Kristel Yulo, Francis Libiran, Veejay Floresca, and believe me, there's a lot more. Apparently there's a trend today, wedding gowns with embellished laces that are seemingly just on top of the skin, whatever you call that. Here are some of the works of Veluz posted in the net: And here are some by Cecilio Abad and his team: These are by Veejay Floresca: And these are by Edward Teng: Notice the trend? Embellishments and froufrou skirts. I wouldn't want froufrou (or ruffles, as it's commonly known by Pinoys). I think it looks bulky on me and I can imagine being swallowed by a froufrou skirt. I think it would make me look short. But I do love the embellishments. So yeah, these gowns are gorgeous, but how much do they cost? With help of the internet (again), I've come up with these numbers: Veluz Reyes- 200-400k Veejay Floresca - more or less 200k Cecilio Abad - Less than 200k Edward Teng - Less than 100k Note that these are just my estimates. These are just products of my imperfect averaging capabilities. Data only came from questions and conversation in the internet exchanged between brides. But you know what, even if these were OA estimates, you'd be surprised how in just a couple of years' time this might be either accurate or even below the actual rates already. I did not bother asking about the other designers na, baka maiyak lang ako. But I knew I had to avail the service (and the talent) of one of them. Obviously, it would be Edward Teng--plus the fact that my mom was always raving about that time when we passed by his displays. Sometime before King went back to school (let's say SCHOOL na lang talaga), we were able to get in touch with Edward Teng. When we called, it was him who answered and talked to us. Mom appreciated that a lot, so we immediately scheduled for a visit on January 8, 2014. As expected, my fiance wouldn't be there that day. Edward Teng's workplace is located in Santa Mesa Manila. It's in an old building, but when you go inside his workshop and office, it's actually neat and refreshing. He was there, but the one who accommodated us was Erwin, his assistant, perhaps? We were informed that in order for us to block off a spot, we were required to pay just 5,000 pesos as down payment. So we did, but that was just after Erwin made me a sketch. I really had no idea what I REALLY WANTED that time. Before going there I was just lurking around Pinterest and Google Images and would have screenshots of the dresses I liked. Parang, "Uy cute. SCREENSHOT. Uy ang ganda. SCREENSHOT again." I didn't have anything that I particularly liked for myself talaga. But I was just sure I didn't want a white-white dress. So I just showed him these two pictures: I told him I didn't want ruffled skirts. I told him I wanted sleeves and embellishments. I told him I'd love it if it wasn't white, maybe a touch of champagne or blush. Then Mom added she wanted a long train, or buntot, for my gown. Erwin sketched an initial design for me. But somehow I wondered, doesn't Edward Teng really do it anymore? I expected an Edward Teng sketch because we came there for Edward Teng, so why then? Somehow I just shook off the idea and just trusted whatever's happening. After all, while looking at what Erwin was doing, I was really impressed. I couldn't help but smile. I thought, "Okay then! I guess it's turning out great naman!" This was the sketch he made in just a couple of minutes, together with cloth samples: Hey, I really loved it! But since all of us in that room know that my wedding was a year and three months away pa, we all know din that there would be a lot of changes along the way. We just really went there to be sure that Edward Teng and his team would be able to accommodate making my wedding gown, and ask for quotation of course. Peso power, you may ask? I was quite right with the estimate I said earlier. It's less than a hundred grand, yes, still a whopping less-than-a-hundred-grand, but at least not two hundred. *winks* I was a happy bride. I also got to ask how much would it cost if they'd be the one to do the entourage gowns as well. Apparently, it wouldn't be so expensive pala because it'll be like a package already. Then again, the rates are still way higher than my usual dressmaker's, so I decided to get Edward Teng to do just the mothers and the maid of honor. Here's a part of the booking agreement. No rates there, sorry. Wala lang, I just want to include it here. But I think I can say it here naman that when we inquired first over the phone about the rates, Edward said the minimum was 30k. Not bad nadin. But mind you, I think that that 30k would just be a very very very simple gown. That's basically how I checked the Couturier item on my checklist. By January I already had four major suppliers--Church, Gown, HMUA, and (a sure but not booked, as I relayed in the previous post that we only booked it in February) Reception Venue/Caterer/Hotel Preps. Ay, if you sum it up pala that would be six major suppliers already. Talk about EARLY PREPARATION. Just recently, I had this one peg talaga for the skirt of my gown. It's already here earlier in this post, but to save you from the long scroll (since you're already putting up with the length of this, LOL), here it is: Surprise, surprise! (Actually, no surprise talaga.) It's a Veluz! A Veluz, for crying out loud. *laughs* She's very talented, but I just can't afford it. What I like here is the skirt, ha. NOT THE BACKLESS! Bawal sa simbahan ko! Haha! I'd like it higher, nearer the hips pa but just like that. I just love the way it looks like there's a lot of tela and is made of different shades of cloth, but neatly placed that way. As for the top of the dress, the award goes to.... Yes, Cecilio Abad! Because this is just so royal. So stunning. I just hope the skirt peg and this kind of top peg would match.... SOMEHOW. THERE HAS TO BE A WAY. THERE HAS TO. *laughs* Enough na nga!
I guess this is getting super duper long already. I'll be posting more of the preps real soon! GV lang lagi! Hehe. - Gero |
About Gero23-year old. Soon-to-be Mrs. King Maylem. Kaydet girl. Part-time tambay. Part-time student. Full-time business person. Archives
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