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*
Months after, when I finally had a peg, I asked for a re-quote. The initial sketch was a lot different than my peg kasi. I had to know how much my peg would cost. I contacted the assistant who made the sketch for me thru Facebook chat and they gave me the final quote: a whopping AA category price! I was not surprised; I was SHOCKED. *laughs* I only expected it to shoot to the A category, but I was wrong. Wrong na wrong. The assistant told me the reason behind the price. He said it was because the peg is already more of stones daw. I then realized that even if I tried haggling down, it wouldn’t reach a price within my budget. I just told them I’d have to discuss it further pa with H2B and will update them once a decision is made. I knew for sure no one in the family would agree to spend that much on a wedding gown. I was surer that H2B wouldn’t approve of it. He was actually surprised about the first quote they gave us. That meant only one thing: let go of Edward Teng and the reservation fee and move on to find a new couturier.
I was disappointed to leave it behind. First, the reservation fee isn’t something you could just pick up on the streets. Second, mom would’ve really loved Edward Teng to make our gowns. Third, it hurts to know I’ve wasted time last January. BUT, I eventually found relief. Remember my post about also letting go of the first hair and makeup artist (HMUA) we booked? Yeah, that one. I knew HMUA is a tambay of Edward Teng’s shop. I knew it would be very stressful and awkward for me to see him there during fittings after letting him go. I was also weary na maintriga pa niya ako to Edward Teng. Kaya ayun, I convinced myself na lang na maybe, me being handled by them and their friends isn’t really meant to be.
Below is a table I made while on the process of deciding, you’d find details and info about my inquiry with the designers I went to. This one’s about Edward Teng:
I researched about good couturiers in Weddings@Work and GirlTalk and Google and tried contacting them one by one and ask for a quote. Von Lazaro, the Veluz-ish designer had a starting price of 60,000. Zandra Lim quoted me 120,000 for my peg. Veluz, I was sure I wouldn’t afford. Her works range from 200,000-400,000. Amonn Velasco gave me a D-category quote, and I was dead serious about considering him. Mel Orlina gave me a C price, and Maureen Reeca Cruz shared to me her 110,000 package of 13 heads consisting of the bride and the entourage. Somehow, I had the guts to try and ask a quote from Vidal Clayton himself, the one who made my peg for the upper part of the gown. In my mind I knew it was a Cecilio Abad label and I might not afford it, but there won’t be any harm trying, right?
I contacted the Cecilio Abad thru Facebook chat (apparently he was a Facebook friend, haha) and ask about his and his design team’s rates. I particularly asked about his design team’s rates because Vidal Clayton is in it, and I knew that works of his design team come more affordable than his own work. He told me his starting was 100,000, the Senior Design Team’s was 70,000, and the Junior Design Team’s was 50,000 (I think? Sorry I forgot because I was particularly interested in the Senior Design Team’s Vidal Clayton). I confirmed to Cecilio Abad if the peg I had was Vidal Clayton’s and yes, it was really his. I tried asking him a quote for that one but he told me I could contact Clayton directly through Facebook, so I added Clayton as friend and messaged him. Eventually Clayton gave me an A-category quote that would seem a bit over my budget, but can-do naman. I didn’t expect that the next few statements we exchanged was about price adjustment. He gave me a new quote finally, within the same range, but considerably less than the first one, and even offering the perk of being able to borrow gowns for prenup photoshoot. Kinilig ako, promise. It’s THE Cecilio Abad Design Team.
Though it would really make me happy to get Vidal Clayton, I still had to think it through. I decided to visit four designers to decide which could give me the best deal and best satisfaction. I went on to schedule with Clayton, Amonn Velasco, Mel Orlina, and Maureen Reeca Cruz. I had a hard time setting an appointment with Clayton at first; I think he was very busy that time. I was even seen-zoned in Facebook but I still tried hard. Initially, the peeps from their shop scheduled me on May pa, but when Clayton got back to me, he offered me a meet-up only a few days after. I also had a hard time setting a visit with Amonn, because he did not respond to my request thru email. When I tried to call the mobile numbers indicated in the email, they were all unavailable. I then went on to call thru landline, and I got to talk to his assistants. I finally set an appointment. With Mel Orlina and Maureen Reeca, it was easy. I got to set appointments with them thru email, SMS, and Facebook only. LESSON: Don’t just give up trying to contact your prospect suppliers.
The day came when I went to Cecilio Abad’s shop in Malate. It was really easy going there. I was uneasy at first because Clayton seemed to be a very quiet person, but when I got to talk to him, he was really nice. I went there with my sister Pao and while we waited, we saw a woman fitting her gown (maybe a mom or a ninang). Here are photos of the shop:
I wanted to book Clayton right then and there. It was really a kilig moment for me. But hey, I needed to be a wise bride (kunyari! LOL). I breathed first and told them I’d discuss first with H2B then come back with a decision after two to three days (that time, I’d be done meeting all my short-listed couturiers) and went home, na kinikilig pa din.
(TO BE CONTINUED)