AMONN VELASCO
The day after meeting Vidal Clayton of the Cecilio Abad Design team was the meeting with Amonn Velasco. It was a Tuesday, so I went to their shop in Laon Laan St. in Manila. The peeps there informed me before that Amonn’s Makati schedule is Saturday only, and by appointment pa. I just couldn’t wait to meet the designer that would probably slash half of my bridal gown expenses. *laughs*
Amonn wasn’t there yet when I got in, they said he was still out, but he’s on his way back from Divisoria. I wasn’t in a rush anyway, so I asked the employees about the prices of the entourage gowns and the beadwork they were doing that moment. One Ate there told me that entourage gowns cost around 3,000-4,000 but would cost less if more gowns were to be availed, and most probably cost even less when availed with a bridal gown package. In Amonn Velasco’s website, the bridal gown + entourage packages are as follows:
Amonn’s work is fine, looks matibay and pulido, and I don’t doubt his ability naman to be able to produce what I really want, but I knew I had to meet two more designers, who were both women. I have yet to experience what it’s like to meet a girl designer, so nothing was really concluded at that point. After my meeting with Amonn, I went to Dangwa to ask around for ceremony flowers for a relative, and then went home.
MEL ORLINA
I was late the day of my appointments with Mel Orlina and Maureen Reeca Cruz because of the heavy traffic which I really did not anticipate, and because we sort of made a wrong turn when we were in Manila City (I was busy sa pakikipagdaldalan with my cousin who rode with us that I forgot to tell Sir Chief, the driver, where to turn). I contacted Ms. Mel’s shop and told them that I am on my way and I will be going still; It’s just that we were getting kinda lost. (I also had the guts to sundo my bestfriend/maid of honor (MOH) because she was working in Makati.) Haha! Good thing there was still a fitting going on for one of Ms. Mel’s bride, so they were busy with something pa kahit wala pa ako doon. I was maybe an hour late when we finally got there.
Among the designers I went to so far, I liked Mel Orlina’s the most. Feel na feel mong nasa shop ka ng designer. Haha. For me it was posh, not too girly. Kaso nga lang, that time it was so hot. I didn’t notice if there was airconditioning or not, but in fairness naman to them, OA lang din talaga ang init that day. Here are some of the photos when we were at the shop:
I loved the perk of free shoe embellishment service from her. She even told me that even if the bridal shoes were of a cheaper brand, okay lang kasi papa-bonggahin niya and if the client wanted, she’ll hide na lang the brand tag. LOL. Cool din that she knew a tailor who does the suits designed by expensive designers, but if we go directly to that tailor via Ms. Mel, we can get suits at prices so much lower than the usual. For me lang, medyo pricey nga lang ang entourage gowns niya, but she was okay with the option that I’d avail of the entourage dresses from others who could give them to me at lower prices; she even gave tips about that, and gave me fabric swatches for my color motif. Grabe, I knew right then she’d make choosing so much harder for me. *laughs*
MAUREEN REECA CRUZ
We went straight to Maureen Reeca’s shop after Ms. Mel. It was just near Ms. Mel’s so we didn’t have a hard time going there. When we got there, she’s talking to another prospect client so we sat muna and took pictures and browsed magazines while waiting.
While waiting, I already overheard some of the details about Maureen's craft. She told the other bride that she doesn’t do big embellishments and very elaborate details, because her approach is more on the dainty, feminine side. It was sad because that was my peg, the elaborate details and some crystals and whatchamacallit. She explained that each designer has his or her own forte, but it kinda turned me off when she started talking about how gay designers do the elaborate details on gowns. It was in a negative sort of way of talking about gay designers; I didn’t like that. My peg was made by gay designer, my initially booked designer was also gay. What does that make me, then, weird ang taste?
My turn came and then we started talking about the dress. As they also said, she only brought out a piece of index card where she’d put the details. No sketch was made, pero okay lang din naman. She was really lively, and I didn’t expect she was nearing 30 years already! I thought she was much younger. She’s pretty din ha. What’s good about her is that she really shows the samples and the gowns they make, and you’d really have an idea how they look like in person. However, I found out that they only do a maximum of two fittings for the whole production. I guess that’s very ideal for overseas brides, but not for me. Makulit akong bride eh! Haha! She explained that naman. It’s not okay daw to have many fittings because of the possible holes and marks they may leave on the gown. She had a point there. It was the assignment of the bride nalang to maintain her body, she said.
One thing medyo turned me off. Una pa lang when we got back to the pegs I sent her online, sabi niya sa akin, "Sigurado ka talaga?" in a manner that's very, well, I can't explain it. Pero kulang nalang sabihin sakin na ano bang pumasok sa isip ko bakit ganun ang peg ko. She was saying na hindi daw bagay sa akin and all. I don't know if that's true ha, kasi designer nga naman siya and she knows more than I do, pero sa lahat ng pinuntahan ko, siya lang ang nagsabi nang ganun sa akin. Sad, that she was imposing to me something that's different from what I want, while medyo off ang reaction niya dun sa totoong gusto ko. Maybe she finds my taste weird nga. Hehe.
Anyhoo... Here’s the table that I made about our Q&A:
At this point you might already expect me to say that I wasn’t going to get her, I’ve already said what I didn’t like, so it was quite obvious already. I could actually get more if I availed of Amonn or Mel Orlina, for less. So after the chika with Maureen, we went for an early dinner na lang and went home.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Good vibes lang, haha!
-Gero