On Wedding Preps: Gown Hunting

For the past months, Rain and I have been looking for wedding gown designers/couturiers here and there. I would ask my friends around, search the net, read on people's blogs etc.

Last February, my cousin and I visited this stall in Landmark Makati that offers RTW wedding gowns made from Korea. I was able to try on some of their gowns. The lady who assisted me gave me 3 different gowns to try on to see what design best suits me. Of

course they were a bit big for my size because these were RTW, remember? :)

I was told this one's called an A-Line type of gown because of its shape that looks like an A. This one's simple, nothing extraordinary.



Trumpet Cut. This one's my cousin's bet for me because it showcases my figure but my sister told me it doesn't fit on me due to my petite/short body frame hehe





This is a balloon type of gown. I like that it has a bare back that makes me look sexy lol but my friends and my parents said I look more like a debutante on this type of gown. I guess I can have the top part of it altered and made into sleeveless one and then have the skirt made into just simple flowy.

Honestly, I really enjoyed my gown fitting session. I didn't know it would be so much fun! 

I got this design from the internet. I found it very simple and elegant. Rain and I then made a decision on the amount that we would be alloting for my gown. I told him I can add a few bucks if I have to. I just wanted to wear something beautiful on my special day, after all, this is every girl's dream, to be the prettiest on their wedding day.

Ball-Gown Scoop Neck Cathedral Train Tulle Wedding Dress

Last April, my cousin sent me this link and asked me to check it out: http://www.marche-ph.com/marche-finds/top-14-philippine-wedding-gown-designers/. I read the article and started sending messages to each of the designers I found on this article, inquiring about the cost of their gowns. I also sent them the above design and asked how much it would cost. Of couse as expected, their prices are beyond our budget except for one designer- Emil Ocampo. He was the only one who met our budget so Rain and I immediately made an appointment to meet him. 3 days before our meeting with Emil, I tried searching for other couturiers since I wanted to have other options.

I found one that's located in Makati which is near to my place. I told Rain that I wanted to go there and so he accompanied me the next day. It's Merlene Marcelo's couture. When we arrived at her shop we were ushered to her office and asked to wait there. Her office looks like one of those old spanish-inspired interiors that made me a bit nostalgic. Some of her gowns worn on mannequins were displayed around the corners. After a few minutes, we finally met her. She was nice and I initially had a good feeling about her. She told me her starting price for a customized gown which is...pricey :) I showed her my peg gown. She asked me to try on 2 of her gowns. She called her 2 assistants and brought in two gowns for me to try on. I tried the first one and I felt it was too grandiose.

She called this one as Cascading because it's made of series of laces.

The second one I tried on was called Cavalier because of the intricate details on it specifically the beadings. I liked this one better because it looks more similar to my peg design so I told her I'd be considering this one.

I really like those laces!

It was funny how these 2 gowns fit on me like it was made for me lol. I asked my friends' opinion about what gown looks better on me and they all said the first one does. They all like it even my sisters. I asked Rain and he said the same thing. He just didn't say it during the time of my fitting because he saw how happy I was when I wore the second one. They didn't like that it has a high neckline and it hides my shoulder blades. They told me that the Cascading gown looks really beautiful on me and is not as grandiose as I think it is. They said it's simple but elegant. My sister said it's fascinating and timeless, wow!

After giving some thoughts on it, I finally decided to choose the Cascading gown. But Merlene's price was still beyond our budget so we went to Emil as scheduled, that was May 24.

Emil's shop was smaller compared to Merlene's but it was full of his clients when we arrived. I didn't wonder why considering the fact that he was one of the top designers included in a previously released article. When it was our turn, he asked for my peg gown and I showed her the first peg gown that I got from the internet and then the Cascading one made by Merlene. He was so amazed with the Cascading gown and he said he can make it for me (in an affordable price). After leaving Emil's shop, I told Rain I felt a bit bad about having someone else make a gown that was designed by a different person and so I decided to go back to Merlene and do some negotiation.

When we came back to Merlene, she agreed to make the gown for a reasonable price with the same fabric and all and so finally we made a deal. I just told her that I want it to be in Ivory white instead of champagne so it will look more like a wedding gown. We went home and sent our deposit to her account and after 2 weeks we went back to her shop to have my measurements taken.

We will be coming back sometime on the third week of this month for my first fitting. Yayy!! This is so exciting! I just wish the final gown will look perfect on me.