BRIDAL BLISS: Insouciant Glamour at Karel & Sean's Bride & Breakfast Pre-Wedding Shoot for

There is a certain poetry inherent in languid drapes and sweeping satin skirts, captured in moments of pensive surrender on a blooming bride-to-be. Serene moments of contentment, peppered with bursts of giddiness and soaring declarations of love. Such is the romance of this editorial by Bride and Breakfast with Karel Marquez and Sean Fariñas, that in its genteel splendour will stop you in your tracks.

The Bride and Breakfast team wanted to do bridal separates for my look, which is something I've been espousing for quite a while. There's just an element of fun to the thought of putting this together,  that go well together, but can also stand their own. The off shoulder neckline is still a most requested feature, but I wanted to play it up but creating a twist detail that is finished off like a bow. The soft peplum of the top then gracefully leads to a gloriously full skirt with a slit up to there, and a matching mini skirt of course. Despite the use of two different fabrics, the similarity in the feel gives it a cohesiveness.

Styled by Aira Franco and captured by Benjie Tiongco, the shoot of Karel and Sean at Casa Domingo mixes old world charm with fresh modernity. Glowing makeup is courtesy of Mariah Santos and hair by Avril Seguin. Of course, the beautiful bouquets that have the vivaciousness of wildflowers is by Teddy Manuel. We do love everything about this shoot, so prepare to swoon! And if you want even more gorgeousness don't forget to visit Bride and Breakfast for all the pics and a video by Treehouse Story too!

Told ya you'd swoon. A few days shy of the big day, we wish the happy couple all the best and that God continues to bless their journey! 

"BRIDAL BLISS": Maine Mendoza in Mariane Perez at the Aldub "Engagement Shoot"

The love team that took the entire country by storm is getting hitched! Well, in character and on their Kalyeserye at least. But even if it's just make believe, we can't help but feel giddy when we see Yaya Dub and Alden Richards all cozied up at their engagement photo shoot. Seeing them playing with bubbles and goofing around, it's easy to forget that all this is just for show. To say that these two have onscreen chemistry is the understatement of the century.

I've always admired Maine Mendoza for her candor and the unassuming way she has about her. With her quirky, down-to-earth charm, she has won over the hearts of not only her Eat Bulaga beau Alden Richards, but the entire country as well. So when I was asked if I had pieces for her prenup shoot by stylist Ash Aquino and Daryl Maat, I had my fingers crossed the whole time. Having her twirl about in a flirty tea length skirt, which is a signature look of mine, is truly a dream come true. Seeing how much fun they're having, I'm quite tempted to bust out one of these skirts and run about town! 

If you're just as emitted, here are some of the official photos of Maine and Alden photographed by Manny and April photography, and from the Eat Bulaga Facebook page. 

Ash Aquino was kind enough to send me a lovely OOTD of Maine! Really love the relaxed elegance of this shoot.

Maine Mendoza, also lovingly known as Yaya Dub, strikes a pose in this @ateliermarianeperez full circle skirt for her Prenup Photo Shoot with Alden Richards for Eat Bulaga. Styled by @ashaquino_ and @darylmaat ✨#MaineMendoza #MarianePerez #Aldub #AldubWeddingPrep #AldubPrenup #yayadub #weddingsPH #weddings

A photo posted by Atelier Mariane Perez (@ateliermarianeperez) on Oct 18, 2016 at 12:02am PDT

If their prenup shoot is spreading this much kilig, we can't wait for the wedding!!!

BRIDAL BLISS: Seaside Splendour at Simon & Maja's Boracay Wedding

SIMON & MAJA MANNION. PHOTO BY MAYAD STUDIOS. 

There's a certain dreaminess inherent in beach weddings – the gentle sunrise that colours the sky as you wake up to one of the biggest days of your life, the soft breeze that gives your hair a little flutter, the sound of the lapping waves mimicking the beat of your ecstatic heart. Such sparkling, fairytale romance was what defined the wedding of Maja and Simon Mannion held in the white sands of Boracay. I was truly fortunate to be able to work with the gorgeous bride in creating her seashell inspired wedding gown, and become a part of her intimate beachside soiree. 

THE WEDDING GOWN AND MAJA MANNION AS SHE WALKED TO THE ALTAR. PHOTO BY MAYAD STUDIOS. 

Maja wanted a gown that had intricate beading and a couture feel befitting any stylish bride, but  was also carefree and sweet to pay homage to the rustic beauty of her surroundings. Given her vision, I wanted to create a gown that had both delicate details but also an airy lightness that would allow Maja to have lots of fun with her husband and her family during their intimate beach affair. I do think the creamy, beaded confection we made did justice to their love affair and enhanced Maja's radiant glow. 

MAJA'S BEAUTIFUL BOUQUET WAS MADE BY HER BRIDESMAIDS (FLOWERS FROM FLORISTA). PHOTO BY MAYAD STUDIOS. 

MAJA MANNION. PHOTO BY MAYAD STUDIOS. 

MAJA & HER BRIDESMAIDS IN DRESSES FROM EVER NEW. PHOTO BY MAYAD STUDIOS. 

MAJA & SIMON. PHOTO BY MAYAD STUDIOS. 

The gown was composed of a strapless mini with intricate tulle ruching in the bodice giving the garment a lovely base texture with which to work our beaded magic. It was a bit of trial and error at first to get the draping perfect, but I think the finished design was quite flattering. Three-dimensional embroidered flowers and leaves were added in trailing fashion to give it a fairytale feel. The ivory blooms were further enhanced by the sprinkling of crystals and beads, and of course freshwater pearls which was the perfect nod to her beachside bash, and also a great homage to our Filipino culture. Both the bride and the groom had been based in Doha, Qatar so I thought it was a lovely touch to her gown. 

I thought the mix of textures gave the gown a found-object feel, like an artist creating compositions from the beautiful randomness of nature. I love how the fine pleated tulle, was the perfect foil to the beaded flowers, giving the garment a truly graceful finish. 

And for the big reveal, we added an organdy petal skirt to finish off her look. The ball gown skirt has layers of sheer fabric draped over each other to give it the fluttery feel and add a natural slit that would open up softly when the bride walked. Why else would one have a beach wedding other than to twirl around in a fluttery gown? I also thought the layers and the warm shade was reminiscent of seashells, which I thought was a lovely addition to the concept of her gown. 

Since Maja was based in Qatar, we had limited fittings while working on her gown. But I do think we pulled it off beautifully and were blessed that Maja loved her gown. 

MAJA'S GOWN WAS MADE FOR FLYING! PHOTO BY MAYAD STUDIOS. 

We also made a matching lace robe for the bride as she prepared for her walk down the aisle. The swirling details of the lace I thought was a great match to her wedding gown. 

MAJA IN HER MARIANE PEREZ WEDDING GOWN AND LACE BRIDAL ROBE. PHOTO BY MAYAD STUDIOS. 

Her wedding accessories were also made with her gown in mind, and we enjoyed creating an embellished veil, ring and arrhae pillows, and also a shimmery bridal clutch. I always love mixing textures and creating dimension with my work, even with little crafty details!

And if you notice, Maja's gown for her ceremony, with its off-shoulder lace sleeves and ball gown skirt, is going to be a little different for the after party. When the sun sets and the music starts, Maja's gown converts into a strapless number with a fifties-inspired circle skirt all the better to dance the night away with her beau! 

MAJA AND SIMON DURING THE CEREMONY. PHOTO BY MAYAD STUDIOS. 

MAJA & SIMON DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY. PHOTO BY MAYAD STUDIOS. 

Looking at these photos of our bride and her husband beaming as they pledged to spend their life together truly makes my job as a fashion designer meaningful. I am honoured to be entrusted with such an important once-in-a-lifetime gown, and am privileged to be part of so much love! Thanks Maja and Simon and wishing you continued prosperity!

BRIDAL BLISS: Floral Elegance at Chris & Jillian's Big Day

Like a lot of modern, millennial relationships, my friendship with bride Jillian began online. I had seen the Cosmo.Ph EIC @jillyqg looking her bright, bubbly self in a lot of my friends snaps, so much so that when I first met her, I couldn't help but feel like we were old friends. Consequently, and I believe upon the recommendation of Cosmopolitan Fashion Director Donna Cuna-Pita & Fashion Editor Happy Lopez, when it became time to plan her special day with beau Chris Cantada, she also found me on Instagram. Needless to say, I was extra excited to get to work with the couple, and am extremely grateful for their trust. 

Even before our first meeting, Jillian had already sent me photos of her girls, a short bio, and what silhouettes they wanted to wear, all packaged neatly in a PowerPoint. She had such clarity of vision, truly knowing what look she wanted for her entourage, and yet allowed me and her girls the artistic freedom to create unique ensembles that made each lady feel her prettiest. That, to bride Jill, was the most important part, that the special people in her life feel gorgeous as well.

MALEN, TIFFANY, JENNIFER, BRIDE JILLIAN, KARA & CHESKA 

THESE BRIDESMAIDS ARE GETTING FIRST DIBS ON THE BRIDE'S BOUQUET! 

Jillian wanted something fresh and blooming for their garden soiree, and ensembles her bridesmaids could wear again. Prompted by the floral pret-a-porter skirts I had been designing, we decided on formal separates for her entourage. It was indeed a challenge to find a botanical print that matched her color scheme of pink and pistachio, but I guess Cupid was on our side and we were able to find one with such a glorious old world feel that we all fell in love with. The Matron of Honor Jennifer, the bride's sister, opted for a floor length ball gown skirt paired with a halter top. The bridesmaids chose their own tops and skirts, everything from crop tops to cutouts to elegant three-quarter sleeved blouses. I really think we were able to showcase each girl's unique style whilst creating a cohesive and elegant look for the wedding.

Having had the privilege of working with such lovely ladies, I was able to make so many new friends. I am thankful for all the chats we had at fittings, the funny stories, the bloopers, the stuff I learned, and all the memories. Some parts of our journey were easy, some hard, but all worth it for the beautiful moment it all comes together and the individual pieces become greater as they become part of the whole.

TIFFANY, CHESKA, MALEN & KARA 

And of course, no wedding is complete without an adorable flower girl to sprinkle petals down the aisle. Meet my favourite new friend Ysabelle who looked like a little princess in a cloud of pink tulle. When I first met her, she was still a bit shy. But after our first fitting, after she got to try on her tutu dress, I can say that she really warmed up to me. She gave me the a biggest hug, and waved back to me all the way from my place to their car parked across the street. Being fairy godmother to little girls has its perks, I tell you. 

THE BRIDE & HER NIECE YSABELLE | RINGBEARER DAMIEN & YSABELLE

THE BRIDE'S SISTER & MATRON OF HONOR JENNIFER, WITH HER DAUGHTER YSABELLE

And to appease the romantic in me, I also consider it a true act of fate that I got to work  with Jillian. Obviously, we had worked in the same publishing company but at different times. But I also learned that Jillian had been studying in New York the exact same time I had been in school there. Furthermore, I would like to give a special shout out to the groom's sister Cat Cantada. I had heard so much about makeup artist extraordinaire Cat back when I was working in Preview, but in all that time, I never had the chance to work with her. People would book her for shoots before I could, and we always tried to work with different talents each month. I found out that Cat's just as silly as I was, and now I stalk her on Instagram. 

CAT, ANGELINA, TIFFANY, MALEN, CHESKA, KARA, THE COUPLE & THEIR DASHING GROOMSMEN 

I was equally impressed by our rockstar groom, who is none other than famous YouTuber and drummer Chris Cantada. During his Spongecola days, I learned that he had penned a love song named entitled Jillian. Guys, seriously, can you top that? The couple had been dating for more than 10 years, and sometimes long distance, before this momentous occasion that has brought two  beautiful, quirky souls together. Truly, any occasion to celebrate true love is something we each must cherish.

And with these lovely photos by Nice Print Photo taken at Angelfields in Tagaytay, I bid you adieu. I thank you Jillian and Chris for making me a part of your special day, and wish you all the best as you  both continue to pen the lyrics to your unique love story. 

THE BRIDE & HER ENTOURAGE 

THE RADIANT BRIDE & HER BRIDESMAIDS | JILLIAN SHARES A MOMENT WITH BIG SISTER JENNIFER

BRIDAL BLISS: My Best Friend's Wedding

It is a rare privilege for designers to become a part of the lives of their brides, as through loving hands they literally craft the last garment one wears as a single woman. It's a transformative piece, one sprinkled in fairy dust and bestowed on with such power and reverence that holds us all in its thrall. And if it's to be worn by your childhood bestie, then I do think it becomes all the more magical.

PHOTO BY JUN SONG

That is the story of me, and Karaine, my BFF from grade school who moved to Australia and met the love of her life Victor. I was in New York (studying at FIT and interning at Marchesa and Vera Wang) when she got engaged and given that we were continents apart, we weren't sure how to pull off making her princess wedding gown. But love can truly move mountains and I was so excited that I had to come back home to Manila to start making it! 

Like all crazy endeavours, we started off with a plan, a.k.a. a sketch. She ultimately chose this design, a drop waist lace bodice finished off with ruffles galore! 

She could only come to Manila once or twice for fittings before the big day, so we had to make it work. At this point, I would like to commend my friend's immense trust in me, that I would come up with something pretty for her special day. During the three months or so that we were crafting her gown, all she got were progress photos. We got so fond of the dress we've nicknamed her Ms. Fluffles (now, Mrs. Fluffles, naturally). With more than a hundred yards of organza (plus plus plus), I would say she's earned her moniker. 

I got to Perth two weeks before the wedding, and with bated breath, Karaine tried on her gown. Thankfully, it was a great fit and apart from a few length issues, it was perfect!!! More importantly, the bride-to-be was happy, and that's all a designer-friend could ever ask for!

The wedding was held on a gorgeously sunny day in Perth, Australia. The ceremony was in a quaint chapel in Fremantle filled with a lot of history, followed by a lovely reception of close family and friends at Caversham House in Swan Valley. The couple's adventurous photographer, Jun Song, took these photos around the port city of Fremantle and at the wedding reception venue. 

Aside from the wedding gowns, my other favourite thing to make are flower girl dresses! Who could resist all that cuteness, really?! Karaine wanted mini-mi gowns but she still wanted them to look like sweet little girls. The result, organza ball gowns with lovely pink sashes!

The two flower girls plus a third, honorary one who was smart enough to match the color scheme! 

This was us at flower girl Amelia's dress fitting in Perth. I also got her measurements via email so we were so happy the dress fit. Her little sister was equally excited and joined us for a nice, little cuddle on the floor. 

And finally, the bride and her entourage. It was like a mini-reunion as it had been me, another bosom buddy from grade school Stephanie, and the bride's cousin Wena. 

And so ends my little tale of love, rendered in cascading ruffles, beautiful bows, and sparkly lace. But as this bridal gown bids you adieu, for it's served its mission well, it does usher in a beautiful new life for the couple filled with a lifetime of bliss and a future of hope.