Avanceña - Ignacio

FEBRUARY 18, 2011 -- The day Anna Marie Avanceña married her longtime sweetheart JR Ignacio. And what a beautiful and touching wedding it was.

The couple's entourage walked to the strings version of Coldplay's "Yellow". That was such a goosebumps moment. The couple clearly made sure every small detail of the wedding was taken care of.

Also Singapore-based, many of the guests flew in from Singapore, Brunei and other parts of the globe to witness the union of this well-loved couple. And who wouldn't love them? They are among the nicest, sweetest couples I've worked with. In fact, I have become friends with Anna and her sister Carla. Carla is an amazing makeup artist by the way and she worked her magic on her sister that day... though Anna already has a pretty face to begin with.

Maid of honor & makeup artist Anna, horsing around with her sister during preps at the Intercon



Mother of the bride dons a champagne layered asymmetric gown also by yours truly.



Me with the lovely bride, removing the dress from the mannequin.



Clearly, Anna is another ruffle lover and volume was the name of the game for her big day. Her bodice is made of lace and beaded with Swarovski crystals.

TEARS OF JOY -- Asymmetrical draped pieces for the bride's entourage



Deep purple and magenta motif





Preparations: Intercontinental Hotel
Church: Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Coordination: Christine Ong-Te
Makeup Artist: Carla Avanceña
Couture: Czarina Villa
Flowers: Teddy Manuel
Bridal Car: Charlie Alvarez
Strings: KaDense
Sound System + Effects: Mark Tan
Photo: Imagine Nation: John Mateos Ong, Noel Salazar, Benjie Tiongco and Aldrich Lim
Video: Wang Videography

Ulibarri - Fuentes

A Singapore-based longtime boyfriend and girlfriend, Carlo & Net is a rockstar couple -- sure knows how to party like one and takes things as they come -- with much ease and confidence that I so admire them for. A bridechilla, Net definitely is. To top it all off, she has one of the most beautiful faces I've ever seen.

And so I made her a textured wedding gown that I think best suits her: a distressed chiffon bustier with raw edge details and a skirt made entirely of raw edge rosettes.

There were actually last minute emergencies on the day of her wedding (a day I sadly missed due to a terrible flu) but our bridechilla was unfazed and remained poised the whole time.


Why aren't all brides like that? :-)

Mr. & Mrs. Carlo Fuentes in their stretch hummer bridal car

Very rockstar bridal shoes, no?

Bride's Gown: Czarina Villa Groom's Suit: ZARA Wedding Bands: Bvlgari Bride's Shoes: Charles & Keith Church: Mount Carmel Reception: Light Of Love

Rachel Mallonga - Laborde

She has the beauty, the height and the charm. Rach, like many brides I was fortunate to have worked with, loves feminine details. Ruffles to be exact.

Makeup by: Georginna Desuasido

The Mallonga Family (the bride's mom in a gown with asymmetrical ruffles and the bride's sister, her maid of honor, in an electric pleated bustier gown with a belt adorned with flowers on one side).

Photos by: Red Fox
Church: Santuario de San Jose
Reception: Manila Polo Club

Katz Lobregat - Enriquez

December 2010 -- Katz and her husband Eugene have been a couple for at least a decade (READ: College Sweethearts) before they finally said "I Do" in Boracay and then again in an intimate Tagaytay Highlands church wedding.


The inspiration for her wedding gown was Grace Kelly. And because I have a sweet tooth, I had meringue as her skirt inspiration.

Chocolate brown and mocha female entourage (and flower girls with touches of coral).

The bride with her mom (in a draped cream + coral chiffon number, also by yours truly).

Sweet November

November 28, 2010 -- It was a baby pink wedding. Beautiful, feminine and romantic. And it was exactly what Celine Cruz asked for her female entourage.

Petals and flowers adorned the draped baby pink chiffon gowns.

Maid of honor

Beautiful secondary sponsor Lanee Keh Tan

Reception followed at the Marriot Hotel Manila. Makeup by Patrick Rosas. Bride: Cary Santiago. Entourage: Czarina Villa. Wedding Coordinator: Rita Neri Events Planner.

No Fuss, All Class

...That was Pam Buen's motto when it came to planning her October 2008 wedding. And it was all understated elegance from the flowers to the setup of her reception venue (Blue Leaf's Banyan + Jade Pavillions).




Fuchia pink was the color motif and it was bright fuchia all the way from the pretty pop-up invitations by Adworks and cute little notepad giveaways by Printed Matter.





Photos by Ariel Javelosa. Groom's suit by Randy Ortiz. Bridal entourage by yours truly.

More Of The Manalang - De Guzman Wedding

A royal blue + yellow motif for the female entourage

The bride's bazillion layer tulle skirt with beaded French lace overlay

Couture: Czarina Villa
Photos by: Derek delos Santos of Red Fox
Reception Venue: Ville Sommet, Tagaytay
Caterer : K By Cunanan

The Bride Gene

Clarine Omega-Mallari - sweet, well-mannered and super easy to work with. Love this girl! (Photo by Jar Concengco of Campfire Media)

Leah Marqueses-Ordinario (actually a good, good friend of mine. Now based in San Diego, CA). Married in July 2008. (Photo by Smart Shot Studio)





Jennifer Bautista - Manalo (fittings and meetings were fun with outbursts of laughter here and there. Hi Jen!!!)





Tina Manalang - de Guzman - It was a 1.1.11 wedding (shown here with yours truly and Reindl, the groom, who is dashing in a Randy Ortiz suit. I love this couple to bits!)




Pia Purificacion - Utitco -- My dearest cousin-in-law. Simplicity was the key element to this wedding entourage. No fuss no muss.



Old Rose + Silver

Arlene + JM

Arlene is a ruffles girl. And a girly girl. A true Miriamite at heart. :) She married JM in 2008 (shown in photo with their beautiful baby Sachi) at the Lourdes Church in Mandaluyong. Reception immediately followed at the Glass Garden in Marikina City.

Arlene and her mom are bling lovers. Case in point. :)