Onesimus, all about the suit

Thank you post #3

And this is why they are called men: they take two seconds to figure out what to wear on their wedding day (versus women’s 20 years of contemplation on design alone, starting at age 12); their suit/barong takes two weeks to finish (versus about a year for women); and they almost always ask just this singular question: HOW MUCH? (versus women’s… okay, let’s not even go there).

Of course I’m generalizing here, but given the scientific (LOL) make-up of men, I can only be thankful that we didn’t end up with a lousy outfit for my groom. He was all three things described above. I had shortlisted Jerome Lorico and Tonichi Nocom (smtonichi@gmail.com) for Rhoel’s suit because I couldn’t bear the thought of scrimping on the groom’s requirements while I spend (a little) on my whims, er, needs. But alas, HE set the budget; it’s off to the mall.

Now, I’ve seen Onesimus before, and I always thought their work was pretty decent. However, this being a wedding, I didn’t think a mall-based label was… right — it would be like serving fastfood on a state visit. Well, turns out fastfood, I mean suit, could be quite good. But I guess you can already tell that by the way I was eyeing the groom here. Woot woot!

Since it was an outdoor wedding, Rhoel decided to go for the more comfortable and beach-appropriate linen suit. We bought the fabric at Bloomingdale’s. We were scanning the racks for linen when the saleslady took out from behind several rolls, the Japanese linen that, she proudly revealed, (super pricey) designer Randy Ortiz buys from them for his linen suit clients. The moment she name-dropped Ortiz, we snapped up the fabric (Php400/meter), moved next door to Onesimus and laid it on the table.We gambled.

We won.

Two fittings and two weeks later, bride got a happy groom, groom got a happy wallet, wallet got a happy suit!  Perfecto!

Off to marry me.

Our Tab: Php 11,000 ++ for the fabrics, and labor cost of inner shirt, vest, coat and pants

Try Bloomingdale’s and Onesimus: basement, SM Megamall building B.

Onesimus also has factory outlets at the Paragon Plaza Bldg. EDSA corner Reliance Street (Call 5713528) and at 592 Cordillera Street, Brgy Malamig, Boni Avenue (Call 5331165 or 10 local 108), both in Mandaluyong City.

Alodia Cecilia, girl with a gift

Thank you post #2

J’adore this dress and its exquisite details, but it wasn’t always like this. When I bought this Moiselle piece off-the-rack in Hong Kong, it looked like this on me:

The original had a charming vintage feel, but it was two sizes bigger and the neckline, let’s admit it, was far from flattering. I bought it because I loved the layers and the soft nude color — and it was half off the original price (which was cheap considering it was handmade in Italy). It took me eight frustrating months to find the brave soul who would alter this delicate dress without charging me enough to make me go get a new one. Some couturiers wanted as much as Php15,000 for alteration; others didn’t even give me a quote, just a warning that it would be “very, very expensive.” (Now coming from a couturier whose gowns cost a minimum Php85,000, that statement nearly drove me to tears. LOL.)

I found Alodia Cecilia Sales on Philippine Fashion Week posts online. She was a fixture there but not in the wedding industry. I was her first bride, and she didn’t really do alterations, but I suppose my pleading e-mails got her to accept the daunting challenge of transforming my bridal dress into a perfect fit at a minimal cost. This girl — I call her girl because that’s the first thing that came to mind when we first met: She’s a kid! — has the hands of a painter, jewelry designer (she’s received awards for her designs), dressmaker. She’s a true artist and artisan at heart — and she’s totally grounded. The whole process of working with her was just honest and interactive. She was always brimming with ideas and listening to mine.

What’s the catch, you ask? She has no shop, so fittings were done at her rented room (which I didn’t mind too much, but I’m low maintenance, so…). Once, we did the fitting at this unbelievably HUGE restroom in Glorietta (put the hotel bathrooms to shame!). Alodia also made me a bridal bag and veil for free! I wasn’t planning on wearing a veil at all but the girl insisted, saying I needed a bridal touch, so I did. And what can I say, designer knows best.

I liked Alodia’s work so much that I asked her to make me a lacy, slightly vintage-y reception dress — two weeks before the wedding (obviously not part of the plan). Still, she delivered.

Our introduction as Mr. and Mrs. F with It’s Love by Chris Knox blasting in the background.

Preparing to cut the cake and eat it, too. Plus details of the reception dress.

A shot of our surprise — no, shocking — “Mamma Mia!” dance number. (This easily ranks in the top 3 most fun things I’ve ever done with friends in my entire life.). Semi-side view of the dress.

All’s well that ends well, hallelujah. Alodia saved me, but I learned one big lesson from this: A dress is easier to fashion to your size and liking — and usually cheaper — when you start from scratch. So unless you just. can’t. live. without that off-the-rack beauty, go straight to a tailor or couturier.

Our Tab: Php 11,000++ (Php5,000 for alteration, Php6,000 for reception dress — it was my choice of fabric that shot the bill up — and around Php500 for the materials for my long veil)

Try Alodia: 09157647745, alodiacecilia@yahoo.com

Pia Reyes, make-up machine

Thank you post #1

All couples — and I mean ALL — invest in photography or videography, which is totally understandable. What I don’t understand is why not as many brides invest in their make-up. Or why few grooms understand that it’s a very necessary expense. I mean, would you really want to look at photos where you don’t look  pretty? They’re going to last for all eternity, you know, so you might as well have the most beautiful version of yourself documented.

This is why it took me forever to book my hair and make-up artist. I did two trial make-ups and reviewed the portfolios of at least 20 experts before landing on the website of  Pia Reyes. You know that feeling when you finally find The One? You get nervous (because you might not be able to afford her) and then giddy (because you could) and then you gloat (because you found a gem in the wedding world). I went through the whole thing.

I booked Pia, a make-up artist for Lancome, without a trial make-up, just a few e-mail exchanges on rates, pegs, etc. Now I don’t normally do that, but I was so sure, based on her work (then, mostly in the fashion industry), that Pia could pull off the look I wanted — and as always, I was right (LOL).

Looking at our photos now, I know I could not have made a better choice.

Tres Hijas: This is me (right) with my sisters Argen and Abbie, all of us at different stages of evolution. LOL.

The tools of the trade:

The bridal suite scene: Pia and her hairstylist Dave Lopez photoshop everyone — my mom and sisters, my coordinator-friends, Rhoel’s aunts and our flower girls. Make-up sessions started at noon, five hours before the wedding.

A final check:

And this is it, folks — smile for the cameras!

Pia and Dave also gave me a second look for the reception. This is us with our favorite pastor, Nuel Nanez, and his lovely wife Iris, AFTER the reception. Hail the staying power of make-up.

SIDE STORY: A day before our wedding, we treated our guests to a sunset sail on paraws. Problem was, we arrived late from Kalibo with our suppliers and had only about 1.5 hours to rest and get ready for the event. Pia and Dave, both freshened up, took no more than 20 minutes  (I swear they’re a mean make-up machine) to hide my stress that day.

My only regret in all this — yes, I do have one — is that I can’t afford to get Pia to do my make-up everyday for the rest of my life. 8 )

Our Tab: Can’t tell coz it was a special out-of-town arrangement.

Try Pia: 09178485632, piareyesmakeup@yahoo.com