Joyfully Yours

Choosing the right gown for my wedding is quite tedious. I have an idea of what cut and style I like but still, it's confusing once I make my research about finding the couturier who will make the perfect wedding gown for me. Since I'm quite on the meaty side, my first challenge is to find a designer who can make me look slim on my wedding day wearing the cut and style that I've always wanted. I have already started some dieting and gave myself time to exercise to make sure that I go back to my old body a few pounds ago but still I need to choose the right designer just in case my body won't cooperate with me.

My other challenge is to pick whether I want an off-the-rack dress or made-to-order dress. Up to this moment I'm still confused on what to choose.

There are so many good sides on getting an off-the-rack dress. First, what you see is what you get. There's only some alterations to be made like the length or adjustments on the curvy parts of the body. The second advantage I see is that I've heard a lot of designers give the gown a day before the wedding or worse, on the wedding day itself which is too risky! The not-so-good side of it is that chances are, someone who is getting married on the same day might be wearing the same dress! One has to hope that the wedding before or after you is not wearing the same dress. Also hope that the bride in the reception on the other side of the venue is not wearing the same dress. Anyway, I still managed to go in and check Rosa Clara which offers off-the-rack wedding dresses.


Just looking outside Rosa Clara's store in front of Greenbelt, any engaged lady will surely be tempted to go in. I did and I went in to check out what is in this store.

Photo from http://www.facebook.com/rosaclaraphilippines

There's just so many designs, colors and sizes to choose from. I did try into some dresses just to see how it feels to be in a wedding dress. Also, to see if the cut I've always wanted will look good on me. As soon as I've worn the cut of dress I've always wanted, part of me wants to take it home already but I was also thinking that the dress is quite plain since there's no beads or lace. It's just the cut and the layering of the cloth that styles it. I was told by the lady in Rosa Clara that beads and laces can be added to the dress to make it custom designed hence, my confusion if I'll be getting an off-the-rack dress or not.

Photo from http://www.facebook.com/rosaclaraphilippines

I've also heard a lot about Mi Sueno Bridal Boutique. I haven't been to the store but the designs of their dresses also look promising. I will also go to this place to check it out and widen my options before I decide for the one. Their dresses are Pronovias which are from Spain too where a lot of women are quite on the meaty side like me so I hope I'll be able to fit in one of their dresses.

Photo from  http://www.misuenobridal.com

For made-to-order dress, I have four couturiers in mind. I've narrowed down my choices to these four because I've seen some of their designs that fits my style, I've heard so much about them and I've followed their careers for quite some time. Below are my four choices if I'm having my wedding dress made-to-order in no particular order:

Photo from  http://cecilioabad.multiply.com/

Cecilio Abad
He is a designer from Ormoc City, Leyte who never had a debut fashion show. Nonetheless, his works prove that he is indeed competitive in the fashion world. I like how he plays around with a cloth's texture and how most of the gowns he made has bead work only at the torso area so that the bottom is flowy yet majestic.

Photo from http://happyandrada.com

Happy Andrada
She started out young in the fashion industry so most of her ideas are quite fresh and different. She loves fairy tales, princesses, anime and cute things that serves as her inspiration for her works which made me attracted to her works as well. Most of her works are simple but attention grabbing in their own artistic way.

Photos from http://veluzreyes.blogspot.com/

Veluz Reyes
She is a mother of 4, a wife and once a bride. Her years of life experience has equipped her with understanding how a bride feels. This serves as her inspiration which she executes creatively into her gown.

Photo from http://reality-box.com/2012/05/18/harrydei/

Jerome Salaya Ang
He has been a part of Philippine Fashion Week for countless times. His every show is an unpredictable surprise however, there's a constant "wow" factor in his every creation.

I need only one dress and so I have to choose one from all these options which is very difficult. As of the moment, I haven't approached any couturier for an appointment to see which one can offer the best design for me and of course, a good package that fits the budget then decide which I really want. Right now, I just keep looking at all these dresses and imagine my dream wedding with the one I love most. ^_^

The first time I’ve heard about Happy Andrada was when she was still a student in La Salle International Manila because the school is very near where I used to work. Every time the school has a bazaar to sell the works of their students, I usually go with my officemates and there, I saw her name and works.

I’ve never thought the very first fashion show that I will be attending is hers – “Perya: A Whimsical Fashion Gala” which have happened two years ago when I was just starting in my new career. I was thinking that I know this girl and when I googled her name, I really did heard her name before. With the achievements she’s been getting through the years, I feel so lucky that I get to follow her every achievement and I adore her works.

Happy takes a bow in Perya: A Whimsical Fashion Gala

People say happiness comes to those who give their best and it’s true with Happy Andrada. Recently, Happy and three cutting edge artists were tapped by ANIMAX, a Singapore-based youth channel, to design exclusive limited edition tote bags. Happy’s tote bag adopted the witty wordplay of her own name which means “fun”. “I’M HAPPY, YOU’RE HAPPY, WE’RE ALL HAPPY”.

Even though Happy has a joyful name, she seriously takes her name as her drive to the things she do making sure that every design she makes is her masterpiece. For the background of the tote bag, Happy used the ‘star.’ A total of 11 stars are tattooed on Happy’s arm as a lucky charm. It’s obvious that the star is her personal favorite but this is not just because of this why she chose the ‘star.’ It was chosen because to symbolize the pinnacle of success which she wants to share to everyone who will be using the bag.

Because of all Happy’s hard work, her achievements to date have been so many. She was the country’s only representative for Korea’s International Fashion Art Event. She was also one of the finalists to Japan’s Fashion Design Competition and she was awarded as Go Negosyo’s Inspiring Young Filipino Entrepreneur. Last February, Happy also won the grand prize in Swatch’s My Rabbit Story contest.

To top it all off, Happy is gaining a steady following of loyal customers who spread the word on how she helps them look their best. When her customers are happy, that makes Happy even happier.

Happy is going to be a part of The Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2011, happening this May 9-15 at the SMX Convention center. Happy displays her unique debutante and bridal collection, plus her many other creative designs and offers made to order outfits for any occasion at her store F*ART Fashion Art located in 24 J. Erestain cor. K-1st, Kamuning, Quezon City Visit F*ART website at www.happyfart.com or call 4127311 and 09175242779.