Wedding belles

CEBU, Philippines - V-Day is over and so your knight in shining armor proposed on bended knee while your tear ducts revved up to high gear surmising that the next obvious step is the wedding. Tears of joy? Hardly. You remembered your aunt agonized over her horrendous bridal gown courtesy of her own knight who took the medieval era too seriously. You were a flower girl then and vividly recalled your aunt walking down the aisle with great difficulty swathed in yards of frou frou and whoa (!), leg of mutton sleeves that Maid Marian would love.

In these modern day and age, bridal wear has diversified to be all inclusive. From the mushy traditional bride to the bikini clad beach bride even to the one who envisions herself married in the ski slopes of Aspen. Bridal couturiers this side of the globe sent out a large number of chiffon column dresses and voluminous yet light satin gowns, with all the deliciously rich-yet-light colors (immaculate white, milky white, ivory, oatmeal, terra cotta, ash, silver and even matte gold). Feeling nostalgic? Arcy Gayatin has a duchess satin waist-cut pleated gown for the classy bride channeling the belle epoch. Swingy and short for a summer wedding was Protacio’s offering in rococo embroidery and finished off with lush fringe.

Screen legends inspired Randy Ortiz as he traded in for a palette that consisted mainly of white, with some challenging draping on the shoulder and neck for texture. Bustier with gold beading with a pleated trail was Wendell Quisido’s latest offering tricked up with dressmaker-like tucks and folds.  The 80s soap opera Dynasty prodded William Manahan for his empire cut silk gown with a cut glass embellished bodice, which Alexis Colby would adore. Philip Rodriguez presented an Empire-line topped halter column dress with whisper-thin chiffon draping as his millennium bride.

And the accessory that took center stage—modernity that reeks from every bridal ensemble, though inspired by various eras. The wonderful thing about the featured designers is that, through their bridal business, they had mastered the art of merging fairy-tale fantasy with hard reality, dressing women of every shape and size for that all-important day.