Jewel contacted me a few months before her wedding. She asked me if I can create a gown for her with a really long train. I said “yes”. I sent her some gown designs and she fell in love instantly to one of my designs. It’s a ballgown with personalized embroidery and cascading long train (when I was designing it, I didn’t have any idea yet how I will put things together for this gown on actual fabric but I sent her the design anyway). The inspiration for her train was an Eva Longoria gown. She was soooo thrilled with the design that she immediately booked me after receiving the sketch no matter the cost of the gown. I choked before signing the contract and prayed that I will be able to pull off this design. Like what I do for some brides who are based overseas and have no idea what the gown might look like, I started with a Barbie-size replica of the gown (a miniature). I shipped her Barbie doll wearing her mini wedding gown to New York.

She fell in-love with it so off we start to the actual masterpiece..

The train was the greater challenge as it was long and cascading with wires for the waving effect. Months later, it was ready to ship.

Jewel’s wedding was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and she flew me in to dress her up. I went there with my sister Ada. The crowd of paparazzis outside the church was overwhelming. I felt more like I am the star than probably the bride who was swamped with her yards and yards of balloon skirt inside her stretch limousine. It was such a moment!!!

It was all like a dream and I am so happy for Jewel and Jhun. Just for everyone’s info, I also did the gowns of all the members of her entourage, the moms and some female sponsors. All gowns were never fitted in the Philippines. I just shipped all the gowns to them a month before the wedding so they can all try it and have it altered at a local seamstress in NY if there is any need for it. A few weeks before the wedding, I still receive requests for additional gown orders but lacking time, I already declined. My sister Ada and I flew to New York one day before the wedding. We met their families and they became like families to us. We just felt so grateful and honored.

I will be flying again next year for another NY wedding. I hope to see you all again soon.

Congratulations and my best wishes to Jewel (who volunteered to be one of the ninangs of my daughter Rae. I was pregnant when I was doing Jewel’s gown). It’s a double joy for me. I just can’t count my blessings.

My sister Ada flew with me to New York to help me dress up Jewel and her family and her entire bridal entourage.

By the way,  my dear friend Marilen Clemente also went with us to the wedding. She was my official photographer. He he he! Thanks Marilen (for letting us stay in your apartment and for touring us in New York.  (next post, our side trip in New York …it’s ok to mix work with a little pleasure on the side

Below were the loving messages from  Jewel before and after the wedding :

• Jewel04/28/2008 11:07 pm (as soon as she received her Gown Package shipped through Fedex)

hello mare!!!! by the time you read this, you’re probably here in the U.S. already:) anyways, i just wanted to let you know AGAIN that i’m extremely THANKFUL and HAPPY with my gowns:) they are both FABULOUS!!! more than i can imagine….honestly, they look very nice on the photos that you sent me but the pictures didn’t really do any justice to the gowns:)…they look soooo much better in person!! you can tell that there is a personal touch on every single detail of the gowns…BILIB talaga ako….i can’t say anything more but THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU tlaga!!! now i can’t wait to see you and Ada…next week na…WOW!!! see you soon mare and i’m just so excited….take care and call me when you’re here in New York already. Good luck on your Bridal Affair in San Francisco….i’m sure it will be a successful one. Next year, let’s have one here in New York:)

• Jewel05/23/2008 1:46 pm

hello mare!!! you’re probably back in the Philippines already but i just wanted to THANK YOU for everything!!!! my gown is stunning…everybody is still talking about my gown and how big it is:)…sorry ha i didn’t really get to talk to you before you left kasi we went straight to our honeymoon…in fact we just got back…thanks for being here in NY for my wedding…it was extremely special!!!! thanks to ADA as well….i’ll forever be thankful for all the things you’ve done…i can’t thank you enough mare….take care and MORE POWER to C & C!!!!