THE ambience was perfect. The crowd awaited. The venue was all set. Everyone was excited, but before the wedding bells started ringing, the wedding march was played within the coven of Robinsons Malls as they once again set to wow the audience with their annual Wedding Fair – features the fashions of top-notch local designers.
The week-long wedding fair started off with a fashion show catering various bridal gown creations. The events aim to guide couples as they prepare for a memorable wedding day that would certainly last for a lifetime.
The Wedding Rituals 2018
Robinsons Place Iloilo has brought Wedding Rituals to the Ilonggos for years and 2018 marks the 17th year of the annual event, making it one of the longest-running fashion shows in Iloilo. This year’s Wedding Rituals featured bridal gowns of guest designer Oz Go and Iloilo’s top-notch wedding couturiers such as Grace Clavel, Paul Conte, Bo Parcon, Jaki Peñalosa, D John Clement, Jor-el Espina, Jet Salcedo and Aisha Peñalosa. All of these designers presented their Japanese-themed elegant bridal gowns showcased by Ilonggo models In Robinsons Place Iloilo Fountain Area on June 1.
“So, I offset to be inspired by the male kimono sang lalaki, amo na ang akon inspiration, ginghimu ko lang siya into a gown, ” said Jet Salcedo, one of the featured Ilonggo designers addressing the question on the inspiration of his design.
The Japanese theme, however, did not stop the designers from putting a touch of Filipino. According to Jor-el Espina, “We were tasked to do a Japanese-themed wedding design so it’s an inspiration of upholding the ease of the Japanese but the material that I’m using is more on Filipino material so I used feather and wings.”
Wedding Rituals 2018 guest designer Oz Go showcased seven of his bridal gowns on his first ever bridal fashion show in his mother’s hometown, Iloilo. From the traditional Japanese kimono, according to Go, he was able to create his own design by playing with different textures of the lace, embroideries and beadwork to create the modern take on wedding gowns.
Conte, who has been participating in Wedding Rituals since 2012 shared that he still gets mixed emotions before the show, but always feels happy and grateful once it’s done. His collection this year got its inspiration from roses and his paintings.
“I am fond of using light and not too heavy fabrics on my collection. I want the model to feel comfortable and light. Not too heavy in the eyes,” said Conte pertaining to the materials used in his creations.
Aside from the Fashion Shows from the gowns by featured designers, a fair follows participated by various wedding suppliers and companies. The fair in Iloilo runs from June 2 to 9, 2018.
All of these masterpieces by Filipino designers deserve rightful recognition and appreciation from everyone not only because of their talent, but also for the effort, patience and determination they exerted to create fabulous bridal gowns not for popularity, but for making every bride’s special day a moment to be reminisced for a lifetime. (March Gernine Aguacito and Christine Lorraine Gallo, Interns/PN)
