The colors of joy

The recent unveiling of bridal couture at Joy:

Your Dream Wedding by Marriott proved to be effective as I accidentally bumped into my matronly aunt and her soon-to-be-a-bride daughter at the show. Attending a bridal couture show is a bit like having a 10-course meal at a posh restaurant - just when you feel like you couldn't possibly indulge in more, along comes another course to tempt and amaze you. At the end of it all, one is left with a feeling of profound, almost reverent satisfaction. As I glanced over the bride-to-be, her eyes were full of awe as she feasted on different bridal themes.

As the doors opened (literally), out came first face and fresh face JesubellRetardo in Salvador Malto 1's strapless and beribboned dress with a painstakingly detailed skirt, pleated and ruffled in lace, organza, satin. It was perfectly cut yet still looks unobtrusive. Wendell Quisido provided a lesson in simplicity with his jersey crepe dress delicately skimming the body, following its every curve and movement and then taking a deep plunge. A bevy of more décolleté dresses was ushered in for evening wedding receptions with ensembles that were delicately embroidered and beaded with every conceivable bauble from Barbie Alvez, Edwin Alba and Philipp Tampus.

Of course, the abovementioned were gorgeous, unmistakably dreamy bridal gowns. Consider a Mikado silk bustier show-stopper embroidered with a sweeping train from Alvez, a short almost pewter satin pailettes dress topped by a pillbox hat from Alba, or flamenco-inspired waterfall of lace ruffles from Tampus. And for the bride with a flair for floralia, a champagne laser cut dress with a skillful play of transparency from Humberto Villegas. A regal and confident bride should have Protacio's Marie Antoinette inspired silk and tulle dress, the very same finale dress that wowed with the clarity of his creative vision-the self-assurance of the color palette, the confidence of the cut.

Bravissimo!

Credits:

M.A.C.>Models Association of Cebu (0917 6302400)

Photographed by Rey Dacalos

Maquillage by WenwenZaspa and Manuel Pila

Directed by Bonnie Almendras

Special thanks to Ms. Nickanne Artea of the Cebu City Marriott Hotel