For Kitchie Nadal, a simple stroll in the mall and 700 pesos was all it took to find the perfect white dress. Lucky girl. However, for some other girls, it’s actually more than that. As I’ve mentioned in my previous post, I knew exactly what I wanted for my wedding day, especially when it comes to my bridal gown: a simple white dress with a sweetheart cut neckline and a soft, flowy, A-line skirt. I’ve seen it everywhere, heck even in Divisoria, so I had no worries about it.
Two months before our big day and I am presented with
something else. It’s not that bad honestly; it’s just not THE dress for me. I was
crushed. I remember having a meeting the next day with FJ Sionson, my wedding
stylist, and he asked why I looked so haggard so I told him. Thank God, Manny,
THE Manny Halasan, was in FJ’s office that same afternoon, too, sketching and
quietly listening to my ordeal.
(c) Manny Halasan Facebook
Just a short
background: Manny Halasan is a Filipino designer based in Meycauayan, Bulacan.
He first made a mark designing exquisite crowns and jewelry for their family
business. In 2007, he started to test the waters in creating couture gowns for family
and friends. If you think you’ve seen him somewhere, you may be
right. Manny joined the prestigious Project Runway Philippines Season 3 in
2009, which paved the way for his continuously blossoming career in the world of
fashion.
Going back to my story, FJ asked him for a couple of tips to
remedy the situation, and to my surprise, Manny gave detailed advice on what to
do – including the specific name of the fabric I need to get to achieve the
sweet, flowy look I was after, what layers of fabric I should ask my couturier to
remove for the skirt, and so on.
I personally found this gesture very generous since I was
not his own client after all. I mean, he could have intentionally said stuff to
lure me to ask him to do it instead, but he didn't. He was just being helpful
that afternoon. I was dying inside to ask him already if he could have me on
list, but knowing how much we have left on our wedding budget, I knew it was
just impossible to afford a designer gown that time.
(c) Manny Halasan
But a series of serendipitous events led me to another visit
to FJ’s office. Manny was there again. I couldn’t take to have my heart broken for
the nth time so I simply laid all my cards – how much I was only willing to go
for, what I wanted for my dress, and if he’s going to make it before my wedding,
given that he already has a queue of clients until next year. To my amazement, he
said since my gown was very simple he can squeeze me in. After five minutes, he
handed me a signed sketch of an original Manny Halasan bridal gown, and the rest was pure
bliss.
What I love about Manny is he wasn’t snotty or haughty,
which is the usual misconception about most people working in the fashion
industry. He was always very friendly, accommodating, and very kind in giving
expert opinions about specific matters. He encouraged me to have my gown in
eggshell white instead of stark white, because according to him, it complements
my fair skin beautifully.
Seeing my gown a few days before my wedding day, I was totally
speechless. The simple flowy skirt I requested had a cathedral train. Imagine
that. My gown was sweet, romantic, and everything I wanted it to be. Manny
added a touch of floral lace on the top and a tastefully done crystal-encrusted
belt, which hugs my curves just right. All I can say is Manny Halasan delivered more than
what I expected.
Aside from my wedding gown, Manny also did our wedding
rings. For the rings, we specifically requested a long and ornate engraving,
which may have raised some eyebrows if we had it done in some other shop. We
wanted “I belong to (our names)” engraved beside our wedding date. Manny
laughed and said he’ll see what he can do. He mentioned it may be pretty
difficult to do it on my ring. But lo and behold, he actually had it done!
I know this write-up is not going to make justice for his
creations, so please see the pictures for yourself. If you’re a bride, looking
for a wonderful designer who can work within your budget without compromising style
and taste, I highly recommend Manny Halasan. To see more of his works and to
connect with him directly, check out his Facebook
Page.