vestido de novia mia (bridal gown)

I haven’t gone Spanish. I’m not even sure if it is the correct translation. I was just trying to play smart and find a way to connect Mia (Barlaan, my gown designer, that is) to my wedding gown. But I love how the words roll in my tongue when I say them.

Vestido de novia mia. My wedding gown.

Now, moving on to the rating…

If I would solely based it on customer service, I would have given Mia Barlaan a perfect score. Dealing with her and her team, had been a smooth sail. For one, Mia is a nice, soft-spoken, young and talented designer who never missed a schedule, who replied to my text messages and emails almost immediately and who was always there during fittings. Her staff were very friendly, courteous and helpful, something I’m sure every client would appreciate.

But for this supplier’s rating, I have to consider the service and product. And the product is my gown.

I went to her shop with only an intention to inquire about her promo. When her assistant, sweet Clem, showed me what the ‘promo’ gown looks like, both D and I thought that for P10,000,  it’s good enough: a classic A-line cut gown in Mikado silk, with minimal beading on the front and back of the bodice. We were impressed with the overall quality of the gown (fabric, beadwork, etc). I got my measurements taken that same day and went home P5,000 poorer but happy and relieved that someone reliable and highly recommended is going to do my gown.

First fitting, I talked to Mia about some changes on the design which she noted down on my file sheet. She even suggested using some silver beads to which I, as far as I can remember, said yes to. Second fitting, I decided to upgrade the design and have beading on the edge of the skirt and the train, which would cost me additional P5000. The fit of the gown on both occasions were nearly perfect.

Before the third and final fitting, I went to her shop again to settle the remaining balance and asked her if I can see the gown. “It’s in our warehouse,” she said, “but I’ll ask someone to bring it over so you can see it.” I loved her at this point, loved how she handles her customers.

But love proved to be fleeting when I saw my gown. It wasn’t bad. In fact, it looked exactly as it should be. However, something looked wrong and I just couldn’t quite place it at the time. It was as if I was convincing myself that my gown is beautiful, but deep inside I knew it’s not. It was about 90% complete and I was still wishing that the remaining 10% would do some magic, add some drama that I felt it lacked.

After we got out of her shop, D said the truth that I couldn’t bring myself to accept. “Ba’t puting beads yung ginamit nila.” [Why did they use white beads?]

I tried to defend my dear supplier.

“It’s was you who wanted an all-white gown. Why are you complaining now?”

“But they should have realized that white beads on a white fabric looks camouflaged. What’s the sense of paying for additional beading if it won’t be noticeable?”

That’s what’s wrong. The white beads that they used on a white Mikado silk neutralized the beauty of the beadwork.

A few days later and it was our third and final fitting. Mia, as if she read my thoughts, told me that they used sparkling transparent beads (not sure if transparent is worse than white) because they sparkle when the lights hit them.

If only I could have a spotlight shining down on me all the time…

You could slightly make out the beadworks in this picture. But notice that the beads don’t have much contrast against the fabric of my gown.

In this one, the beadworks on the train and the skirt are totally “lost”. Bead design on the train, by the way, was more elaborate than that of the skirt and bodice. Too bad, it wasn’t visible.

White beads on a white fabric will never standout. White fabric with transparent beads is like a bare canvass. Mia and her works are good, make no mistake about it. It’s just that my gown looked nothing more than a plain white gown. A handful have told me that P15,000 could afford me a more “dramatic” gown elsewhere (all because they thought the beading was very minimal).

Rating: 4/5

Pros: Great customer service, good fabric, quality seams and craftsmanship, reasonable rates

Recommended because of great customer service and quality gowns at reasonable rates.

Not recommended for brides on a budget wishing to have a fab gown.

——————–

My gown.

I don’t love my gown obviously. Didn’t love the way it looked on me nor the way I looked on it on our wedding. My coordinator asked me, “Don’t you feel fabulous on your gown?” My answer was a quick and blatant “No.” And it wasn’t just the white-beads-on-a-white-fabric lament. It was because of so many other things that Mia no longer have a hand in.

I chose the wrong fabric. Mikado silk is a heavy fabric. One of the things I didn’t want was to feel encumbered by my wedding dress. Many times during our wedding, I thought my gown was slipping and I kept pulling it up. It was heavy, too heavy for my petite stature. From the start, I knew I’m a lace person. Light, sheer, romantic. I should have followed my heart.

I chose the wrong cut. Tube gown is always the safest but not necessarily the best option. A halter or a Sabrina would have been better suited for me. A sweetheart neckline more interesting. I should have went for some frou-frou. Some action, some drama.

I should have put more thought on my wedding gown. I should have settle for something more than good enough.

But I should stop here before I bleed. Our wedding is over. My gown was already taken to the dry cleaners. All these ‘I should have’s’ are actually quite useless. Regrets can never change what has been. It only makes it difficult to move on to what is now.

But here’s a lesson for you before I move on: Treat your gown more than just “a-dress-you’ll-only-wear-for-one-day” because that “one day” is something you’ll want to remember for a lifetime. You shouldn’t have too many regrets on that day.

(Please read the Suppliers’ Ratings Disclaimer)