Joe San Antonio

6 months to go, and I've chosen my bridal gown designer: Joe San Antonio

The Story:
I've already written about my bridal gown dilemma/drama here:
http://rmacachor.multiply.com/journal/item/38

So, to finally zap myself out o that ditch, I met with two designers.

Gretchen Pichay
I went to Gretchen Pichay's house in New Manila, which is also her atelier. The whole basement/silong of her house is like her shop. Dun na rin nagtatahi.

She is very warm, simple lang, very casual. Unang ginawa n'ya was to review yung mga design pegs na binigay ko. Nagandahan sya particular sa neckline and train. So, from there, nag-sketch na sya agad.

Sketch Description:

* The neck/upper part is similar to my peg, with a sweetheart neckline. In the torso area, she put drapings in X pattern. She then put a pseudo belt with beadings. Lace with abound the drapings until the upper part of the skirt.
* At the back, she will execute my peg for the train, with electropleated cloth. She will also put a flower or ribbon at the waist.


My Choice:
JOE SAN ANTONIO
www.joesanantonio.multiply.com

I visited Joe San Antonio in her atelier in Eisenhower Tower, Greenhills.
Her office was more formal, more business like. She has all these colored pens and drawing tools. There were also a lot of magazine to browse.

From my pegs, she asked me which is my favorite--of course I say the neckline. She then sketched two designs, both applying the neckline I like.

Sketch 1
The bodice kas X pattered drapings, skimming the torso and ending in a horizontal line a bit below the butt. The skirt is a two-tiered bubble skirt, with the tiers moving in opposing directions.

Sketch 2
The neckline and bodice had the same concept, but this time she didn't have the horizontal cut. The X-pattern ended at the hips. Then, the lower portion is a combination of a-line and mermaid tiered chiffon.

Initial Thoughts:
I think what really appealed to me with Joe is her work ethic. She only accepts 4 to 5 bridal gowns per month to ensure the quality. Her office is neat. She has a cleint's info sheet, sample agreement form, rate card, her swatches were all in order, etc. In a situation where she and Gretchen were almost in the same footing, these things mattered.

The "this is it" feeling brides always refer to came to me after listing down my observations both for Gretchen and Joe.

I went alone to these meetings because I felt I needed to own this process. In the end, the decision will entirely rest on me. Since I consider this my waterloo, I feel will easily be persuaded by others, and I don't want that to happen. Therefore, I really just have to trust myself to know what it is I want.

Looking for a Designer

I'm trying to get a hold of the emotions I'm feeling now. Perhaps a blog entry would help me sort things out.

My current wedding task is focused on the wedding attire. For some people, this may be the first thing on their list, but for a t-shirt and pants girl like me, it isn't. Still, I know and acknowledge that the wedding attire is as weighty as one's church, reception venue, etc. Everyone will be judging--and I really mean judging--the bridal gown, right?

So, I do the drill. I research for endless nights for my, Momon's and the entourage's wedding attire inspirations and pegs. I'm not very hard to please, I think. So, for over several months now, I already have--what I think--is my dream wedding dress. Really, it's easy to choose among designs, cuts, and beaded drama when you're only 5 foot flat, not exactly svelt, and most of all, under a tight budget.

So, on to the next step: finding someone to execute design.

CORA
Our family has a trusted seamstress. I wouldn't call her a designer. She has never referred to herself as one. Her main focus in the fashion industry is office garments production, not really bridal.

Our experience with her has always been very positive. My mom and sister are both on the heavy side, and they have office tops and pants made by her. We've also had gowns for weddings and other special occasions done by her, all to our utmost satisfaction. We would gladly referred her to anyone looking for a seamstress.

Work ethic is fabulous. She comes to our house, instead of us going to her shop. She's more of a trusted colleague and partner, rather than a distant supplier.

I've been in contact with her over email. Last Sunday, she went to our house for a meeting to decide on fabric, designs, etc. She said that all these decisions will help her make an accurate quote.

Everything went well, and at the moment, I'm just waiting for her quote.

JOE AND GRETCHEN
Now... what to do next.
I feel I need to explore. Cora has mentioned that her bridal gowns start at P35,000. Hmmm... I felt it was pricey for someone who does not focus on bridal gowns. I'm sure, with all the information I get from W@W community, I'll be able to find a designer who specializes in bridal gowns, and will do it at the same or lower cost. If so all else is equal, I'll go with the latter.

Joe San Antonio and Gretchen Pichay are two young designers. From what I've seen in their Multiply portfolios, they are talented and creative. The W@W community has also showered them with good feedback. I'm looking forward to meeting them.


Managing My Lack of Entusiasm
Perhaps, meeting someone for the first time about this bridal gown, will bring my excitement up. I feel, I should start treating this as an adventure, as a new field to conquer, rather than a Waterloo.

I should allow myself to feel OK that I'm spending P30,000 ++ for a dress I am going to wear only once. I need to feel the moment, I need to feel OK about it in order to push myself to get the best option.

I need to stop over analyzing and just go with what my heart instructs. Something tells me, this bridal gown issue can not be resolve purely on reason, like I have been doing for some suppliers.

I need to own it.

The Feast

An unexpected accomplishment yesterday, Momon and I finalized the menu for our dinner party with Chef Giney Villar of Adarna Food and Culture.

I'm so glad to finally hurdle this task. I went to Adarna thrice to have lunch and dinner dates with the ulterior motive of tasting Chef Giney's concoctions, once with C5 and twice with bridesmaid Hanna. Ayoko nang bumalik, because I don't want the place to feel too familiar. I'm sure there will be more visits to come to finalize more things.


In the meantime, may I present our menu:

Almondigas Soup

Savory beafballs with fine misua. A certified comfort food.



Torta Espesyal

The goodness of fresh eggs steamed with olive oil and spices on a banana leaf with ground pork and shrimp. Served with Pan de Sal.

Sulu Piassok

Experience this exotic Sulu dish of beef chunks slow-cooked in smoked coconut cream and ten spices till tender--buttered, grilled and sliced just before serving. 



Buyabes Bicolano
Fresh vegetables and grilled seafood (fish, shrimp and squid) cooked with smoked coconut cream, spices and a hint of fish bagoong to remind one of a homespun Southern beach picnic.


Kangkong and Bagoong

Stir-fried kankong with bagoong topped with sweet and spicy dilis. Two quick Chinese-inspired concoctions in one!



Steamed Pandan Rice



Banana Peanut Roll

Ripe saba banana with roasted peanut cream in a crisp wrapper drizzled with old fashioned caramelo sauce.



Softdrinks


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Yay! Just a few thoughts on how we finally nailed it:

• Adarna has their set menus, but because I'm a brat, I wanted to have my own menu. Haha. What we did was to read through Adarna's ala carte menu and we made a shortlist. From this shortlist, we had several food tastings and proposed a menu to Chef Giney. She advised us on certain things, but in the end made some adjustments to fit the things that we already chose. She then made a costing for us. Pasok naman sa banga.
• We chose dishes based on the description, and whether they can be shared when served family-style, paired with other dishes, and the most important of all--the price.
• We also decided to forego the salad and noodles. Deadma na. We are not big vegetable eaters and we want to eat what we want to eat at our wedding. As for the pancit, it was a bit expensive, and slashing it was an easy choice.
• I was also agonizing about serving seafood. My dad doesn't eat pork anymore and is steering away from beef and chicken. So, a fish/seafood dish is a must. And I also think this is respectful to your guest who are similar to my dad. I am so glad that I tasted Buyabes at that exact time when we were just looking for something to complete the menu. Hanna and I had a moment.
• We chose softdrinks because it is the cheapest. Kung hindi ka umiinom ng softdrinks, magtubig ka na lang. Sorry po. Excuse na rin namin na "Pag softdrink, they get to choose pa kung cola, white cola, orange, rootbeer, etc. Meron pang light options! O di mas parang feeling nila na may choice sila kaysa kung ihain na lang ang walang kamatayang iced tea." Taray.
• Upon reading the menu again, hmmm... di naman kami masyadong mahilig sa smoked coconut cream, ano? Pero as long as Chef Giney said that this is a good combination, go! No worries, the Piassok doesn't really taste like it's cooked in coconut cream, basta nandun na lang s'ya. Hay... nagugutom ako.
• Pero nung nabasa ko ang menu, gusto ko lang magpaka-profound, deep, analytical, etc. Nadi-dissonance ako. Napansin ko we chose pieces na hindi naman talaga fancy: almondigas, torta, kangkong with bagoong, babana peanut roll e turon lang ito! Pero, wait till you see and try them... yun yon e! Meron silang twist! Pati kanin, steamed pandan rice pa talaga sya! O di ba? Hahaha! Mutual admiration society yata ang hanap ko.
• So there, we're quite pleased with ourselves. Sana magustuhan din ng mga bisita. Dami ko nang narinig na kahit anong ganda ng wedding kung pangit ang pagkain, wala rin. Kailangan daw memorable ang food. So, sige. I'm confident na kaya nating i-achieve ito. Pero ayoko na magpa-pressure. This is just one meal of their lives, at dahil mahal kami ng guests namin, kung anuman ang drama nila sa pagkain, patatawarin nila kami.

Some photos of the food HERE.

Cute!

Hi Mym, this is so sweet!





Eto naman, ang concept is meron two people, from two places, taking shots of themselves na pwedeng pag-dikitin to make another image.

Although di applicable satin yung concept na magkahiwalay kasi di naman tayo long-distance relationship. Pero maganda yung part sa dulo na pinagdi-dikit nila yung photos. We can actually do this shots na meron na tayo, sa Mekong trip, or any place for that matter. Ang pagdidikit ay sa actual edting na lang. Or pwede rin natin gawin yung sa kanila, na pinakita yung paggupit, ewan.

Pwedeng hanap tayo ng mga shots na applicable sa ganito nung mga bata pa tayo, tapos yung habang tumanda na tayo, yung mga magksama na.

Ayun, at least di masyadong mahirap i-execute. :)