A New Trend for Brides

IT IS every girl’s dream to have the perfect wedding, with the right man, at the most magical place.  Every detail is thoroughly thought of: the cake, the flowers, the music, the rings, the wedding gown… especially the wedding gown.  It is no wonder that the wedding industry is as huge as it is in any part of the world, because a wedding is about the most important event in a person’s life.  Millions are spent on weddings as brides and grooms–to-be want nothing but the best and the grandest for the biggest event of their lives. 

Naturally, the quest for the perfect wedding gown becomes one of the most crucial tasks of the bride.  Because how could there be a perfect wedding, without the perfect gown?  Here in the Philippines, it has been tradition for brides to have their gowns custom-made. Every bride has her own taste, and her task is to find the couturier that would match her personal style, who would hopefully execute her idea of the perfect wedding gown.

Interestingly, there is a new trend in Metro Manila that has trickled down to Bacolod City, where brides buy ready-to-wear bridal gowns from the US or Europe.  One of these bridal retail stores, Rosa Clara, a Spanish brand, opened their first store in Metro Manila, and it is their only store in Asia Pacific.

Though the gowns are just as good in quality and design than those made by the most popular designers in the country, it takes a modern woman to break tradition and choose to buy her wedding gown in a retail store like this. 

Just like having a custom-made gown, the bride schedules an appointment and tries on the different gowns available at the store.  This goes against the superstition where a bride is not supposed to wear her gown before the wedding day. But superstition aside, I think it is a great advantage for a bride to actually see and try on which silhouettes would suit her best.  And apparently, there is a growing number of Filipina brides who are choosing to be more practical rather than superstitious.

Gown Fitting (Photo by Tamila Tinsay)

According to Ms. Tamila Tinsay, a Negrense and Bridal Consultant of Rosa Clara, “Sometimes, brides think they don't like a certain cut, fabric or style, but after trying them on, their preferences change. It's different if brides get to try on dresses and see how it actually fits on them. It also lessens the worry of how the dress will turn out just a few months before her wedding.”

Tamila Tinsay, Bridal Consultant  with
Annalisa, Seamstress (Photo by Tam Tinsay)

As soon as the bride has chosen a style, they order the gown in her size, all the way from Barcelona, Spain, as all gowns are made there.  The store is not only limited to wedding gowns, but they also carry cocktail dresses and formal gowns.

Since there have been quite a number of brides from Bacolod who have worn Rosa Clara, the company chose Bacolod City to be the first venue for their regional trunk show.  This was held last March 29-30, 2014 at the Imperial Stuite of L Fisher Hotel, with 20 dresses from different collections, silhouettes, cuts and styles for the Bacolod brides to choose from.

Rosa Clara Trunk Show Setup at L'Fisher Hotel (Photo by Tam Tinsay)

According to Ms. Tinsay, they were able to book a good number of brides as this was done by appointment.  The gowns from the new collection, range from P80,000 – P150,000, but some of those from the old collection are marked down to about P50,000-P100,000.  Rosa Clara’s Manila store is located at Retail #2, The Residences At Greenbelt Tower III, Esperanza St. corner Greenbelt Drive, Ayala Center, Makati City, Philippines.

Bacolod Bride Sharina Lopingco-Regalado
wearing LINDA (Photo by Quincy John Tampo)

Bacolod Bride Kitty Kho-Trinidad
wearing JUGLAR (Photo by Ian Santillan)

(Published for Sun Star Bacolod Lifestyle Section, April 3, 2014)