Celebrity fashionista Pops Fernandez is adding another feather to her cap. After making a name for herself as a TV host, pop singer and Concert Queen, she’s ready to reinvent herself as a wedding gown designer offering affordable frocks to women planning their special day.

The bedimpled Pops will team up with her business partners (and good friends) Emily Sy and Michelle Lim in establishing stand-alone boutiques throughout the country. The boutiques will sell not just custom-made wedding gowns but also gowns for the whole wedding entourage, including of course the bridesmaids and flower girls. They will also offer cocktail dresses and formal get-ups that one can wear in all kinds of parties.

Plans are afoot to franchise the Pops Fernandez wedding boutiques this early. The launch of her wedding collection was made in the Franchise Asia 2011 expo but it wasn’t revealed yet where the first boutique will be.

What is good is that the wedding gowns will be very affordable, only P15,000 up. Cocktail outfits can go as low as P3,000, depending on the design.

In an interview with the December 2011 issue of YES! Magazine, Pops described how the whole process will go: ” So what’s gonna happen, we’re gonna have gowns that they can see. They can choose the design that they want. The gowns are meant to be fitted, cause that’s your day di ba? A wedding is supposed to be the bride’s moment, so kailangan well-fitted, and every detail has to be fixed.”

Good luck with this new venture Pops! Hope excited brides-to-be will find what they want with your shop

There are four different categories of the packages which all have Italian-sounding names. But I guess they only differ in prices because of the food served in the buffet:

EL OTONO @ P183,000 for the first 50 pax
EL VERANO @P210,000
LA PRIMAVERA @ P231,000
EL INVIERNO @ 242,000

Inclusions are the following: three-layered wedding cake, floral arrangement on all guest tables, sumptuous dinner buffet for 50 guests, one round of iced tea or soda, guest book with pen, one bottle of sparkling wine for the bridal toast, free corkage of 8 bottles of 750ml wine or liquor, complimentary pressing or steaming of the bridal gown, complimentary use of the golf cart for the bride & groom to & from church, drop off/pick up services for the guests to & from church, food tasting of chosen wedding menu by the couple, stage and dance floor, free use of multimedia projector, standard sound system, overnight accommodation for two in a Junior Suite with buffet breakfast for two at Sands Restaurant plus 5% discount on prevailing promo rates for additional rooms.

For wedding ceremony set-up (and this is where it gets a tad expensive), there’s an additional P45,000 charge for the gazebo, seats, decorated aisle, flower accents and candles. Additional tent is P8,500.

All buffet in the wedding packages have a selection of soups, salads, chilled seafood, the hot buffet of main courses, a carving station of US Angus ribeye roast, grilled squid, prawns, pork belly & chicken inasal, plus of course the desserts.

No wonder a lot of people choose to have their wedding and/or reception at Discovery Shores. It takes more than the usual budget, all right, but I was witness to the fact that they do their job well and will give you a quality outcome. There was a wedding reception going on during our stay and the outdoor tent was beautifully set up for the event …..

I even saw the bride and groom during their pictorial. I think both of them are foreigners….

You will have a glimpse throughout of the sunset and the beach. Who wouldn’t fall in love?

Here’s a look at the Junior Suite that comes with every wedding package booked at Discovery Shores. Hubby and I also stayed here. You will be treated to an awesome foot bath and welcome platter.

If you’ve been dreaming of your Boracay wedding or shopping for online wedding dresses, Discovery Shores would be perfect. And no, am not being paid by them to endorse:) It just so happened that we had a nice experience. I can’t wait to go back again!

Up next: Wedding packages at Discovery Shores Boracay

Dindi got married in New York City last month to her long-time friend Eric Mills and the wedding reminded me of an old Hollywood picture indeed. It looked like time stood still and all you can see were these two people in love. I found the vintage chic theme so beautiful, the glowing bride and groom played the role so effortlessly and well.

(Thanks to Mrs. Dindi Gallardo-Mills for the pictures!)

” I never thought a wedding could be so easy, stress-free and extremely affordable! Everything was certainly made out of love… Eric and I wanted a very simple & intimate wedding ceremony — no big production, no bridezillas and nothing outside our budget. We got what we wanted and so much more, ” the radiant bride intimated.

In classic New York fashion, there were just a couple of friends who witnessed their exchange of vows at the city clerk’s office, followed by a simple reception and a visit to Chinatown. The bride accented her long legs by wearing a vintage-style mini dress which she bought on sale for $45 and topped her look with a 1940s birdcage veil found in a vintage shop for $25. The vintage purse she carried around was purchased on Etsy and she made her own $6 baby’s breath bouquet. Their wedding rings were bought online from Bario-Neal which offers jewelry handcrafted in Philadelphia. They didn’t hire a photographer as well and just relied on their cameras.

We liked the little touches like this “Got Hitched” sign posted on the groom’s bike.

From the looks of it, the wedding came so beautifully. It proves to us once again that when it comes to your special day, it’s not really all about the costly fireworks but the L-O-V-E. Our congratulations from miles away, Eric & Dindi!

A recent visit to the sea town of Mactan, Cebu made me fall in love with the idea of a beach wedding again. More so because we were billetted at the elegant Crimson Beach Resort & Spa, the newest resort in Mactan at the moment. Experiencing Crimson and its topnotch garden view villa certainly made hubby and I feel like we were on a honeymoon again.

What I like about Crimson is that it’s not as big as the other five-star resorts in Cebu so the feeling of privacy and intimacy is there. If you’re planning a small wedding with 100 guests or less or even 200, the resort has three venues to choose from.

Whether at dawn or at dusk, the small garden by the beachside Azure Bar of Crimson provides the perfect backdrop for the beach wedding of your dreams. Romance surely pervades the air with the view of the ocean and swaying coconut trees. All you’d need is a chair, a wide-brimmed hat and a sunny attitude about how beautiful the milestone moment is.

For an indoor ceremony or reception, Crimson has three function rooms that can be joined together to make a grand ballroom to accommodate as many as 200 guests in a banquet or cocktail style. The resort has prepared wedding packages for a minimum of 100 persons and this already takes the hassle out of preparing for the reception. The basic wedding package at the resort already includes the buffet, sound system, flower arrangements, two-layered fondant cake, overnight room accommodation with welcome basket, complimentary lechon, free use of the venue for four hours and other additions.

For an added amount, they would also include your wedding giveaways, photo and video coverage, bridal car… even a trio of violinist, flutist and guitarist. Click here for more details.

I also checked out their Tempo Bar and found it an ideal setting for a very intimate wedding reception of as little as 50 guests. I absolutely loved the different kinds of lamps that adorned the ceiling and the combined modern Filipiniana and Balinese motifs that shine through the rest of the resort relax the soul and make one relish life in the tropics.

More pictures of Crimson Beach Resort & Spa:

We were billeted in a deluxe garden view room which had a tub and modern amenities like a huge 42-inch LCD TV and an outside balcony. But of course, for a little more luxury on your honeymoon, opt for their private pools and casitas which have their own plunge pools and a four-poster bed to boot.

Cap your visit with signature massage and treatments at the in-house Aum Spa. No other place can be perfect for relaxing and soothing tired nerves in the run-up to your wedding. Ask for the spa’s special packages just for couples. Take a foot bath or body scrub together or just lie in bed for a massage that will make you forget about the busy world outside for a bit.

And of course, since you’re in Mactan, Cebu, don’t forget the sea! At Crimson, you have a choice between the infinity pool or the beach. I’d say, try both and engage in the water activities on offer as well.

Crimson Beach Resort & Spa
Mactan Island, Lapu-Lapu City
Cebu, Philippines
Tel. No: 63-32 401.9999
Fax No: 63-32 401.9998

Email: info.mactan@crimsonhotel.com

Manila Sales Office:
Unit 2202
22F PBCom Tower
6795 Ayala Avenue corner
V. A. Rufino Street, Makati City 1226
Tel. No: 02 728.0005
Fax No: 02 729.0077

Also check out the official Crimson website
or their Facebook page

Visit Legend Villas’ Crystal Weddings open house from September 17 to 18, 2011 and get as much as P50,000 off your wedding package in the Crystal Dreams raffle promo. Book your special day during the open house weekend to get one raffle ticket. Winners will be announced immediately after the event.

“The overwhelming response to our Crystal Weddings open house held early this year made us decide to hold another one. This time, we wish to reward one lucky couple with as much as 25% off their dream wedding package,” said Karen Reyes, Sales and Marketing Director of Legend Villas.

Crystal Weddings presents two unique packages – Quartz and Onyx, motifs which make for truly unforgettable weddings. The Quartz theme reflects timeless elegance with its luminous décor and classic table set-up. Stylish and chic in black and white, the Onyx package is meant for couples who opt to veer from tradition. The starting package rate for 100 persons costs only P155,000.

“Our Crystal Weddings packages guarantee luxury of service, stylish set-up and sumptuous feast. Legend Villas is your perfect venue as we take care of all the fine details of your special day,” added Reyes.

Legend Villas is a 124-room sprawling hotel property in the heart of the metro. As part of Legend Hotels International Corporation, the hotel carries a tradition of innovation with first class amenities and personalized service.

The hotel is located along Pioneer Street in Mandaluyong City. For inquiries, please call Banquet Sales Office at 702-2712 to 14 or visit www.legendvillas.com.ph.

Designed by the reputable Casas + Architects, Garden Rooms is the perfect place to perk up your wedding with its enviable view of the Villamor Golf Course and its lush greenery.

To create a fresh and natural garden feel, the new function room is furnished with color-changing coffered ceilings adorned with handcrafted chandeliers. The lights are embellished with intricate clusters of leaf-shaped crystals and metal leaves and elegantly mimics the natural branches and leaves of trees.

The high-quality Axminster carpet, on the other hand, illustrates the rusty earth soil color tinted with red and serves as an accent to natural earth tones. As one walks down the hallway, beautiful anigre veneered panels match with the rich and plush carpets, smaller scaled chandeliers and oversized circular wall lights which all send a message of understated luxury.

Marriott Manila director of marketing Cristy Carreon says: ” a 30% increase in weddings is usually expected by the end of the quarter. We have prepared menu options starting at P1850 per head. Innovative and freshly prepared daily, our offering allows our clients to customize the menu from breakfast to dinner, with other specially crafted options for snacks, desserts plus wines and cocktails.”

With choices dubbed as Season, Delight, Essence, Flavor and Enjoy, each theme offers a special touch of style to banquet dining. Seamless events are also guaranteed with Marriott Manila’s cutting-edge audio-visual equipments.

For inquiries about weddings at the Marriott Hotel Manila, call (632) 988-9999.

Photo credit: RC Bridal Philippines

For the blushing bride having an upscale wedding, look no further than Spanish label Rosa Clara which has dressed some well-known socialites and celebrities in Europe and beyond. I’ve passed by the Greenbelt Residences in Makati City and can see signs that the first and only Rosa Clara bridal boutique will be opening soon in the Philippines. This is certainly good news for women out there who want to expand their options on classy and elegant wedding gown styles without going too far.

Peek at the Rosa Clara website to see how beautiful the styles are. For 2012, the label sticks to classic, minimal lines. They feature simple bodices, bare backs, asymmetric necklines and swishy skirts. The gowns either have high or low tight waists, or full skirts. They’re also fond of using such exquisite fabrics as Chantilly lace, silk organza and tulle.

Apart from wedding gowns, the Rosa Clara bridal boutique offers a complete line of accessories to dress up the bride from head to toe. This includes jewelry, veil, headdress and shoes. Also available are gowns and cocktail dresses for bridesmaids, other members of the wedding entourage and guests.

Needless to say, we are excited for the opening of Rosa Clara in the Philippines.This can only mean that we are expanding our landscape of top-caliber wedding gown designers. Similarly, the international fashion fashion house must also consider the Philippines a good, potential market for them to set up shop here.

Here’s to weddings!

“I want my guests to look beautiful and glamorous. They don’t necessarily have to be in formal, long gowns…just looking glamorous is enough.”

Kyla’s one more request is for her parents to sing at the reception. “My mom and dad were members of the same choir before, and it’s really my wish for them to sing the songs they’ve sang before, especially Filipino Kundiman songs.

So far, Rich and Karla have already filmed their Save the Date, pre-wedding video which was shot in Virgin Beach Resort in San Juan, Batangas. This lovely video was shot by Nice Print Photography.

“On the day of our shoot, we were all so casual and natural. Our videographers were telling us to just do what we wanted to do so we jumped and ran all over the place. At one point, I was riding on Rich’s back. I think it all came out okay,” Kayla revealed.

So your fairy tale wedding is coming true….congratulations! Now begins your frantic preparations and of course the semingly-elusive search for the perfect wedding gown. A gown that will perfectly match that of your Prince Charming. How to do this? Wear a princess-inspired wedding gown, of course!

I was quite surprised to find out that the US-based Walt Disney company has a Disney Bridal collection where you can play the role of a Disney princess to the hilt with their wedding gown collection. For example, the Sleeping Beauty gown has a crystal beaded bodice with rose detail and “multiple layers of dreamy gossamer tulle, reminiscent of cascading briar rose petals.” View it here.

The Cinderella gown features a draped criss-cross bodice and a romantic sweetheart neckline accented with sparkling crystal beading and rhinestones. This is your classic ballgown of tulle and glitter net over taffeta, and reminisces what the storybook Cinderella wore with her glass slipper.

If you want to play the role of Ariel, opt for this form fitting gown with a mermaid silhouette. Touches of the ocean is evident in the pearl beading, subtle metallic accents, crystal beading and sequins.

On the other hand, the Snow White wedding gown is a nature-inspired ballgown with a lace bodice of organza apple blossoms accents a skirt with scattered blossom detail. It is finished off with a lovely satin sash and a back bow.

Opt for something different with the Princess Jasmine theme. This is a flowing gown of soft shimmer satin and a micro-ruched bodice, an eyecatching bejeweled neckline and halter strap with encrusted pearls, rhinestones and crystal beading.

Other themes of the Disney Princess wedding gowns are Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Rapunzel and Tiana.

If you’re in the US, the gowns are sold in over 68 Alfred Angelo Signature Stores nationwide, and hundreds of Alfred Angelo independent partner Bridal Boutiques across the U.S., Canada and Europe. The collection is affordably priced, with styles from $599 to $1199 ($USD), and is available in sizes 0 to 30W.