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Bridal design duo, The Wedding Present, talk about the hottest new movement in bridal trends
From the all-American Amsale to the doyenne of streamlined gowns Vera Wang, bridal seems to be tangled in an amorous love affair with all things decadent. "The look for bridal gowns will be inclined towards a more glam look - a lot more opulent in feel. Full satin gowns will be in fashion, with emphasis on intricate embellishments, for that extra something. Adopt a "Flaunt it" kind of attitude when choosing your wedding gown - after all, it's your big day!" says Says Jordan Ong, one half of bridal design duo The Wedding Present and the official spokesperson of the pair. "Bridal trends do take after fashion runways - just look at how many designers who are traditionally not into bridal gowns but are jumping on the bandwagon of bridal fashion. Oscar de la Renta, John Galliano, Bill Blass� Hence you see a lot of fashion elements - new, precious embellishments of sequins and crystals, commonly found on the evening gowns of the runway designers - finding their way onto bridal gowns now. Just look at Elie Saab's wedding gowns - gorgeous!"
New as this change is to most Singaporean brides and bridal designers, it comes as second nature to The Wedding Present, the Badgeley & Mischka of the local bridal scene. In answer to this parallel, Jordan comments: "They do a lot of embellishment. Their gowns seem to have a hint of Indian flavour - like intricate beading - and a lot of their fabric seems to have come from India. And that's why Patrick and myself will be travelling to India to source for fabrics. I think that's the way to go because the trends are moving towards the extravagant look, rather than something that's too sweet and simple." The talented Patrick Chan - whose creative talent is responsible for the boutique's stylish designs - and bubbly Jordan - the voice - have always been strong proponents of the lush, fabulous wedding gown. And there's never been a more opportune time than now to pull out all the stops. "Wedding gowns will be made in luxe silk duchess satin fabric with intricate hand-sewn embellishments. We recommend lovely soft colours of pink, champagne or ivory as alternatives to the traditional off-white polyester material that many bridal shops in Singapore use. We will still be offering French lace gowns with our specially imported lace. Wedding gowns should be seen as heirlooms and not just a pretty dress," advises Jordan. "Evening gowns scream pure Hollywood glamour - think slinky silhouettes on chiffon or silk. Fabrics will be dazzling with sequins, crystals and French lace to give the bride a dramatic presence. Beaded Indian fabrics will be in our collection this season. Vintage glam styles are 'in' for knee length tea dresses, adorned with ribbons, bows and rosettes for that little bit of retro femininity." According to the duo, the season will see tons of pure silk for that luxurious feel, Indian beaded material for all-out glamour and oodles of rich detailing. "We are steering clear of embroidery in favour of embellishments that are a mixture of appliqu�s, laces, crystals, sequins and beads. It's more intricate, the details more innovative and individualistic," they claim. Interestingly, The Wedding Present have started to stock the vintage-glam evening dresses of Australian bridal genius Mariana Hardwick. Expect to see lots of raw chantilly lace, grosgrain ribbons and petal-soft silks in Hardwick's designs.
But really, there's no better way to feel precious than to say "I do" in a fabulously decadent gown. Says Jordan with a wink: "A-list celebs tend to opt for grand dresses, fit for a princess. Nobody remembers a girl in a simple, white dress!" The Wedding Present, 25 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089839, tel: 6327 4423, website: www.weddingpresentbride.com |
There's no better time to be a bride. With fashion trends going the direction of the luxe, the glamorous and the downright opulent, we knew it was a matter of time before bridal looks followed suit. 
Like the runways of the fashion capitals, the hottest wedding gowns are favouring excess (and embellishment) and dropping the all-too-familiar minimalist attitude that seemed to plague fashion in the 90s. 
Word to the wise: if you can't get in on the bling-bling movement, go for a simple cut with a sprinkling of lovely details. And because not all brides are created equal, comfort and a flattering cut are still of utmost importance. Bridal experts Patrick and Jordan recognise this fact: "While not every bride can pull off the opulent look, any girl can have a hint of glamour in her wedding dress. The idea is to draw focus on her one best feature. If she's got lovely eyes or a beautiful complexion, we'll shift the emphasis on the neckline - beading, appliqu�, crystal dangles even. If her slim waist is her best feature, we might incorporate an intricate Obi waistline into the gown. There's hardly a rule of thumb when it comes to weddings."