A Simple White Gown

So, last weekend was a long weekend due to the Deepavali celebrations.

Kakmira called me over on Friday to join her lunch date with Along Fara and Dindin. So, while Kakmira and Bibik prepared lunch in the kitchen (ouhhh sedap sangat - Ketam Masak Lemak, Ayam Goreng Bibik Style, Sambal Terung ... yummmsssssss), I went through the wedding magazines that I managed to grab when Kakmira picked me up and also my yellow-wedding-box (it's a box where I keep pictures that I've cut out from magazines about to be threwn out and samples of cards I bought at Memory Lane among others - it's a collection of ideas for my wedding) to start designing and sketching my wedding attires.

(I suck at sketching, so the sketch of my wedding dresses was not as pretty as what I have imagined in my head, oh well).

Finally deciding on the design was very tough, as I have mentioned in my previous entry ( Timeless ), I have done my research since forever. The picture of the wedding dress in my mind has evolved over 20 years of dreaming and 3 years of google-ing every design out there. So, yeah, my mind is filled with jumbled-up designs and inspirations. As much as I admire the women I have wrote about in that entry, and although their styles do inspire me in one way or another, I want my wedding attires to be me.

So, this is what I have so far. It's not much, but atleast its progress and I kind of know the direction I am heading to now.

Without giving too much away, 

 for the nikah,

I'm going to go with the malay-traditional baju kurung, with a touch of modern design. It's going to be soft-white-chiffon, with lace trims around the neckline and bust area, probably some on the shoulder, the wrist and edges of the dress. It would also be embelished with white pearls and probably some swarovski diamonds, just so that there'll be some glitz. I'm imagining it to be flowy, and not too skin-tight. And I'll have a full laced-long veil, something like Jackie Kennedy's and Princess Zara's veil. I'm not having too much problem envisioning the nikah outfit.

for the reception dinner,

I'm imagining a long ivory dress with a long train.  

I'm going with a one piece long dress, because Aliff's side would be traditional.

The dress would be semi - conservative. But not too conservative as I'm envisioning a portrait neckline - something like Jackie-O/Princess Mary. Innitially, I wanted a high-neck collar, like Princess Letizia, but then I feel that it will look too formal for my taste.

 

It's going to be with sleeve, but I'm, still contemplating on the length.

I would also want to incorporate a couple of different materials such as light tulle, fine satin, and soft chiffon.

I'm still unsure whether there'll be any element of lace since the nikah outfit will already have that.

Because the reception will be at night, in a big hall, I'm going to need some glitz effect. Im thinking that I would want some crystals and beads encrusted at the bust area and some sparkles on the bodice and along the trims of the dress to add some bling-bling. Like the styles of Sheila Majid and Noryn Aziz, but not as extravagant lah. Some Hollywood examples -

Overall, the dress will be sheath - slim silhouette with some flowy effect - but not overly kembang  fairytale princess-ball gown like. When I was small I wanted Cinderella's ball gown. It was and still very beautiful, but probably not the way I am going for my wedding :)So I'll have to be careful and make sure that the tulle material will not get out of hand. But the sparkle effect is what I'm going for.

 

Ok, some of the dresses above might be quite extravagant for me, but somewhere along those lines lah. 



The tailor.

That's another problem. I am very particular and head strong. That's why I have stuck so long with Cindy, my tailor of almost 20 years. She listens and layan all my ... kerenah you can call it. Ahaha. She'll try to think, crack her head and sew a particular design that I want. For the wedding, although I love Cindy, I'm going to go with a designer-tailor. Preferably someone young, cause their approach is more current. I know some well-known designers have a head of their own and usually dictates how the dress would look like. I  need someone who can work with my visions and enlighten me with my details. I'm no designer, I can't even sew, so I'll need their professional consult, but I want someone who can suggest their ideas without imposing them.

I have a few names; Syomir Izwa, Syahrir Nurdin, Syaiful Baharim, Rizman Ruzaini to name a few.  I know that most of them do celebrities, but I am hoping that their price will be within my budget. Aiyayai. I hate the budget. Such a party pooper. Tapi, I have to be realistic lah kan.

I think Nabila's is also quite good, I saw a glimpse of her wedding attires and they look sooo pretty, especially the nikah outfit. I love that one. Something like what I'm imagining for mine. Her wedding's this December, and I'm probably meeting her this week, so we'll see the final product and her testimony.

And according to Kakmira, her friend, Diyana's designer-tailor is also nice and affordable. The name is Emma. I went to Diyana's wedding and her baju pengantin was really lovely and I was told Emma made the bridesmaids dresses as well and they were also very pretty.

That said, I'm quite inclined towards this one person who, from his porfolio goes well with my idea for the dresses, but I'm still keeping my options open. I'll have to start scheduling for appointments. Arghhh..can I just call on Cinderella's fairy god-mother to wave her wand and transform the materials into a beautiful gown? umm...make that 2 or 3 beautiful gowns lah. :)

Although this entry might or could build up the anticipation of a lavish big gown, (I hope it doesn't), but if it does, then I'm not putting my words right ... I just want a simple white gown. :)

I am giving myself until the end of this month, to finally choose a designer and put together the pieces of ideas and inspirations to create the vision of the dream wedding dress. Sempat ke nak meet this deadline, with the contracts and opinions piling on my rack, table and chairs in the office! Ahhh.. Lambat sangat tak 5/6 months before the wedding? Ok kot?

Lets pray that the designer I finally choose will not be fully booked for a June wedding

... and hopefully my vision will translate in real life.  

*Crossing my fingers*