Aside from the wedding ceremony itself, the bride’s dress is the talk of the town. It adds to her beauty and boosts the brilliance of the event (aside from wedding photography services). What boosts the “oomph” factor of the bride’s outfit even further is the designer of said dress. In the Philippines, the right gown designer could put your wedding on the map, plus creating buzz for the event itself. Here are 7 famous Filipino designers to consider for your wedding gown.

Designer #1: Veluz Reyes

Reyes’ style is characterized by her use of ornately designed sequins and frilly material in constructing wedding dresses. The sequin patterns can be found primarily on the bodice of the gown, while the skirt and train are composed of layered, translucent material. Her creations are very detailed, yet subdued, bringing the focus entirely on the woman wearing them. Check out her unique designs on her blog here: (http://veluzreyes.blogspot.sg/)

Designer #2: Zandra Lim (http://www.surrealprincess.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ZandraLimGown.jpg)

When Zandra Lim makes wedding gowns, she does so with an atmosphere of class and elegance, with a twist of old school glamour to set her apart from her contemporaries. She is well versed in a variety of designs: from creating very simple to elegantly sophisticated dresses, she has a grasp on how it will look and feel for the bride’s special day. To see her collection, visit her at http://www.zandralimdesigns.com/.

Designer #3: John Herrera (http://www.surrealprincess.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/JohnHerreraBridalDress.jpg)

Don’t count men out from this list just yet. Some of the best designers the Philippines has seen come from the planet Mars (Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. Get it?). John Herrera was once a finalist in the Philippine Fashion Design Competition held in 2004. His designs are very unconventional. In particular, the dress of Vanessa Matsunaga best exemplifies his work. This has become his signature in the fashion industry.

Designer #4: Cary Santiago (http://www.stylebible.ph/source/article_new/2012/06/22/carybride.jpg)

The works of Cebuano-based designer Cary Santiago simply ooze with ingenuity and artful taste.http://popsec.org/generic/ His knack for bringing unique shapes and designs into simple every day dresses have made him a designer clamored by all. Brides fly all the way to Cebu just to make appointments, ignoring the P150,000 starting price tag. That’s how good he is.

Designer #5: Rajo Laurel (http://www.surrealprincess.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/RajoLaurelGown.jpg)

If any designer is a force to be reckoned with in the Philippine fashion industry, one only needs to remember two words: Rajo Laurel. The mere mention of his name sends brides-to-be in a gleeful squeal, in the hopes that he designs their wedding dress. Laurel’s experience in the industry serves him well, as his designs cater to the fashion-forward Filipina in the 21st century. For more of his elegant workmanship, check out his site at http://www.rajolaurel.com/.