Meet the Star-Studded Lineup of Designers at Marry Me at Marriott 2025
Published on Jul 5, 2025
With Gideon Hermosa’s singular vision and six of the country’s finest designers at the helm, this year’s presentation affirmed one thing: the future of bridalwear is fashion-forward, expressive, and unmistakably Filipino.
Ahead, take a closer look at the collections from this year’s featured designers.
Francis Libiran is no stranger to the world of bridal fashion. With over two decades of experience, the designer is known for his architectural silhouettes and intricate hand embroidery—hallmarks of his enduring aesthetic. While bridalwear has long been part of his design DNA, this season marks a deliberate and conceptual shift for the veteran designer.
In his latest collection, Francis once again reimagines the conventional wedding gown, breaking away from the classic all-white palette. Instead, he presents a bold spectrum of reds, blacks, and metallic silver. “I drew from natural forces like fire, light, and the cosmos—symbols of energy, transformation, and brilliance,” he tells Preview.
His vision materializes through opulent textiles, shimmering crystals, laser-cut appliqués, and metallic threading—each detail contributing to a sense of movement and visual depth as the gowns swept down the runway. “The production process was intense—some gowns took hundreds of hours to complete—but the result is a series of looks that truly feel victorious and future-forward,” he shares.
At the mere mention of Mak Tumang, one might instantly recall Catriona Gray’s iconic Miss Universe 2018 gowns—most notably the flame-red Mayon Volcano and the saffron-hued Ibong Adarna ensembles. These masterworks, rich in symbolism and steeped in national identity, firmly cemented his place in the canon of Filipino couture.
Renowned for his sweeping silhouettes, meticulous construction, and intricate beadwork, Mak returns to that mythic wellspring in his latest bridal collection for Marry Me at Marriott 2025. Titled Luna Regenta, the collection draws from the symbolic imagery of a sisterhood united under a powerful lunar figure. As Mak describes it, the collection is “a metaphorical or symbolic representation of a group united under a powerful female figure associated with the moon.”
Michael Cinco has long been synonymous with opulence. Renowned for his architectural silhouettes, elaborate embellishments, and unapologetic grandeur, the Dubai-based Filipino couturier continues to redefine bridalwear on his own theatrical terms. His latest collection invites brides into the lavish world of 18th-century France.
“The collection is inspired by the opulent era of Marie Antoinette—a time when women embraced extravagance and elegance through voluminous ballgowns, delicate lace, intricate embroidery, and lavish fabrics,” the celebrated designer shares. True to his aesthetic, the lineup channels the decadence of Versailles, reimagined through his distinct vision of romanticism.
Michael Leyva is best recognized for his elevated, intricately crafted Filipinianas. A fixture in the world of traditional Filipino wear, his designs are a perennial presence at the annual State of the Nation Address, where he dresses dignitaries in his signature take on the terno—refined, regal, and immaculately detailed.
But on the runway, Michael has long revealed another side of his artistry—one that embraces reinvention, playfulness, and bold experimentation. Departing from the softness of his past showcases, he now presents a study in contrast: a reinvention of bridal fashion through a striking, monochromatic lens.
Following a recent show rooted in all-white classicism, the designer felt it was time for something different. “Our last show a few weeks ago was all-white and very traditional,” he shares. “So this time I went for a black-and-white theme—something classic, but also bold. I focused on clean shapes and details that feel elegant but still modern.”
Known for marrying natural structure with contemporary elegance, Rajo Laurel has long defined his aesthetic through a balance of architectural lines and fluidity. His signature designs walk the line between intricacy and restraint, often drawing from organic forms in nature while remaining anchored in sleek, modern silhouettes. In his latest bridal collection, unveiled through an intimate presentation of just five looks, the designer leans into this sensibility with a renewed understanding of ease and sophistication.
“This collection is really all about what I would do if asked to design my personal vision of a destination wedding,” he shares.
Rajo’s refreshing take on bridal fashion distills the wedding wardrobe to its most essential elements—a structured shirt, a sculptural skirt, and the unexpected addition of a coat. “I wanted to ‘de-stress’ the narrative,” he explains. “We all know that weddings are stressful, so I wanted to explore how I could make the experience as enjoyable and as stress-free as possible.”
Though modest in size, the collection brims with intention. “This collection is very small and quite tight. I’m only showing five looks, and because of that, it’s quite edited,” he shares. Still, Rajo has shaped a body of work that feels deeply intuitive and personal.
Romance and femininity are inseparable from Vania Romoff’s design language. Her signature silhouettes—soft, sweeping, and rendered in whisper-light fabrics—have long defined her approach to garment-making. At its core, her aesthetic speaks to a woman who embraces ease and carries her girlhood with full confidence.
Guided by this philosophy, the Cebuana designer dedicates her latest lineup to the quintessential Vania Romoff bride. “The niche of women who come to us are fashion-forward brides whose authenticity and personal style take precedence over tradition,” she muses.
Each piece reflects a delicate balance, rooted in her design DNA yet quietly inventive. Crafted with painstaking care, the collection also marks an evolution in technique. “The pieces were explorations of new design techniques that we played around with,” she explains. One standout gown, a personal favorite of the designer’s, best exemplifies this vision.
“One of my favorite pieces is a gown crafted from hundreds of micro-ruffles, attached in precisely measured layers to create a unique texture that feels opulent yet light—a delicate balance that I always strive to achieve.”
Pau is Preview’s go-to fashion girl. On most days, you’ll find her with headphones on, coffee in hand, and likely dressed in an oversized blazer and floor-grazing jeans.