Weddings take a good year (or more) to plan. In fact, you need to give at least six months if you're having your wedding gown especially tailored for you. But if you're the practical bride who's got a lot on her plate and a little tight on the budget, getting a dress made to be worn only once can be a bit too much.
This is where The Bridal Room comes in. They are a local company based in Parañaque offering ready-to-wear bridal gowns that can easily be worn straight to the aisle. Owned by sisters Mica Tantuico and Anna Herrera, it's where brides and bridesmaids can rent or buy gowns for as low as P10,000! In an interview with Preview, Mica shares that the cheapest gown they've sold was worth P15,000.
Intrigued? Get to know more about The Bridal Room through our interview with Mica below.
Can you please tell us about your company?
"The Bridal Room isn't just Ready-to-Wear. We are Ready-to-Wed. Our affordable collection of hand-picked wedding gowns from around Asia are priced between P30,000 to P60,000. They come in a variety of sizes and silhouettes, available to suit different body types and personalities. Our in-store alteration service does not only ensure the perfect fit, but also allows brides to customize their gown, ensuring that every look is unique."
"We have also become a one-stop-shop by carrying ready-to-wear dresses for maids of honor, bridesmaids, and flower girls. And to further cater to the very practical modern bride who doesn't have time to come to the shop, she can also browse through our collections online. [Clients] may opt to rent their wedding gowns or entourage gowns from us.
How did you come up with this concept?
"The Bridal Room concept actually came from our business-minded mom. When one of my sisters was preparing for her wedding five years ago, my mom noticed how big the wedding industry is. And since our family is in the garments and retail industry, setting up an RTW bridal shop was not unfamiliar. We also saw that there was a need for mid-range priced RTW gowns in the industry. The ones available were either too expensive or a bride would have to wait four to six months for her dress of choice to arrive. It was only three years ago though, when my sister Anna quit her job that we found someone to take care of this new baby, full time."
Why do you think this business concept is a good fit for modern Filipina brides?
"I'd like to think the modern Filipina bride is 1) working—she is a busy bee; 2) practical—she knows that she will only be wearing her wedding gown once so she does not want to spend an arm and a leg for it; and 3) wants instant gratification—she wants to know NOW how she will look on her wedding day. Given those three characteristics, I believe our Ready-to-Wed concept is a good fit for brides today. You can book an appointment with us and bring your gown home that same day. You can rent a beautiful gown from us for as low as P10,000 or buy one at P30,000 and you can complete your wedding look on the day of your appointment, no surprises."
What are the challenges you face in renting out bridal gowns?
"[There's] wear and tear and, we can't alter to fit, so the brides who rent our gowns must fit gown sizes perfectly."
Do you also allow rentals for bridesmaid gowns?
"Yes, we do have one style for rent."
What other services/products do you offer?
"[In the website,] we have a preloved channel where we help past brides sell their used gowns. We are also currently working on transforming [the website] into an e-commerce site. We also sell some wedding accessories like bags, hair accessories, veils, and anything else you need for the wedding ceremony."
You can find The Bridal Room at the Mezzanine floor, 169 Aguirre Ave, BF homes Paranaque. They are open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm, Sunday from 12nn to 9pm. Reach them via SMS at 0919-636-9674 or check its website here.
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