On Sunday, May 7, 2023, Filipino fashion designer Bessie Besana shared on Instagram the heartwarming story how Pia Wurtzbach asked him to design her wedding dress.
Read: Pia Wurtzbach's beach wedding gown is the perfect blend of simplicity and glamor
In his post, Bessie recounted how he received a surprise invitation from Pia to have breakfast at a restaurant in SoHo in New York City on November 8, 2022.
They were casually chatting over croissants when Pia suddenly mentioned her desire to have a friend design her wedding dress.
He recalled, "On the quiet morning of November 8, 2022, Pia asked if I can have breakfast in a restaurant in SoHo in New York.
"While we were chatting over croissants and how the wedding of Carla is gonna happen in a few weeks, Pia casually slid the idea by saying, 'Since we are on the wedding topic, I really wanted a friend to make my wedding dress and I was hoping it would be you.'
"I wasn’t able to respond immediately because I honestly didn’t think that I was even going to be an option."
What Pia said next moved him.
Bessie continued, "She then proceeded to say, 'I want it to be done by a friend and you know me so much and I want you to be a part of my wedding.'"
Bessie, deeply moved by Pia's decision, became emotional.
After composing himself, he said, determined to turn Pia's dream wedding into a reality.
"I admittedly cried a little inside and felt some tears starting to build up at the end of my eyes because I was sincerely touched by her decision.
"I composed myself and went into my 'designer mode' and asked her to make a Pinterest board of inspirations.
"I have worked with so many brides to know that choosing your wedding dress designer is a big decision to make, and all the more to dress Pia on such a big milestone in her personal life.
"The process went very smoothly and I was so happy with how much trust she has given me with my suggestions and technical decisions."
To end his post, Bessie expressed his gratitude to Pia for believing in him and his craft.
"Pia, you are truly a great person and I am eternally grateful for how much you have impacted my life. Thank you for always believing in me and my craft of fashion."
JEREMY JAUNCEY'S VISION
According to Bessie in another, while many brides have a clear vision of what they want to wear on their wedding day, Pia took a unique approach of asking Jeremy for input on her wedding gown.
The designer revealed that Jeremy had envisioned Pia in a classic corseted bodice with a soft texture and a slit on her wedding day.
He wrote, "Most brides will have an idea of how they imagine their wedding dress to be since they were a young girl, but what is interesting about the conceptualization on Pia’s dress is that she asked Jeremy about how he envisions his bride as she 'walks down the aisle.'
"He shared that he sees Pia in a classic corseted bodice with a soft texture and a slit."
This idea of a slit was a bit surprising for Pia, but Bessie assured her that it could definitely be included in the dress, especially since it was a beach wedding.
Bessie continued, "At first, Pia and I were a bit surprised about the idea of a slit. Pia even asked me, 'Pwede ba sa wedding gown ang may slit?'
"I told her that in this day and age, and with their ceremony to be held in a beach, we can definitely include a slit in the dress.
"Asking the groom for his vision is a very unconventional way of creating a wedding gown for me, but it was a very interesting way and I was excited to make it come to life."
Bessie further elaborated on how he brought Pia and Jeremy's vision to life.
He continued, "Pia then allowed me to implement Jeremy’s vision using soft Chantilly lace which I manipulated to achieve a skin tone shade.
"I was also inspired by Pia’s idea of soft movements and found a three-dimensional petal detail which were attached individually to the dress.
"The asymmetrical pattern moving upward is my personal interpretation of how life has brought Pia through many challenges and eventually found his forever with Jeremy.
"The dress also features a play on the back skirt with panels, godet and appliqués. As a request, Pia wanted a sleek skirt silhouette in the front but with a bit of drama at the back."
Before flying to Seychelles for her wedding, Pia expressed how much she loved her dress, and Bessie couldn't have been happier.
But what really warmed Bessie's heart was when Jeremy sent her a voice note, expressing how beautiful his bride was and how that was all he could ask for.
The designer recalled, "I was very happy when Pia told me a day before her flight to Seychelles that she really loves her dress.
"But the cherry on top of the ice cream was when I received a voice note from Jeremy sharing how beautiful his bride was, and that’s all he could ask for. My heart is full seeing the bride and the groom happy. [heart emoji]"
Bessie also took to Instagram to share additional photos and videos of his masterpiece designed for Pia.
On March 24, 2023, Pia Wurtzbach and Jeremy Jauncey tied the knot in a serene and intimate ceremony on the beautiful shores of a luxurious resort located in the secluded North Island, Seychelles.
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