A wedding gown is often the most special dress a woman will wear in her life. Although worn only once, it carries the weight of tradition, personal style, and the spirit of the occasion. Today, more brides are embracing bolder fashion choices, using their gowns to make a statement. This shift was on full display at Marry Me At Marriott last July 3, 2025, at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

For its 11th year, Marry Me At Marriott, Marriott Bonvoy’s premier wedding showcase and expo, partnered with renowned event stylist Gideon Hermosa. Together, they selected six of the biggest Filipino fashion designers to create new experiences and elevate bridal fashion. Manila Bulletin Lifestyle chats with this year’s roster of designers as they share the stories behind their capsule collections and the passion sewn into every stitch.

It has been quite a while since Rajo Laurel produced a bridal collection. So for his return to the Marry Me At Marriott runway, the noted designer centered his work on the idea of destination weddings, crafting looks all about “escape, adventure, and most of all ease.” The result is a bevy of muses wearing reimagined classic silhouettes, exuding timeless elegance.

“We all know that weddings are stressful, so I wanted to explore the idea of how I can make this as enjoyable and as stress-free as possible,” Rajo said. “I concentrated on pieces I love—such a great shirt, a fabulous skirt, and perhaps even a coat? I have been doing weddings for more than 30 years now, and I wanted to make something that, in my eyes, would be exciting and fresh. I also pulled ideas from my design DNA—meaning what is essentially a Rajo bride. From there, I explored and experimented.”

Michael Leyva sent down the runway a parade of black-and-white bridal looks. With dark romance in mind, he created a collection that played with prints, textures, and unconventional forms. His goal was to present bridal looks that are clean yet mysterious. Adding drama to his looks were the elaborate fascinators, a collaboration he had with stylist Rey Santos.

“We used a lot of different fabrics like luxurious brocades and tulle. We played with textures and layers to keep things interesting,” Michael said. “Most of the focus was on the shapes and how the clothes moved, so we spent a lot of time working on the structure and fit.”

A master of restraint, Vania Romoff’s collection, though minimalist, highlights everything women love about her designs—ultra-feminine and romantic. Her collection featured looks for modern, unbothered brides. Think of a beaded blazer and maxi skirt pairing, a cropped terno, and a sculptural two-piece set. In her Marry Me At Marriott debut, the designer also struck a thoughtful balance in textures and embraced the unexpected by showcasing an embellishment-free dropped-waist gown with tiered ruffles.

Dubbed “Ascensión,” Francis Libiran’s comeback collection for the bridal fair is all about presence, power, and movement. He used a mix of sculpted tulle, ombré-dyed fabrics, and custom-crystallized embroidery to achieve depth and radiance. Each gown reflected his signature attention to detail—hand-beading with crystals, precision laser-cut overlays, and layered fabric techniques that give the gowns a sense of kinetic energy, even when still.

“It draws inspiration from the energy of triumph—moments when we rise, break through, and take our place in the spotlight,” Francis said. “I wanted to design pieces that feel like visual metaphors for momentum and transformation. ‘Ascensión’ is about honoring the journey toward greatness—one that is rooted in passion, resilience, and timeless elegance.”

Mak Tumang brought theatrical flair and cultural storytelling through his dramatic gowns. His collection, dubbed “Luna Regenta,” featured hand pleating and ruching elements adorned with beadwork, laser-cut and molded petals, and structural design details.

“For this collection, I focused on ball gowns. There are grand sculptural silhouettes that still feel delicate and feminine. It is an ode to nature, which has always been my constant source of inspiration,” Tumang explained. “You’ll see organic lines, floral motifs, and textures that echo elements from the natural world. The pieces are romantic, intricate, and made to celebrate the beauty and strength of a modern Filipina bride.”

For his Marry At Marriott debut, Michael Cinco presented the “Impalpable Dream of Marie Antoinette,” a collection paying homage to the extravagant world of Marie Antoinette and the golden age of Versailles. To mirror the Rococo period’s grandeur, the Dubai-based couturier used silk taffeta, organza, brocade, and layers of delicate tulle adorned with lacework, hand-sewn crystals, pearls, and metallic thread embroidery. Instead of powered wigs, his muses wore silver hair, giving a futuristic twist to the ornate looks.

“I was fascinated by the lavish details of the French court—the opulent fabrics, the towering silhouettes, and the romanticism of an era where beauty was celebrated to the fullest,” Michael said. “Each piece is the result of thousands of hours of hand craftsmanship, staying true to the couture tradition while telling a story of regal fantasy.”

Marry Me At Marriot marks just the beginning of a month-long celebration under the Marriott Moments campaign. On July 26 and 27, 2025, the campaign will culminate with the much-anticipated Marriott Moments A-Fair: Luxuriant Expo at the MGBX Exhibition Hall of the Marriott Grand Ballroom.