Deciding on a wedding dress is always a challenge. For some, a dress needs to be a balance of the traditional and the contemporary. In some cases, the setting also dictates the style of the gown. And, more often than not, it should be an expression of who the wearer is on one of the most significant days of her life.

There is no perfect formula for selecting the perfect wedding gown. But one thing is for sure: It is always up to the bride what she will wear on her wedding day, which makes trying on dresses a personal and often exciting part of the journey toward finding the one.

At Opus Mall in Bridgetowne Destination Estate, a new design studio blooms, where brides can try on racks of dresses, personalize them, and just imagine their big day. Last Aug. 5, founders Teena Sabrina Tan and Nicole Nocom officially opened the doors to Studio Ceremonie’s new location. This serves as the third branch of the brand, following its stores at BGC in Taguig City and Podium Mall in Mandaluyong, and its biggest space yet.

“We saw the need for a bigger space, and Opus came at the right time. We reviewed the place and thought about what we would want to do with it,” Nicole tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “We really went for the size of the place.”

The idea for Studio Ceremonie stems from their previous bridal experience. Back then, finding a place where one could truly step into a bridal gown was limited. Adding to that was the pandemic, a time when many things were restricted. This gave Nicole and Teena the idea to offer ready-to-wear bridal pieces, which clients can readily try on.

The wedding and celebrations world is all about customization, and hearing the words “ready-to-wear” can be almost contradictory to the idea of a bridal gown. But for Nicole and Teena, it presented an opportunity to make the experience of finding a gown more accessible, allowing brides to see, feel, and try on the pieces.

This is where Studio Ceremonie’s strength lies: its flexibility. Once a bride decides on a piece she wants to wear, alterations and design specifications take place. So, in a sense, her wedding gown is still personal and uniquely made for her, which reflects the studio’s motto: “Made to Measure. Made with Love. Made for Love.”

“We still want our brides to feel that it is still personalized to them. We listen to their style preferences, look at the pieces they love trying on, and change design elements,” Teena muses. “We have the flexibility to do more for our clients. That’s what we are doing: to make the dresses a true reflection of the bride.”

At its Opus Mall location, brides can explore a wide selection of gowns at their own pace. They are guided by the store’s stylist and even meet a designer. Studio Ceremonie dresses are made in-house and locally produced, making the customization process a breeze. They can also cater to specific requests, from using local materials like piña to adding detachable sleeves.

Apart from Studio Ceremonie pieces, clients can also check out international bridal labels. One of the collections we spotted during the store’s unveiling was created by Ukrainian bridal fashion brand and luxury design house Milla Nova.

“Brides have an hour for a fitting session; the studio will be privately theirs. They can choose what they want to try and feel the dress,” Nicole says. “It is something that you cannot rush because a wedding is such an important moment for a woman’s life. We wanted the experience here to be meaningful and memorable.”

And that’s just right. Because in the bridal world, experience is everything. At Studio Ceremonie, the design doesn’t just apply to the dress, but also to the store’s atmosphere and the process of trying on pieces.

“Here, we find our brides very happy and enjoying the experience,” Teena says. “Even if some brides don't get their dresses from us, they still need to have that feeling of trying on a dress. It leads them to the right dress because they figure out what they want. They become more excited about the days to come.”

That attention and care are at the heart of Studio Ceremonie’s approach.