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CHARLENE GALLARDO SALIGUMBA

August 2024

Charlene was looking for a more Maria Clara style filipiniana and reached out to Jillian Joy to help make her vision come to life. She wanted something light weight yet full and flowy as she planned to wear this dress for her reception and specifically for a waltz style first dance. Jillian designed a fully silk organza gown featuring small pops of sequinned lace around the waist and sleeves. It featured a sheer corset style bodice with the iconic Maria Clara shawl style off shoulder as well as detachable bell sleeves.

One of the most special things I had done for my wedding was commissioning Jillian to design my wedding dress. I had found Jillian on social media and had saved her page long before I was even engaged and knew that she would be the one to make my wedding dress. It was really important to me to have both traditional Filipino and modern Canadian elements to our wedding, as I wanted us to represent both sides of ourselves. This amazing dress that Jillian designed, patterned, and sewed together was an extension of that. I had asked if she could do a modern ballgown with some traditional elements inspired by the Maria Clara Filipiniana. I wanted the classic accentuated V neckline that highlighted my broad shoulders (something I used to hate) plus the romance of the airy bell sleeves. And wow, did she really deliver!

Romantic. Simple. Classic. Timeless. Everything I wished for and more.”