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Jakpost guide to Western-style wedding attire
Whether it is a wedding dress or bespoke suit they're after, these are the places where brides-and-grooms-to-be may find their wedding attire.
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Dresses are on display at the Eva Bun Wedding Gallery in Central Jakarta on Nov. 16. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
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Western-style wedding is perceived as simpler than traditional Eastern weddings. Those who plan to adopt this style for their big day can get their dresses and suits at these places:
Eva Bun is among the oldest wedding companies in Indonesia with more than 35 years of experience. It provides both customized and rented wedding dresses, but Eva, owner of the company, said most of her customers preferred to rent, as it would take weeks to design a new dress.
At her gallery in Central Jakarta, Eva Bun showcases different types of wedding dresses, from mermaid to long-sleeved ones. Final fitting is done two weeks before the nuptials, and the dress can be altered to match the bride’s size. Moreover, rented dresses can be worn for a day and must be returned within three days after the ceremony.
“A wedding dress depends on the reception venue. I advise my customers to choose long-tailed dresses, because a wedding is once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Eva to The Jakarta Post on Friday. “If it’s the mermaid [style] or the ball gown [dress], it can be worn anytime.”
Eva Bun has branched out into other divisions as well, including photography, venue, catering and decoration. Most of her customers are said to prefer a wedding package, as it is considered more efficient and affordable. Couples can book their services two months or even weeks prior to their special day, including the outfits.
Prices for wedding dresses start at Rp 10 million ($687), and customers are required to pay 30 percent in advance. Discounts are available, especially during an exhibition. Information on Eva Bun's wedding packages is available on the company’s Instagram page.
Address: Jl. Hayam Wuruk No. 2, Gambir subdistrict, Central Jakarta.
Contact: +6221 385 3162
Established since 1933, Wong Hang Tailor maintains its quality by assigning its designers to directly handle their customers and by preserving the tradition founded by the first owner, Wong Hang.
They take the quality of their pieces very seriously, hence they only offer bespoke suits. “Our works highlight the strong point in our customers' body shapes and, at the same time, disguise their flaws,” said Peter Wongso, owner and designer of Wong Hang, in South Jakarta on Monday.
Peter recommends that customers contact the tailor months prior to their ceremony, as suits usually took three months to make. “For example, if the ceremony is in September, ideally the couple could reach out to us in April, as there are holidays and Idul Fitri in May and June,” Peter said. “I don’t want to force our production team [to work at a quicker pace].”
One of the reasons why the production should not be rushed, is that Wong Hang merges technology and tradition, meaning that they use machines but still continue to hand-sow their suits at certain points. Their designers are hands-on in all steps, including fabrics selection, measurement, cutting, fitting, designing and finishing.
When it comes to customers' requests, the tailor tries to fulfill them. “But I have to remind them whether their idea can be fully implemented or only 20 percent of it,” Peter said, adding that his customers usually only needed one fitting session.
Currently, Wong Hang has branches in Jakarta, Tangerang in Banten, Surabaya in East Java, Semarang in Central Java, Bandung in West Java, Makassar in South Sulawesi and Singapore. A suit at Wong Hang starts at Rp 5 million.
Address: Jl. Sultan Iskandar Muda, Arteri Pondok Indah 99F, South Jakarta.
Contact: +6221 722 7474.
Read also: Stardust-themed wedding new trend for 2018
Billy Tjong’s works are known to have touches of elegance and femininity In his bridal line, the designer provides custom-made and ready stock dresses, but either way, he advises his customers to contact him three to 12 months prior to the ceremony.
After the first meeting, the designer would begin to draw sketches, select the main and supporting materials, make the pattern and design the mock-up version of the dress on blacu fabric (fabric with rough fibers). Customers can also look for fabrics along with the designer. “But a number of my clientele choose to trust me with finding the materials,” said Billy.
Billy does not strictly limit how many fittings for his customers are required, but it usually takes one to five times, depending on their needs. Billy often receives requests to design a dress that highlights a certain body shape. “It’s not only the mermaid style, but also A-line and ball gown,” Billy said.
Prices for Billy’s wedding dresses depend on the materials, as he often uses imported ones, and are subject to a 50 percent down payment.
Address: Jl. Terusan Hang Lekir 1 No. 14C, South Jakarta.
Contact: +62811 807 2300
Founded in 1968, Atham Tailor has often catered to the needs of renowned Indonesian figures for bespoke suits, but when it comes to wedding suits, the groom-to-be should approach the tailor three months before the ceremony.
The process usually takes one to two months, as they want the groom to have his customized suit a month before the wedding day. Should the groom gain weight, around 5 to 6 kilograms, no big adjustment is needed.
“I personally will be in touch with our customers, because I’d like to build relations with them,” Atham Tailor’s director, Don Tjong, said in Central Jakarta on Wednesday. “I also want them to trust us, so it’s more than just selling our suit packages.”
Don also acts as a stylist, as he often gives out advice regarding the groom's shoes or tie. His suggestions extend to the family as well, especially in selecting the right suit to support the pair’s style.
A customer’s first meeting with the tailor is usually spent to discuss the wedding theme, decoration, the groom’s idea and the bride’s dress. The first fitting would be held three weeks later to check whether all of the elements, including the making of the jacket, pants, vest and shirt is on the right track. The next three weeks would be the time for the last fitting.
Don explains that some grooms nowadays prefer to wear three-piece suits in dark blue. As they often want to wear the suits at other formal events, Don suggests detachable shiny lapels. Furthermore, he predicts that pastel suits will be the trend next year.
Prices for Atham Tailor’s suits depend on the material, starting from Rp 4 million with 50 percent down payment. (wng)
Address: Plaza Indonesia, 3rd floor unit B88. Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 28-30, Central Jakarta.
Contact: +62 85882811033
