FOR this wedding issue, we reached out to our certified Best of the Marianas gold winners to put together a variety of services you can choose when it’s time to say “I do.”
‘Yes to the dress’
Rossie Abadilla, sales associate, left, stands with Michelle Sablan, inside Pena House.
Pena House in San Antonio has a variety of wedding looks at prices that will suit their customers.
When it comes to your bridesmaid dresses, Pena House has that covered, too.
Pena House owner Michelle Sablan tells Marianas Variety that grooms have begun embracing bold suit choices.
From tuxedos and suits to wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and even something for the flower girls, Pena House has it all
We start our journey down south at Pena House, which has been helping brides say “yes to the dress” for over 30 years now.
Owner Michelle Sablan says the San Antonio boutique carries a wide variety of gowns, accessories, and more to fit brides of all sorts.
“We carry stuff that are definitely a bit more conservative and traditional for the ones that do get married in church, but we also have the stuff that’s a little more modern,” Sablan said.
At Pena House, wedding gowns can go for as low as around $80 to as high as $800, with belts and other accessories adding between $20 and $60 to the final price. Veils can range as well from just below $50 to around $200, depending on style
“People are into mermaid cuts here, where the dress is fit and flares [out]. They typically like to have a little sleeve.”
Bridesmaid dresses are in no short supply at Pena House either. For the grooms and groomsmen, tuxedos and suits are either available for purchase or rental.
Pena House has its own in-house alteration service for gowns, dresses, and suits ahead of the big day. Also, by calling 235-7270, customers can also arrange fittings beforehand so they can make sure they’re absolutely head over heels for their gown, tux, or anything else they purchase.
“I feel like people here are open to trying something new,” Sablan says of her customers. “You don’t know until you try it, which is why I encourage fittings, because it’s really, really key. You could look at all the pictures online and you can put together your mood board…but you won’t know until you put on the dress. When we do the alterations, it will look like it’s never been touched. We don’t just cut and take off all the details.”
Sablan shared that she has so much fun helping brides, bridesmaids, grooms, and groomsmen find the perfect outfits, and that weddings in the Marianas are unique.
“Only in the Marianas could you throw together a huge party in a matter of weeks,” she says. “People really come together to help each other out.”
To find your right dress or a tux that’s just right, call 235-7270.
Décor and more
The maestro himself—Philip Canuto
It might take all night to make, but the hard working folks at Island Touch want you to have the wedding decorative theme of your dreams.
The interior of this church is beautifully lined with floral arrangements and sashes, courtesy of Philip Canuto of Island Touch
Island Touch works with its customers to design the wedding that complements your budget.
For customers looking to make sure the wedding’s event theme, decorations, and more have the right “touch,” Philip Canuto at Island Touch has you covered.
With a 36-year experience as a florist and events decorator, Canuto says he collaborates with his customers to make sure their dream wedding fits their budget.
The process is flexible, and begins when customers let Phillip know how much they can spend on floral archways, church decorations, table centerpieces, accent lighting, bouquets, and more.
“I ask them what they want, what their theme is, what color of the materials they’re interested in, [I ask about] the flowers, the number of guests they have, how large their entourage is and we can work together,” Canuto says. “…Whatever their budget is I give them my [service] quotation based on that.”
The day prior to the ceremony, Canuto and his staff start their timers at 4 p.m., pulling an all-night long race against the clock to ensure floral arrangements, signage, and everything in between will make the bride and groom’s dreams come true. By morning, Canuto will set up the ceremony venue and then the reception area.
Fun fact: He once set up decorations on the lighthouse tower of Mariana Lighthouse on Navy Hill for a wedding reception.
When Marianas Variety visited him at his shop in Susupe, he told us that his reputation has earned him customers: he’s booked and busy with multiple weddings each month until December.
Yet ever hungry to satisfy his clients, Canuto says he can “do two weddings in one day” and wants to. He can even accommodate rush orders. He prefers it, though, when customers book well in advance, ideally six months to one year out.
Call 235-7445 for more details, tell them the Marianas Variety sent you.
Looking ‘hot’
The staff of Natural Nail Spa pose for a photo.
J.M. Gaduema, hair stylist and makeup artist at Natural Nail Spa, is shown in his natural element.
Your next nail look is waiting at Natural Nail Spa.
Brides and their bridesmaids sometimes rent out all of Natural Nail Spa for pedicure, manicure, and other services.
When it’s time to get the bride and her bridesmaids glammed up, the crew at Natural Nail Spa are ready to serve looks.
Hair stylist J.M. Gaduema shares that for outside services—where he and/or other stylists go to the customer—hair and makeup prices range from $100 to $180 for the bride, and $55 to $100 for bridesmaids and other members of the entourage. Flower girls’ hair and makeup is $35.
Like everything else related to weddings, hair and makeup is a collaborative process, according to Gaduema, and he always aims to make his clients look “radiant” on their wedding day.
“The first thing I always ask her is what she wants. What makeup look does she want? What hair does she want on her wedding day?” Gaduema says. “Some of my clients avail of the ‘trial makeup’ where we will [test the look] at least a month before the wedding. We will do hair and makeup and she will tell me what look she wants and I always give an idea of what I think would work best for her.”
Hair is much the same, in that Gaduema takes a look at the dress a bride has selected and style her hair so that the dress’ best features shine.
“The client will show me the picture of the hair she wants, but also I always give her my idea because…we have to make [the hair] work with the gown or dress,” he says. “If the client is wearing a closed gown or backless, we have to show off the features of the dress.”
It’s not unusual for Gaduema to be scheduled to do the hair and makeup of the whole bridal party. In such cases, he brings along extra stylists who will show up with him at six in the morning to get everybody ready for the ceremony.
Of course, as their name implies, Natural Nail Spa is more than ready to take care of a client’s mani and pedi needs.
According to Susie Neo, brides usually rent out the entire salon about three days before the ceremony so that the bridal party can all come in at once for nails, and sometimes lash extensions.
“In terms of bridal showers, the most popular service is nails, [lash] extensions, and French tips, of course. Brides usually love French tips,” she says.
Neo especially praises her colleague, Ronalyn Masga.
“If you have [a nail idea] she can do it,” Neo said. “Whatever you want, show her. We will check if we have the nail polish that’s in the inspo and if we don’t, we’ll work with alternatives.”
At Natural Nail Spa, manicure prices range from $15 to $25, depending on the package, with pedicures going for as low as $20 and as high as $40. Add-ons are available, such as paraffin wax dip, deep dermal wraps, callus treatments, high buff shines, nail design, and more.
Natural Nail Spa can be reached at 233-6245
