Insulted

I've been in the wedding business for 10 years, well almost, and never have I been so insulted. A mother-of-the-bride today accused me of using remnant fabric from an old gown to create her daughter's evening gown. I did not hide my displeasure when I retorted 'we do not do such things'.

Now, if she had not been a client of a wedding planner who is a good friend of mine, I would have told her to 'terbang wau' and leave immediately. This is a case in point where I should have turned down the job when it was offered to me months ago. The vibes were already not great then but I took it on because of my relationship with the wedding planner.

Last week, I put this up on Facebook ...... Kris Wong is going to consciously and politely turn away potential clients whose attitudes he doesn't fancy or whose entourages he can't stomach, don't need the stress ....... today's encounter is a catalyst for me to put this into practice sooner rather than later!

Photo of Louisa and I with models in That Special Occasion creations.

Cohesive Team

Teamwork is something that I value very much. Although I rant and succumb to unleashing the occasional tirade, I am thankful to have a close-knitted team, be it at weddingsmalaysia, That Special Occasion, The Wedding Hub or Budget Brides.

Whether full-timers or part-timers, fashion designers or seamstresses, publishers, editors or graphic designers, the team gets along and works together relatively well despite little rows and minor spats every once in a while. Resolution of squabbles in a fair and realistic manner makes our relationships stronger. A shared vision and commitment lead to the attainment of mutual goals.

3 of my colleagues at That Special Occasion - designer Louisa and seamstresses Jenny and Tina - celebrate their birthdays this month, and all of us came together for a meal to rejoice last evening. Kudos to Patrick for arranging the 'makan'.

Photo of flowers for the birthday girls.

Buzz

These 2 gowns have been generating quite a bit of buzz lately for That Special Occasion. Designed by my colleague Louisa, they were specially created for the launch of The Wedding Planners in Cambodia earlier this month. I gave her a free hand. My only criteria were that they should make an impression on our potential clients in Phnom Penh where the launch was held, reflect the deft touches of her Parisian training and showcase the simplicity and sophistication expected of a That Special Occasion gown. Such benchmarks I felt would then make it easier for The Wedding Planners to market our services to their potentially high-end Cambodian clientele.

Having not been at the event personally, I rely on feedback from my fellow industry colleagues who made the trip there, and all have been positive. Apparently, both Louisa and the gowns received rave reviews from the Cambodian guests and media alike. Now back in Kuala Lumpur, the gowns have also drawn admirable glances from brides-to-be who visit our design studio.

I believe in giving credit where credit is due. Louisa met the challenge I entrusted her with much success. I hope that these designs will adorn some of our local brides soon.

Photo courtesy of Bonnie Yap Wedding Photography.

Contemplative Mood

I had initially intended to blog about the fact that contrary to popular belief, I do take some time off during my off days to relax and chill ... see photo on the left? Ha ha! But come evening, I found myself in a contemplative mood and thought that perhaps a frivolous, fun VCD would lift my spirits somewhat.

2 choices were before me - an episode of 'Mind Your Language' or 'Confessions Of A Shopaholic'. I decided on the latter since my colleague at That Special Occasion, Louisa, had mentioned about the series of books that she was reading. Indeed, it was lighthearted, even endearing. Having said that, the movie still left me in a contemplative mood, albeit a more positive one. You see, the auction scene towards the end of the movie where the protagonist had to reluctantly part with her green scarf struck a chord. Letting go of something dear may be diffult, be it a loved one, a business venture gone bad or perhaps a cherished aspiration that is impossible to fulfill. However, by letting go, we free ourselves from binds that stagnate us and allow ourselves to open new doors and embrace new opportunities. And who knows, what we let go may just return in a better, more appreciative form.

For those of you who have watched the movie, well, you now know that I am a sucker for good endings!

Poolside at the Royal Lake Club in Kuala Lumpur.

A Team Effort

I often get asked, 'How do you oversee so many ventures and projects at once?' And the simple truth is that I have a great team of people, at weddingsmalaysia, That Special Occasion as well as The Wedding Hub. Granted, I can at times be difficult to work with, been branded a dictator, micromanager, an obsessive and compulsive workaholic, I'd like to think that on the whole, I'm still pretty much a team player. My business partner, Anna, who's taken some time off to be in Hong Kong with her expat hubby and daughter, has always maintained that I am an expert at barking instructions. I am sure my colleagues at That Special Occasion miss her calming influence when I get ranting. Louisa, my co-designer, now that Anna is on sabbatical, together with Linda, our longtime assistant as well as the team of seamstresses and beaders, bear the brunt of the relentless pace, and are the pillars that support the operations at the boutique. Meanwhile over at The Wedding Hub, Helen is the 'rock' I rely on to manage the one-stop centre as well as the array of personalities we have as tenants, whilst Fiona is the one who diligently churns out our monthly workshops.

On the publising front, both online and print, I am lucky to have a small and dedicated team. My team of 8 at weddingsmalaysia - Edward, Kenix, Patrick, Priscilla, Keith, Eileen, Cordelia and Faridah -take care of a portal and 4 publications, a relatively big task actually, considering that all of them have other business interests and only take on the portal and publications on a project basis. It is their passion and commitment that have made our titles so well-regarded in the wedding industry. I also appreciate the efforts of Integricity, who ensure that our back-end IT needs are well taken care of, and of course the encouragement and support of the industry, who are catalysts for us to do even better.

I truly believe that no one can work in isolation. Despite the occasional tiff, working together towards and attaining a common goal is what makes it all worthwhile. And did I say I was quite the workaholic ... as evidenced by the time of this post haha!

Oh! How could I forget Ms Chew ... the one who reminds me to keep an eye on the dollars and cents!!

Pictured with Louisa and her gown creation.