And the bride wore red
After all, red is also the color of love.
A bride traditionally wears white on her wedding day, a red-letter day in the calendar of her life.
But the tradition of brides wearing white, especially in Western cultures, is said to have only begun in the 19th century, when Britain’s Queen Victoria wore white to her 1840 wedding to Prince Albert. This sparked a trend even Filipino brides largely adhere to.
While a white or off-white wedding dress is the most common color tradition, it is also traditional for some brides in Asia to wear red on their wedding day.
But some modern brides around the world simply choose red because they want to wear red.
Designer Michael Leyva stunned the audience, which included First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, during his recent “Couture 2026” fashion show at the Lobby of The Peninsula Manila with a bride in red — including the veil.
“I wanted something different and something adventurous for our future brides,” said Michael of the red shirred layered gown, which can be worn to a ball just the same if you take out the red veil.
Michael awed some more with the song that accompanied the “bridal march:” It must have been love. But it’s over now.
“She’s happy because she’s celebrating,” says Michael. He left it at that.
Brides wore other colors before Queen Victoria wore white to her wedding, reportedly to boost the floundering lace industry at the time. White also symbolized purity, which most brides are expected to bring into the marriage. In modern times, brides can be pure in more ways than one.
Traditionally, Chinese brides wear red to symbolize good fortune, both for themselves and their families. The red cheongsam or qipao, a form-fitting dress detailed with golden adornments is a staple of Chinese wedding attire. As for Korean weddings, red is reportedly a part of the traditional hanbok, a ceremonial dress worn by brides.
Though Michael’s bridal gowns were arguably the most anticipated part of the show, as they were part of “Weddings at Peninsula Manila,” the entire collection included couture and debutantes’ gowns and men’s formal wear as well. The collection unfurled amid swathes of white drapes in the background and blooms flanking the stage.
“Actually, it’s my first time to do a collection that has no beadwork. I’ve been known to be a designer with sparkles, beadwork, very intricate detailing, but now we focused on fabric manipulation, texture, and still very intricate detailing, but all by hand, not by beading,” he explained to me after his well applauded show, which was directed by Robby Carmona.
The couture collection’s opening salvo was a gossamer silver gray confection that took a couple of weeks to complete. The top is a soft halter made from tulle, which was draped. The skirt was made up of layered circular organza pieces, each circle individually laser-cut and carefully placed by hand to build volume and texture.
“It’s dramatic, sculptural and really showcases the craftsmanship behind the collection, which is why we chose this as the opening of the couture segment,” Michael pointed out.
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The story of Michael Leyva, who was a flight attendant before he soared in the fashion industry, is a beautiful reminder of the transformative power of love and legacy. His stunning designs, infused with symbolic motifs and masterful techniques, are a testament to the profound impact of his late brother Brian’s influence.
Aside from his brother Brian, Michael’s mother Merly serves as his inspiration. She is present in all his shows, a quiet but strong presence.
“She taught me hard work and perseverance,” said Michael of his Nanay. “She raised all of us six boys.”
“I am very proud of Michael,” Nanay Merly told me after the show. As we all are. *
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