Some men bring bouquets on special occasions. Events stylist Dave Sandoval, on the other hand, brings roomfuls of flowers to make any occasion even more special.
By Maan D’Asis Pamaran
Nothing livens up a room quite like a beautiful flower arrangement. It is pixie dust to the decor, the final relish that softens the mood and adds an air of romance to any celebration.
But just like in anything, too much of a good thing can go bad. And that is particularly the case for not a few forward-thinking and overeager celebrators, who tend to keep up with the trends too much.
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with being trendy (hello, rustic-themed weddings), it often unwittingly results to a cookie-cutter event that looks like all the others.
This is why event stylist Dave Sandoval suggests going for a classic look that evokes timeless elegance. “If you look at photos of my work 10 to 20 years after the wedding, it still looks current and not dated,” he says.
He can be playful with designs, yes — but always in moderation, he explains. While he does do themes, he makes sure that the elements are subtle and not overpowering.
One of his weddings, for instance, had a safari theme. But instead of the usual loud, bright colors that would overpower the senses, he chose to decorate the venue with little pops of color and animals in gold. “With weddings, you cannot be too playful. Even if the theme is adventurous, the translation should still be done with taste,” he explains.
Debuts, however, can be splashier. Dave has done themes inspired by all-time favorites such as Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella.
His inspiration harks back to a childhood spent in a loving home, which was always in order. “My mom wanted our house to look nice all the time. When we went to church, we also had to dress up. I guess it was ingrained in me to have an appreciation for a polished, finished look,” he says.
The family’s affinity with the church was instrumental in giving him his start. “My family was very involved with our parish,” Dave adds. “My grandparents were members of the Parish Pastoral Council. My mom was a commentator, my dad, part of the choir. I grew up around flowers, as I was involved in church efforts such as processions and the Flores de Mayo celebrations.”
Dave’s sister got married in 2008, and he volunteered to help out. “It became an eye-opener for me. I realized that it was something that I can do. I became interested in weddings because they are very happy occasions,” he recalls.
Then it happened again. When his cousin was about to get married, he also offered to help her with the decor. Her theme revolved around cherry blossoms, and he sourced fresh flowers, twigs, and crystals to achieve an elegant Sakura set-up. “My cousin was so happy with it, and her friends started asking me if I could style their events too,” he shares.
His church connections also proved helpful, he says. “They would contact me to do the flowers for the aisle. I gave extra effort into even small tasks. For instance, I would take time to meet with the brides to discuss what they want, so we could go beyond the usual generic flowers in a pot.”
All throughout the start of his styling career, Dave maintained a day job. “I was working in a BPO during the graveyard shift. During the daytime, I would go to meetings or events. There were days when I would go straight to work from a wedding,” he says with smiles.
He finally decided to give his full attention to the business when he realized that it was all that he could think of. “I used up all my office leaves. At work, I would put the client on hold while I searched for wedding inspirations online,” he grins naughtily.
It isn’t to say he hit it big right away. He tearfully recalls the time when he had to rely on his family’s full support for his business. “I did not have any means to transport my things. When I had Tagaytay weddings, everybody would pitch in with their cars to help me deliver my items. For that I am grateful for my family. They knew that I was not making much, but they believed in me and gave me their support.”
The wedding industry has grown exponentially since he started out a decade ago. “Before, only celebrities could afford to hire a stylist, so when people came to me with their pegs, they would show me pictures of local showbiz magazines,” he says with a laugh. Brides today are savvier. He rarely encounters a bride who doesn’t have an idea of what she wants. These women are armed with ideas they have gathered off the Internet.
Dave, who has made countless brides happy with his design aesthetics and professionalism, gives tips on how to achieve that dream wedding and stay stress-free on the big day.
“First of all, know what you want, and make sure that what you want reflects who you are. Remember that people close to your heart will attend the wedding, and they know you and your personality. What you can do is to translate that stylishly so you will, in a manner of speaking, be in your element,” he shares.
Secondly, he advises the couple to trust their supplier. “When you book your supplier, do your homework so you know if they are reliable. You will be working with them for six months up to a year. In that time, make sure you communicate what you want. On the day itself, let them do their job, and enjoy your special occasion.”
On a more romantic note, he adds, “Remember the big picture. I’m sure that you are not getting married for a Dave Sandoval arrangement,” he says with a laugh. “You are getting married because someone loves you and wants to marry you! It is not about the event, it is about you enjoying the moment.”
(This story first came out on PeopleAsia’s April-May 2018 issue.)
