Couples dream about their dream weddings. Event stylist and floral designer Anna Winstel Chow Antonio brings such dreams to life.
Long before she became a fairy godmother of sorts for soon- to-wed couples in search of that dreamlike setting, Anna was a fresh graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. She put that degree to good use for two years, when she worked for her father’s garment factory in Bangladesh. However, a chance encounter pushed her in another direction. “I went to Bangladesh right away after college. But I knew that I had to explore other options since I was, in a way, too young at that time. When I went home after a couple of years, I met up with a distant relative who was a wedding planner. That relative suggested event styling. I instantly fell in love with it and that’s how I initially began,” she tells PeopleAsia.
While she mostly took on smaller styling gigs for a nominal fee in the beginning, positive feedback and her clients’ pleasant experiences while working with her eventually got around. In late 2014, Anna decided that she was in it for the long run when she decided to establish her own company, Events Central by Anna Winstel. From a modest number of three employees, Anna now employs around 20 to 30 regular and on-call individuals and caters to around 10 to 20 events monthly, including weddings, debutante parties, milestone birthdays and more.
While her new field now requires, first and foremost, creativity, Anna also realized that her background in industrial engineering could play to her advantage in styling weddings. “My background in engineering enables me to be exacting in my craft. From the size of the venue to the measurements of elements that will be used, I am able to maximize my tools and at the same time, come up with designs that are reflective of my style and that of my clients,” she says.
Her attention to detail is also seen in how she deals with clients.
With the science and art of wedding styling taken care of — thanks to her unique sense of style and background — Anna also learned through the years that coming up with a successful event also requires being able to get to know her clients thoroughly.
And so, she makes sure to ask the right questions to get a comprehensive idea of what they have in mind. “I always tell them that the look, color scheme and aesthetics are important, but the most important thing of all is to make sure that their choices and personalities are incorporated into the design,” she says.
“I begin by asking them their vision. Some clients normally do not have a specific theme in mind, but they may have a general aesthetic and a color motif. It’s my job to help them create a solid theme,” she adds. “On the other hand, some clients have several themes and design elements in mind. I help them narrow down the options to create a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing output that is also reflective of their personalities. ”
In her experience, stage design, ceiling treatment and tablescapes usually make up the holy trinity of reception styling. “Couples zero in on these elements because these are the most photographed pieces and places in the reception. We also focus on the stage, the ceiling and, at the very least, the VIP tables’ design,” she reveals.
Weddings aside, tablescapes are also being set up left and right these days for another beloved season — the holidays. And so, Anna gives a piece of advice to those who want to spruce up their Yuletide feasts. “Mixed metals and glass ornaments are trendy right now. This is more for the modern aesthetic. On the rustic side, wooden elements and woodland themes are big this year,” she ends. — By Amanda Masigan /Photography by Jar Concengco / Makeup by Floe Tapayan
