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A wedding can be one of the most important events in a woman’s life. Some women spend so much time preparing and obsessing about the big day that they actually start to seem more like professional-level wedding planners than brides.

Although they can get caught up in all the details like invitation lists, catering and flowers, there is one thing that weighs more heavily on most bride’s minds than any logistical concern — getting the perfect wedding dress.

“Every woman wants to look perfect in their own special way on that day,’’ said Tina Andrean, an Indonesian fashion designer. “Therefore, it is my job to bring out the best in every bride through my wedding dresses.’’

Tina first started her bridal couture line together with her husband, famous hairdresser Johnny Andrean, in 1984. Today, the fashion designer owns three bridal boutiques in Jakarta and one in California.

Tina has already been a top designer of bridal couture in Indonesia for over two decades, but she is hardly ready to rest on her laurels.

She proved that on Wednesday at her latest fashion show, titled “The Art of Renaissance,” in Hotel Indonesia Kempinski. The show was a testament to the fact that she is still among the vanguard of designers, able to combine haute couture and classic styles to create timelessly beautiful wedding gowns.

The show featured 18 gowns inspired by Renaissance-era designs from the 14th to the 17th century.

“It was the era between the Middle Ages and the modern era,” Tina said. “Artwork born of this era features elements of both classic and modern design.”

According to Tina, a wedding gown is very much a form of wearable artwork.

“You’ll wear it once in a lifetime,” she said. “You can’t go back in time and do it all over again. Therefore, your wedding dress should be perfectly beautiful. It has to look perfect from every direction — the front, the sides and the back.’’

The classic and modern elements in Tina Andrean’s wedding gow n s are created by blending streamlined contours with intricate details such as lace, crystals and fine embroidery.

This aspect was one of the themes connecting the three unique styles of wedding dresses Tina featured in the show.

The “Modern Simplicity” collection was the first unveiled during the show. These dresses boast a form-fitting, almost mermaid-like silhouette that somehow also manages to be quite modest.

“These are always a favorite with my customers,’’ Tina said. “They are easy and comfortable to wear and won’t take too much space up in your wardrobe.’’

The dresses definitely live up to the name of the collection. A simple bustier construction is matched with delicate Italian silk, a Swarovski crystal studded bodice and a 2.5-meter train which swished with an elegant rustle while moving down the catwalk.

“Long trains, between 2.5 and 3.5 meters, look fabulous in grand ballrooms,” she said. “The bride looks like a princess.”

The next collection went by the name “Modern Contemporary” and featured ball gown-style dresses updated with simple, elegant design touches.

“They look grand and impressive,’’ Tina said. “But, actually they’re lightweight and quite comfortable to wear for long periods of time.’’

A bustier dress encrusted with Swarovski crystals on the bodice and fuzzy floral appliques on the skirt looked particularly alluring. The petite model, who also wore a detachable bolero made of ruffled white tulle over her shoulder, looked like a butterfly alighting on a bed of roses.

The “Modern Regalia” collection’s elaborate and detailed gowns rounded out the show in luxurious style.

One model, wearing an empire-cut ball gown with silver beads and crystals on the bodice and French lace on the hemline, looked ultra feminine and elegant. She covered her strapless dress with a set of long puff sleeves enhanced with floral appliques that gave the illusion of flowers blooming on her shoulders.

“Flowers are very romantic,” Tina said, with a smile. “I used a lot of floral appliques in this collection to add to the romance and ambience of the wedding day.”

Another ball-style gown seemed to wrap a model in ornate layers of silk, French lace and tulle. A neckline of ruffled white tulle, perfectly framed the model’s face, adding to her soft radiance.

“My greatest happiness is seeing my clients glow with happiness on their wedding days,” Tina said.

The fashion show also showcased 18 additional evening gowns.

“These dresses are intended for the friends and families attending a wedding,” Tina said.

According to Tina, dresses with soft colors are perfect for bridesmaids as well as friends and families attending a wedding ceremony.

One of the more enchanting selections was a long dress made with a creme satin silk overlaid with a layer of pink organza although the red bow in the front did make the model look a bit like a lovely present.

“Whether you’re the bride or a guest, weddings are special occasions,” Tina said. “The best way to honor this is to make sure you look every bit as special as that very special day.”

Tina Andrean Boutiques

Senayan City
Jl. Asia Afrika
Jakarta
Tel. 021 7164 7775

Kompleks Lokasari Blok B21-23
Jl. Mangga Besar Raya 81
Jakarta
Tel. 021 625 3255

Gandaria City
Ground Floor no. 37
Jl. KH Syafi’i Hazami no. 8
Jakarta
Tel. 021 2905 2888