Jeremy Jauncey and Pia Wurtzbach. Image: Instagram/@nelwinuyphoto
Many brides would choose a wedding gown based on their own preferences, but Pia Wurtzbach’s breathtaking dress was crafted with love as it took inspiration from her husband, entrepreneur Jeremy Jauncey.
New York-based designer Bessie Besana took to Instagram on Sunday, May 7, to share that Wurtzbach “casually” requested him to create a custom-made gown for her wedding in November 2022 while having breakfast. The strapless dress was worn by the former beauty queen during her wedding with the businessman last March.
“On the quiet morning of November 8, 2022, Pia casually slid the idea by saying ‘Since we are on the wedding topic, I really wanted a friend to make my wedding dress and I was hoping it would be you,’” he said.
Besana then confessed that he “cried a little inside” because he was “sincerely touched” by Wurtzbach’s heartfelt request. “I wasn’t able to respond immediately because I honestly didn’t think that I was even going to be an option. She then proceeded to say, ‘I want it to be done by a friend and you know me so much and I want you to be a part of my wedding,’” he shared.
“I admittedly cried a little inside and felt some tears starting to build up at the end of my eyes because I was sincerely touched by her decision,” he further added.
The designer, who immediately went into work mode right after, revealed that the Miss Universe 2015 titleholder asked Jauncey “about how he envisions his bride as she walks down the aisle” before bringing their dream piece to life.
“He shared that he sees Pia in a classic corseted bodice with a soft texture and a slit. At first, Pia and I were a bit surprised about the idea of a slit. Pia even asked me, ‘Pwede ba sa wedding gown ang may slit?’ I told her that in this day and age, and with their ceremony to be held on a beach, we can definitely include a slit in the dress. Asking the groom for his vision is a very unconventional way of creating a wedding gown for me, but it was a very interesting way and I was excited to make it come to life,” he added.
Besana shared that Wurtzbach’s wedding gown was made using soft chantilly lace to achieve a nude shade that compliments the latter’s skin tone. The dress also includes a “three dimensional petal detail” attached to the bodice, which was inspired by her “soft movements.”
“The asymmetrical pattern moving upward is my personal interpretation of how life has brought Pia through many challenges and eventually found his forever with Jeremy. The dress also features a play on the back skirt with panels, godet and appliqués. As a request, Pia wanted a sleek skirt silhouette in the front but with a bit of drama at the back,” he said.
Following the wedding, the designer was touched after hearing that Jauncey was grateful for the design.
“I was very happy when Pia told me a day before her flight to Seychelles that she really loves her dress. But the cherry on top of the ice cream was when I received a voice note from Jeremy sharing how beautiful his bride was, and that’s all he could ask for. My heart is full seeing the bride and the groom happy,” he stated.
Besana also shared glimpses of how he brought the blushing bride’s dress to life in separate Instagram posts.
Wurtzbach confirmed her relationship with Jauncey through a cover story at a lifestyle magazine in June 2020. The couple announced their engagement in May 2022.
Two months after their wedding, the power couple revealed that they tied the knot at an intimate ceremony in Seychelles last March 2023. EDV