Loh Tann-Ling, owner of The Prelude Bridal. Photo: The Beautiful Moment Photography.

The idea for The Prelude Bridal first came about when 33-year-old Loh Tann-Ling was searching for a gown for her own wedding. At that time, there were no multi-label boutique concepts in Singapore, and inspired by what she saw in Hong Kong (where she bought her gown), she started one here herself in 2011. Today, The Prelude Bridal carries a variety of gowns from designers such as Marchesa, Amsale, Christos and Nicole Miller.

What sort of designer gowns does The Prelude Bridal specialise in?
Loh Tann-Ling: The Prelude is known for gowns that are understated, cosmopolitan and romantic. We have a carefully curated selection of gowns that ooze simplicity, but take your breath away with their luxurious fabrics and flawless silhouettes. For us, comfort is key. We want our brides to feel like they can dance in their gown! Our brides are often surprised at how light our gowns are when worn.

Can you take us through the entire process of selecting and bringing in these designer gowns?
Loh: Twice a year, the designers debut their bridal collection in New York. We try to attend the runway shows at least once a year, so that we can have a firsthand look and feel of the collection. Once we select the gowns and our orders are placed, it will take approximately four to five months for the new collection to arrive at our store. Each gown is handcrafted and made in New York City. 

What is the most important part of this process?
Loh: It’s important to remain objective. It’s easy to let our personal likes and dislikes influence the decision-making process but we try to put ourselves in the shoes of our brides and think about what would appeal to them.

What are some challenges you face in this process, and how do you overcome them?
Loh: It is sometimes difficult to predict what would be a popular trend among brides for the season. We like to hold trunk shows where we can bring in the entire collection for the season and this allows us to see which styles will be popular for the season.

What do you look out for when selecting gowns—trends or classic styles?
Loh: Definitely a mix of both. You can’t be in the fashion industry and ignore trends. But bridalwear is a little unique in that brides also want to look back at their wedding pictures 30 years later and not regret their choice of gown. We try to combine the two by selecting gowns with classic silhouettes but with interesting details.

Tell us about some of your more memorable experiences.
Loh: It is very rewarding when a bride falls in love with a gown at The Prelude and chooses to wear it for her wedding. We’ve had brides who visited countless bridal boutiques in Singapore and overseas, and were getting disillusioned with their search. It is gratifying to be able to witness their joy and excitement when they find their dream gown with us.

The Prelude Bridal is located at 315 Outram Road, 10-01 Tan Boon Liat Building, Tel: 6221 4982.