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WEDDING PLANNER Course material
Notes Copied from the site trendimi.com
Maria Dellaporta
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Module 1: Profession of a Wedding Planner study 1.1. What is the profession of a Wedding Planner? 1.2. What are the characteristics of a Wedding Planner? 1.3. Client Questionnaire. 1.4. The planning process: • • • •
When to marry? Which day of the week? Morning or afternoon? What time of the year?
1.5. Types of weddings: • • •
Civil or religious? Requirements and traditions of each. Other types of ritual weddings: Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Protestant Orthodox, Gypsy. Themed Weddings.
1.6. Choosing music for the ceremony. 1.7. Choosing music for the banquet.
1. What is the profession of a Wedding Planner? If anything characterizes the 21st century it is the pace of life, the level of stress and how full peoples’ lives are. For many, this doesn’t allow enough time to personally manage all aspects of their lives. As a result of this hectic new era some new professions have developed, like a personal shopper, image consultant or stylist. They offer individualised, personal services to busy people to help with image, wardrobe or particular occasions and improve the quality of their lives by taking over responsibility for these areas. Another thriving new profession is that of the wedding planner. He/she takes charge of the designing, planning and overseeing of all aspects of the wedding event. The ultimate goal of a professional wedding planner is to meet the needs and wants of each individual couple around their wedding arrangements, allowing them to thoroughly enjoy their special day, free of stress, worry or work.
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A wedding planner is actually the front person of a whole team of skilled people who work together to harmonise an intricate event. Efficient communication, therefore, is one of your most important skills. Other skills such as understanding and patience are key features of this profession. Coming up to a wedding, tension usually mounts. The couple feels under pressure to present an exclusive, memorable and personal event for their guests and this can lead to strain and outbursts of emotion. This is why it is important for you to be very organised and to think ahead. You’ll often deal with changes of mind and the differing opinions of family members. You need to be clear on your instructions and diplomatic but firm about decisions. The functions of a Wedding Planner are to: • •
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Complete an interview with the bride and groom (explained later in this module) from which you’ll gather most of your information with which to organise the wedding. Plan and carry out all aspects of the wedding, such as: choosing the location of the ceremony, the location of the celebration afterwards, employing skilled professionals when needed, e.g. florist, stylist (for all members of wedding party), personal shopper, caterers, chauffer / cars etc. Outlining and co-ordinating the functions of bridesmaids, groomsmen, pageboys and flower girls. The Wedding Planner may also be asked to arrange bachelor parties, either joint or separate, and the honeymoon.
2. What are the characteristics of a Wedding Planner? •
Discipline: You must be highly organised. This is a very important event in the lives of both spouses. A successful event leads to more business and boosts your career.
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Diplomacy: You must develop the ability to listen carefully, negotiate between differences of opinion calmly and give advice without judgement.
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Patience: Nerves can fray and tensions can lead to sparks! Remaining patient at all times helps to soothe tension and leads to the best solution to any problem. You’ll be dealing with family members too –a calm, reassuring presence is essential.
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Creativity: Every couple wants their wedding day to be really special and individual. It’s your job to take their ideas and weave them into a well-designed theme that looks well, works well and satisfies their ideals.
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Team worker: You’ll be co-ordinating a team of professionals – florists, decorators, photographers, musicians, drivers, caterers and more. A co-operative relationship and clear communication is key to the smooth running of the day.
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Empathy: You need to be aware just how each couple are feeling at all stages. Even if you don’t agree with some decisions, understand how much these can mean to them and supportively carry out their wishes.
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Flexible: You may have worked out timelines for all services and deliveries but often things don’t go according to plan. You need to be able to work with unforeseen changes and adapt your plan so the event is still successful. Also, each event is different. You need to be prepared to deal with differing personalities, expectations and standards.
3. Client questionnaire Before any work starts on planning a wedding, the most important task to complete is your client questionnaire. As well as giving you the information you need it’s a chance to get to know the bride and groom, their tastes, priorities and wishes. It’s also important for you to have instructions from them in writing in the event of any ambiguity or dispute about details of your contract. The kind of questions to put on your questionnaire: • • • • • • •
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How old are you? Do you have an idea of the approximate date for your wedding? Morning or afternoon? Do you want a civil wedding, religious or a particular themed ceremony? Do you want a traditional wedding or something more contemporary? Will you have bridesmaids and groomsmen? Do you have a dress protocol in mind? Do you need advice on: o Wardrobe? o Bouquet? o Accessories? o Styling of wedding party? Styling of event? Do you want us to plan the seating arrangement of your guests? Or theme the tables? For the caterers you’ll need to let us know how many special meals to allow for, e.g. children’s meals, vegetarians, particular dietary specifications. Will you be giving gifts to your guests? (if customary in your local culture) Do you need us to organise your bachelor party or parties? What kind of music would you like at your ceremony? What kind of honeymoon do you have in mind? Something traditional, adventurous, tranquil, romantic? Do you want photographic and video services? How extensive do you want the coverage to be? Do you want to hire a floral decoration service?
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• • • • • • •
Your invitations – do you want them to be classic, traditional or in a theme personal to you? Do you want us to plan a party before or after your wedding? Do you want us to arrange accommodation for guests who are travelling from outside your local area? What will your transport needs be? Will you be compiling a wedding list? Do you need help with this? Are you planning musical entertainment during your ceremony and celebration? More than one type? What is your budget?
This is just a suggested set of basic questions to start with. As you develop your business you’ll become aware of customs and preferences of the clientele in your area and can adapt your questionnaire to suit these. You may want to compile a much more detailed and specific questionnaire which helps clarify your planning. 4. The planning process Even though it seems obvious, the starting points for planning a wedding are the venue and the date. This may be more difficult than it seems as there is usually plenty debating about the number of guests, availability of family members/friends, avoiding unsuitable times or clashing with other occasions. When to marry? One of the most important decisions for the couple is choosing a wedding date since so many factors can influence their choice. The availability of the venue for the ceremony, whether civil or religious, must coincide with the availability of the venue for the banquet. They may have a sentimental reason for picking a particular venue, the weather may be an important factor. Their diaries or those of some guests may need to be considered. It may be important to avoid clashing with other occasions. It may be useful to make your clients aware of the timescales needed in your area for booking particular venues or services. Though your expertise on what needs to be considered is really helpful, of course, the final decision must be made by the couple. What time of the year? Statistically, the vast majority of couples prefer to get married in warmer months as there is more chance of having good weather and therefore they and their guests are more able to enjoy the celebration. The banquet itself, in most cases, begins with a welcome cocktail which is often outside. The venue can be admired and enjoyed, weather permitting. Another factor when choosing the month is that the honeymoon can be enjoyed in good weather. That means that May, June, July August and September are the most popular months, and when venues are in highest demand. Even though warmer temperatures make it easier to showcase the bride and wedding party, it’s your job to make sure the event is a success at any time of year, despite the weather.
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Other months are chosen by some couples because prices are cheaper in hotels and other venues and for holidays. Another advantage of choosing dates outside of the summer months is the availability and choice of venues is wider. What day? Unquestionably, the favoured days of the week are Friday and Saturday, mostly to suit time away from employment. Sundays are now becoming popular which can be the perfect choice especially in the case of more intimate, small ceremonies. Naturally the bride and groom make the final decision but it is worth pointing out the advantage of choosing a midweek day because of reduced prices. Morning, afternoon or evening? Again, although the couple will have their own wishes, the decision may be dictated by circumstances and availability of the location, the ceremony and/or the reception. Most weddings start in the afternoon, giving freedom for the celebration to go on into the evening and night. Alternatively, morning weddings can offer many benefits and greater convenience for both the bride and groom and their guests: • • • • •
A morning wedding allows most of the day to extend the celebration. It can be more convenient for foreign guests as they may be able to travel home on the same day, avoiding the cost of accommodation. It allows more time, for example, to take photos at the venues and not have to return on another occasion. Couples can have more scope with the menu, opting for breakfast, brunch or lunch menus. Prices are usually cheaper during the day as staff costs are more expensive at night.
The decision of what day and time to get married should be made taking into account the couples wishes, needs, logistics, guests’ needs and budget. 5. Types of weddings As a professional wedding planner it’s important to know the different types of weddings in order to accommodate a wide range of people and expand your customer base. You need to know about each of the different rituals and traditions to offer a good service. Civil or religious ceremonies in general - requirements and traditions. In the recent past, religious ceremonies were most popular but now more and more people are planning original, personalised civil ceremonies. This offers much more flexibility in many ways. The one drawback to this is the documentation needed. As a wedding planner you need to have a thorough understanding of all the documentation needed and also the bodies responsible for administering them.
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You can either take on this role yourself using your ID and the couples’ signatures or you can hire the services of a private agency to look after it. You’ll need to allow for extra services like this in your price. If you take on this role it is a way to increase your income if your time allows. Alternatively, the bride and groom may decide to do these themselves. The documents usually required for a civil ceremony: • • •
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A photocopy of the passports of the bride and groom or, if not available, a residence card. Birth certificate of both parties, issued by the civil registry of their place of birth. A certificate of registration or residence, obtained from City Hall or the District Authority for the area each party has lived in during the past two years. (Usually valid for three months.) A legal affidavit affirming the marital status of each party. The civil registry must be filled in individually for each party. In some municipalities a Certificate of Faith of Life may also be required. This is issued by the registrar of births. If either party is widowed, divorced or has lived abroad, additional documents are needed:
For Widowers: Previous Certification of Marriage Registration and Death Certificate of previous spouse. For Divorcees: Previous Certificate of Marriage Registration with divorce inscription in the margin. If this is not available, declared testimony must be made to a judge from the court in which the marriage certificate was processed. For Foreigners: For those divorced overseas, the divorce decree issued by the official court from which it was granted is required (it must be validated by the 1st Chamber of the Supreme Court). The consulate of the country you are getting married in will ask for a declaration of single status. If both parties are foreigners, according to the Civil Code, they may be married in another country according to national laws or by fulfilling the provisions of either one’s personal country of origin. Once you have all the information together in the marriage registry of the hometown of one party, registration of the marriage can take place. You need a witness who must be a family member. A registrar will review the documentation and if everything is in order will start the authorisation process. At a later date, given to you by the registrar, you may collect the finished documents. The couple are now free to marry. Useful timelines to give your clients: The proceedings in the Civil Registry usually take between 30 and 50 days.
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In most municipalities, these proceedings happen on weekdays in the morning. This can vary according to the city council. Some will allow the process to happen outside of those times. The day and time of the service will be prearranged by the protocol service of the city. Both parties must be present, or a proxy in place of one who has been given special authority, and two adult witnesses. They proceed to read the relevant articles of the national Civil Code for the person who officiates at the ceremony. Next, they will ask each of the parties if they consent to marry the other and, if they both confirm yes, declare that they are united in marriage. Once the marriage is declared valid, each party must sign the certificate of marriage and also the two witnesses. One copy of the certificate shall be referred immediately to the Civil Registrar for registration in the Register and for delivery to the corresponding Family Book. Civil ceremonies The number of people choosing a civil ceremony for their wedding instead of a religious one is steadily rising along with the falling numbers attending regular religious worship. The majority of ceremonies are still religious but we feel it won’t be long before civil ceremonies outnumber them. As a wedding planner, this gives you a unique opportunity to show your creativity and plan an individually designed ceremony that is personal to the bride and groom. You’ll need to check the official rules where it’s to take place as licensed locations can still be limited but you have more scope to be creative than you might in religious place of worship. Rules allowing, you could choose a really special setting like a meadow with paths and circles cut out, a beach with the romantic, peaceful sound of the water as a backdrop, or a grassy/woodland scene with birdsong to cheer the bride and groom along. In the US, the minister holds the licence to grant marriages and can choose to do this anywhere. In the UK, the licence is granted to the location, which have four walls and a roof. If this is too restrictive for your large imagination, arrange for the legal part to be done indoors and be as creative as you want with staging readings, blessings and personal vows in a different setting before or after this. The usual structure for a civil ceremony goes like this: Entrance procession: The congregation stands while the bride and groom enter the scene with their choice of music playing. Witnesses, bridesmaids, and any flower girls or pageboys may either be in their assigned places for the ceremony or join the procession with the bride and groom. Opening words/Welcome: The officiant welcomes the bride, groom and guests. He or she speaks of the declared intention of the bride and groom to express their love for each other in the presence of their family and friends and to confirm this by exchanging wedding vows and committing their lives to one another.
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The giving in marriage This is a traditional part and not followed by all civil ceremonies. The officiant asks something like “Who supports this couple in their marriage?” It takes the place of the original “Who gives this woman in marriage to this man?” As women now hold a different disposition in society this is no longer acceptable to most. Music At this point there is usually a pause in proceedings and an interlude of music. It gives the bride and groom time to settle their nerves and relax before the exchange of vows. Opening prayer or reading You can help the couple choose the first reading. This will set the tone for the ceremony, so should reflect their values, personalities or vision for their lives. There is a wide variety of choices in many themes. Here’s one example: The Beauty of Love The question is asked: “Is there anything more beautiful in life than a young couple clasping hands and pure hearts in the path of marriage? Can there be anything more beautiful than young love?” And the answer is given: “Yes, there is a more beautiful thing.” "It is the spectacle of an old man and an old woman finishing their journey together on that path. Their hands are gnarled but still clasped; their faces are seamed but still radiant; their hearts are physically bowed and tired but still strong with love and devotion. Yes, there is a more beautiful thing than young love. Old love.” You could suggest music as a soft backdrop to the readings to add to the atmosphere and poignancy. Definition of marriage The officiant makes a declaration about what marriage aspires to be and to the commitment that the bride and groom are about to make to one another. Wedding vows/promises The vows are usually based on the traditional model but these days are often adapted to be personal to the bride and groom. The bride and groom may choose to declare the same vows or compose individual ones. Here is an example: “From this day forward, I commit myself to you in love, respect, honour and friendship. I promise to be loyal and supportive, faithful and understanding. I will laugh with you through happy times, comfort you when you find life challenging and be at your side through all that life brings us. I promise to do everything I can to help our love to grow and deepen and intend to watch many sunsets together. I will care for you above all others as my cherished husband/wife.”
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Music and second reading This reading, again, should be meaningful to the couple and reflect the commitment they are just about to make. Here is a popular choice: On Marriage Kahlil Gibran “You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days. Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.” Exchange of rings or gifts Rings are most commonly exchanged as a symbol of marriage but couples also choose different kinds of gifts that have meaning for them. The wording around this part of the ceremony is less formal than in the past, but usually follows the traditional message, like: “I give you this ring as a sign of my deep love and devotion and the eternity of my commitment to you. Wear it as a sign of our marriage.” Music/reading/unity ceremony There is often more music at this point, another reading if desired and some couples perform a unity ceremony, for example, lighting a candle together. Declaration of marriage This is the part that makes the marriage legal and is performed by the officiant. The wording can vary but is a standard declaration based on the laws of the location and is not very long. Even though it’s been a long time since a groom needed permission to kiss his bride, this part of a w
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edding ceremony is still felt as romantic and symbolic and is usually included. The officiant declares: “I now pronounce you husband and wife; you may kiss the bride.” The officiant now presents the newlyweds to their family and friends, uplifting music plays in the background and the couple lead a procession of their guests outside where everyone can offer congratulations, embrace, mingle and take photographs. Introduction of newlyweds to the congregation & music.
Religious Ceremonies Religious weddings usually have a more rigid ceremony than civil ceremonies and require submission of certain documentation. Part of the requirements of the wedding planner is to identify the requirements for any religion necessary depending on the religion of the couple. Below is a sample list of documentation requirements for a catholic religious ceremony: •
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Baptismal certificate. You must apply in the parish where you were baptised. If for any reason it is not in the city where you were baptised, the bishop of the city of origin can legalise the document. Certificate of current marital status. Certificate of registration of the parties. A copy of the national identity of each of the couple accompanied by the original. This is compulsory. Proof of marriage counselling. The church provides a series of workshops and premarital talks that must be attended before getting married by the church.
For widows or legal minors, the same requirements are needed as in a civil ceremony. In the case of separated people, only if your previous marriage was annulled by the church will you be allowed to remarry in the church. It does not recognise divorce. A month or so before the wedding, the intended marriage is recorded by the parish in the Marriage Record. This file is delivered to the Bishop to get the 'canon contracted marriage certificate' and delivered back to the parish where the wedding will be held. The 'canon contracted marriage certificate' is then signed in the parish for submission to the civil registry and the Family Book. If the couple are of immediate family, they must have a waiver. A waiver is also required if one party is of another religion. ‘Banns’ are published in the parishes of both spouses to see if there is any impediment to the marriage. Once you’re clear about which ceremony is chosen by the parties you can ask them if they’re ready to make a wedding plan. Other types of wedding:
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• • • • • • • •
Jewish Ritual Mormon ritual Muslim ritual Hindu ritual Buddhist ritual Protestant ritual Orthodox wedding Gypsy wedding
In these cases you’ll learn during your first meeting if the couple intended to have a wedding of particular tradition or ritual. It’s useful to know in advance what each different one entails. Jewish Ritual The Jewish religion is one of the oldest and therefore has a large number of traditions. For Jews, marriage is a very important step for the couple and is considered an ideal and a duty. As with other occasions, Judaism has adapted its teaching to modern times. In the past, the choices of family, mostly parents and grandparents, came before the choice of a couple. Marriage was always between Jews within the same community. Now couples freely make their own choices based on their personal feelings. The Jewish ceremony The couple enter the church with their parents, groomsmen and the rest of the family. According to tradition, families are placed under the "chuppah", a traditional, tent-like structure, reminiscent of where couples lived in ancient times. The ceremony, held in a synagogue, is performed under a canopy of four or more yards long, under which the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession or an image. A Rabbi - a master in Hebrew who interprets sacred texts - pronounces seven blessings on the couple - "sheva berachot". He blesses a glass of wine, and then the couple and the Rabbi drink from it. Now the groom places the ring on the bride’s finger, while saying a few words to signify making his girlfriend his wife. Conversely, the bride places the ring on the groom’s finger as a symbol of union. The consent of the exchange of rings expresses a mutual desire to form a new home in marriage. A marriage document, the "ketubah" is signed and read in public like an official contract. It records the obligations taken on by the man as a husband and the compensation to be paid to the woman in case he ever wanted to divorce her. Two witnesses to the ceremony sign at the foot of the "ketubah". The newlyweds, covered under one blanket, listen to the prayers end and the groom breaks a glass placed at his feet by stamping on it. The destruction of the glass is meant to evoke
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that, even in the midst of the happy moments and joy of marriage, we have the memory of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem almost two thousand years ago. Throughout the ceremony the men keep their heads covered. The wedding can be held in the native language of the couple or in Hebrew. Weddings cannot be celebrated during the "sabbath" (from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday), the religious holidays in the Jewish Passover, or during the three weeks after summer. After the ceremony, the marriage celebrations begin. Traditionally, the "challah" blessing comes before the banquet, consisting of blessing the bread. This is a symbol of the union of the two families. In the past, depending on the wealth of the families, the celebrations for the marriage lasted for several days (traditionally seven days). The basic requirements for a Jewish wedding are: •
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The parties must be born Jewish but may be allowed to convert to the Jewish religion in order to marry. In this case the bride has to be endorsed by a member of the Jewish community to validate and confirm the couple’s intentions. In many cases, the blood of the couple is tested to check their compatibility. The birth certificates of the intending spouses must be requested from the Civil Registry of their place of birth. The man must have made his Bar Mitzvah, which is done when a child turns 13 and therefore enables the individual to enter the Jewish community.
Mormon Ritual One of the main features of this kind of ritual is that everyone participating in the ceremony usually wears white, including the bride and groom. They also receive the same blessing. The spouses establish a bond between them that’s considered a seal of their union for eternity – a sealing. (Catholic celebrations are valid until death do you part). In such a ritual, rings are exchanged but they are not blessed. To divorce means to break this seal which can only be done by the high authority in the Mormon tradition. Muslim Ritual The Muslim ceremony has to be held in a mosque, and be celebrated by the head of the mosque, the Imam. In this case the marriage contract is certified by the groom and his guardian. Like some other religions, in most cases Muslim marriages are agreed by members of the family, usually the male family members. This is starting to change though. After the ceremony, there is a party that usually lasts from three days to a week, and it’s held in the home of one of the parties. The first night is a celebration just for the women of the family. On the second day you have what is called the 'Feast of bride and groom'. This second day is mainly a celebration where the couple are the main focus. Like all Muslim celebrations the marriage ritual is accompanied by a lot of music and tradition.
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Hindu Ritual In this type of ritual the two cornerstones of Hinduism play a special role - reincarnation and Hinduism. The ceremony focuses on the Brahman priest, a figure of religious authority. It is loaded with symbols and practices that aim to prepare the couple for a future life together. The three basic rituals of this ceremony are: 1. The ritual "homa" - the offering to the fire. 2. The "panigrahena", indicating the bond of the couple's union. 3. The ritual "satapadi" which means the couple must do seven laps around the sacred fire. By completing these seven laps while chanting mantras and sacred texts, blessings are invoked on the couple. Such ceremonies are especially beautiful because of the richness of colour in both the decor and costumes for the guests and of course the bride and groom (the bride's dress is red). Upon meeting at the altar the bride and groom exchange garlands and amulets in order to bless their union and their subsequent life together. The groom, to indicate the new sentimental state of his bride, sprays red powder on her hair. This indicates that she is now married. This religion in principal does not prohibit marriage between people of different religions, as it’s not a dogmatic religion. It recognises other religions but doesn’t share the same doctrines. Buddhist Ritual Buddhism, as a religion in itself, does not have any marriage rite, and that is why different traditions are taken from various sources. As Buddhism preaches about finding nirvana and on the importance of the search for inner peace, one of the rites used is astrological prediction. During the ceremony, the bride and groom are placed together in a posture of complete respect. Truly, it is not a wedding ritual – a joining of two people - but a blessing of the couple. As an offering, food is usually offered to the Lord Buddha and the monks. In appreciation of this offering, the monk leading the ceremony, with the bride and groom, anoints pollen and holy water. Protestant Ritual Due to the existence of various branches of Protestantism - Anglican, Lutheran, etc., in this case it is better to listen to the particular traditions of the couple.
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Broadly, the ceremony is very similar to the Catholic one. The bride wears white, the ceremony is officiated in this case by a pastor, there is an exchange of rings between the parties as a symbol of unity and loyalty between them and they must prove their readiness for marriage by attending premarital courses. Orthodox Ritual As was the case above, this ceremony is very similar to the Catholic one but with a few differences. The rings are given as a token of love and loyalty, but there is also an exchange and taxation of crowns which means that the couple are the owners of their lives. After that, the couple do three turns towards the altar in a circle that symbolizes eternity and the number represents the Trinity. The rest of the ceremony, the entrance and exit to the temple/church, is very similar to the Catholic ritual. Gypsy Wedding As is typical of gypsy culture, weddings are a grand celebration, lasting more than one day, in which the whole family or the whole clan is involved. One feature of this celebration is the purity with which the couple come to marriage. In fact the most important part of the ritual involves checking the virginity of the bride, known as tissue testing and performed by the most influential woman of the family and who witnesses all the women of the family. If the tissue is broken, the girl cannot marry. After the verification the wedding begins, characterised by excesses in the banquet, in gifts, in the dress - for couple and guests - and in the subsequent celebrations. Themed Weddings It is increasingly common for the bride and groom to choose the option of a themed wedding. It’s more personalised and symbolises the common points between them. Such unions really are the most creative and allow you as a Wedding Planner to let your imagination run free and show off what you can do. In these cases it is very important that communication is clear so the couple achieve their objectives and that they thoroughly enjoy their wedding day. It’s a good idea to prepare a list of questions to get to know them better so you can plan proposals that suit their taste, like: • • • • • •
What is your favourite food and dessert? List three restaurants that you often go to. What are your favourite drinks? Do you like alcohol? When going on vacation what do you prefer - beach, golf or new cities? Do you like to read? Tell me the last three books you've read. What are your favourite colours and which you like the least? Do you have any hobbies?
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What is your favourite season? What kind of music do you listen to? Three favourite artists? How do you imagine your wedding? What does getting married mean to you? What made you decide to do so?
These are just suggestions. Compile a list you’re happy with. With the answers to these questions you can identify a style or a theme around which to start organising fashion and on which to base the menu, decorating, the honeymoon, and other things. 6. Choosing music for the ceremony The music selection for the ceremony should be a personal choice of the couple to whom you present different proposals. Usually couples opt for classical music or music typical of the region or place of origin of either party or the place where the ceremony will take place. Another option that is very uplifting is to have live orchestra music or a choir or both. It’s important to talk to the person who will officiate or direct the ceremony to agree on the number of pieces that are needed and the times during the ceremony the music will need to be heard. The classic themes more often heard are: the "Hallelujah" from Handel's Messiah or "Canticorum", "Lascia ch'i Pianga" or "Heil, heil, heil". The theme "Die Himmel Erzählen" by Haydn, "Ave Maria" by Schubert, "Gloria" by Vivaldi. Following composers such as Mozart, you could choose a multitude of compositions like "Hallelujah", "Laudate Dominum". From other composers you could choose: "How Beautifull" or "I Shall feed his flock" by Handel, the "Panis Angelicus" by Franck, the "Et in Unum" by Bach or the "Amen" by Pergolesi. The possibilities are many and varied. For entry to the church the most popular option is Mendelssohn's Wedding March. If you opt for traditional regional music you must confirm the quality of the group and of the instruments used by them beforehand to avoid any last minute surprises. 7. Choosing music for the banquet The musical selection for the banquet is much more casual than for the ceremony. Once again the couple’s preferences will be important but you can advise them and invite them to choose popular types that their guests will enjoy. You’ll be familiar with the typical repertoire of your area. You could suggest that the bride and groom surprise their guests with a live music group or with a performer to accompany the music. Once again it’s important to know the musical tastes of the couple in order to make proposals related to their interests. A nice touch at weddings is to compile a list of songs to be played that are sentimental or meaningful to the bride and groom or to family members.
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Module 2: Planning for the Big Day study 2.1. Engagement Party - wedding planner’s functions. 2.2. Bachelor party - individual or joint. 2.3. Choice of venue for the celebration. 2.4. Invitations: design and content. 2.5. How to prepare the guest list. 2.6. Flower girls and pageboys - functions. 2.7. Rings and symbols of partnership. 2.8. The speeches - who, how, when and why? 2.9 Event checklist. •
Video tutorial - Event checklist
1. Request for her hand in marriage. Or his: Even though it’s quite formal, people still find the ritual of asking for someone’s hand in marriage really romantic. Traditionally, of course the man requested the woman’s hand but women are now also free to pop the question. When the couple decide to make their intended marriage public they may celebrate this engagement with a party where both families can meet if they haven’t already done so. Traditionally, the groom's parents went to the bride's house. This date is set by the bride’s parents. They would sit down to lunch, a snack or possibly dinner. Of course protocol changes with time. Now it’s more likely the intended groom arrives to visit his intended bride’s parents with his parents. It’s also traditional for the intended groom to bring a bouquet of flowers to the intended bride’s mother as a courtesy. In the past, the bride was not present at this gathering but of course this is obsolete now. After the meal, it’s usual to talk about the couple and their future plans and expectations. It’s also when, traditionally, wooing took place and gifts were offered. A diamond engagement ring is traditionally give to the woman. The diamond is seen as a symbol of eternal love. It’s usually placed on the ring finger of the left hand. In some countries
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the right ring finger is reserved for the wedding band, in others the wedding band goes on the same finger as the engagement ring. Often a wristwatch in a classic design is given to the man. Nowadays it’s more likely a couple will opt for a less traditionally, ceremonious engagement. They may ask for your help in choosing the engagement gifts. From your first interview and questionnaire you’ll begin to get familiar with their tastes and budget. It’s good to be prepared for the kind of styles and price ranges that fit the couple so you can narrow your search to suitable shopping outlets. By doing lots of research into ideas for gifts – rings, watches etc, and where to find a large range of choices, you can impress any couple from the beginning and show them that you truly know this business. If the man or woman wants to set up a scene for the proposal you can be very creative in suggesting interesting, romantic, surprising or different options. Again, it’s where you can really impress with originality and imagination. Some ideas that are timeless include; limited edition historical books, discographies of singers or, as they are often highly prized by brides-to-be, designer shoes, clothes or handbags. Your job is to come up with ideas that will impress the other party and be memorable and sentimental. Doing a good job here may win you the job of organising an engagement party. 2. The bachelor party The farewell to single life! Most couples plan to get married also plan a party to mark the end of singledom. You may be asked to organise this. Some couples have a joint party, some celebrate separately. For the girl, her friends usually organise this, for the guys, his friends. It’s usually enjoyed by siblings, friends, cousins, relatives, work colleagues, neighbours. Parents often attend too for all or part of the evening. In recent years it has become very popular to dress the bride and groom in themed costumes. This last fling during single life often involves a visit to a red light district, a sensual show or an erotic performer attends. Traditionally it signifies that from here on the couple has to observe eternal fidelity. Naturally, this kind of evening doesn’t suit everyone and you can again show your talent by having a list of ideas to suggest alternative ways of marking this occasion. To get you started; other kinds of bachelor parties include; shows, tours, spa sessions, paintball, photo shoots, shopping trips, weekends away etc. There are now many companies that are creating packages to cater for couples celebrating their farewell to singledom, either for a day, overnight or a weekend. What you suggest will need to suit the guy’s or girl’s personality and budget. 3. Choice of venue for the celebration The choice of venue is a big one and must satisfy many wishes and requirements. You need to get to know the couple’s vision for their big day so you can suggest options. Some wedding
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celebrations take place in the couple's home or parents home but the vast majority are in a hotel or restaurant.
Restaurant One of the starting points is the number of guests invited so you can take into account the capacity of the venue you choose. As well as the capacity, you need to assess the elegance, décor, privacy, cleanliness, friendliness, quality of service and price. Many restaurants will allow you to sample the menu on offer to help make your choice. Hotel One advantage of having the wedding in a hotel is the elegance you can enjoy. Hotels are also specifically designed for this kind of function. You’ll have space for live music and dancing and you can avail of other hotel services, like accommodation, separate bar and lounges etc. If the hotel's kitchen doesn’t usually cater for the numbers you want to have you may be able to bring in your own caterers. Guests often extend their stay in the hotel and plan a vacation around the wedding. Having a group of guests staying in the venue of the wedding adds to the feeling of celebration. There is usually a big choice of hotels available to suit any tastes - stately, classic, modern, historical, quirky or luxurious. Private estates In many cities, but especially outside of them, there are private estates that accommodate weddings, usually fewer than 100 guests. They offer a very nice environment with great aesthetics, something rustic and also very beautiful scenic surroundings. Some of these properties even have a chapel where the ceremony can take place and from where the guests can wander through the estate to the celebration. The good thing about this option is that the small number of guests is more intimate and personal. It gives a feeling of privileged treatment and a guarantee that your venue is not shared with any other groups or functions. Hostels There are tourist hostels which are often located in palaces or castles with great historical value, and can be a wonderful setting for a wedding. They won’t suit every couple but may be perfect for some. A disadvantage can be their remoteness and transport may need to be arranged for some guests. Prices in these cases can vary – you’ll need to do your research but it may be worth having as an option. Other information to consider in choosing a venue: •
Terms of cancellation and refund, considering how far in advance the venue is usually booked.
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• •
Payment and discounts. Sometimes hotels give to the bride and groom the honeymoon suite free of charge, depending on the expenses incurred. If the couple wish to use a venue that doesn’t have the appropriate facilities or equipment and utensils you could consider renting what extras are needed. In places that are not usually used for weddings always check: o Lighting o Bathrooms o Cleanliness and neatness of the premises and its employees o Ambience o Hygiene of food service o Temperature control for hot/cold weather o Odours o Emergency exits o Parking for guests o Décor o Number of waiters per diner o Courtesy of the staff o If guests will be outside, is there a covered area in case it rains?
4. Invitations Invitations are a tradition of every wedding and even though new technologies increasingly uses less paper, this tradition still remains present to invite family and friends to the wedding. There are several forms of presentation; one is the traditional style of good quality with a heavy weight paper in ivory or white. There are several ways to phrase the invitation: • •
• • •
To: Names of the parties. Followed by phrases like "we’re getting married", "we invite you to our wedding", "we are pleased to invite you", “we request the pleasure of your company” The most usual is ‘You are invited to attend the marriage of..’ Date and place of marriage ceremony Place and time of banquet On the back or reverse, there may be a map or directions on how to get there.
The couple may include an account number where guests may lodge monetary gifts on a separate sheet of paper. The invitation often includes details for guests to RSVP, so the couple can keep account of which guests are attending - for the menu and for seating arrangements. The couples names, phone numbers and addresses, including email must be included for replies. If a wedding has a certain dress protocol or a particular theme this can be announced on the invitations. It’s also useful to include whether there is parking availability and valet services. Variations
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Invitations can vary in where the information is laid out, the font to use - classical, modern, fun - and the size. A classic placement of text for an invitation is as follows: • • • • • • • •
•
Top left - the names of the bride's parents. Top right - the parents of the groom. The centre - the place, date and time of the ceremony and banquet. Bottom left - address of the bride. Bottom right – address of the groom. Bottom centre - directions. Stay away from the usual icons of doves, crucifixes or other outdated images. Invitations should be sent at least one month in advance, and if you have a wedding list for gifts, a card of the establishment where the list is placed is usually included. The delivery of the invitation is usually done by hand to the closest family members fathers, mothers, siblings and those who live nearby. The same goes with friends. In all other cases, they are mailed in sufficient time to prevent lost or misplaced invitations arriving too late. Never invite people who might feel under pressure. Envelopes should match the paper colour and quality of the invitation card. Names should be handwritten by the couple themselves. Always indicate the householder name followed by the partner’s name or "... and family" when inviting a family living under one roof. For singles and widowed, use the full name. Similarly, for divorced and separated people without a current partner.
5. The Guest List
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The guest list is one of the most important areas to consider in a wedding. It can be a difficult task as it’s usually not just the couple whose wishes and intentions are taken into account. It’s a very special occasion for parents and families too. There will be extended family members to consider as well as friends and work colleagues. On the guest list, it’s customary to first count parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews & nieces and then second cousins and more remote relatives in the family. Neighbours may also be important. Someone needs to take charge of keeping track of who’s been invited, who accepts, who declines and who hasn’t replied and liaise with the venue of the celebration regarding the number of guests attending. 6. What are pageboys and flower girls? They are children, usually chosen from relatives, who are "helpers and companions" in the wedding ceremony. They are normally children of five or six years old, chosen among nephews, nieces, godchildren or children of friends. Although each couple can choose the number they want for their wedding it is recommended that the number is not less than two and not more than six. The pageboys and flower girls are part of the wedding party, they sit in the front of the church and can help at certain parts of the ceremony. For example, one may present the rings at the time of vows instead of the groomsman. Another job may be to scatter flowers or carry a basket of flowers. 7. Rings and symbols of partnership
The wedding ring has a long tradition throughout the centuries, fashionable since the time of Egyptian pharaohs in the Old Kingdom. Rings are the quintessential symbol of marriage. There are many theories on their origin but one of the most commonly accepted is that the ring finger connects to the heart through a vein. This vein is known from Greek times as the vein of love. Their round shape symbolizes that love has no beginning or end. Gold represents the solid love and wealth that is to accompany the couple. The Trinity method was to slip the ring over each finger saying ‘in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit’, and then place it on the ring finger. Placing the ring on the bride also used to have sexual connotations - that the bride and groom would now be sexually intimate. Nowadays the tradition is maintained but without such connotations. There aren't many rules in terms of the design of the ring. It’s really up to the tastes of the couple. The most popular is a plain gold band with names and date engraved inside and possibly a short message. Gold can be yellow, white, matte or satin. Some people add small diamonds or other gems. Platinum and silver are also widely used alternatives for some couples. More and more couples choose exclusive, personalised designs. The pledge In some countries there is a tradition of swopping 13 coins, of gold or silver. It’s an ancient, symbolic gesture and the meaning in the past would have been in exchange for the granting of property to the marriage, that the couple will share. It would also have symbolised a prize to the bride for her virginity or possibly a compensation for widowhood. It’s not a widespread custom, just among some who choose to keep with this symbolism.
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8. The Wedding Speeches At the wedding, it’s not always necessary to give speeches or words of appreciation, although it is usually expected and enjoyed by guests. Who speaks? Generally speaking, any of the sponsors (groomsmen or bridesmaids), the parent(s) and the bride and groom can speak. Anyone close to either one of the newly married couple can also speak on their behalf. It’s a chance for family or close friends to express love and affection, funny or memorable stories and good wishes. It’s an advantage when the person speaking has good diction, a clear voice and some wit too. The groom and bride also can say a few works, publicly expressing their love for each other and gratitude to families and friends. When do they speak? Generally, when desserts and coffee are being served, speeches start but this can vary. What do speakers say? Traditionally, they thank the guests for attending and say a few words about the couple. If it’s a friend, he/she may tell a story which shouldn’t be rude or in poor taste, like about when the couple met or something that’s important to them or is a nice memento. A good guideline is: brevity, clarity and no revelation of intimate or private details. Some Tips: In the speech, anything negative should be avoided. If the person who is to give the speech has drunk more than is advisable, it is preferable not to allow him/her to speak. Spontaneity is preferable, but many will not be used to speaking in public, so it’s better to prepare the speech in advance and have notes. They must speak slowly, clearly and with good pronunciation, so everyone will understand. They should be aware of gestures and body language. Sometimes more can be said with the body than with words. If a speech is to last more than two or three minutes the speaker needs to be entertaining and comfortable. Good humour is always an advantage. EVENT CHECKLIST Instructions • • • • •
Days before the event, make a checklist of each of the elements involved in the celebration. Call each of your suppliers and check that they are clear about what you need from them. Remind them of the time and place of the event. Meet with your client to oversee your work and budget so if there's anything you don’t like, you have time to change it. Contact any guests that have not confirmed attendance. They may not have received the invitation.
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• • •
A week beforehand, confirm with the caterers or restaurant the number of guests so they have a good estimate of the food and beverages to be consumed. Remind them also of the specific needs of any of your guests, such as celiac or vegetarians. On the day of the event, make sure your phone has full battery. Take your charger, laptop, business cards, notepad, pens ... and even a first aid kit.
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Module 3: Dressing the wedding party study 3.1. For the bride: • • • •
The dress - Choosing the right dress Video tutorial-Choosing a wedding dress to suit the bride's figure Accesories Video tutorial -The bride's bouquet
3.2. For the groom: • • • •
Suit and accessories. Dressing the groom - Body shapes Video tutorial - The choice of wedding suit Video tutorial - Make up for the groom
3.3. For the bridesmaids, best man, flower girls and page boys 3.4. Other things to consider when dressing the bridal party 3.5. Make up • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
General tips Foundation Eyes Video tutorial - How to apply false eyelashes Video tutorial - How to remove false eyelashes Eyebrow make up Video tutorial - Eyebrow make up Cheeks Lips Video tutorial - Wedding make up Video tutorial - Nude bridal make up Video tutorial - Vintage bridal make up Video tutorial - Make up for the mothers of the bride and the groom Video tutorial - Make up for guests - Evening Wedding Video tutorial - Wedding Make up for youger guests Video tutorial - Home beauty tips
3.6. Hair colour and style • • •
Shades to enhance skin types Which shape/style of hair suits which face shape Video tutorial - Hair style for a bride
3.7. Nail care
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• •
Video tutorial - Manicure Video tutorial - Pedicure
3.1 Choice of the bride’s dress The bride’s dress is the central attraction at any wedding. The choice is a big one for any bride and her taste and style will determine the choice but, as the wedding planner, you can help advise her. A priority is whether the wedding is formal or informal, or if there’s another dress protocol to take into consideration. The time of year and whether it’s a morning or afternoon occasion also matters. If budget allows it may be useful to employ a personal shopper to pick out the most suitable choices. Some guidelines: If the bride has broad shoulders you should avoid strapless dresses as they further accentuate the shoulders and can make the bride look masculine. The shoulders should always be covered for religious weddings, so if the dress choice leaves shoulders bare you’ll need to choose a jacket or shawl to cover them for the church. If, instead, you need to disguise the hips, don’t choose a dress that puts much volume in this area but one that falls limply. Tulle and bulky fabrics accentuate the hips. Fabrics that are often used are lace, tulle, silk, organza, wild silk and satin. Shades of white, ivory and cream are most commonly chosen. Hemlines are mostly full length, though some choose shorter. For night time weddings, the fabric is usually more stiff and formal and more soft and flowing for daytime. The above guidelines would be typical for religious weddings of the Christian faiths. Weddings of other faiths usually have their own traditional or ethnic costumes. In civil weddings, the bride and groom feel freer to choose stylish clothes they may wear again and not feel restricted to the typical garments worn for a church wedding. Choosing the right dress for the bodyshape: There are several body types, we'll go through the following in this section; inverted triangle shape, hourglass, oval, rectangular and triangular body shapes. Keep these body shapes in mind when advising the bride on what wedding dress to choose.
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CHOOSING A WEDDING DRESS TO SUIT THE BRIDE’S FIGURE Instructions • • •
• •
•
• •
To choose the bride’s dress, take into account many factors, like the type of ceremony, the place the celebration will take place, the time and the season. But, the most important consideration is that the dress helps the bride to look her absolute best. It must suit her figure, her height and her personality. A figure hugging dress is a good choice to accentuate a curvy figure, since it follows the body contours. These dresses are usually fitted to the knee and then open out and widen. It’s an ideal shape for hourglass figures or rectangular shaped figures, but not recommended for women of small stature. The Princess style of dress is the most sought after because it suits many body types. It hides the hips and tummy area and also balances a figure with very broad shoulders. The empire style of dress is also very flattering for different figures and body shapes. It has an elegant Roman feel and is characterised by the seam just below the bust. From the waist down the skirt falls limply and is very graceful. It’s a good choice if the bride is pregnant. The most spectacular of all is the Cinderella style of dress. The top is a tight fitting bodice which joins a spectacular, full skirt. It is highly recommended for women with a defined waist and wide hips, as it disguises the area of the hips and legs. It also looks well on women with broad shoulders but is not recommended for petite figures as it has the effect of shortening the figure. Once the dress has been chosen, the accessories can be matched to this. Whether you chose a traditional headdress or a veil, it should follow the style and tone of the dress. Shoes must also compliment the dress and accessories. It’s important to ensure they are comfortable as the bride will be on her feet for much of the day. New shoes may need to be worn indoors a few times to make sure there is no discomfort on the wedding day.
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INVERTED TRIANGLE SHAPE In this shape, the shoulders are wider than the hips and sometimes the bust is also large. Therefore, the aim is to try to minimise the upper torso and create more curves and volume around the hips in order to bring more proportion. • • • • • • •
Avoid shoulder pads and dresses with prominent shoulders. Choose V shaped necklines, preferably a narrow V. Avoid wrap style or overlapped at the top. Don’t wear short necklaces unless you’re slim and your neck is long. Avoid dresses that bring attention to the shoulders and avoid narrow and halter straps. Any jackets should be hip rather than waist length. Define hips with a dress the nips at the waste
HOURGLASS SHAPE The hourglass shape has shoulder width in the same proportion to hips and a defined waist. Brides with this shape can wear most styles. Make the most this shape by emphasising the waist and suggest figure hugging clothes. Lingerie is important for this body shape to create smooth curves. The styles of the 40s 50s and 60s are ideal for this body shape. Avoid dresses that make your hips look wider. OVAL SHAPE The oval body shape is characterised by being rounded in the central area, particularly the stomach region. The goal when dressing this shape is to hide the tummy and create a more slender, streamlined outline using the correct clothes and accessories. • • • • • •
If the bride is wearing a jacket make sure it doesn't squeeze the torso. There may or may not be a defined waist but it’s better to stick to straight lines. Low V necklines are slimming for this body type Look for empire line dresses (pulled in below the bust). Wear heels to give height.. Accessories should be in proportion with this body type.
RECTANGULAR SHAPE In this body shape, the torso is small and waist not so defined. The bust and buttocks also tend to be small. The most important thing to remember when dressing this shape is to create curves with the dress and accessories. • • • •
Choose appropriate underwear to do their part in creating curves. Look for a dress with a defined waist in the correct size. Suggest soft, feminine lines Add big, round accessories
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•
Avoid dresses that have square necks and instead search for rounded or V shaped necklines.
TRIANGULAR SHAPE This body shape has narrow shoulders and hips that are wider. The goal is to hide the hip area and draw attention instead to the face. • • • • •
Suggest a dress with detail which draws the attention upwards. If wearing a jacket is should be structured, defining the torso. Any accessories that attract attention to the upper part of the body and the face are good – Avoid a dress where the bottom half is skin tight– they make the hips look bigger. Choose a dress with an A line shape at the bottom
Knowing the body type of the bride will help you give the best advice when helping with the wedding dress. Post Wedding Outfits Many brides now opt to wear a different dress or outfit after the banquet. She may be tired of the tedious weight and discomfort posed by some dresses, or may be a fashionista and while she has the spotlight for the day, want to show herself off in another glamorous outfit! It has been a tradition in many countries for the bride and groom to change into a different outfit to leave the guests and start their honeymoon. Now this is changing into an opportunity to wear a second wedding dress, showcase more fashion or wear something more appropriate for a night time party. It is also becoming more popular for the bride and groom to have a day after party. You can help the bride choose the right outfit for this occasion, while keeping in mind the tips for dressing the various body shapes you should also take into consideration the next section on colour analysis, when helping the bride pick out their post wedding outfits. Colour analysis
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Colour analysis is very important when considering the post wedding outfit or indeed when helping to choose the bridesmaids dresses. Colour analysis is used to determine what colours and tones best suit your clients according to their hair colour and skin tones. Using these tones as your guide, you’ll see how the same shades of colour don’t work for everyone. Each colour has its warm and cool shades (winter/summer), depending on the depth of blue or red in the composition and how they look. It may be the case for example, that a client will feel good in red, but will only suit the cool tones.
On the colour wheel you can see the primary colours - blue, red and yellow, the section with a range of colours created from different combinations of the primary colours and finally, the tertiary colours which are a mixture of the previous two groups. To use the colour wheel to create successful looks for your clients it’s helpful to distinguish two types of combinations: • •
Supplementary colours – these are placed next to each other on the colour wheel and allow you to create very harmonious styling. Complimentary colours – these are placed opposite each other on the wheel and allow you to create perfectly matching, dramatic looks.
Colour is a powerful means of communication. Different shades can convey a variety of feelings and even arouse feelings or moods. They are associated with collective thoughts and ideas and each culture recognises colours in a particular way. Certain colours can signify a special occasion for the person wearing them. Depending on the hue, tone, brightness, colour purity and where it is worn, each chosen colour sends a subliminal message to the person wearing it. It also gives a message to people the wearer interacts with. The upper body, from the waist up, is primarily concerned with the emotional body – our needs and wants. So garments worn here represent these aspects of people – blouses, shirts, sweatshirts, vests, scarfs etc. The lower body, from the waist down, conveys information about the material and physical energy of the wearer -their strength when defending a position. Trousers and skirts represent these aspects.
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Application of colours Determining your client's skin tone takes a little more work. You need to see her face without make up when it has been cleansed. It’s important that the light is natural. See if the skin tends to look yellow, green or gold. If this is the case, it is a warm skin tone. If, instead, it tends towards pink, red or white, it is a cool tone. Another way to check is to see which blends better – gold goes with warm skin tones and silver goes with cool tones. Once you’ve determined the skin tone you’ve made substantial progress towards excellent styling. Cool tones fall into winter or summer colour palettes, warm tones fall into the spring or autumn colour palettes. Next, we’ll go through the details of each colour palette. Winter colour palette If your clients skin is either pale as porcelain or an olive colour, the tone of her face will be pink or blue. ‘Winter’ clients often have dark hair and eyes. Asian people fall into this group, although some Scandinavians with blond or almost white hair also can. The colours that work best with this type of skin tone are intense, rich colours such as black, navy, red and pink. White or light yellow can also work. Beige, orange or gold should be avoided. Summer colour palette As winter clients usually have dark hair, summer clients usually have blonde or light brown hair and blue eyes. Pale yellows, purples and mauves and pastel shades are the most suitable colours for these clients. In general, earth tones also work well. Orange doesn’t suit this skin type. Autumn colour Palette Autumn is a warm palette and these clients will have a golden skin tone. Many redheads and brunettes with brown eyes fall into this group. Some clients with golden skin tones can also have black or blonde hair. Earth tones usually work well, like caramel, beige, khaki, orange, gold and dark brown. Avoid black or white which will make these clients look tired. Avoid pastels too, they don’t flatter this tone. Spring colour palette Clients with a spring skin tone will have creamy, white or peach skin - very light shades. They can have golden blonde, auburn or strawberry blonde hair. Their eyes will usually be blue or green. Freckles and rosy cheeks are typical of this group. The difference between autumn and spring groups is often the eye colour, spring clients have lighter eye colours. The most suitable colours are soft, like peach, golden yellow, golden brown, ivory, green and light blue. Some reds will also look great. Avoid dark and muted tones, like dark gray or black. The Meaning of Colours
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Next, we’ll look at the meaning of colours which is very important as it can help identify which colours suit clients. The mood or message they want to project will greatly influence your choice. Outer garments show what you want to convey. Underwear represents the clients more personal and intimate side. RED The colour red is enigmatic and attracts attention. Those who dress in red on the upper body give the impression of boldness, a willingness to be adventurous and seek stimulating experiences. A person wearing red may be spontaneous, be sure of what he/she wants, and act on impulse without much forethought. Dark red gives a feeling of strength and personal power. When red is worn in underwear, it signifies a free and passionate sexuality. ORANGE The colour orange brings energy and joy. It’s the perfect colour for holidays and therefore doesn’t work well in business environments where reliability and responsibility are essential. The person who wears it can be easily influenced. It can represent a time of change, transition and renewal of ideas. In underwear, it represents the release of sexual tension. YELLOW People who wear yellow communicate a positive disposition and perspective to life, psychological freedom. It can mean the wearer is predominantly intellectual. In underwear, it represents personal relationships in which the emotional and sexual energies are guided primarily by the mind, the thoughts. GREEN Green is a classic colour. If it’s dark, it speaks of a quiet, reserved or distinguished person of refined tastes. If it’s a bright or light green and worn on the upper body, the wearer may be going through a period of healing when there is a need to take time and rest. In underwear, it indicates that there is a need for healing - emotional, physical or especially sexual. LAVENDER or PURPLE Purple and shades of purple are associated with luxury and sophistication and also intuition and spirituality. When you need to make a decision, try painting your nails lavender and see if the answer comes to you! PINK Pink is a feminine, delicate colour, more usually worn by women. It communicates innocence. A woman wearing this colour is likely to be treated delicately by men as it
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awakens their protective side. As it can be related to young girls, an adult female wearing pink could indicate either emotional immaturity or a dreamer, a romantic. It can also mean the wearer wants to communicate the desire for a serious relationship. A man who wears pink is connected with his feminine side. In underwear, light pink communicates the desire to connect emotionally and sexually in a delicate way. Stronger pink conveys more passion. WHITE White dress portrays an energy that’s open and signifies purity and cleanliness. As it can enlarge, people who are overweight tend to avoid it. In lingerie it’s a common colour and shows the wearer just as she is. BLACK Black represents the night, the mysterious, the hidden. It’s not a colour in itself, but the absence of light. Dressing in black may indicate that the wearer doesn’t want to connect with others, may feel alone or doesn’t see a way to communicate. In outerwear it reduces body size and helps the wearer look thinner so is often used by those who want to sculpt their figure. In some cases it can indicate isolation, loneliness or depression. In lingerie, it may signal a lack of confidence in the ability to relate to others or a secret wish to be someone else. GRAY Gray is an inconspicuous colour but can signify stability and success and inspire creativity. It allows all colours around it to take on their full characteristics without affecting them. It expresses elegance, respect, grief, the past or old age. Overuse could lead to uncertainty, discouragement, boredom or depression. VIOLET Dressing in violet represents altruism, a view of life guided by the mystical or religious, especially the more purple tones. It is also a sexless colour, preferred by children, the elderly, pregnant women and people who decide not to engage in a sex life. It communicates a disconnection from the material. It’s not advised for people who suffer from depression as it isolates and activates the imagination. In lingerie, it can represent an idealised image of people or fantasies that are not met in the material.
Accessories The Veil
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A veil is a tradition for church weddings. It’s often made from lace or soft tulle. It can be long or short, depending on the style of dress. Despite the tradition, many brides avoid veils and choose floral headdresses which are more comfortable to wear and are very current. A crown of small flowers matching the bouquet is a common choice. Jewellery Many brides opt for pearls and it’s also very common for brides to wear jewellery inherited from ancestors - mothers, grandmothers or great-grandmothers. This is very sentimental and symbolic. It keeps a family tradition and guarantees something special and original. Brides don’t usually wear a wrist watch, just bracelets and the wedding ring and in some cases also the engagement ring. A pearl necklace, white gold or yellow gold necklace and earrings suit most wedding dresses. Tiaras are also popular as a headdress. Bridal Lingerie The bridal lingerie should suit the dress. A nude colour will go with cream or pink tones and pastels, depending on the exact shade of the dress. If choosing lace be careful that it doesn’t show through the fabric of the dress itself. The idea of good lingerie is that the fabrics are soft and comfortable and at the same time elegant and sensual. Most brides will want to add erotic to the list of qualities too for their wedding night and honeymoon. It’s also fashionable to wear a corset as they can be very flattering to the figure and also erotic. Again, watch for how smoothly it fits under the dress and whether it will be comfortable for the whole day. Footwear Shoes with a medium heel work best for comfort and to wear throughout the ceremony, banquet and celebration. However, current shoe fashions have introduced really high heels, many brides won’t be persuaded out of choosing them. If she does insist they are what she wants, advise her to have a second pair she can change into if they become too uncomfortable, especially when it comes to dancing. Footwear can be covered with the same fabric as the dress, which can be really useful for coordination, or made in leather to match. Some brides choose laced boots which are generally very comfortable. Gloves Gloves are not necessary or a particular tradition, but if you do suggest wearing them they are usually of lace, cotton, silk or nylon. There are many forms and models to choose from to suit different dresses. The Bouquet The bride's bouquet is another very visible essential on the day of the wedding. The choice must be correct and consistent with the bride, her height and size, and the shade of the
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dress, accessories and bridesmaids. If a bride is not tall it shouldn’t be a bulky bouquet, this could make her look shorter. Bouquets are becoming more original and different, often being made with decorative motifs added to the flowers or in more unusual shapes. If the bride wants a particular flower bouquet, with greenhouses that grow flowers year round, every choice should be available. Another thing to keep in mind is whether the bouquet should be round or cascade. A small round one will be more comfortable to hold. The cascading type could be in danger of staining the dress. The groom’s and groomsmen’s lapel flowers will need to be coordinated with the bride’s and also the bridesmaids’ bouquets. The same flower theme is usually used to decorate wedding cars and the church too. THE BRIDE'S BOUQUET Trends: Glitter and Glamour Instructions • • •
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The bride's bouquet is undoubtedly one of her most important accessories. Current trends are for the bouquet to be a prominent focus. Many are works of art. A combination of white feathers and beads with flowers is perfect for a satin dress. As the bridal bouquet is held for a long time, a purse or handbag bouquet can be a very comfortable and practical style. As it's visually light, it may be a good choice for brides who are of larger build. For brides who want a romantic or vintage look, another handbag style of bouquet is to combine ribbons in three colours with flowers in the same colours. .
Another trend is for cascading bouquets. These make a bold statement. A wire sculpture is used to create the shape and then filled with flowers and feathers. It's important to make sure all pieces of wire are securely tucked in so they don't catch on the bride's dress. The fan shape of bouquet works well with fitted dresses. These arrangements are usually created with a structure of palm leaves with beads at the tips. The tones of these flowers especially suit brown skin. This delicate jewelled bouquet with bright gold and silver chains is light and appropriate for a bride of small build or to wear with a princess or empire style dress.
3.3 For the Groom Groom's Suit There are variations to the groom's choice of suit but not as varied and creative as the bride’s outfit can be. The choice could be a tail coat, a smoking jacket, something elegant or classic or, most commonly, a tuxedo. It will depend on the dress protocol for the wedding and how formal or not it is. Suit
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The fabric of a non-standard suit will depend on the season and temperature. In cold weather, wool, flannel or thick fabric is good. In warm, linen or cotton will keep him cool so he can look poised and elegant The men’s colours are almost always dark which looks very elegant. They can also be gray or blue. A smaller number of men choose paler suits - cream or beige - which can also look very sophisticated, especially in a hot climate. To accessorise the suit, choose a tie that matches the suit and shirt. More and more men are choosing to wear waistcoats which can look very youthful and compliment a bride who is original. To finish off, a classic watch, gold cuff links or other precious metal and sometimes a tie pin can compliment and add flair. A belt should always be almost invisible i.e. a dark colour like the trousers and with a buckle as unobtrusive as possible. Shoes are usually oxford style, laced and worn with dark socks in linen, silk or wool. Shirt The standard wedding shirt is white with a starched collar and a double cuff to allow for cufflinks. A plain shirt allows more scope for accessories. Tie The most classic is a silk cravat type tie in grey or cream and knotted, though this option is more ceremonious and now people are being more original. A classic shaped tie is also common as is a bow tie. Vest or Waistcoat The vest is a garment that has changed and you can now choose some daring designs to add style. They are worn closed and come in pique fabric, ottoman or similar to a winter suit. Trousers Trousers are usually black or gray with black vertical stripes, depending on the colour of the tuxedo. The fabric is the same as the jacket, wool in cold, winter weather or cotton/linen in summer. The cut may vary, with or without tucks in the front. Socks of Scottish yarn, shoe laces and patent leather gloves for this style are seldom used now but if they are they would be pearl gray. Hats are also rarely used but when worn, they are black or gray. Like women, men also have different shapes that vary according to genes. As men have less curves, there are less variations in body type but it is still important to know them and dress each client accordingly. In general, the aim when styling a male client is to portray strength and security with a well defined body. The silhouette is evaluated from the shoulders to the hips, leaving aside the waist.
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Dressing the groom - body shapes CIRCULAR BODY If your client has sagging shoulders, love handles on the torso and the body outline lacks straight lines, it falls into the circular body shape. Your objective is to create an illusion of straight lines in the silhouette using clothing – helping the shoulders look straight and disguising the core area. To achieve this, here are some points to consider when choosing garments: • • • • • • • • • • •
Clothes should flatter this body shape. Avoid any details that create volume in the central area of the body – bright colours, prints, closed jackets and waistcoats. Ensure that jackets and shirts have straight lines on the shoulders or details such as studs or designs that add volume. Jackets should cover the buttocks and end just where they end. Avoid high-waisted trousers and styles that are drooping as you don’t want to draw attention to the waist. Also, avoid volume in the central area of the body and side pockets. Use monochromatic combinations (a single colour in various shades). Ensure the fabrics in the garments you choose are as smooth as possible. Avoid anything bulky like knitted sweaters. Search for straight lines in all garments you choose for this client's wardrobe. Trousers should be regular fit or straight fit. Completely avoid slim fit and skinny jeans.
RECTANGULAR BODY A rectangular shaped body is one in which there is no difference between the width of the shoulders and the hips. Your objective in dressing a client with a rectangular shape is to identify clothes that highlight this masculine shape. • • • • • •
Choose tailored shirts. Garments should have the same ratio in the shoulders and the hips. You can use layers freely as this body shape can take volume. If your client is slim, don’t use a monochrome look but if his shape is wide, do so. Prints can work well with this shape. Choose slim fit trousers that follow the shape of the body.
TRIANGULAR SHAPE This shape is characterised by small shoulders and most of the weight is in the hip area. Your goal in balancing this body shape is to give volume to the shoulder area and avoid adding to the hip area. •
Shirts must have a straight cut in the shoulder area. Details that give shoulder volume are suitable.
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• • • • •
Choose shirts with pockets on the chest area. Avoid any volume in the hip area like side pockets. Ideally clients with this shape should wear totally smooth trousers without pockets. Never choose baggy styles. The colours of jackets and trousers should not contrast. You should choose the same colour or different shades of the same colour range. Jackets should cover the hip area.
INVERTED TRIANGLE SHAPE Clients with this shape have large shoulders and a narrow waist. It’s a shape typical of body builders and swimmers. Your objective in styling this type of client is to avoid any extra volume in the shoulder area and give volume to the hip area. • • • • • • • •
Search for items with volume around the hip area. Use double breasted jackets. Choose jackets with pockets low down. Avoid horizontal colours on the shoulders and chest or any detail that draws attention to this area. Don’t choose ties with many colours. Contrast jackets and trousers. Shirts can be worn outside trousers. For this shape, in general, choose jackets and shirts that add volume around the hips.
THE CHOICE OF WEDDING SUIT Instructions To choose the groom's suit, you must take into account several factors: • •
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The type of ceremony, the season and the time of the celebration. Another aspect that you need to pay attention to is the bride’s dress. According to tradition, the groom must not see the dress before the wedding. The advantage to employing a wedding planner is that she/he can see both outfits and make sure they harmonise. For a classic celebration, choose a tuxedo. This consists of: A black jacket, a white shirt with a double cuff suitable for cufflinks, a vest or waistcoat and gray or black trousers with vertical stripes. A cravat can be worn instead of a tie. It’s much wider than a tie and the knot is bigger and longer. Another choice is a bow tie.
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According to protocol, when the groom wears a tuxedo, the fathers of the couple and the groomsmen should also wear tuxedos.
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A morning suit is the most suitable for civil weddings and daytime ceremonies. It’s simple and more casual. This kind of suit can have tails or not. The colours black, dark blue and gray are the most usually chosen. To give a touch of colour suits can be combined with a gray vest or waistcoat and a tie in vibrant colours. The groom's shoes, no matter what type of suit is chosen, as a rule, are a classic black, laced and plain.
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Make up for the groom Instructions You need: • • • • • • •
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Concealer Foundation – liquid or powder Hairspray Lip moisturiser With the skin well cleaned and hydrated, start to cover dark circles with the concealer and a synthetic brush. Dab the concealer with your fingers to blend well. If there are any areas of redness or pimples, cover these with green concealer and a synthetic brush.
Foundation can be liquid or powder and very similar to the groom’s skin tone. Apply a thin layer with a makeup brush. Be careful to avoid leaving a line of colour around the line of the beard, sideburns and eyebrows. Apply translucent powder with a powder puff, so that the skin doesn’t shine in photos. Comb the eyebrows, sideburns and beard. In this way you remove any dust that may have fallen in these areas. Spray with a little lacquer. Finally, moisturise the lips with a cream that’s not too bright, using a lip brush.
3.3 The Maid of Honour or Bridemaid's Dress(es) The Maid of Honour or Bridesmaids dresses should be special but never outdo the main character which is the bride. It’s important that they don’t wear white or ivory, or colours that compete with the bride. Besides that, the attire should be more simple than the bride's, and not use the same fabrics as the bride. Take into account size, age, height and figure when choosing an outfit. Dress All females in the wedding party usually dress to harmonise with each other. Outfits are usually light or pastel shades of blue, green, ivory, pink or a similar colour. The length is never above the knee – either cocktail length, two fingers below the knee or full length. Current trends are for very simple, elegant lines. Hats It’s a personal choice whether to include hats in the outfits. Some brides choose to wear a light, wide brimmed hat, others smaller types of hat and some choose headdresses.
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Bouquet The bridesmaids usually carry a small flower bouquet in their hands which complements their dresses. Of course, this is distinguishable from the bride’s. Shoes Medium-high heel with a classic design like a court shoe is the most common and suitable choice for bridesmaids. The time of year the ceremony will be decisive in the type of footwear to choose from. The best man The best man usually dresses to suit the groom. There is some scope to differentiate in small details from the groom and groomsmen Flower girls and page boys Certain wedding customs change and modernise, but most people tend to follow a classic look and one way of seeing this is in the pageboys and flower girls outfits. The children’s costumes should fit the look of the rest of the wedding party. So, if that’s a more modern look then a traditional children’s costume theme probably won’t look right, or vise versa. The best option is to leave this choice until the other outfits in the party have been chosen and then choose a theme that matches. Summer colours should be light or pastel shades. The fabric is usually cotton, silk or linen. If the wedding is in autumn-winter, then velvet or fine wool in stronger colours like maroon, green, blue or brown can look wonderful. Shoes are usually closed for autumn-winter, and more open or possibly sandals for summer. For flower girls you can use more accessories, such as ribbons, bows, or flowers in their hair. For both boys and girls, a sash at the waist is very fetching. It is a feature that is rarely used in Spanish ceremonies, more so in Anglo-Saxon custom. But increasingly, style is becoming international. 3.4 Other things to consider when dressing the bridal party: In European weddings, it is customary for the guests to wear short hemlines, so the sponsor must wear a short length or cocktail dress. In America, for example, when guests wear a cocktail length, the godmother can wear a full length dress. Accessories look best neutral so the dress is prominent. If the wedding is in a cold season it would be ok to wear a coat of the same fabric, a shawl, stole or pashmina. The handbag should tone with the suit, for example in satin fabric with sequins or rhinestones. The shoes shouldn’t be too high and are often covered with the same fabric as the dress. The use of sheer stockings always flatters and styles. Hats suit shorter length dresses but not full length. To look elegant, the hat shouldn’t be wider than the shoulders. Traditionally, if a hat is worn, it’s kept on during the meal. If you use a hat it’s best not to use a shawl or pashmina and allow shoulders to be bare.
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A comb and mantilla in ecru is traditional for a godmother who is single and black for married or widowed women. One-piece suits with long or French sleeves suit married or widowed women and hair is usually gathered under the hat or mantilla. For an evening wedding with dinner, guests usually wear long dresses, short only when dinner is held outdoors and the occasion suits cocktail wear. The fabrics satin, taffeta, organza or with rhinestones are rich and ornamental and distinguish evening occasions from morning ones. Handbags and purses should be small, jewelled or embroidered. Sandals or high-heeled shoes are often ornate. 3.5 Make Up - General tips Plan a make over, not a fake over When planning your make up for your wedding day, plan to enhance your looks, not to show up as someone your husband-to-be doesn’t recognise. Changes that are too drastic, like a tan that’s too dark or a dramatic change of hair colour rarely work well. It’s much better to carefully experiment beforehand with extra make up techniques that are more special than you usually wear, but that don’t change you too much. He fell in love with the real you, keep yourself real. Having said that, it is your very special day and you are the centre of attention. Your make up needs to last over a long day and to look perfect in your photos. Do apply more make up than usual. Start with a little and add more gradually. Lights and cameras tend to make you look a little paler; allow for that. It’s a good idea to have your picture taken with make up on beforehand so you see how flash photography reacts with your finish. Swap current trends for timeless elegance Think about viewing your wedding pictures in 20 years time and be careful to create a look that won’t date too much in pictures. Trends in make up come and go. Try to wear a classic look that’s natural with a little touch of glamour. Tan in moderation If you feel you need to wear false tan, be moderate. A golden glow beats a Caribbean bronze. If you’re applying a gel/cream tanning lotion or if you’re choosing a professional spray, complete it two days before your wedding day so it has darkened fully and there’s no danger of unwanted staining. Take steps to avoid disasters If you’re getting married in a warm environment, as much as possible avoid oily make up products and take some blotting sheets to dab off oil in case you start to shine. Have your make up bag at hand to touch up during the day. Lip colour is most likely to need refreshing regularly. So you don’t have to keep running to a mirror, arrange with a bridesmaid or someone who’ll be close by to watch you closely and let you know when any touching up is needed.
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Prepare for tears It’s quite likely that you’ll well up or shed a tear at some point throughout the day. Even if you usually avoid it, it’s a good idea to wear waterproof mascara for your wedding day. Keep some Q tips in your make up bag. They’re safer than wipes for cleaning up small imperfections. Foundation •
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Good preparation is essential to have your skin at its best before applying your foundation. If you’re having facial treatments, don’t plan any close to your big day. Skin reactions are the last thing you need. Be kind to your skin to make sure it’s looking fresh. Coming up to your wedding drink plenty of water, eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and avoid sugar and processed food. Apply your make up in a position where there is very good natural light. If you wear contact lenses, remember to pop them in before you start. Thoroughly cleanse and moisturise your skin and allow moisture to penetrate before applying foundation. Next, apply your magic ingredient - primer. This creates a lovely smooth base for your foundation and gives it staying power for the day. Match your foundation to your skin tone and check it in both daylight and artificial light. Make sure you have a good quality sponge or brush for applying foundation. With a sponge, use a dabbing rather than a wiping motion for a smoother finish. Make sure you give good coverage to the T zone; the nose and chin areas are most likely to need extra make up. If you’re wearing a low cut dress, think about how your neck and décolleté blend with your face. If you feel you need concealer, wait until after you apply foundation. If you apply it before you may apply more than you need and look cakey. The less you use the better. Finish off with a light dusting of powder, preferably translucent. Subtle use of highlighter on your cheekbones, around the inner corners of eyes and under eyebrows adds a nice special touch, but don’t overdo it.
Eyes •
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Just like preparing your face for applying foundation, it is also essential to apply primer on your eyes before applying eye make up. It helps powder glide on smoothly, avoid smudging and look well for many hours. When choosing shades of powder, follow the usual rules; darker shades on the outer contours, lighter towards the inner. Make your eyes look big and beautiful but don’t go for shades that are too dramatic. Subtle, classic colours are more sophisticated, especially for day time. You can transform your eyes using more bold colours when it approaches evening. To get a crisp look to your eyeliner, a gel works best and lasts longest. If you don’t have a steady enough hand, ask someone who has. Nerves are understandable! False eyelashes have become such an acceptable addition to make up that they are pretty much an essential on a day as special as your wedding. Again, use restraint and choose classic, discreet ones. If you don’t want to wear a full lash strip you can
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find individual ones which are subtle. They really do enhance and add to the allure of eye make up. Before gluing them on, apply mascara to your normal lashes and use an eyelash curler. Once they are glued on and dry, apply more mascara and curl again, lightly squeezing at the root, middle and tips. Make sure false lashes are the correct width – cut if too wide. To frame your eyes well, pay attention to your eyebrows. Have them nicely shaped plucked or waxed - at least a couple of days beforehand so any redness has settled down. Use an eyebrow pencil to fill in any gaps or sparse areas and to help them look thicker. Choose a shade slightly lighter than your natural hair colour. Anything darker will look too heavy and dark. If your brows are fair, don’t be tempted to dye them anything but a subtle shade darker.
How to apply false eyelashes Instructions • • • • •
Carefully remove the lashes from the packaging so they don’t break. Hold the lashes with a tweezers and apply the adhesive all the way along the edge. You have 30 seconds before the glue starts to set. With one hand, stretch the eyelid to see the natural roots of the lashes. Next, stick the false eyelash along the natural line of lashes. Use the tweezers to help join the false lashes to the natural ones. When the glue is dry the eyes can be opened slowly.
How to remove false eyelashes Instructions To remove false eyelashes, you will need: • • • • • •
A bowl with warm water, make up remover sponges, tissues, cotton pads and an oil based or waterproof eye makeup remover. Firstly, wet the sponges in the warm water, squeeze out well and place them on the eyelids to soften the adhesive. Next, take the eye makeup remover and cotton pads. Place some remover on the cotton pad, start above the eyelid and rub downwards. Repeat this until you can easily peel away the false eyelash. The sides usually come away first and, gradually, the centre. Finish by cleansing the entire face as usual.
Eyebrows - Introduction Eyebrows frame our face and have a big effect on facial expression. We’ll take you through how to expertly shape and fill sparse eyebrows using an eyebrow pencil. You’ll also learn how to reshape full eyebrows, correct drooping, short and long eyebrows to create a beautiful, alluring frame for the eyes. Eyebrows in general
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The eyebrow has three sections. The body of the brow is from the inner starting point to the highest point. The tail of the eyebrow is the outer part and also the narrowest. The arch of the eyebrow is the highest point and unites the body and tail. Before shaping the eyebrows you can cover stray hairs outside the ideal lines with a white pencil to see how the eyebrows will look once plucked. Eyebrows should frame our eyes, fashionable eyebrow shapes have undergone several changes over time. •
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Raised eyebrows create a happy expression. These are the ideal to aim for. If the natural eyebrows are too high, the top hairs can be waxed and the area slightly below the natural line can be filled in to bring the eyebrows closer to the eyes. Drooping eyebrows can give the appearance of sadness. In these cases, pluck the hairs at the tail and with a pencil, fill in a higher line. Short eyebrows can easily be lengthened by applying pencil lines to the inside and outside edges. Long eyebrows can be plucked to bring them into the ideal length according to the guidelines above. Thick eyebrows can also be plucked to suit the ideal shape described above and to suit the characteristics of the eye. Thin eyebrows can be augmented by filling in with an eyebrow pencil above and below the eyebrow line, emphasising the brow bone.
Corrections for Eyebrows Before waxing eyebrows, use these guidelines to create the ideal frame for the eyes: 1. Draw an imaginary line from the edge of the nostril to the inner corner of the eye, continuing directly upwards to the eyebrow. This is the ideal starting point of the eyebrow. 2. Draw another imaginary line from the edge of the nostril to the outer edge of the eye, extending to the outer part of the eyebrow. This point is the ideal end. 3. The third line starts at the corner of the lips, runs through the outer side of the iris and up to the eyebrow. This marks the ideal arch point. Eyebrow Makeup Instructions Proportions of the eyebrows: • • • •
Draw an imaginary line, beginning at the nostril, past the tear duct and continuing upward. This is the ideal point for the eyebrow to begin. Draw another imaginary line from the corner of the mouth to the outer edge of the iris and upwards. This point marks the ideal arch of the eyebrow. An imaginary line from the nostril to the outer corner of the eye marks the ideal end of the eyebrow. Match the eyebrows to the hair tone using eye shadow and a bevelled brush.
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There are brands that manufacture specific shadows for eyebrows with stencils that help to shape the brows.
When choosing the tone for eyebrow makeup, always use the hair tone as a guide. The result should be as natural as possible.
Cheeks •
You can afford to apply more blush than normal on your wedding day. Peachy pink shades suit most skin tones and look classic and beautiful. If you have normal or dry skin, choose a cream blush. If you have oily skin, use a powder. Use a good blush brush. Do a fish face to make the apples of your cheeks stand out and apply blush where you would naturally blush. It should be no lower than your nostrils and no closer to your nose than your pupil.
Lips •
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Your lips will be doing a lot of smiling, kissing, eating and talking. They are also one of the main focuses of attention so need to be perfect. To get then really smooth, try this trick: rest a toothbrush in a glass of ice, then brush your lips to remove dead skin. Apply lip balm to make them extra smooth. Your lip colour will both look better and last longer. Another good trick for long lasting colour is to use a lip pencil over your whole lips and then apply lip gloss. As with the other elements of your make up, avoid fun shades or passing new trends. Classic, timeless, sophisticated shades will look best both on the day and in your photos.
Wedding make up You need: • • • • • • • • • •
Liquid foundation Concealer Translucent powder Eye primer Black eyeliner Eye shadow palette Black mascara Blusher in various shades to make corrections Lip liner Lipstick
Instructions: • •
On clean, moisturised skin, begin to correct the imperfections. Apply concealer on dark circles with a flat, synthetic brush. On areas of redness and pimples apply green concealer.
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Choose a foundation of the same skin tone as the bride and apply with a brush from the centre of the face to the sides, so most product stays in the T zone and you avoid a mask effect on the contour of face. Set the foundation with translucent powder, which doesn’t add colour, but mattifies and avoids glare on photos and videos. Apply eye primer on the eyelids. This product smoothes the wrinkles on the eyelid, making it easier to apply shadow. More importantly, it ensures that the shadow remains bright and long lasting so the bride’s make up can look perfect throughout the day. Outline the eyes with black pencil. Draw a thin line on the upper lid, and on the bottom lid, draw a line only on the outside of the lashes, from the centre to the outside edge of the eye. Draw a V shape on the end of the eyes. Draw first on one eye and then the other and compare to make sure they are the same. Rectify if necessary until the result is uniform. Blur out the two lines with a flat bevelled brush. Choose a brown shade, and apply with an angled brush just above the line of the pencil, giving depth to the roots of the lashes. With a synthetic brush, blend the shadow towards the temples. Highlight with shades of the same tone, but that have a shiny finish. Use brown and nude with a sable brush. Apply black mascara. You can also use false eyelashes, depending on the look the bride wants. Choose a shade of blusher that most flatters the bride, that’s in keeping with the tone of the lips and even the bouquet. Use a round brush. Subtly mark the line of the cheekbone with darker blusher and a straight brush. Profile the lips well, starting at the centre and moving towards the corners. Blur out the profiler with a lip brush. Lighten the centre of the lips with a highlighter or concealer. Lipstick should be matte or shimmery, but avoid gloss. With a large brush and compact powder, unify the colour of the face and neck.
Nude Bridal Make Up Instructions • • • •
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To begin, the skin needs to be well hydrated. Choose a beige concealer to cover dark circles. Use green concealer for redness, pimples and irritations. Apply a very smooth and moisturising foundation, close to the tone of the skin, with a foundation brush. Work from the centre of the face to the sides so you apply more product in the T-zone, less on the sides and avoid a mask effect. With a powder puff and translucent loose powder, set the base on the face and eye lids. To create this look, don’t add colour, but mystify and avoid the appearance of brightness in combination and oily skin. Take a natural hair brush and a very neutral shade eye shadow. Draw a curved line in the crease of the eye socket and blend towards the rim.
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Next, make up the lashes with a very fluid mascara, making sure that no eye lashes are caked or lumpy. For blondes and red heads, use a brown shade. It looks more natural than black and nicely blended. Blusher should be in a natural tone. To achieve a flushed effect, use a round brush. Ask your model to do a forced smile and put the blush on the cheek bone area that stands outmost. On the lips, just apply a lip moisturiser using a cotton swab or lip brush. If the lips are very dry, use a lip balm.
Vintage Bridal Make Up You need: • • • • • • • •
Tinted moisturiser for foundation Illuminator Translucent powder Eye liner Mascara Blusher Lipliner Mattelipstick, intense colour
Instructions: • • • •
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Apply the tinted moisturiser foundation from the centre to the outside of the face with a foundation brush. Choose a medium tone illuminator and cover dark circles and imperfections. Mattify the foundation with the translucent powder and a powder puff. Now, for the eyes: take the eye liner brush and with the eye brow lifted slightly, trace along the line of the lashes. Raising the eye brow allows you to see the lash line more clearly. Finish the line with a slightly upward angle. Apply several coats of black mascara, focusing more product at the outer edges of the eyes. With a round brush and burgundy blusher, highlight the cheek bone. Out line the lips with a bright red lip pencil and blend thoroughly. The lip stick for this look should be permanent. Permanentli papplication has two phases: liquid lip stick and moisturiser to finish.
Like the make up for the 20s age group, for the 30s age group we also need a make up look which is quick to apply and gives great results. We choose a pin up style which is ultra feminine and very quick to create. Make-up for the mothers of the bride and the groom You need: •
Primer
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• • • • • • •
A warm, bright eye shadow palette Eyeliner Mascara Illuminator Fluid foundation Bright blusher Copper lip colour
Instructions: This make up look is inspired by Michelle Pfeiffer. • •
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Apply primer on the eyelids to prepare them for shadow. Choose a palette of warm, bright shades. Take a sable brush and cover the entire eyelid with a medium tone shadow. Illuminate the brow bone with the lightest colour. With the eye liner, draw a thick line on the upper eyelid and a very thin one on the lower lid. Apply two coats of mascara. Cover dark circles with a medium tone illuminator. Choose a shade of foundation that’s similar to the skin tone. With a round brush, apply a bright pink blusher. Avoid lip liner. Apply a copper shade of lipstick directly with a lip brush.
Make-up for guests - Evening Wedding You need: • • • • • • • • • •
Liquid foundation Concealer Translucent powder Black eyeliner Eye shadow palette Black mascara Various shades of blusher to make corrections Lip liner Lipstick A synthetic brush for blending corrections on imperfections
Instructions: • • • •
Apply the liquid foundation with a brush. You can also use a latex sponge or your fingers to remove any streaks left by the brush. Using a powder puff, apply translucent powder. This doesn’t add colour, but secures the make up base and removes shine. Outline the eyes with a black pencil, making a thin line on the upper lid. On the bottom lid, draw a line that goes from the centre to the outside edge of the eye. Smudge out the two lines with a flat brush.
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• • • • •
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Choose a brown eye shadow and with the angled brush, apply just above the pencil line, emphasising the roots of the lashes. With a nude eye shadow and a natural hair brush, highlight the eyelid and under the brow bone. If necessary, correct the shade of the eye brows with matte shadow and set with a little hair spray. Define the lashes well with black mascara. It needs to be in perfect condition to avoid lumps and caking. Correct any imperfections with dark compact foundation. Use two different brushes, one straight and the other rounded. The straight brush is to mark the cheek bone, the round one for the temples and jaw line. Your corrections should be nicely blended. Apply the peach toned blusher in a C shape. Outline the lips, starting at the centre and moving outwards to the corners. Smudge out the lip liner with a lip brush. Apply matte lipstick with a lip brush.
Wedding Make-Up for Younger Guests You need: • • • • • • • • •
Liquid foundation or moisturising foundation base; for oily skin - a compact powder. Illuminator Brown pencil Palette of natural eyeshadows Palette of natural blusher shades Brown mascara Natural lipliner Moisturised lip colour Latex sponge
Instructions: • • • • • • •
• •
Prepare the lips by applying lip moisturiser. If the under eye area has dark circles, apply illuminator fluid and blend very well. Next, apply a very light foundation using a moistened latex sponge. Apply eyeliner in a natural earth shade from the middle to the outside edge of the eye, which gives a warm look. For day make up, very neutral tones work well. With an angled brush, blend the line towards the temples. On that same line, to emphasise the roots of the lashes, apply a tan shadow with the angled brush. For day time make up, use a brown mascara for a more natural look. Choose a shade of blusher that matches the skin tone. A trick for finding exactly where to place the blusher is to ask your model to smile exaggeratedly. This clearly shows the cheekbones. Outline the lips with a tone very similar to the natural lip colour. Follow the natural outline. For day time make up, there’s no need to correct the outline. Finally, apply the moisturising lip colour. Avoid excessive gloss, brightness or intensity of colour on the lips.
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Home beauty tips Instructions • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
To look your best, you don’t need to spend large sums of money on cosmetics. It’s very popular to use natural ingredients for beauty care. More and more Spas and beauty salons are using natural products and techniques. Make a natural scrub by mixing salt and almond oil, prepared in a non-metallic bowl. Rub all areas lightly in a circular motion to exfoliate. Emphasise the elbows and knees and avoid sensitive areas such as around the eyes. Rinse with warm water. The result will be smooth and nourished skin with a healthy sheen. You can also make a very nourishing mask that will serve to moisturise and soften the skin on your face, give shine to hair and prevent frizz.
Take a very ripe avocado. Cut it in half, remove the stone and scrape the flesh into a bowl. Mash, and if you have very dry skin add olive oil. With a soft brush, apply the mask all over your face, avoiding the eye area and lips. Allow to be absorbed for 20 minutes to take effect. If you notice itching or any other reaction, remove it immediately. Some natural products can also cause allergies. You can apply the same mixture to your hair. Remove the mask with warm water. If you’re prone to dry lips from being in windy or cold weather, rub them with a toothbrush to exfoliate, removing dead skin. Then apply honey with a lip brush and leave on for 20 minutes. When you remove the honey your lips will be nourished and healthy.
3.6 Hair colour and style When advising the bride and groom on the hairstyles and hair colour for the wedding day, keep in mind the following: Which shades enhance which skin types & which colours don‘t work Colours not only make life beautiful, they also bring change. This applies especially to hair color. If you want to get a new look, there are many possibilities. However, not every hair shade suits every type of colouring. Spring colour type • • •
Skin: The skin is bright and clear, it shimmers golden-yellow or peachy. The spring type has slightly red cheeks and is very often prone to freckles. Eye colour: The color is bright and ranges from light blue to green, often with golden spots in the iris. Hair Colour: The hair is usually blonde, but there are also dark-haired or red-haired spring types. A spring type inherently has a golden glow in the hair.
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The colours that suit spring types: •
Choose warm colors. Golden blonde, honey blonde, golden brown, copper, golden red and warm bright reds like strawberry blonde or warm, light to medium browns are ideal.
The colours that don‘t suit spring types: • •
Avoid ash shades Don’t choose dark colours
Summer colour type • • •
Skin: The skin of the summer type looks bright and delicate and has a bluish to purple skin undertone. Eyes: The eyes are blue, blue-green, blue or gray-green, and brown tones with a light blue, gray, or green glow . Hair Color: By nature, the summer type is blond or brunette with an ashy tone which sometimes seems a little lacklustre.
The colours that suit summer types: • •
Cool colours like ash blonde, ash brown or platinum blonde Red colours should have a bluish undertone, such as bordeaux or violet
This colours that don‘t suit summer types: •
Don‘t use warm reds such as mahogany, copper or golden hair shades.
Summer colour type • • •
Skin: The skin of the summer type looks bright and delicate and has a bluish to purple skin undertone. Eyes: The eyes are blue, blue-green, blue or gray-green, and brown tones with a light blue, gray, or green glow . Hair Color: By nature, the summer type is blond or brunette with an ashy tone which sometimes seems a little lacklustre.
The colours that suit summer types: • •
Cool colours like ash blonde, ash brown or platinum blonde Red colours should have a bluish undertone, such as bordeaux or violet
This colours that don‘t suit summer types: •
Don‘t use warm reds such as mahogany, copper or golden hair shades.
Autumn colour type
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•
• •
Skin: The skin may be very bright but also has a dark bronze shimmer and always has a yellowish-golden undertone. This skin type often has freckles. The autumn skin type is comparatively rare - but is also found in people of African, Asian and Southern European descent. Eyes: The eyes are brown with tones of all shades of green, blue or turquoise. Rarely, clear, bright blue eyes occur in this type. Hair color: It is characterised by light to dark brown hair tinged with red or red hair with shades from copper to mahogany.
The colours that suit autumn types: • • • •
Hair color with warm red and copper tones Also suitable are all warm shades of brown, like auburn and chestnut If the your client has blonde hair, choose a golden blonde You can also choose highlights in blonde, gold or copper red
The colours that don‘t suit autumn types: • •
All ash tones Clear blond colour or highlights look unnatural
Winter colour type •
• •
Skin: The skin can be dark to very bright, often with a slightly greenish shimmer through the veins. In most cases, the skin has a cool-bluish undertone. The winter type is a particularly common colour type globally. Many Africans, Asians and Southern Europeans belong to this group. Eye colour: clear eyes in dark brown, gray, ice blue or deep green, clearly defined from the white of the eye. Hair Color: The natural hair color is black to blue-black, dark or brown.
Colours that suit winter types: •
Blue-black, mahogany, aubergine or ash shades
Colours that don’t suit winter types: • • •
Yellowish-golden shades A lightening of the hair would lead to an unattractive, yellow-copper tone. Also, do not use highlights as these are usually reddish.
Colour type determination Find out skin tone by taking the hair back and putting a white towel around neck and shoulders. Look in the mirror: is the clean face yellowish? Then you have a warm complexion. If it looks slightly bluish, it's a cool shade. Which shape/style of hair suits which face shape
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The shape of your client’s face and head are unique. Use your observation skills to identify their individual features. You should take these factors into account when you are helping a client to choose a hairstyle. Here are some examples of how you can use particular cuts to disguise facial features: 1. Oval: The Ideal of all face shapes in men and women. Both soft and blunt. Oval faces are characterized by the fact that they are slightly wider at the cheekbones than the forehead or chin line. Most hair styles suit this balanced shape of face and it can carry either short or long styles. One good hairstyle for the oval face is a short crop which does not to work so well with other face shapes. 2. Square: The square face has a wide forehead and a pronounced, wide jawline. Narrower faces appear a more stretched shape, wider ones more square. In the latter, longer hair suits, with more volume on top and less on the sides. They can also wear a side pony and light, inward moving waves around the chin to give softer contours. For narrower faces, curly hairstyles can give the face more balance. 3. Triangle: Triangle faces have a narrow forehead and wide chin or a strong jawline. This face shape is well suited for shorter hairstyles with lots of volume. Short, wedge hairstyles with curls and volume on top balance out this face shape 4. Inverted Triangle: This face shape is characterised by a wide forehead and a narrower jaw line and chin. A hairstyle with front or side bangs and blunt-cut hair that ends at or just below the chin suits this face shape. Curls or waves can help the face to look wider at the narrow places of the face. 5. Round : A round face has little or no defined lines, full cheeks and softer "corners" along the jaw line and the forehead. With this face shape, it is important to stretch the face. A stepped section with maximum volume on top and minimum volume on the sides is a great way to make the face appear longer. HAIRSTYLE FOR A BRIDE Instructions •
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Traditionally, many brides wore their hair in a bun. Today, many still do, but there’s a wide range of styles that are also very flattering for a bride. It’s important to style the bride’s hair to suit her and to match the dress, the wedding party, theme and overall style of the event. Here, we’ll show you how to create an informal hairstyle with a headdress for straight hair. This style can also be created with curly hair for a more romantic style. Firstly, prepare the hair by smoothing it with a dryer and a round brush, giving volume to the roots. Part the hair on the top and sides. Clip the top portion with a grip. Apply lacquer on the sides so the hair has more body and the style will last longer.
With a boar brush, take back the left side and secure it with hair clips the same colour as the hair. A boar brush is an essential tool when doing up styles. Do the same with the right side. Once the sides are pinned back, start back combing the crown area, layer by layer, applying lacquer to each section. Brush all the hair to the left side, over the shoulder and clip well at the neck so that it remains in place.
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• • • • •
With a hot ceramic straightener, smooth each strand to close the hair cuticles and create shine. Use the straightener also to create soft curls with the fringe pieces. Now that you’ve created the style, finish it with strong lacquer. With the boar brush and wet fingers, put the finishing touches. Place the headdress on the side and secure with hairclips. This is an attractive, simple hairstyle for a bride who doesn’t want to wear her hair up. It especially enhances the features of a round shaped face.
OTHER TIPS The following are a few expert hits and tips when it comes to make up and hair care: •
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To keep the face bright, here’s a really good natural tonic. Place slices of cucumber on your cleansed face, preferably using a cucumber that’s straight out of the fridge. It will add water and the coolness will activate the circulation in the face. You’ll find the skin smooth and soft all day. For lips, take a toothbrush with medium bristles, insert it into iced water for 30 seconds and then gently brush the lips. This will remove dead skin and also improve circulation. To finish, apply lip balm or cocoa butter. On the run up to the wedding if your client has bags under their eyes, here's a useful tip to do from the comfort of their own home. Place slices of cucumber on their eyes and let them sit for several minutes to reduce puffiness and dark circles. For hair – it’s important to nourish it well. You can make a mask with honey and yoghurt which will moisturise it naturally. Apply all over your hair, allow to penetrate overnight, then wash normally with warm water. If you can tolerate cold water, all the better as it increases shine!
3.7 Nail care Photos of the big day are going to be kept forever, keep in mind that there will be photos taken of the bride and groom's hands to show their new wedding bands. A manicure is something that most brides will think of but the groom should also take care of their hands prior to the wedding. Here are some recommendations for caring for hands: DRY SKIN Dry skin is characterised by the lack of elasticity in the skin especially on the back of the hands. Symptoms are peeling on the knuckle area or the spaces between the toes. Often, especially in winter, small cracks appear that can become painful. It is advisable to drink lots of water, moisturise the skin and protect it from the cold. LOOSE SKIN
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Loose skin is a typical feature of old age. You’ll notice a slight excess of skin on the back of the hand. It has a soft feel and look. It is advisable to do hand exercises and apply creams that improve elasticity. It’s unusual to find loose skin on the feet as they are more likely to swell and retain fluid. PIGMENTED SKIN With age, spots can appear on our skin, both on the hands and the feet. Sun exposure or the use of chemicals can also encourage the appearance of dark pigmentation such as freckles or spots of considerable surface area. It is advisable to apply sunscreen with a high protection factor when in the sun. There are skin lightening creams that soften these spots. SENSITIVE SKIN The skin on our hands and feet may be sensitive to sun exposure or to repeated use of chemicals which can lead to allergies, sometimes quite annoying ones. Sensitive skin is a thin skin. Red spots may appear. This is due to the rupturing of superficial capillaries. Stress and poor circulation is usually behind this tendency. Sensitive skin may also have small bumps caused by contact allergies. It is advisable to apply sun protection creams when in sunshine. THICK SKIN This skin type usually occurs in manual workers. The hands look rough. Corns and calluses are typical in thick skin. On hands, you’ll see it at the base of the fingers and on feet at the heels, on toes and on the ball of the foot. Weathered hands are usually caused by many years of manual work and a lot of sun exposure. We can smooth the rough edges or file with a pumice. Moisturisers are recommended. Manicure Instructions • •
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We start by filing and cutting the nails. Here you see a glass nail file, emery board and manicure scissors. Cut the nails with the manicure scissors. If you want a nail with a square end, cut straight across the nail and then trim the edges. If you want a nail with a round finish, trim the nail starting at one side and making a semicircle. Cut each nail one by one. File the nails to soften and shape the edges. The correct way to file the nail is from the edge into the centre of the nail. Glass nail files are perfect for soft, brittle or scaly nails. For stronger or hard nails you can use a granulated file. Here we’re using a glass one. Place your hands in a bowl of neutral pH soap and warm water. Soak your hands for about 7 to 10 minutes. If the nails are brittle or soft, reduce the time by 5 minutes. Dry your hands with a towel.
With an orange stick, remove excess filing powder, product or debris that may be under the nail. Clean the orange stick with the towel.
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• •
• •
•
• •
Apply cuticle product that will make the removal easier. Leave on for two minutes. You can do this holding the orange stick sideways. With the orange stick, gently draw the cuticle back, nail by nail. Remove excess cuticle product with the towel. If necessary, trim the excess skin of the cuticle, removing it with the manicure scissors. Apply moisturiser on the cuticle and leave on for about two minutes, massaging the cuticle area. Polish the nails with the 4 sided polisher. On each face of the prism there is a number. Start with the side marked number one and finish with the side that says 4. It consists of several files with different size grain, 1 to 3, and a smooth surface for polishing and shining on number 4. With the first three sides, file the surface of the nail, working in one direction only, not in circles, from side to side or up and down. These three faces of the polisher help to leave a smooth, uniform finish without striations on the nails. With side 4, polish with a firm, rapid motion to enhance the natural shine of the nail. Apply more hand cream and massage the hands. Remove excess cream from the nails with the towel and add polish to the nails. Apply polish on the nail from the centre to the sides.
Pedicure Instructions Demonstration Tutorial • •
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Place the feet in a bowl of warm water with PH neutral soap. Soak for 7-10 minutes. Dry the feet with a towel. Cut the nails straight with the pedicure pliers. Toenails are thicker than fingernails and pliers help you cut straight and smoothly. If you cut them rounded, the nails tend to cut into the skin on the sides and this is uncomfortable and painful. File the nails with a coarse file, using a sideways movement. With an orange stick, remove excess filing powder, products or dirt that gathers under the nail (from underneath the white part of the nail). Apply a cuticle remover product that will make it easier to remove. Leave for two minutes.
With an orange stick, gently push the cuticle back, one nail at a time. If necessary, trim the excess skin of the cuticle, removing it with small pliers or nail scissors. Remove excess cuticle product with the towel. Apply moisturiser on the cuticle and leave on for about two minutes while massaging the cuticle area. There are areas of the feet that are dry and rough. They usually appear on the ball of the foot and the heel . There are also thick areas of skin on the lateral side of the foot. These areas need to be smoothed. For this you use the metal sandpaper and go over the parts that have roughness or thickness. You do this by performing lateral movements. You also go over these areas with the file. Take the pumice and wet it. Again, go over the rough or thick areas of skin energetically.
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•
•
• •
• • •
Polish the nails with the four sided polisher. On each face of the prism there is a number. Start with the side marked number one and finish up with the side that says 4. Each side has a different grit size, 1 to 3, and a smooth surface for polishing and shining - number 4. With the first three sides, file the surface of the nail and file only in one direction, not doing circles, from side to side or up and down. These three sides of the polisher help to leave the nails smooth and uniform without striations on the nails. With side four of the polisher, do a strong and rapid friction to bring out the natural shine of the nail. You can also smooth the top layers of the nail with a low power lathe. You start with the thicker file head and finish with the finest. You need to be careful and not let the lathe head rest on the nail. Do a smooth and uniform motion from side to side on the nail. Next, apply a foot cream and massage the feet. Remove excess foot cream with a towel and put the toe separator in place. This helps to paint the nails without smudging. Apply nail polish. In this case we use transparent polish.
If dealing with nail disorders keep in mind the following recommendations for your clients: SLOW GROWTH OF THE NAILS A normal nail grows between 3mm and 4mm per month. This is a little slower in childhood than in adulthood. Factors such as poor diet lead to slow growth. By filing and buffing you activate growth, so it is usually recommended to file nails regularly. You can also apply a gel activator. It's like a clear enamel. This gel will help the nail grow faster. BRITTLE OR SCALY NAILS This type of nail layers and is characterised by a longitudinal split or flaking off in thin layers. It’s usually caused by dehydration in the nail – a low moisture content alters the condition of the nail. The nails absorb water quickly, but also lose it quickly, particularly those who work with their hands in water often. Therefore it is advisable to use gloves. It is a typical symptom of housewives, waiters, cooks or cleaners. It helps to drink lots of water and apply specific moisturising products. The ingredient ceramide protects nails and prevents breaking. DISCOLOURED OR SPOTTED NAILS Spots are usually produced because of materials used in the workplace or from habits like smoking which causes nails to turn yellow. Nail polish is usually recommended with 4-sided polishing to remove the top layer of the nail that is discoloured. Vitamin C also performs the function of antioxidant and even restores natural colour. It is a good idea to eat foods rich in this vitamin.
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BRITTLE OR SOFT NAILS Brittle or soft nails are thin and bend easily. This may be due to a lack of keratin or from aggressive cleaning products in the work environment. For these nails, apply a layer of product containing nail keratin which you’ll find in the pharmacy. This treatment will help the nails to thicken and become more resilient. Polishing is not advisable for this type of nail.
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Module 4: The Reception, Party and Gifts study 4.1. Choosing the banquet menu. 4.2. Complementary Services: • •
Hostesses Transfers
4.3. Floral decoration for the church, for the couples’ mode of transportation and for the banquet location. 4.4. Layout of tables: • • • •
Wedding party table. Tables for the guests. Table decorations. Video tutorial - How to dress a table
4.5. What to give to your guests? •
video tutorial-Gifts for guests
4.6. What to give the couple? •
Wedding lists.
4.7. Capturing lifelong memories: • • •
Photographic and audiovisual services. Points to Consider. video tutorial-Choosing service providers
4.8. After party. 4.9. The honeymoon.
1. Choosing the wedding menu One of the most spoken about parts of the wedding day is the meal. The degree of satisfaction among guests is, in large part, up to you.
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The food not only has to be top quality the portions must be appropriate. One of the elements to keep in mind is whether the wedding is celebrated with lunch or dinner. Everyone expects meals to be more generous for dinner and food for lunch should be lighter. Bear in mind whether the venue you have chosen has its own wedding menu. If there are no kitchen facilities then you’ll need to hire outside catering. In this case you are responsible for checking many things that you can take for granted when allowing a good hotel to prepare the food. Like quality of service, product quality, quantities, hygiene and presentation. When booking restaurant and kitchen facilities, you need to anticipate last minute changes in the number of guests attending. You may have given the hotel an exact number but this can change, even on the day of the wedding. The meal creates one of the most lasting memories, so put a lot of work into getting it right. Many couples don’t take into account that all of the guests will not have the same gastronomic tastes and often follow their own tastes. It’s your job to point out different menu options that allow for guests with certain intolerances like lactose or gluten and also for any guests who are vegetarian or vegan. You may also need to bear in mind special meals for elderly guests and children. If you decide to have a pre-cocktail reception before lunch or dinner, take into account the amount of food served then as it may affect the portion size served soon afterwards. Currently, most opt for finger food for the cocktail servings that will stimulate the appetite of diners. The food is accompanied by a selection of wines, soft drinks and water. Then, in the main menu, it’s usual to offer a starter of soup and a semi cold cream, unless the couple has chosen the typical seafood choice. This option is increasingly being omitted as the seafood smell stays on the hands of the guests, making it unpleasant when eating the main course. It’s important to remember that not everyone eats meat or fish, so you can offer both to give the choice. In fish, the most popular are sea bass and monkfish, but you can offer other varieties, such as wild halibut, hake or salmon. There may also be a local seasonal fish to choose from. As for meat, there’s usually more variety, such as beef, lamb, pheasant, duck, deer or free range chicken. These elements are a base, then it's the method of cooking and presenting each that makes the difference. The wedding cake must be a success as the act of cutting the cake is a ritual, although less and less couples are choosing to do this ritual and choose, instead of a cake, a selection of sweet desserts which are served at the end of the banquet. Nearly all options include chocolate and ice-creams also accompany these desserts. They are usually served with sweet wine, cava or champagne. The menu should be chosen in advance with enough time so that you and the couple can sample the full meal. The choice of wines being served at lunch or dinner will also be chosen
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at that time by the couple. This selection is important because more and more people understand wines and like to accompany their meal with a good choice. Another tip to consider in choosing the menu is to leave out extravagance. It’s difficult to please everyone, so it’s much easier to use typical products which are known by all and not experiment with other options. Furthermore, the presentation of a printed menu for all guests is a must. You’ll need to put emphasis on the design and layout. The menu page should be left on each of the tables as we’ll discuss in the section on table decorations. Check that everything that’s being served appears on the printed menu. 2. Complementary services: hostesses and transfers These services are not usually given at every wedding but as the social level of each wedding is different, we want to tell you about two of the options you need to keep in mind when managing a big-budget wedding. Hostesses Hostesses are not traditional features of a wedding, but more and more couples ask for them. The functions of these hostesses are to help with seating placement at the banquet, leading the elderly to rest areas during the dancing and accommodating pregnant, disabled and other guests who need help. Although it may seem an unnecessary service for a wedding, many couples are now choosing hostesses to facilitate and coordinate parts of the wedding. Often, guests don’t know how to access the banquet room, if there’s parking, if they will be served on arrival, what to do or where or who to turn to. Hiring hostesses will give fluidity and elegance to any wedding. The number you need will be determined by the number of guests. We recommend one hostess for every 50 people. Transfers Transfers are much needed in every wedding, not only for the couple but possibly lots of guests too. As most people drink some alcohol at a wedding, if they are not staying at the venue they may need transport home. It’s another service to offer to your clients. You could make available a fleet of cars at a fixed point at the ceremony or banquet. It gives peace of mind to those who’d like to relax and have a drink or more and also to those who don’t have a car. People who are travelling from abroad may also want to avail of a car. You need to anticipate how many may be needed in total. Typically, coach hire is a good solution to this, with many different ranges for clients’ budgets. There are basic buses to luxury coaches that include beds. The choice of one or the other will depend on the economic status of your client. At some weddings a driver may be required to drive the couple’s car to the church, banquet and honeymoon destination, though many people hire limousines or horse drawn carriages.
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3. Floral decoration • • •
for the church for couple’s wedding car or equivalent for the celebration venue
Although at first glance it may seem a secondary aspect to organising a wedding, every wedding planner knows the importance of good floral decoration. In many cases it makes all the difference to styling a wedding. When it comes to floral decoration, we must consider: • • •
Church decoration Transport decoration Venue decoration
As with all choices, you’ll need to know the tastes of the couple as it’s an image that will make a lasting impression on the guests as they await the arrival of the bride and groom. You may need to consider how you’ll be able to decorate the couple’s car if it’s being shipped from a different location – more likely in high end weddings. Many people hire limousines which you can easily plan to have decorated. Take the weather into account. The couple may be in a closed car or in an open carriage. It’s important that the floral décor is coordinated everywhere. It’s not a good aesthetic to use different criteria for different points to decorate. In some cases this will even extend to the wedding cake. So, generally, the starting point is the bride's bouquet and, in many cases, her dress. Everything must follow the same colour range in order to create good aesthetics and an elegant and harmonious ambience. To create good floral decoration, take into account: • • • •
Flower season: Pick a flower that’s in season – it makes it easier to get and will reduce costs. The lighting of the local church and the celebration venue. Points of interest: we must know where the couple will be located and give special attention to those spaces. The dimensions of the church, the place of celebration and tables of the couple and guests. Large spaces don’t suit small displays and vice versa. If the tables are quite small, don’t place large centres which prevent the conversation of diners. It’s recommended you take into account the width and the length of the tables.
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Knowing that it greatly influences the character of the décor and while pleasing the tastes of the bride and groom (if they are simple, romantic tastes or over the top), we must always keep in mind the maxim that less is more. The floral arrangements must be consistent with the location. It makes no sense to decorate a chapel or small church with big flower centres. They should be reserved for cathedrals or large churches. In these cases we usually give more importance to the altar where the couple will be and small details are placed on the pews where the guests will sit. When deciding on flowers for the car, take into account all the aesthetics and features. To sum up: for floral decoration, take into account: • • • •
The formality and the character of the wedding. Budget. Features and dimensions of spaces to decorate. Colour theme.
White flowers are generally used or very pale colours such as creams and yellows. Floral décor may be accompanied by ornaments and non-floral motifs and details. It’s important to have the help of professionals for this task who can guide you on the issues to consider and the latest trends and even indicate which flowers are most appropriate. Different flowers can have meanings associated with them: Roses: Although the meaning varies according to their colour, usually they signify beauty, passion and love. Margaritas: Recommended for more informal ceremonies due to their informal and casual look. Tulips: Symbol of love. Gardenias: Transmit joy. Carnations: Symbol of elegance. Lilies: Synonymous with beauty, elegance and purity. Other flowers that are options for floral decoration include: orchids, irises, poppies, ivy and camellias. 4. Distribution of tables and guests The layout of the tables and placing of guests is one part of a wedding that can really challenge the couple, since they sometimes have to put together people who don’t know each other. For this you can help with advice and guidelines on what people usually do.
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Bridal table The table that gets greatest emphasis is the bridal table, where the bride and groom are located, along with sponsors and parents. This table is usually placed in view of the rest of the tables. Sometimes the tables are placed with the bridal table facing the other tables or making a small semicircle, so the guests can get to see everything that happens in this table such as kissing between the couple and speeches. This table can be decorated somewhat differently from the guests’ tables. One item that will make it stand out is the bride's bouquet which will give extra life to the table’s floral decoration. The bridal table should have the most light and space of all the tables. Guests’ tables Round tables are usually the most suitable, since it's easier for guests to relate to each other. The recommended number is a maximum of 8-10. Deciding on the guest list well in advance will avoid last minute problems. Then, for the wedding day, it’s imperative to decide on the table seating arrangements and put a list where everyone can see clearly which table they are seated at. This is where hostesses can be really helpful – guiding people smoothly to the correct table. The placement of the tables should be a target type, i.e. those closest to the core in this case would be the wedding table and those closest to the couple decided by degree of kinship. It’s also important to allow older guests to be near the couple because if they are far away, they can miss what happens and feel excluded. To spread the joy of the celebration it’s essential that revellers are mixed with the most serious type of people so that there is a good mix and not to have two very different sides to the congregation, some too sombre and some too raucous. Table decorations The tables and chairs should be decorated according to the theme and in addition, be elegant and neat. There will often be a floral centre in the middle of the table matching the floral décor at the ceremony. You could also choose to remove the floral motif and put some detail that the couple choose as a centre piece - something that has meaning for them. Currently, at weddings, couples are theming the tables, like giving each table a name. For example, it might be to do with movies if they like film, or any other theme that appeals. Here you can help with your creativity, contributing to the decoration of the tables with a different twist and suggesting new themes. The tablecloths, crockery, cutlery and glassware all need to harmonise and be consistent with the décor.
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HOW TO DRESS A TABLE Instructions • • • • • • •
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Firstly, the charger plate is placed. This remains on the table at all times. All other dishes will be placed on top of this. On the charger plate, place the flat plate. There will be no other dish on this. Next, arrange the cutlery. On the right, from outside to inside, place a spoon, fish knife and serrated knife, serrated edge to the inside. On the left side, also from outside inward, place a meat fork and fish fork. Dessert cutlery is placed at the top of the dish. Firstly, place the fork with the prongs pointing toward the right and above that, the spoon in the opposite direction. The next step is to place transparent glassware, that is, without any drawings. Above the dessert silverware and left to right, are placed a water glass, white wine glass, red wine glass and then cava glass. Between and slightly behind the last two, place the champagne flute. To the left of each diner will be a small plate to be used for bread. It’s important, especially at a round table in which there are several diners, that everyone knows that the bread plate is on the left. Otherwise guests will eat their neighbour’s bread which is in bad taste. The napkin is discreetly folded and placed on the plate. It’s not necessary that the fold be too elaborate and under no circumstances should it be placed inside the cups. To undo it, to put it on her knees, the guest catches one end and allows it to open flat and doesn’t shake or make noise with it. A crystal candelabra of discreet design is placed last. It’s important to remember that candles may be lit even during daylight. Deep dishes and those for dessert shall be placed on the table in time to be used.
5. What to give to your guests? At some wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom make a small gift to their guests as a gesture of gratitude. The same is in turn a memento of the marriage to the guests. Traditionally, this used to be a figurine of porcelain, clay or other material with the name of the couple and the date of the marriage. In the past a traditional pure snuff package was given to the invited gentlemen after the banquet. Today, with the evolution of the wedding, gifts to the guests have changed to more useful than decorative things. And, as we’ve been repeating throughout the course, the final choice rests with the couple, professionally advised by you.
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An original idea is to give away something that the couple have been directly involved in creating, like edible gift biscuits, jam or honey. Take into account the creativity of the parties and their availability at the time the gifts will be needed. It’s a very busy time approaching a wedding. GIFTS FOR GUESTS Instructions • • • • • • •
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The couple often give a gift to each guest which is also a reminder of the day. Classic choices are porcelain or clay figurines on which the wedding date and the names of the couple can be inscribed. Some couples prefer to give a more practical kind of gift, such as something useful. Familiarise yourself with customs in your area and build a list of ideas to offer clients. If the gifts are to be individually inscribed with guests names, you’ll need all their details ahead of time. The couple may choose one gift for female guests, another for males. Gifts for the children’s table can be a welcome way to entertain them, which will enable parents to enjoy the event more. A common choice of gift is confectionery - handmade cookies, chocolates or personalised candies in individual bags. These sweets are made to order. You can choose how many you want and the type of packaging. Some couples can be quite creative with this kind of gift. If you’re planning a themed wedding, gifts should be consistent with the aesthetics of the event. There is also a trend for couples to give personally made gifts. As well as being less expensive, they add a very special touch and help guests feel honoured and appreciated. This can be a time consuming exercise. It may be worth advising this to the couple in advance in case it causes last minute stress. If the gifts are not inscribed, it’s usual to attach a card showing the couple’s names, date of the wedding and an expression of appreciation or gratitude, like "Thank you for sharing this special day with us."
6. What to give the couple? On many occasions, weddings become a headache for some guests because of doubts about choosing the right gift for the couple. Although many feel an obligation to give a gift if they are attending a wedding, it’s really just a gesture in appreciation of the intended spouses. Choosing a wedding gift is easier for guests that are familiar with the couple. Traditionally a gift triumphed over cash, but today it’s rare that the invitation does not include bank account numbers. The wedding list
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The couple may facilitate their guests search for a gift by making a wedding list. It’s a list of suggested items chosen by the couple and guests can decide which item they wish to give. A wedding list can include all kinds of useful items such as appliances or things that are more related to the tastes and interests of the couple. In general, with the aim of ease for guests, wedding lists are made in a single outlet. It’s very important to note all budgets - that the items the couple choose form a range of prices so all guests can choose a gift that best suits their budget. As a wedding planner, you can make this easier for your clients by suggesting shopping centres or department stores that have experience in this service and by helping them to make their own wedding list. If there’s no wedding list and guests want to avoid either inexpensive or expensive gifts, it’s best to directly ask the couple what they would like. Gifts for a new home are typical - dishes, glassware, cutlery. What’s available today is far more extensive than in the past and we can also consider gifts centred on adventure, relaxation or trips. Pieces of art are gifts that are gaining prominence, but the buyer would need to know the taste of the couple. 7. Capturing lifelong memories Photographic and audiovisual services It’s important to think about the memory that your clients want of their wedding. You will probably be asked to hire photography and video to capture the most important moments of the ceremony and banquet. The photo service will need to be chosen from a team of professionals dedicated to the wedding industry. Don’t employ just any photographer as wedding photography requires a number of skills that only these professionals have. Formerly, the photo album was considered a luxury. Today it’s the norm to have photos of the highlights of the wedding day, of the couple and guests in an album - either paper or digital. You'll have to arrange with the photographer to ensure to capture the moments that the couple especially want. The photographer cannot be consistently around the couple and guests, he or she must be like a shadow without monopolising their time, but take snapshots capturing all the important moments. Of course the traditional photos - exchange of rings, kiss, or vows for example, are essential but he or she should also capture every special and spontaneous moment if possible, so skill and speed of movement are important. Not all couples want the same type of photo. Some are romantic, some practical, others with a sense of humour. You will need to visit several studios to look at different professional’s personal style. Each photographer is individual.
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You must agree with the photographer the number of hours that he or she will be employed. The finish of the photos is something that you also talk over with the photographer, although this usually happens after the wedding. You and the couple can visit the photographer together to make a selection of the photos you want - in colour, sepia, or black and white. Some churches or chapels have an official photographer. This is not legal in many countries, so if you talk to the church and the priest in question, you can negotiate this. Typically, you will have the same photographer for the whole event, otherwise the style will vary. Usually a photographer will take a team of at least one or two more with him to handle the equipment. You can even hire two photographers to give you two different views of the wedding, however, be very careful to communicate the couple’s preferences to them so that you don't end up with two completely different styles. One of the things about this service is the expense of printing lots of photos. We recommend that you offer your customers the ability to make a digital album with good picture quality, and they can give it on DVD to the other guests. This service should be cheaper. The video Video is the most active part of the wedding, because it captures the movements and words that guests can’t see in a photograph. That is also another option to add to the photography if required. The video will be edited with music that the couple can choose to add to the atmosphere. The professional will have ideas. To give originality, you could make a funny video with options such as outtakes or even jokes or stories to tell guests about the couple or a fast/slow camera. Like the photographer, the video professional must capture every moment without creating a feeling of harassment or discomfort among the guests. Points to consider Today, there are many fun and different options you can offer for an original service to your customers. If, due to budget, your client cannot afford both video and photo options, you can offer to create a video with photos. The presentation could be very dynamic and fun. You’ll be able to add text and phrases that may be important for the couple, as well as using special music. The video option can offer a different recording form, like a silent film, an old fashioned one, in a theme like western movies or in a garish colour like the pictures of the '60s and pop art. You can show originality and creativity to your clients, which they may lack, by offering all these options.
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TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR VIDEO AND PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIERS Instructions • • •
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To maintain a good reputation, you need to rely on a range of top quality suppliers of services for your clients. Subscribe to wedding magazines where local suppliers of video and photography services will advertise to familiarise yourself with who is offering these services. Visit their websites, check their portfolios and try to find out what types of clients they have worked for, the variety of products they offer and their years of experience in the sector. To develop a good portfolio of suppliers, it’s important to interview them. Bridal fairs are a really good way to make face-to-face contact with video and photography suppliers in your area. You’ll also find representatives of all the services you need to organise a wedding. At bridal fairs you can also keep updated on the latest trends and developments and what clients are looking for. Look beyond the obvious. Well established, reputable suppliers may well be the best providers of video and photography services, but be open to new talent also. You may find people who offer more creativity and better prices while they are building a reputation or some other advantages. Research well any that you are thinking of using before you engage them. Be guided by instinct as well as what you learn. There is no margin for error at a wedding – no second chance to get it right. You need to be confident that any video or photography service provider you choose will be organised, efficient and capable. Once you have chosen your team of providers, create a database of all their contact details, budgets and the services they provide. One month prior to the event, call each of the professionals and review with them every detail of the wedding day: date, installation schedules for equipment, locations, 'plan B' in case it rains and expected start and finish time of the ceremony and the banquet.
8. The After Party The party after the wedding is the most spontaneous and carefree time of the whole day. Nevertheless, it still needs planning organisation to ensure fun and originality for the guests. It usually starts after serving the cake and the bridal dance. Traditionally, following protocol, the groom dances with his mother and sponsor of the wedding, and the bride with her father and best man to make way for dancing the bridal waltz as partners. Today, couples often practise original choreographed dancing to surprise their guests. After the bridal dance the party kicks in and this can take many different forms. The musical style will be influenced by the taste of the couple, but they should choose a wide repertoire to please all of the guesta. The extent of the party will depend on he budget. It could include:
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Live Musical Performance (avoid festival orchestras) Music and dance show. Children's performances, so that the little ones can also enjoy the party. Fireworks show.
At this point the wedding is much more relaxed and you can unleash your creativity and propose original ideas for the bride and groom for the wedding to culminate successfully. 9. Honeymoon
Again, the tastes and interests of the couple play a key role in organising their honeymoon It’s so called because formerly, during their trip, the couple took an aphrodisiac of water and honey. Good organisation and planning of the trip are important. Not only is it necessary to consider the logistics, but also other aspects such as currency exchange, vaccines and to prepare handy emergency addresses and consulates. Although the tastes of the bride and groom will determine the plan, these destinations are most sought after: For a holiday in which the couple seek relaxation after months of turmoil they can travel to (always considering the budget) Santo Domingo, Cancun, Isla Margarita, Martinique, and Jamaica. In the Indian Ocean islands include the Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Bali and Malaysia. For those seeking adventure the best option will be to organise a safari in Africa. Places like Kenya or Tanzania are much sought after destinations for this type of trip. Also take into account the possibilities offered by old Europe like Paris, Rome, Vienna, Greece. Finally, traditional destinations like New York, Beijing or a cruise where the couple will visit several cities in a few days are also popular.
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Module 5: Budget, Payment and Review study 1.1. Final Budget 1.2. Payments 1.3. Incidence Analysis This last module is to help you to develop your business skills in the profession of wedding planner. 1. Final Budget Setting and keeping to a budget will be one of the most important parts of your work. It is important that after reaching an agreement with your customers, the future spouses, you sign an agreement including budget and payment terms. You’ll need to have a separate budget and action plan for each component of the wedding. Included in this will be the features and particulars of this component - goals, targets, timescale and costs. What’s agreed in this arrangement is a contract between you and your clients so it’s important to work diligently and comply with all the terms and conditions approved by both parties. Some things to take into account when developing a budget are: •
Fixed expenses resulting from the organization of a wedding. Fixed expenses refers to material costs - floral decoration, photography and video, venue and catering, design and printing of the invitations, entertainment during the ceremony and after party (magicians, orchestra, performance, dancers and others) and also the immaterial, like the wages of people you employ to help in organising the event and your own wages. You must bear in mind that you need to make a profit - for personal hours worked and as a company.
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Set a margin of error, which is usually 5% or 10% of the total. Many times things do not go as expected and, so you don’t lose your profit margin, factor in a percentage that you use in the event of an unforeseen expense. For example, if you have contracted catering for 100 people a year in advance, by the date of the wedding the prices may have changed. Downwards would be in your favour, upwards not. A shellfish price may change according to season and demand. In some cases price increases are absorbed by the catering company, but if the price isn’t fixed beforehand a loss would be yours. If the price drops then the advantage is yours.
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Determine your commission as a company. You must study your competitors prices to know how much you can increase your margin. As well as passing on the cost of the
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suppliers and services you employ, it's usual to add a percentage to this amount. In Spain for example, it’s typically 20%. This may vary from country to country. 2. Payments Payment can often be an uncomfortable part of your work. It’s important to value your work and be firm with what you need to charge. There will be times you’ll be under pressure to make concessions and occasionally you may feel this is appropriate, but always remember it’s your living and your company and you need to put those first. Usually, your clients must pay 50% of the estimated final cost upon approval of the budget. This amount is negotiable, but you must keep in mind that during the process of organisation you will have to pay suppliers or at least give them a deposit for their services. This percentage is needed because the wedding could be cancelled at any time. Issues like catering or floral decoration are not as problematic since payment will not be due until the end of the project. For photo and video, for example, the professionals often book that date in their diaries a year in advance, rejecting other possible paid work. Because of this, they will ask for a financial guarantee, usually 50%, to cover cancellation costs. The remaining 50% should be paid the day before the wedding, to avoid defaults and unpleasant situations. If you want to have an approximation of the valuation of your time - your hourly rate - in Spain, for example, it would be €20 per hour. It depends on the country you work in. 3. Incidence Analysis This is one of the most important parts of your work. It consists of quality analysis that will help you improve and perfect your service. After the wedding, it’s a very positive thing to do an analysis and assessment of all the services you have rendered. Obviously your honesty plays an important role. It will help you get a real verdict. As well as helping you improve your future work, you focus on the work of your suppliers and the services provided by them. You can objectively assess whether your team worked well together and if you got good value. For example : You have done a wedding in which the table service was unsatisfactory, the floral service did not arrive on time and the contracted hotel did not meet expectations. In this type of situation, create a log book for each event which you can use to develop a list of providers that are reliable and which are not. In addition to the equipment suppliers, as wedding planner, if you yourself make mistakes that you reference in the logbook, you will learn from them and never repeat them.
