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Congratulations, you're getting married!
Deciding
to get married was the easy part – now the fun begins!
How much, where, when, what to wear, make – up, hair, flowers
……… the list seems endless. To help you in your preparations,
our friendly wedding consultant team has come up with some
guidelines on a variety of subjects (including sex!).
1. Draw up a Budget
If the sky's the limit, count yourself lucky. Most people will have to work out how much they can afford and whether kind relatives and friends may give
contributions towards the expenses. You need to consider:-
Number of people
- Whether you want a traditional or religious wedding , or both
- Whether there will be additional receptions, such as in hometowns
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What kind of food
will you serve? Most Malaysians go for food that reflect their cultures, but some find Western food a nice change. In fact, if you are holding an afternoon or evening buffet function, Western dishes (including "finger foods") are appropriate. Will you be cooking some or all the dishes, or will you give the whole job to a caterer?
- Do you want to get married at home or outside? Many couples find that getting married in a home setting is both intimate and more fun, as well as easy on the wallet. All you need is a fairly
large garden to put up tents and tables and that's the location taken care of. If you have this burning desire to marry in an unusual spot such as a beach (perhaps you met each other there), you need
to think of logistics, i.e. how would you transport people, tents and food there?
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Tailoring
of traditional costumes and evening or formal wear for yourselves as well as bridesmaids and best men. Renting of traditional costumes is a good idea unless you intend to pack them away as heirlooms (or you hope to wear them again to renew your vows on your 50
th
wedding anniversary!). On the other hand, evening dresses and suits or tuxedos can always be used at other functions so it may be a good idea to have them custom made even if they are expensive.
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Consider a Consultant: Needless to say, planning a wedding takes up a lot of time and energy. Wedding
consultants deal with all the necessary people and may actually save you money. by helping couples plan, budget, and organise their wedding. The bigger bridal shops offer consultancy
services or can tell you where to go. Consultants may be expensive but their experience and expertise usually makes up for the cost.
2. Plan
Getting married within the space of a few weeks may seem romantic but if you want that perfect time and place, be prepared to book location, caterers, florists,
and tailors months in advance. Keep in mind peak times such as festivals ( and we have many of them in Malaysia !), school holidays and dates which are considered auspicious. Book the location
Some
popular venues may be booked up at least six months in advance so start thinking about where you want to get married. Religious ceremony or not? Outdoors or indoors? What kind of music is available at the
location you want? Have back – up plans in case of torrential rain – floods and traffic jams are still a common occurrence in Malaysia – will your location be easy to get to? After the wedding, where will
you go for your honeymoon? Send out those invitations early
Once you've decided on the location and date, get your invitation cards printed. If you feel you must invite a large number of people, go for
a simple design – embossed cards and gold print will make only the printer ( and perhaps your in – laws) happy. Give guests at least a month to reply - even if they don't, assume that most will turn up
anyway. Malaysians are not known for their promptness in attending to the RSVP note on the card. Also, some may bring along children, parents, grandparents, and long – lost relatives, so allow for an extra
10 – 20%. Check out catering services
Catering charges may range from as low as RM 12/person to about RM 50/person. Generally, you get what you paid for in terms of food range and quality, so if
you want to impress the in – laws, go for the middle to upper end catering firms. Alternatively, ask at major hotels for their charges – you may be pleasantly surprised, particularly during non – peak
seasons. Some of them also offer a full bridal package as well. Bear in mind dietary restrictions such as pork and beef. Some wedding dinners include a few "vegetarian" tables. Florists
If you set your
wedding date during a festival period, be prepared to spend more on flowers. A single rose stalk, which may cost about RM 2 – 3 at other times, will be mysteriously more expensive during these periods. See
if you can work out a deal with a reputable florist well beforehand – you may be able to save some money. What to wear
If you're renting clothes, especially traditional costumes, there are plenty of
bridal shops that will be able to supply what you want. If you need a tailor, measurements and materials should be given up to two months earlier otherwise you'll have to pay a premium as well as hope
that adjustments will not be necessary. Go for simple, classy styles so that you can re – use them for other occasions. More on this subject for brides in the next section. Make – up and hair services
Trial runs are a good idea so that when the day comes, you
know who to select to do your make – up and hair. Don't take
your auntie's word for it – what she may think is nice, you
may scream at. A good tip is to go for elegant simplicity
– no "modern" hairstyles. Take some time to decide how
you want your hair - long or short, up or down, curly or straight.
Make – up should be designed to enhance, not overwhelm, your
face. If you have sensitive skin, it might be a good
idea to use your own make – up and to supply the applicators
and brushes that may be needed. Having the same person to
do both face and hair will save you time but again, do have
a trial run first.
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Wedding Make up
Your wedding gown, veil and accessories are ready. Your hair is done and your nails are buffed. Makeup is next. As a bride, you'll want to look your best, not the Bride of Frankenstein, especially in
front of the camera. The kind of makeup you choose will depend on what time it is. During the Day
- A matte foundation is essential to keep the shiny look away, especially when there are cameras around. Select a slightly heavy foundation. Once it dries, apply loose powder with a makeup brush.
- The only part of your face that should shine is your lips, but even then keep it low key.
If you want your lipstick to stay on, use lip liner and apply lipstick with a lip brush. Some makeup
artists also dust lips with a touch of powder, and then apply another coat of lipstick.
- Blush colour should look natural, blending in well with your skin tone. Apply blush along the cheek ridges.
- Makeup artist Bobbi Brown suggests filling in eyebrows with a matte eye shadow that matches your hair. Don't forget to have your eyebrows shaped by a professional.
- Use an eyelash curler before applying mascara to make your lashes look longer, then apply mascara thickly, making sure that the lashes do not stick together. If it rains, or you're the weepy type, go
for a waterproof mascara to avoid the horrific sight of black - rimmed eyes.
In the Evening
Makeup for the evening can be a little more dramatic than in the daytime, but do not overdo it. Here are some ideas:
- Accentuate what you consider to be your best asset - eyes, cheeks or lips. Apply a lighter touch to other features. If you choose your eyes, brush loose powder on your eyelids after applying shadow
so that it does not harden.
- To make lipstick last, use a lip base or undercolour, apply liner around your lips, color them in with the liner and then reapply lipstick.
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