Wedding Helps

Get Friends' Help

2011-10-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

It's most natural for the bride to get "hands on" on how the wedding is prepared. But by roping in your girlfriends' help in some ways or the other, it can be cost effective and save you a lot of stress! There will be bonding between you and your girlfriends, and I'm sure they will be more than happy to help out and share your joy! The following are some pointers where you can ponder over what can be done...

Pre-Wedding Preparation
Delegate duties to your girlfriends, and convening weekly meetings at your home. You can cut down your pre-wedding preparation costs like transport and handphone bills, and it also helps to keep tabs on how the wedding arrangements are falling into place.

Emcee & Entertainment
Many couples engage a professional emcee and production company to enhance the night's festivities. You can save on this expense by getting your girlfriends to help in planning the night's entertainment, from playing duet love songs, to guests who'll be willing to perform on stage, and showing slide photos of the couple through the years.

Booze For Your Reception
If you have friends who always travel, get them to help you buy duty-free booze at the airport from as early as 2 to 6 months prior to the event. Of course, check if your venue or hotel allows for your own liquor during the pre-dinner reception.

Wedding Vehicle
You can actually have friends figure out the decorations for your wedding car for a more fun and personal touch and be surprised at how artistic they may get! Try attaching tassels to the door handles... or wiring a home-made "Just Married" sign to the back of your car...

Floral Bouquets
Bridal bouquet and bridesmaids' bouquets can be done by a professional florists, or your girlfriends if they know. Perhaps your church flower committee friends or your aunties who have attended floral arrangement classes can help! Have your friends and family source the floral wholesalers a few days before to pick the flowers you want and get them arranged. Some untrimmed flowers go for 40 percent off what you would normally pay per stalk at shops! You can also prepare some pretty centrepieces for your wedding reception desk area.

Photographing
Wedding portraits last forever so it is best to work with a professional bridal photographer. For the actual wedding celebration however, if you are not so particular, instead of getting professional phtographers and videographers, get your friend who is quite good in photography to shoot for you, or invest in your own mini digital camera and have someone film the day for you. With the right program, you can edit the footage and burn it into a disc on your own computer.

Electronic Invites
With the advance in technology, you can actually send email invites that are nicely designed to your friends and save the cards for more traditional family members who insist on them. Ask friends to help out in the design too!

Budgeting Your Wedding

2011-10-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

Your wedding may be a once-in-a-lifetime event, but that doesn't mean you should spend every cent you have on a costly celebration. With some effort in budgeting, you can still have a wonderful wedding without cutting corners or blowing your bank accounts!

1. Have A Realistic Budget
Ask your friends and married couples if they have the contacts in the bridal industry to get an idea of what the various costs are for the kind of wedding you want.

2. Prioritise Your Expenditure
From gowns to flowers to wedding stationery, focus on what is important to your wardrobe or celebration, and getting the best you can get within your budget.

3. Be Smart
Sometimes even with a great package, you can still cut down the cost by leaving out the unnecessary frills. Always check for hidden costs, and ask, if you are unsure of the final cost of the items in the quotation.

Manicure & Pedicure

2011-10-12T17:28:00.000-07:00

If you're thinking to go for professional manicure and pedicure, you will need at least 2 sessions a week apart. Then, follow up the treatments with daily hand cream and nail strengthener.

Bridal nails colors are best in nude shade such as beige and rose. A french manicure (clear nails with white tips) is ideal when complete with full white dress and train.

Have your nails painted the night before and when completely dry, moisturise your hands and slip them into cotton gloves when you go to bed.

More Tips!

2011-10-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

1. Take Digital Pictures During Your Hair And Make-Up Trial Run
It will give you an idea of how you look and serves as a reminder for your make-up artist and hairstylist.

2. Use A Hankie
This is to avoid bits of tissue sticking onto your face when you dab on your make-up.

3. Colour And Highlights
It will bring out the shine in your hair.

4. Avoid Anything Outrageous Or Be A Slave To Fashion
These looks out-date fast and will not serve you well in keepsake photos.

5. Avoid Revealing Dress In Religious Ceremony
Wearing a dress that's too revealing for a religious ceremony in a church or temple is bad taste.

6. Bridesmaid's Help
Get your bridesmaid or someone to constantly check if you've got lipstick on your teeth.

Visit Your Gynaecologist

2011-10-10T17:17:00.000-07:00

Your monthly period sometimes has a way of cropping up when you least expect it. The combination of excitement and stress plays havoc on your hormones, causing regular menstruation to turn haywire.

You can get your gynae to prescribe a pill that will regulate your periods, even bring it on earlier or delay it so you'll be trouble free on your wedding day.

If you're not planning a baby yet, you should also start going on the pills at least two months before.

Beauty Dos Before Wedding Day

2011-10-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

1. Cut Your Food Intake
If you want to shed some kilos before your big day, reduce your dinner portion size by one-third, and skip dessert. Eat fruit instead. Your aim should be to lose no more than 1kg a week or you'll look haggard.

2. Do Some Form Of Exercise
Spend at least 20 minutes a day doing some exercise whether you are taking a brisk walk outdoor or jumping around in the privacy of your room. Exercise is the best way to improve your health, both inside and out.

3. Do Deep Breathing
Spend another 10 minutes a day doing nothing but deep breathing. It is the simplest form of meditation and helps you to achieve a calm and balance state, which is essential during those frantic last weeks.

4. Treat Yourself To Weekly Facials
Diligent cleansing and moisturising is important, and when combined with a weekly exfoliation and mask, you should notice a marked improvement in the texture and tone of your skin.

Beauty Disaster

2011-10-08T17:31:00.000-07:00

What You Should Avoid Before Your Wedding:

1. Don't switch your skincare just days before.
A new, untried and untested range could cause and adverse reaction - from redness to severe rash.

2. Don't scramble for a make-up artist and hairstylist at the last minute.
The good ones are usually the first to be booked, so hone in on one (get friends to recommend or do your own scouting) and book early!

Countdown on your Beauty-To-Do-List

2011-10-07T21:07:00.000-07:00

6 Months
See a dermatologist for any skin problems or skin perkups.
See a dentist as you need beautiful smiles on the big day.
See a hair expert if you need help to restore hair condition.
Begin a sensible exercise programme.
Establish a healthy eating programme.
Start your series of facials.
Book your hair and make-up artist.

3 Months
Have your first make-up trial.
Decide on a hairstyle to suit your headdress if any.
Start regular spa treatments or find a way to pamper yourself.
Continue with your exercise and healthy eating programmes.

2 Months
Book your hairstylist.
Have your teeth professionally cleaned and polished.
Continue with your spa treats, exercise and healthy eating programmes.
Have a face mask at least once a week.
Decide on a wedding day fragrance: light and floral is a good choice.

1 Month
Have second trials for hair and make-up.
Keep to your facial and spa treats.
Treat yourself to a terrific body massage
Moisturise your body to improve the skin's texture.
Make a real effort to exercise and eat sensibly despite your hectic schedule.

1 Week
Have the third and final trials for hair and make-up.
Set aside 10 minutes for deep breathing every day.
Sleep before 11pm every night.
Wax or use depilatory cream to remove hair on legs and underarms.

The Day Before
Have your manicure and pedicure.
Pack an emergency bag with tissues and make-up supplies and hand it to your chief bridesmaid.
Eat your dinner before 8pm and sleep before 11pm.

Your Wedding Day
Have a light breakfast.
Brush your teeth more than usual.
Have an invigorating bath.
Leave your hair and make-up to the professionals as rehearsed.
Carry yourself with confidence and smile.
Enjoy the day!