Fairytale Weddings January 2013

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FAIRYTALE WEDDINGSA SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE BERMUDA SUN ■ JANUARY 25, 2013 ■ PAGE 1

Publisher Randy French

President Lisa Beauchamp

Editorial Amanda Dale

Editorial Layout Jack Garstang

Advertising Sales Carlita Burgess (Deputy Advertising

Manager) Olga French, Diane Gilbert, Claire James

Creative Services Christina White, Colby Medeiros,

Bakari Smith

Circulation & Distribution Nick Tavares

Bermuda Sun 19 Elliott Street, Hamilton, Bermuda HM 10

Tel 295-3902 Fax 292-5597 E-mail [email protected]

This special supplement is produced and published by Bermuda

Sun Limited and printed in Bermuda by Island Press Limited.

■ COVER BRIDE COMPETITION OVERALL WINNER / Frances Trott and John Portelli

Wedding filled with ‘so much laughter and love’

■ PHOTO BY IAN MACNAUGHTON

LOVE AND MARRIAGE: Bride and groom (Frances Trott and John Portelli) take a horse and carriage to their wedding reception held at Frances’ father’s house at Salt Kettle.

Inside this supplementWedding filled with ‘laughter and love’ Pages 1-2

Hollywood celebrity couples married in 2012

Dream wedding a reality on the ‘UberVida’ Page 4

What couples in US spends on weddings Pages 6-7

‘Downton Abbey’ car adds that touch of class Page 8

Effect of marriage on will and estate planning Page 9

Outfitter caters for groom and entourage Pages 10-11

Make the most of your credit cards and loans Page 11

Wedding Competition Finalists Pages 12-13

Wedding day makeup requires research Pages 14-15

The Bermuda Sun publishes twice weekly and is a subsidiary of MediaHouse Limited. We are members of the Inland Press Association, International Newspaper Marketing Association and the Newspaper Association of America. We are located at: 19 Elliott Street, Hamilton HM 10; P.O. Box HM 1241, Hamilton HM FX Tel: 295-3902 Fax: 292-5597. Visit our website: www.bermudasun.bm

BY AMANDA [email protected]

A traditional Bermuda wedding sealed the roman-tic courtship of Frances Trott and John Portelli, overlooking the waters of Hamilton Harbour.

Frances, 29, and John, 35, were married at Christ Church, Warwick, on June 16, 2012, the same church where Frances’ parents Toby and the late Trudy Trott were married.

“We had a very tradition-al Bermuda wedding,” said Frances.

After the ceremony the couple took a horse and carriage to the reception, held at Frances’ father’s house at Salt Kettle.

There, they planted a Bermuda cedar sapling in the grounds, to symbolize their growing love.

The couple also had tradi-

tional Bermudian wedding cakes — a pound cake for the groom, to signify bring-ing in wealth for the family, and a fruitcake for the bride, to symbolize that the wife will be ‘fruitful’.

The wedding invitation itself was a sketch of Mr Trott’s Bermudian home.

“To have a traditional home on the front of the invitation was quite unique,” said Frances.

Frances’ mother Trudy passed away in June 2007. Although the bride reflected on how she might feel without the presence of her mother on her wedding day, she made her presence felt in other ways.

“I had a huge arrange-ment of Stargazer lilies placed in the church in her honour, as they were her favourite flowers,” said Frances, of Trudy.

“We also had a

message on the wedding programme, to say that she was in our hearts, even though she wasn’t there on the day.

“I thought it would be hard not having my mom at my wedding and I wondered, ‘how would I feel going through the cere-

mony and the processes’, but I had so much love and support from my family and bridesmaids that it was a very happy day.

“There was so much laughter and love. It was a wonderful day, which

See TRADITIONAL, page 2

‘I thought it would be hard not having my mom at my wedding . . . but I had so much love and support from my family and bridesmaids that it was a very happy day.’

FRANCES TROTTBride

is what she would have wanted.”

Frances, who works in reinsurance for RFIB, met John, an assistance vice president of investments for LOM, at a LOM works party on the Venetian yacht.

They were introduced by a mutual friend and later went to Harry’s Restaurant and Bar, where they talked about salsa dancing.

Both were beginners but were keen to pursue the hobby, and so their first date was a salsa night at The Deep nightclub, in July 2010.

“We ended up dancing together and had a really great time,” said Frances.

“I just remember think-ing, ‘I have just met the most amazing man I have ever met in my life’.

“John was just so full of life and was interested in so many different things. We had a lot of fun but he was also such a gentleman.”

Apart from salsa danc-ing, the couple found they also shared an interest in golf, tennis, and boating on the waters of Bermuda.

One of their first dates was a boat trip to Paradise Lakes, where they barbe-cued chicken and lobster for dinner on a small island.

“We both like to cook,” said Frances. “We love entertaining and being with our family and friends. And we also love to travel.”

She described the court-ship as “very romantic”.

“One time, John surprised me with a trip to Marley Beach. He told me to bring three coins and we went down onto the beach for a picnic. It was really lovely.

“He said the coins were for three wishes — one for my family, one for his family, and one for the two of us.”

John proposed during a vacation to the Mill Reef Club in Antigua, nine months after meeting Fran-ces. The resort has special family memories for Fran-ces and the proposal proved particularly memorable.

John, from Toronto, Canada, asked Mr Trott for his blessing before he proposed one evening after dinner.

“We went for a walk on the golf course, which is wrapped around the ocean,” said John.

“We walked along the green to the No. Five hole and we stopped to look at the moon. We found out later that it was a ‘super-moon’ (a full moon at its closest approach to Earth on an elliptical orbit), and that this was the largest it had appeared for many years.

“As Frances was looking at the moon, I went down on one knee. Then when she turned around, I asked

her to marry me.“With the moon and the

reflection on the water as a backdrop, it was pretty special.”

Frances said: “It was very beautiful. Even though we had talked about getting married, I wasn’t expecting it.

“The day you see the man you’re in love with go down on one knee, it makes your heart stop. It is very excit-ing.

“Now we are very excited to be starting a new life together in Bermuda, and are looking forward to our honeymoon in September.”

The couple, who live in Paget, plan to tour Italy for three weeks. Since getting married however, they have taken some “mini-moons” — short breaks to Montreal, New Orleans and Manhattan, New York.

John said the first time he met Frances, he knew she was special.

“I definitely felt a spark, but I was a little sceptical that it might be too good to be true. But it worked out really well,” he said.

“She ticked all the right boxes and I had a feeling she was the person who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

“We have quite similar personalities and a lot of similar interests, and there are lots of things we are looking forward to doing in the future.”

For the wedding, Fran-ces wore a strapless white dress and her two brides-maids wore blue cocktail dresses, with pink flowers and belts featuring gold sand dollars — the bride’s wedding gift to them.

John wore Bermudian-style khaki pants and a blazer, and his two grooms-men were his brother Marcon and Frances’ older brother, Conway.

The reception was attend-ed by 150 guests and began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, which included Bermudian fare such as fishcakes.

The wedding party and guests then “danced the night away” to a DJ, from Lifestyles Entertainment.

At 10pm, guests also enjoyed an alfresco barbe-cue, with ribs, jerk chicken and French fries.

“The reception was very relaxed and easy going, with lots of family and friends present,” said Fran-ces.

She added they were “lucky with the weather” as the day before had seen wind, rain and flooding in Hamilton, and it also rained the day afterwards.

“Once the wedding started, the sun came out and it was a beautiful day,” said Frances. “It was also a beautiful evening, so we were very lucky.” ■

A ROMANTIC sunset shot of Frances and John, stand-ing on her father’s dock at Salt Kettle, was chosen as the cover photo for this edi-tion of Fairytale Weddings.

2 ■ JANUARY 25, 2013 FAIRYTALE WEDDINGS: A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION THE BERMUDA SUN

TRADITIONALContinued from page 1

‘As Frances was looking at the moon, I went down on one knee. Then when she turned around, I asked her to marry me.’

JOHN PORTELLIGroom

■ PHOTO BYGAVIN HOWARTH

FRANCES TROTT wore a strapless white dress and her two bridesmaids wore blue cocktail dresses, with pink flowers and belts featuring gold sand dollars — the bride’s wedding gift to them.

CINDY CLARK AND LORENA BLASUSA Today (MCT)

Hollywood is notorious for breakups and makeups, and 2012 was no different. Here’s a look at couples that made it official.

Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman, June 2

Engagement: News of the pair’s engagement spread shortly after the holidays in January 2012.

Wedding details: Barry-more, five months preg-nant at the time, and Kopel-man, an art consultant, tied the knot under a chuppah at the actress’s Montecito, California home.

The newlyweds welcomed a daughter, Olive, in September, round-ing out a happily-ever-after year for the former child star and Hollywood wild child.

Camila Alves and Matthew McConaughey, June 9

Engagement: McCo-naughey popped the ques-tion on Christmas Day 2011. “Just asked Camila to marry me,” he wrote in a post on his WhoSay account accompanying a snapshot of the couple kiss-ing in front of the Christ-mas tree.

Wedding details: The longtime couple’s children, Levi, four, and Vida, two, served as ring-bearer and flower girl at the Catholic ceremony that took place at their Texas ranch.

Almost a month after the wedding, McConaughey took to Twitter to announce the pair are expecting their third child.

Hilaria Thomas and Alec Baldwin, June 30

Engagement: It was the perfect early birthday present for Baldwin when Thomas accepted his proposal just a few days before he turned 54 on April 3.

Wedding details: Bald-

win wed Thomas, a yoga instructor who is almost 25 years his junior, at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York.

Celebrity guests in atten-dance included Baldwin’s 30 Rock co-star Tina Fey, his brothers Stephen and Billy Baldwin, Woody Allen and wife Soon Yi, Mariska Hargitay, Robert Kennedy Jr. and Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Sept. 9

Engagement: What engagement? The couple

never released a statement, and a ring was never spot-ted on Lively’s finger.

Wedding details: The top-secret wedding took place at Boone Hall Plantation in Charleston, S.C., and featured Florence Hender-son as the musical enter-tainment.

The wedding planners? Martha Stewart’s team of professionals!

Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman, Sept. 29

Engagement: Now here’s a couple who really wanted to share their happy news!

Just one day after Hatha-

way’s rep released a state-ment announcing their post-Thanksgiving 2011 engagement, the couple was photographed on a cozy outing with their dog in Central Park, with Hathaway showing off her new sparkler.

Wedding details: The couple of four years wed at a private estate in Big Sur on the California coast. Hathaway wore a custom gown by Valentino, one of her favourite designers.

Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake, Oct. 19

Engagement: While

no statement was ever issued, there were reports that Timberlake popped the question while the two were vacationing in Jackson,Wyoming, over the winter holidays.

Wedding details: Biel donned a pink Giambat-tista Valli Haute Couture gown for her Italian nuptuals to the former boy band leader, who serenad-

ed his bride-to-be as she walked down the aisle.

The pair welcomed 100 guests, including Jimmy Fallon, Andy Samberg, Timbaland and Biel’s 7th Heaven co-star Beverley Mitchell, at the Borgo Egnazia resort in south-ern Italy for a weeklong wedding celebration. ■

THE BERMUDA SUN FAIRYTALE WEDDINGS: A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION JANUARY 25, 2013 ■ 3

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Hollywood celebrity couples who married in 2012

■ AFP PHOTO / DREW ANGERER

ALEC BALDWIN AND HILARIA THOMAS arrive at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honorees held at the Kennedy Center Hall of States in Washington, DC, in December.

■ AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE AND JESSICA BIEL attend the Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in May 2012

■ AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY AND CAMILA ALVES arrive at the premiere of The Lincoln Lawyer in Hollywood, California, in March 2011.



Imagine saying ‘I do’ whilst gliding across aqua-marine waters on a yacht filled with your family and friends.

This dream wedding can now become a reality aboard the UberVida cata-maran.

Described as ‘Bermuda’s celebration yacht’, the 70-ft x 25-ft catamaran not only brings beautiful scenic backdrops to any occasion, but also an exclusivity and touch of class.

Denis Owen, co-owner and captain, said that shortly after he and his brother Andrew bought the boat in 2008, they realized its potential as a wedding ‘venue’.

The brothers, who also run Atlantic Mooring Maintenance, spent years renovating the abandoned vessel with the aim of transforming her into a charter and tour boat.

She was re-launched in the summer of last year.

Denis Owen said: “When we designed how the yacht would look, this was shiny white with a navy blue and wooden interior, and so it looked ideal for weddings.

“The steps at the bottom also seemed like a great spot for a bride and groom to say their vows, and so then we evolved the boat further.

“Last summer we had a very successful season and we had a lot of interest from people in using the boat as a wedding venue.

“Since then we have done two weddings on board, four to five ‘meet and greets’, one rehearsal dinner, a ‘decompression party’, and lots of bachelor-ette parties.

“People love it — there’s an energy with UberVida which is really positive and fun, but classy at the same time.

“People really enjoy the exclusivity of it. They are on this boat with just their friends and loved ones, and so feel very relaxed. They seem to have a great time.”

The Owen brothers have now launched a variety of packages aboard the yacht for brides and grooms-to-be.

Whether you would like to introduce your wedding guests prior to the ‘big day’, have your bachelor/bachelorette party on the water, officially ‘tie the knot’, or simply enjoy a post-wedding relaxation cruise, the UberVida crew can accommodate you.

“What we’re providing is unique for weddings,” said Mr Owen. “There is no place in Bermuda quite like the water.

“Our tagline is ‘Bermu-da’s celebration yacht’, and weddings are definitely a big celebration.”

The wedding packages are as follows:

‘Celebration Special’ (bachelor/bachelorette parties)

A two-hour cruise in the Great Sound and Hamilton Harbour, $30 per person

(minimum booking 20 people).

“We run the boat exclu-sively for you and your party,” said Mr Owen.

“We hosted quite a few of them last year after our Friday night happy hour cruise, and people loved them. They came dressed in all sorts of outrageous costumes and had an abso-lute blast.

“You can also hire us for a relaxing day out on the water,” he said.

“Some brides- or grooms-to-be may just want to sunbathe and swim, and snorkel with their friends rather than have a full-on party.”

‘Meet and Greet’This two-hour sunset

cruise is $30 per head (minimum booking 20 people).

Mr Owen said this ‘pre-wedding meet and greet’ option was particularly popular among overseas couples heading to Bermuda for a ‘destination wedding’.

“When a couple gets married there are two parties coming together, and not everyone knows one another, so this is a nice event at which every-one can meet and mingle in an informal setting,” he

said. On the wedding day itself tensions can be high, so something like this helps guests to start building up those nice bonds. And what better way to see Bermuda than on the water?”

‘Rehearsal Dinner’This three to four hour

cruise can accommodate up to 50 guests.

“The Rehearsal Dinner is when members of the wedding party get together, typically the night before, to make speeches. The bride and groom may thank their bridesmaids and groomsmen, and pres-ent them with gifts,” said Mr Owen.

“We can seat up to 50 people comfortably, with dinner priced per head. This includes the food, tables, chairs, plates, glass-ware and cutlery.

“We have various menus to choose from, so it’s a customizable package. It can be formal or buffet-style, or just canapés — it depends on what the client is looking for. We can also do full butler service.”

‘Wedding Ceremony’ and/or ‘Reception’

“This is fully customiz-able to what the client wants. They can work with the UberVida team to

create their own fantastic charter,” said Mr Owen.

“We can head to the beau-tiful setting of Paradise Lakes, or if it’s a calm day, wherever else you would like to go.

“We can comfortably

seat 50 people so if you also want to have your recep-tion and party onboard, we can also do this. There is certainly plenty of room for dancing.

“Last year we had a wedding of 80 people. We had a chef on board, and also musicians.

“We have a surround sound system for DJs, but also have quieter areas.

“And there is no chance of anyone gate-crashing your wedding, because you’re on a boat.”

Whole Day Dreaming (Wedding Decompression Day)

This five-hour cruise is a fun day out on the water, complete with buffet menu and snorkelling gear.

Mr Owen said: “This is a perfect way to decompress the day after a wedding. If the weather is good we head out to Bermuda’s Northern Barrier Coral Reef. If the weather is not so good we stay more inshore.

“These kind of events are becoming more and more popular, particu-larly among destination weddings. They are typi-cally held the day after, or two days after, a wedding.

“It can be a relaxing day out for the whole wedding party, or, if the bride and groom have left on their honeymoon, it’s a fun day for the guests to mingle and enjoy being out on the water.

“We had one back in May, at which the wedding party guests spent the whole day snorkelling and having fun.”

The UberVida is licensed to carry 150 guests and won the 2012 ‘Best of Bermuda Award’ for ‘Private Party Boat Charter’.

It has a cash bar and can also hire a DJ for your event.

Mr Owen said: “The boat is a very open concept and can accommodate what-ever the bride and groom choose. We can cater for you and will make sure you are happy.”

The catamaran under-went a refit last winter but will also be spruced up during the coming months, ready for the spring and summer seasons.

“We will be doing anoth-er series of refits — we are constantly evolving the yacht,” said Mr Owen.

“We hope to attract over-seas visitors for destina-tion weddings, as well as Bermudians. The UberVida is something we’d like to make available to every-one.

“It’s a fantastic venue. Also, we try to give you the best customer service. The staff and crew all under-stand that this is someone’s big day and that they will have spent a lot of time and energy on planning this, so we want to make it a really special occasion.

“We feel that it is our privilege to have you with us.”

This month, the UberVida will be featured at Canada’s Bridal Show. Wedding planner Fernanda Mae Owen is helping to exhibit the yacht’s wedding packages at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Ms Owen said: “I find that overseas brides really want to be on the water when they come to Bermu-da, because it is such a beautiful place to be.

“The UberVida has some exciting packages, and the staff are always so friendly, helpful and knowledge-able.” ■

Make your dream wedding a reality on the ‘UberVida’‘Celebration yacht’ brings Bermuda’s beautiful scenic backdrops to any occasion

■ PHOTO SUPPLIED

EXCLUSIVE: The bride and groom relax on the UberVida with their friends and family.

■ PHOTO BY DENIS OWEN

ONLY IN BERMUDA: Tyler and Fernanda Owen, married on August 1, 2012, are seen relaxing on the catamaran UberVida.

UberVida The ‘UberVida’ can also be booked for wedding anniver-saries and other celebration events. Contact 236-2222 or e-mail [email protected] for rates and book-ings. Website www.ubervida.net or look for UberVida on Facebook.

BY CATHY LYNN GROSSMANUSA Today (MCT)

This summer wedding season, a new song could rival Laura Nyro’s bride-yearning classic Wedding Bell Blues.

Call it Wedding Bill Blues.

Even with a slight drop in “I Do” spending during recent tough economic years, many couples are beguiled beyond their budgets.

The average couple has a $26,989 wedding, according to Brides magazine.

Even though that’s down from a peak of $28,082 in pre-recession 2008, nearly one-third of all brides still bust their budgets, Brides says.

Couples are victimized by their own fantasies, cajoled by media visions of celebrity nuptials, and pressured by friends, fami-ly, even strangers posting idyllic photos on Pinterest.

“It’s emotional. Practical-ity goes out the window,” says David Jones, president of the Association of Inde-pendent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies.

Jones sees many ways debt entraps people. As a grandfather, however, Jones still found himself a shocked participant in runaway wedding spend-ing for his granddaughter’s wedding.

While Jones and his wife contributed cash, their son, father of the bride, “had to work overtime for months after the March wedding to pay off the credit card bills,” Jones says.

The “lovely but not outlandish” spring wedding “went 15 per cent over budget,” Jones says, starting with the first purchase — a $6,000 gown, when $3,000 was planned.

Linda Morado knows all about that. She owns Le Dress Boutique, a luxury gown consignment shop in Atlanta, where she serves a parade of women suffering “bridal guilt” after going overboard on the first

major purchase of their wedding.

Typical: A client who can’t unload a never-worn $4,800 duchess satin designer gown after she downsized from a formal wedding to a simple beach ceremony. Indecisive brides trying to unload three dresses because they couldn’t stop shop-

ping at one. Brides whose weddings never happened.

Morado tells them better to lose on the dress than wed a loser.

Kari Nesbitt, 28, of Atlan-ta, says she wed the right man in 2010.

But she did it in a lavish $6,000 designer gown from Rivini — far above her $2,000 plan. When she

neared the cliff’s edge of budget disaster a month from the wedding, she slashed the plans to fit the finances.

“I started out thinking I would have a big blowout wedding. Crystals every-where. Flowers every-where. Lots of drapery and fancy lighting, ice sculp-tures and all that jazz,” says Nesbitt, who works weekdays in marketing for a non-profit group and Saturdays at Le Dress.

The couple thought they would spend “about $30,000, but suddenly I looked up, and we had 200 people coming, and the costs were heading for $10,000 to $15,000 over budget,” Nesbitt says.

“We cut the up-lighting. We cut the draping. We cut the special wooden dance floor, and no one missed it.”

Resisting is hard, say brides, citing wedding planners who overwhelm them with choices for decor and doo-dads that seem irresistible.

Couples can also be lured off their financial feet by bank commercials that encourage borrowing for wedding costs.

Royal Bank of Canada advertises a spend-now-pay-later “MyProject” MasterCard with images of a dazzling bride, “like a passport to a grandiose wedding you’ll pay for in money stress later,” says Rob Carrick, personal finance columnist for Toronto’s The Globe and Mail and author of How Not

to Move Back in with Your Parents.

Ilyce Glink of Chicago who publishes advice on financial security at thinkglink.com, is shocked by frequent letters from people who ask if they should borrow on their home or raid retirement funds to pay for a wedding.

No! Glink says.Most people don’t have

an emergency account or savings. The typical family has $50,000 for retirement They don’t have six to nine months of savings set aside and even if they did, it wouldn’t be $26,000.

Even if young couples are increasingly sharing the costs, they’re facing student loans and credit card debt even before the first wedding invitation flies out.

Experts cite price optionsBut wedding industry

pros say hold off on casting blame.

“There is no need to go into debt. You can have a lovely, unique, personal wedding at any price point,” says Anne Fulen-

wider, editor in chief of Brides and Brides.com. The cover of her July issue featured an $899 gown, well below the average $1,300 price tag.

No one at TheKnot.com will take the fall for overspending, either. The Knot is a juggernaut of the wedding industry, with its sister site WeddingChan-nel.com streaming ideas and images 24/7, a quar-terly magazine called The Knot Weddings, and numer-ous planning apps.

Anja Winikka, site director of TheKnot.com, says, “We’re talking about normal people who want dinner and dancing on a Saturday night,” but they don’t all want to reinvent the idea of weddings or compete with their friends for the splashiest event.

On their upbeat message boards most only post regrets for what they didn’t spend, not what they did.

The Knot’s 2011 research finds couples averaging more than $12,000 for the reception and $5,000 for the engagement ring, the biggest-ticket items in their


Average couple in US spends $26,989 on wedding

■ AFP PHOTO/STAN HONDA

GRABBING A BARGAIN: Future brides race to grab wedding dresses off the racks during Fileneís Basement annual bridal gown sale in 2010 at the Union Square store in New York. Hundreds line up for the event where dresses are steeply discounted to as low as $250.

‘Resisting is hard, say brides, citing wedding planners who overwhelm them with choices for decor and doo-dads that seem irresistible.’

breakdown of an aver-age $27,000 wedding (not including the honeymoon) in 2011.

But there’s plenty to guide and support the budget-wary who go for the current rustic trend with a flowers-in-a-mason-jar look or a Sunday brunch with a Bloody Mary bar and a jazz band, Winikka says.

TheKnot’s research finds that more than 75 per cent of couples are either paying for the wedding or contrib-uting — along with their parents, grandparents and extended family.

The industry is well aware of the cost-conscious bride, says Rita Vinieris, designer for Rivini which made Nesbitt’s gown. Rivini’s primary client is the “aspiring bride in the $4,500 to $10,000 range.”

But, Vinieris says, every major company, including hers, has a “diffusion line — a lower price point with a high-style sensibility.” Her Alyne line gowns sell for $1,500 to $4,000. Vera Wang’s “White” line sells at mass market David’s Bridal for under $1,400.

Choosing a gown, Vinier-is says, is buying “a magi-cal sensation that will set the tone for the day.”

Ah, magic. Brides have been groomed for magic ever since they played Disney princesses.

Once engaged, they’re primed for “the irratio-

nal exuberance of the wedding market,” says Matt Mendelsohn, who has photographed 500 Washing-ton, D.C.-area weddings in 12 years.

Mendelsohn wants to reach through the crystal and lace onslaught and tell them, “Simplify! You are planning a celebration of love, not the Academy Awards.”

Are you sure? asks says Pam Danziger of Unity Marketing, which tracks the luxury market. “For some, extravagant weddings have become a true status symbol with people competing with their friends and their families to put on the most lavish show,” Danziger says.

At a time when the medi-an U.S. income is around $45,000, no one should be spending $27,000 on a event they imagine will be the social event of the year, Danziger says.

Setting prioritiesMany brides are trying

to rein in the extras and refocus on what matters most to them — the food, the music and a circle of guests who mean the most to them, says Sheryl Evert-son of the Saratoga Event Group in Atlanta.

She manages weddings at four venues in the Atlanta area, from a formal pavil-ion to historic homes. Their

average wedding now runs $18,000 to $26,000, “whereas, I used to get $46,000 without batting an eye.”

“But I’m happy to see them and help them stay in budget, no matter what. I say, ‘Let’s look at where we can cut. Wouldn’t it be better to have something smaller?’ I don’t want to stress people out,” Evert-son says.

Couples are meeting the challenge by cutting the reception guest list to save on food and liquor costs and going with seasonal decor.

Evertson redid many of the props in “rustic luxe look” for those who want burlap linens instead of brocade. (“Here we are in the big city, and they want to look like they’re at a barn in Connecticut,” she quips.)

Economy moves such as cocktails-and-buffet recep-tions have the added advan-tage of cutting the drama on seating charts in the era of divorce and blended families, Evertson says.

Still, all agree wedding budgets defy dollars and cents.

“If it were up to us, we would have a taco truck and a DJ,” jokes Daphne Adato, 29, news director at a Minneapolis radio station, getting ready for her mid-August wedding in San Diego with thrift in mind.

Friends and family are doing the invitations, simple seasonal sunflower centrepieces, the favours and more. Yet, there’s no avoiding the big reception bills that come with a guest list of 200, which includes her big, beloved family of 100.

There won’t be post-honeymoon bills, however, because there will be no honeymoon for at least a year, and the bills are already here.

They’re going into married life burdened with $30,000 in credit debt from his-and-hers student loans, and “never making enough money to live on.”

The couple never set “a magic wedding budget number” because, Adato says, her parents are pick-ing up the tab.

The budget number Katy Roland, 31, of Atlanta, had in mind, $15,000 for a mid-August wedding on the rooftop of the Peachtree Club, was blown away almost immediately — by her parents.

Every time Roland looked, her mother was adding more guests, at $100 a head, for the reception.

“My parents have lived and taught here for 40 years, and they know everyone.

“We are at 170 guests now. The original plan was for 100 to 125,” says Roland, a new media specialist for a marketing agency.

She also couldn’t stop family from adding on “frou frou,” such as favours that Roland calls “ridicu-

lous” and her aunt, picking up the tab, calls essential.

Roland says, “It makes my head spin to do the numbers. My parents are both retired, and I hate that they are spending so much.

“We can’t afford the wedding bands we origi-nally picked out. And we’ll still come home from the honeymoon to a stack of bills.”

They’ll be coming home from a Florida condo owned by her fiance’s parents, an ocean away from their original (now unaffordable) choice, Greece.

A wedding breakdown:Weddings bells sound

like a cash register —Ka-ching! The average 2012 wedding (not including a honeymoon) will cost $26,989, up from $26,501 in 2011.

A May 2012 survey of 1,272 Brides magazine and website readers found:

■ 91 per cent of couples set a budget, but 32 per cent overall, and 40 per cent of those who plan a destina-tion wedding, cross that line.

■ 72 per cent of couples used savings to pay for their weddings.

■ 30 per cent use credit cards, and most expect to pay off credit cards within six months of their wedding.

■ 54 per cent of couples said paying for a wedding would not hamper their plans for “buying a house or a car, starting a family, and so on.”

■ 62 per cent of couples say they’re contributing or paying entirely for the reception costs, including 36 per cent of couples who expect to pick up the entire tab themselves.

■ Couples are almost as likely to have a sit-down plated meal at their recep-tion (42 per cent) as a buffet style meal (41 per cent). ■


■ AFP PHOTO

BALLOONING COSTS: You can have a lovely, unique, personal wedding at a price that suits you. No need to go to the extent that this Romanian bride, whose dress broke the record for the longest train, being made of 4,700 metres of material.

‘For some, extravagant weddings have become a true status symbol with people competing with their friends and their families to put on the most lavish show.’

PAM DANZIGER Unity Marketing



You want your wedding to be classic, memorable and timeless, so why not also choose a vintage mode of transport?

As you are about to take one of the most important steps of your life, luxury, space and comfort can help to ease the ride, and the nerves.

This classic touring car is now available for hire in Bermuda, capturing all the elegance and romance of the Jazz Age.

The Branford Elite is based on the classic Ford Model A (1928-31) and has been imported from the UK by ‘Bermudaful Moments’.

The women behind the enterprise are friends Eliz-abeth Mayne and Roberta Pachai.

Mrs Mayne, co-owner of Big Savings Zone furniture store, said: “We saw a gap in the market and started planning for this two years ago.

“At the moment most of the wedding cars you see in Bermuda are Jeeps or convertible (Volkswa-gen) Beetles, so this car is completely different.

“Most convertibles only have two doors and so, when you’re trying to get in and out in your wedding dress, this can be awkward.

“In the Branford Elite you can spread the dress out, so you can get in and

out without it getting crumpled.”

She said: “This car has that vintage, classic look, and we will also have a chauffeur completely dressed for the occasion, in suit and cap.

“Think Downton Abbey (popular period British television drama) — this car will be just like the car in that show.

“We can also decorate it in ribbons and rosettes, according to the bridal party’s wishes. For exam-ple, if your bridesmaids are in pink, we can coordinate the colours to match.

“We will sit down togeth-er and ask you what you want on the day,” said Mrs Mayne. “So it will be very exclusive and individual to each occasion.”

The Branford Elite is custom-built as a vintage car by AWS Ltd in the UK. It features a traditional leather interior, an old-

fashioned dashboard and steering wheel, and wooden fixtures.

Mrs Mayne and Ms Pachai opted for a cham-pagne exterior and sapphire blue trim for the roof, running boards and mirrors. For the interior they chose a navy blue carpet and leather seats in cream.

The Branford Elite seats six passengers and the roof hood folds down at the back, so the bride and groom can also be visible to each passer-by.

Ms Pachai said: “This is a fairytale wedding car. It’s going to be very glamorous and will look beautiful on your wedding photos.

“At traditional weddings

you would go and pick up the mother of the bride and bring her to the church, and then the father and the bride. After the ceremony the car would then take the bride and groom to the reception. So traditionally, the wedding car has always played a big role in the nuptials.

“The Branford Elite should really turn heads — it is so unusual to see something like this on Bermuda’s roads.

“At Bermudaful

Moments we want to provide a package which really looks after the bride and groom, and their fami-lies.

“We will also take the newlyweds to wherever they want to go to have their photos taken. For example, if you want to be captured overlooking Horseshoe Bay, then we can take you there.

“It is the bride’s day and it is all about making it a fantastic one, exclusive to you — a ‘Bermudaful day’!”

Mrs Mayne and Ms Pachai will ‘unveil’ the Branford Elite at their booth at Anthony’s 16th Annual Bridal Fair and Fashion Show, at the Fair-mont Hamilton Princess this weekend (January 27, 12-5pm).

The vintage car will also be available on request for wedding anniversaries and other events from the start of June.

The price will depend on each package and hire time. ■

‘Downton Abbey’ car adds that touch of class

■ PHOTO SUPPLIED

FAIRYTALE CAR: The Branford Elite is based on the classic Ford Model A (1928-31) and has been imported from the UK by ‘Bermudaful Moments’ and is now available for hire. This classic car seats six passengers and the roof hood folds down at the back, so the bride and groom can also be visible to each passer-by.

■ PHOTO SUPPLIED

LUXURIOUS: The Branford Elite features a traditional leather interior, an old-fashioned dashboard and steering wheel, and wooden fixtures. The owners opted for a champagne exterior and sapphire blue trim for the roof, navy blue carpet and leather seats in cream.

The classic touring car the Branford Elite captures the elegance of the late 1920s

‘This car has that vintage, classic look, and we will also have a chauffeur completely dressed for the occasion, in suit and cap.’

ELIZABETH MAYNE Co-owner Bermudaful Moments

Bermudaful Moments For more information and to submit an inquiry form, go to www.bermudafulmo-ments.com

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BY KIMBERLEY D. CAINES

As you undertake new responsibilities, acquire new assets or your family structure changes, you should consider your estate planning, and a vital instrument in your trove of estate planning tools should be a will.

In the absence of having a will, the law, by way of the Succession Act 1974, will decide what happens to your real and personal property (your “Estate”).

In the event you do not wish your Estate passing to a particular family member (in default of a will) or you wish to ensure it passes to a person or persons, having a will in place will allow you to spell out exactly how your Estate will devolve.

The Wills Act 1988 (the “Act”) sets out all require-ments that a will must comply with in order to be valid.

Such requirements include the formalities to execute a will and the capacity to make a will (an individual must be at least eighteen years old and of sound disposing mind).

A will should be viewed as a fluid document so as circumstances in an indi-vidual’s life change the will should be drafted to take account of such changes or be modified to accom-modate and reflect such changes.

For example, a will can be drafted in a way to include future born chil-

dren as beneficiaries of your Estate; this obviates the need to continuously amend your will with each birth.

One life-changing event that affects a will is marriage, either enter-ing into it or having it dissolved by divorce or annulment.

If an individual makes a will when they are single, then subsequently marries later in life and does not

amend their will, the will is automatically revoked by the marriage (section 14 (1) of the Act).

Notably, however, there are situations wherein a marriage will not revoke a will. One example being if an individual makes a will in contemplation of an imminent marriage and that is stated in the will, naming the intended betrothed, those provisions will remain intact (14(3) of

the Act).Conversely, a divorce or

an annulment will nullify any provisions in a will that may have pertained to your former spouse.

If an individual has named a spouse as a benefi-ciary under their will and the marriage is dissolved by way of a decree of the Supreme Court, that former spouse is treated as having “died on the date on which the marriage

is dissolved or annulled” (section 14A of the Act).

Therefore any entitle-ment that the spouse would have received passes as if the former spouse had died on the date that marriage was formally dissolved.

Another consideration when making a will is that there is no requirement that the wills of a husband and a wife have to contain the same terms.

Under Bermuda laws each individual has the freedom to decide to whom and how his or her Estate is to be disposed of at his or her death.

It is critically important that your will reflect your wishes and not those of your spouse, or any other person, otherwise the will could be held to be invalid.

Finally, while it may be tempting to search for a template for a will on the Internet or purchase a “will

kit”, the best person to prepare your will is a quali-fied attorney.

Having such an impor-tant document drafted by a qualified attorney may cost more at the outset but will potentially save you and your beneficiaries a great deal of frustration and expense in the long run.

So, in starting the New Year off with the best of intentions or thinking towards any significant events that may change your life this year, why not consider revising your will or putting one in place. ■

KIMBERLEY D. CAINES is an associate in MJM Limited’s litigation practice group. She practices in the area of civil litigation and advises on a range of mat-ters including landlord and tenant, matrimonial, debt collection and recovery and immigration.

The effect of marriage on a will and estate planningIf you made a will when you were single it needs to be amended if you marry

■ ISTOCK PHOTO

MAKE OR AMEND YOUR WILL: If you do not have a will, the law, by way of the Succession Act 1974, will decide what happens to your real and personal property (your “Estate”).

‘If an individual makes a will when they are single, then subsequently marries later in life and does not amend their will, the will is automatically revoked by the marriage (section 14 (1) of the Act).’


The bride’s dress is usually the centre of atten-tion at a wedding but it is equally important for the groom to look his best.

At the English Sports Shop, men can find tuxedos for rent or purchase, and all the accessories they need for the big day.

They can also find Bermuda shorts and blaz-ers in a variety of colours to add that local touch.

Whether you are getting married on-island or over-seas, the staff of the English Sports Shop can provide expert advice to the groom, best man and his grooms-men.

The gentleman’s outfitter has just introduced a new line of tuxedos, designed by David Hamshere, English Sports Shop president and buyer.

Chris Creamer, a buyer for the store, said: “We have had our tuxedos specially made for the Bermuda rental market, with the English Sports Shop label.”

The jackets and trousers are available for rental or purchase, in sizes ranging from a 36-56 inch chest.

Rental prices start from $85. To hire an additional shirt, bow tie and cummer-bund costs $120.

Sale prices range from $395-$775. The English Sports Shop tuxedo costs $495 (for jacket and trou-sers), and has a notch lapel.

Or you could opt for a shawl lapel by Alexandre of London, or a peak lapel from Perry Ellis or Hugo Boss.

Lynn Bean, manager of the tuxedo department, said: “The new English Sports Shop tuxedos are more modern and durable. The tailored jacket is more fashionable and the suit is more tapered through the

body, with a flat-fronted trouser.”

She said that although the store has hundreds of tuxedos in stock, the rental hire is “very busy, all year-round”.

“We advise the wedding party to place their order a year in advance, because we get busy with lots of other functions,” she said.

“We never know what we’re going to get in terms of orders, so if you know the wedding date, we can plan it accordingly.”

Mrs Bean said it is normal for the groom, best man and groomsmen to hire the same style tuxedos.

“Usually, the only thing that separates the groom from the groomsmen is the colour of his tie and vest. Usually everyone likes to have the same tux.”

The English Sports Shop also sells shirts, cuff links, bow ties and cummer-bunds.

“We carry all the acces-sories and sell everything, except shoes,” said Mrs Bean.

If you are hiring a tux, the store will dry clean the suit once you return it 24-hours later.

Mr Creamer explained that when it comes to sizing, whereas women are faced with two different sizing systems from the UK/Europe and the US, men’s sizing tends to be more universal.

“It is the same sizing, based on inches, but some-times an American cut is a bit looser,” he said.

“Most men know if they’re a 40 (inch) regular chest or a 42, for example, and that’s all the measure-ments they need to give us.

“It tends to be proportion-al. Normally if a man has a 42 (inch) chest for example, he’s got a 36 waist. But we can change the trousers to match, so if he is a 38 (inch) waist we will give him a 38 (inch) pair. All the sizes are adjustable.

“We advise the groom and groomsmen to contact us with their correct measurements so we can reserve items for them. They can fill out a form to post or e-mail us, or they can call us.

Overseas“If you are overseas and

coming to Bermuda to get married, you could go to your local tailor and ask him to measure you, and then e-mail us the details.”

He added: “If it’s a desti-nation wedding, hiring a tuxedo from us will save you the trouble of bringing it to Bermuda with you.

“You can just pick it up, look great for the wedding, and then drop it off again 24 hours later. It’s a matter of convenience, and you will look good.”

If you want to have a real ‘Bermuda’ wedding though, Bermuda shorts are the appropriate attire.

The shorts have a long tradition when it comes to island nuptials, and they come in all kinds of colours. This means the groom, best man and groomsmen can also complement the bride and bridesmaids’ dresses.

Jacqueline Trott, manag-er of the Bermuda shorts department, said the shorts


■ PHOTO SUPPLIED

LOOKING THE PART: English Sports Shop has tuxedos specially made for the Bermuda rental market, with the English Sports Shop label.

Rent or buy: Outfitter caters for groom and his entourage

See GROOM page 11

■ PHOTO SUPPLIED

LONG TRADITION: If you are having a ‘Bermuda’ wedding, shorts and blazer are the appropriate attire.

English Sports Shop ready to advise on tuxedos, shorts, and wedding accessories

The English Sports Shop49 Front Street, Hamilton. Tel. 295-2672 or e-mail [email protected]


COPY SUPPLIED BY BUTTERFIELD

You’ve found the perfect person to share your life with and you want to celebrate your love with the perfect wedding and an amazing honeymoon getaway.

You have all these ideas about what you would like for your perfect day: the artfully designed invita-tions; a beautifully tailored dress; a horse and carriage to take you from the church to the reception; a large ballroom; a four-tiered cake; a live band.

The list goes on…and so do the expenses. So, how are you going to pull together the funds you need for the perfect wedding?

Butterfield offers options to either ease the burden of paying out large sums of money at one time or reward you for what you do spend.

Butterfield Wedding LoanWith a Butterfield

Wedding Loan you can pull all your wedding expenses together into one low

monthly payment. Shawnette Griffin, head

of Butterfield’s consumer credit department explains, ‘a wedding loan, not only reduces the stress of making sure you pay all your vendors on time, but it also reduces the financial pressures of paying all those large expenses all at once”.

Simply fill out a loan application, found on the Butterfield website or at any Butterfield Banking Centre and our experienced lenders will work with you to find a payment plan that works best for you and your significant other.

Butterfield/AAdvantage MasterCard or British Airways Platinum Visa Credit Cards

Pay for your wedding expenses and your honey-moon travel plans at the same time by using either the Butterfield/AAdvan-tage MasterCard or the British Airways Visa Platinum Card for all your purchases.

You will be rewarded with AAdvantage miles or Avios for every dollar

you spend — making it that much easier to travel abroad for that amazing

honeymoon getaway. And with worldwide

acceptance, a host of

international services and travel insurance, these cards are a perfect addition to your wallet.

Apply for a Butterfield British Airways Platinum Visa today and receive 3,000 bonus Avios upon approval.

Apply for an AAdvantage MasterCard today and receive bonus AAdvantage miles upon approval:

■ Butterfield AAdvantage MasterCard Standard – 1,000 AAdvantage miles.

■ Butterfield AAdvantage MasterCard Gold – 2,000 AAdvantage miles.

■ Butterfield AAdvantage MasterCard Platinum – 3,000 AAdvantage miles.

Planning a wedding is stressful enough without having to worry about paying for it all.

Let Butterfield help with financing solutions to help you start your lives together. ■

TO DISCUSS your borrow-ing needs visit a Butterfield Banking Centre today or contact our lending hotline on (441) 298 4799.

Make the most of your credit cards and wedding loan■ WEDDING FINANCE

■ PHOTO SUPPLIED

WORKING OUT A PLAN: Shawnette Griffin, head of Butterfield’s consumer credit depart-ment explains to a young couple how a Butterfield Wedding Loan can help take the stress out of paying for a wedding.

are as popular among overseas visitors as they are with Bermu-da residents.

“We get more demand locally than overseas, but when visi-tors come here for a destination wedding they also want to wear Bermuda shorts. People just want to feel part of Bermuda, by follow-ing this tradition.

“We’ve had wedding parties from the UK, US, Canada, Austra-lia and all over the world, want-ing to wear Bermuda shorts.

“They also sometimes opt for linen suits if it’s a summer wedding.

“We also get locals who are getting married overseas, wanting to do it in blazers and

Bermuda shorts.” Ms Trott said: “At most weddings, the men will wear navy blazers, white shirts and navy long socks. The tie should also complement the colour of the shorts.

Shorts“When it comes to shorts, most

men prefer pink, coral or lime green. These are the most popu-lar colours at weddings, but pink is the most traditional.”

The store also stocks other colours to choose from.

The blazers are available in navy blue, royal blue, Bermuda blue, red, green, black, lime green, beige, yellow and pink. Linen shorts are available in pink, coral, red, Nantucket red, royal blue, navy blue, Bermuda

blue, wine, khaki, beige, black, grey, yellow, lime green, plus a new shade of Lyford green.

Mr Hamshere designs all the blazers and shorts, for the English Sports Shop label. They are manufactured overseas, and the blazers are made in Italy.

As the attire is unavailable for hire, the wedding party must purchase their shorts, blazers, socks, shirts and ties.

Ms Trott said: “Usually the bride and groom will come in and select the colours they like, and then the groomsmen will come in to try them on.

“For overseas customers, we will e-mail the details and colours.

“We usually need at least six to eight weeks’ notice, because

our shorts delivery arrives in the spring, so we need to place any orders aside before we can put the shorts out in the shop for purchase.

“However, we can order the shorts year-round.

Adjustments“If the wedding party arrives

here early enough they can come in and try them on. We have a seamstress so if any adjustments are needed, such as letting them out or taking them in, she can do the alterations quite quickly.”

The blazers cost from $295, the shorts $59, long socks $11.95, shirts $29.95 (short-sleeved shirts are slightly cheaper), and silk ties $45. The ties feature Bermuda motifs, such as onions, longtails,

yachts, the Birdcage and palm trees, in various colours.

The blazers range from 36-56 inches chest size, and the shorts are available from 30-48 inches in the waist.

But Ms Trott said: “Even if we don’t have someone’s size we can alter a pair to fit them. Last year we had a young man with a small 28-inch waist, so we took in a 36-inch pair, cutting them down to fit him. It worked perfectly and he looked very elegant as Best Man.”

She summed up the appeal of Bermuda shorts and blazers as “traditional wedding attire”.

“It’s as popular as ever,” said Ms Trott. “It’s just a very elegant look, and very Bermudian.” ■

Continued from page 10

GROOM: Pink is traditional, but coral and lime green Bermuda shorts are popular


■ WEDDING COMPETITION FINALISTS

Let Casillano and Daniel Wilks Married: December 15 2012

Photographer: Paka

Leanne Christie and Jose Torres Married: June 16, 2012 Photographer: Wayne Todd

Lauren and Denniqua MatthewMarried: March 22, 2012

Photographer: Ernest McCreight


Jevon and Ally RobertsMarried: September 27, 2012

Jolene Abran Groom: Sean Abran

Married: October 11, 2012

Photographer: Ace Studios Photography

Vairi and Gary FurtadoPhotographer: Gavin Howarth



Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and you will never have more photo-graphs taken of you.

Your make-up therefore has to be perfect, and it should capture a classic, timeless ‘look’.

In 10, 20, 30 or more years’ time, you will want to avoid looking at a ‘dated’ wedding portrait on your mantelpiece.

When considering how you want to look on the big day, beauty consultant Alana Dowling recom-mends doing your research first by looking at bridal magazines, Internet sites and books on weddings.

Miss Dowling is one of Gibbons Company’s consultants who also specialize in bridal make-up.

By purchasing a mini-mum $50 product from the Black Up, Dior, Chanel, Guerlain or Lancome cosmetic lines, you can also have your bridal make-up done at the store.

The make-up applied will be specific to the line of the product you choose and an appointment takes about 45 minutes, pre-booked with the Cosmetics Department.

Miss Dowling demon-strated a bridal makeover for the Bermuda Sun, applying Black Up make-up to our model, Michelle

Furbert. She also gave plenty of tips for brides-to-be on how to look their best on the big day.

“You should pick a look in which you feel at your most beautiful,” said Miss Dowling.

“For example, you might want a natural look or you might want to feel a bit more dramatic.

“Don’t be afraid to tell the make-up artist what you do and don’t want.”

Skin care and prepara-tion is everything, she said.

“A key to perfect make-up is perfect skin. You should be getting into a skin care regime and a monthly facial is recom-mended.

“The earlier you start this, the better, whether it’s a year or six months in advance of your wedding date.”

Foundation“Also, the number one

thing people are going to see is your foundation,” said Miss Dowling.

“Bermuda’s climate tends to be humid year-round, and more so in the summer. I therefore recom-mend using liquid founda-tion, and one which is oil-free, as it needs to be able to withstand humidity.

“Your skin has a natural radiance and glow, so if your foundation lacks this, you can use radiance drops as a back-up.

“The Black Up Complex-

ion Enhancer helps to give a natural glow, so that can help on the day, to make your skin look more natu-ral and radiant.”

She added: “And one of the most important tips I can give is to do your make-up in as natural light as possible. This is the best lighting.”

Eye make-up“There is no right or

wrong way when it comes to eye make-up, but for brides try to keep the colours soft and natural.

For a darker skin tone go for browns, golds and earth tones. If you want to look a bit ‘smoky’, use a little bit of charcoal, brown or grey.

“For lighter skin tones go with a nice shimmery beige or mocha brown, or try a light apricot or soft pink.

“I use Black Up’s Intense Radiance Eyeshadow. This goes on nice and smoothly and really opens up the eye.

“You can also use a liquid eyeliner, in black. If you have a paler skin tone then use a nice chocolate brown. Start from the outer corner and make your way in.”

Miss Dowling said Pearl Powder by Black Up of Paris can add highlights.

“If you apply this on top of the eyeshadow it will brighten and intensify the colour,” she said.

Mascara“I can’t stress it enough,

but use waterproof

mascara,” she said. “Weddings are a very

emotional time, so if you don’t want make-up running down your face then use waterproof mascara.

“You can also use an eyelash primer. Having nice, full long lashes on your wedding day is very nice.

“Another tip for ladies is, if you’re going to cry then take a tissue and lightly dab — don’t wipe. This will prevent your make-up from coming off.

“And if you don’t have a full set of lashes, try false eyelashes, with natural hairs. Don’t be afraid to try it. A mixture of brown and black hairs looks more natural.”

Eyebrows“Another tip for your

wedding day is to make sure you get your eyebrows finely shaped,” said Miss Dowling.

“Do this a week before the wedding — don’t wait until the day before because this can redden the skin. You need to give the skin enough time to calm down and heal.

“Get your brows profes-sionally shaped. They should frame the shape of your face.”

Blusher“It is nice if your lips and

blush colour complement each other, but use a softer shade of pink on the lips,”

she said. “You want to look

flushed, as if this is coming from underneath the skin, but don’t go too heavy.

“A bit of shimmer on the cheekbone will also give radiance. This looks nice when the sun shines on it, as a highlight on top of the blush.”

Lips“When it comes to lip

colours, use bronze shades, golds and apricots for dark-er skins, and mauves and soft pinks for lighter skin tones,” she said.

On purchase of a mini-mum $50 product, you can book your bridal make-up appointment by phoning the Gibbons Company Cosmetics Department.

“The make-up will usual-ly last all day,” said Miss Dowling.

“If you have to do any touch-ups, it will usually be your lips, such as after eating and drinking.

“Also, if you perspire and become more shiny, you can touch-up your skin with a light powder.”

If you are unsure of your bridal look, the store’s beauty consultants also provide consultations, for a minimum $50 product purchase.

Miss Dowling gave us a demonstration of a bridal make-up look using cosmet-ics by Black Up of Paris. Michelle Furbert, the Bermuda Sun’s legals and

data administrator, was our model.

The stepsCleanse, tone, moisturizeMiss Dowling began by

cleansing Michelle’s skin, using Bi-phase Cleansing Water make-up remover and cotton wool. Then she used a cleanser-toner, and applied moisturizer.

“You want to prep the skin before you put the foundation on,” she said.

“Just keep a residue of moisturizer on the skin, so that when you put on the foundation it will glide on the skin smoother.”

She used Hydratant Intense, an oil-free hydra-tion fluid, and then applied Black Up’s Eye Contour Gel around the eyes, using gentle tapping motions.

Foundation“Use an oil-free fluid

foundation and a drop of Complexion Enhancer,” said Miss Dowling.

She used Black Up’s Foundation shade No. 8 and Complexion Enhancer shade No. 3 on Michelle.

“I start on the areas where I feel the woman needs a bit more coverage, and any areas which need to be brightened up, which may look dark or dull,” she said.

“Then I smooth on the rest of the foundation, using what’s left on the (foundation) brush. That way you can’t see where

Wedding day makeup requires research

■ PHOTOS BY COLBY MEDEIROS

THE EYES HAVE IT: The Bermuda Sun’s Michelle Furbert is given a bridal makeover by Gibbons Company’s beauty consultant Alana Dowling, applying the Black Up make-up range to our model. Miss Dowling is using Black Up’s Intense Radiance Eyeshadow which she prefers because it ‘goes on nice and smoothly and really opens up the eye’.

Beauty consultant advises brides-to-be on how to look their best on the big day


the foundation stops or starts. It’s easier to apply little by little and build up the coverage — if you need coverage, not everyone does.

“Foundation should just enhance the look of the skin, not cover it.”

Eye concealerNext she applied an

under-eye concealer — Black Up Concealer, which has a brush tip applicator.

“I start on the inner corner of the eye as that tends to be the dark-est, then under the eye, just lightly blending the concealer outwards.

“Don’t be afraid to put a bit on the top inner corner and lightly blend it outwards too. The eyes will look brighter and more lifted.”

She said: “The eye area is definitely where you want to conceal thoroughly, so you don’t have any dark areas on your photos. Take your time blending the product onto the skin, to conceal gently.”

EyebrowsMiss Dowling then

shaped Michelle’s eyebrows, using an eyeshadow to fill in.

“If there are areas where the brows are very fine, then using a powder eyeshadow will look softer than a eyeliner or pencil,” she said.

“Use an angle brush and start with a little. Then apply more, to bring up the colour, using light, short strokes.”

Lips“The lips should comple-

ment the blush colour, so pick a lip colour to comple-ment the blush tone, but apply the lip colour first,” she said.

“It’s nice to pick shades which have a satin or lustre finish, or soft shim-mer. This will add warmth and radiance.”

On Michelle she used Satin finish lipstick No. 6 — a pink/apricot shade. She then applied a brown Eye and Lip Liner, in shade No. 6.

“Outline the lips with the pencil in definition and then just lightly blend the lip liner onto the lip, so you don’t get a harsh lip line,” she said.

Black Up’s Gloss No. 2 in a pink shade finished the look.

“Adding lip gloss on top will add some dimension,” said Miss Dowling.

“It should be a few shades lighter than the lip colour to add brightness. Just pat the colour onto the lip.”

BlushMichelle chose a light

apricot/peach tone for her blusher.

Miss Dowling advised: “To know where to place

the blush, simply smile. You then follow the shape of the cheekbones, blending upwards.

“Don’t put your blush under the cheekbones, as this will bring them down-wards. Put the blush on that nice round area — the apple of the cheeks.”

EyeshadowShe then applied Intense

Radiance Eyeshadow No. 3, a golden brown colour, on Michelle, using a sponge tip brush.

“Apply the eyeshadow to the lower eyelid, just press-ing it on to build up cover-age,” she said. “This really brightens up the eye.

“It’s always best to put a lighter shade on the lower lid and to use a medium to dark colour in the crease, depending on your skin tone.

“This adds contour and dimension to the eye.”

She used a charcoal colour on Michelle, apply-ing it softly to the crease.

“Lightly blend the shadow upwards into the browbone, but don’t take the crease colour too high, as the higher you take it, the more dramatic it will look,” she said.

“Just lightly touch the browbone.”

Mascara“When it comes to

mascara, I always use black,” she said.

“No matter how light or dark your skin tone is, you want to emphasize your lashes.

“Starting at the base of the lash and work your way

outwards to the tip. Then look upwards and lightly coat the bottom lashes.

“If you get any mascara on your skin, let it dry first and then take a dry Q-tip and rub it off.”

For women who don’t want to wear mascara, Miss Dowling advises using an eyelash primer such as

Black Up’s Lash Primer and Growth Booster.

“This is silicone-based and clear, for women who don’t like to wear mascara. It makes your lashes look darker and there’s a treatment in it which — with continuous use — will help your eyelashes to grow.” ■

to capture a ‘timeless and classic look’

■ PHOTOS BY COLBY MEDEIROS

LIPS AND BLUSHER: When it comes to lip colours, Alana Dowling’s advice is to use bronze shades, golds and apricots for darker skins, and mauves and soft pinks for lighter skin tones’. And for the blusher, ‘simply smile . . . then follow the shape of the cheekbones, blending upwards’.

■ PHOTO BY COLBY MEDEIROS

MAKEUP OFFER: Michelle Furbert’s makeup was applied using the Black Up range from Gibbons Company. Purchasing a minimum $50 product at Gibbons from the Black Up, Dior, Chanel, Guerlain or Lancome cosmetic lines, entitles you to have your bridal make-up done at the store.

Bridal MakeupFor more information on bridal make-up at Gibbons Company call the Cosmetics Department on 295-5535. Gibbons Company, 21 Reid Street, Hamilton. Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 9:30am-6pm. The last make-up appointment is 4:45pm.

Fairytale Weddings January 2013

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