SUMMER WEDDINGS
Those of you who have had the chance to experience the 'biggest day in a girl's life' will vouch for this fact -- in the three hours of being made a 'public display', amidst the snapshots and flashing cell phones, one sees her whole life pass by. And at that moment, for a split second, you panic. Everything seems to fall apart. You try to hide your glare, lest anyone notices your insecurity, forced to look up only by the words that you can faintly hear, “Look into the camera. Smile!”
And then you suddenly feel a slight touch in your fingers; a touch that turns into a firm grip. You look at your side, and stare at his eyes. And you see the same alarm! And you feel: We should have just eloped!
But then there are people who will say, it was not that bad. Yes stomachs churn and the flashlights dazzle you but in retrospect, it's all good.
Wedding Day cannot be understated in a girl's life. The glamour, the glitz is there, as is the anxiety, the tension. But it is a special day…both for the bride and her groom. We live life only once, and we vow to live it together. They say marriages are made in heaven. I say, they are made here. Down where the mortals live.
TYING THE KNOT THIS SUMMER
What is the one thing a bride, or even a groom, needs to make sure they avoid during their wedding day? Contrary to popular belief, it is not the wedding day jitters nor concern about the food running out. The main area of consternation is whether they are looking as fabulous and glamourous as they are supposed to be. Brides have to bear the brunt of it, given the many layers of make-up, heavy garments and jewellery that they have to put up with.
Come Summer time, the problem is compounded further by the presence of the tropical balmy weather. The climate vacationers cherish and countries put on their brochures is the reason why the wedding couples have their sweat glands working over time. Imagine a beautiful bride with her make-up melting off. Not a very pretty picture is it? The groom sweats too, but at least he doesn't have a bejewelled panjabi, three layers of foundation and all that gold. Add the fact that the couple have to put up with the constant glare of the cameraman's exceptionally bright light which emanates more heat all by itself, summer weddings can quickly turn into a recipe for disaster. If one manages to escape the camera, they cannot avoid the guests cosying up for picture after picture. The photographer too isn't expected to provide any respite. Any bride will testify to how close they were to maiming their wedding photographer for making her sit in one silly pose for a whole half hour and ten exact same looking pictures awaiting Photoshop. So, should you cancel your reservation for the wedding venue this summer? Not at all. Read on for this week, Lifestyle has put together a guide that will provide valuable pointers to all those glowing brides out there who are tying the knot this summer!
BRIDES of SUMMER!
Ah, the wondrous affair that is a summer wedding! The thick, balmy air is redolent with the smell of marigolds and tuberoses, magical fairy lights adorn the tents and trellises set up for wedding festivities, sweet jilapi that makes our mouths water and salty borhani that quenches our insatiable thirst for the titillating tastes -- the charm of a wedding during the summer is relentless. Even though ours is a tropical climate where heat is forever accompanied with sticky humidity, summer weddings are enjoyable affairs, sweltering heat notwithstanding! So what is that special person, who is the centre of all this merrymaking and attention, ought to do to look her best and maintain her composure and customary bridal grace in such crazy weather?
A summer wedding in Bangladesh is a pompous, extravagant event which inevitably means several different events with very different themes and looks, not to mention the endless parties that precede and succeed a wedding. Brides getting married in the summer must have a proper idea of the looks they want to sport, the different outfits each event requires, and the kind of preparation they need.
Since the bride is the centre of all attention, she needs to think closely about each of her outfits, the fabric of them all, and most importantly, the comfort factor. Fabrics like light katan, benarasi and jamdani are fabulous options; so are chiffon, georgette and crepe de chine. A bride should be comfortable in her attire, because only then will she truly shine.
Next thing to consider is the makeup. Ace aesthetician Farzana Shakil has valuable input in this regard, whereby she feels that for a summer wedding, the look should be natural yet glamorous. Thick, heavy base and overtly smoky eyes are a big no-no; radiant, glowing skin and simple yet elegant eye makeup coupled with healthy, blushing cheeks and a bright mouth are definitely the order of the day.
The base of the face makeup should be very natural and match the skin tone of the bride, and should be light enough so that the skin can still breathe through all the makeup. A touch of bronzer can aid in contouring the face. The current trend in eye makeup is to apply only a little bit of eyeliner to the lids and have it softly blended, and couple it with lots of mascara, to give a very subtle, smoky look. Farzana Shakil also emphasises on the usage of waterproof makeup and long lasting lip colour for maximum impact and payoff.
For hair, simple buns and updos look chic and summery; stiff, puffy hairstyles look dated and unnatural. Soft curls swept to one side are also a good option. Ornaments can be added to your hair for the extra glam factor.
Lastly, comfortable footwear is essential, particularly if the bride plans to let her hair down and dance the night away! With all these pointers in mind, a bride in summer will not only stun and sparkle on her big day but make memories that will last her a lifetime!
Model: Azra, Ruma, Zohra, Nabila, Faria, Bipasha
Photo: Riyad Ashraf
Wardrobe: Farzana Shakil, Ruksana Esrar Runi
Styling and makeup: Farzana Shakil
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