Advice from the Experts

I know not all of you could make it to the Fota Island Resort Wedding Forum Evening last Thursday night, but never fear people – I went on your behalf!!

The concept of the Wedding Forum, was that there would be a panel of experts to give 5 minute-talks on their different areas and then open up the floor to Q&A.

Lorraine Keane was the host, and a fantastic job she did.  She handled the whole thing so professionally and came across really naturally, no notes or anything.  There was champagne on arrival and the most delicious canapés I have ever had including mini beef Wellington roulades and vodka sorbet served in a Martini glass!

Here’s some notes I took from what the experts were saying:

Phyl Clarke/Leonard Daly: Beauty & Make Up

• Eyebrow Shaping so important, it frames your face.  Put down the tweezers and go to a professional.  Take their advice about the best shape for your face and then hold tough as your old shape grows out!
• Exercise is obviously key for shaping up before your big day.  Not a gym bunny?  No problem, going for a brisk walk is great for getting fresh air and will add a glow to your face.
• Trials – get 2 each for hair and make up to make sure you know what you are getting. And make sure your trials are with the people who will be doing your hair/make up on the day!
• Facials: Deep Cleansing 6 months in advance and Hydrating for a couple of weeks in advance – will help plump up your face for photos
• Your make up will last all day if done professionally.  Only thing needed is extra lipstick/gloss and blotting powder to keep you fresh.
• Lashes – falsies a great idea to add extra glamour on the day. “Cows Eyes” Effect!  Brings attention to your eyes.  They don’t have to look really fake, you can get very natural looking ones.  Individual lashes can be a pain if one falls off, you are left with a space on your lashes!  Go for strip lashes, Ardel Brand costs about €7/€8.

Pól Ó Conghaile: Travel

• 40% reduction on honeymoons/holidays on 2007 prices
• Suggestion: Open a Bottle of Wine…. And the Altas!
• 2/3 honeymoons are now twin-centre (this means two destinations like beach/city)
• Suggested Itineraries: Dubai – Mauritius 3* €3,800, 5* €7,800 for 12-14 days.  Malaysia v popular: Kuala Lumper – Borneo (added bonus of Wildlife Experience)  Miami & Carribean (Cruise) €2,000 7 night package + 3 nights in Miami (per person)  Another popular option is Vegas & Cancun, Mexico.
• Decide the TYPE of Honeymoon you want: Relaxation Vs Adventure, Beach Vs Urban, All Inclusive Vs Independant, Around the Corner Vs Around the World.
• GET EXPERT ADVICE. Think you can book it yourself, but you are going to be exhausted after the wedding, so it is nice to know that everything is in hand.  So much to consider including time of year to travel to certain destinations, Visas, Vaccines.
• Cost Saving Tips for your Honeymoon:
  • Honeymoon Lists
  • Shop Around
  • Think carefully about last minute bookings
  • 10 days or 14? 4 star or 5? You can cut 25% off your bill by these measures.
  • Consider a “minimoon”

Catherine McSweeney – Mulberry Tree

• Trend last year was to have everything matching.
• Trend Now: Be more individual and creative.  Everything doesn’t have to match.
• Book a Service Provider/Wedding Planner.  You will think that it is an unnecessary expense but they will have alot of contacts and will be able to negotiate discounts for you with the hotel, on corkage, chair covers etc.  You will save money in the long run.
• Centre Pieces: Moving away from structural centre pieces, try potted orchid plants, or get your florists to create flowers in a bowl – these can be given as gifts afterwards.  Table Runners made from wallpaper.  Full length skirts on tablecloths will make any room look elegant/give the wow factor.
• Decide on a budget first before going to service provider/wedding planner.  They can work with any budget.
• Recycling!  Get the same person to decorate the church and the venue.  Limit the type of flowers – economizes.  Mass booklets in basket handed to guests intead of left on seats. Wrist corsage for flower girls instead of bouquets, will lesson the cost by about €80.  Pew Ends from Church can be brought back to the hotel and used in the ladies toilets.

Brian Terry: Photographer

• Trend at the moment is for candid photography.  Captures little bits of the day.  Mixture between still life and family shots.  Provides a narrative of the day.
• Meet your photographer first – he/she HAS to be a people person.  They will put your guests off if they are shoving a camera lens in their faces all day.
• Make sure you see full albums of their work ie. a full wedding as oppossed to their best 20 shots from the last few weddings they have done.
• Cost Saving?  Some couples are nowadays going for a DVD of the photos instead of the album.  Would recommend against as you can whip out an album anytime but how often are you going to turn on the computer to look at photos, plus in 20 years time technology will have moved on!  We may not even use DVDs then!
• Book a professional whose full time job it is as you have to consider the post-wedding service too.  If someone is doing the wedding photos on a Saturday in their spare time, then you may not get the after-sales service you are expecting.
• Don’t sacrifice the finished product – The Album!

Neil Foster: Head Chef, Fota Island Resort

• Menu Engineering – selecting options and cost per cover.
• You don’t just have to think about Filet Steak, there is a whole cow in the field!
• A good chef will be able to make the cheaper cuts of meat taste just as good.  Ribeye/Sirloin great cuts of meat.
• Consider having 3 courses instead of 5. Don’t stuff your guests!  Dessert plates will come back half-finished!
• Meet your chef – they have to be passionate about what they do.
• Have questions for your chef when you go to the tasting.
• Ask for photos of the tasting and ask for the menu tasting notes.
• You are paying top dollar for the food, you have to make sure you know you are getting what you pay for!