Cathy and Patrick came to WeddingLight Events to help them plan a beautiful intimate ceremony in one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in the world.
The Brisbane based couple knew from the very beginning that they wanted to have their ceremony in Paris – The City of Lights. They privatised a gorgeous Parisian monument, a stunning chapel, for their intimate ceremony with their two sons and closest friends and family by their side. Cathy spent the morning with her bridal party in her lovely apartment in the chic 7th arrondissement of Paris getting pampered by our favorite hair and makeup duo, Fred and Muriel. The bride wore an elegant long-sleeved dress in white crocheted lace with a french twist for the ceremony and held a bouquet of bright white roses with bold emerald green leaves.
The chapel ceremony was officiated by one of our friendly English-speaking officiants, Igor, who gave a touching speech and provided them with a beautiful certificate at the end. Following the ceremony, the guests along with the bride and groom went on a Paris photo tour with our talented Paris photographer, Olivier Lalin of WeddingLight Photography. Making their way around the city, they shot photos on the L’île Saint-Louis, Musée du Louvre, Tuileries Gardens, the Eiffel Tower and more stunning Paris photography locations! Afterwards, the group took a pause at one of Paris’ chic hotel bars before heading over to an infamous restaurant for dinner that holds one of the best views in Paris that includes, of course, the iconic Eiffel Tower.
Cathy and Patrick were such a wonderful couple to work with and we were more than happy to help them create such special memories here in Paris during this holiday season. The family spent their Christmas in their rue Saint Dominique apartment and then flew to Italy for the remainder of the honeymoon trip.
Every bride wants to look their absolute best on their wedding day and rightly so! It’s one of the most memorable and special times in a bride’s life. (Not to mention the amount of photos that will be taken that day — no pressure!) So having a professional makeup artist create your favorite look and make sure it lasts throughout the day can make all the difference. We caught up with Fred, one of our favorite makeup artists, to hear what he says about bridal makeup and what it is like being a professional makeup artist.
Q:When did you know you wanted to be a makeup artist? How did it become your passion?
A: Actually, it began with my passion for perfume. When I was around 18 or 20 and was doing some promotion for perfume companies. There were makeup artists that came to do promotions as well and I loved watching them. Eventually, I began doing makeup there, too. After that, I had many internships to keep perfecting my craft.
Q: What is your favorite part about doing a brides’ makeup?
A: I like taking care of her (the bride) — really looking after her wellness and satisfaction. Brides are usually very stressed on the day they are getting married. So I like making them feel beautiful and when they feels happy with what I did, than that is pure fulfillment.
Q: How do you make a bride feel special on her wedding day?
A: Brides are very sensitive to the mood of the atmosphere. Most of the time they didn’t sleep well the night before because of nerves. So when she is with me, I like to make her feel relaxed and allow her to de-stress. Murielle (WLE Hair Stylist – blog post to come!) and I usually work together, so we know how each other operates and that makes things easier and is more helpful for the bride.
Q: Are there any lasting or classic styles that will always be popular with brides?
A: Brides usually tell me that they want “something soft.” This means they are wanting a classic look: nude lips with a sheer gloss, light eyes, and sometimes adding false lashes. They don’t want to change their daily makeup style to look different from how they normally do. Brides just want something simple, but with a little more sophistication than their everyday look.
Q: Do you have any memorable moments or great stories on the job?
A: Jewish weddings are probably the most memorable for me. We get to see them four times throughout the day: at the town hall, for the oriental service, at the synagogue and then for their evening party. You really get to know them when you see them so many times! Most of the time they invite me to stay for their party and I’ll have a cocktail with them.
Q: Do you have any helpful tips or advice for our fabulous brides?
A: Have a good night’s sleep. Make sure to moisturize, do a mask, a body scrub… everything. Nice makeup is made for nice skin. It is also very important to have nice eyebrows. The shape and style are essential for the overall look of the bride’s makeup. So it’s best to leave it to a professional — they always do them better. And maybe get a facial a week or up to four days before the wedding.
Q: Ok, last question! Do you have any favorite products?
A: I have many favorites. But, I really like products that get rid of dark circles under the eyes. YSL’s Touche Eclat Radiant Touch is great for that. Carmex is also really great for soft lips.
Getting to Know Fred Just a Little More: With over 15 years of experience, Fred has firmly established himself in the world of luxury makeup. Not only has he worked with some of the most fabulous makeup companies in the world (e.g. Chanel, Guerlain, Givenchy, Dior, etc.), but he has also had extensive training with some top of the line brands to make sure that his techniques are absolute perfection, his knowledge of products and tools sharp and thorough and to help him focus on his own creativity and personal touch.
To contact Fred about booking your makeup services for your perfect Paris elopement, wedding or other special event, please email us at info@weddinglightevents.com.
Photographs by Olivier Lalin of WeddingLight Photography
