Life style
Saying ‘I do’ in the time of Covid-19
Weddings have become just one of the heart breaking events now with social distancing and weddings without much glitz and glamour. For many couples December is a romantic month to get married with all the the p araphernalia of flowers,candles,confetti and others.Ramani Fernando talks about the “new normal’ in the post-covid world if you were just about to walk down the aisle?
by Zanita Careem
When you’re newly engaged and contemplating what month to have your wedding. December exactly the first month that comes to mind. December generally means holidays celebrations, food and family time. But if you love all the things that make this month so special, that precisely why most people consider getting married in December.
The ‘New Normal’ for celebrating weddings in the post covid world will be difficult with social distancing becoming the norm, weddings will be smaller, more intimate with emphasis on top notch hygiene standards. The coronavirus outbreak has brought the wedding industry to a screeching halt. Now we see intimate weddings, no grandeur with no great spending.
The preparations had begun early this year for 29 old Danushka. A long guest list, multiple functions and an exotic honeymoon. But however when Sri Lanka imposed pandemic lockdowns, everything was brought to a grinding halt. Things were beyond our control echoed Danushka’s family. It was our first marriage in our family and we wanted all our friends and relations to be invited.His story is not alone, in Sri Lanka many wedding ceremonies suffered a major jolt due to the pandemic, which was witnessed a massive increase. But amidst the pandemic people are either cancelling postponing or having small gatherings.
With all uncertainty, still there are some weddings taking place in an informal manner. Five -star wedding, flower decors, beautiful thrones, rich wedding dresses, photographers and well known beauticians are still the norm of certain families. Regarding weddings I spoke to Ramani Fernando, the popular hairdresser and make -up artist who has the credit of dressing many brides in Colombo and suburbs. This is what she had to say about thier weddings , make-up and safety measures.
Ramani said ‘We have requests from many brides this month for appointments Most families are interested in planning their weddings on a grander scale and curious to know about the bridal details.
Q: In weddings,brides of any race and religion, glamour is an integral part of any bride’s dream, hair and make up is done at a closer contact? What are your guidelines to safeguard in such situation.
A: Needless to say we are taking every possible precautions to make sure the bride and bridal party feel safe, during the process of dressing. I ensure the bride and the safety of my client to the maximum We have some guidelines drawn up for the safety of our client and the staff.
Q: Could you elaborate on the safety guidelines?
A: We first check the temperature, sanitise and then prepare the client for the service.
Q: Make up is important for brides to enhanced the bridal look. How do you deal with the bride, to do the colour make -up. hairstyles and other fine details.
We try to use as much as possible disposables and advise our brides to bring in their own make up if possible. We also sanitise all our brushes and sponges and keep the place clean and tidy.
Q: What are some of the risk factors faced by you?
A: We are on high alert and everything is done with the masks, adhering to rules and regulations
Brides want to look beautiful and feel their best on their great day. It does not mean you should bid adieu to make up, because of Covid-19 It is necessary for a bride to look extra beautiful, on this special day and get the wedding pictures captured.
Q: As an experienced beautician how would you envisage a simple make up if a bride desire during this time.
A: The minimalist wedding make up has been the trend this year.
I always love to choose a style that fits the bride’s personality, truly reflecting the most beautiful version at the same time, giving a natural look,Some of the brides are radiant with heavily worked masks. this is a new trend, followed by many brides at many brides, The eyes can do the talking with fluttering lashes.
Q: What are your safety precautions?
A: Staff with cold, sore-throats. cough and fever are not allowed to come to the salon.
Q: How do you face the risk factors?
A: Our salons are very vigilant about sanitation and infection practices Aside from following strict cleaning and disinfecting protocols regulated by the authorities , hygiene and sanitation are our top priority. I am committed to continually evaluate the sanitary conditions and see what must be done to meet the needs of the bride and and bride’s party
Every single staff member sanitizes themselves before entering the salon.
All staff have to wear (PPE)- Personal Protective Equipment.
Disinfect the entire salon immediately after opening – using a suitable detergent. (includes equipment, surfaces etc.)
Clients must be informed that they cannot crowd the salon
Only clients with the appointment should be allowed into the salon.
Everybody must wear a face mask.
All clients must be checked for temperature, sanitized and taken in.
After every service, make sure everything used is disinfected before the next client is taken in.
Q What do you do with the months you can’t plan and prepare the way you expected
A I take each day as it comes, things are so unpredictable during this pandemic and its been a very rough ride. But I take up all the challenges in good stride
Q As a makeup artist, for me there is no concept working from home. When dressing a bride, I had to stand in very close proximity to clients. How do you tackle this?
I always ensure that I am wearing my PPE as it is impossible to maintain one meter distance while doing someone’s and makeup. I make sure that I and my wash my hands and sanitizer as much as possible.
Q The sanitation practices and guidelines you adopt when it comes to bride’s makeup.? A Few Top Sanitation Practices
NEVER put lashes on a client if they have been worn by another person. You cannot sanitize eyelashes.
Never double dip.
Always use disposable sponges and mascara wands.
Sanitize everything with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.
If you have EVER double dipped into a product, throw it away to play it safe.
Use disposable brushes or clients if you can’t properly sanitize between clients.
Carry hand sanitizer in your kit. Wash your hands with soap and water between clients. This is more effective than using hand sanitizer only.
Never use lipstick from the tube on clients. Scrape a bit with your spatula onto a palette and use a brush or disposable lip brushes.
Some brides have realised an intimate affair is all they ever wanted, sometimes. As Danuksha puts it: “I don’t think I would’ve had it any other way. At the end of the day, it’s about you and the person you love. The rest doesn’t matter.” It seems, in 2020, the old-adage remains true: bigger isn’t always better.
Institute of Hospitality Sri Lanka
The 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the UK-based Institute of Hospitality’s Sri Lanka Chapter was held recently at the Ramada Hotel Colombo,.The event provided an evening of camaraderie , reflection of the past and present achievements,setting new benchmarks for the future
The AGM had the presence of two distinguished guests, the Chief Guest Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and the Guest of Honour British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick. Their inspiring speeches were lauded by all hoteliers who were present at the occasion
A special thanks was extended to Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality UK, along with his team, sponsors, committee members, and all attendees for making the event memorable.
Dr. Harsha Jayasingh, Past President of the Institute of Hospitality (UK) Sri Lanka Chapter, emphasised the Institute’s longstanding history and the strength of its Sri Lankan branch. “The Institute of Hospitality (IH) UK has a history of 86 years, and we are proud to be the Sri Lanka Branch. IH Sri Lanka is much stronger now with many members from all areas of the hospitality industry,” he stated.
Dr. Jayasingh highlighted the significant role of tourism in Sri Lanka’s economy,. He said tourism it is the third-largest source of revenue for the country. “Tourism accounts for about 13.3% of total foreign exchange earnings and employs 450,000 people directly and indirectly. The hospitality industry in this island of pearl holds tremendous potential for economic growth, job creations, and cultural exchange,” he added.
He also pointed out more women should be attracted to the industry and advocated for the use of technology in hospitality sector to attract the younger generation.
The newly appointed Chairman Ramesh Dassanayake spoke about the challenges faced by the industry, including the reluctance of youth to join the sector. . Dassanayake expressed concerns over the migration of staff between hotels and the overall ‘brain drain’ in the sector. ” We must maintain high standards in the hotel We must try to attract tourists to Sri Lanka, we must have with many facilities Hence, hotel schools and other professional institutions involved in skills development mustincrease their intakes,” he pointed out.
Chief Guest Sajith Premadasa emphasised the importance of eco tourism and said “We need to have an environmental policy related to tourism in place,” . .
The 32nd AGM of the Institute of Hospitality UK, Sri Lanka Chapter, was a testament to the strength and potential of Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry. The insights and commitments shared during the event set a new benchmark for the future.(ZC)
Pix by Thushara Attapathu
Life style
He recognizes human identity beyond boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
Visit of Sri Gurudev to Sri Lanka
Humanitarian, spiritual leader and Global Ambassador of Peace Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Sri Gurudev) was in Sri Lanka on a three day tour on the invitation of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunewardene. Gurudev who inspired a wave of volunteerism and service to moot one of the largest volunteer-based organisations in the world – The Art of Living – visited the various projects under the aegis of the foundation and launched twelve vocational and technical centers around the island. He was accompanied by thousands of followers from Sri Lanka and around the world.
Gurudev who visited Sri Lanka for the sixth time also had a first day cover launched in honour of his visit. He is a strong proponent of spreading happiness, using the unique Sudarshan Kriya, yoga, meditation and practical wisdom to unite people, empower individuals and transform communities. His programmes provide techniques and tools to live a deeper, more joyous life, while his non-profit organisations recognize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
The Art of Living which has more than 30,000 teachers and over one million volunteers across 180 countries has touched in excess of five hundred million people around the world. CNN called it “Life Changing” and The Washington Post headlined it, “Fresh air to millions”.
In Trincomalee, Gurudev met with war victims and had a heartwarming engagement with the children from the children’s homes run by the Foundation. He also visited the Koneswara Temple in Trincomalee and graced the Kumbhabhishekam at Seetha ecogPnize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion. Amman temple at Nuwara Eliya. He held discussions with the trustees on the progress of the foundation’s social service projects, while also holding a special event – Ekamuthuwa – attended by a large number of dignitaries and his devotees from around the world.
His time with the Prime Minister was spent discussing the prospects of unity in diversity and uniting Sri Lanka by adding happiness into the formula of living. In addition he had discussions with the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, prominent business stewards and civil society leaders.
by Zanita Careem
Envison your dream wedding day come to life at the Epitome Hotel, a prestigious city hotel in Kurunegala offering an unrivalled luxury rendors experience for weddings.
The venue is designed to embody opulence and luxury from all quarters for a spectacular wedding in kurunegala,Thier ballroom is the largest banquet facility in Sri Lanka It can be divided into six luxurious pillarless wedding halls on the ground floor and 25pax smaller banquet halls.
It can be easily named as a five star heaven in the heart of the city contributing to a myriad of immense experiences tailored to inspire and delight wedding experiences.
From opulent décor set up to exquisite table decor, lavish food, every detail is meticulously curated to spark your imagination and ignite creativity for a perfect wedding. The previous prestigious wedding shows season one and season two attracted large crowds
were unique events which gave the wedding vendors and potential clients had an opportunity to connect and interact with each other. Beyond being a showcase it was a chance for the wedding vendors to unite and contribute to the vibrancy of the wedding industry. The wedding show covered all area of the bridal industry providing a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became the most popular bridal exhibitions in Kurunegala.This bridal exhibitions allowed brides and grooms to experience first hand the products and services available from suppliers in Sri Lanka
These wedding shows held at The Epitome created a benchmark and gave an opportunity for vendors to create connections to the utmost satisfaction said Harshan Lakshita Executive Director. of the magnificent Hotel
Our wedding shows featured experts and professionals in every field‘ It covered all areas of the bridal industry provided a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became most popular bridal exhibition in this region.We are always open to everyone to join us at our wedding shows in the future. It is an opportunity to discover the incredible talent within our local wedding and bridal vendors to make meaningful relationships and plan thier special day at our breathtaking hotel The Epitome said General Manager Kavinda Caldera
The Epitome Hotel’s bridal show which will be held end of June will buzz with great ideas,advice and inspiration for all those who plan thier dream wedding
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The Hotel Epitome’s Wedding Season 3 will marked excellence, celebration and inspiration for those in the wedding industry. The exhibition halls will resonate with ideas on exquisite bridal wear to decor, florists , photography etc and showshowcase the rich tapestry of talent within the local wedding industry. .
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