Life style
Face-masks making fashion statements in weddings
In Sri Lanka
by Zanita Careem
The novel Coronavirus has ended lives and upended lives, with many cases of Covid-19 being reported around the world each day. Among the considerations people have to face during this pandemic is whether or not to get married, and, if so, how and what to do. For couples who decide to get married- the question is whether they have to cancel their original ceremony plans, and new ones, or are now feeling the time is right, or necessary, for marriage – following the advice of healthcare professionals.
Wearing protective face masks and social distancing have now become commonplace not just in daily life, but during more rare, special occasions like weddings.
The world changed in the span of a few months due to the deadly virus and so have weddings. Couples across the world had to cancel/postpone weddings due to the unexpected pandemic and now with normalcy returning to some extent with strict regulations in place, the weddings are back, not to the extent as before. But the rules of the game have changed and earlier the maximum number of guests, allowed were not be more than 100, but now the number of guests have increased to 300 in Sri Lanka according to some of the Five star hotel officials. So, while the parents of the would-be-brides and grooms, getting busy cutting down or cancelling wedding plans or guest lists, the brides and bridegrooms are picking up their last minutes accessorieslike decorating face masks, a new trend in weddings now.
Are face masks the new wedding accessories? Earlier it was flowers, glitter and glamour. The ‘Sunday Island’ spoke to some of the leading bridal designers, make up artist, they were convinced about the usage of masks for brides to be.
He said “The face masks are for their own safety,they should not be hesitant to wear the masks. Most of the brides I did during this season, prefer to wear glittering masks with sequins,lace,and other accessories, matching their bridal outfit. Now masks for brides have become a fashion statement said Aslam.
Ramani Fernando, makeup artist and hairstylist, for several years said ” The masks, have become part of their wedding trousseau. The brides are convinced when you tell them to wear the masks, it is for their own safety and potential danger of the virus. With the masks ‘ I always keep the make up of the brides to the minimum and they are happy about it” Weddings, earlier were big and extravagant events, involving a large guests lists and years of planning, but now weddings however are made simple in the era of social distancing and pandemic, she pointed out. She said the glittering masks are beautiful, but this should not be a permanant feature.
Ramzi Rahaman, popular for bridal dressing was happy to dress brides with masks. It is a hindrance to do the make-up but now the brides give in to my request. “I designed a bejewelled mask for a recent bride to match her classic off white silk gown. The bride looked radiant and beautiful. he said. True, shields and masks, are the new wedding accessories, these are the rules and regulations of the Health Ministry. The bridegroom too sported a mask along with his suit. He maintained masks are the new fashion statements. This is the new normal at least for a while, it’s best to best embrace the new change with a smile said Ramzi.
The rules for marriage in 2020 is changing, not only in Sri Lanka but in many countries too. Banning gatherings altogether even with eased restrictions, make dream weddings impossible for some couples.
Some couples to get around the restrictions, the pair decides to bring forward their marriage without a banquet or any large guests. Others, still manage to invite guests, but virtually, without any paraphernalia and the lockdown things have changed these designers.
This is exactly what some of the brides have to say about face masks “We have to follow the health rules and regulations, we respect the authorities and abide by it.”
Talking about weddings in other countries, they have made the face maskscompulsory. In New York, for instance, the governor made it legal for couples to hold online weddings as Covid-19 continued to spread around the world.
For example taking vows in parking lots to holding ceremonies by video conference, couples are finding innovative ways to get married. In UK most weddings have been cancelled or postponed during the height of the pandemic. But still the couples kept the ball rolling with the new trend of wearing the masks and shields. In certain parts of India, the usual throng of wedding guests had been replaced by an audience of mobile phones and tables streaming live wedding ceremonies to distant family and friends. Some wedding and receptions took place via video calls.
The act of getting married was a a big business. In Sri Lanka weddings were grand affairs, each weddings help support a whole variety of photographers, florists and musicians and others. International destination weddings have also stopped at least for a while.
Turkey allowed marriage after several months of banning them, because of the virus, but a protective mask was made obligatory for the brides as well as for the guests.
In Philippines couples married at a mass wedding event in masks but less chic.
For wealthy Sri Lankans’ weddings usually last four days and involve a large gathering. But now, weddings in Lanka are done on a smaller scale.
A wedding of this style will be a new feature – at least for a while,Isn’t it best to embrace this new change, till the pandemic is over, for the benefit of the country at large , asserts these designers and even couples.
Well this is exactly what brides and grooms are following on their D-day, to wear the masks as part of their wedding attire and follow social distance in style.