Operation: 'Extra-Ten Miles'!

I've got my first of three wedding in five days.  I'm not too nervous. This surprises me, because by now I've usually come up with at least ten reasons why I'll be a failure! Of course my brain has pooped out a few duds here and there, like, 'You've only got two makeup artists, and seven people to do....and then the sensible side of my brain kicks in and says, 'Yes Adrienne, but you've also got five hours to do it- and you've got help...so chill the hell out!'
These are the sorts of thoughts that stopped me from doing this a LONG time ago..except I'd be running through what would go wrong even without having any weddings on the go- so I never even got the ball rolling.  You're always going to be afraid. But usually it's the anticipation of starting that stops you. If you can fight through that- then there's no telling what you're capable of doing.
I often preface conversations with, 'This is going to make me sound kind of hippy dippy trippy, but-', when I've got to realize that this is the way that I think, and who cares if people think I've got my head in the clouds (I do). I think that when you decide to do something, a flow starts, and things start coming your way.  It's like you open a door in a parallel universe....the universe recognizes that there's a certain level of positive energy being applied in one area, and starts feeding that energy with opportunities, people you should know,  and experiences......too out there?

Okay- back to Makeup ;)

My first bride looks like Hilary Swank's sister.  She manages to have nearly perfect skin, even though I  know she's going through a lot of stress, with going to UBC, planning her wedding,and she's admitted to me that she's not getting a lot of sleep! She is calm, but underneath her calm exterior I see a billowing wickedness that I relate to! 

I was reading a Preston Bailey blog a long time ago (thanks to my friend, Jessica who mentioned I should read it).  Preston Bailey is a very successful wedding planner.  He said something like, 'It's all about going the extra-mile'.
With my parents owning a bed and breakfast lodge, much of my adolescent life, I constantly saw them going the extra-mile, and then ten miles beyond that.  My parents worked from sun-up to sun-down, eight days a week, and they did it with a smile on their faces! I remember seeing my Dad lugging a cot up the stairs....at midnight... walking on his toes as to not wake any of the other guests.........  for a newly married couple who didn't want to sleep together on their wedding night (they never asked any questions).  Thinking about that always makes me laugh......the couple were seemingly afraid of being in the same bed together.....they said they were  "too tired".... even though sleeping in bed together, doesn't always result in wild sex....I mean, you don't,...have to do the deed when you're in the same bed...I should think that would be rather exhausting if it was the truth!.... Their parents neglected to have a certain educational conversation with them when they were children!.....But then they were the same couple that my Dad kicked out of the establishment.  My Dad caught them kicking our dog off the end of the dock because she was "sniffing and slobbering" on them........

As far as regular protocol, they would give the guests a "Goodmorning Basket" at 8:30....muffins, coffee, tea, whatever they liked.....9:30 was a bountiful breakfast, 4:30 was cookies, squares, coffee and tea. While the guests were out to dinner we had a "Turn-down" service. Dad ( sometimes I would help) would go up to the guests rooms, turn-down their beds (this is the process of pulling down the sheets, and sticking a chocolate on the pillow..... we'd put Hershey's kisses!) The guests could also expect a cheese-plate in the fridge, with a colour coded dot on the plastic wrap, corresponding to the colour of their room. I remember Dad, wearing his white apron, and "cutting the cheese" (literally) while he was asking me his usual twenty questions when I got home from school.
As entrepreneurs,  my parents taught me that people not only want to get what they paid for, but they want an experience as well. They taught me that if you really want to make a difference, and be remembered, you've got to go ten miles beyond the extra-mile. And even with doing all that- people won't spread the word about their experience like they would if they had a bad experience, but they'll keep coming back.
I was thinking about this a couple of weeks ago when I was writing to my brides, on how they could take care of their skin a week before their wedding.....I was writing the email, and then I thought, 'why don't you just give them a goody-bag of samples from your work, you diddlydoink?'  I thought this couldn't do the company I work for any harm, because in worst case scenario, they got free samples, and we didn't lose anything..... best case scenario, they love the product and come back to replenish! Everybody wins!  If I wasn't working at the location that I am, I may not have the opportunity to provide an amenity like this, but you've got to recognize your resources, and use them!
Both brides came in to see me at work, and I handed over a little pink bag filled with samples of skincare I suggested they use the week before their wedding. I wrote out how they should use these products, but I also explained it to them when they came in to visit me. 
I don't think either one of the brides was expecting a goody-bag, so it was a nice touch....if I do say so myself.
There is always the question,  'how am I going to maintain my lips throughout the day?. So I thought I would get them cards congratulating them on their wedding, and shove the product I used on their lips in the envelope as a little gift (new one of course). This might be silly in the eyes of some, and maybe not so economical....but when you're starting out- you have to pull out all the stops to ensure you're not forgotten!  I'll do the bare minimum when I'm booking forty weddings a year! HA HA....don't think so- it's in my nature to be a servant to the people, whether I like it or not!

Alright, the dog is pawing at my hands as I type, so I suppose I should stop writing and throw the ball a few times!

Much love,
Adrienne