Pro Q&A Series: Zipora McDougald

February 2, 2010 | by Tia Ayers

After years of planning events for friends and family, Zipora McDougald turned pro and became a Wedding Consultant. She’s been a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants for five years, and along with her sister, co-founded Here Comes the Makeup, a cosmetics line specifically designed for brides.

We sat down with Zipora to get advice for brides (and their mothers), find out more about her makeup line and get the scoop on her own wedding day.

PROPOSAL: In your opinion, what is the biggest issue that Brides face when planning their own wedding and how do consultants like you help them along during the process?

ZM: Brides typically don’t realize how many things there are to do for a wedding. Although most magazines and online tools provide checklists. It becomes very stressful for women trying to juggle careers, planning and social lives.

Professionals in my field are instrumental in having a seamless event. Not only that, but a wedding planner helps immensely in getting you the best deals for your money. Wedding planners often have vendors they know and love to use, so they have the connections that brides probably don’t have. I think most brides would agree that having a planner is a must!

PROPOSAL: What would it be helpful for a bride to know before she comes in to consult with you?

ZM: Typically, the bride should have in mind the style of wedding she wants, whether she wants a day or evening wedding, how many guests she wants and some kind of a budget in mind.

A bride should take the time to sit down and think about what she really wants and what she really doesn’t want on your wedding day.

Most of the brides I’ve worked with come in with pictures of what they love and I try to match it to the best of my ability. I give them options, and will brainstorm new ideas with them to make sure the day is exactly how they picture it.

PROPOSAL: How do you face a bride who has turned in to her Altar Ego (aka the worst version of herself)?

ZM: I have been lucky to have worked with really great brides, none of which turned crazy on me….Knock on wood! I actually seem to have more Momzillas than anything else. Of course the moms want their daughters’ wedding day to be exactly how they envisioned it. But what they want and what their daughters have planned are often very different.

I make sure to have everything that the bride wants in writing and also who is in charge of what and where everything goes. That way, when questions arise from the mothers, I can just calmly show them and explain that this is how her daughter wants her big day and that I wouldn’t want to do anything against her wishes.

PROPOSAL: What piece of advice do you give a Maid of Honor on helping the bride have the best day ever?

ZM: For the Maid of Honor: listen to the bride. You need to make sure she is relaxed, so try to take on what you can for her. Understand that she is about to have a life-changing event and along with that, comes stress and frustration.

Since you were picked as the Maid of Honor, I would also suggest giving the bride ideas and suggestions since you probably know her best. Just make sure not to overstep your boundaries and make it about how you would want your wedding day.

PROPOSAL: Okay, let’s talk about Here Comes the Makeup. How did you come up with the company?

ZM: Here Comes the Makeup was named after the “Here Comes the Bride” song that we all know. I thought it would be a great name to start a cosmetics line within the wedding industry.

My sister, Erica Herrel, is one of the top West Coast cosmetic chemists. She works daily with celebrity lines as well as many products that most of us women use.

I was able to work with her in developing my vision for high end products that actually do what they say they are going to do… work. I am very happy with the finished line.

PROPOSAL: What products are included in your line?

ZM: Here Comes the Makeup offers a full range of products to get you ready for a big event. We have several products that target nearly every area of the skin, from the eyelashes to lips. We have exfoliating treatments, a three-step tanning system and even a product to relax wrinkles and tone the skin.

Another exciting feature that Here Comes the Makeup has is that I can customize different products for any of my clients.

Because of my sister’s experience, with a special request from the customer, we can make sure that they get what they want so that they look her best.

I also create gift baskets for either the bride or bridal party with our products that are sure to be a hit!

PROPOSAL: What a great idea. Where are your products available?

ZM: You can get the products on our website at: www.herecomesthemakeup.com. I currently take order by email at mszbilu@aol.com. All of the orders are fulfilled as they come in to ensure the freshness of the product.

 

PROPOSAL: Okay, so we’ve talked about your work. Let’s change gears. Are you married?

ZM: Yes, I got married on April 22, 2006.

PROPOSAL: Tell us about your proposal.

ZM: My husband proposed to me on my 28th birthday on a sunset dinner cruise in Maui in front of about 100 people. Those who know him thought I was lying about the way he asked because he’s normally a quiet guy. It was definitely a surprise and a wonderful way to spend my birthday.

PROPOSAL: Tell us about your wedding.

ZM: My wedding day was one of the best days of my life. I got married in Calabasas, California at the Calabasas Inn. I came in on a white horse-drawn carriage, had a gorgeous ivory wedding dress, a handsome man awaiting my arrival and all my friends and family to join me in my celebration.

PROPOSAL: Did having a background in the wedding industry make it easier to plan your own wedding?

ZM: It made it easier, but in a way it also made it harder. I am an extremely picky person and wanted everything perfect. What bride doesn’t?

I had my florist do my centerpieces four times until I absolutely fell in love (I chose ivory long-stemmed tulips bunches in a large cylinder glass vase). I also couldn’t just have any ordinary favors. I had laser-engraved mini merlot wine bottles. The list goes on and on.

I learned that staying on a budget is very difficult when every magazine and website has something that you want. I realized that even though I couldn’t have it all, that I would have my top five favorite things. It was all about compromise for me.

PROPOSAL: That’s a great learning experience that you can pass on to brides. Do you have any other closing thoughts for our readers?

ZM: Don’t take on every task, thinking you will get it done better than the next person and remember that your wedding day is about you and your significant other. Whatever happens during the big day that was unplanned will most likely go unnoticed by everyone else, so just enjoy your time.

Thank you, Zipora for taking the time to answer our questions!
Make sure to check out her products at www.herecomesthemakeup.com.

Check back next Tuesday for another interview with a Wedding Pro!