MY WORKING LIFE
Worried about looking and feeling your best on your wedding day? Meet the etiquette coach who’ll ensure you do.
Brides of all ages and backgrounds often admit that they grew up dreaming of their wedding only because they wanted to look and feel like a princess on their big day. But being dressed in bridal finery, while exciting in theory, isn’t exactly cakewalk in practice. That’s when Siama Qadar steps in. The founder and CEO of the Siama Qadar Institute of Modern Etiquette teaches brides-to-be how to ‘be as polished and refined as a princess on her big day’.
How did you come to do this job?
I am originally from London, England, where simple etiquette is taught at school and at home. From a very young age I had a liking for all things princess and pretty – such as making sure the table is set beautifully, with the right fragrance; that vibrant matching flowers are displayed in the right corners of the rooms, and beds are made like a five-star hotel presidential suite. I started with assisting my primary school with simple etiquette manners in eating and setting neat presentations. Later, I went on to attend a world-renowned etiquette and hospitality school in Switzerland. When I came to Dubai in 2014, with the 198 nationalities here I saw there were a vast array of etiquette styles. This is how the Institute of Modern Etiquette was created – to streamline etiquette. How long is the typical bridal etiquette training programme?
The Bridal Etiquette programme varies as it’s tailored for the bride-to-be. Each bride is assessed first to identify the inherent habits, their character, their walking, talking in public, eating and the energy they release. With the assessment, a package is created for a transformation. On average, a programme should be 10 sessions for bad habits to break and new habits to develop. Naturally, the longer the programme, the greater the improvement as we are embedding good etiquette from within so it’s sustainable and not just for their big day.
What happens in a bridal etiquette training session?
In a typical bridal etiquette training session we include deportment. This is the most important and the visible bit to the guests. It’s the grace of walking, the upright posture, the eye contact, the bright positive energy, how to sit when in
It’s the grace of walking, the upright posture, the eye contact, how to sit when in their bridal gown, how to ensure their aisle walk is beautiful…
their bridal gown, how to ensure their aisle walk is beautiful, elegant and oozes the class of the bride and the wedding theme.
With all the excitement and bewilderment, it can be very easy for the groom and bride to forget about their sophistication and decorum, which is evident in their rushed rolled shoulders walk.
Another module is table manners. As the bride, it’s important to have a perfect eating style, not only to avoid dropping any food on her gown but also because all eyes are on her. For instance, when eating rice, use your fork and ensure only half the fork is filled with rice grains. Never fill the entire fork. There is nothing worse than to see the bride having to open her mouth so wide that everyone can see inside as she fits the entire fork in her mouth to prevent food spillage.
What’s a ‘Groom and Style’ training session? Here we focus on the walking down the aisle and the energy that needs to radiate towards the family and friends, as well as the image and styling so it matches the bride and the theme. We also focus on exercise and nutrition, to reach optimal performance and shape for the big day, with concentration on sustaining it, and hence making it a good lifestyle habit.
How does the ‘Bride & Family Weight/ Fitness Programme’ work?
Many parents, siblings, aunts and uncles too wish to look beautiful at the wedding events. Therefore, we also create a bespoke package of exercise, nutrition, deportment and image and style. Many of the family members have to give speeches, so we teach elocution. We also teach them how to deliver a speech in the most communicative, clear style.
What’s the best part about your job?
The interaction with the clients, the bride and groom – to understand their requirements and see a satisfying, visible transformation.
What’s the most challenging part?
A single session is typically 1.5 hours and the client not only needs to put 101 per cent focus into their training, but they also need to implement everything they learn into their daily lives.
Is it typically just the bride or the couple who come to the training?
Most of the time it is the bride and groom who come as the family members are usually busy. Typically, the bride makes it her priority to learn about bridal etiquette.
What are some of the top reasons brides consider doing the training?
To feel like a princess.
To reflect elegance and graceful energy to her guests.
To ooze intelligent beauty.
To enhance her decorum with upright posture in walking gracefully.
To have poise, and to enjoy and have a beautiful wedding.
For more information on bridal etiquette training, visit www.iome-me.com