VITEROSE CADOGAN has always prided herself on making women look good.
These days her emphasis is on doing so on one of the big days in their lives – weddings.
She once turned heads of hair into well placed coifs, but lately has taken to dressing brides, doing their make-up and hair, and daintily prepping them to say their “I dos”.
“We do everything; the only thing we do not do is find the husband,” said Cadogan, a wedding planner, among many other things.
The trained cosmetologist owns and operates Sozo Beauty and Bridal and Balloon World at The People’s Mart in Tudor Bridge, St Michael.
She did hair and aesthetics for over 20 years before calling it quits in 2008 because the long hours of standing in the salon, and then having to deal with the hot and cold, had begun to affect her hands.
Her interest in wedding planning started when one of her clients was getting married and asked her to help. It was then that she realised it was something she liked. However, it was not until 2011 that she decided she would try it. She started getting friends’ wedding dresses and renting them out, and as part of the package, she would do the make-up and hair.
“It was not anything that I planned; it flowed,” she said. “I like dealing with people and seeing them happy and feeling that energy, so wedding planning came naturally.”
Cadogan’s aim is to own one of the largest bridal shops in Barbados; the ultimate one-stop shop. “My vision is that you get a trolley and pick up your flowers, your dress, your accessories, everything that you want.”
She has given herself the time frame of a year. “I am working hard towards it by faith.”
Viterose Cadogan stuffing a balloon. She says they are becoming popular gifts for special occasions.
Cadogan said a lot of people were still getting married. Her youngest bride was 18 years old (that was five years ago and she is still married) and the eldest groom was 87.
She is also grateful that more people are seeking professional help to plan weddings.
“With a wedding some detail is always forgotten. I find that when people plan their weddings themselves, they do not know what it takes and there is always some kind of hiccup.”
Weddings have changed as some couples have moved away from the traditional and are putting more of their personality into their nuptials. “I keep telling brides do not do a wedding because of formality; always put your preferences into it – be creative and make it yours,” Cadogan said. “They usually love it and it is a better outcome.”
The phenomenon of bridezillas (unreasonably demanding brides), though not too common, is something that she has had some experience with.
“I do not care what personality you have, it will not change mine,” she said. “I deal with all of my clients the same. I will give you the service, I will listen to what you want and by the time we are finished planning the wedding, we are both happy.
“I also did training in how to dress the bride, how to look at you and tell what type of dress would fit your body shape. A bride would come in and say they want a mermaid dress and immediately in my head I would look at them and tell it would not suit them. But part of my job is to allow them to explore and when they try it and see that it does not suit them, I can always guide them to something else.”
Cadogan said demand for rental dresses was on the increase because a lot of women did not want to buy an expensive dress that would just stay there and turn colour. They would prefer to put the money toward something else, like a ring, that would last longer, she added.
Her excitement peaks when she sees the awestruck reaction of the groom when his bride walks down the aisle.
But she is more than about dresses, as she does her own floral arrangements and paper flowers as well as a line of skincare and hair products for all occasions, called Anointed Hands Natural Products.
She started the line two years ago after completing a course in Trinidad where she learnt soap-making. She said soaps dried out the skin so she learnt how to make liquid cleansers.
Difficulty in finding raw materials locally is what has limited her from mass producing her products.
Another big seller is the balloon art which is gaining popularity in Barbados. Cadogan said it was also a big hit at birthday parties.
Traditionally, couples want flowers and fabric for their wedding but she said she has been able to show them the versatility of balloons which are just as beautiful and cheaper.
Decorating is therefore one of her biggest revenue earners.