Yes, it’s the end of an era. So what was it like when the curtains closed on the Pearls Delhi Couture Week? It was grand and massive with lots of stardust. The sixth day of this mega event, starring multi-designers from all over India definitely established one fact – Delhi knows how it’s done. Rakesh Agarwal, Rina Dhaka and Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla showcased their collections on the last day of the Pearls Delhi Couture Week. Read on to know the verdict!

Rakesh’s collection had a mix of Indian as well as Western clothes. The Western clothes in particular were très chic. One shoulder, figure hugging, Grecian dresses with detailed bling and other evening dresses were truly enigmatic. His bridal clothes, however, didn’t quite manage to enthral the audiences. With Jacqueline Fernandez walking as the show-stopper in bridal attire, one would expect a lot of oooing and aaaing. Alas that wasn’t the case. Compared to the masterpieces created by other designers on previous days of the couture week, his bridal collection was far from unique.

Rina Dhaka’s collection, mostly comprising of evening sarees followed the whole noir theme as far as styling was concerned. The models looked ravishingly stunning and the clothes had a strong and yet feminine persona. Far from traditional, the clothes depicted the taste of unconventional women who do not shy away from experimenting. Lara Dutta, the show-stopper walked the ramp for Rina in a gorgeous off-beat black and silver ensemble. The crystal embellished blouse in particular looked gorgeous on the ex Miss. Universe. Inspired by cobwebs, Rina’s collection was full of nets, fringes and interweaving tangles.

Fashion big-wigs Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla bid adieu to the Pearls Delhi Couture Week with their “bling it on” collection. Lots of shimmer, shine, bling and patent Abu Sandeep embroidery dominated the show. The biggest surprise, however, was socialite Shweta Nanda and charming Aussie cricketer Brett Lee walking the ramp as show-stoppers. Shweta looked marvellous in a gold gown with lots of huge lotus embellishments. Brett lee looked cuter than ever in a sherwani, accompanied by his beatific smile. Overall, the whole collection was dramatic with lots of sequins work, dazzle and geometric shapes. The ample use of copper, gold and bronze gave the clothes a regal look.

Brides and grooms, now that you know what’s hot this season what are you waiting for? Your perfect wedding outfits are not gonna come knocking at your doorstep, are they? Stay tuned for more fashion tips and reviews from your favorite Indian wedding planner.

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When a designer who has managed to tie up with the world-renowned accessory brand Judith Leiber showcases his designs, you expect his collection to be ground breaking. And yes, it is safe to say that Suneet Verma was more than successful in mesmerising the audiences with his collection on day five of the Pearls Delhi Couture Week. It’s great to see how refined Indian fashion has become in the last few years. With more and more international labels, magazines and other brands coming to India, the country’s fashion is maturing and budding to say the least. And designers like Suneet Verma are taking Indian fashion a few steps forward, every time they showcase their designs.

Big hair, long ghaghras, subtle pastel shades, and lots of tassels – Suneet’s collection had a beautiful melange of avant-garde creations blended perfectly well with Indian influences. His bridal outfits in particular were a visual treat. The peach, beige and other pastel coloured outfits made the models look both sensual and traditional at the same time. The delicate golden thread work and Swarovski elements added to the already magnificent bridal clothes. The styling of the show reeked of Suneet’s international standards and perfectionist attitude. If there is one designer in the Indian fashion industry who can juxtapose contemporary fashion and conventional traditions, it’s Suneet. Impending brides will soon be seen thronging outside his showrooms. 

 If you are not fond of bold colours when it comes to traditional outfits, then you probably would not have applauded Varul Bahl’s collection. Purple, deep red, maroon, and dark green; Varun banished the rules of using subtle colours in bridal clothes. The delicate zardosi work and big velvet borders gave the show a unique concoction of modernity with Victorian charm. More like an ode to today’s smart, multi-tasking and bold woman. Use of several rich fabrics, such as silk, georgette and velvet gave the clothes a magnificent aura of freshness. To sum it up, Varul’s collection was a breath of fresh air.

Indian weddings are all about flamboyance, tradition and extravagance. Unlike in the West, people in India plan their big fat wedding months or even years in advance. With the help of fashion and couture weeks brides and grooms can plan ahead their outfits for various Indian wedding functions (Indian weddings are no longer one day drab events). When you spend crazy amounts on the décor and food at your wedding, you certainly won’t don an off the rack outfit on your special day.

 Delhi Couture week, Indian weddings, suneet verma, various Indian wedding functions, varun bahal

If you have been following this space and wondering how come none of the Bollywood big-wigs have walked the ramp for any of the designers yet, then you are going to love the scoop on day four of this magnificent couture week. Though the stars weren’t really missing in action; Manav’s Gangwani’s audience comprised of many starlets, surprisingly the trend of a certain Bollywood babe or hunk, walking arm in arm with the designer as the show-stopper hadn’t happened just yet. Well, day four couldn’t have been more star-studded. With Anil Kapoor walking the ramp for Anamika Khannaa along with the girls from Aisha (releasing next month) and Kangna Ranaut ending JJ Valaya’s show, day four definitely outdid the previous three days of the event.

Anamika’s show was more like a dream world meets subtle reality by way of Grecian designs and chic cuts. She rightly described it as “the emotional journey of a bride”. Her aim was to depict the different moods of the bride by way of her fabulous clothes. The long capes with rich zardosi and detailed thread work and velvet borders made the models look both fierce and feminine at the same time. Most of the clothes were in non-nonsense shades – lots of black, nudes, ivory and lots of gold.

It was not the svelte models that stole show; it was 50 something, more charming than ever – Anil Kapoor; he walked the ramp alongside Lisa Hayden and Ira Dubey. He was wearing a dandy black bandhgala and looking absolutely dapper.

JJ Valaya, known for his rich bridal clothes, detailed work, lots of bling elements and bright hues set the runway on fire with his creations. Most models walked the ramp in gold jackets teamed with beautiful ghaghras and lehengas. Peach, pink, red, peacock blue – the delicate colours and amazing detailing of the lehengas would have made any Indian bride shed at least a few tears. The hair tied in no-frills fashion took your attention straight to the clothes, which were indescribable. Kangna ranaut, the show-stopper was wearing the most beautiful bridal attire ever. The lehenga, which must have weighed as much as Ms. Ranaut, made her look like a decadent princess walking towards her throne. The kundan jewellery only added to the extravagance of the outfit.

On day four of the couture week, a super star like Anil Kapoor descended on the runway and Kangna made a pretty picture in a startling bridal outfit. Well, now that’s a double whammy for all Bollywood and fashion lovers.

 bridal attire, couture week, Indian bride, kundan jewellery

You can checkout this Sunday’s matrimonial section in the Times of India – Check mate.

 Indian wedding in Mumbai, South Indian weddings, wedding venues in Mumbai

If you are a bride-to-be who means business when she talks about her perfect wedding outfit or reception attire, then you had to be there on the third day of the Pearls Delhi Couture Week.  Sabya on day one, Rohit on day two and now Pallavi Jaikishan and Manav Gangwani on day three – this event is just getting better by the day. Both designers showcased their glitzy yet not in-your-face bling collections in their respective shows. In a nutshell, day three was full of glamour, celeb quotient and of course, some very good couture.

Manav Gangwani’s clothes are far from ordinary. In yesterday’s show, he showcased Indian as well as Western outfits; his collection was rightly labelled “An Affair to Remember”. Models were seen strutting their stuff in grandiose ball gowns in red, blue, and other vivid colours. The big hair embellished with bizarre yet chic hair pieces made the show look extraordinary. The styling in particular was amazing and flawless. His Indian clothes had everything from lehengas, to sarees to salwar kameez – again with fantastic detailing, Swarovski elements and a very appealing colour palette. Though some of the Western clothes weren’t really wearable, they somehow completed the show.

Manav’s popularity in Bollywood was evident in his show. Dia Mirza, Zayed Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Aftab Shivdasani, Kunal Khemu and Soha Ali Khan were all seen cheering their friend from the audience. Though conventional women will find Manav’s clothes too loud, his target audience consists more of women who are not scared of experimenting and those who are more than willing to put elements of their bold personality in the clothes they don. So if after reading this, your inner princess is coming to the fore, then Manav is the man for you!

Classic, colourful and rich – these are the best words to describe acclaimed designer Pallavi Jaikishan’s collection on day three. The evening sarees stole the show hands down. Be it bright orange with a gold blouse or an amazingly styled black saree with a big border, you can start feeling feminine and sexy simply by looking at Pallavi’s clothes.

Sporting a Pallavi Jaikishan outfit for your Indian wedding or reception can ensure endless compliments coming your way. She understands and depicts something so special in her bridal clothes, which no designer can ever replicate.

Halfway through this six day event, it is no surprise that Pearls Delhi Couture Week is going to be a much spoken about event, long after it’s over!

 indian wedding, marry me, wedding clothes

The six day extravaganza called Pearls Delhi Couture Week had two glitzy designers showcasing their collections on its second day. After the extraordinary commencement of this fabulous event, with Sabyasachi’s paranormal clothes, Gaurav Gupta’s fusion of Indo-Western couture failed to work its magic. The over the top, loud designs were meant to create an international, larger than life appeal, but unfortunately it could just about pass for ho-hum.

With today’s fashion prodigies, creating designs, which are not just flamboyant, but also highly wearable, it is very important for the couture week creations to be exciting and captivating enough to catch the fancy of today’s demanding fashionistas. Though the show was a delight to look at, it lacked that certain finesse, which should be expected from an acclaimed designer like Mr. Gupta. Neha Dhupia, an ardent fan of the designer’s work was seen cheering him, sporting a pink gown (designed by Mr. Gupta, of course).

Gaurav Gupta’s show was followed by Rohit Bal’s yet again one-of-a-kind, flamboyant and really unexpected collection. With Rohit, it’s safe to say that you will never guess what’s coming your way. With this show, Rohit has once again managed to raise the bar beyond the reach of mere mortals. Imagine models walking in amazing, never-seen-before ruffled gowns with incredible layering in deep and evening hues and big hair. Now imagine them walking straight into the swimming pool! Yes…swimming pool. And how does the designer take a bow in front of the audience? By plunging in the pool himself!

In this day and age, where fashion is becoming extremely experimental, bold and unpredictable, it is great to have a designer like Rohit Bal who represents India on the international fashion platform with his indescribable talent and panache. Only a daredevil, with extraordinary taste will muster the courage to sport his designs and turn heads.

Delhi Couture Week is a fabulous event, especially for brides and grooms to-be, to be in tune with the latest trends before they start shopping of their impending Indian wedding at the end of the year. Taking cues from the best designers in the industry helps you work on your wedding wardrobe. After all, every bride wants to look like a million bucks on the most important day of her life! And the nostalgia she goes through for months, while choosing those perfect outfits; well that’s just a bonus!

 indian wedding, wedding wardrobe assistance

With fashion weeks and couture shows happening by the dozen in India, one would think that they would have lost their grandiose quotient by now.  But Pearls Couture Week is an action-packed six day event that promises much more than Bollywood big-wigs walking the ramp for their favorite designers. India’s first couture week kick-started in 2008; now in its third year, it’s conducted in the Capital. The designers couldn’t be happier about the shift in host city and many of them have invariably chosen to label Delhi as the fashion capital of India.

So what did day one of the multi-designer starring couture week dish out? Read on and find out:

Kolkata based Sabyasachi Mukherjee inaugurated the couture week with his inimitable collection Aparajito (the invincible). Sabya, known for his eclectic designs and traditional style, first captivated the fashion industry in 2002 when he showcased his premier collection in Lakme India Fashion Week in Delhi. He hasn’t looked back ever since. His clothes always have very strong Indian influences sans much bling.

Sultry yet traditional babes, Rani Mukherjee and Vidha Balan who have been seen sporting Sabya’s creation on more than one occasion were proudly seated in the audience to cheer him. Vidya looked ravishing in a red hot saree (of course a Sabya creation) teamed with a black blouse. Rani, on the other hand, donned the season’s favourite – a black jumpsuit.

The collection mostly displayed earthy hues and most of the fabric used was khadi. The designer referred to his collection as “essence of India” and stated that Indian fabrics, textiles and culture are unbeatable. The block printing from Rajasthan and Kalamkari from Andhra Pradesh gave a whimsical feel to his collection.

Rumour has it that the cost of the collection coupled with the sets used cost him a whopping three crores. The collection displayed 40 designs for women and 15 men’s wear items. Classic, no-nonsense and traditional, Sabya has once again managed to floor the audiences with his unique panache.

Returning to the Capital after five long years, Sabyasachi has definitely made a thud on arrival. What remains to be seen is whether or not the rest of the couture week manages to keep the momentum alive. Check this space for the scoop on the much talked about Delhi Couture Week. The designers and details that we will feature will surely help you shop for the Big fat Indian weddings!

 Indian weddings, Pearls Couture Week

The 10^th Anniversary of The  Marwar Mega Wedding Show scheduled at Mumbai’s World Trade Centre from July 23 to 25 is set to revolutionize the Indian wedding exhibition scene. With a decade of showcasing top couture and jewellery from across the nation, the Marwar Mega Wedding Show is back again, but in a brand new funkier and chic avatar.

Conceived as a community initiative, a logical extension of the magazine by the same name Marwar www.marwar.com, the exhibition is organized by the magazine’s publisher Spenta Multimedia www.spentamultimedia.com. The single-minded focus on quality has probably led the exhibition to become the most visited wedding show in Mumbai. A regular exhibitor at the exhibition says, “What’s most attractive about the event is that nearly 15,000 people over three days visit us and our business for the year is secured with just one event”.

On offer is an extravaganza of delightfully rich and sophisticated fashion wear from the best in the industry. Find here handcrafted and exclusive couture from the by-lanes of Kolkata to the gallis of Delhi and Lucknow. Check out the fabulous designs offered in gold and silver studded with precious stones at the jewellery designer’s posts that hail from Jaipur. Find a panorama of designer, handmade products, shop for your dream wedding trousseau and get the best bargains in Indian wedding jewellery.

The 10^th Edition of The Marwar Mega Wedding Show is proud to showcase brands that include Gitanjali Group, Rosenthal, Orra – The Diamond Destination, Lladro, Amway, Kashvi, Lucera, Diya, Nyassa, Varuna D Jani, Stefan Hafner, Nakshatra, D’damas, Calgaro, Sangini, Rivaaz, Desire, Ezee Diamonds, Gili, Asmi, Maya, Rosato, Morelatto, Philip, Sector, Just Cavalli, Marvin, Everlast, Umbro, Iris, Pirelli, Nina Ricci, Miss Sixty, Reberto Cavalli, Greggio, Jusra International, Grape to Glass, Divyavastra by UCJ, Shaina NC, Savio John Pereira and others. We at Marry Me are glad to be a part of the show for the first time this year!

The Marwar Mega Wedding Show is on at the World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade in Mumbai on July 23, 24 & 25, from 11am to 7pm. It is also scheduled at Hyderabad and Bangalore. For enquiries call 022 24811010. Stay tuned for more on Indian weddings and The Marwar Mega Wedding Show in future posts!

 India wedding jewellery, Indian weddings, Marwar wedding show, marwari community, marwari weddings, wedding show in Mumbai

Come July 31, 2010 the US will experience perhaps one of the biggest weddings of the year. Chelsea Clinton, the only daughter of former American president Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton is all set to tie the knot with long-term beau Marc Mezvinsky. At the moment, the media is abuzz with speculations of who’s invited and who’s been excluded from the guest list. Read on to find out some of the details we have garnered about this lavish summer wedding.

It is known that the guest list will comprise around 400 people. Chelsea has insisted that she must personally know each and every guest (plus-ones are out of the question here). We think that this is definitely the way to go! Television biggies like Oprah Winfrey as well as famous film personality Stephen Spielberg will show up for the former first daughter’s wedding, as will heavy-weight political figures like President Obama and other members of the White House.

Word has it that President Obama apparently offered the White House as a ceremony and reception venue for the Clinton wedding. We wonder why the Clintons declined this grand offer! Perhaps, the Clintons want to keep away from the media buzz that has already begun to surround this wedding. It is said that the ceremony and wedding is slated to take place in the grounds of a private mansion owned by a family friend of the Clintons in Rhinebeck, a historic New York village which is a couple of hours away from Manhattan.

With regards to Chelsea’s 32 year-old fiancé, it is known that his parents are both former members of the Congress. Many Jewish media houses in the US are wondering whether Chelsea will convert to Jewish for her Jewish fiancé Marc. People are also wondering whether it will be a priest, rabbi or both who will officiate the ceremony. It has also come to be known that the wedding menu will be kosher.

When the wedding bells ring for Chelsea and Marc, the Rhinebeck mansion and the surrounding area will be as secure as the White House! According to a source close to the bride-to-be, the wedding may take place in a tent to ensure privacy from air-borne paparazzi and security for many of the high profile attendees! We don’t know how much truth lies in this though.

As for Chelsea’s wedding gown, well rumor has it that since Chelsea is quite traditional when it comes to fashion; it looks like it may be a Vera Wang or Oscar de la Renta. Both designers have an equally classic style that definitely goes with the taste of America’s former First daughter.

The wedding that has been shrouded in secrecy ever since the couple got engaged in November last year, is one wedding we at Marry Me – The Wedding Planners are yearning to know more about. Stay tuned because we are sure that more details on the wedding designers, wedding photographers, caterers and invitees will emerge as the big day draws closer.

 Clinton wedding, wedding designers, wedding menu, wedding photographers

You can checkout this Sunday’s matrimonial section in the Times of India – Check mate.

Here’s this weeks question – I’m getting married in December and don’t want a regular wedding. What ideas can you offer me on a medium budget?

 budget wedding, Indian weddings, marry me, wedding planner