Ok let’s face it! A good photographer is almost as important as the groom while planning a wedding. Don’t be up in arms yet – we used the term “almost”. And just as finding the groom is no one day task, it can take you quite a while to search for the perfect photographer. The one, who takes your feedback, makes you look like a size 2 in all your pictures and is a pro at hiding all the flaws. After all, your wedding day is only going to last a few hours, but the photographs are keepers; they will stay with you forever.

So what’s the best way to test the waters before taking the plunge? Simple! Arrange a pre-wedding photo shoot. This shoot will ensure that there is good synergy between the photographer and the couple and it will also prep you to pose before the D-day!

So what are benefits of having a pre-wedding photo shoot?

Pose! Experiment! Have fun. Just like the rehearsal dinner, a pre-wedding photo shoot also gives you the chance to just let go and have fun. You can experiment with different poses and locations – something you will not get to do on your wedding day. Since you know the shoot is more of a trial and error procedure, it takes the whole pressure off. Weddings preparations, as of today, can be pretty arduous on the couple, so this day will give you an opportunity to take a break from all the chaos.

Hit or miss! At the end of the shoot, the photographer will come to know how comfortable you are in front of the camera. Also, the angles and other technicalities can be worked on with the aid of this shoot. As a professional, he can also give you handy tips so that the end results are super. And you too will get a chance to see the photographer’s work and undo your decision in case you are not happy with what you see (hopefully this will not happen – fingers crossed).

If you plan on giving a special touch to your wedding invitations and guest book by using your and your partner’s photographs then this shoot will give you just the material. The shoot can happen anywhere (some couples prefer going to places they frequented while courting), and in non-wedding attire!

Better wedding photography is surely in demand these days. Some coupes choose go abroad and some choose to do pre-wedding photo shoots in 5 different countries. Yes! we mean FIVE different countries!!

We have shown you a few pictures from Rob & Laurens pre-wedding photo shoot with  Sonal and Raj. You can checkout some more pictures of their awesome pre- wedding photo shoots at their website.

Get in touch with your wedding planner in India to arrange your pre-wedding shoot either in India or a destination of your choice.

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Planning an Indian wedding can be very exhilarating not to forget stressful, what with the many elaborate events that it comprises. As a bride-to-be, you in all probability must have never planned a wedding before, so the entire process must definitely be very daunting. 

Keep those worries away, because we’ve prepared a detailed wedding planning checklist of things to get done to make sure that all goes well on your wedding day. This article (part of a 4-part series) will help you with all the activities needed to be completed at least a year before your wedding takes place.

1 year away

So he’s popped the question and you’re all aglow! Now begins the preliminary planning stage for the big day. A lot of progress can be made once the wedding date is set. It’s also time to get connected with your wedding planner of choice. Once done, your partner and you will be spending a lot of time with your wedding planner and it goes without saying that the sooner you do it the better!

Set the tone of the wedding: Now is the time to decide whether you’ll want to have a formal, casual, destination of themed wedding. You both might also want to mutually decide on the religious ceremonies involved such as a church wedding, Pheras, and other pre-wedding functions & rituals like the mehndi or a cocktail party.

1. The next step will see you drawing up a tentative wedding guest list with your partner. Perhaps at this stage, having parents from both sides sit down with you’ll, will help to finalize the wedding guest list.
2. It’s time to set the budget for your wedding. You can leave the nitty-gritty of it all to your wedding planner. After all, the bride and groom are not really expected to plan their own wedding, rather they get help!
3. Now you must decide on your bridal party. You’ll be the best judge of who’s to be your Matron of Honor and brides maids. Have your partner select his groomsmen too.
4. Your wedding is still a year away. So make the best of this time by looking up photographers and videographers. In India, wedding photography of the artistic and natural kind has become quite the trend over posed and planned photography. If you have a photographer in mind that is based out of India, it’s time to contact them and finalize your queries.
5. Your partner and you need to keep your wedding theme in mind when deciding the invitation style. However, you don’t’ really need to get them printed at least four months before the actual day. Since the wedding date has been decided upon, you may also want to send ‘Save the Date’ cards to your friends who are out of India.
6. Start discussing the type of music you’d like to be played at your wedding. There are a good number of wonderful live bands in India itself who specialize in jazz and upbeat music.
7. You want to look like a princess at your wedding, don’t you? So it’s time to figure out make-up artists for yourself and your bridal party.

Now that both you and your partner have most of the information, the planning can actually begin. If you have a wedding planner, then your work is almost done! Stay tuned for the second part of this 4-part wedding checklist series, because you’re only getting closer to the big day!

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The night market was just amazing! It was even better than I last remember. We totally pigged out – sushi, dim sum and the yummiest souvlaki ever! Dessert from Michelle was outstanding as always!

Apart from that, there was some fab stuff on sale. We loved the funky accessories by Brave.

To buy, contact dare2bbrave@gmail.com

The colorful Indian pop art by Nicky Thomas also caught our attention. Fun Indian art – great for around the house or even as a gift!

Contact nickythomas1@rediffmail.com or 9822142587/(0832)2278458

In addition to the variety of food and shopping, there were some brilliant performances. It definitely was a great night!

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We just got back from a one week trip to Goa, where as usual we overdosed on the yummy seafood while soaking in the sun. Ahhh what a life!

While we there we scouted around for new wedding venues and one new hotspot that we can’t stop talking about is Club Fresh & Marbela Resort in Morjim. These luxury tents are situated on one of the nicest beaches in Goa, have flat screen TVs and Wi Fi!

This is the perfect place for an intimate wedding or even one of the pre wedding parties! The food was great – we tried the sushi and the thai curry.

What a great afternoon – sipping on cocktails while enjoying the live music AND a foot massage! Now, when is our next trip to Goa?

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Your wedding photo album is the most traditional and well known way to remember your special day. Your partner and you will definitely look at these photos many times during your lifetime. Thus, choosing a good wedding photographer is one of the most important things to do when planning your wedding.

We at Marry Me, rightfully believe that wedding photography should be at the very top of your wedding checklist. Once the wedding is over, and you are done with everything right from the choice of venue, decor and clothes, and of course finally enjoying with your spouse, family and guests at the reception what remains with you forever is your wedding photographs.

Times are changing and today’s couples are very picky about the kind of photography they want. If the regular wedding photography seen in your parent’s albums are not your cup of tea, then candid photography may just be what you’re looking for. These pictures will truly tell a story of those amazing moments you shared with everyone on your wedding day.

Candid photography focuses on spontaneity rather than poses that are planned, staged and which inevitably turn out to be obtrusive. Candid photographs are those that a photographer shoots at the reception when people are busy enjoying themselves dancing, eating, socializing and any other worthy moments.

This sort of photography lends a more personal feel to each and every photo and really captures moments worthy of making their way to your wedding album.

Another trend that seems to have hit the wedding world everywhere is a pre-wedding shoot, perhaps after your engagement. Here the photographer captures your spouse and you in your favorite location outdoors or with colorful props, backgrounds etc, using portrait style and treating the photos with a very art-like feel. You both will surely cherish these photographs for years to come.

If you are on a tight budget, our advice is to spend more on your photography and minimum (or nothing) on video! Get a friend or relative to shoot a video on their handy cam. It will make them feel special and a part of your wedding troop too! And, your guests will feel more at ease when they leave you a personal wedding wish on video if it’s someone known shooting the wedding video.

Something worth remembering when choosing a photographer is that you should look through his/her portfolio to see if the excitement and emotion of the bridal couple has been captured.

Whether you are looking out for a candid photographer or a classic traditional one, you’ll come to know that there are many to choose from. Shop around carefully to find the photographer whose style best matches what you are looking for. And, finally you can then work together to come up with the perfect wedding photography package- one that you will want to look at forever.

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Everyone loves a good wedding movie. Even if the audience is nowhere close to getting hitched, such movies can never go wrong. Most portray love in all its glory, bringing tears of joy to the audience. And then there are those which make the bride out to be a beast! But in all seriousness, a wedding movie (and there are heaps of them) definitely has something in it for all, whether you are a to-be married couple, a bridesmaid, groomsman or even a wedding planner!

After all, there are many reasons to watch a good wedding movie. First off, its a fantastic way for soon-to-be brides and grooms to get into the wedding mood. Wedding-related humor could also help alleviate those pre-wedding jitters. And, you can always pick up some ideas for your own dream wedding!

So why not take some time off from your extremely busy wedding planning schedule to relax with your loved one and watch a wedding flick. You are most likely to relate to the brides character, and perhaps even laugh your worries away at the seriousness of it all!

The Wedding Singer: A wedding singer gets dumped at the altar by his fiancee, after which he meets a woman (who is engaged to the wrong man), and a whole new love story begins. The rest of the movie brings back memories of how sweet it is to fall in love.

Father of the Bride: An all-time favorite wedding movie of many, this flick would be nice to watch with the parents. Every father will surely be able to identify with the extreme chaos and expenses attached to hosting his daughters dream wedding. But, in the end, what brings tears to our eyes is the fact that he would do anything for his little girl.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding: This movie will have you laughing in peels. Its a good idea to watch it if yours is going to be an interfaith marriage as it could help lift some of the pressures involved from either side.

The Wedding Planner: The wedding planner (Jennifer Lopez) falls in love with none other than the fiancee of her client! Okay, so this movie has got to be every bride-to-be’s worst nightmare and thus may not essentially be a good idea to watch with your beau. But, it will surely give you tons of ideas right from the decor to sprucing up a location.

Monsoon Wedding: This Mira Nair flick proves that a wedding held during the rainy season can be ever so enjoyable as one held during any other season. This visually fantastic movie also shows the intensity and chaos of large weddings, especially when they involve a mix of traditions and customs and how it can be blended with modern life.

Check out newer movies like Made of Honor, Bride Wars, The Wedding Date and After The Wedding. And, you definitely can’t give Sex and The City: The Movie a miss!

Besides being a perfect way to distress during those months of endless planning, why not plan a movie night for your bridal party. Movies such as these are sure to get your brides maids and you to slip into a feel-good state of mind.

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The wedding date has been set, your rings have been chosen and as the day approaches, all you can imagine is that fairytale wedding- the moment you have waited for your entire life. Weeks of planning are required, after all a wedding is one of the most beautiful and important times in your life.

The newlywed couple will forever treasure the memories of their special day. Brides-to-be brim with a heady combination of excitement, anticipation, joy and mostly stress, while to be grooms generally take things in their own stride. That said, memories of your wedding could also be tinged with regret if something goes wrong unexpectedly on the big day. Here is when the problems begin, especially for the girl; almost forgetting that she was once a perfectly calm bride-to-be only a minute ago. This is also the time when she realizes that awedding planner should have been called in to assist planning this day out way in advance.

Your wedding day which may span just a couple of hours has to be well thought of. It really goes without saying that planning a wedding is filled with a lot of details and work to be taken care of. Most might consider a wedding planner as an unnecessary expense, However it should also be noted that the wedding planners job is to assist the bride and groom in every possible way to making the wedding more enjoyable and less stressful.

Planning your dream day involves a flurry of activities ranging from choosing the perfect wedding venue, a wedding cake, caterers and a live band to selecting that gorgeous dress with a train a mile long, photographers and the list goes on.

Well, this is just the exciting part. Most married couples-to-be tend to leave out crucial matters such as budgeting, guest lists and other not-so-exciting affairs. And, once again a wedding planner can come to the rescue, taking care of the nitty-gritty that you and your spouse might not have time to sit down alone and chart out at a go.

Planning out your wedding day can almost be compared to a full-time job! We at Marry Me advise you – do not get too overwhelmed! It may be a good idea to make multitasking and delegation a part of the planning process. Stay tuned for ideas, tips and more on weddings by the Marry Me Team.

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Every bride has dreamed of her wedding day since she was a little girl. As couples begin thinking about their wedding, they are often confused as to how much to spend, where to obtain specialized services, and how to choose the right wedding vendors. These worries often mount as quickly as the cost of the wedding. After the euphoria wears off and the reality settles in, it’s shocking to discover of how much preparation is involved. Couples are faced with decisions about everything from wedding cards, wedding decorations; themes, wedding photographers to planning their honeymoon.

Wedding planners organize everything from pre-wedding ceremonies like the Sangeet and Mehendi to post-wedding functions like the Wedding Reception. They will be with you till the wedding is over and you are free from all the responsibilities.

A few years ago, a wedding planner was thought of as a luxury, only used by the wealthy. Now a wedding planner is almost impossible to do without! You can afford a wedding planner since it is not an extra expense if you consider the planning part of your wedding budget. There are misconceptions about Indian wedding planners being expensive however; most often the wedding planner will cover their costs by helping you with discounts or negotiate good deals which you will not easily come by without them on board.
The planner will be the best to help you plan your wedding budget and help you allocate your budget to the order of preference in terms of services that matter to you. Most wedding planners will offer a free consultation and will help you manage your wedding budget and understand your specific needs from the wedding.

The average wedding can take more than three hundred hours just to plan. In today’s metros with hectic lifestyles, you may not have time to compare all the options, making sure you get the best deal, and make sure all the details are in place. A planner is experienced in negotiating contracts with wedding venues, caterers, florists, photographers, and other wedding suppliers, wedding entertainers; the planner saves valuable time and money.

Wedding planners are not here to make decisions for you, but to guide and assist you in making informed decisions. Their training, knowledge, and experience will turn your dreams and expectations into reality. They want you to host a beautiful and distinctive event which you can enjoy.

Often, a family member or a friend plays the role of a wedding planner incase you don’t have a budget for a professional wedding planner. However; it can also be a huge hassle if they do not have the proper wedding training a professional wedding planner will have and the experience.

They can act as the family counselor for apprehensive brides and the mothers or act as mediators between both families since the relationships are at a delicate state before the wedding and a wedding coordinator can become as close as your best friend.

Trust is important in any relationship. You should feel completely comfortable with the wedding planner and feel assured that he or she completely understands what your needs are. Your personalities should match.

When you hire a wedding planner you know that you are buying quality, service, knowledge, professionalism, creativity, guidance, leg work, a stress reliever, an etiquette expert and a personal assistant and friend

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