A guide to wedding tips, trends and experiences. Marriage event reviews, Wedding venue reviews and ideas, honeymoon destination tips, photography, wedding decor and much more.

Tired of the age old gifts of scented candles, perfumes and jewelry on your wedding day? With changing trends, innovative gifts are now in demand. The thought and effort behind these creative and unusual gifts is bound to impress your partner and make him or her feel exceptional. Here are some out of the box wedding gifts to make your partner feel more special.

Gifting lingerie is the most intimate and expressive way of telling a woman that you love her. That being said it is also true that Men have been gifting lingerie to women since ages, especially when it comes to Valentine\’s Day or wedding day gifts.

(Image Credit: www.lingerieinvogue.com)

So take this one step forward and customize the lingerie. Selecting the colours and fabrics and giving your input in the design is your way of showing how special she is to you.

You think gifting a cd of his of her all-time favourite songs is creative? Try this….Make a list of all your partner’s favourite songs. Then get your family members and friends to sing a line each from these songs. Make a video of this medley of all these songs and present it to him or her!! That’s sure to earn you some brownie points for effort and creativity!

Looking for something fun? Hire a caricature artist to prepare a storyboard or a comic strip, illustrating your love story in a fun and artistic way.

(Comic Book Art: www.lifestrummer.com)

This could be a comic book featuring details like how you met, how you proposed, some funny incidents etc. or it could also be a single strip highlighting some important moment in your lives which you can also frame and showcase in your home.

For those who are more inclined towards astronomy, did you know that you could name a star after your partner and view it through a telescope whenever you want to. A beautiful astrophoto of your constellation and star is also provided for you as a keepsake.

Is your partner a voracious reader? Then what better gift than a novel featuring you and your partner?   All you have to do is fill in a questionnaire with a few details about the two of you and a paperback featuring you and your partner can usually be delivered in around 3 weeks. Of course, the cover of your novel will be personalized with your photos too!

Another great idea, especially for animal lovers could be to adopt a pet.

(Image Credit: www.wallcoo.net)

Many local zoos as well as WWF offices around the world have animal adoption programs where you can contribute towards the care taking of an animal or species. Keep us posted at Marry Me if you have any other innovative  ideas for wedding gifts.

(Image Source:www.tonalties.nl)

Music is very important and plays a special significance at Indian weddings as it denotes the union of two people for a lifetime. Wedding music and rituals vary from state to state and each region has folk songs unique to the region. There are different songs for each of the rituals and wedding functions. Like there are dedicated songs for pre-wedding functions such as mehendi, haldi and sangeet and there are other songs for the wedding ceremonies like songs for entry of the bride, garlanding ceremony and bidaai.

Depending on the ritual the wedding songs and the lyrics change. The wedding begins with offering prayers to lord Ganesha. The bride is considered to be an incarnation of goddess Lakshmi and therefore, when the bride is entering the lyrics signify that she would take along good luck and wealth to her new family. The lyrics and music during the garlanding ceremony would be more auspicious and cheerful and would signify the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the newly wedded couple. During the bidaai the lyrics would be a mixture of happy and sad notes as, on one hand the newly wedded bride would be leaving her loved ones behind and entering a new phase in her life while on the other in-laws assure her family to give her equal amount of love and affection and welcome her to her new house.

The music at Indian weddings is usually live and pleasing. The most common music at Indian weddings is the Shehnai. This is widely used for North Indian marriages and processions while South Indian weddings have Carnatic music. Other options include Jaltarang or Santoor. Though there are professional artists who play at weddings, some families still follow the old rituals where the women of the family sing. Especially in Bengalis, when the bride enters and during the garlanding the family members whistle and blow the shell.

The trend is changing and recorded music is being widely played at weddings these days. Also brides are entering to Bollywood numbers and Sangeet nights have more of fusion music along with Bollywood. This is catching up among couples who do not want a very traditional ceremony. A balance of both is nice. However, think about your personality and you and your fiancé as a couple and then decide on which route you would like to take – traditional, modern or a blend of the two? Do let us know the wedding entertainment you choose for your Indian wedding functions.

(Image Credit : www.alfredangelo.com)

Every girl dreams of her wedding day right from when she is little and wants to look like a princess on her big day. This dream will no longer be a fantasy as, Disney has collaborated with the well renowned designer Alfred Angelo and they have come up with a stunning collection of a series of wedding gowns inspired by the most popular Disney Princess characters. Disney, known for the magic it creates through its tales and Alfred Angelo a renowned designer specializing in bridal wear have joined hands to fulfill the dream of brides who long to feel like a Disney Princess on their big day.

These wedding gowns draw their inspiration from the seven iconic Disney Princess characters namely Ariel, Aurora the Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Snow White and Tiana.  They are reasonably priced, and are available in sizes 0 to 30W at all Alfred Angelo Signature stores and select Alfred Angelo wholesale Partner Bridal Boutiques and are priced between $599 to $1,199. The much-awaited collection hit the stores early this year. The latest addition to the collection, which is already being retailed, is the all-new Rapunzel gown!

One of Alfred Angelo’s lead designers Michael Shettel was the mastermind behind creating these wedding gowns. The collection includes classic, grand ball gowns in various styles to highlight curves and movement, and pleated and wrapped bodices to flatter the bride’s figure. Each gown represents a different personality and brides can choose their gown depending on what compliments their personality the most.

Ariel’s wedding gown is inspired by treasures of the sea and hence has a mermaid silhouette with pearl beading and sequin sparkles. Belle’s wedding dress with a draped waistline is inspired by the iconic ballroom dance scene from the film and focuses on making a grand entrance. Cinderella’s gown draws its inspiration from the enchanted glass slipper and so radiates with sparkle. Jasmine’s wedding dress conveys freedom and individuality reflecting her personality, while Sleeping beauty’s gown is romantic with a dreamy willow skirt for this slumbering princess and Snow White’s dress is inspired by nature, beauty and grace like the character herself and Tiana’s regal one shoulder taffeta gown reflects her independent spirit.

Isn’t it simply magical to have a fairy tale wedding and to be dressed like your favourite Disney princess…we simply love it!!

Yes, this has been pending – we have been so excited about Jaisalmer and Suryagarh that we kept this for last! But, hey, save the best for last right?

So, for those of you contemplating a destination wedding in Rajasthan, here is something for you! As my earlier post covered Jaisalmer in Rajasthan and this beautiful property Suryagarh!

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Such a beautiful wedding covered by Lin and Jirsa Wedding Photography!

Enjoy! :)

From the Photographer:

Mona and Rupesh were married on a gorgeous Orange County, California Day.  Two of the nicest, most genuine people you\’ll ever meet, Mona and Rupesh cerebrated their memorable day with style, class, and of course a lot of enjoyment and fun.  During bridal preparation, Mona laughed and her family laughed, smiled, and enjoyed their moments together as a family.  Their first look took place on the gorgeous stairs at the St. Regis Monarch, as Mona descended to the anxiously waiting Rupesh.  The highlight of the evening was the amazing performance by Charanjeet which got the party started, as everyone danced late into the evening.

Do follow our Indian wedding blog for more real weddings from Marry Me – Wedding Planners in India.

A short plane journey from Mumbai and we were in Jodhpur, the Blue City. We proceeded on with our bags and were greeted by our friendly driver for the journey to Suryagarh in Jaisalmer.

First stop for the day – lunch as we were starving! We then started our approximately four-hour drive to Jaisalmer.  The airport there will very soon be operating flights from major cities, and till then, we are told, wedding groups with special permission can be flown straight into Jaisalmer airport.

At first glance, from afar, the hotel resembled an old fort! Wow, we later learned that the hotel had been thoughtfully constructed to resemble an actual fort, its outside structure even had a rustic finish to recreate a heritage fort property. Even the entry pathway that the car drove into, was an almost cobblestone pathway which had an old-world feel! So, after a warm welcome complete with cold towels, garlands and refreshing drinks, we proceeded to our room where we completed a quick check-in and tour of the suite (yes, it was quite large!) Our super comfortable and luxurious suite had a living room area leading into a large bedroom all with traditional Rajasthani linens, furniture and architecture.

On our tour around the property with the owner himself, Mr. Manvendra Singh, we learned that careful thought had gone into the selection of every piece from the main architecture of the buildings to the outside façade, the linens to the prints used. We especially loved the gold embossed screen print on the walls of our suite – would love to recreate this at home! So gorgeous.

The bathroom was spacious with both a shower and a tub, which is so much better than the combination of the two!

Also, two sinks always works better for his and hers – no more arguments about messy sinks or toothpaste around the sink! And the best part, the hotel had toiletries from the Kama Ayurveda range – one of our favorites!

A few areas of the suite that really caught our fancy!

How cute are these door knob hangers! I almost wanted to take them away with me! Another pleasant surprise was the platters of cookies and mithai and the Jaisalmer map which was interactive and helpful to have in the room already.

The property has a total of 62 suites – a combination of various categories but all extremely spacious which is much needed and appreciated by wedding families and their guests.

We were pleasantly surprised by the delectable food we experienced at the hotel. Chef Bimal could whip up practically anything, and it was all fabulous! We ate all our meals over our two day trip at the hotel and sampled it all –meal one: pasta (cooked to perfection, al dente!), meal two: a light and simple Indian vegetarian meal, and meal three: traditional Rajasthani cuisine (here lal Maas was the highlight of the meal!). We also learned that Chef Bimal is an expert with Goan food – pity we didn’t get to try that this time! Now to work off all those calories, the hotel has a fully equipped gym (check out the interesting murals on the wall) and a serene pool too, if you fancy a dip.

On the property is Draksh, the hotel bar that had an interesting interior. We learned, from the owner himself, that during construction, he had clicked some great photographs around Jaisalmer, which are used on cushion covers, and other areas, and check out this one as a backdrop to the bar. One of a kind, we say!

I must mention that in progress and nearing completion is a new coffee shop space, into which the current coffeeshop will relocate and make way for Nosh the restaurant, which will serve traditional Rajasthani food, which is not easy to come by in this day and age.

I was also lucky enough to find some time to fit in a massage at the property. Their official spa, Rait, is still under construction and should be open in the next couple of months. Till then, the spa is temporarily set up in one of the suites, which actually worked quite well, spa bed, soothing music and all. Bliss!

But I must end this, with the most important and all-important factor which can make or break any holiday and more importantly wedding – the service. I can truly say that Suryagarh ranked among the top hotels we have visited for their outstanding service – every staff member went out of their to help, serve and all this with a smile. They were extremely courteous and the personalized service just made us feel so welcome, we were actually sad to leave! From the General Manager to the restaurant, the front office to the chauffeurs – they were all brilliant. We will definitely be back! Stay tuned for for destination wedding tips from Marry Me – Wedding Planners in Mumbai.

So, when we decided to go to Jaisalmer, I was excited (of course, I love travelling!) but really didn’t know what to expect! And of course, the big question – why get married in Jaisalmer?

Rasjasthan, of course has always been popular for Indian weddings with Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur as the hotspots for destination weddings. But, everyone wants to give his or her guests a truly unique experience and if that’s what you are on the lookout for, then maybe Jaisalmer is for you!

Jaisalmer is a culturally rich town situated in the picturesque Thar Desert. We enjoyed our tour of Jaisalmer and the shopping trip arranged by the hotel – Suryagarh. We had a local guide with us who was great! He got us excellent rates on all our buys, and he was extremely knowledgeable about the area. We learned a lot of interesting facts about the Jaisalmer fort. It is the second oldest in Rajasthan and I was surprised to know that around 5000 people live in the fort today! Not only that, the fort houses around 100 hotels from cheap backpacking stays to mid range hotels, which all get super expensive during the season especially around New Year! Yet another interesting fact – most of the residents in the fort conduct some kind of tourist related business – provide homestays, restaurants, internet cafes, laundry facilities, souvenir shops, tour guides, transport providers and more.

Also, must-sees around Jaisalmer are the havelis and the lake. The Gadsisar Lake is another tourist attraction. Interesting fact – it is a man-made reservoir and the region’s only source of water! Another popular attraction are the camel safaris in the sand dunes or for those more adventurous – the jeep safaris. I would definitely recommend putting this on your must-do list!

In terms of weddings, Jaisalmer is still relatively one of the new hot spots! Its popularity lies in the fact that your guests will most likely not have visited here before. This and the fact that it is still relatively untouched desert area, I beleive Jaisalmer is going to be gaining popularity for destination weddings. Oh, and flights will be operating to and from Jaisalmer Aiport very soon! Keep watching this space to find out why Suryagarh in Jaisalmer is the perfect location for your destination wedding in Rajasthan!

Last weekend, the Marwar Wedding Show took place at Mumbai’s World Trade Centre and kept a lot of prospective brides, their parents and even a few enthusiastic grooms busy. The show also saw a lot of avid shoppers scouting through the unique items each of the stalls had to offer.  Just in case you didn’t have the time to make it to the show, here is a little bit about what was showcased.

There were plenty of designers in various price ranges showcasing exquisite bridal wear creations for both the bride and the groom, and off course for the family too! Though there were quite a few bridal wear designers, each had something unique to offer; you could pick your wedding outfit from one of the designers where as others would probably be better to select a sangeet or a mehendi outfit. Most of them provided the service of customizing the ensemble to the colour of your choice. Some of them could even recreate a design to fit to your budget, just in case you really liked something but found it a bit too expensive or just wanted to tone down the bling!

A designer that we stood out was Neelu Oberoi. Launched in 2009, Neelu has previously worked with Tarun Tahiliani and Manish Malhotra (wow! Now we know why we liked her designs so much!) She specializes in bridal and couture wear by appointment and has previewed her Spring Summer 2012 collection of bridal gowns, dresses and evening wear at Hong Kong Fashion Week 2011.

Neelu Oberoi

Neelu Oberoi

Neelu Oberoi

Jewellery and lots of it was at the Marwar show! We absolutely loved Rodasi for its combination of traditional, elegant and contemporary in its signature styles. The collection on display is inspired by Royal India and each piece has been creatively designed in jadau setting with beautiful meenakari workmanship. Uncut diamond polka, precious stones like ruby and emerald – this collection just wowed us! They have a wide range of opulent bridal pieces, distinctive kadas, pretty jhumkis and plenty more.

Rodasi

Rodasi

These pieces are defineitly heirloom that can be passed on from generation to generation.

In case you missed some of the other designers from Marwar that we handpicked, check out the video here.

It was a one-stop-shop for brides-to-be, as there was everything under the sun – wedding invites, stylish accessories, handcrafted gifts, bridal make-up artists, mehendi artists, home décor stuff and last but not the least, Marry Me – The Wedding Planners. Yes, we were also a part of the show!

Our team was present to answer queries relating to Indian wedding planning. We had a booth where we displayed some of our work amidst a rich Moroccan set up. The set up included various elements like wedding cards designed by us, floral décor, colour palates, lighting, drapes, seating, personalized giveaways specially created for weddings in the past.

Marry Me @ Marwar Wedding Show

We selected a palate of rich aubergine, blue, fuschia and gold.  Drapes of these dramatic colors paired with rich brocade curtains were lined with strings of pearl and gold beads. The vases were decked with swatches of fabric and embellished with Indian motifs and had round floral arrangements of carnations and roses. This kind of gave clients an idea of what kind of work we do and what to expect from us. Apart from this we also gave out mini whiteboard fridge magnets to keep track of the to-do lists and cupcakes, which were very popular!

(Image Courtesy: holidaysforcouples.com.au)

A charming honeymoon at an exotic ski resort is a great way for some to recover from all the wedding stress. You are sure to love the luxurious accommodation, beautiful scenery, wooden cabins and romantic fireplaces. Speak to your wedding planner and seek information about various ski resorts that offer special honeymoon packages. Such packages tailor-made for newlyweds who are new to skiing include short tuition sessions, rooms with private hot tubs and indulgent spa treatments. Ahh bliss!

While the most popular skiing destinations in India include Gulmarg in Kashmir, Auli in Uttaranchal and Manali in Himachal Pradesh, you can also opt for exotic locales like Switzerland, Canada and Japan. Your wedding planner in India will help you pick the perfect location based on your preferences and budget considerations.

What to pack?

Besides the mandatory travel papers and identification documents, here is a list of other essential items you should take to your romantic ski honeymoon.

Clothes– Now’s the time to rock your winter wear like never before! Pack neck warmers and comfy gloves . Thermal inner wear is a great idea. A well fitted ski jacket, ski pants and ski socks are a must. Don’t forget to pack in extra socks. Putting on your ski boots again after a day or two of walking about in them can be painful. To deal with this pain, you can layer the extra socks one over the other before putting on your boots. Great idea!

Ear muffs, headbands and maybe a face mask when travelling to a location that is known to be windy is a good idea if you like. Get yourself a nice pair of goggles to protect your eyes from the cold wind and bright sunlight that gets reflected back upon hitting the frozen ground. Carry an extra wipe cloth to clean your goggles when they get misty.

Honeymoon packages often include dinners at classy restaurants. Women should remember to pack evening wear that is sexy. A wrap or shawl is all you need to liven up any outfit! Men need to pack well tailored formal outfits made of fine wool.

Buy a pair of dressy  boots with a strong grip that you can use when walking around exploring the place, going out to dinner or going shopping.

Ski Equipment– It’s best to rent skiing equipment once you get to the destination. This is particularly true if you plan to travel to a foreign country. Dragging heavy skiing equipment half way around the world can be quite cumbersome after all! The resort staff will help you rent ski poles, ski boots, shovels, snowboards and other necessary equipment.

Camera.-Recording special moments spent as a newly-wed couple is an essential part of the honeymoon experience.  Carry spare batteries and memory cards for your camera. There is no such thing as ample memory space especially on a holiday!

Sunscreen and Moisturizer– Pack in a good sunscreen and lip balm with a high SPF factor. You may have to deal with some strong sun as rays bounce off the snow. The cold climate may cause your skin to dry up and crack. So, a good moisturizer is all you need to keep your skin glowing through your honeymoon.

A a ski honeymoon is a fun way to begin your married life. This stands true for the truly adventurous at heart. Even if you both aren’t much of the adventurous kinds, the cold weather provides the perfect excuse to snuggle up against each other beside the fire place!