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.

Anyone who has ever had a bridal party of multiple bridesmaids knows it can be a task to keep everyone happy. We have all seen the movies where the poor bridesmaids are forced to wear huge poufy monstrosities, while keeping a beaming smile on their faces to boot! Your bridesmaids are not only an integral part of the wedding and their look adds to the entire style on the ceremony too but are most likely the women closest to you. There are definitely ways to keep everyone happy and beautiful and more importantly keep your relationships intact!

In most cases bridesmaids pay for their own dresses and accessories, so budget is an important issue. Find dresses and other attire that is affordable for everyone involved. In fact it would be great to find dresses that can be worn again so they feel better about shelling out and it can be used again.

Trends in bridesmaids dresses are ever changing; nowadays you see a lot of brides opting for dresses in different lengths and varying cuts. This is a fun way to mix it up and also find the best length for each woman accordingly. You can also experiment with colours like having contrasting colours, those that match your wedding colours and having different shades of the same colour that’s flatters all your bridesmaids’ skin tones.

Have the dresses fitted to a silhouette that flatters each one individually and yet works together; let them find the bodices that skirt cuts that they are most comfortable in. Find out who will be comfortable with different necklines like strapless or halters or would rather prefer sleeves or a wrap. For an easy fix a classic A line sheath with a V neckline cut flatters most body types. Also always choose a fabric that falls well on everyone. As for shoes and jewellery make sure they are nice neutral pieces that will look good on everyone and heel heights they can all be ok with.

Your bridesmaids dresses will also depend on the style and theme of the wedding. For a more casual do you can mix up the colour scheme and experiment with prints, for a formal wedding a more classic silhouette in subtle colours always works. It’s preferable not to go with too much bling and shine because that can end up looking a little tacky. Best take your girls along and make a fun shopping trip of it! Stay tuned for more pre-wedding planning tips from Marry Me – Indian Wedding Planners.

A wedding cocktail party is an event to relax, let loose and yes party with your friends and family without the fuss of the other ceremonious wedding aspects. A themed cocktail party can be a super blast so why not go big with the biggest party theme of all… Mardi Gras! The term Mardi Gras refers to the carnival type celebrations in various places around the world normally held to indulge and eat well before the Christian Lent – the huge and extremely colourful celebrations in New Orleans being the most popularly known party of them all. Parties, parades, balls, costumes, floats etc. it has it all. It’s one the most vibrant themes you can create to turn your party into something unique.

You can turn your wedding cocktail party into your very own Mardi gras-ish celebrations with some simple tweaks and a whole lot of imagination. Firstly it cannot be a Mardi Gras theme without colour…and lots of it. This is not a theme that calls for subtlety so if there was ever a time for your inner peacock to get out, this is it! Think of lots of bright, bold colours like orange, red, yellow, bright blue etc. especially as accents to the traditional Mardi Gras colours of purple, green and gold (representing justice, faith and power respectively). Incorporate energetic colours in your décor like the drapes, table cloths, chairs, bead curtains etc. Add pops of colour with floral arrangements and coloured candles.

Mardi Gras masquerades are legendary so incorporate masks into your party or décor theme. If you are having a masquerade party, have elaborative and creative masks for your guests to wear. You can even have huge, colourful masks on the walls or smaller ones for table centerpieces. Think colour, glitter and feathers! Party props like confetti in traditional Mardi Gras colours, mini treasure chests with fake gold coins and bling, balloons, feathered boas, glow in the dark jewellery etc. all add to the party atmosphere. Pick up bead necklaces in different colours for your guests and even to add to the venue decor. Your wedding decorator in India will surely be able to help you source small items that can be used as giveaways.

This is definitely the kind of party where you can have fun with the clothes. Find outfits in the traditional Mardi Gras colours or embellish a simple outfit with funky carnival like touches. Ask your guests to do the same and you can have beads, masks, boas etc. on hand for them. You could also go all out and have a costumed masquerade and have a prize for the best dressed of the evening.

The point of Mardi Gras is to indulge before the fast, so make sure you have lots of yummy dishes and drinks on the menu, good music and most importantly a great attitude! Hope you enjoyed this post from Marry Me\’s wedding planning team.

Last week Heidi Klum the well renowned model from Victoria’s Secret and her husband Seal, renewed their wedding vows for the 6^th time…The lovely couple got married on the 10^th of May 2005 at Seal’s beachfront home in Mexico. They have followed this tradition of renewing their wedding vows on their anniversary every year, ever since they got married. A perfect way to cherish your most valued moments we must say!!

They rejoiced this special moment among close friends and relatives. Their initial plan was to celebrate in Mexico, where it all started, but due to the drug violence they changed their plan and  choose to celebrate at Donald Trump\’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach.. Heidi donned a Victorian-style mask, while Seal wore a pirate headdress and navy blue vest. The couple\’s children — Leni, 6, Henry, 5, Johan, 4, and Lou, 18 months — also decked up for the masquerade-themed affair. Can’t wait to see how they renew their vows for the seventh time!! Stay tuned for more celebrity wedding news from Marry Me!

Quite like weddings in many other Indian cultures, Parsi weddings known as ‘lagan’ also span over a period of a few days. An interesting and diverse mix of pre wedding, wedding and post wedding rituals, Parsi weddings often begin with the engagement and end with a lovely reception. Let’s take a look at some of the typical Parsi wedding traditions…

Pre Wedding Customs –

Rupiya Peravnu – The Rupiya Peravnu is the unofficial engagement between the couple. It is meant to be an approval of the relationship. Women from the groom’s side of the family go to the bride’s home and gift her silver coins and some other gifts. The bride then adds some more silver coins and heads over to the groom’s house and they repeat the ceremony.

Madhavsaro – The Madahvsaro is held four days before the actual wedding. During this ceremony the families of the couple plant a tree in a pot at the entrance of their homes. It is conducted with the family priest reciting prayers. Normally a mango plant is used since it is considered a symbol of fertility. This plant is watered and taken care of for eight days after the lagan and then moved elsewhere.

Adarni – Held on the third day before the lagan, the Adarni is a day for exchanging gifts. The groom’s family heads over to the home of the bride and gifts her items like jewellery and clothes. Family, friends and neighbours are then invited for a traditional meal consisting of boiled eggs, sev, bananas and dahi.

Supra nu Murat – Similar to the mehendi and haldi ceremony in Hindu weddings, the Supra nu Murat is pretty much woman centric and held a day before the wedding. Four married women are given a ‘supra’ each, which contain a piece of coconut, dates, supari and haldi. The supras are exchanged length, breadth and cross wise for a total of seven times, while a fifth lady sits in the middle. The women then make a turmeric paste which is applied to the bride and groom along with their blessings.

Wedding Day Rituals –

It is considered auspicious to have the wedding either really early in the morning or after sunset so typically most weddings are held after 6.30pm. It is either held at the Fire Temple (agiary) or at a baug. Before any of the wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom have to have the Nahan i.e. a holy bath.

Nahan – This purification ritual is held on the day of the wedding itself. Before the ceremony, the bride and groom are symbolically bathed and purified by the family dastur. It is held for the purification of the soul and body of the couple. The bride then dresses in her traditional white wedding saree known as the ‘madhavate’ and the groom in the traditional dagli (similar to a kurta) and feta (cap).  Also all staircases, gates, doorways and the wedding venue are decorated with colourful rangoli designs.

Achumichu – The wedding begins with a ritual known as achumichu after the couple starting with the groom step up on the stage. The bride’s mother begins the ceremony with the groom wherein she takes a tray containing rice, water, dates, raw eggs and supari. She circles all items except the water around the groom’s head seven times, starting with the coconut which she breaks on the floor to the groom’s right. The water is thrown on either side. The groom’s mother then steps on stage and repeats the ritual for the bride.

Ara Antar – The couple sits facing each other with a cloth between them so they cannot see each other’s faces. They are both given rice and the priest circles the couple with thread seven times. The couple throws the rice at each other during the end of the seventh round and it is said that whoever throws it first will dominate the relationship!

Chero Bandvanu – The couple is bound by the seven strings and sits beside each other and diyos (lamps) are placed on both sides with the witnesses sitting next to the couple. The priest then conducts the marriage prayers and there is a showering of rice and rose petals. This ceremony ends with the exchange of rings. The priest declares the couple husband and wife and the newlyweds have to pay their respects to the fire from the agiary.

Haath Borvanu – After the official ceremonies there are some fun, informal customs as well like the haath borvanu where the bride’s sister demands money from the groom and his hand is dunked in water till he complies. Some other the other fun activities even include milk being poured on the groom’s shoes and the strings binding the couple being removed in exchange for cash!

Post Wedding – There is generally a wedding reception with the traditional and very delicious Parsi cuisine being served, lots of fun and gaiety. The night ends with the couple being accompanied home by the bride’s parents and the groom’s mother does the achumichu ceremony again for the newlyweds again.

Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner and his ladylove Crystal Harris have sent out the invitations to their wedding this summer. The wedding between the 85 year old business tycoon and his 25 year old fiancé is set for the 18^th of June and is going to held at Hugh’s Playboy mansion.

The pretty wedding invitations were sent to their 300 guests earlier this week and feature an elegant script and design on cream coloured custom made paper. It is studded with a few turquoise and fuchsia crystals, to match the wedding flowers.

In what seems to be an emerging trend and a great one as far as weddings go, Hugh and Crystal have requested their guests to forgo the wedding gifts in lieu of a charitable donation. The couple has listed their selection of charities and non profits including one that benefits a children’s hospital.

Seems like this wedding is going to be a fun mix of the gracious and the splashy! Now we wait to see who the surely interesting wedding guest list includes.

Weddings are often grand affairs that you have to save forever for. It’s easy to go over your wedding budget since couples obviously want the best there is… but let’s face it no one wants to be bombarded by unpaid bills once the celebrations are over! One of the simpler ways to cut on expenses without affecting the mood of the wedding is by saving on your wedding invitations. And yes while you shouldn’t want to compromise on overall quality, there are small steps you can take to reduce the cash spent on wedding invitations. Considering that weddings in India often have guests numbering in the hundreds, this is potentially no small change.

Inexpensive wedding invitations do not mean ‘cheap’, you can find invites that are attractive and suited to your event without spending a bomb. Find the best rates for cards out there by talking to as many local vendors as you can. Just because one invitation card vendor is supposed to the best, doesn’t mean they will be the best for you or your wedding budget. Shop around, compare rates and very often some of the smaller and lesser known card companies offer good deals and packages.

When your invitee list is big enough to fit a small stadium, postage fees and courier charges can be astronomical. Use the style of wedding card you want but aim to eliminate any unnecessary extra papers or bulky embellishments, cutting the bulk and the weight. Not only will you cut your costs a little bit but it will be better for the environment! Another popular method nowadays is using electronic invitations rather than actual paper cards. If you find this a tad bit impersonal for the main wedding card, you could use e-invites for your other wedding functions or parties.

Another way to cut wedding invitation costs is to choose a less expensive kind of paper. With so many varieties available today, a different type of paper, does not mean a compromise on your style. Shop around and you can even buy the paper yourself and get your cards printed at a local printer. Also find out about the costs of different printing techniques.

One of the best ways to find inexpensive wedding invitations that you love is to make them! Do-it-yourself invitation cards are the nicest way to control the expenses by creating something uniquely your own. It works best for less formal events and for smaller guest lists. Not only can you buy your own paper but you could create your own designs and embellishments. You can create invites that match the theme and colour scheme of your wedding. Visit craft stores or shop online for special invitation kits, printed papers, embellishments, punches, stamps etc. You can even use prints of your favourite pictures as the card backdrop too. Have fun with it, and don’t forget to send us your creations! We would love to feature them right here…

(All Image Credits:Ayesha Broacha)

We are very excited about our latest addition to our list of wedding services – \”Pre Wedding Destination Photo Shoots\”. This next big trend in creating the wedding experience of your dreams, a destination photo shoot before your actual wedding will provide you with the perfect way to take a great trip with your spouse-to-be and create memories that will last you a life time.

A pre wedding photo shoot is a great way to relax and get away from the stress of the wedding planning process. Couple it with an idyllic getaway and it becomes the perfect way to spend some quiet and fun times together, away from it all.

Have you ever thought of creating magical, romantic moments with the splendor of Rajasthan, the serenity of Greece or the timeless elegance of Paris as your backdrop? Dreamed of taking pictures at a gorgeous destination like the Taj Mahal and don’t know where to begin?! Put aside the planning woes since some creative help is on the way. Contact us for a free consulation and let us deal with all the planning and arrangements, whether you are based in India or elsewhere. For couples overseas, who dream of having their special pictures captured at the Taj Mahal or palaces of Rajasthan, this is where you can turn the dream into reality. All this, along with experiencing the sights, flavour and culture of India. For those in India, there is a range of destinations to pick from – explore the beauty within India, or pick an international destination of your choice.

We can help you capture your personal romantic moments that you may not have time for during your wedding celebrations. We can also give you ideas on how to incorporate the pictures into your wedding, like using them with your invitations, as a photo montage during your special day or tie it into your décor.

So here is what we at Marry Me can do for you:

Plan all your travel arrangements (both local and air transport)

Organise your accommodation, based on your preferences

Coordinate all formal arrangements and permissions at the venue

Organise sight-seeing tours as well as your shopping itinerary at the chosen destination (The highly customized holiday experiences, based on your preferences and requirements, ensure you really ‘feel’ the destination and not just do the usual ‘touristy’ things!)

Organise professional wedding photographer/s for your shoot (We work with a talented panel of photographers both in India and internationally who will capture the images in a journalistic style as opposed to a highly posed manner)

Get you dolled up with hair and makeup assistance

Coordinate your photo shoot wardrobe and creatively style your shoot

Whether it’s at a picturesque landmark in the next city or a photo shoot spanning multiple countries, we are armed with the talent and resources to create the best experience possible. Trips are available throughout the year, depending on the destination you wish to visit. Call us now for more information or to schedule a consultation.

The MET Gala in New York City had celebrities walk down the red carpet in some stunning creations. Our favorite, Blake Lively looked fabulous in an Indian inspired ensemble by Karl Lagerfield himself. Blake wore a silver floral embroidered draped gown from Chanel’s Couture collection. It looked like a combination of a greek gown and a glamorous sari. Stunning

Do check out some lovely pics from Bridal market New York…

Badgley Mischka

Alvina Valenta

Vera Wang

Monique Lhuillier

Reem Acra

Lazaro

Watters

Modern Trousseau