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.

Today in the big cities of India, one can almost get help with anything. Right from help finding a house, booking a good honeymoon package or even someone to feed your chickens on farmville. Why not get professional help while asking one of the most important questions of your life? Simple get a proposal planner!

Candice Pereira \”Creative Head & Co-Founder\” will herself be involved in helping you with ideas and her team will execute a great proposal idea to ensure brides are impressed. She believes that the lack of time should not ruin a good proposal as this is something your fiance will remember for the rest of her life.

The team at Marry Me weddings will build a good concept, scout and book the perfect proposal location for you and even be present to ensure all goes well. None of the proposals are repeated hence you can chose an idea that’s totally unique and personalized as per your budget & your brides personality.

A few tips from Marry Me:

Work out a plan and only then venture to propose. If you have the time and the creativitiy you can do it yourself or else seek the help of a proposal planner near you.

Do not give her a clue that it’s coming! She has to be swept off her feet and caught off guard!

You need know her personality and what she loves! If you do not know this take time to find these out so that this can be included as part of your plan with or without a proposal planner.

We always suggest to get a photographer or a videographer that can either be there in a corner with a great zoom lens ( you will have to figure out a location keeping in mind that it’s photographer friendly) or once you have popped the question a photographer or videographer can arrive on the scene. These pictures will be invaluable for years to come!

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi is all set to tie the knot with his fiancé Priyanka Alva. Speculations are already doing the rounds relating to their wedding attire, locations of the wedding ceremony/reception and all things grand that make up a big fat Indian wedding. But, something that really caught my eye was the to-be married couple’s wedding card! And, it’s for many good reasons.

First off, you should know by now that most Indian weddings (of the lavish kind) have wedding invites that are presented by the family to the recipient in a fancy box filled with chocolates and the invite of course!

It has come to be known that for the Vivek-Priyanka wedding, scheduled to take place on 29^th and 31^st October, 2010 in Bangalore and Mumbai respectively, the couple and their family has gone all out with the wedding invite.

What makes their invite stand apart from the rest of the over-the-top ones that are doing the rounds in Mumbai can only be described as “pure thoughtfulness.” A scroll-style invite lies within a wooden box filled with two tiers of chocolates. But, what really makes it a one-of –a-kind invite is the Ganjifa painting that adorns the box. Apparently, Ganjifa is a traditional form of art that originated in the Indian state of Karnataka. Today, this art is close to becoming extinct mainly because it is expensive to create. Further, it takes close to a month for each painting to be completed by a single Ganjifa artist! Interestingly, both Vivek and Priyanka were taken up by this art form when Priyanka’s brother suggested that they revive this dying art form. Also, a sale of one of the Ganjifa paintings provides at least one family with necessities to last them a month. Very thoughtful on the to-be married couple’s part!

Adding to this wonderful cause is the couple’s decision to go a tad eco-friendly for their wedding. The invite comes packed neatly in a gold bag that is imprinted with “The Oberois.” The wedding invite as well as the carry bag has been made from recycled paper and certain elements have been crafted from crushed gem stones and real gold versus the synthetic dyes that are usually used in most wedding invites. So everything is basically natural!

We at Marry Me- The Wedding Planners really love the idea of going green for your wedding!

Wedding gowns getting all muddied up or soaked in the ocean water. It’s enough to give any bride recurring nightmares! Yet, a photo shoot after the wedding that involves the newly weds all donned up once again in their wedding attire posing in unusual places seems to be all the rage these days! This trend that sort of “ruins” the bride and groom’s wedding finery is popularly known as a “Trash-the-dress” photo shoot.

You may wonder why any sane person would want to ruin their wedding dress or suit? Well, the answer is for pure fun.  Such a trend may sound shocking to some since a bride’s wedding dress is one in which she publicly honors and celebrates her union with her partner. However, in the end the decision lies with the bride alone what she decides to do with “her dress” after she gets married.

So here’s where the fun part comes in. Imagine seeing a sepia-toned magazine photograph of a bride sitting in a wheelbarrow surrounded by crunchy golden autumn leaves. Better still; imagine her in her gorgeous white gown walking into the foamy ocean. Or perhaps hand-in-hand, the newly weds stand ankle deep, bare foot in the ocean facing a blissful sunset as both of them hold their respective shoes in hand! Makes for a very artistic photograph, one that belongs to a wacky but strangely romantic magazine photo shoot, doesn’t it? Well, this is exactly what newly wed couples are up to these days! A large number of couples are opting for professionally shot “trash-the-dress’ photo shoots these days. You can get really creative in this area, and the results can range from beautifully surreal to fun and lightness!

Most brides throughout the world love to go in for the “trash-the-dress” photo shoot after their wedding day. Besides, it’s not like they are totally going to destroy their precious dresses. Further, such fun photo shoots also throw up amazingly beautiful and unusual photos that can add a whole new and unusual element to your wedding album!

The Trash the Dress trend hasn’t really reached India yet. But, we have a feeling it will since pre-wedding shoots have become the norm of the day here! So a post-wedding shoot in whacky locations might just become a hit with the Indian brides, who love that hint of drama!

To leave you on a light and funny note, we came across a photograph by the ultra-surreal wedding photographer John Michael Cooper, who shot a bride with the entire back of her dress trailing fire! Totally extreme we think, and not really our cup of tea (we aren’t really fans of all things morbid, you see!) But, the point of Trashing the Dress sure got fulfilled. And, well the bride must surely have been happy with the outcome of photo shoot, if she actually agreed to do this!

All you grooms heading toward your wedding day, now is the time to pull up your grooming socks…. Yeah, we know the bride is usually the center of attention, but that’s no excuse to slack off guys! Remember that first time you asked your honey on a date, the nervousness, the wanting to look and smell your best, the need to impress, the butterflies in your stomach…well, that’s the energy you should be channeling right now.

The months leading toward your wedding are the best time to start inculcating a grooming routine, especially if you aren’t the metrosexual type to begin with. Now is the time you can indulge in the little pampering tricks the girls enjoy, without being made fun of! Enjoy relaxing head and body massages; wedding planning can create those stress knots like few things else. You could try a facial a week before your wedding day just to clear your skin up and take care of the oiliness and breakouts. If facials are too big of a leap for you, do start using quality skincare products at home, like a good moisturizer for starters. Although it may seem over the top to a lot of you, consider going in for a manicure and pedicure; your hands are going to be in countless photos showing off your wedding band and nasty feet are well, just plain nasty. Keep them clean boys. Try any new hairstyle well in advance; do not experiment with a funky cut just before the wedding unless you want to face the wrath of your not-so-blushing bride!

Pre-wedding stress and the thought of ending your bachelorhood puts fear in the heart of many of you well-meaning grooms….so shed the negativity with some exercise. A good workout will not only help you lose some of that wobbly beer belly but will keep you calm and positive in the midst of all the hectic activity. It’s also a great way to get in some ‘me’ time. Make a good workout session part of your routine and you can be one hot groom in time for your wedding.

If you start getting lazy or find the little bit of extra grooming weird, just remember your bride will be doing her best to look as perfect as she can! Also, it won’t be just her standing there looking at you with a twinkle in her eye, but also dozens of friends, family and acquaintances…show up looking less than your best and you will be reminded about it for the rest of your life!

A wedding is the one most important time when women want to look their absolute best. Everyone wants to be that princess bride, revelling in the spotlight, all gorgeous and glowing. Well applied bridal make-up can be a woman’s best friend and can erase the months of stressful wedding planning with a shimmery stroke. Make-up can give you chiselled cheekbones, pouty lips and brighter eyes, so use it to your best advantage ladies!

Girls please start taking care of your skin well before your big day. Aim for healthy nourished skin; it is the perfect blank canvas for your wedding day masterpiece. Exercise, a good diet and getting enough sleep will help, as will skincare products suited to your skin type. Meet with a few make-up artists and explore your options; references from friends and family are worth looking into. Your wedding planner can also recommend professionals her clients have worked with before. Once you do decide on a make-up artist, make sure the quality and brand of make-up used by them is up to par, you don’t want a bad breakout right on your wedding day! Take trials and be clear about what you want.

Unfortunately, it’s common to see brides with a thick mask-like layer of pancake…not a good look, even for a supermodel. Brides please avoid caking it on and definitely match your skin-tone well. Going too light creates an ashy effect that looks horrible. A light foundation, some translucent powder, highlighter and a fresh rosy blush that suit your skin tone are the basics you really need. Blend the make-up well onto your face and neck and ears. A badly applied base can ruin your whole look and look very unnatural. Take plenty of photos at your make-up trial so you know how your make-up will look in your wedding pictures.

While it’s a good idea to coordinate your make-up with your outfits, there’s no need to be totally matchy. Go with similar colour schemes and ones that suit your skin tone, e.g. you may have deep purple in your outfit which can be translated as a lovely lilac into your eye-shadow. Colours like gold, bronze, maroon, pink and pastels are always popular but do choose colours that make you look better and suit the season. Incorporating jewel tones like emerald, ruby and turquoise is a good way to update your look. Try different options like smoky eyes and neutral lips or shimmery subtle eyes and bold lips; you never know what enhances your features best.

And remember while it’s a good to experiment, make sure you are comfortable with the end result, you want to look like a better you and not someone else!

Indian weddings come in all sorts of packages, from the grandiose to small, intimate gatherings; from one day festivities to week-long blow-outs. Whatever the scale of the wedding, your wedding venue in India plays a huge role in making it picture perfect. Choosing the right venue for your Indian wedding can be a big decision, whether you have a set vision in mind or are starting afresh.

Firstly, it’s vital that you fix your budget before you go hunting; it can be heartbreaking to fall in love with a venue only to find out it is way out of your reach! Try and think outside the box for this one, lesser-used venues like parks can be so beautiful. Your wedding planner in India will help come up with a list of venues that meet your budget and style criteria, making it easier to short-list so that you don’t have to spend precious hours running from place to place. Take pictures so you can come home, discuss and figure out whether a particular venue is the one you want.

Make sure you come armed with a ballpark number of guests, so you can figure out the size of the venue needed. Choose wisely, a small gathering can look lost in a huge hall and bigger groups may feel squashed in a small, cosy space, however attractive they may be. Do check if the venue offers enough seating arrangements for all the guests as well as ample space for the reception stage, mandap, etc. If you are planning to have your Indian wedding and reception in the same place, make sure the venue can transition well and accommodate the extra guests the reception generally brings as well as any décor changes. Check if the venue fits the mood and style of the soiree you desire; if the colours and lighting you prefer fit into that space harmoniously.

Planning a fun cocktail bash? Definitely confirm that your venue has a liquor license; it is not something you want to find out at the last minute! Inquire about restrictions on bringing your own bottles, bartenders, etc. Check if there’s a proper room for the DJ and enough dancing space. Make sure you ask for time-limits on music, no one wants to end the party early. If the venue has its own caterer, please try the food… it’s all about the food at an Indian wedding! If they don’t have the cuisine you want or the quality you expect, you may need to revaluate your options.

Last but not least, don’t forget the small details like availability of parking space, wheelchair access, good restroom facilities, and oh yes any possible hidden costs.  Look for a space that not only fits your budget but also your sensibilities.

Weddings nowadays are not just about marrying the love of your life; they can be major productions with tons of events! Putting together that perfect wedding takes a great deal of effort and time, and that is definitely something we all run short of. Career, personal and academic commitments take up so much of our energy that it’s tough to pull together that beautiful dream wedding in the time and budget that we can afford.

 A wedding planner is one of the best investments you can make during your journey toward marital bliss; the cost of hiring one is definitely overshadowed by the many benefits.  A good planner will plan and execute a wedding tailor-made to your style, requirements and financial parameters. Asking your friends, relatives and acquaintances for references is a good way to start. Look at different companies online too. When you do decide to meet with a wedding planner, come prepared with a clear idea of what your basic needs and requirements from him/her are, as well as your tentative budget.

 Definitely take a look at the wedding planner’s portfolio and work history and ask a lot of questions. Find out what kind of events the planner has worked on before, which venues they have used and the scale of weddings they have worked on. Check which vendors they have worked with and do continue to work with on a regular basis, so you get a better picture of what you can expect.

 Certain wedding planning companies not only manage and plan your event for you but help take care of everything from the styling, décor and transportation to setting you up with a good choreographer for your sangeet dance sequences! You need to clarify the level of involvement a planner provides in your budget; be clear as to whether you need someone every step of the way or someone to just oversee certain aspects of D-day.

 Most importantly, do pick someone who hears you and whom you can communicate well with. Your wedding consultant needs to be someone whom you believe can help translate your vision into a reality. All you brides and grooms please choose a professional whom you can talk to and who you get along with…you do not want to be locking heads with someone who is in charge of planning your special day! At the end of the day hiring someone who you think is the right fit will save you loads of hassle and give you tons of support.

The most joyous part of getting married (apart from deciding to spend the rest of your life with the one you love, of course) is that others celebrate your joy, your love. And what’s a celebration without gifts? Giving and happily taking gifts is an age-old concept in India; in fact showing up at someone else’s festive occasion without a gift-wrapped present is considered totally tacky.

How many times have you been stuck with a not-so-flattering gift? With hundreds of people coming to your wedding, each one will give you a gift, depending on “their” taste and budget (unfortunately, not yours); and more often than not, it will leave that “what were they thinking” expression on your face. Since a handful of cash is considered an impolite gift by many, the next best option is a gift registry.

In the West, every occasion under the sun calls for a visit to the registered shop. Everything from bar and bat mitzvah to weddings to housewarming parties to baby showers; the hosts know exactly what they want from you; thus not giving you a chance to get confused and give them something distasteful. Gift registries in India, though a fairly new concept, are fast gaining popularity. Gift registry is the most subtle way of saying – here is my wish list, take your pick. In India, some people may consider the idea of demanding gifts rather rude, till when they realize that it can save them from the trouble of duplicate gifts and from ending up with things they don’t need, or for that matter, don’t even like.

The changing trends in the new emerging India are seeing lots of newly married couples buying their own condo and trying to make it on their own. A gift registry, especially for such couples can be like a blessing in disguise. A new home, a new bride and lots of new bills; it can take a toll on the spiritual harmony of any stable and calm being. When you opt to live on your own post marriage, you need to be armed with every small thing required for a new home. And then if you are stuck with four photo frames, three hand blenders and two dinner sets, you can’t help but feel the need to pull your hair out. A systematic gift registry can rescue you before you find yourself in a ditch of bills too deep.

PS: You can either choose to do your registry online or by physically going to a one-stop-shop, where you can find all the gifts you want under one roof! SIGH; if only Barney’s had a store in India…

One would think that deciding to get married to “the one” is the biggest decision you will ever have to make. You might want to hold on to that thought. The commitment of a lifetime comes with its own to-do list. And if living independently with your spouse in your own home after marriage is something you have always desired, then the list of chores is going to extend a few more pages. Choosing your first home can itself take a while; and since it’s going to be where you will be creating several “first” memories you would want to furnish it to perfection.

The key to sail through all this without ageing a decade in a span of a few months is not to get stressed out. With a little bit of planning and some professorial assistance, you can head for your honeymoon with a beaming face instead of looking like a deflated soul returning from war. Here are some handy tips for furnishing your brand new love nest…

Set aside a budget: When furnishing your house, it is extremely important to finalize a budget, else things can get really out of hand. Knowing an end point can help facilitate the entire furnishing procedure. Imagine running out of money after just picking up the perfect closet for your trousseau; sounds scary, doesn’t it?

 List it out: Make a list of everything; yes every little thing you will need for your house. This includes myriad things ranging from a hand blender to hangers to of course all the furniture items. Start this procedure way in advance; remember everyday you will remember several things you may have forgotten to add. Let your obsessive, compulsive attitude come to good use here.

 Be practical: That Roberto Cavalli sofa will look absolutely yummy in your living room, when guests come over, but let’s face it; is it really in your budget? You, your spouse and your families have already stretched yourselves enough with the big wedding and the splurge on the new apartment. The last thing you’ll want is any uncalled for expenses. Talk to your decorator about your taste and style in home décor. Sometimes you may find amazing one-of-a-kind furniture items at antique furniture markets or thrift markets.

 Do your homework: Know what you want. Go through décor magazines, visit furniture shops and look around. If you are getting custom-made furniture, get involved in every step of the way to avoid cringing at the end product.

 Breathe: Last but definitely not the least – take it easy. The planning, running around and furnishing are all fun things you should enjoy. Don’t look at it at a chore; after all – home is where the heart is!

Though a fairly recent practice, now more and more newly married couples in India are choosing to buy their own new home to move into after marriage. In the West, a boy living with his folks beyond a certain age will definitely invite some unflattering jokes; whereas in India, the tradition of joint family is still pretty thick. But off late, the tide is turning and children (especially newlyweds) are choosing to flow the parental co-op to get their own condo. So how does one go around town shopping for a new home? For boys and girls in their 20s (average age of brides and grooms in India) this can be a rather daunting task.

 Well, it’s important to remember that as a young couple you will probably have to settle for a more practical place, which may not match up to your parents’ lavish dwelling. Generally when it comes to real estate, people start hunting for a property with a certain budget in mind, but more often than not they end up going overboard, considering that buying a home is a one-time investment. As a start-up couple, you should adhere to your budget and modify it a tad only if necessary. Get all the help you can from your parents for the down payment or part payment of the house. Also, sit on your own finances and plan efficiently to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

 A house buying decision, once taken cannot be undone; at least for a while. So take your time; it’s going to be your home for crying out loud! Talk to other couples and friends who have recently purchased their own property and find out how it has altered their lifestyle.

 Getting your own place may definitely seem lucrative to most newly-married couples trying to make it own their own. It gives them a chance to start their marital journey by taking up a big commitment towards their own future and also the future of their family. It also gives them a great feeling of independence and growth. Remember, there are millions of things to be considered before taking this giant leap. Buying a home with your partner is almost as big a decision as choosing your better half. Once you zero in, you gotta stick with it! 

 Commencing your journey with your beloved in your own house is an incomparable joy.