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.

Nachiket Barve’s Golden Hour collection at Lakme Fashion Week 2011  unveiled a whole range of cocktail and evening wear perfect for the contemporary Indian bride. Inspired by the colours of dusk, the outfits were flirty, young, vibrant and utterly sensuous. The palette reflected the colours of the night and sunrise including dramatic hues of red, golden, purple burgundy, plum, pink, crimson, black and scarlet. Read More »

It was truly magical as the models walked the ramp in Anita Dongre’s timeless bridal collection. She showcased an incredible range of sensuous saris, swirling lehengas, dramatic jackets and stylish salwar kameez duos which left everyone asking for more. Drawing her inspiration from the colourful state of Rajasthan the outfits were in deep and rich hues of beiges, rusts, fiery reds, midnight blues and blacks.

A blend of styles and unique use of various textiles was displayed in every creation. The flowing chiffon gowns with embellishments were splendid. Every outfit was tailored to perfection with exclusive cuts and a perfect fit.

A lovely combination of prints and embroidery adorned the outfits. Mesmerizing bandhini from Rajasthan and ikat prints in spectacular colours along with Banarasi lush brocade cholis, paisley motif skirts embellished with velvet and gota pati borders were a part of the collection. And not to forget the flowing saris, voluminous netted anarkalis, embroidered lehengas paired with ruffled bustiers and halters were totally captivating.

The most fascinating outfit was donned by the show stopper Lisa Hayden; a white organic lehenga with chikan work specially handcrafted by rural crafts women from Mijwan, a village in Uttar Pradesh. Made from fair trade organic cotton, this beautiful creation took four months to produce.

Be it bridal or festive, she had something for everyone. Anita Dongre – your one stop shop for your bridal trousseau, her collection has it all! Stay tuned for more updates & bridal shows from Lakme Fashion Week 2011 right here from Marry Me\’s Indian wedding planning team!

Jewellery in India is an art form in itself – the captivating designs, the glitz, the artistry and the variety. Few other types of jewellery design techniques display these wonderful qualities as much as Meenakari work. While most other jewellery serves as a finishing touch on colourful Indian wear, Meenakari jewellery is a burst of colour in itself. Eye-catching and pretty this jewellery form is a favourite among Indian women across the country and goes beautifully with both traditional attire like sarees or can add a unique ethnic touch to Western clothes as well.

This centuries old art form and its resultant artists who were known as meenkars, was kind of another Mughal era import. Raja Man Singh of Amber introduced or rather facilitated the fine art of Meenakari craftsmanship in the state of Rajasthan. He brought over talented craftsmen from Lahore’s Mughal palaces to Jaipur around the 16^th century and this jewellery craft soon flourished in this Indian city. The popularity of Meenakri both in ornaments and handicrafts has grown ever since and Jaipur has become a hub for Meenakari jewellery.

Meenakari jewellery makers need to be very skilled since it is an intricate step by step process that requires a high level of craftsmanship. Meenakari work basically involves the decorating of the piece of metal or metal jewellery with vibrant enamel work and with a lac base in a myriad of colours and gorgeous designs. Designs are engraved on the piece and the enamel is then brushed onto these engraved depressions in a fixed order depending on the colour of the enamel and how it lays and hardens. Designs with flowers, birds, animals and other delicate details are common. You will also find meenakari work accented with stones, beads and crystals resulting in some gorgeous pieces of jewellery in a rainbow of colours. Meenakari jewellery can be found in various colour schemes ranging from a single colour palette often used to match to a bridal trousseau or a mix of different colours, also depending on whether it is used on a gold or silver coloured base.

This form of jewellery is not only popular in Rajasthan but favoured by many Indian brides around the country. The sheer variety of shades and design choices available make it easy to pair with intricate wedding fashion and the most opulent of outfits.

Stay tuned for our series on the different Indian wedding jewellery , only at Marry Me – Indian wedding planners. Write to us about your favourite pieces of Indian jewellery; we would love to hear from you!

Having never visited Mamallapuram before, I didn’t really know what to expect. The place is renowned for its ancient architectural marvels including the Shore Temple and the Five Chariots. Beautiful beaches, interesting handicrafts and delicious food only add to its beauty!

Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay Mamallapuram

A little more than an hours drive from Chennai airport, and we arrived at the Radisson Blu Resort in Mamallapuram. After being greeted with a warm traditional welcome with the most gorgeous shell necklace, it was check in time!

The hotel is spread over 44 acres and has a total of 144 rooms. The rooms have views ranging from beach view, pool view and even a view of the famous Shore Temple. What was great was the size of the rooms – extremely spacious with ample wardrobe space, dresser area, desk and an equally large bathroom.

And the USP of the property – the meandering pool which is one of the largest in India and has a sunken bar! The perfect way to relax!!

But my favourite part of the hotel was the food! I experienced it all – from a sit down traditional lunch served on banana leaf to a seafood barbeque. The sit down lunch had no less than 15 courses and they were one better than the other! Other than this, the hotel has a number of restaurants and can cater to virtually any cuisine.

Radisson Blu Mahabalipuram

Another great thing about the Radisson Blu Resort is it has not one but two spas. It has the Serena Spa which is an international spa with a full menu of services and the Ayush therapy center for your Ayurvedic treatments. Apart from this, the hotel also offers the Fish Pedicure with the Garra Rufa fish. Truly relaxing!

The hotel has a number of wedding venues for your different functions from a 10,500 sq ft pillar less ballroom to small rooms, pre function area and even a couple of vast lawns, which can hold up to 3000 people.

I also loved the fact that the Radisson Blu had a number of activities from golf to zorbing to all terrain vehicles and even boat rides for deep sea fishing.

Relaxation, adventure sports and more…. The Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay truly has something for everyone. Stay tuned for more hotel reviews from Marry Me – Wedding Planners in Mumbai

Check out these amazing photographs of Priyanka & Sachin by Matei Horvath Photography!

From the Photographer :

Although Priyanka and Sachin are originally from Houston, they met and fell in love whilst living in LA.  As a result we wanted to document their connection not only with each other but with the city that bought them together.  Hope you enjoy these engagement pictures. Oh, and it was even more amazing shooting their wedding in Texas! You will see the pictures right here, very soon! :)

(Image Courtesy :tqn.com)

Las Vegas is famed as being the city of fun! If you want to go big and bold, it is tough to beat the sin city and all the entertainment it offers. The sheer energy of Vegas makes it the perfect theme for a wedding reception or cocktail party. The vibrant essence of Las Vegas, its fancy hotels, bustling casinos, lively night clubs, the bright lights and even brighter people make it one of the most enjoyable wedding themes to incorporate into your nuptials. You may not be having a shot-gun wedding at a Las Vegas chapel, but you can definitely go all out and throw a party to remember.

(Image Courtesy : budgetdreamweddings.com)

Vegas themed events are hugely popular around the world especially for wedding parties, bachelor or bachelorette events and birthdays and for good reason. There are bits and pieces of what this city is all about that appeals to almost everyone on different levels. Planning a Las Vegas themed wedding event is not as tough as it looks; it’s all about the mood you create, and yes a flamboyant atmosphere is vital here. The ambience should be all about indulgence for this wedding theme!

(Image Courtesy : outoflasvegas.com)

(Image Courtesy : etsy.com)

Arrange for roulette, poker and blackjack tables where guests can gamble and lay bets. Since you won’t be playing for money it will be fun to have special favours and gifts made for winners, unique to your wedding. Some interesting favours include decks of cards with your names and the wedding date printed on them, custom made dice, chocolates or sweets made to look like gambling chips and personalized and printed shot glasses. Vegas always features live entertainment so hiring a band, celebrity impersonators (Elvis anyone?!) or a dance troupe can add that special zing to your wedding event.

(Image Courtesy : princesspoppytiaras.com)

Dress in your glitziest best and make sure you inform your guests to do so as well. You can also arrange for accessories like glow in the dark bead necklaces, colourful feather boas and assorted bling for your guests to wear and enjoy for the night. This is definitely one of the more party-like options among the wedding themes!

(Image Courtesy : .jenniferroper.com)

Wedding planning is a huge task especially if you don’t have a wedding planner. It is fun but at the same time can get time consuming and stressful.

Once the wedding date is fixed, the first step would be to book your venue. While booking the venue, make sure you are aware of all the rules and restrictions and there are no hidden costs involved. Some things you need to check on while booking the venue would be the condition of the washrooms, if there is enough lighting and a full length mirror in the dressing room; also check for valet and parking space.

Create a time line and a detailed budget sheet. Both these things are extremely important if you don’t have a wedding planner. You may lose track of either or if they are not watched closely. Don’t forget to account for your trousseau in your budget. Also account for pre-wedding functions and home décor. It‘s always recommended to keep a good buffer in your budget so that in case any unaccounted expenses come up you are prepared.

Space your vendor payments well and make sure you don’t pay the whole sum as advance.  Also understand each vendor’s terms and conditions before booking. Maintain a sheet of advances paid and balance amounts so that you know exactly how much you need to pay on the wedding day. On the wedding day you can carry sealed envelopes with the amounts to be paid with the vendor names. This will make it easier to settle all final amounts. Also keep a directory with contact details of all vendors.

The handiest thing to maintain would be a wedding file. You can start this as early as one and half year in advance. Collect as many reference pictures as you can. You can browse through lots of magazines on bridal trends, fashion, lifestyle, décor, gardening, and food for ideas.

Draft and finalize your guest list as early as possible. This will help in booking venues especially if you have a destination wedding it will help in coordinating all arrangements.  Planning a destination wedding would involve a lot more preparation. Once you book your venue for a destination wedding, we suggest you visit the destination at least 8-10 months in advance to scout and source as many local vendors as possible, make accommodation and travel arrangements. Try and source vendors locally to reduce cost.

Make a schedule for your beauty regime as you would like to look your best for the big day. Even better would be to book couple spa pre-wedding treatment for you and your fiancée.

Remember good wedding photographers, make-up artists, caterers and decorators are usually booked way in advance during peak season. Make sure you book all these vendors as soon as the wedding date is fixed.

The most important thing would be to make follow up calls with vendors one day prior to the functions and above all be calm and remain stress free before your big day!

(Image Courtesy : fashion6in1.com)

India has a wealth of jewellery styles that manages to leave even the most seasoned connoisseur dazzled. With different regions specializing in differing metals, gems, designs and workmanship, the varieties ensure something for every aesthetic. Pearls are popular the world over! From opulent neckpieces of grand Indian maharanis to classic strands adorning chic little black dresses, pearl jewellery is a staple in every woman’s jewellery wardrobe. In India pearls from Hyderabad have a stellar reputation that draws scores of buyers from all over.

(Image Courtesy : Anmol Jewelers)

The rich princely history of the city of Hyderabad is evident in its lovely architecture and the famous pearls. The royal background has ensured a beautiful mélange in terms of architecture, cuisine and design. Known for its supply of rare pearls and beautiful jewellery, Hyderabad’s Patther Gatti area is one that aficionados of this pretty jewel visit. It is a whole street dedicated to pearls and pearl jewellery and is a must-visit if these lustrous orbs feature on your bridal and trousseau jewellery lust list and is also counted as one of the very famous markets worldwide.

The origin of this fascinating piece of cultural history can be traced back to the Nizams, who wore opulent diamond studded pearl jewellery and also used crushed pearls for cosmetic purposes or to adorn the princesses. The royal families’ demands encouraged the pearl merchants from across India to come here in droves to set up shop and pearl trade in Hyderabad flourished. Pearl trade and imports from countries like China and Japan continue today. Since natural pearls aren’t created here, you will find a lot of cultured pearls, largely imported. The markets in Hyderabad however have the best one can find and you can pick up loose pearls or pearl jewellery.

Whether is milky strands of pearls, dangling colored pearl earrings or diamond encrusted pearl brooches, you may not be a royal but these are definitely worth a look! What is your favourite piece of pearl jewellery?

Keep reading for our series on the different jewellery specific to different regions in India, from  Marry Me Wedding Planners in Mumbai.

It was a perfect summer wedding with sixteen bridesmaids and flower girls wearing beautiful tiaras and looking adorable in the lovely Bonpoint dresses. Kate looked absolutely beautiful in John Galliano’s creation.

The pathway to the church was lined with low arrangements of pretty flowers – delphiniums, daisies, scabious, and sweet-scented stock. These flowers were also used to deck the rustic interiors of the blissful church.

The bridal party arrived in a fleet of very sophisticated ribboned vintage Rolls-Royces driven by grey-uniformed chauffeurs. Guests were awestruck as the bridal party entered. It was a fantasy – a parade of beautifully decked girls with the bride looking like a princess. It was totally magical!

Post the wedding the celebration moved to Kate’s garden which had tea light candles hanging from fruit trees in glass jam jars and rustic lanterns. The décor was overwhelming. There was a “Second Look Tent” which had arrangements for guests to change post the wedding for the celebrations. It had faceted mirrors and dressing tables adorned with pink and beige roses.

The gazebo laid for dinner was lit with Victorian chandeliers, and silver ashtrays from the 1920’s. A combination of pale apricot and lilac roses were used for table arrangements, while Chesterfield sofas and Edwardian palms flanked the dance floor- a perfect setting to unwind!!

(Images Courtesy : Vougue)