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.

While buying insurance is the most un-marriage like thing you could be thinking of while planning your wedding, it could just be one of the most important things you do. Marriages today have evolved from being just a ceremony uniting two people in holy matrimony to a large production, where people often end up spending a large chunk if not most of their savings. Wedding insurance is becoming a very common practice and a safety net for many couples in India and around the world.

Insurance companies are cashing in on the country’s increasing affinity toward purchasing insurance and numerous insurers have come out with wedding insurance policies with widespread policies covering everything from damages to your wedding outfit to weather calamities. While policies in India and countries like the U.S.A cover many similar ’mishaps’, there are some differences and the diversity is more evident when it comes to the popular coverage options purchased in each country.

A typical wedding insurance policy in the U.S.A and India offers financial protection to the insurer from losses due to unforeseen events that hamper the wedding proceedings or lead to its cancellation. Generally policies in India cover losses arising from the postponement and cancellation of the wedding due to causes like natural calamities, injury to the bride or groom or an accident, injury to a family member, riots etc. You can also purchase coverage to insure your wedding venue, valuables or liability arising due to third party property damage or bodily injuries. With the amount of jewellery and cash gifts present in most Indian weddings, protecting your valuables can be a good idea and is one of the more common coverage options requested. One of the most important aspects some insurers offer, especially in a country like India where transportation hassles abound, is the protection against problems arising when either the bride or groom is stuck or delayed due to problematic transportation or road safety issues.

One the other hand in the U.S.A the availability of liability coverage is a godsend. In a country where suing and law suits are so common a practice, protection against third party damage and injuries can quite possibly save the insured major moolah. Another popular option is wedding insurance coverage in the case of either spouse having to move due to corporate reasons or military deployment. People who live in cities where the weather and commonly occurring natural disasters can create a problem like in the hurricane belt or earthquake prone areas, can also take advantage of polices that cover these calamities.

While wedding insurance in India and the United Sates both offer options like protection against losses due to failure of service by vendors, wedding decorators, wedding photographers etc. there is one area that the U.S. has an advantage – easing your heartbreak. Some insurance providers are actually offering wedding insurance in the case of the bride or groom getting cold feet…no such luck here though; you will have to deal with the emotional turmoil along with the financial burden!

The time before and during your wedding can be super hectic; so hectic in fact that many brides and grooms often just don’t have the time to connect with and appreciate each other. It’s no wonder that couples nowadays try to give each other special meaningful wedding gifts that are often symbolic of starting a married life together. Sometimes in Indian weddings, customs dictate what and how much you gift during the wedding, but even if that’s the case make sure you do a little something extra for your spouse to be. Here are some wedding gift ideas:

For your Groom:

Interest based gifts make the best gifts and can be a fun bonding experience for the both of you. Tickets to a game he has been waiting for, a mini holiday or even a adventurous tour in a wild life safari or a fun kayaking trip make for fun gifts. You could even arrange for scuba-diving lessons, a wine-tasting tour or a buy a subscription of his favourite magazine…the point is to get him something he will truly enjoy and if you can enjoy it with him, all the better! Another popular gift that women tend to pick up for their boys is monogrammed ties, personalized cuff-links, electronics; you could buy your groom something he has been lusting after and has just entered the market like the latest phone or a home theatre system.

If the wedding has wiped you out financially (as it often does), fret not! There are loads of ‘do it yourself’ gifts you can give your hubby to be. A gift like a mixed CD of his all time favourite tracks or his favourite bottle of wine and a candle-light meal could also do the trick. Another cute idea is to fill a big jar with chocolates and little ‘coupons’ he can redeem promising him favours like a massage, a no-nag day, boy-time etc. Be as sweet or naughty as you desire.  A little creativity can go a long way, even if your purse is empty.

Classic gifts like ties, clothes, shoes, cologne etc. are a good stand-by option or if you haven’t known your groom for too long (as in the case of some arranged marriages). You can make it special with small touches like a monogramming or putting a sweet picture of you two in a leather wallet.

For your Bride:

Women are normally pretty good at dropping hints about what they would like…but if you are still very confused, jewellery is safe bet. While it’s always nice receiving a classic piece like a diamond ring or a pearl necklace, try and put some extra thought into it and buy your wife something indicative of her personality – like a pair of funky anklets, a nice bracelet or a big stack of bangles. Another option could be a lovely handbag or purse that your partner has been dying to buy. If need be ask her best friend for help choosing one she would love.

If your budget is tight, a lovely personalized gift can be both romantic and affordable. Romantic gestures like a handwritten love letter or framing a picture of the two of you, are nice gifts and also easy on the wallet. Even something like a frame with the lyrics of ‘your’ song or a candlelight dinner cooked by you doesn’t cost much but can be very special. If you know how to play a musical instrument composing a special song for your honey can be an extremely swoon-worthy gift!

Last but not the least; an ‘experience’ makes the best kind of gift. You could book her a relaxing spa session or an exciting bungee-jumping session. Plan a surprise holiday to a place she loves or one that she really wants to visit or even a romantic international cruise trip if your budget permits. Contact your wedding planner in India for great wedding gift ideas.

Clear blue skies, golden sunshine and colourful flowers; there is something so invigorating about the summers! It’s no wonder that so many couples in India decide to start their lives together with a beautiful and vibrant summer wedding. The summer months can be a pretty busy wedding season and the weather really doesn’t help keep your head cool in the wedding planning process…so here are a few handy tips for you lovely summer brides.

The bigger picture: Planning a wedding in India in the summer months needs a little extra brainstorming. The weather in almost all of India ranges from warm to scorching hot in the summers, so the extra planning is a must when it comes to your comfort and that of your guests. Another thing to keep in mind is that summer school and college holidays means loads of people will be travelling, so inform your guests of your wedding dates well in advance and make sure you do all your travel and accommodation bookings too. It can get chaotic, so hiring a wedding planner can be a big help.

The wedding venue and location: Choose your summer wedding venue wisely. You want that blush on your cheeks to be because of happiness or artful make-up not because of a heatstroke! Outdoor weddings especially in the summer can be really pretty, but make sure it’s comfortable. If your function is in the day time make sure you go check the venue out around the time you are planning to have it. Arrange for plenty of portable fans and coolers so everyone is comfortable. An outdoor do in the night can be a lot cooler and much more convenient. If it’s an indoor wedding, make sure the airconditioners work well and there’s plenty of ventilation. The summers are a great time to consider having a destination wedding like at a cool hill station.

The food: Since food is such an important part of any event in India, most couples go nuts planning the wedding menu. While you will probably have the heavier rice and curry dishes, try and have a few lighter options more suited to the warm weather. Crisp salads, fresh juices, light finger foods and even chaat are good for the summer. Serve plenty of cool drinks and light, fruity cocktails and mocktails.

The fashion: Not only do you as a bride want to look your ravishing best but be at ease too. Wedding ceremonies can be so very lengthy and wearing something weather inappropriate only makes it seem longer. Look for lehengas, sarees or gowns etc. in lighter-weight and more breathable fabrics, especially if you are going to be outside – this applies to your groom as well. Most brides want something heavy and ornate for the ceremony and reception, so you could try cooler fabrics and bare a little more skin for functions like the mehendi or cocktail party. Summer definitely invokes a fun, energetic vibe making it a great time to play with nice bright, summery colours and fun designs. Another area to go light – the makeup! Sheer, radiant and fresh is what you should aim for. Waterproof makeup is a must; you do not want your pretty face melting off mid-way through the shindig!

Summer weddings done right can be gorgeous, so plan well and start your married life hitch-free in the golden sunshine.

The Tilak ceremony, also known as Teep in the Eastern parts of India and Pottu or Chenkai in the South is a Hindu pre wedding ceremony performed all over India. Tilak is generally conducted in the day time and is groom centric. The bride and her mother are not allowed attendance. There are variations to this ritual all over India based on regional differences and caste as well. In general, Tilak is normally held at the grooms’ residence. However it is also sometimes may be conducted at the temple or an event venue.

Tilak is one of the important functions in the run up to a Hindu wedding, the highlight being the bride’s family including her father or brother meeting the groom and his family. This well decorated function is attended by only the male members of the bride’s family. An exchange of gifts between both the families takes place after which the actual Tilak ceremony starts – the ice breaking and bonding between both families has formally commenced.

The thaali used in the Tilak ceremony has different connotations all over India but in general consists of the tilak, sandalwood, saffron, kumkum, oil and a diya. This thaali is used to perform Aarti on a head covered groom. On completion of the Aarti, the brides father or then brother applies tilak on the grooms forehead. The ceremony symbolized the brides fathers acceptance of the grooms hand for his daughter. The groom is normally handed over shagan in the form of a gold ornament or money by the brides family.

This puja ceremony is conducted for the well being of the would be couple as well as for initiating cordial and continued relations between both families. Most of the top wedding planners in India can help you with details on the Tilak ceremony and can help you plan and organise this for you.

Weddings aren’t just about rituals and ceremonies anymore. Cocktail parties are becoming an increasingly popular part of Indian weddings nowadays. Cocktail soirees are a great way to get everyone to let loose and get to know each other, without any of the formalities that are part and parcel of a wedding. They can even be a good alternative to a traditional sit-down reception dinner, in case you prefer a more casual post wedding ceremony gathering.

Like any other wedding related function, your cocktail party needs some efficient planning. If you have a wedding planner in India, please sit down and explore all your options. Since, a cocktail party can be as low key or over-the-top as you wish, you really need to figure out the budget and how it fits in your overall wedding budget, well in advance. Once you have the money situation in control, the rest of the decision-making can be really fun. Keep your mind open regarding venues; your wedding planner can show you venues as per your taste or go ahead and explore venues on your own. Banquet halls and private bar rooms are popular choices, but also look at offbeat locations like garden patios, art galleries and sea-side docks. If it can be an option, plan your party for a week-day, it can be a lot more affordable than booking a venue on a weekend. If you are on a tight budget, keep the décor simple and small inexpensive touches like candles and flowers on the tables add something special without breaking the bank. If you have something more extravagant in mind themed parties are extremely fun and you can even have a costume party for a little extra spice.

Talk to the D.J. beforehand so you can be sure he/she will come armed with a great selection of music that gets people on the dance floor. Make sure there’s adequate space for your guests to let their hair down on the dance floor…the best part of any cocktail party! Talking about the best part, don’t forget the cocktails. Make sure the bartender and bar staff know their cocktails and mocktails and have a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. A signature cocktail or one set around your theme is a fun touch. Make sure you serve plenty of hors d\’oeuvres rather than an overly fancy full course meal; this ensures that people move around and mingle rather than just sit and eat.

The words ‘cocktail party’ conjures up images of fun, socializing and mingling. Making your bash an affair to remember is not necessarily expensive or difficult; all you need is a little creativity and lots of hospitality…and yeah great cocktails always help!

Love is in the air for a number of celebrities who have been seen flashing their piece of bling around the place. Interestingly, the world gets a chance to see them bragging about their newly acquired rocks via Twitter as against the conventional snapshot-in-the-newspaper method! And, most of them have bagged vintage rings, not that the vintage trend is anything new, but is one that we definitely have an eye for. So here’s a look at some of the lucky women who have snagged a giant sparkling rock in recent times.

Princess Diana-style Engagement Ring

Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding and Tom Crane, her DJ boyfriend got engaged on New Year’s Eve during their romantic Maldives holiday.  While we don’t really follow either of their music, we really love Sarah’s engagement ring that can be likened to Princess Diana’s engagement ring, which recently resurfaced in the news once again when Prince William proposed to his fiancée Kate Middleton.

Interestingly, Sarah Harding now sports a gorgeous engagement ring with a Blue Sapphire stone in the centre and surrounded by a cluster of diamonds. This vintage-looking engagement ring was all over the news in British tabloids. Tom Crane has been quoted as saying that he wants an “old-fashioned” English wedding. While no date has been set for the wedding as yet, you can be sure to read more about it as soon as we hear more.

An Eco-friendly Engagement Ring

Everyone is going eco-conscious and just about everything is going eco-friendly these days! We love Black Swan star Natalie Portman’s engagement ring that was made to suit the vegan actresses’ taste and lifestyle! Portman recently got engaged to Benjamin Millepied, her choreographer on the sets of Black Swan. This piece of eco-jewellery was crafted by former ballerina-turned-jewellery designer Jamie Wolf, and can be described as an antique round old-mine cut diamond, surrounded by ‘conflict-free’ pave diamonds and made by ‘recycled’ platinum makes. It is reported to have cost Benjamin around $35,000 to get this made to specification dazzler for his fiancée who is reportedly vegan and who steers clear of all things leather.

Vintage Wins

Supermodel Kate Moss recently got engaged to her rocker boyfriend Jamie Hince after he popped the question at their London home a few days ago. She now flaunts a fabulous vintage diamond ring from the good old 1920s! The couple have reportedly set a summer wedding date for July 2, 2011. It is also known that Kate Moss’s 8-year old daughter will be the main bridesmaid. We can’t wait to hear more wedding details (read: who’s the wedding dress designer?) as the months go by! Stop by this wedding planning page to know more about your favourite celebrity weddings.

An engagement is a big step in any couple’s life. It signifies the first stepping stone toward a new life together. To some it may be the formal sealing of the deal for their future wedding or it can be a celebration that a much thought-of proposal was successful!

An engagement ceremony in India has a lot of cultural meaning; people from different parts of the country have their own rituals and meanings attached to the engagement. Sagai, mangni, misri, ring ceremony, ashirwad, etc. an engagement is called by many names and is celebrated in a variety of ways across the country. Whether you decide to have a formal, religious affair or a party with your nearest and dearest, it is definitely a meaningful event.

An engagement party or ceremony is a great way to get both families together and get comfortable with each other. It is also a nice, way to solidify your relationship, in case you decide to have a long engagement before tying the knot. Many families exchange gifts, clothes, sweets and more to mark the happy occasion; so do talk to your family and in-laws about what  everybody would be most comfortable with.

If you have decided on a wedding planner in India for the main event, talk about an engagement package too. Not only could you end up saving some cash, but having the entire journey from engagement to wedding taken care of for you. Planning an engagement do is definitely less intimidating than planning a wedding in India; plus it’s good practice! Since engagement parties are generally more intimate and not as opulent, it may not be as scary to budget. Whether you decide on a fancy sit-down dinner or a casual party in your backyard, crunch your numbers before you plan the scale of the shindig.

Since, it is not as serious an event like your wedding may be, have some fun with it. Keep the décor simple, classy and romantic. Instead of hiring a professional wedding photographer ask your friends to take loads of pictures and you will have an assortment of memories from people you love. Music and dancing are always great ways to get everyone to break the ice once the rings are exchanged; if you don’t plan on having a D.J. ask your friends and cousins to compile a fun, mixed selection of music.

You can mix the traditional (keep families happy) and the modern (keep you happy) and come up with an engagement ceremony, uniquely your own! Surround yourself with people you truly love because your engagement marks the beginning of an important time in your life. And all you brides and grooms-to-be, remember to take it easy, you still have a wedding to plan!

Bazaar & Bling is here once again! This time around, at Candies, there is a variety of clothes, jewelery, home wares, books, gifts, foot massages and so much more!

One day only – Feb 12th from 11 am to 8 pm.. See you there!

Also, Marry Me will be present at stall number 20. Stay tuned for more details.

Where: Candies @ Mac Ronells, 5AA Pali Hill, Near Learners Academy, Bandra West, Mumbai

When: Feb 12th, Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm

Contact: 26424125 or info@candiescafe.in

View the event on FB: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125383174198535

Boys and girls your reward for getting through your wedding intact and sane….the honeymoon! Wedding planning can get tiresome and the wedding ceremony and all the other functions, fun as they may be are so exhausting; so planning your honeymoon is a must! A honeymoon entails not only a romantic and intimate few days with your significant other but a time to relax, unwind and just be. There are a few things to consider while planning your dream honeymoon:

The Budget – Ok the first big question…..what is your budget?? Now you may ideally want to go for a cruise around the world; beautiful yes, realistic ummm, not so much! Allocate cash apart from your wedding budget solely toward a honeymoon fund. Decide on a budget and stick to it, you do not want to come back from a refreshing holiday and be bogged down with bills and an empty bank account. Talk to your wedding planner about budgeting tips and timelines so your holiday is less of a hassle to organise. You could even request your close friends and family to contribute toward your honeymoon rather than giving you gifts and cash at the wedding. Make a list for all the possible expenses like airfare, hotels, food, sight-seeing, shopping, etc. so you aren’t caught off-guard later.

The Location – Deciding on honeymoon locations can be pain if the bride and groom have differing ideas of what they would like. You may prefer relaxing on the warm beaches of Goa, while your sweetheart may like a skiing holiday in the mountains. Sit down and discuss whether you would prefer to be within the country or go international, if it’s going to be a lazy honeymoon or an adventurous one; finding a happy medium isn’t too tough. Get recommendations and do some research online. Finding a honeymoon spot that offers you seclusion for your romantic moments and has plenty of nightlife and tourist spots close-by always works. Talk to a travel agent or look online for tour packages that can help save you money and allow you to explore multiple places.

When to go – Being allowed leave from work is one of the main problems while planning a get-away. Decide when you would like to go well in advance so you can arrange some time off.  Your honeymoon need not be immediately after the wedding; you could plan to go a few months later too making it easier to get time off as well as beef up your savings. Of course since many holiday spots are seasonal you will have to do your bookings in advance. If the weather really isn’t too big of a deal, consider going off-season; you will get better rates and probably have the place to yourself.

Ultimately your honeymoon should be about you guys as a couple; it does not matter how grand your trip is or where you end up. And besides, you may not even get out of the room much! Chocolate coated strawberries anyone?

A romantic, fairytale wedding is one many girls dream of ever since they read their first Cinderella story. However, since we often follow rituals and religious customs when it comes to Indian weddings, why not go all out with a wonderfully romantic reception. Themed weddings and receptions are super trendy and extremely fun so make yours one that expresses your personality to the tee. This one is definitely for all the hardcore romantics out there!

Planning a fairytale or romance themed reception begins with finding the perfect venue. A cookie cutter hotel banquet hall may not be the most romantic venue around, even if you dress it up well. Look for beautiful gardens, open air terraces or a hall with vintage accents. Choose a setting that exudes romance with touches like glittering chandeliers, twinkling candles or an open starry sky. An experienced wedding planner in India will be able to help you locate a venue that fits your theme and connect you with the right vendors to create the perfect ambiance. Specific themes like a whimsical butterfly theme, a Valentine’s Day or a Romeo & Juliet theme can be achieved with the right decorations.

The décor can make or break your fairytale reception. Dim, mood lighting is perfect to create an intimate feel and of course is extremely flattering! Romance can come in gorgeous pale pastels as well as rich, jewel tones so pick your favourite and go the whole nine yards; being too subtle may not work this time people! Flowers are a must; big, bold floral arrangements, small clusters of tiny roses or a single orchid in a crystal vase…so dreamy. Prettify the tables and chairs with things like satin covers in yummy colours, ribbons and bows. And remember the more it sparkles, the better! Think about personalising your reception with small party and table favors like a card with your favourite fairytale printed on it or candles with your initials. Remember there is a fine line between an opulent fairytale-like feel and just plain loud and tacky, so try and enlist the help of a professional wedding planner in India and a good wedding decorator in India and have a friend around who you know will give you an honest opinion.

This is the time where you can have fun with your clothes too. Floor-length gowns for the bride and a smart tuxedo for the groom are perfect fairytale material. If you want to stick to Indian wear go for something with an old-world glamour. End the night with some bubbly champagne and caviar before you head off on your horse-drawn carriage. This could be the beginning of your very own Happily Ever After. .