We were interviewed by CNN for an interesting article they did on gold in Indian weddings. To read the article click on the image below.
Author Archives: Divya and Vithika
Step by step guide to creating wedding welcome baskets
Greet your out-of-town guests with a welcome basket filled with thoughtful gifts, snacks, and a souvenir. Given that they have travelled a great distance to be with you on your special day it will be a great way to show your appreciation. We have put down a step by step guide to ensure your wedding welcome basket delight as well as surprise your guests.
Step 1: Determine how much you want to spend per basket
It is very important to have a budget in mind and stick to it. While buying you might think the little items are cheap but before you know it they all add up.
Step 2: Consider the right kind of packaging
If you have a wedding theme, it would be great to follow your theme. Start off by picking traditional basket, or use a fancy container / tray / box. You could even have customized tote bags or paper bags that your guests can carry back more easily then boxes or baskets.
Step 3: Include a wedding itinerary and welcome letter
This way, they will know exactly where and when they’ll need to be. Include contact information of close family members or the wedding planner if you have one, a timeline, key locations along with any other important details specific to your event.
You can also add a local map as well as personalized recommendations for restaurants, hair and nail salons, bars and shopping.
Step 4: Bottled water is a must
Guests will appreciate not having to shell out for expensive mini-bar water or you end up with an exorbitant bill for bottled water. Think of it as a saving for you and your guests. You can personalize the bottle to reflect your wedding theme and style.
Step 5: Add Snacks
Your guests might come in at all sorts of odd hours of the day. Especially if they have taken international flights, so they will really appreciate a packet of chips, some biscuits or other local favorites depending upon the destination. You can never go wrong with dry fruits. So perk up their spirits with some yummy treats. Offer something savory along with something sweet.
Step 6: Add hangover helpers and/or weather-proof essentials
Include a mix some items depending on your location and season. Sunscreen if it is an outdoor event, mosquito repellent if it’s an evening event in a garden, pretty fans if it is summer, umbrella’s if the wedding is in monsoon and some lip balm for winter season.
If you plan to have alcohol at your celebrations then your guests will really thank you if you add some crocin and digene tablets, a couple of energy bars, a small bottle of mouthwash and some mints to help them recover from that not so nice hangover.
Step 7: Don’t forget a souvenir
Add a sweet little memento so guests will have a keepsake from the trip. Miniature paintings if you are getting married in Rajasthan, spices if your celebrating in Kerela or some cashew feni in Goa.
Step 8: Add a little something for children
If you have children travelling for the wedding don’t forget to add a little age appropriate toy for them. You will make them feel really special and your efforts won’t go un noticed by the happy parents.
Based on the time, budget and other factors keep in mind that the best gift bags blend the fun with the practical. Rather than focusing on expensive make your gift baskets personal and memorable.
Amazing Wedding Cake Inspiration and Idea’s
Elaborate wedding cakes are becoming increasingly popular at most weddings these days. Cake making is now an art form and you can find beautifully decorated wedding cakes in every shape, color and design you can dream of. Here’s a few of our favorite picks for your wedding cake inspiration.
The Indian Inspired Cake
All that glitters is gold
Decadent Chocolate cakes
Artsy Cakes that are simply WOW
Peacock themed cakes
Oriental beauties
Something blue wedding cakes
Classic white wedding cakes
Unique cake colors
Squarish cakes
Lace cakes
Pink/Blush Cakes
Black, White and Grey cakes
Shades of different colors
Modern cake designs
A must read guide to your perfect monsoon wedding
If soggy weather, mud stains and dampened spirits are the only thoughts that come to your mind when planning a monsoon wedding then think again. A rainy day creates the perfect opportunity to move away from the traditional and sometimes predictable wedding celebrations and do something different and enjoyable. Make your monsoon wedding unique and fun with a few simple and practical ideas.
Choose a venue which has a combination of indoor and outdoor space. That way you can enjoy the best of both worlds. If that is not possible then cover the open space with either clear tents or marquees.
Incorporate the monsoon theme into your wedding starting with your stationery and invitations.
If you are planning a pre wedding cocktail party or sangeet make it a rain dance or a pool party. It will be fun and your guests won’t get enough of it.
Brighten up the venue with bright rainbow colors. Bold printed or a variety of solid color umbrellas look very dramatic, spontaneous and pretty. Create the illusion of rain with long strings of crystal bead garlands dangling from the ceiling scattered throughout the hall. Use raindrop-shaped rhinestones or crystals to scatter on the tables around the centerpieces. Use a lot of flowers since they stay fresh for hours in the rain.
Add little fairy lights in a myriad of colors to add a touch of softness with a lot of lanterns to give your venue a beautiful dewy feel.
Consider going the extra step and adding wooden flooring should your budgets allow.
Add a splash to your dessert table by adding a beautiful cake topper or incorporating happy rainbow colors.
For wedding favors , will all the love “raining down” on your celebration, perhaps the best favor of all would be a plantable favor so your guests can be reminded of your special day every time it rains, making wonderful things grow! You can also give out umbrella’s or parasol’s based on your color scheme or personally monogrammed.
There’s a certain charm to taking pictures in the rain. It’s not only fun and enjoyable but also dreamy and romantic. You can get as creative as you want – suit up or rather boot up this monsoon and capture those amazing candid moments which you will remember for a lifetime!
If these few things are taken care of, monsoons are the best time to get married for various reasons. The price of caterers and venue locations go down in the monsoons and help you save a lot of money. You can get your desired wedding venue easily without any advance booking
hassles and most pundits are free this time of the year too!
Creative center table arrangements for weddings
The right centerpieces for your reception tables can create a wow factor when guests walk into the venue. Centre pieces also serve as the eye-level interest once guests are seated . While a traditional flower arrangement is a classic centerpiece, there are many creative alternatives available which are unique and add an elegant touch to your wedding.
Stylish succulent centerpieces provide an elegant, modern and out of the ordinary feel at a wedding and are excellent décor option for your special event. They are beautiful, require minimal care and can last for hours in the sun making them an ideal choice in the summer months when most flowers wilt easily. Succulents can come in an astounding variety of shapes, sizes and colors, though many of them are a shade of green. They tend to pair well with popular wedding colors like orange, peach, pink, and purple.
Fresh fruit centerpieces are another way to create a gorgeous looking, nature inspired center table arrangement that looks aesthetically pleasing to the eye. You can get very creative with colors and fruit types and even have a mixture of seasonal fruits with beautiful flower arrangements. Go along with a chosen color theme, season pick, or a random colorful assortment all of which will look equally stunning.
Lovely lantern centerpieces are beautiful and give a very vintage and classic look to your décor. Whether it is Moroccan lanterns, hanging lanterns, lanterns on stands, round lanterns or square lanterns, each of them are unique and will make your evening memorable. You can decorate the lanterns with beautiful candles, florals, crystals or vintage pieces.
Pretty pearl centerpieces add instant glam to your event. More suited for an evening reception you can hardly go wrong with the timeless look of red roses, pearls and candles. A string of pearls hanging from a delicate flower arrangement changes the whole outlook to a more delicate and chic décor. Combine pearl with lace for a beautiful vintage feel.
Beautiful flower and candle combinations for centerpieces are a timeless option which are very popular and can never fail to give your decor that oomph factor. They can be made colorful or match your wedding theme shades. You can use a variety of flowers and arrange the candles in different ways to accentuate the beauty of both the elements.
Indian inspired wedding centerpieces can be fun and give you a lot of variety to choose from. Use bangle stands with lots of colorful bangles, place jasmine flowers on a brass plate or bowl. Use lotus, peacocks or parrots motfi’s for inspirations. A simple brass lamp with native flowers make for a perfect traditional centre piece. The choices are endless.
