Brides get so caught up in preparing for the wedding day that most don’t have the time to think about their nails. Often as wedding planner we carry nail polishes in neutral shades should the need arise…. as it usually does.

It is so important to have beautifully manicured hands because you will be doing so many rituals where your hands will be photographed. Likewise it is equally important to have soft pedicured feet. More so if in your culture saptapadi or toe rings is a part of the ritual.

Like most aspects of your wedding day, having a beautiful set of nails requires planning, you can’t just go and get your nails done on the day before your wedding or have the hair dresser paint your nails while your make up is being done and expect them to be perfect.  There are so many options now with nail art to French Manicure that with a little advance planning you can get the perfect hands and feet.

For soft and smooth hands, try mixing lemon juice and rose water and applying them on your hands for a couple of minutes before washing them. Lemon juice will lighten up any dark spots on your knuckles or yellow stains on your nails and rose water will help moisturize your hands.

Start getting weekly manicures and pedicures done at least a month before the wedding

If you are not sure about what shape of nails you like the best try getting square nails and then round nails the next time. If you are planning on using artificial nails and this is your first time try them on beforehand so you are not too uncomfortable with them your big day

Make sure you use a good moisturizer on your hand just before you step out of your room so that your hands looks soft and smooth instead of dry and rough.

If you want to be trendy and go with the color of the season then this mint green would be just perfect

When you go for your dress fitting, paint your nails the shade you think you want to wear to see how it looks against your dress.

When in doubt choose a neutral color. It goes with absolutely everything, casual to all out glamour. (OPI ‘Mimosas for Mr & Mrs’ is perfect.)

Don’t neglect your nails as they complete your look as a bride and they are very important for gorgeous wedding photos

We just want to sigh when we watch Aishwarya and Hritik long for each other in this Sixteenth Century love story. This movie continues to be a feast for the eyes especially if you are planning to get married. A visual treat with its wonderful sets, beautiful clothes, bold chunky jewelry, subtle make up and of course A.R. Rehman’s melodious songs.

The biggest show stopper from the movie is the ornate jewelry. It has become a signature style in its own right. Ask any jeweler for Jodha- Akbar jewelry and out come the big, larger than life, chunky jewelry. One can only imagine the wow effect it has on the wedding guests! The bride stands out as the quintessential Indian Princess straight out of her favorite bollywood movie

Neeta Lulla was instructed to create a look that would be believable to the audience.  The result was beautiful Rajasthani weaves with warm tones of saffron, emerald, copper, brown, and henna red costumes that she designed for Aishwarya. These outfits have become so popular that entire trousseau’s have been designed after her costumes in the movie.

For the Groom, Hrithik Roshan’s royal attire of a Mughal king, inspired the long Sherwani with intricate embroidery, matching long necklaces and open necklines instead of the traditional Bandhgala’s (closed necks).

More grooms started wearing jeweled turbans/safa’s after this movie.

The timeless inspiration that this romantic movie brings to weddings continues to be so popular that even years after its release it is still the most requested theme.

Cup Cakes, Mini Cakes, Cake Pops or Cake Shooters. Alternate wedding cake inspired deserts are becoming a popular trend in Weddings these days. If the traditional wedding cake is not for you let us take you through a visual tour of some really beautiful and innovative alternatives that might just work for you.

These romantic Strawberry and Champagne themed cupcakes are perfect for weddings. Especially if you are getting married around Valentine ’s Day.

These Chic ‘I Do’ cupcakes from http://www.cottonandcrumbs.co.uk/ are so beautiful. The lace wrappers add a delicate touch as does the soft color palette.

The Peacock theme is very popular in weddings. This beautiful cup cake will not only fit right in but will definitely draw a lot of oooh’s and aaah’s from your guests.

Peggy Porschen is known for her absolutely breathtaking cakes. If you are getting married and are searching for the perfect wedding cake read her blog for inspiration http://www.peggyporschen.com/blog/new-peggy-porschen-patisserie-wedding-cake-collection/

Rachelle made this cake inspired by bollywood. A fantastic mix of bright and vibrant colours makes these little cakes into edible jewels. To know more about Rachelle visit her at http://www.rachelles.co.uk

What are cake pops?

They are Perfect bites of your choice of cake mixed with icing and covered in a hard chocolate shell.

A beautiful table full of colorful and fun pops would be just the thing to get everyone’s attention

These little cake shooters are a great way to have the traditional taste of cake at your reception without the traditional wedding cake!

A delicious mixture of pound cake, lemon curd, blueberries and whipped cream they make the perfect shooter for your wedding

Why stop at one? Mix and match your favorite cakes and get the best of everything

Have your cake and eat it too!

Here is a guide to some of the best wedding cake makers in India. Their cakes are not only a delicious treat but also a visual delight.

Until recently wedding cakes were a very western concept however today more and more Indian families choose to make a beautiful cake an integral part of their celebrations.

The Sweet Boutique is a Delhi based company, specializing in couture confectionery, started by Nitin Khurana and Ruchika Khurana. They have taken wedding cakes to a whole new level by designing a cake to match the brides outfit. www.thesweetboutique.in

Joonie Tan is originally from Malaysia and has now made a home for herself in Bangalore. This beautiful silver and blue single tiered cake is an instant attention grabber. Her delicious designs are a rage in Bangalore. www.facebook.com/lavonneindia

Just by looking at this Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge themed cake you know that Hyderabad based Olive Arts will give you fun, creative, out of the box cake that will be the talk of your wedding. Not only are their designer/themed cakes and cupcakes known in Hyderabad but have also travelled across state borders. www.facebook.com/theolivearts

Truly a cake canvas from Anna’sKitchen in Cochin. Each cake is so beautifully and intricately designed with the right color schemes that it will leave your guests gaping in wonder. www.facebook.com/CakeCanvasFromAnnAskitchen

Deliciae Patisserie is a premium cake & pastry shop in Mumbai. All products are crafted by Le Cordon Bleu Chef Bunty Mahajan. They not only serve the most creative and mouth watering desserts, using the best possible ingredients but also custom design a cake to your exact needs. deliciaedesserts.com

Cake décor in Pune is owned by Prachi Dhabal. “You made our party such a hit”, “cutest cake I have ever seen”, are just a few testimonials on her website to describe her cakes. You can get in touch with her through her website. www.cakedecor.co.in

Based in Chennai The Hindu called Sabeetha Shyam a “cake architect”. With her elegant, custom made designs every cake tells you about the couple it has been designed for and the yummy taste is an added bonus. www.facebook.com/pages/Sabeethas-Cakes

If we have missed your city or your favorite cake maker please tell us about them.

As a fresh year stretches before us, we all look forward to the future with new hope, fresh resolutions and a sense of excitement. However if you just finished ringing in the New Year with sparkle on your finger then this is going to be a stellar year for you.

So as you start the year with the excitement and planning give your wedding day a unique twist with the hottest wedding  ideas and trends for 2013

The Color Mint

Mint is the color for all things wedding in 2013. From clothes to décor and everything in between incorporate it wherever you can. It is a beautiful color to play with.

Tech Savvy Couple

In 2013, technology will play a huge role in how couples will share their most precious moments with friends and family around the world. If a loved one cannot attend a wedding, live –streaming the wedding will allow front row access to near and dear ones. Tools and apps like Pinterest provide creative ideas while social media continues to bring the bride and vendor closer. From using facebook or evites to invite your family and friends, to creating your personalized websites weddings technology is becoming an integral part of weddings.

Meaningful Menus
One trend that is going to be very popular with brides and grooms is using the menu to express themselves. Gone are the days of just picking your buffet from a PDF, chefs are working harder and smarter at venues to come up with interesting alternatives that add character to the day (after all, if you’re already spending money on your menu, why not make it interesting?).  Everything from a special buffet for kids to mini menus will be the talk of weddings to come

Destination Weddings

There continues to be many takers for destination weddings. Gone are the days when weddings were held in neighborhood marriage halls. Palaces in Rajasthan, known for its splendid palaces, Goa for its pristine beaches and Kerala’s serene back waters will continue to be India’s favorite wedding destinations in 2013.

Going Green

Green weddings are becoming more popular among couples as environmental awareness grows. One of the easiest way to begin is to use recycled papers for your invitations. Many cultures in India use banana leaves to serve food and clay pots to serve drinks thus reducing our carbon foot print. Decorations can make a wedding space look great, but more often than not the décor ends up in a landfill after the wedding. Look for decorations that can be recycled, reused or composted. Flowers make wonderful decorations and can be disposed of in an eco friendly way.

Save the date

Whilst a popular in the west it is a new concept in India. More and more couples are choosing save the dates for the practicality it offers and the fun you can have with it. In India where we  don’t believe in sending invitations more than a month in advance it is especially a great idea to send save the date while you work on the main invite and all the details of how to integrate it into your over all wedding décor.