Category Archives: Articles

Most Common Mistakes in Planning a Wedding and How to Avoid Them!

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It is reasonable to say that most of us have a vision for our dream wedding celebration. Some may fancy a beach wedding with the turquoise waters and horizon in the backdrop while others may like to take a more traditional approach. Regardless of the venue and the setting, it’s a union of two people in love and two families coming together.

NOT HAVING A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR OWN EXPECTATIONS ABOUT YOUR WEDDING

Many problems are caused because you don’t have a clear vision about your event. Most people underestimate the effort required in planning a wedding and are confounded by the number of choices and decisions they have to make. Attempting to separate fantasy from reality will help minimize the source of many problems and is the key to defining your own expectations.

Think about what is truly important to you and your partner, list your priorities and discuss areas you can compromise on. This will help decide how best to spend your time, effort and money. This will also help you in communicating your requirements and expectations effectively with your family, friends and wedding vendors.

NOT SETTING A REALISTIC BUDGET

Planning a wedding is a serious undertaking and a huge investment for you and your family. Before you take on a deluge of activities like booking a venue, shopping for you trousseau or planning a honeymoon, sit down with your parents, fiancé and establish a realistic budget. You need to determine what funds are available and how you want to spend it. As we mentioned earlier, having a clear understanding of your wedding day will go a long way in determining your budget.

It is easy to get stressed over the cost of the wedding and completely lose sight of the joy and excitement of the time. Don’t let poor budgeting ruin such a special day for you and your family. Set a budget and stick to it and in order to set a budget start by doing an overview of all expected expenses.

ALLOWING OTHER PEOPLE TO INFLUENCE YOUR DECISIONS

It is important to consider the opinions of parents, friends and relatives. However, over the years, we have seen these ‘helpful suggestions’ cause more stress for the bride and groom. However also remember that their experience will help avoid a few unwanted glitches. Listen to their counsel, evaluate their suggestions rationally and learn to say no to idea’s that don’t match your vision. But do it respectfully!

NOT COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY

Clear communication is important throughout the entire wedding planning process. Whether you are speaking with family, friends, or wedding professionals, express your desires and expectations clearly. Remember, it is not what is said and done, as much as how it is said and done.

Remember to be calm, and be kind to get the best out of everyone.

Doing it All Yourself

Rather than taking on too many projects, pick the one (or two) that you’re really in love with and put your resources (both mental and monetary) into working on those. For the others, do a little research and try to find the right people who can handle it for you. Surround yourself with people that care about you and are trust worthy to get the job done

Drinking too much or eating too little

Whether your friends have planned the bachelor/bachelorette parties for the night before the wedding or you plan to drink through the night to get over the jitters, the last thing you need is to wake up with a hangover, puffy skin, fuzzy head, or worse, an upset stomach. Do yourself a favor and skip drinking the night before.

Please make sure you eat, it is a common for a bride (especially) to be too nervous to eat. Make sure someone is in charge of ensuring you get your necessary supplements. We always recommend a snack bag for the loved one taking care of the bride.

HAVING A FRIEND BE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

You’ve got a friend with lots of professional grade equipment and a really great eye .Though it might seem like a great idea, it usually doesn’t turn out well. When the wedding is over, all you have left are your wedding photos. It usually just pays to hire a professional. Wedding photographers offer several packages at different price points, so you can pick the one that best suit your needs.

Make sure not to cram in too many events in a single day and allot enough time

Especially in an Indian wedding where there are so many different ceremonies you don’t want everyone rushing from one event to the next. Decide what events are the most important to you and allow enough time between each event. Remember everything takes more time than you anticipated.

Not preparing a back-up plan for an outdoor wedding

Outdoor weddings are beautiful and memorable but do make sure you have an acceptable back-up plan. We never envision inclement weather on our wedding day however it is Mother Nature we are dealing with and there are not many places in this world that have guaranteed perfect weather

Try your outfits at least a couple of days before the wedding

You’d be surprised how much weight you might have lost even without dieting and this will give you enough time to get things altered if needed.

Most of all a marriage is a commitment to spend the rest of your lives together. It is an exchange of vows and a bonding of families. It is every parent’s lifelong vision for their children and also a couple’s stepping-stone to a new life, new promises and their dreams. By avoiding these common mistakes you can make sure it stays this way.

 

An Indian wedding budget – what to splurge on and where to save

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Your wedding day, a momentous occasion that marks the beginning of a new life, will undoubtedly be the biggest celebration of your life. It’s your chance to make lasting memories of your special day and impress your guests in your own inimitable style.

Indian weddings are known not only for their elaborate celebrations but also for their ornate settings, delicious food and other earthly extravagances. However big or small our budget maybe, most of us like to make it an event that will be remembered for a long time to come. “Marriage is not the end but the beginning of a life shared between two people”. It is not prudent to start a new life with a debt.

With our experience as wedding planners we have made a list of the main items that are worth the price and where you can save without compromising on aesthetics or quality

Splurge on

Food – The first word that comes to mind when thinking of an Indian wedding is food. No Indian wedding is complete without a feast to treat your guests. As a host of your wedding, you’ll want to make sure that your guests have the best food possible.

Photography and Videography – What better way to relive your special day with your loved ones for years to come. A good photo album will be a memoir that will evoke, each time you open it, the same emotions you experienced on your wedding day. These pictures are a cornerstone of what future generations look to as their legacy. It is extremely important that you have a good team of photographers and videographers to cover every detail of your wedding.

Hosting your guests – In a country that fervently believes in the old saying “Athiti Devo Bhava”, we must uphold this tradition as best as we can not just because it is expected but also because our hospitality speaks volumes about our values. How far you go to woo your guests is completely your choice. Do you want to pay for travel, stay, clothes, entertainment and suchlike is one of the things you need to ask yourself keeping your budget in mind.

Jewelry – Jewelry plays an important role in enhancing the beauty of the blushing bride, more so when it has been handed down by the bride’s mother or grandmother. A marriage is the perfect time for you to make something special that can in turn be passed to your future generations. Given that jewelry has not only been considered for the purpose of adoration, but also as a security in times of contingency also makes it an investment.

Honeymoon – This is one of those occasions in life that warrants being a bit more generous with your budget than you’d usually be. After months of planning, stressing and the hectic wedding celebrations it is nice to have some together time to look forward to. Soon you will be thinking of life ahead in terms of buying a new house, starting a family so this is probably one of those times when you can justify the cost.

Wedding planners – As a new concept in India, wedding planners carry the misconception of being a luxury expense. Planning a wedding is stressful! The pressure on a family to have the perfect wedding is immense. Wedding planners with their industry know-how can help couples determine the best venue, vendors and creative ideas with their specific budget in mind. They also make sure that your event is handled to perfection and they bear all the stress so you can enjoy your celebrations with your guests without fretting about the countless little things that make a successful wedding.

Save on

Invitations – While your invitations are the first thing your guests will see and it will set the tone for the wedding, with a bit of creativity and personalization you can make a beautiful invitation without spending too much money. Just by making an invitation that is not oversized or letter pressed you can save a lot of money and cutting down on the number of inserts can also help with the budget

Venue – In India you can choose anything from a five star hotel to a Kalyana Mantapa and everything in between. Select a venue that has a lot of character and built-in beauty as this allows you to create an ambience without spending too much more.

Décor –Using drapes and lighting with flowers can cut down on your décor budgets significantly. Add chair covers with beautiful bows to make your venue look dramatically different. In India, we have the options of using native flowers such as marigolds, roses, rajnigandhas and jasmines which are also very fragrant adding to the mood and traditional festivity…reserve the imported flowers like orchids, lilies and haliconea’s for the more formal and western functions like reception and cocktail evenings. Flowers and drapes can be seen and appreciated in the daylight. For evening functions play with a lot of lighting and decor with lamps and lanterns instead of spending too much on flowers and drapes

Clothes – There is no end to what you can spend on clothes for your wedding. While shopping, remember you will probably use your reception outfit only once in your life time. Emphasize less on designer’s labels and more on the comfort, colors, patterns, fabric and cuts that looks good on you. You can either buy them off the shelf in a store or have them custom made by an upcoming designer. Remember you don’t have to spend a million to look like a million.

Return gifts – It can be easy to overspend on return gifts simply out of generosity toward your guests. However, it is important to avoid this by setting a budget and thinking of value ways to save money. Remember your guests are there to celebrate your big day with you and really that’s all that matters to them. Traditionally, families from South India present coconut, blouse pieces and beetle leaves to their guests whereas Marwari’s tend to give sweets and money. If you have to follow these rituals find ways to make them cost effective.

The thing to remember is this is the celebration of union of two families and two people coming together. All that matters is that you enjoy your day.

Interviewing the GM of Taj West End about weddings

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The Taj West End is a lush property in the middle of bustling Bangalore. The landmark hotel located next to the Golf Club and across the Turf Club offers the real flavor of Bangalore with gardens being intrinsic to the overall experience. In co-ordination with WeddingSutra.com, Divya Chauhan and Vithika Agarwal spoke to Sanjay Sood, General Manager of Taj West End to know more about the property and how they create events to delight couples!

What makes the Taj West End so special?
The history, heritage and the whole environ the landmark hotel is set in. It’s a private sanctuary, in the middle of the city, a place where you can unwind in the natural environment. It reminds people of the old Bangalore, the green Bangalore. There are enough venues within the hotel where guests can have different experiences without stepping out- like the spa or nature works. But most importantly, it has an ambience where you feel totally relaxed.

How many weddings do you host every year?
On an average we host around six weddings a month, so about sixty to seventy weddings a year. The weddings range from small gatherings to grand scale ones (maximum 500 hundred guests). The most preferred venues are the Ballroom and the Princess of Wales lawns.

Tell us more about your clientele
A lot are from Bangalore, many NRIs and some from other places all over India. Usually it is the people who have some kind of relationship with Bangalore. Those who want to renew their emotional connect with the city and explore the heritage. Another factor that gives us the edge is our long innings. The parents who got married here want their children to start their married life here as well– carrying the good luck forward.

Food and cuisine, how is the offering from The Taj different?
Taj is associated with royalty so our menu and cuisine integrate this philosophy. We offer a wide variety depending upon the theme. The most popular are the cuisine of the royal palaces. For weddings, there are a lot of region-specific requirements and must-haves and must-avoids. So our chefs make all the efforts to keep every single requirement of a client into consideration.

What are the other services that Taj offers apart from catering?
We have a dedicated team which arranges for interactions with other vendors like local designers, wedding planners, mehendi artists, band organizers. We also plan tours, activities outside the hotel if the guests have free time on hand. So we try to give them an experience, rather than just a comfortable stay.

What budget should clients keep in mind if they’re planning a wedding at a premier property like yours?
It depends on the season and the vendors you have tied up with. But typically a room costs between 250 -350 USD and catering ranges between 50-100 and sometimes 150 USD. But we develop customized packages. The sales team sits with the client, understands their requirements to build a package to suit their budget. Clients should get in touch with us, depending on when they are getting married. Usually, December weddings are booked almost a year in advance.

Do the clients have to work with your preferred vendors or they can have their own set of people?
Of course they can. We do not interfere with that process. But any new vendors have to agree to the rules and regulations especially while putting up the decorations, flowers, fabrics etc. We make sure that they work in tandem with our team so there is no miscommunication

Do you have restrictions like no-baraat on the premises?
Yes, we do because we do not want our other guests to be disturbed. We do help in organization of the baraat outside the hotel. And also provide carriages, cars or other assistance for the groom and party when they enter the premises to reach the specific lawn or venue.

You have to do a balancing act between business clients and wedding clients. How do you manage the delicate balance?

Some people have a misconception (from the look and feel of our property) that we are not a business hotel. But in reality, we have a lot of business travelers who prefer to stay in a quaint place like ours. We keep two blocks reserved for the corporate clients so that they can stay peacefully and have their privacy even when a wedding is going on in the premises.

We have talked a lot about the property, now we’d like to know a little about you.

Well, it has been a fantastic journey—I’ve been with the Taj for 26 years. I’ve been married since 16 years and I have two beautiful daughters. In my long stint with the group, I have worked all over India- Kolkata, Bombay, Chennai and now Bangalore. The best part of working with The Taj is that you develop a lifelong relationship with the organization.

Photographs courtesy of Joseph Cairns, joseph@depthoffield.co.in

Our guide to perfect wedding gifts

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With the wedding season round the corner the one question that is on everybody’s mind is “what should I gift the couple?” 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 the couple to make them feel special.

If you are indecisive about what to take as a present for the next wedding you attend, these questions should help you before you go on the shopping trip:

What is your relationship with the bride and/or the groom? – Are you related, close friends, acquaintances or colleagues?

What are they like? – Whilst the answer to this question will depend on how well you know the couple, it would help if you had a general idea of their likes and dislikes. Do they love partying? Are they travel bugs? Are they romantic? Do they have it all?

What kind of gift will add value to their lives and leave a lasting impression? – Electronics, experiences, traditional gift items, custom made or personalized

How much to spend? – “The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value.” The amount you spend on the gift should be based on your relationship with the couple and/or their families as well as your budget.

Notwithstanding, whatever you choose as a present, a bit of creativity and thought will touch their hearts and leave an impression that will last long after the wedding is over.

As wedding planners, we work very closely with the bride, the groom and their families. We have interviewed many couples to identify what they would like as a wedding gift and here are some of the top answers:

Money – Yes it’s true! Money is the number one gift that most young couples want. It gives them the freedom and luxury to use it as they see fit. It could be used for the honeymoon at their dream destination, down payment for a house, a car or something else that might be on their list.

Charity – Forgoing lavish and extravagant wedding gifts, Prince William and Kate Middleton set up a charitable gift fund in honor of their wedding. More and more couples are choosing donations to their favorite charities over traditional wedding gifts. When all or a portion of the wedding gifts are donations to worthwhile causes, the bride and groom are able to share the happiness of their wedding day with those in need and help make a difference. We can’t think of a better way to start a new life that to receive heartfelt blessings.

Gold/silver – Among Indians Gold and Silver are considered auspicious as a wedding gift. A coin, some jewelry or an idol of a god especially Lord Ganesha are some of the most popular choices for weddings

Honeymoon package – Newly married couples would love to go on a honeymoon. Unfortunately, not all can afford a pricey tour package. Usually gifted by a close family member a honeymoon package makes for a wonderful wedding gift, and has always topped the list of wedding gift ideas.

Some of our favorite gifts are –

Photo Frames. One of the most popular gifts here’s how to do it with a twist. We have gifted the wedding invitation framed as gift and it has been really well received. We also like to personalize a photo frame based on the personalities of the couple. Thanks to designer fotoframes that this is possible. www.facebook.com/DefignerFotoframes/photos_stream

Watches. Indian themed watches from Titan make for a great gift. We are fans of the Raaga and Bandhan collection

Gift Baskets. Gift baskets are one of our favorites to give because we can pick out everything individually, and there’s nothing more delightful than getting a basket full of themed goodies to pick through. We create a gift basket full of personalized stationery for the couple. We usually put in thank you notes so that the couples have them ready to thank all their guests for the presents, personalized gift tags, post it notes and some note cards. www.templetreepaper.com is a favourite place for us to order our stationery.

  

While gifting art can be quiet risky we have never gone wrong with these one of kind kettles from www.artbyaarohi.com

Cheers. With a selection of Indian and foreign wines now available in India they make for a wonderful gift. Add a bottle of wine with wine glasses that you plan on gifting. Complete the gift with some crackers and cheese. www.fwmclub.com is a great place to buy some fine wines in India

Gift an experience. These days many couples have been living on their own, so they don’t need to set up an entire household—in fact, they may be merging two. Give them a special treat they can enjoy together like a cooking / bartending class, a dinner at their favorite restaurant, a couple’s massage or dance classes www.excitinglives.com has some pretty cool selections in most major Indian cities

Bath Products. Towels can be an incredibly useful and inexpensive wedding gift. Add some bubble bath or some beautiful soaps to make the gift complete. Personalize it with monograms. www.yebhi.com has a good0 selection of towels to choose from

A little practical advice that makes the gift a complete package –

  • Ensure you have the price tag removed from the gift
  • Make sure you put a gift card on the package as well as inside the gift. It is really sad when you go through all the trouble of buying a beautiful gift and the couple have no idea whom to thank.
  • It is always a good idea to send the gift to the couple’s house. We have all heard innumerable stories about gifts getting lost at the venue since there is no security or getting damaged in transit. But for any reason that you have to take your gifts to the venue especially if it is money write an account payee check to ensure that the couple receives your good wishes.

Gifts have such an amazing feel good factor about them that the experience of unwrapping and finding what’s inside the package is exciting. Some gifts leave an impression on our hearts long after the wedding is over.

We would love to hear from you. Tell us about your favorite gift stories from your wedding or something that you gifted to a couple and why was that gift was so unique.