Wedding shopping can be quite an expensive affair, but if you know the right places to shop, you can get some great deals that look and feel like a million dollars without costing you that much. While places like Surat in Gujarat and Jaipur in Rajasthan offer a plethora of indian wedding dresses at affordable prices, if you do not have the time and want to shop in Mumbai, here's a list of places you need to go to, to get great deals.
1. Dadar Market - One of the oldest markets in Mumbai for wedding shopping. Here you will find wedding dress shops like Paaneri (http://www.paaneriindia.com/web/index.asp), Lazaree (http://www.lazaree.com/), Rangoli, which have been famous and synonymous with wedding sarees and dresses for years. Dadar Emporium is of course the biggest saree shop in Dadar.You will find a wide variety of sarees especially Maharashtrian Paithani sarees.
2. Nataraj Market, Malad (West) - This too is one of the oldest markets in Mumbai. It is very famous for Gujarati Panetar and Rajasthani sarees. There are hundreds of saree shops here. Rajhans, Sakhi, Roop Niketan and Rajkamal especially have the latest trends and a beautiful collection.
If you are looking for branded and designer label sarees, there are many wonderful boutiques in Mumbai that also have online shopping websites and showcase galleries.
1. Seasonsindia has its showroom in Santacruz (West). Check out the website for the latest trends. (http://www.seasonsindia.com/)
2. Sheetal showcases designs from renowned designers like Hemant Trivedi and Aki Narula. They have quite a large collection of bridal wear online as well. (http://www.sheetalindia.com/web/shoponline/shop_searchresults.aspx?Sect=2) Sheetal has many stores across Mumbai in Oberoi mall (Goregaon East), Inorbit Mall (Malad West), Grant Road and across the globe.
3. Manish Malhotra - One of the most famous and most wanted bollywood designers has his flagship store in Khar (West). His website showcases bridal wear collections from his designs in the past years. (http://www.manishmalhotra.in/).
4. Vikram Phadnis - The newest designer known for his bridal wear collections. Katrina Kaif walked down the ramp in Vikram Phadnis bridal wear at a recent couture event. (http://www.vikramphadnis.com/home_inner.htm). He has his stores across the world. In Mumbai, you can find the Vikram Phadnis showroom at JVPD in Andheri.
Indian Wedding and Jewellery
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Wedding Planning
Once you are engaged, you start getting a lot of free advice from family and friends about planning the wedding. Planning a wedding is not difficult but it seems so because you have never had to plan such a large-scale social event before.
While there is no right or wrong way to plan a wedding, it can be overwhelming with the seemingly endless choices being offered, stressful and time-consuming when it does not really have to be.
Wedding planning can be an enjoyable journey altogether. It is just about identifying the essential elements, breaking them down into simpler, achievable tasks, and organizing them in the right sequence. As the Wedding Bible puts it, wedding planning is about answering the Big 5:
How? Where? When? Who? Budget?
How? - How do you want your wedding to be? A simple religious ceremony. A religious ceremony with a grand reception or an out-and-out extravagant social event.
Where? - Where will the wedding and reception be held? Will they be in the same location? Having an idea about the wedding venue helps to plan things better.
When?- When will the big day be? Have the tentative date and month in mind. Always check for wedding venue availability and always book in advance.
Who? - Who will you be inviting? Your guest list depends on how big a wedding you want to have, your budget and how many people the wedding venue can accommodate. It's a good idea to create a guest list so you can have an approximate number in mind when selecting the wedding venue and planning the reception dinner seating.
Budget? - Finally, how much money can you afford to spend? Remember that weddings are joyous occasions that are about getting together, friendships and celebrating with family and friends and not about the money. So there is no need to go overboard.
Once you have the answers to these questions, you can take informed decisions that you are comfortable with. To read more useful tips from the Wedding Bible click on the Google Preview link in the right panel.
While there is no right or wrong way to plan a wedding, it can be overwhelming with the seemingly endless choices being offered, stressful and time-consuming when it does not really have to be.
Wedding planning can be an enjoyable journey altogether. It is just about identifying the essential elements, breaking them down into simpler, achievable tasks, and organizing them in the right sequence. As the Wedding Bible puts it, wedding planning is about answering the Big 5:
How? Where? When? Who? Budget?
How? - How do you want your wedding to be? A simple religious ceremony. A religious ceremony with a grand reception or an out-and-out extravagant social event.
Where? - Where will the wedding and reception be held? Will they be in the same location? Having an idea about the wedding venue helps to plan things better.
When?- When will the big day be? Have the tentative date and month in mind. Always check for wedding venue availability and always book in advance.
Who? - Who will you be inviting? Your guest list depends on how big a wedding you want to have, your budget and how many people the wedding venue can accommodate. It's a good idea to create a guest list so you can have an approximate number in mind when selecting the wedding venue and planning the reception dinner seating.
Budget? - Finally, how much money can you afford to spend? Remember that weddings are joyous occasions that are about getting together, friendships and celebrating with family and friends and not about the money. So there is no need to go overboard.
Once you have the answers to these questions, you can take informed decisions that you are comfortable with. To read more useful tips from the Wedding Bible click on the Google Preview link in the right panel.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Beautiful wedding cakes
For the perfect wedding, all you need is a great man, a great dress and a great wedding cake, nothing else matters! The traditional three-tier wedding cake was conceived by a Victorian fleet street baker who baked a cake for his daughter's wedding based upon the spire of St. Bride's church. The cutting of the wedding cake symbolizes the sharing of the first meal as husband and wife. Today, the wedding cake options are endless: chocolate truffle, black forest, pineapple cheese cake, sponge cake, strawberry short cake, carrot cake, rum-soaked dutch truffle, Ferrero rocher, lemon cake, coffee and walnut cake, chocolate orange... the list goes on. If you can't decide, choose a different cake for each tier of the cake covered with a luscious dollop of icing or meringue and have as many tiers as you wish! This has become increasingly popular with couples. So whatever style of wedding you are planning for any number of guests, make sure you have a spectacular wedding cake for your fairytale wedding.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wedding Hair Styles
Every bride wants to have a hairstyle on her wedding that is trendy and that'll create a long-lasting impression. Although buns are the classic wedding hair styles, for the reception you can try out trendy hairstyles that make you look beautiful and feel great.
Bridal Hair Style Tips:
1. It is always a good idea to have a trial run of the hairdo before the actual ceremony as you want to make sure it suits your face shape and body type. It might cost a little more but it will help in reducing anxiety of how you will look on the wedding or reception day and make you feel relaxed and comfortable.
2. If you have curly hair and you want to temporarily straighten them, a trial run is a must as in most cases the temporary straightening does not last for more than 2-3 hours and it would end up making the hair look wavy or frizzy.
3. If you have short or medium length hair you can still opt for the dramatic hair styles with hair extensions.
Here are a few ideas for indian bridal hair styles that you might want to try for your desired dream look on your wedding day.
Bridal Hair Style Tips:
1. It is always a good idea to have a trial run of the hairdo before the actual ceremony as you want to make sure it suits your face shape and body type. It might cost a little more but it will help in reducing anxiety of how you will look on the wedding or reception day and make you feel relaxed and comfortable.
2. If you have curly hair and you want to temporarily straighten them, a trial run is a must as in most cases the temporary straightening does not last for more than 2-3 hours and it would end up making the hair look wavy or frizzy.
3. If you have short or medium length hair you can still opt for the dramatic hair styles with hair extensions.
Here are a few ideas for indian bridal hair styles that you might want to try for your desired dream look on your wedding day.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Wedding decorations
The wedding stage or hall decorations impart a memorable charm to the wedding ceremony and play an important role in making your wedding unique. Wedding decor includes the mandap decoration, reception stage decoration, backdrop, table and seating arrangement and the hall and entrance decorations. Most weddings in recent days have floral decorations, which have become quite common and can be expensive especially in summer. The same beautiful effect can be obtained with beautifully draped curtains, mirror hangings and lights or diyas in the backdrop adding to the ethnic touch.
Colours are a crucial aspect of the wedding decor which if not appropriately chosen can make even the most elaborate wedding decor look gaudy and cheap. So ensure that the wedding decor colours for the mandap, hall, entrance and backdrop are consistent and also elegantly contrast the bride and groom's dress colours. Light colours like pink, sky blue, pale mauve, light yellow are very popular, however these days bold colours like violet, orange combined with the correct lighting are also quite eye-catching. Lighting helps accentuate the grandeur of the wedding. Make sure the lighting on the reception stage is not so bright as to make your eyes squint.
If your wedding is in a hall, having chandeliers will add to the elegance. If you are planning to accommodate a lot of guests in the wedding hall make sure the hall capacity is enough and that the air conditioning is powerful. You don't want the wedding venue to be overcrowded and stifling hot especially in the summer months. For winter months, outdoor locations such as parks, gardens or pool-sides are the best wedding reception venues if you have a large number of guests.
Table or seating arrangement decorations for wedding reception decorations have recently become very popular. Bow-tied chairs are common and couples are also opting for unique center-pieces for the tables such as candles or flower arrangements. Here are some beautiful wedding decoration pictures to give you some ideas for the perfect wedding.
Colours are a crucial aspect of the wedding decor which if not appropriately chosen can make even the most elaborate wedding decor look gaudy and cheap. So ensure that the wedding decor colours for the mandap, hall, entrance and backdrop are consistent and also elegantly contrast the bride and groom's dress colours. Light colours like pink, sky blue, pale mauve, light yellow are very popular, however these days bold colours like violet, orange combined with the correct lighting are also quite eye-catching. Lighting helps accentuate the grandeur of the wedding. Make sure the lighting on the reception stage is not so bright as to make your eyes squint.
If your wedding is in a hall, having chandeliers will add to the elegance. If you are planning to accommodate a lot of guests in the wedding hall make sure the hall capacity is enough and that the air conditioning is powerful. You don't want the wedding venue to be overcrowded and stifling hot especially in the summer months. For winter months, outdoor locations such as parks, gardens or pool-sides are the best wedding reception venues if you have a large number of guests.
Table or seating arrangement decorations for wedding reception decorations have recently become very popular. Bow-tied chairs are common and couples are also opting for unique center-pieces for the tables such as candles or flower arrangements. Here are some beautiful wedding decoration pictures to give you some ideas for the perfect wedding.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Wedding gifts
Weddings are a once in a lifetime occasion for the happy couple and to make it all the more special you want to present a memorable wedding gift. Choosing a wedding gift requires you to consider many factors such as budget, your relationship with the couple or one of them (for example whether you are family, a distant relative, best friend, just a friend, neighbour, colleague, boss etc). So here are some unique wedding gift ideas that will add some more joy to the wedding celebration. The ideas can also be used for wedding anniversary gifts.
Gifts from neighbour, colleague, boss, friends or a distant relative:
1. A gold/silver
coin is the most common gift since time immemorial.
2. If you are only gifting the bride, a small pair of gold earrings makes for a good wedding gift
3. Gift certificates from high-end stores such as Shopper's Stop, Westside, Lifestyle also make for a great wedding gift for the couple if they live in a metro city.
4. A pair of his and her watches from a nice brand.
5. Gift baskets (chocolate, dry fruits or the more trendy spa gift baskets or aromatherapy candle baskets).
6. Any woman adores her jewellery, so a beautiful jewellery box will be a very practical gift for the bride (personalized jewellery box adds that special touch).
7. For the groom, a personalized wallet, watch or belt or a gift pack comprising these three together makes for a good gift.
Any of the above accompanied by carefully crafted bouquet of flowers with a personal message is sure to extend a warm feeling to the couple.
Gifts from family or best friends:
Other than the wedding gift ideas mentioned above, close friends and family can also opt for the gifts below.
1. A personalized gift such as an accessory (bags, belts, or watches) engraved with the couple's names or initials.
2. One of the very first photos of the couple from your personal album enla
rged and encased in a beautiful photo frame with your personal message at the back will not only send a smile on their face but also touch their hearts. They will surely treasure and cherish this gift.
3. If you know a local high-end restaurant where the couple loves to dine, you can give a gift certificate for a wonderful dinner in the restaurant.
4. If you know the bride/groom's hobby, hobby themed gifts always add a sparkle to the eye of the receiver. For example, if the groom likes to listen to music, a collection of CDs of his favourite artists or if you know that the bride is fan of a particular TV show like F.R.I.E.N.D.S, a collection of DVDs of all the seasons of Friends is sure to bring a smile on her face as she unwraps your gift.
5. If the bride and groom enjoy a couple of drinks, a bottle of champagne with a gift basket is a great gift
6. If the bride or the groom is an art aficionado, a painting or a sculpture symbolizing togetherness is also a good gift but needs to be carefully chosen
Gifts from neighbour, colleague, boss, friends or a distant relative:
1. A gold/silver
coin is the most common gift since time immemorial.2. If you are only gifting the bride, a small pair of gold earrings makes for a good wedding gift
3. Gift certificates from high-end stores such as Shopper's Stop, Westside, Lifestyle also make for a great wedding gift for the couple if they live in a metro city.
4. A pair of his and her watches from a nice brand.
5. Gift baskets (chocolate, dry fruits or the more trendy spa gift baskets or aromatherapy candle baskets).
6. Any woman adores her jewellery, so a beautiful jewellery box will be a very practical gift for the bride (personalized jewellery box adds that special touch).
7. For the groom, a personalized wallet, watch or belt or a gift pack comprising these three together makes for a good gift.
Any of the above accompanied by carefully crafted bouquet of flowers with a personal message is sure to extend a warm feeling to the couple.
Gifts from family or best friends:
Other than the wedding gift ideas mentioned above, close friends and family can also opt for the gifts below.
1. A personalized gift such as an accessory (bags, belts, or watches) engraved with the couple's names or initials.
2. One of the very first photos of the couple from your personal album enla
rged and encased in a beautiful photo frame with your personal message at the back will not only send a smile on their face but also touch their hearts. They will surely treasure and cherish this gift.3. If you know a local high-end restaurant where the couple loves to dine, you can give a gift certificate for a wonderful dinner in the restaurant.
4. If you know the bride/groom's hobby, hobby themed gifts always add a sparkle to the eye of the receiver. For example, if the groom likes to listen to music, a collection of CDs of his favourite artists or if you know that the bride is fan of a particular TV show like F.R.I.E.N.D.S, a collection of DVDs of all the seasons of Friends is sure to bring a smile on her face as she unwraps your gift.
5. If the bride and groom enjoy a couple of drinks, a bottle of champagne with a gift basket is a great gift
6. If the bride or the groom is an art aficionado, a painting or a sculpture symbolizing togetherness is also a good gift but needs to be carefully chosen
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Bridal saree trends
With fashion trends changing every season, why should bridal wear be left behind? Bridal dress trends also change every wedding season.In 2008, the embroidery sarees and the fish-tail lehengas were the wedding season must-haves. The embroidery could be delicate or with heavy golden or silver zardozi work that would just take your breath away with it's intricacy and creativity.
Last year 2009 saw two trends, the heavily sequined sarees and ghagra cholis were the 'in' thing for the first half of the year adding the high-voltage sparkle to the wedding
and the reception. In short, bling was in. The second half of the year saw the focus shifting towards the designer net sarees. It could be an all-net saree or just a net pallo. These sarees lend the modernly elegant yet traditional touch especially for the reception.If the start of 2010
is any indicator of what trends are to come this year, velvet border sarees are gaining popularity. A decade ago gorgette and lace sarees with a velvet blouse were extreme popular. Looks like velvet is all set to make a royal comeback this year. An almost plain gorgette saree with a heavily sequined velvet border embedded with ravishing sequins adds to the stylish look. This saree c
an be paired with a corset blouse or a sleeveless blouse for a modern yet beautifully charming look or with a full sleeved blouse for that traditionally royal look. Aishwarya Rai was recently spotted flaunting a beautiful shimmering velvet frill border saree at an award function. This trend is sure to catch on!
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