Wedding websites

Wedding websites are a great way to announce your wedding to family and friends. Also it's a wonderful and fun activity to build a website together. It is quite useful in introducing yourselves to your partner's family and friends. It serves as a window into your life and helps in getting to know you much better. Here are some of popular free wedding websites that allow you to create a free wedding website for yourself. Make sure you check out the different themes and features (such as guest book, photo book, wedding day countdown, maps and directions, wedding registry etc.) offered by each website before registering and getting started with one website.
www.momentville.com
www.ewedding.com
www.ourwedding.in (Indian wedding themes available)
www.weddingannouncer.com
www.ourwedding.in

How to drape a saree

A Saree is one of the most elegant attires worn by the women in India. In most Indian cultures, Sarees or Saris are an essential bridal wear worn in weddings. A Saree is an un-stitched piece of fabric usually 6 yards in length which needs to be draped around the body to achieve the elegance and grace that epitomizes this great Indian garment. There are many ways in which a saree can be draped and it varies across the Indian sub-continent from state to state. However, the most common method is wrapping the cloth around the waist, making pleats in the front and draping the final length around the shoulder. The remaining fabric that is draped over her blouse and shoulder, falling behind her is called the pallu. For a wedding, the following are different ways to drape the saree:

1. Classic Indian saree drape

The Classic Indian style of draping the saree is quite common and is worn at weddings, poojas, traditional ceremonies, formal gatherings such as conferences, lectures or even to the office.

2. Maharani style saree drape

The Maharani style of draping the saree is quite common in weddings, poojas, wedding receptions and traditional ceremonies.

3. Mumtaz style saree drape

The Mumtaz style of draping the saree is named after the Bollywood actress Mumtaz. This style of draping was made popular in films in the seventies era and is popular even today in Indian parties and wedding receptions.

4. North Indian saree drape

The North Indian style of draping the saree is quite common in weddings, poojas, wedding receptions and traditional ceremonies.

5. North Indian saree drape long

The North Indian long saree drape is quite popular in parties and wedding receptions.

6. Indo-western style saree drape

The Indo-western style of draping the saree is also a favourite in parties and wedding receptions.

7. Devdas style saree drape

The Devdas style of draping the saree was made popular in the Bollywood movie Devdas by Aishwarya Rai. This style is quite popular in traditional ceremonies, poojas and weddings.

8. Western Innovative saree drape

The Western Innovative style of draping the saree is worn both in official gatherings such as conferences, lectures as well as parties and wedding receptions.

Kundan Polki Jewellery designs

Recently on a trip to Jaipur, I was looking for authentic Kundan Jewellery and came across the term Kundan Polki quite frequently. So I was determined to find out the difference between Kundan and Polki Jewellery. Kundan Polki is basically the same type of jewelry and is made in exactly the same way, that is, white stone studded in gold. It's the stone that makes the difference. Polki refers to stone, but usually donotes uncut diamond stones and Kundan refers to glass stone. So Kundan Polki Jewellery being made with uncut diamonds is far more expensive than Kundan jewellery. However, Polki jewellery can also refer to jewellery made with coloured stones. Here is a collection of beautiful Kundan Polki jewellery, Kundan Polki finger rings, Kundan Polki earrings and Kundan Polki bangles.

Kundan jewellery designs

Kundan jewellery has been in demand ever since Aishwarya Rai wore the heavy and stunning Kundan choker necklace in the movie Jodhaa Akbar a couple of years ago. That particular Kundan necklace was especially what every bride wanted to wear for her wedding. Kundan jewelry has come a long way from then and even simple and delicate kundan necklaces look equally beautiful. Kundan bangles are also very popular this wedding season. Authentic Kundan gold jewellery sets have made its way into every indian wedding. After all it is the jewellery worn by the royals and does make you feel the same. Here are a few pieces of Kundan jewelry sets that are my favourites. For more information on Kundan jewellery feel free to email at aweddingplannerblog@gmail.com or leave a comment to this post.

  

Wedding decorations for Sangeet ceremony

Sangeet ceremony is one of the most popular and widely celebrated amongst the pre-wedding ceremonies in Hindu, North indian and Punjabi weddings. Sangeet ceremony is usually held after the Mehendi ceremony. It adds the fun dimension to any wedding and consists of music, dances, frolic, traditional wedding songs, choreographed and practiced bollywood style dance performances reflecting the bride and groom's life and how they fell in love. Sangeet ceremonies give the families a chance to get together and celebrate a colourful evening together and have a blast. It is important that the wedding decorations for the sangeet ceremony reflect the very colourful nature of the evening. Below are few simple wedding decoration ideas for sangeet or wedding reception decorations:
1. Tie colourful and decorative sarees or elaborate and colourful curtains and drapes around the venue. Use simple lights to highlight the colours of the curtains
2. Poolside wedding decorations look gorgeous as the reflection of the colourful wedding decorations in the pool adds to the beauty
3. If the venue has a few trees, try hanging christmas lights or even christmas tree ornaments from the trees. These wedding decorations give a dramatic and fairytale effect to the venue
4. If the venue has small shrubs or an open lawn area, transform it using lawn lights to create the illuminated magical effect
5. Transform the pool or even a water fountain by using colourful underwater lights
6. Finally, decorate the stage keeping in mind the theme of Sangeet, with a musical instrument like flute, table or a dancing couple

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Bridal mehendi designs

Mehendi or Henna is an integral part of Indian weddings and festivals. Mehendi is usually applied to the skin with a plastic cone or a paint brush. Mehndi ceremony is often one of the most important pre-wedding rituals celebrated by the bride's family especially for the bride. Mehandi ceremony is usually held at the bride's house or in a banquet hall a few days before the wedding ceremony. Traditionally, the Mehendi was meant to serve as an ice-breaker on the wedding night. The Mehandi artists hide the groom's name in the intricate mehndi designs and the groom has to find it on the wedding night. To get the dark colour of the Mehendi, the mehndi is kept wet by applying a tea and sugar mixture and covering the hand with plastic or tissue to preserve the heat and left overnight.
Mehendi designs have evolved overs the years. Arabic mehandi (henna) is very popular at weddings. So is Glitter mehendi where the space between the mehndi design is decorated with shiny glitter. Temporary stick-on henna or mehandi designs are also available in the market. Mehndi tatoos are also extremely popular as they are temporary. Floral tatoo henna designs are also quite popular in the west.

Mehendi Designs

Kundan Jewellery

Kundan jewellery is the traditional Indian gemstone jewellery and is one of the oldest forms of jewellery made and worn in India. It is the jewellery worn by the royals and is believed to have originated in Gujarat and Rajasthan but it flourished in greatly in the Mughal era as it received royal patronage. Even today, it remains an integral part of traditional wedding trousseau for a bride.

Process
Kundan is a method of gem setting in a jewellery piece, consisting of inserting gold foil between the stones and it’s mount, usually used to create elaborate necklaces. Meena Kundan, also known as Bikaneri or Jaipuri jewelery, is popular variation in Kundan, where in enameling with vivid colours and design (Meenakari) is on the reverse, while the kundan setting in the front so that a piece of jewelry has two equally beautiful surfaces, enamel at the back end and Kundan set gems in the front. The city of Jaipur in Rajasthan has traditionally been the centre for kundan jewellery in India.

Kundan care

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  When replacing the jewellery after use, wipe it with a suede cloth to restore its shine.
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  If space is an issue, place the jewellery in between layers of cotton wool and seal it in a good plastic bag.
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  Do not clean the jewellery with soap and water.
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  Keep a pouch of desiccant with the piece to protect it from tarnishing due to excessive humidity. Dampness causes the silver in the setting to tarnish and the enamel to crack.
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  Handle the silk chord used to adjust the length of the necklace with care. Never wet the chord as it causes the zari in it to discolour.

Tips for Buying Kundan Jewelry

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  Old, solid gold ornaments are sometimes filled with shellac. It is important to determine this in order to not be overcharged.
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  In trying to differentiate between an old and a new minakari piece, remember that the older the piece, the more intricate the design and more brilliant the colour. 
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  To identify imperfections in a diamond, look for tiny, rents or fissures and specks. If the diamond has any of these, it is flawed. Note also that a real diamond can never have scratches on its surface, if it does, it is not a diamond.
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  Genuine kundan-set crystal has a mellow, opaque appearance. Artificial kundan-set crystal is transparent and it glitters. This is due to the fact that glass has been used instead of crystal and colored tinfoil under the stones to create the illusion of color.
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  New cord in an old piece should not make the buyer suspicious. It could have been replaced to hold the ornament together.