Marigold Events – Indian Wedding Inspirations, Wedding Lenghas, Invitations, Cake, Decor, Wedding Blog and Website

An Indian Wedding Planning Checklist can be a really long one, especially if you are having a multiple day celebration. While it is imperative to be organized, it is also important to relax and keep your cool throughout the process. Brides can sometimes get overwhelmed with all the various details they have to handle in order to make their big day memorable: from venue, caterer, decor, cake, to invitations, bridal wear, and jewelry; throw in keeping up with the latest trends.

Image Copyright: Rani By Neha Mahajan

While your wedding planner can take care of your venue, caterer, decor, cake, photo, video, and day of coordination; how does one get her wedding shopping done? Should you go to India, or should you look for clothing  and jewelry vendors locally? If shopping in India, It is overwhelming to get all the shopping done, while trying to maneuver through a new city, and especially if you do not have family in the city you are visiting.

Enter Neha Rani Mahajan. Neha offers a wonderful personal shopping experience to South Asians based abroad in Delhi, India. Born, and raised in Cherry Hill, NJ, Neha spent many summers in India while growing up. A graduate of Penn State, Neha moved to New Delhi in 2007 after getting married. She planned her own wedding in Delhi while she was in the US, and has many years of first hand experience shopping in India. Not only does she keep up with the latest trends, she also understands what an Indian American bride is looking for. She says, “When Indians from abroad come to Delhi, they have a long shopping list and a very limited time. Throw in the mix: haggling with the vendors, communicating in Hindi, and an unfamiliar Indian business culture. My goal is to give the South Asian brides abroad, a stress free, and relaxing shopping experience.”

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Should you put your registry information on your wedding invitation? How about putting “No boxed gifts” on your wedding invitation? Isn’t it a norm to give cash as gift in Indian Weddings? What is the proper etiquette? In this post, I am going to add to my previous post which touched upon this subject.

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In order to address these etiquette topics, my first instinct was to check what Emily Post (Renowned American Author about Etiquette) had to say about it. Here is a tip from Emily Post, paraphrased from her book “Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette” (Fifth Edition):

While a gift is typically expected in return of a wedding invitation, it certainly does not mean that you advertise a list of things you want or places you registered at on your wedding invitation. It is certainly in bad taste. This information should be communicated through word of mouth by family and friends.

Here are my $0.02 on this:

Your guests should not be obligated to select a gift from your registry, or for that matter, be forced to give you cash! Choosing a wedding gift is a guest’s prerogative – it is something that should come from their heart. You, as a bride, should see a registry as a wish list. If you get something from your wish list, then that’s awesome, if you don’t, then you get a surprise.

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While inserting information about your gift registry on your wedding invitation is in a poor taste, mentioning “No Boxed Gifts” is even in a poorer taste. Even though a lot of Indian couples may be doing it these days, but to your guests it implies that money matters most to you. Guests belonging to a different culture, may be even confused or appalled by such a statement.

That being said, cash is considered an appropriate gift for an Indian Wedding. Most Indian Uncles and Aunties prefer to give cash! Why be rude and ask for it then?

Before I sign off, here are the final do’s and don’ts of asking for wedding gifts:

DO NOT:
1. Do not mention anything about your wedding registry or gift preferences on the wedding invitation.
2. Do not mention “No Boxed Gifts” on your wedding invitation. If you want money, let your family and friends tell others. Do not initiate discussion about your desire for monetary gifts.

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DO:
1. Do mention a link to your wedding website on the wedding invitation. On the wedding website, you should put the gift registry information.
2. Do spread the information about your wedding registry by word of mouth through friends and family. Always add in the end, “We will treasure anything you may choose to give. Thank You for thinking of us.”

Shopping in Delhi is fabulous! It is full of cute shopping areas with nifty stores. Yesterday I was shopping around in Greater Kailash I, N Block market, and found this amazing gift and home accessories store called Kassmi. Kassmi has some amazing collection of accessories and gifts, which can be used as wedding favors, gifts, as well as wedding trousseau.

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They have an amazing range of products, hand crafted using brocade and zardozi or dabka work, like trays, jewelry boxes, coasters, photo frames, lamps, corner tables, umbrella stands, planters, and lots more. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Smita Kasliwal, one of the owners of Kassmi, and talk to her about her work.

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Zardozi work is very intricate, gold thread work, which never goes out of fashion. Brocade and Zardozi are usually used on sarees, salwar kameez and lehengas, but Smita has taken these fabrics and hand embroidery to a more unique level, by using it to design home accessories.

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I found the stuff at Kassmi beautiful, practical, as well as reasonably priced. I really liked their coasters and I think that would make for a gorgeous and a very practical wedding favor. Kassmi take appointments at their store. I highly recommend shopping at this store as it has stuff in every budget range.

Next week I will be giving away a home accessory that I picked up from Kassmi. Please note that the views presented in this blog post are my unbiased views and this is not an endorsement.

I love shopping in Delhi! When I got married, I did all my shopping from there and really enjoyed my experience. The amazing choices, affordable prices, and VIP treatment are just a few reasons why you would go there for your wedding shopping. In this blog post, I will talk about the various shopping districts in Delhi and some of my favorite stores shopping for wedding trousseau.

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• South Extension (Part I and II): Conveniently located in South Delhi, South Extension is a shopping area full of big stores:

1. Ushnak Mal: Great for Lehengas, Salwar Kameez and Chudidars. Highly recommended!
2. Nalli – Famous for South Indian Saris, especially Silk Kanjeevarams.
3. Regal: Wedding Shoes, purses and accessories. Comes recommended!
4. BG’s – Purses, clutch bags, bindis, and accessories. Very stylish!
5. Wedding Weaves – Men’s sherwanis. Amazing designs – Highly recommended!
6. Big Joes - Accessories
7. Jass Jewelers: Great for silver jewelry, accessories and gift items. Pricey, but recommended!

Shoes by Regal

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Greater Kailash I: This area is also located in South Delhi, but comes with a big price tag. Worth checking out though.

1. Laffaire: Nice sarees, but a little pricey.
2. Street Hawkers: Check out the hawkers on the side of this shopping area for amazing accessories.
3. Champalal Jewellery: Beautiful diamond, and polki jewelry. Highly recommended!
4. Hazoorilal & Sons Jewellers: Nice jewelry, but a little pricey.

Diamond Jewelry by Champalal

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Hauz Khas Village: This shopping area, located in South Delhi, is full of small and unique boutiques.

1. Rewaz Boutique: Amazing collection of sarees! I bought three gorgeous sarees from here for my wedding.
2. Ogaan: This is a fairly new boutique for Indian outfits.

Crescent Mall: This mall is full of designer labels and is located on Mehrauli Road. Very exclusive collections by Manish Malhotra et al!

Lajpat Nagar: Located in South Delhi, this area is full of big and small stores. Don’t forget to check out the street hawkers for some amazing accessories.

1. Roshan’s: I love the stuff here! They have the most amazing suits and lehengas at great prices. I bought my reception lehenga from here. Highly recommended!
2. Shakuntalam: Very stylish lehengas and suits.

My Reception Outfit by Roshan's

Karol Bagh: Karol Bagh is another major and oldest shopping district located in West Delhi.

1. PP Jewellers
2. Hari Shankar Sunil Kumar Jewelers
3. Beli Ram: Silver accessories and gift items. Highly recommended!
4. Janak’s: Great men’s traditional outfits as well as suits.
5. Wedding Weaves: Same as the one in South Extension.

Chandni Chowk: Chandni Chowk is the oldest shopping area in Delhi. Located in North Delhi (Very close to Lal Quila), it has a charm to it. Got to be careful of “eve-teasers” and the traffic, but otherwise if you are looking for great prices – it’s a must check out!

1. Surya Sarees: Amazing collection of sarees, and lehengas. I bought my wedding lehenga from here. Very unique and amazing prices. Highly recommended!
2. Champalal Jewellers: Same as the one in South Extension. Again highly recommended!
3. Rati Ram Ram Vinod: Lehenga and Sarees.

Rajouri Garden: This area is located in East Delhi and has big and small boutiques and stores.

1. Meena Bazaar: Good collection of suits.
2. Shakuntalam: Same as the one in Lajpat Nagar.

Other Places worth a mention:

1. Shapur Jat: Great for kurtis and tunics. Nice little shops for shoes as well.
2. CTC Plaza: Its a huge mall selling traditional Indian clothing and accessories.
3. Dilli Haat: If you are looking for favors and stationary – this is a great place to visit.
4. Janpath: Awesome and highly recommended, if you want custom table linen, favors etc. for your wedding reception.
5. Chawri Bazaar: Invitations and Stationary – great prices! Close to Chandni Chowk.

There are two ways to go about gifting in an Indian Wedding:

1. Bridal Registry
2. Cash

What is the proper etiquette to state your gift preference? How do you go about registering for gifts? What do you register for? Here is the scoop on gifting in Indian Weddings.

Proper Etiquette

I can’t stress this enough, but never mention your gift registry or preference for cash on the formal wedding invitation. It is in bad taste as you are requesting gifts as you should not assume that a guest will bring a gift. The gift/registry details should be reserved only for your wedding website. You can definitely include your wedding website URL on an insert with your invitation.

Let us talk about a new trend seen in South Asian Weddings. These days many couples mention on their invitations, “No boxed gifts”. This can be very confusing for your guests, especially who are not familiar with this terminology, as it is typically mentioned only in Indian Weddings. People may think that you might not want wrapped gifts, or may consider it downright rude to ask for cash. If you want to ask for cash, be more tactful and you can say something like this on your wedding website (again not on the invitation!!!):

“We have not chosen to have a bridal registry as we are unsure where we will settle and are trying to keep our moving expenses to a minimum.”

This way you don’t asking your guests that they bring a gift, but at the same time get the message across to those who intend to bring one. For more information on this topic, please see the forum discussion on Wedding Bee.

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Registering for Gifts

There are many advantages of registering for gifts:

1. You get exactly what you want.
2. You can use all the gifts to set up your new house.
3. Reduces duplication of gifts.
4. Your gifts are directly shipped to you on the shipping address specified by you.
5. Guests have an easier time choosing a gift that you will treasure.
6. Saves time, as your guests would not have to venture from store to store to look for a gift for you.
7. If a guest can’t make it to the wedding, they still have the ability to send a gift.

There are two ways to go about creating your bridal registry:

1. At the stores, where you have to physically go to a store, scan a gift and add to your registry: Many couples choose stores like Macy’s, Crate&Barrell, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target etc. for the wedding registries. The advantage here is that you get to see what the item you are trying to add to your registry looks like. At the same time, for couples it can be a bonding experience as they look for things for their new home. However, one drawback can be that the item you are selecting at the chosen store might be priced higher than other places. Also, going to store to store can be a frustrating experience. Moreover, you are limited to a few stores.
2. Creating an Online Registry: Another option is doing an online gift registry, where you find a website where you can add items from any website. You are not limited to certain stores and don’t have to go to store to store to select items to put on the registry . This is also great, as you can find the best deals online and save your guests some money. Couples are less likely to get into a public argument on what to add to a registry too. Some good websites for doing so are:

• MyRegistry.com – Also has Cash Gift Service option.
• HoneymoonWishes.com

What to Register For

So here is a comprehensive list of things to register for (Adapted from The Knot):

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1. Decor
   • Vases (Floor, Tabletop)
   • Picture Frames
   • Artwork for Walls
   • Bar Cart
   • Wall Mirrors
   • Couch
   • Ottomons
   • Throw Blankets
   • Chandeliers
   • Lamps
   • TV
   • Patio Furniture
2. Glassware
   • Double Old-Fashioned Glasses
   • Juice Glasses
   • Wineglasses (For Red and White Wines)
   • Water Goblets
   • Champage Flutes
   • Margarita Glasses
   • Martini Glasses
   • Ice Bucket
   • Coffee Mugs
   • Carafe
   • Coasters
3. Bar
   • Cocktail Shaker
   • Seven-Piece Bar Tool Set
   • Wine Fridge
   • Wine Cabinet
4. Dinnerware
   • Napkin Holders
   • Place Mats
   • Table Cloths
   • Table Runners
   • Cloth Napkins
   • Gravy Boat/ Stand
   • Salt and Pepper Shaker Set
   • Serving Bowls
   • Serving Platters
   • Sugar and Creamer Set
   • Salad Bowl and Servers Set
   • Formal Place Settings
   • Casual Place Settings
   • Chargers
   • Tea Kettle
   • Soup Tureen and Ladle
   • Butter Dish
   • Cake Stand
5. Kitchen
   • Ice Cream Scoop
   • Salad Spinner
   • Canister Set
   • Tongs
   • Mixing Bowls Set
   • Measure Cup Set
   • Measuring Spoon Set
   • Oven Mitts
   • Cookware Set
   • Broiler Pan
   • Bakeware Set
   • Basting Brushes
   • Can Opener
   • Garlic Press
   • Cheese Grater
   • Veggie Peeler
   • Knives Set
   • Citrus Zester
   • Blender
   • Food Processer
   • Hand Mixer
   • Stand Mixer
   • Slow Cooker
   • Coffee Maker
   • Toaster
   • Roasting Pan
   • Cutting Board
   • Rice Cooker
   • Deep Fryer
   • Waffle Maker
6. Flatware
   • Formal Silver 5-piece Flatware Set
   • Everyday Stainless Steel 5-piece Flatware Set
7. Bedding
   • Flat Sheets
   • Fitted Sheets
   • Duvet Covers
   • Comforter Set
   • Mattress Pad
   • Bed Blanket
   • Standard Pillows
   • Pillow Case Set
   • Pillow Shams
   • Bed Skirt
8. Travel
   • Suitcase
   • Carry on
   • Garmet Bag
   • Travel Totes
   • Toiletry Kit
   • Digital Camera
   • Wheeled Cooler
9. Home Essentials
   • Hamper
   • Vaccum
   • Iron
   • Ironing Board
10. Bathware
    • Soap Dispenser
    • Toothbrush Holder
    • Lotion Dispenser
    • Tissue Holder
    • Bathrobes
    • Bath Towels
    • Hand Towels
    • Washcloths
    • Bath Mat
    • Tub Mat
    • Shower Curtain
    • Scale
    • Hair Dryer
    • Showerhead