Marigold Events – Indian Wedding Inspirations

Jewelry is a big part of South Asian Weddings. A huge sum of the wedding budget is spent on this, as it stays with the bride for her lifetime. The terminology for Indian Wedding Jewelry can get complex. We have put together a crash course or you may consider it a glossary for Indian Wedding Jewelry.

Polki: Uncut diamond, studded in gold along with precious or semi precious stones. Polki if often times enhanced by pearls and stone drops. The reverse side of Polki Jewelry is also decorated with meenakari work.

Kundan: Similar style to polki, but semi precious, as instead of uncut diamond, glass stone is used.

Meenakari: Is a traditional Rajasthani Art, where enameling is done over gold, polki, or kundan jewelry with vivid colors and designs.

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Welcome to #FashionFriday on Marigold Events!  #FashionFriday posts feature Indian Fashion Designers, talking about how they got started in the industry, and their unique style. Continuing with our series of posts written by Gina Mathew, Founder of Couture Rani, today we will feature Indian Fashion Designer Duo, Shantanu and Nikhil, and their claim to fame.

The Beginning

Brothers Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra pursued divergent career paths until they decided to come together to form the Shantanu & Nikhil fashion brand. Nikhil pursued his Masters in Fashion from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandise (FIDM) in Los Angeles while Shantanu completed his MBA in finance from Ohio State University. Nikhil then worked for St. John, an upscale American fashion brand while Shantanu worked in  the corporate finance division of General Motors. Shantanu observed the growth of the Indian fashion industry and decided to combine his business knowledge with Nikhil’s design talent to create something different for the Indian market. In 1999, they both returned to India to pursue their dream of launching a fashion brand. Of their partnership they’ve said, “We believe that we are the best combination of art and commerce in the creative world of fashion. This mindset is what prompted us to cross-synergize our respective backgrounds into something worthwhile that could withstand the pressures of the ever-challenging and the ever-evolving fashion industry”. Read more »

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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Imagine trying out Indian designer bridalwear, while hanging out with your girlfriend and sipping on a mimosa on a beautiful summer day at a luxury hotel in Manhattan. This past weekend, Exclusively.In brought this kind of luxurious and pampering wedding shopping experience to New York that no South Asian Bride would ever want to miss!

Black Velvet Saree with Kundan Work by Shyamal and Bhumika

Brides could try out and buy custom fitted made-to-order Sarees, Lenghas, and Anarkalis from the exclusive collections from designers such as Ritu Kumar, Shyamal and Bhumika, Payal Singhal, Satya Paul, Archana Kocchar and more.  For Grooms, there was a very elegant collection of Sherwanis.

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Marigold Events is very excited about the glittering line up of Indian designer labels at Exclusively.In’s Upcoming Bridal Show. The designers will be offering a range of items from their latest wedding collections for a South Asian bride-to-be as well as wedding guests. Here is a guide for you lovely ladies explaining more about the individual style of designers and featuring some of their work.

Indian Bridal Wear

Payal Singhal's Blush Pink Lengha with halter blouse embellished with pearls and crystals

Payal Singhal: Known for her feminine style and fine detailing, Payal creates ultra-chic, eclectic ensembles of embellished crisp crepes and sparkly tulles. Her collection features muted / pastel colors with a touch of shimmer. Read more »

Hello Lovely Ladies! Wedding Wednesdays just got more interesting on Marigold Events. We get many questions from brides asking for wedding advice. We will be selecting and answering “Question of the week” every Wednesday on Marigold Events. Ask your question by filling out our contact form on the right.

Q. I am going to India (Delhi and Mumbai) in Feb for my wedding shopping. Can you suggest where I should shop for my bridal outfit?

A. Dear Bride-to-be: The amazing choices, affordable prices, and VIP treatment are a few benefits of shopping in India. Shopping for the bridal outfit in India gives a bride many options, which can sometimes get overwhelming. Here are some recommendations on the places to get your bridal outfit in India from:

Ogaan:
Bringing together the biggest names in Indian fashion, Ogaan makes for a wonderful shopping experience. They have stores in Delhi and Mumbai. The displays are set up very artistically, and are a feast for eyes. If you are looking for very exclusive bridal outfit, this is your go to place.

Roshan's Stone Work Lehenga

Roshan’s:
Conveniently located in South Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar, Roshan’s has a great variety in bridal wear. They not only specialize in Lehengas, but have a great collection of Sarees, Salwar Kameezes, Churidars and Anarkalis. Roshan’s offers bridal wear in every budget range.
Read more »

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.

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.

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.

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.

• 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

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

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.

Keep up with the hottest trends in the Indian Wedding Industry. As you try to find that perfect wedding outfit, here are some designer wedding lehengas for inspiration.

Shilpa Shetty in an absolutely stunning Tarun Tahiliani Wedding Lehenga

Another Tarun Tahiliani

Karishma Kapoor donning a beautiful red Manish Malhotra lehenga

Pink and Green Lehenga by Manish Malhotra

Rakhi Sawant wearing a Neeta Lulla Lehenga

Sabyasachi definitely has his own signature style, which is reflected in this outfit

This lehenga is drop dead gorgeous! Check out the train - love it!

Marigold Events interviewed Nazuk Aggarwal, who is a renowned Delhi-based jewelry designer and a gemology expert. We talked to her about latest trends in jewelry, the latest stone cuts, how to select an engagement ring and Nazuk’s personal design style.

Latest Trends and Cuts

The lyrics from Carol Channing’s song, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend“, is perfect illustration of how Diamonds never go out of fashion. Nazuk says that Diamond jewelry is evergreen and is something that is always trendy. Elaborating on the current style of diamond jewelry, Nazuk said that many fancy shapes and cuts of diamonds, like Marquise (leaf shaped) and pear/tear drops are very much in.

Check out this beautiful Marquise Cut Diamond Bracelet

Beautiful Pear Cut Engagement Ring

The different cuts combined with colored diamonds is an upcoming trend. There are many to choose from: blue, yellow – which tend to be most common, and pink/purple – which tend to be very expensive. Colored diamonds can be natural, which are very expensive, and treated, which are more economical. Colored diamonds will definitely add an extra oomph to your piece of jewelry!

Check out this gorgeous necklace with yellow colored diamonds

Then there are also colored sapphires, which are available in almost all the colors ranging from blue, orange, yellow, pink etc. Colored sapphires are cheaper than colored diamonds. Another option can be tourmaline, which are semi precious stones, and are an economical option. They are much more cheaper compared to colored diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. These definitely add a great style and color to your diamond jewelry.

Nazuk mentioned that another way to make your jewelry stylish is to use carved emeralds, coral and turquoise along with diamonds. She says that flower shaped coral or turquoise or cabochon cut colored stones with diamonds (stone that is shaped and polished as opposed to faceted) look exquisite!

Check out these beautiful pair of turquoise (flower shaped) and diamond chandelier earrings with pear shaped Quartz drops, designed by Nazuk:

Diamond Chandelier Earrings Designed by Nazuk Aggarwal

Nazuk says that chunky and bold jewelry is in. For your cocktail or engagement party you can wear a bold bracelet with chandelier earrings or a cocktail ring with a heavy necklace.

Cocktail Ring with pink stone and diamonds

Bold and Beautiful - Diamond Necklace

Gorgeous Diamond Bracelet

A few styles that are also in fashion today are Victorian style Jewelry (which was worn in Victorian era – half silver, half gold with flat diamonds) and Rose Cut Jewelry in open setting (where diamond is cut such that the top looks like a mountain).

Check out this Victorian style estate diamond brooch/pendant

Check out this Rose Cut Diamond Pendant

For weddings, traditional jewelry, especially polki (uncut diamond) looks gorgeous! Polki jewelry is from Mughal Era and is very much in fashion. Many variations of polki are available. One such variation is polki combined with diamonds. It gives a very full look when worn on your wedding day. These days bigger size polki with designs around it is the latest trend. Matha Patti or Maang teeka with Jhoomar with a nice nath, haath phool, amulet, necklace and earrings/jhumkas make a beautiful set and looks absolutely stunning. Big polki rings worn on the thumb also look really nice. Polki jewelry can also be worn for Mehendi.

Check out the gorgeous polki sets that Aishwarya wore for Jodha Akbar:

Aishwarya Rai in Jodhaa Akbar - Beautiful polki set complete with Matha Patti, Jhumkas, Necklace and Nath

Aishwarya Rai in Jodhaa Akbar- Beautiful Big Polki Set with Amulets

Aishwarya Rai in Jodhaa Akbar - Another beautiful Rajasthani Style Polki Necklace. Check out the beautiful rings.

Aishwarya Rai in Umrao Jaan - Check out the beautiful Maang Teeka and Jhoomar work on the side

If you are on a budget, then imitation polki and diamond jewelry is also available, which looks very nice too.

How to select an Engagement Ring

Nazuk says that the approach to select the engagement ring should be practical. Nazuk advises, “You don’t want it to go out of fashion!” She mentioned that something that is going to be worn on a daily basis throughout your life, should be comfortable and elegant. Nazuk asserts, “It is advisable to buy a quality stone and certified pieces as they are a good investment.”

So how do you select a quality and certified diamond?

Nazuk says that diamond certification provided by HRD, GIA, and IGI labs is recognized throughout. She specifically says not to get a jeweler’s inhouse certification (as they don’t hold any value) and insist on getting it by one of the labs listed.

Selecting a quality stone requires research. It is important to know the 4 C’s of diamond:

Cut: Cut refers to the shape and proportions of diamond. The cutting of diamond and the finish determines it’s brilliance and fire. The more number of facets a diamond has, more will be the brilliance it is going to have. Round cut is evergreen and has the maximum brilliance and fire, and hence, it is also the most expensive cut. Other well known cuts are: Oval, Princess, Heartshaped, Emerald or Step Cut, Asher Cut, Radiant Cut and Lily Cut.

Clarity: Clarity refers to how free the stone is from inclusions or dark/black specks. On one end of the scale is flawless and on the lower end is included, where flawless is most expensive, and included is least expensive.

Color: Colors range from the letters D to Z, where D is colorless and most valuable.

Carat: 1 carat is equal to 100 equal parts or points. It weighs 200 metric grams. The price of diamond goes up exponentially with the carat weight. What that means is that the price of a 2 carat ring will not be double the cost of a 1 carat ring, but will be much more.

For a great tutorial and more details for selecting a diamond, click here.

A little bit about Nazuk and her style

Nazuk studied Jewelry Design and Manufacturing  from Jewellery Design and Technology Institute (JDTI), and Gemology from Gemological Institute of America (GIA). She is the founder and owner of Bijoux (New Delhi), where she hand selects the stones, designs and manufactures handcrafted fine diamond jewelry. She holds private exhibitions, and designs customized and classic jewelry according to her client’s budget, tastes and the occasion. Nazuk’s jewelry is contemporary, elegant, high end and fashionable, where she keeps global trends in mind. She primarily uses diamonds, along with colored and semi precious stones. To schedule an appointment with Nazuk, you can email her at nazukaggarwal@gmail.com.

When it comes to selecting your wedding sari, the varieties are endless. It is always in your benefit to know the different varieties of saris that are available to you when shopping for your Bridal Sari. An informed shopper is always a happy shopper. Your ceremony type, kind of jewelry, the colors, the material and kind of work/embroidery you are looking for will all help you narrow down the kind of sari you are looking for.

In this blog post, I will introduce five most popular varieties of Indian Wedding Saris:

Image Courtesy: Parinda.com - Madhuri Dixit in Devdas, wearing a beautiful Banarasi Brocade blouse and Sari

Banarasi Brocade Sari: Banarasi Brocade Saris are made of silk and woven with gold and/or silver threads, which is also known as “zari” work. The designs of Banarasi Brocades have strong Mughal influence, where the patterns and motifs on the saris draw from nature, poetry and great legends. Banarasi Saris come in many different color combinations, but usually brides choose red, which is known to be the color of love, along with gold “zari” work. Banarsi Saris are also very comfortable and a must for a bridal trousseau.

Image Courtesy: sareetimes.com - Sridevi, former Bollywood Diva, wearing a gorgeous Kanjeevaram Sari

South Indian Kanjeevaram Sari: Kanjeevaram Saris are made of pure heavy silk and are known for their durability. The sari is very traditional, where it is not affected by the latest fashion fads. The borders are woven with gold thread, and have motifs like elephants, flowers, paisleys, peacocks and parrots. They come in gorgeous color combinations and look good on everyone.

Image Courtesy: Pramanik.in - Vidya Balan in Parineeta, donning a gorgeous red and cream Bengali style Baluchari Saree

Baluchari Sari from Bengal: Baluchari is a traditional type of Bengali Handloom Sari. Baluchari Saris come in a wide range of colors like bright red, white, cream, yellow, green, purple, blue etc. The most common color combination of this type of Sari is bright red and white/cream. Baluchari Saris have small patterns or “butis” all over, beautiful floral borders, and gorgeous “pallu“, which are decorated with narrative motifs. When worn in a traditional Bengali Way with a kumkum red bindi, Baluchari Sari is bound to get you many compliments.

Aishwarya Rai in a Beautiful Bridal Outfit with Zardozi Embroidery

Embroidered Zardozi Saris: An ancient Persian art, “Zardozi” literally translates to gold embroidery. It is the buzz word for many top fashion designers today. The art was popularized by Mughals and used to adorn the costume of royalty and monarchs. The embroidery is studded with pearls and jewels to enhance the look of the silk, velvet or brocade. These handmade saris can take anywhere between 4-6 months to make depending on the intricacy of design. Zardozi Saris are fabulous and look very regal.

Image Courtesy: UtsavSarees.com - Very Traditional Ghatchola/Bandhani Sari adorned with Zari work

Ghatchola/Bandhani Sari from Gujarat: Traditionally red in color, Ghatchola or Bandhani Saris are made of cotton or silk and real gold thread and are a great choice for brides. The entire sari is designed with “bandhej” or tie-and-dye, where checks are woven out of gold bands of “zari” and have small motifs like peacock, elephant, or flowers in the center. These days beautiful golden borders adorned by “kundan” and sequins work are used on the Sari, which adds a little glitz and glamor to a very traditional number.

You are now equipped with the basic information to go Sari Shopping. Your chosen Bridal Sari will definitely add to your charm and elegance on your Wedding Day! Happy Shopping!

Congratulations on your engagement! Wondering where to start from? Here is a checklist of items which will walk you through your wedding planning process. According to 2008 Wedding Industry Facts, the average length of engagement is 16 months (Courtesy: Hudson Valley Weddings). For this checklist I am going to assume an eight month engagement and wedding planning period, since Indian engagements are usually shorter. Your first month planning will definitely be the busiest. Even though the list is top heavy, don’t be afraid as the more work you do in the beginning, the less you will have to worry later.

Week 1

1. Pick a Date/Weekend: Give yourself enough time for preparation when picking a date. Also, think about the season you would prefer to get married in.
2. Estimate your Wedding Budget: Are you planning on using your own savings for the wedding? Are the parents chipping in? Now is a good time to get to talk to your fiance and both families to get the finances together for the wedding.
3. Finalize all the events: There are many events associated with an Indian Wedding Celebration. Do you want to have an engagement party, haldi, mehendi, sangeet in addition to the wedding and reception? Now is a good time to decide.
   • Tip: Take your budget into consideration when deciding the number of events and how they will be scheduled on the weekend to accommodate your out of town guests.
4. Estimate the number of guests and start a guestlist: Once you have a set budget in mind, you should estimate how big of a wedding you want. This will help you decide the other planning aspects of your wedding.
   • Tip: Make a spreadsheet of all the guests. I would suggest using Google Docs and use the following heading items for your spreadsheet, which accounts for all the details related to your guests: Guest Family, Number of people invited, Address, Email Address, Phone Number, Events invited for, Out of Town?, Save-the-Date sent?, Invitation Sent?, Gift received, Thank You Card Sent?
5. Hire a Wedding Planner (optional): If you want a planner to assist you find you your venue and other vendors, go ahead and book your wedding planner in the first week itself. This will ensure that you get maximum benefit out of hiring a planner. Make sure you get referrals from family and friends. Yelp and Wedding Wire are great places to start looking as well. A lot of planners have negotiated (discounted) rates with vendors, which can work in your favor. On the flip side, they may steer you towards the vendors with whom they have a relationship.
   • Tip: Most planners and even other vendors offer a discount if you pay them the full amount when you sign the contract. Consider doing so only if you are sure about your planner/vendor selection.
6. Start researching Venues: Finding venues for all your wedding events, which are open for the dates you picked can be very trying. Get a head start so that you can book the wedding venue of your dreams!  Schedule appointments to go visit the selected venues and start shortlisting.
   • Tip: Find out the venue requirements and policies for lighting candles, havan rituals/ fire, alcohol, parking, vendor and event insurance, cancellation or postponing the event.

Week 2

1. Choose your bridesmaids and groomsmen (optional): If you choose to do so, select your bridesmaids and groomsmen and invite them to be in your wedding party. It is always nice to send a hand written note to invite your friend/relative to your wedding party, followed by a phone call. Once they confirm, it’s a good idea to get their measurements for their outfits.
2. Pick a theme/colors and start collecting ideas: If you choose to do so, pick your colors/theme for your wedding. Regardless of whether you are having a theme of not, start gathering ideas for your wedding. Look through magazines, wedding planning blogs, even talking to your friends and cousins who recently planned their wedding.
3. Send out Save-the-Dates: Once the guestlist is finalized, send out your Save-the-Dates. You could go with something which you Do-it-Yourself, or even go to a local paperie/paper store and get them ready to be sent out. Often times, brides go with magnets with a picture of them and their fiance, or even very creative DIY Save-the-Dates according to their theme.
4. Plan your Engagement Party (optional): If you decide to do so, start planning your engagement party. You may want to have it at your parent’s house or backyard if the weather is nice, after taking the guestlist into consideration. Think about what kind of party you want: Brunch/ Hors d’oeuvres/Dinner.

Week 3

1. Finalize the Venue: By this time you should have selected your venue. Sign the contract and make the deposits.
2. Start your Wedding Registry: Decide the stores or online website where you would like to set up your wedding registry.
   • Tip: Most people go with Macy’s, Crate and Barrell, Bed Bath, Target,  Beyond and other big department stores. Personally, I recommend online websites like myregistry.com for setting up your wedding registry, as it gives you a lot more flexibility. You can add any product online and place it on your registry. Moreover, if you are a smart shopper, you can shop for the best deal to save your guests money!
3. Wedding Website (optional): Set up your wedding website with all the details of your wedding. You can purchase a domain and server space from website hosting companies like bluehost.com, godaddy.com, 1and1.com with your and your fiance’s name, for example: nehaandkart.com. Once you have the domain, you can have a friend/cousin/web developer or even yourself create a wedding website with details such as how you met, proposal, photo gallery, wedding venue and details, link to registry, RSVP, guestbook etc. Alternatively, there are many wedding planning websites, like weddingwire.com, which already have templates for wedding websites, and all you have to do is enter the content and the website is automatically created for you. You can choose to forward it to your own domain rather than the one generated by the website company. Email the website link to your friends and relatives.

Week 4

1. Start Researching Caterers: Put a little thought into your wedding menu. Are you thinking live stations, ice sculptures, chocolate fountain, fondue, specialty appetizers and drinks or simple buffet? Browse through directories of local restaurants, which fit your requirements and schedule tastings. Get per person estimates when you go for the tasting. You might also want to talk to your caterer about drink packages. Make sure that the caterer is licensed by your venue.
2. Start Researching Event Decorator/ Florists/ Mandap: Based on your theme, ideas and colors, start thinking of decor ideas. Make a list of things you need from a decorator/florist. Are you going to have special lighting for your events? Talk to various florists for centerpieces and flowers for the ceremony and reception. Also start looking for overlays, Indian event decorations, Mandap, stage for Sangeet and Sweetheart table set up etc. Get estimates for everything.
3. Start Researching Photographers: Good photographers are often booked months in advance. Get on your game and schedule meetings to book your photographer. You should definitely look at the samples of the different photographers so that you know their style (posed, photojournalistic etc.). You should also try to negotiate a photo package for all your wedding events as you don’t want to miss the special moments. Important occasions for photos include Engagement Portraits, Engagement Party, Mehendi, Sangeet, Getting Ready Pictures, Pictures of just Bride and Groom on the Wedding Day, Pictures with the Bridal Party, Ceremony, and Reception. You might want to ask the photographer for the rates of an assistant, should you need one.
4. Start Researching Videographers: Go for a videographer who has shot Indian Weddings before because they will have a good idea about the lineup of events on your wedding day and would not miss shooting your important moments. Also you would want to discuss how the media of the video: HD/ Blue Ray DVD/ Video Tape etc, whether you want raw footage or the edited video or both etc. Decide which events you need the videographer for and whether they need to have assistants or not.
5. Start Researching DJs: Do your homework to find a good DJ. Talk to different DJs to get a vibe of what kind of music they play and how often they switch it up. If you need a projector for slideshow, cables to hook up your computer to the projector, special sound system, other tech equipment, you might want to talk to the DJ and negotiate a package for that and all your other events. Also, ask the DJ if he can provide dhol/ entertainment/ music for the Baraat. It is best to select a DJ based on a performance that you have seen.
6. Start Researching Event Rentals (depends on the venue): If you are having your wedding at a museum, hall or a special location, most probably you would need to rent out everything needed for your event, from china, glassware, tableware, tablecloths to tables and chairs. This can get pricey depending on your guestlist and you definitely need the correct estimates for the number of each item to be rented with extras to spare. Do your utmost to research the most reasonable event rental company in terms of finding the best choice of rentals, as well as a company which has relaxed policies. Sometimes your caterer can provide some good referrals for the event rental companies.
7. Pick out your invitations: Start looking at different Indian Invitations Websites to look for the perfect invitation. Also, read our article on how to select a wedding invitation for some useful tips. Once you have a winner, finalize the invitation text (include your website and registry information on the invitation), and order the invitations as it takes a couple weeks for the order to be processed and shipped. You want the invitations at least 4-5 months before the wedding, so that you have enough time to address them.

Month 2

1. Finalize your Caterer, Event Decorator/ Florist/ Mandap, Photographer, Videographer, DJ, Event Rentals: You should have these vendors finalized and locked in so that you can start planning the wedding details with them. Review the contracts thoroughly before signing. Make sure they provide a reasonable alternative person/company to fill in case they are sick or under circumstances beyond their control.
2. Book your Priest/ Pundit: Based on the kind of ceremony you want, book your priest. Its always good if the priest can speak in English and translate the ceremony for the guests. Confirm their dakshina or honorarium and also the date of the wedding.
3. Select you Cake Vendor and Cake Design: If your venue or caterer does not provide one, then start looking for a cake vendor. Regardless, you will need to pick a design for your cake.
4. Make the Arrangements for Baraat and other transportation: Reserve the horse carriage, get permits if need be for the Baraat and make arrangements for limo/transportation for the day of your wedding. You may also want to book a shuttle to transport your guests to the wedding venue if different from the accommodation.
5. Book your trip to India (optional): If you are doing your wedding trousseau shopping in India, then book your plane tickets and make appropriate arrangements to take time off of work etc.

Month 3

1. Select a vendor for your Mehendi, Hair, Make up and Arranging your Dupatta or Sari: Make sure you have make up and hair trials, before you select the vendor. Interview them to make sure that they can arrange transportation to come to where you are. Also, you might want to bring pictures and discuss with them the way you want your mehendi, make up, hair, and dupatta arranged.
2. Select Wedding Outfits for the entire bridal party and Jewelry Sets for yourself: If not going to India, find a local store or travel to a city with huge Indian diaspora in the US to purchase jewelry sets for yourself and traditional outfits for yourself, your fiance and your entire bridal party. Also start looking into suits and tuxedos for the groom and groomsmen.
3. Travel to India to purchase your Wedding Trousseau (optional): Read our article on how to shop for your wedding in India for special tips.
4. Block Hotel Rooms for out of town guests: Get a block of rooms for a discounted rate for all of your out of town guests. Update your website to include the hotel information and the code to get the discount.
5. Honeymoon Suite: Book accommodations for your wedding night.

Month 4

1. Purchase your Accessories: If not going to India, then start looking for matching purse, bindis, bangles, and footwear.
2. Start planning and book your honeymoon: Decide on a destination, and book your travel, and hotel for the honeymoon. If you are traveling internationally, make sure you have valid passports and appropriate visas/ other travel papers, vaccinations etc.
3. Finalize your Menu and Service details with your caterer
4. Finalize your Decor Arrangements

Month 5

1. Get your invitations ready and Mail them: Address all your invitations and put stamps. This process can take a good week, especially if you are still in process of compiling addresses and have a huge guestlist. Use vellum or metallic labels to print addresses. You might also want to consider calligraphy.
2. Order your wedding rings/bands
3. Start looking for favors: Read our article on suggestions for special wedding favors.
4. Childcare for your Ceremony and Reception (optional): If you have many guests with babies and small  children, you might consider making arrangements for them.

Month 6

1. Alcohol and Bar Arrangements: Order liquor/alcohol for your event if you are not getting it from the caterer or venue. You might have to get a permit to serve your own alcohol at your venue and hire bartender as well.
2. Prepare Ceremony Programs and Other Stationary: Design the proof of concept for your ceremony programs. If you are designing any other stationary, scrapbooks for display etc., you should consider doing it now.
3. Research Marriage License Requiremnts: Also schedule a blood test appointment, if required by your state.
4. Song for First Dance: Select the song for your First Dance. Consider taking dance lessons or choreographing it yourself.

Month 7

1. Purchase your Guestbook, Pen and Pen Holder
2. Purchase gifts for your bridal party and close family members
3. Contact close family and friends for Sangeet Performances (optional)
4. Get all the sari and lehenga blouses stitched: You should do this for yourself and your bridesmaids.
5. Make sure that all your outfits fit properly: You still have some time to get the outfits tailored to fit you in case there have been a size change.

Month of the Wedding!

4 Weeks Before

1. Have Sangeet Performers submit their music to you
2. Send a Song List to the DJ: Make a list of your must-play songs and do-not-play song list and send it to your DJ. You should also send all the sangeet songs and the song for your First Dance to make sure the DJ has all of your music.

3 Weeks Before

1. Call guests who have not yet RSVP’d and get the final head count
2. Determine the order of your receiving line, if you are having one
3. Prepare a timeline for all your wedding events
4. Prepare a list of assignments for your bridal party and family members

2 Weeks Before

1. Give the final head count to all your vendors
2. Give the timeline of wedding events to all the vendors, members of your bridal party and family members helping
3. Create your seating chart and make the place cards: Give your seating chart to the vendors in charge of directing guests to their tables, arranging the chairs, tables, table numbers and place cards.
4. Prepare your toasts and thanks to family and friends
5. Confirm all your final payments and have them ready to be mailed out or handed over to the vendor

Week of the Wedding!

1. Hand over all the favors, guestbook, placecards, programs etc. to the event planner or the person in charge of arranging them
2. Put together an emergency kit: This should contain Aspirin, Hairspray, Make up, Safety Pins, Mints etc.
3. Pack your suitcase for the honeymoon
4. Get pampered at a Spa
5. Enjoy your Wedding Celebrations!

After you come back from your honeymoon

1. Ensure all your vendors have been fully paid: As a courtesy you may review them on wedding planning websites.
2. Arrange for your outfits to be cleaned and preserved
3. Write all your Thank You Notes: Traditional etiquette gives you an 8 week grace period.
4. If you choose to do so: Do all the paperwork to change your name, and arranging to combine finances, insurance policies etc.

I hope this checklist is comprehensive enough and will be useful for you in planning your wedding. As usual, please comment on this entry with your suggestions or email me  at neha@marigoldevents.com.

One of the big decisions that brides struggle with is whether they should go to India to shop for the wedding or not. Brides like to go to India because they get much more variety and also get it for a better price. However, the plane tickets can get expensive, especially if going with other friends or members of family, and it can be hard to take off from work. So how do you make the trip worth your while and rationalize your decision to go for shopping in India? I think a trip to India, if planned well, can not only save you a lot of money, but can also help you find the exact things you are looking for. Here are a few tips on how you can take full advantage of your shopping trip to India:

1. Research and Prepare: Research and preparing for your trip can’t be stressed enough. It is very important to prepare an itinerary for your trip before you go. Get as much information as you can before you leave. If you have relatives, call them to make trip arrangements, like accommodations, transportation, and may be even ask them if they can accompany you on your shopping trips. If you don’t have relatives, then you have to be on top of all the arrangements for your trip. Research shopping areas in the city you are planning on going to, talk to other brides, read about latest Indian styles, and bring color swatches and samples on your trip. You want to make sure that you don’t fall sick on the trip, so make sure you take all your shots before you go, and also drink bottled water. Carry an emergency medicine kit and also dress modestly when going to shop.

2. Pick up your Wedding Invitations: It might be a good idea to bring back your wedding invitations from India yourself, so that you can save on the shipping/courier costs.

Shopping for Wedding Trousseau

3. Wedding Trousseau: Get outfits for yourself and your fiance to wear at all of the wedding functions. If your fiance is not coming with you, then make sure that you take all of his measurements required to order his sherwani/suit. You might want to pick up a couple extra sarees and salwar kameez while you are in India as a part of your trousseau. You should also take care of all your tailoring such as blouse stitching, saree falls etc. while you are in India, so that you don’t have to worry about in when you get back. You might consider buying saree pins as well.

4. Jewelry: Read about the latest jewelry styles in Indian Fashion Magazines and Websites. Although, gold is traditionally bought during weddings, but you might also want to consider Polki, Diamond, Jadau or even Semi Precious Costume Jewelry. Necklace and earrings are a must! You can also add special touches to your look by getting a maatha patti/teeka, amulets (baaju bandh) and anklets (payal).

Anklets and Amulet

5. Accessories – Bindis, Bangles, Shoes and Purses: You can gorgeous matching accessories in India for reasonable prices. You can’t get better bindis and bangles anywhere else, but India. There is a huge selection to choose from and you can mix and match very easily. Embellished shoes and clutch bags are also available in great varieties and good prices.

Image Courtesy - Flickr:jk10976

6. Bridal Party’s Outfits: You should definitely purchase bridemsaids’ sarees and groomsmens’ sherwanis in India. Not only will this save you a lot of money, but also hassle. This is the first thing you should shop for when going to India, because finding identical outfits can be a pain and you might have to get them custom made. Hence, it is also important to carry your bridal party’s measurements. For women, also get the blouses stitched in India.You could also get your immediate family’s outfits from India as well.

7. Mandap drapes: If your wedding colors are unique, you might consider getting your mandap drapery stiched in India. You can beautiful embellishments and trimmings on your mandap, which will look exclusive. All you would need to do is talk to your decorator and get the measurements.

8. Money Envelopes, Gifts and Welcome Bags: You can purchase beautiful stationary while in India for your wedding. You have a huge choice when it comes to Money Envelopes and Bags – You can get them in organza, gorgeous hand made paper, and they come embellished with stones and trimmings. You might consider purchasing gifts for members of family, bridesmaids and groomsmen. Danglers/Earrings for women and ties/cufflinks for men make great gifts and take up less luggage room as well.

9. Overlays/ Table cloths: You might consider getting table cloths or overlays to accent your decor. You can get premium table cloths (organza, brocade etc.) stitched in India for less than the rental price of simple white table linen in the US. Overlays are even cheaper! So if you know your wedding colors, carry some swatches and look up table meaurements in order to get your overlays and table cloths custom tailored in India.

10. Favors: Another way to cut on costs by shopping in India could be purchasing favors. You can get beautiful favors ranging from $1 – $5 per piece. If you buy in bulk quantity, you can negotiate the price with the vendor. Jewelry and Trinket boxes, Incense stick holders, Diffusers etc. all make great favors!

If you are thinking of throwing an engagement party in India, it might be a good idea to combine your shopping trip with that. While you are in India, you might also want to take advantage of the reasonable beauty and spa treatments. Please share your India shopping experiences with us here!