How to have a dream wedding?

The answer is simple Dream ! Thats true you need to dream of the perfect wedding to make it real.
Have a vision, then make it real. If you are having a wedding planner then let them know what you want. The key here is YOU, its very important for you to love the wedding planning.

If you want to plan your own wedding, thats amazing too. For you know you are going to give it a 200%  to make your wedding as wonderful as possible. But there are some cardinal rules that you need to follow when you are planning a wedding, whether you have a wedding planner or not.  Here are my two cents:

1. Follow your heart; listen to your heart, you will find a theme. 
2. Write it down; always pen your thoughts down, theres a good chance you will forget!
3. Then sketch (if you can) how grand or simple you want it to be. You can also cut and paste a couple of pictures on a drawing board to create a theme.
   
4. Select the colour combinations for your venue; you dont want it to be too jarring or too subtle.
5. Select the outfit color and work the the colou around it. The colours need not match exactly, different shades would be perfect!
6. Work on the invitations, the colour, the look, the presentations
   
7. Work on center table decorations keeping the theme in mind
8. The flowers form an integral part of any weddings, right from the garland you are wearing to the mandap and other decorations, stick to the theme, keep it elegant.
9. The Food; the most important part of any wedding, remember to pick the menu in sync with your style.
10. Keep the lighting subtle, some people tend to do dark lightings, that will give you a feeling that you are in a pub, avoid that. Keep it nice and bright!
11. Picture perfect; Always invest in a good photographer, its worth it. Oh yeah and do not forget the engagement shoot!
12. Most important nothing is too simple or too grand. Acheive the look that you want.

For all those who want the perfect wedding, here are some amazing ideas:



 


Photo courtsey: blog.weddingwire.com

Photo Courtsey: blog.weddingwire.com

Band Baja Baarat

For someone who loves to read and write about weddings, BBB was a treat! How many times have you come across the lead actors planning slick weddings from Janakpuri to Sainik Farms. There has not been a lot of movies with wedding planners in it, has it? The last I saw was Monsoon wedding, the decor was delightful and simple.

Coming back to BBB, the movie showcases the Delhi wedding style to a T (I think). From modest and swank. The lead actors as wedding planners were awesome. Running from pillar to post to get things done and coping up with the famalies demand. And most of all creating the most magical themed weddings!

Theme weddings - Cherry Blossom Wedding

Each spring, people from all over the globe travel to Washington, DC for the National Cherry Blossom Festival (an event that celebrates springtime in Washington, DC as well as the 1912 gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan).

 What is it about the overabundance of sweeping branches of delicate cherry blossoms that draws such a crowd?   Perhaps, as spectators are surrounded by billowing branches of cherry blossoms overhead and delicate petals scattered underfoot, they’re reminded of what cherry blossoms symbolize:  virtue and new beginnings.

Last Spring, I saw a couple getting married during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and I have shared with you some of the pictures.  

 What better way to celebrate the beginning of your lives together than with a Cherry Blossom Wedding Theme?  Intersperse these delicate blooms throughout your wedding decorations and save your guests the trip to DC.

If you are in the DC area and planning a wedding on a budget, this would be a great opportunity to have a themed 

You can create a invitations, cake, favors and menu to match the theme, I have attached a board below for your review:

The Wedding Menu

When we talk about weddings, we talk about the dress, the venue, the jewels, but admit it Food is the most important thing. People talk about your spread long after your wedding is over, its the way to every guests heart.

So deciding on the caterer is key and most importantly remember your budget! Time line is also an important thing to consider, because some of the chef's might not be available. So lets see the top ten things you need to consider :

1.     Lunch or Dinner; It is very important to decide on the time of day and season of the year. Will you have a summer meal at 2 PM or an elegant winter dinner at 8 PM? or Both? This is perhaps the most important decision you will make, and will be dependent on the availability of your venue.

2.      Budget ; Consult your wedding budget. If you're cost-cutting, fancy food will not be an option. The more options you offer guests, generally the more your expenses will build. If your budget is tight, you might consider a cocktail reception, afternoon tea, or dessert reception.

3.      Caterer Recommendations ; Talk to your caterer. Are there particular dishes that they're known for, or that they recommend? If you're catering your own wedding, what recipes are always a crowd-pleaser? Make sure they're aware of the budget you've set.

4.      Offer variety:  Choose both stationery and passed hors d'oeuvres, as well as both hot and cold ones. Your guests will always be able to go to a station rather than chasing waiters around, but guests engrossed in conversation will still have a chance to nibble.

 5.      Personal Preferences Make sure you include foods that you love. Enjoying your wedding day is a priority, and it will help to make your menu personal.

6.      Heritage Incorporate foods from your families' heritages. Relatives and guests will bond over shared experiences. If your heritages are distinctly different cultures, consider featuring one during the cocktail hour and another during the meal.

courtsey potterybarn

7.      Try new things Think about going outside of a traditional menu. For example, some couples these days are opting for a dessert reception, rather than a traditional sit-down menu. This is not only a budget saver, but can be a great personal touch for the couple with a sweet-tooth.

8.      Try It Out Ask to go for a tasting. You'll have a chance to sample the foods and find out what the standouts are. Although many caterers will give a complimentary tasting to the bride and groom, consider asking what it will cost for your parents or honor attendants to attend, to give you other opinions.

9.      Be a Considerate Host Ask your caterer what dietary options are available.If your caterer says "We have a nice veggie sides plate" make sure you taste it. I've been to far too many weddings where the vegetarian option is bland vegetables heaped unattractively on a plate.

10.   Double Check Finally, write your proposed menu down and consider if anything is missing, or out of place. Show it to trusted friends to see if they have any suggestions. Make sure to settle your menu with your caterer by their deadlines so you don't needlessly stress them, or add to costs.

Themed Wedding Favors

Keeping in with the trend, the wedding favor boxes can be in sync with the theme of your wedding. Be it based on region or the seasons. And there are some that you can personalize!

Some of the wedding favors might be expensive, but if you are on a tight budget, there are numerous favors available for less than a dollar. And some are even personalized.

My top picks:

Seasons
Theme:  Winter

 Spring:

 Summer:

Fall

Pictures Courtesy: myweddingfavors.com

Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are small gifts given as a gesture of appreciation or gratitude to guests from the bride and groom during a wedding ceremony or a wedding reception.

The tradition of distributing wedding favors is a very old one. It is believed that the first wedding favor, common amongst European and Indian aristocrats, was known as a bonbonniere. A bonbonniere is a small trinket box made of crystal, porcelain, and/or precious stones.

Today, gifts to guests are commonly known as wedding favors and are shared in cultures worldwide. Wedding favors have become a part of wedding planning, in all cultures. Wedding favors are diverse and usually complement the theme or season of the event. Classic favors can range from the classic sugared almonds or individual chocolates to candles and scented soaps. Modern gift trends include: CDs with the favorite music of the bride and groom, shot glasses filled with colored candy or silver picture frames with a photo of the couple. Gifts may also be personalized with the couple's names, initials or wedding date.

Now the brides can choose their wedding favors based on the theme of the wedding. Be it, winter, spring, summer or fall. If you are planning a wedding yourself, then go to the internet and you find a ton of sites that offer exquisite favor boxes.

Indian Wedding photography

It is very  important that you find the perfect wedding photographer because these photos will last a lifetime. So while hunting for a photographer all you got to do is search and research. Remember wedding photographers can be expensive, but most of them do an excellent job.


If you are looking to find a photographer for an Indian wedding, make sure you find some one who knows our rituals and have already done it before.There is no harm in hiring a photographer who is not familiar with our traditions, just make sure some one from your side is there to explain to them the importance of rituals. 


If you are looking for a photographer who does Indian wedding: there are sites that gives you tons of information about photographers,like the indianweddingsite. 


While looking at a photographer review their work, see if its with in your budget. And meet them personally and talk to them. 


 Many wedding photographers have package deals so that you know how much you will be paying and how many photos you will receive up front. And remember they are expensive. There are some budding photographers who are very good and charge a lot less. 


Once you narrow your choices to a few, meet with the photographers to see their work in person. Look through some of the wedding albums they have completed, as well as watch some of the DVD's they may have to offer. Ask Questions such as: How long will you be available to take pictures, Will you have an assistant to take extra pictures, How long after the wedding does it usually take to have the pictures and albums ready.