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.

Indian Inspirational Boards

In India there is no dearth of style, color, fabrics or jewels and its easy to get inspired. You can go from being simple to flashy to Bollywood. I personally adore inspirational boards as they give us a sneak peak on how the wedding is going to look.And to see them transform into real weddings is even better.


Red and Gold.. mostly dominated the Indian wedding.. gold traditional jewelery, red/Maroon sarees is tried and tested combo that never fails.. looks rich and elegant.

From traditional to flashy.. this combination gives a spunk to the entire wedding.. the color definitely helps make the atmosphere cheerful and funky... 

Silver..... love the combination... 

Some inspirational boards that caught my eye.


Simple and elegant.. love the color combination.

Another favorite of mine, love the center piece the green elephant and the decor. A perfect mix of east and west.

Very warm and pretty white wedding.. totally love the decor.

Flashy... Wedding/sangeeth  Inspirational board.. 

I love Moroccan themes, this beautiful combination of Indian and Moroccan style weddings.. am sold!

Picture sources: stylemepretty.com, citysaheli.com, getmarried.com and Denise Neufeld Photography

How to Plan your Hindu Wedding

In Indian culture, marriage is celebrated as a sacrament where two souls unify for life. Indian weddings usually follow Hindu traditions. Traditional weddings are often large events that include family, friends and the whole community. The wedding can last several days, although some couples opt for a one-day affair. Planning an Indian wedding can be time consuming, but with a little organization, you can have a wonderful event.

Arrange a meeting with you, your fiance and both sets of parents to discuss your wedding. Decide on the type of ceremony you want, when and where, and the duration of the event.

Set a budget. In India, the bride's family traditionally pays for the event, but some couples spread the cost between both families. Decide how much you can afford and stick to your budget. Ask the groom's side if they have anything specific, some of them would want a grand affair, some would like it to be simple.

Choose a wedding date. For Hindu weddings an astrologer to check your horoscope and choose an auspicious date.

Determine how traditional your wedding will be. Traditional Indian weddings can last several days and involve many rituals conducted in Sanskrit. Guests typically sit on the floor. Decide how many ceremonies and rituals you and your fiance want in your wedding. Most of the weddings in the US is limited to a single day (especially the vedic rituals)


Compile a guest list. Speak to your fiance and both sets of your parents to get a headcount. Get a guest list together early on so you can determine how large of a reception hall you need to book, and how many people you need to feed.

Hire wedding vendors. Research vendors on the Internet and through word of mouth. Arrange appointments to meet with each vendor. Choose a ceremony site, reception hall, caterer, photographer, videographer and florist that best fit your taste and budget.

If you are looking for a caterer who serves Indian cuisine, contact local Indian restaurants and inquire if they provide catering services. If you want to play traditional Indian music at your reception, hire an Indian musicians or a DJ who caters to an Indian clientele. Most of the Hindu weddings serve vegetarian meals, the catering service will help you with your needs. Depending on what you want you can add your touch to it.

Purchase your wedding attire. If you are planning to wear traditional Indian sari, consider hiring a seamstress to create a custom order. Online stores also provide custom wedding attire for Indian brides. Some brides opt to have their saris made in India and shipped to the U.S.

Find your photographer..

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.

Get some help..

Get recommendations from friends and family. Word of mouth really is a great way to plan your wedding. You want people who will be truthful and tell you some of the exact pros and cons of wedding photographers.

The internet gives you loads of information about them. 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.

Review the photographers work. Usually photographers have a website, where you can see some of their portraits, as well as full wedding coverage.

Of course the pricing of your wedding photos is very important. 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?

Ask the right questions:

Be prepared. Before the interview, make a list of all the questions you want to ask. Keep a notepad handy to record the answers, which may inspire even more questions.

make sure they are not over booked for the same day. Request the photographer's schedule for your wedding day. If it looks overbooked, move on to your next choice. If he or she arrives late for your wedding or has to leave early, you may not get all the pictures you want.

Pay attention to the way the photographers present themselves. A professional manner probably indicates you'll get professional photos from your wedding.

Ask the photographer to present an extensive portfolio consisting of his or her most recent work. Find out if the photographer also works in video and ask to see samples.

Have the photographer supply references. Not just letters, which anyone can write, but the names and phone numbers of two or three past clients. Call them for an assessment of the photographer's past work. You not only want to discover how the pictures turned out, but whether the photographer behaved professionally. Remember, this person will be a guest at your wedding.