Here I am... back in AZ! Yeah! Well trying to escape the cold weather of Philly/NYC did not work as it is COLD, COLD, COLD here!
We did a wedding last Thanksgiving in Arizona for Meghana and Yagnesh and it was so cold. Kayleigh, Monica and I were frozen solid! The hotel was giving out beach towels and blankets to all the guests not to mention the 50 heaters we had out during the ceremony. I am actually seeing Meg tonight as it is their 1 YEAR ANNIVERSAY!
I am hoping it warms up for the wedding we have this weekend! Seema and Anish are coming out here for their destination wedding (She is from Iowa and he is from Chicago). The ceremony is outside and of course, I am concerned! To my disbelief it was actually raining this morning. Prayer always helps so I am going to continue to pray that all the bad weather clears up! We need divine intervention right now!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
A Day in the life of our new Intern, Kristina
I haven't even been working for Sonal J. Shah for a week, and I've already taken more notes than I did all throughout college. Of course, I am an American girl testing the waters of Indian weddings. I was fortunate that Sonal took a chance on a newcomer in the wedding industry. Luckily, she has been quite understanding as I have tried to grasp the customs. Three days of events?! Four hours to get your hands painted?! An elephant at a wedding?! I didn't really know what I was getting myself into. Each day at the office is filled with researching, phone calls, emails, organizing, negotiating and following up. All of this with the bride's best interest in mind. These weddings are so elaborate that every detail must be considered and then reconsidered. Unlike American weddings, certain days of these events can last up to ten hours. Knowing what, when and how things are supposed to happen is our job. That's why I've been spending many hours watching YouTube trying to make sense of it all. So far, so good. I'm loving my new job! And with only a short period of experience under my belt, I'm already looking forward to the many weddings we have planned for 2009. Keep you posted...
--
Kristina Curtis
Events Intern
Sonal J. Shah Event Consultants, LLC
--
Kristina Curtis
Events Intern
Sonal J. Shah Event Consultants, LLC
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
From Neeti
Working in the wedding planning business has its ups and downs. Things can get really stressful one moment and plain old silly the next. Here are a coupe of silly moments that we’ve encountered through he months.
We were in Virginia for a pre wedding event and Sonal mentioned that the location was easy to miss for our guests. She suggested that we go to Party City and get balloons to tie onto the stop sign at the end of the street. Sonal, Ellen, Katherine and I set off for what I call our adventure. We ended up getting lost on our way to the store. And when we finally got there we purchased two dozen orange and pink balloons. Although Sonal owns an SUV, having four people in it with two dozen balloons was not the sanest moment of the night.
The picture below shows Ellen and me in the back seat trying to hold down the balloons because Sonal, who was driving, couldn’t see behind the car. I was sitting with my face flush against the side window the whole time.
Eventually we made it back to the event in one piece. But I don’t think we will be purchasing this many balloons at once again.
At another wedding also in Virginia we stayed at the Westin hotel (Sonal's Favorite Hotel). They have a signature bed that they sell called the Heavenly Bed. Apparently this bed is the most comfortable bed you will ever sleep on. The picture below shows our attempt to test this theory.... Sonal was so silly probably because she just had driven 5 hours and we got to our hotel at 12:30am!
So as you can see we have had some silly and crazy moments when traveling to our events. I wonder what is in store for next year.
~Neeti
We were in Virginia for a pre wedding event and Sonal mentioned that the location was easy to miss for our guests. She suggested that we go to Party City and get balloons to tie onto the stop sign at the end of the street. Sonal, Ellen, Katherine and I set off for what I call our adventure. We ended up getting lost on our way to the store. And when we finally got there we purchased two dozen orange and pink balloons. Although Sonal owns an SUV, having four people in it with two dozen balloons was not the sanest moment of the night.
The picture below shows Ellen and me in the back seat trying to hold down the balloons because Sonal, who was driving, couldn’t see behind the car. I was sitting with my face flush against the side window the whole time.
Eventually we made it back to the event in one piece. But I don’t think we will be purchasing this many balloons at once again.
At another wedding also in Virginia we stayed at the Westin hotel (Sonal's Favorite Hotel). They have a signature bed that they sell called the Heavenly Bed. Apparently this bed is the most comfortable bed you will ever sleep on. The picture below shows our attempt to test this theory.... Sonal was so silly probably because she just had driven 5 hours and we got to our hotel at 12:30am!
So as you can see we have had some silly and crazy moments when traveling to our events. I wonder what is in store for next year.
~Neeti
FALL IS SO PRETTY!
Every morning I look our out balcony and see the wonderful Art Museum! Yes, I have pretended to be Rocky and run up the museum steps.
I love the Fall colors. I really like incorporating the Fall colors into weddings.
Indian Brides can really use the trend of rust orange during this season with gold accents.
We had a bride last year that we did Chocolate Brown Lamour linens and rust orange Callas.
All topped off with gold chargers and an amber/orange hue to the room.
All the branches are the rage in centerpieces and you can really use this during the Fall to accent your tables and bring out this theme.
I hope these photos inspire the brides in Philly and Beyond
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Finally Back in NYC!
Today I am finally back in the office in Manhattan. It is so exciting as everyone moves so quickly and there is so much to accomplish in one day!
I really enjoy being in Manhattan. Most of our brides are all over the country but we have a handful here in NYC.
We started to put the final details on our other Arizona wedding this month. It will be nice to be back there to do the wedding of Seema and Anish. I just hope all this change in weather does not get me sick.
Neeti and Kristina are at the office today. They are hard at work and doing research.
My drive to Manhattan from Philly was just looking at all the trees with the golden orange and red colors. Fall in the Northeast is so pretty. Really inspires us for all of our Fall Weddings.
I will have to put a photo up soon of the view from our Philly apartment. It is just beautiful!
I really enjoy being in Manhattan. Most of our brides are all over the country but we have a handful here in NYC.
We started to put the final details on our other Arizona wedding this month. It will be nice to be back there to do the wedding of Seema and Anish. I just hope all this change in weather does not get me sick.
Neeti and Kristina are at the office today. They are hard at work and doing research.
My drive to Manhattan from Philly was just looking at all the trees with the golden orange and red colors. Fall in the Northeast is so pretty. Really inspires us for all of our Fall Weddings.
I will have to put a photo up soon of the view from our Philly apartment. It is just beautiful!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?
Almost forgot to mention that the wedding of Rupali and Chetan is on tomorrow... Tues, Nov 4th at 7:00pm!
7:00 pm Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?: Let Them Eat Meat Cake
An Indian couple hires Sonal Shah to throw a three-day wedding for 1000 guests, and Donnie Brown is hired to bring the swinging 60's into the 21st century.
7:00 pm Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?: Let Them Eat Meat Cake
An Indian couple hires Sonal Shah to throw a three-day wedding for 1000 guests, and Donnie Brown is hired to bring the swinging 60's into the 21st century.
Back to Philadelphia-- Finally
Well, after being away from home for 2 weeks.. I am finally back in Philly-- HOME SWEET HOME!
It feels so good to share the couch with my pookie... my husband, Jay.
We had such a great wedding in Arizona. I know that all the weddings are terrific but the natural scenary of the desert was so unique!
Harini and Andy left to go back to London yesterday. Here are some photos of their wedding...
Natural Arizona beauty, rehearsal on Friday with both families, a cute photo of the couple and the reception with white hot flowers and aubergene linen.. Yes, aubergene! THE 2009 COLOR TO WATCH OUT FOR!
It feels so good to share the couch with my pookie... my husband, Jay.
We had such a great wedding in Arizona. I know that all the weddings are terrific but the natural scenary of the desert was so unique!
Harini and Andy left to go back to London yesterday. Here are some photos of their wedding...
Natural Arizona beauty, rehearsal on Friday with both families, a cute photo of the couple and the reception with white hot flowers and aubergene linen.. Yes, aubergene! THE 2009 COLOR TO WATCH OUT FOR!
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