Venue Selections

As I prepare for my trip to Houston, I wanted to give some pointers to get what you need from a venue and what questions to ask.

I always find that brides or parents don't really know what to ask. They do a venue selection based primarily on how the venue looks. This is very important but we are more interested in how the venue will affect your wallet.

So, here are some questions to keep in mind:

1. How long as the catering manager been in her current position?
2. Who is the main decision maker at the hotel? (who wants to be speaking to the wrong person?)
3. What are your valet parking rates?
4. What happens with kids under the age of 12? Menu and bar?
5. Have they done an Indian wedding before?
6. Are you allowed to have an animal (ie: horse) on property?
7. Can I pick the caterer I want or do I have to use their caterer? You want to be very careful about this.
8. How late can my event go without any additional charges?
9. How early can my vendors come and set up? (We did a wedding where the bride only could have vendors in about 2 hours prior to ceremony.... THE MANDAP ALONE NORMALLY TAKES 3 -5 HOURS TO SET UP!!)
10. What are your bar package prices and how many bars are set up?

This is a short list of 10 questions. On a site inspection with a venue we normally have about 50-80 questions that are very in depth and allows us to judge which venue works best for our clients.

Budgets and Timelines

As we will be in full swing of wedding season in a few short months,

I am spending time today updating and formatting all budgets and time lines for our brides. It is great to take a moment an just update things before moving forward.

My next two weeks is a tough travel schedule with going to Florida and Texas. I want to get as much done as possible even if the bride is not getting married until Oct, Nov, or Dec.

It is never too early to star planning and to keep up with the planning. I always tell our brides, your wedding will be here before you know it.

It is a good feeling for me personally to know you are almost done with a wedding that is not until Sept or Oct. We are not rushed and there is so much time for creative thinking and working on all the ideas that make the wedding special.

Walk Down the Aisle Song.. I love this!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

We have brides ask us all the time about walk down the aisle songs.

I recently saw Slumdog and I love this song so much.

I recommend brides to use instrumental songs and lately this is one of my favorites.

There is so much emotion to this song. I love it and thought it was fitting since it is Valentine's Day today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UiOaQzBccE

Fun day with Faiza and Kamran

 
 
 

Sonam from Chocol8kiss( www.Chocal8kiss.com )came over for a cake tasting yesterday with our Sept couple Faiza and Kamran. The cakes tasted so yummy. I was so greatful that she came into Manhattan for doing all this. The couple loved the cake and decided on what style and flavor they wanted.

Sonam Sondhi is new to the Indian wedding industry and we love to help new and young talent. She was a pastry chef before she started her own cake business in New Jersey.

Later on, Faiza, Kamran and I went to the Boathouse to see and walk the space and to discuss logistics.

Central Park is one of the prettiest places to get married and I get happy just being there.

I took this cute, cute, cute photo of our couple at The Boathouse.

Damion Edwards

I met this fantastic photographer that I want the world to know about... Damion Edwards. I cannot believe how many Indian Weddings he has done. He is based out of Jersey City and is avail for travel.
www.damionedwardsphotography.com


Enjoy!

Another One of my Favorites

 

This was done in the Cayman Islands from our good friend Joanne Brown for a destination wedding.

 













Loved this long table we did for a family table. It was so clean and nice... The candles looked amazing and created a very romantic feel

Details, Details, Details

I found this going through some of my emails from a wedding last Sept to a hotel staff member. Funny how the details do make the diff at a wedding. Each line item has to be examined very closely on the BEO.

1. -Sep-08 6:00 AM - 12:00 AM COLONNADE ROOM SHOULD BE STARTING AT 4:30AM TO BE UNLOCKED FOR HAIR AND MAKEUP GIRLS
2. 13-Sep-08 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM Old Dominion Light Breakfast 144 144 GTD NUMBER SHOULD BE 100 NOT 144
3. CAN FROST AND ELEGANT AFFAIRS SET UP ON FRI NIGHT? IF SO, WHAT TIME?
4. IS THERE A PLACE TO GET COFFEE AT 5:00AM? IS THERE A COFFEE MAKER IN THE ROOM?
5. WE ARE PLANNING ON BRINGING THE INDIAN SNACKS TO YOU ON FRIDAY AT 2:30PM.. IS THIS OK?
6. CAN WE (SONAL J. SHAH EC ) HAVE A STORAGE ROOM?
7.8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Ambassador Room CAN WE GET THIS STARTING AT 7:00AM FOR SET UP? CAN YOU PLEASE ADD IN ABOUT 4 SHEETS OR WHITE TABLE CLOTHS TO BE SET ON THE FLOOR? ALSO, ADD A WATER STATION WITH PITCHERS OF WATER HERE? WHAT FLOOR IS THIS ON?
8. 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Main Hotel Lobby Baraat at Arrival Lobby THIS SHOULD BE FOR 10:15AM-10:45AM ONLY CAN WE DO WATER AS WELL?
9. CAN WE SET UP TABLES AND CHAIRS FOR LUNCH AFTER EVERYONE GOES INSIDE? IS THIS ME ASKING FOR TOO MUCH? CAN WE DO WATER AS WELL? DO NOT SET THE FOYER BEFORE THE GUESTS GO INSIDE THE CEREMONY BALLROOM?? I DON'T WANT GUESTS TO SEE LUNCH TABLES IN THE HALLWAY!!!
10. CAN YOU DO A PRINTED LUNCH MENU AT THE TABLES? HOTEL SHOULD PROVIDE THIS!! PLEASE??
11. MANDAP STAGE NEEDS TO BE A 16 X 34 AND 2 FEET HIGH
12. CAN WE ADD A SMALL TABLE TO THE SIDE OF THE MANDAP FOR ANY GIFTS?
13. LUNCH NEEDS TO BE READY BY 12:30PM, SO, 12:30PM TO 2:30PM NOT 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Pre-Function Area Lunch Buffet 325 325 ??
14. I WILL GIVE YOU GTD NUMBERS BY TODAY
15. CAN WE GET THE BRIDE AND GROOM AN UPGRADE FOR THEIR HONEYMOON SUITE? WHAT IS THEIR ROOM NUMBER NOW?
16. RITZ CARLTON STAFF TO MAKE SURE TO OFFER RED OR WHITE WINE TO GUESTS AS THEY SIT DOWN: PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU DO A WINE POUR?
17. Nedu WADA IS ACTUALLY SPELLED MEDU WADA
18. WHAT ARE WE SERVING TO DRINK WITH LUNCH? SODA? ICE TEA? WATER?
19. I THOUGHT WE WERE NOT DOING THE INTERMISSO? $3 CORRECT?? PLEASE SELETE THE INTERMISSO! NOT NEEDED OR WANTED BY THE B/G

Recession or not, someone has to manage these details! Just a normal day of emails for us as a wedding gets closer.

Photo of the Team in Birmingham

 


Just got this photo from Arden Photography in Birmingham. This was at the garba event.
Thanks ladies (Shital, Neeti, Monica, Kayleigh) for making this event such a fun and successful event!

Houston Bride

We recently booked a bride in Houston. We are now getting started on all her venue options.

I am really excited about exploring vendors in this wonderful city. We have some established connections but so fun to develop new relationships.

I am up early doing research for this lovely bride.

I just met with a local, Manhattan, Indian Printer. He was so helpful in making us aware of the fact that Indian invitations from India are totally different as the have different ink than in America. In India, they use Vegetable dye and here they use scientifically made inks.

The paper is also processed differently in India so how the ink is held in the paper is also very different.

Plus, add to that, the fact that in India they do not really do raised ink as they do here.

Mike, the director of Xpress Printing House can turn invitations in 10 working days. That is what we need.. fast and accurate. Plus, they do electronic proofs so there is no guesswork! Thanks Mike. www.xpressprintinghouse.com

Brooklyn Museum

I recently read on one of my US Airways flights, that Brooklyn is the new Manhattan.
I really have not spent too much time in Brooklyn but finally have a bride who is getting married there.

One of our Boston Couples met and fell in love in Brooklyn. So, it is fitting why they wanted to get married there. After about two weeks of looking, we recently signed the contract for the Brooklyn Museum. We are all so pumped as we get to explore and really develop this area of NY that is so hip and chic.

We settled on the Picnic House in Prospect Park (Kind of like The Central Park of Brooklyn) for the ceremony and Brooklyn Museum for the reception. This wedding is in 2010 so we have so much planning to do.

Washingtonian Bride and Groom

 

Our bride from 2006, Priya, just made it into the first ever issue of The Washingtonian Magazine's Bride and Groom Issue!

We are so happy for her and her husband of 2 years now, Mahesh.

They remain one of my favorite couple and thank you to the editor of the magazine for getting them in!

What a lovely recognition for their Capitol Wedding!

Super Bowl!

I have to say that I am pretty sad that the Cardinals lost the Super Bowl.
My flight got in from Jamaica and I went directly in front of my TV at home.
It was such an exciting game! Back and forth and back and forth. I was happy that
Santonio Holmes made the game winning catch as he did go to The Ohio State University (my alma mater). Overall, very exciting and the entertainment was great!