Tented With Love

A huge wedding trend that has been very popular this year are outside tented weddings. This helps you transform any outside empty space into your own personalized venue. You can do anything from a fully draped tents, to clear ones so you can enjoy the skyline. Which ever style you choose it allows you to create a world of your own which is sure to leave your guests in awe. Here are a few of our favorite inspirations: 

Vidhi & Wamiz on Maharani Weddings

We are so excited to have one of our bride's featured on Maharani Weddings. Vidhi and Wamiz had an amazing wedding at the Eden Roc Hotel, South Beach, FL in December of 2011. Take a look: http://www.maharaniweddings.com/2012/08/miami-florida-indian-wedding-by-channa-photography-3/

Musician Platforms

Live entertainment is a wonderful musical option for your event, whether it be a trio, shennai player, or full piece band. Just remember,when booking their services, to ask what size stage they will need. All musicians require some sort of stage or platform to be elevated. This is not only aesthetically pleasing but necessary, especially for the Indian musicians such as tabla and shennai who cannot sit on the floor. Remember to add in the musicians’platform for any and all events they are providing services for, ceremony,cocktail hour, or reception. If this is note taken care of before hand, it may delay the set up of your event. It is best to get this information when the contract is signed.

 

Aarti and Russell

Wedding season is almost coming to a close and we have had some amazing weddings!

This weekend was no exception our couple Aarti and Russell combined their Jewish and Hindu background into two amazing ceremonies at the NY Metropolitan Club. 

It all started with an amazing Baraat across 5th Avenue! Once inside the club guests took their seats for the Hindu ceremony, followed by a Jewish ceremony. Once our couple had exchanged their vows guests enjoyed a grand cocktail hour display. After a little bit of chatting and mingling everyone headed upstairs to the Presidents Ballroom for a elegant sit down dinner and some very emotional speeches by the families of the couple. 

After dinner their friends and families came back downstairs for a night of dancing with Hank Lane singing some of the latest top 40 hits. 

We would like to wish nothing but the best to Aarti and Russell! 

Sit Down Dinner Timing

A sit down dinner is a very elegant and formal way of presenting your reception dinner. When planning a sit down dinner it is important to keep in mind that there is a lot of timing involved with this type of service. From taking to orders, serving, eating to clearing the plates there is a whole process behind this.

We have been doing a lot of sit down dinner and have come up with a great schedule to follow:

1. We suggest pre setting your salad, this way as soon as guests sit they already have their first course. We like to give guests 15min to eat their salad and estimate that it will take about 15min to clear the plates. During this period its great to do grand entrances and first dance.

2. Keep in mind that all guests must be seated before the staff can start taking dinner orders so they don't miss anyone. Also make sure to check your venue contract, we suggest at least one server per table to help the services to be quicker and smoother.

3. After dinner orders have been taken your caterer will need anywhere between 1hr-1.5hrs to cook and server your dinner. This is a great time to open the dance floor and get the party started.

4. Onces dinner is served give the staff about 15min to serve and guests 30min to eat. While guests eat feel free to continue your program with speeches, father/daugthter and mother/son dance.

5. At the end of dinner service we suggest doing your cake cutting ceremony and after this open the dance floor for the rest of the night.

6. Serve dessert on a display station, this way guests can keep dancing and enjoy dessert at their own time.

Bon Appetite! 

Importance of Stage Covers & Pipe and Drape

Many brides forget about stage covers and pipe and drape for their event. When doing any staging it is important to remember to include skirting and a stage cover. If either aspect is left out your stage will be an eye sore against your beautifully decorated room. Also, depending on who will utilize the stage, a band or musician, they may require a cover for the stage since they may be sitting on the stage directly rather than on chairs.  

Now that you have your staging all set, I am sure you can see the service doors or exit signs directly behind your sweet heart table or mandap. Here is where a backdrop or pipe and drape is so important. It completes the overall look but also hides the unsightly aspects for your pictures and event. When ordering pipe and drape for your back drape, remember to make sure is enough to cover these items, such as service doors, air walls dividers and exit signs. Here are some photos with and without a stage cover and pipe and drape. You can see the difference.

Zarah and Anurag

Big Congratulations to our couple from this past weekend Zarah and Anurag!

They celebrated their wedding weekend in Long Island with over 400 friends and family. Everyone enjoyed 2 nights of events at the Hyatt Regency Long Island, and even tough the wedding day started with some rain showers it was nothing but sunshine by the afternoon. We want to thank DJ Raj Entertainment, Still Life Events, Hank Lane and Heritage Catering for helping us put together a magnificent event!

 Once again congratulations to the happy couple!

Jigna & Shephal

We wanted to congratulate Jigna and Shephal on their wedding. It was definitely a site to behold. Their Sangeet was held at the Belle Mer, in Newport, RI, where the bride gave a surprise performance to her groom. On the wedding day at the Hyatt Regency Newport, the baraat was as festive as could be, especially with the groom riding on our favorite elephant Minnie. Congratulations again!

What Does a Wedding Planner Do?

Aside from the couple as a whole benefiting from having a planner at their wedding, the bride alone benefits tremendously. The planner takes a lot of the stress and concerns from the bride so she can enjoy the entire day. From waking up in the morning to that last dance at the reception. Here is a list of some things that a planner does for her bride:

1. Making sure everything is running on schedule.
2. Making sure the bride is comfortable and has everything she needs and wants.
3. Making sure every detail is executed as the bride had visioned.
4. Making sure the family is aware of the schedule and that they are following it to the tee.
5. Collecting items beforehand that will be utilized during the ceremony and/or reception.
6. Overseeing all set-ups of the events.
7. Organizing and directing grand entrances.
8. Organizing speeches during the reception.
9. Communicating with guests to let them know the schedule and locations of events.
10. Organizing the bridal party line-up for the walk down the aisle

Sunitha and Alok

A few rain showers were not going to keep our wedding this weekend from being a shinning success!

Our lovely couple Sunitha and Alok celebrated their wedding with a gorgeous ceremony at Shady Elm Farms in Pittsburgh. This was unlike any other wedding we have done before, with so many simple yet elegant details. From the simple curly willow structure which served as the mandap, to the escort cards that were hanging from clothes pins, to the dholi card box. DJ Manan Shah kept the dance floor packed from the moment it opened till it was time to say goodnight. And guests could not stop raving about the amazing food from Amiya. The event could not have been this huge of a success without the amazing teams from Windswept Rentals and MK Staffing.

Even with the rain Sunitha and Alok had a night they will never forget!

Different Napkin Folds

Many couples don’t realize that a napkin fold can have an impact of our tablescape. Here are a few different types of folds. See which one is your favorite:

 

• Menu Fold
• Bird of Paradise
• French Pleat
• Candle    
• Crown
• Goblet Fan
• Peak
• Flame
• Tri Fold
• Opera Fan
• Cardinal Hat
• Rose

 Crown

 Rose

 Tri Fold

Bird of Paradise

Menu Fold

Opera Fan Fold

Bansari and Sachin

Big Congratulations to our couple from this past weekend Bansari and Sachin! It has been a pleasure working with them and their families these past few months and it was great to see it all come together!

It all started with a very colorful Garba on Thursday at the Wilshire Grand. It was also the brides mothers birthday which gave everyone an extra reason to celebrate.

The big day came on Saturday at the Marriott Teaneck, with a very traditional ceremony followed by a very pink reception! Our friends from Elegant Affairs did an amazing job with the decor, especially with the chandelier like Escort Card table. DJ Suhel kept guests dancing past the 12am end time and Tandoor made sure no one went hungry.

Once again congratulations to the happy couple!