Off Peak Weddings

Who wouldn’t love to have a luxurious wedding on a Weekend or in the Summer/Spring? That dream wedding could be more costly than expected. Why not schedule your wedding in the winter, Friday, Sunday, or even a weekday? Some of the Off Peak wedding months are from November through April. Once the spring season hits say bye bye to a less expensive wedding.

Here are a few reasons on why to have an off peak wedding :

• There is less competition for dates which gives you better negotiating power.
• The peak times of the year means that suppliers and venues often are booked out years in advance.
• If you are working with a strict budget, having a week day wedding is much less expensive then weekend. 
• Choosing a week day for a destination wedding is less expensive and since the guests are already flying to the destination there will be no issues of work as they may need to take off of work already.

Luxury Cars

Looking for an innovative way to turn heads and leave a lasting impression? Gotham Dream Cars have the biggest, baddest, and most awesome fleet of exotic cars to rent. They are based in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, Boston and Philadelphia. We have used them in the past for a groom's Baraat or bride's Viddhai. This is just a cool way to give your wedding memories a unique twist.

Here are a few car rentals available in the NYC region:

Bentley Continental GTC 

Ferrari 458 Italia Ferrari 599 GTB 

Ferrari F430 Spider 

Lamborghini LP640 Roadster 

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 

Maserati Granturismo 

McLaren MP4-12C 

Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet 

Rolls Royce Drophead 

Rolls Royce Phantom

Vosges Chocolates

Many of our brides like to give a sweet candy favor to their guests for coming to their special day. Instead of a typical candy favor why not give something exotic? We recommend Vosges Chocolates. They look and taste amazingly good! They come in all different flavors ranging from Milk Chocolate to Vegan Chocolate and even make them with Marshmallow's and Bacon!

Here are a few of our favorites:

Bacon Truffle CollectionExotic Truffles 

Bijoux Box 

Caramel Marshmallows 

Exotic Truffle Collection

Oscars 2013

The Oscars are not only the biggest night in Hollywood, they are also one of the biggest nights in Fashion! Hollywood's elite came out last night in their Sunday's best to celebrate a great year in film. From gorgeous nudes to red's here are our favorite Oscar Gowns:

1. Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture 

2. Sally Field in Valentino 

3. Charlize Theron in Dior Haute Couture 

4. Amy Adams in Oscar del la Renta 

5. Naomi Watts in Armani Prive 

6. Adele in Jenny Packham 

7. Jennifer Hudson in Roberto Cavalli 

8. Jennifer Aniston in Valentino 

9. Lily Collins in Zuhar Murad 

10. Jessica Chastain in Armani Prive

Bar: Open Bar vs. Consumption

Some of the most complicated decisions when planning a wedding have to do with food and beverage. This is especially true when it comes to your bar. Many of our clients struggle with deciding to go with a Consumption Bar or Package Bar. We have found that many of them don't know the difference. Here is a guide to help them and you:.

A Consumption Bar is when you are charged a price per drink consumed at your event. Each drink has a price and you pay for what you and your guests actually drink. A Package Bar is when you are charged a per person price no matter how much or how little that person drinks. Typically, the Package Bar is a price based on per guest at your event and the total number of hours for your event (ie: $50 per per for 5 hours).

There are a few things to keep in mind when making a decision as to which bar to go with:

• Your guest list (Will there be an even mix of drinkers and non drinkers? Will there be any children? ) 
• Your comfort level with not knowing the bill until the end of the night (Consumption bar the total is only given to you at the end) 
• Guests typically consume an average of 3-4 drinks at a four hour reception 

If you have a group of heavy drinkers who will consume more than 4 drinks at the reception, and you don’t want any surprises – the flat rate Package Bar is probably best for you. However, if you have a diverse mix of guests coming to your wedding ( Some wedding guests may have 6-8 drinks that night, but others may have none), so you should consider a Consumption Bar. Also, make sure to tell your venue how many guests under age 21 will be attending the reception to avoid charges for them. 

Another way to control bar costs is to offer a limited selection. Some brides choose to serve beer, wine and a signature cocktail vs. a full assortment of top shelf liquor. Also consider closing the bar during dinner – especially if wine is offered with the meal. You may also want to consider closing the bar thirty minutes before the end of the reception or during the transition from cocktail hour to grand entrances.

Let Your Hair Down

If you’re a bride who already rocks gorgeous locks, this post is perfect for you. Your hair is already pretty as it is, so wear it in a way that makes you look and feel your own personal best. This means you could rock tons of volume, a stylish braid, or even a beach-y chic look with your hair tousled.

Here are some Bride Down do’s we love:

Bridal Up Do's

It may seem old fashioned, but every bride loves an updo for her wedding. They are classic and gorgeous! There are perfect alternatives to the formal bridal updo’s with braids, long loose curls, or even a floral crown!

Here are a few Bridal Updo’s that we love :

Tux Shopping

When it comes to weddings, most people concentrate on the bride and her attire. But the groom is equally as important on the big day. Just as the bride wants to look gorgeous on her big day the groom also wants to impress his bride with his attire. If you are hosting a formal affair and are looking for the perfect suit or tux make sure to check out these stores:

1. Saks 
2. Neiman Marcus
3. Armani 
4. Tom Ford 
5. Burberry 
6. Bergdorf Goodman
7. Gucci 
8. Hugo Boss
9. Salvatore Ferragamo 
10. YSL

Le Tote

It's that time of year again, when you start getting all the invitations to your friends weddings! Attending multiple weddings in a year can get a little expensive, especially when it comes to wardrobe selections. Enter the great new website Le Tote. For $49 a month the site allows you to have your own personalized closet.

Here’s how it works:

• Create a style profile where Le Tote’s stylists can learn about you. 
• The stylists then will create a personalized look JUST FOR YOU! 
• Each tote arrives with 3 garments and 2 accessories! What else does a girl need! 
• BONUS POINTS! Keep the totes as long as you want, no return dates or late charges. Just use the pre-paid box to send back your previous order! PS. NO CLEANING REQUIRED! 
• Your new tote arrives just within the next few days!

Happy Valentine's Day

A day where love is definitely in the air! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and men and women are looking for romantic ways to show their appreciation for their loved ones. Millions of people celebrate Valentine’s Day but how much do we all spend for our loved ones on this special day? A recent article called “Love and Money” showed the results.

Here are a few facts:
About $160 MILLION greeting cards will be bought for Valentine’s Day this year – not including those child-valentine multipacks.

Last year’s national Valentine’s Day spending projections were $17.6 billion, with the average American consumer dropping $126.03 on gifts, meals, and entertainment.

More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are purchased on Valentine’s Day.

About 200 million roses are sold on Valentine’s Day, with averaging prices for a dozen long-stems jumping from $60 to $80 during Valentine’s Day week.

Pet owners will spend on average, $4.52 for their furry companion on Valentine’s Day.

Devi’s Closet- Rent the Runway for Indian Clothing

At Devi’s Closet you can borrow designer saris, salwar kameez, dresses, sherwani, kurtas, handbags and accessories all worn by Bollywood celebrities for as little as $15 for accessories and $40 for outfits. This is a perfect solution for any couple or guests on a budget for an Indian wedding that is multiple days long. Many of our clients and guests of clients have taken full advantage of this to save money and time. Going to any little India around the country or shopping online for a wedding will set you back $1,000 for a low quality sari, kurta, sherwani or dress. Don’t forget you still have to get a blouse and petticoat stitched and this will cost you another $50-$75 for both pieces. It’s really not worth the hassle. Furthermore, if you are a trendy fashionista you are going to want matching accessories and will need to run around and spend another $100- $500.

Devi’s Closet comes to the rescue with an alternative where you can rent the complete look for a fraction of the retail price. When you rent a sari from Devi’s Closet it includes a matching stitched blouse and petticoat. You can rest assured the blouse will fit as they are all adjustable or available in multiple sizes.

Bollywood Purplish Pink Gold Embellished Saree - $103
Kohlapuri Gold Necklace with Ruby Loop Earrings- $25
Total= $128 which includes earrings, necklace, blouse, petticoat sari and the cleaning of the garment

Jacquard Spaghetti Suit/Dress- $40

Alexandria Earrings- $15

Silver Wallet Purse- $25

Total= $80 for all 3 pieces

Here’s how Devi’s Closet works:
1. Select the outfit and/or accessory of your choice
2. Enter your zip code
3. Enter your size
4. Enter your event date
5. Beautiful package will be sent to your doorstep
6. Flaunt your beautiful sari and jewelry
7. Place the outfit in the prepaid packaging provided and drop in any USPS mailbox. Devi’s Closet will take care of the cleaning.

You can rent a complete look from Devi’s Closet for under $100 vs. $1,000+ to buy in Little India or online. Not only will you look super chic but you won’t have to deal with
1. A cluttered closet full of worn and outdated Indian clothes
2. Worry about being photographed in the same Indian outfit and jewelry twice
3. Blowing your money to buy Indian clothes ever again! It’s all about fashion on a budget!

Devi’s Closet is an online website for men and women to RENT or Borrow luxury Indian clothes and accessories at a fraction of the retail price. They ship all over the U.S. Wherever you decide to have your wedding or special event they can help you and your guests with your styling needs and wardrobe. Call them at 1-888-991- DEVI or e-mail the team at info@deviscloset.com

Sonali and Rohit

We are back in cold NY after a gorgeous weekend in the Caribbean!

We want to congratulate our happy couple Sonali and Rohit on such a gorgeous wedding weekend! Guests enjoyed The Santa Barbara Plantation for a weekend of fun events and lots and lots of sun. They all got to enjoy some fun tours to the city and the beach on Friday morning before getting ready for the beach side Sangeet.

Saturday was the perfect day for an island wedding as the weather was gorgeous, not a cloud in the sky! It all started with a short ceremony at sunset, followed by an outside cocktail hour. After cocktails guests moved inside to the Grand Ballroom a 5 course meal followed by great music and dancing thanks to DJ Ian and the Curacao Rumba Band.

Once again, Congratulations to Sonali and Rohit, we are so glad we were able to be a part of such an important moment in your lives.