Indian Wedding Terminology

Have you ever come across terms in an Indian wedding not knowing what they mean? Here is a mini glossary that will help you understand the meaning of various terms :

Aarti - A Hindu ritual of worship where a prayer is accompanied by fire from candles,camphor or a Diya ( lamp with an oil soaked wick).

Antarpaat - Piece of cloth (curtain) that separates the bride and groom at the beginning of a Hindu wedding ceremony.

Baraat - A groom’s procession

Garba - A pre-wedding ceremony where everyone gathers to perform Garba - a folk dance that originates from Gujarat.

Grahapravesh - The first time the newly wed couple enters their house

Haldi - A pre-wedding ceremony where a paste known as Ubtan containing turmeric, herbs and chandan (sandalwood) is applied on the face, arms and feet of the bride and groom in their respective homes.

Havan Kund - A vessel in which fire is lit for Puja (Prayer). A Vivaah Havan is the sacred fire around which a wedding takes place.

Kanyadaan - A ritual in which the father of the bride hands over all his rights and duties towards his daughter to her prospective Groom.

Milni - Ritual where the bride’s family welcomes the groom’s family.

Varmala / Jaimala - Wedding garlands exchanged by the Bride and Groom.

Mangalsutra - Sacred necklace that the groom ties around the bride's neck signifying their marriage.

Sangeet - A pre-wedding ceremony originating from Punjab where everyone gathers to sing traditional folk songs.

Sindoor - Vermillion applied along the parting (Maang) of a married woman's hair.

Vidaai - The departure of the bride from her home to her husband's home.

Recent songs couples can use in their wedding video:

The perfect song can transform “just another wedding video” into a masterpiece! Some of our favorite recent songs include “Cinema” by Skrillex, “Fix You” by Coldplay and “Sweet Disposition” by The Temper Trap. For some more inspiration, check out blogs from Kiss The Bride Films  and Studio NinePhotography .

Other Inspirational links:

http://www.sjsevents.com/gal_landing/video46.php

http://studionine.com/rachna-jordan/

http://kissthebridefilms.com/blog/#marisha-vimal

http://www.sjsevents.com/gal_landing/video39.php

Jeweled Bouquets

Many brides have recently been choosing to replace the traditional floral bouquet with a sparkly alternative - a bouquet made of jewels! These bouquets are elegant and serve as a wonderful keepsake from your wedding. Best of all, you don't have to worry about your bouquet wilting!

 

Shell Out!

A serene walk on the beach is always incomplete without that little stab on your foot from one of nature's most magical creations - a seashell.
 
When having a beach wedding, most people use seashells as a theme for the cake, invittions and wedding favors - But what about the ceremony? Here are some ideas for using seashells in your ceremony to make the decor more authentic.

 

Questions to Ask Hair and Makeup Vendors

Choosing a wedding dress is one of, if not the, most important decisions a bride makes for her wedding day, but it is not complete without fabulous hair and makeup. Here are some tips and questions to ensure you find the perfect beauty team for your perfect day starting with a phone call:

1.      Call more than one stylist. Gather information from a minimum of 3 stylists and make comparisons. The stylists need to be able to understand your vision and you need to feel comfortable working with them.

2.     Don’t be afraid to ask for references! This is a great chance to gather more information. Some questions to ask are: “What makeup brand do you use?”, “How many brides have you worked with?”, “Are there any references I can contact?” It is great to get another opinion from a past bride or client. They have already been in your situation and can be a great resource.

3.     When you begin discussing total price, ask for additional charges. Ask if there are additional charges for airbrush makeup, extensions, eyelashes, using a different makeup brand and travel charges.

4.     An important question to ask your potential stylist is if the trial will be deducted from the total price if you book them. It catches some brides by surprise, but almost all stylists charge for a trial.

5.     Here are some more questions to ask the stylist when you call: “Do you wash your brushes after each client or do you open a new pack?”, “Do you have a website or a blog?”, “Will it be YOU at my wedding or another artist?”

 

Celebrity Wedding: Faryal Makhdoom and Amir Khan

We had the pleasure and honor to be able to help the lovely Faryal Makhdoom plan her extravagant NYC wedding to Amir Khan. It all took place last week and we couldn't be happier with how everything turned out.

The bride looked stunning and guests enjoyed an enchanting evening at the Waldorf=Astoria.

We want to thank Elegant Affairs for the amazing decor and DJ Manan Shah for keeping the party going.

To hear more about the wedding and see all the photos make sure to check out Hello! Magazine in
newsstands now for the 16 page feature.

Meghna & Tanmay's Wedding

We had so much fun in Boston at Meghna and Tanmay’s wedding this past weekend! It all began with their Garba event on Friday at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. The ballroom was beautifully lit up in pink and purple, and the dance floor was full the entire night!

Fast forward to Saturday, where the baraat, ceremony, and reception were all held at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. The ceremony was beautifully decorated with gorgeous orchids, calla lilies, and hydrangeas. Later, at the reception, guests enjoyed a delicious dinner and then danced the night away with fun glow sticks and wore fun branded sunglasses!

BEO: Banquet Event Order

Planning a wedding shouldn’t require you to learn a new vocabulary! Don’t send out an SOS when see a BEO (or Banquet Event Order). A Banquet Event Order is a document that outlines every detail of your event. This document serves as a guideline for your venue to manage all the logistical aspects of your event. Five components that can typically be found in BEO’s are: vendor information, menus, order of events, set up, equipment, and any special requests. Perfecting your BEO will ensure a seamless wedding day!