Minnie the Elephant at Neha and Neel's Wedding

The lush, green grounds of the Westfield Marriott in Virginia served to be a beautiful location for the wedding of Neha and Neel. Each detail fell into place flawlessly and the SJS staff was pleased with the outcome. Most of all, Minnie the Elephant, was the greatest surprise for bride Neha. The baraat was legendary and guests were impressed with how tame Minnie was for the event. Also, we wanted to give a big thank-you to Asya from Studio Nine Photography, and Kelly from the Westfield Marriott for all of your hard work. The event was beautiful and the pictures prove that; congratulations to the happy newly weds!

Questions to Ask a Wedding Planner

Congratulations, you’re engaged! It is time to start planning your big day. Although family members are very helpful during this time, you may want services from a professional. Interviewing wedding planners can be a bit overwhelming. Here are some questions you should ask when looking for your perfect wedding planner, especially one with Indian/South Asian experience.

1. How long have you been a wedding planner? How many Indian/South Asian weddings have you done?

2. What professional organization do you belong to and do you have a diploma? What is your education and professional background?

3. Can we have at least 10 references for you and can we call them? We prefer non friends and non family members to call.

4. Are you a registered business?

5. How do you charge (hourly, flat fee, percentage)?

6. How much will you charge for us for the services we need?

7. Do you collect commission from vendors, what is your policy on this?

8. Are you computer literate? How do you communicate with your brides?

9. Do you have a backup in case of an emergency and can’t make our wedding? Who are they?

10. How will you and your team be dressed?

11. Can you help plan a wedding within our budget?

12. How many brides do you work with within a year? Will you have more than my wedding on the same day?

13. Have you worked at our venue before?

14. What is included with your services and are there any extra fees, i.e. phone calls, emails, taxi receipts, car rental charges?

15. Do you have a preferred vendor list? What is the criterion for someone being on that list?

16. Are you involved with our rehearsal, directing and organizing? Is this included?

17. Can you handle any last minute changes or emergencies?

18. How many meetings will we have and how long will they last?

19. What is the deposit requirement? What is your cancellation policy, will we get any portion or all of the deposit returned if we cancel?

20. Will you meet our vendors and review their contracts?

21. What time to you arrive and leave the day of the wedding?

22. Will there be someone with me, the bride, exclusively? How many other staff members will you bring on the day of?

23. What is your policy on vendor and budget confidentiality? Can you put this in writing?

Keep Your Guests Cool

With most of our recent events, the weather has been very warm. We advise all our brides to have a water station set up next to where the event is taking place. This is especially true for outside events such as a Baraat or outdoor Ceremony. Some venues even offer cold washcloth towels. We recommend adding a rose scent, which is a great touch. Also, you can set up three water stations with different fruit (we just did strawberries, pineapple, and cucumbers). All your guest will stay cool and enjoy the outdoor event.

Sheila and Nitin

The Mandarin Hotel was a spectacular venue that hosted the joining of Sheila and Nitin. Guests were entertained with the photo booth and provided lasting memories the couple can enjoy for a lifetime. Atlas was the decorator and created a space that was absolutely gorgeous. We would love to give a special thanks to James at the Mandarin, we could not have done this without you. The pictures, above, are worth a thousand words and we could not be more proud of this event. Our couple was glowing and the event was just what we envisioned. Thank you to Stak Photographer Duo for sharing these beautiful photos.

Writing Escort Cards

Organizing seating arrangements and trying to decide where guests should sit and with whom can be overwhelming for any couple. Escort cards are very helpful to both you and your guests. They help organize your tables and direct guests where to sit during the reception. If you are unfamiliar with escort card etiquette, it may seem a bit confusing. Here are some things to keep in mind when filling out your escort cards:

- Create an alpha guest list by last name, then first and include how many people in the party and what table they are seated at. This will help organize the guest list and you can check your escort cards against this list.

- Begin working on the escort cards at least two weeks before the event so you are not rushed and overwhelmed with other wedding details.

-Keep families and guests together. Do not list guests individually on separate escort cards, unless they are seated at different tables.

For Example:

Mr. & Mrs. John & Jane Smith (& Family)

Table _____

Not:

Mr. John Smith

Table_____

Mrs. Jane Smith

Table_____

-Do not fill in the table numbers right away. We suggest you do this closer to the event in case there are any last minute table changes.

- When you are done filling out the escort cards, check to make sure they are in alphabetical order and hand them over to your event planner. Just be sure to inform her of any changes.

Sujata and Priyesh: Turks and Caicos

The pristine beach and rolling waves in Turks and Caicos served to be a beautiful setting for the marriage of Sujata and Priyesh. We have grown accustomed to working with 100+ guests, with this event it was refreshing to have 35 guests and served to be an intimate event. The Seven Stars Resort was not only accommodating but a perfect venue for pictures. We would like to give a special thanks to DJ Manan, he kept the crowd excited and is wonderful to work with. Congratulations you two, the event was beautiful.

Sweet Thank You

Here is a sweet thank you card from one of our favorite couples, Aarti and Nandu. We are so happy that we could make your day so special!!

Keep Cool

With the summer already in full swing, outdoor weddings are very popular right now. However with sunny days also comes lots of heat. If you are saying your “I do’s” outside, you need to make sure your guests are hydrated and comfortable.

Here are a few suggestions on how to keep your guests cool:


Mister Fans
These are great for those steamy summer days. Make sure to work with your decorator to come up with an idea on how to hide them as they are not that appealing to the eye.


Parasoles
Parasoles are always a fun addition. They can add a pop of color and guests always love to keep them as a little memento from the big day.


Fan Programs
Double your programs as fans; this is a simple way to keep your guests cool.


Water
It is very important to stay hydrated when outside for long periods of time. Have a water station or pass around personalized water bottles.


Cold Towels
The last thing you want is to have your guests sweating in their fancy outfits. Keep cold towels around so they can keep refreshing themselves throughout the event.



Parfaits
If you are having a long ceremony, it’s nice to give your guests a little treat. This way they won’t be starving and thinking about their next meal. Consider offering parfaits, and display them in fun champagne glasses.


Canopies
Shading is one of the most important things when having an outside wedding. If there is nothing to shield your guests from the sun, they will end up leaving! Work with your decorator to come up with a nice idea that will work with your décor. Canopies made of sheer fabric are always a great option and very clean and crisp.