3 Importance of the CAMERA(s) in your wedding!

I personally feel that photography/videography is one of the most essential part of a wedding. Why do I feel so?

1. Photo/Videography is the only way to keep our memories alive. Yes yes I know..many people say, "memories are kept in the heart". For those who say that, I do agree with you as well.. but there is also another way I look at things..Photographs helps me remember exact details of an important event happened in the past...There was never a dull moment whenever I go through old photographs.. Refreshes memories of the beautiful moments in life...

2. Its is your wedding! You can only be in 1 place at 1 time...but that doesnt mean there is nothing happening in other place in hall/temple during your wedding. Dont you want to capture all the expressions, emotions, actions from your family and friends? I remember going through a few wedding videos/photos and asking " Wow..when did this happened?", "What were there laughing about?"...

3. It will be the most important treasure! :) A story that would last more than a lifetime... 20, 40, 60 years...

So do tell me...and leave your comments about photography & videography! Waiting to hear from all of you. And if you a photographer...Do send me your views from behind the lens... :)

Big Fat Indian Weddings

A V-vaah (wedding) is an union of two families. There is happiness, parties, singing, dancing, drinking and functions to celebrate these union. But everyone is curious to know who is in the guest list and who is not?

Why does the guest list of weddings keeps growing as each year passes by? These days, you will hardly witness an Indian wedding with a mere 200 pax guest list. It has become so extensive and elaborate that weddings in Indian are having guest list counting in thousands.

There are a few things that makes me curious. These guest are invited to celebrate with the 2 families that are getting united, my question is.. How many are actually there to participate in their happiness? From my experience, loads are there because of good food & drinks, gossips, and some are there feeling envy of the happy faces. Yes this sounds too bitter but be honest, ask yourself how many weddings have you attended because you really want to be part of their happiness or because you are left with no choice but to fulfill social obligations?

And let's look at it from a different angle.. From the side of the families whom are actually sending out the invitations. How many percentage of the people being invited does actually know the couple getting married? Ok maybe that's too far.. Do they actually knew they existed before the received the wedding invitations? Like there are many attending because of social obligations, there are also the people inviting them because of social obligations.

So what does all these mean to the couple for whom all the functions are taking place? Just assume for a few minutes that your are the bride/groom..

1. Do you want to have a function and celebrations around your loved one and people who are actually part of your happiness? OR
2. Do you want a extensive guest list so that you can stay in the social circle?

1. Do you want a function to be catered around your happiness, needs and wants? OR
2. Do you want a function catered to please everyone else who are attending?

1. Do you want to be the VVIP and the center of attention of the night? OR
2. Do you want the limelight to be on someone else?

There is no right or wrong answer. Each answer defines the uniqueness of each individuals which makes their wedding an unique one as well. So 200 pax or 2000pax...the most important thing the bride and the bride groom and their families is happy. The parties and celebrations must go on... :)

Be your own boss!

Link in THE STAR newspaper dated 24th July 2011.

I am reproducing the article above, just incase THESTAR removes the article from their database in the future. Stephanie Chai from Wedding Guide Asia has done a very good job on the article. Its something all Brides-To-Be MUST consider before proceeding with the planning of her unforgettable wedding.

To DIY

The job of a wedding planner may seem glamorous, thanks to movies like The Wedding Planner which starred Jennifer Lopez. (Incidentally, JLo and Marc Anthony are getting divorced in real life.)

It is important to remember that wedding planning is much more than choosing a fab dress and dinner menu. In reality, it’s all about scheduling and management of vendors and guests.

Though that might not sound too fun, know that the best thing about planning your own wedding is you get to be your own boss! This means you’re in control of your schedule and the number of hours you work (or don’t work for that matter). Moreover, if you have a passion for weddings, being a DIY bride might just be the thing for you.

With all the resources available today, online and in print, finding the right tools to stay on track and organised has never been easier. Plus, should you get stuck in a rut, simply delegate some responsibilities to your bridal party or to that particularly eager aunt for the inordinate tasks.

However, fun as it sounds, don’t forget that wedding planning means ticking off a long checklist! 

These include:

> Hiring and overseeing wedding vendors.

> Inviting guests and handling the RSVP.

> Choosing a theme and décor.

> DIY projects such as creating wedding favours.

> Making sure everything runs smoothly on the big day.

The bottom line is simple – as your own wedding planner, your job is to do whatever it takes to ensure your special day goes exactly as planned. Being a DIY bride is a good idea if you’re someone who’s throwing a small wedding, enjoys being organised and has spare time on her hands.

I have a friend who planned her own wedding attended by 200 guests. And she said “Never again!” after spending days calling up friends for the RSVP. Rule of thumb: Always be realistic with your time and capabilities.

Not to DIY 

After days of gallivanting across town and hours of e-mailing to get matters sorted, reality does kick in.Most DIY brides begin to see that DIY weddings may “appear” to be cheaper, but are tremendously time-consuming.Without a wedding coordinator, it’s up to the DIY Bride to ensure things don’t crumble and fall apart. One thing to consider is, it’s not worth being a DIY Bride if you end up in tears on your wedding day. So should you take the risk?

Here are our top reasons to hire a coordinator:

> Your planner liaises with all the wedding vendors.

From the get-go, your wedding planner can help you choose vendors and coordinate with them. Wedding planner Eileen Lui of Nupts & Such says: “Rather than dealing with 10 different vendors, a bride only needs to deal with one planner. We look over the smaller details such as contracts with vendors. This saves you a lot of time, hassle and of course, stress!”

> Actual day management.

On the big day itself, a wedding planner is usually there from the beginning to the end. So rather than worrying about the little things like “Has the wedding cake arrived?”, you can sit back, relax and enjoy yourself (as you should).

> Design

Let’s face it. They’ve planned many weddings whereas this is likely your first. Planners can help you decide on a theme, décor, favours, the works. Ultimately, they also offer design advice that will make your wedding appear sophisticated and elegant.

> Saving costs.

If you’re on a budget, your planner can help you reduce expenses with a bit of creativity. “For our clients who are on a tight budget, we help them make their wedding look like a million dollars at a fraction of the cost,” says Lui.

At the end of the day, no matter what you decide, relish the day, as it’s your time to sparkle!

Personally, will I DIY my own wedding? Chances are, probably not, because I am busy as it is, running a wedding portal (haha).

Remember to shop around as wedding planners offer different rates and packages, which can be affordable.

Inflammatory display of Wealth or Welcome expenses?

Just a few months back I was surfing through some websites from India on wedding planning and other services offered by event companies in India. I was curious to know about the India market on weddings. From what I have heard, its massive. Especially on the northern part of India. People are spending millions of dollars to have the most memorable and outstanding wedding ever. Not sure if it has become some sort of competition to show of the family wealth, or is it just the "cool" thing to do. Banks in India even offer Wedding Loans!! Surprised?? So was I when I heard about it. I am not really sure if that's possible here in Malaysia...maybe under the category of Personal Loans. Hmmm..... Do you happen to know anyone who has taken loan for a wedding? I really would like to interview them to understand more about this concept. Please do help me out friends.

Anyways, going back to India for their wedding market. We all know very well that India is a land of people with great talent. Especially in the field of ARTS & CRAFTS. Being creative just comes to them naturally... I envy them at times. This creativeness has helped them to plan, organize and execute some of the most exclusive and extraordinary weddings from a small to a major scale.

India's most expensive wedding was cost at around USD 55 million with more than 15,000 guest. It was the wedding of Delhi's businessman and Congress MP Kanwar Singh Tanwar's son, Lalit Tanwar to Yogita Jaunapuria. The bride’s family gave the groom a Bell 429 helicopter. More than 100 different kinds of food were served, including Thai, Chinese and Indian dishes. It also featured a Domino’s pizza stand. The huge wedding tent took a month to build and featured Roman pillars, Venetian props and Chinese furnishings. The site was created on a sugarcane field outside Delhi. It is definitely more expensive than the most talked about wedding of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal's daughter Vanisha, at the Palace of Versailles which cost about USD 50 million. These are just 2 famous wedding that was given great publicity. However, there are many many more that have had great big fat indian weddings. :) If you are interested to know more about these weddings...go to youtube and search for big fat indian wedding or just google their name.

Yup, so last monday, by God's grace, I got an opportunity to have dinner with some wedding planners (ShaadiOnline, Mapsor Events, Q Events, Red Events, Rachnoutsav from India, together with an editorial assistant from Wedding Affair Magazine and a journalist from India's leading newspaper,Hindustan Times. I got some time to spend with a few of them who gave me more insight to the wedding scene there. Was a great night. Law of attraction really do work. Months back I was looking through the website of this same companies and dreaming on how and when can I have a chat with them. GOD brought all of them right here in Kuala Lumpur. Hoping to keep in touch with them and keeping learning more and more about weddings.

For me, its gone be a ever living passion in me. But if I would like to carry it out as a profession, hmmm... its still a question mark. But first, I would like to make the society understand the importance and the role of a wedding planner. Trust me, its more than eyes can see. A simple wedding can be made to look elegant and classy if its organized and executed efficiently. And this is where the planner comes in...Do read my previous post on Why Wedding Planner to understand more on the role and responsibility of a Wedding Planner. If you are getting married, or happen to know anyone getting married soon, try asking if a wedding planner is necessary. Also ask around to hear from the experience of others on wedding planners. I am not saying everyone would have a great one because choosing a wedding planner is a difficult task itself. It must be someone whom the couple are comfortable to work with.

Wedding dinner at Renaissance Hotel

I am at a wedding dinner at Renaissance Hotel KL pool side. I have to say, it's a great venue so a nice small intimate dinner with close family and friends.

A nice raised platform is decorated to be the stage and DJ console. Excellent food as well.

However, as it's open air, I am watching everyone trying to fan themselves as it's pretty warm.

Overall, I would rate it 8/10 for a small crowd dinner. Do check out this place if this is something you are looking for.

Congrats to Dr.Mohandas and Veena!!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Jalan Persekutuan,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

Indian Wedding Expo April 2011

I was looking forward to the wedding expo this year, but guess what? I nearly missed. Last Sunday when I woke up, I saw a brochure in the living hall and realised it was going on from 7th - 10th April. As usual, called up my partner in crime, Dinisha and managed to get her to fetch me.

We reached Mid Valley Exhibition Center, (MVEC) about 3pm. First 2 thing that attracted my eyes was the S shaped decor & the beautiful Ganesha kolam.

 
<--"Latest design by D'Wedding Dream"

<-- Ganesh Kolam also by D'Wedding Dreams










The indian Wedding expo was in Hall 1 & 2 while the Hall 3 was hosting the Malay Wedding Expo.

Vidaai Ceremony

Whenever I attended an Indian wedding, I would be asking myself the significance of the Vidaai/Bidaai ceremony. It is an important ceremony especially for the Indians from the north, Punjabis, Gujaratis, Sindhis, Sikhs etc. Wedding is suppose to be a happy occasion, then why all the crying at the end of everything? Why the sadness? Without knowing the reason, I too had tears in my eyes at my sisters, Varsha's & cousin, Prina'sb vidaai. It is after that when I found out the true meaning of the vidaai ceremony.

This ceremony that is filled with emotions takes place towards the end of the wedding; it marks the end of celebrations especially for the bride’s family. Vidaai/Bidaai simply means the departure of the bride from her father’s house. It symbolizes both happiness and sadness on the part of the bride: happiness as she is stepping into a new chapter of life and sadness because she leaves the home and people with whom she has been living all her life.

The members of the bride’s family, her relatives and friends all become sentimental, shed tears and at the same time bestow their blessings for her blissful future. The father according to this ceremony finally gives away his loving daughter to the bridegroom and prays for her protection. The bride during this ceremony has mixed feelings and the sense of parting from her parents brings tears to her eyes. She hugs all her near ones. Also, the bride has to throw away few handful of rice at her back. This signifies that she is returning what she has taken from her parents and also she wishes that her parent’s home should flourish. The newly wedded couple seeks blessings of the elders by touching their feet.

In the last stage of the Vidaai, the couple sits in the car that is pushed by the bride’s brothers. This signifies her stride into her new life. In most of the wedding,s brother of the bride goes along with her sister as a support to her.

The moments of this ceremony touches the heart of everyone present there even the groom’s family members. At the end of this ceremony the bride moves into her new life leaving behind her family and friends.

This famous Vidaai/Bidaai Song describes the entire ceremony:

Yes I Will..! What Next?

Your family has agreed, your partner's family is eager for you to marry their daughter/son, he/she has proposed, WHAT NEXT?

Well, the next step would be to know what is the DREAM WEDDING for the both of you. Among the questions you should ask each other is:

1.What are the "must do's" functions? 

- Each families would have their own set of must do's for every occasion. Discuss with your respective families and with each other. Jot down a list of rituals or ceremonies that will have to take place.

2. Extra added Fun & Excitment

This will be list of additional functions that your families, friends and you both would like to have. Bachelor night, karaoke and dancing night, mehndi night(if its not in the must do's), bridal shower, etc. The list can go on & on.

3. Combining the "must do's" with the added fun & excitement.

- First, looks for best suitable dates for the "must do's" functions. Ensure you have kept in mind the preferred dates of both the bride and groom's side. In Hindu families, we would usually seek advice from someone elderly or the temple priest to look for us good dates. This again depends on your individual preferences.
- Once the dates has been fixed for the "must do's", see if you could fit in the added fun & excitement into the calendar. Sometimes if the dates doesnt permit, try to see how can you combine the "must do's" with the fun & excitment... For example, the mehndi night can be change to mehndi day followed by the "must do" ceremony or ritual in the evening...or Vice versa.

4. Finalize the list of events, dates, day & time. 

This will be a kick start to all your other planning. Without dates, some vendors will even refuse to give you a quotation.


You Wedding day will a day you will never forget...a day cherished forever not only by you, but also your family and friends. Avoid hiccups & stress with last minute preparations. Start early, so that you will have your time to make better judgement on choosing theme, vendors, apparels etc. Plus, planning ahead can save you lots of money.

So...Has your partner say YES?...then what are you waiting for... go and pick your dates... For any further help, do not hesitate to send me an email.

Why Hire a Wedding Planner?? I can plan my own wedding!!

 We all have friends and family who are happy to help us with our weddings. However, your friends and family are your guests and even part of your wedding. Although, they can be very helpful they can not be a part of your wedding and make sure that everything goes flawlessly at your as well. After all, friends and family are not professional wedding consultants and they will not be able to guarantee a perfect event, nor help sort out whether your budget and deals are accurate.

A wedding planner is there to ensure that everything you want at your special occasion is procured and present on time. A planner or consultant will help to do all your wedding arrangements by taking the big load and stress off your shoulders and coordinate your day in detail. Even if you are an expert at making all the arrangements you can not be the bride and supervise that everything happens as planned and scheduled. The wedding day will need direction and coordination which the coordinator can take care of the day of your wedding. A Wedding Planner, Coordinator, or a Consultant is an expert and specialist in wedding planning. This person assists in the planning of weddings on a professional basis. So, the amount of experience and situations a good planner has encountered is numerous and he or she can handle most high pressure situations that can occur during a wedding.

A professional planner is a consultant in the wedding planning arrangements. It is misinterpretation to think that this person will take over your event. A planner will give you an abundance of ideas and advise for your wedding for you to pick from and know that a professional is supporting you. The planner has loads of information for the designing and planning out, and most professional event planners are aesthetically inspired and have creative ideas to add to the wedding. You may know that you want a beautiful wedding, but coming up with unique ideas and designs for it may not be your forte. Thus, a planner can give you these ideas to select from. An event planner or coordinator is constantly creating and knows where and how to procure all the unique details for your special wedding. Not to mention that a professional planner has the connections to all the deals and bargains as well as knowledge about reliable vendors. Professionals in the business know the art of negotiation and they are there to do that for you. Wedding planners have connections with vendors in the wedding business and they are able to access discounts for clients. Consultants have extensive knowledge about wedding products and services and can recommend those that are right for the couple, as well as other unique services that the couple may not have thought of or found on their own.

A planner knows all the particulars. They can understand your budget and access the vendors who will work with your taste and price, thus, saving you a lot of time shopping for the right vendors. This person can also assist in coming up with a budget based on the couples needs. Most importantly, planners and consultants are experts at adhering to the budget. They will advise you on the best way to divide your budget and how to acquire all the services you need within your budget. An event planner knows all the tricks and tips to trouble shooting and avoiding dilemmas. A professional understands timelines for planning a wedding and knows when what needs to be done, as well as how to get things done.

Event planners and consultants are very organized and detail oriented people. They are able to support the bride and be a close advisor through out the entire planning process and on the wedding day. What many couples do not realize is that wedding planning is extremely time consuming and it can be a full time job. There can be a lot of oversight when there is so much to manage if the planning is not handled properly. A wedding occurs only once, and you can't go back and do it over. So, even when couples think they have it under control, it is important to consult a professional who can give assurance of this. A coordinator can also be hired to supervise and coordinate just the wedding day. On the day of the wedding the coordinator will ensure that all the vendors, guests, bridal party, and the bride and groom know what to do and when to do it, so the wedding proceeds as planned by the bride and groom. A couple who is absolutely confident about their planning skills may opt for this option because they will not be available on their own wedding day to ensure everything they arranged occurs according to plan. The couple is also not available if an emergency is encountered, thus a professional wedding consultant could take over for the couple and allow them to celebrate and enjoy their special day.

For a stress free wedding day, a planner or coordinator is a must. Whether it is to help plan the entire event or to supervise the day of the event, a planner will ensure a couple's peace of mind on the day of their wedding. Coordinators and consultant are actually very affordable, especially when considering the money that a consultant can help to save the couple. There are a wide range of wedding consulting and planning services for all budgets. Most coordinators offer free initial consultations and it is worth seeking these services for a once in a lifetime event. Having a planner may initially seem like an excessive expenditure; however it could be well worth the investment. A wedding planner will help you always stay one step ahead and be your creative partner.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2894633

Have a look at this links below for some of the major wedding planners in India:

1. http://www.indiaweddingplanner.com/

2. http://www.exoticindianweddings.com/

3. http://www.shaadionline.com/

My Brother's Wedding

This was the 1st wedding I was fully involved in planning, organizing, managing and executing... Yes, was indeed stressful, but we had hell lots of fun for the entire 2 weeks... Watch the videos and do comment.

Video courtesy of Gregs Video (http://www.gregsvideo.com/).

Bride's Maids Dresses

Choosing a colour theme for your wedding is not as simple as it looks. I finally understood it when Veena took a few months to confirm the colour theme for her 3 functions (Malayalam wedding in a hall, Christian ceremony in the Churh and lastly the Reception in Tropicana). For her church wedding, the colour is finalised to Lilac with a touch of cream.

So today, I took her hunting for dresses...not for her...but her 6 bride's maids. We found a nice lilac coloured dress with some silver and dark violet stones. It was made in a material called lycra which is a very popular stretchy fabric.Lyrca is a lightweight, breathable fabric that is comfortable and uses compression to fit closely to the body.Hence, free size it was. We got 4 different designs to suit each of the 6 bride's maid. Since it was a wholesale outlet, we were not allowed to try it out there. The moment I got home, i quickly tried on mine and it looked stunning. My 1st long dress. Cant wait to see all the other in their dresses. Oh ya...that reminds me, the next will be shopping for matching jewellery and high heels... ;) All we women need is an excuse to shoppppp !!

What is V-vaah?

વિવાહ - विवाह - விவாஹ் - വിവാഹ്

Its a union of 2 hearts & 2 families,
Its a bond of respect, trust, care, friendship & understanding,
Its a lifelong commitment,
Its giving others the space in your life,
Its about sharing, compromising, learning,
Its about accepting your partner perfectly,
Its about going the extra mile side-by-side,
Its about the journey beyond SELFLESSNESS!

Only say "Yes" if you are ready to go beyond your self... As they say, you do not just marry your partner, but his/her entire family.

To my love, This one is for you

I cannot promise you a life of sunshine;
I cannot promise riches, wealth, or gold;
I cannot promise you an easy pathway
That leads away from change or growing old.
But I can promise all my heart's devotion;
A smile to chase away your tears of sorrow;
A love that's ever true and ever growing;
A hand to hold in yours through each tomorrow.