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.