There are many parts that go into creating the perfect wedding such as the venue location, the dress, the catering services and decorations that cost a lot of money, but one part that should not be forgotten is spending big money on an impeccable wedding photographer. While it is partly true that anyone can pick up a digital camera and shoot away because of how accessible photography has become in this day and age, it is still not the same as hiring an actual photographer who has the experience, passion and eye to create the lasting moments that a client deserves. Below are five points we at AA Creation Photography believe why it is important to spend the big money on hiring a good wedding photographer versus hiring a relatively cheap photographer or a family member that owns a digital camera.

1. The low rate photographer versus the high rate photographer- A good photographer will have the eye or vision for creating images that a person just owning a digital camera or  a low rate photographer will not have. The low rate photographer will likely only own one camera and lens while standing in the same position for the entire wedding ceremony and reception and essentially doing the bare minimum. The high rate photographer although pricey will give you lasting memories through the photographs created. A high rate photographer compared to the low rate photographer will have several cameras and lenses such as a fisheye or wide-angle lens to give a whole new perspective. The high rate photographer will also offer new angles from high and low and ultimately be well worth the money spent.

2. Established Trust- Being able to trust in the photographer hired for your wedding is very important. There have been too many instances where a bride has hired a low rate photographer and they have either been disappointed in the images or even worse the photographer failed to show up. There are also the feared questions of “Will their personality work with my event?”, “Will there be an album and if so, will it even look well put together and presentable?” and “Will they nickel and dime me?”. These are important questions to consider when selecting a photographer for your wedding/event. Typically when spending the money for a high rate photographer there will be no issue about trust because these photographers have insurance and know the proper protocol when being hired as your photographer.

3. Photographer with 40 weddings a year versus Photographer with 120 events a year- While it may seem that the photographer with more events has more experience and even may have the better portfolio as a result of having more jobs, the truth is that the photographer with less work is the better photographer and the one you should hire for your event. A photographer that has more 2 or 3 more jobs at a time or more events a year, treats your special day as nothing more than a job where they come to shoot and then go home.  You want someone who is passionate about their art and style and only books one event per weekend.  You want someone who is running around and wants to stay longer, so he or she can capture more moments and emotion to tell a story.

4. Labor Costs- While most think that a photographer’s job is done once the event is over, it actually is not. Their work continues once they return home to post-process countless amounts of images, so you can get a wide array of shots, angles and edits to tell a story of your special day. The difference between the low rate and high rate photographer in this circumstance is that with a low rate photographer you are lucky if they even own the latest adobe editing software such as Photoshop CS4 and Adobe Lightroom much less even use these programs to full enhance your best images. With the high rate photographer you are guaranteed they have the latest editing software, are skilled in their craft or have a photo editor on their staff that knows how to use Photoshop and Lightroom as well as their job is to only edit photos. In the end it is worth spending more money to ensure your photographs are the best of the best.

5. Know how to work equipment- Generally a low rate photographer is a photographer that is just beginning and ultimately that can a lot of times mean they do not know how to work their equipment. Now is that someone you want to trust to photograph your special day? I do not think so. Out of focus and sloppy images are not even worth $500. The high rate photographer will undoubtedly have the best equipment and will have had either some sort of technical training through classes of how to work their equipment or they have served as a second shooter in the past gaining knowledge through experience.

In the end paying the pricey rate for the top of the line photographer is beyond well worth it because your special day only happens once and to have it ruined because you wanted to save some money will leave you disappointed and full of regrets.

A little tip to remember is that the general rule of thumb of deciding how much to spend on your photography is to reserve 10% of your budget on the photographer. For example, if your budget is $35,000 then the budget for the photographer should be $3500. Don’t be surprised if you cannot get the kind of photographer you are looking for when all you have is a $800 budget.

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DIY Centerpieces and Stages seem like a tough task at first, but when you choose simple designs and easily accessible flowers–the task at hand becomes a lot easier.  I would suggest  that as a bride you do not do it all yourself, but if you have a creative bridesmaid, cousin, aunt, friend–give her the task of giving you a great visual display at your wedding!

When it came to the centerpieces, I wanted to use flowers that were the same color my sister-in-law would be wearing at the reception and when I found out it was a salmon–that as my the color of my flowers.  My mother and I loved traditional roses and they actually are a lot cheaper than other flowers such as hydrangeas, orchids, etc.  When we had our decision made, we headed straight to the Flower Mart in Downtown, Los Angeles.  Buying flowers wholesale in bulk can save you lots of money.   Also, to avoid costs always buy domestic flowers instead of imported flowers.  Domestic roses, I learned, have a scent and are cheaper while imported roses do not even have a scent and cost much more! My total cost ended up being $10 for two dozen roses–what a bargain!!

Ordering the flowers was the easy part… next came the vase.  Should we do taller centerpieces? Square vases? Circular vases? Shorter vases?  My mom and I wanted to keep it simple and chose a shorter vase that looked very clean and elegant  The centerpiece was quite easy–I suggest you have helpers that can assist you in de-leafing flowers.  We cut the flowers at a length that was perfect for the vase,  tied them with plastic ties (you can purchase these at your local Home Depot, or use flower ties–I find plastic ties easier and they stay tighter), and placed them in the vase.  Also, add Sprite or carbonated water to make your flowers last longer.  Lastly, add a special touch that makes your centerpiece stand out.  I had bought gold glitter sticks from Wal-Mart and cut them and placed them in the centerpiece.

And Viola! The final product of the centerpieces:

The centerpieces were the easy part, but I had set my heart on using manzanita trees, which have become increasingly popular in the wedding industry, for the stage.  Manzanita trees are hard to come by (if you’re not already a decorator), but I had found them again in the Flower District in Downtown, Los Angeles–purely by chance.  They are usually very expensive at stores, but you can get a great deal if you find a wholesaler.  I bought the base, the trees themselves, and sponge balls to put my flowers in.  I also bought beads from a local craft store to put on my tree.  This tedious process produced the most beautiful trees!  I also rented two simple white columns to place the trees on and created a very simple, yet elegant stage!

My total budget for the decor, the flower, and rentals for the reception added to approximately $350!! That is certainly a lot less than what you would have to pay an arm and a leg for a decorator to do!

Stay tuned for DIY Decor Ideas for your Sangeet/Dholki/Mehendi/Holud!

A special thank you to Ahmed at AA Creation Photography for these fabulous images!

And the final product for the stage & manzanita trees:

Our shopping list included:

-the wedding sari– check

-saris for the bridal trousseau– check

-bridal jewelry–check

-items for decor–check

We had managed to remember every little item needed for a fabulous Bangladeshi Muslim wedding…minus one important factor–the rakhis! We almost became frantic at the thought that we had forgotten such a crucial aspect.

The wedding rakhi is a bracelet that is put on by the mother-in-law of each respective bride and groom during their Holud ceremony.  It is symbolic of the upcoming union of the bride and groom and is meant to be kept on until the day of the wedding (i.e. until the nikkah/akth).

When realizing we had forgotten to purchase rakhis–we resorted to our brilliant plan–why not make our own?!  My mom and I ventured into our favorite shopping center–the craft store and bought everything we needed to make our DIY rakhis!

We bought cardstock that was flexible so it would be able to be tied around the wrist, rhinestones, and beads to ensure that our rakhis would look legitimate.  Also, we used fabric paint to inscribe “Allah” on the rakhis as they symbolize a religious union of two individuals.

And viola! This is what our final product looked like:

DIY Rakhi

DIY Rakhi

For more information on Bangladeshi wedding customs, click here.

Courtesy of David Schwartz Photography

For Desi brides-to-be that are going to don a beautiful white wedding dress on the day of their wedding, The Sari-Clad Bride recommends adding a mantilla veil to accent and complete the look with a South Asian flare.  Traditional mantilla veils originated in the late sixteenth century in the warmer regions of Spain and are used throughout the Latin American community as well.  As such, this veil is a very ornamental and is often times made of lace.  Similar to ornate dupattas that South Asian brides adore, the mantilla veil provides brides with a similar look of elegance with the perfect detailing.

Check out the stunning photos of a friend of The Sari-Clad Bride: Sara!

Courtesy of David Schwartz Photography

Inspirational Tip: If you’re wearing a lighter-colored or pastel sari for your wedding, consider adding a Mantilla veil for a unique look.

1. Start planning your wedding early. South Asian brides do not even realize they need a planner–however, South Asian Weddings have several events and a planner is almost crucial.
2. Consider hiring a wedding planner. It really does make a huge difference to have a planner. First-time brides generally don’t know what they’re supposed to do and a planner comes in very handy.
3. Use South Asian vendors. Ensure that as a South Asian bride, you have vendors that are experienced and knowledgeable about South Asian weddings & events
4. It is important to have a  rehearsal prior to the wedding ceremony. Although this is atypical for South Asian couples, a wedding rehearsal guarantees that the bride and groom will be more relaxed on their wedding day as they will have more confidence and won’t feel like anything will go wrong on their wedding day

Immediately after my wedding in California, I began thinking of all the things that were necessary in a long distance wedding and started feeling extremely overwhelmed.  I was about to learn that though planning a wedding is difficult process, a long distance wedding is much more difficult!

Having been through the process, here are a few things I would like to tell fellow brides about planning a long distance wedding:

1. Before you begin anything, make sure to do all of your research! While it made sense to have our wedding in Dhaka as most of our guests lived in Dhaka, pick a central location that is accommodating to all your guests.

2. It is extremely important to either be at the location approximately 3-6 months before or have liaisons that will carry out your wishes. I was lucky enough to have my mother-in-law in Dhaka at the time, along with my own mother who had traveled three months prior to our Reception date to ensure that all the details were accurate and would please a perfectionist like myself.

3.  If you have time, trial your hair and makeup at your location.  However, if that is not feasible, go with a reputable Beauty Salon and ensure that you have seen pictures of their work.  I loved Farzana Shakil and was able to book  her before our ceremony, and she perfected the look I wanted, thank god!

4.  Allow time for rest and relaxation before a long distance wedding. This becomes a very important factor when you are traveling to a different country for a destination wedding.  Make sure that you arrive at least a week or two prior to your events so that you are able to relax, get everything settled, get over jet lag, and this will prevent dark circles under the eyes (which you definitely don’t want to appear in your Wedding shots!)

5. Do not try to micro-manage everything. In a long distance wedding, it is helpful to hire a local wedding planner if possible.  If not, do not stress the little details, it is nearly impossible to get everything done when you are planning from thousands of miles away!

6.  Begin planning EARLY. The earlier you plan, the more organized and flawless your event will be.  Also, for a destination wedding, there are a lot more factors involved than a regular wedding, so be sure to start early!

7.  If you have guests flying in similar to yourself, make sure you make a spreadsheet of all of their arrival times and hotels that they will be staying so that you can make accommodations for them in terms of attending your ceremonies. For out of town guests, it is important to coordinate buses, taxis, or other transportation that ensures their timely arrival and attendance at your events.

8. Trust your gut instincts when planning a destination weddings. Locals may give you advice (which may or may not be valuable), but if you have done the research, do not let that pestering aunty guide your decisions! Remember, this is your wedding and your decision should be the last one!

9.  Most importantly, enjoy your wedding! Destination weddings can add a lot of stress on the couple, but weddings happen only once in a lifetime.  Enjoy the destination wedding and everything the location has to offer!

The Sari-Clad Bride had the opportunity to explore all of Tokyo’s Treasures March 2008 and enjoyed Japan thoroughly.  The following places are must see locations while in Japan:

• Kamakura located in Kanagawa is a city approximately 31 miles south west of Tokyo that houses shrines and Buddhist temples dating to approximately 1200 years back.  One of these is that of Amida Buddha (pictured below).  This amazing structure is a major tourist attraction and one that you should not miss while visiting Japan.  The Sari-Clad Bride loved the historical site, but would also recommend walking up and down the streets near the statue of Amida Buddha.  The streets leading up to the shrine are composed of local trinkets available for purchase such as samurai swords, decorations for the home, along with souvenirs.  Also, do not miss out on trying the local food on the streets–especially the delicious rice cakes!

Kamakura

Kamakura

• The Tokyo Tower, the tallest structure in Japan, is one of the must sees that provides a spectacular view of Tokyo.   Inspired by the Eiffel Tower, the Toyko Tower was built in 1958 and interestingly enough is important (like its counterpart the Eiffel Tower) in scenes that depict Tokyo in anime, cartoons, and movies in Japan.  The views from the Tokyo Tower were amazing and The Sari-Clad Bride recommends that this be your first venture into Tokyo!  Also, while at the Tokyo Tower, try the delicious crepes by the entrance!

View from Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower

• Mount Fuji, the highest point in Japan is one of the world’s most famous mountains.  A must-see for tourists, Mount Fuji is approximately a two hour drive from Tokyo.  The breathtaking view of Mount Fuji is definitely worth the long drive! However, prior to going to Mount Fuji, The Sari-Clad Bride recommends that you look up weather reports as the roads to Mount Fuji are often times closed due to weather conditions.

Mt Fuji

• Interested in fashion? Then, Shibuya is the place for you! Shibuya, famous for its fashion is generally the go-to place for young men and women.  With global chains such as Chanel, Gucci, Dior, etc., Shibuya provides the perfect escape to do a little bit of luxury shopping on your honeymoon!  Also, Shibuya has the famous “scramble crossroads” which lets pedestrians cross from all directions and is mounted by large television screens on the the buildings.

Japanese Fashion

Scramble Crossroads

• Harajuku, the street fashion, is another great location for fashion lovers to visit in Tokyo during their honeymoon.  While in Harajuku, you will be able to see young people dressed in a variety of styles that creates a great visual display of the eccentric style of Tokyo.  The shops and stores that are aligned along Harajuku are extremely affordable and sell unique street fashion clothes, however, there are also luxury designers such as Louis Vuitton in Harajuku.  Harajuku becomes the place to hang out on weekends and thousands of people begin to crowd the streets.  As a precaution, The Sari-Clad Bride would like to warn newlyweds of potential stampedes that occur on the street!

• Roppongi Hills, in essence the “Beverly Hills” of Tokyo, Roppongi Hills provides tourists with upscale shopping areas, restaurants, and a great night life.  If you are newlyweds that like to party, this is definitely the place for you!

Shopping Center in Roppongi Hills

• Local food: If you are a sushi lover or just love Japanese food in general–eating out in Japan is amazing! Although it becomes difficult to order food as waiters generally do not speak English, be sure to try the local food instead of fast food chains.  You will not be disappointed!

Making Rice Cakes in Kamakura

Tasting the Local Flavor; Soba & Tempura

• Sakura-if given the choice of when to visit Tokyo for your honeymoon, The Sari-Clad Bride would recommend Sakura (cherry blossom season) in Spring which begins in March.  During this season, breath taking cherry blossoms bloom all over Japan and a festival is celebrated to mark the beginning of the Sakura season.

Sakura

Sakura

While there are many more attractions in Tokyo, the above are just a sample of what’s in store for honeymooners.  If you love the city life and want to enjoy it with your spouse, Tokyo is a great choice for a honeymoon.  The historical sites, nightlife, food, and the shops are a great way to enjoy Japan and experience a new culture!

www.2createdesigns.com

Who are you?
2create designs
888-865-4940

Our specific title is a floral designer: Rather than just thinking about the table centerpieces, we help you create the overall set design, including prop rentals, furniture lounge areas, suitable floral, lighting and possibly draping. A floral designer is different from a florist.

What do you do?

2create designs embodies your visions tocreate events a level far beyond your visual imagery. We take your dreams, imagine them and bring them to life making us the ideal design studio for a variety of special events.

2create designs

Where are you based?

We are located in Southern California.

2create designs

When and How did you get started in the South Asian wedding industry?

Fayaz and I (Saman) both started individually over 6 years ago. We have both always had a passion in this industry, so we joined forces and started our company 2Create Designs, about a little over a year ago.

Why do you do what you do?

Seeing the look on of a satisfied bride/client at the end of the evening is the best feeling in the world and gives us purpose to continue what we do as floral designers.

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?

We specialize in South Asian weddings, however, we have worked on events/weddings in all societies and cultures.

2create designs

Describe some of your inspirations.

• Fashion Show runways.
• Interior Decorating Stores.
• Staring at nature.
• Just about anything inspires us to create fresh & new ideas. Even the simplest of things, such as going to your local market and seeing certain colors together or seeing simple painting makes us envision those items in our weddings.

What are some mistakes you see most South Asian brides (and families) make?

Being too involved and taking on too much stress. If you have chosen a vendor based on photos you’ve seen of their work or referrals from friends, understand that they know what they are doing and you are in good hands. When you get too involved the designer/vendor no longer has the freedom of imagination and you end up taking on a lot of un-necessary stress. Just relax and let the professionals handle it.

Do you only cater to certain budgets only?

We are open to most budgets.

Tell us about your strongest area.

2Create Designs prides itself in stage design. South Asian weddings are all about the stage. It’s where the most photos are shot, it’s where the bride and groom sit for the majority of the night, and it’s the focal point of most events. 2Create’s mission is to provide a unique, new, and absolutely gorgeous stage to all of our clients.

Tell us about your weakest area.

We are very detail oriented whether it be our presentation, customer service, quality of work, we are always busy making sure everything is in order. As a result of this we often find it hard to find a balance between work and life. This is a sacrifice we gladly make, because for both of us this is our passion.

How would you describe your working style?

We are very punctual, organized and very detail oriented.

2create designs

Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on.

Recently we worked on a wedding where the bride gave us complete freedom of imagination. Our minds went wild and we came up some really fresh new ideas, and I have to say it was one of our best weddings of the summer.

2create designs

What’s your number one wedding tip?

Do not skimp on quality vendors! I am all for saving money and there are many ways to do so, but if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this: your wedding is only as good as the people who pull it together. I’m talking about photographers, caterers, and decorators anyone who plays a part in your day. It’s a once in a lifetime event and you have one shot to do it well. Forget family amateurs and that “friend of a friend” who will give you a good deal. Go with professionals who have the true wedding experience. When things go wrong- and they will- you need a professional who will know what to do on the spot.

When selecting your vendors, you are much better off hiring a great vendor and scaling back the scope of their work then hiring a low-cost provider.

Here are the Sari-Clad Bride’s top shopping destinations in Kolkata;

Park Street courtesy of India Mike

Courtesy of James Nichloas Sears

• Park Street: For major wedding sari shopping for the bride, mother of the bride, sisters, and close family that you need to gift saris, you can rely on Park Street for a one-stop shopping experience.  On the Sari-Clad Bride’s recently Kolkata shopping spree, Park Street was her favorite destination. In two days on Park Street, we bought over 30+ beautiful saris from stores such as Sarovar, Savera, Rangoli,  and several other stores.  Additionally, you will find stores for designers kameezes along Park Street. Just a simple stroll down Park Street will cover all your bases for wedding sari shopping!

• Like The Sari-Clad Bride, we are certain that our readers also love several Indian designers.  When it comes to shopping for Designer Bridal Wear, it is best to visit South City Mall located in Salt Lake, along with The Forum.  You’ll find designer shoes, saris, lehengas, and all wedding essentials from the likes of Ritu Kumar, menswear designer Gatha to name a few.

South City Mall courtesy of Kolkata Mirror

The Forum courtesy of Skyscrapercity

• For Wedding trinkets and bangles and other accessories, The Sari-Clad Bride loves New Market. Here, you will find lots of varieties of wedding accessories at bargain prices!

• Jewelry shopping Kolkata should be an essential aspect of wedding shopping in India and The Sari-Clad brides recommends buying jewelry from B.C. Sen Jewellers (http://www.bcsenjewellers.com/event/index.htm)–if you prefer the sit-down, calm environment or Nemichand Bamalwa & Sons (http://www.bamalwa.com)  if you enjoy the hustle and bustle of jewelry business!  Also, The Sari-Clad bride recommends that you check out Anjali Jewelers!

http://www.thedilrules.com

Sally Shields, Speaker, Radio Personality, and the Author of The Daughter-In-Law Rules, an Amazon #1 best seller provides the The Sari-Clad Bride with the following tips for daughter-in-laws:

So, you’ve just stepped off the bus–do not delay! For the newlywed daughter-in-law, here are five simple techniques that anyone can use to get immediate results towards a peaceful and loving relationship with your husband – and his mother! It is always important to remember one of the greatest spiritual laws of success: the quickest way to get what you want is to help others get what they want. Be a loving, kind, generous, openhearted sensitive person and the world will reflect that back to you, even in the form of your Mother-in-law! Let’s begin.

1. Send Your MIL Cards and Flowers on her 3 Special Days

Mark down the three biggies – her b-day, her anniversary (if she has one) and Mother’s Day in your date book. But here’s the secret –– get your husband to pen the card or Mom might get the impression that her son has forgotten her special days (he probably has)! So consider yourself a great ghostwriter and have him sign it from the both of you.

2. Call Your MIL Regularly

This seems like something that would be best left to your sense of spontaneity, but do not take this lightly. Pick a day of the week (such as Sunday) to call your new Mom– preferably when your husband is not around. If you are super busy, you can aim for getting her machine like when you know she’s at Bingo, but leave a message saying that you just called to say hi and to ask how she is feeling!

3. Ask Your MIL for Her Advice – Frequently!

But if you prefer, keep your matters on the inconsequential side such as what color to change the shower curtain to in the guest bathroom. But then actually do it, so that when she comes over, she’ll be proud that you followed through!

4. Tell Your MIL What a Great Job She Did as Mother

This is a proactive strategy that works like a charm. It will most likely bring her to tears and that is great! Just remember that someday you too will perhaps raise a son and can you think of a more wonderful compliment that that? Surely not! So, speaking of compliments …

5. Comp liment Your MIL’s Looks–Often!

Remember, your MIL can be just as self-conscious as you are. So take the time to notice how pretty, thin, healthy and young she looks, occasionally asking her if you can borrow a certain item of clothing, such as a scarf or a purse. She’ll feel just great that you like her style!