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:

Courtesy of Chocal8kiss

Who are you?

Chocal8kiss

Pastry Chef/Owner: Sonam Sondhi

1-888-YUM-CAKE

www.Chocal8kiss.com

Facebook Group- Chocal8kiss

What do you do?

Specialize in custom created wedding and specialty cakes, desserts, and hand made chocolates.

Where are you based?

central New Jersey.

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

I was working full time as a pastry chef at a high end restaurant when a family friend had asked me to do their wedding cake…..three months later I was so busy with orders I quit my job.

Courtesy of Chocal8kiss

Why do you do what you do?

I love food. When your passion is your career you cant go wrong.

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?

No, but we do focus our attention a little more to the South Asian brides. As a young South Asian myself I know they are looking for the professionalism and taste of other high end bakeries but want a desi touch to their flavors and designs without paying the ridiculous price tag.

Describe some of your inspirations.

Inspiration comes from everywhere, a beautiful print, saris and beaded work, colors, and even other cakes.

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

I think sometimes the older generation thinks of the wedding cake as a formality or unnecessary. I look at it as a centerpiece, it brings out the couples character, it’s an amazing back drop to all the pictures, and with every tier a different flavor why not have something different other than the usual desi sweets that everyone is tired of anyway.

Courtesy of Chocal8kiss

Do you cater to certain budgets only?

Not at all- there are basic price ranges but our quality and prices beat anyone else’s.

Tell us about your strongest area.

There are many but I think what really brings our brides to us is our unique cakes, some brides want really unique designs and the time and unlimited options we give them is always better than a pushy 10 minute meeting where they force you to pick out of a book and charge crazy extras for every change you make. Not to mention the fact that all our cakes are made fresh- no box cake, no canned fruit, no custard made of powder.

Tell us about your weakest area.

We don’t take too many orders in one weekend. It is actually a really strong point but when the summer is wedding season, it becomes very difficult accepting too many orders.

How would you describe your working style?

Calm and understanding- its your wedding, what you want it what you get.

Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on.

They all are its hard to pin point just one and I keep in touch with so many of my brides. Seeing their reaction at the time of the delivery is always worth all the work.

What’s your number one wedding tip?

Enjoy your wedding! Don’t get so caught up in the planning and stress you forget why you are doing it all, enjoy every minute of it and take time out for yourselves.

Courtesy of Chocal8kiss

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.

Deanna Sanderson Helsten, an artist, photographer, and a former bride with advice provides The Sari-Clad Bride with the following photography tips:

Unless you have a personal referral from a close friend, finding the perfect photographer for your wedding is about as risky as trying to win the lottery. As a photographer, I have a good idea who is out there (and who should NOT be out there) shooting weddings. I have a few words of advice:

First: Don’t ever let the price determine whether or not you chose a photographer. Fantastic images are priceless. Bad photographs are worthless (or even damaging); but the value the photographer offers may not align with what they charge at all. You MUST see their work. If they cannot show you adequate pictures (ie: albums, slide shows, etc.) for at least five (entire) weddings…consider moving on. Judge the photographer based on their worst photographs…not their best. (Everyone can get a lucky shot once in a while.) If you find a photographer that you love, be willing to spend a little extra. The photographs are the most effective way to capture the memories of your special day. (I personally had a budget wedding, and the photographer cost more than the entire wedding expenses combined. It was worth every penny!)

Second: Experience says a lot. The rule of thumb is: At least 50 weddings makes an experienced photographer. I don’t know that we should hold hard and fast to that rule, but the photographer should at least have a backup camera, have their own lighting source if needed, (You have a bad photographer if they use the little pop-up flash on their camera.) They should bring in a second photographer to help at large weddings (they cannot possibly capture it all), and they should be unobtrusive during the ceremony and the celebration, yet commanding and full of ideas during photo-taking times (preparations, bride and groom, group shots, etc.)

Courtesy of Deanna Sanderson Helsten

Third: You should have communication with your photographer about what kinds of images you expect. An experienced photographer should have a list of the images that are typically captured at weddings. A South Asian wedding will have different needs than a typical North American wedding, but a really great photographer will be sensitive to all opportunities to capture great images, not matter what culture and style the wedding is. (Deanna’s advice: Group shots are really out of vogue. Insist on one really great group shot, and then let the photographer shine and show you their artistic abilities with priceless candid moments throughout the event.)

Lastly: Find your local professional photographers group. Here in my city, the best photographers belong to a group called PPSV, the Professional Photographers of Sacramento Valley. (There are also state and nation-wide groups, but flying a photographer in from out of town may not be in your budget.) These groups are dedicated to improving the craft of the photographers. They meet regularly, take classes to improve their techniques, and even have their work judged. From professional groups like this, you will have a plethora of photographers to choose from. With so many choices, you should be able to find a photographer whose work you love AND with whom you make a personal connection with.

Best to you!

Planning the wedding of your dreams in this economic climate is definitely not an easy feat. With people getting laid off left and right, companies shutting down and the national unemployment rate rising at an alarming pace, it almost seems silly to spend insane amounts of money on the perfect centerpieces or that gorgeous multi-layered cake. But, fear not—here are a few insider secrets to help you out.

Make use of the people you know.
Chances are that most of your family and friends have some skill or talent that can be useful for your wedding. If a friend sells a wedding service, ask him if he is willing to charge you cost price. Have a DJ friend?—he/she’ll definitely give you a cheap rate. Of course, free is even better (but make sure to tip well or get your friend a nice thank you gift). If your sister or cousin is great at makeup, enlist her for some of your wedding events, and save the professional for the main wedding/reception day.  Just don’t be afraid to ask—even friends of friends might be willing to help!

Outsource.
South Asian brides definitely know that things like wedding favors and invitations are a lot cheaper in the motherland, but it isn’t always possible for all brides to shop there. Scour the web for Indian vendors and sellers based in South Asian countries (i.e., invitations, favors)—even with shipping, it usually ends up being a lot cheaper.

Tip: Ask around for recommendations or scour blogs (like this one!). Some non-American vendors can be sketchy.

Trade up.
Let go of something that isn’t as important in order to splurge on something that will truly make your wedding memorable. Get a smaller cake (all those ladoos are enough sweets, anyway!) and put that money towards your dream photographer.  Figure out what you’re willing to forfeit.

Flex those creative muscles.
Your wedding should reflect your personality and your unique sense of style, so figure out how you can be frugal yet imaginative at the same time. For example, instead of wedding favors, have a raffle! It’s creative, fun and a lot cheaper than buying favors for everyone.

Use what you already have.
Maybe you want a horse and carriage; and your fiancé wants a stretch limousine. But, your cousin has a cool Mercedes that is the envy of everyone in the familyhttp://weddings.divanee.com/2011/08/10/new-glam-styles-by-shoe-designer-aruna-seth/ask him if you can use his car and he’ll probably be more than happy to lend you his wheels. Why pay when you could settle for something just as great—for free?

Get full quotes on everything.
Taxes and gratuity are a not-so-pleasant surprise, so make sure you ask each of your vendors the full price for their services—including these two often hidden fees. Don’t let any of your vendors get away with adding on a hefty tax and/or tip, instead—try to negotiate it all at once.

DIY, DIY, DIY!
If you’re lucky enough to be great at arts and crafts, put it to use!  Not all of us are that creative—but you might have a bridesmaid or family member who is.

So, definitely don’t forget to use your friends and family members for referrals—there’s no better testimonial than that of a friend or relative. By far, the best wedding advice I’ve received has been from my inner circle Here are just a few pieces of advice I’ve found so valuable and wanted to share with you:

Look for variety and quality.
“This may seem obvious, but look at a vendor’s past work. I knew I hit a homerun with my florist and my makeup artist because I saw each one of their portfolios, which were filled with beautiful and varied styles. The reason why variety is so crucial is because it shows that a vendor can accommodate different tastes and styles. The red flags should have gone up when I was dealing with my entertainment company—they did not have a single video clip of the DJ they assigned to my wedding—and lo and behold, my DJ sucked! So, look for proof of quality before signing on!”

Jennifer K., Kentucky, 26

Make sure to schedule a trial run.
“Always, always do a makeup and a hair trial before your big day. You want to make sure you know exactly who and what you’re working with and if you don’t like something during your trial, you can make sure to correct it ahead of time. Your wedding day is no time for surprises!”

Know who and what you’re getting.
“Make sure the person you booked is the one who actually shows up at your wedding. I personally dealt with a shady photographer who had outsourced my wedding to someone that I hadn’t met prior to my wedding day! Talk about aggravating.”

Sumaiya Z. K., California, 23

Give references.
“If the vendor was referred to you, make sure you tell them that! Companies often offer great discounts if you’re a friend or family member of one of their previous clients. If possible, find out how much your friend or relative was charged and use that as a bargaining tool.”

Nancy T., New York, 29

Give yourself choices.
“I would recommend seeing at least three vendors per category but no more than five. You might fall in love with the first one you visit, but after meeting the second and third vendor you might realize that the first one was overpriced and mediocre, or the opposite might happen. You don’t want to see more than five vendors in a category because:

1. It’s a waste of time.
2. You will have too many choices, making it harder to figure out what you want.

The second thing I would recommend is seeing all the vendors for each category on the same day so that comparisons are fresh in your mind.”

Bibi B., Queens, NY, 24

Check your enthusiasm.
“Try not to show how much you love a particular vendor until the contract is signed. There is always room to bargain, so you don’t want them to think they have it in the bag. Make sure to tell vendors that they are one of many you are looking in to and that you are shopping around for the best price. Even if you do like what the vendor has to offer, come back in a week or two with an example of a better offer. I am sure your favorite vendor will make an effort to match that price!”

Find someone you “click” with.
“What was most important to me while planning my wedding was to get along with my vendors. If I found a vendor was full of his or her own ideas and completely disregarded mine, then I knew I was headed for trouble. So make sure your wedding service provider is really listening to you!”

Raisa A., Michigan, 27