“Thanks so much and this goes without saying but I LOVE The Sari-Clad Bride—definitely a part of my daily routine…twice on Fridays.”

Hi Neetu,
First of all, congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Online shopping used to be a very scary thing but nowadays a lot of brides are depending on online stores with good reputations for their wedding needs! Here are some quick thoughts on our favorite (including Benzer World!) e-commerce wedding shops that ship world-wide.

BARGELLO
Bargello is one of our favorite sites for desi fashion simply because there is so much to choose from! They have everything from lehengas to salwar kameezes to saris to groom’s sherwanis to jewelry, etc—and the best part is that they have tons of color and style options! Bargello has customer reps all over the world including New York, Australia, U.K, etc. If you’re looking for North Indian, Punjabi, and Pakistani bridalwear, Bargello will definitely meet your needs. The website recommends ordering bridal items 25-50 days before your wedding event.

BENZER WORLD
Ahh, Benzer World—how we swoon over you. One of the oldest brands in India, their quality is pretty much guaranteed. Benzer World’s bridal collections are eagerly anticipated by the South Asian fashion world and they always produce outstanding designs every season. We would definitely recommend shopping here (If the price points meet your budget), since its street-store to online store reputation precedes itself!

ART KARAT
Our absolutely favorite place to oogle at bridal jewelry online. We recently got their catalogue via snail mail and wanted every.single.damn.piece. Kundans, pearls, emeralds, antique gold—you name it. They ship worldwide and offer a 100% money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied within the first 30 days of your purchase. Check out their bridal studio and don’t forget to sign up for their catalog for bridal look inspiration!

COUTURE RANI
This is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for straight-off-the-runway Indian couture. Couture Rani carries the best in designer-wear such as Ritu Kumar and Varun Bahl.

ANGARKH
A cross between Benzer World and Bargello, Angarkh.com is our newest find in e-commerce South Asian wear. Look for a multitude of Desi looks from trendy to traditional. They ship worldwide and have great sales.

We finish off Sonia and Deepak’s incredible wedding journey in the next installment!

Who are you?
Nausheen Khurram
Laaj Studios
914-843-5375

What do you do?
I am passionate about capturing the ‘moments’ and small details of a couple’s once-in-a-lifetime event.

Where are you based?
I’m based in New York but will travel anywhere my camera takes me.

When and How did you get started in the South Asian wedding industry?
As far as I can remember, I was always behind the lens. It was a hobby since my teen years but the idea of becoming a professional photographer didn’t occur to me until 7 years ago. That was when I started searching for a photographer for my own wedding. It was a very frustrating experience as I searched for a South Asian photographer who had the ‘eye’ to capture the emotions, moments, and detail of a wedding. Because as a bride you tend to fuss about every little detail when planning your big day and I wanted those details to be captured. I was shocked to see that there were literally a handful photographers who fit this criteria and either they were booked or only catered to high end weddings. That is when I considered of offering what I thought was desperately needed in the South Asian wedding industry, a female photographer who fusses about capturing the small details of the day as much as the bride!

In 2005, I launched ‘Laaj Studios’ when a friend agreed to let me shoot her wedding. The outcome was greatly appreciated by everyone and with the help and encouragement of my husband, who is also a photographer, I decided to invest time and money to improve the technical side of photography. In these past 6 years of being in the industry, Laaj Studios have also added Wedding Cinematography and DJ services for our clients.

Why do you do what you do?
I am obsessed with creating images that tell a ‘story’.

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?
I will not say I’m exclusive to South Asian weddings, but coincidentally all of my clients have been South Asians.

Describe some of your inspirations.
I am a huge fan of the famous Pakistani photographers Ather Shahzad. That is where I drew my inspiration from when it came to shooting glamorous bride and groom portraits. And I also absolutely love the photography style of Parker J Pfister! His work is just mind blowing!

What are some mistakes you see most South Asian brides (and families) make?
There are two very important things that I think most brides or families overlook. The No. 1 mistake is having a minimal budget for their photography needs. What I fail to understand is that the couple spend top dollars on the best venue, decor, catering, dress etc. but settle for a below average photographer who is not capable of capturing all the details. This is definitely not the area where they should be cutting corners on. Because after investing thousands of dollars on each and every detail, at the end of the day they are left with nothing more than memories, It only makes sense to invest in a photographer who will preserve these memories and the details from the day that you will cherish and re-live each and every time you open your wedding album. Believe me it is definitely worth the investment!

No. 2 mistake, just getting an image CD or ordering prints and not getting an album for their pictures. Again, it is mistake to try and save a few hundred dollars by not getting an album for their wedding pictures while investing thousands of dollar planning for this special day. An album is the best way to preserve these memories so it should not be an option to get an album, but a ‘must-have’ on every bride’s list.

Do you only cater to certain budgets?
My work requires a lot of time and effort in creating and delivering unique images that is why I like to work with clients who appreciate my style and efforts and are not looking for a bargain. I don’t work with clients who want me to shoot their wedding and deliver the images on a CD so they can make their own prints because getting your professional images printed from a chain store or an online lab totally degrades the quality as well as the value.

Tell us about your strongest area.
I believe my strongest area is my ability to always look for and capture the ‘moments’ and did I mention that I’m a obsessed with photographing the tiniest detail of the day?

Tell us about your weakest area.
I’m my own biggest critic.

How would you describe your working style?
I want to tell a story through my pictures and that always keeps me on my toes. I’m constantly shooting and am looking for unique angles. I never dictate anyone as how to behave in front of the camera (of course couple and family portraits are an exception). People are always surprised to see that I was able to capture ‘that special moment’ while they were completely unaware of my presence around them.

What’s your number one wedding tip?
The #1 tip is to pick and invest in vendors that you can trust and feel comfortable with because that will save you a tons of headache later on.

Who are you?
Rani by Neha Mahajan
ranibymahajan.com
facebook.com/ranibynehamahajan
twitter.com/ranibyneha
+91 9953684649
BB pin: 22475ED9

What do you do?
Rani is a solution for South Asians based abroad who want the most up-to-date styles straight from the capital of India. Our services allow those people living abroad the ability to buy traditional items and the latest fashions from New Delhi without being overwhelmed by coming to an unfamiliar city or even leaving the comfort of their own home. Rani specializes in all wedding related shopping consultation such as bridal outfits, bridal party outfits, bridal accessories, trousseau & gift packaging, jewelry, invitations, favors, puja supplies and MORE! We offer private consultations in Delhi, web conferences, teleconferences, and shopping escort services. We have a variety of packages to offer our clients that range from consultation services to plan a shopping itinerary, various packages for shopping escort services, and personal shopping services where we do the shopping for you.

Our team will create a personalized customer profile to understand the requirements and will ensure all items are completed on time and hassle free. Our team is known for their innovation and intuitive understanding of their clients

Where are you based?
Our office is in South Delhi, India. However, the unique aspect about our company is that we can do the shopping for you and have it sent to you anywhere in the world if you can’t come to India yourself.

Why do you do what you do?
The vision for this company started as I realized there was a demand from South Asian brides in the US for clothing, jewelry, invitations and more to be designed traditionally and fashionably from India. Many of these women, however, were either extremely overwhelmed once they arrived in Delhi or were unable to travel to India altogether. Shopping proved as very frustrating for many, as they were unable to communicate in Hindi and were unfamiliar with the Indian business culture. Many people also did not have any relatives or friends who could accompany them or give them tips about where to shop once they arrived in India. Most visitors come to India with a time constraint and need a personalized service that can help them get in touch with the desired vendors and the latest styles according to their tastes and budget. After I moved to Delhi, many acquaintances started contacting me about where to go shopping in Delhi and I realized that many of these people were clueless about how to get the best styles and deals in a limited time. I am extremely passionate about helping brides make their visions come true. Brides already are stressed out and we help ease their frustrations by planning their shopping itineraries and personally following up with the vendors to make sure their orders are completed to perfection and on time. Since I was born and raised in the US and am now living in India, I am able to understand both worlds and use this advantage to help my brides.

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?
I have expanded the business to include not only brides but all visitors to Delhi who need assistance maneuvering around the city to get their shopping done. I offer a one stop shop for all your South Asian shopping needs. Describe some of your inspirations. I like things which are timeless and elegant for brides who do not feel they have the opportunity to wear their South Asian outfits very often. I love pieces which are classy yet striking and unique. Right now, I am in awe of regal floor length anarkhalis, anarkhalis with long trails, net suits with sequin sheeting or prints layered underneath, velvet appliqués, classy sari blouses with elbow length fitted net sleeves and gorgeous laces.

What are some mistakes you see most South Asian brides (and families) make?
They sometimes buy overpriced and out of date outfits from the US because of time & travel constraints. I feel South Asian brides in the US/UK do not have enough knowledge about the quality and value of fabrics and embroideries before making their purchases.

Do you cater to certain budgets only?
Not at all! We work with all budgets and do everything from a onetime consultation to one outfit to the entire wedding shopping for a bride. Also, all shopping itineraries are planned keeping the bride’s budget in mind.

Tell us about your strongest area.
We have very good relationships with all the vendors we work with. We have a large variety of preferred vendors to match all tastes and budgets. We are passionate about our work and truly enjoy making sure every bride is pampered & ecstatic about all her purchases.

Tell us about your weakest area.
We feel our services could help many brides to be, and are still working hard to increase awareness of our services globally.

How would you describe your working style?
Perfection and patience is our mantra when working to make our bride’s dreams and visions a reality. We also pride ourselves on keeping up to date with the latest fashion trends. Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on. There was one client who came to India for two weeks and we worked on all her wedding outfits, bridal party outfits, jewelry, invitations, and gifts.  She had seen a beautiful Satya Paul couture lengha during fashion week. I was able to set up an appointment for her at the Satya Paul head office in Gurgaon and got the head designer to meet with us. We tweaked the lengha from the fashion show in order to suit her body type and style. After she left India, I followed up with Satya Paul to make sure the lengha was being completed on time, the finishing was perfect, and that it was shipping to her in the US on time! The lengha was stunning and the bride was thrilled to wear it for her reception.

What’s your number one wedding tip?
Make sure your outfit fits comfortably and perfectly. Any outfit will look gorgeous if it the fit is right and the bride is accessorized with a big smile!

In high school, 16 years ago, I spent a summer as a hockey camp counselor.  One of my campers was a six-year-old Chinese-American whirlwind-on-skates named Sean. One day, one of the Caucasian-American dads came up to me and asked about how Sean was doing. I thought it was very rude that he was asking me about another camper, and told him as much.

Turns out he was Sean’s father.

Waiter, may I please have some pepper with that foot?

Interracial couples are fast becoming commonplace here in America, as the melting pot of cultures integrates even further.  According to the Pew Research Center, 14.6% of all new marriages are of interracial couples – a rate that has doubled since 1980. Further, over 60% of people surveyed by Pew said that they would approve of a family member who wanted to marry someone outside of their race. At Sari Closet, the online sari rental service that I co-founded earlier this year, we are seeing similar trends amongst our customers.  And as more South Asians marry more non-South Asians, the demand for blended cultural experiences has grown exponentially.

But what is the best way to hold an interracial wedding? One way is to cheat, like I did: we held separate events for my (Muslim) wife’s community and my (Hindu) community. But the last event was really not fun, which is the “writing of costly cheques” ceremony.

Interracial weddings — like interracial marriages — are most successful when both cultures are equally represented.  The best man at my wedding, who was from Germany, married a lovely woman from Japan. Not only did both cultures get well represented in the decorations and food, but both fathers downed ceremonial pints of a blend of Loewenbraeu and Kirin Ichiban.

So it’s true that alcohol helps.

For South Asians, saris are definitely a key part of the equation.  If the groom is South Asian, many times the brides’ friends will want to wear saris, especially the bridesmaids. A non-South Asian in a sari will always stand out – in a positive way.  She will look gorgeous both because of the quality of the sari, and because South Asians appreciate that she took such an interest to participate in their culture – instantly making her an “insider” at the wedding or event. Given that, the experts at Sari Closet — who we call “saristas” — encourage non-South Asians to wear bold, bright colors and patterns.  What might feel loud or busy on an Indian woman will look stunning on a non-South Asian. Combining saris with garments from other cultures is also a great idea.  It takes some work, but the look can be stunning.

No less an expert than Vogue India’s fashion director, Deep Kailey, is a firm believer in fashion evolving across borders, even for saris. “With the world being so much more global than ever before, I think all the lines are starting to merge,” she recently told Republic of Brown. As a tip, she recommends that, “when wearing a sari, wear a beautiful Prada blouse, or get a shirt made to match your drape.”

Of course, some customs just won’t mix. As comedian / TV talk show host Craig Ferguson once said about his wedding, between his Scottish culture and his wife’s Jewish culture, “The only thing that didn’t really work out is that the Jewish tradition of dancing around with the bride and groom on your shoulders clashes with the Scottish tradition of no underwear under the kilt.”

Happy sari-ying!

Sreesha Vaman is the co-founder of Sari Closet, an online nationwide sari rental service. Follow him on twitter @sreeshafashion.  The opinions expressed herein are his own.

Who are you?
Sari Closet
saricloset.com
facebook.com/saricloset
twitter.com/saricloset
1.310.987.7219

Our goal is to connect South Asians in America, and their non-South Asian friends, with our culture and heritage through fashion. We provide everyone with the opportunity to wear that fabulous Bollywood look at weddings, festivals, cultural celebrations, and formal social events. At Sari Closet, customers can borrow gorgeous saris, buy all of the right accessories and jewelry, and design the perfect look for themselves. And if they need advice or guidance, our sari experts, who we call “saristas”, are ready to help.

We prefer the term “borrow” because we strive to retain the culture of borrowing a sari from friends and family. Put another way, we want our customers to think of borrowing from Sari Closet as if they are borrowing from a friend–one with an extensive wardrobe.

Where are you based?
We are based in California and ship nationally in the US.

Why do you do what you do?
South Asian women who have grown up in America still have many different occasions each year for which they need to wear a sari, especially for weddings. At the wedding and reception, they still need to look fabulous, and they don’t want to wear the same sari twice within the same social circle – a problem made even more difficult in today’s world of social media and instant photo sharing.

However, our generation does not have the culture of collecting saris that our parents’ generation did. Saris are expensive here in the U.S., and it’s very difficult to go to India to buy saris that will only be worn once or twice. Our generation also has grown up in a multi-cultural society. Our non-South Asian friends want to participate in our culture, especially at our weddings, but typically have no experience wearing a sari, and can’t justify paying top dollar to buy a sari that they will wear once, given that the economy is still recovering.

Sari Closet provides a simple, cost-effective solution to these pain points – so our customers can fully enjoy their weddings and celebrations without breaking the bank!

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?
We do not work exclusively on South Asian weddings; we will provide saris for any occasions!

Describe some of your inspirations.
One of our biggest sources of inspiration is seeing our non-South Asian friends wearing a sari at a wedding. For them, it goes beyond the fact that they look gorgeous: when they are wearing a sari, suddenly they find themselves swept up into all of the festivities.

“Uncles” are pulling them onto the dance floor, “aunties” are conversing and joking with them (and usually trying to fix them up with the proverbial “nice Indian boy”!), cousins are getting them involved in traditions like stealing the groom’s shoes – and they feel like an insider at the wedding and the reception, and it augments their experience a thousand times.

We get this feedback constantly, and knowing the impact that wearing a sari can have, well it motivates us every day at the office.

What are some mistakes you see most South Asian brides (and families) make?
South Asian women that have grown up in America are very unique and creative in most aspects of their lives. So why do so many women copy-paste their wedding process from others? A lot of the weddings we have attended have had the same food choices, the same ceremony, and in some cases the same wedding hall. We should celebrate our individuality, and we shouldn’t be afraid to make our wedding day our own!

One reason I hear for this is that South Asian weddings are so much bigger than those of other cultures, that there are very few suitable venues in any geographic area. That could be, but there are other ways to make your wedding unique even with that number of guests. For example, Sari Closet provides bridesmaids packages, so that all of the brides’ closest friends are wearing a very similar sari theme and thus can be easily identified at the reception even amongst the hundreds of guests.

Another way is to add to the typical wedding or reception with another event that is distinctly yours. At Sari Closet, we really enjoy hosting “sari parties”, where the bride or maid-of-honor invites all of her friends over, and our saristas help them choose a sari for the wedding, teaches them how to drape a sari, and finishes off the look with jewelry.

Do you cater to certain budgets only?
We cater to all budgets, as our goal is to increase the number and variety of saris available to our customers at affordable, cost-effective prices.

Tell us about your strongest area.
Our strongest area is our extensive collection of saris. With over 135 saris in a wide variety of styles, patterns, colors, and embroidery work, we know that we can provide a great look for every woman for their next wedding.

Tell us about your weakest area.
Our weakest area is that our primary interface with our customers is our website and for as much time and energy as we have spent photographing our saris, the pictures just do not do justice to them.

How would you describe your working style?
Our focus is creating the right look for the customer for the wedding or event that she is going to. When a customer calls the saristas, we focus on how we can make our customer look fabulous – even if this means less revenue for us. Once, we had a customer for whom we had to suggest that she order less from us because what she wanted to order was not appropriate for the look that she was trying to achieve – but we’re willing to do that in order to create the right look for the customer.

Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on.
One of our non-South Asian customers went to her first South Asian wedding and decided to wear a sari. She had never worn a sari before, so she called our saristas and asked for help. We walked her through a variety of different saris, chose one for her – Sari No. 8 – and taught her how to drape the sari.

She tweet pic’d a picture of her wearing the sari and she looked gorgeous. When she got home, she was beaming! She loved being able to participate in the Indian (Punjabi) culture of this wedding, and actually felt more at ease at the wedding because she was wearing a sari – she thought that her friends wearing Western dresses stood out almost as casual observers to the wedding, while she was right in the thick of the excitement and chaos! She also said that it was an adventure learning how to dance in a sari, but everyone had the same problem, so they all learned together. All in all, wearing a Sari Closet sari completely changed her experience at the wedding. That made us very happy.

What’s your number one wedding tip?
Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of what is important at the wedding: the fact that two people are in love with each other and are going to share their life experiences together. The wedding isn’t the end, it’s only the beginning. As such, celebrate with gusto, and no matter what happens on the day, don’t lose sight of what is really important.

Oh, and tell your friends to borrow saris from Sari Closet!

With names such as Abhishek and Rekha, the theme for their reception was a no-brainer:  Bollywood!

Rekha:
“As we started brainstorming ideas for our Bollywood night, we decided to create movie posters with us playing the leading roles. Then came the other accessories such as the red carpet, the step and repeat and the photo booth with our personalized photo book.”

Like true Bollywood celebs, Rekha and Abhishek had a star-studded affair for their last event. Decorating dream-team Dream Occasions created a starry night inside the reception hall!

Venue: Chicago Marriot Oak Brook
Planner: Drish Couture Events
Decorator: Dream Occasions
Videographer: Delack Media Group
Photographer: High Dynamic Photography

Rekha’s finale outfit is gorgeous beyond words. Stay tuned for it!

When Abhishek and his family first visited Esplanade Lakes, they knew from the first impression that it would have to one of the venues. Esplande Lakes is nestled in a pond and the banquet hall is unique with its circular room, floor to ceiling windows, and breathtaking view. And to dress up this beautiful space, they brought in Drish Couture to work their magic!

Sangeet Venue: Esplanade Lakes by DoubleTree Suites Chicago-Downers Grove
Planner: Drish Couture Events
Decorator: Dream Occasions
Photographer: High Dynamic Photography
Videographer: Delack Media Group

Stay tuned to see Rekha’s stunning Sangeet Neeta Lulla lehenga!

What do you do?
I am first and foremost, a photojournalist.  My style exemplifies this.  I work to tell a tale – the story of love between two people.

Where are you based?
I am based in the sunny and culturally rich city of Fort Lauderdale, in South Florida.

When and How did you get started in the South Asian wedding industry?
I was inspired by the story-telling prowess of a young photojournalist whom I met on a trip abroad.  I took the talents of the news industry and applied those principles to telling the story of a wedding–ordinary people living extraordinary lives.

Why do you do what you do?
I want to be able to capture the emotion, the experience, and tell the story of a couple.  For them to share their story with their families, and remember their moments, forever.

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?
I specialize in South Asian weddings, but am often commissioned to apply my talents in weddings from both West and East.

Describe some of your inspirations.
My inspiration comes from the people in front of my lens – people’s personalities and unique characteristics that make them who they are.  I am inspired by their happiness, their families, and their joy when they reminisce as they re-live those moments through photography.

What are some mistakes you see most South Asian brides (and families) make?
I’ve seen many brides stress themselves out on the most important day of their lives.  As their wedding photographer, being around the couple puts me in a unique position to watch their emotional roller coaster.  My advice to brides and their family is to always plan ahead, and when the day comes, don’t forget to stop and take it all in.

Do you only cater to certain budgets only?
Absolutely not.  I have the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, and understand that people have different needs.  I want people to be absolutely thrilled with their photographs – no matter what they pay.

Tell us about your strongest area.
I never tire, never stop learning, and am always open to trying new and different techniques.  I always look at things from a new perspective, and most importantly:  I absolutely love what I do.

Tell us about your weakest area.
This may sound a bit cliché but I’m a perfectionist.  Everything has to be spot on.  If you’re not thrilled, I haven’t done my job.  Oh, and I spend far too much money on camera gear.

How would you describe your working style?
I’m not just another vendor you hire.  I want to get to know your story so I can showcase it to the world.  I’m all about people and what they have to say.  As far as what I’m like on the job, here are some adjectives:  a fly on the wall, fast paced, always on the move, doing whatever it takes to get the shot, quirky,  swift, always trying to make you laugh and loving every minute of it.

Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on.
Earlier this year, I was commissioned to photograph a wedding in Santiago, Chile a few months following the earthquake.  The people, scenery and landscape completely embodied the bride and groom and put them in a place where they felt absolutely at ease.  It was obvious they were at home – both physically and mentally.  It was an absolute joy to play a part in capturing the both families watching the outpouring of love from both sides.

What’s your number one wedding tip?
Plan well in advance.  Book your vendors early – most of the best wedding photographers are booked early.  Do your homework and meet with several people until you find someone who’s work you love, and you both genuinely like.  When the day comes – trust in those who you put in charge.  As long as you’re prepared with the knowledge that every little detail will not go exactly as you planned — you’ll be just fine.  Finally – don’t forget to stop, look around, and enjoy the moment with those around you to the absolute fullest.