Niki:

Hello, I am writing you from Vancouver, Canada. I just recently got engaged to a man from France. We are planning a Hindu ceremony for this summer close to his hometown in the south of France. I am finding many obstacles in arranging a Hindu ceremony from so far away and in an area that does not have a large Indian population. The first hurdle that we have encountered is trying to find a Pundit (Hindu Priest) to perform the ceremony. So far, the only Pundit that we have found lives in Germany. Do you have any ideas? Thank you for your time and any assistance you can give!

Dear Niki,

First of all, Congratulations!! The Sari-Clad Bride is always excited to hear about new couples tying the knot! Thank you for contacting us and we would definitely like to help you jump over those hurdles of planning a wedding from so far away. We do have some ideas that may help you. First of all, we would like to inform you about the Hindu temple in Paris listed below:

This is one of the larger temples in Paris. Please contact the temple for their Pundit availability. I am sure it will be cheaper for them to travel within France rather than bringing someone from outside the country.

Since the distance and expenses are usually the big issues with planning a destination wedding, the Sari-Clad Bride also suggests you contact local wedding planners in France to help you with finding a pundit as well as other necessities locally. Remember, a planner provides all types of service and you can pick and choose what you need – you don’t have to spend a lot of money on having a planner plan your whole wedding but he/she can help you with planning certain aspects of the wedding. Some planners we recommend are:

Additionally, if you need to fly someone in and flights are cheaper from England to France than from Germany, below is the information of a great priest from UK who does travel for weddings depending on availibility:

Keep checking us out as we will soon bring you vendor spotlights on some of these contacts that may help you make a wiser choice!

Why You Should Spend Big Money On A Good Wedding Photographer

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.

Read more

mintphotography.com

As we all know, photography is a very important element of all great weddings. After all, your wedding pictures will be the memories of your union which you will reminisce over at old age and share with your grandchildren someday. You want to make sure you capture the moments that made your day all so special. The recent press release from Tina of Tina Shah Doshi Photography provides great insider information as to what goes into beautiful wedding photography. She explains that, it is not only about choosing the right photographer but the little things the couple should do which are essential to create lasting memories. The Sari-Clad Bride is very excited to share her tips with you! So read on ladies! Read more

Zoya Couture Invitation Suite

Who are you?
Arti Anand
ZOYA Couture
1-866-611-ZOYA (9692)
zoyacouture.com

What do you do?
Wedding Invitations (Custom Design and Ready to Order), Event Stationery (Place cards, table numbers, Menus, Programs, Signage), Marketing Collateral.

Where are you based?
Washington, DC – but we often work with brides around the nation. Samples are mailed, design and proofs discussed over phone and e-mail, and final orders sent via FedEx.

When and How did you get started in the South Asian wedding industry?
I grew up around weddings! My parents owned a South Asian wedding decor company and I spent my weekends helping them with the creative design and set-up. I had been doing freelance graphic and web design for several years before I decided to apply it to the wedding invitation industry.

Why do you do what you do?
I love weddings – there’s something magical about them. While South Asian weddings in particular are so glamorous, most couples in the States have a hard time selecting invitations that marry their South Asian heritage with their modern, chic lifestyle. I love working with couples to find their individual styles and translating that to invitations that they have envisioned.

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?
Not exclusively, but a majority of our brides are of South Asian descent.

What are some mistakes you see most South Asian brides (and families) make?
Playing by the rules. Throw the rule book out! Brides and families begin their discussions with how they’ve seen other people do it, or how things have been done for generations. Don’t be afraid to get creative and try things differently. Create a wedding that’s beautiful to you, as its yours to experience and remember.

Do you only cater to certain budgets only?
We try our best to work with all budgets, but find that most of our brides are generally looking for exclusive, luxurious invitations that no one else has seen or done before. From silk folios to engraved coins – our creative brides always find unique ways to make their invitations stand out!

Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on.
The invitation suite captured in the attached image (captured by Regetis Photography) is for a South Asian destination wedding in Puerto Rico in early 2010. It has been so much fun working with the extremely creative couple and their wedding planner. They have great style and will be reflecting this design theme throughout their wedding day materials. We’re excited to see how the events come together!

What’s your number one wedding tip?
Enjoy every minute of it. Wedding planning can get stressful – but don’t let little setbacks bring you down. Remember that at the end of the day, the purpose of the day is to be united with the one you love! Best wishes with your wedding planning!

Courtesy of S2S Photography

Who are you?

Saad Syed

S2S Photography, LLC.

919-413-5220

www.s2sphotography.com

What do you do?

I am a wedding photographer. I consider myself in a business of documenting love, connection, and the human experience.

Where are you based?

I reside in Raleigh, North Carolina. But I get commissioned for weddings all over. I have shot and/or will be shooting weddings in Delaware, Florida, Ohio, New York, Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina. Read more

A reader recently asked:

Hi there! My question is regarding Indian themed wedding furniture (bride and groom’s chair/swings, etc). Do you guys have any insight on that? On google, there are list of vendors and rental places that seem to be either outside of the U.S or in New Jersey. Any suggestions of places closer to home (NY)? Thanks in advance!

Well dear reader, there are so many ideas to choose from, where shall we begin?! Back in the day, it used to be that there simply was a stage with some pillows for the bride and groom to sit on, along with a hundred of the bride’s sahelis (girlfriends) . Today’s wedding planners and decorators can offer you so much more than that. From simple sitting arrangements such as a ‘dais’ or ‘piri’ for the gayer holud/mehndi ceremony to just two  royal thrones for a wedding stage to more elegant arrangements such as a swing or a curved wedding throne or love seat – the choices are endless. Although most of the time, the  venue of the ceremony most certainly will be able to provide the furniture required, bringing in a wedding planner or decorator for this particular service just might be worth it!

Borrow some ideas from the following examples to create your own special wedding stage.

traditional bengali gayer holud stage

another take on a bengali gaye holud stage

mehndi stage

bengali gaye holud stage with swing

wedding stage

A non-traditional color-schemed reception stage

wedding stage (photo: contemporary creations)

wedding stage for a hindu ceremony (photo: contemporary creations)

moguel-era inspired wedding stage (photo: 2create designs)

contemporary reception stage (photo: 2create designs)

floral-themed wedding stage (photo: 2create designs)

We have recently covered some wedding planners/decorators under our vendor spotlight such as 2CreateDesigns, Contemporary Creations, and Planning Elegance, who are exceptional at mandap/stage setup as well at providing the necessary furniture. We will soon bring you more vendor spotlights within the New York Tristate area. So stay tuned!

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. Read more