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!

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!

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.

Who are you?

What do you do?
I’ve been photographing weddings for the most amazing couples. It’s my job to be a storyteller, to find the essence and character of the bride and groom and communicate that in a series of beautiful photographs. I’ve been lucky to work with such amazing (beautiful and talented) clients.

Where are you based?
Columbus, Ohio.

When and How did you get started in the South Asian wedding industry?
While I majored in biology as an undergrad at Stanford, I took a photography class for fun and fell in love with taking pictures. So long, biology! After getting my masters in photojournalism from Ohio University, I became a globe-trotting photojournalist, covering every kind of story from the 2005 tsunami in Asia to births in Papua New Guinea to hurricanes in Florida and health care in Haiti. My images were part of the Palm Beach Post’s hurricane coverage portfolio that was one of three finalists for a Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News Photography in 2005.

In 2005, I was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to spend a year on a documentary project on wedding rituals in Mauritius.  Mauritius is this tiny little island in the middle of the Indian Ocean with a vibrant and diverse Indian community. I’ve always been fascinated with rituals and ceremony. During this project, I just fell in love with the beauty and joy and emotion of weddings.

Why do you do what you do?
As a photojournalist, you see a lot of wonderful things and meet incredible people in every corner of the globe, but you also see a lot of suffering. After all the tsunamis, hurricanes and fires, I found myself really enjoying the joy of weddings. The moments, emotion, light, color and celebration of it all. It is an inspiring place to go to work.

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?
I work with everyone.

Describe some of your inspirations.
Some of my wedding photography is completely photojournalistic – all about capturing the fleeting moments of the day. The photojournalist in me is inspired by Magnum photographers like Alex Webb and Raghu Rai, as well as many of the National Geographic photographers like David Alan Harvey.

However, painting is my first love. Two of my favorite artists are Henri Matisse and Wolf Kahn. Bright color palettes inspire me, whether in a piece of art, or in nature. I didn’t realize it until recently, but many of the portraits I make are more like paintings than photographs.

What are some mistakes you see most South Asian brides (and families) make?
It’s critical to carve out a significant chunk of time in the wedding-day schedule for bride/groom portraits. It takes time to get gorgeous portraits, so build that time into your schedule and you won’t regret it. Some of your favorite wedding pictures will come from that portrait session.

Invest in a professional photographer you really love. Photography should be one of your top wedding planning priorities. You’re thinking, of course she’s saying that, she’s a photographer! Seriously though. Do this thought experiment: your house is burning down and you have five minutes to collect anything you can grab and run. What will you take? Will you take your TV, your microwave, your shoes? Most likely you’ll take the things that have true meaning to you, the things that are irreplaceable. Like pictures and family albums. Your pictures are your history. They are valuable and historic.

Long after the cake has been eaten and the flowers wilted, you will still have your wedding pictures. In a couple of generations, imagine showing your wedding album to your grandchildren, as you explain the story of how Grandma met Grandpa (a story that no doubt has two completely different versions!) Your pictures are part of your family history. They are precious. So invest in a professional photographer you really love. Not a family member, not a friend, not Uncle Bob who has a fancy camera and will shoot your wedding for free (or say, $500). I’ve seen it happen, and that story has a sad ending.

Do you only cater to certain budgets?
I typically get hired for mid-to high-end weddings.

Tell us about your strongest area.
Wedding photography demands a diverse skill set. Many years of photojournalism experience has been the perfect training for capturing the fleeting (candid) moments that define a wedding. But my love for painting and my fine art background inspires my portraiture–I love shooting portraits. I think it’s difficult to find a wedding photographer that does both of those things well (posed portraits as well as candid moments).

This is how one of my brides answered this question on weddingwire.com:

“Uma’s cool, easy approach makes her a wonderful person to work with on this stressful day!! I had an outdoor wedding, and as the clouds came in and the rain came down, I was disappointed that we wouldn’t have the gorgeous sunsetting pictures across the lake as I had envisioned. She assured me the pictures would come out even better because of a little cloud cover. Bits of encouraging words like this were so valuable to me on my wedding day!!!”

Tell us about your weakest area.
My biggest weakness is cake. I love cake.
OK seriously. My weakness is that I’m very hard on myself. Perfectionism is great and all, but I’d rather be one of those devil-may-care types.

How would you describe your working style?
As a photojournalist, I take a ‘fly on the wall’ approach. I like to be so low-profile that people forget I’m there. That’s the best way to get natural, candid moments and emotion. Not easy to do, when you’re standing right there, clicking away with a huge camera! But it happens, and that’s the magic of it. When people are comfortable around you, they relax show their true selves. That’s when good pictures happen.

Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on.
This was a truly one-of-a-kind wedding. Nikhil and Asha (who met at a Stanford reunion) got married in Little Rock, Arkansas. They wanted to combine the different cultural traditions represented by their parents: Indian, Jewish, Unitarian. The result was an Indian fusion wedding in the deep American south. The night before the wedding there was a sangeet. The following day, the baraat commenced before the ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by both a Hindu priest AND a Unitarian minister. The bride wore a white dress, while the groom was dressed in traditional Indian garb from head to toe (he changed to a tux before the reception). The couple wore traditional Indian garlands, walked around a sacred fire seven times. They exchanged rings, “I do’s”, a first kiss, and partook in a mixture of Indian and non-Indian wedding rituals.

This is the most fun way to watch this wedding:

Asha & Nikhil from Uma Sanghvi on Vimeo.

What’s your number one wedding tip?
No one tells you this beforehand, but you end up spending more time with your photographer on your wedding day than almost anyone else. Not only do you need to love their work, but you should also feel very comfortable with the person. When you meet them, ask yourself how you feel around them. Your instincts will guide you.

Lastly, enjoy your wedding! That should go without saying, but it goes by fast. So enjoy every beautiful moment.

Who are you?
We are Kumari Photography by Monty & Sangeeta. Two professional full time photographers who have a passion for the creative process and love for emotion.
kumariphotoanddesign.com

What do you do?
We are friends, listeners and creative visual artists…. we are photographers. We build relationship and capture the true personalities of our wonderful couples.

Where are you based?
Our studio is based in Toronto, however we are available to shoot internationally.

When and How did you get started in the South Asian wedding industry?
Kumari started as a vision nearly 5 years ago and flourished into a full-fledged photography company pretty quickly. We realized very quickly how much we complimented each others skills and personality in photography and life. Building a relationship and business out of our passion has been a remarkable journey which we are blessed to share with many amazing couples.

Why do you do what you do?
It is our passion. The opportunity to share in one’s very special day is a unique and rare opportunity. Capturing the day in a creative and storytelling so that the couples grandchildren feel like they were there, is what we strive for. D

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?
We work all types of weddings, and find the unique beauty of each. Fusion wedding are our favourite types as we get to experience the richness culture and traditions of two families coming together.

Describe some of your inspirations.
Emotions (love, passion, friendship). Nature (trees, animals, clouds). Renaissance artist (masters of vision and lighting). Pioneering Leaders (Gandhi, MLK, Obama). The world and the culture it produces.

What are some mistakes you see most South Asian brides (and families) make?
Not hiring an experienced wedding planner. Such a shame to see an elaborate event brought down by disorganization and a lack of coordination. Also, the number one regret of not budgeting to have the day photographed professionally and creatively.

Do you only cater to certain budgets only?
While most budgets are $4K+, we are always willing to work with the right creative couple who are truly passionate about great photography.

Tell us about your strongest area.
Creative photo shoots. The creative visioning process with our client to produce a unique look and feel to their photos is our hallmark. Through this process we build a great relationship of trust which enables us to capture their true spirits on the big day.

Tell us about your weakest area.
Having too many ideas and not enough time to execute them all. We are a fountain of creative juices and the biggest challenge is picking just the very few to evolve into the ones we use to capture the couple’s personality.

How would you describe your working style? Personal. We are about personalized custom service relationships which ensure everyone get the experience and products they are looking for. We can coach and guide where needed, however we listen first and try to understand you.

Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on.
The wedding of Amit and Katie. We shot their two weddings (hindu & catholic) in Costa Rica over the course of a week. We built such an amazing connection with the couple, that their wedding shoot ended with a trash the dress at a waterfall! The prefect couple… unique, creative, adventurous and a love for great photography!

What’s your number one wedding tip?
Never forget that it is your day. Build the vision you want by listing the 3 most important items and plan, budget and strategize around them. Let family have their involvement, but ensure your top 3 are always kept near and dear to your heart!

Who are you?
Nathan Delack, President & Lead Cinematographer Delack Media Group
DelackMediaGroup.com
delackmediagroup.com/blog
facebook.com/delackmediagroup

What do you do?
We are a boutique international wedding cinematography studio. We film some of the most beautiful weddings and turn them into mini-movies.

Where are you based?
We are based out of the Chicagoland area. Although the majority of our wedding film commissions originate from the Midwest, we do travel around the United States and internationally to film weddings.

When and How did you get started in the South Asian wedding industry?
Our first South Asian wedding was in 2009. A very enthusiastic bride heard about our work and unique style of storytelling. After seeing our wedding trailers online, she was sold and booked right away.

Why do you do what you do?
Visual storytelling is an art that can evoke so many emotions. Combine that with one of the happiest days in people’s lives and you have one amazing story to film. There’s nothing better than getting notes from brides and their families about how they cried or had chills after watching their wedding film. That is why we love what we do!

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?
This year, more than 50 percent of our clients are South Asian.

Describe some of your inspirations.
I get a lot of inspiration from documentaries and also from nature cinematography. Documentaries are driven by storytelling. It’s usually one person or a group of people telling a story. Moving images combined with the spoken word are so powerful. What we do is so much more than a wedding video.  It’s a wedding film. We’re creating a story…a moving narrative of your day.  Nature, in general, gives me a lot of inspiration for the framing and composition of my cinematography. There’s so much color and life out there. I think that’s also why I love to film South Asian weddings. The pallet of colors at a South Asian wedding, combined with the amazing traditions are perfect for our style of filming weddings.

What are some mistakes you see most South Asian brides (and families) make?
South Asian wedding ceremonies are extremely intricate in culture and religion.  Traditions have been handed down from generation to generation, but I foresee a time when much of the South Asian wedding ceremony will be diluted. My recommendation would be to read up on the wedding ceremony’s rituals and understand the meaning behind each one. If you do that, your wedding ceremony will mean much more to you.

Do you only cater to certain budgets only?
Because of the high quality of our work, our wedding film collections are aimed towards the higher-end wedding budgets. Comfortably-equipped wedding film collections begin in the $5300 range (not including any travel fees outside the Chicago area).

Tell us about your strongest area.
We are extremely strong in the knowledge of South Asian weddings. We know the ceremony and each part of it. That’s important because we can anticipate certain things happening and be prepared to capture it in a creative way that will be memorable for the viewer.

Tell us about your weakest area.
We always want to push the limits in regards to our production crew.  We’d love to have six cameras at a wedding and capture all sorts of amazing shots, but budgets typically get in the way. We spend a tremendous amount of time on pre and post- production for every wedding film-almost to the point of it being a flaw. We want every wedding film we produce to be stunning.

How would you describe your working style?
My goal is to develop a working relationship with our clients. I want to know more about them, their lives, how they met, how they fell in love, and what they’re looking forward to doing together in the future. Getting to know each couple only customizes the wedding film and helps us create a more personalized story for them.

Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on.
Each South Asian wedding we’ve captured is so unique and interesting. One of the most memorable South Asian weddings we’ve done most recently was Parul and Mirab’s wedding in the Chicago suburb of Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Their peacock-themed wedding was absolutely beautiful. Their designer’s attention to detail made for an amazing display of colors. Over 500 people filled their reception hall, which was decorated with peacock feathers, tons of huge flower bouquets, and lots of love from family and friends.

Parul + Mirab // A Chicago Illinois Indian Wedding Video Trailer from Delack Media Group on Vimeo.

What’s your number one wedding tip?
Communicate, communicate, communicate! Talk with your photographer and cinematographer. We want to be as excited about your wedding day-just as much as you are! What makes your wedding unique? What are you looking forward to doing on your day? Give us your timeline well in advance of your wedding day. Talk about each part of your day and what you plan on doing. Solicit advice and input from these vendors. We’ve done plenty of weddings. We know what works and what doesn’t. Upfront and clear communication will allow us to anticipate events and capture them in the most creative way possible.

Who are you?

Borrow It Bindaas

borrowitbindaas.com

facebook.com/BorrowItBindaas

twitter.com/BorrowItBindaas

What do you do?

Borrow it Bindaas is a fabulous online boutique where you can borrow or buy beautiful sarees and accessories worry free!

Where are you based?

We are based in beautiful Southern California.

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

We evolved from playing dress-up with our mother’s lovely saris to rummaging through our closets and ambitiously searching far and wide to build our own sari collection. We found ourselves trading outfits with a circle of Sari swappers; our sisters, cousins, aunts,etc. This is how we came up with the idea of creating an online boutique that a girl could only dream of. We decided to start this fabulous site on the foundations of our business backgrounds, entrepreneurial spirit and our fanaticism for fashion, movies, and Indian culture in general. We combined that with a genuine desire to give customers a hassle-free experience.

Why do you do what you do?

As young, budget-conscious and fashion-forward women, we want ladies like ourselves to be able to experience high-end Indian fashion without having to break their banks and travel across the world to have access to the latest trends. Bindaas means to be carefree, not sweating the small stuff! We want our future brides and any customer to be able to borrow and flaunt these fabulous fashions carefree and also feel like a million bucks! We’re so passionate about Indian fashion that we’ve done all the hard work to allow our customers to Borrow it Bindaas!

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?

In addition to catering to our South Asian community, Borrow It Bindaas also caters to non- South Asians as well. We want to give everyone a chance to adorn themselves in ethnic and elegant Indian garments, hassle free and of course without having to spend a fortune!

Describe some of your inspirations.

Growing up, we were very lucky to be able to travel to India every other year. From a very young age we became inspired and passionate about the rich culture, music, arts and most of all the versatile fashion! We have been very fortunate to be able to create a synergy between our passion for all things Indian combined with our entrepreneurial spirit.

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

I feel that some of the constraints South Asian brides have are the limitations they have of Indian apparel for their bridal party in particular. We’ve seen many brides have to have their bridesmaids swap outfits throughout the events, because of the lack of resources for affordable Indian apparel and accessories. And that’s where we come in. We want to relieve some of the Bride’s tension, and dress their bridesmaids and guests who want to wear trendy yet affordable Indian fashions. This way the Bride can focus on herself and her bridesmaids and weddings guests also look and feel fabulous!

Do you only cater to certain budgets only?

Our entire collection is priced very reasonably. Most of our collection, while high- end, is catered to budget conscious fashionista’s, not looking to spend a fortune on their ensemble. Our Exclusive Collection features pieces from India’s top designers: Manish Malhotra, Neeta Lulla, and Archana Kochhar Sarees.

Tell us about your strongest area.

In addition to our affordable prices for borrowing or buying, I feel that our strongest area is the versatility of our apparel and accessories. We have personally traveled to India to hand-select and work closely with our designers to ensure that our inventory caters to all tastes and styles.

Tell us about your weakest area.

We do admit that we are guilty of going above and beyond for our Bindaas Divas. We try to provide everything we can to our customers so that they have a seamless and hassle-free experience.

How would you describe your working style?

Our working style is very interactive and we strive for perfection when starting on every project no matter how large or small the scope is. We have a wonderful team of people and each individual has tremendous work ethic. Everyone on our team has their own unique strengths and when we all work together we deliver nothing less than the best!

Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on.

Every wedding is special to our team. We must say though, our first few rentals will always hold a special place in our hearts; since we were able to see our dream and hard work become a reality.

What’s your number one wedding tip?

Our number one tip for weddings is that brides should really enjoy themselves and not to sweat the small stuff, essentially to be BINDAAS!

Who are you?

What do you do?
Concept, design and manage production work for custom stationery and wedding invitations for PaperDaydream.

Where are you based?
Los Angeles–with current expansion plans.

When and How did you get started in the South Asian wedding industry?
I got started whilst helping plan my sister’s wedding in 2007. The idea was always there to offer design services professionally, but I never actually executed until 2008/2009. A lot of favor requests and a high demand paired with a love for good design and art, compelled me to take on the scene professionally.

Why do you do what you do?
I feel like all good design and art should have a purpose and meaning. People spend thousands—even millions on their big day, and it seems people pour their money in things that people easily forget about. I want to help make couples’ events stand out, represent them, and be more memorable for their guests. I think some people think outsourcing to India is good enough, but it makes such a difference when your invitation doesn’t look like everyone else’s. I love designing and coming up with original concepts for each couple.

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?
No. While I am well acclimated with South Asian Weddings and Brides, we offer services to all regions, cultural traditions, and couples.

Describe some of your inspirations.
Art, Good writing, Fashion and typography. And weddings, obviously!

What are some mistakes you see most South Asian brides (and families) make?
Outsourcing invitations to India/Pakistan/Bangladesh and having them return smelling like the country, and having spelling mistakes! I’ve seen so many invitations that have been covered up with stickers, or even a cross-out with ink because vendors back there are not detail-oriented, and don’t really care.

Do you only cater to certain budgets?
No. I offer different packages that fall within different price points. I do, however, only cater to those that actually care and respect the little details and modern design.

Tell us about your strongest area.
Quality and conceptual design.

Tell us about your weakest area.
Managing my blog/marketing while taking on new clients and projects.

How would you describe your working style?
Communicative and creative.

Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on.
Two of my best friends wedding + bridal shower events! It felt rewarding coming up with something personable and custom for two of the closest people in my lives. I tried to make it as thematic and representative of their persona as possible.

What’s your number one wedding tip?
Be grateful and gracious to your bridal party, friends and family, etc. Know when to turn off the Bridezilla.

Who are you?
Amrit Dhillon-Bains, owner/creative director at Anaïs Event Planning & Design.
anaisevents.com

What do you do?
We are a full service event planning and design studio.

Where are you based?
Northern California.

When and How did you get started in the South Asian wedding industry?
I’d like to claim that I had it all figured out when at the age of 11, I told my mom that I was going to be a famous artist one day but there were elements of luck and destiny that made my credentials in Graphic Design and Business Management just the right foundation for starting Anaïs Events. A visual junkie at heart with an intense passion for design, I started out in this industry doing custom stationery work for friends while also honing my project management skills in a corporate career. I earned my way with hundreds of hours of managing complex and detailed projects, endless pro-bono work, tightly controlled work schedules, intensely demanding consulting for private and commercial interior design clients , and all things design oriented. Later, graduating with an MBA reminded me that I was willing to jump through hoops and persevere through intense demands to do things right.

Why do you do what you do?
Simple–because I love every aspect of it! The blend of creativity, people at their emotional best and worst, endless details, our contribution to lifelong memories is all too powerful and enticing. I am fortunate to have found (and enjoy) the career I am married to.

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?
Not exclusively but a strong majority of our events are cross-cultural and Southeast Asian weddings and celebrations.

Describe some of your inspirations.
Nikki Khan of Exquisite Events has always been my idol but our fabulous clients and the talents of all the vendors we are fortunate to work with are an endless source of inspiration every day!

What are some mistakes you see most South Asian brides (and families) make?
We need to wean ourselves from the cultural obsession with a “deal”! You absolutely get what you pay for in this industry, so spend wisely! Yes, it’s your hard-earned money and doesn’t need to be blown away on a few hours but remember it is your BIG day. Photography is the meat of your wedding simply because that’s what memories are made of–don’t skimp on this critical essential! Also, remember that as the host, how you plan for and treat your guests at the event is akin to inviting them into your home. They probably won’t remember the flowers but they will certainly remember waiting in line for a drink or their meal!

Do you only cater to certain budgets?
Every event has its own identity and we attempt to discover that expectation and ensure that it is expressed to its intent. This can be accomplished with a modest budget or an extravagant one, in a small intimate gathering or embraced by a large guest attendance.

Tell us about your strongest area.
Design

Tell us about your weakest area.

Giving away more bang for the buck! I am guilty of providing more than the paid scope of work to avoid compromising the overall design aesthetic.

How would you describe your working style?
Efficient, organized and dependable.

Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on.
Every wedding we’ve done holds a special place in my heart so each was exciting, interesting, specific and special.

What’s your number one wedding tip?
Start planning early.