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!

Wadi Rum, Jordan

I don’t know about you ladies but sometimes the Sari-Clad Bride wishes to be different. Yes, we are always up for a honeymoon getaway at the beach, but the complete opposite can be quite fun! The Sari-Clad Bride  recently had the opportunity to go to Wadi Rum, Jordan – a desert valley. Although it wasn’t for a honeymoon, we only wish to share with you how beautiful and romantic a desert can be! Yes, that’s right! Honeymoon at the desert can be an exquisite experience! Read more

Christian Louboutin Jeweled Slingback

Hi ladies! Our last shoe post was all about comfort and style for the practical bride. The Sari-Clad Bride has already given you advice on what you should look for in bridal shoes if you love your feet more than your shoes. But we have to say that if there can be exceptions to the Octet rule of atomic bonding, there are exceptions to our rules as well. Plus, our readers have spoken! You wanted to know about the lavish and just plain outrageous (in a good way of course!) styles for bridal shoes which will make your guests do a double-take at your feet! So here are some of those exceptional exceptions. We do have to warn you: such envious action does come at a price!

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Let’s face it ladies; with all the heavy dresses and jewelry we have to wear on our wedding day, it’s no easy feat  to walk in 6-inch heels as well. It’s uncomfortable enough to have all that on along with the makeup and a hairdo under the very bright flashlights of cameras, on top of which we have to be careful of our every move in order not to undo the dupatta on our head or the folds of our sari. At the end of it all, us modern brides want to be able to dance our night away, and those of us without a D.S. degree (Dancing in Stilettos), need alternatives! So I say “No!” to high heels and “Bring on the low and mid heels please!!”

What you should look for while shopping for comfy bridal shoes:

• A medium heel: Perfect for adding a few inches to your height without overwhelming you.

• A cone-shaped heel: Provides more support than pencil heels.

• The slip-on style: For easy access, since various South Asian wedding rituals require the bride to put her shoes on and off.

• Avoid ankle straps: As we usually like to wear anklets (nupur/payalias), shoes with ankle straps may get in the way.

• Open toe/open front: Makes your feet look less official and more fun and flirty. Not to mention,      you don’t want to cover the gorgeous henna/mehndi designs!

• Bejeweled front: With all the decorative clothes and jewelry to wear, an ornamental touch in the front is more than enough to make a fashion statement.

www.piperlime.com

The Bandolino Quitarah evening sandals ($34.99) are a good example of all of the above. Note the medium cone-shaped heel and the jeweled details on the top – this may not be something right out of Vogue, but it will definitely work with a bridal sari or lehenga. We love is that it’s also leather!

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Traditionally newlyweds opt for honeymoons that are composed of sun, beaches, and the ocean–however, The Sari-Clad Bride suggests that you try something a little different– Toyko, Japan for a honeymoon.

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

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

Kamakura

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INSPIRATION
Read more about Karisma’s wedding here.

Gorgeous Karishma Kapoor on her wedding day

A modern take
We love the simple halter top and intricate skirt on this lehenga–perfect for a modern bride’s reception look.
Where: Silkthreads
How much: $1495.00

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Kolkata–the “it” place to shop in India– has been a wedding shopping destination for years.  Brides from all over the Western world and South Asia go to Kolkata to do their wedding shopping.

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

Park Street courtesy of India Mike

Courtesy of James Nichloas Sears

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