“My name is Neetu and I’m getting married in August (yay!). I live abroad and there’s a very limited selection for clothing. I don’t know when or if I’ll be able to travel to do my wedding shopping so it’s really scaring me that I’m going to get stuck in something…ugly (haha) or at least something I don’t love. So, I’ve been considering online shopping and I was just wondering if you’ve ever heard of Benzer World? The clothes look lovely online but you never know! If you know anything or have any other site suggestions, I’d really appreciate it!”

“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!

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Check out Natasha and Farshid’s amazing Southeast Asian honeymoon. This couple is definitely not one for laying around on the beach!

Honeymooners in Ko Phi Phi, Thailand

Oo La La! Hotel De La Piaux in Siem Riep, Cambodia

Beautifying each other is what true love is all about!

Playing with Elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand
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Calling all Indian girls: If you’re getting married in the Motherland, check out this Mumbai-based photographer!

Who are you?
Deepa Netto
deepanetto.com
+91 9773924078

What do you do?
I am a contemporary wedding photographer.

Where are you based?
I am based in the financial city of India–Mumbai–but I shoot weddinsg all across the globe.

When and How did you get started in the South Asian wedding industry?
I love to observe people. A friend of mine who is a wedding photographer asked me to second shoot with him. The images of the very first wedding I shot went on to be one of the top 5 nominees for the Kodak ‘Wedding Photographer of the Year’ contest. That’s what led me to become a wedding photographer.

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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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