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!

www.2createdesigns.com

Who are you?
2create designs
888-865-4940

Our specific title is a floral designer: Rather than just thinking about the table centerpieces, we help you create the overall set design, including prop rentals, furniture lounge areas, suitable floral, lighting and possibly draping. A floral designer is different from a florist.

What do you do?

2create designs embodies your visions tocreate events a level far beyond your visual imagery. We take your dreams, imagine them and bring them to life making us the ideal design studio for a variety of special events.

2create designs

Where are you based?

We are located in Southern California.

2create designs

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

Fayaz and I (Saman) both started individually over 6 years ago. We have both always had a passion in this industry, so we joined forces and started our company 2Create Designs, about a little over a year ago.

Why do you do what you do?

Seeing the look on of a satisfied bride/client at the end of the evening is the best feeling in the world and gives us purpose to continue what we do as floral designers.

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?

We specialize in South Asian weddings, however, we have worked on events/weddings in all societies and cultures.

2create designs

Describe some of your inspirations.

• Fashion Show runways.
• Interior Decorating Stores.
• Staring at nature.
• Just about anything inspires us to create fresh & new ideas. Even the simplest of things, such as going to your local market and seeing certain colors together or seeing simple painting makes us envision those items in our weddings.

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

Being too involved and taking on too much stress. If you have chosen a vendor based on photos you’ve seen of their work or referrals from friends, understand that they know what they are doing and you are in good hands. When you get too involved the designer/vendor no longer has the freedom of imagination and you end up taking on a lot of un-necessary stress. Just relax and let the professionals handle it.

Do you only cater to certain budgets only?

We are open to most budgets.

Tell us about your strongest area.

2Create Designs prides itself in stage design. South Asian weddings are all about the stage. It’s where the most photos are shot, it’s where the bride and groom sit for the majority of the night, and it’s the focal point of most events. 2Create’s mission is to provide a unique, new, and absolutely gorgeous stage to all of our clients.

Tell us about your weakest area.

We are very detail oriented whether it be our presentation, customer service, quality of work, we are always busy making sure everything is in order. As a result of this we often find it hard to find a balance between work and life. This is a sacrifice we gladly make, because for both of us this is our passion.

How would you describe your working style?

We are very punctual, organized and very detail oriented.

2create designs

Describe a particularly memorable wedding you’ve worked on.

Recently we worked on a wedding where the bride gave us complete freedom of imagination. Our minds went wild and we came up some really fresh new ideas, and I have to say it was one of our best weddings of the summer.

2create designs

What’s your number one wedding tip?

Do not skimp on quality vendors! I am all for saving money and there are many ways to do so, but if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this: your wedding is only as good as the people who pull it together. I’m talking about photographers, caterers, and decorators anyone who plays a part in your day. It’s a once in a lifetime event and you have one shot to do it well. Forget family amateurs and that “friend of a friend” who will give you a good deal. Go with professionals who have the true wedding experience. When things go wrong- and they will- you need a professional who will know what to do on the spot.

When selecting your vendors, you are much better off hiring a great vendor and scaling back the scope of their work then hiring a low-cost provider.