Glowing Skin

Make appointments to see your dermatologist and discuss a personal cleansing and moisturizing routine. Facials don’t come cheap, so visit your beauty expert at regularly and don’t miss appointments. Don’t overdo your skin treatments, as your skin needs time to take in the nourishment. Follow the instructions of your dermatologist with your skincare routine at home.

It is not just your facial skin that needs to be glowing, but your feet and hands play a major role in your wedding functions. Go for regular pedicures and manicures.

Haircuts and Color

If you want to go in for a new haircut or a color, this is the right time. With six months on hand, there is still time for a new haircut and color to settle. You will know exactly how it will look with your wedding outfit and you will avoid any major damage.

Exfoliate and Protect Your Skin

To get rid of dead skin, exfoliate. Your exfoliation routine has to be done twice/three times a week, don’t overdo it as it may lead to dry skin. Do not go out without a sunscreen and reapply every two/three hours to keep the skin free from damage – a must for all brides-to-be.

Keep Stress at Bay

You need to relax and keep stress away though it is easier said than done! Stress can take a toll on your skin so practice some mindfulness techniques.

Deep Condition and Use Good Hair Spray

Hair is an important part of your entire wedding look. To ensure your hair looks best for your events, use a deep conditioning hair mask twice/three times a month before the wedding. For dry hair, apply homemade hair packs to make it glossy and healthy. A good hairspray will keep your hair in place and take care of the frizz.

Drinking lots of water coupled with sleep; exfoliating daily two weeks prior to the wedding, having all your appointments in place and indulging in regular manicures and pedicures will make all the difference!

The post Pre-Wedding Beauty Timeline for Brides-To-Be first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

Welcome bags (or boxes) are perfect for your out-of-town guests. Pick some of these items or pick them all – it’s up to you!

Indian Wedding Welcome Bag Contents

Wedding Weekend Itinerary / Schedule of Events: Include this info in your Itinerary so your guests are in the know.

Welcome Note / Thank You Message: You want to welcome your guests [to the most exciting wedding they will ever experience]. A.K.A your wedding. Include a short and sweet message.

Timeline of events: Wedding guests want to be in the know – recap the breakdown of events, and when they need to be where.

Key contacts for the weekend: Add in one or two people guests can contact if they have any questions about the weekend.

Social media hashtag or app to tag photos: If you’re using a wedding app, here’s a great place to add in the hashtag or URL.

What to do between events / map of the area: Indian wedding weekends usually consist of some downtime in between. Give your guests some ideas of what to do and where to go in their downtime. It’s especially helpful when you’re having a wedding in a city like Chicago, Atlanta, or LA and there’s a ton to do. Snacks: Opt for pre-packaged single size chips and granola bars from wholesale stores like Costco or Sam’s Club. Indian Goodies: Don’t forget some Indian goodies (if you so desire) – throw in some naasta or some homemade Indian cookies. Customized Snacks: If pre-made snacks aren’t cutting it for you, put together a customized trail mix with bulk nuts and dried fruit using ingredients from wholesale stores. Water bottles: Water is an important add-in to your Indian wedding welcome bag. Print out customized labels or create them yourself. Hangover Recovery Kit: Advil, Altoids, Pepto Bismol, etc. These kits can be purchased pre-packaged on Amazon. Mints / Candies: Mini-candy in your wedding colors make for a sweet touch. Check for candy from bulk candy store or online. If you’re feeling traditional, opt for “mini” versions of everyday favorites like Twix, Kit-kat or Snickers. Edible Unique Goodies: Something unique could be your favorite, a hometown favorite or something fun related to your wedding destination. Here are some examples: Chicago: Chicago Style popcorn Ohio: Buckeyes New York: Black and White cookies Beach Wedding or Cali: Plastic sunglasses (for the Baraat / groom’s procession) If you want to include something sweet, keep it simple and classy with a french macaron or some cookies. Favors: If you want to add in a favor, the Indian wedding welcome bag is a good place to add in something fun like a luggage tag, wine opener. Packaging Welcome bag or welcome box: Opt for a color that’s one of your wedding colors or simply pick something neutral like paper bag brown Check out some ideas here at Bags & Bows. LOVE this site! Reusable bag: Customize the reusable bag with your names and wedding date that’s a favor in itself for your guests. Don’t forget custom logos on stickers to package your gifts. An awesome added touch. Welcome Bag Assembly Now you have all of the contents, it’s time to put your welcome packages together. Welcome bag assembly is a great activity to outsource to a few family and friends who want to help. Use a big area to spread out the welcome bag or welcome box Create a sample bag to show your helpers what to put in the bag Have each person be responsible for distributing ONE item into each bag Add in a piece of tissue before finishing up the welcome bag – it’ll look like a gift, and guests will feel like they’re getting a gift package Welcome-Bag Delivery Coordinate with the hotel manager beforehand to make sure they’re good with distributing the bags. Some higher end hotels might charge for distributing the bags. Specify to the hotel staff how many welcome bags should be distributed per room or per person. Have the staff hand the welcome bags to guests upon check-in or have the bags placed in guest rooms ahead of time. Get help from family or friends to transport the welcome bags to the hotel during the week before your wedding weekend. For destination weddings or weddings not in your hometown, take supplies and assemble welcome bags upon arrival at your destination. And that’s a perfect Indian wedding welcome bag! As I mentioned before, this is one of the best tasks to outsource to family and friends. Happy Planning,

About the Author

A marketing specialist by trade, Satya Patel started Indian Wedding Toolkit to connect her skills from Marketing Strategy to Wedding Planning. Organization and Project Management have always been an essential part of her job, and she loves it.

Today, Satya empowers brides and grooms with relevant time-saving planning tips, tricks, and resources to prepare for the incredible Indian wedding & fusion wedding planning journey. Visit Indian Wedding Toolkit to learn more.

The post How To Create the Perfect Indian Wedding Welcome Bag first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

Fusion weddings can be difficult to plan with different religious and cultural backgrounds, and to add to it, different customs. You may want to plan a beautiful fusion wedding by giving a nod to both your cultures.

At Desh-Videsh we have listed our top 10 tips to make the planning process less cumbersome and help you pull off a fabulous and successful fusion wedding.

Communicate: Communicate openly with your fiancé, with both sides of the family. Discuss which traditions they would like to incorporate.

Avoid faux-pas: Educate each of your families on what would be considered inappropriate behavior in the other’s community.

Hire a wedding planner familiar with multicultural weddings: Finding a wedding planner who is familiar with your ceremonies will help take the weight off your shoulders on such a busy day.

Pick the right venue: Pick a venue that will accommodate your wedding, and know the rules.

Personalize your invitations: In the invitations be creative, show how you’ll incorporate both backgrounds into your special day. Include fun elements about both cultures – favorite recipe, region, etc.

Create a ceremony program for guests: Your guests may not be aware of the customs you’re including. Design a ceremony program to keep your loved ones informed about important traditions.

Wear outfits from both cultures: Give a nod to both the cultures by wearing outfits from your as well as your partner’s culture.

Engage both cultures: Incorporate details from each of your cultural tradition like food and music. Have fusion food from both backgrounds is a great way to make guests from both sides feel comfortable and explore a new cuisine. Include a playlist of songs from both cultures.

Hand out welcome bags: Gifts are always welcome. Include your favorite ethnic treats, trinkets and tokens from your heritage, for example, Indian bangles.

Be yourself and showcase your style: Keep our unique style.

About Raj Shah
A software engineer by profession, Indian culture enthusiast, ardent promoter of Hinduism, and a cancer survivor, Raj Shah is a co-founder of Desh Videsh Media Group. Promoting the rich culture of India and Hinduism has been his motto ever since he arrived in the US. He serves as a chairman of Board of International Hindu University. Raj has written two books on Hinduism titled Chronology of Hinduism and Understanding Hinduism. He has also written Four children books, We love Diwali, Holi Hai, Welcome to my beautiful Mandir and The Complete Ramayan in 100 Tweets.

The post Tips for Planning a Successful Fusion Wedding first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

Greet guests: Seems obvious but it’s not. There’s no excuse not to greet guests. They’re at your wedding to celebrate you, the couple. The least you can do is say hi, and thank you.

Smile, all the time: Smiling is the last thing you’ll think about on your wedding day, but it’s the most important thing you can do if you want your wedding photos to look ah-amazing. Plus, you don’t want to appear stressed out.

Delegate: Until now, you’ve probably taken on all of the planning. Now it’s time to delegate. Your friends and family want to help, so it’s time to let them help so you don’t have to worry. Assign tasks and roles ahead of time to avoid confusion.

Stay calm: You’ve planned everything until this moment. Now’s the time when staying calm will work to your benefit. Whatever is going to happen will happen.

Put your phone away: Let your phone go for the weekend. Give your maid of honor the responsibility of monitoring your phone. And don’t worry about who is messaging you – they shouldn’t be messaging you in the first place! Everyone you’ll probably be texting is there with you.

Be in the moment: So often I hear brides say their biggest regret is that they didn’t truly enjoy their wedding because they were either worrying, stressing or caught up with day-of-planning. Remind yourself that your hard work will pay off, but won’t be worth it unless you enjoy every moment.

Have Fun: Your friends and family are here to celebrate the single most important event of your life (up until this point in your life). After you take the moment in (and really take it in) take a deep breath and have fun. Seriously, have fun! The weekend will go by so quickly and you won’t want to miss out on any of it.

About the Author

The post Want to be Truly Happy on Your Wedding Day? Follow These 10 Tips. first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

By Priscilla Charite

Your big day is approaching, and you’re starting to get into the details. What exactly should you expect from your hair and makeup stylists? And just how much time do you need to put aside for getting ready? Before we get into what you need to do, let’s discuss what you should expect.By now you’ve booked your hair and makeup artist and have had your trial run. If you choose not to do a trial run, then it is crucial you have efficient communication with your stylist to convey your desired look. Pictures are worth a thousand words, so in your communications, send inspiring images to your stylist to be sure you are on the same page.

Within a month of your wedding, you should expect a timeline and final invoice from your stylist/artist. If your stylist/artist does not send a timeline but just a time frame, request that they send you a breakdown. It is very easy to say “We will do 12 peoples hair and makeup in four hours, just trust me!” It is another thing for them to put the plan in writing. Why is that important? Well, if you are delayed because of hair and makeup, the overtime fees with the photographer, DJ, caterer, and venue will amount to thousands of dollars. If they are unable to provide a schedule, ask how many stylists will be coming and how long it take for each style and each session of makeup application. From this, you will be able to create your own timeline to suggest to the artist. Below is a sample timeline and tips to help you prepare or your big day. HAIR STYLIST MAKEUP ARTIST 1 HOUR MICHELLE HAIR 3O MINUTES AMANDA MAKEUP 1 HOUR RENA HAIR 3O MINUTES MICHELLE MAKEUP 1 HOUR AMANDA HAIR 3O MINUTES RENA MAKEUP

Prepping for Hair and Makeup: Tips for the Bride and Bridal Party Do not come with wet hair. It’s best to wash and blow dry the day before or the night before so hair is not too soft on wedding day. If someone has curly hair and would like some softer curls for the wedding day, hair should be straightened the night before so the hair is less frizzy, and the curls fall nicely. Girls need clean faces (all makeup should be removed). Come with your saree blouse on to ensure your hair and makeup stay intact! Be on time! Missed appointments delay the schedule and are usually covered by the bride. Bring a picture of a specific style to guide your stylist. Bring extra cash in case additional services are added. Plan for breakfast, lunch, or at least, snacks. Leaving to eat will delay the schedule and room service can be pricey! Stylists need a large table to accommodate the number of products needed. Be sure to have a table cleared off and a couple of chairs ready so stylists can get started asap!

Be prepared but most importantly, be beautiful and enjoy YOUR day! Photographs provided by Destiny and Light – Hair and Makeup Group and Castalado Studios.

About the Author Priscilla Charite, owner of Destiny and Light – Hair and Makeup Group, has over 16 years of experience. With an average of 500 weddings a year, she has become an expert in cosmetology and a master of weddings.

The post Hair and Makeup: How to Prepare for Your Big Day first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

They were brought together by garba. And a surprise trip to Venice took their relationship to the next level. A proposal under the Rialto Bridge, an engagement ceremony in India, and a grand wedding in Atlanta – Shruti and Hiren’s wedding is a fascinating fairy tale, indeed!

Thanks to Amit, a mutual friend of Shruti and Hiren Patel, the two met on a garba dance floor. They enjoyed many garba dances together for the years that followed. Long phone calls brought the duo closer, and the friendship kept blooming.

With a weeklong vacation coming soon, Shruti planned to spend time with Hiren’s family. Hiren picked her up and on way to home, he unfolded the first layer of surprise in store for Shruti. He revealed that the two wouldn’t be staying at home all week; instead, they would be leaving for a trip the next evening. Shruti could only think of a couple of places in the United States where they would probably go. It turns out that Hiren planned a romantic trip to Venice, Italy. His plan was perfect, and even Shruti’s family knew what was in store for the couple. The trip was not the last surprise in store for Shruti. Once in Venice, Hiren scheduled a gondola ride. As they approached the famous Rialto Bridge, Hiren got down on one knee and proposed to Shruti. In one of the world’s most romantic and picturesque spots, the answer could only be “yes.”

A few months later, the two had an official engagement ceremony in India. Shruti and Hiren planned to tie the knot later in the United States, and it was only then that they realized the difficult task ahead. Both families agreed that Atlanta would be the best option. With only a few months to plan, it wasn’t an easy to find a venue that could accommodate the expected number of guests and also be available on the desired date. Finally, the couple chose Marriott Marquis in the heart of Atlanta. While the exterior of the hotel was not too impressive, the beauty of hotel’s Atrium Banquet Hall struck the couple.

Attire
For the wedding, Shruti opted for a choli, which was adorned with green, red, and gold designs on a white background. The blouse was a corset style, boat neck, with short sleeves. Her jewelry was a mix of real gold pieces along with some additional matching pieces, all of which came from Gujarat. Hiren wore a dhoti salwar with red embroidery on a white background to match Shruti’s trousseau.
Shruti’s hair was beautifully styled up for the ceremony. For the reception, she chose to keep her beautiful curls down and flowing. Traditional and elegant makeup gave a pleasing angelic touch to the beautiful bride. Aarti Amin, the hair and makeup stylist, is an expert in making brides look natural.

Raas, Garba and Sangeet
As the couple’s love story began with garba, it was fitting that the duo organized the sangeet portion of the pre-wedding events as a raas garba. A garba singing group, which was from India on a tour around the US, added much life and festivity to the event.

Décor

An aisle lined with pillars of vases embellished with fresh flowers including green goddess callas, hydrangea and roses, was displayed to welcome guests. A golden arch gate trailed up to a golden mandap draped with burgundy satin drapes on the face and gold sheer drape as the backdrop. The mandap also had a clear ceiling layered with a carpet of fresh rose petals.

During the planning phase, the couple decided on a red and gold theme, but left the details to expert decorators from Shangri La, who suggested a peacock theme for the reception party. The professionals proved their worth, and the end result was much better than expected.

For the reception party, tall vases with a beautiful arrangement of peacock feathers, gold curly willow branches, and fresh purple and blue orchids were displayed throughout the hall. Some tables were adorned with square transparent vases, all of which were filled with white orchids and teal colored water.

A professional disc jockey set the mood for the party, and the couple’s friend, Charles, surprised all by becoming the emcee for the evening, making the night even more delightful! Performances by friends and family from both sides surprised one and all. With a beautiful amalgamation of dances and skits, friends and families truly showcased the love story of Shruti and Hiren.

Royal arrival
A special highlight of the ceremony was the way in which both Shruti and Hiren made their wedding entrance. Shruti arrived in a golden-ivory open doli, which was carried by her maternal uncles and brothers.

Hiren’s arrival was no less royal. He arrived with the jaan in a full-fledged vargadho, followed by a wireless DJ and horse and carriage. Two downtown Atlanta streets were closed for two hours, and police escorted the groom as he was followed by a procession of friends and family dancing and enjoying every moment.

Happily Ever After
Each and every guest left the magical event with a set of custom-made personalized shot glasses that double as candleholders. This was an ideal memento from the love-birds and their families to mark the auspicious day.

Shruti, with a big smile on her face, sums it all up, “It was actually a fairy tale wedding.”

Event Venue:
Marriott Marquis Atlanta
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atlmq-atlanta-marriott-marquis

Photography/Videography:
Zamana Photography
www.zamanaphoto.com

Decorator:
Occasions by Shangri-la
www.occasionsbyshangrila.com

Trousseau:
Asopalav
www.asopalav.com

and Jade Blue
www.jadeblue.com

Hair and Makeup:
Aarti Amin

Caterers:
Rajbhog Foods (Wedding)
www.rajbhog.com, and

Café Bombay Atlanta (Reception)
http://www.cafebombayatlanta.com/

Desserts:
Marriott Marquis Atlanta
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atlmq-atlanta-marriott-marquis

The post A Fairy Tale Wedding first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

Crystal blue waters crashing down on a pristine white beach, while a gentle breeze ruffles through the palm trees. An elegantly draped mandap glistens in the sunshine, while an intimate crowd eagerly watches two people embark on the journey of a lifetime. Sounds like a wedding in paradise, doesn’t it?

Destination weddings and cruise weddings hold a certain appeal, and while not feasible for some couples, might be the perfect option for others. Whether a couple wants to share a favorite vacation spot with family and friends, or host a unique and memorable event, destination weddings also offer couples the chance to bring families together for a (relatively) stress-free occasion. Many resorts offer all inclusive service packages, which can ease the burden of wedding planning and infuse the event with the chance to truly celebrate and enjoy the company of family and friends. Planning hikes, kayaking, or canopy tours in addition to wedding events gives the couple and guests a chance to truly embrace the spirit of the local area. Couples are also increasingly choosing to host cruise weddings as the ultimate way to combine vacation with celebrations.

Hosting a traditional Indian wedding at an exotic, beachside location or on a cruise ship is no longer a far-fetched ideal, but rather a manageable reality for some couples. Cultural destination weddings are on the rise as hotels and resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, among other locations, increasingly recognize and understand the requirements of Indian weddings. Though couples may choose to get married somewhere other than their hometown, they still do not want to forgo important religious and family traditions. Marilyn Cairo, Corporate Romance Manager at Paradisus Resorts, ensures couples that her team keeps their needs and desires front and center. She shares, “Our entire team gets to know the couple, understands the specific needs of the client and the overall event and are open to allowing the couples to customize their entire experience.”

Factors to Consider
With South Asian weddings specialists now on staff at several resorts, South Asian couples looking to fuse elements of a traditional wedding with the fun and excitement of a destination wedding, now have an easier time with the task of planning. So while many hotels and resorts specialize in destination weddings and are well-versed in the décor needed for mandaps and specific ceremonies, couples should still make note of all their requirements.

With décor, catering, photographers, among other vendors, all available through in-house services or a resort’s preferred vendor list, destination weddings can be significantly less stressful than planning a traditional wedding. Keeping this in mind, couples should be prepared to ask lots of questions and be mindful of several factors.

Budget: Regardless of the type of wedding planned, budget always plays a role. Be sure to consider your budget when looking into possible locations and venues. Destination weddings can be more cost-effective due to a smaller guest count and fewer vendors; however, don’t forget to consider non-traditional items, such as travel expenses, shipping or extra luggage costs, resort fees, travel taxes, etc.

Venue: Narrowing the list of potential venues can be difficult, especially when choosing from places such as a Punta Cana, Cancun, or Vallarta! As you research the possibilities, think of all the services the venue offers. Is a wedding planner available? Do they have a backup indoor ceremony location? Can they provide all inclusive vendor services, such as a photographer, decorator, mandap, hair and makeup? Can they meet dietary restrictions and/or is Indian food available? Is a shuttle available for guest transportation?

Experience: As with any wedding vendor, experience matters. When a hotel wedding planner anticipates all your needs, you can be sure all the details have been considered. Knowing that your chosen venue comes staffed with experienced planners and coordinators will be comforting especially as you plan from a far. Karen Bussen, Palladium Hotels & Resorts, assures clients that “ [Palladium Hotels & Resorts will help with additional ceremonies, special menu requests, and other needs. We will stop at nothing to delight our brides and grooms and their guests, and we strive to provide authenticity, great value, and excellent service throughout the whole experience.”

Timing: Be sure to consider the time of year, as the weather might be a factor. Planning a wedding in Mexico during hurricane season is probably not a good idea, so be sure to consult weather forecasts prior to setting a date.

Guests: As you narrow your list of choices, be considerate of your guests. From where will they be traveling? Will it require three stopovers and a bus ride to get to your chosen location? Guests choose to be a part of the celebrations and often are paying their own way so be sure to consider the impact of your choices.

Local marriage requirements:  Be sure to check the local laws about marriage requirements, as some countries require residency or a wait period as well as paperwork. One option is to have a legal, court ceremony at home before embarking on the fun destination wedding!

Prepare for Your First Meeting
Unlike meeting with all your vendors on a regular basis as you would if you held a wedding in your hometown, a destination wedding requires constant communication via email and phone. Alejandra Carrillo, Assistant Weddings Manager at Barcelo Maya Beach, encourages clients to “speak your mind during the planning process … It is important that you let us know everything that is on your mind and keep the communication going.” As with traditional wedding planning, be clear about what you want, and don’t be afraid to share every detail as this helps your planner ensure your wedding unfolds just as you like. Consider setting up a regular check-in schedule and keep track of your questions so no details are left untouched.

Many resorts also encourage a site visit prior to the wedding date. In addition to a site visit, wedding planners at All Inclusive Collection – Hard Rock Hotels send couples a detailed email with information about service options, such as décor and menus. Monica Larcada, Marketing Manager at All Inclusive Collection asks couples to “take the time to thoroughly review all of the information and catalog options,” so that the wedding planner is able to address all questions during the initial meeting via phone.

Destination weddings are a wonderful way to bring family and friends together in a beautiful locale to celebrate one of life’s most special moments – your wedding! With some advance planning, your dream destination wedding could become a reality.

Favorite Wedding Moments
The experts share their favorite wedding moments.

Karen Bussen: I’ve been lucky to be a part of many incredible South Asian celebrations—including my own sister’s wedding to my brother-in-law, who is of Gujarati heritage. Inspired by the dazzling colors and textures of South Asia, I created the Shaadi Royal Bliss package to embody the unique cultural and ceremonial traditions in a tropical paradise setting.”

Marilyn Cairo: “The receptions are definitely the best…the ambiance, the music, the food, the spirit of the people celebrating is very infectious and showcases the true meaning of love.”

Alejandra Carrillo: “I personally enjoy how the families are so involved with every single detail of the celebrations, and how not only the union of a couple is what they celebrate, but also the welcoming of each other’s families, which I think is beautiful.”

Monica Larcada: “We are seeing an increase in interfaith weddings. Recently we had a wedding where the bride was Catholic and the groom was Hindu. The couple had both types of ceremonies, and it was incredible to see how each family embraced the culture and religion of the other family.  We thought it was a great way to start a life together.”

Featured Venues
Special thanks to the properties, all of which are well-versed in hosting successful Indian weddings, for participating in this article.

All Inclusive Collection – Hard Rock Hotels
Located in: Cancun, Mexico; Riviera Maya, Mexico; Vallarta, Mexico; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
www.hrhweddings.com

Barcelo Hotels & Resorts
Located in: Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Cuba
www.barcelo.com/BarceloWeddings

Palladium Hotels & Resorts
Located in: Riviera Maya, Mexico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Montego Bay, Jamaica
www.palladiumweddings.com

Paradisus Resorts
Located in: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Cancun, Mexico; and Playa del Carmen, Mexico
www.romancebyparadisus.com

About the Author
Rina Shah is the CEO and founder of The Arpan Group, a boutique ad agency and public relations firm that specializes in capturing untouched ethnic markets. From press releases and media kits to marketing materials and by-line articles, The Arpan Group customizes solutions based on the client’s needs. For more information, visit www.thearpangroup.com or call (703) 651-6670.

The post Mandaps, Marriage, and Mexico: Planning a Cultural Destination Wedding first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.