Summer Wedding Cosnsiderations

If you are planning to get married this summer and you are planning a summer wedding in Rajasthan, then there are a few considerations you must make.

Today's blog is about the current temparature scenario, venue availability and other must take into account situations for those planning a wedding in rajasthan between june-september time frame.

First and foremost, this year has been hotter than average for all of us in Rajasthan. We have already faced 36 Degrees to 48 Degrees and above heat this year. To add to that, rains seem more than far off.

So for your wedding, closed venues would be best suited. you can consider air conditioned banquets as well as heritage properties that have Durbar Halls. If you still insist on open venues, look for pool side properties or lawns/ gardens with lots of fountains. For example, one can consider the jai niwas lawns at the City Palace of Jaipur, sisodia Rani Ka bagh- Jaipur, lawns of mandawa castle- Mandawa, Bal samand lake resort etc. to name a few.

Day entertainment / activities for your guest is another area you need to plan for, well in advance. Owing to the scorching heat sight-seeing, polo tournaments or elephant safari are not great options. Instead, we recommend SPA sessions, private cultural performances, henna tattoo artistesu with classical singers to entertain while your guests enjoy ornating themselves with henna tattooes and shopping tours.

June till August 2009 is busy wedding season. So if you havent booked your venue and hotel already, then you are too late for a great Indian wedding.

Transportation is another factor you need to consider for summer weddings. Pre planning is a key to ensure you get good vehicles with well functional air-conditioners.

Pre-Planning your beauty and styling is another consideration you must make for a summer wedding. There are plenty of Spa & beauty salons across Rajasthan, however it will be sensible to pre-discuss your make up and styling preferences with your wedding planner and smart to book a salon in advance. Your planner will be more than glad to help and guide.

Be very sensible while choosing your Indian trousseau. Lighter shades and lighter fabrics are most recommended. Go for pastel shades and fabrics like chiffon/ Georgette, Silk Nets etc. Raw silk, crepe, velvet and heavy brocades are an absolute Noooo!

Picking up sensible footwear and jewellery is a must. Heavy Jewellery and closed footwear are an absolute no. Diamonds and light weight traditional jewellery in polki/ kundan is a good option. one can also consider the pachhikari jewellery made of colored and precious and semi precious stones.


These are few must make considerations. Once you have made these,carried loads of sunscreen lotion, an appetite for all the wonderful spicy delicacies and a spirit warmer than the Indian summer, a summer wedding in Rajasthan is a cake walk!

Happy weddings!

Traditional Rajasthani jewelry with a Modern Twist

Are you looking for jewelry that is traditional yet very wearable with modern day outfits? Are you looking for exotic rajasthani jewelery, which is light on pocket? Are you looking for colored gems and classy designs? Are you looking for High-Fashion Jewelry? Are you looking for costume jewelry?

Well, if you are looking for all the above & more then Vermeil Jewelry is just the right thing for you.

Hand crafted with precision and purity vermeil jewelry is extremely attractive and pocket friendly! Made of Silver (92.4% Pure- Certification can be provided), 2 to 4 Microns of 18 Karat Gold and precious &/ or semi-precious stones like Ruby, Emerald, Carnelian, Onyx, Garnet, Turquoise, Chinese Pearls etc-vermeil jewelry is every woman’s fantasy. Excellent for gifting, extremely wearable and classy rajastani vermeil is truly exotic.

Here are a few designs, especially handmade by artisans. The collection is massively diverse with a great attention to detail. With only a sample of the total releases seen here, many designs possess multiple finishes including sandblasted matte black, gloss black, sandblasted matte gold, gloss yellow gold and oxidized silver.

For more information on vermeil Jewellery or buying, the same mail us at dreams@theroyalshaadi.com & visit our page on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=68992567598

Wedding Jewelry at times of Recession

The buzzword of 2009 is RECESSION! Cutting costs, minimizing needs, doing away with elaborate- is the focus. The Topic I picked up today for my reader is keeping the ongoing recession in mind.

Jewelry is an integral part of any wedding and is an element we cannot completely do away with, while planning a wedding. With ‘The Recession’ tugging at our sleeve we need to look for alternates and options that not only makes for the perfect accessories but also is light on our wallets!

I am writing today about one such great alternate- Vermeil jewellery.

Vermeil: Pronounced "vair-may", is sterling silver, which has been plated or rolled with gold. A thin layer of gold, usually 18kt or 22kt, is overlaid onto the silver surface. The Rajasthani vermeil jewelry has .003 inch or more of 18Kt /22Kt gold overlaid in different textures and finishes and is extremely popular form of jewelry in these times when saving our resources are primary.

The vermeil jewelry prince range starts at $40 i.e. INR 2000 and goes up to $200 i.e. INR 10000 approx. Vermeil is available in a variety of designs and a lot of precious and semi precious stones/ gems are used to ornate and enhance the pieces. Stones like ruby, emerald, pearl, coral, onyx, carnelian, fluoride, tanzanite and sapphires are used in almost all vermeil pieces. Vermeil jewellery has been used by brides to create a complete set of accessories to match trousseau for the D-day! Too many options can be done in vermeil. One can create sets containing- Earrings, bracelets, necklace, hair pins, brooches, hand bag buttons, shoe / slipper enhancements, anklets, armlets, tiaras, rings etc.

For buying Vermeil Jewelery from internationally certified jewelers, mail us on dreams@theroyalshaadi.com.

For any other wedding shopping assistance from Rajasthan feel free to visit us at www.theroyalshaadi.com.

Bridal Trends 2008

As the wedding season opens with a bang in India, would be Brides and their friends & family are going berserk putting together the best trousseau/ wardrobe and other essential items together. In this Blog, I bring forward a few tips and trends for putting together your wardrobe and other essentials for the upcoming season as well as life ahead.

Let’s start with the trends in-terms of your wardrobe. For all you Fashionistas wondering what colors to choose from, here are a few tips. The Hot colors this season are jewel tones and metallic colors like Gold, Silver, Copper, Bronze, Emerald Green, Tanzanite Blue etc. Pastel shades continue to be popular as well. Apart from these, people are opting for unusual combinations like honey brown with onion pink, coffee with copper sulphate blue, grape green with wine / burgundy, carrot pink with chocolate brown, purple with parrot green etc. Brocades, hand woven Benarasi georgettes, georgettes, chiffons, soft nets and textured or plain velvet are the most demanded fabrics this season.

When it comes to jewelry, fusion of the traditional with modernity is ‘The-in-Thing’. For example, the age-old bagdi is been given a new look by use of diamonds; Baaju also is coming in some very modern designs. Polki- meena, Thewa and Jaddau continue to be popular. Sleek diamond jewelry is very much in demand and hyderabadi jadaai polki sets are very popular this season.

For home furnishing and accessories, silverware and silver artifacts are really in. You must also consider buying a few laakh/Laac items like mirrors, laakh photo frames, laakh table pieces etc.

This season, ‘The minimalist look’ is completely out and ‘The Opulent look’ is ‘The Look’ for interiors. If you have the affordability, then having a piece from around the globe is a must. So, you can put that Persian rug and use that Burmese Buddha statue as a corner piece and add the Indian silver artifacts, Pakistani onyx table pieces, the glass items from Florence and those beautiful cut glass chandeliers from Belgium all at the same time in your living room. Jute furnishings are very hot! Silks as usual still stay popular for drapes and bedspreads, colors like Gold, white, beige are very in.

When it comes to crockery, silverware and bone china still rules-the-roost. The terracotta earthenware is also becoming very popular for serving Indian cuisine. Steel with matt finish and cast iron utensils remain popular for daily usage. Melamine is not recommended. Use steel or porcelain instead.

I hope, with all the above details shopping will be a easier and less cumbersome experience! Congratulations on the upcoming wedding and happy shopping!!!

Festival of Lights: Celebrate Diwali in Traditional Indian Style in an Erstwhile Palace, Jaipur

Nights of tireless grace and intense colors are round the corner. Preparations and enthusiasm have reached a point of no return and it is keeping these festivities in mind that for the first time ever- an erstwhile 18th Century Palace opens its gates, for a select few to enjoy an evening of ‘Diwali celebration’, in Royal Splendor.

Diwali is the biggest and the grandest festival of India. It’s the festival of lights, firecrackers, joy and good food! It is with this festive spirit in Mind that ‘The Festival of Lights’ is being held in Jaipur. The event is being sold by a select group of travel agents and the passes queries can be also sent to: anuroopa@theroyalshaadi.com. Only 150 passes available.

Event Format:

1. Arrival

2. Guests get down near main Palace entrance

3.Guests will be given a A ROYAL WELCOME, which will include 2 Elephants and live folk musicians giving a welcome performance

4.Men in rajasthani costumes garland the guests.

5.Guests are offered Buttermilk/Jaljeera as a welcome drink in The Palace Promenade .

6.Followed by a Traditional Lakshmi –Ganesh Pooja. Pandit will perform chants and conduct the pooja. Pooja prasaad (traditional indian Sweets will be served)

7.This is followed by a 60 minutes Folk Performance at a Village themed courtyard .

8.Followed by a Round of firecrackers. All guests will be given sparkles (Phuljhari), Anaar, Etc to enjoy diwali

9.Finally Elaborate Dinner will be served at the Palace lawns. Dinner includes sumptuous, lip smacking- rajasthani and continental food

Event Date: 25^th Oct 2008

Venue: 18^th Century Palace, Moti Doongri, Jaipur

Timings: 7:00 PM Onwards

For queries mail: anuroopa@theroyalshaadi.com

Mementoes for Wedding Guests:

This is a must element for all hosting a Royal Rajasthani wedding. A little something must be gifted to all your guests as a token of appreciation for their presence! This is something you cannot ignore post that magnificent wedding.

Rajasthan offers you many choices within your budgets to choose a souvenir that your guests will love and cherish forever. Before I go on to mentioning a few options, it is necessary to understand Rajasthani Art.

Rajasthan perhaps more than any other state in India, is a shopper's paradise. Centuries old skills in the traditional crafts continue to produce some of the most exciting wares on stone, clay, leather, wood, lac, glass, brass, silver, gold and textiles, Art flourished in this region as far back as 2nd-1st centuries BC. History of Rajasthan reveals that the Kings and their nobles were patrons of art and craft and encouraged their artisans/ craftsmen in promoting their creativity.

Rajasthani art consists of various forms of paintings, jewellery, textile & prints (Bandhani, Block Printing, Embroidery, Appliqué), antiques, pottery, rugs/ carpets, wood carving, gesso work, leatherwear, metal craft, puppets and stone carving to name a few.

You can choose any of the above forms for a great wedding memento to be gifted to all your special guests.

Rajasthan paintings:

Rajsathan has many schools old painting having Their own districts styles, well known among them being Marwar, Mewar, Hadoti Kishangarh, Dhundhur and Alwar.

The Miniature Paintings of Rajasthan had flourished under princely patronage are still reproduced by descendants of the original craftsmen as they continue to produce miniature masterpieces, retaining their classic elegance. These are often made on hand made paper and mythological characters from Ramayana, Krishna Lila, Ragamala, and Geetgovinda are commonly used. Miniature paintings, portrait and courtly paintings, murals, cloth and furniture painting, mehndi or henna, domestic painting and mandana or the art of decorating houses are some of the famous forms of Rajasthani paintings.

Rajasthan Jewellery:

Bangles are a special attraction of Rajasthan. Lac bangles are believed to be worn as a sign of good omen and are available in many colours & designs. Glass bangles, made in great variety in Jaipur & Jodhpur, are perennially in demand and are available in most parts of the state.

Kundan and enamel jewellery has been a specialty of Rajasthan, particularly that of Jaipur. Kundan is the art of setting precious stones in gold. The stones are embossed into decorative shapes & patterns and embellished with delicate enamel ornamentation in the champeve ( raised field ) technique. The designs are mostly exquisitely entwined flowers and birds and sometimes human and animal figures.

The thewa work of Pratapgarh is highly exquisite and popular, in this technique, designs are enamelled in gold on a glass base. The base used is generally green or red in colour.

Rajasthan is one of the largest centres in the world for the hand-cutting of gems. It is not unusual to find shops piled with onyx, cat`s eye, lapiz lazuli, carnelian, garnets, amethysts and topaz. Even precious stones like rubies, emeralds and diamonds are easily available. Semi-precious and precious stones at Jaipur are also carved into figurines and statues.

Rajasthan Textiles:

Heart-warming textiles, dyed in the bandhani or tie & dye style reign supreme in Rajasthan.Different methods are used to tie the fabric into small points producing different patterns like Lahariya, Mothda, Ekdali and Shskari. The best bandhani work comes from iikar and Jodhpur, while Jaipur, Pali, Udaipur and Nathdwara are the other centers.

The women of Rajasthan have high skills in embroidering fabrics. Embroidery practiced in Bikaner is done by counting threads. The women of sikar and Jhunihunu specilize in making patterns of animals. Chain stitch is popular in A!war. Dancing figures, Flowers and peacocks are the favourite motifs. Women of Barmer use mirrors. Another famous art in textiles is that of appliqué. In appliqué, different pieces of cloth are patched together to make a multi coloured mosiac.. The exotic colours, shapes and pattern combinations against constrasting backgrounds is a specialty of rajasthani appliqué.

From home furnishing to high fashion cloth items- Rajasthan textiles (Prints and embroidered pieces) have a lot of gifting options to offer.

Rajasthan Antiques:

Antiques can be found in small shops in places all over Rajasthan, as well as in large handicraft stores, and are part of the landscape of the state.

Rajasthan Pottery

Blue Glazed Pottery famous in Jaipur was introduced to India by the Muslims and popularized by Maharaja Ram Singh of Jaipur. The pottery is made of ground quartz stone, fuller’s earth and sodium sulphate instead of the simple clay. Blue and white are the traditional colours used, more recently, yellow, pink and green are also being used. Most pieces are hand-painted with conventional floral patterns, figures of animals and scenes from the lives of the royal families. Terra-cotta pottery Molela, a village to the north of Udaipur specialises in making these images. Alwar produces paper thin pottery, Bikaner is famous for painted pottery, tinted with lac colours, while white and red clay articles with geometric designs come from Pokharan.

Rajasthan Rugs/Dhurries and Carpets:

Available in a variety of sizes, the dhurrie is woven not only in Jaipur, but in villages all over the state. In places such as Bikaner and Jaisalmer, where the temperatures can dip alarmingly, woollen dhurries made of camel hair are very much in vogue. Carpets: Initially, huge carpets were specially woven for royal residences. Inspired by the Mughals, prisoners were employed at looms, a tradition that was continued from the past. Bikaner is still famous for its so-called jail carpets. Namdah:Another floor covering that has widespread use in Rajasthan is the namdah or felted rug. The namdah comes in mainly two fashions - embroidered and in applique work.

Furniture and wood carving:

Rajasthan excels in the art of making `antique furniture`. Doors and windows, wooden jharokhas, tables with cast iron jaalis, side-boards, chairs, benches, jhoolas or swings, and dressers are made to resemble the furniture that was in vogue in havelis a hundred years ago. While Jaipur is a popular centre, Jodhpur, in particular, is well known for its `old` furniture, and Ramgarh, in Shekhawati, has become a major centre for its manufacture. Shekhawati and Bikaner have been the traditional centres for woodwork. Jodhpur and Kishangarh are especially popular for painted wooden furniture. Shekhawati, Bikaner and Ramgarh specialise in making delicately carved wooden doors. Barmer craftsmen specialise in woodcarvings. Other pieces of furniture include the leather-embroidered chairs of Tilonia, and the carved-back, string-bottom chairs of Shekhawati. Marble tops for tables are also popular, and screens are available with both painted panels and brass embellishments.

Gesso work:

One of the finest crafts to emerge from Bikaner, the inner hide of the camel is used for the purpose. The hide is scraped till it is paper thin and transluscent. It is then moulded into various forms of lamp shades, hip flasks, perfume phials or vases. It is then painted over with fine gesso work using gold to lend richness to the otherwise bright reds and greens used in the work.

Leather wear:

The hides of dead animals have never been put to better use than in Rajasthan whether as juttees (the embroidered footwear), or as saddles, bags and pouches. It is even used as backs for chairs after it has been embroidered with woollen motifs. Jaipur and Jodhpur are the traditional centres for juties.

Metal crafts:

In later years the art of enamelling became merely decorative and, in Rajasthan, has been used for everything from tabletops to wall plates, flasks, and for crafting objets d`art. Brassware- enamelled, engraved and filigree cut work on silver are available in Rajasthan. Jaipur, Alwar and Jodhpur.

Puppets

Inexpensive souvenirs, they recall more easily than most other things when it comes to memories of a this state of chivalrous kings and beautiful queens.

Stone carving

From Dholpur to Barmer in the heart of the desert, the chisel of the stone mason is put to incredible use. From pink and red sandstone to marble, tamara and chlorite all are used to create panels of frescos for buildings, large statuary, planters, figures of gods (usually in marble and crafted almost entirely in Jaipur), and elephants and horses as garden sculpture, table pieces, jewellery boxes, etc.

Rajasthan with a treasure of history, picturesque architecture, magnificent art & culture and bewitching landscape is an unparalleled destination dream weddings!

For any wedding shopping assistance from Rajasthan feel free to mail us at dreams@theroyalshaadi.com

Jewellery of Rajasthan

Jewellery has always been an essential part of personal adornment in Rajasthan. Be it the various tribal women adorning chunky silver jewellery, or exclusive jewellery studded with precious stones worn by The Kings & Queens of the Rajputana; Jewelry has been an integral part of Rajasthan.Rajathani jewelry and gemstones have made a mark on the world map and no Royal Indian Wedding can ever be complete without jewelry. It is this reason that I decided to write about Rajasthani Jewelry.

Rajasthan excels manufacturing a wide range of ornaments using Emerald, Diamond, Pearls, polki, Garnet, etc made in Jaipur and Jodhpur. Jaipur is a famous export centre for precious and semi-precious gemstones and hence if you are planning to visit Rajasthan then shopping for exquisite jewellery is something you must not miss out on. Some of the popular forms of Rajasthani Jewelry include Kundan Work, Thewa art, Meenakari and Vermeil more recetly.

Kundankari - is the art of setting gems and stones (Diamonds, Ruby, Emerald etc) in gold and silver. This form was taught by the Mughals. One of the oldest forms of jewelry made and worn in India is the 24 carat pure gold Kundan jewelry. Mostly kundan work is combined with enameling meenakari. The real Polki - (Uncut Diamond) kundan jewelry that comes out has two equally beautifully surfaces meenakari at the back surface and kundankari in the front surface. Making it extremely beautiful and exorbitant on pockets. Polki Kundan jewelry with precious stones range from anywhere between INR 15,000- INR 10,000,000!

Meenakari - is a different kind of art of jewelry making and was introduced to Jaipur by the Mughals. It was brought to Jaipur by Raja Man Singh. it is the art of enameling gold and silver jewelry.

Kundankari and Meenakari are popular forms so I wouldn’t be telling you any more about these forms. Today, I am bringing to limelight a much lesser known yet exotic form of jewelery: Vermeil & Thewa Jewelery

Vermeil: Pronounced "vair-may", is sterling silver, which has been plated or rolled with gold. A thin layer of gold, usually 18kt or 22kt, is overlaid onto the silver surface. The Rajasthani vermeil jewelry has 92.4% pure silver and 2 microns or more of 18Kt /22Kt gold overlaid in different textures and finishes and is extremely popular form of jewelry in these times when saving our resources are primary.

The vermeil jewelry prince range starts at $40 i.e. INR 2000 and goes up to $200 i.e. INR 10000 approx. Vermeil is available in a variety of designs and a lot of precious and semi precious stones/ gems are used to ornate and enhance the pieces. Stones like ruby, emerald, pearl, coral, onyx, carnelian, fluoride, tanzanite and sapphires are used in almost all vermeil pieces. Vermeil jewellery has been used by brides to create a complete set of accessories to match trousseau for the D-day! Too many options can be done in vermeil. One can create sets containing- Earrings, bracelets, necklace, hair pins, brooches, hand bag buttons, shoe / slipper enhancements, anklets, armlets, tiaras, rings etc.


Theva Art (Thewa Art) is a very rare and a secret art of fine jewelry making which is passed to generations downwards with in the family, as such it has become a family tradition for the people called as "Rajsoni". These Rajsonis are the master artisans and they treat this art as their sacred profession and not merely as a source of livelihood.

Bold and fashionable, the Thewa Art Jewelery makes a dramatic fashion statement. Not long ago, thewa was a dying Rajasthani art form. However, this 350 years old technique is now wooing customers from all over the world.

In Thewa making, with precision and techniques the pieces of coloured glass are encased in gold plated silver. Then delicate designs are worked out on the glass pieces by carving intricate designs/ motifs on gold leaf. The motifs often depict details from Hindu mythology or Mughal courtly scenes and include floral patterns, historical scenes, the Krishna Leela, peacocks , elephants, deer, lions and other animals, winged fairies, scenes from battlefields, portraits of rulers, and the like.

Products made by the artisans include jewelry and ornament pieces, boxes, plates, photo frames, belts, perfume bottles and vases. Thewa art can be used to create a great wedding give away for all attendees. Unlike other gold jewelry the price of a thewa piece lies not in the intrinsic value of gold but the skill required to fashion an article. Unfortunately customers paying Rs 500 for a pair of earrings often question the price as well as the quantity of the gold used. However one needs to understand the price charged are for workmanship and not only metals and gems.

Some of the finest examples of the thewa art can be seen in museums in India and abroad. Presently, in India, the craft is witnessing a revival with thewa jewelry pieces being made available in urban markets, which are extremely stylish and beautifully designed . With only a small handful of hereditary artisans practicing Thewa art, this beautiful craft form needs this very welcome limelight.

Thewa art imbibes from the bygone era's heritage but its impulse lies in fulfilling the demands of today's woman, who believes in making dramatic statements in every way she dresses. B it jewellery or clothes she is always on the lookout for something different and Thewa meets that need very well.

This traditional jewellery has an old world charm and is affordable at the same time. The red, green or blue glass below highlights the intricate gold work in the best possible manner. Made of multi coloured beads, precious and semi precious gems, stones and metals in diverse colours and designs, this unique jewellery heightens your distinct style. The hand made thewa jewellery ranging from INR 3000 to INR 200,000 has today fashioned into a `must have` jewellery and its uniqueness makes you really stand out.

I am a big fan of thewa and myself have a large collection, in fact on my profile picture on this blog I am wearing a thewa neck piece and earrings. Bold and fashionable, range of sparkling Thewa Art Jewelery is a must have for every bride to be to achieve that look worth killing for.

For buying Thewa Jewelery from internationally certified jewelers, mail us on dreams@theroyalshaadi.com.

For any other wedding shopping assistance from Rajasthan feel free to visit us at www.theroyalshaadi.com