The Royal Shaadi: Making Dream Weddings

Refashioning your Old Jewellery & Traditional Clothes- The New Mantra!

2010-05-05T14:19:00.012+05:30

We have all heard about grandmothers and mothers handing over generations old bridal wear and jewellery to the soon to be wed daughter/ daughter-in-law. Its really an emotional thing, sometimes really overwhelming and sometimes the bride to be doesn't understand if its a nice thing or not.

Well I think its brilliant. With the options you have today and how much a fad it has become to wear antique jewellery and trousseau- this can be a blessing in disguise.

Today I am going to ask all my readers to go and get hold of their mum and granny and ask for old finery. Cause it is this old finery that can make you look resplendent and unique on the most special day of your life.

Take a look at the picture of this lehenga. This was my grandmom's about 50 yrs old. She gave it to me a few months back and I thought I have hit the Jackpot. This is a unique handmade zari lehenga- Made of pure silver taar zari plated with Gold. However, It couldnt have been worn in its old condition so voila- i went to this boutique and got it refashioned.

What I did was to get a completely new blouse Plus dupatta/ chunni done and aded an absolutely new border to the lehenga. When I wore it for my sis-in-law's wedding everyone kept asking where did i buy the fabric from. The fabric is so unique that one cant see a thing of this kind today! So by spending a little money INR 12000 and a bit of creativity I got my share of limelight in a grand shaadi in my family.

The above picture is of a friend's refashioned lehenga. She had a big wedding in the family and wanted a new lehenga for herself but everything she liked in the stores were upwards of INR 30,000. It didnt make sense to spend that much for someone else's wedding. So She got her Mum-in-Law's lehenga and duptta and got herself a corset style blouse done in contrast and added a bit of border matching the blouse in the duptta. All she spent was 5000 INR and was happy to be wearing a brand new outfit.

Refashioning is the new Mantra. There are cases where boutiques are taking out embroidery, border and lace from old attires and putting it on new fabrics and the work doesn't look like its been transferred at all and all this within very low spend. One can get a new look and a high range attire done at a very pocket friendly price.

Another big trend is enhancing or redoing or redesigning old/antique jewellery. With Gold prices sky rocketing and traditional jewellery being worn only for special occasions. Its becoming an intelligent choice to enhance or redo what is already existing. In the below picture is a piece owned by a friend for years. Note the after picture to see how the same has been enhanced.

So, I say- Go ahead and dig out old trousseau and jewellery and get yourself a brand new look this wedding season!

Great Bridal Jewellery at Low Cost

2010-01-06T16:51:00.008+05:30

A very Happy New Year to all my readers! Hope I have been informative the past year and will try and do the same in future.

Last 1 month, I have been researching stores and markets a lot and actually trying to figure if I can find some great real bridal jewellery at affordable prices. My research told me one thing, Gold is out of the question if You are looking at affordability. However, Silver plated with Gold works out great!

I have put together pictures of a few pieces that start at Indian Rupees 500 and goes up to indian Rupees 10,000. So, Feast your eyes. For any further queries feel free to write to me at dreams@theroyalshaadi.com

Great wedding Shopping Destinations in India: PART 3

2009-12-08T17:37:00.002+05:30

In the third series of this article, I take you to the city of Joy that once served as the capital of India. Once the centre of modern education, industry, science, culture and politics in India, Kolkata remains truly rich in terms of its art, culture, literature, theatre, simplicity and spirit!

What makes this city splendid is the Spirit of the city, enthusiasm of its people, their tolerant nature, their warmth and love for all things beautiful!

Today, the skyline of Kolkata is deluged with hoardings and banners - and more hoardings and banners, and these have an indubitable influence on trade and commerce. Shops and arcades are cropping up everyday. So are the shopping malls and super-markets. In this day of glamour and glitter, the concept of the age-old 'Haat' or special market still remains in kolkata. These ‘Haats’ are very popular as they sell many essential items of everyday life as well as several amazing, interesting and spectacular things at remarkably cheap prices so that the masses can afford them. I will first take you through one such notable 'haat' or special market, of Kolkata and then take you through all great malls/ markets of Kolkata.

MANGALA HAAT : It is so named because the special market is held on 'Mangal Baar' or Tuesday. For arriving at 'Mangala Haat', you have to get down at the Bangabasi stop, near howrah maidan. The road in front of the Bangabasi Cinema Hall assumes a festive look every Tuesdays when the 'haat' is held. This weekly market is unparalleled not only in Bengal but in entire Asia for its variety, richness in quality and availability of all types of garments at incredibly low costs. People from remote areas and the suburbs of Bengal start flocking here from Sunday afternoon. They come here with their commodities mostly hand-made, and erect teeny, temporary shops on the pavements. The entire region is flooded with such shops. The merchants come to the 'haat' with all types of ready-made garments. The products range from children's wear to clothes of old men and women i.e. skirts, shirts, frocks, salwar-suits, T-shirts, sarees, casual wears and several other fancy garments. Even school uniform and sports outfits are available. What makes this market stand out is that in most cases, the sellers themselves are the manufacturers of the garments. In a nut shell, Mangala Hut is a paradise for low budget customers, where they can purchase all types of colourful and trendy dresses at reasonable rates.

Well, If you are not the ‘haat’ types and would prefer to shop the regular way, then you have loads of options.

Shopping is a great amusement in Kolkata. From street vendors to super markets the city has it all. The city contains numerous showrooms of reputed national and international brands. There are fabric stores, ready to wear stores, home appliance stores, gift stores and more. While shopping in Kolkata golden rule is to bargain. There are many fixed price shops in the city but the preferred ones include those where price negotiations are allowed. The speciality of Kolkata include Taant sarees, cotton fabric, handlooms and handicrafts.

Shopping in Kolkata is more or less like a treasure hunt. The treasure hunt in Kolkata takes down the alleys and into the popular markets, most of which are in the heart of the city. The renowned places as such include Chowringhee Road, Sudder Street, Shakespeare Sarani, Bowbazar, College Street, Salt Lake City, Kidderpore, Dharamtala, Camac Street. Most of these are general markets and sell all the amenities. At Chowringhee there is Central Cottage Industries Emporium merchandising in crafts. The Hogg Market which happens to be the oldest market in the city has several blocks. The New Market that constitutes one of these blocks has, as speciality clothes, footwear and jewellery. Bertram Street Market provides leather goods, jewellery, garments, toys, flowers, confectionery and fabric. The open air complex at Dakhinapan mainly houses state government outlets. It is the best place to buy hand looms and handicraft articles. The Fancy Market at Kidderpore is famous for smuggled electronic goods, jeans, perfumes and glass ware. The Shreeram Arcade and Treasure Island, likewise, are happening places for the shoppers. These markets are new entries and house great collections of apparels and music. One more treasure spot is the Vardaan Market. The air conditioned market provides outlets to various domestic and foreign brands.

Details of Kolkata Markets:

New Market: Located on Lindsay Street, this is one of the oldest and most renowned Municipal Markets. A huge Complex, where a whole range of products are sold. You can buy Jewellery, silverware, leatherwear, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, garments, confectionery, fabrics, dry fruits, poultry products, fish, meat, vegetable, flowers etc. Don’t forget to eat the kathi rolls at Nizaam’s when visiting New market. Nizaam’s will not appeal visually to you, infact when I first visited I was very scared of eating there. But the first bite into that juicy Roll and We said, Bring it on!

Shreeram Arcade: A market located opposite Light House Cinema in Chowringhee area near the central transport point, Esplanade. It has around 275 shops under one roof in four floors, all neatly decorated. Glass capsule elevators and sparkling fountains attract the shoppers. Shopping is a real pleasure out here due to its overall ambiance.

Treasure Island: This complex is located in Madge Lane, beside Globe Cinema. Within the New Market shopping zone, this air-conditioned market is a drop-in point for regular New Market shoppers, who are not satiated enough.

Air Conditioned Market: This multistoried complex is on Shakespeare Sarani, previously known as Theatre Road. Starting from garments and watches to consumer durables like electronic household gadgets are on display for sale.

Vardhan Market: Located on Camac Street, this air-conditioned market comes complete with an escalator for shoppers' convenience. Novelties, watches and other consumer durables are the ones that this market specializes in.

Bagri Market: On Canning Street, is located this wholesale/ retail market for plastic toys and other products like stationery, dairy manufactures, electrical goods and appliances, glassware, moulded luggage etc.

Bowbazar Market: The Bowbazar market on B.B. Ganguly Street is known for its jewellery shops besides other shops dealing in wooden furnitures, musical instruments, shoes, seasonal fruits, fresh vegetable and flesh meat etc.

Burrabazar Market:This oldest wholesale/retail market of Kolkata on Mahatma Gandhi Road, is the place to shop for whole sale business of textiles, cereals, food grains, spices, dry fruits, edible oils, sugar, salt and other groceries. There are good number of renowned retailed shops located in this market complex where the retail buyers sometimes buy products at the whole sale price.

Chandni Market: This market located off Dharmatala Street, in Central Kolkata near Esplanade (popularly knows as Chandni Chawk), is a very old one, known for its stock of metal products and commodities, hardwares, paints, clothes, steel trunks/suitcases, electronic components, audio/videos, housing/cabinet etc.

China Bazar: Old China Bazar Street houses this market mainly dealing with paper, paper bindings, foils, envelopes, streamers, stationery, crockery, glassware, domestic goods, etc.

Dakshinapan Market: Adjacent to the Nazrul Mancha, near the Dhakuria flyover is this sprawling multistoried marketplace. This market comprises of various State Emporiums dealing in handlooms, textiles, handicrafts, imitation jewellery and fancy goods.

Fancy Market: Located near Khidderpore, this is the market where a variety of imported goods including electrical And electronics appliances can be purchased at an affordable price.

Gariahat Market: This buzzing marketplace is located on Rash Behari Avenue and Gariahat Road Crossing. Textiles, readymade garments, electronic gadgets, and almost every other thing can be found here. Besides the regular shops, are the makeshift shops that crowd the sidewalks. These shops are the ones where one gets to purchase something at a bargain price.

Jadubabu's Market: Located on Ashutosh Mukherjee Road in Bhawanipore of South Kolkata, this old market sells vegetables, fish, meat, fruits, groceries and utencils

Koley Market: This market is located near Sealdah in Central Kolkata. Wholesale/retail vegetable, fish, meat, milk, poultry products etc.

Lansdowne Market: Located in South Kolkata on Sarat Bose Road, this market stocks mainly vegetable , groceries etc. Also a large number of motor mechanic garages are found in the vicinity. The Kolkata Motor Vehicle Authority's office is closely located to this market.

College Street Market: As evident from its name, this market is located at College Street. It is known mainly for its collection of leather goods, footwear, sarees, musical instruments, vegetable and meat etc. Most of the Book shops and Book Publishers have their place of business transaction near this market. The area is well referred to as BOI PARA (Book Market).

Lake Market: This market is located on Rashbehari Avenue between Deshopriya Park and Rashbehari Avenue. It is famous for fresh vegetable, flesh, flowers, grocery items. It is also the main market for the Indians from the southern part to have commodities from this market for their unique food preparation.

Park Centre: Located on Park Street, in Central Kolkata near Chowringhee, this market has more or less the novelty product ranges and ready made garments for sale.

Charnock City, Salt Lake City, Sec-II: This complex, with an unique architectural flamboyance, is the latest addition to Kolkata's list of markets. Under one roof one can buy any commodity in this market. The market is located at Sector III of Salt lake City near the Salt Lake Stadium.

Phew! I know, it was difficult reading this blog! It was immensely difficult writing it as well and that is when I haven’t touched the Malls and Showrooms! Let’s see, maybe in the next blog I will cover the malls and showrooms famous for wedding shopping.

For further queries, write to us at: dreams@theroyalshaadi.com.

Great wedding Shopping Destinations in India: PART 2

2009-10-29T14:23:00.002+05:30

Continuing from my previous article, I take you on to the next great wedding shopping destination in India. Other than Delhi, the next city that comes to my mind that’s great for wedding shopping is- JAIPUR- The capital city of Rajasthan.

JAIPUR - One of my favorite cities in India. Favorite, not because I live here or because it is famed to be the land of forts and Palaces, the land of riches, color and unparalleled heritage. Favorite because, this city offers so much that money can and cannot buy! Favorite because of the hospitality and the kind of treatment you will receive from the people during your shopping excursions and otherwise. Favorite because this is the city where you can find India at its colourful best!

Let’s start with what all you need to shop for that you can find in JAIPUR? Considering that, we get married once and want the best for ourselves, our life and the people in it. There is a lot to shop and find. Some of them are:
o Invitation cards
o Bags
o Home furnishing
o Home décor stuff
o Silverware
o Trousseau packing
o Gifts
o Authentic arts
o Handicrafts
o Exquisite gems
o Jewellery (Silver/ Gold/ Color stones)
o Designer marble products
o Traditional print, block Print garments and textiles
o Blue pottery
o Rajais (blankets/ quilts)
o Trinkets
o Lak ki chudi (ethnic bangles)
o Mojdis (special Rajashtani footware)
o Bandhani work (Traditional Rajasthani Tie & Dye)
o Miniature paintings
o Kundan jewellery
o Marble figures
o Gold filigree and inlay work...

Phew, the list seemed endless

The Jaipur bazaars are a treat for those who love to explore and discover. They are located in and around the famous Hawa Mahal, which is part of the walled city (The OLD JAIPUR City). Johari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar, Nehru Bazaar, Chaura Rasta, (also called the Sawai Man Singh Highway), Tripolia Bazaar and the Mirza Ismail Road (Popularly known as M.I. ROAD) are some of the main shopping areas. Johari Bazaar is the one stop for jewellery and tie dye sarees, fabrics, suits, lehengas and textiles. Gopalji ka Rasta, and Haldiyon ka Rasta houses numerous establishments selling jewellery, gems, sweets, silverware etc. The Old city markets remain closed on Sunday. For handicrafts like puppets, bandahwars, wall hangings, white metal artifacts go to linking road next to saraogi mansion- Bapu Bazar. For wonderful trousseau packing visit Ratan textile and a few tiny shops next to Ratan. When in bapu Bazar do not miss the golgappas and kulfi faluda.

Bapu Bazaar and Nehru Bazaar, are also a must visit place for textiles, local perfumes, shoes made of camel skin (jutties/ mojaries), Rajasthani trinkets and bandhani work. Bapu Bazaar also Houses the famous SARAOGI MANSION Market- that has many famous stores, known for Indian bridal trousseau.

If at Saraogi Mansion, you must see the collection at Nikhaar fashions, Utsav Sarees, Pratapsons and for great banarasi handloom fabrics visit Banaraswala. These markets are completely closed on Sundays.

Tripolia Bazaar and Chaura Rasta too have textile outlets in addition to shops selling utensils, ironware and trinkets. It is also closed on Sunday.

If you are interested in carvings in marble and sandstone then head for Khazanawale Raasta. Close to this is the popular M.I. Road which houses a large number of emporia with a variety of goods ranging from jewellery, brass work, textiles, antiques, handicrafts, print fabric, vegetable dye fabric, block printing fabric, famouse lassiwala (Awesome must try drink), Suryamahal veg restaurant, Natraj, Handi & Copper chimney to grab a bite post your shopping sessions etc. The MI Road shops stock a large variety of articles to satisfy the tourists’ need like souvenirs, curios, gifts, handicrafts etc.

For block printed specialities, Kilol, Soma Shop, cottons, chhipa, Cotton curio, Gulabchand, Suruchi and Anokhi are great places to visit. Rajasthali, the official store of Rajasthan tourism, is a must try to find a galore of products under one roof. But if you are flying out, then the Sanganer village area, which is close to the airport, is worth going to for blue pottery and other specialities.

For wonderful and cheap home furnishings do take out some time and visit Seekar House. Bedspreads, bedsheets, Table mats, Table runners, Tablecloth, curtains, Quilts, name it and you got it all squeezed in the small seeker house market. You must bargain a lot to strike a great deal.
For more details on what all you can buy from Jaipur read another article on this BLOG: http://theroyalshaadi.blogspot.com/2008/08/mementoes-for-wedding-guests.html

For more details or shopping assistance in Rajasthan, feel free to write to us at dreams@theroyalshaadi.com

Great wedding Shopping Destinations in India: PART I

2009-10-14T13:26:00.004+05:30

Engaged and all set to tie the knot??? Have the money & the time to go across country to shop for you trousseau? Then this article and many more in this blog is going to be an interesting read.

This is the first article in this series. First because, my country is so full of splendor and great things across the length and breadth of its boundaries; that there cant be just one destination to mention.

We start with my favourite shopping destination and heart of India- DELHI. The Capital of the country definitely has a lot to offer- whatever your budget maybe. Delhi is definitely shoppers' paradise.

Home to many of India's leading and most talented fashion designers such as Tarun Tahillani, Manish Malhotra, Rohit Bal, Ashima & Leena, Aki Narula, Suneet Verma, Ranna Gill, JJ Valaya etc as well as has a lot of wholesale places across city.

Delhi is also home to some of the most well established clothes shops and jewelers in India, which have reinvented themselves over generations and are nationally if not internationally renowned. In recent years a great range of affordable but none the less, fashionable boutiques have comeup all over Delhi, catering to a variety of tastes and budgets. These are most prevalent in the Karol Bagh, South Extension and Greater Kailash areas.

For those with less in their pockets, Delhi has Chandni Chowk- where you can start from your wedding invite, go on to jewellery, then to cosmetics, shoes and finally the wedding day attire. Lajpat nagar, rajendar nagar and Karol bagh are also great for A to Z budget wedding shopping. from clothes to jewellery. Shoes to hand bags. Cosmetics to luggage you can buy everything in the shops/ markets of these areas, and that too within a great budget!

Certain areas of Delhi, notably GK, South Extension, Hauz Khas Village, Khan Market showcase some of Delhi's finest boutiques, but remember they will burn a hole in your pocket! Since you wont get married everyday, so its well worth it! If you are shopping in this section (South Delhi) do visit the designers mentioned above as well as don’t forget ushnakmal, meena bazaar, Nalli, Regal shoes, Da Milano, OOgaan, CTC Plaza, Design Vault etc.

However, if you are a more budget conscious shopper, do visit a few shops in these areas to get an idea of the latest styles and designs and then try and find similar items (which certainly are available) in the more affordable, but none the less chic shops located in Karol Bagh, Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Chandni Chowk etc.

MUST DO:

You must research before your trip, to get an idea of the colors, styles and designs of outfits that are in and goes with your taste and budgets. Browse through wedding magazines, surf the web and ask your friends and family for their input.
Whilst shopping in India, it is very easy to get overwhelmed and confused by the amazing variety of items that are available. Make a list of what you like in each shop so that you can make an overall comparison and shortlist what you finally want to buy.

Indian Bridal Jewellery-symbolism & connotations

2009-08-07T14:22:00.013+05:30

Jewellery plays a Vital role in Indian Weddings. Wedding and jewellery go hand in hand thus no Indian wedding can be complete without jewellery.

Indian Bridal jewellery is usually heavy and made of gold & precious gems. Each piece of jewellery has a religious and aesthetic connotation. Gold is the symbol of wealth and prosperity. Precious stones/ gems symbolizes color and beauty.

The jewellery worn by the bride from each region in the country is different. Every state has its own style and form, glimpses of which are seen in the jewellery worn. There are some pieces of jewellery that are worn by brides almost everywhere in the country. These include the Mangalsutra, Bangles, Necklace, Maangtika, Earrings, Nose Ring, Anklets, Haath phool, Armlet, Rings and Toe Rings.

In western weddings, the ring symbolises the marriage similarly in the Indian wedding the Mangalsutra meaning ‘auspicious thread’ (a small gold pendant worn on a black and gold beaded chain) is the main symbol of marriage. The groom ties the Mangalsutra around the bride’s neck and this is one of the most important parts of the Indian (Hindu) wedding ceremony.

It is believed that a married woman should always have here arms adorned and never should she keep them empty. Thereby bangles play a vital role in Indian bridal Jewellery. Green and red glass bangles along with gold, silver, lac and other colorful bangles are a must for Indian brides

Maangtika - is a designer bridal jewelry, which glorifies the center parting. It comes in different styles and colors using various gemstones primarily diamonds or kundan/polki (rosecut, uncut etc) coloured gems and pearls. It usually consists of a string hooked at the top with some elegantly designed centerpiece resting on the other end. It can also be in the form of a crown. The trend of Mangtika will never fade.
Earrings - Well, the choice of earrings depends on your trousseau style and color too. If your bridal attire is very gaudy in shades of reddish maroon or copper brown, you should go in for gold jewelry. If your wardrobe is in pastel color is done you can opt for the delicate pearls, diamonds and other studs. Danglers give you a chic look. In case you want to maintain sobriety, then you can go in for studs and small hoops.

Nose Ring - nose ring should be chosen according to earring color and style. The traditionally worn nose ring called "Nath" consists of studded ring with a long chain hooked up in the hair. Lot of innovations are taking place in its designing. It has become a fashion statement today with more and more women getting their nose pierced.

Necklace - necklace is the most eye catchy jewelry. It should blend with your earring and nose ring design and color and should also match with your wardrobe neck cut. The style and pattern of the necklace is chosen based on the neckline of the dress. A choker style necklace is worn with a smaller neckline and a longer necklace with a deeper neckline. People with short necks should wear attire with plunging necklines and accordingly choose necklace.

Anklets And Toe rings - Anklets and toe rings give you a chic look. These bridal foot jewels flaunt your feet in the most elegant manner. Intricate designs in works of meenakari, kundan and beads do wonders. In some regions like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, it is compulsory for married women to wear the toe ring all the time.

Traditionally all jewellery is made of gold or silver. But today you see different types of metals being used. Gemstones are in vogue and apt for summer season to match with your cool fabric and light shades. In winter season you can go in for heavy gold work to complement your bright colored heavy warm fabric.

You can find some stunning bridal jewellery on the following blog: http://thevoguejewels.blogspot.com/ or checkout the facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=68992567598

For queries and guidance on buying bridal jewellery mail us on: dreams@theroyalshaadi.com

Summer Wedding Cosnsiderations

2009-05-29T14:09:00.007+05:30

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

2009-03-09T14:55:00.016+05:30

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

You can also visit http://www.thevoguejewels.blogspot.com/ AND http://abgsvermeil.blogspot.com/ for some stunning Rajasthani briadal, everyday and party wear jewellery.

Wedding Jewelry at times of Recession

2009-01-23T18:51:00.004+05:30

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.

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

2008-11-12T14:03:00.005+05:30

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

2008-10-04T14:20:00.010+05:30

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:

2008-08-20T16:40:00.008+05:30

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

2008-06-18T19:06:00.012+05:30

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

You can also visit: http://abgsvermeil.blogspot.com/ and http://www.thevoguejewels.blogspot.com/ for beautiful Rajasthani Jewellery designs and custom orders to create and buy jewellery of your choice.

Theme Wedding: Wedding amidst golden sand dunes

2008-06-12T17:54:00.006+05:30

Today I am writing about a very popular wedding concept: Weddings amidst the gorgeous sand dunes and what could be a better wedding venue than ‘The Vibrant Rajasthan’!

Jaiselmer is the most popular destination for a desert wedding. Being so popular, it’s indeed very commercial and expensive. I am going to take you through a relatively less known place that’s a much better option for planning the best ever desert wedding.

Khimsar: a fine tourist destination in Rajasthan, located on the route between Jodhpur and Bikaner at a distance of 92 kilometres from Jodhpur, 528 kilometres from Delhi, 330 kilometres from Jaipur and 302 kilometres from Jaisalmer. Exuding the rustic charm of Rajasthan, Khimsar is renowned for its fort. The Khimsar Fort nestles on the edge of the great Thar Desert in the heart of rural Rajasthan. There is no better destination for a dessert wedding than this ITC Welcom group heritage hotel (http://www.welcomheritagehotels.com/)

Sequence of a Grand Indian Desert Wedding:

Day 1

· Receiving guests at Jaipur Airport and transferring them to Air Conditioned coaches.

· 5 hours drive to Fort Khimsar

· Royal welcome on arrival: Tilak+ Garland+ Welcome drinks

· Check-in to rooms

· Leisure time for rest and relaxation

· All the guests assemble at the Roof Top Restaurant in the evening for the Mehendi Function. Here Henna artistes apply henna in intricate patterns to all the women guests including the Bride

· Following this is a Theme dinner with folk dances, DJ and Live Band

Day 2

· Buffet Breakfast served for all the guests as per pre decided menu

· The Bride and the Groom retires to the Spa for a pampering essentials session

· A sightseeing tour organized for the guests

· Buffet Lunch served for all the guests

· By the evening all guests are transported to the khimsar Sand dunes village for the Sangeet evening (The dancing evening: http://weddings.iloveindia.com/indian-weddings/pre-wedding-functions/sangeet.html )

The khimsar Sand dunes village is an exotic venue. Located at the centre of a water body, in an 8 km circumference, the seven dunes of 'Akla'. At the heart of this oasis of sixty acres, adjoining the lake, is the Khimsar Sand Dunes Village. This village is a mere 6 km away from the Khimsar Fort and is accessible by jeep, camel or horse, but once there, all that is evident to the naked eye is rolling sand dunes in every direction. The location of this remote and rural village, facing the water body, ensures total tranquility and peace with perhaps nothing but the sound of the sifting sands wafting on the desert winds, occasionally interrupted by the ducks, geese and wild birds that flock to the water body.

· The Sangeet event is followed by a sit down dinner, post which the guests are transported back to the Fort.

Day 3:

· Buffet Breakfast served for all the guests as per pre decided menu

· The day is at Leisure for guests. Unless asked by the guests, no prior events are pre planned for the morning. Generally the guest are taken for a village tour where one can shop for handmade stuff and observe local artisans creating various items from clothes to decorative souvenirs

· Followed by the tour is an elaborate sit down lunch

· The evening is when a traditional India wedding takes place.

For more on Indian weddings and planning a memorable desert wedding visit us on www.theroyalshaadi.com or write to us @ dreams@theroyalshaadi.com

Music of Rajasthan

2008-06-10T22:41:00.005+05:30

Music is one element without which no wedding is complete. Today, I am writing about the music of Rajasthan because without music Royal Weddings have no soul.

The color, vibrancy & grandeur of Rajasthan is never completely discovered until you immerse yourself in the music of this land of Royalty.

Influenced by erstwhile royalty, the music of Rajasthan follows a legacy that dates back to several centuries. The rich folklore and culture has added some more sparkles to its glory; making Rajasthani dance and music a treasured jewel in Indian culture. The traditional court dance and music performances are seen today on the cultural evenings like weddings and pre wedding celebrations, making alive the grandeur of an era bygone.

Rajasthani folk songs narrate the rich folklore and imperial heritage of the state that has been captivating the entire world for many centuries. Visitors coming to Rajasthan make it a point to attend at least one dance & music performance while exploring the deserts. Rajasthani music goes very well with ‘Heritage Royal Wedding Theme’. It adds to the imperial ambiance of Forts/ Palaces a certain degree of romance that no other form of sound can match!

Off late folk- fusion is getting very popular. I highly recommend the Band Rajasthan Roots. They use traditional instruments such as the Khamaicha, Nagara, Morchang, Khurtal, Bhapang, Dholak, Dhol, Tagari, and Algoza, and fuse these instruments with western instruments such as guitar, saxaphone, and western percussion. You can see and hear there music on You Tube: http://youtube.com/user/morchangstudios

Major Musical Instruments of Rajasthan:

Shehnai - Played on all auspicious occasions.
Ghoongharoo worn on foot - Aklets produce rhythmic sounds at each step of performer.
Dhol, Nagara - Flat barrel drum played during auspicious occasions.
Morchang - Wrought iron instrument, played by mouth.

All about Indian Bridal Trousseau:

2008-05-29T17:42:00.004+05:30

India, rich in art and culture, has finest collection of traditional wear incorporated with marvelous embroidery. Most of the traditional wear comes with the work of gold and silver thread known as Zari. Whether it’s a bridal dress or a dress for attending a wedding, the dress such as lehenga choli incorporates heavy work all over using beads, kundan, zari, thread and sequins.

Zari is a golden thread and zardozi embroidery is the work done using gold thread, the sheer magic of creative design and agile fingers. Zardozi lehengas are among the most demanded outfit during any special occasion due to its heavily encrusted gold work which gives an exotic look to its wearer.

The lehenga, embedded with Zardozi embroidery, sworovski, beads, crystals, semi precious stones and envisaging the ensemble of lustrous metallic wire makes it the most popular choice for a bridal trousseau.

The Zardozi work was traditionally the silver wire coated/plated with beads, stones, gold and silk threads. Today many other forms are being used to create that Special dress for your biggest day! Popular forms like chikankari, dabka, pittan, Maal, resham work etc are being infused with modern forms like foil prints and age old weaves to create the most exotic trousseau of every girl’s dreams.

Lehenga is the traditional wear of Indian women since mughal time. Popular among royal people of olden days, lehngas come in many different styles. The lehenga made up of a comfortable fabric, can be worn on festivals or other celebrations. Lehangas are glamorous and elaborate. Rich fabrics such as silk, organza, jamewars and brocades are used lavishly by the timeless traditional motifs and contemporary patterns. The colours are bright in hues of reds, oranges, maroons, pink and golds.

Exceptionally feminine, lehengas are available in various sizes and are often custom made to suit individual needs. A lehanga is said to be the best bridal wear in day and evening time.

Rajasthan has some exceptional boutiques and stores to buy the best possible wedding trousseau. Some of the great stores located in the capital city of Jaipur are Rana’s, Zari, Sattava, Pratapsons, Utsav and a there are a handful of boutiques to get a great bargain. I especially recommend a great boutique- Krishnakriti. You can get a custom lehenga done starting at a price of $500 to $12500 and above. The price would vary depending on the fabric, work and material.

For shopping assistance and guidance on buying exotic bridal trousseau from Rajasthan, visit us at www.theroyalshaadi.com or mail us at dreams@theroyalshaadi.com

STYLE SHEET: Royal Palace Wedding

2008-05-29T00:35:00.006+05:30

Here are a few things and visuals from one of the recent palace weddings I hosted. We chose Pink & Gold as the theme colors. Hence, the best venue was the City Palace Jaipur. The building is mostly pink and made our decorating job much easier and cost effective.

The first picture on the left is the alter (Mandap) created mostly using silk drapes, wood and flowers. The City palace Jaipur, is a spectacular building- Located in the capital of Rajasthan, the City Palace is an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthan and Mughal architecture. The vast palace complex occupies one seventh of the walled city of Jaipur. Originally built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of the Kachhwaha clan of Rajputs, additions have been made to the palace complex by many of his successors.

The décor was done using rich fabrics (Silk, Georgettes, Brocade, Tissue) in Gold, Pink & Maroon. A lot of candles, flowers, incense sticks, traditional rajasthani furniture and antique props were used to enhance the look of the palace. There were over 40 folk performers and musicians for the evening entertainment.

Rajasthan a hit for celebrity weddings

2008-05-19T18:40:00.004+05:30

Rajasthan, the land of kings, is the quintessential Indian state. Its walled cities, Forts & Palaces are a dramatic reminder of the rich cultural heritage & history of the region. One can choose from the fairy tale cities of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur & Jaisalmer. While exploring the lesser known palaces & forts of Bundi, Chittorgarh & Nimaj can be equally enchanting.

Its royal Rajasthan at its best for a fairy tale wedding! These medieval forts & palaces provide an ambiance that is difficult to match. From Rich & famous, Non Resident Indians, Politicians & Industrialists; everyone is flocking to Rajasthan for a celebration that capture colors & pageantry of its past. But not just the Indians alone, foreign tourists who come here are also captivated by the glamor & romance of Rajasthan. Many tourists celebrate their wedding anniversaries by organizing mock weddings, where they take their wedding vows again in traditional style.

Rajasthan has a lot to offer. There is color, music, beautiful dances and beautiful historic monuments. It is a complete package! its not just the venues, even the wedding processions are organized here in grand style- with elephants, horses, camels, oxens, buggies & even vintage cars thrown in.Apart from the main wedding ceremony, Rajasthan offers great & unique concepts for pre wedding festivities.

From Elizabeth Hurley to Raveena Tondon and the Chatwal wedding, Rajasthan is quite the favorite destination for crème Del crème weddings. Rajasthan's rich cultural heritage lends glamour and color to any wedding and is one of the most favorite destination for those looking for a truly royal wedding.

How to find the Ring that gets her to say: “Yes, I will!”

2008-05-13T23:45:00.004+05:30

You have been seeing each other for a while. Now you are at the stage where you feel this is the woman, with whom you want to spend the rest of your life. You have decided the time and place you are going to pop ‘The Question’. You have practiced your lines well.

Now the only dilemma you face is how to buy the ring that will make her scream, the ring that she will wear for the rest of her life, and the ring that will prove to the world that she belongs to you…

Most men get very anxious and confused when it comes to shopping for an engagement ring! So I thought, why not decrease the anxiety of all you men, planning to go down on the knees. This article aims at filling you in, on what you need to know to find the ring that will melt her heart.

1. Is it a good idea to surprise her or not?

You are the best judge of what your lady likes. If both of you have been openly talking about getting engaged, then it’s perfectly fine to go hunting for engagement rings together. Off late many contemporary couples are going ring shopping together once they have discussed the idea of getting engaged. When you are out shopping or you happen to be strolling in an area near a jewelry store, take a walk over to the store windows. Pay attention to what draws her. Are there certain stone shapes (round, pear, oval) that she’s drawn to? Does she like jewelry that is chunky looking, contemporary or sleek and modern? If you are having fun browsing, you might go into a shop and have her try on some rings. Make sure to note her ring size!

However, I am sure there are plenty of guys out there who feel that it’s the most romantic idea to make it a complete surprise. If you belong to this category then, you want to select a ring for her on your own and pop the question on bended knees. For all you romantic fellows it is necessary that you learn about your girlfriend’s jewelry preferences, too—but you will have to do so in a very hush-hush manner. You should start by paying attention to the jewelry that she wears. Does she prefer silver or gold? Vintage or contemporary? Another good way to learn about her tastes in rings by talking to her best friend or sister. Make sure that you make them swear to secrecy before you discuss too much.

Well, now you must be wondering how you would know her ring size. The best way is to ask people closest to her or take a wide guess or steal one of her rings from her jewelry box. While doing all this, please remember if the ring is smaller for her fingers, it can be made to increase. However, if it is bigger than her size than its very difficult to decrease the size.

2. Knowing clarity, color, cut & carat

Now that you know, if you want to surprise her or not, you know her jewelry choice & ring size, it’s time to learn a bit about diamonds and other stones so that you can make sure you buy the best possible.

Clarity refers to any small flaws found on the diamond; many diamonds will have minute scratches or air bubbles. The fewer flaws a diamond has, the greater its value. The color of the diamond will be graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow); in general, the more colorless the diamond is, the more valuable it is. Cut means the way the diamond was faceted to allow light to reflect from it. In a well cut diamond, light enters the diamond and reflects straight back to the viewer's eye. Cut is graded Ideal, Premium, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. Generally, you should go for an Ideal to Very Good Diamond. Carat, refers to the size of the stone. Keep in mind that it truly is most important to know your girlfriend’s taste: some women feel that a large carat ring looks too flashy and would prefer a smaller ring.

That was about diamonds. If you are looking for an Emerald, make sure that the stone is green and does not have any black spots. As in case of Ruby, the darker it is- the better.

3. Choose a good store:

This is one of the most important steps in choosing the ring! Take opinions and don’t just go by publicity. Go to a jeweler you can trust. Going to one known to friends and family is a great idea. It’s important to make sure that the store is accredited. Before you buy, find out what the return policy is so that you can exchange the ring if necessary. You might want to take a friend along for buying the ring. Having a friend whose opinion you can trust with you, can make the whole experience much better.

4. Deciding how much to spend on the Ring:

Are you are feeling slightly rested? You should be, since you know what kind of ring your lady will love and you know more about diamonds. Well, now the biggest question on your mind is how much to spend on the ring. While you want to keep in mind that this is a very significant purchase—this is something that (you hope) she will wear every day for the rest of her life. Nevertheless, you need to be realistic about what you can spend. If your budget is tight go for semi precious stones set in silver. For medium budgets, plain gold or enameled gold rings are recommended. For those with a high budget, go for diamond set in platinum / gold. Most women prefer Diamond rings, hence if your budgets are low, go for a centerpiece with diamonds surrounding in smaller size. The centerpiece can be Ruby, pearl, turquoise etc.

A decent engagement ring today runs in the $3,500--$4,000 range, but there are ways to purchase one for less money.

Before buying a ring, talk to your mother or grandmother- there may be an heirloom ring available in your family. You can have an heirloom stone taken out of its original setting and redone; for example, if your ancestral ring came in a 22K gold setting and your girlfriend likes platinum, a good jeweler can remove the stone and redo it in platinum.

5. Planning with a time window:

Last but not the least; you must plan the buying with time in hand. Do not think that you can walk into a jewelry store and essentially come out with the ring the same day. You may not like what is available and may have to get one made to order. Do your shopping well in advance of your proposal date. Ask for a written contract (In case you are ordering) with the date that the ring will be ready for you to take home.

Ready to take that step? All the best!!!

In years to come, you will remember the time and energy you put into finding the right ring…& how happy it made her when you popped the question.

Exotic Wedding Venues in India

2008-05-10T16:19:00.008+05:30

India

, The land of Gods and gurus, the land of palaces & Fortresses, the land of festivals & rituals, the land of ayurveda & yoga.

India- the enchanted continent has been casting spells & fascinating the world since time immemorial. India is known for its rich heritage and culture. The geographical variations, diverse communities, many faiths and practices help to make this country a wonderful combination of unity in diversity.

Off late, India has come to be one of the favorite tourist destinations for people across the globe. People from all around the world are contemplating hosting their weddings in India in the exotic & exclusive wedding venues.

India being a vast country, every region has some uniqueness and thereby has many exotic destinations to offer

In the Northern region you may choose Rajsthan. Here you have the glamorous and mystical palaces, dessert castles and swiss tents in sand dunes and wonderful Royal Weddings take place in these destinations. (The much hyped Liz Hurley wedding took place in Rajasthan- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Hurley#Wedding ).

In the western parts, you can opt for Goa, where the beach resorts and hotels offers the most exciting beach weddings.

Go to the Southern region – the land of spices, coffee, backwaters and ayurveda; and you can create magical weddings in the Backwaters or houseboats of Kerala, Places of Karnataka or temples of Tamilnadu (http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/).

In the east, one can opt for a monastery wedding in ladakh (http://www.ladakh-tourism.com/) or chose to do it amidst the greenery & waterfalls of shillong (http://shillong.com/). India has it all.

Planning a wedding in India is not as difficult as it may seem. With the growing wedding Industry and availability of highly skilled wedding specialists, your Indian wedding can be planned without a crease on your forehead.

Traditional Indian Wedding: Dispelling myths & Tips on How to Budget a traditional Indian Wedding:

2008-05-09T18:27:00.009+05:30

You have popped ‘The Question’ & the answer was “Yes, I will!” Now you are planning a wedding and the question is what kind of wedding to have? If you are the kinds, who like colors, rituals, traditions & flamboyance then the Indian wedding, is the perfect way to celebrate the biggest occasion of your life.

If you still have apprehensions and are wondering that Indian weddings are rudimentary and boring then you really, need to check your facts twice. The Big Fat Indian wedding has changed dramatically. From an elaborate traditional affair that involved the family and community for days at a stretch, it is now as much a celebration of beauty & romance and an occasion for friends/family to get together and have a great time. I have noticed that earlier Indian weddings were about the best five star hotels, a heavy designer lehenga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_dress#Lehenga.2C_choli.2C_and_odhani) & chunky jewellery with elaborate invites. Today, all this has been fine-tuned to a different level and the ceremonies have a modern twist. The functions now include more fun, and are events that are more social. In fact, off late even the guests get all the pampering with shopping expeditions, Folk performances, desert safaris and cruises, as part of the wedding entertainment.

To add to the twist, dance choreographers are either coming in for on-stage performances or training the family members for a dance night (sangeet). Community and regional origins are no longer a parameter for hosting a wedding function. Thanks to the ellaborate portrayals in Indian cinema, you can enjoy every aspect of the marriage in a unique way.

Ok, so you are sold on the Indian wedding. However, are wondering what is a Traditional Indian wedding and how big a hole it will burn in your wallet? Let us start with what Tradition Indian (Hindu) wedding must are. Commonly a traditional Indian wedding is a three-day affair with a host of events.

The ceremony starts with offering prayers to Lord Ganesha.
This is followed by The Tilak, (the sacred mark on forehead) ceremony. Following the Tilak is the Mehendi Ceremony. Tilak & mehendi are hosted on a single day mostly.
The next function is the Sangeet: This is a entertainment evening where family members and Artistes perform to music ranging from Bollywood to folk.
The next function is the wedding ceremony.
Last but not the least is a Reception dinner.

(You can read more about The Traditional Indian wedding on my soon to be launched website: www.theroyalshaadi.com)

Hence, at the least one needs 3 to 4 days to host a truly enjoyable & memorable traditional Indian wedding.

How to budget a traditional Indian wedding:

1. Keep in mind that you are talking about 3 days of fun & frolic hence the budget must be planned day wise & function wise

2. The first thing to be decided is the number of guests per day + No. of rooms+ No. of meals per day per guest (Meals apart from the ceremony meals) + Transportation & ceremony venue/venues

3. One of the foremost in your budgeting is setting up an amount for The Bridal trousseau/groom’s attire & Jewelry/accessories for bride and/or groom ; invitations & announcements, Music, photography & videography, gifts for relatives

4. Next comes the budgeting for ceremony lunches & dinners

5. Please put aside a separate budget for Flowers/ décor/lighting

6. If you are not cutting corners then set aside a good amount of money for entertainment & wow elements!

7. Last but not the least don’t forget your wedding consultant fee!

For a common man, the great Indian wedding is an enticing dream world. Every girl’s heart nurtures the dream of marrying off amidst pomp and flamboyance. The ostentation and hype that an exotic designer wedding enjoys doesn’t come without a cost. Yes the grand-traditional Indian weddings come at the cost of your fortune, if you are not Midas or a treasure owner. Briefly, a great Indian traditional wedding for 200 guests will not cost you less than $ 150000!

All about a great Royal Palace wedding:

2008-05-08T00:02:00.001+05:30

Imagine a wedding amidst architectural marvels built centuries ago. Imagine celebrating the biggest occasion of your life inside splendid structures from the past that stand strong even today. Taking your vows in scenic settings that exhibit magnificent charm and exuberance could be quite a thing.

Let me describe a typical Indian Royal Palace wedding to all you to be married couples. A typical Indian Royal Palace wedding starts with the Baraat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baraat). Its not a regular Baraat that we are talking about. The Groom sits in an elaborately decorated elephant and following him are friends and family in a Royal Procession. The procession is a very elaborate display and in order for you to understand it better, below is a brief description of the various items in the procession.

The Groom’s Elephant: The elephant with the Groom heralds the official start of the Royal Procession.
Pahalwan Ka Hathi : Elephant with the Royal Wrestler- It is symbolic of Hanuman (Monkey God-Chief of the Army of Lord Rama).
Royal Band: Now comes the Royal Band.
Top Gadi : The Royal Cannon with cart is carried by a pair of oxen.
Decorated Elephants: There are two decorated elephants with exquisite cloth hangings.
Camel with Jujurba (Camel Guns)
Victoria Buggy : The horse driven Victoria.
Decorated Camels : These camels are decorated with gorband (Jeweled Fixtures).
Goda Sawar : Horses decorated with saddles, harnesses bids etc.
Chob Dars : Silver staff bearers. These foot soldiers announce the Royal Message.
Mahadol : Covered Palanquin with a single bar.
Pinjas : Palanquin with a single bar with the seat having movable sliding doors.
Palki : Palanquin with two parallel bars used with no veil.
Rath (Roshan Chowki): Oxen driven carriage caring musicians.

Once the Baraat arrives the wedding venue, (A Palace/Fort) comes the Reception of Baraat. Exquisitely dressed women showering flowers and ittar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ittar) receive all the guests. Post this, traditionally dressed men & women garland the guests and offer welcome drinks.

Men with burning torches line up the walkway, there are folk performers and exotic dancers wooing your guests all evening. To enhance the evening a full-blown laser show with fireworks is a common element. The Palaces are mostly decorated for weddings using flowers, drapes and lights and to enhance the look a lot of antique furniture and decorative items are used.

The highlight of Royal Palace weddings is the variety and number of dishes served and the way food is served by Royal service members. It is mostly a sit down dinner arrangement and food is served in silverware.

Do you still have second thoughts about choosing a Royal Palace Wedding?

Great Tips for your Bachelor’s party.

2008-05-07T00:05:00.005+05:30

I realized off late I have been doing all the stories focusing on the brides wherein grooms have equal importance in the Wedding affaire. Hence, today I am writing a story focusing on the Grooms to be and what better subject to pick than ‘The Bachelor’s party’.

Just a few months back I attended a bachelor’s at The Steam- the lounge of Taj Rambagh Palace (http://www.lhw.com/property.aspx?propertyid=446&Ext=Goberudv&gclid=CLiArNH4kZMCFQvWbgodLgUB6Q). This was a glorious event. One of the prime reasons for the bash to be a great success, was the fact that the venue was great. This lounge bar on wheels is the finest watering hole in town. Its Mediterranean ambience is cozy and intimate despite being zesty with low-slung couches, snug seating and plenty of space to relax and unwind. Lesson number one for planning a bachelor’s party, do not compromise on the venue.

To add to the high spirits, there were exotic Russian & Arabian dancers. (Nothing cheap or vulgar but very elegant girls dancing to lilting music). However, I left early so I missed witnessing all the fun the boys must have had. Lesson number two: Enhancing the evening is necessary; entertainment must be added to all the spirits.

The snacks and the selection of drinks were excellent. The organizer made sure that there was something for every one. There were wines, beer, scotches, liqueurs, shots, irresistible mocktails & cocktails and snacks comprised of world cuisine: Lebanese, Mexican, Italian & of course Indian. Lesson number three: Plan well for the food & drinks. Make sure you know your guests well and keep their taste in mind.

Last but not the least; make sure that your wedding planner gets all licenses and permissions for hosting the event so you do not run into a legal fiasco. It is necessary to acquire a liquor license, music license, police permission and ensure the venue has measures to combat mishaps from fire or electricity and of course the friends who get drunk. Please clarify this part with your planner before finalizing an event.

Bride to be? Pampering essentials

2008-05-06T00:33:00.003+05:30

So, the D-Day date is out. You have sent the 'save the date' to all near & dear ones, finalized your wedding planner, started hunting your wedding trousseau & started looking for the wedding venue... You think you have done it all? All's under control? Not just yet, there is something you have totally missed out on. PAMPERING YOURSELF.

I advice all my would be Brides to focus a lot on this aspect. It is a must to groom & pamper yourself for atleast 3 months prior to your Big Day. Here are a few pampering essentials that no bride should ignore:

Please ensure to take at least one spa treatment every month for 3 months before your special day. The treatments that are a must include:

Anti tanning packs (to ensure skin tone uniformity). You don't want the hands to be a shade darker than the face, nor the neck to be shades darker than your face.
Hair packs (To ensure your crowning glory is healthy)
Body massage (Must to keep up with all the pressure)
Facials (I highly recommend the pure sandalwood ayurvedic facial; the aroma relaxes and perks you up instantly)
Body scrubs ( ubtan as it is called in ayurveda is the best body scrub. Get this done every week for 3 months & you will swear by the end result)

2. It is very essential to take care of the waxing. Do not wax parts on the last week that you have never waxed before. Also do not wax too regularly. Ensure that you get a full growth before getting the final wax, not only will that leave you with a soft & smooth skin but also would be easier for your beautician to ward off undergrowth.

3. Taking care of your hands and feet are equally important. Please make sure to take care of your nails so they do not chip/ break just before your special day. Regular manicures & pedicures are must. Do not forget to use your hand & foot cream religiously every night for at least 60 days prior to the wedding date.

4. Ensure to try the make up on with your beautician at least once (in case this is a first time beautician you are using)

5. Finalize your hairdo and do not forget to try it on much in advance.

Pampering yourself is very key and every bride to be should not compromise on this at any cost.

Avoiding Trousseau Malfunction:

2008-05-03T16:35:00.001+05:30

The trousseau is an eternal part of a wedding. Talking about traditional Indian trousseau, the choices are many; elaborate Lehengas, Ghaghra choli, Heavily Embroidered sari, Sharara, salwaar kameez etc (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_dress). There were times when a bride could not go much beyond Reds for the D-day attire but today the choices are many. From pastels to traditional red tones, gold, silver or even whites, it is on to you to decide what you want.

The wedding attire must be chosen considering one’s body size and shape. The traditional wedding dress patterns have transcended to breathtaking blends, which are being preferred by the modern bride and groom. Heavily embroidered clothes, with crystal work and embellishments are being mostly preferred. Given the heaviness of this kind of clothing, it is very difficult to manage with them for hours at a stretch.

A bride may have the most elaborate designer trousseau, or the most eclectic jewelry but it may all prove futile if a dress malfunction takes place in public. Here are a few lessons that I learned and these may come in handy for brides when it comes to their bridal attire.

Rule number one: Try on your wedding dress and make sure it fits. One of my friends bought a beautiful lehenga. She tried it on at the store and the choli (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choli) was not acting right. It was falling off the shoulders. She really wanted the attire and just figured that the store was ready to alter the choli and assumed and all would be fine. That is not what happened. While she was wearing her lehenga on the day of the sangeet, the Choli was tight and difficult to get into. Her wonderful Mom In law had to run all the way to the store to get it altered all over again. She is a saint! The Bride made it to the Sangeet, slightly late and very disturbed. Trying on your dress is crucial to prevent potential bridal attire malfunctions AHEAD of time!

Rule number two: Try on your shoes before you leave the store. So my other friend, who is well known for her shoes, had the most fabulous pair of shoes on. Well, my dear friend didn’t try on the shoes before she left the store. She had two left shoes. We were hysterical. She finally got married in her sister’s shoes. All the last minute chaos of shoe hunting could have been avoided with a bit of pre-planning. (Sorry girls, I am sure you will publish my next big guffaws.)

Rule number three: I know someone whose Sari opened slightly in the middle of Pheras. It was an extremely embarrassing moment and was very shocking for all guests. So all you lovely brides to be; tell your beautician to put pins on our Sari and ensure it does not come off.

Booking Venue for your destination wedding

2008-05-02T17:22:00.001+05:30

With every passing year, Indian weddings are going BIG, FAT, GRAND & GLOBAL. If you are looking for a Royal Palace, Fort, Castle or Dessert wedding; then your search stops at Rajasthan: The Land of Kings, colors & palaces.

For a common person, the Royal Indian wedding is an enticing dream world. Every girl’s heart nurtures the dream of marrying off amidst pomp and flamboyance. The ostentation and hype that an exotic designer wedding enjoys does not come without a cost. Yes, grand Indian weddings come at the cost of your fortune.

Just a few weeks back, I was planning a wedding in Jaipur (the pink city) for the month of July. Summer weddings are not a common sight in Rajasthan and I tried explaining to both the groom & the bride’s family about the challenges they have to be prepared for. All said and done, they did not want to change the dates and we were planning a Royal Hindu wedding in the Pink city in Peak of OFF-SEASON! I was glad, for once planning would not be tough; owing to off-season, we would have wide choices to present to the client.

One of the foremost things in destination weddings is to freeze the venue for the functions and the rooms for stay. This was not a very big gathering; we needed to plan for 500 guests. Jaipur being a prime tourist destination has many options. But to my surprise, everything across Jaipur was full- even for July. Jaipur supposedly is full this year; mostly booked till January'09. After 7 days of research and hunting, we finally zeroed in on splitting the guests in 4 different heritage hotels for stay and for the 3 big functions zeroed in on Fort & a palace venues. Although its going to cost a fortune but we were lucky to get hands on these great locales.

So my suggestion to all you great people contemplating a Royal wedding in India is to plan and book all your venues at least 6 months in advance. Not only will that enable you to have more options to choose from but it will also be a much cheaper option than in case of last minute bookings.