|
Typical South Asian weddings can range from over-the-top tacky to over-the-top luxurious. To help you fall into the latter category, CitySaheli has identified a number of basic principles to help a bride-to-be turn her wedding into an unforgettable one. Stick to these five simple guidelines and you’ll be on your way to the wedding of your dreams.
1. Think simple.
South Asian wedding ceremonies are often spread over multiple days, causing many brides to become overwhelmed when planning. Think simple and don’t overcomplicate your ceremonies. The best advice we learned is bring it back to the basics. Starting with the essentials allows you to determine where you want to add personal touches and extra details, if time and money permit. Keeping it simple will ensure that your attendees will enjoy the music, have ample time to indulge in the food and drink and have an overall memorable experience. (Added bonus: you don’t burn out from planning several unnecessarily complicated events.)
2. Know your role.
If you own a restaurant, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be the head chef. The same theory applies for wedding planning. If you are planning several ceremonies that stretch over a series of days, delegate some of the planning, or you will likely hinder the success of your wedding. Plus, if you plan on enjoying your events, passing over the reigns to someone you trust is the way to go. Many brides rely on family members or members of the bridal party while others hire an event planner for the wedding day. It’s important to remember to be honest with yourself and acknowledge that help from others is a-okay.
3. Don’t be afraid to DIY!
DIY not only adds sincerity and a personal touch to your wedding, but it’s also very cost-effective. Wedding favors, wedding programs, a decorated guest book and invitations are just a few of the tasks that can be costly to outsource, but are fairly simple (and cheap!) to do yourself. Don’t be afraid to break a sweat by doing some simple hands-on work for your own wedding. You’ll find that doing tasks yourself can be a great negotiating point with vendors and make your wedding much more rewarding and memorable.
4. Accept constructive criticism.
Wedding planning can be stressful and often frustrating when any type of “advice” is offered. Advice is sometimes taken as criticism. This often infuriates a bride-to-be and puts a damper on the wedding planning. Just remember, whether you like it or not, advice will always be thrown at you, but your attitude towards the advice is what counts. Don’t let people’s opinions dictate your wedding, but keep in mind that most criticism comes with good intentions. Outside perspectives can be very valuable, especially when you are planning a multi-day event. The next time you’re offered unsolicited advice, hear your friends and family (and even your fiancé) out and stay positive and open-minded. It may really help you out!
5. Don’t be afraid of change.
Probably the greatest piece of advice for any bride-to-be is to embrace change. You’ve likely been planning your wedding with a very specific vision in your mind. But if something doesn’t exactly go as planned, relax and reevaluate. Don’t waste time stressing because a different approach could be the best way to cross this obstacle. Brides take great pride in the thought and details that are placed into their weddings, but flexibility is the key (not pride) to move the planning along and to create your dream wedding.
| 
