CitySaheli has been on a hiatus but is back to bring a must attend event for our brides-to-be. CitySaheli, along with Shaadi Studio, is hosting another Bridal Insider Series, “WOW, you can serve THAT at a wedding?”  Meet Kamal Arora, CEO of Moghul Catering, who will provide insider tips on booking a caterer.  In this 60 minute bootcamp session, you will become well equipped with what to ask any caterer for any event.  The session will wrap up with a complimentary food tasting, courtesy of Moghul Caterers.  Also be the first to try their new recipes of 2011. 

When: TBD

Where: Shaadi Studio
               336 West 37^th Street between 8^th and 9^th Suite 600
Register at: http://www.shaadistudio.com/registerguest

South Asian Songs (Courtesy of Amrit Minhas of Bollywood DJ’s)

1. Kal jisne janam yahan. Vivah (Father/Daughter)
2. Baabul ki duaayein leti ja. Neel Kamal (Father/Daughter)
3. Mere ghar aayi ek Nani pari. Kabhie Kabhie (Father/Daughter)
4. Yaadein (title song). Yaadein. (Father/Daughter)
5. Papa ki pari hoon mein. Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon.  (Father/Daughter)
6. Maye ni maye.  Hum aapke hain kaun.  (Mother/Daughter)
7. Maa Da laadla (also avail. in remix). Dostana (Mother/Son)
8. Meri Maa. Dasvidaniya. (Mother/Son)
9. Tu Kitni Achhi hain. Raja Aur Runk. (Mother/Son)
10. Meri Maa.  Taare Zameen Par.  (Mother/Son)
11. Khushiyon ka din aaya.  Beta.  (Mother/Son) 

Western Songs

1.  Unforgettable.  Natalie Cole
2. The Way You Look Tonight.  Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett
3. Butterfly Kisses.  Bob Carlisle
4. What a Wonderful World.  Louie Armstrong
5. I’ll Stand By You.  Pretenders
6. Father and Daughter.  Paul Simon
7. My Girl.  The Temptations

Honeyfund – Who says your guests can’t chip in for your honeymoon? All newlyweds deserve a romantic getaway after all the hard work put into the wedding! With Honeyfund, you can plan out your vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels, and meals, and set it up as a registry for your guests. Sample registries are available on the website so you don’t have to start from scratch. Simply add the suggested items and build the honeymoon of your dreams!

Newlywish – At Newlywish, you can create a single registry for all of your favorite items, including kitchenware, bed & bath, and home essentials. In addition, Newlywish has partnered with popular New York City businesses to add exciting items to your registry such as dance lessons, massages, art and photography, interior design consultations, and more!

HatchMyHouse – Saving up for your first home is a daunting task, one that requires time and discipline. With HatchMyHouse, newlyweds can set up a wedding gift registry for their dream home. The website walks you through 5 simple steps to create your ideal home and publish the registry to your guests using a PayPal account. Getting a nice boost to your dream home fund is a great way to start your new lives together!

IDoFoundation – For those big-hearted couples who prefer to use your guests’ generosity for a greater cause, this is the perfect registry for you. The I Do Foundation is a Charity Registry that allows your guests to make a tax-deductable gift online to a charity of your choice. Through their secure online payments, guests can choose from pre-determined dollar amounts, or donate as much as they wish. The website maintains a list of all the donations made in your name so that you can thank your guests for their contribution.

MyRegistry – This is an all-in-one wedding registry for couples who just don’t have the time to go to individual stores and scan items. You can also add a Honeymoon Fund to the list so guests can contribute a cash gift toward a trip for you and your beau. Partnered with hundreds of vendors, MyRegistry gives you an endless amount of possibilities for creating the perfect wedding registry of your dreams!

Cocktails and appetizers kick off at 6 PM and the panel begins at 7. Reserve your spot now and register.  There is seating for only 60 brides so hurry before it’s too late!!

Register here

1. At what point in your wedding planning process did you decide to create inspiration boards?
I had a vision of the overall feeling I wanted to create at each of our wedding events from the start. Once we were set on our venues, almost a year before our wedding itself, I began to collect photos for the inspiration boards. As an architect, design and details were really important to me… I had seen inspiration boards on some wedding blogs and thought they would be a great way to convey my ideas and visions to vendors. I think that starting so early really helped me to convey the feeling of each event in a very specific way, because as I came across more photos and had more time to develop the ideas in my mind, my ideas would change.

2.  When creating your inspiration boards, where did you look first for your inspiration?  Especially since you wanted to mix east-west elements, where did you find those perfect pictures?
I think I was first inspired by each venue in terms of what the feeling for the event taking place there would be like. Then once I had a vague vision in my mind, I spent a LOT of time browsing both Indian and American wedding blogs to find the perfect photos to illustrate what I was imagining. A few sites which I think are excellent and where I found some photos were stylemepretty.com, marigoldsandmithai.com, feteny.com, kateparkerweddings.com, and prestonbailey.com.

3. How did your inspiration boards help you when planning your wedding? Did you use them? Did people understand what you were going for?
I definitely think the inspiration boards helped in planning our wedding. We showed the inspiration boards to our wedding planner, stationery designer, decorator, tenting company, caterers, and probably more. They were, of course, most helpful to our decorator/florist, who was able to really understand my taste and vision and make suggestions based on what she knew I would love. 

Ceremony 1 – We absolutely love the picture of the Ganesh.  Where did you find it and how did you incoporate it into your wedding?

 The Ganesh photo (flower elephant) came from Preston Bailey’s website. Our decorator made a similar floral elephant which was a focal point at our ceremony. Our ceremony venue was at a golf club, and the clubhouse had a beautiful procession of doorways leading out to the lawns where the ceremony itself was being held. The Ganesh was centered outside of the last doorway on the patio, so guests were able to enjoy it on their way to the ceremony seating as well as during lunch on the patio. What I liked about the Ganesh was that it was symbolic in Indian traditions, but was modern and fusion-y at the same time. It was the only really iconically Indian symbol or image we had at our ceremony (apart from our outfits) and as a single item, I think it really captured the essence of our ceremony.

I would say this board was the most important board in terms of conveying the mood of our ceremony. I wanted it to feel like it was the marriage of both me and my husband. My husband grew up in Connecticut and Maine. I wanted the adirondack chairs to represent his New-England heritage. I love how the mandap chairs and aisle flowers are so simple yet so bold, especially in those colors (white, esp.) against the grass. The photo of the large umbrellas came from a wedding I attended in Mexico, and the draped tent (also from Preston Bailey) was our rain alternative.

Ceremony continued—Perhaps the inspiration board most relavent to the mundap.  Did you know what you wanted before you found the picture or did the picture you find help shape your thoughts?

 I wanted our mandap to be really simple so that it would not obstruct the view of the surrounding lawns and trees from our guests. I had a vague image in my mind of the type of mandap I wanted, something simple and natural, and it was not like anything I had ever seen at an Indian wedding before. I couldn’t believe it when I came across the first photo of the black mandap, and then the other indoor mandap, which, combined, were exactly what I was imagining… no fuss, natural dark wood, flowy white fabric to pop against the grass, whimsical garlands in the trees…

Sangeet– Love the Om Shanti Om Theme going–how did you make this 60s’ disco come to life? How did this help shape what you wore? Is this something you showed your designer?

 The photos from the middle portion of the board came from marigoldsandmithai.com, and they really inspired me for this event. We had selected a very clean, ultra-modern venue for our sangeet. The sangeet was supposed to be our Indian music night, but I am not really into Indian music and don’t watch Bollywood movies, so it felt a little bit more like my parents’ night, but I still wanted it to be ours as well. I was having trouble figuring out how to create a theme that was relevant to Indian music and tradition, but that was also not typical and that represented both my husband’s and my taste. When I came upon the spread on marigoldsandmithai, I was thrilled. The retro-modern theme was exactly what I was looking for, and combined with the feeling of the venue space, it lent itself to a unique imagery. I added in photos of the venue and some other details to the boards to supplement the idea and finalize my vision. At the actual event, we used dramatic up-lighting, projected black and white Hindi movies from when my parents were in their 20’s, had our DJ mix old Hindi songs which my parents knew and loved from their youth with modern hip-hop beats, hung mirrored balls above the dance floor, and overall had a modern backdrop with some classic elements. For example, the sofa my husband and I sat on during dance performances and the crystal vases which both had traditional shapes in ultra modern finishes.

Mehndi — The Moroccan theme is a classic and quintessential them for Mehndis– What elements did you really want to showcase?

Our mehndi party took place at my parents’ house under a tent on the water. I wanted to play up the tent and create a very ethnic feel because, for our guests, and my husband’s family and friends specifically, this would be the introduction to the weekend and for many, their first Indian event ever. But, I also didn’t want to over-power the beautiful view of the Long Island Sound from our patio. The image in the center of the board of the girl looking out from the arches over the water was important because the silhouette of the space would be so prominent and would have to be special to frame the amazing view. We lined the tent with an embroidered fabric border like in the photo on the bottom left and lined the poles with fabric to create this effect. To play up the ethnicity of the event we had a lot of fabrics, pillows, and lamps all over. We brought in furniture to set the mood and an oriental rug to cover the floor with, but I didn’t want any hookah’s or non-functional props. We had ladies doing mehndi for the guests (lots of our guy friends got it too!), and had some dancers come in to perform some traditional Bollywood dancing as well as belly dancing, which I think was amazing in terms of giving the event and guests a focal point. Plus, it was so fun to join in with the dancers!

Weddings are unique in that many brides love sharing with others what they researched and what the end product looked liked.  Inspiration boards are a great way to organize cut outs from magazines, and the many bookmarked pages from the computer, into one cohesive look that can be shared with family and friends.  “What is personally great about inspiration boards is that it’s a great way to learn about a couple’s personality.  It’s funny because couples learn about themselves too – often they think they want one thing but when we work on their inspiration boards, an entirely new and fabulous vision is created,” says Preeti Shah wedding planner and founder of Spotlight Style.  Inspiration boards can consist of colors, dresses, bouquets, favors, programs, place cards, mundap and flower arrangements—basically name it and you can include it. 

So where to start? CitySaheli has broken down the steps on how to get inspired and how to create an electronic version of your dream wedding.  CitySaheli was truly impressed with the inspiration boards created by loyal fan Mili Shah Brown for her dream affair.  Mili Shah Brown has shared her inspiration boards with us to help all our Sahelis get motivated.  We also asked her advice on where to find the perfect inspiration.

Part One- Get Inspired.

This is the part where you can go wild.  Pick up magazines and browse StyleMePretty and any other wedding blogs to get inspiration.  These boards are great if you are on a budget, the pics and images of what you would like are for free, so go crazy!  Great questions to keep in mind to help you narrow the scope of your inspiration are:

-          When did you meet?  Get engaged? Anything that you want to carry on to your big day?

-          Describe you and your hubby—what wedding style most suits you?

-          Think of your favorite childhood memories.

-          What are your favorite colors, activities, and destinations?

-          What is the mood of your wedding? Romantic, trendy, whimsical?

Part Two- Organize.

After you have collected your collage of photos, starting going through them to create a story. Focus on the pieces you really want to help symbolize your wedding.  Remove the clutter and focus on what is truly important to you.  Remember to look at your inspiration board not only as the bride, but as a guest too.  Planning a winter wonderland theme? Make sure someone who hasn’t helped you create your board sees the same vision.

Part Three- Create.

What tools can you use to create an inspiration board?  Aside from the usual cut, paste and glue, or creating a collage on poster board, many brides have gone electronic.  Here are some great tools we found.

Mosaic Maker – is an online service for creating photo mosaics.  Setup a free membership account and you’ll find it very user friendly.  You will be a master inspiration boardist in no time!

Polyvore.com – You may wonder why we are recommending this, but this online platform is perfect for creating an inspiration board.    Make sure you register for a free account.  Simply go to the create button and search.  You can also upload any photos to your montage.

Photoshop—Many of us have this program on our computers but are afraid to use it.  Weddingbee has a great tutorial on how to use Photoshop to create your own inspiration board. You can find that post here.

Mili Shah Brown recently got married and used her inspiration boards religiously.  CitySaheli asked her some questions to see where she found her inspiration and if these boards really helped her out.Stay tuned for next week’s articles where you will hear from Mili and see more of her boards.  Here is a glimpse of what Mili and Dan mapped out for their fanatastic reception!

Regardless of your skill level, it is important to choose the right beat for your dance. Co-founder of Dhoonya Dance, Priya Pandya, provided CitySaheli with some song recommendations that will surely be a smash at your upcoming Sangeet.  She has suggested songs with different styles and ones that can be done solo and by large groups.  Dhoonya Dance was most recently seen on the Oprah show, where the school danced for Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan.  Putting together basic moves to Pandya’s suggested jams will surely impress your audience.   

Need to learn some basics?  If you have two left feet and want to pick up some simple moves, Dhoonya Dance recently introduced online Bolly Basics, a subscription based service that allows you to learn hot moves from your very own home! 

Dhoonya Dance Sangeet Suggestions

CitySaheli found the upcoming wedding expos being held specifically for South Asian brides.  Here you will find vendors that will be able to provide you exactly what you are looking for.  For example, you’ll find florists with experience creating mundaps, DJs with desi songs, bands that play music from both the east and the west, shops that carry wedding lenghas and saris, and caterers that offer a variety of South Asian foods. 

Save the date and don’t miss these opportunities to make wedding planning a whole lot easier!

South Asian Bridal Expo
Where: The Woodlands at Woodburry
When: Thursday, September 24th

Dulhan Expo            

Where: Skylands at Randolph, NJ
When: September 27, 2009

Where: Melville Marriott, Long Island, NY
When: October 4, 2009

Where: Garden State Exhibit Center, NJ
When: Sunday December 6, 2009

Shaadi Chic                 
Where: Sheraton Parsipanny
When: Sunday, October 25, 2009

To help our brides, CitySaheli sat down with Payal Singhal to get exclusive tips on shopping abroad and to find out what’s in this year for bridal wear.  Payal’s experience as a designer for brides around the world provided us with a very insightful perspective.

Payal’s top five tips for brides traveling abroad were the following:

1. The best time to shop in India is in October.  This is when new collections are revealed for the upcoming holiday season (Navratri, Diwali, Eid, etc). December is known as NRI season and designers get bogged down by the massive crowds.  If you want the first look at the new collections and an more pleasant shopping experience, October is the time to go.

2. If you are looking for a bargain and designer sales, the best time to go is during the summer.  This is when designers are making room for their new collections.  If you are shopping in Mumbai, it’s also monsoon season and designers use sales to attract visitors to their stores.

3. Make appointments with the designers you want to meet to ensure the designer is available.  For example, Payal spends much of the year travelling all over the world.  Making an appointment will allow the designer to spend time with you and focus on exactly what you are interested in.

 4.  If you have a limited time to shop (2-3 weeks or less) buy off the rack.  This means don’t try to add too much to an outfit or change the embroidery.  Brides who try to alter a look in short time are often disappointed with the final product.  If you do ask for something totally different, be sure to request a swatch of the work to ensure you like what you will get. 

 5.  If you’ve seen something you like, bring it with you for inspiration.  Don’t, however, ask a designer to copy another designer’s work.  It likely won’t turn out the way you like it, since each has their own style.

Payal also shared bridal trends with us.  This year, she said, “think vintage.”  Picture your mom’s classic lengha paired with a modern choli blouse.  The silhouette of skirts flare more and are less fitted. Lace fabrics adorned with crystals are popular and net fabric has made a comeback this year.  Popular bridal colors include peaches, dark corals and gem colors.  

Get a glimpse of the new trends, and of Payal’s new bridal collection, below.  See more of her collection at CitySaheli’s exclusive event, Cocktails with Payal Singhal, on Wednesday, 09.09.09. For more information about the event, visit http://citysaheli.com/events.

CitySaheli spoke with Shawna Gohel, a wedding professional from Maharani Weddings, who gave us the scoop on the favorite colors for this fall.   “The best way to chose your color palette is to cozy up with some chai and go through wedding magazines,” says Shawna, founder of Maharani Weddings.  Shawna likes to use floral bridal magazines, since she gets distracted by the dresses, shoes, and everything else wedding related! “When you flip through the pictures, suddenly certain colors will speak to you, and you will continue to go back to them. That is when you know you have found YOU. The color palette you choose for your wedding is the foundation for creating a wedding that uniquely represents your personality as a couple.”

Shawna pointed out that one of the biggest mistakes that Indian brides make is choosing too many colors (sometimes four or more!), which can make a wedding look like blocks of color and make the event lose fluidity. Indian brides should remember to utilize a layering technique.  By layering colors, you create a cohesive wedding with depth, dimension and something visually pleasing for your guest’s eyes. 

Shawna’s top wedding color palette picks for the fall:

Black tie, elegant affair. Opt for  deep and rich colors, such as:

• plum with champagne and black
• burgundy and bright yellow
• rose pink and gold

Formal, festive event. Opt for energetic and vibrant colors brighten up the atmosphere, such as:

• turquoise and yellow
• kelly green and brown
• fuschia with lime green

Casual event. Opt for colors inspired by the beach, such as:

• soft blue with mustard yellow
• peach and yellow
• white on white & white