A Token of Appreciation

It is very important to thank your guests for attending your wedding festivities. One of the most common ways that bridal couples thank guests for their attendance is by giving them a favor at the wedding. Like all aspects of a wedding, favors vary greatly depending on the couple’s style and budget, from something small and traditional like a small tulle wrapping of almonds to something as elaborate as a scarf or doll, sometimes from their native country.

Anyone you ask about favors will give you their opinion, and each of those opinions will be very different. Here is what I can tell you after attending more weddings than I can count, as a guest and as a planner:


Photo Courtesy of theknot.com

If they can’t eat it, your guests will probably forget it:
Those beautiful little votive holders, dolls and coasters set at each guest’s place at the table will catch their eye, and they will all talk about how great they are. However, after all of the dancing, and possibly a few celebratory cocktails, you will find most of those favors left behind.

I have found however, if you give your guests a little treat, you will not have as much leftover. Why is that? My best guess is that people either eat them during speeches, between courses, during dancing, or pick them up on their way out for a snack on the way home. Favors such as candy bars, truffles or cookies are great munchies and you will not find many are left behind.

If your heart is set on giving a special treat to your guests, assign a family member to hand them out as guests leave.

Honor Your Guests:
Some Brides and Grooms chose to honor their guests by making a donation to a charity close to their heart. This is a beautiful way to give back, and make your guests feel special. One couple I know made donations to several charities, and indicated which charity they selected for each guest on their place card. Another Bride made a donation to the cancer society in memory of her deceased mother. Just be sure to put a sign in a frame or on display so your guests know that you have thought of them. If you decide to donate to charity in lieu of favors, choose with your heart and connect with your purpose.


Photo Courtesy of theknot.com

Overall, don’t break the bank. A favor should be a token of appreciation to your guests, thanking them for taking time from their busy lives to celebrate your love and the beginning of your new life. You can consider adding a sweet table, or late night munchie station, for your guests to enjoy by moving your favor budget to accommodate the expense. If you come up with a great idea, and you think your guests will remember to take it home, go for it. After all it is YOUR big day.

What TO Wear

To me, the best part of being a bride in the summer are all of the vibrant colors and unique fabrics you can bring to your wedding, specifically in your attire. Brides, as you start deciding on the colors and styles of your trousseau, here are some bridal trends that continue to be popular:

Fabrics:
Brocades, silks, georgette and chiffons.


Photo provided by CharismaIndia

Styles:
The plain Ghagra style is no longer to be seen. It is now replaced with the likings of the A-line or Mermaid style, which is crafted to give the bride a feminine and sculpted look. The blouses are short with longer dupattas.

Colors:
The color to adore this season is pink, in shades pale to deep. Brides, be sure to pick the proper shade to compliment your skin tone.


Photo provided by CharismaIndia

Embroidery:
Traditional zardosi embroidery is being taken over by kundan, mirror, and Swarowski crystal work.


Photo provided by CharismaIndia

The trend is now to blend the traditional with the contemporary. While each of us likes the traditional colors and styles, the key is to add the new era of fashion to the existing expectations. A few things to keep in mind: fabric, style, embroidery, and color are each important individually, but also together. You don’t want to use a fabric and style that won’t suit your body type, or choose a color that will not compliment you, on and off camera. When a brides walks in the room, heads should turn and guests should think "This bride looks amazing, head to toe!". As the generation changes, more emphasis is placed on having a unique sense of style, wearing something no one has worn before. There are many options available these days for a bride to make an outfit her own, and something no one else has. Remember, the way you look at your wedding, from head to toe, will be captured as a memory that will last longer than a lifetime. Make sure you are more than happy with what you have on!

Finally, remember ladies, you should wear the trousseau, the trousseau shouldn’t wear you!

Mendhi & Sangeet

Welcome to the South Asian focused blog by Oliveaire Artisan Events and Meetings. We hope you will enjoy our tips, tricks and trends.

Event Architect Mahvish Bhatty will kick us off, giving some adivce on Mendhi & Sangeet...

Mendhi and Sangeet are the highlights of the wedding weekend. Mendhi, more commonly, is a ladies only event where the bride gets henna done on her hands. Sangeet, is a pre-party, and a relaxed informal event where the Bride and Groom can enjoy the company of family and friends, while enjoying great food and music. Sangeet was predominantly a ladies only event, but with the passing time, the way of organizing Sangeet has changed as it’s now open to male relatives and friends. Below you will find some tips on decorations, the latest music trends, and how to maintain bridal henna (Mendhi).



Sangeet and Mendhi Decorations Tips
• You may resort to the traditional way of decorating your venue. For that purpose, stick to the colors schemes that reflect the ethnicity of the Indian/Pakistani culture. Colors like orange, maroon, yellow and shades of red can best serve the purpose.
• Choose a color scheme and stick to it. For instance, if you have chosen maroon as the color for your Sangeet party Décor, then decorate the venue with items that are maroon in color. You may also bring in variation by choosing two shades of the same color, for the venue.
• It is always best to hire a décor vendor so they can make the event look traditional, and the arrangements have been done professionally. A lot of couples tend to skip out on the décor vendor for their Sangeet and Mendhi nights, but it is important to work with a vendor, so you are not relaying on family to do the decorations.
• Marigold is one of the chosen flowers for festive occasions in India. For the Sangeet/Mendhi party, you may decorate your venue with garlands of marigold.
• Another popular item is having a swing on the stage, and lounge furniture which brings the exotic element of the event. Be sure to stick to your color theme while ordering lounge furniture.
• Traditional look can also be given to the place by using drapes with heavy embroidery and mirror work.
• If you want to impart a western look to the decorations, then make use of colors including pastel shades of green, blue, pink, peach, sea green or mauve. Exotic flowers like orchids, lilies and carnations can also be used for the Décor.
Music Trends
• With passing time, more and more families are hiring professional Bands for the Sangeet/Mendhi Party. The band consists of singers (male and female) along with drummer and rhythm players.
• Another hot trend is hiring a DJ who plays the latest songs within your choice of course, and this becomes a necessity since many of the bridal party members and friends would like to perform a dance for couple on this night.
• Besides a professional band and DJ, couples are also hiring a music instrument player such as Sitar and/or Tabla. This makes the evening much more festive and ethnic. Hiring a sitar and tabla player along with the DJ makes the perfect combination, and nowadays most vendors are versatile.



Here are some tips to ensure that you (Bride) enjoy your Mendhi ceremony:
1) Get your manicure done the day before – Mendhi takes a few days for the color to sink it. Getting the manicure after the Mendhi is applied will affect the richness of the color. So pamper yourself and get a nice, relaxing massage of your hands and feet before applying the Mendhi design!

2) No oils on your skin –Your skin should be well moisturized, but do not put any oils on your skin before applying the Mendhi.

3) Get your Mendhi applied before the actual Mendhi party- this allows you to be stress free at your own celebration and gives you the ability to mingle and watch as others get their Mendhi applied. Also, everyone will admire your beautiful design!

4) After the Mendhi is applied –soak the dry paste with a mixture of lemon and sugar. The Mendhi should be left on for about 6-8 hours. Then scrape off the Mendhi with a blunt object. Do not wash the areas with water for at least 24 hours. Avoid all chlorinated products and anything alkaline (of course this no longer applies on the honeymoon!)

Hopefully these simple tips will bring out the vibrant colors of your Mendhi design and bring lasting prosperity to your marriage!