Menu Planning

Nothing is more important than serving your guests delicious Indian food at an Indian wedding, and plenty of it. Wedding feast is a grand and extravagant affair. There are three things that guests take away from the event: floralscape, service and food. No South Asian wedding is complete without serving delicious samosa, paneer tikka, chicken makhani and yummy gulab jamun.

The toughest part of planning the celebration feast is choosing which types of Indian cuisine to serve, offering regional variety on the menu for the multiple days of your “Big Fat Indian Wedding”. With increasing numbers of bi-cultural weddings, couples looking to find modern fusion Indian food, and their parents looking for the traditional it is no surprise that couples find themselves at multiple tastings and adding a few pounds to their waistlines. In the end you will find the meal you have selected will be enjoyed by young and old, modern and traditionalist.


Here are our tips when selecting your wedding reception meal:

Appetizer:
These days the length of the cocktail reception can range from 11/2 to 2hrs. If you are facing a long reception it is a good idea to offer variety of selections to your guest. Hosting a chaat station such as Kachori Chaat or Mangoe Dal Chaat can keep your guests engaged. Butler passing of 2 vegetarian and 1 or 2 non-vegetarian items is also a good idea. Set up a buffet station or Tawa station to showcase items such as grilled paneer with peppers and onions, or Kaati Kabob rolled in tawa paratha.

The Main Course:
Most families will struggle when deciding the style of service they would like to select for dinner. Buffet can be a safe option, with limitless choices of entrée selection, whereas sit down service brings the formal celebration to the dining experience but does limit the selection.

If selecting buffet, offering 3 vegetarian selections, 2 non-vegetarian, 2 rice, mixed bread and 3 desserts is a stand option. If you are looking for a modern touch to the sit down service, create a multiple course selection. Offer soup as a first course and follow it with a hearty salad duet including an Indian appetizer, family style bowls of entrée can follow the main course and the grand finale to such a grand meal is to present a trio of mini Indian desserts.

Check with your venue if they will allow the caterer to prepare fresh tandoor naan or tandoor meats on site.

Just Desserts:
This is where you can let your creativity take over. Indians are not known for their desserts but there are combinations of desserts that can be finger licking good. How about chef frying fresh jalebis and serving it with rabadi? Or how does hot tawa of pineapple, badam and gajjar halwa sound with a scoop of lychee or orange ice-cream? Call it a Hot A La Mode. Do you want to set the place on fire? Then you must try gulab jamun Flambé, if you have never had it you are truly missing out.


No matter what your selection, selecting the caterer that can deliver innovative and quality product is a must. Food is one place that no sacrifice must be made. Guests are always happy with the basic but if you are going to WOW them, make sure to select some items that keep the true ethnic flair.

Bon Appétit

Budgeting for a Baraat

Baraat has become one of the essential wedding rituals for South Asian Weddings. It’s very festive with great music, and most of all a horse and/or elephant are involved. As with every aspect of a wedding, there is a cost to holding this event. It is important to include the Baraat in your overall wedding budget.

To further enhance your knowledge with this cultural ritual, Baraat is a
bridegroom’s wedding procession in North India and Pakistan. In North Indian communities, it is customary for the bridegroom to travel to the wedding venue on a horse or horse carriage, accompanied by his family members.


The Baraat can become a large procession, with its own dhol player (drummer) with a mobile music cart for the songs. Most Baraat’s do not, or shall I say should not, exceed a one hour period.The groom and his horse are dressed nicely for the wedding occasion, and do not usually take part in the dancing and singing; that is left to the family & friends (often called the baraaties) accompanying the procession. In some families, the groom may or may not carry a sword. Everybody dances to the tunes of the song and music played by the dhol player accompanying them. The family and friends in the procession are rejoicing because an eligible bachelor in their family will finally start his new life, along with his life partner. Amongst all the celebration, the Baraat eventually reaches the marriage spot, where the family members of the bride, await them.


Photo provided by R.E.M. Photography

Now you must be thinking, “Renting a horse and dhol player, wow, this can get expensive.” Yes, holding a Baraat is not inexpensive, but if you budget the wedding right you can fit this into your wedding activities. The horse rental cost is approximate $375 and if you wish to rent a horse carriage then the price can be as high as $575. This includes the white horse in festive wear. Dhol players usually charge $300 for the hour long service. You will want to verify with the hotel, or venue of your ceremony, that you can have space for the Baraat, and let them know it will be a noisy affair. You will also want to look into any possible restrictions on having a horse or elephant at the property.

As mentioned earlier, Baraat is a very fun and festive moment for the Groom’s Family. Whether you are from North India, South India, or Pakistan, I have seen many families hosting a Baraat for their son, to enhance the wedding activities a notch.

Who sits where?

It’s one of the most daunting tasks when approaching your wedding celebrations, putting together the seating charts. After you have figured out which guests will be seated at which table you need to figure out how you will communicate that information to your guests on the big day. There are Place Cards, Escort Cards, Scrolls and more. You may be wondering what all the lingo means, here are some pointers:



Place Card:
A place card indicates exactly where a guest should be seated, including which table, and which seat at the table. This card is placed at the guest’s seat. You may use a Place Card in conjunction with an…

Escort Card:
An escort card tells a guest which table he or she is to be seated at. Most often you will find one card per couple on a table during the cocktail hour.



Scroll:
Instead of giving each guest a “card” you may choose to keep all of the guest seating information in one place. This is often beautifully done on a scroll. Besides giving guests a place to check back if they loose their escort card a scroll can be a beautiful keepsake for the bridal couple. It may be more difficult to make last minute changes to seating if you chose to use a scroll, so keep that in mind when allocating your time to assign seating.



Thinking about scraping all of them? DON’T! I promise you, you will have some tables half empty, and 18 of your colleagues trying to squeeze into one so they can sit together. If you are not up for assigning each seat, take some time and at least assign each guest to a table.

Do yourself a favor and do your seating chart in Microsoft Excel. Provide your coordinator (or a trusty friend) with two copies of the list, one sorted in alphabetical order by last name and another sorted by table number. This will allow your coordinator to help guests find their table number if they can’t find their name on a card or the scroll. It will also allow the coordinator to know where open seats are quickly if the guest’s RSVP did not reach you in time to assign their table.

When it comes time to assign tables think about where the speakers are going to be set-up, which tables will be closest to service doors (and thus server chatter and some kitchen noise) and which family members and other VIPs you want seated closest to you and your bridal party. Enlist the help of both families if you are having trouble placing people, especially those you might not know as well.

Take a deep breathe, when you get to this step you are in the home stretch!

Buff and Beautiful

Every bride has a vision of what they will look like on their wedding day. In most of our daydreams we are a little thinner, have hair worthy of a shampoo commercial and clear, glowing, skin. If only we could daydream that into life.

After doing some research on how to get the most bang for our buck in wedding prep, here are some helpful tips:

•Hydrate! Water intake is important for our body to function well, and it keeps our skin looking young and supple. You’ll also stay young by…

•Getting your zzzs. I know, it’s easier said than done, but try to schedule some rest for yourself. You’re make-up artist won’t have to worry about bags under your eyes, and you’ll have energy to…

•Exercise your stress out, go for a jog or take a kick-boxing class to work out your wedding related anxiety. Be sure to…

•Balance your workout. There is too much of a good thing, so don’t just jump on a treadmill and call it a day. You will see your best results if you incorporate weight/resistance training. You don’t have to bulk up, but aren’t we all hoping for toned arms ala Jennifer Aniston?! Also try to make time for yoga to de-stress and keep those muscles looking long and lean. Speaking of balance…

•Balance your diet. Eating a balanced diet can help keep your hormones and emotions in check, which is important leading up to such a big event. Beware of caffeine and sugar, they are not your friend in this time. But it is important for you to…

•Find a friend! Working out and eating healthy is much easier if you have someone else in your corner. I bet your mom, sister or one of your friends is also hoping to shape up for your wedding. Set time each week to exercise together, and check-in regularly on your progress

The days and weeks leading up to your wedding are sure to be full of fun, but also stress and anxiety. Take time for yourself and you will look AND feel better for your big day.

Wedding Transportation

You’ve been engaged for some time now and the planning of the event is coming along beautifully. Bridal outfits have been handled, venue has been chosen, floral and décor elements are starting to take shape and the tasting has been scheduled. What could you have possibly forgotten? Don’t worry it is the most overlooked and / or assumed item; your wedding transportation. After all, to enjoy your wedding ceremony and or reception, you have to get there.

While the most popular vehicle is definitely the limousine other options include antique and vintage cars, horse drawn carriages, trolleys and even large buses. Most transportation companies recommend booking your transportation needs approximately 8 months in advance with most companies being sold out on Saturday’s during the peak wedding season.

Photo courtesy of theknot.com

When booking your wedding transportation, consider the following 10 items:

1 - What type and how many vehicles will you require for your event? Determine how many vehicles you will need based upon how many people will be required to utilize the transportation and decide if you would like them all to travel together, or in separate groups. Also keep in mind any additional space that you as a bride might need based upon your bridal outfit, headpieces or bridesmaid dresses. These often times will require additional space such as extra-wide doors which most transportation companies can accommodate.

2 - What times will I need the transportation? Will you require the transportation for only a few hours or for all day and / or night? Ask when your allotted time begins and when overtime charges start and what those charges will be. Also check to see if there is an additional charge for added mileage.

3 - What happens if my transportation breaks down? Ask for details about the vehicles available and inquire about insurance, licenses and service schedules. If something happens to the transportation the company should have ample and reliable back up’s available.

Photo courtesy of theknot.com

4 - Do you have any preferred rates? Many times transportation companies will have preferred rates for multiple car bookings, while others offer discounts for off-day weddings like Fridays, Sundays or weekdays. Find out when you payment is required and what kinds of payment are accepted.

5 - What if I am running late and need the transportation longer than I contracted? Always book your wedding transportation vehicles for 1 to 2 hours longer than necessary. Many companies will be handling multiple events each day and a rental extension at the last minute may be impossible based upon their schedule.

6 - Will I be required to sign a contract? Not only will you be required to sign a contract but make sure to read the fine print of the contract carefully. Does it clearly indicate all pick up times, delivery times and payment schedules?

Photo courtesy of theknot.com

7 - What happens if I have to cancel some or all of the transportation? Once again verify and read your contract very carefully. All reputable companies will clearly define their cancellation policies and / or penalties.

8 - Do I need to tip the driver? Always ask the company if the total cost includes a gratuity for the driver as this policy ranges depending upon the company that you chose. Also inquire how the driver will be attired. Since it is a wedding the driver should be in a black suit or even a tuxedo. The last thing you want is to be picked up by a driver in shorts and a Hawaiian shirt unless that is what you want.

9 - What do I do when I find the right company? What you find the right company and package; sign the contract, pay the required deposit and get a receipt.

10 - What do I do after I sign the contract? Once the contract is signed you can concentrate on the other details of your special day. Do call and confirm your transportation details at least two weeks prior to your big day.

Photo courtesy of theknot.com

Your wedding transportation is a small detail, but an essential one. By addressing your needs early in your planning, you make sure the road to romance stays smooth and clear.

It Takes a Village

Anyone who has been part of a wedding knows that it takes a village. Not just the village of family of friends, but the team of vendors who will work together to make your wedding dream a reality.


The average wedding has anywhere from 5 – 15 different vendors providing services from food to photography to beauty services.


Here are my top 5 tips for working with vendors:

1. Get it in writing. You should have a contractual agreement with each vendor, and the contract should detail their services and any of your special requests.

2. Assign someone to be a liaison with each vendor for the day of the wedding. As the bride you should not have to worry about final payments, etc.

3. Communicate your wants and needs, before the big day. Be sure that each person or team you have hired is clear on your expectations of the day. Trust me, reputable vendors want to make your day special as much as you want them to perform at their best.

4. Ask for recommendations. Ask family and friends about their experiences, and vendors that they have been happy with in the past. Once you have found a vendor you trust, ask them who they work with as well.

5. Ask the “What If?” questions. What if… my party runs late, you’re sick the day of my wedding, someone breaks a vase, our date changes, etc.

Remember, you and your vendors both want your wedding day to be a stunning success, so work together as a team and you are sure to be pleased.

Top 5 Wedding Budget Crashers

We posted this last year, and thought it was worth repeating:

It’s that time of the year, and calculators are busy cranking up numbers. No it’s not tax time yet, but it IS time to set your wedding budget. There are plenty of wedding resource websites and magazines that give couples a cookie cutter budget format to guide them on how their wedding budget will be spent. I personally feel that budgets are subjective. What is important to one bride may not be important to the other. So as a bridal couple, you should prepare a list of items that are of absolute importance to you, and another list of those that are not. For e.g. a high end photographer with a photo journalistic style of capturing your wedding day is a must but a videographer may not be as important. I have worked with couples that have put a higher emphasis on the food then on the flowers, or on securing a specialty venue and not the caterer.

As to any budget that is set, whether buying a car, home or vacation there are always those unexpected costs that can put a dinger on your spending limit. So consider the following when setting up your budget Excel spreadsheet:

#1 Venues that charge a service charge: Clarify if the service charge will be taxable. It won’t devastate your budget, but it may impact you by few hundred dollars.

#2 Gown Alterations: You may have just spent thousands of dollars on that perfect gown, that will make you the trendy sophisticated bride that you are, but to get the right fit you may need to spend some time with a seamstress. Alterations may not be included in the price of the gown.

#3 Stamps: AAHHHH Stamps. The current price for your mail to travel in style is $.44 cents. Not only will you need the stamps for the Reply cards but also if you are sending out “Save the Date” cards. In addition I have yet to have an invitation that fell in the weight category of first class mail. I have clients that have paid as much as $5 in stamps per invitation, to mail their invitations to 300 of their closest friends.

#4 Make Up and Hair Trial: To make sure you have stylish hair style and photogenic make up, Brides will need to spend time with a Make up Artist and Hair Stylist before the big day. A consultation to create the glowing look on your special day is extremely important. There should be no surprises on the day of the wedding. In doing so, keep in mind that these trials do cost money. You can expect to pay as little as $50, to as high as $250, just to finalize the style and glamour of your beautiful day.

#5 Night Pick-up: Depending on the time your event finishes, and the ability of the venue to let the flowers/décor/specialty linens stay in the reception room you may incur additional charge. This is a must have conversation with your venue. If the venue requires that your floral/décor/linen company pick up the items at the end of the reception time these vendors may charge you for a night pick-up. The cost can be $125 to $900 depending on the work that will be involved. Having too much fun dancing and want to keep going? Don’t keep them waiting to start tear down or you may be stuck with overtime fees as well.

Let us know about costs that you have had that you didn’t account for.