{Wedding Planning} Choosing your wedding photographer

Good morning guys, today we are focusing on wedding planning tips for all you brides and grooms out there. Choosing your photographer is most definitely one of the most valued allocations of your wedding budget. Your photographs will stay with you forever, they will remind you of those precious moments and they will capture those still moments you weren't able to see.



Image Credit

Choosing a photographer whose style you appreciate is one part of the small puzzle to find your ideal photographer.

Tip #1 : Look around, look at blogs, websites, talk to your friends or family who have recently gotten married. Find out who they recommend, who they trust and who they had spoken to.

Tip #2 : When you find a photographer whose style inspires you, book an appointment and look at entire albums. Anyone can take 500 pictures and post 2 good looking ones on a website, but when you are looking at websites and albums ensure you view a complete album. Look at how your photographer unwinds a couple's story, from start to finish.

Jay Dhokia, Creative Director and Photographer of Jay Dhokia Photography outlines some key questions you may need to ask your photographer before you sign on that infamous dotted line.

1. What is your Availability?

Once you have your wedding dates secured, you might want to know that your photographer is available for that day. This might be a good opportunity to discuss the times you might need your photographer, whether or not he/she will need to work overtime and if he may need to be in two places, an additional photographer may be needed.

2. What is your style of photography?

Each photographer has their own style of photography, it is important that if it is not clear from their website to clarify this.

3. When are you available for pre wedding shoot?

It is always nice to have a pre wedding shoot, to showcase at your wedding reception or to keep for your memories, of what once was ... :) This you can be more flexible with, as long as it is before the wedding and the photographer can have the edited final images ready prior to the wedding



Image Credit

4. What equipment do you use?

Any SLR camera can take a decent shot outside for a daytime wedding, but most indoor wedding receptions are in a Low Light setting which requires certain requirements outside of the standard amateur photographers range of equipment. If you are approaching a reputable wedding photographer you would not need to worry about this (and they may get touchy about this, as would any professional who has spend numerous years perfecting and pleasing), however if you are approaching a very new photographer then be sure they are aware of the setting conditions at the ceremony and reception. No doubt they will know what they need.

5. What is our payment schedule?

Its probably crucial to know firstly, how much the total charges are including travel, additional hours and any taxes. Secondly, ensure your photographer and yourself are aware of when the first deposit is due and when the final payment is. Suppliers are helpful when it comes to creating a payment plan, they understand the strain a wedding can have on couples and their families.

6. What is your willingness to travel?

This partly ties into question number five. If you plan to have your ceremony or reception out of town, find out whether your photographer is happy to travel, and if it is far - there may be an additional charge. Discuss to come to a clear figure and ensure that is added to the total cost.

7. What can you offer Post production?  I.e. Album production, digital copies.

Some couples may just want digital copies on a cd to keep and to create their own albums or to send images to their friends, you may find that the inlaws will most definitely want a madeup album to show to their friends and be proud of. So have the discussion about photo albums - if your photographer doesn't create these themselves, then they will most definitely know a company that does who will be able to give you a discount. (Its a great system!)

8.  May we see some examples of your previous work?

As I mentioned at the very top of this post, its obvious that you will be keen to see the photographers previous work whether it is a photo album or a digital one alike.

9. If you have a summary of the day or at least have a break down - show it to your photographer.

No doubt they would have done this before and know what works and what you may need to allocate more time too. Your photographer should/will know how the day will pan out - but every wedding is different and its key you let your photographer know of any surprises.

10. Finally, Relationship building.

If all these questions were conducted over the phone then you might consider meeting up for a coffee or a drink. Trusting your suppliers is one side of the coin, but the other side is a complete match of personalities. When you meet your suppliers and they understand you, the importance of your big day and the feel you want from their photographs you create an ultimate trust. The two sides go hand in hand. When you trust your suppliers, you trust them to do their job correctly and you have no need to worry throughout your wedding day over it.



Image Credit

Tip #3 : Photographers are one supplier you do not want to save the pennies on. If you can imagine hiring your friend or a newby photographer to take the photographs of your wedding and they get the lighting wrong or their thumb is is every picture or they spill drink on the memory card etc. Enjoying your wedding photographs is something you will most certainly have for years and decades to come.

Tip #4 : Your guests will pester your photographer for pictures of themselves, and that might be fine for the first few, but photographers are much more confident at saying 'No'. At the end of the day, they are being paid by you to produce an album full of you and your friends and family - not your friends and family and then the happy couple. Be sure to allocate a time for your photographer or even your second photographer, if you have one, to go around taking group shots.

Jay says: "Photographers are artists and you are investing in their art. Wedding Photography is definitely a competitive market. Work with photographers in your budget but not all good photographers are expensive."

I hope you have enjoyed our wedding planning blog this morning, just remember if you would like anything featured on Shaadi-Esque, then all you need to do is drop us an email on blog@rsbridalgroup.co.uk.

Keeping you Inspired!!

Rachyeta xxx

{Supplier Love} Meet the Professionals at Rozier Wilkinson Wedding Cinetography

The two talented and pretty darn funny guys of RozierWilkinson Cinematography show us some of their pretty unique work and talk to us about who the guys behind the camera are, what makes them love what they do and why they shoot weddings of all things. You are all going to love this blog post - it's a definite smile reader!



Image: Matt and Peter, two filmmakers at Rozier Wilkinson

♥ Who are the people behind the camera?

PW:        Hello - I'm Peter (Wilkinson) a writer and producer.

MR:        And howdy - I'm Matt (Rozier) a director and cameraman.

PW:        I started working in the theatre in London, firstly as an actor and then as a script reader, and I slowly started making the move into film a few years ago.

MR:        I was an actor too for about 10 years. That was how we originally met, many years ago, in a play at the Globe Theatre in Germany. We instantly hit it off - kicking opinions on film around and we've been mates ever since. I made the move over to directing a few years ago, first for the stage, and then for the camera, and we met up in 2009 to shoot something for Pete and decided to form our sister company Blind Crow Pictures.

PW:        I'm originally from the North-East of England but trained and worked in London for many years and now oscillate between the two as work demands.

MR:        And I'm based in Bucks with my long-term lady and little daughter Poppy - she's two and quite possibly an evil genius. She's calling me a lazy tortoise at this very moment.

Below is one of Rozier Wilkinson's Love Story Style Wedding Videos.
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/32005456 w=620&h=330]

♥ What do you do? What are you great at?

PW:        One thing Matt and I feel very passionate about is the individuals with which we work - it is one of the easiest things in the world to produce a film or video that is generic in nature - that almost makes the couple and the wedding fit into a box that is already created for them and that is used for every other couple - this isn't what we like to do, and this isn't what we are paid to do. I am proud that we look at each couple, each wedding, each shoot as being individual, and that we have the ability to produce a film that is specific to that couple, wedding and shoot.

MR:        Yeah, I think we're really proud of the work that we do - we've come at wedding filmmaking back to front, most filmmakers begin in events, move into corporate work and end up in narrative drama. We've done the whole thing in reverse. For us, events and weddings aren't a job that we have to do to get to the next rung in the ladder, they're something we choose to and enjoy doing. The great bonus about working backwards is that we can take the skills we've honed on big film sets and use them to give people what they really want, a beautiful, original and delicately crafted snapshot of themselves. Stuff like that never dates!

♥ What inspired the start up of your company?

PW:        There were various threads that fed into our forming RozierWilkinson, but for, personally, I would say that it was the pleasure we got from hearing and seeing the reactions to our films that really made us take the plunge into wedding cinematography. We have both worked for a number of years and in a range of roles within the theatre and film industries and, to be honest, more often than not, it can be quite hard going in terms of working with other people. It can be very competitive and quite insincere and, frankly, rude, a lot of the time. A little over a year ago, in the middle of working on our short film and a couple of promotional film jobs, we were asked by a friend of mine if we would be willing to shoot her wedding. We agreed to this as a favour and thought we would just quickly get it out of the way and get back to our other work - we had no idea that we would enjoy the filming process so much! We had such a good time, the people were fantastic, there was none of the problems and bad characters that we were used to on our professional sets, and there was so much emotion and humanity and good will for us to capture and edit together. And, to produce something that really means a lot to someone - to be a part of such a special day and to have the responsibility of capturing that and putting it together in such a way that affects someone and can make them happy for years and years to come gives one such satisfaction. After experiencing this for the first time, it wasn't very long before Matt and I were discussing filming another wedding, as opposed to another promotional film.

MR :       A big inspiration for me (weirdly!) was actually watching several friends having unhappy experienced with unscrupulous vendors. Don't get me wrong - there are some incredible filmmakers out there, really talented, really professional and they deserve a great following, but there are a few which care much more about getting paid than getting good.

A few years back I was asked by a friend to fix a few problems he'd had when he'd received the edit of his wedding film. I crafted a new edit, but was shocked to see so little care gone into the simplest of shots. There's only so much that can be fixed in post and weddings aren't like films, you can't shoot another take again if something doesn't go right. Preparation and planning are key! When I found out how much the filmmaker had charged I was even more shocked. When talking about shooting a wedding Peter and I kicked around the idea of creating a  company that would shoot with the professionalism found on a corporate set, the creativity found on a narrative set at a reasonable price and with a smile, not a fake 'fries with that' smile, but a genuine warmth. We enjoy what we do - why bother trying to hide it?! Plus, It's a really nice feeling to be running a company which you know cares more about the quality than the cash - I feel like Steve Jobs!

♥ What drives your passion?

PW:        Perhaps Matt may want to distance himself from my answer to this!  I have to be honest and say that tears drive my passion. Happy tears - to be more specific. There is not a better feeling, for me, than knowing that what we have produced has moved someone so much that they couldn't help but shed a tear. We got a message the other day from one of our brides and she said that she had sat down with her Mother and watched a 'pre-wedding' film that we had made for her, and they both sat there together and cried as they watched it. Obviously there are a hundred other things that I love about the job and that I want to get right and that I feel passionate about - but bringing out emotion in those we work with is something I always aim for. It tells me that we have done our job.

MR:        Pete's answer just made me cry. I'm kidding. But he's right; it's a really special feeling. Just to add to that - I love, love, love, finding the hidden story. Weddings are strange beasts, full of friends and family who aren't always close and aware of the stories behind the couples. I love to find those hidden stories and to help couples tell them - I get a real kick out of thinking that after watching one of our films you'll know just a little bit more about what makes this marriage special. When you know, when you see that love for what it is it's then that you invest in it and really root for it. It's the difference between saying – Ah they make a good couple and I can't ever imagine them being apart.

PW:         Okay, now you just made me cry.

MR:         Sigh.

PW:         Kiiddddding!

Below here is a personal favourite of Rozier Wilkinson's 'Save the date' video.

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/31628777 w=620&h=330]

♥ Is there anyone in the industry doing what you do? And how do you differ?

PW:        I think it is safe to say that there is no-one doing quite what we do and that we do have a bit of a unique approach to our work. There are obviously some fantastic wedding film companies out there, and some incredibly talented cinematographers, but I like to think that what Matt and I offer is quite special. Coming from a narrative film and theatre background, we are instinctively interested in the humanity and the character of not just the event, but of the couple and the relationship the couple have had, and will continue to have beyond the wedding day. And, also because of our background, we are in a fantastic position to not only identify these qualities, but to develop a film that best represents them. I think that this, combined with the equipment we use and therefore the quality of the footage we capture, combined with our technical knowledge, and combined with our way of working in general, makes us quite different.

MR:        I think there are a few companies that share our values, but it's a really American approach.  Most of the companies we really admire, that really care about the people they shoot and try to offer more than just a 'record of your day' are based in the US. I think a big thing for me, which they do much better than us is to ask themselves - how can we go beyond what we're employed to do? If you think like that you find that you're generous with your work, and if you're generous with your work then people take note and they want to tell people about how happy they are. Nothing spreads like happy thoughts.

PW:         Apart from margarine

MR:         Margarine and happy thoughts..... Hey perhaps that's a better name than RozierWilkinson? Pete, you can be margarine.

PW:         We offer a range of other films which are typically done in a super cheesy way

MR:         But we're allergic to cheese

PW:         Such as Post wedding thank you films or Pre-wedding 'love story' films. These sessions are great, as they allow us to talk to both bride and groom before the wedding and to find out a little bit about the back-story behind the partnership. How did they meet? How did you realise he was the one?

MR:         All of the questions are great and some bring a lot of great humour out, but it's the twinkle in the eye that you can see when they talk about each other that's soooooo rare. I've never seen that in a wedding film. I've seen great dresses and great cakes, and great shots on cranes, but that twinkle, that's so rare. That's what we're after.

♥ What are the advantages of hiring your services?

PW:        People hiring Matt and I will get a comprehensive service - we truly and sincerely care about our work and the people we work with. There are so many options with our films, in terms of how we approach them and the different films and edits we offer such as pre-wedding, e-invites, post-wedding, etc, that any couple working with us can tailor what they get to suit their wedding, and suit their budget. The other advantage to hiring us, over, say, some other wedding videographers, is, as mentioned above, our approach to the couple. Of course their wedding day is special, but there is one thing that is even more special, and that is the couple themselves - the relationship - and that relationship started before the wedding, and will go on for many years after, and so we want to set the wedding day that we film within   the larger context of the relationship - it means so much more when it has that depth and texture.

MR:        I think another thing that we do well is that we're open, friendly and approachable.

PW:        We're also funny

MR:        We're very, very funny. Hilarious would you say?

PW:        Yes, I think I would.

MR:        But that doesn't mean that we don't take things seriously, we work hard, it just means that we're easy to have around.

PW:        Like Guinea Pigs.

MR:        Yes. Like Guinea Pigs with expensive cameras.

♥ Guide us through the moment you meet a client till the finished product?

This can actually be found here on our website, so I've just copied and pasted it here for you :-)

The needs of couples are always unique, sometimes it’s hard to pin down a definite process when creating your piece.  But to give you an idea of how your film may be created, we’ve highlighted a step by step guide of ‘what to expect’ below.  The aim of this is to make life as easy and stress free for you as possible, it can be as flexible as you need it to be.  The main thing is you knowing that you’re in a safe pair of hands, and that your needs and wishes have been fully communicated.

When Making Enquiries

When making enquiries we’re more than happy to talk with you in whatever medium you’d prefer, you can find all our contact details on our contact page.  We’re happy to answer any questions you may have – don’t worry, no questions are too small or too cheeky – if we can help in some way we certainly will.

When You Book With Us

If you decide to book with us, we’ll typically arrange a time that we can come to meet with you.  We’ll also send across to you any administrative forms and we may take a few of the larger details of your wedding (i.e. when, where, what style of wedding etc.).

At the First Meeting

When we meet with you, we like to get a clear idea of the kind of people you are, and the kind of film you’re interested in creating.  This gives us time to plan the techniques and gear we may need to make this happen.    We like to find out what sort of package you may be interested in, the rough logistics of your wedding (the when and where) and what sort of feel or mood you’re looking to create.

Talking to you is important to us so that we can get to know what makes you unique – it's this uniqueness we want to capture in your film.

A Month Before the Wedding

We’ll typically contact you a month before your wedding, just to touch base with you and put your mind at rest that we’re fully prepared.   We like to make sure that any questions you may have are answered well in advance of the day leaving you to relax and enjoy yourselves – let us take away your stresses – it’s your big day after all.

A Week Before the Wedding

A week before your wedding we’ll drop you a line just to confirm dates and places and that everything is moving forward as planned.  On the day we don’t want to pose as any distraction,

We want to capture genuine moments between genuine people – the look from the father of the bride to the ‘little girl’ he’s giving away, the glances of reassurance and respect between nervous groom and even more nervous best man, that moment of relief and love when a newly made husband and wife realise that they’re finally married.

These moments you can’t fake, these moments you can’t pose and these moments you can never repeat.   It’s our job as filmmakers to capture as much of these as they happen and when they happen.  We like to make sure we have a timed plan of your day so that we can be at the right place with the right equipment at the right time.

On Your Wedding Day

There are two main types of event filmmaker – those that direct the action, and those that capture the action. We fall into the second camp.  We don’t like to tell couples and guests ‘what to do’ or ask them to ‘repeat it for the camera’ as in twenty years time you’ll look back and think,

‘Oh yeah, that was that time we posed for the camera!’

It’s for this reason that we’re as unobtrusive as possible.  In fact, you’re more likely to be directed by your caterer than by us.

We do need to move around, but we’re very discrete and subtle about it – you should always be the centre of attention, never us.

We’re always looking for ways that we can push our own boundaries and we strive to plumb the depths of our creativity on each shoot.  ’What’s the real story?’, and ‘how can we tell it?’ are the two questions we’re constantly asking ourselves.

We’re never in a rush to leave and we stay as long as you’d like us.  When you book us for your wedding day – that means the whole day.

After Your Wedding Day

Once we’ve got all of your footage, we’ll then work to put together the films that you may have selected.  We’ll add music, titles and add motion graphics if required. If choosing a Facebook package, you can typically expect to receive these via online transfer no later than two weeks after your wedding.

Just before finishing the process we’ll send you a link to a low resolution copy, just so that you can double check for anything that you may want excluded from the piece.  Then we’ll professionally colour grade your films and send you your completed wedding DVDs.  If you ordered highlight or Facebook reels, we’ll typically also provide digital copies of these so that you can share them with friends and loved ones immediately.

We are genuinely proud of our level of client satisfaction, and so if the above is unfeasible or impossible, we can provide as much flexibility as you may require.  The key is, we actually love the process of meeting you and making your movie, it’s that love and attention which we are sure you’ll see in your finished film.

Last video from Rozier Wilkinson, and that is of one of their wedding shoots of a wonderful couple Julie and Tony.

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/26801039 w=600&h=330]

♥ If you could choose a celebrity (dead or alive) you would like to video, who would it be and why?

PW:        I would have to go with Orson Welles. I don't believe there to have been a more interesting and talented individual in the world of film. Ever. Having read so much about him, his experience range from dinners with Churchill in Venice, performing magic with Houdini on the continent, marrying Rita Hayworth and working with everyone under the sun, as well as writing, directing and acting in perhaps the greatest film of all time. I would have loved to have made a film about him that truly communicated how special he was.

MR:         For me, ah this is tough - Oliver Reed maybe?! I'll be honest - it doesn't interest me as much. As ex-actors ourselves we know that on your day off it can be weird to be the centre of attention - you kind of just want to fade into the background - you know - I'd MUCH prefer to film the wedding of the crazy drunk guy who was constantly propping up the Walkabout Bar in Wimbledon between 2001-2009 - his wedding would be a ball!  Actually I think I love shooting weddings which are really visual - that's a massively broad spectrum, but the more visually interesting the better!

♥ What is in the future for you company?

PW:        For the near future, I hope, it will just be more weddings!

MR:        Me too!

PW:        Meeting more couples and making them happy. In terms of the type of work we do, we always set ourselves the task of being ahead of the curve as to trends and techniques, and so hopefully that will continue and it would be wonderful to gain a reputation for original and exciting wedding films.

MR:        Yeah I think Pete's right, we tend to try and think ahead of the curve - so we'll be trying to find new interesting techniques to help support the stories that people want to tell. We've had a few enquiries this year for weddings on the continent, so that's really exciting and we're just really enjoying ourselves at the moment. It's a really exciting time for us and we're just pleased as punch to be out there, meeting great new people and making films which we know will be cherished for many years to come.

I would totally recommend getting in touch with Matt and Peter, you can email them on sayhey@rozierwilkinson.com, give them a call on 07779 783 488 and most definitely check out their website www.rozierwilkinson.com. They are also on Facebook and Twitter.

I do hope you have thoroughly enjoyed reading and watching some of Rozier Wilkinson's pretty stupendous work. If you haven't found a videographer yet, I certainly recommend reaching out to them on the details above.

Keeping you inspired!

Rachyeta xxx

February Round Up ...

February has been quite the whirlwind, with wedding features, wedding planning advice and plenty of inspiration and suppliers to keep your brainwaves stimulated.

We heard the announcement of the Miss India Competition, eventhough we have already congratulated her, we must say another well done to Deana Uppal for her pretty honorary title. Valentine’s day was among the highlights of this month, where plenty of you treated your other halves out for dinner where roses were the symbolic gift of the night. Shaadi-Esque are troopers for spunking things up so we created an inspiration board of pretty peaches and lovely orange and pinks. It is our alternate vision of Love – everyone has one.

We featured two pretty amazing Weddings this month; M&R Photography shared with us the elaborate traditional Hindu Wedding of Shivani and Gurdeep. They blew me away with their beautiful attire, their lush Mandap and their striking decor. The atmosphere was light and traditional but there was most definitely a spark or two of fun and mischievousness.

M&R Photography also shared with us the wedding of Tina and James; their fusion wedding really sparked my interest as it is primarily this that Shaadi-Esque feels so strongly about. It was the intertwining two cultures and the adjoining of two separate roads as one. Tina’s peach infused gown with Indian-felt embroidery made my heart skip a beat. It was an elegant and completely unique gown that suited Tina from the start. This bride and groom really knew how to have a good party and it was this that gave their wedding the fun element.

I loved both of these weddings just as much as each other. There were elements of everything, fun, tradition, fusion, culture and all with their own little spunk!

As you might rightly know that Shaadi-Esque is an advocate for chic new wedding styling, it is this reason we bring you these pretty suave inspiration boards for you to admire and use. This week’s Navy Couture Inspiration board was a take on a royal and regal theme. The blue is a royal navy blue and it reflects a serious, proud theme, but don’t be afraid of this – you can down play or up this theme however way you want. ***But the important thing is that when you come across one of these theme’s – print it out, add it to your bookmarks – save them, add them to your wedding scrap book!***



You may want to refer back to something that you liked – so it’s good to keep it nearby or in a safe and easy to find place.

Along with this Navy Couture inspiration board, we also had another board this month which we called ‘Purrty in Pink Chic’, because it is exactly what it says it is. It is a super pretty, and chic wedding inspiration with just the right amount of pink to make it classy and not a Barbie’s fun house.

As a team of wedding planners we aim to help our readers with all and every wedding planning situation out there,  last month we gave you a breakdown of all the Hindu Wedding Ceremonies, which we got some great reviews so we thank you for taking the time to let us know your kind thoughts. So we thought we would bring you the equivalent Sikh Wedding Ceremony breakdown and you guys loved it just the same.

Attending and planning weddings, we have put together some Bridal Etiquette faux pas for your consideration and at the request of a reader we have prepared some questions you should ask your venue coordinator. It’s all so handy when your wedding planner is writing your inspiration blogs!

*** REQUEST FOR GUEST BLOGGER ***

We are a ground-breaking, modern bridal inspiration hub for the changing face of British Asian Weddings. With our continued growth and need for fresh zesty new blood, we are calling upon your own experiences or expertise. If this sounds interesting to you, then take a look here (Guest Blogger Lookout) for further details on how you can get involved.

I hope you enjoyed February's coverage and I look forward to the rest of the year!! Don't forget that if you want to speak to a wedding planner in regards to your wedding, drop us an email at mail@rsweddingconsultants.co.uk.

Keeping you inspired!!! Have a lovely weekend!!!

Rachyeta xxx

Guest Blogger Look Out

You may have heard us blow our own trumpet once or twice, but we are a ground-breaking, modern bridal inspiration hub for the changing face of British Asian Weddings. With our continued growth and need for fresh zesty new blood, we are calling upon your own experiences or expertise.

We want to make Shaadi-Esque a bigger and more aspiring brand full of real life content and real life dreams, with one cup of quirky and three cups of funk.

Image Credits: 1, 2

Are you a bride, a maid of honour, an onlooker, groom, best man or parents of the bride and groom? Then hey there! You are just the person we are looking for.

Par magazines, there are very few places for a young bride to be able to find the theme, design or style choices open to her. Shaadi-Esque is the voice for those newly engaged.

Whether you have had a bad experience, or you want to run us through your wedding planning diary, give readers some advice, or tell us about the most impressively heart warming (or otherwise) wedding you have attended. Whatever the subject - We are all ears.

If you have a fab new blog then why not share your views with us and our growing readership - you might receive your own readership by helping us expose you. However if you wish to share your views anonymously - they is okay too.

Does this sound like something you would be interested in? Then get your email open and drop us a line to blog@rsbridalgroup.co.uk or tweet us @rsbridalgroup

Share this post where you can. Let's work together to make an even better Shaadi-Esque.

Keeping you inspired!!

Rachyeta xxx

{Charitable Activities} Homeless Shelter Giving, Make a change

Starting this week off on a little bit of a generous and serious note.

The weekend just passed saw the reunion of Shaadi-Esque and the RS Bridal Group in some Charitable activities. Combining forces we baked some delicious Lilac Cupcakes and Oreo Brownies for our local Homeless shelter.



Homelessness is a serious issue in London and Nationwide and there are various charities and voluntary shelters available to cater for those without a roof over their head. There are a lot of wonderful people who give up their time to help and take care of these individuals, so it was so lovely that we could just take a small leaf out of their book and make something those less fortunate could enjoy.

Some Awareness

Anyone can become homeless through the end of a relationship, the end of private short term tenancies, or abusive upbringing. "After a reduction in or loss of income due to health reasons or unemployment, or a sharp rise in interest rates, a person may find themselves unable to keep up mortgage repayments. Some people on low incomes who rely on housing benefit to pay their rent can face eviction because of errors and delays in the benefit being paid."



Image Credit: Pinterest

Each story is different, but it is organisations like 'Shelter' and community efforts like what we saw on the weekend that are making the real difference. Shelter's main belief is that the root cause of Homelessness is the lack of affordable accommodation in the UK. Reading this article: 'So many homeless are working - we're paying tax and sleeping on the street' - Evening Standard, just shows that those on low incomes cannot afford liveable, sanitary conditions.

"Since 2002, the Government has made homelessness prevention a priority, providing funding to improve homelessness services and requiring local councils to develop proactive strategies to prevent homelessness in their area." However there needs to be more affordable living for this problem to dissipate.

Personal Note

The Bridal Group takes part in many charitable activities when it can, and this is something we would really like to keep up with. I personally am involved in the raising of funds for an entirely Charitable Hospital in Punjab which provides healthcare to those who cannot afford to be treated at the large city hospitals a long distance from the villages. So giving back is something I diffuse into my business, so it was wonderful hearing how 'warm and fuzzy' everyone felt after delivering the cakes.

Volunteering and donating are definitely things we should all do within our community, showing compassion goes a long way and truly makes you a better and more respected person - through and through.

I hope I am still leaving you inspired and a little encouraged to make a change, however small it may be.

Have a wonderful Monday and week to come!!

Rachyeta xxx

{Venue} Brighton Dome Wedding Venue

A remarkable building, with its dome structure, and art-deco interior used to showcase some of the Top Dogs in Entertainment in the 1930’s – and even still since their re-launch in 2002 the big names have returned.



The venue’s gardens that surround it are superb with fresh seasonal flowers, on a sunny day they would make an excellent area to frolic and of course to take the most spectacular wedding photos. The interior keeps a grade 1 listed 1930's decor and the building itself is classified as a grade 1 listed regency styled building. So this is a building which has a substantial amount of heritage and tradition, this is something that you can rarely create from a new contemporary venue – A definite Pro to the list of Pros and Cons.

"The venue memorably hosted Abba's victory in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with 'Waterloo' and other acts who have performed range from Richard Tauber, Paul Robeson and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra to Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones."

Brighton Dome’s pretty out of this world architecture was designed in 1805 for the Prince Regent who took a liking to Asian design. Its location is something to brag about; "in the heart of the city’s cultural quarter, nestled in the beautiful gardens of the Royal Pavilion estate and just a pebble’s throw from the sea", this really is a superb venue with views unlike no venue you could choose in London - that's for sure!

The capacity of this venue can go up to 600 so if you are Asian and you are intending to invite 600 people of which you only know 14 - this might possibly be worth a consideration.

Some great images below of the venue and the many ways you can customise it - Courtesy of Brighton Dome Wedding Venue.

Do get yourself over to Brighton Dome, and visit the venue for your self - Church Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1UE. You can contact their events team on events@brightondome.org or by calling them on 01273 261 524.

Hope you are loving this amazing Grade 1 Listed Building - If you require assistance planning your wedding or any other wedding related issues then feel free to contact our Wedding Planners or email them on r.singh@rsweddingconsultants.co.uk.

Keeping you inspired!!

Rachyeta xxx

{Inspiration} Vintage meets contemporary Tradition

A short blog post this morning, because some things just need to be put on show with very little caption and no background noise.

You cannot eliminate the tradition out of an Indian Wedding - No way! This beautiful wedding inspiration board is all about Royal, Culture and Finesse.



Regetis Photography, Sepia Mutiny, Pinterest, Women fashion Trends

{Inspiration} How **FUNKY** can your Wedding Bouquet Get

Shaadi-Esque is feeling very floral today, we are getting a little bored of seeing the same Floral Bouquet's all the time, although who's not to say that actually some classic looks really suit some brides and more importantly their dresses, but we are venturing out to a wider more creative styling.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Knowing the right bouquet to purchase can be somewhat of a nightmare. With so many to choose from, so many different flowers, materials, designs, lengths etc.. I have selected some of my favourite most chic and quirky bridal bouquets I could get my hands on. These surpass the standard flower bouquets that you can purchase, into a realm of imagination and fabulosity!

Choosing your bouquet isn't easy, visiting the florist and flicking through their portfolio could be a nightmare. You are better off having some magazine clippings of what you would like - rather than confusing yourself and your florist.

Helpful Hints on choosing your Bouquet:

♥ If opting for Lilies, ensure you remove the pollen, as that orange colour stain on a wedding dress before the cake cutting ceremony can be utterly catastrophic.

♥ Don't go for flowers that are the exact same colour as your wedding dress, and if you do, try two or three different shades, otherwise your bouquet will blend obscurely with your dress and go unnoticeable.

♥ I love the weird and wonderful bouquet's below, they are crafty, easy to make and look so Chic .. yet contemporary, that is if you get the combination right.

♥ Don't be afraid to be different, go crazy, add a little something to make your bouquet pop, whether its a material or plastic butterfly, some foliage, a totally crazy colour etc.

Source: 5, 6, 7, 8

If you are making your own then here is how to Decorat the stems:

1♥ Slice any thorns off, blood dripping on your bridal gown is the worst possible combination.

2♥ Tie a rubber band or string to keep the bouquet in place just as you want it.

3♥ Cover the stems with any material, cloth, rope, tape, ribbon etc.

4♥ For extra Jazz, add whatever décor options you want from Swarovski Crystals, more ribbon, tie a nice bow or sash.

Oh it couldn't be any easier to be honest! - That is after you have the idea, design and find all the materials - otherwise it is a piece of cake!

There are some brilliant images in this post, and I couldn't possibly choose my favourite, because they are all so cool and unique that they just can't be compared!

Keeping you inspired!

Rachyeta xxx

{Inspiration Board} Chic Secret Garden with a Colourful Retro Perspective

So Monday morning is among us, wipe away those sleepy eyes and have that double shot of espresso that will get you jumping off the walls to start this very gloomy week. To help you out a little and shocking you into this week I would like to introduce to you a retro chic inspiration board. Full of quirky ideas and fun colours.

I love putting together these inspiration boards for brides-to-be planning their big day. You can get so creative, create pretty much anything from a simple idea. This retro chic idea is half DIY and half damn-right awesome!

1, 2, 3, 4

The dress is a quirky, retro, fun styled number and you know what - it is great for hiding any unflattering areas on your body which you want to hide. So we are already off to a great start. This wedding I picture to be outdoors, in a field with long and short grass, wild lavender growing, a wonderful garden area with a trimmed hedge maze, amazing ivy and white roses draping from the trees and around a huge entrance gateway. Almost like the Secret garden, but instead of children you find a retro chic wedding kitted out with a scooter or 60's caravan - are you seeing my vision now? These candles lit in jars make a crafty yet cool idea that will look pretty on any evening. The more candles you add the more funk you contribute to the scene. You can't have a retro theme and be drinking malibu and Coke??!! Oh NO! These multicoloured 'pop' styled bottles add a little something extra to a fun-filled wedding theme. And what colourful wedding would be complete without some tasty macaroons. Mmm!!

So folks here you have it - my Secret Garden with a Retro Chic Style! I hope you love love loved this and I wish you the most fab monday and a brilliant week ahead!!!

Keeping you inspired!

Rachyeta xxx

P.S If you are interested in these Inspiration Boards, and you would like one made up especially for you with just as much funk (or not) visit our webpage or drop us an email at r.singh@rsweddingconsultants.co.uk

The Hindu Ceremony - Head to toe

Planning your wedding ceremony and have no idea where to start? Fear not, Shaadi-Esque is here to assist! Just remember that each family has their own rituals they include  and some they exclude, some of those in this post are very traditional and are celebrated in India, whereas British Hindu equivalents are less extreme. However you can choose to dress your wedding up or dress it down, but to stay on the safe side, its **best to ask an elder**

Hindu wedding ceremonies, much like that of Sikhism and other Indian rituals are long and can last for days if not weeks. If you scroll down this post, you will truly appreciate how many and how long Hindu wedding ceremonies are. The wedding itself is held on one day, however the days leading up to the big day are filled with rituals and cultural metaphors. They may seem tiresome, but when you understand the deeper meaning beneath each ceremony, you will understand and have a greater appreciation for the many sacrifices.



Source

To begin there is the most exciting …

Engagement or Ring ceremony ('Misri') – this is when then wedding rings are exchanged, the couple welcome one another with garlands and the families exchange sweets and gifts. The engagement like many is rounded off with a dinner for friends and close family.

The Mendhi Party – This is a great reason for the Bride’s family to get dressed up and have henna painted on their hands and feet. The henna is for the Bride, her close female family and friends. There are songs and occasionally dancing to celebrate the festivities. Mendhi signifies the strength of a bond in a marriage so brides try to leave the Mendhi on for longer to ensure it darkens nicely! Mendhi parties are often celebrated in a hall or at home, food is usually served.



Source

Raas Garba (Sangeet Party)
Most families celebrate the Sangeet party as a much larger affair, this can be as a separate or joint event for the two new ajoining families. There is an opportunity to primarily sing songs as well as have a feast and dance as it is a party. For Gujaratis, Raas Garba is a favoured alternative, usually held in a hall and a traditional dance, Garba and Dandia Raas is performed. A light supper usually concludes the Raas Garba.

Thr Ghari Puja
This religious ceremony takes place the night before the wedding day in both the bride and the groom’s houses. A priest will be called to perform prayers with a few props, these include rice, coconut, wheat grains, oil, betel nuts and turmeric. During this event, the female relatives and close friends dress up in all of their finest clothes and jewellery. They hold ceramic pots of water on their head and plant a small stalk in their garden in celebration of the marriage. Nowadays, the Ghari Puja is often combined with the cleansing ceremony (Pithi) during which the bride and bridegroom are pasted with turmeric powder in a beautification process.

The Wedding Ceremony:

The wedding day begins with a fast for the bride and the groom. The groom will leave his house alongside his best man and a younger female relative whose job it is to keep the groom awake by shaking a metal pot filled with a few. “The history behind this curious custom is that weddings in India were traditionally held in the evening at which time many a groom might succumb to slumber!”

On departing his house, his younger female members will stop him and demand a "gift" in exchange for allowing him to leave for his wedding ceremony.

The wedding ceremony will take place in a Mandap, which is the four poled which performs a similar purpose to an alter. There is a fire which is sacred on the stage in the Mandap which “symbolises not only the illumination of the mind, knowledge and happiness but is also a clean and pure witness to the ceremony as it progresses.”

The ceremony is performed by the bride, the groom and their parents and close relatives through a set of rituals. The priest will chant "mantras" from the Vedas that were originally written in Sanskrit. He will also use the following props in his ceremonies .. Fresh flowers - to signify beauty; Coconut - to signify fertility; Rice, jaggery and other grains - to signify the food necessary for sustenance of human life; Ghee (purified butter) - to feed the sacred fire; Kumkum (vermilion) - red powder used for marking the forehead to signify good luck and to say that your soul (husband) is with you.



Source

The breakdown of the HINDU WEDDING DAY CEREMONY:

Ganesh Puja
This starts the wedding day off with a prayer which asks Lord Ganesh to chase away any evils and to promote a successful and peaceful completion of the ceremony.

Grah Shanti (Worship to the Nine Planets)
This is a prayer to the nine planets of our Solar system. The effect of the nine planets is meant to be the most reflective. During this puja the Gods associated with these planets are asked to instil courage, peace of mind and inner strength to the bride and groom to help them tolerate life's sufferings.

The Welcome (Parchan)
The bride's mother will welcome the groom with garlands and she then walks him to the mandap. The father of the bride washes the right foot of the bridegroom with milk and honey. After this, a white sheet is held up to prevent the groom from seeing the bride on her arrival.

Arrival of the Bride
This can be as elaborate or simple as you wish. The bride can be carried in a small carriage into the mandap or she can be escorted by her very close uncle followed by the brides female cousins and friends.

Kanyadaan (Entrusting of the Daughter)
The parents consent is given before the wedding is allowed to proceed. The bride's parents at this point will hand their daughter to the groom by putting the bride's right hand into the grooms right hand. (Hastamelap, joining of hands) while reciting a sacred verse. The sheet or curtain separating the bride and groom is now lowered and the couple exchange flower garlands. The elders of the house place an auspicious white cotton string around the couple's shoulder's to protect them from the evil influences.  This represents the couple's bond. The bride and groom join hands and say their vows to love and protect one another.

Ganthibandhan (tying the knot)
The priest ties the wedding knot as a symbol of the permanent union between the bride and groom as husband and wife.



Source

Agni Puja (evocation of the holy fire)
The remainder of the wedding ceremony is performed around a fire which is set up by the priest in what is usually a copper bowl. Agni (fire) is the mouth of Vishnu and symbolises the illumination of mind, knowledge and happiness.

Shilarohana (stepping on the stone)
This ritual is to represent strength in the coming troubles the couple will face together. The bride will be expected to place her right foot on the stone – this stone is a symbol of their home.
Laja homa (putting parched rice into the sacred fire)
Three obligations are offered to the sacred fire. The brother of the bride puts into the bride's hand parched rice, half of which slips into the bridegroom's hand. Mantras are chanted. The bride prays to Yama, the God of Death, that he grant long life, health, happiness and prosperity to the bridegroom.

Mangalfera (walking around the fire)
The couple will make four rounds of the fire, after each individual round they will pause and touch their feel. This resembles the hindrances in their life that they will overcome together. Everything in these many ritual and ceremonies have a distinctive meaning and in their own way protect the couple from evil and hurt. Each of these four rounds have their own true symbol: Dharma – righteousness, Artha – monetary, accomplishment, Kama - energy and passion in life, Moksha - liberation from everything in life. The Groom will lead on the first three rounds which symbolically refers to his promise to attain righteousness, monetary aid, and energy and passion. The bride however signifies the liberation and will lead the final round.

Saptapadi (seven steps)
It is said in Hindu philosophy that if two people walk seven steps together then they will remain lifelong friends. The couple will exchange their vows at the start of each round and at the end the bride’s palms are generously overloaded with rice by her brothers to represent prosperity and wealth. A translation of the seven steps are below:

1.Let us take the first step to provide for our household, keeping a pure diet and avoiding those things that might harm us.

2. Let us take the second step to develop our physical, mental and spiritual powers.

3. Let us take our third step to increase our wealth by righteous and proper means.

4. Let us take out fourth step to acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love, respect and trust.

5. Let us take the fifth step so that we may be blessed with strong, virtuous and heroic children.

6. Let us take the sixth step for self-restraint and longevity.

7. Let us take the seventh step to be true companions and remain life-long partners by this wedlock.

Saubhagya Chinha (blessing the bride)
The bridegroom blesses the bride by putting kumkum or sindhur (vermilion powder) at the parting of her hair (or on her forehead) and by giving her a sacred necklace (Mangal Sutra). The Mangal Sutra represents the couple's togetherness, love and sacred union.

Haridaya-Sparsha (touching of hearts)
The bride and bridegroom touch each other's heart reciting promises to each other.

Chathurthi Karma
The bride and groom feed each other four times for nourishment of the bone, muscle, skin and soul.

Aashirvaad (blessings)
The priest blesses the bride and groom. Confetti in the form of petals and rice are thrown on the couple for blessings. The wedding guests can then give their individuals blessings to the bride and groom and once completed, the marriage ceremony ends. Guests are invited to enjoy a sumptuous meal with the newlyweds.

Viddai (Bride's departure)
The farewell to the bride by her family and friends is always very tearful. She will start her new life with her husband and his family.

Source

Pilucinchuanu
Just before the departure of the wedding car from the Hindu temple, the priest will place a coconut under the front wheel of the car; this is then broken by the car as it drives over it. I have recently seen this performed by a horse and carriage. The significance of this in the good old days was that the breaking of the coconut was to ensure the car was safe for the newly wed couple.

The pilucinchuanu is the last of the ceremonies for the wedding..

I hope you have found this post informative and useful whether you are researching or planning for your big day. Either way I wish you the very best and a prosperous 2012 in doing so.

Please feel free to contact our wedding planners who are excellent wedding designers and great stylists on mail@rsweddingconsultants.co.uk - alternatively join the community on facebook where we are spoiling you with wedding resources.

Keeping you inspired.

Rachyeta xxx

Information Source

Style Board: Deep Orange and Turquoise

Something a little different, a style board with a vintagey feel! Deep oranges, turquoise, and golds makes this seem like a classy way to keep things traditional with a twist. 
1, 2, 3

Our Jimmy Choo Hott Bridal Picks!

 

Your wedding is one of the few special days where you can splash out on those designer items at will! Those things that will make you feel every bit different from your ordinary day-to-day life! This is your day and This is our Top Picks from the Jimmy Choo Bridal Shoe Collection.

Enjoy x

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Presentation. Presentation. Presentation

Primarily as a Wedding Planner my main focus is PRESENTATION.PRESENTATION.PRESENTATION.

I cannot stand a messy plate being served or an untidy table before guests even arrive. Everything has to be immaculate and perfect for such a special day.

This post is all about dessert presentation. Your caterer will have their own custom designs and additional customisation you decide on will cost more because it will be more time-consuming for your caterers. Therefore keep it simple and decadent this is always classy and not Over The Top!

rs Wedding Planners London | rs Bridal Parlour

Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4

Supplier Interrogation: 3 Bees Paperie

I am proud to introduce you to '3 Bees Paperie' a Stationary company based in the United States. What Reena does is create contemporary, modern, Chic styled Invitations. Take a look at her website and online portfolio. You will Love her work.

[slideshow]
Launched last year, 3 Bees Paperie's stationery unique collections are printed on high-quality paper and are inspired by contemporary South Asian designs.

3 Bees Paperie currently have 3 collections: Couture Weddings - ready-to-order wedding invitations; Baby Bees - ready-to-order birth announcements; and Made for You for custom stationery. Their 2 ready-to-order collections are eco-friendly, printed on FSC-certifed paper with recycled envelopes.

What makes 3 Bees Paperie Shaadi-Esque? "We are unique, eco-friendly, and modern and provide the perfect alternative to getting wedding cards from India."

Though 3 Bees are based in the United States, they ship to anywhere in the world.

In addition, they sell Thank You card sets on our Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/3beespaperie

3 Bees Paperie

ROUND 2: Even Better!!

There are two routes you can take when it comes to second marriages: ‘Whatever you want’ or ‘Traditional’. Either it’s both of you getting hitched for the second time or it’s one of you. Part of the fun of second marriages is that you can do what the heck you want! If you’re the bride and it’s your first marriage but your groom’s going through it again then there’s nothing stopping you from wanting to wear that big white dress or that traditional red and gold sari and have that big dream wedding. If you are both getting married for the second time, then all the rules go out the window. Why not have a casual wedding without the politics of inviting hundreds of guests that you don’t really know very well at all. There are no rules with second marriages!

Stresses of first time weddings are inviting the whole world to your reception. With 40+ tables, each seating 12 guests, that’s 480+ people wishing you well for your future. It’s a lot of love, if they actually show up for you and not for your seated four course dinner. Come on now, I don’t even know 480 people’s names! Everything has to be bigger and better than the last wedding you attended. The pressure of pleasing everyone who attends, being courteous to those you should obviously know (even though you met them when you were 3 months old and sleeping in your cot). Come on! Please break the trend!!

Your second marriage can be so much more laid-back and relaxed without all the pressure mounted on being a great production and being able to focus on just the wedded couple. You can invite some of your nearest and dearest and celebrate without the 100+ audience, the stress of the horrendous bill to pay at the end of the night and the exhaustive tension build up. This gives you a chance to be less formal in terms of order of events and attire. You don’t need to have order of services printed, pretty looking menus and matching place names – Well you could if you really wanted to. Instead you can sit back and enjoy the most important things about your wedding day.

It could be safe to say that either of you could have children from your previous relationships. So it is really important to include them in the wedding. Especially the younger ones as they most probably won’t understand what is going on. Keeping them informed, explaining the process and how it will affect them is key. The older they are the more likely they will make their own mind up on the marriage. Don’t be disheartened if they decide not to turn up, the older they are, the more of a choice they have. It won’t necessarily mean that they don’t love you as much, but try and enjoy the wedding and work through it.

Inviting the ex is always a decision you need to make depending on your situation. Think about how it would make your partner feel and how it would impact your day. Bare in mind that some things may need to remain in the past for other things to progress in the future.

By British law you need to provide evidence of a divorce or dissolution if you have previously been married or in a civil partnership. Remember you still need to give notice that you’re getting married again. So you will need to provide your full name, age, address, nationality, current status (i.e. single or divorced), occupation and intended venue for marriage.

When it comes to financing this second marriage it is usually paid for by the couple. You cannot expect your parents to fork out for another wedding – it may be asking for a little too much. And when it comes to presents – you cannot also expect guests to buy you another present, especially those who attended the first one.

Break all the rules – there is no etiquette in terms of second marriages – well I would probably be told off for saying that – but who cares!! Break the mould ;)

Source

The Asian Wedding Exhibition - London

Asian Wedding Exhibition - Alexandra Palace
Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st November 2010
Everything Under One Roof!!

The Asian Wedding Exhibition 2010 is brought to you by PureJewels. They are set to be a great showing of all the hot businesses in the Wedding Industry you cannot afford to miss out on! 100 Wedding suppliers from the UK, India and Pakistan all under one roof! For more information click here.

Advanced tickets are as cheap as £9.00 for adults - get these before the cut off date - Friday 19th November!!

Health Spa Retreat - DV

Every bride will or has spent months planning their wedding. If you ask anyone who has been married, the week prior to their wedding was the most stressful time of their lives. And most of them wish they had a few days to themselves to sit back, unwind and de-stress just so they can feel rejuvenated for their big day. But many Bride's to Be don't even think about taking some time out. It's easy to just wait until after the wedding and after its all over - then to relax. But planning a wedding, having a full time job and to maintain your other responsibilities is tough work. So whether you switch your phones off for a few days or stop wedding talk - why not treat yourself to a luxurious spa treat at Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa.

Donnington Valley, one of my most favourite spa’s outside of London and only until recently did I find out that they offer wedding packages. They brag a 4-star luxury service and facilities. The Hotel is licensed for Civil Ceremonies and Civil Partnerships. Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa is a little haven located in Berkshire an hour from central London. It consists of 111 contemporary luxury bedrooms. The hotel is surrounded by some pretty lush golf course grounds and really is the most individual spa retreat I have been to.

“The Health Club and Spa is one of the top rated spas in the country with luxurious facilities including an 18m swimming pool, sauna, steam and aromatherapy rooms plus a state of the art gym and dance studio. The 7 treatment rooms pamper to every spa lover's needs with relaxation areas and a menu of therapies with something for all.”

Visit Donnington Valley's website for more information on Spa treatments and hotel bookings here.

And if your considering getting married at Donnington Valley, then check out their wedding packages and what they can offer you!

#TuesdayShoesday

Source

Just like our sister blog rs Bridal BLOG - we are going to religiously be posting Bridal (of course) shoes for you all to drool over every Tuesday as Tuesday is The New Shoesday!!

This shiny satin silk, red padded, 3.5 inch heel gorgeous shoe just winked at me when I was browsing the bridal shoes aisle. Seriously need a pair of sunglasses and a bib! Anyone with me?

StyleBoard: Orange and Gold Bridesmaid

I have put together this totally Neat Style Board for the perfect Orange and Gold themed Bridesmaid! It's so important that the bridesmaid doesn't overpower the bride in terms of glamour, jewellery and attitude! It's the Bride's big day! Let her have it and let her shine! Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy!!!

Dress, Bracelet, Necklace and Earings set, Clutch, Scarf, Sandals, Bouquet

One Wedding Do

DO try to bring both families together. Invite each family to talk about wedding plans, conference call, Skype try it all - they will be amazed by what technology can accomplish!