{Image of the day} For rainy days like these ...

Another super inspiration image for your creativity. Umbrella's should really feature in all UK weddings outdoor or indoor. Not only can they save a £1400 gown, but they are great fun, and can be great props in photographs.

Putting them in something which will match your wedding theme i.e. a large barrel for an outdoor country wedding. Don't forget to get colours that match your colour scheme and add little notes for personalisation.

Keeping you inspired!!

Rachyeta xxx

{Inspiration} Luxurious Perfect Peach Theme

This afternoon I would like to share with you a perfect Inspiration Board, one that is pretty, rustic, gorgeous, and chic! It is affordable, yet looks elaborate, it can be fun as well as darn right modern!

Print it out, Bookmark it, save it to your smartphones - this might be the wedding you dreamed of ...

Image Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Keeping you inspired!!

Rachyeta xxx

{Wedding Planning} Questions to ask your caterer - Stay one step ahead

So it's down to 3 course meal, 5 course meal, buffet or packed lunch? Your caterer can make or break your wedding for your guests and for yourselves. so deciding on a caterer that is good, but one that understands you is paramount. I have put together some key questions that will guide you to understanding your caterer and getting what you want out of them. It is an easy process once you know how to go about it and this way you won't have a bill of unexplained expenses - all will be clear after reading this post.



Image Credit: Pinterest

The Fundamentals: The Food & Drink understandably you would like to learn as much as possible as to the actual product your guests will receive. The quality, the variety and most certainly the service. Don't be afraid to ask questions, whether you think they sound silly. And don't sign anything until you are completely certain you will be happy with what you receive and what you will be paying. 

1. Do they specialize in certain types of food?

2. What types of food do they offer for hors d'ouerves? For the main course? For dessert?

3. Can I sample their menu?

4. Do they offer food for certain dietary restrictions -- vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, etc.?

5. Do they work with fresh or frozen foods?

6. Are they able to supply a full bar? What is the fee for liquor?

7. Will they pack a snack for the bride and groom?



Image Credit: 1, 2, 3, 4


The hole in your wallet: The hidden Fees; whether it's VAT, additional cutlery, table linens or service charge, ensure you ask what the FINAL bill will be. You don't want any surprises, especially financially. 

8. Is there a fee for a sample tasting?

9. What are their prices?

10. Do they require a minimum number of guests?

11. Are gratuities included in the food prices? If not, what is the gratuity charge?

12. How much is the deposit needed? When is the final balance due?



Image Credit: Pinterest

The Extras are all those small things that collectively will be pricey, but if your caterer can provide them then it usually works out cheaper. Think about table linens, cutlery, whether thy can provide a bartender or cloak room assistants - all are necessities. 

13. Will the caterer provide any necessary rentals: tables, place settings, linens, chairs, etc.?

14. How many types of staff will the caterer provide -- waiters, bartenders, bussers, etc.?

15. What will the wait staff wear?

16. Can the caterer provide me with a wedding cake?

17. Will they provide food for the other vendors -- the photographer, planner, videographer and band?



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Need to know; being aware of anything that might otherwise obstruct the caterers from doing their job to the best of their ability. Keeping everything to plan and ensuring everyone is aware of their responsibilities and what is required. 

18. Are they catering other weddings on my wedding day?

19. If my reception location does not have a well-equipped kitchen, will the catering company be able to bring in the necessary appliances -- refrigerators, ovens, etc.?

20. How will the food be served -- buffet style, table service or family style?

21. How long will it take them to set up and to break down the event?

22. When will I need to finalize the menu?

23. When will they need a final head count?

24. What is their cancellation policy?

And that brings our post to an end. The most important thing to take away with you is that questions are there to be asked. Your caterer will expect no less of you. Happy planning and best of luck!!

Keeping you inspired!

Rachyeta xxx

Exclusive ‘Brides’ Jimmy Choo Event – London and Manchester

Something that makes me and probably 97% of the female population completely nuts is shoes, and like any industry there are a few top ranking ones that make women go cookoo! Jimmy Choo is among those within the hierarchy and when there is a sale, passersby should be cautious!

When: 9th, 10th and 17th of May
Where: London and Manchester
Tickets are £15 each

So something that I was overwhelmed to hear about whilst reading this months’ ‘Brides’ magazine, was they are pairing up with Jimmy Choo to bring you some uber friggin cool bridal shoes practically off the catwalk! How can you say no to that? If you are a bride (unlike me) and in need for some sexy ‘look at me’ Jimmy Choo’s then look no further than Shaadi-Esque – we have all the info on where it’s happening, how to get tickets and what to expect.

Here is a little video, although made in 2010, it walks you through some of what Jimmy Choo really has to offer you as a Bride and as women with style and suave.


So the LONDON EVENT will begin with a drinks reception at one of the Boutiques, cupcakes, flowers - the whole shabbang! Also for brides to be - brilliant expert consultations with Bobbi Brown and demonstrating Bridal hair - Andrew Hohne.

The MANCHESTER EVENT will be held at the Selfridges concession in The Trafford Centre - again you can be spoiled with drinks, cakes, flowers by David Wayman, Bobbi Brown experts as well as Andrew Collinge Hair Stylist.

Brides's have really put on a great show for you guys, so it would be a shame to pass up this pretty rare opportunity. Get your tickets today, while places are still available...

Wednesday 9th May: Jimmy Choo flagship store, 32 Sloane Street, London, SW1; 6.30pm-8.30pm

Thursday 10th May: Jimmy Choo flagship store, 27 New Bond Street, London, W1; 6.30pm-8.30pm

Thursday 17th May: Jimmy Choo concessions at Selfridges, THe Trafford Centre, Manchester; 6.30pm-8.30pm

For the Sloane Street London or Manchester events - book your tickets on 020 7823 1051

For New Bond Street London event - book your tickets on 020 7493 5858

***If you attend, make sure you let us know how it went - we want to hear from you***

Keeping you inspired and definintely in the loop!

Rachyeta xxx

{Inspiration} Biggest Wedding Centrepiece Inspiration Board

Ooh yes, you read the title, I reckon this could pass as a Guinness World Record for largest Inspiration Board for Wedding centrepieces. Well, that might be a little optimistic, however this really is a phenomenal board to be inspired over.

Centrepieces are focal points for your guests, they are added décor for the venue and are just so darn pretty! Have a look at this range of centrepieces and maybe you will find something you like!

Image Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Keeping you inspired!!

Rachyeta xxx

{Wedding Planning} Top Cinematography Tips by RozierWilkinson

We asked the charming guys at Rozier Wilkinson, Peter and Matt, what they thought would help our readers (newly engaged couples) when choosing their ultimate Videographers for their big day! This is what they came up with ...



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1.            Please enjoy it - and not just the day, but the whole process. It will happen only once and far too many couples get into stress of organisation and lose sight of what the wedding is, and why they are planning it in the first place. Relax, and enjoy it - you'll make better choices that way.

2.            Weigh up what is important for you - how do you want to remember your day?  It may not be Rozier Wilkinson the way you think - most couples come to us to ask us to shoot their main wedding. When people see our love stories or post wedding films they start to wonder whether other options can be equally as powerful, seeing the video as something which can supplement their wedding as well as record it.

3.            Seriously consider a wedding film. Unfortunately there are a lot of misconceptions about wedding videos, as a lot of people have seen horrible examples - filmed by mad uncle Terry on a dodgy old VHS camera. Many couples dismiss the idea as being too expensive and the end product not good enough. Although we won't get into the photography vs. film debate we truly believe (obviously, or we wouldn't be doing it) that nothing can capture the magic of your day and of you the couple, better than a moving image.

4.            When picking a filmmaker, trust your taste. It is easy to get bogged down in details and packages. The best way to judge whether or not a vendor is right for you is simply by watching their past work. Watch it. Then trust your instinct as to whether or not you like them. Then, once you have a shortlist of filmmakers you like, you can do your research into what each of them offer.

5.            Don't buy into jargon (terms like 'HD', HDSLR, 1080p or long, long lists of equipment and fancy production techniques etc.).  The best measure of a filmmaker is their work. Watch it. Lots of people can write great blurb, and have competitive prices, and provide options that are designed to mop up every type of customer (be especially wary of those). Just look at their work and see if you like, and then have a look to see if you like them. They are going to be part of your big day, and you are going to be giving them  a lot of responsibility, you should like them and trust them and trust their sense of style. Your flowers may die in a week, your film should last for the rest of your life.

6.            Once you find a filmmaker you can trust - trust them.  This is a contentious one as, for example,  most couples will want some sort of say over what music accompanies their film. We always allow our couples to make the decision either way - but we find that in the edit room, some songs just seem to fit much better in terms of tempo and subject matter than others. As editors we're not making those choices based on taste, we're making them based on what works best. However, if you'd prefer your filmmaker to be using only the music you have selected, that's fine, just make sure they have all the correct copyright permissions. The last thing you want is to be sued by Sony because you're wedding filmmaker wiggled out of their legal responsibilities in the small print.

7.            Don't let a filmmaker turn your wedding into a film set. Remind them that they are there to capture your day, your day isn't there to make them a pretty film. A good filmmaker will understand the difference and this will never be an issue.

8.             Be nice. Be honest. And be open. If you have a strong sense of how something should play, or a way the film should be cut, or something you'd like the film to concentrate on - let your videographer know before the shoot. A good filmmaker won't be shooting by numbers so will be only too happy to listen to your concepts and suggestions and will be trying to find ways of giving you want you want and more.

9.            Provide a clear plan for your day. We can't move as fast as photographers.  We shoot on exactly the same cameras, but we have support equipment such as shoulder rigs, sliders and monopods, bud mics, sounds recorders, a multitude of prime lenses (these give a higher quality than zooms) and much, much more.  Because of this, we need a few moments to get to our next location and to set up. In simple setups such as a cake cut, this can be done in a minute or so.  In complicated setups such as your ceremony, this can take a little while. If we have a plan, and we know where you're going to be next, it ensures that nothing is missed and every moment is captured as it happens.

10.          Have fun. Go wild. Chances are, you'll never get the chance to have a documentary made about you for a while - use the opportunity - think outside the box. And enjoy your day!

Can we add an 11th? Yeah! Why not! Let's turn this up to 11!!

11.          When you find a good filmmaker and you're happy with the result, tell people. There'll be other brides out there, exactly where you were before your wedding, fretting over where to find the right people for the job - help them out, it's great for the filmmaker and lets them know that they're on the right tracks and shouldn't be considering a more detached or less caring business model, it's good for the other bride and it's a nice feeling to help others - everyone's a winner!

I love these guys, I would like to sincerely thank you for your time Peter and Matt. Your posts always make me smile. Hoping you all enjoyed this post just as much as I did. It has been a really informative read and maybe you all can take something away from it.

Keeping you inspired!!

Rachyeta xxx

{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.



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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



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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.



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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

{Inspiration} Under water turquoise Inspiration Board

Good Morning, it is a cold and horrid day so far, so I bring you this fun and uplifting inspiration board, we have called this the Underwater inspiration board full of lovely blues, aqua's and turquoises. Such a pretty inspiration for you - its so purrty!!



Cake, Hair flowers, Invitations, Birdcage centrepiece, Dessert Table

Happy Tuesday and have a wonderful week ahead!

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

{Inspiration} Navy Couture-Esque Inspiration to Wow your guests

Monday morning was not as nice as our wonderfully bright and warm weekend, so I bring you this couture-esque navy blue inspiration board, full of exquisite centrepiece jewels, gorgeous lilly bouquet, a glamorous navy and pearl wedding cake and some small touches that will make your wedding adorned and luscious - but most importantly a Uber Fabulous Soiree your guests will remember for years to come!

{Don’t forget that if you are looking for a wedding planner or have questions relating to wedding planning, our experts are on hand – just comment on the blog or email them at mail@rsweddingconsultants.co.uk – Enjoy!!}



Bouquet, Venue, Cake, Place Names, Invitations, Sari, Sherwani

I hope you are feeling this Navy inspiration board, I think it is elegant, and elaborate without being OTT!

Keeping you inspired!

Rachyeta xxx

Questions to ask before booking your Wedding Venue

So you are trying to find that all-so-perfect wedding venue which will be the hallmark of your most memorable union to date. There is quite the expectation to get this right, so here is a helping hand to get you on the right track. Shaadi-Esque has put together some thoughtful pointers to help you make the right decision for yourselves and for your guests.



Image Credits: 1, 2

Before jumping into such a huge decision such as signing your name on a venue for your big day there are a few things you should consider before even looking at venues:

♥ The Date, the most important piece of information. Work out some dates that work well for you and your primary guests, then you can see which venues are available of those selected dates. But it is always key to have this piece of information.
♥ Number of guests, this will most certainly narrow down the number of venues who can hold your capacity.
♥ Whether you want the ceremony and reception at the same venue or separate, some venues will not be able to cater to this, whereas others will.
♥ How much of your budget are you willing to spend on the wedding venue, this is usually a large chunk of your overall budget, however when you discover how much this is per person, you will evaluate and further narrow down your search of venues.

With these key points in mind, you can start looking around for venues in your preferable location i.e. through magazines, blogs, websites etc.

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Here are 12 key questions to ask yourself and the event planner/organiser at the venue whilst visiting:

♥ With your theme in mind, would this venue best represent or reflect your theme or will it require a lot of hard work and money to transform?

♥ Some larger venues offer their in house catering and many only allow particular outside caterers – so be careful about booking a venue when they do not permit your caterer.

♥ If you have disabled, elderly or small children attending the venue, it is important that the venue hall is easily accessible and that there are not too many flights of stairs to climb.

♥ Will there be a cloak room attendant, or will someone have to be allocated there and will this cost extra?

♥ Always ensure you are aware of the small print on the contract – this may mean being aware of the cancellation policy, timings for deposits and final payments, even any hidden charges or overtime charges.

♥ Does the venue have a liquor license, how much will corkage be if you are allowed to bring you own alcohol?

♥ What time will guests have to be out of the venue at the end of the night?

♥ Are their back rooms for the bridal party to change clothes or to relax?

♥ Does the venue have a PA system for the band or entertainment?

♥ Is there a guest car park or flexible parking in the area?

♥ Are there limitations on décor or candle usage?

Remember, that you don't want to choose a venue that you are ultimately pleased with. Some of you will be marrying for the first time and it should be as perfect as you have dreamt it to be. But do not sacrifice your bank balance for it. Be sensible and remember, any venue can be transformed into perfection ... any venue!

Keeping you inspired!!

Rachyeta xxx

{Advice} Bridal etiquette faux pas

Good Morning Y'all! So today we indulge on some of the key things that you should be aware of when it comes to wedding etiquette. Some Bad Bad BAD things, that you will hopefully avoid! There is an etiquette to weddings, pre wedding, wedding day and post wedding. You need to be aware that not only are your guests taking time out of their lives to spend this special day with you, there are a whole host of people giving you  gifts and wonderful amounts of money. So being polite, acknowledging their presence, and taking note are all small things that apply to good etiquette. Lets get on with some serious etiquette pitfalls. 



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1. Never pre print thank you notes! It's rude and makes you sound ungrateful. Hand write all thank you notes.

2. It is not wise to say on invitations that you have a gift registry- let your bridal party spread the news.

3. Never post your engagement on or other social networking sites unless all the important people have been informed of the good news first.

4. Don't ever stop smiling. The cameras are everywhere!

5. Don't start making invitations without confirming a date.

6. Don't confirm a date under pressure without consulting those who you would like to be at your wedding.

7. Do not ignore your guests. Make some time to make your rounds to each table spending a few minutes at each one.

8. Be sensitive to food allergies and special dietary issues. Make sure you know these ahead of time.

9. Don't just serve all alcohol. Have some non alcohol options and plenty of water.

10. During the first dance try not to have a conversation with each other. It's nice to embrace the moment.

I hope you have found this useful, for further queries, do not hesitate to contact us directly and we can settle your questions right here on Shaadi-Esque!

Keeping you inspired!

Rachyeta xxx

{Planning} Sikh Wedding Ceremony Head to Toe

Good Morning Shaadi-Esque readers, I know it has been a little while since we have been posting – but I am pleased to announce a great line up for this week! So ensure you are locked on and ready for this last and final week of February. So this morning we are looking at the Sikh wedding ceremony, this is particularly useful if you are planning a Sikh wedding or are attending one, this post can give you an insight into what to expect. Don't forget that if you are looking for a wedding planner or have questions relating to wedding planning, our experts are on hand - just comment on the blog or email them at mail@rsweddingconsultants.co.uk - Enjoy!!

The Wedding day protocol

The Groom's side or those accompanying him will have an early start with the "Barat" (means The Groom's Side).

Arrival at Gurdwara

1. Departure of Barat: The Barat will leave from the Groom's house to go to the Gurdwara which will usually be near the Bride's home, and also  where the wedding will take place. Thus this is the only part of the wedding where the grooms side must organise, otherwise the rest of the day is organised and coordinated by the brides family. Although don't be surprised if with changing times, everyone might decide to muck in.

If the groom lives quite some distance away from the bride, then the Barat may depart much earlier in the morning. It is common for the Barat to set off from the groom's house at 8am. The Barat will then travel to the local area where the bride lives.



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2. Reception of Barat: The Groom's party is "received" by the Bride's party at the Gurdwara, usually at the entrance. This usually takes place at about 9.30am. The women of the brides family will demand money for entry into the gurdwara, and the amount the groom has to fork up depends on how much the groom loves and values his bride. And whether he would like to get married to her.

3. Milnea: (This means "Introductions") The Ardas will be performed by the priest (Giani) followed by the formal introductions of the families. This will include the bride's & groom's father, grandfather and Mama - (mother's brother). They will formally meet, exchange garlands (and gifts) and have their photographs taken. This normally takes place in the foyer area of the Gurdwara at about 10am.

4. Tea: Tea with savouries (normally samosa, pakoras) and sweets (generally jalebis, ladoos and barfi) will be served and are normally taken standing at tables in the Langar hall at the Sikh temple (Gurdwara). Chairs are seldom provided in the Gurdwara unless the person is elderly or otherwise unable to stand for any length of time. Both the Groom's side and Bride's sides will take tea in turn (the groom has not sen his bride yet) and this should be concluded at about 10.30am.

Main Ceremony

5. Main Wedding Ceremony (Anand Karaj)

This is when the couple walk clockwise around the Guru Granth Sahib. This is the formal part of the ceremony and will always take place in a Gurdwara. After tea, by about 11am, everyone proceeds into the main prayer hall.

Proceed into the main hall paying attention to and observing the etiquette appropriate in the prayer hall. You must always show respect to the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy book) as the Guru is held in high esteem by the Sikhs.

You will be required to wear suitable clothing, as once you are sat on the floor in the prayer hall you will be on the floor for at least 45 minutes. The wedding ceremony’s formal part will commence at 11am and is completed at 1pm and will include various rituals …

i. Kirtan – This is the singing of the Holy Hymns. As you enter the prayer hall the hymns will be already taking place. The singers who will be religious people will be sat on a stage in the front of the hall, on one side of the Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru Granth Sahib will be attended by a volunteer Sikh or priest who will be waving a Chaur over the Guru. A few hyms will be sung, then a priest will announce the schedule of events for the formal parts of Anand Karaj ceremony.

ii. Ardas – The People involved are: Bride, groom, both parents of bride and groom - this is a prayer of which the mentioned people will be a part of.

iii. Palla - The bride's father will formally hand the end of the sash, which the bridegroom wears over his shoulder into the hands of the bride. At the same time the shabad "Palla tanda lagee" is sung by the musicians.

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The Couple walk around the Sri Guru Granth Sahib four times at the set intervals; the priest will read a Laav (one of four) from the Guru Granth Sahib; then the musicians will sing the same laav while the Couple circle the Guru in a clockwise direction.

iv. Ardas – All the congregation will stand and join in the ardas followed by Hukamnama.

v. Sagaan – The parents of both the Bride and Groom, followed by key people and the congregation will bless the newly wedded and give gifts usually in the form of money and there may be photo opportunities here also.

vi. Kara Parshad – Blessed sweet is served. This ends the formal part of the Sikh wedding ceremony.

The Party and Closing

6. Lunch: traditionally this used to be Langar in the Gurdwara but now normalise commonly found in commercial venue and is more of a "dinner & dance" type of event. Party "Bhangra" music is played and, perhaps, even alcohol and meat may be served too.

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7. Departure of Doli: The bride is given new clothes as gifted to her by the groom's family. She then departs from her parent's house. This is a very sad moment for the bride and her family.

8. Reception: (Optional) This may be held on the same day or on another day and is an evening "dinner and dance" type occasion, where only invited guests from both familes can attend.

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Other concerns

Gifts, Sagaan, etc

It is not normal for the guests to take gifts for the Bride or Groom unless you are a very close relative. There is a ceremony called "Sagaan" which takes place at the end of the religious ceremony when most guests will gift money to the wedded couple. The amount is normally £10 or £20 to both the groom and bride.

The modern alternative, which is gaining popularity is to include the money in a congratulations card and give this to the mother of the bride or groom depending on which party invited you to the wedding. Unless you take the latter route, you will need to queue up at the conclusion of the religious ceremony. This can be quite a long wait.

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I hope this has been a hugely informative post for those of you who are planning a Sikh wedding or even those who love a little monday morning read.

Have a fabulous Monday and an even brighter week ahead!

Keeping you inspired!

Rachyeta xxx

{Yummy} Maybe these Macaroons came from an ancient asian recipe .. do you see Haldi?

Now for an Asian wedding, one thing everyone knows and appreciates is colour. There are a trillion coloured indian sweets (burfey - excuse my spelling), vibrant coloured outfits, decor and atmosphere. 



Image Source, Image Source, Image Source

We are surrounded by colour and it enlightens the mood. You just can't be upset attending an Indian function (unless of course you want your aunties to spread rumours about your "unhappy secret love life"). Oh the joys of being Asian!

But anyway .. moving beyond the tradition and the chatter, these Macaroons are a classy, fun, delicious way to modernise and funk up your wedding. They'll go down well with the kids, they can be great take home favours and spill a little Kulfi on it, the oldies won't know the difference. They may even like it :D

Hope this leaves you feeling inspired!!

Rachyeta xxx

Wedding Planner for a portion of the price

The wedding planner inside me wants to tell you about a seriously life changing service I offer at 'rs Wedding Consultants' but the blogger part of me doesn't want to sales pitch you this early in the morning. So instead, one of my lovely, wonderful, super excellent bride's has volunteered to tell you how she benefited from the service.




"Hi Bridal Street Bride's,

My name's Catherine, and I married my wonderful husband Harry in Februry, early this year. And what a whirlwind that was.

As a bride, my main worries apart from whether I could afford my wedding day, was whether my wedding would bespecial and would my guests enjoy it just as much as I would. Not to mention whether I would be in auto pilot from shock and not remember the experience at all! Being a bride, exposes you to all sorts of insecurities, particularly being under the spotlight.

A quick google and a hop skip later (it was actually harder than I make it out), I found a service called 'theme design' which (who guessed it??) Rachyeta offered at 'rs Wedding Consultants'.

Rachyeta understood all too well how important it was to create an 'epic' wedding, those were her words exactly. And ultimately I wanted a lot from my day including a theme that would reflect Harry and I, I wanted our guests to have a brilliant time and remember our wedding as ours!

The theme design package was so easy, we filled in a friendly form detailing what our occupations are, how we met, our memorable songs, favourite colours, what we want and what we absolutely do not want to see at our wedding. The agonising part was waiting for the final proposal, but my was it a pretty sight when it arrived.


It had everything I knew it had plus tonnes more. Every detail from the design on the menu, the colour up lighting to the song for our first dance. The theme Rachyeta chose for us was a paradise dream theme, because our love story was something out of a dream! The place names were little puffy clouds, the set up was a light blue and pink infusion. Our favours were a mix of a thermometer shaped ginger biscuits and an aeroplane shaped biscuit, as I am a Doctor and Harry is a Pilot. So our guests took a little edible piece of us both home, although most of the favours were eaten by the end of the night. We had a dream reader, candles, lots of beautiful candles. It was a phenomenal night and as Rachyeta suggested, take the party outside, where the grounds were lit with candles and petals and it was just an image from a dream. Her venue suggestion was spot on and as I had wished, everyone had a blast!!

Thank you Rachyeta for baring with me and creating such a special and super day. xx"


Thank you so much Catherine for your fab write up, it brought a tear to my eye when first reading it. You were wonderful to work with. A true soppy one I am. xx

The Official Service
If you want that once in a lifetime dream wedding and you are looking for that super great theme to get started with, you are in the right place. At 'rs Wedding Consultants' we create, design and invent weddings and we can definitely create a theme that will be just right for you.

This package includes proposal ideas, local suppliers and approximate pricing. But mostly it would be like your very own Wedding Planner.

Price: £280 for one design proposal (£395 incl suppliers)

Please email us at r.singh@rsweddingconsultants.co.uk for further details or to book in a theme design package. xx

Inspiration Board: Stripy Stripes

Stripes seem to remind me of fairgrounds, so why not have some fun with this one. Some round swirly lollipops, stripy table cloths, a fun photo booth, sweets table, pie eating contest, so many fun things to do at a fair. Don't forget the kids will have a ball.

rs Wedding Planners London | rs Bridal Parlour - Exclusive Wedding Specialists

Shoes, Flowers, Bridesmaid, Cake, Invitation, Straws, Tux

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

Inspiration Board: Pumpkin Dazzle

Pumpkin's are usually associated with Halloween but what if you really like Pumpkins. They are great in food, great decoration, excellent at Halloween and I suppose they can provide great nutrition for the soil (Unsure if true!). But whether you're having a Halloween inspired wedding or if you have a fondness for pumpkins ... I hope you enjoy this Pumpkin inspired inspiration board - Let it draw inspiration to you!

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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!