The Wedding Planner
GETTING MARRIED? SIMPLY HYDERABAD SUGGESTS WAYS TO PLAN THE PERFECT WEDDING
Getting married? SIMPLY HYDERABAD suggests ways to plan the perfect wedding
From reception pedestals that rotate to wedding moments that overwhelm. From perfect skin care to perfecting dance moves, a checklist of things to do before your D-day.
Making memories
Gone are the days when brides and grooms stood in those classic poses for clichéd wedding albums. Couples these days find candid wedding photography, which offers much scope for creativity. Ravi Studios of photographer D Ravinder Reddy and Villart Studio are known for their imaginative ideas. And those who love candid photographs go to Thiruvengalam Reddy or Thiru of The Candid Pictures, who opened shop in Hyderabad as an extension of his association with Aspect Professionals at Bangalore, about three years ago. He is known to do offbeat shoots, capturing natural moments aesthetically during pre-wedding ceremonies, at the wedding itself and post the wedding too. Couples are shot in beautiful locales, at resorts in the outskirts. Lesser known picturesque destinations around town are exploited to the hilt. If you have the time and inclination, Thiru will also take you outside of Hyderabad to frame you at some great locations. He recently photographed a bride from Delhi and a groom from Hyderabad at Araku Valley. Villart 2332 7351 Ravi Studios 23411122 The Candid Pictures 9492886655 Clique Studio 9000622007
Colour me perfect
Makeup and jewellery may have toned down, but bridal mehendi has never been more elaborate. Starting from an inch below the edge of the blouse right up to the fingertips, it is pure artistry that a bride desires for her big day. Popular mehendi artist Bhavna Parekh has honed the art over the last 32 years. Intricate and detailed sdesigns are still preferred by brides, she says. The themes have, of course, changed over the years. Classic designs include motifs like shehnai, Ganesha, bride and groom
and the palanquin among others. The raas leela of Radha and Krishna has been a hot favourite. For the feet, floral and peacock inspired motifs are more popular. Another hot trend is the extra embellishing on the mehendi with pearls, kundan or Swarovski stones. Glitter and nail paint outlines to the mehendi patterns are sought after too. Bhavna Parekh 9849010805
Setting scene
If it’s a slice of history you want your wedding reception to be set in, what could be a more beautifully quaint and romantic venue but the Chowmahalla Palace? Promising an aura of the past, embellished with pristine marble and antique chandeliers, it’s just perfect to create that breathtaking backdrop fit for a resplendent wedding. The Taj Falaknuma Palace—with its piece-de-resistance dining table that can seat a hundred and one guests—is perhaps one of the classiest venues for a wedding in the city. Entertain your gathering at the Durbar Hall, which is an archaic ballroom from the Nizami era or go all out at the sprawling lawns, once meant for the royalty! It may not be a real palac, but looks just as stately. Gandharva Mahal is spread over five acres with elaborate stone architecture to recreate an ambience inspired by the palaces of royals. For a more contemporary wedding, there’s Leonia Resorts, which is a current favourite among Gujaratis in town. Chowmahalla Palace 24522032 Taj Falaknuma Palace 66298585 Leonia Resorts 66404455 Alankrita Resorts 08418-309999 Leonia Resorts 6640 0000 Gandharva Mahal 9393530143 Dinaz Noria 9848013527
Body beautiful
Looking great on your wedding day starts with healthy skin. And this, of course, cannot be an overnight miracle. Treat yourself to the expert hands of therapists who know what works best for your skin. The bride and bridegroom spa packages at Aura spa, The Park, are good options for pre-wedding skin care. Surur-e-Dulhana for brides is a five-day package which includes a salt scrub with a crystal face healing ritual, head massage and rehydrating body wrap, besides a traditional ubtan treatment and a brightening facial. For bridegrooms, it’s called Masrath-e-Dulha and the package contains similar treatments, besides nail care and an invigorating body massage. You could to spread them over a month with prior consultation and appointments. The facials at Angsana Spa at the Golkonda Resorts and Spa, especially the miracle eyes-treatments that gets you rid of dark circles, are good pre-wedding skin rituals. Jiva Spa at Taj Falaknuma has interesting couple spa packages. Taj Falaknuma Palace 66298585 The Park 23456789 Angsana Spa 3069 6969
Dress to impress
A wedding outfit that will catch everyone’s attention is every bride’s desire. Sometimes it takes just a moment to know what works for you. If you are wowed by it, there’s every chance that whoever sees it will be too! You cannot go wrong with names like Tarun Tahiliani, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Anand Kabra. However, if you want the same effect without spending a fortune, turn to Shravan Kumar and Ganesh Nallari who will present you with an extraordinary creation depending on your budget and taste. Shravan is also known for recreating a new outfit from an old sari in bandhani or Kanjeevaram one perhaps with a completely reinterpreted look.
Designer duo Preeti and Vaishali bring in a fresh look to their bridal line this season with interesting gota work. Designer Aditi Bhoopal’s designs are inspired by her deep-rooted Hyderabadi sensibilities as she brings in from old-world Nizami charm into her zardozi work and kundan embroidery blended with subtle thread work. While the classic ‘kairis’ and ‘pan pattis’ are quite popular, her favourite seems to be the pretty parrots she uses extensively. This season, she’s working with fun and vibrant colors which complement the all time favorite gold. The hues vary from bright fuchsia and sunshine yellows to light lime greens and corals. Aditi advises that the jewellery must compliment the colour and embellishments of outfits. Diamonds may work better with a brightly sequined blouse and an uncut set will go beautifully with vintage inspired embroidery. If your outfit has a heavily patterened neckline, you may not even need a necklace. Just wearing a pair of charming chand balis may do the trick! A petite bride should keep in mind not to let the silhouette or embroidery overwhelm her frame, Aditi advises. Smaller motifs on a stream lined lehenga will help add height visually rather than a voluminous outfit. A taller bride can carry off heavier embroidery and wider ghera with ease. Shravan Kumar 23214403 Ganesh Nallari 9985753773 Preeti and Vaishali 9885125633 Aditi Bhoopal 9848933033
A perfect day
Organising a wedding, be it a big budget one or even something on a smaller scale, can be quite overwhelming. But if you have a planner who can take care of everything, families of the bride and groom can relax and enjoy these special moments more thoroughly than if there is a constant mental checklist they are dealing with. Rachnotsav Events has been a player in the industry for some time now and are known to handle huge budget weddings with ease. The relatively newer Wedmantra and Pink Pagdi are end-to-end solution providers and will take care of
A PETITE BRIDE MUST KEEP IN MIND NOT TO LET THE SILHOUETTE OR EMBROIDERY TO OVERWHELM HER FRAME
everything from the invites to venue décor to handling guest transport and catering, organising return gifts besides several other elements that complete a wedding. Among the newer lot is also choreographer turned-wedding-planner, Shruti Gupta, who does interesting themebased weddings and winner sangeets. Film inspired sangeet themes like the Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge or Chennai Express or something inspired by Bollywood characters like Munnabhai MBBS or Chulbul Pandey seem to be her specialty. Another area where she scores is the stage décor ranging from dramatic ideas like a rotating stage for sangeets to those lit up with rice lights and lamps. Rachnotsav Events 23350241 Pink Pagdi 9490952252 Wedmantra 8886677733 Shruti Gupta 9866186131
King-sized platter
The more elaborate and delectable the fare at your wedding, the happier your guests will go back home. Variety is the key with wedding catering too and exotic elements always add to the uniqueness of your wedding. While imported fruits like Chinese apples and Thai guavas cut freshly and served for dessert used to be a talking point at one time, it’s almost the norm these days at most weddings. International cuisines that go beyond Italian and continental are big hits too. Guests look out for sushi and canapés or cheesecakes and sorbets that they are used to at fine dining places, at wedding spreads too. Gaurav Caterers is an industry leader when it comes to vegetarian wedding catering. They custom make the menu to include a good variety even for smaller weddings. Their chaat platters are pretty popular while they can whip up an entire wedding spread without onion or garlic or even potatoes and carrots for strictly Jain preferences! The catering arm of Fusion 9—known for its expertise in international cuisines is a preferred choice for many too. Gaurav Caterers 9885101010 Fusion 9 9848968658
BRIDAL JEWELLERY
THESE DAYS IS ALL ABOUT FINDING THAT ONE STATEMENT PIECE THAT IS EXCLUSIVE
All that glitters
Think wedding and how can jewellery not be in the top five items on your budgeting list, if you are not wearing your family’s heirloom jewellery, that is. It might be a good idea to match your outfit to your jewellery, rather than the other way round if you have a heavy piece in mind. Bridal jewellery these days is all about finding that one statement piece that’s exclusive, goes with who you are and is as special as your special day.
Mor Jewellers offers neckpieces in intricately crafted Belgian cut diamonds, rubies and pearls that look heavy but are not unmanageable. Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri’s (TBZ) detachable range of jewellery is a good investment since you can always have a heavy piece for the wedding day and make the same one a much sober affair for other occasions. You could also go in for designer jewellery that will complement a fusion outfit. Designer Suhani Pittie’s jewellery in silver makes for stunning style statements. Mor Jewellers – 23405786 Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri – 3043 5001 Suhani Pittie – 32212495
Wrapped delights
Someone that a lot of folks swear by for their wedding trousseau packing is Meena Agarwal whose experience in the field is nearly a decade-long. Her elaborate designs of trays to hold saris, bangles, footwear, accessories and other knick knacks are interesting creations that go beyond simple utility. Anchal Rajpal and Vidhi Tibrewala’s venture, Wraps is all about beautiful trays for bridal trousseaus and equally interesting packaging for return gifts and wedding envelopes. There are trays ranging from silver crafted ones to humbler straw baskets with beautifully embellished motifs like kundans and pearls or flowers made out of gota. If you are looking for an eco-friendly twist to gift and cash envelopes, head to Deckle Edge, a haven for handmade paper products. Meena Agarwal – 9246548825 Wraps – 9000033115 Deckle Edge – 2340 4924