Sarees - Never Outmoded
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
What attire comes to your mind when you think of an elegant woman? A dress? A skirt? Or is it a gown? Elegance in a woman is synonymous with a saree. There is no such attire that adds such grace and sophistication to a woman’’s body language, as a saree. A saree can be worn to a party, to work, for an evening out, a date…just about anywhere! It is the most essential part of women’’s apparel.
Sarees are not only for women beyond a certain age. They make middle aged women look young, and young girls look beautifully mature. Teamed with the right blouse, sarees can make you glamorous and influential at the same time. It is the true mark of an Indian woman. No other type of apparel can beat the charm and grace of sarees.
Designer sarees have their own special charisma. They could be of so many materials, prints, designs… dyed, embroidered, printed, floral and so much more. There can be no end to imagination when it comes to sarees. Why, some designers have even draped the Indian flag on a woman in the form of a saree! This is why designer sarees are no longer restricted to Indian women, but are a great hit abroad too!
This type of women’’s apparel even has a variety of styles of wearing it. The saree is common to all parts of India but is draped in a different fashion everywhere you go. You can choose to wear it in the north Indian style, the Gujarati style, Bengali style, Rajasthani style, Marathi style, South Indian style, tribal style… the list is endless! The most common way to drape designer sarees is the Nivi drape style, where the saree pleats are made just below the naval. It truly adds a seductive charm to the whole attire!
The common types of sarees include those with embroidery and chikan work. These are slightly expensive, especially work done on chiffon and georgette. Silk sarees include a wide variety like cotton silk, Benarsi silk, Southern silk and others. These are the best choice for newly weds. Chanderi, Bandhini, Jamdani, Tant and dyed sarees are also immensely popular. Bridal designer sarees also come form Jaipur, Jodhpur, Karnataka and Kanchipuram.
Though sarees come from all over India, you don”t have to go hunting for them in all these places. You can even buy this apparel online in Online shopping portals like www.Indianweddingsaree.com . You can browse through a large variety of designer sarees and decide which style would suit you best. You can have your favorite saree at just a click of a button!
Marriage Guides for NRI
Monday, December 28th, 2009
Every parent dreams about their childrens getting married to reach, educated and well settled family. Parents only want to find the best match for their children. When they look for a possible match they look at the long term benefit and security of their daughter or son. Especially the brides side is very cautious and alert while looking for a suitable groom. Many parents are very ambitious and look for grooms who live outside India. They feel the NRI groom is well settled in a foreign land and decides that their daughter will have a luxurious life in a far off land.
NRI marriage is not easy. There are many stories about NRI wedding. Many have been successful but some had problems. Still it is all about what the parents expect from a NRI groom or bride. Many families living in foreign lands still prefer their children to find an Indian bride who will understand their culture and give respect to the family. But that doesnt mean other Indians who live among them have lost their culture. They may have adapted western culture in their day to day lifestyle but in their hart still be having respect and pride for Indian culture.
The brides parents should make all kinds of enquiry about the financial position of the groom in the foreign land. His assets, credits or any debt should also be enquired through a third person. Double caution should be exercised while searching for NRI grooms, as it is possible for the groom to hide facts or give faulty information. One may ask for credit burro report to check any possible debt and default history. Only real assets like property and savings should take in account while calculating net asset of the groom. Most of the time depreciating asset like car or other vehicle is use to inflate the financial position.
If groom is in US find out if he is going to settle there permanently or have plans to shift to India in the future. Many brides might want to settle there and thus this information is very important. Some grooms might even have gone there on H1 visa. Another important verification is to get a medical certificate which will ensure he is free from deadly diseases. You can never know his type of life style and one must be very sure before making a decision. You may also want to know his dependant family life style and obligations to draw correct financial picture.
Most important is to make sure that the bride is ok with the idea of living in an alien land and the prolonged delay in coming back home only once in few years. If she is going to be home sick or immature enough to handle such situation it is best to review the NRI groom. The bride must be bold enough to handle herself well courageously and must have the basic qualification and education to at least understand what is happening around her. Make a careful choice and always move forward only when you are comfortable with the details and the information provided.
Courtesy Indianweddingsaree.com
Desire to Be a - Perfect Bride
Sunday, December 27th, 2009
Marrying? Are your parents looking for a perfect groom? Well, its time you seriously think about how to present yourself as a perfect bride. Everyone?s Expectations might be high and you need to really prepare yourself for the higher responsibilities and expectations that you need to face as a bride and also as a wife of someone.
Weddings are finalized in the heaven we believe, but in reality what makes a marriage happen is social status, the power of money, a good job and dowry etc. And this excludes the love marriages which are finalized by the couple themselves irrespective of these factors. The arranged marriage set up thus revolves around a whole set of predefined ideas and our morals.
A normal middle class family will want their daughter in law to cook, help with the domestic choirs and also work if she is educated. The needs and preferences of one vary but still the bride needs to be more of a homemaker than a company executive. Whatever high post she might hold in her company is of no use when she reaches home. She has to personally fend for her family and look after their welfare. This is how Indian family system works so far. Same way she needs to look after her kids also in future. No one can take place of mom. She will need to manage office, home and her kids with right balance to get success in her role and keep everyone happy including her self.
So a bride should horn her cooking skills to impress her spouse and her family. This creates a lasting impression on their minds. As the famous saying goes, ?the way to a man?s heart is through his tummy?, you can easily make your man hopelessly dependant on you for your mouth sizzling and exotic dishes that you might cook for him. Even if she does not know how to cook she can learn this from her mother or relatives. She can try different dishes using getting tips and recipes from TV program or books and magazine.
Bride must also develop her personality apart from cooking and other house works. She should be fit, neat and clean. Joining yoga or gym should help her to get in shape and look fit. She should not concentrate just on physical personality, but also her mannerisms and attitude. She must be knowledgeable about family traditions and customs and must know how to respect the elders visiting the family. She must learn how to keep her things in order, manage the finance and keep her surroundings neat and clean.
Working women must be ready to manage their times between their work and home. It is an added responsibility no doubt, and one must be matured enough to handle difficult conditions for the sake of making this great Indian institution called marriage. After all it is all about human understanding and sacrifice. When you respect the system and work to keep it functioning then nothing can deter your confidence.
Courtesy Indianweddingsaree.com
Wedding Dreams Tips and Beautiful Secrets
Friday, December 25th, 2009
The wedding is the memorial thing of the life and this very important part of the personal life. For the wedding there are so many arrangements are required. The wedding is the beautiful occasion of every person’’s life so all of them want to memorize it. The fashion is the most favorite thing of women so they have plan about there weddings dress, jewelry and so more things essential to the her. The men’’s are also take about there own hair style, dress, shoes and so many things.
The wedding party gives your guests an idea as to the type and formality of your wedding by sending the invitation. There are so many tips are available for the wedding.
Having a consultation with your Dallas, Texas wedding hair stylist and makeup artists can give you a chance to experiment with different looks. The consultant will help you decide which looks will best compliment your face, dress, and accessories. It is helpful if you take in some pictures of styles that you like to give your stylist a sense of direction, and do not be afraid to speak up about looks that you hate and those that you love. This ensures that you get the best look that compliments your style, dress, and face shape.
Want the perfect wedding hair up-do? Learn how to choose the most flattering wedding hair style. Of course, your makeup also has to be flattering, photogenic, and stress and tear-proof. Find out how to apply makeup so that you can feel confidently beautiful in all your wedding pictures. Get inspiration for creating a beautiful “wedding ambience” with ideas from your favorite celebrity unions, present and past. On your wedding day, these stylish tips will help you to sparkle like the “celebrity version of yourself”!
You may also give them option of choosing photographs in color or black and white to commemorate their special day. This not only gives them the benefit of having some spectacular options but makes you look even more professional because you thought of it. Don”t forget to have so black and white portraits in your portfolio if you are going to offer them this option.
You can also negotiate for a trial shoot, usually during the engagement party or some other get together. Most photographers throw shoots like that in for free but you want to have a contingency clause in case they take those proofs but don”t hire you for the main event. This is also an excellent chance for you to experience working with the couple, their friends and family so there are fewer surprises in this aspect on the wedding day.
There are many bridal magazines now available, so before you venture out shopping you can browse through their pages to get ideas. This way you will know beforehand some of the designers, fabrics, colors, shapes and styles, so that you can form an opinion about the wedding dress. In the bridal magazines, you will surely come across different hairstyles for a wedding. But keep your expectations as per your individual tastes and how much it will suit you; models in the pages of a magazine look good in whatever they wear, which may not necessarily work for you too.
Preparations for the wedding day can sometimes push preparation for your honeymoon aside but it is important to plan for your honeymoon early. Booking the honeymoon with a travel consultant is the last part of the preparation for the honeymoon but there are other items to consider.
courtesy Indianweddingsaree.com
Colourful Bridal Function
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Indian wedding is not an affair of few hours but it is a matter of several eventful days. These weddings are all about fun and feast. Indian wedding is an auspicious occasion when the outfits of the bride demands keen attention, careful planning, and right choice because it is the most special day of her life. They are also known for their splendor and elaborate arrangements. An Indian wedding dress symbolizes many things, with all of it leading to prosperity and happiness of an Indian couple for years to come. Indian Weddings usually span several days and includes lavish food, opulent clothes and chances to sing and dance.
However they wear Indian wedding sari, the type of Indian wedding sari also come in styles which are quite common to the place. To introduce the Indian wedding sari, it is a cloth with a certain length which is being wrapped around the body which follows a design or a pattern which is intricate.
Selecting an Indian wedding dress or a saree to be more specific can be time consuming, made even more difficult by the busy schedule many women have 10 months before their wedding. It can take up to four months for the dress to be ordered and delivered, not to mention the many fittings to guarantee the dress fits perfectly.
The riot of colors, loud music, and the boisterous dances are what captivate you at an Indian marriage. No Indian marriage is complete without hearty dancing. People accept Indian wedding invitation cards readily for these reasons. Of course, there is sumptuous food and tons of gossip awaiting the guests.
Many designers are combining the look of the modern world to the traditional Indian wedding dress designs. Do not be surprised if you see one or two designs that appear very Indian but reflect some western influence. These Indian bridal wedding dresses are now rampant. It can be noted that the blend only emphasizes the beauty and the elegance that the wedding dress projects.
If you are in India, you may wish to apply a different style in your wedding such as beach wedding, garden wedding or other types of wedding but your visitors especially the elders will always appreciate the traditional way. Personalizing your own wedding may be a good choice but you should first seek advice.
Bright colors and intricate patterns are common features of Indian bridal gowns. These can even be embellished with silver or gold. Satins or chiffons are often used as fabric. If you want authentic Indian wear for your wedding, you can order over the internet for a wedding gown from India. Or, you can visit an Indian boutique in your nearby urban city. With the popularity of Indian clothes today, finding a tailor who is Indian or who is well-versed in Indian styles shouldn’t be too hard.
Indian apparels are very colourful and embroidered carrying lot of grace and richness.
Lot of colors like red, magenta, golden, maroon, beige, yellow and heavy traditional embroideries like zari, dabka, neemzari, zardozi, kundan, crystal, jall work adds up the beauty of the bride. Indian apparels are becoming popular among both Indian and international brides.
Courtesy Indianweddingsaree.com
Countdown for Wedding
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
Planning a successful wedding requires careful planning. We have created timeline for some of the most important elements of your wedding planning process.
1 year before your wedding day (or anytime after your engagement)
· Announce your engagement
· Determine the wedding date
· The bride and groom should introduce the parents, if they haven’t already met
· Set your budget
· Hire the wedding planner
· Research possible reception sites
· Make a rough draft of the guest list
· Join a fitness club if you aren’t already a member at one. Planning and going through your wedding is going to be a lot of fun, but you will need to be in good shape to handle the demands of the wedding planning process.
· Research your bridal shower favors and wedding favors
6-9 months before
· Decide on your caterer
· Hunt for your wedding gown
· Select your wedding party
· Book a DJ or a band
· Sign up with a bridal gift registry
· Shop for the bridal attendants’ dresses
· Choose a florist
· Hire a photographer and a videographer
4-6 months before
· Finalize your wedding guest list
· Search for a hotel for your out of town guests
· Order your wedding invitations
· Purchase your wedding gown
· Call the bakeries or cake decorators in your area to check for date availability.
· Make travel arrangements for your honeymoon
2-4 months before
· Order your wedding favors
· Shop for your wedding bands
· Find out about your state’s marriage license procedures
· Reserve or purchase the tuxedos for the groom and groomsmen
· If required by your state, get a blood test
· Finalize your wedding reception menu with your caterer
· Order you wedding cake
· Contact your ceremony site about your ceremony music
· Make arrangements about your reception music (DJ or band)
· Organize the rehearsal dinner
· Reserve tables and other necessary items with a party rental company
1-2 months before
· Run a complete test of your wedding makeup and hairdo. Invite some friends with you.
· Mail or deliver the wedding invitations
1-3 weeks before
· Complete the final seating chart for the wedding reception
· Contact photographer with the details of the ceremony and reception sites
· Provide your reception venue with a final head count based on the RSVPs received
· If necessary, make final adjustments to your wedding gown
· Facials should be booked for the bride, groom and bridesmaids
· Get your luggage ready for the honeymoon
· Your bridesmaid or a reliable friend should make sure the following items are promptly delivered: Toasting glasses, Band-Aids, Nail clippers, Cake knife, Emergency sewing kit
Last minute
· Most importantly, relax. This is supposed to be a fun experience.
· You are about to experience one of the best days of your life.
· Welcome your out-of-town guests
· To help you relax, do some light physical exercise
· Have your hairstylist and makeup artist do their magic on you
· Keep smiling, it’s your special day!
Courtesy Indianweddingsaree.com
Cultures of celebrations
Sunday, December 20th, 2009
In India, many different cultures and religions exist. Though India is very cosmopolitan in outlook, there is a certain ritualistic difference in each religion. The weddings also vary in each part of the state. Indian weddings have been greatly influenced by the effects of migration and modernization. One thing which is common in all religions is colors. All Indian weddings are very colorful. The colors in Indian weddings symbolize happiness and celebrations. The best thing about Indian weddings is the feast, rituals and the marriage songs. Indian marriages are incomplete without the blessings of elders in the family. The parents, grandparents and all the elder members of the bride and groom clan have a very important role to play in all Indian weddings.
Brides of different regions wear different outfits. Like a Mahrashtrian bride is supposed to wear a navarri or a yellow sari for the wedding along with the hair accessories and flower adornments. The Punjabi bride, preferably, has to wear red salwar kameez which is tailored in a traditional way and the dupatta is tightly pinned over the head. And Banarasi and Bengali brides wear silk sarees and apply alta (red color) on their hands and feet. The mehendi or henna tattoo is compulsory for Hindus and Muslims on their weddings.
Flowers are also an important aspect of Indian weddings. All Indian weddings necessitate an exchange of garlands between the bride and groom. In a Hindu wedding, the groom ties a manglasutra (a gold necklace with black beads) around the neck of the bride. He also applies sindoor or adornment of vermilion on the forehead. Manglasutra and Sindoor are worn by a bride so that she can distinguish herself as a married woman.
In a Hindu wedding, the bride and groom take seven pheras circling over the holy fire which is representative of seven future lives in matrimony. But this ritual varies from region to region. In a Sikh wedding, the bride and groom take only four pheras.
Besides these rituals and ceremonies, Indian weddings are also about receiving guests and making their stay comfortable. Members of the family make elaborate arrangements for the comfort of guests. The cuisine offered in these wedding is very much related to the state. Indian wedding feats are usually a lavish spread of delicacies including cooked, roasted and fried varieties. Besides the main food, sweet dishes have a lot of significance in Indian weddings. There is an array of sweet dishes to choose from like rabdi, rasgollas, payas, kheer, gulab jamun, jalebi or vermicelli sevaiyya. The south Indian feast is served on plantain leaves and is more or less a five course meal. North Indian cuisines are famous for richness in their taste and pure ghee is relished by all.
Song and dance play a very significant role in an Indian wedding where participation is compulsory. There is a lot of merriment, singing and dancing before and during the wedding. Indian wedding usually end in a very emotional tome as the bride leaves her maternal home to be with her husband.
courtesy Indianweddingsaree.com
Wedding Dress to Remember
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Anyone who has attended an Indian wedding will know what a grand event this is ? not only for the bride and groom but for the whole community. Being the bride I wanted to look perfect and stun my numerous guests. With any wedding there is a lot to think about and to prepare for but with an Asian wedding the list is tenfold.
Family and friends are very important for this big day and I could not have organised and planned the wedding without them. My main duty was to ensure I turned up looking beautiful and elegant. Indian wedding dresses are totally different from Western bridal gowns. They are usually typically and traditionally white, however, with Indian bridal gowns the more colourful the better. Sarees are the typical wear and I wanted to keep my outfit as traditional as possible but with a modern edge.
Bridal gowns worn for Indian weddings usually consist of red and gold and are a three piece ? the top, long skirt and the shawl which is usually put over one shoulder. I was lucky enough to have my Auntie to help design my dress. The dresses in the shops are gorgeous but I wanted mine to be unique so it was great that I was able to design my own and have my own personal touch to the gown.
My main decision was how bright was I going to go with my outfit? With Indian weddings there are no limits and colour represents different aspects of the marriage. Mostly colour represents emotion and the extravagance of the day. Along with my bright, sophisticated outfit I wanted to make sure that the delicate gold jewellery complimented me and the outfit.
Once I had decided on my outfit and was happy with the design I then had the task of finding the accessories to match. As the day and ceremony is very long I wanted to wear shoes that were of comfort. I know this was being a little sensible but I didn?t want to spend the day in agony. I did want the shoes to still be ones of fashion and to match perfectly with my dress. As the main colour of my dress was red and I had delicate golden embroidery I went for golden platforms. They were open toed and I made sure my nails were beautifully painted and pedicured.
As my dress was fairly simple in design I was able to be quite daring when choosing my bag for the big day. I had my best friend on duty for touching up the make-up but I still wanted to carry some with me just in case there was a major crisis and I needed some immediate rectifying doing! I went for a big clutch bag which was decorated to match my dress.
To complete my look I accessorized my look with bangles which complimented my outfit. I chose a mixture of glass and plastic ones which I brought by the dozen. Some were glittery and the others just plain so that I had a nice mixture of the two. On the day I did lose a few but it is fair to say that my outfit and look was traditional for that of an Indian wedding but I did look unique.
courtesy Indianweddingsaree.com
Ethnicity Tamil Wedding
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Tamil marriage is celebrated with the rituals that have been part of the Tamilian culture. The marriage is basically simple but not extravagant. The relatives and friends join to take part in the ceremonies. Customs and traditions remain the same throughout the Tamilian communities. The horoscopes play a very important role in finding the prospective partners for the girl or boy.
When the horoscopes are matched, the agreement between the both parties takes place. The priest plays an important role in fixing the date of the marriage. The agreement is placed on the plate of bananas, coconuts and beetal leaf. This ceremony is performed at the groom’’s residence. Girl is given silk sari and groom is given cash and clothes.
”Paalikali Thalippu” is a ceremony which is performed two days before marriage where small clay pots are decorated with sandal paste and kumkum. A little curd is put in each pot and nine types of grains are sprinkled. Then they are watered by the married ladies of both sides. After the marriage, couple throws these pots with sprouted grains in nearby pond. This is done to seek the blessings of the fish in the water.
”Kalyanaponnu” is another important ceremony which is performed before marriage at the houses of the girl and the boy. Seasem oil is put on the girl and she is given a green saree with green and red bangles. Girl is put to confinement till marriage. Groom’’s father also puts oil on him and gives him cash and clothes. He is also confined at a place till marriage.
”Panda kaal muhuratham” is the ceremony which is held a day before marriage and the family gather to seek the blessings of the family diety. This is done so that everything goes on smoothly.
One day before marriage, groom and his family reaches the house of the bride where they are welcomed by the parents of the bride. They are offered supari, misri, flowers and fruits. Sandalwood is applied on the boy’’s forehead. Sweet dish is offered to the groom’’s parents. A coconut is broken to ward off evil spirits.
The ancestors of the both families are remembered and the priests are invited to have meals and they are given clothes, sweets, fruits, supari and paan.
Ganesh puja is performed by the parents of the bride along with the priest. Bride is given sari by the groom’’s parents. Chandan and kumkum are applied on her forehead. Her sari is filled with fruits, turmeric and coconut. Puja is performed of her.
On the wedding morning, bride and groom sit on wooden stools. Turmeric, kumkum and oil are put on the both and arti is performed. Then they are given clothes. They go to their respective homes and dress up for the wedding.
After the mangalsanamam, the groom pretends to go for kashi on a pilgrimage, but he is stopped by the bride’’s father. He comes back to pandal where bride is waiting for her. They exchange garlands thrice. Now, they sit together on swings and balls of cooked rice with saffron are thrown in various directions to ward off evil spirits. The couple is served milk and banana.
This ceremony is called ”Oonjal”.
After this, kanaydanam is held. The corner of the girl’’s sari is tied with the shawl of the boy. Their right hands are tied with a thread. As they each the mandav, boy’’s feet are washed by the bride’’s father. Bride sits on the lap of her father holding a coconut and offers it to the groom. This way girl is given to the groom. She is presented a sari by the groom’’s parents which she wraps around. She sits in the lap of her father on the heap of paddy to welcome prosperity. Plough is touched to her forehead. Groom ties mangalsutra to the neck of the girl.
The groom takes the right hand of the girl with his left hand and takes seven rounds around the fire. Girl starts each round by touching the grinding stone.
With this, marriage ceremony is complete. Good wishes and blessings are showered on the couple.
Courtesy Indianweddingsaree.com
Buying Sarees Online
Monday, December 14th, 2009
When you go to India you will find most women clad in the traditional wear called saree or sari. This is the normal clothing, which is a strip of unstitched cloth or fabric that has a length of four to nine meters used to drape on the womens bodies in several ways. This is one of the most popular clothing for women in India. Before, you will have to go to India or to specialty stores in order to purchase one. These days you can buy sarees online and have them delivered to your doorstep hassle-free.
Indian sarees are also used in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Sarees come in different styles and designs including embroidery with stones, beads, and pearls. Fabric used varies as well georgette, crepe, silk, cotton, chiffon, and other fusion fabrics. The more elegantly designed sarees are usually worn in special Hindu functions and festivals since the saree is a traditional outfit. Sarees are customary and sacred. It symbolizes purity in women so girls and women of all ages wear it.
If you would like to buy sarees online you have to arm yourself with the following tips first:
Buy the sarees that suit and compliment your body size
Choose fabrics well because it is important that the fabric suits your shape and size
Women with broader built or those on the heavier side should choose sarees made from lighter textile like georgette, chiffon, or chignon. Bigger-built women should not buy sarees made from crepe because these are thicker. Heavier fabric creates the impression of heavier look.
Shorter women who stand around 5 feet should buy sarees online carefully. Check that the borders are narrow so as to create a taller stance. Choose small borders or no borders at all. Big borders will swallow the wearer because the saree will be too emphasized.
Choose colors carefully so that the saree will suit your facial complexion. It is important to request for the best quality photos of the sarees being sold so you can see the colors and designs clearly.
Slim or thin women should buy sarees made from organza, cotton, tissue, or tussar.
If you prefer to buy sarees online and you opt for those printed ones, avoid the really big prints because it will be too showy.
Dark-skinned women can consider buying colors like maroon, green, or darker shade of pink.
Make sure that you check the credibility of the online seller before you totally submit to the purchase. Be diligent in checking out the credentials so as not to be scammed if you buy sarees online.
To project a very graceful look, pinup the saree and just let is drape on your hand. The fall of the saree on your hand should look natural and not stiff. Although the popularity of the saree as a routine wear is slowing down, the saree is still the most wanted dress for weddings and other social occasions. Since designers are now incorporating something new into the traditional sarees, younger generation of women are now seeing how they can upgrade their saree look so that they can enjoy its freshness and uniqueness.
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