The Asian Wedding Editor's Guide

Shutting down...

2011-10-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

Hello all, It's with deep regret I have to inform you all that I have to close the site down. Apologies, as it has been such a blast, and I have really enjoyed writing it - and especially receiving your emails - but I just don't have the time to keep it going. Please don't hesitate to email if you need any help or advice, and good luck with the big day!

Wedding lowdown

2011-08-31T12:51:00.000-07:00

My sincere apologies for the delay - what with the honeymoon and trying to get my life back in order, its been a hectic few weeks. I've finally trawled through the pictures and will be doing a comprehensive post, but will put a few now as a taster. I don't know if anyone ever says a bad word about their wedding day - but it was quite simply, the best. We were blessed with sun, despite a

2 (and a half) weeks to go - gulp

2011-06-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

Everyone keeps asking me how I'm doing, as if I'm about to venture off into the wilderness on some kind of primitive rite of passage, braving the harsh elements and about to do battle with savage animals. Well, it's been drizzly in London, but barring a lot of work (my day job, that is) things are proceeding on as normal. I keep threatening Rob that I won't marry him if he won't put the j-cloth

Hen do idea: making fabulous hats, veils and fascinators

2011-06-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

I have always loved net veils, but after searching London high and low, I simply couldn't find what I was looking for. My dress is a deep blue with lots of heavy crystal pearl work, designed by Ekta Solanki, and so I had to be careful to avoid that strange hybrid of East-meets-West bride, which essentially is an Indian outfit with a fascinator bunged on top of it (some even add a tika, to which

My wedding shoes...are Jimmy Choos

2011-05-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

Alright, so in hindsight, I should have taken someone with me. But, truth be told, I prefer shopping on my own - I get it all done in half the time. On Monday, I managed to get all my honeymoon clothes, my wedding shoes, make-up and swimwear in three hours. Three hours, people. But, back to the matter in hand. After spending over my budget, I had decided to wave goodbye to my dream of Jimmy Choos

Jimmy Choo: 2011 Bridal Collection

2011-05-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

Jimmy Choo shoes are utterly exquisite, and if you feel guilty stumping up the money for them on a normal day, at least the wedding gives you a valid excuse to go shoe-crazy. This is a sneak peek at the 2011 bridal collection - I love the champagne glitter shoes and the strappy Viola shoes. Looking for a photographer? Read our feature on Lumina: superb wedding photography for all budgets.

Superb wedding photography for all budgets, all time-frames and all types of weddings

2011-05-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

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Wedding invite: Mixed Juice Design

2011-05-04T13:52:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl, I was so obsessed with stationery (a collector of pencil erasers, paper and pens) my family said I'd probably marry a paper baron. We-ll, that didn't really happen, what with Rob being an environmental journalist, but the wedding really has brought out my passion in good stationery. I'm designing the menu cards, place cards and other stationery bits around the venue,

Absolutely fabulous 60% sale on the Outnet: hen do, bridemaids and wedding dresses

2011-04-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

I don't tend to use words like 'omigod' and 'fabbo', but omigod, The Outnet has the MOST fabulous sale on at present. They are offering 60% on a whole range of wedding gear, from teeny Herve Leger dresses perfect for hen dos, gorgeous Halston Heritage shoes (I've snapped up a pair of black sandals) and Azzedine Alaia at a fraction of the price. The Halston shoes were a snip at £100 - they are

Engagement shoot (be kind...)

2011-04-23T15:27:00.000-07:00

(Deep breath) Okay, so Rob and I aren't photo people, and by that, I mean that we're not very comfortable with having our picture taken. I'm not sure what tragic incident occurred in Rob's life to make it so, but for me, mine was definitely being made to pose by my (well-intentioned) mother, either holding a flower or without, culminating in a definitive set of photographs that resulted in me

Brightly coloured cupcakes - perfect for Asian weddings

2011-04-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

Cupcakes have been enjoying quite a revival over the past year, and never so much so than at weddings. The only problem, unfortunately, is that most cupcake companies cater for pretty, ethereal English vintage-style weddings, and those delicate pastel colours simply won't do for one of our vibrant affairs. We came across Dollymix Cupcakes, run by Smaira Rana, who creates exquisite little treats

Ultimate wishlist: hen do dress

2011-04-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, so unfortunately this picture just doesn't do justice to the dress. If you had the dress in front of you, the skirt is a crisp, beautifully embroidered material with delicate bits of replica-tulle underneath and a structured bodice top. When I clapped eyes on it on Sunday, I fell in love with it - and knew that life was not going to be alright until I clasped it in my sweaty paws and wore

Music ideas: Bollywood Brass Band

2011-04-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately I have not only blown my wedding budget, but it's been blasted apart by dynamite and the ashy flecks are still fluttering down. So, as much I would like to have a bit of live music before and during my hindu ceremony, I simply can't afford Bollywood Brass Brand. Which is a shame, because had I stumbled across them earlier, I would've probably been able to cut corners elsewhere to

Real wedding: Momtaz and Matt

2011-03-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

Heads up: Momtaz is the chief Features Writer at Asiana - I have long loved her blog about DIY crafts, and when I saw her wedding photos, knew that I had to feature it on the blog. I think she is an absolute pioneer in having your wedding exactly the way you want it - not always easy when so many other people have expectations of what it's supposed to be like. Read about it in her own words:

3 Bees Paperie: gorgeous stationery great for Indian weddings

2011-03-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

I've been dying to blog about 3 Bees Paperie, the stationery company run by two very talented South Asian women - Jaee Likhite and Reena Vadhera - who are based in the US. They can ship to just about anywhere and they also do letterpress printing - that sumptuous luxurious print that lends so well to weddings. There are some great stationers out there, but in my opinion, very few who do Indian

Beauty swag from Harvey Nichols

2011-03-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

We spent three hours in the beauty hall at Harvey Nichols - a record even for us. But, in contrast to the hell-pit that is Selfridges beauty hall (too crowded, sales assistants are rude) it was such a nice experience. Key picks include possibly the best foundation I've ever tried - Armani - and Nars's new Illuminator range that adds a highlight to cheeks. I fell in love with their nail varnish,

Harvey Nichols Bridal Beauty Bag

2011-03-19T03:26:00.000-07:00

Just heading out to pick up this ultra-cool treat with my sister - Harvey Nichols are doing a deal where you get this bag of beauty products worth £150 if you spend £110. I've been putting off my bridal beauty shopping and this seems like the perfect opportunity, plus for once, this is a bag I actually really, really want!

Pretty bridal picks

2011-03-19T03:16:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to Green Street in Upton Park, London, to sort out the jewellery for my Hindu ceremony. The tika set I'd bought from India was frankly pants, and so I headed to Kyles to see if they had any designs I liked. I'm going to buy a camera this week I promise so I'll take pics when I pick up the set, but they had some gorgeous pieces in there. Best of all, I like that they can make it

Wedding diet and a few amateur tips to get in shape

2011-03-19T02:48:00.000-07:00

I write this with a slightly sore head - the girls and I checked out the new W Hotel in Leicester Square and were plied with impossible-to-refuse Champagne - and with no intention of going to the gym. However, this is the first week that I've noticed any difference to my shape, and that the wedding diet/fitness regime is actually paying off. Needless to say I'm really happy about it, and while I

Sample sale from Asian wedding designer Ekta Solanki

2011-03-16T16:43:00.000-07:00

A hasty post, but lots of cool stuff on the horizon - photography, real weddings and handbags. For now, I wanted to do a quick shout about Ekta Solanki's sample sale, which is taking place this weekend on the 19th and 20th of March at her studio in Neasden. I was in her studio today, and I really cannot stress how beautiful Ekta's designs are. With a whopping 75% off and some outfits from £200,

Wedding suppliers from hell: how to avoid them

2011-03-10T16:12:00.000-08:00

Picture courtesy of Elegant Wedding Cake Toppers I've received several comments on the blog about certain wedding suppliers being rubbish or ripping them off, which I've been unable to publish because quite honestly, it's not really my place to get involved. But, that doesn't mean I don't empathise - I have heard terrible stories about some suppliers - some of whom are surprisingly well-known

Tradition versus individual choice

2011-03-08T15:27:00.000-08:00

Picture of Rajnikanth's daughter Soundarya I have never been one for following the crowd - a history of fashion disasters are testament to that from purple fishnet tights to tie-die shirts worn with Spice Girl platforms. And, the one look I just didn't want to go for was the quintessentially South Indian puff-ball kanchivaram silk sari look. Unfortunately, my parents, liberal and easy going as

Sneak peek at new Matthew Williamson bridal collection

2011-02-24T14:35:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty excited by the new Matthew Williamson bridal collection - it's the designer's first foray into the world of weddings. The style is very light, flowing without using reams of material, with just the lightest touch of embellishment. Perfect for the non-meringue bride who likes a touch of bohemian in her look. Talking about his collection, the designer revealed: "The pieces are all

Bollywood tent, maharaja parasol and lots of lovely decor treats

2011-02-20T12:32:00.000-08:00

There isn't long left to go, so it is with great relief (and excitement) that I have finally booked our bits and bobs from the Raj Tent Club. I didn't want a mandap, and so in a bid to find something that I could get married under, I settled on their gorgeous pergola in hot pink. However, their showroom is like a magical wonderland filled with beautiful must-have silver jugs, lamps and colourful

Designer Profile: Ziggi Studio (groomswear)

2011-02-20T12:18:00.000-08:00

I didn't have a chance to go to the Asiana Bridal Show this year, but I wanted to catch up with Ziggi, whose collection was seen on the catwalk this year. I've known Ziggi for years, but the maturity, craftsmanship and sheer beauty of his designs just seems to improve year on year. His USP is regal, re-interpreted Mughal-style clothing, with incredible attention-to-detail, rich fabric and vintage

Honeymoon booked and updates

2011-02-10T15:19:00.000-08:00

Image courtesy of Black Tomato A few things - first, I know I sound like a broken record but my apologies with the sporadic posting. I promise I will pick up the pace. Second, I'm very sorry, but have had to re-introduce moderating comments. The user who slagged off a designer I featured (I don't care if she diddled you out of money, does this look like the online version of Oprah?) was the

Asiana Bridal Show & Red flower ball lanterns

2011-01-24T14:32:00.000-08:00

First, an apology. I won't be blogging on the Asiana bridal show this year. My other work is taking me to a spa in Spain, and although I'll be pummeled and cossetted into shape, I will sorely miss snapping away at all the beautiful, glamorous outfits. If anyone wants to cover it and feature it on my blog, let me know and I'll bagsy you a free ticket. Apart from that, I've been searching for

Big (not so) traditional Indian weddings

2011-01-23T15:04:00.000-08:00

Cupcake toppers from Crafty Pagan on Etsy.com I had to give some advice the other day to a friend of a friend, who is getting married next month. I won't blog about her query, but it got my mind thinking about the issue with big weddings and the problem/cost of personalising it. Or, at the very least, how to personalise the religious ceremony, because most of the bride's design attention seems to

Indian block print ink stamps

2011-01-09T10:47:00.000-08:00

Harabu House, $44 for four It's DIY-a-go-go in the Shetty/Bell household, where I've furiously been gluing, snipping and sticking. Last week saw a particularly fruitful trip to Paperchase, and although I questioned my sanity at the time (as probably did the sales assistant), I purchased 16 wooden rooster for a princely sum of 50p, which will act as my table numbers. They look like a silhouette of

Religious ceremony look: saris and belts

2010-12-29T08:24:00.000-08:00

Image courtesy of Efu.com My apologies for being such a slack blogger - working in an office and wedding organisation is taking its toll. Seriously - how do people other than freelancers even manage to organise the whole thing? (Your comments appreciated...) On the plus side I've booked my civil ceremony, on the downside I still haven't found any cutlery, glassware or crockery that doesn't make

Cherish the dress shoot

2010-12-18T13:23:00.000-08:00

Sorry, but I just don't get Trash the Dress shoots. I'm the kind of person who picks my clothes quite carefully, and although I could probably treat them better, I love that they pick up memories along the way, of the events and special places I wore them to. Apply that logic to a wedding dress, and I just don't understand how someone could trash a) an expensive outfit and b) one tied to such

Real wedding: Claire and Kirit

2010-12-12T13:42:00.000-08:00

Photographer Tapas Maiti was kind enough to share these picture of Claire and Kirit's wedding. I especially love the sepia-toned prints - enjoy!

Photobooth versus Polaroid cameras

2010-12-12T13:31:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of Boothnation I first fell in love with the photobooth from Boothnation at The Designer Wedding Show earlier this year - more so than the gimmick, our photos looked absolutely AMAZING. It was as if tiny imps had photoshopped our pictures in the blink of an eye. I had to have it - only problem, it was a) an extra and b) completely out of my budget. The idea is that your guests can

Top 5 wedding trends

2010-11-29T14:39:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of Ekta Solanki Personalised touches DIY can go terribly wrong if you a)have a short attention span and b)don't have any actual skill with the thing you're trying to make. What I mean with regards to the latter, is that if you were crap in crafts at school, making your own invites is probably not advisable. But all of us have a skill, and the rule of thumb with DIY is that while

REAL WEDDING: Sunjeeta and Randeep

2010-11-22T15:08:00.000-08:00

Photographer Sunny Kalsi (www.sunnykalsi.com) was kind enough to share these beautiful pictures of Sunjeeta and Randeep with me. The couple got married in August at the Gravesend Gurudwara, followed by a reception at Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf.

William and Kate: a royal (Indian) wedding?

2010-11-17T12:48:00.000-08:00

The web is buzzing with the news of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding - lots of features on how to have a royal wedding, what designer she'll pick, where they'll honeymoon and so on. My take on it is slightly different. While I'm really happy for the couple, part of me does feel sorry for them because they probably won't end up having the wedding they really want. They'll almost surely

Wedding florist: cost-cutting

2010-11-15T14:42:00.000-08:00

Most wedding magazines will tell you that you need to spend about 10% of your budget on your flowers. Having spoken to a lot of brides about their big day, personally, I don't think there's a rule of thumb. It all really depends on how important it is to you to have fresh flowers. For brides on a £10K budget, for instance, £1K is a lot to spend on something you might not be bothered about. For me

Budget Honeymoon Ideas

2010-11-08T15:07:00.000-08:00

Photo of Maia in the Seychelles After my fellow blogger Nazma from Asian Fashion Blog asked for some options for budget honeymoon ideas, I thought I'd oblige. These have been drawn from a career of travel journalism so I hope they help. Any questions, just fire an email or a comment. 1) Long haul versus short haul To decide this properly, you need to figure out what your overall spend is. For

Indian brides

2010-11-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

Apologies for the belated-ness, but Indian brides or any brides who can get October 2010 back issues of Marie Claire, do it. It's the bridal special, and a fantastic example of Indian magazines who can get it right, with superb fashion tips, beauty ideas and designer interviews. In a way the mag makes me really sad that there is no monthly magazine in Britain that even remotely attempts to cater

Honeymoon wail

2010-11-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

As a Travel Editor (I've just started working for MSN - please do check out the site), booking the honeymoon ought to have been a breeze. Oh no, it isn't. After a recent freaky experience in a five star hotel with an over zealous concierge in India (he followed us EVERYWHERE), we decided that we had very specific ideas as to what constituted the perfect trip. Our priorities were: 1) Style and

Wow-factor jewellery

2010-11-04T15:21:00.000-07:00

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India shopping: credit card meltdown

2010-11-03T15:35:00.000-07:00

Image courtesy of Rickshaw Challenge I expressly went to India armed with my camera and credit card, ready to get snap happy for my blog. But my camera refused to cooperate, and died a horribly slow death after I fell out of my kayak and into a river. (I am not making this up). As such, I have no snazzy pictures to show you. But, if I have learned anything from the incessant hours of trying on

PAYAL SINGHAL

2010-10-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Okay - one last post, I couldn't resist. Exclusively.In has to be one of my favourite sites. They bring together Indian designers for fashion and home interiors, as well as holidays, offering live sales. The way it works is that you subscribe, the sale goes 'live' and then has an end date. I absolutely adore the high quality of photography on there, not to mention the recent fab brands such as

HIATUS

2010-10-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

Hello dear readers (that sounds very Jane Austen), I'm off on hiatus to try and scrounge for wedding stuff in India (let's face it, cheaper and better choice). I'll be posting lots on my return, but until then, I'm on a two week break.

BEAUTY: Toner Review

2010-10-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

When I was a grumpy little teenage goth, THAT'S when I wish I had spots. At least then I would've had something to moan about. But no, mother nature has decided to reward me in my late twenties, by giving me skin as unpredictable as a teenage boy's underpants. With the latest outbreak refusing to go away (and a trip to India looming in the immediate future filled with unedited comments from

Debate: fussy singletons?

2010-10-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

So I was on BBC Asian Network's chatshow with the lovely Nihal yesterday, and we were talking about something rather interesting. Basically, people are saying that the reason why Asian women are getting married later and later, is because they are (quote) "Too fussy" and "busy with their careers." Some of the guys who phoned in were UNBELIEVABLE - and it's just as well I was on mute when they

Designer Wedding Show: 8-10th October

2010-10-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

I know where I'll be spending next Sunday - the Designer Wedding Show in Battersea Park. I went to the January one, and it is easily my favourite of wedding shows. Now that I have a much clearer idea of budget and colours, I can't wait to ooh and aah at all the lovelies on offer. Tickets are £16-£18, and is open from 10am-5pm, with four catwalk shows. My eye is on Temperley London's collection,

COMPETITION: Ananya Diwali Cards

2010-10-04T15:34:00.000-07:00

Ananya cards, who design for Harrods, have got a fabbo offer for The Asian Wedding Editor's Guide readers. What with Diwali coming up, they're offering 20 free cards, which usually retail at £2.50 (offer available to UK readers only, I'm afraid). All you have to do is email us and a winner will be chosen at random - closing date is 10th of October. Ananya also do a brilliant wedding card range,

Dress designer booked: Ekta Solanki

2010-10-03T16:45:00.000-07:00

The lovely EktaLast week was set aside for mundane chores and a couple of wedding-related appointments, but I really didn't expect to buy my wedding dress. It's a done deal that I'll wear a sari for the religious ceremony, but for me, the most important outfit will be the one I wear to my civil ceremony and reception. This is the dress I'll be wearing for the longest period, and it was also a

Stop press: caterer booked

2010-10-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of My Recipes.com Any followers of the blog will be well aware of my rants about finding the right caterer. From having gone from one side of the fence (writing as a wedding journalist) to the other (writing from a consumer point of view) - I feel like I have learned an invaluable lesson from this whole wedding lark. As my guest blogger Pria will no doubt agree, the cold, hard

Inspirational Beauty Shots

2010-09-25T16:00:00.000-07:00

With the onset of autumn and winter, I thought we could all do with a colourful reminder of spring and summer. Photographer Tapas Maiti shared these pretty photos for you to take a look.

Lara Dutta Wedding Predictions

2010-09-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

As most people know by now, Lara Dutta got engaged to Mahesh Bhupathi in NY earlier this week. Congratulations to the happy couple, although poor Lara will be subject to much speculation leading up to the wedding as to what she'll be wearing and what type of wedding she'll go for. Since it's inevitable anyway, The Asian Wedding Editor's Guide decided to stick its oar in - in a benign way, of

Make-up artist booked!

2010-09-23T15:12:00.000-07:00

So excuse the look which insinuates I've smelled something bad, but I've finally had my make-up trial with artist Seema Syed. I've put down a deposit, and give or take a few variations - taking the foundation down a shade and perhaps easing slightly on the blush - she's the one I've chosen to transmogrify me from hag to fab. Apart from working at a reasonable price, I love Seema's calm demeanour,

Bridal designer sale

2010-09-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with Amanda Wakeley's London Fashion Week collection shown a few days ago, so imagine the squeals when I heard there might be up to 70% off her bridalwear. She's one of the designers, along with Annabel B, Caroline Castigliano and Amy Michelson, whose dresses will be appearing at the Bridal Designer Sale, held at the Thistle hotel in Marble Arch, 16-17th October. The best bit? The

The 10-ish Wedding Commandments

2010-09-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of KTB Wedding Photography This is more of a personal post than the usual 'look at the pretty stuff I've found' blog, but hopefully some of you will agree (or at least empathise!) Thou shalt not tell me I want a karahi stand, when I don't want a damn karahi stand. What is it with some caterers and their sales talk? I appreciate that they have a spiel to run through but I feel like

IFW: Anupama Dayal collection

2010-09-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Notes On Fashion Having trawled through the photos for Bridal Asia 2010, I've felt extremely underwhelmed. I understand that certain trends aside, wedding fashion is essentially the same principle reinterpreted over again, but come on. I'm not knocking tradition, but the catwalk is meant to be a place for inspiration, and the only thing it inspired me to do was to see what was

ASPIRE: Luxury luggage for honeymoon

2010-09-20T04:33:00.000-07:00

So it's a Monday, and in an attempt to avoid doing work, I've decided to devote my time to lusting over beautiful bags. Tanner Krolle, the high-end leather accessories company, will be launching their Mayfair store opening in November. English handcrafted bags that are worlds away from Louis Vuitton's garish luggage collection, they look great with any honeymoon trousseau. The store also has a

FAB AUTUMN HONEYMOON DEAL: MALDIVES

2010-09-16T03:46:00.000-07:00

The Maldives - always a sight for sore eyes on rainy days like today. And fear not window-shoppers, a great deal from the Beach House Maldives, which is part of the Waldorf Astoria collection, means it's not just a pipe dream. Whether it's for your honeymoon or romantic break, they are offering a deal that can give you 2-6 nights free. If you travel between 1st of October to 15th November, the

Luxury Bridal Underwear

2010-09-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

I once wrote a feature on the power of ruthlessly spring-cleaning your underwear drawer, and ladies, it works. Lingerie might seem like such a secondary consideration, but when it comes to your wedding day, you want it to make you feel sexy yet comfortable. And I'm sorry, but like good chocolate, when it comes to underwear, the difference between cheap and luxury is vast. Andrea Billard, who

GUEST BLOG: War Paint

2010-09-13T15:08:00.000-07:00

Editor's note: Introducing the lovely Pria, who has been nominated for the Real Bride search on Rock My Wedding. An Interior Designer Assistant, she's a bride after my own heart - she wants a cool, contemporary, think-outside-the-box kind of wedding. Engaged to Mandip, here's her account of wedding planning in her own words... @font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal,

Hire or Buy your wedding tent?

2010-09-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

As I really don't want a traditional mandap, I had the idea of hiring a pergola or small tent, that could be erected inside the venue. Now I know the whole point of wedding expenditure is that you're spending a lot of money on a day (wonderful as it is) that you won't really see again (flowers, caterer, venue). So where possible, I've been trying to invest in things that I can use again. After

DESIGNER PROFILE: Meera Mahadevia

2010-09-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

I keep track of what Bollywood stars are wearing at the latest parties and catwalks, by following one of my favourite blogs, Bollywood Style Diaries. And one thing that seems to be glaringly evident, is that most of these women can't accessorise for peanuts. Beautiful vintage saris and salwar kameezes, Balmain-style mini dresses and on trend blouses are offset with vast clutches, tacky leather

£20 buffet at the Intercontinental, Hyde Park

2010-09-06T14:53:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a great place to catch up for a girlie chinwag or wedding pow-wow, I'd highly recommend the Intercontinental in Hyde Park, London. At present their Cookbook Cafe is offering a £20 for two Market Lunch, which includes tea and endless returns to the lunch and dessert table. Valid Monday to Friday until November, I leapt on the chance to take my friend Alice. We nattered about

Rekha's Timeless Beauty Shot

2010-09-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Centre-parting, I'm writing a letter of apology, after being extremely harsh (some might say slanderous) about you. In the past, I've been known to call you nerdy, and that you impart all the 'verve and glamour of a dry biscuit.' In fact, when someone asked me if I was going to have the traditional centre-parting and plait for my south Indian wedding, I possibly used the phrases 'No way,

Cute yet budget Bollywood lamps

2010-09-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

For those of us having outdoor weddings (or trying to create ambience) these super cheap lamps from Store Twenty One do the trick. They start from £6 each, and you can even dish them out to relatives afterwards or pepper them around your own garden. For a splash of colour, I'd advise sticking colour candles inside white lanterns - Paperchase are currently offering bright pinks of varying sizes on

Gorgeous pre-wedding shoot

2010-09-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

I was trawling around on one of my favourite sites RocknRoll Bride, when I came across this gorgeous wedding shoot by photographer Tapas Maiti. The couple, Priya and Normen really allow their playfulness to come through sans-cheese, and I love her styling of trainers with that ultra-cute dress. My wedding photographer Kim has very kindly offered to do a pre-wedding shoot for Rob and I, but

Konnie Huq and Charlie Brooker Vegas wedding

2010-09-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Charlie Brooker and Konnie Huq, who did what most couples want to do but rarely have the balls, which was to get married in Vegas with no fuss, no muss. Don't get me wrong, I love planning my wedding, but there are moments - often when I look despairingly at the guestlist, or when I receive a quote for flowers that could actually purchase an entire farm (goats included) in

Neha Dhupia, Rituparna Sen do bridal catwalk

2010-08-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Shyamal & Bhumika showcased their Durbar collection in collaboration with Nizam Jewel Collection. Opening last week for a show called A Ticket To Bollywood, check out some of the stars who wore their threads.

REAL WEDDING: Saima and Kris

2010-08-26T14:42:00.000-07:00

Photography: KTB WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY Saima Nawaz and Kristjan Stefan Zadziuk Nikah: 1st May 2010Civil wedding and reception: 2nd May 2010Venue: The Queens Hotel Leeds They met…Saima: In 2004 through our mutual friend Victoria Bills. She had invited Kris and his friends over for dinner. Not long after our meeting, Kris moved to Canada but he kept in touch. He eventually moved back so that he

Fab Online Boutique: Fashioneastas.com

2010-08-22T05:44:00.000-07:00