Asian Bride 43

07939 15 44 [email protected]

London | UK | Worldwide

Find us: lubnarafiqacademy/lubnarafiq

Great brides think alikehair and makeup by

Photography: P

aul Farnham

| Outfi

t: Soltee | M

akeup: Lubna R

afiq | H

air : Uzm

a Rafi

q | Supported by A

zbah Ali | C

reative Direction: J W

imal |

Stylists: K

asum S

haffi &

Sarah H

aroon

Cover ad - Lubna/Uzma ab43.indd 1 27/02/2015 17:42

182

InspIratIon101 BRIDE IDEAS Fabulous touches

for your big day

107 THEMES Go for gold, bold with

blue, bright with orange and rule

in red

137 REAl wEDDInGS Brides

share their ideas, wisdom

and inspiration

166 GRooM nEwS Essentials for

the man of the moment

pLannInG115 UlTIMATE PlAnnInG GUIDE

Everything you need to know

127 ASIAn BRIDE lIVE See the

catwalk from londons biggest

wedding show

135 ASk RAJ Expert industry advice

152 PICTURE PERFECT

How to get the most

romantic wedding pictures

158 HEnnYMoonS Girly

holidays abroad

156 wEDDInG SoS Your

planning dilemmas solved

FasHIon161 FASHIon TREnD

Traditional Designer luxe

163 FASHIon noTES

lust-haves for spring/summer

164 HoT oFF THE RAMP next

seasons looks from Pakistan

Fashion week

EssEntIaLs11 EDIToRS lETTER

Musings of a bride to be

312 DIRECToRY The nations

leading wedding suppliers

314 ToP VEnUES For 2015/16

317 BUDGET PlAnnER

Expert saving tips

318 CHECk PlEASE

Your last minute

to-do list

ISSUE 43 SPRING/SUMMER 2015

156186

107137

164

163

ASIAN BRIDE | 7

185

194

8 | ASIAN BRIDE

246238

101166

115193

BEaUtY181 BEAUTY nEwS whats hot on

the beauty counters

182 nEw lookS Hair and makeup

ideas for you to try

185 BEST BUYS The best products on

the market

186 lEADInG lADY

Big screen beauty looks

193 THE THEATRE oF lRA

latest looks by artists of the

LubnaRafiqAgency

236 EAT FAT & GET THIn

The fun way to diet

237 FITnESS nEwS

Products to help you shape up

238 THE PATH oF RESISTAnCE

Strength training for women

DEstInatIon242 MInIMoonS

Short romantic getaways

244 ISlAnD DREAM

Exploring outer Fiji

246 SECRET ESCAPE

DiscoverPacificVanuatu

248 DElICIoUSlY MooRISH

Visit Soma Bay by the Red Sea

250 JERk, REST & PlAY

At the white house in Jamaica

252 HonEYMoon noTES Dont

flyanywherewithoutthem

236127

194

8 | ASIAN BRIDE

246238

101166

115193

BEaUtY181 BEAUTY nEwS whats hot on

the beauty counters

182 nEw lookS Hair and makeup

ideas for you to try

185 BEST BUYS The best products on

the market

186 lEADInG lADY

Big screen beauty looks

193 THE THEATRE oF lRA

latest looks by artists of the

LubnaRafiqAgency

236 EAT FAT & GET THIn

The fun way to diet

237 FITnESS nEwS

Products to help you shape up

238 THE PATH oF RESISTAnCE

Strength training for women

DEstInatIon242 MInIMoonS

Short romantic getaways

244 ISlAnD DREAM

Exploring outer Fiji

246 SECRET ESCAPE

DiscoverPacificVanuatu

248 DElICIoUSlY MooRISH

Visit Soma Bay by the Red Sea

250 JERk, REST & PlAY

At the white house in Jamaica

252 HonEYMoon noTES Dont

flyanywherewithoutthem

236127

in partnership with

presents with

Featured Outfit: Bibi London Hair & Makeup: Lubna Rafiq

Sun 15th MAR 2015 - the icc biRMinghAMfRee ticketS At ASiAnbRidelive.coM

& fAShion ShoW

lARgeSt

the MidlAndS

Wedding

Welcome

musings of a bride to beW hats the point of weddings anyway? Its a question that has reared its scary head lately as the stresses of my wedding-planning have gotten particularly fraught. Tradition aside, why all the bells and whistles? As one of our Real Brides this issue put it Whats important is being married not getting married.

The answer for me, Ive realised, is that its an event to commemorate the union of two people

who have decided that out of all the people in the whole wide world, theyve chosen one another and want to spend the rest of their lives loving eachother. Thats special. Why not have a party to celebrate it? And to this party we invite those people that mean the

most to us. People we love, people who love us and people who find joy and pride in seeing us happy. Its more than a dinner party, or a milestone birthday party, this is all the

people we cherish most together in one room, celebrating our love and wishing us their best for a perfect future. How wonderful?

So, I say bring on the bells and the whistles! With our nearest and dearest travelling across the world to indulge us in a single moment in history that is all about the two of us, lets make it a day to remember. From the most stunning venue to welcome them, a delicious feast to treat our taste buds, flowers and decor to pretty it all, entertainment for all to have fun in our honour, photographers to immortalise it all forever, and of course spectacular fashion and makeup that make you feel like a movie star and make him fall for you all over again. Superficial and frivolous? Maybe. Trivial? Never, because it all

stands for something so much more. I cant wait for my wedding because I cant wait for the people I value most

to come together to give me their blessing on the day I

marry the man I adore with all my heart and we embark upon the rest of our lives together.

PS By the time I write to you next, the big day will have happened, and I can tell you all about it!

J Wimal Editor-in-Chief

ASIAN BRIDE | 11

Hair

& M

ake

up b

y Lu

bna

Rafiq

& U

zma R

afiq

, sup

por

ted b

y Az

bah

Ali

Editor-in-ChiefJ WIMAL

EDITORIAL

Features & Design EditorRACHAEL ELLIOTT

Guest Beauty EditorLUBNA RAFIQ

Fashion Co-ordination & StylingAMRIT BRAR

Digital Art ManagerKASUM SHAFFI

ContributorsNAOMI NIGHTINGALE NICOLA RUSSILL-ROY

PALOMA LACYSARAH HAROON

ADVERTISING & PROMOTION

Sales ManagersRICKY CHERA

SHIV SANGHANI

Junior Web DesignerBUSHRA KHATUN

Events ManagerWALEED JAHANGIR

PUBLISHER

Finance ManagerLALIT AULUCK

AdministratorJOSHUA SINGH

Chief Technical OfcerRAJAN KARWAL

CEO PALI BANWAIT

AsianBride.meAsianBrideLive.com

All rights reserved. Reproduction of pictures, articles or artwork in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited, Copyright Chilli Mag Ltd 2014

Photography: PAUL FARNHAMCreative Direction:

J WIMALHair & Makeup: LUBNA RAFIQ UZMA RAFIQ Supported by: AZBAH ALI

Outt:SOLTEE BY SULAKSHANA MONGA

Earrings:NARGIS COLLECTION

All Other Jewellery:JASMANIQUE

Menswear:RDC

Styling assistants:SARAH HAROON & KASUM SHAFFI

Issue 43THE COVER

Chilli Mag, Santon House, 53-55 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, W5 5SAEmail: [email protected] Contact: +44(0) 208 819 2529

AsianBrideMag AsianBrideMe AsianBrideMag AsianBrideMe

Welcome

12 | ASIAN BRIDE

Staff list AB43.indd 19 27/02/2015 17:52

14 | ASIAN BRIDE

FASHION

The Look List

92KUVIRA LONDON

86FAIKA KARIM 90JEWELS & GEMS 42JULIEN TRIVEDI6, 13, 34, 160, 240, 316BIBI LONDON

180MONGAS 84NARGIS COLLECTION 48PHULKARI LONDON

82POZE 94SAIQA MAJID 62SHARONS COUTURE 76THE SHERWANI COMPANY

162SIGNATURE AMBRY 4, 16SOLTEE 22SONAS HAUTE COUTURE 70ZARKHAN

88AVARI COUTURE54,

106, 108, 110, 112

AMAYA ASHU

Shoots Grid AB43.indd 1 26/02/2015 23:53



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ASIAN BRIDE | 79

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To book an appointment or to discuss your requirements, please contact Azbah on 07790 317 856 or [email protected]

Out

fits

: Bib

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ry: A

nees

Mal

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Sty

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ru B

anda

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Pho

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uppo

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ASIAN BRIDE | 97

Internal - ABME AB42.indd 1 27/02/2015 08:41

MANUFACTURER | WHOLESALERS | RETAILERSMONGAS.CO.UK SHOWROOM:51-53 THE BROADWAY, SOUTHALLMIDDLESEX, LONDON, UB1 1JY [email protected] 574 4863 | 0208 843 0111

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INSPIRED WAYS TO MAKE YOUR BIG DAY BIGGERBrideideas

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This season calls for bright florals in a variety of shades. Whether you clash oranges with pinks or complement

reds with blush, these striking centrepieces are

sure to bring some life to the party. ibulb.gov

MANUFACTURER | WHOLESALERS | RETAILERSMONGAS.CO.UK SHOWROOM:51-53 THE BROADWAY, SOUTHALLMIDDLESEX, LONDON, UB1 1JY [email protected] 574 4863 | 0208 843 0111

Photo

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Inspiration

to the

moonand back

ASIAN BRIDE | 103

YOU CAN CONTROL THE WEATHER Thanks to the guys at Olivers Travels, you

can now guarantee your wedding day will be

perfect, even right down to the weather! Staffed

by a team of highly-specialised meteorologists

and pilots, the Perfect Day team will fly a light

aircraft above the clouds, sprinkling them with

silver particles, causing the clouds to burst and

vanish in time for the biggest day of your life.

oliverstravels.com/cloud-bursting

to boozeor not to boozeWhether or not your guests are drinkers, make sure that theyre sipping the night away with something special, like this zero alcohol Sparkling Infusion from Echo Falls. 3.49 echofallswine.co.uk

Looking for a unique gif t for your bridesmaids? Check out these necklaces with real lunar dust encased in the pendant. Only 100 have been made though, so get them quick!120 eclecticeccentricity.bigcartel.com

underwater wedding

Take your romance to new depths with a destination wedding

with a twist. Simply head to St. Regis Bora Bora

where you can say your I dos under the sea.

boraboraunderwater.com

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pEACOCk pARAdISEIf you dont fancy a floral summer do, then look no

further than feathers. This trend is set to be big for

2015 and our favourite? Peacock feathers. We love

this beautiful design from cakesbykrishanthi.co.uk. Pair with plenty of greenery, some purple flowers

and, of course, some gorgeous peacock feathers.

102 | ASIAN BRIDE

F

iona

Kel

ly

the full picture

quirky CANApeskeep your guests happy with an array of exciting

canapes from Love Bites, such as this edible

caviar spoon served with a vodka shot. Other

flavours include mini eggs benedict, pork

rillettes with chilli jam and pea shooter with parmesan crisp. Yum!

lovebites.events

heel stopif youre likely to be

outdoors on your big day, then make sure youre

prepared with these pretty stoppers thatll stop you from sinking in to the mud whilst keeping your bridal shoes

looking good as new.Clean Heels Heel stoppers,

4.99 cleanheels.co.uk

Thanks to some rather cool new technology, photographer John Nassari is able to capture 360 memories of your big day. Photos, video and audio packaged together into a state-of-the-art offering thatll even impress future grandkids! johnnassari.co.uk

104 | ASIAN BRIDE

Some brides can spend months looking for

the right shoe to match their wedding dress,

so why not save time and design your own.

There is a designer inside of us all so forget the

limits, tear up the rule book and create a one-of f

masterpiece that will keep your feet sweet all

day long.

You can book an appointment with the

lovely people at Upper Street and discuss your

requirements over a complimentary glass of

fizz in The Shoe Lounge. They can even host

a shoe design party to involve all your favourite

ladies.

Alternatively, why not use the interactive

website and design the perfect pair from the

comfort of your own home? The site gives

direction on shoe styles, colour and

materials, and you can play

around with dif ferent heel heights and

embellishments. Theres also plenty of advice

and tips from the experts to help you find the

right style and colour for your big day.

The Luxury Bridal

Gif t will make

a special

day even

more so. As well as designing your own

bespoke bridal shoe, the bride-to-be can

have the premium pale blue leather lining

inscribed with a message in gold or silver leaf

to remember the day. How cute to have your

wedding date inscribed or the day you met

your husband-to-be?

Prices start f rom 195.00 for ballet pumps

upperst reet.com

handmadeshoes

Inspiration

SAvOURY SWEETS BOBO macarons have given this classic treat a savoury twist, with flavour combinations including english mustard with salmon mousse and dill, shallots and mushrooms with a hint of seaweed and oregano macarons filled with avocado cream. bourgeois-boheme.com

fIRST NIgHT fANTASIESIf ever there was a time to try

something new in the bedroom,

then your honeymoon is a great

place to start. Take a leaf out of

the recent 50 Shades film and

check out Superdrugs selection

of accessories. We recommend

the massage candle to bring the

romance back in to your play.

Prices from 9.99,

superdrug.com

superfavoursTreat your superman with these hero biscuit favours to give to your nearest and dearest on your big day. Personalised chcolate super hero biscuit tin (includes 16 biscuits) 43.50 biscuiteers.com

ASIAN BRIDE | 105

Inspiration

Whether its shades of lavender, amethyst or violet, purple is the ideal colour for the lady who wants something slightly more sophisticated than the girly pinks. rosalindmillercakes.com

a deeper shade of purple

YACHT LOvEDoes it get much more luxurious than a yacht? With

128m of 4 star opulence moored just off Londons

Vitoria Docks, its an elegantly wonderful place for a

wedding reception or even the ceremony itself. sunbornlondon.com

THEMESInspiration

Blue

ASIAN BRIDE | 107

a DUSKY twiSt on the monochrome trenD

Azure dragonfly cake rosalindmillercakes.com

Cobalt blue earrings etsy.com Navy wine glass coin-fr.com

Sonia Bat tla @Pakistan Fashion Week

s

hahi

dmal

ikpho

togr

aphy

.com

Navy and roses invitation

hiphiphooray.com

Blue bouquet flowersbydesign.net

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THEMESInspiration

Goldthe PerFect theme For coUPleS who liKe a bit oF granDeUr

Gold wedding stationery

lilyannarose.com

Oversized gold leaf love calligraphy

etsy.com

Gold embossed wedding album geebrothers.com

Wax seal wolfandink.co.uk

Art deco place set ting confet ti.co.uk

Gold birdcage talkingtables.co.uk

Gold and ivory baroque rosalindmillercakes.com

Gold glit ter jar talkingtables.co.uk

Honey Waqar @ Pakistan Fashion Week

ASIAN BRIDE | 109

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OrangeTHEMESthe PerFect theme For a

Inspiration

Ibiza bound invitation papergrace.co.uk

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ouise

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cham

Dessert table bitesdesserts.com

Orange save the date hiphiphooray.com

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hahi

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Orange draping anaisevents.com

Gerbera and roses sandrasflowerstudio.co.uk

Bright orange and yellow plant ibukb.orgTable set ting

lilyannarose.com

bright SUmmer weDDing

Pink Chif fon @ Pakistan Fashion Week

ASIAN BRIDE | 111

Autumn wedding bouquet

emilyandme.co.uk

Inspiration

ASIAN BRIDE | 113

THEMES

Moroccan table scape

blueskyflowers.co.uk

Emblem stationery wolfandink.co.uk

Red pot ted plant ibulb.org

s

hahi

dmal

ikpho

togr

aphy

.com

Winter spice bouquet flowerfete.co.uk

Mr & Mrs frame kathryndeeley.co.uk

Heart shaped umbrella

loveumbrellas.co.uk

give the traDitional reD theme a Floral twiSt

Red

Peonies wedding cake rosalindmillercakes.com

Shabbir Textiles @ Pakistan Fashion Week

S

hahi

d M

alik

perfectPLANThe

ASIAN BRIDE | 115

Planning

working TogeTher To ensure every parT of your perfecT day runs smooThly? sounds like...

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116 | ASIAN BRIDE

ok, letsdo thisIt can be a long road from

yes, I will to I do, but with our help, itll be a fun one too what do we do?

WHEN DO WE DO IT?12 MONTHS TO GO Announce your engagement to loved

ones.

Orchestrate a meeting between your

parents and future in-laws.

Discuss the budget with your groom and

both sets of family.

Select an auspicious date (taking into

consideration whether key guests can

attend) and secure ceremony and reception

venues that match the day, preferred

theme, budget and capacity.

11 MONTHS TO GO Book your priest and officiant.

Select members of the wedding party. To

avoid arguments, split the list three ways.

One for you and the groom; the other two

for your respective parents.

Post/email save-the-date cards.

Arrange tastings with at least five catering

providers, get specific quotations and hire

the one best suited to provide the menu

and take care of your guests.

TeN MONTHS TO GO Arrange trials with makeup artists, visit

cakemakers and florists to look at portfolios

and sample DJs and wedding entertainers.

Browse and save inspirations on sites like

asianbride.me.

Go through Asian Bride and visit shops

to decide on your wedding outfits. Arrange

a visit to all the stores you like the look of,

leaving you plenty of time to change your

mind if it doesnt go according to plan.

NiNe MONTHS TO GO Select your wedding outfit and schedule

fittings. If you lose weight, adjustments

will be necessary, so best to buy in the UK

rather than abroad.

Book your photographer and

videographer.

Sign the relevant contracts with florists,

makeup artist and caterer.

Calculate the amount of money youve

committed to spending so far and check it

against your budget.

eiGHT MONTHS TO GO Buy wedding insurance to secure all

bookings made so far.

Select bridesmaids attire for the registry

ceremony. Start thinking about colours for

them to wear for the traditional ceremony.

Decide on the theme of music best

suited to your celebration and book

entertainment accordingly. Does your

venue allow dhol players and live bands?

Work out a head count for your mehndi

and book trials.

SeveN MONTHS TO GO Schedule a fitting for your wedding outfit

and start sourcing bridal accessories that

will complement your look.

Order invitations, announcements and

personal stationery.

Be sure to allow time to see samples

before confirming the order, and in time

to send out invitations three months before

the wedding.

Six MONTHS TO GO Start making honeymoon plans and

make your reservations by the end of the

month.

Start liaising with the grooms family and

offer to help them with their preparations

if necessary.

Decide what kind of gift list you want

and visit department stores to put your list

together if thats the option you choose.

ASIAN BRIDE | 117

insTead of seeing your checklisT as a chore, TreaT every occassion like a daTe an opporTuniTy To bond and share ideas

Establish who is involved in paying

for the wedding. If your parents are

contributing, establish how much, then set

a realistic budget you can all afford.

Decide what kind of ceremony you

want and how many events youre likely

to have.

Draw up a guestlist between yourselves.

Ask your parents to do the same, bearing

in mind that the final guestlist is likely to

be smaller, not bigger, so everyone has to

be prepared to shed a few numbers.

Consider the location that will suit your

theme and guests the best.

Pick an auspicious date (although

bear in mind this might have to change

depending on venue availability).

You could go down the

traditional route the bride

plans it just the way shes

always dreamed her big day

would be, leaving the groom to turn up on

the day and share it with her. Or you could

do it the modern way hire a wedding

planner, sit back and let someone else take

care of all the hard work.

But there is another way. One where you

neither feel left out of the process or feel

like youre left doing all the work. Instead,

both of you plan your day and put it into

action... together. Considering youre

about to embark on a union where shared

responsibilities will equal happily ever

after, its surprising the trend for bride and

groom to plan their wedding as one hasnt

always been the norm.

Which is all the more reason why your

day will be that much more unique. If the

idea seems daunting, relax. This guide is

here to let you both know exactly whats

involved from start to finish, so you can

decide who takes care of what. The

end result will be that when it comes to

celebrating your magical day, youll both

know this was created by the two of you as

a representation of your love.

Now hows that for a happy beginning?

First things first MONEY MATTERSBalance your budget to ensure every aspect gets the right at tention

Flowers 2.5%

Catering 22%

7.5%Brides outfits

Rings 12%

Honeymoon 14%Others 16.5%

Venues 25.5%

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five MONTHS TO GO Call your local council to check marriage

license requirements for your area.

Make an appointment with the jewellers

to select wedding bands.

Buy gifts for your in-laws and thank you

gifts to hand to parents on the day.

Book a suite at your venue or hotel room

for your first night.

Book transportation to/from the venue.

fOur MONTHS TO GO Collect invitations.

Buy gifts for your bridesmaids.

Ask friends and family who are not in the

wedding party to participate by presenting

special readings during the ceremony or by

greeting guests at the reception.

If you want to personalise your decor,

nows the time to start designing any

wedding favours and cake baskets.

Make sure the wedding rings fit. You still

have time for adjustments.

THree MONTHS TO GO Decide activity and set dates for the hen

and stag nights (consider having a joint

Jack & Jill party?)

Go over menu details with the caterer

and finalise the arrangements.

Send your guests information on local

accommodation.

Touch base with all your service

providers.

TwO MONTHS TO GO Select little extras like the guest book,

personal wedding albums and disposable

cameras for each table.

Decide on your drinks list and confirm

your selection.

Get any vaccinations for your

honeymoon.

Mail invitations.

Start thinking about the order of the day

in finer detail, such as the first dance and

the cake-cutting ceremony.

Go for your penultimate dress fitting and

get any remaining accessories.

ONe MONTH TO GO Have programmes printed.

Go for a final outfit fitting.

Take lessons to perfect your moves for the

first dance.

Contact guests who havent responded to

invitations.

Give your caterer the final head count.

ONe week TO GO Double check all arrangements.

Pack your baggage for your honeymoon

and collect currency.

Hold a Wedding Ceremony Rehearsal.

Go over the wedding day timetable with

attendants.

Nominate attendant to take care of the

days schedule and any problems that may

arise so that you can enjoy the day.

Visit a relaxing day spa!

ONe day TO GO Have a manicure, pedicure and any

other pampering treatments.

Check on venue decorations.

Unwind and try to have an early night.

We recommend a nice hot bubble bath.

THe biG day Relax and stay calm. Your makeup

artist/bridesmaids should be able to put

you at ease.

Allow yourself to feel like a guest at your

own party and enjoy every moment.

Remember, today may be about

celebrating with your nearest and dearest,

but tonight is all about just the two of you!

When planning a wedding by yourselves,

this is the one area where its easy to be

vague. In fact, when we asked our brides

their favourite theme in an Asian Bride

poll last year, the top answer was pretty,

which is more a given than a theme in

itself.

Its important to establish a theme for

your celebrations, chiefly to avoid the risk

of clashing instead of fusing, so youre

not left with a mishmash of mismatched

services. There are many types of themes

to choose from, both adventurous and

classic; from Bollywood, medieval,

Indian Ocean, carnival, masquerade,

zen, tropical, Moroccan, Rajasthani,

oriental, summer gardens, fiesta or

beach to the traditional Cinderella or

Madhubala weddings, all with their own

colour scheme (subtle and understated

to bold and grandiose), but most Asian

brides settle for one of the following three

broad themes: traditional (colourful and

flamboyant), western (chic, elegant and

fairytale) and fusion (a marriage of east

and west). The trick is to find one and

stick to it, matching everything from your

outfits and centrepieces to the smaller

details such as napkin holders and favour

boxes.

Agree on a set of colours and styles

that reflect your theme best. When the

two of you find something you like the

look of, dont hire or buy it unless youre

convinced it complements your chosen

theme to perfection.

Now that you both have a

clear idea of whats involved

in the planning process, you

have to sit down and ask

yourselves whether you both have the time

to put it all into motion. If it seems like too

much, dont feel defeated. Do you truly

believe you can take care of every small

detail of your wedding yourself, or would it

be easier to let someone else take on all the

stress on your behalf ?

Just because you two have vowed to

share joint responsibility doesnt mean a

helping hand isnt allowed. If youre both

pushed for time, or find it difficult to agree

on whats important, you may well end

up locking heads in an argument, which

defeats the whole objective. Professional

wedding planners work as a reliable third

party who can help you find compromises

that fit both your visions, plus they not only

know what works but also how to fix things

that dont. In addition they have a reliable

pool of suppliers on their books and can

often secure the best prices, which is always

a good thing.

The important thing is to find a planner

who wants to make your dreams come true,

not smooth talk you into doing things their

way. When youre interviewing potential

planners, check how many weddings they

organise per year, which venues they have

worked with (venues refuse to work with

any sub-standard organiser), as well as

enquiring about the packages they currently

have on offer.

Ask to be invited as a casual observer to a

wedding they are organising, so you can see

them in action. They should be able to offer

everything from advice, ideas, suppliers,

discounts, packages and a wedding co-

ordinator to ensure things run smoothly.

For a couple who dont operate well under

stress, this could be the perfect solution.

Whats our theme?

E

ye J

ogia

Sometimes love is all you need. Sometimes you need

a wedding planner

a helping hand

118 | ASIAN BRIDE ASIAN BRIDE | 119

S

alsh

an

five MONTHS TO GO Call your local council to check marriage

license requirements for your area.

Make an appointment with the jewellers

to select wedding bands.

Buy gifts for your in-laws and thank you

gifts to hand to parents on the day.

Book a suite at your venue or hotel room

for your first night.

Book transportation to/from the venue.

fOur MONTHS TO GO Collect invitations.

Buy gifts for your bridesmaids.

Ask friends and family who are not in the

wedding party to participate by presenting

special readings during the ceremony or by

greeting guests at the reception.

If you want to personalise your decor,

nows the time to start designing any

wedding favours and cake baskets.

Make sure the wedding rings fit. You still

have time for adjustments.

THree MONTHS TO GO Decide activity and set dates for the hen

and stag nights (consider having a joint

Jack & Jill party?)

Go over menu details with the caterer

and finalise the arrangements.

Send your guests information on local

accommodation.

Touch base with all your service

prov

Documents

Asian Bride 43