Saturday, September 26, 2009

An Indian Wedding Celebration

I love what I do and feel so fortunate that I am continuing to learn about new and interesting wedding rituals. In the photos above I have included some of the pre-wedding rituals for a Sikh wedding. The Indian celebrations typically last the entire week of the wedding.
The Choora or bangle ceremony takes place at the bride's home where the maternal uncle and aunt of the bride give her white and red bangles. Silver and gold ornaments known as kalira are tied to the bangles. The couple are not allowed to leave their homes for a few days prior to the wedding. Gana is the ritual where an auspicious red thread is tied to the right wrist of the groom and the left wrist of the bride; it is a sacred thread that protects them from ill omens.
Vatna is celebrated a few days before the wedding. This is pictured in the center photo above; family members smear the vatna, a scented powder made of barley flour, turmeric and mustard oil, on the bride and groom. This is followed by an auspicious bath.
The Mehndi party is typically the eve before the wedding and many brides invite their relatives, wedding party and sometimes all of the female guests to have beautiful henna patterns applied to their hands and feet.
The Sangeet is a celebration, often at the brides home, where the relatives dance (photo on bottom right) and entertain the bride and groom. For more details check out iloveindia.com.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Green is the word!

The color green is hot this year. When the florist asks if the bride would like greens in her bouquet it use to mean foliage, but more and more brides are using green as a wedding color or an accent color with flowers. This was a fabulous wedding at Wine and Roses and they loved the color green...even incorporating it into their candy station. Happy Anniversary Sheree & Nguyen and congratulations on your expanding family!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

The Joy of Blogging


I am loving the blogging world...It's just so fun after only one week to see photos and video all over the place of the fabulous TnT wedding. Check out some of the amazing vendor blogs.
Ford Family Photo
Jensen Video
Sugar & Spice

Friday, September 11, 2009

Sneak Peek


I know many of you are anxiously awaiting photos of the TnT wedding. Here is the sneak peek from the fabulous Rebecca from Ford Photographers. It was beautiful and a perfect wedding! Gotta love the Manolo's!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Photobooth Fun!


Every time we have a photobooth at a wedding I'm reminded how much they rock! Last weekend at the TnT wedding there were people in it all night long. We ended up extending and keeping it going for 6 hours. You can get a double strip of color or black and white photos, one for the book and the other for the guests. The guests just can't get enough and the bride and groom will get some unforgetable photos of their guests having a blast! Thanks so much John from Pro Finish Designs...the photobooth was a huge hit!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Just Fabulous


A perfect wedding with a beautiful bride...starts with the gown. Tracy selected a gown from the Ramona Keveza Fall 2009 Collection and it was fabulous. The TnT wedding was perfect and the bride looked amazing from start to finish. Her makeup was by Shana Beals and looked perfect even at midnight, after many tears of joy. See more photos and the story behind the dress here. Many more posts to come about this wonderful wedding weekend!

Friday, September 4, 2009

TNT Rehearsal

Tonight was the beginning of the TNT wedding celebration, although most in the wedding party started the celebration on Wednesday. We had a fun rehearsal at the wedding site and then headed over for a magnificent dinner at La Perla Bistro with the Amazing chef Chris Jackson. As guests arrived they were greeted with wine and black raspberry spritzers. Then they enjoyed the "All American" passed appetizers - Cheeseburger Sliders, Dungeoness Crab Cakes, Macaroni & Cheese Fritters, and Grilled Lamb Lollipops. The guests cocktailed and visited and then there were some touching speeches by the mother of the groom and TNT...and many, many happy tears in the house. Dinner was next with "station dining". The stations included a Pan Pacific station with lots of sushi among other tasty treats, a Little Italy station with the most amazing gnocchi ever, and lastly the South of the Border Station featuring the house made pork tamales steamed in banana leaves. Every station was incredible and abundant; each a full dinner on its own. For more information just check out the bride's blog http://tracy-girl.blogspot.com/ and there will be more to come about this wonderful weekend...I haven't even touched on tonight's dessert yet!