Professional wedding planners can inspire brides and grooms, and give them creative ideas that add a unique touch to the entire wedding experience. We spoke to renowned wedding planners from around the world, and asked them for their input on floral arrangements, bridal fashions, traditions, and honeymoon destinations, and their views on what is essential to brides and grooms today, and what can be expected in terms of trends, for the year ahead.
MOTIVATION
and INSPIRATION
CUSTOMS and TRADITIONS
CEREMONY and CELEBRATION
WEDDING and HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS (Photo
Gallery)
FASHION and ACCESSORIES
“Remember that the most important thing is the love you have for your fiancé, for your family, and for your friends,” says Claudia Hanlin.
Claudia, a wedding planner from The Wedding Library, in New York City, joins Rania El Farouki from Cairo, Egypt, Ankit Bhargava of Regal Weddings in Rajasthan, India, and Donna Dohi of New Zealand Dream Weddings, in sharing her expert opinion of what you need to know to make your wedding day more exciting – from start, to finish!
What
are the top three things you would suggest to a couple starting to plan
a wedding?
“First, decide on the place,” says Rania El Farouki, “second, choose a
theme, and third, specify the budget.” Claudia Hanlin concurs. “Know your
budget, know your guests, and personalize.”
Ankit Bhargava advises the bride and groom to keep fit, and give their body and brain a rest, while Donna Dohi urges the couple to simply relax. “If you can,” she says, “find a wedding planner. If not, there are wonderful sites on the Internet to help you, step by step, in your planning. Have fun. It is your wedding day that you are planning, the start of your new life together: don't start it off filled with stress and arguments.”
What
is the most serious concern for today's brides and grooms?
“Family,” says Donna. “It seems that this is where a lot of problems arise.”
Donna urges the mother of the bride to relax: “Let you daughter have this
day.”
Claudia advises couples experiencing stress during the wedding planning process to “pare down the extravagance” of their plans, expectations and budget, and recommends patience to those who might encounter hurdles when planning a same-sex wedding.
Ankit simply
advises hiring a wedding planning professional, “at least to shortlist
vendors and venues,” and Donna agrees. “Get a wedding planner to take
all this stress off of you!!” she says. “Always take deep breaths and
relax. Remember that this is your big day you are planning: your wedding
– not your funeral. It is meant to be fun.”
“Know the rules,” advises Claudia, “so that you can break them.”
Your wedding should be a celebration of your love - as well as of your faith and your culture. For weddings in the legendary Christchurch, New Zealand Dream Weddings can arrange for you to release doves into the air, after exchanging your wedding vows. These doves symbolize hope, love, and friendship, and make for a memorable wedding day; Regal Weddings can arrange for traditional celebrations lasting 2 to 4 days, depending on whether you choose a civil ceremony, or a Hindu, Jain, Gujarati, Sikh, or Christian celebration.
In Indian-style weddings, says Ankit, “traditions would always overrule the trends.” The movies are a big influence, and ‘a tint of Bollywood’ is often seen in pre-wedding and wedding ceremonies, and demonstrated in the music and decorations used. The style of designer fashions worn by the bride and groom, and even the cake cutting ceremony, says Ankit, are “evidence of this mix of tradition and trend.”
How do
you marry the traditional with the trendy?
“Compromise,” says Rania, and Donna agrees. “Flowers,” she says, “decorations,
bridal attire – these all help unite the traditional with the trendy.”
“A bit of suitable make up and trendy attire are imperative,” claims Ankit, “but most important is the attitude you carry along on that memorable day.”
Your wedding day should be the most beautiful day of your life: it should be unique, and unforgettable. Rania El Farouki can arrange for you to take your wedding vows inside the tent of a Bedouin tribe, or have the pyramids of ancient Egypt as a background, while Regal Weddings offers large-scale celebrations featuring dancers, musicians, puppet shows and snake charmers - as well as exclusive dinners on sand dunes – the options are virtually endless!
What
trends do you foresee, for the months ahead?
Rania believes that “simple, reception-like weddings” will gain in popularity,
while Claudia, on the other hand, sees the rise of “Destination weddings.
Smaller, more extravagant weddings,” and “couples following a theme, from
beginning to end.”
Donna predicts more elopement. “A lot of couples are getting away from the tradition of having a big wedding,” she says, “they are traveling overseas to be married. This, in some cases, saves them money, and at the same time they get to travel before settling into a new life together.”
What
advice do you have for a multi-faith couple?
“Be happy,” says Donna, simply. “I am a New Zealander married to a Japanese,”
she continues, “so I know personally about multi-faith. Always be true
to yourself, and you will find that you will not encounter any problems.
Let your partner have their own beliefs and cultures, be open-minded –
never push your issue.”
“Everyone has a right to their own thoughts,” Donna adds.
She urges a groom who wants to get involved in the wedding planning process to show that he is interested. “Remember that this wedding involves you both,” she says. “Sit down together and go through a list of what you would both like and not like, and remember that compromise is the best way.”
Ankit urges prospective grooms to help with vendors, and to get involved in the financial details of the wedding arrangements, while Claudia simply advises them to be cooperative, and allow the bride to make all of the wedding planning decisions!
What
advice do you have for couples wanting to incorporate elements from different
cultures into their wedding?
“We have been successful in organizing Indian-style weddings for foreign
nationals, on the beaches of Goa,” says Ankit, stating that elements from
assorted cultures, traditions and customs can be blended together through
“clothing, food, and a mix of ceremonies.”
Claudia suggests telling your guests about the various customs used, to make them “more meaningful and interesting.” Rania claims that couples of different cultural background “have to chose a theme and stick to it,” and incorporate selected elements – from the desired cultures – that match that theme.
“You would not believe what can be accomplished,” says Donna. “For example mixing Chinese with Western, you could have red flowers, gold decorations etc. You would be surprised at how stunning the setup can be.” Donna tells us that lilies and deep-coloured roses are popular flowers right now, while Claudia notices a lot of “peonies, dahlias and orchids.” She sees a trend towards the use of “multi-colors, acid green, and pink” in floral arrangements.
Our experts foresee black, bronze, and mocha joining pastels and assorted shades of mauve and lilac as popular wedding colours for the year ahead.
“Jewel-tones,” adds Claudia. She lists “Tropical, exotic themes with Elephant Ear leaves, parrots, and butterflies,” as popular trends, as well as “middle-eastern or Indian themes.” While Claudia claims that themed weddings are still trendy, and Rania states that they are very popular among higher class brides and grooms, Donna sees a decrease in popularity. “Couples are wanting a very natural environment and setting today,” she says.
Anything related to the theme of a wedding makes for popular favors and gifts, according to Claudia. Donna suggests engraved wine glasses that bear the bride and groom’s names and wedding date. “Guests get to take home the glass that they have been drinking out of,” she says, adding that mini-biscuits decorated with the bride and groom’s names – written in icing – as well as small pewter symbols, are also popular choices. What types of centerpieces are most popular right now? “The hottest are those that hang from the ceiling,” says Claudia, “chandeliers, or floral chandeliers.” She adds that continuous centerpieces on long banquet tables are also very popular. Claudia notes the popularity of simple, low flower arrangements bearing a lit candle in the centre, as well as scattered rose petals. Rania notes that the latest trends call for a lot of greenery.
WEDDING and HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS
“Our country is so different from many others,” says Donna of New Zealand, “we are very green and also very natural. This appeals to a lot of couples.”
While destination weddings are growing in popularity, some couples still prefer a private, honeymoon setting for their trip-of-a-lifetime. The choice is yours, and options abound - whether your dream getaway is a secluded sand dune, or a crowded, golden beach. New Zealand Dream Weddings offers a wide variety of venues to choose from, ranging from rose gardens to lush mountaintops. Abel Tasman National Park is one of the most beautiful locations offered, with gorgeous native forests and breathtaking vistas. Regal Weddings also offers numerous options, ranging from beach weddings in Goa, to the stunning palaces of Udaipur.
According to our experts, hot honeymoon destinations right now include Raffles, Canoun Island, the Grenadines, Bermuda, Mexico, Jamaica, Cap Juluca, Parrot Cay, the Moon Islands, Malaysia – and New Zealand. “Of course I am going to say that,” Donna smiles.
As for destination weddings, “they're hot!” says Claudia. “Destination weddings are picking up very fast in higher income Indian families,” Ankit agrees, adding that people are thinking more and more of traveling to exotic destinations, and “throwing a lavish party.” “The only hitch,” says Ankit, “is proper management of a large gathering,” and the associated costs.
Ankit lists Udaipur as one of the most popular destinations, adding that this romantic lakeside city has seen several big weddings in the last 18 months, including that of actress Raveena Tandon.
“A groom could have a say in every detail,” advises Rania, “except for the bride's outfit and look.”
You are the star of your own wedding - this should be your moment, your time to shine! While New Zealand Dream Weddings carries their own bridal gown label with unique, one-of designs, The Wedding Library can put you in touch with the best designers, and even offers the services of a Dresser - should you require one on your wedding day. This experienced seamstress can make arrangements for gown preservation, and help you with last minute steaming touch-ups and adjustments.
According to Claudia, the hottest styles for bridal wear and accessories right now involve long, frilly trains, lace, and “interesting bustles and cathedral-length veils.” She adds that jackets, fur, and silk flower accessories are also hot items, as are coloured diamonds, chandelier earrings, and beautiful bracelets.
Donna notes the growing popularity of strapless fashions, hair accessories worn without a veil, chokers necklaces, and other simple, delicate pieces. She adds that closed-toe shoes are in, while according to Claudia, the trend for shoes is all about colour. “Petal pink, seafoam green, powder blue,” she says, “and high heels with large rhinestone clasps.”
As for bridal make-up, a style that is growing in popularity is that of “dramatic, smoky eyes,” says Claudia. Donna agrees. “Eyes are more dramatic,” she says, “whilst the lips are of a natural colour.”
Confidence in the bride’s own natural gifts should be promoted, claims Rania. The most important thing is for the bride to make her dreams come true. Claudia advises the mother of the bride not to let her own dreams go neglected, however, and to “buy an exquisite dress” for herself.
To a regular girl who wants to become truly glamorous for her wedding day, Claudia offers the following advice: “Hire the best hair stylist and makeup artist you can afford. Also, wear a fabulous tiara. Wear feathers or a mink. Borrow jewels from Harry Winston.”
Donna sees things this way: “The day itself makes the bride glamorous,” she says, “you don't need a million dollar dress or all the trimmings. Just show your happiness in your face.”
And finally,
what is the one thing a bride should never go without?
“A Smile,” says Donna. “It does not matter what a bride wears or how she
looks, The SMILE is the main ingredient. This radiates her happiness,
and love for her groom. Everything else always falls into place.”
Photographs courtesy: Regal Weddings, The Wedding Library, and New Zealand Dream Weddings.
For
more information visit:
www.weddingsnewzealand.com
www.theweddinglibrary.com
www.regal-weddings.com