The Wondrous World of Wedding Invitations
Posted by Jolene on Aug 11, 2008. Filed under Expert Advice, Invitations, Planning
Sorry, folks, but even in this virtual/digital world dominated by the iPhone, your wedding guests still expect to receive something in the mail before they plunk down cash for the Tiffany place setting you’ve registered for. Should be no big deal, right?
Well… as with all things wedding, it is easy, but only if you know what’s expected and how best to get it done. And as your trusted deliverer of the straight scoop, we’ve put together some GUIDElines to show you the way: Check out our new Questions to Ask When Ordering Your Wedding Invitations. In fact, we suggest you print it out and put it in your pretty wedding organizer file (you’ve got one of those, right?). And don’t miss the valuable companion piece, Useful Tips for Ordering Your Wedding Invitations. While you’re steeped in the minutiae of the invite, refer to our article Inviting Elements: Invitation Basics by Joyce Scardina Becker for help with details like proper wording on response cards. It also has some samples.
Now, get busy with your homework!
Why I Want to Be Indian: An Evening at New Delhi Restaurant
Posted by Jan on Aug 07, 2008. Filed under Bridal Showers, Ceremony, Locations, Receptions, Rehearsal Dinner, Restaurants, Wedding Ideas
I recently went to an event billed as a “scintillating evening of fun and information, focused on the Bay Area Indian wedding market.” Well, it was all that and more. Afterwards, I wanted throw my own Indian bash. I wanted to be Indian.
The festivities were held at the New Delhi Restaurant in San Francisco, but you might have thought you were in an Indian palace. Owner Ranjan Dey had transformed the place: tables were dressed in vibrantly colored, satiny linens in pink and purple and each one had a gorgeous floral centerpiece. Candles were everywhere, and the tall columns throughout glowed with color thanks to special uplighting. He even had bright orange and hot pink designs projected on the ceiling.
The riot of color was intoxicating, as were the signature Mango and Lychee Martinis. I fell in love with Indian food, enjoying every dish from the Chicken Tikka Masala to the Gulab Jamun (a dessert of milk dumplings in a warm cardamom syrup). I could have eaten a whole pile of naan bread!
Ranjan was the perfect host: he not only filled us up with great food, but filled us in on some Indian wedding facts and traditions. Who knew there were 28 states in India, each with its own language, cuisine and art? That means every Indian wedding must be customized according to the religious and culinary requirements of the families being joined.
I was so into the spirit of things, I simply had to have my hand painted by Renda, an artist from the Henna Garden. When I asked her why women did this before their wedding, she said that when a woman’s hands (and feet) are decorated with henna, she can’t use them for a while and has to be taken care of and pampered—perhaps for the last time before starting her new married life.
If you’re planning an Indian wedding, rehearsal dinner or other event, Ranjan is the man to call. He has a deep knowledge of everything Indian, as well as connections to all the services you’ll need—including an elephant for that spectacular entrance. It’ll run you $5,000–8,000, but who cares?
Here are the other vendors who made this stunning event possible:
Music: Sonny Gallardo of Exquisite DJs
Invitations: Rhonda Steward of Cedar and Rose
Décor: Iffat Khamisha of Palms Party Planner
Photography: Ben Janken of Ben Janken Fine Photography
Florist: Orna Maymon of Ornamento
Linens: Lily Yeung of Wildflower Linens
Catering: Ranjan Dey of New Delhi Restaurant and Stacie Hallinan of Four Seasons
Creative Wedding Guest Books at SoCo Depot
Posted by Lisa on Aug 05, 2008. Filed under Photography, Wedding Ideas
Rosemarie Lion is moving to a workspace that’s almost as cool as her photography. SoCo Depot, an old train depot in Sonoma County, is now a shared workspace for creative individuals. With that kind of billing, we can’t think of a better place for Rosemarie’s inspired work.
To celebrate the grand opening this quirky and fun space, she’s inviting brides and photography buffs alike to eat, drink, and view her stunning portfolio from the comfort of her antique couch. She will also be showing off her unique take on wedding guest books, personalized with documentary-style photos of her clients.
A sneak peak of some guest book pages from a recent wedding (the blank guest book pages are on the right):
Here are the details of the event:
SoCo Depot Grand Opening
Thursday, August 7, 5-9 pm
11790 Main Street, Penngrove