Indian Wedding Podcast

Planning an Indian wedding is not for the faint heart.

Even if you have all the financial resources at your disposal, your wedding partners can elevate your wedding experience.

One lesser-known wedding partner is your honeymoon travel advisor.

Honeymoon travel planning can be stressful, even if you know how to book flights and hotels with a click of a button.

To help you plan for your luxury honeymoon, we invited Hao Tang at Besvisor on the show.

Hao is passionate about serving his clients and helping them plan an epic honeymoon.

In this interview, Hao shares how a luxury travel advisor can help you plan your honeymoon travels.

There is a lot that goes on with researching and planning a great honeymoon such as getting access to the finest resort amenities and planning meaningful experiences for you and your partner.

What we loved the most about Hao is that he himself has experienced many (if not all) resort properties he recommends to his clients.

I hope you enjoy this special conversation with Hao Tang on the Indian Wedding Podcast.

Instagram@Besvisor

WebsiteBesvisor

In this episode, LA-based photographer, Peter Nguyen shares with us great insights on pre-wedding photoshoots (also known as engagement photoshoots).

You’ll hear Peter talk about his process for choosing a beautiful location and deciding outfits the couple will wear for the photoshoot.

We also discuss how storytelling is done for pre-wedding video shoots and how a videographer can guide you through this process.

Through his work, Peter is capturing memorable moments in photos and videos for couples cherish during their lifetime.

Please join me in welcoming Peter on the Indian Wedding Podcat.

Enjoy!

Peter Nguyen Studio on Vimeo and Instagram.

Website for Peter Nguyen Studio

• What is a pre-wedding (engagement) photoshoot?
• Planning a surprise photoshoot, sometimes with a blindfold
• A pre-planned photoshoot usually takes place after the proposal
• Finalizing location for the engagement photoshoot
• Certain places require a fee to be paid for the photoshoot
• Outfits for the photoshoot and how a photographer can help you
• Matching couple’s interest with the location for the photoshoot
• Bringing out the couples quirkiness and personality
• Planning a pre-wedding photoshoot: Concept → Location → Outfit
• Understanding a couple’s interest in arts, music, food, hiking, etc.
• Putting together the couple’s story in a beautiful video format
• Adapting to the couple’s comfort level with speaking (recording their voice) in real-time or off-camera
• Mapping out stories using storyboard or mood board
• Importance of outfit selection
• Pre-wedding (engagement) photo shoot sets the tones for the wedding. It helps you get to know your photographer months before the wedding
• Using pictures from the pre-wedding photoshoot for wedding invites, the wedding website, and more.

People mentioned:

• Steve McCurry

5 Tips On Choosing The Perfect Mangalsutra

In this episode, Jinal Sampat, lead designer at Sampat Jewellers shares with us her top 5 tips on how to choose a perfect mangalsutra.

Sampat Jewellers specializes in designing versatile diamond managlsutras for a modern bride.

One of the most important pieces of jewelry in a Hindu wedding is the mangalsutra. This episode will cover:

1. What is a mangalsutra?
2. Why should you wear a mangalsutra?
3. How can you buy a perfect mangalsutra?
4. Now what you need to do next that includes an actionable checklist

What is a Mangalsutra?

Mangalsutra is a necklace ornament that symbolizes marriage and is an Indian wedding chain.

Mangalsutra is an Indian wedding chain made of black beads and a gold pendant. In some cultures, the chain consists of simple fine cotton threads twisted together and dyed yellow in saffron or turmeric.

The black beads are made of onyx and composite material. The pendant is made of plain gold and precious stones such as diamonds.

During the wedding ceremony, the priest recites mantras (chants) when the groom ties the mangalsutra around the bride’s neck.

Mangalsutra is usually purchased by the groom’s side of the family. A Hindu wedding is considered to be incomplete without the mangalsutra.

Mangalsutra or “mangalsutram” evolved from a Sanskrit term ‘mangal’ which means prosperous, blessed, happy, successful, and ‘sutram’ meaning cord.

Spiritual Importance of Wearing a Mangalsutra

There are four primary reasons for wearing a mangalsutra:

• The mangalsutra is the symbol of the bond of union between Lord Shiva Hindu deity and his wife Parvati (wife). It represents an inseparable bond between the husband and the wife.

• Married women are expected to wear the mangalsutra throughout their lifetime. It is believed to enhance the well-being of her husband and family.

• Three-knot ties represent important aspects of marriage. The first knot represents her obedience to her husband, the second knot signifies her commitment to the husband’s parents and the third knot represents the respect for God.

• Mangalsutra is usually a black beaded chain in the thin wire of gold. The gold wire and black beads destroy any negative vibrations. The black beads absorb the negative energy before they reach the bride and her family. Simply stated, the mangalsutra acts as a protective sheath around a woman’s body. It protects her marriage from any evil.

One of the most overlooked and uncoordinated aspects of an Indian wedding is choosing a mangalsutra.

Why?

Because the groom’s side of the family chooses the mangalsutra. The bride is not consulted.

And now the bride is stuck with an important piece of wedding jewelry for the rest of her life.

I’ll walk you, step by step on how to choose a perfect mangalsutra. This post is for anyone responsible for choosing a mangalsutra – fathers-in-law, mothers-in-law, groom, aunties or the bride herself.

How To Buy a Perfect Mangalsutra?

• Consider a versatile mangalsutra design

• Choose the perfect mangalsutra chain length

• Pick your mangalsutra pendant style

• Know where to buy a mangalsutra from

• Pay attention to the details

Now let’s choose YOUR perfect mangalsutra

I have created a special checklist that you can download or send a text message with the word “MANGALSUTRA” at 44222.

I would like to invite you to check out our mangalsutra designs that I have specifically created for a modern bride. All our pieces are handmade with real diamonds.

Here you can browse the entire diamond mangalsutra collection.

If you are looking to buy a mangalsutra I would love for you to give us an opportunity to help you with this purchase.

Just for podcast listeners, I am offering a code “IWP5”, for a 5% discount on your order. Please apply this code at checkout to get your discount.

Thanks for listening/ reading.

Indian weddings are incomplete without a henna event, also known as the Mehndi ceremony.

One way to spot a newly married Indian bride is to look at her hands.

You’ll notice beautiful henna designs, in many cases, extending to her forearms all the way up to her elbow.

This ancient form of intricate art is brought to life by henna artists around the world.

In this interview, we wanted to showcase the best henna artists in the San Francisco Bay Area and ask her questions about the Mehendi ceremony.

Our guest today is Neeta Desai Sharma, mehndi designer, henna artist, and a teacher, who has been practicing this form of art for over three decades now.

Neeta was kind enough to share with us lots of valuable information that brides usually are not aware of.

For instance, the importance of using natural henna products and why brides should stop fantasizing applying mehndi at the same time sd their guests, are some of the topics we dig into deeper.

We hope you enjoy our conversation with the all amazing Neeta on the Indian Wedding Podcast.

There is no doubt that music touches our hearts ad soul.

And when the music is live, performed right in front of us, we set ourselves free from the day-to-day worry and transcend into a world filled with positive emotion, joy, and abundance.

This is the magic we get to experience at an Indian Wedding with live music.

And today we are here to learn more from a successful songwriter and music composer, Daksh Kubba, from Canada.

Daksh’s musical journey began prior to moving to Canada in 2004 by self-teaching himself to play the guitar.

In this interview, we explore Daksh’s childhood years and the influence his father had on his artistic abilities.

Right in the middle of this interview, Daksh does an impromptu music composition and shares with us his approach when it comes to composing songs for brides and grooms.

Aside from his passion for live music performance, Daksh actively creates original soundtracks with his band NaQsh.

His voice is sure to touch your soul!

Please join us in welcoming Daksh Kubba to the Indian Wedding Podcast.

@kubbadaksh on Instagram

Daksh Kubba on YouTube

Daksh Kubba on Spotify

Saptak on Apple Music

Decide Entertainment

Show Notes:

• Daksh’s journey singing and composing music and the influence his dad had on him in his childhood years
• It is more than a performance, being responsible for creating a song that is the soul of their wedding
• His first on-stage performance at Indian Independence Day at school as a child
• Music isn’t yours to keep neither do you possess it
• Custom writing songs for brides and grooms
• NaQsh is an Indian-Pakistani band. The goal is to unite through music
• Getting people connected to their emotions is the goal of live music
• Finding live singers through Instagram
• Customizing music to the match the audience’s mood
• Creating a playlist for brides and grooms
• The goal is to engage people, get them dancing, change their moods through music
• Think about how people are going to feel after listening to music
• Transitioning from live music to DJ
• Good sound is a MUST
• His dream to perform at a theatre in Bombay (Mumbai)
• You don’t want to sit in the front row of a theatre. Instead pick a spot within the “isosceles triangle”

In this interview, we have a conversation with Amrit Dhillon-Bains from Anais Events Design.

Anaïs Event Design is a northern-California based boutique, full-service company specializing in upscale, highly personalized event planning and production of Southeast Asian weddings and celebrations.

The company prides itself in its attention to detail and amazing results that consistently deliver rave reviews from clients, guests, and peers.

From a luxurious destination wedding to an intimate dinner celebration, we will travel the earth for our clients. No request is too big or too small for Amrit and her team.

In this interview, Amrit generously shares with us everything we need to know about the role and importance of a wedding planner in an Indian Wedding.

A professional wedding planner can guide you with creative inspiration, etiquette, fashion, and communication and much more. The benefits significantly outweigh the time and energy you’ll spend if you choose to do-it-yourself (DIY). And if you’re on a budget, Amrit shares ways you can engage with a professional planner for a fraction of a cost with a limited service contract such as a Month of Event Management.

Please join me in welcoming Amrit to the Indian Wedding Podcast.

Website: http://www.anaisevents.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anaisevents/

Contemporary Indian Bridal Fashion with Shubhika Davda

We had an amazing conversation with Shubhika Davda, the founder, and creative director at Papa Don’t Preach.

A talented artist and fashion designer, Shubhika and her team have created outfits and accessories that reflect the mood of the girl. This girl is someone who can pretty and explosive at the same time.

Her out-of-box approach to design thinking is evident in all of Shubhika’s collections. The use of vibrant colors and nontraditional materials makes Papa Don’t Preach a fun and experiential brand for one and all.

In this interview, Subhika shares with us her design process, what it means to be a consicous craftsman, her advice to brides who want to get the most out of their shopping experience and much, much, more.

Please join us in welcoming Shubhika to the Indian Wedding Podcast

• Her craft and design thinking
• Distinct lines: bridal couture, high streetwear, honeymoon wear, accessories, and more
• Use of 3-D metal embroidery and laser cut metal in outfits
• Shubhika’s background in fashion design and journalism
• Breaking and making fashion rules, staying away from anything commercial
• Using social media to connect with her audience
• Her creative process is visual, she makes her first sample with the actual embroidery
• The meaning of conscious craftsmanship - being environmentally friendly, excellent working environment for her team, reducing wastage
• The importance of comfort and finished goods
• Indian and western influences on her work
• Her dream to bring artists from various disciplines under one roof
• And much more…

Website: Papa Don’t Preach

Instagram: @papadontpreachbyshubhika

Facebook: Papa Don't Preach By Shubhika

People Mentioned:

Devdutt Pattanaik

Steve Jobs

Books

#Girl Boss by Sophia Amoruso

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

In this interview, we had the honor of speaking with an award-winning, talented artist and wedding photographer, Rahul Rana.

Rahul is passionate about capturing images that tell a story and convey the raw emotion.

As a professional photographer, Rahul takes pride in doing work that makes his clients look and feel fabulous during their wedding and years to come.

Inspired by Rembrandt, a Dutch painter, and printmaker, Rahul seeks to bring uniqueness in his work by using archival quality materials in his prints.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Rahul shares with us why a couple should have pre-wedding sessions with the photographer, his practice of photographing people through the eye of their loved ones, why it takes time to create good art and much, much, more.

Please join us in welcoming Rahul Rana to the Indian Wedding Podcast.

• Wedding photographs are your first family heirloom
• Creating images that are timeless
• When choosing a wedding photographer, first the work has to speak to you, then set up a time to meet with the photographer
• To create great art, it takes two people: the couple and the photographer
• What to expect before and after the wedding when you work with a photographer
• It takes time to create good art. A timeline call will help you understand how much time everything takes
• Benefits of doing a pre-wedding a session
• Dynamics between wedding videographer and photographer
• How to get the best photographs for your wedding
• Couples prefer fine art look to images, something that is unique
• Use of drones in videography and photography, restrictions and requirements
• Using archival quality materials in prints
• Photos can look different from screen to screen
• Rembrandt lighting pattern makes people look slimmer
• Capturing the perfect moments during a wedding
• Photographing people with the eye of their loved ones
• The importance of a wedding planner or coordinator
• And much more…

Website: Rahul Rana Photo

Instagram: @rahulranaphoto

People Mentioned:

Nick Jonas

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

In this interview, Jinal and I had an opportunity to speak with Karuna Chani, an internationally recognized make up artist, image and skin care consultant based in New York City.

If you’re bride looking to improve your skin or trying to decide on the right style of makeup, this interview will serve you well.

Karuna shares with us a wealth of knowledge including her exact process on how she works with brides-to-be from start to finish. She also shares with her strategies that will make you look and feel beautiful on one of the most important days of your life.

Personally, I enjoyed learning about the professionalism, value, and commitment Karuna brings forward for her clients.

Karuna has a background in fashion from Parsons and is known for her fashion-forward makeup looks and ability to perfectly ‘marry’ eastern cultural elements with western beauty trends.

Her work has been featured in over a dozen fashion and wedding publications. Her notable clients include Priyanka Chopra, Shahana Goswami, Caroline Scheufele (co-president of Chopard), Amrita Singh and Chandrika Tandon.

Please join us in welcoming Karuna to the Indian Wedding Podcast!

Photography is one of the most important aspects of any wedding. If you hire the wrong photographer, chances are that you won’t have the right photos to look back and cherish your wedding memories.

In this interview, Jas and Mandy from JSK Photography, demystify the world of Indian wedding photography.

A husband and wife team, JSK photography has been covering weddings in Northern California and beyond since 2010.

In this value-packed, no-frills interview, Jas and Mandy share with us wedding photography styles, the difference between a “good” and “great” photographer, tips and tricks to get the best wedding pictures and much more.

Please join us in welcoming Jas and Mandy on the Indian Wedding Podcast.

This interview covers:

• Photography styles include portrait, candid, traditional and documentary and why you need them all for an Indian wedding
• Photographs tell the story of your wedding day
• A great photographer is a fly-on-the-wall getting the best pictures when you’re relaxed
• Introducing family members to your photographers
• Paying for your photographer's travel for a destination or out of state wedding
• At a minimum, you need two photographers to cover any wedding
• Unplugged weddings where no devices are allowed
• Why you should have the same photographer covering the bride and groom’s side
• How to pose for wedding photos why you have no experience posing
• Cary Edmonson Photography and Mr. Edmonson’s influence on Jas
• The Secret, a movie every couple should watch before their wedding day
• Making sure you get along with your photographer

Website: https://jskphotography.com/

Follow Jas and Mandy on Instagram: JSKPhotos