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If you have decided that a pandemic won’t get in the way of your big day, then a micro wedding might be the way to go. A micro wedding is not to be confused with elopement or an intimate wedding. It is a full wedding day that features the classic traditions, however, with a much shorter guest list. Typically, a micro wedding is a wedding with no more than 20 to 50 guests. While this has been a trend for a while, it has only now become a mandate for couples in 2020, owing to the COVID-19 crisis.

Micro weddings are ideal if you are realigning your original wedding plan to adhere to the current guidelines or if you’re a minimalist planning a wedding in the near future. Listed below are a few reasons why they get a nod of approval from us…

It’s a far more personal experience

A micro wedding is very intimate because it forces you to pick the friends and family members that are closest to you. With having only up to 50 guests, you are sure to spend more quality time with each of them instead of scrambling around only to be left with enough time to exchange greetings. And not to forget, you end up spending less time taking photos and more time actually enjoying your wedding!

It gives you a chance to be creative

You are not restricted while picking venues if you choose to have a micro wedding. From the stairs of a public library to the cafe you had your first date at or even your own backyard! Micro weddings truly give you the chance to let your imagination run wild.

It allows for personalisation

With fewer guests than a typical-sized wedding, it is easy to add a personal touch to the food and beverages, décor and various other arrangements. Since you will be inviting people that are closest to you, you could leave each guest a heartfelt note or you could even consider handing out customized invitations.

It’s lighter on the pocket

By choosing a micro wedding, not only do you scale down the guest list, but you also have the option of condensing your wedding to the elements that are most important to you and your partner. The result is that you end up with a pocket-friendly wedding without compromising on elements that mean the most.

It is less stressful

Without a doubt, it is easier to manage 50 people than it is to manage 200. The same goes for the arrangements, be it guest availability, seating, food preferences and everything in between. If you’re still worried, you could even hire a wedding planner that offers a micro wedding package. That way you are enjoying every step that leads to your wedding—no matter how big or small!

A micro wedding will give you the opportunity to enjoy an intimate celebration, to customize details, to spend on elements that you truly value, and allow you to connect with each of your guests. A micro wedding is a wonderful alternative to pushing your wedding until 2021 or later. And remember, you can always use Zoom to extend the celebration to the rest of your guest list!

Sabyasachi is easily one of the most recognizable names in the Indian fashion industry, and rightly so. His design philosophy relies on the celebration of his Indian heritage which is evident from his flair of using rich Indian textiles, cultural art and traditional yarn to create one-of-a-kind clothing masterpieces. In his own words, he describes his design aesthetic as “International style with an Indian soul”.

Over the years, Sabyasachi has dressed numerous Bollywood brides in what has now come to be revered as the ‘Sabyasachi Lehenga’. Sabyasachi lehengas exude a regal elegance with intricate embroidery and embellished motifs. His knack for making brides feel like they are ready to hit the red carpet is what has made him one of the most sought after bridal fashion designers today.

Sabyasachi’s bridal trousseau is best known for its extraordinary colour combinations, ethnic fabrics and ethereal designs. Here’s a look at 5 Bollywood brides from his ever-growing clientele list that dazzled through their D-Days in custom Sabyasachi lehengas…

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

@priyankachopra

Reportedly, it took 110 embroiderers approximately 3,720 hours to create Priyanka’s exquisite sindoori-red Sabyasachi lehenga. The lehenga boasted of hand-cut organza flowers, French knots, sequins, crystals and detailed layers of elaborate threadwork. Priyanka finished off the look with traditional diamond jewellery complete with a nath, maang tikka and kalira. In this Sabyasachi ensemble, Priyanka certainly set the standard when it comes to dressing for a dreamy Indian fairytale wedding.

Deepika Padukone

@deepikapadukone

Deepika picked a bespoke crimson and gold Sabyasachi lehenga for her big day. The gorgeous lehenga featured motifs of dancing peacocks and the phrase ‘Sada Saubhagyavati Bhava’ woven on the dupatta. This phrase when translated reads as ‘May you be married forever and steer away from the curse of widowhood’ and is often recited by elders whilst blessing a newly married woman. Deepika completed the look with a maang tikka and traditional nath.

Anushka Sharma

@virat.kohli

Anushka gave the traditional red lehenga a miss and opted for a breath-taking pale pink floral lehenga. Her lehenga was studded with hand-embroidered Indian lotuses, pink rhinestones, silk floss, pearls and finished with metal threads by 67 craftsmen in 32 days. This blushing bride certainly stole a million hearts in this Sabyasachi lehenga, along with of course her dashing groom’s.

Bipasha Basu

@bipashabasu

Owing to their shared Bengali lineage, Bipasha picked a quintessential red Sabyasachi lehenga as she took 7 steps around the holy fire. The lehenga was intricately embroidered in traditional gold ‘zari’ work. As a nod to her roots, Bipasha also donned a white mukut, a red bindi on her forehead, red and white bindis above her eyebrows as well as a nath.

Soha Ali Khan

@sakpataudi

Soha picked the showstopper lehenga from Sabyasachi’s Opium Collection back in 2015. In an Instagram post, the designer himself revealed that the original lehenga came in ivory and gold, however, her mother Sharmila Tagore asked him to add some colour to the outfit. Sabyasachi then used her pick of Kesariya Orange for Soha’s dupatta.

While that rounds off our list of Bollywood Sabyasachi brides, we can’t help but look back at one of our very own couples that also owned their big day in exquisite Sabyasachi outfits.

@nmkankanala

Our gorgeous bride Neha wore an iconic red sari while her handsome groom Vineel shone in a Sabyasachi sherwani.

Going by all of these outfits, it’s no wonder that Sabyasachi is such a common feature at Indian weddings.

Photography: Mir Anwar

Wedding on Feb 29th 2020 at JW Mariott,Austin Texas

Indian weddings are known for elaborate and meaningful pre-wedding rituals. The Haldi ceremony is one of the most important rituals as it marks the beginning of the wedding ceremonies. Traditionally, the Haldi ceremony is held at the bride’s as well as the groom’s houses respectively before the wedding day. During the Haldi ceremony, a rich golden paste is applied onto the bride’s and groom’s skin before a ceremonial bath. The golden paste gets its robust color from turmeric. The word ‘haldi’ is the Hindi translation of the word ‘turmeric’, and that’s where this important ritual gets its name from.

Making the perfect haldi paste

This paste is known by various names like Tel Baan, Mandha and Ubtan depending on which part of the country (India) you’re from. The perfect haldi paste is made with turmeric which is the main ingredient and a mixture of a few or all of the ingredients mentioned below:

• Curd
• Sandalwood
• Gram flour
• Rose water
• Milk
• Mustard oil
• Almond powder
• Lemon juice

As part of a long-established custom, this paste is generally made by the women of the respective houses.

The significance of the Haldi ceremony

The color yellow and the ingredient turmeric have always been considered auspicious by Hindus. Turmeric signifies fertility, purity, good luck and good health. The properties in turmeric are very good for the skin, and hence this paste is believed to lend the bride’s and groom’s skin a healthy glow and shine. The antioxidant curcumin found in turmeric is known to counter nervous feelings and thus helps to relax and calm the to-be couple before they tie the knot. Many also believe that performing the Haldi ceremony will help ward off evil spirits that might affect the bride and groom.

The process of the Haldi ceremony

The Haldi ceremony is performed by both, the bride and the groom in the morning, one or two days before the wedding. Fresh turmeric paste is applied to the bride’s and groom’s body, including the the face, neck, hands and legs. Generally, the paste is applied to their skin with mango leaves, but you can also use your hands. Like every Indian wedding ceremony, the Haldi ceremony is also accompanied by traditional song and dance. In some Indian cultures, the bride and groom even apply the haldi paste to their unmarried siblings and friends in hopes that it might bring them good luck too.

The Haldi ceremony is practised to prepare the bride and groom for their wedding. It ends with the elders of the family giving the to-be couple their blessings as they enter a new phase in their lives. The occasion is usually an intimate affair celebrated with close family members and friends.

Couple:
Images by: Svetlana Photography

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the world into disarray, and just like every other industry, the wedding industry has also been hit incredibly hard. Venue owners are struggling to redesign their spaces to adapt to the new rules, vendors have experienced a lull in their businesses and couples are hesitantly cancelling their weddings without a fresh blueprint in sight.

When planning a wedding, there is always a long list of matters to consider, especially when planning one during COVID-19 when the situation is fluid, unpredictable and incalculable. That being said, the show must go on, no matter how different it looks or feels. Even if your plans have changed, here’s how you can navigate through these uncertain times while still keeping your eyes on the goal… that is getting married to the love of your life.

If you are determined to go through with your wedding…

You could always consider micro-weddings, also known as ‘minimonials’ or ‘minimonies’ wherein you can celebrate your big day with a maximum of 50 guests. Along with trimming your guest list, micro-weddings will also involve you and your partner having to rethink various aspects of the wedding. For one, working with your venue to follow their rules regarding social distancing and the use of masks or switching to an outdoor venue in case you had picked the indoors. When it comes to catering, you might have to let go of the idea of a grand buffet and settle for plated meals.

Even traditions might look different right now. Instead of the usual meet and greet for pictures, your guests might have to leave you cards. It is also advisable to provide your guests with protective gear like masks, sanitisers, gloves or any other equipment that might make them feel safe. You could also consider having a provision for rapid tests.

While getting married during a pandemic will force you to have only the 50 closest people around you, you could live-stream it for the rest of your guest list. Another option is to go through with the wedding ceremonies and plan your big fat reception for next year, depending on when it is safe to do so.

Consult your wedding planner to get an idea of alternate dates and a potential back-up plan. If you don’t have a wedding planner, make sure to pick out a few estimated dates and speak to the vendors and venue to make sure they can accommodate the new date. If you have signed contracts with your vendors revisit these contracts to check their policies about cancellation or postponement as well as the fees or deposits that you might need to pay.

With the plethora of weddings being pushed, it may be easier for you to hire a wedding planner to sort out your dates, venue and vendors. A wedding planner will be able to chalk out a plan for your wedding without having you sweat over it. Lastly, remember to be flexible!

If you are planning a wedding in 2021…

It is imperative that you get started immediately because of the number of weddings that have been pushed. It is also advisable to hire a wedding planner to help you negotiate prices as well as plan around COVID-19 policies. An experienced wedding planner with strong vendor connections will be ideal for a stress-free wedding planning experience. Make sure to consider a small guest count to begin with, and keep them informed on your plans so that they are prepared well in advance. Also, make it a point to stay on top of CDC guidelines to note any changes in what’s allowed or still prohibited in the months to come.

All in all, it is important to remember that everything will work out for the best. The wedding you have may not look very similar to the wedding of your dreams, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of the situation. Just think of the fun tale you will get to tell your grandchildren!

You’ve met the love of your life, you’re engaged and are floating on cloud 9! But hold up, there’s an entire wedding to plan! You want that fairytale wedding with just the perfect lighting for the most adorable pictures to show your kids. And of course, unless you have magical superpowers… you have absolutely no clue where to start! If you happen to check all five of these boxes below, you need to hire a wedding planner, ASAP!

1. You just don’t have the time to plan

Planning a wedding is a lot of work. And that’s something you will realize only when you dive in. If you’re working a 9 to 5, chances are by the time you’re back, you’re either too exhausted or have probably missed the vendor’s timings. And, there’s only so much you can do over the weekends! Well well well, if only you could have that one devoted person to leave all the running around to 😉

2. You don’t want to pressurize your family

What is family for? Well, while your family plays a very crucial role in the wedding planning process, it is rather insensitive to leave all the planning to them, as they have their own jobs and responsibilities to attend to. This means, your wedding isn’t getting the 100% attention it should be getting. And not to forget, you also need them to be fresh and present for when the big day actually approaches.

3. You want to choose trustworthy vendors but are afraid

Not only is it time-consuming to go through dozens of recommendations on Google, finding a vendor that matches your style and budget can be quite a tiresome affair. With a wedding planner to fall back on, you can find peace in the fact that the planner will do whatever it takes to make sure you get what you want from a trustworthy source.

4. You’ve set a budget, and really want to stick to it

If you’re planning your big day all by yourself, chances are you might just end up overspending. With a wedding planner around, it becomes super easy to stay in focus and keep a check on how much you’re spending and how you’re spending it! And don’t forget vendor cuts!

5. You want to have a stress-free experience and keep bride/groom-zilla at bay

Because a wedding planner is hired to look into the finer aspects of the wedding, you can rest assured that you won’t have any last-minute breakdowns. Because of the communication you have with your planner, he/she is able to to get everything in order while paying attention to every little detail so that you don’t have to worry about missing a thing!

If you’ve ticked even three of the five boxes above, chances are we at Glitzzy can be of great help to you! So buckle up, and get ready to enjoy not just your fairytale wedding, but every little thing that leads up to it!