San Diego Wedding Planner: Indian, Persian, Middle Eastern, South Asian. Los Angeles, Orange County.

The Tena’im: Jewish Engagement

Nahid — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:51:56 +0000

Before The Jewish Wedding

“Tena’im” is the actual Yiddish name for an engagement.In the culture, it carries a great deal of weight, and even more so than the American culture. It binds you in the realm of a legal Jewish status. There is a signing that takes place at what the Jewish people refer to as “the groom’s table”. The reading of the “Tena’im” is given either by a dear friend of the groom’s or a Rabbi.

Te’naim is a contract between the parents of the bride and groom.

It reverts back to the third century C.E.; It is predominantly done through the orthodox custom.

Eirusin refers to the ring being given. In essence, the bride cannot wed anyone else.

Kiddushin means the ring is now accepted.

Nissuin refers to the couple sharing a home together.

It ends with a festive party with the bride, groom, and their parents, as they celebrate the wonders of this new chapter. More often than less, it is kept private with direct family.

The Jewish Wedding: Centuries of Tradition

Nahid — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:00:43 +0000

In a Jewish wedding, many traditions take place, which have been implemented for centuries, since biblical times. One in particular, is a well known custom in their ceremonies.

After the official signing of husband and wife, also known as the “ketuba”, the bride and groom follow their fathers and the rabbi into a separate room, referred to as the “bride’s chamber”. This is for the veiling of the bride, also known as “badekan”.

This tradition reverts back to many centuries ago, in the bible, when the apostle, Jacob, who put all his effort to marry Rachel, was left to discover that her father just so happened to do a switch on them, and offered up Leah, his other blind daughter to be his wife.

So, this of course breaks the American tradition of avoiding to see the bride before the ceremony. The Jewish people beg to differ, and many might agree, that centuries of tradition, would justify their desire to be sure ,that in fact, that their bride-to-be is not the sister, or the neighbor, for that matter.

Real Wedding: Sheena and Edgar

Nahid — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:01:13 +0000

We are so excited today to share with you an engagement photo shoot from one of our lovely couples, Sheena and Edgar. These two met at Cal State Fullerton while taking an art class. Edgar is from Nicaragua while Sheena is Persian-American and was raised in Dubai, and the couple wanted a wedding that exemplifies and encompasses their cultures. The couple loves to travel and have been several places around the world, and so their wedding will have different elements from around the world. Sheena has a love for all things vintage, lace, and Moroccan, so these are all themes that will be present for their wedding. The happy couple will be tying the knot this Saturday, April 6th at the Terranea Resort! Stay tuned to read about this amazing wedding and how it all comes together!

Photography by: Braja Mandala

Zuhair Murad 2013 Wedding Collection

Nahid — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:59:53 +0000

We are head over heels for Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad’s 2013 bridal collection! This is a collection full of romance, delicate embellishments, and feminine shapes. The collection is described as unique and “inspired by the age of beauty.” Bows, big belts, and layers upon layers of soft tulle make up these dreamy dresses. We can already picture any one of our beautiful brides walking down the aisle in Murad’s delicate lace, detailed embroidery, and classic shapes.

All images from Wedding Inspirasi

Traditional Indian Wedding Bindi

Nahid — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:21:08 +0000

One small but beautiful detail that most Indian brides share on their wedding day is a bindi, the red dot that adorns their forehead between their eyebrows. A bindi on the forehead is a sign of marriage, and this guarantees the social status and sanctity of the institution of marriage. As the Indian bride steps through the doors of her husband’s door with the red bindi on her forehead, the bindi is believed to bring prosperity. Why between the eyebrows? This area is the sixth chakra known as the seat of concealed wisdom. The bindi between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the body and control many levels of concentration. It also symbolizes good fortune, which every bride wants on her wedding day! The traditional bindi is red or maroon, and is applied skillfully with fingertips to achieve the perfect dot. One Indian proverb says “A woman’s beauty is multiplied 1,000 times when she wears a bindi”- so true for all our beautiful Indian brides!

Image credits: Biyani Photography, The Indian Wedding Blog, Maharani Weddings, Tumblr, Maharani Weddings, Dolls of India

Elie Saab 2013 Bridal Collection

Nahid — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:59:52 +0000

Just in time for spring, Elie Saab for Pronovias has a bridal collection for 2013 which makes our hearts skip a beat! Even after watching the runway show, we are still dreaming of delicate lace, beaded appliques, and layers upon layers of organza and tulle. The theme of this collection was “the garden of dreams”, and each dress that came down the runway is like a beautiful, handcrafted flower! This collection offers brides many options for their big day- sleeveless, short sleeve, long sleeve, and our favorite, cap sleeves with a beaded, detailed shoulder (see the first image below- the neckline and shoulders are to die for)! Most dresses were paired with a long, cascading veil on the runway, but we can also imagine these dresses being worn with a short birdcage veil for a sweet spring wedding.

All images from Weddings Online

Traditional Indian Wedding Jaimala Ceremony

Nahid — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:00:18 +0000

The exchanging of garlands is a crucial part of an Indian wedding, and and the marriage is not considered complete until the garlands are exchanged between the bride and groom. The garlands are made out of flowers and thread, and while the flowers symbolize aspiration, excitement, and happiness, the thread represents what secures all those emotions. This part of the ceremony, called Jaimala, is the first ritual which represents the bride accepting the groom as her husband. This part of the ceremony happens after the groom arrives at the venue and is welcomed in by the bride’s family. He then awaits the arrival of his bride, and this is the first time they see each other! During this time, the bride and groom exchange their flower garlands by placing them around each other’s neck. There are many options when looking where to get garlands for your wedding- you can order them online or by phone, talk to your local florist, or make them at home with family and friends!

Photo credits: Indian Wedding Site, Indian Weddings, Maharani Weddings, The Big Fat Indian Wedding, Wedding Function, Maharani Weddings

Traditional Indian Wedding Jewelry

Nahid — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:57:38 +0000

In Indian tradition, women are given jewelry as gifts throughout their life. Soon after a child is born, the family starts saving for the gifts given to the bride to be worn on the day of her wedding. Jewelry that is given to a woman at the time of her wedding symbolizes wealth, power, and femininity. The tradition of Indian brides wearing bridal jewelry dates back 5,000 years and has strong roots across all Indian cultures. Indian wedding jewelry is an heirloom treasure, often passed down from one generation to the next. Each different state and region has a unique style and design of wedding jewelry. Popular jewelry items for traditional Indian brides include a heavy neckpiece and matching earrings, nose ring, bangles, toe rings, anklets, and many other ornate pieces. Gold jewelry is a beautiful addition to any bride on her wedding day, and the Indian traditions make it that much more special!

Photo credits: Maharani Weddings, Maazu, Bargello, Brides, High 5 Store, onewed

Organic Love – Farm Photo Shoot

Nahid — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:00:11 +0000

We are thrilled to share with you today a gorgeous photo shoot we styled a few months ago! With the weather starting to warm up, it is beginning to be a perfect time for outdoor weddings with light, pastel color schemes, and this is what our farm shoot was all about! Here is a peek at the inspiration behind the shoot:

This photo shoot was all about blending vintage themes with a farm feel. Organic, natural elements such as fresh fruits and vegetables and live animals fit in perfectly with the photo shoot theme “Organic Love”. We hope you enjoy the images, and find some inspiration for your spring wedding or event- whether it be the pastel colors (for the table details or bridesmaid dresses), outdoor venue, or the use of fruits and veggies as fun props! Happy spring!

Event Design and Styling: Wedding Elegance by Nahid

Photographer: Bryan N. Miller Photography

Venue: The Condor’s Nest Ranch – Pala, CA

Flowers: Jennifer Cole Florals

Dresses: The White Flower Bridal Boutique

Jewelry: Sophia & Chloe

Hair: Phanna Sim

Makeup: Souad Al-Rifai Makeup

Cake and Desserts: Sweet Cheeks Baking Company

Rentals: Pow Wow Vintage Rentals

Invitations: J Grace Design

The 7 Blessings of a Hindu Wedding

Nahid — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:00:05 +0000

There are many important aspects of a Hindu wedding ceremony- one of the most important is the fire ceremony. During this fire ceremony, the highlight is the Saptapadi, when the bride and groom, hand in hand, step seven times around the fire. This part of the ceremony seals their bond as husband and wife forever.

You may wonder why there are seven steps taken around the fire, and what each step represents. Here is a simple breakdown:

1. May the couple always be blessed with an abundance of comforts and resources, and always be helpful to one another in all aspects.

2. May the couple be strong and complement each other, mentally, spiritually, and physically.

3. May the couple be blessed with prosperity and riches- in all ways.

4. May the couple have eternal love and trust together.

5. May the couple be blessed with a happy family life and children.

6. May the couple live in harmony together- staying true to their promises to themselves and one another.

7. May the couple always remain best friends.

(Image credits: Maharani Weddings, 14 Gaam, Adult Awkwardness,Entouraaj, Shaadi with Style, Brian Kraft,Brian Kraft)